As submitted on August 8, 2016 to the Securities and Exchange Commission
for confidential review pursuant to the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Form F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
State of Israel | | 2834 | | 98-1281349 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Dr. Elran Haber | | Zysman, Aharoni, Gayer and |
Chief Executive Officer | | Sullivan & Worcester LLP |
5 Azrieli Center (Square Tower) | | 1633 Broadway |
Tel-Aviv 6702501, Israel | | New York, NY 10019 |
Tel: +972-3-6167055 | | Tel: 212.660.5000 |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, | | (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone |
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive | | number, including area code, of agent for service) |
offices) | | |
Copies to:
Oded Har-Even, Esq. | | Yuval Horn, Adv. |
Shy Baranov, Esq. | | Roy Ribon, Adv. |
Robert V. Condon III, Esq. | | Yasmin Zohar, Adv. |
Zysman, Aharoni, Gayer and | | Horn & Co. |
Sullivan & Worcester LLP | | Amot Investment Tower |
1633 Broadway | | 2 Weizmann St. |
New York, NY 10019 | | Tel-Aviv 6423902, Israel |
Tel: 212.660. 5000 | | Tel: +972-3-637-8200 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date hereof.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION | DATED AUGUST 8, 2016 |
American Depositary Shares
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/DRS/0001213900-16-015633/image_001.jpg)
Representing Ordinary Shares
This is a public offering of our American Depositary Shares, or ADSs. Each ADS represents 20 of our ordinary shares, NIS 0.1 par value, or Ordinary Shares.
Our ADSs are traded on the OTCQB under the symbol “THXBY”. On August 4, 2016, the last reported sale price of our ADSs was $4.01. We intend to apply to list the ADSs on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “TRPX.” No assurance can be given that our application will be approved.
Our Ordinary Shares currently trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or TASE, under the symbol “THXBY”. On August 4, 2016, the last reported trading price of our Ordinary Shares on the TASE was NIS 0.82, or $0.21 per share (based on the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Israel on such date) and the.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in our ADSs involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.
| | Per ADS | | | Total | |
Public offering price | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Underwriting discounts and commissions | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Proceeds to us (before expenses) | | $ | | | | $ | | |
We have granted the representative of the underwriters an option to purchase up to additional ADSs from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within days from the date of this prospectus to cover over-allotments, if any. If the representative of the underwriters exercises the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable will be $ , and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $ .
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs on or about , 2016.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Israel Securities Authority nor any state or other foreign securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. We are offering to sell our ADSs, and seeking offers to buy our ADSs, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our Ordinary Shares.
For investors outside of the United States: Neither we nor any of the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.
In this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Therapix” refer to Therapix Biosciences Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Our reporting currency and functional currency is the New Israeli Shekel, or NIS.
This prospectus includes statistical, market and industry data and forecasts which we obtained from publicly available information and independent industry publications and reports that we believe to be reliable sources. These publicly available industry publications and reports generally state that they obtain their information from sources that they believe to be reliable, but they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. Although we believe that these sources are reliable, we have not independently verified the information contained in such publications.
We report under International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or the IASB. None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our ADSs. Before you decide to invest in our ADSs, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section and the financial statements and related notes appearing at the end of this prospectus.
Our Company
We are a specialty pharmaceutical companyled by an experienced team of world-class senior executives and scientists, focused on creating and enhancing a portfolio of technologies and assets based on cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. With this focus, we have initiated two internal drug development programs based on repurposing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved synthetic cannabinoid (dronabinol):Joint Pharma developing THX-TS01 targeted to the treatment of Tourette Syndrome, or TS, andBrainBright Pharma developing THX-ULD01 targeted to the high value and under-served market of mild cognitive impairments, or MCIs.
We intend to seek FDA approval for the commercialization of our drug candidates throughthe Section 505(b)(2) regulatory path under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, as amended, or the FDC Act. The FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway permits the filing of a new drug application, or NDA, where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies that were not conducted by or for the applicant, and for which the applicant has not received a right of reference. This approach could expedite the development program for our product candidates by potentially decreasing the amount of clinical data that we would need to generate in order to obtain FDA approval. In addition, with respect to our Joint Pharma program, we intend to pursue orphan drug designation in the United States and Europe.
Joint Pharma
Our Joint Pharma program is dedicated to developing a cannabinoid based drug for the treatment of TS, which is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder usually onset in childhood. TS is characterized by multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic. Although TS and other tic disorders were once thought to be very rare, it has become increasingly apparent that they are common conditions. While epidemiological study results may vary, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, as of 2012, one out of every 360 U.S. children (about 138,000) aged six to 17 years had been diagnosed with TS in the United States. To date, only three drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat TS, most of which are limited to treating only a narrow range of TS symptoms (mainly tics). Additionally, the usefulness of these drugs is also limited, since they are associated with severe side effects that have resulted in the need for a “black box” warning. In many cases “off-label” use of other prescription medications not approved for the indication are used to treat TS, and many of these are also associated with unwanted severe side effects. Therefore, there continues to be a great need for more effective, safer medications targeted at treating tics as well as other features of TS.
Our proprietary THX-TS01 drug candidate takes a unique approach to the treatment of TS. THX-TS01 is a combination drug candidate based on two components: (1) dronabinol, an FDA approved synthetic analog of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychoactive molecule in the cannabis plant, and (2) palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA, which is an endogenous fatty acid amide that belongs to the class of nuclear factor agonists. The combination of THC and PEA revolves around a concept known as the “entourage effect.”
The basic tenet of the entourage effect is that cannabinoids work together, or possess synergy, and affect the body in a mechanism similar to the body’s own endocannabinoid system. This entourage effect hypothesis may account for the pharmacological actions of PEA. Based on an activity enhancement of other physiological compounds, PEA may indirectly stimulate the cannabinoid receptors by potentiating their affinity for a receptor or by inhibiting their metabolic degradation, and by doing so, may increase the uptake of cannabinoid compounds, such as THC. Thus, we believe that the presence of the PEA molecule increases the efficiency of orally administered THC, while reducing the required dosage and decreasing associated deleterious adverse events.
We have completed the preclinical phase of development of THX-TS01 and are preparing to conduct a proof of concept, or POC, Phase IIa clinical trial in the United States, to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016. In addition, we expect to initiate a Phase IIb clinical trial in Europe in the second quarter of 2017.
BrainBright Pharma
Our BrainBright Pharma program takes a unique approach to developing a treatment for MCI. MCI refers to the transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal changes related to age. The prevalence of MCI increases with age, at a rate of 10% in those aged 70-79 years and 25% in those aged 80-89 years. There is no FDA approved treatment for MCI. As MCI is believed to represent an early state of Alzheimer’s disease, or Alzheimer’s, several Alzheimer’s treatments have been proposed for MCI. However, Alzheimer’s treatments are not currently recommended for the routine treatment of MCI, and have not been shown to delay or prevent the progression of MCI.
Our proprietary THX-ULD01 drug candidate is based on an ultra-low dose of FDA approved dronabinol. We believe that sublingual and nasal administration of dronabinol are safe and effective delivery methods that will enhance the bioavailability of an ultra-low dose dronabinol.
We have compelling preclinical data that supports using an ultra-low dose of dronabinol to improve cognitive abilities. In the first quarter of 2017, we intend to conduct a Phase I clinical trial to document the pharmacokinetic parameters of THX-ULD01 and to evaluate drug safety. During the second half of 2017, we expect to initiate a POC Phase IIa clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of THX-ULD01 in treating patients with cognitive impairment. In addition, we may conduct further preclinical studies in parallel to our clinical plans as part of the development of our innovative pipeline and for registration purposes.
With respect to both our Joint Pharma and BrainBright Pharma programs, we intend to pursue a section 505(b)(2) regulatory path, which may expedite the development of these programs by potentially decreasing the amount of clinical data that we would need to generate in order to obtain FDA approval. We believe that the key benefits of this strategy include a relatively low scientific-technological risk (compared to the risk of developing drugs based on new molecular entities) combined with relatively low costs and faster time to market.
Risks Associated with Our Business
Our business is subject to numerous risks, as more fully described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. You should read these risks before you invest in our ADSs. In particular, our risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | we are a development-stage specialty pharmaceutical company and have a limited operating history on which to assess our business, have incurred significant losses since our inception, including a net loss of NIS 115.4 million (approximately $30.6 million, and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future; |
| ● | we are unable to predict the extent of future losses or when we will become profitable based on the sale of any product, if at all. Even if we succeed in developing and commercializing our product candidates, we may never generate revenue to sustain profitability; |
| ● | we have no source of revenue, and even if this offering is successful, we expect that we will need to raise additional funding before we can expect to become profitable from sales of our product candidates; |
| ● | we are heavily dependent upon the success of our product candidates, which are in the early stages of development. We have not conducted any clinical trials, and we cannot provide any assurance that the FDA or other regulatory agencies will allow us to conduct clinical trials; |
| ● | our competitors may develop or commercialize product candidates faster or more successfully than us; |
| ● | we may rely on third parties to help conduct our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials; |
| ● | we do not have any product candidates approved for sale by the FDA or any other regulatory agencies, and we cannot provide any assurance that any of our product candidates will receive regulatory approval; |
| ● | even if our product candidates receive FDA and other regulatory agency approval, our products will be subject to controlled substances laws and regulations, and any failure by us to comply with such laws and regulations could harm our reputation and operating results; |
| ● | if we are unable to obtain and maintain effective intellectual property rights for our technologies, product candidates or any future product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets; and |
| ● | our future success depends in part upon our ability to retain our executive and scientific teams, and to attract, retain and motivate other qualified personnel. |
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in Israel. Our principal executive offices are located at 5 Azrieli Center (Square Tower), 27th Floor, Tel-Aviv 6702501, Israel. Our telephone number in Israel is +972-3-6167055. Our website address is http://therapixbio.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to, and intend to, take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” such as not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We could remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (a) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenue exceeds $1 billion, (b) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our ADSs that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or (c) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the preceding three-year period.
THE OFFERING
Ordinary Shares currently outstanding | Ordinary Shares |
ADSs offered by us | ADSs representing Ordinary Shares |
ADSs to be outstanding after this offering | ADSs representing Ordinary Shares |
The ADSs | Each ADS represents 20 of our Ordinary Shares, NIS 0.1 par value. The ADSs may be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs. The depositary will be the holder of the Ordinary Shares underlying the ADSs and you will have the rights of an ADS holder as provided in the deposit agreement among us, the depositary and owners and beneficial owners of ADSs from time to time. To better understand the terms of the ADSs, you should carefully read the section in this prospectus entitled “Description of American Depositary Shares.” We also encourage you to read the deposit agreement, which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. |
Use of proceeds | We expect to receive approximately $ million in net proceeds from the sale of ADSs offered by us in this offering (approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), based upon an assumed public offering price of $ per ADS, the last reported sale price of our ADSs on the OTCQB on , 2016 (based on the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Israel on that date). We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for the following purposes: ● Approximately $3.9 million to advance the formulation and clinical development efforts in our Joint Pharma program (THX-TS01 product candidate), allocated as follows: ○ approximately $600,000 to fund a proof of concept, Phase IIa clinical trial in the United States; ○ approximately $1.3 million to fund Phase IIb clinical trial in Europe; and ○ the remainder to fund general formulation development and product manufacturing for clinical trials. ● Approximately $3.5 million to advance the formulation and clinical development efforts in our BrainBright Pharma program (THX- ULD01 product candidate), allocated as follows: ○ approximately $350,000 to fund a Phase I clinical trial in Canada or the United States; ○ approximately $1 million to fund a proof of concept, Phase IIa clinical trial in Israel or Europe; and ○ the remainder to fund general formulation development and product manufacturing for clinical trials. ● The remainder for working capital and general corporate purposes, and possible in-licensing of additional intellectual property and product candidates. |
Depositary | Bank of New York Mellon. |
Risk factors | You should read the “Risk Factors” section starting on page 5 of this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in our ADSs. |
Proposed NASDAQ Capital Market Symbol: | “TRPX” |
TASE and OTCQB symbol: | “THXBY" |
The number of our ADSs and Ordinary Shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above assumes that all of the ADSs offered hereby are sold and is based on 35,599,152 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of August 1, 2016. This number excludes:
| ● | 13,410,496 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of August 1, 2016, of which 10,887,448 were vested as of such date, with a weighted average exercise price of NIS 0.67 (approximately $0.17) per share. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes our financial data. We have derived the following statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 from our audited financial statements, and the balance sheet data as of March 31, 2016 from our unaudited financial statements, included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future. The following summary financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
| | Year Ended December 31, | | | Three Months Ended March 31, | | | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | |
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | | NIS | | | USD Convenience Translation* | |
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expenses, net | | | 931 | | | | 1,800 | | | | 585 | | | | 230 | | | | 155 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 5,297 | | | | 5,238 | | | | 1,314 | | | | 1,152 | | | | 349 | |
Other expenses, net | | | 3,734 | | | | 115 | | | | - | | | | 19 | | | | - | |
Operating loss | | | 9,962 | | | | 6,923 | | | | 1,899 | | | | 1,401 | | | | 504 | |
Listing expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Finance expenses (income), net | | | 15 | | | | 26 | | | | 53 | | | | 17 | | | | 14 | |
Net comprehensive loss | | | 10,164 | | | | 7,282 | | | | 1,952 | | | | 1,532 | | | | 518 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss per Ordinary Share | | | 0.43 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.08 | | | | 0.01 | |
Number of Ordinary Shares used in computing net loss per Ordinary Share | | | 23,853,196 | | | | 16,071,577 | | | | 35,399,152 | | | | 18,521,759 | | | | 35,399,152 | |
| | As of March 31, 2016 | |
| | Actual | | | As Adjusted (1) (2) | |
(in thousands) | | NIS | | | USD - Convenience Translation* | | | USD - Convenience Translation* | |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 4,812 | | | | 1,278 | | | | | |
Total assets | | | 5,051 | | | | 1,341 | | | | | |
Total non-current liabilities | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Accumulated loss | | | 115,405 | | | | 30,644 | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) | | | 3,476 | | | | 757 | | | | | |
* Calculated using the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Israel for March 31, 2016 at the rate of one U.S. dollar per NIS 3.766.
(1) Gives effect to the ADSs offered by us in this offering assuming this offering was consummated at the beginning of the referenced period.
(2) A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per ADS would increase (decrease) the pro forma amount of each of cash and cash equivalents and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $ million, assuming that the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A -ADS increase in the number of ADSs offered by us would increase each of cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders’ equity by approximately $ million after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and any estimated offering expenses payable by us. Conversely, a -ADS decrease in the number of ADSs offered by us would decrease each of cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders’ equity by approximately $ million after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and any estimated offering expenses payable by us.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our ADSs involves a high degree of risk. We operate in a dynamic and rapidly changing industry that involves numerous risks and uncertainties. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, including the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our ADSs. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of our ADSs to decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements
We are a development-stage specialty pharmaceutical company and have a limited operating history on which to assess the prospects for our business, have incurred significant losses since the date of our inception, and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses until we are able to successfully commercialize our product candidates.
Since our inception in 2004, we have been operating as a development-stage specialty pharmaceuticalcompany and have a limited operating history on which to assess the prospects for our business, have incurred significant losses, and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.
Since the date of our inception, and as of March 31, 2016, we have incurred net losses of approximately NIS 115.4 million (approximately $30.6 million).
We have devoted substantially all of our financial resources to develop our product candidates. We have financed our operations primarily through the issuance of equity securities. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on completing the development of our product candidates, the demand for our product candidates, the rate of our future expenditures and our ability to obtain funding through the issuance of our securities, strategic collaborations or grants. Pharmaceutical product development is a highly speculative undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. We are in the early stages of clinical and preclinical development for our product candidates, we have not yet commenced pivotal clinical studies for any product candidate, and it may be several years, if ever, before we complete pivotal clinical studies and have a product candidate approved for commercialization. Even if we obtain regulatory approval to market a product candidate, our future revenue will depend upon the size of the markets for which our product candidates may receive approval and our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, pricing, reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share for our product candidates in those markets.
We expect to continue to incur significant losses until we are able to successfully commercialize our product candidates. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
| ● | continue the research and development of our product candidates; |
| ● | expand the scope of our current clinical studies for our product candidates; |
| ● | seek regulatory and marketing approvals for our product candidates that successfully complete clinical studies; |
| ● | establish a sales, marketing, and distribution infrastructure to commercialize our product candidates; |
| ● | seek to identify, assess, acquire, license, and/or develop other product candidates and subsequent generations of our current product candidates; |
| ● | seek to maintain, protect, and expand our intellectual property portfolio; |
| ● | seek to attract and retain skilled personnel; and |
| ● | create additional infrastructure to support our operations as a public company and our product candidate development and planned future commercialization efforts. |
We have not generated any revenue from the sale of our current product candidates and may never be profitable.
We have not yet commercialized any of our product candidates and have not generated any revenue since the date of our inception. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on our ability to successfully complete the development of, and to commercialize, our product candidates and on the demand for our product candidates. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on our ability, alone or with strategic collaboration partners, to successfully complete the development of, and obtain the regulatory and marketing approvals necessary to commercialize, one or more of our product candidates. Our ability to generate future revenue from product candidate sales depends heavily on our success in many areas, including but not limited to:
| ● | completing research and preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates; |
| ● | obtaining regulatory and marketing approvals for product candidates for which we complete clinical studies; |
| ● | establishing and maintaining supply and manufacturing relationships with third parties that can provide adequate (in amount and quality) products to support market demand for our product candidates, if approved; |
| ● | launching and commercializing product candidates if and when we obtain regulatory and marketing approval, either directly or with a collaborator or distributor; |
| ● | obtaining market acceptance of our product candidates as viable treatment options; |
| ● | addressing any competing pharmaceutical or biotechnological and market developments; |
| ● | identifying, assessing, acquiring and/or developing new product candidates; |
| ● | negotiating favorable terms in any collaboration, licensing or other arrangements into which we may enter; |
| ● | maintaining, protecting and expanding our portfolio of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets and know-how; and |
| ● | attracting, hiring and retaining qualified personnel. |
Even if one or more of the product candidates that we develop is approved for commercial sale, we anticipate incurring significant costs associated with commercializing any approved product candidate. Our expenses could increase beyond expectations if we are required by the FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or the EMA, or other regulatory agencies, domestic or foreign, to perform clinical, nonclinical or other types of studies in addition to those that we currently anticipate. In cases where we are successful in obtaining regulatory approvals to market one or more of our product candidates, our revenue will be dependent, in part, upon the size of the markets in the territories for which we gain regulatory approval, the accepted price for the product candidate, the ability to get reimbursement at an acceptable price and whether we own the commercial rights for that territory. If the number of our addressable patients is not as significant as we estimate, the indication approved by regulatory authorities is narrower than we expect, or the reasonably expected population for treatment is narrowed by competition, physician choice or treatment guidelines, we may not generate significant revenue from sales of such product candidates, even if approved. Additionally, if we are not able to generate revenue from the sale of any approved product candidates, we may be forced to cease operations.
Even if this offering is successful, we expect that we will need to raise substantial additional funding before we can expect to become profitable from sales of our product candidates. This additional financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product candidate development efforts or other operations.
As of March 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents were approximately NIS 4.8 million (approximately $1.3 million). Upon the completion of this offering, based upon our currently expected level of operating expenditures, we expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund operations at least through the end of 2017. Even if this offering is completed, we expect that we will require substantial additional capital to commercialize our product candidates. In addition, our operating plans may change as a result of many factors that may currently be unknown to us, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
| ● | the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of product development, clinical studies, preclinical testing, and other related activities; |
| ● | the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory approvals; |
| ● | the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities; and |
| ● | the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing, and other arrangements that we may establish. |
Any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates. In addition, we cannot guarantee that future financing will be available in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Moreover, the terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our stockholders and the issuance of additional securities, whether equity or debt, by us, or the possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of our ADSs to decline. The incurrence of indebtedness could result in increased fixed payment obligations, and we may be required to agree to certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. We could also be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or otherwise at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable, and we may be required to relinquish rights to some of our technologies or product candidates or otherwise agree to terms unfavorable to us, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and prospects. Even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital if market conditions are favorable or if we have specific strategic considerations.
If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or development programs or the commercialization of any product candidates or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Raising additional capital would cause dilution to our existing shareholders, and may affect the rights of existing shareholders.
We may seek additional capital through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings and collaborations and strategic and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the issuance of equity (such as this offering) or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a holder of our ADSs.
Risks Related to the Discovery and Development of Our Product Candidates
We are heavily dependent on the success of our product candidates, which are in the late stages of pre-clinical development or early stages of clinical development. We cannot give any assurance that any of our product candidates will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized.
To date, we have invested substantially all of our efforts and financial resources to design and develop our product candidates, including conducting preclinical studies and providing general and administrative support for these operations. Our future success is dependent on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and then successfully commercialize one or more product candidates. We currently generate no revenue from sales of any product candidate, and we may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable product candidate.
Each of our product candidates is in the late stages of pre-clinical development or early stages of development and will require additional clinical development (and in some cases additional preclinical development), management of nonclinical, clinical and manufacturing activities, regulatory approval, obtaining adequate manufacturing supply, building of a commercial organization and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenue from product candidate sales. It may be years before a pivotal study is initiated, if at all. Any clinical trials in the United States will require the approval of an Investigational New Drug, or IND, application by the FDA, and we cannot assure that we will obtain such approval in a timely manner, or at all. We are not permitted to market or promote any of our product candidates before we receive regulatory approval from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such regulatory approval for any of our product candidates.
We as a company have never submitted marketing applications to the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. We cannot be certain that any of our product candidates will be successful in clinical studies or receive regulatory approval or what regulatory pathway the regulatory authorities shall designate for our product candidates. Further, our product candidates may not receive regulatory approval even if they are successful in clinical studies. If we do not receive regulatory approvals for our product candidates, we may not be able to continue our operations.
We generally plan to seek regulatory approval to commercialize our product candidates in the United States, the European Union and in additional foreign countries. To obtain regulatory approvals we must comply with the numerous and varying regulatory requirements of such countries regarding safety, efficacy, chemistry, manufacturing and controls, clinical studies, commercial sales, pricing and distribution of our product candidates. Even if we are successful in obtaining approval in one jurisdiction, we cannot ensure that we will obtain approval in any other jurisdictions. If we are unable to obtain approval for our product candidates in multiple jurisdictions, our revenue and results of operations would be negatively affected.
The regulatory approval processes of the FDA and comparable foreign authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable. If we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, our business will be substantially harmed.
The time required to obtain approval by the FDA and comparable foreign authorities is unpredictable, typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical studies and depends upon numerous factors. In addition, approval policies, regulations or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions, which may cause delays in the approval or the decision not to approve an application. We have not obtained regulatory approval for any product candidate, and it is possible that none of our existing product candidates or any product candidates we may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain regulatory approval.
Applications for our product candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including but not limited to the following:
| ● | the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical studies; |
| ● | we may be unable to demonstrate to the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate’s safety-benefit ratio for its proposed indication is acceptable; |
| ● | the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical studies; |
| ● | the data collected from clinical studies of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of a NDA in the United States or elsewhere; |
| ● | the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes, test procedures and specifications or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies; and |
| ● | the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval. |
This lengthy approval process, as well as the unpredictability of the results of clinical studies, may result in our failing to obtain regulatory approval to market any of our product candidates, which would significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
Clinical drug development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies may not be predictive of future study results.
Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical study process. The results of preclinical studies and early clinical studies of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical studies. Product candidates that have shown promising results in early-stage clinical studies may still suffer significant setbacks in subsequent advanced clinical studies. There is a high failure rate for drugs proceeding through clinical studies, and product candidates in later stages of clinical studies may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy traits despite having progressed satisfactorily through preclinical studies and initial clinical studies. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical studies due to lack of efficacy or adverse safety profiles, notwithstanding promising results in earlier studies. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses. We do not know whether any Phase 2, Phase 3 or other clinical studies we may conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety sufficient to obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates.
We may find it difficult to enroll patients in our clinical studies. Difficulty in enrolling patients could delay or prevent clinical studies of our product candidates.
Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical studies of our product candidates is critical to our success. The timing of our clinical studies depends in part on the speed at which we can recruit patients to participate in testing our product candidates, and we may experience delays in our clinical studies if we encounter difficulties in enrollment.
Some of the conditions for which we plan to evaluate our current product candidates are for rare diseases. For example, based on a study conducted by the CDC, we estimate that approximately138,000 children suffer from TS in the United States. Accordingly, there is a limited patient pool from which to draw for clinical studies. Further, the eligibility criteria of our clinical studies will further limit the pool of available study participants as we will require that patients have specific characteristics that we can measure or to assure their disease is either severe enough or not too advanced to include them in a study.
Additionally, the process of finding patients may prove costly. We also may not be able to identify, recruit and enroll a sufficient number of patients to complete our clinical studies because of the perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under study, the availability and efficacy of competing therapies and clinical studies, the proximity and availability of clinical study sites for prospective patients and the patient referral practices of physicians. If patients are unwilling to participate in our studies for any reason, the timeline for recruiting patients, conducting studies and obtaining regulatory approval of potential product candidates will be delayed.
If we experience delays in the completion or termination of any clinical study of our product candidates, the commercial prospects of our product candidates will be harmed, and our ability to generate product candidate revenue from any of these product candidates could be delayed or prevented. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical studies will increase our costs, slow down our product candidate development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence product candidate sales and generate revenue. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical studies may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates.
If the FDA does not conclude that our product candidates satisfy the requirements for the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory approval pathway, or if the requirements for our product candidates under Section 505(b)(2) are not as we expect, the approval pathway would likely take significantly longer, cost significantly more and entail significantly greater complications and risks than anticipated and in either case may not be successful.
We intend to seek FDA approval through the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for our product candidates. The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, also known as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments, added Section 505(b)(2) to the FDC Act, or Section 505(b)(2). Section 505(b)(2) permits the filing of an NDA where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by or for the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference.
If the FDA does not allow us to pursue the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway as anticipated, we may need to conduct additional clinical trials, provide additional data and information and meet additional standards for regulatory approval. If this were to occur, the time and financial resources required to obtain FDA approval, and complications and risks associated with FDA approval, would substantially increase. We may need to obtain additional funding, which could result in significant dilution to the ownership interests of our then existing shareholders to the extent we issue equity securities or convertible debt. We cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain such additional financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Moreover, inability to pursue the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway could result in new competitive product candidates reaching the market faster than our product candidates, which could materially adversely impact our competitive position and prospects. Even if we are allowed to pursue the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, we cannot assure you that our product candidates will receive the requisite approvals for commercialization.
In addition, notwithstanding the approval of a number of product candidates by the FDA under Section 505(b)(2) over the last few years, some pharmaceutical companies and others have objected to the FDA’s interpretation of Section 505(b)(2). For example, several companies have previously petitioned the FDA regarding the constitutionality of allowing others to rely upon FDA findings that are based on their proprietary data. If the FDA’s interpretation of Section 505(b)(2) is successfully challenged, the FDA may be required to change its 505(b)(2) policies and practices, which could require that we generate full data regarding safety and effectiveness for previously approved active ingredients and delay or even prevent the FDA from approving any NDA that we submit under Section 505(b)(2). Our product candidates are at early stages of development and are subject to uncertainty over what we must do on our development program in order to secure approval under Section 505(b)(2).
We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical studies, or we may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.
Before obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of our product candidates, we must conduct extensive clinical studies to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the product candidates in humans. Clinical testing is expensive, time consuming and uncertain as to outcome. We cannot guarantee that any clinical studies will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. A failure of one or more clinical studies can occur at any stage of testing, and our future clinical studies may not be successful. Events that may prevent successful or timely completion of clinical development include but are not limited to:
| ● | inability to generate sufficient preclinical, toxicology or other in vivo or in vitro data to support the initiation of human clinical studies; |
| ● | delays in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on study design; |
| ● | delays in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and clinical study sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and clinical study sites; |
| ● | delays in obtaining required Institutional Review Board, or IRB, approval at each clinical study site; |
| ● | imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory agencies, after review of an IND, application, or equivalent application, or an inspection of our clinical study operations or study sites; |
| ● | delays in recruiting suitable patients to participate in our clinical studies; |
| ● | difficulty collaborating with patient groups and investigators; |
| ● | failure by our CROs, other third parties or us to adhere to clinical study requirements; |
| ● | failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s good clinical practices requirements, or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries; |
| ● | delays in having patients complete participation in a study or return for post-treatment follow-up; |
| ● | patients dropping out of a study; |
| ● | occurrence of serious adverse events associated with the product candidate that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits; |
| ● | changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols; |
| ● | the cost of clinical studies of our product candidates being greater than we anticipate; |
| ● | clinical studies of our product candidates producing negative or inconclusive results, which may result in us deciding, or regulators requiring us, to conduct additional clinical studies or abandon product candidate development programs; and |
| ● | delays in manufacturing, testing, releasing, validating or importing/exporting sufficient stable quantities of our product candidates for use in clinical studies or the inability to do any of the foregoing. |
Any inability to successfully complete preclinical and clinical development could result in additional costs to us or impair our ability to generate revenue. We may also be required to conduct additional safety, efficacy and comparability studies before we will be allowed to start clinical studies with our repurposed drugs. Clinical study delays could also shorten any periods during which our product candidates have patent protection and may allow our competitors to bring product candidates to market before we do, which could impair our ability to obtain orphan exclusivity and successfully commercialize our product candidates and may harm our business and results of operations.
In respect of our product candidates targeting rare indications, orphan drug exclusivity may afford limited protection, and if another party obtains orphan drug exclusivity for the drugs and indications we are targeting, we may be precluded from commercializing our product candidates in those indications during that period of exclusivity.
The first NDA applicant with an orphan drug designation for a particular active moiety to treat a specific disease or condition that receives FDA approval is entitled to a seven-year exclusive marketing period in the United States for that product candidate, for that indication. There is no assurance that we will successfully obtain orphan drug designation for future rare indications or orphan exclusivity upon approval of any of our product candidates that have already obtained designation. Even if we do obtain orphan exclusivity for any product candidate, the exclusive marketing rights may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the drug. Moreover, a drug product candidate with an active moiety that is a different cannabinoid from that in our drug candidate or, under limited circumstances, the same drug product candidate, may be approved by the FDA for the same indication during the period of marketing exclusivity. The limited circumstances include a showing that the second drug is clinically superior to the drug with marketing exclusivity through a demonstration of superior safety or efficacy or that it makes a major contribution to patient care. In addition, if a competitor obtains approval and marketing exclusivity for a drug product candidate with an active moiety that is the same as that in a product candidate we are pursuing for the same indication, approval of our product candidate would be blocked during the period of marketing exclusivity unless we could demonstrate that our product candidate is clinically superior to the approved product candidate. In addition, if a competitor obtains approval and marketing exclusivity for a drug product candidate with an active moiety that is the same as that in a product candidate we are pursuing for a different orphan indication, this may negatively impact the market opportunity for our product candidate. There have been legal challenges to aspects of the FDA’s regulations and policies concerning the exclusivity provisions of the Orphan Drug Act, and future challenges could lead to changes that affect the protections afforded our product candidates in ways that are difficult to predict. In a recent successful legal challenge, a court invalidated the FDA’s denial of orphan exclusivity to a drug on the grounds that the drug was not proven to be clinically superior to a previously approved product candidate containing the same ingredient for the same orphan use. In response to the decision, the FDA released a policy statement stating that the court’s decision is limited just to the facts of that particular case and that the FDA will continue to require the sponsor of a designated drug that is the “same” as a previously approved drug to demonstrate that its drug is clinically superior to that drug upon approval in order to be eligible for orphan drug exclusivity, or in some cases, to even be eligible for marketing approval. In the future, there is the potential for additional legal challenges to the FDA’s orphan drug regulations and policies, and it is uncertain how such challenges might affect our business.
While orphan drug product candidates are typically sold at a high price relative to other medications, the market may not be receptive to high pricing of our product candidates.
We develop some of our product candidates to treat rare diseases, a space where medications are usually sold at high prices compared with other medications. However, our product candidates are repurposed drugs, which means, among other things, that they are available in pharmacies for the purpose of treating indications that are different from the indications for which we plan to use. Accordingly, even if regulatory authorities approve our product candidates, the market may not be receptive to, and it may be difficult for us to achieve, a per-patient per-year price high enough to allow us to realize a return on our investment.
Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label or result in significant negative consequences following marketing approval, if any.
Undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical studies and could result in a more restrictive marketing label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other comparable foreign authorities. Potential side effects of our cannabinoid-based treatments may include: asthenia, palpitations, tachycardia, vasodilation/facial flush, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, amnesia, anxiety/nervousness, ataxia, confusion, depersonalization, dizziness, euphoria, hallucinations, paranoid reaction, somnolence and abnormal thinking. Results of our studies may identify unacceptable severity and prevalence of these or other side effects. In such an event, our studies could be suspended or terminated, and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development of or deny or withdraw approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications.
Drug-related side effects could affect patient recruitment, the ability of enrolled patients to complete the study or result in potential product candidate liability claims.
Additionally, if one or more of our product candidates receives marketing approval, and we or others later identify undesirable side effects caused by such product candidates, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including but not limited to:
| ● | regulatory authorities may withdraw approvals of such product candidate; |
| ● | regulatory authorities may require additional warnings on the label; |
| ● | we may be required to create a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) plan, which could include a medication guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients, a communication plan for healthcare providers and/or other elements to assure safe use; |
| ● | we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; and |
| ● | our reputation may suffer. |
Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the particular product candidate, if approved, and could significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, our product candidates will remain subject to regulatory scrutiny.
If our product candidates are approved, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies and submission of safety, efficacy and other post-market information, including both federal and state requirements in the United States. In addition, manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive FDA requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, regulations and Quality System Regulation, or QSR. As such, we and our contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMP, QSR and adherence to commitments made in any NDA. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control.
Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our product candidates may also be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses for which the product candidate may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing testing, including Phase 4 clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the product candidate. We will also be required to report certain adverse reactions and production problems, if any, to the FDA, and to comply with requirements concerning advertising and promotion for our product candidates. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product candidate’s approved label. As such, we may not promote our product candidates for indications or uses for which they do not have FDA approval. The holder of an approved NDA must also submit new or supplemental applications and obtain FDA approval for certain changes to the approved product candidate, product candidate labeling or manufacturing process. We could also be asked to conduct post-marketing clinical studies to verify the safety and efficacy of our product candidates in general or in specific patient subsets. If original marketing approval were obtained via the accelerated approval pathway, we could be required to conduct a successful post-marketing clinical study to confirm clinical benefit for our product candidates. An unsuccessful post-marketing study or failure to complete such a study could result in the withdrawal of marketing approval. Furthermore, any new legislation addressing drug safety issues could result in delays in product candidate development or commercialization or increased costs to assure compliance. Foreign regulatory authorities impose similar requirements.
If a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product candidate, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product candidate is manufactured, or disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of a product candidate, such regulatory agency may impose restrictions on that product candidate or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product candidate from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency or enforcement authority may, among other things:
| ● | issue warning letters; |
| ● | impose civil or criminal penalties; |
| ● | suspend or withdraw regulatory approval; |
| ● | suspend any of our ongoing clinical studies; |
| ● | refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications submitted by us; |
| ● | impose restrictions on our operations, including closing our contract manufacturers’ facilities; or |
| ● | seize or detain product candidates, or require a product candidate recall. |
Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements may significantly and adversely affect our ability to commercialize and generate revenue from our product candidates. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval is withdrawn, the value of our company and our operating results will be adversely affected.
We are subject to numerous complex regulations and failure to comply with these regulations, or the cost of compliance with these regulations, may harm our business.
The research, testing, development, manufacturing, quality control, approval, labeling, packaging, storage, recordkeeping, promotion, advertising, marketing, distribution, possession and use of our product candidates, among other things, are subject to regulation by numerous governmental authorities in the United States and elsewhere. The FDA regulates drugs under the FDC Act, and implementing regulations. Noncompliance with any applicable regulatory requirements can result in refusal to approve product candidates for marketing, warning letters, product candidate recalls or seizure of product candidates, total or partial suspension of production, prohibitions or limitations on the commercial sale of product candidates or refusal to allow the entering into of federal and state supply contracts, fines, civil penalties and/or criminal prosecution. Additionally, the FDA and comparable governmental authorities have the authority to withdraw product candidate approvals that have been previously granted. Moreover, the regulatory requirements relating to our product candidates may change from time to time and it is impossible to predict what the impact of any such changes may be.
We are developing product candidates that are controlled substances as defined in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or CSA, which establishes, among other things, certain registration, production quotas, security, recordkeeping, reporting, import, export and other requirements administered by the Drug Enforcement Administration, or the DEA.
The manufacture, shipment, storage, sale and use, among other things, of controlled substances that are pharmaceutical product candidates are subject to a high degree of regulation. The DEA also conducts periodic inspections of registered establishments that handle controlled substances. Facilities that conduct research, manufacture, distribute, import or export controlled substances must be registered to perform these activities and have the security, control and inventory mechanisms required by the DEA to prevent drug loss and diversion. Failure to maintain compliance, particularly non-compliance resulting in loss or diversion, can result in regulatory action that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. The DEA may seek civil penalties, refuse to renew necessary registrations, or initiate proceedings to suspend or revoke those registrations. In certain circumstances, violations could lead to criminal proceedings.
Individual states also have controlled substances laws. Though state controlled substances laws often mirror federal law, because the states are separate jurisdictions, they may separately schedule our product candidates as well. While some states automatically schedule a drug when the DEA does so, other states schedule drugs through rulemaking or a legislative action. State scheduling may delay commercial sale of any product candidate for which we obtain federal regulatory approval and adverse scheduling could have a material adverse effect on the commercial attractiveness of such product candidate. We or our partners must also obtain separate state registrations, permits or licenses in order to be able to obtain, handle, and distribute controlled substances for clinical trials or commercial sale, and failure to meet applicable regulatory requirements could lead to enforcement and sanctions from the states in addition to those from the DEA or otherwise arising under federal law.
Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
We rely on third parties to conduct our preclinical and clinical studies and perform other tasks for us. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or comply with regulatory requirements, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates and our business could be substantially harmed.
We have relied upon and plan to continue to rely upon third-party CROs to monitor and manage data for our ongoing preclinical and clinical programs. We rely on these parties for execution of our preclinical and clinical studies, and control only certain aspects of their activities. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of our studies is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards and our reliance on the CROs does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We and our CROs and other vendors are required to comply with current cGMP, Good Clinical Practice, or GCP, QSR and Good Laboratory Practices, or GLP, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA, the Competent Authorities of the Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA), and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for all of our product candidates in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these regulations through periodic inspections of study sponsors, principal investigators, study sites and other contractors. If we or any of our CROs or vendors fail to comply with applicable regulations, the clinical data generated in our clinical studies may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical studies before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that upon inspection by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of our clinical studies comply with GCP regulations. In addition, our clinical studies must be conducted with product candidates which are produced under cGMP regulations. Our failure to comply with these regulations may require us to repeat clinical studies, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or do so on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, our CROs are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such CROs, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our on-going clinical, nonclinical and preclinical programs. If CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our clinical studies may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize our product candidates. CROs may also generate higher costs than anticipated. As a result, our results of operations and the commercial prospects for our product candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenue could be delayed.
Switching or adding additional CROs involves additional cost and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO commences work. As a result, delays may occur, which could materially impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development timelines. Though we carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter similar challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects.
We will rely on third parties to manufacture our active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, formulations. Our business could be harmed if those third parties fail to provide us with sufficient quantities of our needed supplies, or fail to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices.
We do not have the infrastructure or capability internally to manufacture the API formulations, and we lack the resources and the capability to manufacture any of our product candidates on a clinical or commercial scale. We plan to rely on third parties for such supplies. There are a limited number of manufacturers who have the ability to produce our API and there may be a need to identify alternate manufacturers to prevent a possible disruption of our clinical studies. Any significant delay or discontinuity in the supply of these components could considerably delay completion of our clinical studies, product candidate testing and potential regulatory approval of our product candidates, which could harm our business and results of operations.
We and our collaborators and contract manufacturers are subject to significant regulation with respect to manufacturing our product candidates. The manufacturing facilities on which we rely may not continue to meet regulatory requirements and have limited capacity.
All entities involved in the preparation of therapeutics for clinical studies or commercial sale, including our existing contract manufacturers for our product candidates, are subject to extensive regulation. Components of a finished therapeutic product approved for commercial sale or a product candidate used in late-stage clinical studies must be manufactured in accordance with cGMP. These regulations govern manufacturing processes and procedures (including record keeping) and the implementation and operation of quality systems to control and assure the quality of investigational product candidates and products approved for sale. Poor control of production processes can lead to the introduction of contaminants or to inadvertent changes in the properties or stability of our product candidates that may not be detectable in final product testing. We, our collaborators or our contract manufacturers must supply all necessary documentation in support of an NDA, or Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, on a timely basis and must adhere to GLP and cGMP QSR regulations enforced by the FDA and other regulatory agencies through their facilities inspection program. Some of our contract manufacturers have never produced a commercially approved pharmaceutical product and therefore have not obtained the requisite regulatory authority approvals to do so. The facilities and quality systems of some or all of our collaborators and third-party contractors must pass a pre-approval inspection for compliance with the applicable regulations as a condition of regulatory approval of our product candidates or any of our other potential product candidates. In addition, the regulatory authorities may, at any time, audit or inspect a manufacturing facility involved with the preparation of our product candidates or our other potential product candidates or the associated quality systems for compliance with the regulations applicable to the activities being conducted. We do not control the manufacturing process of, and are completely dependent on, our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with the regulatory requirements. If these facilities do not pass a pre-approval plant inspection, regulatory approval of the product candidates may not be granted or may be substantially delayed until any violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the regulatory authority, if ever.
The regulatory authorities also may, at any time following approval of a product candidate for sale, audit the manufacturing facilities of our collaborators and third-party contractors. If any such inspection or audit identifies a failure to comply with applicable regulations or if a violation of our product candidate specifications or applicable regulations occurs independent of such an inspection or audit, we or the relevant regulatory authority may require remedial measures that may be costly and/or time consuming for us or a third party to implement, and that may include the temporary or permanent suspension of a clinical study or commercial sales, or the temporary or permanent closure of a facility. Any such remedial measures imposed upon us or third parties with whom we contract could materially harm our business.
If we, our collaborators, or any of our third-party manufacturers fail to maintain regulatory compliance, the FDA or other applicable regulatory authority can impose regulatory sanctions including, among other things, refusal to approve a pending application for a new drug product, withdrawal of an approval or suspension of production. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.
Additionally, if supply from one approved manufacturer is interrupted, an alternative manufacturer would need to be qualified through an NDA or MAA amendment, or equivalent foreign regulatory filing, which could result in further delay. The regulatory agencies may also require additional studies if a new manufacturer is relied upon for commercial production. Switching manufacturers may involve substantial costs and is likely to result in a delay in our desired clinical and commercial timelines.
These factors could cause us to incur higher costs and could cause the delay or termination of clinical studies, regulatory submissions, required approvals or commercialization of our product candidates. Furthermore, if our suppliers fail to meet contractual requirements and we are unable to secure one or more replacement suppliers capable of production at a substantially equivalent cost, our clinical studies may be delayed or we could lose potential revenue.
Our reliance on third parties requires us to share our trade secrets, which increases the possibility that a competitor will discover them or that our trade secrets will be misappropriated or disclosed.
Because we rely on third parties to develop and manufacture our product candidates, we must, at times, share trade secrets with them. We seek to protect our proprietary technology in part by entering into confidentiality agreements and, if applicable, material transfer agreements, collaborative research agreements, consulting agreements or other similar agreements with our collaborators, advisors, employees and consultants prior to beginning research or disclosing proprietary information. These agreements typically limit the rights of the third parties to use or disclose our confidential information, such as trade secrets. Despite the contractual provisions employed when working with third parties, the need to share trade secrets and other confidential information increases the risk that such trade secrets become known by our competitors, are inadvertently incorporated into the technology of others, or are disclosed or used in violation of these agreements. Given that our proprietary position is based, in part, on our know-how and trade secrets, a competitor’s discovery of our trade secrets or other unauthorized use or disclosure would impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Risks Related to Commercialization of Our Product Candidates
If the market opportunities for our product candidates are smaller than we believe they are, our revenue may be adversely affected, and our business may suffer.
Our projections of both the number of people who have our target diseases, as well as the subset of people with these diseases who have the potential to benefit from treatment with our product candidates, are based on our beliefs and estimates. These estimates have been derived from a variety of sources, including the scientific literature, surveys of clinics, patient foundations or market research and may prove to be incorrect. Further, new studies may change the estimated incidence or prevalence of these diseases. The number of patients may turn out to be lower than expected. The effort to identify patients with diseases we seek to treat is in early stages, and we cannot accurately predict the number of patients for whom treatment might be possible. Additionally, the potentially addressable patient population for each of our product candidates may be limited or may not be amenable to treatment with our product candidates, and new patients may become increasingly difficult to identify or gain access to, which would adversely affect our results of operations and our business.
We face intense competition and rapid technological change and the possibility that our competitors may discover, develop or commercialize therapies that are similar, more advanced or more effective than ours, which may adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are highly competitive. There are many pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, public and private universities and research organizations actively engaged in the research and development of products that may be similar to our products. In the United States, two oral capsules — Insys Therapeutics’s dronabinol and Meda AB’s nabilone (a synthetic derivative of THC) have been approved and distributed for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have not responded adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments. Dronabinol capsules are also approved for anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS.
We are aware of multiple companies that are working in the cannabis therapeutic area and are pursuing regulatory approval for their product candidates. For example, GW Pharmaceuticals PLC, which markets Sativex, a botanical cannabinoid oral mucosal for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is seeking FDA approval in the United States, and is developing Epidiolex, a liquid formulation of highly purified cannabidiol extract, as a treatment for Dravet’s Syndrome, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and various childhood epilepsy syndromes. Insys Therapeutics, Inc. is also seeking FDA approval for an orally-administered liquid formulation of its synthetic cannabidiol compound as a treatment for Dravet’s Syndrome, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and other childhood epilepsy syndromes and dronabinol oral solution as a treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy and anorexia / weight loss in patients with AIDS. Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is developing a transdermal formulation of cannabidiol, and Nemus Bioscience, Inc. is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of cannabis therapeutics.
More established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their greater size, cash flows and institutional experience. Compared to us, many of our competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical and human resources. As a result of these factors, our competitors may have an advantage in marketing their approved products and may obtain regulatory approval of their product candidates before we are able to, which may limit our ability to develop or commercialize our product candidates. Our competitors may also develop drugs that are safer, more effective, more widely used and less expensive than ours, and may also be more successful than us in manufacturing and marketing their products. These advantages could materially impact our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates successfully.
Our product candidates may also compete with medical and recreational marijuana, in markets where the recreational and/or medical use of marijuana is legal. There is support in the United States for further legalization of marijuana. In markets where recreational and/or medical marijuana is not legal, our product candidates may compete with marijuana purchased in the illegal drug market. We cannot assess the extent to which patients may utilize marijuana obtained illegally for the treatment of the indications for which we are developing our product candidates.
Even if we successfully develop our product candidates, and obtain approval for them, other treatments may be preferred and we may not be successful in commercializing our product candidates.
Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and other resources, such as larger research and development staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations. Additional mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. As a result, these companies may obtain regulatory approval more rapidly than we are able to and may be more effective in selling and marketing their products as well. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in these industries. Our competitors may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing on an exclusive basis, products that are more effective or less costly than any product candidate that we may develop, or achieve earlier patent protection, regulatory approval, product commercialization and market penetration than we do. Additionally, technologies developed by our competitors may render our potential product candidates uneconomical or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing our product candidates against competitors.
We currently have no marketing and sales organization. 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 any revenue.
Although our employees may have sold other similar products in the past while employed at other companies, we as a company have no experience selling and marketing our product candidates and we currently have no marketing or sales organization. To successfully commercialize any products that may result from our development programs, we will need to develop these capabilities, either on our own or with others. If our product candidates receive regulatory approval, we intend to establish a sales and marketing organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize our product candidates in major markets, which will be expensive, difficult and time consuming. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of our products.
Further, given our lack of prior experience in marketing and selling pharmaceutical products, our initial estimate of the size of the required sales force may be materially more or less than the size of the sales force actually required to effectively commercialize our product candidates. As such, we may be required to hire substantially more sales representatives to adequately support the commercialization of our product candidates or we may incur excess costs as a result of hiring more sales representatives than necessary. With respect to certain geographical markets, we may enter into collaborations with other entities to utilize their local marketing and distribution capabilities, but we may be unable to enter into such agreements on favorable terms, if at all. If our future collaborators do not commit sufficient resources to commercialize our future products, if any, and we are unable to develop the necessary marketing capabilities on our own, we will be unable to generate sufficient product revenue to sustain our business. We may be competing with companies that currently have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. Without an internal team or the support of a third party to perform marketing and sales functions, we may be unable to compete successfully against these more established companies.
The commercial success of any current or future product candidate will depend upon the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community.
Even with the requisite approvals from the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, the commercial success of our product candidates will depend in part on the medical community, patients and third-party payors accepting our product candidates as medically useful, cost-effective and safe. Any product that we bring to the market may not gain market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community. The degree of market acceptance of any of our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
| ● | the safety and efficacy of the product as demonstrated in clinical studies and potential advantages over competing treatments; |
| ● | the prevalence and severity of any side effects, including any limitations or warnings contained in a product’s approved labeling; |
| ● | the clinical indications for which approval is granted; |
| ● | relative convenience and ease of administration; |
| ● | the cost of treatment, particularly in relation to competing treatments; |
| ● | the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies; |
| ● | the strength of marketing and distribution support and timing of market introduction of competitive products; |
| ● | publicity concerning our products or competing products and treatments; and |
| ● | sufficient third-party insurance coverage and reimbursement. |
Even if a potential product displays a favorable efficacy and safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies, market acceptance of the product will not be fully known until after it is launched. Our efforts to educate the medical community and third-party payors on the benefits of the product candidates may require significant resources and may never be successful. If our product candidates are approved but fail to achieve an adequate level of acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community, we will not be able to generate sufficient revenue to become or remain profitable.
The insurance coverage and reimbursement status of newly-approved products is uncertain. Failure to obtain or maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for new or current products could limit our ability to market those products and decrease our ability to generate revenue.
The pricing, coverage and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved, must be adequate to support our commercial infrastructure. Our per-patient prices must be sufficient to recover our development and manufacturing costs and potentially achieve profitability. Accordingly, the availability and adequacy of coverage and reimbursement by governmental and private payors are essential for most patients to be able to afford expensive treatments such as ours, assuming approval. Sales of our product candidates will depend substantially, both domestically and abroad, on the extent to which the costs of our product candidates will be paid for by health maintenance, managed care, pharmacy benefit and similar healthcare management organizations, or reimbursed by government authorities, private health insurers and other third-party payors. If coverage and reimbursement are not available, or are available only to limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our product candidates. Even if coverage is provided, the approved reimbursement amount may not be high enough to allow us to establish or maintain pricing sufficient to realize a return on our investment.
There is significant uncertainty related to the insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly approved products. In the United States, the principal decisions about coverage and reimbursement for new drugs are typically made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as CMS decides whether and to what extent a new drug will be covered and reimbursed under Medicare. Private payors tend to follow the coverage reimbursement policies established by CMS to a substantial degree. It is difficult to predict what CMS will decide with respect to reimbursement for products such as ours.
Outside the United States, international operations are generally subject to extensive governmental price controls and other market regulations, and we believe the increasing emphasis on cost-containment initiatives in Europe, Canada and other countries has and will continue to put pressure on the pricing and usage of our product candidates. In many countries, the prices of medical products are subject to varying price control mechanisms as part of national health systems. In general, the prices of medicines under such systems are substantially lower than in the United States. Other countries allow companies to fix their own prices for medicinal products, but monitor and control company profits. Additional foreign price controls or other changes in pricing regulation could restrict the amount that we are able to charge for our product candidates. Accordingly, in markets outside the United States, the reimbursement for our products may be reduced compared with the United States and may be insufficient to generate commercially reasonable revenue and profits.
Moreover, increasing efforts by governmental and third-party payors in the United States and abroad to cap or reduce healthcare costs may cause such organizations to limit both coverage and the level of reimbursement for new products approved and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for our product candidates. We expect to experience pricing pressures in connection with the sale of any of our product candidates due to the trend toward managed healthcare, the increasing influence of health maintenance organizations and additional legislative changes. The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs and surgical procedures and other treatments, has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products.
Healthcare legislative reform measures may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
In the United States, there have been and continue to be a number of legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs. For example, in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively, the Affordable Care Act, was passed. The Affordable Care Act is a sweeping law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and the health insurance industry, impose new taxes and fees on the healthcare industry and impose additional health policy reforms. This law revises the definition of “average manufacturer price” for reporting purposes, which could increase the amount of Medicaid drug rebates to states once the provision is effective. Further, the law imposes a significant annual fee on companies that manufacture or import branded prescription drug products. Substantial new provisions affecting compliance have also been enacted, which may require us to modify our business practices with healthcare practitioners. While the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most elements of the Affordable Care Act in 2012, other legal challenges are still pending final adjudication in several jurisdictions. In addition, Congress has also proposed a number of legislative initiatives, including possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act. At this time, it remains unclear whether there will be any changes made to the Affordable Care Act, whether to certain provisions or its entirety. We can provide no assurance that the Affordable Care Act, as currently enacted or as amended in the future, will not adversely affect our business and financial results, and we cannot predict how future federal or state legislative or administrative changes relating to healthcare reform will affect our business.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. In 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers up to 2% per fiscal year. In 2013, the 2% Medicare payment reductions went into effect. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our product candidates or additional pricing pressures.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain and maintain effective patent rights for our product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets. If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets or know-how, such proprietary information may be used by others to compete against us.
Historically, we have relied on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect the intellectual property related to our technologies and product candidates. Since 2015, we have also sought patent protection for certain of our product candidates. Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection in the United States and in other countries with respect to our proprietary technology and new product candidates.
We have sought to protect our proprietary position by filing patent applications in the United States and in other countries, with respect to our novel technologies and product candidates, which are important to our business. Patent prosecution is expensive and time consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection.
We have a growing portfolio of three provisional patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, three patent applications with the World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO, filed under the Paris Convention Treaty, or PCT, and two issued U.S. patents. We cannot offer any assurances about which, if any, patent applications will issue, the breadth of any such patent or whether any issued patents will be found invalid and unenforceable or will be threatened by third parties. Any successful opposition to these patents or any other patents owned by or licensed to us after patent issuance could deprive us of rights necessary for the successful commercialization of any new product candidates that we may develop.
We have six patents and their continuations and foreign counterparts licensed exclusively from Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd., or Dekel, Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., or Ramot, Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd., or Yissum, and other pharmaceutical companies covering some of our underlying core technology. To the extent the licensed patents are found to be invalid or unenforceable, we may be limited in our ability to compete and market our product candidates. Moreover, the terms of our licenses affect our ability to control the value of any of our product candidates. If we or any of the parties that control the enforcement of the licensed patents elect not to enforce any or all of the licensed patents it could significantly undercut the value of any of our product candidates, which would materially adversely affect our future revenue, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, fluctuating currency rates may create inconsistencies in the royalty payments we have under the license.
Also, there is no guarantee that the patent registration applications that were submitted by us with regards to our technologies will result in patent registration. In the event of failure to complete patent registration, our developments will not be proprietary, which might allow other entities to manufacture our product candidates and compete with them.
Further, there is no assurance that all potentially relevant prior art relating to our patent applications has been found, which can invalidate a patent or prevent a patent from issuing from a pending patent application. Even if patents do successfully issue, and even if such patents cover our product candidates, third parties may challenge their validity, enforceability, or scope, which may result in such patents being narrowed, found unenforceable or invalidated. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patent applications and any future patents may not adequately protect our intellectual property, provide exclusivity for our new product candidates, or prevent others from designing around our claims. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business.
If we cannot obtain and maintain effective patent rights for our product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively, and our business and results of operations would be harmed.
We may not be able to identify infringements of our patents and accordingly the enforcement of our intellectual property rights may be difficult.
The drug substance in some of our product candidates is a repurposed product candidate. It is possible that if we receive regulatory approval to market and sell our drug candidates, some patients that receive a prescription could be sold the same drug substance but not our product candidate. It would be difficult, if not impossible for us to identify such instances that may constitute an infringement of our patents. In addition, because the drug substance of some of our product candidates is a repurposed product candidate, such substance may not be eligible for protection by patents or data exclusivity.
If we are unable to maintain effective proprietary rights for our product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets.
In addition to the protection afforded by any patents currently owned and that may be granted, historically, we have relied on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary know-how that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes that are not easily known, knowable or easily ascertainable, and for which patent infringement is difficult to monitor and enforce and any other elements of our product candidate discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, and contractors. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data, trade secrets and intellectual property by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. Agreements or security measures may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets and intellectual property may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors.
We cannot provide any assurances that our trade secrets and other confidential proprietary information will not be disclosed in violation of our confidentiality agreements or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Also, misappropriation or unauthorized and unavoidable disclosure of our trade secrets and intellectual property could impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, if the steps taken to maintain our trade secrets and intellectual property are deemed inadequate, we may have insufficient recourse against third parties for misappropriating any trade secret.
Intellectual property rights of third parties could adversely affect our ability to commercialize our product candidates, and we might be required to litigate or obtain licenses from third parties in order to develop or market our product candidates. Such litigation or licenses could be costly or not available on commercially reasonable terms.
It is inherently difficult to conclusively assess our freedom to operate without infringing on third party rights. Our competitive position may be adversely affected if existing patents or patents resulting from patent applications issued to third parties or other third party intellectual property rights are held to cover our product candidates or elements thereof, or our manufacturing or uses relevant to our development plans. In such cases, we may not be in a position to develop or commercialize product candidates or our product candidates unless we successfully pursue litigation to nullify or invalidate the third party intellectual property right concerned, or enter into a license agreement with the intellectual property right holder, if available on commercially reasonable terms. There may also be pending patent applications that if they result in issued patents, could be alleged to be infringed by our new product candidates. If such an infringement claim should be brought and be successful, we may be required to pay substantial damages, be forced to abandon our new product candidates or seek a license from any patent holders. No assurances can be given that a license will be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
It is also possible that we have failed to identify relevant third party patents or applications. For example, U.S. patent applications filed before November 29, 2000 and certain U.S. patent applications filed after that date that will not be filed outside the United States remain confidential until patents issue. Patent applications in the United States and elsewhere are published approximately 18 months after the earliest filing for which priority is claimed, with such earliest filing date being commonly referred to as the priority date. Therefore, patent applications covering our new product candidates or platform technology could have been filed by others without our knowledge. Additionally, pending patent applications which have been published can, subject to certain limitations, be later amended in a manner that could cover our platform technologies, our new product candidates or the use of our new product candidates. Third party intellectual property right holders may also actively bring infringement claims against us. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully settle or otherwise resolve such infringement claims. If we are unable to successfully settle future claims on terms acceptable to us, we may be required to engage in or continue costly, unpredictable and time-consuming litigation and may be prevented from or experience substantial delays in pursuing the development of and/or marketing our new product candidates. If we fail in any such dispute, in addition to being forced to pay damages, we may be temporarily or permanently prohibited from commercializing our new product candidates that are held to be infringing. We might, if possible, also be forced to redesign our new product candidates so that we no longer infringe the third party intellectual property rights. Any of these events, even if we were ultimately to prevail, could require us to divert substantial financial and management resources that we would otherwise be able to devote to our business.
Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts.
Our commercial success depends in part on our avoiding infringement of the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties, exist in the fields in which we are developing new product candidates. As our industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our product candidates may be subject to claims of infringement of the patent rights of third parties.
Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. There may be third-party patents or patent applications with claims to materials, designs or methods of manufacture related to the use or manufacture of our product candidates. There may be currently pending patent applications that may later result in issued patents that our product candidates may infringe. In addition, third parties may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents.
If any third-party patents were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for designs, or methods of use, the holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the applicable product candidate unless we obtain a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Parties making claims against us may obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize one or more of our product candidates. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, pay royalties, redesign our infringing product candidates or obtain one or more licenses from third parties, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
Patent policy and rule changes could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of any issued patents.
Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of any patents that may issue from our patent applications, or narrow the scope of our patent protection. The laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. We therefore cannot be certain that we were the first to file the invention claimed in our owned and licensed patent or pending applications, or that we or our licensor were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions. Assuming all other requirements for patentability are met, in the United States prior to March 15, 2013, the first to make the claimed invention without undue delay in filing, is entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application is entitled to the patent. After March 15, 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, enacted on September 16, 2011, the United States has moved to a first to file system. The Leahy-Smith Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and may also affect patent litigation. In general, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of any issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our intellectual property, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our intellectual property. If we were to initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our new product candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our product candidate is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, or non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. Under the Leahy-Smith Act, the validity of U.S. patents may also be challenged in post-grant proceedings before the USPTO. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable.
Derivation proceedings initiated by third parties or brought by us may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions and/or their scope with respect to our patent or patent applications or those of our licensors. An unfavorable outcome could require us to cease using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Our defense of litigation or interference proceedings may fail and, even if successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees. In addition, the uncertainties associated with litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our clinical trials, continue our research programs, license necessary technology from third parties, or enter into development partnerships that would help us bring our new product candidates to market.
Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. There could also be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the price of our Ordinary Shares.
We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship of our intellectual property.
We may be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in, or right to compensation, with respect to our current patent and patent applications, future patents or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise from conflicting obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our product candidates. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship or claiming the right to compensation. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, valuable intellectual property. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Filing, prosecuting, and defending patents on product candidates, as well as monitoring their infringement in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States.
Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and may also export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our product candidates. Future patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets, and other intellectual property protection, which could make it difficult for us to stop the marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our future patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to monitor and enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
Risks Related to Our Business Operations
We manage our business through a small number of employees and key consultants. We depend on them even more than similarly-situated companies.
We have a total of five full-time employees and three dedicated consultants that work for us on a part-time basis. In addition, any of our employees and consultants may leave our company at any time, subject to certain notice periods. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers or any key employees or consultants would adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and harm our operating results.
We do not currently carry “key person” insurance on the lives of members of management.
We will need to expand our organization and we may experience difficulties in recruiting needed additional employees and consultants, which could disrupt our operations.
As our development and commercialization plans and strategies develop and because we are so leanly staffed, we will need additional managerial, operational, sales, marketing, financial, legal and other resources. The competition for qualified personnel in the pharmaceutical field is intense. Due to this intense competition, we may be unable to attract and retain qualified personnel necessary for the development of our business or to recruit suitable replacement personnel.
Our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from our day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. We may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations, which may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. Our expected growth could require significant capital expenditures and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of additional product candidates. If our management is unable to effectively manage our growth, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate and/or grow revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize product candidates and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth.
If we fail to obtain or maintain orphan drug exclusivity for our products, our competitors may sell products to treat the same conditions and our revenue will be reduced.
In some cases, our business strategy focuses on the development of drugs that are eligible for FDA and EU orphan drug designation. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a product as an orphan drug if it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as a patient population of fewer than 200,000 in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the United States. In the European Union, the EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), grants orphan drug designation to promote the development of products that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting not more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union Community. Additionally, designation is granted for products intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition and when, without incentives, it is unlikely that sales of the drug in the European Union would be sufficient to justify the necessary investment in developing the drug.
In the United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages and user-fee waivers. In addition, if a product receives the first FDA approval for the indication for which it has orphan designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which means the FDA may not approve any other application to market the same drug for the same indication for a period of seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority over the product with orphan exclusivity or where the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient product quantity. In the European Union, orphan drug designation also entitles a party to financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and 10 years of market exclusivity is granted following drug approval. This period may be reduced to six years if the orphan drug designation criteria are no longer met, including where it is shown that the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity.
Because the extent and scope of patent protection for our products may in some cases be limited, orphan drug designation is especially important for our products for which orphan drug designation may be available. For eligible drugs, we plan to rely on the exclusivity period under the Orphan Drug Act to maintain a competitive position. If we do not obtain orphan drug exclusivity for our drug products that do not have broad patent protection, our competitors may then sell the same drug to treat the same condition sooner than if we had obtained orphan drug exclusivity and our revenue will be reduced.
Further, even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different drugs with different active moieties can be approved for the same condition. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same drug with the same active moiety for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care. Orphan drug designation neither shortens the development time or regulatory review time of a drug nor gives the drug any advantage in the regulatory review or approval process.
We may not be successful in our efforts to identify, license or discover additional product candidates.
Although a substantial amount of our effort will focus on the continued clinical testing, potential approval and commercialization of our existing product candidates, the success of our business also depends upon our ability to identify, license or discover additional product candidates. Our research programs or licensing efforts may fail to yield additional product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the following:
| ● | our research or business development methodology or search criteria and process may be unsuccessful in identifying potential product candidates; |
| ● | we may not be able or willing to assemble sufficient resources to acquire or discover additional product candidates; |
| ● | our product candidates may not succeed in preclinical or clinical testing; |
| ● | our potential product candidates may be shown to have harmful side effects or may have other characteristics that may make the products unmarketable or unlikely to receive marketing approval; |
| ● | competitors may develop alternatives that render our product candidates obsolete or less attractive; |
| ● | product candidates we develop may be covered by third parties’ patents or other exclusive rights; |
| ● | the market for a product candidate may change during our program so that such a product may become unreasonable to continue to develop; |
| ● | a product candidate may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; and |
| ● | a product candidate may not be accepted as safe and effective by patients, the medical community or third-party payors. |
If any of these events occur, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for a program or programs, or we may not be able to identify, license or discover additional product candidates, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and could potentially cause us to cease operations. Research programs to identify new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential programs or product candidates that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful.
We will incur significant increased costs as a result of the listing of our securities for trading on NASDAQ and thereby becoming a public company in the United States as well as in Israel, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives as well as compliance with ongoing U.S. and Israeli requirements.
Upon the successful completion of this offering and the listing of securities on NASDAQ, we will become a publicly traded company in the United States. As a public company in the United States, we will incur additional significant accounting, legal and other expenses that we did not incur before the offering. We also anticipate that we will incur costs associated with corporate governance requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ, as well as requirements under Section 404 and other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs, introduce new costs such as investor relations, stock exchange listing fees and shareholder reporting, and to make some activities more time consuming and costly. The implementation and testing of such processes and systems may require us to hire outside consultants and incur other significant costs. Any future changes in the laws and regulations affecting public companies in the United States, including Section 404 and other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC and NASDAQ, for so long as they apply to us, will result in increased costs to us as we respond to such changes. These laws, rules and regulations could make it more difficult or more 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. The impact of these requirements could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our Board of Directors, our board committees, if any, or as executive officers.
We may be subject, directly or indirectly, to federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws, false claims laws and health information privacy and security laws. If we are unable to comply, or have not fully complied, with such laws, we could face substantial penalties.
If we obtain FDA approval for any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our operations may be directly or indirectly through our customers, subject to various federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal False Claims Act and physician sunshine laws and regulations. These laws may impact, among other things, our proposed sales, marketing and education programs. In addition, we may be subject to patient privacy regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:
| ● | the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce, or in return for, the purchase or recommendation of an item or service reimbursable under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; |
| ● | federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent; |
| ● | the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and making false statements relating to healthcare matters; |
| ● | HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and its implementing regulations, which imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information; |
| ● | the federal physician sunshine requirements under the Affordable Care Act requires manufacturers of drugs, devices and medical supplies to report annually to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians, other healthcare providers and teaching hospitals and ownership and investment interests held by physicians and other healthcare providers and their immediate family members and applicable group purchasing organizations; and |
| ● | state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws that may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers, state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. |
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. In addition, recent health care reform legislation has strengthened these laws. For example, the Affordable Care Act, among other things, amends the intent requirement of the federal anti-kickback and criminal healthcare fraud statutes. A person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it. Moreover, the Affordable Care Act provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal anti-kickback statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.
If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from participation in government health care programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, imprisonment and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.
International expansion of our business exposes us to business, regulatory, political, operational, financial and economic risks associated with doing business outside of the United States or Israel.
Other than our headquarters and other operations which are located in Israel (as further described below), we currently have limited international operations, but our business strategy incorporates potentially significant international expansion, particularly in anticipation of approval of our product candidates. We plan to maintain sales representatives and conduct physician and patient association outreach activities, as well as clinical trials, outside of the United States and Israel. Doing business internationally involves a number of risks, including but not limited to:
| ● | multiple, conflicting and changing laws and regulations such as privacy regulations, tax laws, export and import restrictions, employment laws, regulatory requirements and other governmental approvals, permits and licenses; |
| ● | failure by us to obtain regulatory approvals for the use of our products in various countries; |
| ● | additional potentially relevant third-party patent rights; |
| ● | complexities and difficulties in obtaining protection and enforcing our intellectual property; |
| ● | difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations; |
| ● | complexities associated with managing multiple payor reimbursement regimes, government payors or patient self-pay systems; |
| ● | limits in our ability to penetrate international markets; |
| ● | financial risks, such as longer payment cycles, difficulty collecting accounts receivable, the impact of local and regional financial crises on demand and payment for our products and exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; |
| ● | natural disasters, political and economic instability, including wars, terrorism and political unrest, outbreak of disease, boycotts, curtailment of trade and other business restrictions; |
| ● | certain expenses including, among others, expenses for travel, translation and insurance; and |
| ● | regulatory and compliance risks that relate to maintaining accurate information and control over sales and activities that may fall within the purview of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, its books and records provisions or its anti-bribery provisions. |
Any of these factors could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, our results of operations.
If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.
Our research and development activities and our third-party manufacturers’ and suppliers’ activities involve the controlled storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials, including the components of our product candidates and other hazardous compounds. We and our manufacturers and suppliers are subject to laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these hazardous materials. In some cases, these hazardous materials and various wastes resulting from their use are stored at our and our manufacturers’ facilities pending their use and disposal. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination, which could cause an interruption of our commercialization efforts, research and development efforts, business operations and environmental damage resulting in costly clean-up and liabilities under applicable laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products. Although we believe that the safety procedures utilized by our third-party manufacturers for handling and disposing of these materials generally comply with the standards prescribed by these laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee that this is the case or eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In such an event, we may be held liable for any resulting damages and such liability could exceed our resources and state or federal or other applicable authorities may curtail our use of certain materials and/or interrupt our business operations. Furthermore, environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent. We cannot predict the impact of such changes and cannot be certain of our future compliance. We do not currently carry biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage.
The use of any of our product candidates could result in product liability or similar claims that could be expensive, damage our reputation and harm our business.
Our business exposes us to an inherent risk of potential product liability or similar claims. The pharmaceutical industry has historically been litigious, and we face financial exposure to product liability or similar claims if the use of any of our products were to cause or contribute to injury or death. There is also the possibility that defects in the design or manufacture of any of our products might necessitate a product recall. Although we plan to maintain product liability insurance, the coverage limits of these policies may not be adequate to cover future claims. In the future, we may be unable to maintain product liability insurance on acceptable terms or at reasonable costs and such insurance may not provide us with adequate coverage against potential liabilities. A product liability claim, regardless of merit or ultimate outcome, or any product recall could result in substantial costs to us, damage to our reputation, customer dissatisfaction and frustration and a substantial diversion of management attention. A successful claim brought against us in excess of, or outside of, our insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to this Offering and the Ownership of Our ADSs or Ordinary Shares
Sales of a substantial number of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares in the public market by our existing shareholders could cause our share price to fall.
Sales of a substantial number of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that sales may have on the prevailing market price of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares.
Our principal shareholders, officers and directors beneficially own approximately 49% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares. They will therefore be able to exert significant control over matters submitted to our shareholders for approval.
As of August 1, 2016, our principal shareholders, officers and directors beneficially own approximately 49% of our Ordinary Shares. This significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price for our Ordinary Shares because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning shares in companies with controlling shareholders. As a result, these shareholders, if they acted together, could significantly influence or even unilaterally approve matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. The interests of these shareholders may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other shareholders.
If you purchase our ADSs in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your shares.
The offering price of the ADSs is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Ordinary Shares. Therefore, if you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will pay a price per Ordinary Share that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per Ordinary Share after this offering. To the extent outstanding options or warrants are exercised, you will incur further dilution. Based on the offering price of $ per ADS, you will experience immediate dilution of $ per Ordinary Share, representing the difference between our pro forma net tangible book value per Ordinary Share after giving effect to this offering and the offering price. In addition, purchasers of ADSs in this offering will have contributed approximately % of the aggregate price paid by all purchasers of our Ordinary Shares but will own only approximately % of our Ordinary Shares outstanding after this offering. See “Dilution”.
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, and could spend the proceeds in ways that you do not agree with or that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of ADSs. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business and cause the price of the ADSs to decline.
The JOBS Act will allow us to postpone the date by which we must comply with some of the laws and regulations intended to protect investors and to reduce the amount of information we provide in our reports filed with the SEC, which could undermine investor confidence in our company and adversely affect the market price of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares.
For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including:
| ● | the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that our independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; |
| ● | any rules that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report on the financial statements; and |
| ● | our ability to furnish two rather than three years of income statements and statements of cash flows in various required filings. |
We intend to take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the date of our first sale of equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.0 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Ordinary Shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
We cannot predict if investors will find our ADSs or Ordinary Shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our ADSs or Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our ADSs or Ordinary Shares, and our market prices may be more volatile and may decline.
As a “foreign private issuer” we are permitted, and intend, to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of otherwise applicable SEC and NASDAQ requirements, which may result in less protection than is accorded to investors under rules applicable to domestic U.S. issuers.
Our status as a foreign private issuer also exempts us from compliance with certain SEC laws and regulations and certain regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market, including the proxy rules, the short-swing profits recapture rules, and certain governance requirements such as independent director oversight of the nomination of directors and executive compensation. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. domestic companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act and we will generally be exempt from filing quarterly reports with the SEC. Also, although a recent amendment to the Israeli Companies Law, or the Companies Law, will require us to disclose the annual compensation of our five most highly compensated senior officers on an individual basis (rather than on an aggregate basis, as was permitted under the Companies Law for Israeli public companies listed overseas, such as in the United States, prior to such amendment), this disclosure will not be as extensive as that required of a U.S. domestic issuer. For example, it currently appears as if the disclosure required under Israeli law would be limited to compensation paid in the immediately preceding year without any requirement to disclose option exercises and vested stock options, pension benefits or potential payments upon termination or a change of control. Furthermore, as a foreign private issuer, we are also not subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
These exemptions and leniencies will reduce the frequency and scope of information and protections to which you are entitled as an investor.
We may be a “passive foreign investment company”, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the current taxable year or may become one in any subsequent taxable year. There generally would be negative tax consequences for U.S. taxpayers that are holders of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares if we are or were to become a PFIC.
In general, we will be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which either (1) at least 75% of our gross income is “passive income” or (2) on average at least 50% of our assets by value produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, certain dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions and from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income. Passive income also includes amounts derived by reason of the temporary investment of funds, including those raised in a public offering. In determining whether a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC, a proportionate share of the income and assets of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest (by value) is taken into account. We have not determined whether we will be a PFIC in the year in which this offering is completed or in future years because, among other things, PFIC status is determined annually and is based on our income, assets and activities for the entire taxable year. In addition, our PFIC status may depend in part on the market value of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we currently are not or will not become a PFIC in the future. If we are a PFIC in any taxable year during which a U.S. taxpayer holds our ADSs or Ordinary Shares, such U.S. taxpayer would be subject to certain adverse U.S. federal income tax rules. In particular, if the U.S. taxpayer did not make an election to treat us as a “qualified electing fund”, or QEF, or make a “mark-to-market” election, then “excess distributions” to the U.S. taxpayer, and any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares by the U.S. taxpayer: (1) would be allocated ratably over the U.S. taxpayer’s holding period for the ADSs or Ordinary Shares; (2) the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any period prior to the first day of the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income; and (3) the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year. In addition, if the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, determines that we are a PFIC for a year with respect to which we have determined that we were not a PFIC, it may be too late for a U.S. taxpayer to make a timely QEF or mark-to-market election. U.S. taxpayers that have held our ADSs or Ordinary Shares during a period when we were a PFIC will be subject to the foregoing rules, even if we cease to be a PFIC in subsequent years, subject to exceptions for U.S. taxpayer who made a timely QEF or mark-to-market election. A U.S. taxpayer can make a QEF election by completing the relevant portions of and filing IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the instructions thereto. We do not intend to notify U.S. taxpayers that hold our ADSs or Ordinary Shares if we believe we will be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year in order to enable U.S. taxpayers to consider whether to make a QEF election. In addition, we do not intend to furnish such U.S. taxpayers annually with information needed in order to complete IRS Form 8621 and to make and maintain a valid QEF election for any year in which we or any of our subsidiaries are a PFIC. U.S. taxpayers that hold our ADSs or Ordinary Shares are strongly urged to consult their tax advisors about the PFIC rules, including tax return filing requirements and the eligibility, manner, and consequences to them of making a QEF or mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs or Ordinary Shares in the event that we are a PFIC. See “Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Companies” for additional information.
We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert management attention.
In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could seriously hurt our business. Any adverse determination in litigation could also subject us to significant liabilities.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they adversely change their recommendations or publish negative reports regarding our business or our shares, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs or Ordinary Shares will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. We do not have any control over these analysts and we cannot provide any assurance that analysts will cover us or provide favorable coverage. If any of the analysts who may cover us adversely change their recommendation regarding our shares, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our share price would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
Risks Related to Israeli Law and Our Operations in Israel
Our operations are subject to currency and interest rate fluctuations.
We incur expenses in U.S. dollars and NIS, but our financial statements are denominated in NIS and presented in NIS and have a convenience translation to U.S. dollars. NIS is our functional currency. The NIS is the currency that represents the principal economic environment in which we operate. As a result, we are affected by foreign currency exchange fluctuations through both translation risk and transaction risk. As a result, we are exposed to the risk that the NIS may appreciate relative to the dollar, or, if the NIS instead devalues relative to the dollar, that the inflation rate in Israel may exceed such rate of devaluation of the NIS, or that the timing of such devaluation may lag behind inflation in Israel. In any such event, the dollar cost of our operations in Israel would increase and our dollar-denominated results of operations would be adversely affected.
Provisions of Israeli law and our articles of association may delay, prevent or otherwise impede a merger with, or an acquisition of, our company, which could prevent a change of control, even when the terms of such a transaction are favorable to us and our shareholders.
Israeli corporate law regulates mergers, requires tender offers for acquisitions of shares above specified thresholds, requires special approvals for transactions involving directors, officers or significant shareholders and regulates other matters that may be relevant to such types of transactions. For example, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 50 days have passed from the date on which a merger proposal is filed by each merging company with the Israel Registrar of Companies and at least 30 days have passed from the date on which the shareholders of both merging companies have approved the merger. In addition, a majority of each class of securities of the target company must approve a merger. Moreover, a tender offer for all of a company’s issued and outstanding shares can only be completed if the acquirer receives positive responses from the holders of at least 95% of the issued share capital. Completion of the tender offer also requires approval of a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in the tender offer, unless, following consummation of the tender offer, the acquirer would hold at least 98% of the company’s outstanding shares. Furthermore, the shareholders, including those who indicated their acceptance of the tender offer, may, at any time within six months following the completion of the tender offer, claim that the consideration for the acquisition of the shares does not reflect their fair market value, and petition an Israeli court to alter the consideration for the acquisition accordingly, unless the acquirer stipulated in its tender offer that a shareholder that accepts the offer may not seek such appraisal rights, and the acquirer or the company published all required information with respect to the tender offer prior to the tender offer’s response date. See “Description of Share Capital — Provisions Restricting Change in Control of Our Company - Acquisitions under Israeli Law” for additional information.
Israeli tax considerations also may make potential transactions unappealing to us or to our shareholders whose country of residence does not have a tax treaty with Israel exempting such shareholders from Israeli tax. For example, Israeli tax law does not recognize tax-free share exchanges to the same extent as U.S. tax law. With respect to mergers, Israeli tax law allows for tax deferral in certain circumstances but makes the deferral contingent on the fulfillment of a number of conditions, including, in some cases, a holding period of two years from the date of the transaction during which sales and dispositions of shares of the participating companies may be subject to certain restrictions and additional terms. Moreover, with respect to certain share swap transactions, the tax deferral is limited in time, and when such time expires, the tax becomes payable even if no disposition of the shares has occurred. See “Taxation—Israeli Tax Considerations and Government Programs” for additional information.
It may be difficult to enforce a judgment of a United States court against us and our officers and directors and the Israeli experts named in this prospectus in Israel or the United States, to assert United States securities laws claims in Israel or to serve process on our officers and directors and these experts.
We were incorporated in Israel and our corporate headquarters are located in Israel. All of our executive officers and directors and the Israeli experts named in this prospectus are located in Israel. All of our assets and most of the assets of these persons are located in Israel. Therefore, a judgment obtained against us, or any of these persons, including a judgment based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be collectible in the United States and may not necessarily be enforced by an Israeli court. It also may be difficult to affect service of process on these persons in the United States or to assert U.S. securities law claims in original actions instituted in Israel. Additionally, it may be difficult for an investor, or any other person or entity, to initiate an action with respect to United States securities laws in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on an alleged violation of United States securities laws reasoning that Israel is not the most appropriate forum in which to bring such a claim. In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that Israeli law and not United States law is applicable to the claim. If United States law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable United States law must be proven as a fact by expert witnesses, which can be a time consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by Israeli law. There is little binding case law in Israel that addresses the matters described above. As a result of the difficulty associated with enforcing a judgment against us in Israel, you may not be able to collect any damages awarded by either a United States or foreign court. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” for additional information on your ability to enforce a civil claim against us and our executive officers or directors named in this prospectus.
Our headquarters and other significant operations are located in Israel, and, therefore, our results may be adversely affected by political, economic and military instability in Israel.
Our executive offices and our corporate headquarters are located in Israel. In addition, all of our officers and directors are residents of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel and the surrounding region may directly affect our business. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its neighboring Arab countries, the Hamas militant group and the Hezbollah. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its trading partners could adversely affect our operations and results of operations. Since October 2000, there have been increasing occurrences of terrorist violence. In 2006, a conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah in Lebanon resulted in thousands of rockets being fired from Lebanon into Israel. In 2008, Israel engaged in an armed conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which involved missile strikes against Israel and negatively affected business conditions in Israel. In 2012, Israel experienced a similar armed conflict, resulting in hundreds of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip. Most recently, in 2014, Israel yet again experienced rocket strikes against civilian targets in various parts of Israel, as part of an armed conflict commenced between Israel and Hamas. Ongoing and revived hostilities or other Israeli political or economic factors, such as, an interruption of operations at the Tel Aviv airport, could prevent or delay shipments of our components or products. Although we may maintain inventory outside of Israel, an extended interruption could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, since 2010 political uprisings and conflicts in various countries in the Middle East, including Egypt and Syria, are affecting the political stability of those countries. It is not clear how this instability will develop and how it will affect the political and security situation in the Middle East. This instability has raised concerns regarding security in the region and the potential for armed conflict. In Syria, a country bordering Israel, a civil war is taking place. In addition, it is widely believed that Iran, which has previously threatened to attack Israel, has been stepping up its efforts to achieve nuclear capability. Iran is also believed to have a strong influence among extremist groups in the region, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Additionally, the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, or ISIL, a violent jihadist group, is involved in hostilities in Iraq and Syria and has been growing in influence. Although ISIL’s activities have not directly affected the political and economic conditions in Israel, ISIL’s stated purpose is to take control of the Middle East, including Israel. The tension between Israel and Iran and/or these groups may escalate in the future and turn violent, which could affect the Israeli economy in general and us in particular. Any potential future conflict could also include missile strikes against parts of Israel, including our offices and facilities. Such instability may lead to deterioration in the political and trade relationships that exist between the State of Israel and certain other countries. Any armed conflicts, terrorist activities or political instability in the region could adversely affect business conditions, could harm our results of operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Parties with whom we do business may sometimes decline to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing us to make alternative arrangements when necessary in order to meet our business partners face to face. Several countries, principally in the Middle East, still restrict doing business with Israel and Israeli companies, and additional countries may impose restrictions on doing business with Israel and Israeli companies if hostilities in Israel or political instability in the region continues or increases. Similarly, Israeli companies are limited in conducting business with entities from several countries. For instance, in 2008, the Israeli legislature passed a law forbidding any investments in entities that transact business with Iran. In addition, the political and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements.
Our insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of an event associated with the security situation in the Middle East or for any resulting disruption in our operations. Although the Israeli government has in the past covered the reinstatement value of direct damages that were caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war, we cannot assure you that this government coverage will be maintained or, if maintained, will be sufficient to compensate us fully for damages incurred and the government may cease providing such coverage or the coverage might not suffice to cover potential damages. Any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any armed conflicts or political instability in the region would likely negatively affect business conditions generally and could harm our results of operations.
Further, in the past, the State of Israel and Israeli companies have been subjected to economic boycotts. Several countries still restrict business with the State of Israel and with Israeli companies. These restrictive laws and policies may have an adverse impact on our operating results, financial conditions or the expansion of our business.
Your rights and responsibilities as a shareholder will be governed by Israeli law, which differs in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders of U.S. companies.
The rights and responsibilities of the holders of our Ordinary Shares (and therefore indirectly our ADSs) are governed by our articles of association and by Israeli law. These rights and responsibilities differ in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S.-based corporations. In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has certain duties to act in good faith and fairness and in a customary manner in exercising its rights and performing its obligations towards the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing its power in the company including, among other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on certain matters, such as an amendment to the company’s articles of association, an increase of the company’s authorized share capital, a merger of the company, and approval of related party transactions that require shareholder approval. A shareholder also has a general duty to refrain from discriminating against other shareholders. In addition, a controlling shareholder or a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or to appoint or prevent the appointment of an officer of the company has a duty to act in fairness towards the company with regard to such vote or appointment. However, Israeli law does not define the substance of this duty of fairness. See “Management—Board Practices—Duties of Shareholders” for additional information. There is limited case law available to assist us in understanding the nature of this duty or the implications of these provisions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional obligations on holders of our Ordinary Shares that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.
We received Israeli government grants for certain of our past research and development activities and programs, some of which we out-licensed or are in the process of out-licensing. The terms of such grants may require us, in the future, to pay royalties and to satisfy specific conditions if and to the extent we receive future royalties or in order to complete the out-licensing of such grant based technologies and programs. We may be required to pay penalties in addition to payment of the royalties.
Our research and development efforts with respect to some of our past activities, including our previous immunotherapy programs such as our BBS technology, which was focused on developing an immunotherapeutic monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, which we out-licensed in March 2015, and our Anti-CD3 technology directed toward the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, which is in the process of being out-licensed, were financed in part through royalty-bearing grants from the Israeli National Authority for Technological Innovation, or the INATI, formerly known as the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy. As of December 31, 2015, we have received the aggregate amount of approximately $4.1 million from the INATI for the development of our abovementioned technologies. With respect to such grants we are committed to pay certain royalties up to $1.4 million. We are required to comply with the requirements of the Israeli Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, 5744-1984, as amended, and related regulations, or the Research Law, with respect to these past grants. The discretionary approval of an INATI committee would be required for any assignment and/or transfer to third parties inside or outside of Israel of know-how or manufacturing or manufacturing rights related to those aspects of such activities and programs (including out-licensing it). We may not receive these approvals. Although we do not believe that these requirements will materially restrict us in any way, the INATI may impose certain conditions on any arrangement under which it permits us to transfer or assign technology or development in or out of Israel. If we fail to comply with the Research Law, we may be required to refund certain grants previously received and/or to pay interest and penalties and we may become subject to criminal charges. None of our current projects in the field of cannabinoid therapeutics are supported by the INATI, yet if eligible, we may apply for such support in the future.
We are in the process of out-licensing one of our past research and development activities which may not be completed due to factors not in our control, and we may be required to assume the out-licensed activity or abandon it, subject to certain payments and liabilities.
In June 2016, we entered into a share transfer agreement with our subsidiary, Orimmune Bio Inc., or Orimmune, and Karma Link Ltd., or Karma Link, a private company incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. According to the agreement, we will sell our holdings in Orimmune to Karma Link and will assist the assignment of the antibody Anti-CD3 technology (which was in-licensed by us from Hadasit Medical Research Services & Development Ltd., or Hadasit, and certain internally developed assets and technology relating thereto). We cannot be certain that we will receive the necessary permits and approvals to affect the sale, or under what conditions these permits and approvals may be granted. We are assisting Karma Link with the activities related to the assignment of the license with all relevant parties and authorities. Although failure to complete the assignment will not constitute a breach of the agreement by us, such failure may obligate us to decide whether to continue with the program (including continuing the search for other potential collaborators for the assignment of the license) or to abandon the license pursuant to the provisions of the original license agreement with Hadasit. In either of such events, we may bear certain payments and liabilities to third parties including the INATI.
Our operations may be disrupted as a result of the obligation of management or key personnel to perform military service.
Our employees and consultants in Israel, including members of our senior management, may be obligated to perform one month, and in some cases longer periods, of military reserve duty until they reach the age of 40 (or older, for citizens who hold certain positions in the Israeli armed forces reserves) and, in the event of a military conflict or emergency circumstances, may be called to immediate and unlimited active duty. In the event of severe unrest or other conflict, individuals could be required to serve in the military for extended periods of time. In response to increases in terrorist activity, there have been periods of significant call-ups of military reservists. It is possible that there will be similar large-scale military reserve duty call-ups in the future. Our operations could be disrupted by the absence of a significant number of our officers, directors, employees and consultants related to military service. Such disruption could materially adversely affect our business and operations. Additionally, the absence of a significant number of the employees of our Israeli suppliers and contractors related to military service or the absence for extended periods of one or more of their key employees for military service may disrupt their operations.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements made under “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and elsewhere in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” “intends” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | our timeline for our product candidate development path, including the anticipated starting and ending dates of our anticipated clinical trials; |
| ● | anticipated actions of the FDA or other regulatory bodies, including approval to conduct clinical trials, the scope of those trials and the prospects for regulatory approval of, or other regulatory action with respect to our product candidates; |
| ● | the commercial launch and future sales of our existing product candidates or any other future potential product candidates; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the commercial supply of our product candidates; |
| ● | our estimates regarding anticipated capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; |
| ● | the patient market size and market adoption of our product candidates by physicians and patients; |
�� | ● | the timing, cost or other aspects of the commercial launch of our product candidates; |
| ● | completion and receiving favorable results of our anticipated clinical trials; |
| ● | our expectations regarding when certain patents may be issued and the protection of our intellectual property; |
| ● | our expectations regarding licensing, acquisitions and strategic partnering; and |
| ● | the potential purchases by certain of our existing shareholders in this offering. |
These statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in this prospectus in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by law, we are under no duty to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this prospectus.
PRICE HISTORY OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES AND ADSs
Our Ordinary Shares have been trading on the TASE under the symbol “THXBY” since December 26, 2005. Our ADSs commenced trading on the OTCQB under the symbol “THXBY” on October 6, 2014. Each ADS is comprised of 20 Ordinary Shares of the Company.” We are in the process of applying to have our ADSs listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “TRPX.”
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low closing prices of our Ordinary Shares on the TASE in NIS and U.S. dollars. U.S. dollar per Ordinary Share amounts are calculated using the U.S. dollar representative rate of exchange on the date to which the high or low market price is applicable, as reported by the Bank of Israel.
| | NIS Price Per Ordinary Share | | | U.S.$ Price Per Ordinary Share | |
| | High | | | Low | | | High | | | Low | |
Annual: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2015 | | | .99 | | | | .37 | | | | .26 | | | | .09 | |
2014 | | | 1.13 | | | | .38 | | | | .33 | | | | .10 | |
2013 | | | 1.77 | | | | .55 | | | | .49 | | | | .15 | |
2012 | | | 14.21 | | | | 1.31 | | | | 3.70 | | | | .35 | |
2011 | | | 26.00 | | | | 13.12 | | | | 7.61 | | | | 3.44 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quarterly: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Third Quarter 2016 (through August 3, 2016) | | | 0.93 | | | | 0.82 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.21 | |
Second Quarter 2016 | | | 1.01 | | | | 0.82 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.21 | |
First Quarter 2016 | | | 1.04 | | | | 0.85 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.22 | |
Fourth Quarter 2015 | | | 0.99 | | | | 0.82 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.21 | |
Third Quarter 2015 | | | 0.93 | | | | 0.72 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.19 | |
Second Quarter 2015 | | | 0.86 | | | | 0.39 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.10 | |
First Quarter 2015 | | | 0.49 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.09 | |
Fourth Quarter 2014 | | | 0.56 | | | | 0.38 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.10 | |
Third Quarter 2014 | | | 0.65 | | | | 0.48 | | | | 0.18 | | | | 0.13 | |
Second Quarter 2014 | | | 1.13 | | | | 0.55 | | | | 0.33 | | | | 0.16 | |
First Quarter 2014 | | | 0.82 | | | | 0.67 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.19 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Most Recent Six Months: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
July 2016 | | | 0.93 | | | | 0.84 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.22 | |
June 2016 | | | 0.92 | | | | 0.82 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.21 | |
May 2016 | | | 1.00 | | | | 0.87 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.23 | |
April 2016 | | | 1.01 | | | | 0.86 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.23 | |
March 2016 | | | 0.95 | | | | 0.89 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.24 | |
February 2016 | | | 0.99 | | | | 0.85 | | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.22 | |
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low closing sale prices of our ADSs on the OTCQB in U.S. dollars.
| | U.S.$ | | | | |
| | Price Per | | | | |
| | ADS | | | | |
| | High | | | Low | |
Annual: | | | | | | |
2014 (from October 6, 2014) | | | 3.00 | | | | 2.15 | |
2015 | | | 3.90 | | | | 2.15 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Quarterly: | | | | | | | | |
Third Quarter 2016 (through August 3, 2016) | | | 4.01 | | | | 4.01 | |
Second Quarter 2016 | | | 4.01 | | | | 3.90 | |
First Quarter 2016 | | | 3.90 | | | | 3.90 | |
Fourth Quarter 2015 | | | 3.90 | | | | 3.90 | |
Third Quarter 2015 | | | 3.90 | | | | 3.90 | |
Second Quarter 2015 | | | 3.25 | | | | 2.15 | |
First Quarter 2015 | | | 2.15 | | | | 2.15 | |
Fourth Quarter 2014 | | | 3.00 | | | | 2.15 | |
Most Recent Six Months: | | | | | | | | |
July 2016 | | | 4.01 | | | | 4.01 | |
June 2016 | | | 4.01 | | | | 4.01 | |
May 2016 | | | 4.01 | | | | 4.01 | |
April 2016 | | | 3.90 | | | | 3.90 | |
March 2016 | | | 3.90 | | | | 3.90 | |
February 2016 | | | 3.90 | | | | 3.90 | |
USE OF PROCEEDS
We expect to receive approximately $ million in net proceeds from the sale of ADSs offered by us in this offering (approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), based upon an assumed public offering price of $ per ADS, the last reported sale price of our ADSs on the OTCQB on , 2016 (based on the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Israel on that date).
We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for the following purposes:
| ● | Approximately $3.9 million to advance the formulation and clinical development efforts in our Joint Pharma program (THX-TS01 product candidate), allocated as follows: |
| ○ | approximately $600,000 to fund a proof of concept, Phase IIa clinical trial in the United States; |
| ○ | approximately $1.3 million to fund Phase IIb clinical trial in Europe; and |
| ○ | the remainder to fund general formulation development and product manufacturing for clinical trials. |
| ● | Approximately $3.5 million to advance the formulation and clinical development efforts in our BrainBright Pharma program (THX- ULD01 product candidate), allocated as follows: |
| ○ | approximately $350,000 to fund a Phase I clinical trial in Canada or the United States; |
| ○ | approximately $1 million to fund a proof of concept, Phase IIa clinical trial in Israel or Europe; and |
| ○ | the remainder to fund general formulation development and product manufacturing for clinical trials. |
| ● | The remainder for working capital and general corporate purposes, and possible in-licensing of additional intellectual property and product candidates. |
The amounts and schedule of our actual expenditures will depend on multiple factors including the progress of our clinical development and regulatory efforts, the status and results of the clinical trials, the pace of our partnering efforts in regards to manufacturing and commercialization and the overall regulatory environment. Therefore, our management will retain broad discretion over the use of the proceeds from this offering. We may ultimately use the proceeds for different purposes than what we currently intend. Pending any ultimate use of any portion of the proceeds from this offering, if the anticipated proceeds will not be sufficient to fund all the proposed purposes, our management will determine the order of priority for using the proceeds, as well as the amount and sources of other funds needed.
Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we may invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment grade, interest bearing instruments and U.S. government securities.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
The Companies Law imposes further restrictions on our ability to declare and pay dividends.
Payment of dividends may be subject to Israeli withholding taxes. See “Taxation—Israeli Tax Considerations and Government Programs” for additional information.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of March 31, 2016:
| ● | on an actual basis; and |
| ● | on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the sale of ADSs in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $ per ADS, the last reported sale price of the ADSs on the OTCQB on , 2016, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, as if the sale of the ADSs had occurred on March 31, 2016. |
You should read this table in conjunction with the sections titled “Selected Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
| | As of March 31, 2016 | |
| | Actual | | | As Adjusted | |
(in thousands) | | NIS | | | USD (1) Convenience Translation | | | USD (1) (2) Convenience Translation | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 4,812 | | | | 1,278 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liability in respect of government grants | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 2,197 | | | | 584 | | | | | |
Shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share capital | | | 3,540 | | | | 940 | | | | | |
Share premium | | | 95,772 | | | | 25,431 | | | | | |
Capital reserve from foreign currency translation | | | 20 | | | | 5 | | | | | |
Warrants | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Capital reserve from transactions with non-controlling shareholders | | | 941 | | | | 250 | | | | | |
Capital reserve for share-based payments | | | 18,608 | | | | 4,941 | | | | | |
Accumulated loss | | | 115,405 | | | | 30,644 | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity | | | 3,476 | | | | 922 | | | | | |
Total capitalization | | | 2,854 | | | | 757 | | | | | |
(1) | Calculated using the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Israel for March 31, 2016 at the rate of one U.S. dollar per NIS 3.766. |
(2) | A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per ADS would increase (decrease) the pro forma amount of each of cash and cash equivalents and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $ million, assuming that the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A -ADS increase in the number of ADSs offered by us would increase each of cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders’ equity by approximately $ million after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and any estimated offering expenses payable by us. Conversely, a -ADS decrease in the number of ADSs offered by us would decrease each of cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders’ equity by approximately $ million after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and any estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
We have derived the following statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 from our audited financial statements, and the balance sheet data as of March 31, 2016 from our unaudited financial statements, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, and are qualified entirely by reference to such consolidated financial statements.
| | Year Ended December 31, | | | Three Months Ended March 31, | | | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | |
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | | NIS | | | USD Convenience Translation* | |
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expenses, net | | | 931 | | | | 1,800 | | | | 585 | | | | 230 | | | | 155 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 5,297 | | | | 5,238 | | | | 1,314 | | | | 1,152 | | | | 349 | |
Other expense (income), net | | | 3,734 | | | | (115 | ) | | | - | | | | 19 | | | | - | |
Operating loss | | | 9,962 | | | | 6,923 | | | | 1,899 | | | | 1,401 | | | | 504 | |
Listing expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Finance expenses (income), net | | | 15 | | | | 26 | | | | 53 | | | | 17 | | | | 14 | |
Net comprehensive loss | | | 10,164 | | | | 7,282 | | | | 1,952 | | | | 1,532 | | | | 518 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss per Ordinary Share | | | 0.43 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.08 | | | | 0.01 | |
Number of Ordinary Shares used in computing loss per Ordinary Share | | | 23,853,196 | | | | 16,071,577 | | | | 35,399,152 | | | | 18,521,759 | | | | 35,399,152 | |
| | As of March 31, 2016 | |
| | Actual | | | As Adjusted (1) (2) | |
(in thousands) | | NIS | | | USD - Convenience Translation* | | | USD - Convenience Translation* | |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 4,812 | | | | 1,278 | | | | | |
Total assets | | | 5,051 | | | | 1,341 | | | | | |
Total non-current liabilities | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Accumulated loss | | | 115,405 | | | | 30,644 | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) | | | 3,476 | | | | 922 | | | | | |
* Calculated using the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Israel for March 31, 2016 at the rate of one U.S. dollar per NIS 3.766.
(1) Gives effect to the ADSs offered by us in this offering assuming this offering was consummated at the beginning of the referenced period.
(2) A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per ADS would increase (decrease) the pro forma amount of each of cash and cash equivalents and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $ million, assuming that the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A -ADS increase in the number of ADSs offered by us would increase each of cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders’ equity by approximately $ million after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and any estimated offering expenses payable by us. Conversely, a -ADS decrease in the number of ADSs offered by us would decrease each of cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders’ equity by approximately $ million after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and any estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The following table sets forth information regarding the exchange rates of U.S. dollars per NIS for the periods indicated. Average rates are calculated by using the daily representative rates as reported by the Bank of Israel on the last day of each month during the periods presented.
| | NIS per U.S. dollars | |
Year Ended December 31, | | High | | | Low | | | Average | | | Period End | |
2015 | | | 4.053 | | | | 3.761 | | | | 3.884 | | | | 3.902 | |
2014 | | | 3.994 | | | | 3.402 | | | | 3.577 | | | | 3.889 | |
2013 | | | 3.791 | | | | 3.471 | | | | 3.609 | | | | 3.471 | |
The following table sets forth the high and low daily representative rates for the NIS as reported by the Bank of Israel for each of the prior six months.
| | NIS per U.S. dollars | |
Month | | High | | | Low | | | Average | | | Period End | |
March 2016 | | | 3.912 | | | | 3.766 | | | | 3.8676 | | | | 3.766 | |
February 2016 | | | 3.964 | | | | 3.871 | | | | 3.908 | | | | 3.91 | |
January 2016 | | | 3.983 | | | | 3.913 | | | | 3.951 | | | | 3.951 | |
December 2015 | | | 3.905 | | | | 3.855 | | | | 3.881 | | | | 3.902 | |
November 2015 | | | 3.921 | | | | 3.868 | | | | 3.889 | | | | 3.877 | |
October 2015 | | | 3.923 | | | | 3.816 | | | | 3.863 | | | | 3.867 | |
DILUTION
If you invest in our ADSs, your interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per ADS you will pay in this offering and the pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering. At March 31, 2016, we had net tangible book value of $922,000, corresponding to a net tangible book value of $.026 per Ordinary Share or $.52 per ADS (using the ratio of 20 Ordinary Shares to one ADS). Net tangible book value per share or per ADS represents the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by 35,399,152, the total number of Ordinary Shares outstanding at March 31, 2016, or 1,769,958, the total number of ADSs that would represent such total number of shares based on a share-to-ADS ratio of twenty-to-one.
After giving effect to the sale of the ADSs representing Ordinary Shares offered by us in this offering and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma net tangible book value estimated atMarch 31, 2016 would have been approximately $ , representing $ per Ordinary Share or $ per ADS. At the assumed public offering price for this offering of $ per ADS, which is the last reported sale price of our ADSs on the OTCQB on , 2016, this represents an immediate increase in historical net tangible book value of $ per Ordinary Share or $ per ADS to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $ per Ordinary Share or $ per ADS to purchasers of ADSs in this offering. Dilution for this purpose represents the difference between the price per ADS paid by these purchasers and pro forma net tangible book value per ADS immediately after the completion of this offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution of $ per ADS to purchasers of ADSs in this offering:
Assumed public offering price per ADS | | $ | | |
Historical net tangible book value per ADS as of March 31, 2016 | | | | |
Increase in net tangible book value per ADS attributable to new investors | | | | |
Pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering | | | | |
Dilution per ADS to new investors | | | | |
Percentage of dilution in net tangible book value per ADS for new investors | | | | |
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per ADS would increase (decrease) our pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering by $ and the dilution per ADS to new investors by $ , assuming the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of ADSs we are offering.
An increase of ADSs in the number of ADSs offered by us, would increase our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering by approximately $ million and the pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering by $ per ADS and would increase the dilution per ADS to new investors by $ , after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Conversely, a decrease of ADSs in the number of ADSs offered by us would decrease our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering by approximately $ million and the pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering by $ per ADS and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per ADS to new investors by $ , after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The information discussed above is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual public offering price and other terms of the offering determined at pricing.
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis as of March 31, 2016, the differences between the number of Ordinary Shares acquired from us (treating each ADS as twenty Ordinary Shares), the total amount paid and the average price per Ordinary Share paid by the existing holders of our Ordinary Shares and by investors in this offering, treating each ADS as twenty Ordinary Shares), and based upon an assumed public offering price of $ per ADS, the last reported sale price of our ADSs on the OTCQB on , 2016.
| | Shares | | | Total Consideration | | | Average Price Per Ordinary | |
| | Number | | | Percent | | | Amount | | | Percent | | | Share | |
Existing shareholders | | | | | | | | % | | $ | | | | | | % | | $ | | |
New investors (treating each ADS as twenty Ordinary Shares) | | | | | | | | % | | $ | | | | | | % | | $ | | |
Total | | | | | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | | | | | 100 | % | | $ | | |
The number of Ordinary Shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 35,599,152 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of August 1, 2016 and excludes:
| ● | 13,410,496 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of options. |
This number assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
If all of such options and warrants had been exercised as of August 1, 2016, the number of Ordinary Shares held by existing shareholders would increase to , or % of the total number of Ordinary Shares outstanding after this offering, the percentage of Ordinary Shares held by existing shareholders would increase to % of the total Ordinary Shares outstanding and the average price per Ordinary Share paid by the existing shareholders would be $ .
If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full in this offering, the number of Ordinary Shares held by new investors will increase to , or % of the total number of Ordinary Shares outstanding after this offering and the percentage of Ordinary Shares held by existing shareholders will decrease to % of the total Ordinary Shares outstanding.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statementsand the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The discussion below contains forward-looking statements that are based upon our current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to inaccurate assumptions and known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those identified in “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and under “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this prospectus. U.S. dollar amounts herein have been translated for the convenience of the reader from the original NIS amounts at the representative rate of exchange as of March 31, 2016 (NIS 3.766 = $1.00) and as of December 31, 2015 (NIS 3.902 = $1.00), as applicable.
Overview
We are a specialty pharmaceutical company led by an experienced team of world-class senior executives and scientists, focused on creating and enhancing a portfolio of technologies and assets based on cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. With this focus, we have initiated two internal drug development programs based on repurposing an FDA approved synthetic cannabinoid (dronabinol):Joint Pharma developing THX-TS01 targeted to the treatment of Tourette Syndrome, or TS, andBrainBright Pharma developing THX-ULD01 targeted to the high value and under-served market of mild cognitive impairments, or MCIs.
We intend to seek FDA approval for the commercialization of our drug candidates throughSection 505(b)(2) regulatory path under the FDC Act. The FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway permits the filing of a new drug application, or NDA, where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies that were not conducted by or for the applicant, and for which the applicant has not received a right of reference. This approach could expedite the development program for our product candidates by potentially decreasing the amount of clinical data that we would need to generate in order to obtain FDA approval. In addition, with respect to our Joint Pharma program we intend to pursue orphan drug designation in the United States and Europe.
Operating Expenses
Our current operating expenses consist of two components — research and development expenses, and general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development Expenses, net
Our research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related personnel expenses, share-based compensation expenses, consulting and subcontractor expenses and other related research and development expenses.
The following table discloses the breakdown of research and development expenses:
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | |
| | NIS | | | USD | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and related expenses | | | 183 | | | | 506 | | | | 149 | | | | - | | | | 40 | |
Materials | | | 31 | | | | 25 | | | | 8 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | |
Share-based payments | | | 6 | | | | 8 | | | | 77 | | | | 6 | | | | 20 | |
Consulting and subcontractors | | | 441 | | | | 582 | | | | 246 | | | | 146 | | | | 65 | |
Depreciation | | | 6 | | | | 49 | | | | 2 | | | | 7 | | | | 0.4 | |
Patents | | | 243 | | | | 284 | | | | 68 | | | | 65 | | | | 18 | |
Other expenses | | | 21 | | | | 375 | | | | 35 | | | | 4 | | | | 9 | |
Chief Scientist participation | | | - | | | | (29 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | 931 | | | | 1,800 | | | | 585 | | | | 231 | | | | 155 | |
We expect that our research and development expenses will materially increase as we plan to start clinical trials.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, share-based compensation expense, professional service fees for accounting, legal, bookkeeping, facilities and other general and administrative expenses.
The following table discloses the breakdown of general and administrative expenses:
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | |
| | NIS | | | USD | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payroll | | | 1,412 | | | | 1,581 | | | | 309 | | | | 294 | | | | 82 | |
Professional services | | | 2,035 | | | | 2,562 | | | | 462 | | | | 600 | | | | 123 | |
Director pay | | | 214 | | | | 244 | | | | 55 | | | | 55 | | | | 15 | |
Share-based payments | | | 526 | | | | 136 | | | | 221 | | | | 34 | | | | 59 | |
Depreciation | | | 6 | | | | 100 | | | | 1 | | | | 4 | | | | 0.4 | |
Office expense and other expenses | | | 1,104 | | | | 615 | | | | 265 | | | | 166 | | | | 70 | |
Total | | | 5,297 | | | | 5,238 | | | | 1,314 | | | | 1,152 | | | | 349 | |
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2016 to the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Results of Operations
| | March 31, | |
| | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | |
(in thousands) | | NIS | | | USD | |
Research and development expenses | | | 585 | | | | 230 | | | | 155 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 1,314 | | | | 1,152 | | | | 349 | |
Operating loss | | | 1,899 | | | | 1,401 | | | | 504 | |
Financial Expense (income), net | | | 53 | | | | 17 | | | | 14 | |
Loss | | | 1,952 | | | | 1,527 | | | | 518 | |
Deemed dividend | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Loss attributable to holders of Ordinary Shares | | | 1,937 | | | | 1,505 | | | | 514 | |
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 amounted to NIS 585,000 (approximately $155,000), representing an increase of NIS 355,000 (approximately $98,000), or 154%, compared to NIS 230,000 (approximately $58,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of NIS 149,000 (approximately $40,000) in salaries and related personnel expenses, and an increase of NIS 100,000 (approximately $27,000) in consulting and subcontractors.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses totaled NIS 1,314,000 (approximately $349,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2016, an increase of NIS 161,000 (approximately $59,000), or 14%, compared to $289,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase resulted primarily from an increase of NIS 187,000 (approximately $50,000) in share-based compensation expenses.
Operating loss
As a result of the foregoing, our operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was NIS 1,899,000 (approximately $504,000), as compared to an operating loss of NIS 1,401,000 (approximately $352,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of NIS 498,000 (approximately $152,000), or 36%.
Financial expense and income
Financial expense and income consist of bank fees and other transactional costs and exchange rate differences.
We recognized financial expenses of NIS 53,000 (approximately $14,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to financial expenses of NIS 17,000 (approximately $4,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase is primarily due to exchange rate valuation losses on dollar balances.
Total Comprehensive Loss
As a result of the foregoing, our loss for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was NIS 1,952,000 (approximately $518,000), as compared to NIS 1,532,000 (approximately $384,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of NIS 425,000 (approximately $113,000) or 28%.
Comparison of the Year ended December 31, 2015 to the Year Ended December 31, 2014.
Results of Operations
| | December 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | |
(in thousands) | | NIS | | | USD | |
Research and development expenses | | | 931 | | | | 1,800 | | | | 239 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 5,297 | | | | 5,238 | | | | 1,357 | |
Other expense (income), net | | | 3,734 | | | | (115 | ) | | | 957 | |
Operating loss | | | 9,962 | | | | 6,923 | | | | 2,553 | |
Financial Expense (income), net | | | 15 | | | | 26 | | | | 4 | |
Loss | | | 10,174 | | | | 7,292 | | | | 2,607 | |
Loss attributable to holders of Ordinary Shares | | | 9,877 | | | | 7,207 | | | | 2,531 | |
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to NIS 931,000 (approximately $239,000), representing a decrease of NIS 869,000 (approximately $224,000), or 48%, compared to NIS 1,800,000 (approximately $463,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of NIS 323,000 (approximately $83,000) in salaries and related personnel expenses, reflecting a decrease in the number of employees and a decrease of NIS 354,000 (approximately $91,000) in other research and development expenses. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 reflects reduced R&D operations which mainly consisted of maintaining our previous Anti-CD3 project, which is no longer our focus, and the initiation of cannabinoid projects.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses totaled NIS 5,297,000 (approximately $1,358,000) for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of NIS 59,000 (approximately $11,000), or 1%, compared to $1,347,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. General and administrative expenses include mainly salary and related expenses, share-based payment and professional services.
Operating loss
As a result of the foregoing, our operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was NIS 9,962,000 (approximately $2,553,000), as compared to an operating loss of NIS 6,923,000 (approximately $1,780,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of NIS 3,039,000 (approximately $773,000), or 44%.
Financial expense and income
Financial expense and income consist of revaluation of a liability for Chief Scientist grants, bank fees and other transactional costs and exchange rate differences.
We recognized financial income of NIS 15,000 (approximately $4,000) for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to financial income of NIS 26,000 (approximately $7,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease is primarily due to revaluation of a liability for Chief Scientist grants.
Total Comprehensive Loss
As a result of the foregoing, our loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was NIS 10,164,000 (approximately $2,605,000), as compared to NIS 7,282,000 (approximately $1,872,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of NIS 2,882,000 (approximately $733,000) or 40%.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimate
We describe our significant accounting policies more fully in Note 2 to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015. We believe that the accounting policies below are critical in order to fully understand and evaluate our financial condition and results of operations.
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with IFRS. At the time of the preparation of the financial statements, our management is required to use estimates, evaluations, and assumptions which affect the application of the accounting policy and the amounts reported for assets, obligations, income, and expenses. Any estimates and assumptions are continually reviewed. The changes to the accounting estimates are credited during the period in which the change to the estimate is made.
Contingent Liabilities
The evaluations of provisions and contingent liabilities are based on best professional judgment, taking into consideration the stage of the proceedings, as well as cumulative legal experience in the various topics. Whereas the results of the lawsuits shall be determined by the courts, these results may differ from these evaluations.
Stock-Based Compensation
Employees and other service providers of the Company are entitled to benefits by way of share-based compensation settled with company options to shares. The cost of transactions with employees settled with capital instruments is measured based on the fair value of the capital instruments on the granting date. The fair value is determined using an accepted options pricing model. The model is based on share price, grant date and on assumptions regarding expected volatility, expected lifespan, expected dividend, and a no risk interest rate.
The cost of the transactions settled with capital instruments is recognized in profit or loss together with a corresponding increase in the equity over the period in which the performance and/or service takes place, and ending on the date on which the relevant employees are entitled to the benefits, or the Vesting Period. The aggregate expense recognized for transactions settled with capital instruments at the end of each reporting date and until the Vesting Period reflects the degree to which the Vesting Period has expired and our best estimate regarding the number of options that have ultimately vested. The expense or income in profit or loss reflects the change of the aggregate expense recognized as of the end of the reported period.
We selected the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as a fair value method for our options awards. The option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions:
Expected dividend yield - The expected dividend yield assumption is based on our historical experience and expectation of no future dividend payouts. We have historically not paid cash dividends and have no foreseeable plans to pay cash dividends in the future.
Volatility-The expected volatility of the share prices reflects the assumption that the historical volatility of the share prices on the TASE is reasonably indicative of expected future trends.
Risk free interest rate - The risk free interest rate is based on the yield of governmental bonds with equivalent terms.
Contractual term- An option’s contractual term must at least include the Vesting Period and the employees’ historical exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior for similar grants. If the amount of past exercise data is limited, that data may not represent a sufficiently large sample on which to base a robust conclusion on expected exercise behavior.
Share price on the TASE- The price of our Ordinary Shares on the TASE used in determining the grant date fair value of options is based on the price on the grant date.
Government Grants from the INATI
Research and development grants received from the INATI are recognized upon receipt as a liability if future economic benefits are expected from the project that will result in royalty-bearing sales. The amount of the liability for the grant is first measured at fair value using a discount rate that reflects a market rate of interest that reflects the appropriate degree of risks inherent in our business. If no economic benefits are expected from the research activity, the grant receipts are recognized as a reduction of the related research and development expenses. In that event, the royalty obligation is treated as a contingent liability in accordance with IAS 37, “Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.”
At the end of each reporting period, we evaluate whether there is reasonable assurance that the received grants will not be repaid based on its best estimate of future sales and, if so, no liability is recognized and the grants are recorded against a corresponding reduction in other incomes.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Since our inception in 2004, and through March 31, 2016, we have funded our operations principally with NIS 99,312,000 (approximately $25,452,000) from the issuance of Ordinary Shares and options. As of March 31, 2016, we had NIS 6,136,000 (approximately $1,572,000) in cash and cash equivalents, and an additional amount of NIS 44,000 (approximately $11,000) in short-term bank deposits.
The table below presents our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| | December 31, | | | Three Months ended March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | |
(in thousands) | | NIS | | | USD | | | NIS | | | USD | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | | (5,162 | ) | | | (7,358 | ) | | | (1,323 | ) | | | (1,311 | ) | | | (691 | ) | | | (348 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investing activities | | | (2 | ) | | | (369 | ) | | | (1 | ) | | | (13 | ) | | | 2 | | | | (4 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financing activities | | | 10,686 | | | | 3,219 | | | | 2,738 | | | | - | | | | 272 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | 5,522 | | | | (4,508 | ) | | | 1,414 | | | | (1,324 | ) | | | (417 | ) | | | (352 | ) |
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities of NIS 1,311,000 (approximately $347,000) during the three months ended March 31, 2016 in comparison to NIS 691,000 (approximately $174,000) during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase of $173,000 in the period ended March 31, 2016 was primarily attributed to increase in research and development activities (in preparations for clinical trial) in our cannabinoids-based clinical programs.
Net cash used in operating activities of NIS 5,162,000 (approximately $1,323,000) during 2015 in comparison to NIS 7,358,000 (approximately $1,892,000) during 2014. The decrease of $569,000 was primarily attributed to decrease in research and development activities.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities of NIS 13,000 (approximately $4,000) during the three months ended March 31, 2016 primarily reflected purchases of fixed assets.
Net cash provided from investing activities of NIS 2,000 (approximately $1,000) during the three months ended March 31, 2015 reflected proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities of NIS 2,000 (approximately $1,000) during 2015 primarily reflected proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities of NIS 369,000 (approximately $95,000) during 2014 primarily reflected an investment in Lara Pharm Ltd., offset by proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment.
Financing Activities
No cash was provided by financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2016. Net cash provided by financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2015 consisted of NIS 272,000 (approximately $68,000) of net proceeds from issuance of Ordinary Shares and exercise of share options.
Net cash provided by financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2015 consisted of NIS 10,686,000 (approximately $2,738,000) of net proceeds from issuance of Ordinary Shares and exercise of share options. Net cash provided by financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2014 consisted of NIS 3,219,000 (approximately $828,000) of net proceeds from issuance of Ordinary Shares.
Current Outlook
We have financed our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of our Ordinary Shares. We have incurred losses and generated negative cash flows from operations since August 2004. Since August 2004, we have not generated any revenue from the sale of product candidates and we do not expect to generate revenues from sale of our product candidates in the next few years.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 states that there is a substantial doubt that we will be able to continue as a going concern. Furthermore, according to our estimates, based on our budget, if we are not successful in obtaining additional capital resources, there is a substantial doubt that we will be able to continue our activities through October 31, 2016. Even if we are able to raise funds in the offering contemplated herein, we believe that we will need to raise additional funds before we generate positive cash flow from operations.
As of March 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents including short-term bank deposits were $1,289,000. We believe that our existing cash resources and the net proceeds from the current offering will be sufficient to fund our current operations until the end of 2017; however, we expect that we will require substantial additional capital to complete the development of, and to commercialize, our product candidates. In addition, our operating plans may change as a result of many factors that may currently be unknown to us, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| ● | the progress and costs of our research and development activities; |
| ● | the costs of manufacturing our product candidates; |
| ● | the costs of filing, prosecuting, enforcing and defending patent claims and other intellectual property rights; |
| ● | the potential costs of contracting with third parties to provide marketing and distribution services for us or for building such capacities internally; and |
| ● | the magnitude of our general and administrative expenses. |
Until we can generate significant recurring revenues, we expect to satisfy our future cash needs through equity financings and out-license of technology. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. If funds are not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate research or development plans for, or commercialization efforts with respect to our product candidates. This may raise substantial doubts about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at December 31, 2015:
| | Total | | | Less than 1 year | | | 1-3 years | | | 4-5 years | | | More than 5 years | |
| | (in thousands of U.S. dollars) | |
Operating leases: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Facility | | | 28 | | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BUSINESS
Overview
We are a specialty pharmaceutical company led by an experienced team of world-class senior executives and scientists, focused on creating and enhancing a portfolio of technologies and assets based on cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. With this focus, we have initiated two internal drug development programs based on repurposing an FDA approved synthetic cannabinoid (dronabinol):Joint Pharmadeveloping THX-TS01 targeted to the treatment of Tourette Syndrome, or TS, andBrainBright Pharma developing THX-ULD01 targeted to the high value and under-served market of mild cognitive impairments, or MCIs.
We intend to seek FDA approval for the commercialization of our drug candidates throughthe Section 505(b)(2) regulatory path under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, as amended. The FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway permits the filing of a new drug application, or NDA, where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies that were not conducted by or for the applicant, and for which the applicant has not received a right of reference. This approach could expedite the development program for our product candidates by potentially decreasing the amount of clinical data that we would need to generate in order to obtain FDA approval. In addition, with respect to our Joint Pharma program, we intend to pursue orphan drug designation in the United States and Europe.
Joint Pharma
Our Joint Pharma program is dedicated to developing a cannabinoid based drug for the treatment of TS, which is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder usually onset in childhood. TS is characterized by multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic. Although TS and other tic disorders were once thought to be very rare, it has become increasingly apparent that they are common conditions. While epidemiological study results may vary, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, as of 2012, one out of every 360 U.S. children (about 138,000) aged six to 17 years had been diagnosed with TS in the United States. To date, only three drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat TS, most of which are limited to treating only a narrow range of TS symptoms (mainly tics). Additionally, the usefulness of these drugs is also limited, since they are associated with severe side effects that have resulted in the need for a “black box” warning. In many cases “off-label” use of prescription medications not approved for the indication, associated with unwanted severe side effects that, in our opinion, are also detrimental. Therefore, there continues to be a great need for more effective, safer medications targeted at treating tics as well as other features of TS.
Our proprietary THX-TS01 drug candidate takes a unique approach to the treatment of TS. THX-TS01 is a combination drug candidate based on two components: (1) dronabinol, an FDA approved synthetic analog of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychoactive molecule in the cannabis plant, and (2) palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA, which is an endogenous fatty acid amide that belongs to the class of nuclear factor agonists. The combination of THC and PEA revolves around a concept known as the “entourage effect.”
The basic tenet of the entourage effect is that cannabinoids work together, or possess synergy, and affect the body in a mechanism similar to the body’s own endocannabinoid system. This entourage effect hypothesis may account for the pharmacological actions of PEA. Based on an activity enhancement of other physiological compounds, PEA may indirectly stimulate the cannabinoid receptors by potentiating their affinity for a receptor or by inhibiting their metabolic degradation, and by doing so, may increase the uptake of cannabinoid compounds, such as THC. Thus, we believe that the presence of the PEA molecule increases the efficiency of orally administered THC, while reducing the required dosage and decreasing associated deleterious adverse events.
We have completed the preclinical phase of development of THX-TS01 and are preparing to conduct a proof of concept, or POC, Phase IIa clinical trial in the United States, to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016. In addition, we expect to initiate a Phase IIb clinical trial in Europe in the second quarter of 2017.
BrainBright Pharma
Our BrainBright Pharma program takes a unique approach to developing a treatment for MCI. MCI refers to the transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal changes related to age. The prevalence of MCI increases with age, at a rate of 10% in those aged 70-79 years and 25% in those aged 80-89 years. There is no FDA approved treatment for MCI. As MCI is believed to represent an early state of Alzheimer’s, several Alzheimer’s treatments have been proposed for MCI. However, Alzheimer’s treatments are not currently recommended for the routine treatment of MCI, and have not been shown to delay or prevent the progression of MCI.
Our proprietary THX-ULD01 drug candidate is based on an ultra-low dose of FDA approved dronabinol. We believe that sublingual and nasal administration of dronabinol are safe and effective delivery methods that will enhance the bioavailability of an ultra-low dose dronabinol.
We have compelling preclinical data that supports using an ultra-low dose of dronabinol to improve cognitive abilities. In the first quarter of 2017, we intend to conduct a Phase I clinical trial to document the pharmacokinetic parameters of THX-ULD01 and to evaluate drug safety. During the second half of 2017, we expect to initiate a POC Phase IIa clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of THX-ULD01 in treating patients with cognitive impairment. In addition, we may conduct further preclinical studies in parallel to our clinical plans as part of the development of our innovative pipeline and for registration purposes.
With respect to both our Joint Pharma and BrainBright Pharma programs, we intend to pursue a section 505(b)(2) regulatory path, which may expedite the development of these programs by potentially decreasing the amount of clinical data that we would need to generate in order to obtain FDA approval. We believe that the key benefits of this strategy include a relatively low scientific-technological risk (compared to the risk of developing drugs based on new molecular entities) combined with relatively low costs and fast time to market.
Other indications
We believe that the novel approaches and unique mechanism of action of our proprietary technology platforms may be expanded to treat additional diseases and unmet medical needs. In the future, we may consider expanding our pipeline to include these additional indications.
Our Technology and Unique Approach to Drug Development
The Entourage Effect
Cannabinoids are a diverse group of chemical compounds that operate on specific receptors in the body. Cannabinoids participate in a large number of physiological processes and are used for treating a wide range of medical conditions. Cannabinoids have been proven as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory, prevent nausea and enhance appetite and are therefore widely used among cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. Other uses include mental health and psychological conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Cannabinoid compounds have also found to be effective in treating epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis.
In 1998, Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, Israel Prize laureate, known for his pioneer work in the isolation, structure elucidation and total synthesis of THC, described what he referred to as the “entourage effect,” which explains how an allegedly inactive compound synergizes with an active cannabinoid. The entourage effect represents a novel endogenous cannabinoid molecular regulation route. The basic idea of the entourage effect is that cannabinoids work better together, and may affect the body in a manner similar to the body’s own endocannabinoid system, which may lead to a synergistic pharmacological effect, due to: (i) the ability to affect multiple targets within the body; (ii) improvement of absorption of active ingredients; (iii) ability to overcome bacterial defense mechanism; and/or (iv) minimizing adverse side effects. Entourage effect research has greatly focused on PEA, which is part of the endocannabinoid family and derived from fatty acids. PEA has extensive pharmacological benefits such as relieving pain and inflammation.
PEA has been shown to possess anti-craving effects in cannabis dependent patients, is efficacious in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms, and is effective in the prevention of cannabis induced neurotoxicity and neuro-psychiatric disorders. Moreover, we believe that because of PEA’s ability to stabilize mucosal mast cells and to prevent their degranulation, by combining THC therapy with PEA, one can overcome the over-sensitization/irritation to the respiratory tract that THC may cause. PEA is not considered to be an active pharmaceutical ingredient by the FDA. The FDA has determined PEA to be GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) with respect to certain food products. In parts of Europe, PEA derived products (Normast® and Pelvilen®) have been marketed as a food for special medical purposes.
Several lines of evidence suggest that cannabis and THC may be effective in the treatment of tic disorders. Unfortunately, due to adverse psychoactive side effects involved with cannabis and high dosages of THC, cannabis has not become a viable treatment option for TS and other tic related disorders. We believe that in order to harness the therapeutic potential of THC for the treatment of TS, there is a need to reduce the accompanied adverse effects.
We intend to employ the entourage effect to maximize the therapeutic benefits of dronabinol to reduce tics, with decreased adverse and psychoactive effects. The capacity of PEA to exert “entourage effects” comes from its ability to affect multiple targets within the body, improve the absorption rate of active ingredients and minimize adverse side effects.
The Ultralow Dose Technology
Studies conducted in recent years by Prof. Yosef Sarne at the Tel-Aviv University Faculty of Medicine found that an ultralow dose of THC protects the brain from different degrees of long-term cognitive impairment which is liable to occur as a result of lack of oxygen supply, seizures or use of drugs. Prof. Sarne’s research of preclinical models demonstrated that an ultralow dose of THC injected to small animals three to seven days before the injury to the brain can prevent the development of damage. Treatment with an ultralow dose triggers defense mechanisms in the brain such as enhanced production of nerve growth factor, or NGF, that protect the brain’s nerve cells and retain long-term cognitive capabilities. The research conducted by Prof. Sarne and his colleagues revealed that ultralow doses of THC can affect brain cell signals, prevent cell death and encourage the release of growth factors. Also, studies have suggested that animals that received an ultralow dose of THC did better in behavioral tests that measure learning and memory skills. Accordingly, we believe that an ultralow dose of dronabinol may be an effective treatment for MCI.
MCI refers to the transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia, and can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal changes related to age. MCI has been proposed as a condition of intermediate symptomatology between the cognitive changes of aging and fully developed symptoms of dementia, such as those seen in Alzheimer’s. Although MCI can present with a variety of symptoms, when memory loss is the predominant symptom it is frequently seen as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s.
To the best of our knowledge, there is no approved medicinal treatment for MCI. While it was once thought that Alzheimer’s drugs may present a viable treatment option for MCI patients, clinical trials have failed to demonstrate that any of these drugs delay or prevent the progression of MCI, and Alzheimer’s treatments are not currently recommended for the routine treatment of MCI. We seek to develop the first effective solution for MCI based on a significantly lower dose of FDA approved dronabinol.
Our Initial Disease Targets and Market Opportunity
Tourette Syndrome
Tourette Syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder, characterized by physical (motor) tics and vocal (phonic) tics. Motor or phonic tics are sudden, brief, intermittent, involuntary or semi-voluntary movements or sounds, respectively. They typically consist of brief, coordinated, repetitive movements, gestures, or utterances that mimic fragments of normal behavior.
Motor tics may range from simple tics, including eye blinking, nose twitching, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, neck stretching and head jerking, to more complex tics, including throwing, hitting, or making rude gestures. Phonic tics include sniffling, grunting, throat clearing, blowing or coughing but can develop into words or parts of words including coprolalia (uttering swear words). Tic symptoms of TS typically manifest between 4 and 6 years of age, and peak in severity between the ages of 10 and 12 years. However, they often improve over the course of adolescence. Motor tics generally precede the development of phonic tics in TS, and the onset of simple tics usually predates that of complex tics.
TS appears in a wide range of tics severity, from mild symptoms that do not cause serious impairment and often go unnoticed, to loud noises and forceful movements that can result in self-injury. The most dramatic and disabling tics are those that result in self-harm such as punching oneself in the face, or vocal tics including echolalia (repeating other people’s words), or coprolalia. Many with TS experience additional neurobehavioral problems and comorbidities including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, anger control problems,sleep difficulties (including motor and vocal tics during all stages of sleep, sleep apnea, abnormal arousal pattern, and other sleep disturbances) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts/worries and repetitive behaviors. Due to the potentially disabling nature of the physical symptoms, some patients face problems with daily activities, beyond those caused by the social stigma associated with the disorder. Pharmacotherapy is used when symptoms are more severe and interfere with the ability to function. Furthermore, in most cases, the prevelance of tics decrease during adolescence and early adulthood, and sometimes disappear entirely; therefore adults with TS are very limited in numbers and usually manifest mainly moderate to severe TS symptoms.
Market Size
The exact number of people with TS is unknown. The prevalence of TS and TS symptoms is greater in children than adults. CDC scientists recently used data from the 2011-2012 National Survey on Children’s Health, or NSCH, to estimate that one out of every 360 children between the ages of six through 17 have been diagnosed with TS in the United States. This accounts for an estimated 138,000 children.
Most cases of TS are mild and do not require pharmacological treatment. In these cases, psycho-behavioral therapy, education, and reassurance may be sufficient. According to the 2011-2012 NSCH data, among children with current TS, 63% were reported to have mild TS and 37% were reported as having moderate or severe forms of the condition. Thus, approximately 35,000 children in the U.S. had moderate or severe TS in 2011-2012.
We intend to pursue Orphan Drug designation with the FDA and European Commission for THX-TS01 for the treatment of TS.
Current Treatment
Pharmacological intervention is considered the first line of therapy for TS, but is reserved for more severe symptoms that interfere with the individual’s ability to function. Investigation of pharmacological therapies in TS started with the work of Arthur Shapiro and his colleagues in the 1960s and 1970s, which showed that the dopamine activity blocker, haloperidol, reduces tic severity. Today, a full class of drugs that interact with dopamine and non-dopamine systems in the brain are used in the treatment of TS symptoms. Many of the drugs used to treat TS are limited to the treatment of a narrow range of TS symptoms (mainly tics), and are associated with severe side effects, both of which limit their usefulness. Furthermore, several of these drugs have a black box warning on their label due to their potentially lethal effect. A black box warning is the strictest warning put in the labeling of prescription drugs or drug products by the FDA when there is reasonable evidence of an association of a serious hazard with the drug.
The medications commonly used to treat symptoms of TS can be divided into the following groups:
| ● | Antipsychotic medications: belong to a class of drugs primarily used to manage psychosis. Of these, haloperidol and pimozide are approved for use in TS patients and aripiprazole is approved for use in TS pediatric patients. Fluphenazine is another antipsychotic medication that is often used to treat TS, off-label. The effectiveness of these drugs are limited to reducing tics. These drugs are associated with severe side effects. Common side effects of antipsychotics include: weight gain, sedation, akathisia (a state of agitation, distress, and restlessness), nausea and tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of the face and jaw). Other side effects associated with the use of antipsychotics may lead to lethal consequences. Some of these side effects may not disappear when the medication is discontinued. |
| ● | Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists: belong to a class of drugs primarily used to manage hypertension and migraine headaches prevention. Clonidine and guanfacine are used off-label for the reduction of tics in TS patients. Their usefulness was found to be limited, with modest favorable effects in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. These drugs are often used in TS, given their improved tolerability when compared to antipsychotics. Yet, the exposure to these drugs is also associated with a wide list of side effects, and some of them, such as clonidine, might even be lethal. |
| ● | Benzodiazepines, an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug: belong to a class of drugs primarily used to manage seizures, panic disorder and movement disorders. Of these, cloazepam is used off-label for the reduction of tics in TS patients. The exposure to these drugs is also associated with a series of negative side effects. |
As the currently used medications are managing only a small number of disease symptoms with limited efficacy and questionable safety, there is a clear unmet medical need for the management of TS.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
MCI is a brain function syndrome involving the onset and evolution of cognitive impairments. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. MCI has been proposed as a condition of intermediate symptomatology between the cognitive changes of aging and fully developed symptoms of dementia, such as those seen in Alzheimer’s. Recently MCI has been given more specific criteria as it was recognized that MCI is a heterogeneous condition. The most relevant population for our product is the amnestic subtype of MCI, in which memory impairment is a key feature. In general, this population is characterized by a subset of individuals with MCI who are likely to progress to clinically probable Alzheimer’s.
Market Size
The prevalence of MCI in the United States ranges between 3%-4% of the general population in their eighth decade. Amongst community-dwelling African Americans, the estimated prevalence is 19.2% for those aged 65-74 years, 27.6% for those aged 75-84 years, and 38% for those aged 85 years and older. The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment increases with age, at a rate of 10% in those aged 70-79 years and 25% in those aged 80-89 years. Many studies indicate that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s is significantly higher in women than in men, and it is therefore presumed that the likelihood of developing MCI is greater in women than in men.
MCI refers to the gradual, progressive, and transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia. Dementia is a syndrome caused by a number of progressive illnesses that affect memory, thinking behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities. It mainly affects older people, though 2% to 10% of all cases are estimated to start before the age of 65. After that, the prevalence doubles with every five year increment in age. As of 2015, there were an estimated 46.8 million people with dementia worldwide. According to World Alzheimer Report 2015, this number is estimated to increase by 2030 to an estimated 74.7 million. Delaying or preventing the transition between MCI and dementia could potentially affect the prevalence of dementia in the general population.
The global societal economic cost of dementia for 2015 is estimated at $818 billion, a 35% increase from the cost estimate for 2010, which was $604 billion. Projecting this trend forwards, the estimation is that the global cost of dementia will reach $1 trillion in 2018. Around half of this increase can be attributed to growth in the numbers of people with dementia, and half to increases in per capita costs, particularly in low and middle income countries.
Current Treatment
There is no FDA approved treatment or therapy for MCI. As MCI may represent an early state of Alzheimer’s, several treatments proposed for Alzheimer’s, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, have been proposed for MCI. However, clinical trials have failed to demonstrate that any of these drugs delay or prevent the progression of MCI, and Alzheimer’s treatments are not currently recommended for the routine treatment of MCI. Furthermore, there are some indications that cognitive decline of MCI patients may be accelerated by using Alzheimer’s drugs.
Medicinal Cannabis Market
The medicinal cannabis market is an important and evolving segment in global medical therapy. The growing awareness of the medicinal benefits of the active cannabinoids in the plant and its use for improving the quality of life of patients with numerous and diverse indications (oncological patients, chronic pain conditions etc.), as well as the global trends of regulatory changes relating to the use of the plant and of cannabinoids, have all led to a rapid growth in this market. The recent changes in the perception of medicinal cannabis and the scientific and medical acknowledgement of its benefits have created a growing need for more efficient drugs with an improved tolerance profile. The market for medicinal cannabis (and its medical substitutes) is estimated at approximately $2 billion per year in the United States alone and is expected to continue showing significant growth in the coming years.
During the past five years, the medical cannabis industry has experienced high growth rates due to increasingly favorable conditions across the United States. Furthermore, legislation toward legalizing the use of medical cannabis has gained support from the general public along with state legislators. In the United States, the combined retail and wholesale cannabis industry (both medical and recreational) grew by 74%, from $1.5 billion in 2013 to $2.7 billion in 2014, firmly establishing cannabis as one of the fastest growing industries in America. According to the 2014 edition of the Marijuana Business Factbook, U.S. retail cannabis sales are expected to triple in the next five years to approximately $8.2 billion by 2018.
A similar phenomenon is occurring also in Europe and Canada. According to an industry research report, the European market is expected to grow between the years 2014–2018 to $10 billion, at a rate of 10% compound annual growth rate – a moderate growth projection in comparison to the U.S. market projections. However, in terms of dollar value, the European market is still larger. The Canadian market for medicinal use was estimated at $144 million in 2014, and is expected to reach $380 million by 2018. The growth rate is expected to reach 25% per annum, which will bring the market to $1.4 billion within the next ten years. According to a recent Health Canada projection, the Canadian market has grown from 500 authorized users in 2001 to more than 40,000 patients in 2014, and official forecasts predict that approved patients will grow to over 1.2% of the total population in ten years, reaching more than 400,000 patients by 2024.
Clinical Strategy
Our strategy is to build a leading specialty pharmaceutical company focused around the repurposing, repositioning and improvement of FDA approved cannabinoid molecules for various indications, including TS and MCI. The key benefits of this strategy include a relatively low scientific-technological risk (compared to the risk of developing drugs based on new molecular entities) combined with relatively low costs and fast time to market achieved through fast-track regulatory paths.
With respect to both our Joint Pharma and BrainBright programs, we intend to seek regulatory approval through the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory path. We intend to pursue Orphan Drug designation with the FDA and European Commission for our Joint Pharma program.
Joint Pharma
We have completed the preclinical phase of testing for TS. We are currently preparing to conduct a POC Phase IIa clinical trial in the United States to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016. The trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of THX-TS01 in treating TS Subjects aged 18 to 60 that meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition criteria for the diagnosis of TS. Severity of tics and disease, common comorbid symptoms such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, ADHD, depression and anxiety severity will also be assessed. Study patients will receive oral THX-TS01 once daily for the duration of the study.
The primary efficacy endpoint is the change from baseline to end of 12 weeks treatment in the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale Total Tic Score, which is a clinical rating instrument designed to provide an evaluation of tic severity. Secondary efficacy endpoints include demonstrating the safety and tolerability of THX-TS01 and to evaluate the benefit of THX-TS01 on premonitory urges, quality of life, disease severity, and comorbidities including ADHD, OCD, depression and anxiety.
We expect to initiate a similar Phase IIb trial in Europe in the second quarter of 2017. The Phase IIb trial will be a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. Study patients will be randomized to either oral THX-TS01 or placebo at a 1:1 ratio. We may also conduct further preclinical studies in parallel to our clinical plans as part of registration process. Based on these studies, we will conduct a Phase III, multinational, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of up to twice daily oral THX-TS01 in treating TS.
BrainBright Pharma
We have compelling preclinical data that supports using an ultra-low dose administration of dronabinol to improve cognitive abilities. In the first quarter of 2017, we intend to conduct an open-label Phase I clinical trial in Canada or the United States, to document the pharmacokinetic parameters of THX-ULD01 and to evaluate drug safety.
During the second half of 2017, we expect to initiate a prospective, open label, randomized Phase IIa clinical trial in Israel or Europe, to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of THX-ULD01 in treating patients with cognitive impairment. The primary efficacy endpoint of this trial will be to change from baseline to end of 6-weeks in the Computerized Neurocognitive Battery, or CNB. CNB is designed to measure the performance accuracy and speed of specific neurobehavioral domains using previously validated tests. These tests have been applied in neuroimaging studies for measuring individual differences in performance, and measure accuracy and speed of performance in major domains of cognition, including executive-control functions (abstraction, attention, working memory), episodic memory (verbal, facial, spatial), complex cognitive processing (language reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, spatial processing), social cognition (emotion identification, emotion intensity differentiation, age differentiation) and sensorimotor and motor speed.
This measurement will be used to detect cognitive impairment and improvements. Secondary efficacy end points are to demonstrate safety and tolerability of THX-ULD01 and to evaluate the benefit of THX-ULD01 on the patients’ mood, anxiety and overall quality of life using the Hamilton scale.
We may conduct further preclinical studies in parallel to our clinical plans as part of the development of our innovative pipeline and for registration purposes.
Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property portfolio consists of two granted patents and 10 patent applications, of which eight applications have either PCT pending status or are under examination by national authorities. Five of our patent applications have been developed internally. Our two granted patents and other five patent applications have been in-licensed from academic institutions such as Ramot and Yissum, or pharmaceutical companies, such as Dekel.
Internally Developed Patent Applications
In April 2015, we filed a provisional application with the USPTO for combinations of cannabinoids, n-acylethanolamines, and inhibitors of n-acylethanolamine degradation, which, on April 2016 entered into PCT stage. The technology is based on the entourage effect paradigm, and is directed to utilizing the potentiating effect of N-acylethanolamines on cannabinoids for any cannabinoid amenable indication, including but not limited to analgesia and Tourette's syndrome. Any resulting patent from this application would be expected to expire in April 2036.
In May 2015, we filed a provisional application with the USPTO for combinations of opioids, n-acylethanolamines, and inhibitors of n-acylethanolamines degradation, which, on May 2016 entered into PCT stage. The technology is also based on the entourage effect paradigm, purposed with utilizing the potentiating effect of N-acylethanolamines on opioids for opioid amenable indications. Any resulting patent from this application would be expected to expire in May 2036.
In August 2015, we filed a provisional application with the USPTO for the technology which is also based on the entourage effect, and is directed to potentiating the efficacy of retinoids and retinoid derived molecule based therapies for any retinoid amenable indication. Any resulting patent from this application would be expected to expire in August 2035.
In July 2016, we filed a provisional application with the USPTO for the technology which is based on potentiating the efficacy of currently used antibiotics. Any resulting patent from this application would be expected to expire in July 2036.
In-Licensed Patents and Patent Applications
In June 2015, we entered into an exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license agreement with Dekel for certain technology and patent applications related to compositions and methods for treating inflammatory disorders. Pursuant to the license agreement, we issued Dekel 200,000 of our Ordinary Shares at a price per share of NIS 0.5 on account of future royalty payments, and granted Dekel options to purchase up to $500,000 of our Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share, exercisable for 90 days. The option was fully exercised as of November 2015. We also granted Dekel an additional option to purchase up to $2,000,000 of our Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.65 per share, exercisable for 12 months. To date, approximately 20% of the second option has been exercised, in total consideration of NIS 1,540,026. Pursuant to the license agreement, we are obligated to pay Dekel fees based on specific milestones and royalties upon commercialization. The milestone payments include: (i) $25,000 upon the successful completion of preclinical trials; (ii) $75,000 upon the successful completion of a Phase I/IIa trial; and (iii) $75,000 upon the earlier of generating net revenues of at least $200,000 from the commercialization of the technology or the approval of the FDA / EMA of a drug based on the licensed assets. In each case, the respective milestone payments are payable in cash or equity based on a price per Ordinary Share of NIS 0.5. The royalty payments consist of a high single-digit rate for commercialization and a medial double-digit rate pursuant to a sub-license of the licensed assets. The patent expiration dates of any patents maturing from these applications would likely be 2029-2035.
In February, 2016, we entered into an exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide research and license agreement with Ramot for a patent application relating to methods for treatment of cognitive decline with low doses of THC. Pursuant to the agreement, we are obligated to pay patent filing and prosecution expenses, including past expenses, and to fund further research in an amount of approximately NIS 237,630. Furthermore, we are obligated to pay fees upon certain milestones, including achieving the completion of a Phase II clinical trial, pivotal clinical trial, filing an NDA with the FDA and regulatory approval. Pursuant to the agreement, we are obligated to pay royalties at a low single digit rate upon commercialization of a product based on licensed asset, and a medial double digit royalty rate pursuant to a sublicense of the licensed assets. Pursuant to the agreement we undertook to conduct technology research and we may terminate such obligation with no further obligation to fund it should the principal investigator ceases to supervise the research and Ramot will be unable to locate an alternative scientist acceptable to us. The exclusivity under the license agreement expires upon expiration of all of our payment obligations under the agreement, after which Ramot shall be entitled to freely use, sell, and otherwise transfer the technology under the license and grant further licenses without accounting to us. The patent expiration date of any patent maturing from this application would likely be 2034.
In June 2016, we entered into a binding term sheet with Yissum whereby we will be granted a license to an issued patent, including foreign counterparts, that covers nasal delivery of cannabinoids (U.S. 8911751B2, EP 1933809B1, China 101325944B, Japan 5362360B2). Pursuant to the term sheet, Yissum will grant us an exclusive, worldwide license to the patents and we will pay Yissum fees based on specific milestones and medial single-digit royalties upon the commercialization of a product based on the licensed assets. Royalty rates will decrease upon commercialization of a competitive product or if we will be required to pay a third party in order to sell the technology based product, but in no event shall the royalty rate be reduced by more than and be capped by a medial double-digit rate. We further undertook to pay all patent filing and prosecution expenses, including past expenses. Pursuant to the term sheet, in the event that we establish an affiliated company to exploit the license, an equity allocation to Yissum will be negotiated in good faith. The patent expiration dates of any patents maturing from these applications would likely be 2031.
In June 2016, we entered into a binding term sheet-agreement with another pharmaceutical company for certain intellectual property rights, including a provisional patent application covering the method and formulation for the sublingual administration of THC with enhanced bioavailability. Pursuant to the term sheet, we will receive an exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide, license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize a drug based on a low-dose of THC and a right of first negotiation with respect to normal-dose technology within the twenty four months of the effective date of the term sheet. We agreed to pay all costs and expenses related to the development of the technology, and to conduct, at our own expense, a PK/bioavailability study. We shall further pay the licensor a low single-digit royalty rate upon commercialization of a product based on the licensed assets. Furthermore, the licensor shall have the right to use the study results. The licensor shall pay us a low single-digit royalty rate from any income from other uses of the technology. While we will be responsible for the development of the technology, the licensor will be responsible for the formulation development. The term sheet further includes the development stages and estimated development costs. Filing and patent prosecution will be borne by both parties. Entry into a definitive license agreement is subject upon our successful completion of a PK/bioavailability study. The patent expiration date of any patent maturing from this application would likely be 2035.
Other Intellectual Property Protection
In addition to patent protection, we intend to use other means to protect our proprietary rights, including pursuing marketing or data exclusivity periods, orphan drug status, and similar rights that are available under regulatory provisions in certain countries, including but not limited to the United States, Europe, Japan, and China.
We also rely on trade secrets, know-how, and continuing innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position. We cannot be certain that patents will be granted with respect to any of our pending patent applications or with respect to any patent applications filed by us in the future, nor can we be sure that any of our existing patents or any patents granted to us in the future will be commercially useful in protecting our technology.
We also seek regulatory approval for our products for indications with high unmet medical need, great market potential, and where we have a proprietary position through patents covering various aspects of our products, including but not limited to: composition, dosage, formulation, use, and manufacturing process. Our success depends on an intellectual property portfolio that supports future revenue streams and erects barriers to our competitors. We are maintaining and building our patent portfolio through filing new patent applications, prosecuting existing applications, and licensing and acquiring new patents and patent applications.
Despite these measures, any of our intellectual property and proprietary rights could be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, infringed or misappropriated. Intellectual property and proprietary rights may not be sufficient to permit us to take advantage of current market trends or otherwise to provide competitive one. For more information, see Risk Factors- “Risks Related to our Intellectual Property.”
Out-licensing of intellectual property assets
In June 2016, we entered into a share transfer agreement with our subsidiary, Orimmune, and Karma Link, according to which we will sell our holdings in Orimmune to Karma Link and will assist the assignment of a certain antibody Anti-CD3 technology (which was in-licensed by us from Hadasit, and certain internally developed assets and technology relating thereto). In consideration of the sale and transfer, Karma Link will assume all liabilities of Orimmune and we will receive certain royalties on sales of products. The sale of Orimmune and the transfer of the assets are pending the necessary permits and approvals including that of the INATI, and is expected to be completed by the end of August.
Commercialization
We intend to build a global commercial infrastructure to effectively support the commercialization of our product candidates, if and when we believe regulatory approval of a product candidate in a particular geographic market appears imminent.
To develop the appropriate commercial infrastructure, we will have to invest significant amounts of financial and management resources, some of which will be committed prior to any confirmation that any of our product candidates will be approved. Where appropriate, we may elect in the future to utilize strategic partners, distributors, or contract sales forces to assist in the commercialization of our products. In certain instances we may consider building our own commercial infrastructure.
Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. While we believe that our scientific knowledge, technology and development experience provide us with competitive advantages, we face potential competition from many different sources, including major pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions. Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.
The first THC-based pharmaceutical, a pill sold under the commercial name of Marinol (scientific name: dronabinol), was developed by a company called Unimed Pharmaceuticals, with funding provided by the National Cancer Institute. In 1985, Marinol received FDA approval as a treatment for chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Since then, other pharmaceuticals containing THC have also been developed. These include Cesamet (nabilone), a synthetic isomer of THC, and Sativex (nabiximols), a whole cannabis extract administered as an oral spray. Furthermore, we are aware of multiple companies that are working in the cannabis therapeutic area and are pursuing regulatory approval for their product candidates. For example, GW Pharmaceuticals PLC, which markets Sativex, a botanical cannabinoid oral mucosal for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is seeking FDA approval in the United States, and is developing Epidiolex, a liquid formulation of highly purified cannabidiol extract, as a treatment for Dravet’s Syndrome, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and various childhood epilepsy syndromes. Insys Therapeutics, Inc. is also seeking FDA approval for an orally-administered liquid formulation of its synthetic cannabidiol compound as a treatment for Dravet’s Syndrome, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and other childhood epilepsy syndromes and dronabinol oral solution as a treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy and anorexia / weight loss in patients with AIDS. Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is developing a transdermal formulation of cannabidiol, and Nemus Bioscience, Inc. is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of cannabis therapeutics.
Our competitors, either alone or through their strategic partners, might have substantially greater name recognition and financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing and human resources than we do and significantly greater experience and infrastructure in the research and clinical development of pharmaceutical products, obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of those products and commercializing those products around the world.
Manufacturing
We currently expect to contract with third parties for the manufacturing and testing of our product candidates for preclinical trials and clinical trials and intend to do so in the future. We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities for the production of clinical quantities of our product candidates. We currently have no plans to build our own clinical or commercial scale manufacturing capabilities. The use of contracted manufacturing and reliance on collaboration partners is relatively cost-efficient and has eliminated the need to directly investment in manufacturing facilities and additional staff.
To date, our third-party manufacturers have met our manufacturing requirements. We expect third-party manufacturers to be capable of providing sufficient quantities of our product candidates to meet anticipated full scale commercial demands. To meet our projected needs for commercial manufacturing, third parties with whom we currently work might need to increase their scale of production, or we will need to secure alternate suppliers. We believe that there are alternate sources of supply that can satisfy our clinical and commercial requirements, although we cannot be certain that identifying and establishing relationships with such sources, if necessary, would not result in significant delay or material additional costs.
Government Regulation
FDA Approval Process
In the United States, pharmaceutical product candidates are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA. The FDC Act, and other federal and state statutes and regulations, govern, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, storage, recordkeeping, approval, labeling, promotion and marketing, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, sampling, and import and export of pharmaceutical product candidates. Failure to comply with applicable U.S. requirements may subject a company to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, such as FDA refusal to approve pending NDAs, warning letters, product candidate recalls, product candidate seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, civil penalties and criminal prosecution.
Pharmaceutical product candidate development in the United States typically involves pre-clinical laboratory and animal tests, the submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before clinical testing may commence, and adequate, well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of the drug for each indication for which FDA approval is sought. Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes many years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidate or disease.
Pre-clinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product candidate chemistry, formulation and toxicity, as well as animal trials to assess the characteristics and potential safety and efficacy of the product candidate. The conduct of the pre-clinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements, including good laboratory practices. The results of pre- clinical testing are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND along with other information, including information about product candidate chemistry, manufacturing and controls, and a proposed clinical trial protocol. Long term pre-clinical tests, such as animal tests of reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity, may continue after the IND is submitted.
A 30-day waiting period after the submission of each IND is required prior to the commencement of clinical testing in humans. If the FDA has not imposed a clinical hold on the IND or otherwise commented or questioned the IND within this 30-day period, the clinical trial proposed in the IND may begin.
Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational new drug to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of a qualified investigator. Clinical trials must be conducted: (i) in compliance with federal regulations, (ii) in compliance with GCP, an international standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators and monitors, and (iii) under protocols detailing the objectives of the trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol involving testing on U.S. patients and subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND.
The FDA may order the temporary, or permanent, discontinuation of a clinical trial at any time or impose other sanctions if it believes that the clinical trial either is not being conducted in accordance with FDA requirements or presents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial patients. The trial protocol and informed consent information for patients in clinical trials must also be submitted to an IRB for approval. An IRB may also require the clinical trial at the site to be halted, either temporarily or permanently, for failure to comply with the IRB’s requirements or may impose other conditions.
Clinical trials to support NDAs for marketing approval are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. In Phase 1, the initial introduction of the drug into healthy human subjects or patients, the drug is tested to assess metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological actions, side effects associated with increasing doses and, if possible, early evidence on effectiveness. Phase 2 usually involves trials in a limited patient population to determine the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication, dosage tolerance and optimum dosage, and to identify common adverse effects and safety risks. If a compound demonstrates evidence of effectiveness and an acceptable safety profile in Phase 2 evaluations, Phase 3 trials are undertaken to obtain the additional information about clinical efficacy and safety in a larger number of patients, typically at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites, to permit the FDA to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and to provide adequate information for the labeling of the drug. In most cases, the FDA requires two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. A single Phase 3 trial with other confirmatory evidence may be sufficient in rare instances where the trial is a large multicenter trial demonstrating internal consistency and a statistically very persuasive finding of a clinically meaningful effect on mortality, irreversible morbidity, or prevention of a disease with potentially serious outcome, and confirmation of the result in a second trial would be practically or ethically impossible.
After completion of the required clinical testing, an NDA is prepared and submitted to the FDA. FDA approval of the NDA is required before marketing of the product candidate may begin in the United States. The NDA must include the results of all pre-clinical, clinical, and other testing and a compilation of data relating to the product candidate’s pharmacology, chemistry, manufacture, and controls. The cost of preparing and submitting an NDA is substantial. Under federal law, the submission of most NDAs is additionally subject to a substantial application user fee, for Fiscal Year 2016 $2,374,200, and the manufacturer and/or sponsor under an approved NDA are also subject to annual product candidate and establishment user fees, for Fiscal Year 2016 $114,450 per product candidate and $585,200 per establishment. These fees are typically increased annually.
The FDA has 60 days from its receipt of an NDA to determine whether the application will be accepted for filing based on the agency’s threshold determination that it is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth review. The FDA has agreed to certain performance goals in the review of NDAs. Most such applications for standard review drug product candidates are reviewed within 10 to 12 months, while most applications for priority review drugs are reviewed in six to eight months. Priority review can be applied to drugs that the FDA determines offer major advances in treatment, or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. For biologics, priority review is further limited only for drugs intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease relative to the currently approved product candidates. The review process for both standard and priority review may be extended by FDA for three additional months to consider certain late-submitted information, or information intended to clarify information already provided in the submission.
The FDA may also refer applications for novel drug product candidates, or drug product candidates that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an advisory committee, which is typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally follows such recommendations. Before approving an NDA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP. Additionally, the FDA will inspect the facility or the facilities at which the drug is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product candidate unless compliance with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP, is satisfactory and the NDA contains data that provide substantial evidence that the drug is safe and effective in the indication studied.
After the FDA evaluates the NDA and the manufacturing facilities, it issues either an approval letter or a complete response letter. A complete response letter generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional testing, or information, in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. If, or when, those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two or six months depending on the type of information included.
An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug with specific prescribing information for specific indications. As a condition of NDA approval, the FDA may require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, to help ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks. REMS can include medication guides, communication plans for health care professionals, and elements to assure safe use, or ETASU. ETASU can include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring, and the use of patient registries. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the drug. Moreover, product candidate approval may require substantial post-approval testing and surveillance to monitor the drug’s safety or efficacy. Once granted, product candidate approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory standards is not maintained or problems are identified following initial marketing.
Disclosure of Clinical Trial Information
Sponsors of clinical trials of certain FDA-regulated product candidates, including prescription drugs, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information on a public website maintained by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Information related to the product candidate, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigator, and other aspects of the clinical trial is made public as part of the registration. Sponsors are also obligated to disclose the results of these trials after completion. Disclosure of the results of these trials can be delayed until the product candidate or new indication being studied has been approved. Competitors may use this publicly available information to gain knowledge regarding the design and progress of our development programs.
Fast Track Designation and Accelerated Approval
TS may be considered as a serious condition with a potentially disabling nature. The FDA has programs to facilitate the development, and expedite the review, of drugs that are intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease or condition for which there is no effective treatment and which demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the condition so these therapies for serious conditions are approved and available to patients as soon as it can be concluded that the therapies’ benefits justify their risk. Under the Fast Track Program, the sponsor of a new drug candidate may request that FDA designate the drug candidate for a specific indication as a Fast Track drug concurrent with, or after, the filing of the IND for the drug candidate. FDA must determine if the drug candidate qualifies for Fast Track designation within 60 days of receipt of the sponsor’s request.
Under the Fast Track Program and FDA’s accelerated approval regulations, FDA may approve a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides meaningful therapeutic benefit to patients over existing treatments based upon a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments.
In clinical trials, a surrogate endpoint is a measurement of laboratory or clinical signs of a disease or condition that substitutes for a direct measurement of how a patient feels, functions or survives. Surrogate endpoints can often be measured more easily or more rapidly than clinical endpoints. A drug candidate approved on this basis is subject to rigorous post-marketing compliance requirements, including the completion of Phase 4 or post- approval clinical trials to confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to conduct required post-approval studies, or confirm a clinical benefit during post-marketing studies, will allow FDA to withdraw the drug from the market on an expedited basis. All promotional materials for drug candidates approved under accelerated regulations are subject to prior review by FDA.
In addition to other benefits such as the ability to use surrogate endpoints and engage in more frequent interactions with FDA, FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast Track drug’s NDA before the application is complete. This rolling review is available if the applicant provides, and FDA approves, a schedule for the submission of the remaining information and the applicant pays applicable user fees. However, FDA’s time period goal for reviewing an application does not begin until the last section of the NDA is submitted. Additionally, the Fast Track designation may be withdrawn by FDA if FDA believes that the designation is no longer supported by data emerging in the clinical trial process.
The Hatch-Waxman Act
Orange Book Listing
In seeking approval for a drug through an NDA, applicants are required to list with the FDA each patent whose claims cover the applicant’s product candidate. Upon approval of a drug, each of the patents listed in the application for the drug is then published in the FDA’s Approved Drug Product candidates with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. Drugs listed in the Orange Book can, in turn, be cited by potential generic competitors in support of approval of an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA. An ANDA provides for marketing of a drug product candidate that has the same active ingredients in the same strengths and dosage form as the listed drug and has been shown through bioequivalence testing to be therapeutically equivalent to the listed drug. Other than the requirement for bioequivalence testing, ANDA applicants are not required to conduct, or submit results of, pre-clinical or clinical tests to prove the safety or effectiveness of their drug product candidate. Drugs approved in this way are commonly referred to as “generic equivalents” to the listed drug, and can often be substituted by pharmacists under prescriptions written for the original listed drug.
The ANDA applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product candidate in the FDA’s Orange Book. Specifically, the applicant must certify that: (i) the required patent information has not been filed; (ii) the listed patent has expired; (iii) the listed patent has not expired, but will expire on a particular date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or (iv) the listed patent is invalid or will not be infringed by the new product candidate. The ANDA applicant may also elect to submit a section viii statement, certifying that its proposed ANDA label does not contain (or carves out) any language regarding the patented method-of- use, rather than certify to a listed method-of-use patent.
If the applicant does not challenge the listed patents, the ANDA application will not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the referenced product candidate have expired.
A certification that the new product candidate will not infringe the already approved product candidate’s listed patents, or that such patents are invalid, is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the ANDA applicant has provided a Paragraph IV certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the ANDA has been accepted for filing by the FDA. The NDA and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving the ANDA until the earlier of 30 months, expiration of the patent, settlement of the lawsuit, or a decision in the infringement case that is favorable to the ANDA applicant.
The ANDA application also will not be approved until any applicable non- patent exclusivity listed in the Orange Book for the referenced product candidate has expired.
As the Orange Book, among others, lists patents that are purported to protect each drug, patent listings and use codes are provided by the drug application owner, and the FDA is obliged to list them. In order for a generic drug manufacturer to win approval of a drug under the Hatch-Waxman Act, the generic manufacturer must certify that they will not launch its generic product until after the expiration of the Orange Book-listed patent, or that the patent is invalid, unenforceable, or that the generic product will not infringe the listed patent. Although our product candidates are based on repurposed drugs, there are at present no patents or other exclusivities listed in the Orange Book pertaining to a product containing the active ingredient dronabinol.
Exclusivity
Upon NDA approval of a new chemical entity, or NCE, which is a drug that contains no active moiety that has been approved by the FDA in any other NDA, that drug receives five years of marketing exclusivity during which time the FDA cannot receive any ANDA seeking approval of a generic version of that drug. Certain changes to a drug, such as the addition of a new indication to the package insert, are associated with a three-year period of exclusivity during which the FDA cannot approve an ANDA for a generic drug that includes the change.
An ANDA may be submitted one year before NCE exclusivity expires if a Paragraph IV certification is filed. If there is no listed patent in the Orange Book, there may not be a Paragraph IV certification and thus no ANDA may be filed before the expiration of the exclusivity period.
For a botanical drug, FDA may determine that the active moiety is one or more of the principle components or the complex mixture as a whole. This determination would affect the utility of any 5-year exclusivity as well as the ability of any potential generic competitor to demonstrate that it is the same drug as the original botanical drug.
Patent Term Extension
After NDA approval, owners of relevant drug patents may apply for up to a five-year patent extension. The allowable patent term extension is calculated as half of the drug’s testing phase—the time between IND submission and NDA submission—and all of the review phase—the time between NDA submission and approval up to a maximum of five years. The time can be shortened if FDA determines that the applicant did not pursue approval with due diligence. The total patent term after the extension may not exceed 14 years.
For patents that might expire during the application phase, the patent owner may request an interim patent extension. An interim patent extension increases the patent term by one year and may be renewed up to four times. For each interim patent extension granted, the post-approval patent extension is reduced by one year. The director of the PTO must determine that approval of the drug covered by the patent for which a patent extension is being sought is likely. Interim patent extensions are not available for a drug for which an NDA has not been submitted.
Advertising and Promotion
Once an NDA is approved, a product candidate will be subject to certain post-approval requirements. For instance, FDA closely regulates the post-approval marketing and promotion of drugs, including standards and regulations for direct-to-consumer advertising, off-label promotion, industry- sponsored scientific and educational activities and promotional activities involving the internet.
Drugs may be marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data similar to that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs.
Adverse Event Reporting and GMP Compliance
Adverse event reporting and submission of periodic reports is required following FDA approval of an NDA. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, REMS and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product candidate, or the FDA may place conditions on an approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product candidate. In addition, quality-control, drug manufacture, packaging, and labeling procedures must continue to conform cGMPs after approval. Drug manufacturers and certain of their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with FDA and certain state agencies. Registration with the FDA subjects entities to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA, during which the agency inspects manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with cGMPs. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the areas of production and quality control to maintain compliance with cGMPs. Regulatory authorities may withdraw product candidate approvals or request product candidate recalls if a company fails to comply with regulatory standards, if it encounters problems following initial marketing or if previously unrecognized problems are subsequently discovered.
Pediatric Exclusivity and Pediatric Use
The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, or BPCA, provides NDA holders a six-month extension of any exclusivity—patent or non-patent—for a drug if certain conditions are met. Conditions for exclusivity include a determination by the FDA that information relating to the use of a new drug in the pediatric population may produce health benefits in that population; a written request by the FDA for pediatric studies; and agreement by the applicant to perform the requested studies and the submission to the FDA, and the acceptance by the FDA, of the reports of the requested studies within the statutory timeframe. Applications under the BPCA are treated as priority applications.
In addition, under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, NDAs or supplements to NDAs must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the drug for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the drug is safe and effective, unless the sponsor has received a deferral or waiver from the FDA. Unless otherwise required by regulation, PREA does not apply to any drug for an indication for which orphan designation has been granted. The required pediatric assessment must assess the safety and effectiveness of the product candidate for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product candidate is safe and effective. The sponsor or FDA may request a deferral of pediatric studies for some or all of the pediatric subpopulations. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the drug is ready for approval for use in adults before pediatric studies are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data need to be collected before the pediatric studies begin. Under PREA, the FDA must send a non-compliance letter requesting a response with 45 days to any sponsor that fails to submit the required assessment, keep a deferral current or fails to submit a request for approval of a pediatric formulation.
Orphan Drugs
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan drug designation to drugs intended to treat a rare disease or condition—generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an NDA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the drug and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process. The first NDA applicant to receive FDA approval for a particular active ingredient to treat a particular disease with FDA orphan drug designation is entitled to a seven-year exclusive marketing period in the United States for that product candidate, for that indication. During the seven-year exclusivity period, the FDA may not approve any other applications to market the same drug for the same disease, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product candidate with orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving a different drug for the same disease or condition, or the same drug for a different disease or condition. Among the other benefits of orphan drug designation are tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the NDA application user fee.
Special Protocol Assessment
A company may reach an agreement with the FDA under the Special Protocol Assessment, or SPA, process as to the required design and size of clinical trials intended to form the primary basis of an efficacy claim. According to its performance goals, the FDA is supposed to evaluate the protocol within 45 days of the request to assess whether the proposed trial is adequate, and that evaluation may result in discussions and a request for additional information. An SPA request must be made before the proposed trial begins, and all open issues must be resolved before the trial begins. If a written agreement is reached, it will be documented and made part of the administrative record. Under the FDC Act and FDA guidance implementing the statutory requirement, an SPA is generally binding upon the FDA except in limited circumstances, such as if the FDA identifies a substantial scientific issue essential to determining safety or efficacy after the study begins, public health concerns emerge that were unrecognized at the time of the protocol assessment, the sponsor and FDA agree to the change in writing, or if the study sponsor fails to follow the protocol that was agreed upon with the FDA.
Controlled Substances
Dronabinol, the active ingredient in our product candidates is a Schedule I controlled substance. The CSA and its implementing regulations establish a “closed system” of regulations for controlled substances. The CSA imposes registration, security, recordkeeping and reporting, storage, manufacturing, distribution, importation and other requirements under the oversight of the U.S. DEA. The DEA is the federal agency responsible for regulating controlled substances, and requires those individuals or entities that manufacture, import, export, distribute, research, or dispense controlled substances to comply with the regulatory requirements in order to prevent the diversion of controlled substances to illicit channels of commerce.
The DEA categorizes controlled substances into one of five schedules—Schedule I, II, III, IV or V—with varying qualifications for listing in each schedule. Schedule I substances by definition have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and lack accepted safety for use under medical supervision. They may be used only in federally approved research programs and may not be marketed or sold for dispensing to patients in the United States. Pharmaceutical product candidates having a currently accepted medical use that are otherwise approved for marketing may be listed as Schedule II, III, IV or V substances, with Schedule II substances presenting the highest potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence, and Schedule V substances presenting the lowest relative potential for abuse and dependence. The regulatory requirements are more restrictive for Schedule II substances than Schedule III substances. For example, all Schedule II drug prescriptions must be signed by a physician, physically presented to a pharmacist in most situations and cannot be refilled.
Following NDA approval of a drug containing a Schedule I controlled substance, that substance must be rescheduled as a Schedule II, III, IV or V substance before it can be marketed. On November 17, 2015, H.R. 639, Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, passed through both houses of Congress. On November 25, 2015 the Bill was signed into law. The new law removes uncertainty associated with timing of the DEA rescheduling process after NDA approval. Specifically, it requires DEA to issue an “interim final rule,” pursuant to which a manufacturer may market its product candidate within 90 days of FDA approval. The new law also preserves the period of orphan marketing exclusivity for the full seven years such that this period only begins after DEA scheduling. This contrasts with the previous situation whereby the orphan “clock” began to tick upon FDA approval, even though the product candidate could not be marketed until DEA scheduling was complete.
Facilities that manufacture, distribute, import or export any controlled substance must register annually with the DEA. The DEA registration is specific to the particular location, activity(ies) and controlled substance schedule(s). For example, separate registrations are required for importation and manufacturing activities, and each registration authorizes which schedules of controlled substances the registrant may handle. However, certain coincident activities are permitted without obtaining a separate DEA registration, such as distribution of controlled substances by the manufacturer that produces them.
The DEA inspects all manufacturing facilities to review security, recordkeeping, reporting and handling prior to issuing a controlled substance registration. The specific security requirements vary by the type of business activity and the schedule and quantity of controlled substances handled. The most stringent requirements apply to manufacturers of Schedule I and Schedule II substances. Required security measures commonly include background checks on employees and physical control of controlled substances through storage in approved vaults, safes and cages, and through use of alarm systems and surveillance cameras. An application for a manufacturing registration as a bulk manufacturer (not a dosage form manufacturer or a repacker/relabeler) for a Schedule I or II substance must be published in the Federal Register, and is open for 30 days to permit interested persons to submit comments, objections or requests for a hearing. A copy of the notice of the Federal Register publication is forwarded by DEA to all those registered, or applicants for registration, as bulk manufacturers of that substance. Once registered, manufacturing facilities must maintain records documenting the manufacture, receipt and distribution of all controlled substances. Manufacturers must submit periodic reports to the DEA of the distribution of Schedule I and II controlled substances, Schedule III narcotic substances, and other designated substances. Registrants must also report any controlled substance thefts or significant losses, and must obtain authorization to destroy or dispose of controlled substances. As with applications for registration as a bulk manufacturer, an application for an importer registration for a Schedule I or II substance must also be published in the Federal Register, which remains open for 30 days for comments. Imports of Schedule I and II controlled substances for commercial purposes are generally restricted to substances not already available from domestic supplier or where there is not adequate competition among domestic suppliers. In addition to an importer or exporter registration, importers and exporters must obtain a permit for every import or export of a Schedule I and II substance or Schedule III, IV and V narcotic, and submit import or export declarations for Schedule III, IV and V non-narcotics. In some cases, Schedule III non-narcotic substances may be subject to the import/export permit requirement, if necessary to ensure that the United States complies with its obligations under international drug control treaties.
For drugs manufactured in the United States, the DEA establishes annually an aggregate quota for the amount of substances within Schedules I and II that may be manufactured or produced in the United States based on the DEA’s estimate of the quantity needed to meet legitimate medical, scientific, research and industrial needs. This limited aggregate amount of cannabis that the DEA allows to be produced in the United States each year is allocated among individual companies, which, in turn, must annually apply to the DEA for individual manufacturing and procurement quotas. The quotas apply equally to the manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and production of dosage forms. The DEA may adjust aggregate production quotas a few times per year, and individual manufacturing or procurement quotas from time to time during the year, although the DEA has substantial discretion in whether or not to make such adjustments for individual companies.
The states also maintain separate controlled substance laws and regulations, including licensing, recordkeeping, security, distribution, and dispensing requirements. State Authorities, including Boards of Pharmacy, regulate use of controlled substances in each state. Failure to maintain compliance with applicable requirements, particularly as manifested in the loss or diversion of controlled substances, can result in enforcement action that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition. The DEA may seek civil penalties, refuse to renew necessary registrations, or initiate proceedings to revoke those registrations. In certain circumstances, violations could lead to criminal prosecution.
Europe/Rest of World Government Regulation
In addition to regulations in the United States, we are and will be subject, either directly or through our distribution partners, to a variety of regulations in other jurisdictions governing, among other things, clinical trials and any commercial sales and distribution of our product candidates, if approved.
Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product candidate, we must obtain the requisite approvals from regulatory authorities in non-U.S. countries prior to the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of the product candidate in those countries. Certain countries outside of the United States have a process that requires the submission of a clinical trial application much like an IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In Europe, for example, a clinical trial application, or CTA, must be submitted to the competent national health authority and to independent ethics committees in each country in which a company intends to conduct clinical trials. Once the CTA is approved in accordance with a country’s requirements, clinical trial development may proceed in that country.
The requirements and process governing the conduct of clinical trials, product candidate licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country, even though there is already some degree of legal harmonization in the European Union member states resulting from the national implementation of underlying E.U. legislation. In all cases, the clinical trials are conducted in accordance with GCP and other applicable regulatory requirements.
To obtain regulatory approval of an investigational drug under E.U. regulatory systems, we must submit a marketing authorization application. This application is similar to the NDA in the United States, with the exception of, among other things, country-specific document requirements. Drugs can be authorized in the European Union by using (i) the centralized authorization procedure, (ii) the mutual recognition procedure, (iii) the decentralized procedure or (iv) national authorization procedures. The initial Sativex approvals were a consequence of an application under the De-Centralized Procedure, or DCP, to the E.U. member states of the United Kingdom and Spain.
The EMA implemented the centralized procedure for the approval of human drugs to facilitate marketing authorizations that are valid throughout the European Union. This procedure results in a single marketing authorization granted by the European Commission that is valid across the European Union, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The centralized procedure is compulsory for human drugs that are: (i) derived from biotechnology processes, such as genetic engineering, (ii) contain a new active substance indicated for the treatment of certain diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune and other immune dysfunctions and viral diseases, (iii) officially designated “orphan drugs” (drugs used for rare human diseases) and (iv) advanced-therapy medicines, such as gene- therapy, somatic cell-therapy or tissue-engineered medicines. The centralized procedure may at the request of the applicant also be used for human drugs which do not fall within the above mentioned categories if the human drug (a) contains a new active substance which, on the date of entry into force of this Regulation, was not authorized in the Community; or (b) the applicant shows that the medicinal product candidate constitutes a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or that the granting of authorization in the centralized procedure is in the interests of patients or animal health at the European Community level.
Under the centralized procedure in the European Union, the maximum timeframe for the evaluation of a marketing authorization application by the EMA is 210 days (excluding clock stops, when additional written or oral information is to be provided by the applicant in response to questions asked by the Committee for Medicinal Product candidates for Human Use, or CHMP), with adoption of the actual marketing authorization by the European Commission thereafter. Accelerated evaluation might be granted by the CHMP in exceptional cases, when a medicinal product candidate is expected to be of a major public health interest from the point of view of therapeutic innovation, defined by three cumulative criteria: the seriousness of the disease to be treated; the absence of an appropriate alternative therapeutic approach, and anticipation of exceptional high therapeutic benefit. In this circumstance, EMA ensures that the evaluation for the opinion of the CHMP is completed within 150 days and the opinion issued thereafter.
The mutual recognition procedure, or MRP, for the approval of human drugs is an alternative approach to facilitate individual national marketing authorizations within the European Union. Basically, the MRP may be applied for all human drugs for which the centralized procedure is not obligatory. The MRP is applicable to the majority of conventional medicinal product candidates, and is based on the principle of recognition of an already existing national marketing authorization by one or more member states. Since the first approvals for Sativex were national approvals in the United Kingdom and Spain (following a DCP), the only route open to us for additional marketing authorizations in the European Union was the MRP.
The characteristic of the MRP is that the procedure builds on an already‒existing marketing authorization in a member state of the E.U. that is used as a reference in order to obtain marketing authorizations in other E.U. member states. In the MRP, a marketing authorization for a drug already exists in one or more member states of the E.U. and subsequently marketing authorization applications are made in other European Union member states by referring to the initial marketing authorization. The member state in which the marketing authorization was first granted will then act as the reference member state. The member states where the marketing authorization is subsequently applied for act as concerned member states.
The MRP is based on the principle of the mutual recognition by European Union member states of their respective national marketing authorizations. Based on a marketing authorization in the reference member state, the applicant may apply for marketing authorizations in other member states. In such case, the reference member state shall update its existing assessment report about the drug in 90 days. After the assessment is completed, copies of the report are sent to all member states, together with the approved summary of product candidate characteristics, labeling and package leaflet. The concerned member states then have 90 days to recognize the decision of the reference member state and the summary of product candidate characteristics, labeling and package leaflet. National marketing authorizations shall be granted within 30 days after acknowledgement of the agreement.
Should any Member State refuse to recognize the marketing authorization by the reference member state, on the grounds of potential serious risk to public health, the issue will be referred to a coordination group. Within a timeframe of 60 days, member states shall, within the coordination group, make all efforts to reach a consensus. If this fails, the procedure is submitted to an EMA scientific committee for arbitration. The opinion of this EMA Committee is then forwarded to the Commission, for the start of the decision making process. As in the centralized procedure, this process entails consulting various European Commission Directorates General and the Standing Committee on Human Medicinal Product candidates or Veterinary Medicinal Product candidates, as appropriate. Since the initial approvals of Sativex in the United Kingdom and Spain, there have been three “waves” of additional approvals under three separate MRPs. Each of these procedures have been completed without any referral, and therefore without any delay.
For other countries outside of the European Union, such as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America or Asia, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product candidate licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, again, the clinical trials are conducted in accordance with GCP and the other applicable regulatory requirements.
If we fail to comply with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines, suspension of clinical trials, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals, product candidate recalls, seizure of product candidates, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.
In addition, most countries are parties to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, which governs international trade and domestic control of narcotic substances, including cannabis extracts. Countries may interpret and implement their treaty obligations in a way that creates a legal obstacle to our obtaining marketing approval for Sativex and our other product candidates in those countries. These countries may not be willing or able to amend or otherwise modify their laws and regulations to permit Sativex or our other product candidates to be marketed, or achieving such amendments to the laws and regulations may take a prolonged period of time. In that case, we would be unable to market our product candidates in those countries in the near future or perhaps at all.
Reimbursement
Sales of pharmaceutical product candidates in the United States will depend, in part, on the extent to which the costs of the product candidates will be covered by third-party payers, such as government health programs, commercial insurance and managed health care organizations. These third-party payers are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical product candidates and services. Additionally, the containment of health care costs has become a priority of federal and state governments, and the prices of drugs have been a focus in this effort. The United States government, state legislatures and foreign governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic product candidates. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit our net revenue and results. If these third-party payers do not consider our product candidates to be cost-effective compared to other available therapies, they may not cover our product candidates after approval as a benefit under their plans or, if they do, the level of payment may not be sufficient to allow us to sell our product candidates on a profitable basis.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or the MMA, imposed new requirements for the distribution and pricing of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and included a major expansion of the prescription drug benefit under Medicare Part D. Under Part D, Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in prescription drug plans offered by private entities which will provide coverage of outpatient prescription drugs. Part D plans include both stand-alone prescription drug benefit plans and prescription drug coverage as a supplement to Medicare Advantage plans. Unlike Medicare Part A and B, Part D coverage is not standardized. Part D prescription drug plan sponsors are not required to pay for all covered Part D drugs, and each drug plan can develop its own drug formulary that identifies which drugs it will cover and at what tier or level. However, Part D prescription drug formularies must include drugs within each therapeutic category and class of covered Part D drugs, though not necessarily all the drugs in each category or class. Any formulary used by a Part D prescription drug plan must be developed and reviewed by a pharmacy and therapeutic committee. Government payment for some of the costs of prescription drugs may increase demand for product candidates for which we receive marketing approval. However, any negotiated prices for our product candidates covered by a Part D prescription drug plan will likely be lower than the prices we might otherwise obtain. Moreover, while the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payers often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own payment rates. Any reduction in payment that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from non-governmental payers.
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This law provides funding for the federal government to compare the effectiveness of different treatments for the same illness. A plan for the research will be developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes for Health, and periodic reports on the status of the research and related expenditures will be made to Congress. Although the results of the comparative effectiveness studies are not intended to mandate coverage policies for public or private payers, it is not clear how such a result could be avoided and what if any effect the research will have on the sales of our product candidates, if any such product candidate or the condition that it is intended to treat is the subject of a study. It is also possible that comparative effectiveness research demonstrating benefits in a competitor’s product candidate could adversely affect the sales of our product candidates. Decreases in third-party reimbursement for our product candidates or a decision by a third-party payer to not cover our product candidates could reduce physician usage of the product candidate and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations and financial condition.
The Affordable Care Act is expected to continue to have a significant impact on the health care industry. With regard to pharmaceutical product candidates, among other things, the Affordable Care Act may expand and increase industry rebates for drugs covered under Medicaid programs and make changes to the coverage requirements under the Medicare D program. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, numerous regulations have been issued providing further guidance on its requirements. The Affordable Care Act continues to be implemented through regulation and government activity but is subject to possible amendment, additional implementing regulations and interpretive guidelines. Several states have decided not to expand their Medicaid programs and are seeking alternative reimbursement models to provide care to the uninsured. The manner in which these issues are resolved could materially affect the extent to which and the amount at which pharmaceuticals are reimbursed by government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare.
In addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, the European Union provides options for its member states to restrict the range of medicinal product candidates for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal product candidates for human use. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product candidate or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of our Company placing the medicinal product candidate on the market. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical product candidates will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our product candidates. Historically, product candidates launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally tend to be significantly lower.
Other Health Care Laws and Compliance Requirements
In the United States, our activities are potentially subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities in addition to the FDA, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly the Health Care Financing Administration), or CMS, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the U.S. Department of Justice and individual U.S. Attorney offices within the Department of Justice, and state and local governments. For example, sales, marketing and scientific/educational grant programs must comply with the anti-fraud and abuse provisions of the Social Security Act, the False Claims Act, the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, and similar state laws, each as amended. Pricing and rebate programs must comply with the Medicaid rebate requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, or VHCA, each as amended. If product candidates are made available to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration, additional laws and requirements apply. Under the VHCA, drug companies are required to offer certain drugs at a reduced price to a number of federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense, the Public Health Service and certain private Public Health Service‒designated entities in order to participate in other federal funding programs including Medicare and Medicaid. Recent legislative changes purport to require that discounted prices be offered for certain U.S. Department of Defense purchases for its TRICARE program via a rebate system. Participation under the VHCA requires submission of pricing data and calculation of discounts and rebates pursuant to complex statutory formulas, as well as the entry into government procurement contracts governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
In order to distribute product candidates commercially, we must comply with state laws that require the registration of manufacturers and wholesale distributors of pharmaceutical product candidates in a state, including, in certain states, manufacturers and distributors who ship product candidates into the state, even if such manufacturers or distributors have no place of business within the state. Some states also impose requirements on manufacturers and distributors to establish the pedigree of product candidate in the chain of distribution, including some states that require manufacturers and others to adopt new technology capable of tracking and tracing product candidate as it moves through the distribution chain. Several states have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to establish marketing compliance programs, file periodic reports with the state, make periodic public disclosures on sales, marketing, pricing, clinical trials and other activities or register their sales representatives. Other legislation has been enacted in certain states prohibiting pharmacies and other health care entities from providing certain physician prescribing data to pharmaceutical companies for use in sales and marketing, and prohibiting certain other sales and marketing practices. All of our activities are potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.
Expanded Access to Investigational Drugs
An investigational drug may be eligible for clinical use outside the context of a manufacturer’s clinical trial of the drug. “Expanded access” refers to the use of an investigational drug where the primary purpose is to diagnose, monitor, or treat a patient’s disease or condition rather than to collect information about the safety or effectiveness of a drug. Expanded access INDs are typically sponsored by individual physicians to treat patients who fall into one of three FDA-recognized categories of expanded access: expanded access for individual patients, including for emergency use; expanded access for intermediate-size patient populations; and expanded access for large patient populations under a treatment IND or treatment protocol. For all types of expanded access, FDA must determine prior to authorizing expanded access that: (1) the patient or patients to be treated have a serious or life threatening disease or condition and there is no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy; (2) the potential patient benefit justifies the potential risks of use and that the potential risks are not unreasonable in the context of the disease or condition to be treated; and (3) granting the expanded access will not interfere with the initiation, conduct, or completion of clinical studies in support of the drug’s approval. In addition, the sponsor of an expanded access IND must submit IND safety reports and, in the cases of protocols continuing for one year or longer, annual reports to the FDA. Expanded access programs are not intended to yield information relevant to evaluating a drug’s effectiveness for regulatory purposes. If a patient enrolled in one of our clinical trials is not eligible or able to continue enrollment, we may be required to continue to provide our product candidate to such patient through expanded access.
Grants from the INATI
Our research and development efforts mainly with respect to our past activities (for example, with respect to immunotherapy programs such as the BBS program and the Anti-CD3 program) were financed in part through royalty-bearing grants from the INATI. As of December 31, 2015, we have received the aggregate amount of approximately $4.1 million from the INATI for the development of these programs, which have since been out-licensed. With respect to such grants we are committed to pay certain royalties up to the total grant amount. Regardless of any royalty payment, we are further required to comply with the requirements of the Research Law, with respect to those past grants. When a company develops know-how, technology or products using INATI grants, the terms of these grants and the Research Law restrict the transfer of such know-how, and the transfer of manufacturing or manufacturing rights of such products, technologies or know-how outside of Israel, without the prior approval of the INATI. We do not believe that these requirements will materially restrict us in any way. None of our current projects in the field of cannabinoid therapeutics are supported by the INATI, yet if eligible, we might apply for such support in the future.
Organizational Structure
We have one active subsidiary, Orimmune Bio Ltd., a company organized in the State of Israel. We hold approximately 84% of Orimmune’s share capital. In June 2016, we entered into a share transfer agreement with Orimmune and Karma Link, according to which we will sell our holdings in Orimmune to Karma Link. The sale of Orimmune is pending the necessary permits and approvals, and is expected to be completed by the end of August.
In addition, we own approximately 27% of Lara Pharm Ltd., or Lara Pharm, a private company engaged in the field of medical cannabis and developing a formulation based on synthetic cannabinoids, for the provision through an inhaler. The founder of Lara Pharm holds a call option exercisable until May 22, 2017 to purchase all of our remaining holdings in Lara Pharm for $500,000.
Property and Facilities
Our offices are located at 5 Azrieli Center (Square Tower), Tel Aviv, Israel, where we currently occupy approximately 1076 square feet. We lease our facilities and our lease ends on June 30, 2017. Our monthly rent payment as of March 31, 2016 was NIS 18,700 (approximately $5,000).
We consider that our current office space is sufficient to meet our anticipated needs for the foreseeable future and is suitable for the conduct of our business.
Employees
As of March 31, 2016, we have five members of senior management (including our chairman), of which two are full-time employees, and three are service providers providing their services on a part-time basis. In addition, we have three other full-time employees, all located in Israel. None of our employees is represented by labor unions or covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that we maintain good relations with all of our employees. However, in Israel, we are subject to certain Israeli labor laws, regulations and national labor court precedent rulings, as well as certain provisions of collective bargaining agreements applicable to us by virtue of extension orders issued in accordance with relevant labor laws by the Israeli Ministry of Economy and which apply such agreement provisions to our employees even though they are not part of a union that has signed a collective bargaining agreement.
All of our employment and consulting agreements include employees’ and consultants’ undertakings with respect to non-competition and assignment to us of intellectual property rights developed in the course of employment and confidentiality. The enforceability of such provisions is limited by Israeli law.
Legal Proceedings
The Israeli Securities Authority, or the ISA, has notified us that it is conducting an administrative inquiry relating to our reports (quality and scope of disclosure) to the ISA and the TASE with respect to the termination of a license agreement we had with Ramot for certain technology covering our previous BBS technology and program, which was terminated in the beginning of 2014. Should this inquiry turn into an administrative proceeding against us or any of our directors or officers, we might by subject to future monetary sanctions (up to NIS 5 million), and additional administrative sanctions may be levied upon such directors and officers. We cannot predict the outcome of this inquiry at this time.
On February 3, 2016, we received a notice of opposition filed anonymously with the European Patent Office, in connection with a divisional European application for a patent relating to our Anti-CD3 technology, which we are currently in the process of out-licensing in connection with a sale of our subsidiary, Orimmune, to Karma Link. Additional patents covering this technology in other territories were not challenged. Karma Link is currently bearing the costs of the proceedings. We do not foresee any material effect on our business should the opposition succeed, unless Karma Link will refuse to continue to bear the costs of the proceedings. In such an event, we will need to consider whether to abandon the technology or bear the costs of the proceeding. Furthermore, we do not believe that the out-license of the technology nor the sale of our holdings in Orimmune will be effected should the opposition succeed.
MANAGEMENT
Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers, key employees and directors as of August 8, 2016:
Name | | Age | | Position |
| | | | |
Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz | | 60 | | Chairman of the Board of Directors |
| | | | |
Dr. Elran Haber | | 36 | | Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | |
Guy Goldin | | 44 | | Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | |
Doron Ben Ami | | 54 | | Chief Strategy Officer |
| | | | |
Dr. Adi Zuloff-Shani | | 48 | | Chief Technologies Officer |
| | | | |
Abraham (Avi) Meizler | | 64 | | Director |
| | | | |
Amit Berger(1) (2) (3) (4) | | 52 | | Director |
| | | | |
Dr. Yafit Stark(1) (2) (4) | | 63 | | Director |
| | | | |
Micha Jesselson | | 31 | | Director |
| | | | |
Zohar Heiblum(1) (2) (3) (4) | | 61 | | Director |
(1) | Member of the Compensation Committee |
(2) | Member of the Audit Committee |
(3) | External Director (as defined under Israeli law) |
(4) | Independent Director (as defined under Israeli law and Nasdaq Rules) |
Dr. Ascher Shmulewitzhas served as our Chairman since January 2014 and on our Board of Directors since February 2013. Dr. Shmulewitz is an inventor and serial entrepreneur in biomedical technologies. Dr. Shmulewitz has founded an invested in over two dozen life science companies including NeoVision Corp, Labcoat Medical Ltd. Arteria Corp, Circulation Inc. and X-Cardia Inc. and has led multiple of these companies to successful exits, mostly through merger and acquisition transactions with large medical device companies. Dr. Shmulewitz has vast experience in the venture capital arena as an investor, manager and entrepreneur in dozens of companies and ventures. In 1995, Dr. Shmulewitz co-founded San Francisco Science and the Incumed Group for seed investments, and is the founder of Medgenesis Partners Ltd., an Israeli private investment firm and incubator that has invested in over a dozen ventures. Dr. Shmulewitz previously held senior executive positions at Advanced Technology Laboratories Inc. (from 1988 to 1992). Dr. Shmulewitz received an M.D. degree from The Technion Medical School and a Ph.D degree in Engineering from Tel Aviv University, Israel
Dr. Elran Haberhas served as our Chief Executive Officer since November 2015. Prior to that, and from March 2014, Dr. Haber served as our Vice President of Business Strategy and Innovation. Dr Haber served more than 10 years as chairman and board member of several publicly traded and privately held companies, including Issta Lines Ltd. (TASE: “ISTA”) from 2007 to 2012, American Express Global Business Travel – Israel (Histour-Eltive Ltd.) from 2010 to 2012, and has been a member of various board committees and has served in senior executive roles in various life science companies. Dr. Haber holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Science and an M.B.A. in Finance & Financial Engineering, both from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Mr. Guy Goldin, CPAhas served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2015. Mr. Goldin has over 20 years of experience in a wide variety of managerial, financial, tax and accounting related positions. Since 2012, Mr. Goldin has served as the chief financial offer of Biological Signal Processing Ltd. From 2010 until July 2016, Mr. Goldin served as the chief financial officer of Petro-Group Ltd. Prior to that, Mr. Goldin served as a chief financial officer at Critisence Ltd., and as a CPA at KPMG. Mr. Goldin holds a B.A degree (with honors) in Accounting and Economics and an M.B.A. (finance) both from Tel- Aviv University, Israel.
Mr. Doron Ben Amihas served as our Chief Strategy Officer since December 2015. Mr. Ben Ami is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of management experience holding various leadership roles in the multinational pharmaceutical industry. Among Mr. Ben Ami’s previous roles were Associate Vice President of the Eastern Europe and Israel region at Merck (from 2010 to 2015), managing director of Merck subsidiary in Israel (from 2008 to 2010) and the General Manager of Lundbeck Israel. (from 2002 to 2008). Since 2015, Mr. Ben Ami has served as a Senior Consultant at The Harel Group Inc., a U.S. based business development advisory firm that connects innovative pharmaceutical companies with strategic partners. Mr. Ben Ami holds a Master of Health Systems Administration degree (M.H.A.) from Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Dr. Adi Zuloff-Shanihas served as our Chief Technologies Officer since February 2016. Dr. Zuloff-Shani has more than 15 years of experience as an R&D executive. Prior to joining us, and from 2012 to 2016, Dr. Zuloff-Shani served as a vice president development at Macrocure Ltd. (NASDAQ: “MCUR”) where besides leading all research and development activities, she interacted and was involved with the activities of all departments including clinical, operations, quality assurance, quality control, finance, and regulatory affairs. Dr. Zuloff-Shani holds a Ph.D in human biology and immunology from Bar- Ilan University, Israel.
Mr. Avi Meizlerhas served on our Board of Directors since February 2013. Mr. Meizler founded Meizler Biopharma SA. in 1990 and served as its president from 1990 to 2012 when it was merged with the Belgian Pharma multinational UCB SA. From June 2012 to December 2014, Mr. Meizler served as the chairman of the board and Vice President Business Development of Meizler UCB Biopharma SA. In January 2011, Mr. Meizler co-founded Advantech Bioscience Pharmaceutical Ltd., and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since that time. In 2002, Mr. Meizler founded ATME Comercio e Serviços Ltda. (ATME Eco Solutions) currently specialized in energy and water efficiency. Mr. Meizler holds a degree in architecture and an MBA from Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil.
Mr. Amit Bergerhas served on our Board of Directors since August 2014. Mr. Berger has significant expertise in financial markets, where he has held management and board positions for over twenty-five years. From 2009, Mr. Berger served as the chief executive officer of Dolphin 1 Investment Ltd. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Berger served as the chairman of Dash Investments Ltd., and from 2005 to 2009, as the chairman and a director of Enter Holdings 1 Ltd. Mr. Berger has also served on the boards of Mega Or Holdings Ltd., N.R. Spuntech Industries Ltd., Itay Financial A.A. Investments Ltd., Ortam-Sahar Engineering Ltd., Hamashbir 365 Ltd. and Polar Investments Ltd. Mr. Berger holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Dr. Yafit Starkhas served on our Board of Directors since June 2015. Since 2006, Dr. Stark has served as Vice President Global Clinical Advisor at Teva Pharamceutical Ltd. Dr. Stark has established the Global Innovative Clinical Research Infrastructures at Teva and was responsible for the clinical development of significant products, among them the Copaxone® for Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Stark is a pioneer in incorporating innovation and new technologies in clinical development. During her 29 years of work in large pharma, she has built up the framework and expertise in multiple therapeutic areas and different types of medicinal products technologies. Dr. Stark serves as a director of several biotechnology companies and associations. Dr. Stark holds a Ph.D degree in Pathology from Tel Aviv University and a Post-Doctorate in Immuno-Histopathology from Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
Mr. Micha Jesselsonhas served on our Board of Directors since June 2015. Since 2011, Mr. Jesselson has held various leadership roles in Jesselson Investments Ltd. Mr. Jesselson oversees the family's broad based investments in the U.S. and Israel. Mr. Jesselson manages Jesselson Investments Ltd. which is involved in a variety of sectors including venture capital investments, private equity transactions and real estate development in New York. Mr. Jesselson holds a Bachelor of Business degree from The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel.
Mr. Zohar Heiblumhas served on our Board of Directors since August 2013. In 1983, Mr. Heiblum co-founded Tefen IL (Israel) Ltd., a leading consulting firm in Israel. Since then, Mr. Heiblum has been involved in various companies as an investor, consultant, board member and active chairman. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Heiblum served as the a director and chairman of the board at of Orex Computed Radiography Ltd., which was later sold to Eastern Kodak Company. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Heiblum served as a director of Biosonix Ltd. which executed a reverse merger with Neoprobe (today Navidea Biopharmaceutical Inc.) in 2002. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Heiblum served as the general manager of the Israeli subsidiary of MobileAccess Networks Inc. (formally Foxcom) which was sold to Corning Inc. (U.S.A) in 2011. Mr. Heiblum has a B.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering and an M.B.A., both from Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Scientific Advisory Board
We have a Scientific Advisory Board of seven researchers in the field(s) of: Psychiatry, TS, neurology, Alzheimer’s, psychology and pediatrics, neurobiology, pharmacology, organic and medicinal chemistry, cannabinoids and drug discovery. We consult with the members of our Scientific Advisory Board on a regular basis.
Prof. Raphael Mechoulam is a Professor Emeritus of the Department of Natural Products of the School of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Prof. Mechoulam’s research in the field of cannabis has led to his the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. Additionally, Prof. Mechoulam was among the first to complete the total synthesis of the major plant cannabinoids, THC, cannabidiol, cannabigerol, and others, and also played a key role in the isolation of the first described endocannabinoid anandamid. Prof. Mechoulam’s research interests are in the chemical and biological activity of natural products and medicinal agents, of which his primary contributions are in the field of the constituents of cannabis, about which Prof. Mechoulam has published extensively. Prof. Mechoulam has received amongst others, the Israel Prize in 2000, the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and the Rothschild Prize in 2012.
Prof. James Leckman, M.D. is the Neison Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics at Yale University. Prof. Leckman has served as Director of Research for the Yale Child Study Center for more than twenty years. Prof. Leckman's current research involves exploring whether the strengthening of families and the enhancement of childhood development leads to peaceful results and the prevention of violence. Additionally, Prof. Leckman has a longstanding interest in TS and OCD. Prof. Leckman is the author or co-author of over 430 original articles published in peer-reviewed journals, twelve books, and 140 book chapters.
Prof. Michael Davidson currently serves, among other things, as Chairman of the Stuckinski Centre for Alzheimer’s Disease Research in Ramat Gan. Prof. Davidson is also the editor of European Neuropsychopharmacology. Prof. Davidson served as Chief Psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry of the Sheba Medical Centre in Tel-Hashomer for six years. Prof. Davidson holds a professorship at the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University anda secondary appointment at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Prof. Davidson is considered an international expert on Alzheimer’s and is the author of approximately 300 publications in scientific literature.
Prof. Daniele Piomelli serves as the Louise Turner Arnold Chair in Neurosciences and Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Pharmacology, and Biological Chemistry at University of California, Irvine. Prof. Piomelli is also the founding director of the drug discovery and development unit (D3) at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, Italy, as well as the Editor in Chief of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Prof. Piomelli's research has resulted in several contributions to the pharmacology of lipid based signaling molecules including endocannabinoid substances and lipid amides. Prof. Piomelli is the author of more than 400 peer reviewed articles and books and has received several awards and honors. Prof. Piomelli studied Pharmacology and Neuroscience at Columbia University, and the Rockefeller University, and earned his degree of Doctor of Pharmacy from University of Naples.
Prof. Kirsten Müller-Vahl is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Germany. Prof. Müller-Vahl specialist in both neurology and adult psychiatry and has worked extensively at a specialized movement disorder clinic. For six years, Prof. Müller-Vahl was a grant-holder for the German Government for scientific research related to TS. Over the past eighteen years, Dr. Müller-Vahl has investigated more than 12000 patients with TS, both children and adults, and has served as the head of the TS outpatient department for over twenty years. Additionally, Prof. Müller-Vahl served on the scientific advisory Board of the German Tourette Syndrome Association, and, in 2011, she became the president of the German Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome. Furthermore, Prof. Müller-Vahl is a German representative member of the management committee and coordinator of the COST Action BM0905, which is involved the study of TS, and the leader of Working Group 4, which is involved in outreach activities. Prof. Müller-Vahl is a full partner in the EU funded FP7 program, the “European Multicentre Tics in Children Studies.”
Prof. Avi Weizman is a Professor of Child and Adult Psychiatry at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine of Tel Aviv University, a Director of the Felsentein Medical Research Center and the head of a Laboratory for Biological Psychiatry and the head of a Research Unit at the Geha Mental Health Center. Prof. Weizman’s research involves the investigation of brain mechanisms of mental disorders, and currently focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, development of new strategies for the treatment of psychotic disorders and the psychopharmacology of mental disorders. Prof. Weizman is the author of more than 760 original papers, 5 full books, 28 book chapters and 60 review articles. After completing his residency in Psychiatry, Prof. Weizman spent two years as a visiting scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Michael H. Bloch, M.D., M.S. is the associate training director of the Child Study Center's Solnit Integrated Program, which provides psychiatrists-in-training with the opportunity to integrate general, child and research psychiatry during many stages of their career. Dr. Bloch’s research interests focus on studying TS, OCD, and trichotillomania. Dr. Bloch’s current research involves developing superior treatments for children and adults diagnosed with the aforementioned indications and examining predictors of long-term outcomes with an emphasis on neuroimaging. Dr. Bloch has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has received the Keese Prize (Best Research Thesis by graduating medical student at Yale University), the Lustman Award (Best Research performed by Psychiatry Resident at Yale University) and the AACAP Norbert and Charlotte Rieger Award for Scientific Achievement (Best Manuscript Published in JAACAP by Child Psychiatrist). Dr. Bloch graduated from Yale School of Medicine, where he completed training in both child and adult psychiatry.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any members of our executive management and our directors.
Arrangements for Election of Directors and Members of Management
We are not a party to, and there are no arrangements or voting agreements that we are aware of for the election of our directors and members of management.
Compensation
The following table presents in the aggregate all compensation we paid to all of our directors and senior management as a group for the year ended December 31, 2015. The table does not include any amounts we paid to reimburse any of such persons for costs incurred in providing us with services during this period.
All amounts reported in the tables below reflect the cost to the Company, in thousands of U.S. Dollars, for the year ended December 31, 2015. Amounts paid in NIS are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of NIS 3.902 = U.S.$1.00, based on the average representative rate of exchange between the NIS and the U.S. dollar as reported by the Bank of Israel in the year ended December 31, 2015.
| | Salary/ Fee and Related Benefits | | | Pension, Retirement and Other Similar Benefits | | | Share Based Compensation | |
All directors and senior management as a group, consisting of 12 persons | | $ | 518,000 | | | | - | | | $ | 129,000 | |
In accordance with the Companies Law, the table below reflects the compensation granted to our five most highly compensated officers during or with respect to the year ended December 31, 2015.
Annual Compensation- in thousands of USD
Executive Officer | | Salary/ Fee and Related Benefits | | | Pension, Retirement and Other Similar Benefits | | | Share Based Compensation | | | Total | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ascher Shmulewitz | | $ | 153,000 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 40,000 | | | $ | 193,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dr. Elran Haber | | $ | 153,000 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 32,000 | | | $ | 185,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jan Turek (former CEO) | | $ | 63,000 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 37,000 | | | $ | 100,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jonathan Berger (former CEO and CFO) | | $ | 80,000 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 3,000 | | | $ | 83,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Uri Ben-or (former CFO) | | $ | 22,000 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 22,000 | |
Employment and Services Agreements with Executive Officers
We have entered into written employment agreements with each of our executive officers (including with our Chairman). All of these agreements contain customary provisions regarding noncompetition, confidentiality of information and assignment of inventions. However, the enforceability of the noncompetition provisions may be limited under applicable law. In addition, we have entered into agreements with each executive officer and director pursuant to which we have agreed to indemnify each of them up to a certain amount and to the extent that these liabilities are not covered by directors and officers insurance. Members of our senior management are eligible for bonuses each year. The bonuses are payable upon meeting objectives and targets that are set by our Chief Executive Officer and compensation committee and approved annually by our Board of Directors that also set the bonus targets for our Chief Executive Officer and our Chairman.
Our chief executive officer and chairman may be granted bonuses subject to achieving certain targets that were determined and approved at the end of the previous year by our Board of Directors (following the recommendation of our audit committee) in an aggregate, collective amount of up to approximately NIS 600,000 (approximately $160,000).
The aggregate compensation we paid to our current executive officers and directors, including share based compensation, for the year ended December 31, 2015, was approximately NIS 2.4 million (approximately $0.6 million). This amount includes any amounts set aside or accrued to provide pension, severance, retirement, annual leave, and recuperation or similar benefits or expenses. It does not include any business travel, relocation, professional, and business association dues and expenses reimbursed to office holders, and other benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in Israel. The above also includes the estimated fair value of share based compensation (share options to purchase Ordinary Shares) in the amount of approximately NIS 502,000 (approximately $128,000). In addition, as of December 31, 2015, share options to purchase an aggregate of 1,340,000 Ordinary Shares granted to our executive officers were outstanding under the 2005 Plan, at a weighted average exercise price of approximately NIS 0.59 (approximately $0.15) per share.
Since our inception, we have granted options to purchase our Ordinary Shares to our officers and certain of our directors. Such option agreements may contain acceleration provisions upon certain merger, acquisition, or change of control transactions. We describe our option plans under “Management—Equity Incentive Plan.” If the relationship between us and an executive officer or a director is terminated, except for cause (as defined in the various option plan agreements), options that are vested will generally remain exercisable for 90 days after such termination.
For a description of the terms of our options and option plans, see “Management—Equity Incentive Plan”below.
Directors’ Service Contracts
Other than with respect to our directors that are also executive officers (including our chairman), we do not have written agreements with any director providing for benefits upon the termination of his employment with our company.
Differences between the Companies Law and NASDAQ Requirements
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as related rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, requires foreign private issuers, such as us, to comply with various corporate governance practices. In addition, following the listing of our ADSs on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we will be required to comply with the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. Under those rules, we may elect to follow certain corporate governance practices permitted under the Companies Law in lieu of compliance with corresponding corporate governance requirements otherwise imposed by the NASDAQ Stock Market rules for U.S. domestic issuers.
In accordance with Israeli law and practice and subject to the exemption set forth in Rule 5615 of the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, we intend to follow the provisions of the Companies Law, rather than the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, with respect to the following requirements:
| ● | Distribution of periodic reports to shareholders; proxy solicitation. As opposed to the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, which require listed issuers to make such reports available to shareholders in one of a number of specific manners, Israeli law does not require us to distribute periodic reports directly to shareholders, and the generally accepted business practice in Israel is not to distribute such reports to shareholders but to make such reports available through a public website. In addition to making such reports available on a public website, we currently make our audited financial statements available to our shareholders at our offices and will only mail such reports to shareholders upon request. As a foreign private issuer, we are generally exempt from the SEC’s proxy solicitation rules. |
| ● | Quorum. While the NASDAQ Stock Market rules require that the quorum for purposes of any meeting of the holders of a listed company’s common voting stock, as specified in the company’s bylaws, be no less than 33 1/3% of the company’s outstanding common voting stock, under Israeli law, a company is entitled to determine in its articles of association the number of shareholders and percentage of holdings required for a quorum at a shareholders meeting. Our articles of association provide that a quorum of three or more shareholders holding at least 30% of the voting rights in person or by proxy is required for commencement of business at a general meeting. However, the quorum set forth in our articles of association with respect to an adjourned meeting consists of any number of shareholders present in person or by proxy. |
| ● | Nomination of our directors. With the exception of directors elected by our Board of Directors, our directors are elected by an annual meeting of our shareholders to hold office until the next annual meeting following one year from his or her election. The nominations for directors, which are presented to our shareholders by our Board of Directors, are generally made by the Board of Directors itself, in accordance with the provisions of our articles of association and the Companies Law. Nominations need not be made by a nominating committee of our Board of Directors consisting solely of independent directors, as required under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. |
| ● | Compensation of officers. Israeli law and our articles of association do not require that the independent members of our Board of Directors (or a compensation committee composed solely of independent members of our Board of Directors) determine an executive officer’s compensation, as is generally required under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules with respect to the CEO and all other executive officers. Instead, compensation of executive officers is determined and approved by our compensation committee and our Board of Directors, and in certain circumstances by our shareholders, either consistent with our office holder compensation policy or, in special circumstances in deviation therefrom, taking into account certain considerations stated in the Companies Law. Shareholder approval is generally required for officer compensation in the event (i) approval by our Board of Directors and our compensation committee is not consistent with our office holder compensation policy, or (ii) compensation required to be approved is that of our chief executive officer who is not a director or an executive officer who is also the controlling shareholder of our company (including an affiliate thereof). Such shareholder approval shall require a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders’ meeting, provided either (i) such majority includes a majority of the shares held by non-controlling shareholders who do not otherwise have a personal interest in the compensation arrangement that are voted at the meeting, excluding for such purpose any abstentions disinterested majority, or (ii) the total shares held by non-controlling and disinterested shareholders who voted against the arrangement does not exceed 2% of the voting rights in our company. Additionally, approval of the compensation of an executive officer who is also a director requires a simple majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, if consistent with our office holder compensation policy. Our compensation committee and Board of Directors may, in special circumstances, approve the compensation of an executive officer (other than a director, a chief executive officer or a controlling shareholder) or approve the compensation policy despite shareholders’ objection, based on specified arguments and taking shareholders’ objection into account. Our compensation committee may further exempt an engagement with a nominee for the position of chief executive officer, who meets the non-affiliation requirements set forth for an external director, from requiring shareholder approval, if such engagement is consistent with our office holder compensation policy and our compensation committee determines based on specified arguments that presentation of such engagement to shareholder approval is likely to prevent such engagement. To the extent that any such transaction with a controlling shareholder is for a period exceeding three years, approval is required once every three years. A director or executive officer may not be present when the Board of Directors of a company discusses or votes upon a transaction in which he or she has a personal interest, except in case of ordinary transactions, unless the chairman of the Board of Directors determines that he or she should be present to present the transaction that is subject to approval. |
| ● | Independent directors. Israeli law does not require that a majority of the directors serving on our Board of Directors be “independent,” as defined under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2), and rather requires we have at least two external directors who meet the requirements of the Companies Law, as described above under “Management – Board Practices – External Directors” Notwithstanding Israeli law, we believe that a majority of our directors are currently “independent” under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. We are required, however, to ensure that all members of our Audit Committee are “independent” under the applicable NASDAQ and SEC criteria for independence (as we cannot exempt ourselves from compliance with that SEC independence requirement, despite our status as a foreign private issuer), and we must also ensure that a majority of the members of our Audit Committee are “unaffiliated directors” as defined in the Companies Law. Furthermore, Israeli law does not require, nor do our independent directors conduct, regularly scheduled meetings at which only they are present, which the NASDAQ Stock Market rules otherwise require. |
| ● | Shareholder approval. We will seek shareholder approval for all corporate actions requiring such approval under the requirements of the Companies Law, rather than seeking approval for corporation actions in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635. In particular, under this NASDAQ Stock Market rule, shareholder approval is generally required for: (i) an acquisition of shares/assets of another company that involves the issuance of 20% or more of the acquirer’s shares or voting rights or if a director, officer or 5% shareholder has greater than a 5% interest in the target company or the consideration to be received; (ii) the issuance of shares leading to a change of control; (iii) adoption/amendment of equity compensation arrangements (although under the provisions of the Companies Law there is no requirement for shareholder approval for the adoption/amendment of the equity compensation plan); and (iv) issuances of 20% or more of the shares or voting rights (including securities convertible into, or exercisable for, equity) of a listed company via a private placement (and/or via sales by directors/officers/5% shareholders) if such equity is issued (or sold) at below the greater of the book or market value of shares. By contrast, under the Companies Law, shareholder approval is required for, among other things: (i) transactions with directors concerning the terms of their service or indemnification, exemption and insurance for their service (or for any other position that they may hold at a company), for which approvals of the compensation committee, Board of Directors and shareholders are all required, (ii) extraordinary transactions with controlling shareholders of publicly held companies, which require the special approval, and (iii) terms of employment or other engagement of the controlling shareholder of us or such controlling shareholder’s relative, which require special approval. In addition, under the Companies Law, a merger requires approval of the shareholders of each of the merging companies. |
| ● | Approval of Related Party Transactions. All related party transactions are approved in accordance with the requirements and procedures for approval of interested party acts and transactions as set forth in the Companies Law, which requires the approval of the audit committee, or the compensation committee, as the case may be, the Board of Directors and shareholders, as may be applicable, for specified transactions, rather than approval by the audit committee or other independent body of our Board of Directors as required under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. |
Board Practices
Introduction
Our Board of Directors presently consists of 6 members, including two external directors that are required to be appointed under the Companies Law (see “Management—Board Practices—External Directors”). We believe that Mr. Berger, Mr. Heiblum and Dr. Stark are “independent” for purposes of the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. Our articles of association provide that the number of directors shall be set by the general meeting of the shareholders provided that it will consist of not less than three and not more than 12, not including external directors. Pursuant to the Companies Law, the management of our business is vested in our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors may exercise all powers and may take all actions that are not specifically granted to our shareholders or to management. Our executive officers are responsible for our day-to-day management and have individual responsibilities established by our Board of Directors. Our Chief Executive Officer is appointed by, and serves at the discretion of, our Board of Directors, subject to the employment agreement that we have entered into with him (whose terms are approved with the prior review and approval of our compensation committee, the Board of Directors and the general meeting of our shareholders). All other executive officers are appointed by our Chief Executive Officer. Their terms of employment are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors’ compensation committee (see “Management—Compensation Committee”) and of the Board of Directors, and are subject to the terms of any applicable employment agreements that we may enter into with them.
Each director, except external directors (whose term is set for a three-years term), will hold office until the annual general meeting of our shareholders for the year in which his or her term expires, unless he or she is removed by a majority vote of our shareholders at a general meeting of our shareholders or upon the occurrence of certain events, in accordance with the Companies Law and our articles of association.
In addition, our articles of association allows our board of directors to appoint directors to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors or in addition to the acting directors (subject to the limitation on the number of directors and their qualifications), until the next annual general meeting or special general meeting in which directors may be appointed or such appointment terminated. External directors may be elected for up to two additional three-year terms after their initial three-year term under the circumstances described below, with certain exceptions. External directors may be removed from office only under the limited circumstances set forth in the Companies Law. See “Management—Board Practices—External Directors” below.
Under the Companies Law, nominations for directors may be made by any shareholder holding at least 1% of our outstanding voting power. However, any such shareholder may make such a nomination only if a written notice of such shareholder’s intent to make such nomination has been given to our board of directors. Any such notice must include certain information, a description of all arrangements between the nominating shareholder and the proposed director nominee(s) and any other person pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by the nominating shareholder, the consent of the proposed director nominee(s) to serve as our director(s) if elected and a declaration signed by the nominee(s) declaring that there is no limitation under the Companies Law preventing their election and that all of the information that is required to be provided to us in connection with such election under the Companies Law has been provided.
Under the Companies Law, our Board of Directors must determine the minimum number of directors who are required to have accounting and financial expertise. In determining the number of directors required to have such expertise, our Board of Directors must consider, among other things, the type and size of the company and the scope and complexity of its operations. Our Board of Directors has determined that the minimum number of directors of our company who are required to have accounting and financial expertise is one.
The Board of Directors may elect one director to serve as the chairman of the Board of Directors to preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors, and may also remove that director as chairman. Pursuant to the Companies Law, neither the chief executive officer nor any of his or her relatives is permitted to serve as the chairman of the Board of Directors, and a company may not vest the chairman or any of his or her relatives with the chief executive officer’s authorities. In addition, a person who reports, directly or indirectly, to the chief executive officer may not serve as the chairman of the Board of Directors; the chairman may not be vested with authorities of a person who reports, directly or indirectly, to the chief executive officer; and the chairman may not serve in any other position in the company or a controlled company, but he or she may serve as a director or chairman of a controlled company. However, the Companies Law permits the company’s shareholders to determine, for a period not exceeding three years from each such determination, that the chairman or his or her relative may serve as chief executive officer or be vested with the chief executive officer’s authorities, and that the chief executive officer or his or her relative may serve as chairman or be vested with the chairman’s authorities. Such determination of a company’s shareholders requires either: (1) the approval of at least two-thirds of the shares of those shareholders present and voting on the matter (other than controlling shareholders and those having a personal interest in the determination); or (2) that the total number of shares opposing such determination does not exceed 2% of the total voting power in the company. Currently, we have a separate chairman and chief executive officer.
The Board of Directors may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, delegate any or all of its powers to committees of the board, and it may, from time to time, revoke such delegation or alter the composition of any such committees, subject to certain limitations. Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board of Directors, the committees shall not be empowered to further delegate such powers. The composition and duties of our audit committee, compensation committee, the R&D and clinical trials committee are described below. See “Management Committees of the Board of Directors.”
Our Board of Directors is the only formal body that reviews our financial statements as permitted under the Companies Law, and in such capacity oversees and monitors: our accounting and financial reporting processes and controls, audits of the financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters and the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance. Under Israeli law and regulations, we are exempted from appointing a financial statement examination committee, following our Board of Directors' ascertainment that certain requirements under the regulations exists, so to allow us to use said exemption. In lieu of the committee, our Board of Directors is required to comply with certain conditions and its composition must meet certain requirements when it approves our financial statements, which to date are met.
Role of Board of Directors in Risk Oversight Process
The Board of Directors oversees how management monitors compliance with our risk management policies and procedures, and reviews the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation to the risks faced by us. Our Board of Directors encourages management to promote a culture that incorporates risk management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Management discusses strategic and operational risks at regular management meetings, and conducts specific strategic planning and review sessions that include a focused discussion and analysis of the risks we face. Senior management reviews these risks with the Board of Directors focusing on particular business functions, operations or strategies, and presents the steps taken by management to mitigate or eliminate such risks. The Board of Directors is assisted in its oversight role by an internal auditor. The internal auditor undertakes both regular and ad hoc reviews of risk management controls and procedures, the results of which are reported to our audit committee. See “Management Committees of the Board of Directors—Internal Auditor”.
Leadership Structure of the Board of Directors
In accordance with the Companies Law and our articles of association, our Board of Directors is required to appoint one of its members to serve as chairman of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Shmulewitz to serve as chairman of the Board of Directors. The terms of services as an active chairman were approved by our compensation committee, the Board of Directors and the general meeting of our shareholders.
Alternate Directors
Our articles of association provide, consistent with Companies Law, that any director (and with respect to external directors – only subject to certain preconditions) may appoint another person to serve as his alternate director, provided such person has the qualifications prescribed under the Companies Law to be appointed and to serve as a director and is not already serving as a director or a alternate director of the company. The term of an alternate director may be terminated at any time by the appointing director and automatically terminates upon the termination of the term of the appointing director. An alternate director has the same rights and responsibilities as a director. To date there are no alternate director appointments in effect.
External Directors
Under the Companies Law, an Israeli company whose shares have been offered to the public or whose shares are listed for trading on a stock exchange in or outside of Israel is required to appoint at least two external directors to serve on its Board of Directors. External directors must meet stringent standards of independence. Our external directors are Mr. Berger and Mr. Heiblum.
The Companies Law provides that an individual person is not qualified to be nominated and appointed or to serve as an external director if (i) the nominee is a relative of a “controlling shareholder” of the company, or (ii) if the nominee or the nominee’s relative, partner, employer, other person to whom the nominee is a subordinate, directly or indirectly, or a corporation under the control of the above has or had any prohibited affiliation or other disqualifying relationship (as defined below), at the time of the appointment or during the two years preceding the date of appointment as an external director, with: (a) the company, with any person who owns control over the company (i.e. a “controlling shareholder”) or a relative of such controlling shareholder, or with any corporation that at the time of the appointment or during the two years preceding the date of appointment is controlled by the company or its controlling shareholder; or (in the case of a company with no controlling shareholder or a shareholder holding at least 25% of its voting rights), (b) a person then serving as the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer of the company, a holder of 5% or more of the issued share capital or voting power in the company, or the chief financial officer of the Company.
The term “relative” is defined under the Companies Law as a spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, or descendant; spouse’s sibling, parent, or descendant; and the spouse of each of the foregoing persons.
Under the Companies Law, the term “(prohibited) affiliation” and the similar types of prohibited relationships include (subject to certain exceptions regarding relationships deemed negligible under the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated therunder):
| ● | an employment relationship; |
| ● | a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis or by means of control (and with respect to an already serving external director – even if such relations are not maintained on a regular basis (excluding insignificant relationships), and including if one had accepted consideration not in compliance with the Companies Law and regulations promulgated therunder; and |
| ● | Serving as an office holder, excluding serving as a director in a private company prior to the initial public offering of its shares if such director were appointed as a director of the private company in order to serve as an external director following the initial public offering. |
The term “office holder” is defined under the Companies Law as the chief executive officer, general manager, chief business manager, deputy general manager, vice general manager, any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of the above positions regardless of that person’s title, and a director, or a manager directly subordinate to the chief executive officer or general manager.
In addition, no person may serve as an “external director” if that person’s position or professional or other activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with that person’s responsibilities as a director or otherwise interfere with that person’s ability to serve as an external director or if the person is an employee of the Israeli Securities Authority or of an Israeli stock exchange.
A person may furthermore not continue to serve as an external director if he or she received direct or indirect compensation from the company including amounts paid pursuant to indemnification or exculpation contracts or commitments and insurance coverage for his or her service as an external director, other than as permitted by the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Following the termination of an external director’s service on a board of directors, the company, its controlling shareholder, or any entity under its controlling shareholder’s control may not provide such former external director and his or her spouse and children with a direct or indirect benefit. This includes engagement as an office holder or director of the company or a company controlled by its controlling shareholder or employment by, or provision of services to, any such company for consideration, either directly or indirectly, including through a corporation controlled by the former external director. This restriction extends for a period of two years with regard to the former external director and his or her spouse or child, and for one year with respect to other relatives of the former external director.
If, at the time at which an external director is appointed, all members of the board of directors, who are not controlling shareholders or relatives of controlling shareholders of the company are of the same gender, the external director to be appointed must be of the other gender.
According to regulations promulgated under the Companies law, at least one of the external directors is required to have “financial and accounting expertise,” unless another member of the audit committee, who is an independent director under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, has “financial and accounting expertise,” and the other external director or directors are required to have “professional expertise”.
An external director may not be appointed to an additional term unless: (1) such director has “accounting and financial expertise;” or (2) he or she has “professional proficiency,” and on the date of appointment for another term there is another external director who has “accounting and financial expertise” and the number of “accounting and financial experts” on the board of directors is at least equal to the minimum number determined appropriate by the board of directors. We have determined that both Mr. Berger and Mr. Heiblum have accounting and financial expertise (and the remaining directors have professional proficiency).
A director has “professional expertise” if he or she holds an academic degree in certain fields or has at least five years of experience in certain senior positions.
External directors are elected by a majority vote at a shareholders’ meeting, so long as either:
| ● | at least a majority of the shares held by shareholders who are not controlling shareholders and do not have personal interest in the appointment (excluding a personal interest that did not result from the shareholder’s relationship with the controlling shareholder) have voted in favor of the proposal (shares held by abstaining shareholders shall not be considered); or |
| ● | the total number of shares of such shareholders voted against the election of the external director does not exceed 2% of the aggregate voting rights of our Company. |
The Companies Law provides for an initial three-year term for an external director. Thereafter, an external director may be reelected by shareholders to serve in that capacity for up to two additional three-year terms, with certain exceptions as explained below, provided that:
| (1) | his or her service for each such additional term is recommended by one or more shareholders holding at least one percent of the company’s voting rights and is approved at a shareholders meeting by a disinterested majority, where the total number of shares held by non-controlling, disinterested shareholders voting for such reelection exceeds two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company and such external director is not an interested shareholder or a competitor or relative of such shareholder, at the time of appointment, and is not affiliated with or related to an interested shareholder or competitor, at the time of appointment or the two years prior to the date of appointment. An "Interested shareholder or a competitor" is a shareholder who recommended the appointment for each such additional term or a substantial shareholder, if at the time of appointment, it, its controlling shareholder or a company controlled by any of them, has business relations with the company or any of them are competitors of the company; |
| (2) | his or her service for each such additional term is recommended by the board of directors and is approved at a shareholders meeting by the same disinterested majority required for the initial election of an external director (as described above); or |
| (3) | the external director offered his or her service for each such additional term and was approved in accordance with the provisions of section (1) above. |
The term of office for external directors for Israeli companies traded on certain foreign stock exchanges, including the NASDAQ Stock Market, may be extended indefinitely in increments of additional three-year terms, in each case provided that the audit committee and the board of directors of the company confirm that, in light of the external director’s expertise and special contribution to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the reelection for such additional period(s) is beneficial to the company, and provided that the external director is reelected subject to the same shareholder vote requirements as if elected for the first time (as described above). Prior to the approval of the reelection of the external director at a general shareholders meeting, the company’s shareholders must be informed of the term previously served by him or her and of the reasons why the board of directors and audit committee recommended the extension of his or her term.
External directors may be removed only by the same special majority of shareholders required for their election or by a court, and in both cases only if the external directors cease to meet the statutory qualifications for their appointment or if they violate their duty of loyalty to our company. In the event of a vacancy created by an external director which causes the company to have fewer than two external directors, the board of directors is required under the Companies Law to call a shareholders meeting as soon as possible (and within three months) to appoint such number of new external directors in order that the company thereafter has two external directors.
External directors may be compensated only in accordance with regulations adopted under the Companies Law. Compensation of an external director is determined prior to his or her appointment and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be changed during his or her term.
The definition of “independent director” under NASDAQ Listing Rules and the definition of “external director” under the Companies Law overlap to a significant degree such that we would generally expect any director serving as external directors under the Companies Law to satisfy the requirements to be independent under NASDAQ Listing Rules. However, it is possible for a director to qualify as an “external director” under the Companies Law without qualifying as an “independent director” under NASDAQ Listing Rules, or vice-versa. The definition of “external director” under the Companies Law includes a set of statutory criteria that must be satisfied, including criteria whose aim is to ensure that there is no factor that would impair the ability of the external director to exercise independent judgment. The definition of “independent director” under NASDAQ Listing Rules specifies similar, if slightly less stringent, requirements in addition to the requirement that the board of directors consider any factor which would impair the ability of the independent director to exercise independent judgment. In addition, external directors serve for a period of three years (and for no more than two additional three-year terms) pursuant to the requirements of the Companies Law. However, a special majority of shareholders must elect “external directors” while “independent directors” may be elected by an ordinary majority.
Each committee of the board of directors that exercises the powers of the board of directors must include at least one external director. The audit committee and the compensation committee must include all external directors then serving on the board of directors and should be comprised of a majority of directors who are defined as independent under Israeli law; the external directors must be the majority of the members of the compensation committee. The chairman of the audit committee and of the compensation committee must be an external director. See “Management Committees of the Board of Directors.”
Under the regulations pursuant to the Companies Law, certain exemptions and reliefs with respect to external directors and independent directors are granted to companies whose securities are traded outside of Israel. We may use these exemptions and reliefs after the registration of our ADSs with the NASDAQ Capital Market under this offering.
Fiduciary Duties of Office Holders
The Companies Law imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on all office holders of a company. “Office holders” includes the chief executive officer, general manager, chief business manager, deputy general manager, vice general manager, any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of the above positions regardless of that person’s title, and a director, or a manager directly subordinate to the chief executive officer or general manager.
The duty of care requires an office holder to act with the level of care with which a reasonable office holder in the same position would have acted under the same circumstances. The duty of care of an office holder includes a duty to use reasonable means to obtain:
| ● | information on the advisability of a given action brought for his approval or performed by him by virtue of his position; and |
| ● | all other important information pertaining to these actions. |
The duty of loyalty of an office holder requires an office holder to act in good faith and for the benefit of the company, and includes a duty to:
| ● | refrain from any conflict of interest between the performance of his duties in the company and his performance of his other duties or personal affairs; |
| ● | refrain from any action that constitutes competition with the company’s business; |
| ● | refrain from exploiting any business opportunity of the company to receive a personal gain for himself or others; and |
| ● | disclose to the company any information or documents relating to the company’s affairs which the office holder has received due to his position as an office holder. |
Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law
General
Under the Companies Law, we may approve an action by an office holder from which the office holder would otherwise have to refrain, as described above, if:
| ● | the office holder acts in good faith and the act or its approval does not cause harm to the company; and |
| ● | the office holder disclosed the nature of his or her interest in the transaction (including any significant fact or document) to the company at a reasonable time before the company’s approval of such matter. |
Disclosure of Personal Interests of an Office Holder
The Companies Law requires that an office holder disclose to the company, promptly, and, in any event, not later than the board meeting at which the transaction is first discussed, any direct or indirect personal interest that he or she may have and all related material information known to him or her relating to any existing or proposed transaction by the company.
A “personal interest” includes the personal interest of a person for whom the office holder holds a voting proxy even if such office holder has no personal interest in the matter.
If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, the office holder must also disclose any personal interest held by:
| ● | the office holder’s relatives; or |
| ● | any corporation in which the office holder or his or her relatives holds 5% or more of the shares or voting rights, serves as a director or general manager or has the right to appoint at least one director or the general manager. |
Under the Companies Law, an extraordinary transaction is a transaction:
| ● | not in the ordinary course of business; |
| ● | not on market terms; or |
| ● | that is likely to have a material effect on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities. |
The Companies Law does not specify neither to who within us nor the manner in which required disclosures are to be made. We require our office holders to make such disclosures to our board of directors.
Under the Companies Law, once an office holder complies with the above disclosure requirement, the board of directors may approve a transaction between the company and an office holder, or a third party in which an office holder has a personal interest, unless the articles of association provide otherwise and provided that the transaction is not detrimental to the company’s interest and is performed by the office holder in good faith. If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, first the audit committee and then the board of directors, in that order, must approve the transaction. Under specific circumstances, shareholder approval may also be required. Any director (and any person, in general) who has a personal interest in an extraordinary transaction, which is considered at a meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee, may not be present at this meeting or vote on this matter, unless the chairman of the relevant committee or board of directors determines that he or she should be present in order to present the transaction that is subject to approval. If a majority of the board of directors or the audit committee, as the case may be, has a personal interest in the approval of a transaction, then all directors may participate in discussions of the audit committee or the board of directors (as applicable) on such transaction and the voting on approval thereof, but shareholder approval is also required for such transaction.
Under the Companies Law, all arrangements as to compensation and indemnification or insurance of office holders require approval of the compensation committee and board of directors, and compensation of office holders who are directors must be also approved, subject to certain exceptions, by the shareholders, in that order. If shareholders of a company do not approve the compensation terms of office holders, other than directors, the compensation committee and board of directors may override the shareholders’ decision, subject to certain conditions.
Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder
Under the Companies Law, the disclosure requirements that apply to an office holder also apply to a “controlling shareholder” of a public company. Extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, including a private placement in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, as well as transactions for the provision of services whether directly or indirectly by a controlling shareholder or his or her relative, or a company such controlling shareholder controls, and transactions concerning the terms of engagement of a controlling shareholder or a controlling shareholder’s relative, whether as an office holder or an employee, require the approval of the audit committee or the compensation committee, as the case may be, the board of directors and a majority of the shares voted by the shareholders of the company participating and voting on the matter in a shareholders’ meeting. In addition, the shareholder approval must fulfill one of the following requirements:
| ● | at least a majority of the shares held by shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction and are voting at the meeting must be voted in favor of approving the transaction, excluding abstentions; or |
| ● | the shares voted by shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction who vote against the transaction represent no more than 2% of the voting rights in the company. |
In addition, any extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest with a term of more than three years requires the abovementioned approval every three years; however, such transactions not involving the receipt of services or compensation can be approved for a longer term, provided that the audit committee determines that such longer term is reasonable under the circumstances.
Pursuant to regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, certain transactions with a controlling shareholder or his or her relative, or with directors, that would otherwise require approval of a company’s shareholders may be exempt from shareholder approval upon certain determinations of the audit or compensation committee and board of directors. In addition, under said regulations, a shareholder holding at least 1% of the issued share capital of the company may require, within 14 days of the publication of such determinations, that despite the use of such exemption, such transaction will require shareholder approval under the same majority requirements that would otherwise apply to such transactions.
The Companies Law requires that every shareholder that participates, in person, by proxy or by voting instrument, in a vote regarding a transaction with a controlling shareholder, must indicate in advance or in the ballot whether or not that shareholder has a personal interest in the vote in question. Failure to so indicate will result in the invalidation of that shareholder’s vote. According to recent case law, failure to so indicate could result in the shareholder being deemed to have a personal interest.
The term “controlling shareholder” is defined in the Companies Law as a shareholder with the ability to direct the activities of the company, other than by virtue of being an office holder. A shareholder is presumed to be a controlling shareholder if the shareholder holds 50% or more of the voting rights in a company or has the right to appoint the majority of the directors of the company or its general manager. The definition a “controlling shareholder” is deemed to include any shareholder that holds 25% or more of the voting rights in a company if no other shareholder holds more than 50% of the voting rights in the company.
With respect to approving transactions, to which Dr. Shmulewitz and/or Mr. Meizler are a party to and/or has or might have personal interest in, we have taken upon ourselves since February 2013 (pursuant to the ISA’s request) that so long as no substantial changes are made with respect to our shareholders composition, following Dr. Shmulewitz’s and Mr. Meizler’s investment in us, any material transaction that we intend to pursue, which one of them is, directly or indirectly, a party to or has or might have personal interest in (except for transactions and decisions on indemnity, directors' fees, insurance, etc., which apply uniformly to all directors) will be examined in coordination with the ISA as to the manner of which such transaction should be approved prior to its approval.
Duties of Shareholders
Under the Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to refrain from abusing its power in the company and to act in good faith and in an acceptable manner in exercising its rights and performing its obligations to the company and other shareholders, including, among other things, voting at general meetings of shareholders on the following matters:
| ● | amendment of the articles of association; |
| ● | increase in the company’s authorized share capital; |
| ● | merger; and |
| ● | the approval of “related party” transactions and acts of office holders that require shareholder approval. |
A shareholder also has a general duty to refrain from oppressing and discriminating against other shareholders.
The remedies generally available upon a breach of contract will also apply to a breach of the above mentioned duties, and in the event of oppression of other shareholders, additional remedies are available to the injured shareholder.
In addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder that knows that its vote can determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder that, under a company’s articles of association, has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of an office holder, or has another power with respect to a company, is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company. The Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty except to state that the remedies generally available upon a breach of contract will also apply in the event of a breach of the duty to act with fairness, taking the shareholder’s position in the company into account.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors has established three standing committees: the audit committee and the compensation committee (which are mandatory) and an R&D and clinical trials committee.
Audit Committee
Under the Companies Law, we are required to appoint an audit committee. The audit committee must be comprised of at least three directors, including all of the external directors (one of whom must serve as chair of the committee). The audit committee may not include the following: the chairman of the board; a controlling shareholder of the company or a relative of a controlling shareholder; a director employed by or providing services on a regular basis to the company, to a controlling shareholder or to an entity controlled by a controlling shareholder; or a director who derives most of his or her income from a controlling shareholder.
In addition, under the Companies Law, a majority of the members of the audit committee of a publicly-traded company must be independent (unaffiliated) directors. In general, an “unaffiliated director” under the Companies Law is defined as either (i) an external director, or (ii) an individual who has not served as a director of the company for a period exceeding nine consecutive years and who meets the qualifications for being appointed as an external director, except that he or she need not meet the requirement for accounting and financial expertise or professional qualifications.
Our audit committee, acting pursuant to a written charter, is comprised of Mr. Heiblum (chair), Mr. Berger and Dr. Stark.
Under the Companies Law, our audit committee is responsible for:
| ● | determining whether there are deficiencies in the business management practices of our company, and making recommendations to the Board of Directors to improve such practices; |
| ● | determining whether to approve certain related party transactions (including transactions in which an office holder has a personal interest and whether such transaction is extraordinary or material under Companies Law) (see “Management—Board Practices—Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli law”); |
| ● | examining our internal controls and internal auditor’s performance, including whether the internal auditor has sufficient resources and tools to dispose of its responsibilities; |
| ● | examining the scope of our auditor’s work and compensation and submitting a recommendation with respect thereto to our Board of Directors or shareholders, depending on which of them is considering the appointment of our auditor; |
| ● | establishing procedures for the handling of employees’ complaints as to the management of our business and the protection to be provided to such employees; |
| ● | determining whether certain acts of an office holder not in accordance with his or her fiduciary duty owed to the company are extraordinary or material and to approve such acts and certain related party transactions (including transactions in which an office holder has a personal interest) and whether such transaction is extraordinary or material under the Companies Law (see “Management — Board Practices— Approval of Related Party Transactions Under Israeli Law”); |
| ● | deciding whether to approve and to establish the approval process (including by tender or other competitive proceedings) for certain transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest; and |
| ● | determining the process of approving of transactions that are not negligible, including determining the types of transactions that will be subject to the approval of the audit committee. |
Our audit committee may not conduct any discussions or approve any actions requiring its approval (see “Management—Board Practices—Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli law”), unless at the time of the approval a majority of the committee’s members are present, which majority consists of unaffiliated directors including at least one external director.
Our Board of Directors has adopted an audit committee charter to be effective upon the listing of our ADSs on the NASDAQ Capital Market setting forth among others, the responsibilities of the audit committee consistent with the rules of the SEC and NASDAQ Listing Rules (in addition to the requirements for such committee under the Companies Law), including, among others, the following:
| ● | considering and making recommendations to the Board of Directors on our financial statements, reviewing and discussing the financial statements and presenting its recommendations with respect to the financial statements to the Board of Directors prior to the approval of the financial statements by our Board of Directors; |
| ● | oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm and recommending the engagement, compensation or termination of engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to the Board of Directors in accordance with Israeli law; |
| ● | recommending the engagement or termination of the person filling the office of our internal auditor, reviewing the services provided by our internal auditor and reviewing effectiveness of our system of internal control over financial reporting; |
| ● | recommending the terms of audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm for pre-approval by our Board of Directors; and |
| ● | reviewing and monitoring, if applicable, legal matters with significant impact, finding of regulatory authorities' findings, receive reports regarding irregularities and legal compliance, acting according to “whistleblower policy” and recommend to our Board of Directors if so required, and oversee our policies and procedures regarding compliance to applicable financial and accounting related standards, rules and regulations. |
NASDAQ Stock Market Requirements for Audit Committee
Under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, we are required to maintain an audit committee consisting of at least three members, all of whom are independent and are financially literate and one of whom has accounting or related financial management expertise.
As noted above, the members of our audit committee include Mr. Berger and Mr. Heiblum who are external directors, and Dr. Stark. All of the members of our audit committee are “independent,” as such term is defined in under NASDAQ Stock Market rules. Mr. Heiblum serves as the chairman of our audit committee. All members of our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our audit committee is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC rules and has the requisite financial experience as defined by the NASDAQ Stock Market rules.
Compensation Committee
Under the Companies Law, the board of directors of any public company must establish a compensation committee. The compensation committee must be comprised of at least three directors, including all of the external directors, who must constitute a majority of the members of the compensation committee, and one of whom must serve as chairman of the committee. However, subject to certain exceptions, Israeli companies whose securities are traded on stock exchanges such as the NASDAQ Stock Market, and who do not have a shareholder holding 25% or more of the company’s share capital, do not have to meet this majority requirement; provided, however, that the compensation committee meets other Companies Law composition requirements, as well as the requirements of the jurisdiction where the company’s securities are traded. Each compensation committee member that is not an external director must be a director whose compensation does not exceed an amount that may be paid to an external director. The compensation committee is subject to the same Companies Law restrictions as the audit committee as to (a) who may not be a member of the committee and (b) who may not be present during committee deliberations as described above.
Our compensation committee is acting pursuant to a written charter, and consists of Mr. Heiblum (chair), Mr. Berger and Dr. Stark, each of whom is “independent,” as such term is defined under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. Our compensation committee complies with the provisions of the Companies Law, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and our articles of association, on all aspects referring to its independence, authorities and practice. Our compensation committee follows home country practice as opposed to complying with the compensation committee membership and charter requirements prescribed under the NASDAQ Stock Market rules.
Our compensation committee reviews and recommends to our Board of Directors: (1) the annual base compensation of our executive officers and directors; (2) annual incentive bonus, including the specific goals and amount; (3) equity compensation; (4) employment agreements, severance arrangements, and change in control agreements/provisions; (5) retirement grants and/or retirement bonuses; and (6) any other benefits, compensation, compensation policies or arrangements.
The duties of the compensation committee include the recommendation to the company’s board of directors of a policy regarding the terms of engagement of office holders, to which we refer as a “Compensation Policy”. The compensation policy must be adopted by the company’s board of directors, after considering the recommendations of the compensation committee. The compensation policy is then brought for approval by our shareholders and is subject to special majority requirements. On March 24, 2014, our shareholders approved our compensation policy.
Compensation Policy
The compensation policy must serve as the basis for decisions concerning the financial terms of employment or engagement of executive officers and directors, including exculpation, insurance, indemnification or any monetary payment or obligation of payment in respect of employment or engagement. The compensation policy must be approved (or reapproved) not longer than every three years, and relate to certain factors, including advancement of the company’s objectives, the company’s business and its long-term strategy, and creation of appropriate incentives for executives. It must also consider, among other things, the company’s risk management, size and the nature of its operations. The compensation policy must furthermore consider the following additional factors:
| ● | the knowledge, skills, expertise and accomplishments of the relevant office holder (director or executive); |
| ● | the director’s or executive’s roles and responsibilities and prior compensation agreements with him or her; |
| ● | the relationship between the terms offered and the average and median compensation of the other employees of the company, including those employed through manpower companies; |
| ● | the impact of disparities in salary upon work relationships in the company; |
| ● | the possibility of reducing variable compensation at the discretion of the board of directors; and the possibility of setting a limit on the exercise value of non-cash variable compensation; and |
| ● | as to severance compensation, the period of service of the director or executive, the terms of his or her compensation during such service period, the company’s performance during that period of service, the person’s contribution towards the company’s achievement of its goals and the maximization of its profits, and the circumstances under which the person is leaving the company. |
The compensation policy must also include the following principles:
| ● | the link between variable compensation and long-term performance and measurable criteria; |
| ● | the relationship between variable and fixed compensation, and the ceiling for the value of variable compensation; |
| ● | the conditions under which a director or executive would be required to repay compensation paid to him or her if it was later shown that the data upon which such compensation was based was inaccurate and was required to be restated in the company’s financial statements; |
| ● | the minimum holding or vesting period for variable, equity-based compensation; and |
| ● | maximum limits for severance compensation. |
The compensation policy must also consider appropriate incentives from a long-term perspective and maximum limits for severance compensation.
The compensation committee is responsible for (1) recommending the compensation policy to a company’s board of directors for its approval (and subsequent approval by our shareholders) and (2) duties related to the compensation policy and to the compensation of a company’s office holders as well as functions previously fulfilled by a company’s audit committee with respect to matters related to approval of the terms of engagement of office holders, including:
| ● | recommending whether a compensation policy should continue in effect, if the then-current policy has a term of greater than three years (approval of either a new compensation policy or the continuation of an existing compensation policy must in any case occur every three years); |
| ● | recommending to the board of directors periodic updates to the compensation policy; |
| ● | assessing implementation of the compensation policy; and |
| ● | determining whether the compensation terms of the chief executive officer of the company need not be brought to approval of the shareholders. |
Internal Auditor
Under the Companies Law, the board of directors must also appoint an internal auditor nominated and supervised by the audit committee. Our internal auditor is Mr. Daniel Shapira,who has been serving as our Internal Auditor since March 2006. Mr. Shapira is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Accounting from Bar-Ilan University, Israel. The role of the internal auditor is to examine whether a company’s actions comply with the law and proper business procedure. Our chairman acts as the internal auditor’s organizational supervisor. The internal auditor will submit his internal auditor’s work plan for the approval of our audit committee. The internal auditor may not be an “interested party” or office holder, or a relative of any interested party or office holder, and may not be a member of the company’s independent accounting firm or its representative. The Companies Law defines an interested party as a holder of 5% or more of the shares or voting rights of a company, any person or entity that has the right to nominate or appoint at least one director or the general manager of the company or any person who serves as a director or as the general manager of a company. Our internal auditor is not our employee, but the managing partner of a firm which specializes in internal auditing.
Remuneration of Directors
Under the Companies Law, remuneration of directors is subject to the approval of the compensation committee, thereafter by the board of directors and thereafter by the general meeting of the shareholders. In case the remuneration of the directors is in accordance with regulation applicable to remuneration of the external directors then such remuneration shall be exempt from the approval of the general meeting.
Insurance
Under the Companies Law, a company may obtain insurance for any of its office holders for:
| ● | a breach of his or her duty of care to the company or to another person, including a breach arising out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; |
| ● | a breach of his or her duty of loyalty to the company, provided that the office holder acted in good faith and had reasonable cause to assume that his or her act would not prejudice the company’s interests; and |
| ● | a financial liability imposed upon him or her in favor of another person concerning an act performed by such office holder in his or her capacity as an officer holder. |
We currently have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, providing total coverage of $7,500,000 for the benefit of all of our directors and officers, in respect of which we paid a twelve-month premium of approximately $20,500, which expires on May 31, 2017.
On May 31, 2016, our compensation committee and audit committee approved our entering into a professional liability insurance agreement for officers and directors therein who will serve us from time to time for a period of 1 year commencing on May 31, 2016, and until May 31, 2017, where the main terms of the contractual engagement are as follows: the yearly premium will not exceed the sum of $25,000 (allowing an annual increase of 10%), with a liability limit of up to $7,500,000 per event per annum. As required by the Companies Law, this matter was submitted to a vote, and the framework for future insurance policies transactions was approved by our shareholders on June 10, 2015.
Indemnification
The Companies Law provides that a company may indemnify an office holder against:
| ● | a financial liability imposed on him or her in favor of another person by any judgment concerning an act performed in his or her capacity as an office holder, including a settlement or arbitrator’s award approved by a court; However, if an undertaking to indemnify an office holder with respect to such liability is provided in advance, then such an undertaking must be limited to events which, in the opinion of the board of directors, can be foreseen based on the company’s activities when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking must detail the abovementioned foreseen events and amount or criteria; |
| ● | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder: (i) as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an authority authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding, provided that (a) no indictment (as defined in the Companies Law) was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (b) no financial liability as a substitute for the criminal proceeding (as defined in the Companies Law) was imposed upon him or her as a result of such investigation or proceeding, or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent; and (ii) in connection with a monetary sanction; and |
| ● | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, expended by the office holder or charged to him or her by a court relating to an act performed in his or her capacity as an office holder, in connection with: (1) proceedings that the company institutes, or that another person institutes on the company’s behalf, against him or her; (2) a criminal charge of which he or she was acquitted; or (3) a criminal charge for which he or she was convicted for a criminal offense that does not require proof of criminal thought. |
Our articles of association allow us to indemnify our office holders up to a certain amount. The Companies Law also permits a company to undertake in advance to indemnify an office holder, provided that if such indemnification relates to financial liability imposed on him or her, as described above, then the undertaking should be limited:
| ● | to categories of events that the board of directors determines are likely to occur in light of the operations of the company at the time that the undertaking to indemnify is made; and |
| ● | in amount or criterion determined by the board of directors, at the time of the giving of such undertaking to indemnify, to be reasonable under the circumstances. |
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and with certain members of our senior management. Each such indemnification agreement provides the office holder with indemnification to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and up to a certain amount, and including with respect to liabilities resulting from this offering and to the extent that the directors and officers insurance do not cover these liabilities.
Exculpation
Under the Companies Law, an Israeli company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach of his or her duty of loyalty, but may exculpate in advance an office holder from his or her liability to the company, in whole or in part, and for damages caused to the company as a result of a breach of his or her duty of care (other than in relation to distributions), but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is included in its articles of association. A company may not exculpate a director from liability arising out of a prohibited dividend or distribution to shareholders. Our articles of association provide that we may exculpate any office holder from liability to us to the fullest extent permitted by law.
We have entered into exculpation agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers undertaking to exculpate and release our office holders from any and all liability to us related to any breach by them of their duty of care to us to the fullest extent permitted by law and including with respect to liabilities resulting from this offering.
Limitations
The Companies Law provides that we may not exculpate or indemnify an office holder nor enter into an insurance contract that would provide coverage for any liability incurred as a result of any of the following: (1) a breach by the office holder of his or her duty of loyalty unless (in the case of indemnity or insurance only, but not exculpation) the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not prejudice us; (2) a breach by the office holder of his or her duty of care if the breach was carried out intentionally or recklessly (as opposed to merely negligently); (3) any action taken or omission committed with the intent to derive an illegal personal benefit; or (4) any fine or forfeit levied against the office holder.
Equity Incentive Plan
Israeli Share Option Plan (2015); Israeli Share Option Plan (2005)
In July 2005, we adopted the Israeli Share Option Plan (2005), or the 2005 Plan, which was in force for a period of 10 years. Upon the expiration of the 2005 Plan, we adopted the Israeli Share Option Plan (2015), or the 2015 Plan. Some of the options previously granted under the 2005 Plan remain outstanding, and new options are granted under the 2015 Plan.
Under the plans, we grant options to purchase our Ordinary Shares to our officers, employees, consultants and other service providers. As of August 1, 2016, 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares were reserved for issuance under the plans, of which options to purchase 3,853,612 Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding thereunder. Of such outstanding options, options to purchase 1,330,564 Ordinary Shares were vested as of August 1, 2016, with a weighted average exercise price of NIS 0.80 (approximately $0.21) per share.
The plans were designed to reflect the provisions of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version) 5721-1961, or the Ordinance, mainly Sections 102 and 3(i), which afford certain tax advantages to Israeli employees, officers, and directors who are granted share options in accordance with its terms. Section 102 of the Ordinance allows employees, directors, and officers, who are not controlling shareholders and who are Israeli residents, to receive favorable tax treatment for compensation in the form of shares or share options. Section 102 of the Ordinance includes two alternatives for tax treatment involving the issuance of share options or shares to a trustee for the benefit of the grantees and also includes an additional alternative for the issuance of share options or shares directly to the grantee. Sections 102(b)(2) and 102(b)(3) of the Ordinance, which provide the most favorable tax treatment for grantees, permit the issuance to a trustee under the “capital gain” tax regime. In order to comply with the terms of the “capital gain” tax regime, all share options granted under a specific plan and subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Ordinance, as well as the shares issued upon exercise of such share options and other shares received following any realization of rights with respect to such share options, such as share dividends and share splits, must be registered in the name of a trustee selected by the board of directors and held in trust for the benefit of the relevant employee, director, officer or service provider. The trustee may not release these share options or shares to the relevant grantee before the second anniversary of the registration of the share options in the name of the trustee. However, under this regime, our ability to deduct an expense with respect to the issuance of the share options or shares might be limited. Section 3(i), which permits the issuance of share options under the “income from labor” tax regime, does not provide for similar tax benefits.
The 2015 Plan may be administered by our board of directors either directly or upon the recommendation of a committee appointed by our board of directors. Our compensation committee recommends to the board of directors, and the board of directors determines or approves the eligible individuals who receive share options under the 2015 Plan, the number of Ordinary Shares covered by those share options, the terms under which such share options may be exercised, and other terms and conditions of the share options, all in accordance with the provisions of the 2015 Plan. Share option holders may not transfer their share options except in the event of death or transfer in accordance with law and the provisions of the 2015 Plan. Our compensation committee or board of directors may at any time amend or terminate the 2015 Plan; however, any amendment or termination may not adversely affect any share options or shares granted under such 2105 Plan prior to such action. The share option exercise price is determined by the board of directors, following the recommendation of the compensation committee, and specified in each option award agreement.
Awards under the 2015 Plan may be granted until December, 2025, ten years from December 2015. Share options granted under the 2005 and the 2015 Plans generally vest over 3 years commencing on the date of grant such that the options shall vest on a quarterly basis in equal portions, unless otherwise provided in a specific share option grant agreement. Share options, other than certain incentive share options, that are not exercised within the term set forth under each award agreement shall expire, unless otherwise determined by our board of directors. Except as otherwise determined by the board of directors or as set forth in an individual’s award agreement, in the event of termination of employment or services for reasons of disability or death, the grantee, or in the case of death - his or her legal successor, may exercise share options that have vested prior to termination within a period of twenty four months from the date of disability or death. If we terminate a grantee’s employment or service for cause (as this term is defined under the Plan), all of the grantee’s unvested share options will expire on the date of termination, yet share options which by that date the offeree’s eligibility to exercise has already been formed shall remain exercisable. If a grantee’s employment or service is terminated for any other reason other than for cause, the grantee may exercise his or her vested share options within 90 days of the date of termination, unless otherwise provided in a specific share option grant agreement. In the event of (i) a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or (ii) our consolidation or merger in which we are not the ongoing or surviving corporation, then, and unless otherwise determined in the agreement or by the board, we shall be entitled to determine that all of the outstanding unexercised share options held by or for the benefit of any grantee shall be assumed or substituted for an appropriate number of share options of the successor company, provided that the aggregate amount of the exercise price for such share options shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the exercise price of our unexercised share options held by each grantee at such time. In addition, and unless otherwise determined by our board, upon the occurrence of certain events, as further described in the plans (among others, a merger transaction (or the like), liquidation and/or dissolution, recapitalization, rights offering, distribution of bonus shares, dividends and capital reorganization), a grantee’s rights to purchase shares under either of the plans shall be adjusted as provided therein.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of August 8, 2016 by:
| ● | each person, or group of affiliated persons, known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | each of our directors and executive officers; and |
| ● | all of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to Ordinary Shares. Ordinary Shares issuable under share options or warrants that are exercisable within 60 days after August 8, 2015 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the options or warrants but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Percentage of shares beneficially owned before this offering is based on 35,599,152 shares outstanding on August 8, 2016. The number of Ordinary Shares deemed outstanding after this offering includes the Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs being offered for sale in this offering but assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
As of August 3, 2016, there were 3 holders of record of our Ordinary Shares. The number of record holders is not representative of the number of beneficial holders of our Ordinary Shares, as the shares of most our shareholders who hold Ordinary Shares that are traded on the TASE are recorded in the name of our Israeli share registrar, Mizrahi-Tefahot Nominees Company Ltd. As of August 1, 2016, there were no record holders of our Ordinary Shares in the United States.
Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, we believe that the shareholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares shown to be beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise noted below, each beneficial owner’s address is: c/o Therapix Biosciences Ltd., 5 Azrieli Center (Square Tower), 27th Floor, Tel-Aviv 6702501, Israel.
| | No. of Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to this Offering | | | Percentage Owned Before this Offering (1) | | | Percentage Owned After this Offering | |
Holders of more than 5% of our voting securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Ascher Shmulewitz* (2) | | | 12,455,285 | | | | 27.3 | % | | | | |
Abraham (Avi) Meizler* (3) | | | 2,213,563 | | | | 6.2 | % | | | | |
Jay’s Thera Ltd. (4) | | | 7,419,244 | | | | 20.8 | % | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Directors and executive officers who are not 5% holders: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dr. Elran Haber (5) | | | 383,094 | | | | 1.1 | % | | | | |
Mr. Guy Goldin (6) | | | 62,500 | | | | 0.2 | % | | | | |
Mr. Doron Jacob Ben Ami (7) | | | 25,000 | | | | 0.1 | % | | | | |
Dr. Adi Zuloff-Shani (8) | | | 83,333 | | | | 0.2 | % | | | | |
Amit Berger | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Dr. Yafit Starck | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Micha Jesselson | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
Zohar Heiblum | | | - | | | | - | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons) | | | 22,642,020 | | | | 49 | % | | | | |
| * | Indicates director or officer of the Company. |
| (1) | The percentages shown are based on 35,599,152 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of August 8, 2016. |
| (2) | Includes (i) 669,703 Ordinary Shares and options to purchase 352,531 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.79 (approximately, $0.21) per share, held directly by Mr. Shmulewitz, (ii) 1,772,000 Ordinary Shares and options to purchase 9,556,884 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.65 (approximately, $0.17) per share, held by Dekel, which is an Israel company controlled by Mr. Shmulewitz; and (iii) options to purchase 104,167 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.13) per share, held by Medgenesis Partners Ltd., which is an Israeli company controlled by Mr. Shmulewitz. Under the Companies Law, any exercise of options, which entitles Dr. Shmulewitz to 25% or more of our voting rights, is subject to restrictions and limitations relating to tender offerings under the Companies Law. |
| (3) | Includes (i) 2,192,730 Ordinary Shares, and (ii) options to purchase 20,833 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately, $0.13), held by Gillbood Trading SA, which is a Panamanian company controlled by Mr. Meizler. |
| (4) | Jay’s Thera Ltd. is a private company which is controlled (indirectly) by Mr. Benjamin Jesselsohn, the father of Micha Jesselsohn, one of our directors. |
| (5) | Includes (i) options to purchase 149,761 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.99 (approximately $0.26) per share, (ii) options to purchase 58,333 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.13) per share, and (iii) options to purchase 175,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1 (approximately $0.26) per share. |
| (6) | Includes (i) options to purchase 50,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.99 (approximately $0.26) per share, and (ii) options to purchase 12,500 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.011 (approximately $0.26) per share. |
| (7) | Includes options to purchase 25,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.00 (approximately $0.26) per share. |
| (8) | Includes options to purchase 83,333 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.06 (approximately $0.26) per share. |
Changes in Percentage Ownership by Major Shareholders
There were no changes in percentage ownership by major shareholders (i.e., of or more than 20% of our issued and outstanding share capital) except as detailed below:
| - | Equity investment in the Company as of April 3, 2013 by Incumed SPV, a company controlled by Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz, and by Gilbood Trading S.A., a company controlled by Mr. Avi Meizler, in return of 40,000,000 ordinary shares, constituting approximately 45% of our issued share capital at that time (prior to the investment). |
| - | Public offering by the Company as of July 18, 2013 of 35,937,500 Ordinary Shares, constituting approximately 33% of our issued share capital at that time (prior to the offering), which reduced the percentages of our major shareholders. |
| - | Equity investment in the Company as of April 29, 2015 of 4,400,000 Ordinary Shares, constituting approximately 20% of our issued share capital at that time(prior to the investment), which reduced the percentages of our major shareholders. |
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Employment Agreements
We have entered into written employment agreements with each of our executive officers. All of these agreements contain customary provisions regarding noncompetition, confidentiality of information and assignment of inventions. However, the enforceability of the noncompetition provisions may be limited under applicable law. In addition, we have entered into agreements with each executive officer and director pursuant to which we have agreed to indemnify each of them up to a certain amount and to the extent that these liabilities are not covered by directors and officers insurance. Members of our senior management are eligible for bonuses each year. The bonuses are payable upon meeting objectives and targets that are set by our chief executive officer and approved annually by our Board of Directors that also set the bonus targets for our chief executive officer. See “Management—Employment and Service Agreements with Executive Officers” and see exculpation and indemnification agreements and D&O Insurance arrangements in “Management— “Insurance,” “Indemnification” and “Exculpation”.
Options
Since our inception, we have granted options to purchase our Ordinary Shares to our officers and certain of our directors. Such option agreements may contain acceleration provisions upon certain merger, acquisition, or change of control transactions. We describe our option plans under “Management—Equity Incentive Plan.” If the relationship between us and an executive officer or a director is terminated, except for cause (as defined in the various option plan agreements), options that are vested will generally remain exercisable for 90 days after such termination.
Dekel License Agreement
On June 10, 2015, we entered into a license agreement with Dekel, an Israeli private company controlled by Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz, the chairman of our Board of Directors, under which we were granted an irrevocable, worldwide, exclusive, royalty-free license to certain of Dekel’s technology. See “Business—Intellectual Property” for additional information.
Private Placement of Ordinary Shares
On February 19, 2013 and April 3, 2013, we issued to Incumed SPV, a company controlled by Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz, and to Gilbood Trading S.A., a company controlled by Mr. Avi Meizler, an aggregate of 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 1.00 (approximately $0.27), totaling NIS 4 million (approximately $1,086,000).
On August 26, 2013, we issued to Amira B.V., a private company in control of our then chief executive officer, Mr. Ari Aminetzah, options to purchase 150,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.00 (approximately $0.28) per share. These warrants expired unexercised.
On December 25, 2013, we issued to Acebright Holdings Ltd. 1,050,750 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 1.55 (approximately $0.44), together with warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,850,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.55 (approximately $0.44) per share. The net proceeds were approximately NIS 1.6 million (approximately $460,000). The warrants expired unexercised. Following the foregoing issuance, Acebright Holdings Ltd. became a holder of approximately 7.5% of our issued and outstanding share capital.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
As of May 22, 2016, 2016, our authorized share capital consisted of 100,000,000 Ordinary Shares, NIS 0.1 par value per share, of which 35,599,152 shares were issued and outstanding as of such date. All of our outstanding Ordinary Shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable. Our Ordinary Shares are not redeemable and are not subject to any preemptive right.
On January 12, 2014, we effected a reverse split of our share capital, in which every ten (10) Ordinary Shares were converted to one (1) ordinary share.
In the last three years, we have issued an aggregate of approximately 22.5 million Ordinary Shares in several private placements, options exercises and public offerings for aggregate net proceeds of NIS 21.5 (approximately $5.5 million).
In addition to Ordinary Shares, in the last three years, we have issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 12,481,084 Ordinary Shares with exercise prices ranging from NIS .50 (approximately $0.13) to NIS 1.90 (approximately $0.53) per share, and granted options to purchase an aggregate of 3,949,278 Ordinary Shares with exercise prices ranging from NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.13) to NIS 18.64 (approximately $4.88) per share.
Our registration number with the Israeli Registrar of Companies is 51-358165-2.
Purposes and Objects of the Company
Our purpose is set forth in Section 2 of our articles of association and includes every lawful purpose.
The Powers of the Directors
Our Board of Directors shall direct our policy and shall supervise the performance of our chief executive officer and his actions. Our Board of Directors may exercise all powers that are not required under the Companies Law or under our articles of association to be exercised or taken by our shareholders.
Rights Attached to Shares
Our Ordinary Shares shall confer upon the holders thereof:
| ● | equal right to attend and to vote at all of our general meetings, whether regular or special, with each Ordinary Share entitling the holder thereof, which attend the meeting and participate at the voting, either in person or by a proxy or by a written ballot, to one vote; |
| ● | equal right to participate in distribution of dividends, if any, whether payable in cash or in bonus shares, in distribution of assets or in any other distribution, on a per share pro rata basis; and |
| ● | equal right to participate, upon our dissolution, in the distribution of our assets legally available for distribution, on a per share pro rata basis. |
All Ordinary Shares have identical voting and other rights in all respects.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights and Bonus Shares
We may declare a dividend to be paid to the holders of our Ordinary Shares in proportion to their respective shareholdings. Under the Companies Law, dividend distributions are determined by the Board of Directors and do not require the approval of the shareholders of a company unless the company’s articles of association provide otherwise. Our articles of association do not require shareholder approval of a dividend distribution and/or issuance of bonus shares and provide that our Board of Directors may, on its sole discretion, determine dividend distributions and/or issuance of bonus shares. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends and do not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Pursuant to the Companies Law, the distribution amount is limited to the greater of retained earnings or earnings generated over the previous two years, according to our then last reviewed or audited financial statements, provided that the date of the financial statements is not more than six months prior to the date of the distribution, or we may otherwise only distribute dividends that do not meet such criteria only with court approval. In each case, we are only permitted to distribute a dividend if our Board of Directors and the court, if applicable, determines that there is no reasonable concern that payment of the dividend will prevent us from satisfying our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due.
In the event of our liquidation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of our Ordinary Shares in proportion to their shareholdings. This right, as well as the right to receive dividends, may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.
With respect to non-exculpation of a director from liability arising out of a prohibited dividend or distribution to shareholders see “Management— “Insurance,” “Indemnification” and “Exculpation.”
There are currently no Israeli currency control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our Ordinary Shares, proceeds from the sale of the shares or interest or other payments to non-residents of Israel, except for shareholders who are subjects of countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.
Access to Corporate Records
Under the Companies Law, shareholders are provided access to: minutes of our general meetings; our shareholders register and principal shareholders register, articles of association and financial statements; and any document that we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israeli Securities Authority. In addition, shareholders may request to be provided with any document related to an action or transaction requiring shareholder approval under the related party transaction provisions of the Companies Law. We may deny this request if we believe it has not been made in good faith or if such denial is necessary to protect our interest or protect a trade secret or patent.
Transfer of Shares
Our fully paid Ordinary Shares are issued in registered form and may be freely transferred under our articles of association, unless the transfer is restricted or prohibited by another instrument, applicable law, or the rules of a stock exchange on which the shares are listed for trade. The ownership or voting of our Ordinary Shares by non-residents of Israel is not restricted in any way by our articles of association or the laws of the State of Israel, except for ownership by nationals of some countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.
Election of Directors
Our Ordinary Shares do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors. As a result, the holders of a majority of the voting power represented at a shareholders meeting have the power to elect all of our directors, subject to the special approval requirements for external directors described under “Management — External Directors.” Pursuant to our articles of association, our directors are elected at an annual general meeting and/or a special meeting of our shareholders and serve on the Board of Directors until the next annual general meeting (except for external directors) or until they resign or until they cease to act as board members pursuant to the provisions of our articles of association or any applicable law, upon the earlier. Pursuant to our articles of association, other than the external directors, for whom special election requirements apply under the Companies Law, the vote required to appoint a director is a simple majority vote of holders of our voting shares, participating and voting at the relevant meeting. A director whose tenure has ended may be reelected. In addition, our articles of association allow our Board of Directors to appoint directors to fill vacancies and/or as an addition to the Board of Directors (subject to the maximum number of directors) to serve until the next annual general meeting or earlier if required by our articles of association or applicable law, upon the earlier. External directors are elected for an initial term of three years and may be removed from office pursuant to the terms of the Companies Law. See “Management—Board Practices—External Directors.”
Annual and Special Meetings
Under the Companies Law, we are required to hold an annual general meeting of our shareholders once every calendar year, at such time and place which shall be determined by our Board of Directors, that must be no later than 15 months after the date of the previous annual general meeting. All meetings other than the annual general meeting of shareholders are referred to as special general meetings. Our Board of Directors may call special meetings whenever it sees fit, at such time and place, within or outside of Israel, as it may determine, and upon the written request of: (a) any two of our directors or such number of directors equal to one quarter of the directors present at such a meeting; and/or (b) one or more shareholders holding, in the aggregate, either (a) 5% or more of our outstanding issued shares and 1% of our outstanding voting power or (b) 5% of our outstanding voting power. One or more shareholders, holding 1% or more of the outstanding voting power, may ask the board to add an item to the agenda of a prospective meeting, if the proposal merits discussion at the general meeting.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, shareholders entitled to participate and vote at general meetings are the shareholders of record on a date to be decided by the board of directors, which may be between four and 40 days prior to the date of the meeting. Furthermore, the Companies Law requires that Resolutions regarding the following matters must be passed at a general meeting of our shareholders:
| ● | amendments to our articles of association; |
| ● | the exercise of our Board of Director’s powers if our Board of Directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is required for our proper management; |
| ● | appointment or termination of our auditors; |
| ● | appointment of directors, including external directors; |
| ● | approval of acts and transactions requiring general meeting approval (namely certain related party transactions) pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Law and any other applicable law; |
| ● | increases or reductions of our authorized share capital; and |
| ● | a merger (as such term is defined in the Companies Law). |
Notices
The Companies Law requires that a notice of any annual or special shareholders meeting be provided at least 21 days prior to the meeting, and if the agenda of the meeting includes certain matters prescribed under the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereafter, among others, the appointment or removal of directors, the approval of transactions with office holders or interested or related parties, or an approval of a merger - notice must be provided at least 35 days prior to the publications of such meeting.
Under our articles of association, shareholders are not permitted to take action via written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Quorum
As permitted under the Companies Law, and our articles of association, the quorum required for our general meetings consists of at least three shareholders present in person, by proxy or written ballot, who hold or represent between them at least thirty percent of the total outstanding voting rights (instead of 33 1/3% of the issued share capital required under the NASDAQ Listing Rules). If within half an hour of the time appointed for the general meeting a quorum is not present, the general meeting shall stand adjourned the same day of the following week, at the same hour and in the same place, or to such other date, time and place as prescribed in the notice to the shareholders and in such adjourned meeting, if no quorum is present within half an hour of the time arranged, any number of shareholders participating in the meeting, shall constitute a quorum.
If a general meeting was summoned following the request of a shareholder, then a quorum required in an adjourned general meeting, shall consist of at least one or more shareholders, which holds and represents at least 5% of the company's issued and outstanding share capital and at least 1% of the company voting rights, or one or more shareholder, which holds at least 5% of the Company’s voting rights.
Adoption of Resolutions
Our articles of association provide that all resolutions of our shareholders require a simple majority vote, unless otherwise required under the Companies Law or our articles of association. A shareholder may vote in a general meeting in person, by proxy or by a written ballot. Under the Companies Law, each of (i) the approval of an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder and (ii) the terms of employment or other engagement of the controlling shareholder of the company or such controlling shareholder’s relative (even if not extraordinary) requires, the approval described above under “Management — Approval of Related Party Transactions Under Israeli Law — Disclosure of Personal Interests of Controlling Shareholders”. Under our articles of association, the alteration of the rights, privileges, preferences, or obligations of any class of our shares requires a simple majority vote of the class so affected (or such other percentage of the relevant class that may be set forth in the governing documents relevant to such class), in addition to the ordinary majority vote of all classes of shares voting together as a single class at a shareholder meeting. An exception to the simple majority vote requirement is a resolution for the voluntary winding up, or an approval of a scheme of arrangement or reorganization, of the company pursuant to Section 350 of the Companies Law, which requires the approval of holders of 75% of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person, by proxy, or by voting deed and voting on the resolution. In addition, the general meeting of our shareholders can decide to alter our articles of association, which decision requires the approval of at least three shareholders who hold between them more than thirty-eight percent (38%) of the total outstanding voting rights, in the meeting.
Changing Rights Attached to Shares
Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the shares and subject to any applicable law, in order to change the rights attached to any class of shares, such change must be adopted by the board of directors and at a general meeting of the affected class or by a written consent of all the shareholders of the affected class.
The enlargement of an existing class of shares or the issuance of additional shares thereof, shall not be deemed to modify the rights attached to the previously issued shares of such class or of any other class, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the shares.
Under the Companies Law and our articles of association, the rights attached to any class of share, such as voting, liquidation, and dividend rights, may be amended by adoption of a resolution by the holders of a majority of the shares of that class present at a separate class meeting, or otherwise in accordance with the rights attached to such class of shares, as set forth in our articles of association.
Registration Rights
None of our shareholders is entitled to registration rights.
Limitations on the Right to Own Securities in Our Company
There are no limitations on the right to own our securities.
Provisions Restricting Change in Control of Our Company - Acquisitions under Israeli Law
There are no specific provisions of our articles of association that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company or that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving us (or our subsidiaries). However, as described below, certain provisions of the Companies Law may have such effect. See also “Description of Share Capital––Adoption of Resolutions” regarding special majority for amending our articles of association.
The Companies Law includes provisions that allow a merger transaction and requires that each company that is a party to the merger have the transaction approved by its board of directors and a vote of the majority of its shares (unless certain requirements described under the Companies Law are met) and, in the case of the target company, a majority vote of each class of its shares, voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders meeting.
For purposes of the shareholder vote of each party, unless a court rules otherwise, the merger will not be deemed approved if shares representing a majority of the voting power present at the shareholders meeting and which are not held by the other party to the merger (or by any person who holds 25% or more of the voting power or the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors of the other party) vote against the merger. If, however, the merger involves a merger with a company’s own controlling shareholder or if the controlling shareholder has a personal interest in the merger, then the merger is instead subject to the same special majority approval that governs all extraordinary transactions with controlling shareholders (as described under “Management — Approval of Related Party Transactions Under Israeli Law — Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder”).
If the transaction would have been approved by the shareholders of a merging company but for the separate approval of each class or the exclusion of the votes of certain shareholders as provided above, a court may still approve the merger upon the request of holders of at least 25% of the voting rights of a company, if the court holds that the merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the value of the parties to the merger and the consideration offered to the shareholders of the target company.
Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, the court may delay or prevent the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that as a result of the merger the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations of any of the parties to the merger and may further give instructions to secure the rights of creditors. In addition, a merger may not be completed unless at least (1) 50 days have passed from the time that the requisite proposals for approval of the merger were filed with the Israeli Registrar of Companies by each merging company and (2) 30 days have passed since the merger was approved by the shareholders of each merging company.
The Companies Law also provides that an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a "special" tender offer if as a result of the acquisition (1) the purchaser would become a 25% or greater shareholder of the company, unless there is already another 25% or greater shareholder of the company or (2) the purchaser would become a 45% or greater shareholder of the company, unless there is already a 45% or greater shareholder of the company, subject to certain exceptions. These requirements do not apply if, in general, the acquisition (1) was made in a private placement that received shareholder approval, (2) was from a 25% or greater shareholder of the company which resulted in the acquirer becoming a 25% or greater shareholder of the company, or (3) was from a 45% or greater shareholder of the company which resulted in the acquirer becoming a 45% or greater shareholder of the company. A "special" tender offer must be extended to all shareholders, but the offeror is not required to purchase more than 5% of the company’s outstanding shares, regardless of how many shares are tendered by shareholders. In general, the tender offer may be consummated only if (1) at least 5% of the company’s outstanding shares will be acquired by the offeror and (2) the number of shares tendered in the offer exceeds the number of shares whose holders objected to the offer (excluding the purchaser, controlling shareholders, holders of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company or any person having a personal interest in the acceptance of the tender offer). If a special tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it or under common control with the purchaser or such controlling person or entity may not make a subsequent tender offer for the purchase of shares of the target company and may not enter into a merger with the target company for a period of one year from the date of the offer, unless the purchaser or such person or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special tender offer
However, a tender offer will also be accepted if the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold less than 2% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class of shares.
If, as a result of an acquisition of shares, the acquirer will hold more than 90% of a company’s outstanding shares, the acquisition must be made by means of a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares. In general, if less than 5% of the outstanding shares are not tendered in the tender offer and more than half of the offerees who have no personal interest in the offer tendered their shares, all the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to it. Shareholders may request appraisal rights in connection with a full tender offer for a period of six months following the consummation of the tender offer, but the acquirer is entitled to stipulate that tendering shareholders will forfeit such appraisal rights.
For as long as our securities are traded on the TASE, the Israeli Securities Law does not allow us, to create and issue shares having rights different from those attached to our Ordinary Shares, including shares providing certain preferred rights with respect to voting, distributions, or other matters and shares having preemptive rights. The authorization and designation of a class of preferred shares will require an amendment to our articles of association, which requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power attaching to our issued and outstanding shares at a general meeting. The convening of the meeting, the shareholders entitled to participate and the majority vote required to be obtained at such a meeting will be subject to the requirements set forth in the Companies Law as described above in “Description of Share Capital” and “Management.”
Lastly, Israeli tax law treats some acquisitions, such as stock-for-stock exchanges between an Israeli company and a foreign company, less favorably than U.S. tax laws. For example, Israeli tax law may, under certain circumstances, subject a shareholder who exchanges his Ordinary Shares for shares in another corporation to taxation prior to the sale of the shares received in such stock-for-stock swap.
Borrowing Powers
Pursuant to the Companies Law and our articles of association, our Board of Directors may exercise all powers and take all actions that are not required under law or under our articles of association to be exercised or taken by our shareholders, including the power to borrow money for company purposes.
Changes in Our Capital
Our articles of association enable us to increase or reduce our share capital. Any such changes are subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and must be approved by a resolution duly passed by our shareholders at a general meeting. In addition, transactions that have the effect of reducing capital, such as the declaration and payment of dividends in the absence of sufficient retained earnings or profits, require the approval of both our Board of Directors and an Israeli court.
The general meeting may, by a simple majority vote of the shareholders attending the general meeting:
| ● | increase our registered share capital by the creation of new shares from the existing class or a new class, as determined by the general meeting; |
| ● | cancel any registered share capital which have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person; |
| ● | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger nominal value than our existing shares; |
| ● | subdivide our existing shares or any of them, our share capital or any of it, into shares of smaller nominal value than is fixed; |
| ● | reduce our share capital and any fund reserved for capital redemption in any manner, and with and subject to any incident authorized, and consent required, by the Companies Law; and |
| ● | reduce shares from our issued and outstanding share capital, in such manner that those shares shall be cancelled and the nominal par value paid for those shares will be registered on our books as capital fund, which shall be deemed as a premium paid on those shares which shall remain in our issued and outstanding share capital. |
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver ADSs. Each ADS will represent 20 Ordinary Shares (or a right to receive 20 Ordinary Shares) deposited with Mizrahi-Tefahot Nominees Company Ltd., as custodian for the depositary in Tel Aviv. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. The Bank of New York Mellon’s principal executive office is located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286.
You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (1) by having an American Depositary Receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (2) by having uncertificated ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Registered holders of uncertificated ADSs will receive statements from the depositary confirming their holdings.
As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Israeli law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a registered holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay or distribute to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, upon payment or deduction of its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent.
Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and can not be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.
Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. See “Taxation”. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.
Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fraction of an ADS (or ADSs representing those shares) and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares (or ADSs representing those shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.
Rights to purchase additional shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may (i) exercise those rights on behalf of ADS holders, (ii) distribute those rights to ADS holders or (iii) sell those rights and distribute the net proceeds to ADS holders, in each case after deduction or upon payment of its fees and expenses. To the extent the depositary does not do any of those things, it will allow the rights to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. The depositary will exercise or distribute rights only if we ask it to and provide satisfactory assurances to the depositary that it is legal to do so. If the depositary will exercise rights, it will purchase the securities to which the rights relate and distribute those securities or, in the case of shares, new ADSs representing the new shares, to subscribing ADS holders, but only if ADS holders have paid the exercise price to the depositary. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute rights or ADSs or other securities issued on exercise of rights to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.
Other Distributions. The depositary will send to ADS holders anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute securities to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How are ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit.
How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?
You may surrender your ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal at the depositary’s office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible. The depositary may charge you a fee and its expenses for instructing the custodian regarding delivery of deposited securities.
How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs?
You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS holder a statement confirming that the ADS holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.
Voting Rights
How do you vote?
ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited shares their ADSs represent. If we request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions (and we are not required to do so), the depositary will notify you of a shareholders’ meeting and send or make voting materials available to you. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they much reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of Israel and the provisions of our articles of association or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. If we do not request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions, you can still send voting instructions, and, in that case, the depositary may try to vote as you instruct, but it is not required to do so.
Except by instructing the depositary as described above, you won’t be able to exercise voting rights unless you surrender your ADSs and withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. In any event, the depositary will not exercise any discretion in voting deposited securities and it will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed.
We can not assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise voting rights and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested.
In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we agree to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.
Fees and Expenses
Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or ADS holders must pay: | | For: |
| | |
$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs). | | Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property. Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates. |
$.05 (or less) per ADS. | | Any cash distribution to ADS holders. |
A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs. | | Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) that are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders. |
$.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year. | | Depositary services. |
Registration or transfer fees. | | Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares. |
Expenses of the depositary. | | Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement). Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars. |
Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADSs or shares underlying ADSs, such as stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes. | | As necessary. |
Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities. | | As necessary. |
The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable (or by selling a portion of securities or other property distributable) to ADS holders that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.
From time to time, the depositary may make payments to us to reimburse us for costs and expenses generally arising out of establishment and maintenance of the ADS program, waive fees and expenses for services provided to us by the depositary or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS holders. In performing its duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary may use brokers, dealers, foreign currency or other service providers that are owned by or affiliated with the depositary and that may earn or share fees, spreads or commissions.
The depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the deposit agreement and the rate that the depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under the deposit agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to ADS holders, subject to the depositary’s obligations under the deposit agreement. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request.
Payment of Taxes
You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until those taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.
Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement or Cancellation of Deposited Securities
The depositary will not tender deposited securities in any voluntary tender or exchange offer unless instructed to do by an ADS holder surrendering ADSs and subject to any conditions or procedures the depositary may establish.
If deposited securities are redeemed for cash in a transaction that is mandatory for the depositary as a holder of deposited securities, the depositary will call for surrender of a corresponding number of ADSs and distribute the net redemption money to the holders of called ADSs upon surrender of those ADSs.
If there is any change in the deposited securities such as a subdivision, combination or other reclassification, or any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization affecting the issuer of deposited securities in which the depositary receives new securities in exchange for or in lieu of the old deposited securities, the depositary will hold those replacement securities as deposited securities under the deposit agreement. However, if the depositary decides it would not be lawful and to hold the replacement securities because those securities could not be distributed to ADS holders or for any other reason, the depositary may instead sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds upon surrender of the ADSs.
If there is a replacement of the deposited securities and the depositary will continue to hold the replacement securities, the depositary may distribute new ADSs representing the new deposited securities or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.
If there are no deposited securities underlying ADSs, including if the deposited securities are cancelled, or if the deposited securities underlying ADSs have become apparently worthless, the depositary may call for surrender or of those ADSs or cancel those ADSs upon notice to the ADS holders.
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will initiate termination of the deposit agreement if we instruct it to do so. The depositary may initiate termination of the deposit agreement if:
| ● | 60 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment; |
| ● | we delist our shares from an exchange on which they were listed and do not list the shares on another exchange; |
| ● | we appear to be insolvent or enter insolvency proceedings; |
| ● | all or substantially all the value of the deposited securities has been distributed either in cash or in the form of securities; |
| ● | there are no deposited securities underlying the ADSs or the underlying deposited securities have become apparently worthless; or |
| ● | there has been a replacement of deposited securities. |
If the deposit agreement will terminate, the depositary will notify ADS holders at least 90 days before the termination date. At any time after the termination date, the depositary may sell the deposited securities. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. Normally, the depositary will sell as soon as practicable after the termination date.
After the termination date and before the depositary sells, ADS holders can still surrender their ADSs and receive delivery of deposited securities, except that the depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities if it would interfere with the selling process. The depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing sale proceeds until all the deposited securities have been sold. The depositary will continue to collect distributions on deposited securities, but, after the termination date, the depositary is not required to register any transfer of ADSs or distribute any dividends or other distributions on deposited securities to the ADSs holder (until they surrender their ADSs) or give any notices or perform any other duties under the deposit agreement except as described in this paragraph.
After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property, and deliver shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs. Four months after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only obligations will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:
| ● | are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith; |
| ● | are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our control from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement; |
| ● | are not liable if we or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement; |
| ● | are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement; |
| ● | have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person; |
| ● | are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and |
| ● | may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. |
In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of ADSs, make a distribution on ADSs, or permit withdrawal of shares, the depositary may require:
| ● | payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities; |
| ● | satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and |
| ● | compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.
Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying your ADSs
ADS holders have the right to cancel their ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:
| ● | when temporary delays arise because: (1) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (2) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders' meeting; or (3) we are paying a dividend on our shares; |
| ● | when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; or |
| ● | when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of shares or other deposited securities. |
| | |
| This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement. |
Pre-release of ADSs
The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs. The depositary may also deliver shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are canceled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive ADSs instead of shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (1) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer owns the shares or ADSs to be deposited; (2) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (3) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days' notice. In addition, the depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the Direct Registration System, also referred to as DRS, and Profile Modification System, also referred to as Profile, will apply to the ADSs. DRS is a system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated ADSs and holding of security entitlements in ADSs through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register that transfer.
In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the deposit agreement will not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.
Shareholder communications; inspection of register of holders of ADSs
The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Prior to this offering our Ordinary Shares have been traded only on the TASE and our ADSs have been quoted on the OTCQB. In connection with this offering, we intend to apply to list the ADSs on NASDAQ, under the symbol “TRPX.” No assurance can be given that our application will be approved. Sales of substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares and ADSs in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our Ordinary Shares and ADSs. Upon completion of this offering, we will have outstanding ADSs and outstanding Ordinary Shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. All of the ADSs sold in this offering will be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act by persons other than by our affiliates.
Our Ordinary Shares will be held by our existing shareholders. Because all of these shares were sold outside the United States to persons residing outside the United States at the time, and are currently traded on the TASE, they will continue to be freely tradable on TASE without restriction or further registration, except for the restrictions described below, and except for the lock-up restrictions described under “Underwriting” below. Approximately % of our outstanding Ordinary Shares will be subject to such lock-up agreements.
Lock-up Agreements
We and our executive officers, directors, and certain shareholders have agreed not to offer, sell, agree to sell, directly or indirectly, or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares, ADSs or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares except for the ADSs offered in this offering without the prior written consent of the representative for a period of days after the consummation of this offering. After the expiration of such day period, the Ordinary Shares held by our directors, executive officers or certain of our other existing shareholders may be sold outside of the United States subject to the restrictions under applicable Israeli securities laws or by means of registered public offerings.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof, beginning 90 days after the date hereof, a person who holds restricted Ordinary Shares or ADSs (assuming there are any restricted shares) and is not one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned these restricted shares for at least six months, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs, provided current public information about us is available. In addition, under Rule 144, a person who holds restricted shares in us and is not one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned these restricted shares for at least one year, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares immediately upon the closing of this offering without regard to whether current public information about us is available. Beginning 90 days after the date hereof, our affiliates who have beneficially owned our Ordinary Shares or ADSs for at least six months will be entitled to sell within any three month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:
| ● | 1% of the number of Ordinary Shares or ADSs then outstanding; or |
| ● | the average weekly trading volume of our or ADSs on NASDAQ during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale; provided that current public information about us is available and the affiliate complies with the manner of sale requirements imposed by Rule 144. |
Affiliates are also subject to additional restrictions on the manner of sales under Rule 144 and notice filing requirements. We cannot estimate the number of our Ordinary Shares that our existing shareholders will elect to sell on the TASE.
Regulation S
Regulation S under the Securities Act provides that securities owned by any person may be sold without registration in the United States, provided that the sale is effected in an offshore transaction and no directed selling efforts are made in the United States (as these terms are defined in Regulation S), subject to certain other conditions. In general, this means that our Ordinary Shares may be sold in some manner outside the United States without requiring registration in the United States.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases our Ordinary Shares from us in connection with a compensatory share plan or other written agreement executed prior to the completion of this offering is eligible to resell such Ordinary Shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A GENERAL SUMMARY. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL SHARE TRANSFER RESTRICTION MATTERS THAT MAY BE OF IMPORTANCE TO A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN LEGAL ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR SECURITIES LAWS AND TRANSFER RESTRICTION CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, HOLDING, AND DISPOSING OF THE ADSS, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAWS.
TAXATION
The following description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the ownership or disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs. You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local, foreign, including Israeli, or other taxing jurisdiction.
ISRAELI TAX CONSIDERATIONS AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
The following is a description of the material Israeli income tax consequences of the ownership of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs. The following also contains a description of material relevant provisions of the current Israeli income tax structure applicable to companies in Israel, with reference to its effect on us. To the extent that the discussion is based on new tax legislation which has not been subject to judicial or administrative interpretation, there can be no assurance that the tax authorities will accept the views expressed in the discussion in question. The discussion is not intended, and should not be taken, as legal or professional tax advice and is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations.
The following description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the ownership or disposition of our Ordinary Shares and ADSs. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax consequences of their particular situation, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local, foreign or other taxing jurisdiction.
General Corporate Tax Structure in Israel
Israeli companies are generally subject to corporate tax. As of January 2016, the corporate tax rate is 25%. In 2014-2015, the corporate tax rate was 26.5%. However, the effective tax rate payable by a company that derives income from a Preferred Enterprise (as discussed below) may be considerably less. Capital gains derived by an Israeli company are generally subject to the prevailing corporate tax rate.
Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969
The Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969, generally referred to as the Industry Encouragement Law, provides several tax benefits for “Industrial Companies.”
The Industry Encouragement Law defines an “Industrial Company” as an Israeli resident-company, of which 90% or more of its income in any tax year, other than income from defense loans, is derived from an “Industrial Enterprise” owned by it. An “Industrial Enterprise” is defined as an enterprise whose principal activity in a given tax year is industrial production.
The following corporate tax benefits, among others, are available to Industrial Companies:
| ● | amortization of the cost of purchased a patent, rights to use a patent, and know-how, which are used for the development or advancement of the company, over an eight-year period, commencing on the year in which such rights were first exercised; |
| ● | under limited conditions, an election to file consolidated tax returns with related Israeli Industrial Companies; and |
| ● | expenses related to a public offering are deductible in equal amounts over three years. |
Eligibility for benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not contingent upon approval of any governmental authority.
The Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, 5744-1984
Under the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, 5744-1984, or Research Law, research and development programs which meet specified criteria and are approved by the INATI are eligible for grants of up to 50% of the project’s expenditure, as determined by the research committee, in exchange for the payment of royalties from the revenues generated from the sale of products and related services developed, in whole or in part pursuant to, or as a result of, a research and development program funded by the INATI. The royalties are generally at a range of 3.0% to 5.0% of revenues until the entire INATI grant is repaid, together with an annual interest generally equal to the 12 month London InterBank Offered Rate, or the LIBOR, applicable to dollar deposits that is published on the first business day of each calendar year.
The terms of the R&D Law also require that the manufacture of products developed with government grants be performed in Israel. The transfer of manufacturing activity outside Israel may not be transferred outside of Israel, unless the prior approval of the INATI is received, however, this does not restrict the export of products that incorporate the funded technology. Under the regulations of the R&D Law, assuming we receive approval from the Chief Scientist to manufacture our INATI-funded products outside Israel, we may be required to pay increased royalties. The increase in royalties depends upon the manufacturing volume that is performed outside of Israel as follows:
Manufacturing Volume Outside of Israel | | Royalties to the Chief Scientist as a Percentage of Grant | |
| | | |
Up to 50% | | | 120 | % |
between 50% and 90% | | | 150 | % |
90% and more | | | 300 | % |
If the manufacturing is performed outside of Israel by us, the rate of royalties payable by us on revenues from the sale of products manufactured outside of Israel will increase by 1% over the regular rates. If the manufacturing is performed outside of Israel by a third party, the rate of royalties payable by us on those revenues will be equal to the ratio obtained by dividing the amount of the grants received from the Office of the Chief Scientist and our total investment in the project that was funded by these grants. The transfer of no more than 10% of the manufacturing capacity in the aggregate outside of Israel is exempt under the R&D Law from obtaining the prior approval of the INATI. A company requesting funds from the INATI also has the option of declaring in its INATI grant application an intention to perform part of its manufacturing outside Israel, thus avoiding the need to obtain additional approval. On January 6, 2011, the R&D Law was amended to clarify that the potential increased royalties specified in the table above will apply even in those cases where the INATI approval for transfer of manufacturing outside of Israel is not required, namely when the volume of the transferred manufacturing capacity is less than 10% of total capacity or when the company received an advance approval to manufacture abroad in the framework of its INATI grant application.
The know-how developed within the framework of the Chief Scientist plan may not be transferred to third parties outside Israel without the prior approval of a governmental committee charted under the R&D Law. The approval, however, is not required for the export of any products developed using grants received from the Chief Scientist. The INATI approval to transfer know-how created, in whole or in part, in connection with an INATI-funded project to third party outside Israel where the transferring company remains an operating Israeli entity is subject to payment of a redemption fee to the INATI calculated according to a formula provided under the R&D Law that is based, in general, on the ratio between the aggregate INATI grants to the company’s aggregate investments in the project that was funded by these INATI grants, multiplied by the transaction consideration. The transfer of such know-how to a party outside Israel where the transferring company ceases to exist as an Israeli entity is subject to a redemption fee formula that is based, in general, on the ratio between the aggregate INATI grants to the total financial investments in the company, multiplied by the transaction consideration. According to the January 2011 amendment, the redemption fee in case of transfer of know-how to a party outside Israel will be based on the ratio between the aggregate INATI grants received by the company and the company’s aggregate R&D expenses, multiplied by the transaction consideration. According to regulations promulgated following the 2011 amendment, the maximum amount payable to the INATI in case of transfer of know how outside Israel shall not exceed 6 times the value of the grants received plus interest, and in the event that the receiver of the grants ceases to be an Israeli corporation such payment shall not exceed 6 times the value of the grants received plus interest, with a possibility to reduce such payment to up to 3 times the value of the grants received plus interest if the R&D activity remains in Israel for a period of three years after payment to the INATI.
Transfer of know-how within Israel is subject to an undertaking of the recipient Israeli entity to comply with the provisions of the R&D Law and related regulations, including the restrictions on the transfer of know-how and the obligation to pay royalties, as further described in the R&D Law and related regulations.
These restrictions may impair our ability to outsource manufacturing, engage in change of control transactions or otherwise transfer our know-how outside Israel and may require us to obtain the approval or the INATI for certain actions and transactions and pay additional royalties to the INATI. In particular, any change of control and any change of ownership of our Ordinary Shares that would make a non-Israeli citizen or resident an “interested party,” as defined in the R&D Law, requires a prior written notice to the INATI in addition to any payment that may be required of us for transfer of manufacturing or know-how outside Israel. If we fail to comply with the R&D Law, we may be subject to criminal charges.
Tax Benefits for Research and Development
Israeli tax law allows, under certain conditions, a tax deduction for expenditures, including capital expenditures, for the year in which they are incurred. Expenditures are deemed related to scientific research and development projects, if:
| ● | The expenditures are approved by the relevant Israeli government ministry, determined by the field of research; |
| ● | The research and development must be for the promotion of the company; and |
| ● | The research and development is carried out by or on behalf of the company seeking such tax deduction. |
The amount of such deductible expenses is reduced by the sum of any funds received through government grants for the finance of such scientific research and development projects. No deduction under these research and development deduction rules is allowed if such deduction is related to an expense invested in an asset depreciable under the general depreciation rules of the Ordinance. Expenditures not so approved are deductible in equal amounts over three years.
From time to time we may apply the INATI for approval to allow a tax deduction for all research and development expenses during the year incurred. There can be no assurance that such application will be accepted.
Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959
The Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959, generally referred to as the Investment Law, provides certain incentives for capital investments in production facilities (or other eligible assets). In specific, the Investment Law, currently provides certain tax benefits for income generated by “Preferred Companies” from their “Preferred Enterprises.” The definition of a Preferred Company includes, inter alia, a company incorporated in Israel that is not wholly owned by a governmental entity, which:
| ● | owns a Preferred Enterprise, which is defined as an “Industrial Enterprise” (as defined under the Investment Law) that is classified as either a “Competitive Enterprise” (as defined under the Investment Law) or a “Competitive Enterprise in the Field of Renewable Energy” (as defined under the Investment Law); |
| ● | is controlled and managed from Israel; |
| ● | is not a “Family Company,” a “Home Company,” or a “Kibbutz” (collective community) as defined under the Ordinance; |
| ● | keeps acceptable books of account and files reports in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law and the Ordinance; and |
| ● | was not, and certain officers of which were not, convicted of certain crimes in the 10 years prior to the tax year with respect to which benefits are being claimed. |
As of January 1, 2014, a Preferred Company is entitled to a reduced corporate tax rate of 16% with respect to its income derived from its Preferred Enterprise, unless the Preferred Enterprise is located in development area A, in which case the rate will be 9% (our operations are currently not located in development area A).
Dividends paid out of income attributed to a Preferred Enterprise are generally subject to tax at the rate of 20% or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable tax treaty. However, dividends in the Preferred Enterprise paid to an Israeli corporate shareholder should be exempt from tax (although, if such dividends are subsequently distributed to individuals or a non-Israeli company, tax at a rate of 20% or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable tax treaty will apply).
If in the future we generate taxable income, to the extent that we qualify as a “Preferred Company,” the benefits provided under the Investment Law could potentially reduce our corporate tax liabilities. Therefore, the termination or substantial reduction of the benefits available under the Investment Law could materially increase our tax liabilities.
Tax Benefits
The Investment Law grants tax benefits for income generated by a “Preferred Company” through its “Preferred Enterprise” (as such terms are defined in the Investment Law) The definition of a Preferred Company includes a company incorporated in Israel that is not fully owned by a governmental entity, and that has, among other things, Preferred Enterprise status and is controlled and managed from Israel. A Preferred Company is entitled to a reduced corporate tax rate of 16% with respect to its income derived by its Preferred Enterprise, unless the Preferred Enterprise is located in a specified development zone, in which case the rate will be 9%.
Dividends paid out of income attributed to a Preferred Enterprise are generally subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 20% or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable tax treaty. However, if such dividends are paid to an Israeli company, no tax is required to be withheld.
Taxation of our Shareholders
Capital Gains Taxes Applicable to Non-Israeli Resident Shareholders. A non-Israeli resident who derives capital gains from the sale of shares in an Israeli resident company will be exempt from Israeli tax so long as the shares were not held through a permanent establishment that the non-resident maintains in Israel. However, non-Israeli corporations will not be entitled to the foregoing exemption if Israeli residents: (i) have a controlling interest of 25% or more in such non-Israeli corporation or (ii) are the beneficiaries of, or are entitled to, 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli corporation, whether directly or indirectly.
Additionally, a sale of securities by a non-Israeli resident may be exempt from Israeli capital gains tax under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty. For example, under Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel with respect to Taxes on Income, as amended, or the United States-Israel Tax Treaty, the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares by a shareholder who is a United States resident (for purposes of the treaty) holding the shares as a capital asset and is entitled to claim the benefits afforded to such a resident by the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, or a Treaty U.S. Resident, is generally exempt from Israeli capital gains tax unless: (i) the capital gain arising from such sale, exchange or disposition is attributed to real estate located in Israel; (ii) the capital gain arising from such sale, exchange or disposition is attributed to royalties; (iii) the capital gain arising from the such sale, exchange or disposition is attributed to a permanent establishment in Israel, under certain terms; (iv) such Treaty U.S. Resident holds, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of the voting capital during any part of the 12-month period preceding the disposition, subject to certain conditions; or (v) such Treaty U.S. Resident is an individual and was present in Israel for 183 days or more during the relevant taxable year.
In some instances where our shareholders may be liable for Israeli tax on the sale of their Ordinary Shares or ADSs, the payment of the consideration may be subject to the withholding of Israeli tax at source. Shareholders may be required to demonstrate that they are exempt from tax on their capital gains in order to avoid withholding at source at the time of sale.
Taxation of Non-Israeli Shareholders on Receipt of Dividends. Non-Israeli residents are generally subject to Israeli income tax on the receipt of dividends paid on our Ordinary Shares or ADSs at the rate of 25%, which tax will be withheld at source, unless relief is provided in a treaty between Israel and the shareholder’s country of residence. With respect to a person who is a “substantial shareholder” at the time of receiving the dividend or on any time during the preceding twelve months, the applicable tax rate is 30%. A “substantial shareholder” is generally a person who alone or together with such person’s relative or another person who collaborates with such person on a permanent basis, holds, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of any of the “means of control” of the corporation. “Means of control” generally include the right to vote, receive profits, nominate a director or an executive officer, receive assets upon liquidation, or order someone who holds any of the aforesaid rights how to act, regardless of the source of such right. However, a distribution of dividends to non-Israeli residents is subject to withholding tax at source at a rate of 20% if the dividend is distributed from income attributed to a Preferred Enterprise, unless a reduced tax rate is provided under an applicable tax treaty. For example, under the United States-Israel Tax Treaty, the maximum rate of tax withheld at source in Israel on dividends paid to a holder of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs who is a Treaty U.S. Resident is 25%. However, generally, the maximum rate of withholding tax on dividends, not generated by a Preferred Enterprise, that are paid to a United States corporation holding 10% or more of the outstanding voting capital throughout the tax year in which the dividend is distributed as well as during the previous tax year, is 12.5%, provided that not more than 25% of the gross income for such preceding year consists of certain types of dividends and interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends distributed from income attributed to an Preferred Enterprise are not entitled to such reduction under the tax treaty but are subject to a withholding tax rate of 15% for a shareholder that is a U.S. corporation, provided that the condition related to our gross income for the previous year (as set forth in the previous sentence) is met. If the dividend is attributable partly to income derived from a Preferred Enterprise, and partly to other sources of income, the withholding rate will be a blended rate reflecting the relative portions of the two types of income. We cannot assure you that we will designate the profits that we may distribute in a way that will reduce shareholders’ tax liability.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS INCLUDED HEREIN FOR GENERAL INFORMATION AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. EACH U.S. HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT WITH HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND SALE OF ORDINARY SHARES AND AMERICAN DEPOSITORY SHARES, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF APPLICABLE STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE TAX LAWS.
Subject to the limitations described in the next paragraph, the following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to a “U.S. Holder” arising from the purchase, ownership and sale of the Ordinary Shares and ADSs. For this purpose, a “U.S. Holder” is a holder of Ordinary Shares or ADSs that is: (1) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, including an alien individual who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or meets the substantial presence residency test under U.S. federal income tax laws; (2) a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or a partnership (other than a partnership that is not treated as a U.S. person under any applicable U.S. Treasury regulations) created or organized under the laws of the United States or the District of Columbia or any political subdivision thereof; (3) an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of source; (4) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or (5) a trust that has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person to the extent provided in U.S. Treasury regulations.
This summary is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase our Ordinary Shares or ADSs. This summary generally considers only U.S. Holders that will own our Ordinary Shares or ADSs as capital assets. Except to the limited extent discussed below, this summary does not consider the U.S. federal tax consequences to a person that is not a U.S. Holder, nor does it describe the rules applicable to determine a taxpayer’s status as a U.S. Holder. This summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, final, temporary and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, and the U.S./Israel Income Tax Treaty, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and all of which are open to differing interpretations. We will not seek a ruling from the U.S. IRS with regard to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our Ordinary Shares or ADSs by U.S. Holders and, therefore, can provide no assurances that the IRS will agree with the conclusions set forth below.
This discussion does not address all of the aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular U.S. holder based on such holder’s particular circumstances and in particular does not discuss any estate, gift, generation-skipping, transfer, state, local, excise or foreign tax considerations. In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a U.S. Holder who is: (1) a bank, life insurance company, regulated investment company, or other financial institution or “financial services entity”; (2) a broker or dealer in securities or foreign currency; (3) a person who acquired our Ordinary Shares or ADSs in connection with employment or other performance of services; (4) a U.S. Holder that is subject to the U.S. alternative minimum tax; (5) a U.S. Holder that holds our Ordinary Shares or ADSs as a hedge or as part of a hedging, straddle, conversion or constructive sale transaction or other risk-reduction transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (6) a tax-exempt entity; (7) real estate investment trusts or grantor trusts; (8) a U.S. Holder that expatriates out of the United States or a former long-term resident of the United States; or (9) a person having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. This discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a U.S. Holder that owns, directly or constructively, at any time, Ordinary Shares or ADSs representing 10% or more of our voting power. Additionally, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of persons who hold Ordinary Shares or ADSs through a partnership or other pass-through entity are not considered.
Each prospective investor is advised to consult his or her own tax adviser for the specific tax consequences to that investor of purchasing, holding or disposing of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs, including the effects of applicable state, local, foreign or other tax laws and possible changes in the tax laws.
Taxation of Dividends Paid on Ordinary Shares or ADSs
We do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. In the event that we do pay dividends, and subject to the discussion under the heading “Passive Foreign Investment Companies” below, a U.S. Holder will be required to include in gross income as ordinary income the amount of any distribution paid on Ordinary Shares or ADSs (including the amount of any Israeli tax withheld on the date of the distribution), to the extent that such distribution does not exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of a distribution which exceeds our earnings and profits will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital, reducing the U.S. Holder’s tax basis for the Ordinary Shares to the extent thereof, and then capital gain. Corporate holders generally will not be allowed a deduction for dividends received.
In general, preferential tax rates for “qualified dividend income” and long-term capital gains are applicable for U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts. For this purpose, “qualified dividend income” means, inter alia, dividends received from a “qualified foreign corporation.” A “qualified foreign corporation” is a corporation that is entitled to the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States which includes an exchange of information program. The IRS has stated that the Israel/U.S. Tax Treaty satisfies this requirement and we believe we are eligible for the benefits of that treaty.
In addition, our dividends will be qualified dividend income if our Ordinary Shares or ADSs are readily tradable on the NASDAQ Capital Market or another established securities market in the United States. Dividends will not qualify for the preferential rate if we are treated, in the year the dividend is paid or in the prior year, as a PFIC, as described below under “Passive Foreign Investment Companies”. A U.S. Holder will not be entitled to the preferential rate: (1) if the U.S. Holder has not held our Ordinary Shares or ADSs for at least 61 days of the 121 day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the ex-dividend date, or (2) to the extent the U.S. Holder is under an obligation to make related payments on substantially similar property. Any days during which the U.S. Holder has diminished its risk of loss on our Ordinary Shares or ADSs are not counted towards meeting the 61-day holding period. Finally, U.S. Holders who elect to treat the dividend income as “investment income” pursuant to Code section 163(d)(4) will not be eligible for the preferential rate of taxation.
The amount of a distribution with respect to our Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be measured by the amount of the fair market value of any property distributed, and for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld therefrom. Cash distributions paid by us in NIS will be included in the income of U.S. Holders at a U.S. dollar amount based upon the spot rate of exchange in effect on the date the dividend is includible in the income of the U.S. Holder, and U.S. Holders will have a tax basis in such NIS for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to such U.S. dollar value. If the U.S. Holder subsequently converts the NIS into U.S. dollars or otherwise disposes of it, any subsequent gain or loss in respect of such NIS arising from exchange rate fluctuations will be U.S. source ordinary exchange gain or loss.
Distributions paid by us will generally be foreign source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes and will generally be considered passive category income for such purposes. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Code, U.S. Holders may elect to claim a foreign tax credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability for Israeli income tax withheld from distributions received in respect of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs. The rules relating to the determination of the U.S. foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine whether, and to what extent, they are entitled to such credit. U.S. Holders that do not elect to claim a foreign tax credit may instead claim a deduction for Israeli income taxes withheld, provided such U.S. Holders itemize their deductions.
Taxation of the Disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs
Except as provided under the PFIC rules described below under “Passive Foreign Investment Companies”, upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs, a U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between such U.S. Holder’s tax basis for the Ordinary Shares or ADSs in U.S. dollars and the amount realized on the disposition in U.S. dollar (or its U.S. dollar equivalent determined by reference to the spot rate of exchange on the date of disposition, if the amount realized is denominated in a foreign currency). The gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has a holding period of more than one year at the time of the disposition.
Gain realized by a U.S. Holder on a sale, exchange or other disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs will generally be treated as U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. A loss realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs is generally allocated to U.S. source income. The deductibility of a loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs is subject to limitations.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
Special U.S. federal income tax laws apply to U.S. taxpayers who own shares of a corporation that is a PFIC. We will be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year that either:
| ● | 75% or more of our gross income (including our pro rata share of gross income for any company, in which we are considered to own 25% or more of the shares by value), in a taxable year is passive; or |
| ● | At least 50% of our assets, averaged over the year and generally determined based upon fair market value (including our pro rata share of the assets of any company in which we are considered to own 25% or more of the shares by value) are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. |
For this purpose, passive income generally consists of dividends, interest, rents, royalties, annuities and income from certain commodities transactions and from notional principal contracts. Cash is treated as generating passive income.
We have not determined whether we will be a PFIC in the year in which this offering is completed or in future years because, among other things, PFIC status is determined annually and is based on our income, assets and activities for the entire taxable year.The tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually, and it is difficult to make accurate projections of future income and assets which are relevant to this determination. In addition, our PFIC status may depend in part on the market value of our Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we currently are not or will not become a PFIC.
If we currently are or become a PFIC, each U.S. Holder who has not elected to treat us as a qualified electing fund by making a “QEF election”, or who has not elected to mark the shares to market (as discussed below), would, upon receipt of certain distributions by us and upon disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs at a gain: (1) have such distribution or gain allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the case may be; (2) the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any period prior to the first day of the first taxableyear in which we were a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income; and (3) the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year. In addition, when shares of a PFIC are acquired by reason of death from a decedent that was a U.S. Holder, the tax basis of such shares would not receive a step-up to fair market value as of the date of the decedent’s death, but instead would be equal to the decedent’s basis if lower, unless all gain were recognized by the decedent. Indirect investments in a PFIC may also be subject to these special U.S. federal income tax rules.
The PFIC rules described above would not apply to a U.S. Holder who makes a QEF election for all taxable years that such U.S. Holder has held the Ordinary Shares or ADSs while we are a PFIC, provided that we comply with specified reporting requirements. Instead, each U.S. Holder who has made such a QEF election is required for each taxable year that we are a PFIC to include in income such U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of our ordinary earnings as ordinary income and such U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of our net capital gains as long-term capital gain, regardless of whether we make any distributions of such earnings or gain. In general, a QEF election is effective only if we make available certain required information. The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and generally may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. We do not intend to notify U.S. Holders if we believe we will be treated as a PFIC for any tax year. In addition, we do not intend to furnish U.S. Holders annually with information needed in order to complete IRS Form 8621 and to make and maintain a valid QEF election for any year in which we or any of our Subsidiaries are a PFIC. U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding eligibility, manner and advisability of making a QEF election if we are treated as a PFIC.
In addition, the PFIC rules described above would not apply if we were a PFIC and a U.S. Holder made a mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs which are regularly traded on a qualifying exchange, including the NASDAQ Capital Market, can elect to mark the Ordinary Shares or ADSs to market annually, recognizing as ordinary income or loss each year an amount equal to the difference as of the close of the taxable year between the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares or ADSs. Losses are allowed only to the extent of net mark-to-market gain previously included income by the U.S. Holder under the election for prior taxable years.
U.S. Holders who hold our Ordinary Shares or ADSs during a period when we are a PFIC will be subject to the foregoing rules, even if we cease to be a PFIC. U.S. Holders are strongly urged to consult their tax advisors about the PFIC rules, including tax return filing requirements and the eligibility, manner, and consequences to them of making a QEF or mark-to-market election with respect to our Ordinary Shares or ADSs in the event that we are a PFIC.
Tax on Net Investment Income
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, U.S. Holders who are individuals, estates or trusts will generally be required to pay a new 3.8% Medicare tax on their net investment income (including dividends on and gains from the sale or other disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs), or in the case of estates and trusts on their net investment income that is not distributed. In each case, the 3.8% Medicare tax applies only to the extent the U.S. Holder’s total adjusted income exceeds applicable thresholds.
Tax Consequences for Non-U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares or ADSs
Except as provided below, an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder referred to below as a non-U.S. Holder, generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on the payment of dividends on, and the proceeds from the disposition of, our Ordinary Shares or ADSs.
A non-U.S. Holder may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a dividend paid on our Ordinary Shares or ADSs or gain from the disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs if: (1) such item is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed place of business in the United States; (2) in the case of a disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs, the individual non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and other specified conditions are met.
In general, non-U.S. Holders will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to the payment of dividends on our Ordinary Shares or ADSs if payment is made through a paying agent, or office of a foreign broker outside the United States. However, if payment is made in the United States or by a U.S. related person, non-U.S. Holders may be subject to backup withholding, unless the non-U.S. Holder provides an applicable IRS Form W-8 (or a substantially similar form) certifying its foreign status, or otherwise establishes an exemption.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Information Reporting and Withholding
A U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% with respect to cash dividends and proceeds from a disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs. In general, backup withholding will apply only if a U.S. Holder fails to comply with specified identification procedures. Backup withholding will not apply with respect to payments made to designated exempt recipients, such as corporations and tax-exempt organizations. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. federal income tax liability of a U.S. Holder, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Pursuant to recently enacted legislation, a U.S. Holder with interests in “specified foreign financial assets” (including, among other assets, our Ordinary Shares or ADSs, unless such Ordinary Shares or ADSs are held on such U.S. Holder’s behalf through a financial institution) may be required to file an information report with the IRS if the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year or $75,000 at any time during the taxable year (or such higher dollar amount as may be prescribed by applicable IRS guidance); and may be required to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, if the aggregate value of the foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the possible obligation to file such information report.
UNDERWRITING
EXPENSES
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts, expected to be incurred in connection with the offer and sale of the ADSs by us. With the exception of the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee, all amounts are estimates:
SEC registration fee | | $ | | |
FINRA filing fee | | $ | | |
Transfer agent fees and expenses | | $ | | |
Printer fees and expenses | | $ | | |
Legal fees and expenses | | $ | | |
Accounting fees and expenses | | $ | | |
Miscellaneous | | $ | | |
Total | | $ | | |
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters concerning this offering will be passed upon for us by Zysman, Aharoni, Gayer and Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters governed by Israeli law, will be passed upon for us by Horn & Co. – Law Offices, Tel Aviv, Israel. Certain legal matters related to the offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by .
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Therapix Biosciences Ltd. as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2015, appearing in this prospectus and registration statement have been audited by Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of EY Global), independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. Service of process upon us and upon our directors and officers and the Israeli experts named in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, a substantial majority of whom reside outside of the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because substantially all of our assets and a substantial of our directors and officers are located outside of the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors and officers may not be collectible within the United States.
We have been informed by our legal counsel in Israel, Horn & Co. Law Offices, that it may be difficult to assert U.S. securities law claims in original actions instituted in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on a violation of U.S. securities laws because Israel is not the most appropriate forum to bring such a claim. In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that Israeli law and not U.S. law is applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by Israeli law.
Subject to specified time limitations and legal procedures, Israeli courts may enforce a United States judgment in a civil matter which, subject to certain exceptions, is non-appealable, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and including a monetary or compensatory judgment in a non-civil matter, provided that among other things:
| ● | the judgment is obtained after due process before a court of competent jurisdiction, according to the laws of the state in which the judgment is given and the rules of private international law currently prevailing in Israel; |
| ● | the judgment is final and is not subject to any right of appeal; |
| ● | the prevailing law of the foreign state in which the judgment was rendered allows for the enforcement of judgments of Israeli courts; |
| ● | adequate service of process has been effected and the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present his or her evidence; |
| ● | the liabilities under the judgment are enforceable according to the laws of the State of Israel and the judgment and the enforcement of the civil liabilities set forth in the judgment is not contrary to the law or public policy in Israel nor likely to impair the security or sovereignty of Israel; |
| ● | the judgment was not obtained by fraud and does not conflict with any other valid judgments in the same matter between the same parties; |
| ● | an action between the same parties in the same matter is not pending in any Israeli court at the time the lawsuit is instituted in the foreign court; and |
| ● | the judgment is enforceable according to the law of the foreign state in which the relief was granted. |
If a foreign judgment is enforced by an Israeli court, it generally will be payable in Israeli currency, which can then be converted into non-Israeli currency and transferred out of Israel. The usual practice in an action before an Israeli court to recover an amount in a non-Israeli currency is for the Israeli court to issue a judgment for the equivalent amount in Israeli currency at the rate of exchange in force on the date of the judgment, but the judgment debtor may make payment in foreign currency. Pending collection, the amount of the judgment of an Israeli court stated in Israeli currency ordinarily will be linked to the Israeli consumer price index plus interest at the annual statutory rate set by Israeli regulations prevailing at the time. Judgment creditors must bear the risk of unfavorable exchange rates.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act relating to this offering of our ADSs. This prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information from this prospectus that is included in the registration statement. Statements made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are summaries of all material information about the documents summarized, but are not complete descriptions of all terms of these documents. If we filed any of these documents as an exhibit to the registration statement, you may read the document itself for a complete description of its terms.
You may read and copy the registration statement, including the related exhibits and schedules, and any document we file with the SEC without charge at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to foreign private issuers, and under those requirements will file reports with the SEC. Those other reports or other information may be inspected without charge at the locations described above. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file annual, quarterly and current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we will file with the SEC, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, or such applicable time as required by the SEC, an annual report on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, and will submit to the SEC, on Form 6-K, unaudited quarterly financial information.
We maintain a corporate website at http://therapixbio.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference. We will post on our website any materials required to be so posted on such website under applicable corporate or securities laws and regulations, including, posting any XBRL interactive financial data required to be filed with the SEC and any notices of general meetings of our shareholders.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015
INDEX
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![](https://capedge.com/proxy/DRS/0001213900-16-015633/image_002.jpg) | Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer 2 Pal-Yam Ave. Haifa 33095, Israel | | Tel: 972 (4)8654000 Fax: 972 (4)5633443 ey.com |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Therapix Biosciences Ltd and its subsidiaries ("the Company") as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As described in Note 1c to the consolidated financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company incurred a net loss totaling NIS 10.2 million and had negative cash flows from operating activities totaling NIS 5.2 million. These factors, along with other factors described in Note 1c, raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans with respect to these matters are also described in Note 1c. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Haifa, Israel | /s/ KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER |
August 8, 2016 | A Member of Ernst & Young Global |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
| | | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | Note | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash | | 5 | | | 614 | | | | 6,136 | | | | 1,572 | |
Restricted cash | | 15d | | | 44 | | | | 44 | | | | 11 | |
Accounts receivable | | 6 | | | 102 | | | | 279 | | | | 72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 760 | | | | 6,459 | | | | 1,655 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NON-CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment in associate
| | 8 | | | 187 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Equipment | | 7 | | | 70 | | | | 42 | | | | 11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 257 | | | | 42 | | | | 11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 1,017 | | | | 6,501 | | | | 1,666 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
| | | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | Note | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade payables | | 9 | | | 1,182 | | | | 1,779 | | | | 456 | |
Other accounts payable | | 10 | | | 132 | | | | 215 | | | | 55 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 1,314 | | | | 1,994 | | | | 511 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities for Government grants | | 11 | | | 156 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EQUITY (DEFICIT) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY: | | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share capital | | | | | 1,841 | | | | 3,540 | | | | 907 | |
Share premium | | | | | 80,460 | | | | 95,772 | | | | 24,544 | |
Warrants | | | | | 4,981 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based payment transactions | | | | | 15,215 | | | | 18,309 | | | | 4,692 | |
Foreign currency translation reserve | | | | | 10 | | | | 20 | | | | 5 | |
Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | | | 941 | | | | 941 | | | | 241 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | | | (103,591 | ) | | | (113,468 | ) | | | (29,080 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (143 | ) | | | 5,114 | | | | 1,311 | |
Non-controlling interests | | | | | (310 | ) | | | (607 | ) | | | (156 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total equity (deficit) | | | | | (453 | ) | | | 4,507 | | | | 1,155 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 1,017 | | | | 6,501 | | | | 1,666 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
| | | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | Note | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | (except per share data) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expenses, net | | 18a | | | (1,800 | ) | | | (931 | ) | | | (239 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expenses | | 18b | | | (5,238 | ) | | | (5,297 | ) | | | (1,357 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (7,038 | ) | | | (6,228 | ) | | | (1,596 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other income (expenses), net | | 18d | | | 115 | | | | (3,734 | ) | | | (957 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | | | | (6,923 | ) | | | (9,962 | ) | | | (2,553 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance income | | 18c | | | 401 | | | | 20 | | | | 5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance expenses | | 18c | | | (427 | ) | | | (35 | ) | | | (9 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Company's share of losses of an associate | | | | | (343 | ) | | | (197 | ) | | | (50 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | | | (7,292 | ) | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (2,607 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity holders of the Company | | | | | (7,207 | ) | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (2,531 | ) |
Non-controlling interests | | | | | (85 | ) | | | (297 | ) | | | (76 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (7,292 | ) | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (2,607 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to equity holders of the Company | | 19 | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.11 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | (7,292 | ) | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (2,607 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations from associate | | | 10 | | | | 10 | | | | 3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total other comprehensive income | | | 10 | | | | 10 | | | | 3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | (7,282 | ) | | | (10,164 | ) | | | (2,604 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity holders of the Company | | | (7,197 | ) | | | (9,867 | ) | | | (2,528 | ) |
Non-controlling interests | | | (85 | ) | | | (297 | ) | | | (76 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (7,282 | ) | | | (10,164 | ) | | | (2,604 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
| | Attributable to equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | |
| | Issued capital | | | Share premium | | | Share-based payment transactions | | | Foreign currency translation reserve from associate | | | Warrants | | | Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | Accumulated deficit | | | Total | | | Non- controlling interests | | | Total equity | |
| | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 1, 2014 | | | 1,410 | | | | 78,276 | | | | 15,071 | | | | - | | | | 4,377 | | | | 941 | | | | (96,384 | ) | | | 3,691 | | | | (225 | ) | | | 3,466 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (7,207 | ) | | | (7,207 | ) | | | (85 | ) | | | (7,292 | ) |
Other comprehensive income | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | 10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (7,207 | ) | | | (7,197 | ) | | | (85 | ) | | | (7,282 | ) |
Issuance of shares and warrants (1) | | | 431 | | | | 2,184 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 604 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 3,219 | | | | - | | | | 3,219 | |
Share-based payments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 144 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 144 | | | | - | | | | 144 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2014 | | | 1,841 | | | | 80,460 | | | | 15,215 | | | | 10 | | | | 4,981 | | | | 941 | | | | (103,591 | ) | | | (143 | ) | | | (310 | ) | | | (453 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (297 | ) | | | (10,174 | ) |
Other comprehensive income | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | 10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (9,867 | ) | | | (297 | ) | | | (10,164 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of shares (2) | | | 806 | | | | 4,858 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,664 | | | | - | | | | 5,664 | |
Exercise of share options and warrants into shares | | | 893 | | | | 6,134 | | | | (1,344 | ) | | | - | | | | (661 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,022 | | | | - | | | | 5,022 | |
Expiration of warrants | | | - | | | | 4,320 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (4,320 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based payments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,438 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,438 | | | | - | | | | 4,438 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2015 | | | 3,540 | | | | 95,772 | | | | 18,309 | | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | 941 | | | | (113,468 | ) | | | 5,114 | | | | (607 | ) | | | 4,507 | |
| (1) | Net of issuance expenses of NIS 290,000. |
| (2) | Net of issuance expenses of NIS 84,000. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
| | Attributable to equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | |
| | Issued capital | | | Share premium | | | Share-based payment transactions | | | Foreign currency translation reserve from associate | | | Warrants | | | Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | Accumulated deficit | | | Total | | | Non- controlling interests | | | Total equity | |
| | Convenience translation into USD (note 1b) in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2014 | | | 472 | | | | 20,620 | | | | 3,899 | | | | 2 | | | | 1,276 | | | | 241 | | | | (26,548 | ) | | | (37 | ) | | | (79 | ) | | | (116 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (2,531 | ) | | | (2,531 | ) | | | (76 | ) | | | (2,607 | ) |
Other comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | 3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | (2,531 | ) | | | (2,528 | ) | | | (76 | ) | | | (2,604 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of shares (1) | | | 207 | | | | 1,245 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,452 | | | | | | | | 1,452 | |
Exercise of share options and warrants into shares | | | 229 | | | | 1,569 | | | | (345 | ) | | | | | | | (169 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | 1,284 | | | | | | | | 1,284 | |
Expiration of warrants | | | | | | | 1,107 | | | | | | | | | | | | (1,107 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based payments | | | | | | | | | | | 1,138 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,138 | | | | | | | | 1,138 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2015 | | | 907 | | | | 24,542 | | | | 4,694 | | | | 5 | | | | - | | | | 241 | | | | (29,079 | ) | | | 1,309 | | | | (156 | ) | | | 1,154 | |
| (1) | Less issuance expenses of USD 21,527. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | (7,292 | ) | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (2,607 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 146 | | | | 11 | | | | 3 | |
Loss (gain) from sale of equipment | | | (116 | ) | | | 19 | | | | 5 | |
Share-based payment expense | | | 144 | | | | 4,438 | | | | 1,137 | |
Change in liability to the Chief Scientist | | | 28 | | | | (191 | ) | | | (49 | ) |
Finance expenses (income), net | | | (5 | ) | | | 35 | | | | 9 | |
Company's share in losses of associate | | | 343 | | | | 197 | | | | 50 | |
Change in fair value of warrant liability | | | (396 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Change in fair value of financial derivatives | | | 350 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 494 | | | | 4,509 | | | | 1,155 | |
Working capital adjustments: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable | | | 20 | | | | (177 | ) | | | (45 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in trade payable | | | (374 | ) | | | 597 | | | | 153 | |
Increase (decrease) in other accounts payable | | | (211 | ) | | | 83 | | | | 21 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (565 | ) | | | 503 | | | | 129 | |
Cash received during the year for: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest received | | | 5 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (7,358 | ) | | | (5,162 | ) | | | (1,323 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of equipment | | | 220 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | |
Decrease in restricted cash, net | | | 283 | | | | - | | | | | |
Purchase of equipment | | | (2 | ) | | | (4 | ) | | | (2 | ) |
Investment in financial derivatives | | | (350 | ) | | | - | | | | | |
Investment in associate | | | (520 | ) | | | - | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | (369 | ) | | | (2 | ) | | | (1 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from issuance of share capital and warrants (net of issuance expenses) | | | 3,219 | | | | 5,664 | | | | 1,452 | |
Proceeds from exercise of share options and warrants | | | - | | | | 5,022 | | | | 1,287 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | 3,219 | | | | 10,686 | | | | 2,739 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Increase (decrease) in cash | | | (4,508 | ) | | | 5,522 | | | | 1,414 | |
Cash at the beginning of the year | | | 5,122 | | | | 614 | | | | 157 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash at the end of the year | | | 614 | | | | 6,136 | | | | 1,572 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| a. | Therapix Biosciences Ltd. ("Therapix"), a pharmaceutical company, was incorporated in Israel and commenced its operations on August 23, 2004. Until March 2014, the Therapix and its subsidiaries (the "Company") was mainly engaged in developing several innovative immunotherapy products and it owns patents in the immunotherapy field. |
In August 2015, the Company revised its business strategy according to which it will focus on developing approved drugs based on cannabinoid molecules. The Company is presently developing a cannabinoid based drug for Tourette syndrome using the entourage technology and is preparing to develop a cannabinoid based drug for mild cognitive impairment using the low dose technology.
| | The Company controls two subsidiaries, Orimmune Bio Ltd. and NasVax Inc., whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company and owns approximately 27% of Lara Pharm Ltd.’s share capital ("Lara") – see Note 8. The headquarters of the Company is located in Tel-Aviv, Israel. |
The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2015 were authorized for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on August 8, 2016.
| b. | Convenience translation into U.S. dollars (“dollars”, “USD” or “$”) |
For the convenience of the reader, the reported New Israeli Shekel (NIS) amounts as of December 31, 2015, and for the year then ended have been translated into dollars at the Bank of Israel’s representative rate of exchange for December 31, 2015 (USD 1 = NIS 3.902). The dollar amounts presented in these financial statements should not be construed as representing amounts that are receivable or payable in dollars or convertible into dollars, unless otherwise indicated. The dollars amounts were rounded to whole numbers for convenience.
| c. | The Company incurred a net loss of NIS 10.2 million and had negative cash flows from operating activities of NIS 5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had an accumulated deficit of NIS 113.5 million as a result of recurring operating losses. As discussed in Note 1a above, the Company's business strategy is to focus on identifying and investing in promising bio-pharma technologies in the field of cannabinoid based treatments and, at the same time, to develop the existing technologies. These activities involve, among others, continuous development efforts and obtaining pertinent regulatory approvals. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Accordingly, as the Company presently has no activities that generate revenues, the Company's continued operation is dependent on its ability to raise funding from external sources. This dependency will continue until the Company will be able to finance its operations by selling its products or commercializing its technology.
The Company's management believes that the balance of cash held by the Company may not be sufficient to finance its operating activities. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company's management is focusing on securing the Company's financial stability by, among others, exploring the alternatives of pursuinga public offering of equity, as well asraising capital from private investors including existing shareholders.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in the financial statements for all periods presented, unless otherwise stated.
| a. | Basis of presentation of the financial statements: |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
The Company's financial statements have been prepared on a cost basis, unless otherwise indicated.
The Company has elected to present the profit or loss items using the function of expense method.
The operating cycle of the Company is one year.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| c. | Consolidated financial statements: |
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of companies that are controlled by the Company (subsidiaries). Control is achieved when the Company is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The consolidation of the financial statements commences on the date on which control is obtained and ends when such control ceases.
The financial statements of the Company and of the subsidiaries are prepared as of the same dates and periods. The accounting policies applied in the financial statements of the subsidiaries are uniform and consistent with the policies applied in the financial statements of the Company. Significant intragroup balances and transactions and gains or losses resulting from intragroup transactions are eliminated in full in the consolidated financial statements.
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries represent the equity in subsidiaries not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent. Non-controlling interests are presented in equity separately from the equity attributable to the equity holders of the Company. Losses are attributed to non-controlling interests even if they result in a negative balance of non-controlling interests in the consolidated statement of financial position.
| d. | Functional currency and foreign currency: |
| 1. | Functional currency and presentation currency: |
The financial statements are presented in NIS since the Company believes that financial statements in NIS provide more relevant information to the investors and users of the financial statements who are located in Israel. The Company determines the functional currency of each entity, including companies accounted for at equity. The functional currency of the Company and Orimmune Bio Ltd. is the NIS while the functional currency of NasVax Inc. and Lara is the USD.
| 2. | Transactions, assets and liabilities in foreign currency: |
Transactions denominated in foreign currency (other than the functional currency) are recorded upon initial recognition at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. After initial recognition, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated at each reporting date into the functional currency at the exchange rate at that date. Exchange rate differences are recognized in profit or loss. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency and measured at cost are translated at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency and measured at fair value are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| e. | Investments in associates: |
Associates are companies in which the Company has significant influence over the financial and operating policies without having control.
The Company's investment in associates is accounted for using the equity method.
Losses of an associate in amounts which exceed its equity are recognized by the Company up to the carrying amount of its investment in the associate.
Under the equity method, the investment in the associate is presented at cost with the addition of post-acquisition changes in the Company's share of net assets, including other comprehensive income of the associate. Gains and losses resulting from transactions between the Company and the associate are eliminated to the extent of the interest in the associate.
Goodwill relating to the acquisition of an associate is included in the carrying amount of the investment and is not tested for impairment separately.
The financial statements of the Company and of the associate are prepared as of the same dates and periods. The accounting policies applied in the financial statements of the associate consistent with the policies applied in the financial statements of the Company.
Financial assets within the scope of IAS 39 (accounts receivable) are initially recognized at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs.
After initial recognition, accounts receivable are measured at amortized cost.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| g. | Financial instruments (cont.): |
Financial liabilities are initially recognized at fair value. Loans and other liabilities measured at amortized cost are presented net of direct transaction costs.
After initial recognition, the accounting treatment of financial liabilities is based on their classification as follows:
| a) | Financial liabilities at amortized cost: |
After initial recognition, loans and other liabilities are measured based on their terms at amortized cost less directly attributable transaction costs using the effective interest method.
| b) | Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss: |
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss include financial liabilities classified as held for trading and financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss.
Financial liabilities are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purpose of sale in the near term. Gains or losses on liabilities held for trading are recognized in profit or loss.
| 3. | Offsetting of financial instruments: |
Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount is presented in the consolidated statement of financial position if there is a legal enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention either to settle on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
The right of offset must be legally enforceable not only during the ordinary course of business of the parties to the contract but also in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of one of the parties. In order for the right of offset to be currently available, it must not be contingent on a future event, there may not be periods during which the right is not available, or there may not be any events that will cause the right to expire.
| 4. | Issue of a unit of securities: |
The issue of a unit of securities involves the allocation of the proceeds received (before issuance expenses) to the securities issued in the unit based on the following order: financial derivatives and other financial instruments measured at fair value in each period. Then fair value is determined for financial liabilities that are measured at amortized cost. The proceeds allocated to equity instruments are determined to be the residual amount. Issuance costs are allocated to each component pro rata to the amounts determined for each component in the unit.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| g. | Financial instruments (cont.): |
| 5. | Derecognition of financial instruments: |
A financial asset is derecognized when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or the Company has transferred its contractual rights to receive cash flows from the financial asset or assumes an obligation to pay the cash flows in full without material delay to a third party and has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, or has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, but has transferred control of the asset.
A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires.
| 6. | Impairment of financial assets: |
The Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence of impairment of a financial asset or group of financial assets as follows:
Financial assets carried at amortized cost:
Objective evidence of impairment exists when one or more events that have occurred after initial recognition of the asset have a negative impact on the estimated future cash flows. The amount of the loss recorded in profit or loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not yet been incurred) discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. If the financial asset has a variable interest rate, the discount rate is the current effective interest rate. In a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss is reversed if the recovery of the asset can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized. The amount of the reversal, up to the amount of any previous impairment, is recorded in profit or loss.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| g. | Financial instruments (cont.): |
Investment in associate or joint venture:
After application of the equity method, the Company determines whether it is necessary to recognize any additional impairment loss with respect to the investment in associates or joint ventures. The Company determines at each reporting date whether there is objective evidence that the carrying amount of the investment in the associate or the joint venture is impaired. The test of impairment is carried out with reference to the entire investment, including the goodwill attributed to the associate or the joint venture.
The criteria for classifying leases as finance or operating leases depend on the substance of the agreements and are made at the inception of the lease in accordance with the following principles as set out in IAS 17.
The Company as lessee - operating lease:
Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the leased asset are not transferred to the Company are classified as operating leases. Lease payments are recognized as an expense in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
| i. | Property, plant and equipment: |
Property, plant and equipment are measured at cost, including direct acquisition costs, less accumulated depreciation, accumulated impairment losses and any related investment grants and excluding day-to-day servicing expenses. Cost includes spare parts and auxiliary equipment that are used by plant and equipment.
Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the assets at annual rates as follows:
| | | % | |
| | | | | |
| Lab equipment | | | 15 | |
| Computers | | | 33 | |
| Office furniture and equipment | | | 6 | |
Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term (including the extension option held by the Company and intended to be exercised) and the expected life of the improvement.
The useful life, depreciation method and residual value of an asset are reviewed at least each year-end and any changes are accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate. As for testing the impairment of property, plant and equipment, see k below.
Depreciation of an asset ceases at the earlier of the date that the asset is classified as held for sale and the date that the asset is derecognized.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| j. | Research and development expenditures: |
Research expenditures are recognized in profit or loss when incurred.
The conditions enabling capitalization of development costs as an asset have not yet been met and, therefore, all development expenditures are recognized in profit or loss when incurred.
| k. | Impairment of non-financial assets: |
The Company evaluates the need to record an impairment of the carrying amount of non-financial assets (property, plant and equipment) whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount is not recoverable. If the carrying amount of non-financial assets exceeds their recoverable amount, the assets are reduced to their recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of sale and value in use.
Government grants are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the grants will be received and the Company will comply with the attached conditions.
Government grants received from the Office of the Israeli Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor ("the Chief Scientist") are recognized upon receipt as a liability if future economic benefits are expected from the research project that will result in royalty-bearing sales.
The liability is first measured at fair value using a discount rate that reflects a market rate of interest. The difference between the amount of grant received and the fair value of the liability is accounted for as a Government grant and recognized as a reduction of research and development expenses. After initial recognition, the liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Royalty payments are treated as a reduction of the liability. If no economic benefits are expected from the research activity, the grant receipts are recognized as a reduction of the related research and development expenses. In that event, the royalty obligation is treated as a contingent liability in accordance with IAS 37.
In each reporting date, the Company evaluates whether there is reasonable assurance that the liability recognized, in whole or in part, will not be repaid (since the Company will not be required to pay royalties) based on the best estimate of future sales and using the original effective interest method and, if so, the appropriate amount of the liability is derecognized against other income.
Amounts paid as royalties are recognized as a settlement of the liability.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES(Cont.) |
Current or deferred taxes are recognized in profit or loss, except to the extent that they relate to items which are recognized in other comprehensive income or equity.
The current tax liability is measured using the tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date as well as adjustments required in connection with the tax liability in respect of previous years.
As it is presently not probable that the Company will generate taxable income in the future, no deferred tax assets have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements in respect of carryforward tax losses and other temporary differences. At each reporting date, temporary differences (such as carryforward tax losses) for which deferred tax assets had not been recognized are reviewed and a respective deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that their utilization is probable.
| n. | Share-based payment transactions: |
The Company's employees and other service providers are entitled to remuneration in the form of share-based payments ("equity-settled transactions").
Equity-settled transactions:
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at grant date. The fair value is determined using an acceptable option pricing model; see additional information in Note 17.In estimating fair value, the vesting conditions (consisting of service conditions and performance conditions other than market conditions) are not taken into account. The only conditions taken into account in estimating fair value are market conditions and non-vesting conditions.
As for other service providers, when the Company is unable to reliably estimate the fair value of the services received, the cost of the transactions is measured at the fair value of the equity instruments granted.
The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognized in profit or loss together with a corresponding increase in equity, during the period in which the performance or service conditions are to be satisfied, ending on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award ("the vesting period"). The cumulative expense recognized for equity-settled transactions at the end of each reporting period until the vesting date reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and the Company's best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest. No expense is recognized for awards that do not ultimately vest.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
| o. | Employee benefit liabilities: |
The Company has several employee benefit plans:
| 1. | Short-term employee benefits: |
Short-term employee benefits are benefits that are expected to be settled less then twelve months from the end of the reporting period in which the employees render the related services. These benefits include salaries, paid annual leave, paid sick leave, recreation and social security contributions and are recognized as expenses as the services are rendered. A liability in respect of a cash bonus or a profit-sharing plan is recognized when the Company has a legal or constructive obligation to make such payment as a result of past service rendered by an employee and a reliable estimate of the amount can be made.
| 2. | Post-employment benefits: |
The plans are normally financed by contributions to insurance companies and classified as defined contribution plans or as defined benefit plans.
The Company has defined contribution plans pursuant to section 14 to the Severance Pay Law in Israel under which the Company pays fixed contributions and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient amounts to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. Contributions to the defined contribution plan in respect of severance or retirement pay are recognized as an expense when contributed concurrently with performance of the employee's services.
The Company has not yet generated any revenues from the sale of goods or from the rendering of services.
| q. | Finance income and expenses: |
Finance income comprises interest income on amounts invested and exchange rate gains. Interest income is recognized as it accrues using the effective interest method.
Finance expenses comprise changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss and exchange rate losses. Borrowing costs are recognized in profit or loss using the effective interest method.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES(Cont.) |
| r. | Earnings (loss) per share: |
Earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted number of Ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
Basic loss per share includes only shares that were outstanding during the period.
Potential Ordinary shares are included in the computation of diluted loss per share when their conversion increases loss per share from continuing operations.
NOTE 3:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
In the process of applying the significant accounting policies, the Company has made the following judgments which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements:
| - | Classification of leases: |
In order to determine whether to classify a lease as a finance lease or an operating lease, the Company evaluates whether the lease transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the asset. In this respect, the Company evaluates such criteria as the existence of a bargain purchase option, the lease term in relation to the economic life of the asset and the present value of the minimum lease payments in relation to the fair value of the asset.
| - | Determining the fair value of share-based payment transactions: |
The fair value of share-based payment transactions is determined upon initial recognition by an acceptable option pricing model. The inputs to the model include share price and exercise price and assumptions regarding expected volatility, expected life of the share option, expected dividend and risk-free interest rate.
| b. | Estimates and assumptions: |
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that have an effect on the application of the accounting policies and on the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Changes in accounting estimates are reported in the period of the change in estimate.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 3:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) |
| b. | Estimates and assumptions (cont.): |
The key assumptions made in the financial statements concerning uncertainties at the reporting date and the critical estimates computed by the Company that may result in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.
| - | Grants from the Chief Scientist: |
Government grants received from the Chief Scientist are recognized as a liability if future economic benefits are expected from the research and development activity that will result in royalty-bearing sales. There is uncertainty regarding the estimated future cash flows and estimated discount rate used to measure the amount of the liability.
NOTE 4:- | DISCLOSURE OF NEW STANDARDS IN THE PERIOD PRIOR TO THEIR ADOPTION |
| a. | Amendments to IAS 7, "Statement of Cash Flows", regarding additional disclosures of financial liabilities: |
In January 2016, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 7, "Statement of Cash Flows", ("the amendments") which require additional disclosures regarding financial liabilities. The amendments require disclosure of the changes between the opening balance and the closing balance of financial liabilities, including changes from cash flows from financing activities, changes arising from obtaining or losing control of subsidiaries, changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in fair value.
The amendments are to be applied for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017. Comparative information for periods prior to the effective date of the amendments is not required. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company will include the necessary disclosures in the financial statements when applicable.
In January 2016, the IASB issued IFRS 16, "Leases" ("the new Standard"). According to the new Standard, a lease is a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 4:- | DISCLOSURE OF NEW STANDARDS IN THE PERIOD PRIOR TO THEIR ADOPTION (Cont.) |
| b. | IFRS 16, "Leases" (cont.): |
According to the new Standard:
| ● | Lessees are required to recognize an asset and a corresponding liability in the statement of financial position in respect of all leases (except in certain cases) similar to the accounting treatment of finance leases according to the existing IAS 17, "Leases". |
| ● | Lessees are required to initially recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a corresponding right-of-use asset. Lessees will also recognize interest and depreciation expenses separately. |
| ● | Variable lease payments that are not dependent on changes in the Israeli CPI or interest rates, but are based on performance or use (such as a percentage of revenues) are recognized as an expense by the lessees as incurred and recognized as income by the lessors as earned. |
| ● | In the event of change in variable lease payments that are CPI-linked, lessees are required to remeasure the lease liability and the effect of the remeasurement is an adjustment to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset. |
| ● | The new Standard includes two exceptions according to which lessees are permitted to elect to apply a method similar to the current accounting treatment for operating leases. These exceptions are leases for which the underlying asset is of low value and leases with a term of up to one year. |
| ● | The accounting treatment by lessors remains substantially unchanged, namely classification of a lease as a finance lease or an operating lease. |
The new Standard is to be applied for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted provided that IFRS 15, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers", is applied simultaneously.
For leases existing at the date of transition, the new Standard permits lessees to use either a full retrospective approach, or a modified retrospective approach, with certain transition relief whereby restatement of comparative data is not required.
The Company believes that the new Standard is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 4:- | DISCLOSURE OF NEW STANDARDS IN THE PERIOD PRIOR TO THEIR ADOPTION (Cont.) |
| c. | IFRS 9, "Financial Instruments": |
In July 2014, the IASB issued the final and complete version of IFRS 9, "Financial Instruments" ("IFRS 9"), which replaces IAS 39, "Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement". IFRS 9 mainly focuses on the classification and measurement of financial assets and it applies to all assets in the scope of IAS 39.
According to IFRS 9, all financial assets are measured at fair value upon initial recognition. In subsequent periods, debt instruments are measured at amortized cost only if both of the following conditions are met:
| - | the asset is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to collect the contractual cash flows. |
| - | the contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. |
Subsequent measurement of all other debt instruments and financial assets should be at fair value. IFRS 9 establishes a distinction between debt instruments to be measured at fair value through profit or loss and debt instruments to be measured at fair value through other comprehensive income.
Financial assets that are equity instruments should be measured in subsequent periods at fair value and the changes recognized in profit or loss or in other comprehensive income (loss), in accordance with the election by the Company on an instrument-by-instrument basis. If equity instruments are held for trading, they should be measured at fair value through profit or loss.
According to IFRS 9, the provisions of IAS 39 will continue to apply to derecognition and to financial liabilities for which the fair value option has not been elected.
According to IFRS 9, changes in fair value s of financial liabilities which are attributable to the change in credit risk should be presented in other comprehensive income. All other changes in fair value should be presented in profit or loss.
IFRS 9 also prescribes new hedge accounting requirements.
IFRS 9 is to be applied for annual periods beginning on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company believes that the new Standard is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash for immediate withdrawal - in NIS | | | 593 | | | | 4,197 | | | | 1,075 | |
| Cash for immediate withdrawal - in USD | | | 21 | | | | 1,939 | | | | 497 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 614 | | | | 6,136 | | | | 1,572 | |
NOTE 6:- | ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE |
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Prepaid expenses | | | 27 | | | | 147 | | | | 38 | |
| Value added tax | | | 73 | | | | 132 | | | | 34 | |
| Other receivables | | | 2 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 102 | | | | 279 | | | | 72 | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015:
| | | Computers | | | Lab equipment | | | Office furniture and equipment | | | Total | |
| | | NIS in thousands | |
| Cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at January 1, 2015 | | | 212 | | | | 272 | | | | 66 | | | | 550 | |
| Additions during the year | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 4 | |
| Disposals during the year | | | (142 | ) | | | (229 | ) | | | (19 | ) | | | (390 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | | | 73 | | | | 44 | | | | 47 | | | | 164 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Accumulated depreciation: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at January 1, 2015 | | | 187 | | | | 262 | | | | 31 | | | | 480 | |
| Additions during the year | | | - | | | | 7 | | | | 4 | | | | 11 | |
| Disposals during the year | | | (117 | ) | | | (240 | ) | | | (12 | ) | | | (369 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | | | 70 | | | | 29 | | | | 23 | | | | 122 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciated cost at December 31, 2015 | | | 3 | | | | 15 | | | | 24 | | | | 42 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciated cost at December 31, 2015 (convenience translation into USD) (note 1b) | | | 1 | | | | 4 | | | | 6 | | | | 11 | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 7:- | EQUIPMENT (Cont.) |
2014:
| | | Computers | | | Lab equipment | | | Office furniture and equipment | | | Leasehold improvements | | | Total | |
| | | NIS in thousands | |
| Cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | | | 310 | | | | 857 | | | | 161 | | | | 374 | | | | 1,702 | |
| Additions during the year | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2 | | | | - | | | | 2 | |
| Disposals during the year | | | (98 | ) | | | (585 | ) | | | (97 | ) | | | (374 | ) | | | (1,154 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | | | 212 | | | | 272 | | | | 66 | | | | - | | | | 550 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Accumulated depreciation: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | | | 246 | | | | 808 | | | | 60 | | | | 270 | | | | 1,384 | |
| Additions during the year | | | 19 | | | | 34 | | | | 8 | | | | 85 | | | | 146 | |
| Disposals during the year | | | (78 | ) | | | (580 | ) | | | (37 | ) | | | (355 | ) | | | (1,050 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | | | 187 | | | | 262 | | | | 31 | | | | - | | | | 480 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciated cost at December 31, 2014 | | | 25 | | | | 10 | | | | 35 | | | | - | | | | 70 | |
NOTE 8:- | INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATE |
| a. | Change in investment during the year: |
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of shares | | | 520 | | | | 520 | | | | 133 | |
| Post-acquisition losses | | | (343 | ) | | | (540 | ) | | | (138 | ) |
| Foreign currency translation reserve | | | 10 | | | | 20 | | | | 5 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31 | | | 187 | | | | - | | | | - | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 8:- | INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATE (Cont.) |
| b. | Additional information: |
On April 2, 2014, the Company entered into an investment agreement with Lara, an Israeli company that operates in the field of medical cannabis and is developing a synthesized formulation that is based on cannabinoids (active components found in the cannabis plant) to be administered through an inhaler. On June 15, 2014, a final investment agreement was signed between the parties which determined, among others, that the Company will invest in Lara up to a total of USD 1.5 million, subject to the fulfillment of several prerequisites (the "Investment Agreement").
Under the Investment Agreement the Company undertook to transfer to Lara an initial investment amount of USD 800,000 against shares that will represent about 48% of Lara's issued and outstanding share capital (approximately 27% on a fully diluted basis including options to employees and consultants). The Company transferred to Lara USD 250,000 under the Investment Agreement during 2014. Under the Investment Agreement, the Company initially recorded an investment in an associate in the net amount of NIS 520,000 and an investment in a financial derivative (option) in the amount of NIS 350,000. During 2014, the Company recorded its share in Lara's losses in the amount of NIS 343,000 and other comprehensive income related to exchange difference of NIS 10,000. As of December 31, 2014, the financial derivative was written off since its fair value was determined to be NIS 0. During 2015, the Company recorded its share in Lara's losses in the amount of NIS 197,000 and other comprehensive income related to exchange difference of NIS 10,000. Following meetings held between the Company and Lara, on August 13, 2015, the latter informed the Company of its unilateral cancellation of the Investment Agreement because Lara claims, among others, that the Company does not plan on making additional investments in Lara. The Company has explained that it is not required to invest more funds in Lara unless conditions and/or milestones that are described in the Investment Agreement have been met. Accordingly, the Company opposes the unilateral cancellation of the Investment Agreement and the Company has officially informed Lara of that. As of December 31, 2015, the Company continues to hold shares of Lara representing approximately a 27% interest in the share capital of Lara and a director nominated by the Company serves on Lara's board of directors. See Note 22h.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Accounts payable | | | 296 | | | | 433 | | | | 111 | |
| Accrued expenses | | | 886 | | | | 1,346 | | | | 345 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1,182 | | | | 1,779 | | | | 456 | |
NOTE 10:- | OTHER ACCOUNTS PAYABLE |
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Employees and payroll accruals | | | 101 | | | | 132 | | | | 34 | |
| Accrued vacation | | | 31 | | | | 83 | | | | 21 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 132 | | | | 215 | | | | 55 | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 11:- | LIABILITIES FOR GOVERNMENT GRANTS |
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at January 1, | | | 128 | | | | 156 | | | | 40 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amounts carried to financing in the statement of profit or loss | | | 57 | | | | 35 | | | | 9 | |
| Change in liability to the Chief Scientist | | | (29 | ) | | | (191 | ) | | | (49 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, | | | 156 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Presented in the consolidated statements of financial position in: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Non-current liabilities | | | 156 | | | | - | | | | - | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 11:- | LIABILITIES FOR GOVERNMENT GRANTS (Cont.) |
The Company received research and development participation grants from the Chief Scientist and, in return, undertook to pay the Chief Scientist royalties at the rates prescribed by law and the Regulations for Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development (Rate of Royalties and Tools for their Implementation), 1996 and the procedures of the Industrial Research and Development Administration (at a rate of 3% in the first three years and 3.5% from the fourth year on sales of products resulting from the sponsored research and development as above), all until the full repayment of the grant. The grant is linked to the dollar and bears interest according to the Chief Scientist's terms. As of December 31, 2015, the Company does not anticipate to repay the grant in respect of the Anti-CD3 project and, accordingly, it eliminated the balance of the liability with a corresponding credit to other income.
Total grants received from the Chief Scientist through December 31, 2015 amounted to NIS 15.4 million. No royalties have been paid yet.
NOTE 12:- | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
| a. | Classification of financial assets and financial liabilities: |
| | The financial assets and financial liabilities in the balance sheet are classified by groups of financial instruments pursuant to IAS 39: |
| | | December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| Financial assets: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash and restricted cash | | | 658 | | | | 6,180 | | | | 1,584 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Financial liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Financial liabilities carried at amortized cost | | | 1,314 | | | | 1,994 | | | | 511 | |
| b. | Financial risk factors: |
The Company's activities expose it to various financial risks such as market risks (foreign currency risk and interest risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company's comprehensive risk management plan focuses on activities that reduce to a minimum any possible adverse effects on the Company's financial performance.
Risk management is performed by management in accordance with the policies approved by the Company's board of directors (the "Board"). The Board establishes written principles for the overall risk management activities as well as specific policies with respect to certain exposures to risks such as exchange rate risk, credit risk and the investments of surplus funds.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 12:- | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Cont.) |
| b. | Financial risk factors (cont.): |
Foreign currency risk:
The Company is exposed to exchange rate risk resulting from the exposure to different currencies, mainly the U.S. dollar. Exchange rate risk arises from recognized liabilities that are denominated in a foreign currency other than the functional currency.
All cash and cash equivalents are held in three banks in Israel which are considered financially solid.
The Company monitors the risk of a shortage of funds on a regular basis and acts to raise funds to satisfy its liabilities.
The table below presents the maturity profile of the Company's financial liabilities based on contractual undiscounted payments (including interest payments):
December 31, 2015:
| | | Less than one year | | | Over four years | | | Total | |
| | | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Trade payables | | | 1,779 | | | | - | | | | 1,779 | |
| Other accounts payable | | | 215 | | | | - | | | | 215 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1,994 | | | | - | | | | 1,994 | |
December 31, 2014:
| | | Less than one year | | | Over four years | | | Total | |
| | | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Trade payables | | | 1,182 | | | | - | | | | 1,182 | |
| Other accounts payable | | | 132 | | | | - | | | | 132 | |
| Liability for Government grants | | | - | | | | 4,254 | | | | 4,254 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1,314 | | | | 4,254 | | | | 5,568 | |
The carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable, trade payables, other accounts payable and the liability to the Chief Scientist approximate their fair value.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 13:- | EMPLOYEE BENEFIT LIABILITIES |
Employee benefits consist of short-term benefits and post-employment benefits.
Post-employment benefits:
According to the labor laws and the Israeli Severance Pay Law, 1963 (the "Severance Pay Law"), the Company is required to pay compensation to an employee upon dismissal or retirement or to make current contributions in defined contribution plans pursuant to section 14 to the Severance Pay Law, as specified below. The Company's liability is accounted for as a post-employment benefit. The computation of the Company's employee benefit liability is made in accordance with a valid employment contract based on the employee's salary and employment term which establish the entitlement to receive the compensation.
The post-employment benefits are normally financed by contributions classified as defined benefit plans or as defined contribution plans as detailed below.
Defined contribution plans:
Section 14 to the Severance Pay Law applies to a substantial part of the compensation payments, pursuant to which the fixed contributions paid by the Company into pension funds and/or policies of insurance companies release the Company from any additional liability to employees for whom said contributions were made. These contributions and contributions for compensation represent defined contribution plans.
| | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Expenses in respect of defined contribution plans | | | 114 | | | | 96 | | | | 25 | |
| a. | Tax rates applicable to the Company: |
The Israeli corporate tax rate was 26.5% in 2015 and 2014.
A company is taxable on its real (non-inflationary) capital gains at the corporate tax rate in the year of sale.
In August 2013, the "Knesset" (Israeli parliament) issued the Law for Changing National Priorities (Legislative Amendments for Achieving Budget Targets for 2013 and 2014), 2013, which relates to, among others, the taxation of revaluation gains effective from August 1, 2013.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 14:- | TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.) |
| a. | Tax rates applicable to the Company (cont.): |
The provisions regarding revaluation gains will become effective only after the publication of regulations defining what should be considered as "retained earnings not subject to corporate tax" and regulations that set forth provisions for avoiding double taxation of foreign assets. As of the date of approval of these financial statements, these regulations have not been issued.
On January 4, 2016, the "Knesset" plenum approved the second and third readings the Bill for Amending the Income Tax Ordinance (No. 217) (Reduction of Corporate Tax Rate), 2015, which consists of the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 26.5% to 25%.
The Company estimates that the change in the tax rates will have no effect on the financial statements in 2016.
The assessments of the Company are deemed final through the 2011 tax year.
| c. | Carryforward tax losses and other temporary differences: |
The Company has carry forward tax losses totaling approximately NIS 80 million as of December 31, 2015.
No deferred tax asset relating to carry forward losses and to other temporary differences has been recognized because its utilization in the foreseeable future is not probable.
The difference between the tax benefit calculated in respect of the pre-tax loss at the regular corporate tax rate applicable to the Company and the tax benefit (zero) recorded in the statement of profit or loss in all reporting periods mainly arises from losses for tax purposes for which no deferred taxes were recognized because their utilization in the foreseeable future is not probable.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 15:- | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, COMMITMENTS AND LIENS |
| a. | Commitments - BBS technology: |
In January 2014, the Company reported that it received a letter from Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd. ("Ramot"), the Tel-Aviv University's technology transfer company, in which Ramot announced its intention to terminate the license and research agreement in connection with the BBS technology (the Alzheimer's drug). The Company's position is that Ramot's announcement is illegitimate and groundless. The parties have negotiated the disputes between them in order to reach an agreed solution including in matters related to the Chief Scientist, and at the beginning of October 2014, reached an agreement on an outline according to which the Company will return the license to Ramot, including the exclusive license to use and commercialize the assets and knowhow gained at the Company during the licensed term ("the Company's assets and knowhow") and, in return, if the Company's assets and knowhow are being commercialized, the Company will receive royalties in the future (in the scope, percentages and conditions as determined) ("the Agreed Outline"). After the Agreed Outline became effective, the parties agreed that the license agreement will become null and void and that any monetary and/or other liability between the parties will become null and void including the Company's undertaking to bear the costs of registration and/or maintaining the patents effective from the cancellation date as above and thereafter such that Ramot will be responsible for such debts.
On March 15, 2015, the Company reported that to the best of its knowledge the Israel Securities Authority is conducting an administrative clarification in connection with the Company's reports regarding the BBS technology and the intention to cancel Ramot's license to the technology. Based on an estimate of the Company's legal counsel, a provision was recorded in the accounts for potential monetary sanction.
| b. | Commitment – New Ramot Agreement |
On June 28, 2015, the Company entered into a memorandum of understanding with Ramot for the use of Ramot technology in research and licensing the use of a low dose of cannabinoid type THC as a treatment for mild cognitive impairment.
According to the memorandum of understanding, the agreement will consist of an agreed research plan which will last twelve months from the date of approval of the agreement and it will include, among others, granting an exclusive right to develop products based on the technology. The Company will support the research project according to a research budget to be approved by the parties. The outcome of the research project, including the joint intellectual property that will be developed under the research project, will be jointly owned by the parties.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 15:- | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, COMMITMENTS AND LIENS (Cont.) |
| c. | Commitment - Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd.: |
On January 11, 2015, the Company's Board approved to enter into a binding term sheet with Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (a private company controlled by the Company's chairman, Mr. Asher Shmulevitz) ("Dekel", together with the Company, the "Parties") which outlines the key elements of signing a final and detailed license agreement regarding Dekel's technology and intellectual property, consisting also of a share option granted to Dekel to invest (by itself and/or others) (the "License Agreement") USD 0.5 million in the Company's shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share (the "Initial Option"), such that on the issuance date of the Initial Option, it may be exercised into 3,876,000 shares. The Initial Option shall expire within 90 days after the effective date of the License Agreement (unless the Initial Option has been exercised beforehand) (the "Initial Option Expiration Date"). Dekel was also granted a share option to make an equity investment of USD 2 million at an exercise price of NIS 0.65 per share, such that it may be exercised into 11,926,154 shares for a 12-month period following the Initial Option Expiration Date, provided that a portion of the Initial Option has been exercised (the "Additional Option"). On May 20, 2015, the Company's Board approved the License Agreement and on June 10, 2015, the Company's shareholders approved the License Agreement which sets a combined outline of the conditions for granting the Company the license to Dekel's technology (the Entourage Technology) and the conditions for Dekel's equity investment (by itself and/or others), as set out above. Furthermore, the License Agreement details payments to Dekel based on the achievement of future milestones, royalties amounting to 8% of net sales and 35% of sub-licenses sales and, on the closing date of the License Agreement, an advance payment to Dekel of NIS 100,000 (payable by means of 200,000 Ordinary shares of the Company at a price of NIS 0.5 per share to be offset against future royalties).
On August 19, 2015, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ("TASE") approved the above issuance of share options to Dekel by the Company. Yet, as of December 31, 2015, the approval of the TASE for the issuance of 200,000 shares associated with the advance payment of NIS 100,000 under the License Agreement has not been obtained. The Parties agreed that the receipt of approval, from the TASE, for the issuance of shares as advance payment, as noted above, would not constitute a condition for the execution of the License Agreement. Accordingly, all of the preliminary conditions for the License Agreement have been fulfilled and, on August 19, 2015, the License Agreement became effective. It is clarified, that Dekel's waiver on receiving approval from the TASE as a condition for the execution of the License Agreement, does not amount to a waiver of the issuance of 200,000 shares. Accordingly, the advance payment of NIS 100,000 was expected to be paid by issuance of the Company's shares, as stated above, if the approval of the TASE is obtained or in any other way agreed upon between the Parties.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 15:- | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, COMMITMENTS AND LIENS (Cont.) |
| c. | Commitment - Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (cont.): |
The fair value of the Initial Option and the Additional Option, at the grant date, was estimated at approximately NIS 3.9 million (the "Option Value"). The Option's Value was calculated, on the grant date, using the Black - Scholes model based on the exercise price indicated above, a volatility rate of 83%, a price per share of NIS 0.897, a risk-free interest rate of 0.1% per year and an expected life of 0.25 years. In addition, a non-marketability premium was taken into account.
Due to the uncertainty regarding the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development of the technology, the Company did not meet the criteria to record an intangible asset under IAS 38. Accordingly, an expense of NIS 3.9 million was recognized in the statement of profit or loss under other expenses.
| d. | Operating lease commitments: |
The Company signed an agreement with a third party for the lease of offices in Azrieli towers, Tel Aviv, with area of 100 square meters through June 30, 2016 for a monthly rental of approximately NIS 18,300, linked to the Israeli CPI.
Future minimum lease payments under the existing lease contracts as of December 31, 2015 total NIS 110,000 for 2016.
To secure the Company's obligation for the lease of the offices, the Company provided a bank guarantee of NIS 44,000 in favor of the lessor. To secure the bank guarantee, the Company pledged such amount in a bank account.
| a. | Composition of share capital: |
| | | December 31, 2015 | | | December 31, 2014 | |
| | | Authorized | | | Issued and outstanding | | | Authorized | | | Issued and outstanding | |
| | | Number of shares | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value each | | | 100,000,000 | | | | 35,399,152 | | | | 100,000,000 | | | | 18,410,648 | |
Capital consolidation:
On January 1, 2014, the shareholders approved to consolidate the authorized share capital and the issued and outstanding share capital such that 10 Ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value each in the authorized share capital and the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company will be consolidated into one Ordinary share of the Company of NIS 0.1 par value. The number of the outstanding share options was adjusted accordingly.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| b. | Changes in share capital: |
Issued and outstanding share capital:
| | | Number of shares | | | NIS par value | |
| | | | | | | |
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | | | 141,012,488 | | | | 1,410,125 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidation of share capital | | | (126,911,240 | ) | | | - | |
| Issuance of share capital | | | 4,309,400 | | | | 430,940 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | | | 18,410,648 | | | | 1,841,065 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Issuance of share capital | | | 16,988,504 | | | | 1,698,850 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | | | 35,399,152 | | | | 3,539,915 | |
| c. | Rights attached to shares: |
| 1. | Voting rights at the shareholders meeting, right to dividends, rights upon liquidation of the Company and right to nominate the directors in the Company. |
| 2. | Quoted on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. |
| d. | Capital management in the Company: |
The Company's capital management objectives are to preserve the Company's ability to ensure business continuity thereby creating a return for the shareholders, investors and other interested parties.
The Company is not under any minimal equity requirements nor is it required to attain a certain level of capital return.
| e. | Issuance of shares and warrants: |
| 1. | On May 8, 2014, the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately NIS 2.9 million from the issuance of 3,009,400 Ordinary shares, 3,009,400 warrants (series 3) and 3,009,400 warrants (series 4) of the Company pursuant to a shelf offering registration that the Company published on May 8, 2014 and a shelf prospectus of August 8, 2012. On May 15, 2014, the Company issued 406,269 share options (series 4) to Clal Finance Underwriting Ltd. as part of the issuance costs. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| e. | Issuance of shares and warrants (cont.): |
| 2. | On November 19, 2014, the Company entered into a private placement agreement according to which 1,300,000 Ordinary shares of NIS 0.1 par value each, 1,300,000 fully vested warrants and 1,300,000 conditional warrants were issued. The fully vested warrants are exercisable at a 1 to 1 ratio at an exercise price of NIS 0.5, per share from the date of issuance over a period of three months. The conditional warrants are exercisable at a 1 to 1 ratio subject to the exercise of the fully vested warrants. The fair value of the warrants was estimated at approximately NIS 3,000. |
The total gross proceeds from the offered securities were NIS 650,000 (net proceeds - NIS 631,000).
| 3. | On February 19, 2015, the Company raised NIS 250,000 in consideration for 500,000 Ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value each, 1,000,000 fully vested warrants and 1,000,000 conditional warrants. The immediate warrants may be exercised into shares on a 1:1 basis in consideration of the exercise price of NIS 0.65 from the date of issuance for a period of 45 days. The contingent warrants may be exercised into shares on a 1:1 basis together with and subject to the exercise of the immediate warrants in consideration of the exercise price of NIS 1.10 for a period of 24 months. Also, 40,000 warrants were granted to the Company's consultant as the investment broker. The fair value of the warrants granted to the consultant was estimated at NIS 2,000. |
On April 30, 2015, the immediate and conditional warrants expired without being exercised.
| 4. | On April 29, 2015, the Company raised NIS 2.2 million from Jesselson Investments Ltd. in a private placement. In consideration for these funds, the Company issued a total of 4,400,000 Ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value each at the price of NIS 0.5 per share. As a result of the issuance, Jesselson Investments holds about 18.87% of the Company's Ordinary shares. |
| 5. | On October 11, 2015, the Company completed a round of financing under which it signed investment agreements with several new and existing private investors to make private placements in consideration of the issuance of 3,159,025 Ordinary shares of the Company. The investors undertook to invest an aggregate amount of approximately NIS 3.3 million in consideration of Ordinary shares of the Company at the price per share of NIS 1.05, which will constitute about 11.4% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of the investment (approximately 6.7% on a fully diluted basis). |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| e. | Issuance of shares and warrants (cont.): |
Simultaneously, with the closing of the private placement agreements, Dekel informed the Company that it sold (or that it is acting to sell) to the other investors in this private placement (independently) Initial Options and Additional Options that Dekel holds by virtue of the License Agreement that will constitute about an additional 12.4% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital (about 9.1% on a fully diluted basis). Assuming the investors exercise their options and Dekel exercises a portion of its options, the effect will be an additional equity investment of approximately NIS 2.3 million. The completion of the private placements was subject to the fulfillment of several conditions which were met within 45 days of the closing of the round of financing, as stated above, including the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. During October 2015, the investors exercised the options purchased from Dekel. The total proceeds from the exercise of the options were approximately NIS 1.5 million.
| f. | Share options and warrants: |
| 1. | On February 1, 2015, the Company's warrants (series 2) expired. |
| 2. | On May 10, 2015, 3,415,669 warrants (series 4) of the Company expired, 1,850,000 warrants which had been issued in December 2013 expired and 1,000,000 immediate warrants expired. |
| 3. | On June 9 and 15, 2015, 1,300,000 warrants, which had been granted under a private placement dated November 19, 2014, were exercised into Ordinary shares of NIS 0.1 par value each at the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share. The total proceeds from the exercise of the warrants were NIS 650,000. |
| 4. | Between October 18 and November 18, 2015, the remaining immediate share options of Dekel and some of the contingent share options were exercised (a total of 6,245,270 share options). The total proceeds from the exercise of the share options were approximately NIS 2 million. |
| 5. | On October 20, 2015, 310,000 share options were exercised into Ordinary shares of NIS 0.1 par value each at the exercise price of NIS 0.65 per share. The total proceeds from the exercise of the share options were approximately NIS 201,000. |
| 6. | On November 1, 2015, 300 share options which had been granted to the Company's employees in 2009 expired. |
| 7. | On December 6 and 13, 2015, 990,000 share options were exercised into Ordinary shares of NIS 0.1 par value each at the exercise price of NIS 0.65 per share. The total proceeds from the exercise of the share options were NIS 644,000. |
| 8. | On December 23, 2015, 40,000 share options were exercised into Ordinary shares of NIS 0.1 par value each at the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share. The total proceeds from the exercise of the share options were NIS 20,000. |
| 9. | On December 31, 2015, 33,333 share options were exercised into Ordinary shares of NIS 0.1 par value each at the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share. The total proceeds from the exercise of the share options were NIS 17,000. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 17:- | SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS |
| a. | The expense recognized in the financial statements: |
The expense recognized in the Company's financial statements for services received from employees and other service providers is shown in the following table:
| | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Expense arising from equity-settled share-based payment transactions | | | 144 | | | | 532 | | | | 137 | |
The share-based payment transactions that the Company granted to its employees and consultants are described below. During 2015 the Company's Board adopted the 2015 Share Option Plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Company may grant its employees and other service providers share options of the Company. The Board reserved 5,000,000 shares which may be granted under the Plan, out of which 2,321,667 are still available for grant.
Also, an expense of NIS 3.9 million was recognized in respect of the License Agreement with Dekel under other expenses. See additional information in Note 15c.
| b. | Share-based payment transactions with the Company's employees: |
| 1. | On March 26, 2010, the Company entered into a license agreement with Hadasit Medical Research Services & Development Ltd. ("Hadasit"). As part of the payment for the license, Hadasit and Prof. Howard Weiner were issued 345,000 unlisted share options of the Company (172,500 share options each) that are exercisable into 345,000 Ordinary shares of the Company of NIS 0.1 par value each for an exercise price of NIS 0.1 per share. The share options vest in three equal portions after the fulfillment of each of the following clinical milestones: the beginning of Phase 2A, the beginning of Phase 2B and the beginning of Phase 3 for using the Anti-CD3. |
The share options will expire at the end of 15 years from the grant date. Any share options that are not exercised by the expiration date mentioned above will expire and not confer any rights whatsoever.
As of the reporting date, the first portion of 115,000 share options may be exercised immediately for an exercise price of NIS 0.1 per share.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 17:- | SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS (Cont.) |
| b. | Share-based payment transactions with the Company's employees (cont.): |
| 2. | On March 24, 2014, the shareholders approved payment of compensation to the Company's Chairman: (1) for September-December 2013 - monthly payment of USD 10,000 (2) from January 8, 2014 - monthly payment of NIS 50,000 and (3) grant of 423,037 unlisted share options of the Company at an exercise price of not less than the share market price in the 30 days before the issuance plus 10%. The share options vest over three years in equal portions on a quarterly basis. Also, the Company's remuneration policy was approved by the shareholders. The share options were granted on April 1, 2014. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 181,000. The compensation was calculated using the binomial model based on expected volatility of 71.44% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.791 at the grant date, exercise price of NIS 0.789 per share, risk-free interest rates of 0.7%-5.74% computed at the grant date and a forfeiture rate of 0%. |
| 3. | On May 4, 2014, in furtherance to the decision of the Company's Board, the Company granted to the VP of Strategic and Business Development 266,242 unlisted share options that are exercisable into 266,242 Ordinary shares of the Company. The share options vest equally on a quarterly basis over a period of four years from the date of grant. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 149,000. The compensation cost was calculated using the binomial model based on expected share price volatility of 72.47% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.978 at the grant date, exercise price of NIS 0.99 per share that represents the average share market price in the 30 days before the grant plus 10%, risk-free interest rates of 3.69% computed at the grant date and a forfeiture rate of 0%. |
| 4. | On June 10, 2015, the shareholders approved a grant of 800,000 fully vested share options to the Company's terminated CEO, Mr. Jan Turek, relating to his consulting services to the Company as CEO, of which 400,000 share options are at the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share and 400,000 options are at the exercise price of NIS 0.8 per share. |
The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 144,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise prices indicated above, expected volatility of 68.78% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.721 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 0.11% and life of 0.47 years.
Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of the terminated CEO were NIS 144,000.
On November 27, 2015, the share options which had been granted to Mr. Jan Turek expired.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 17:- | SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS (Cont.) |
| b. | Share-based payment transactions with the Company's employees (cont.): |
| 5. | On May 20, 2015, the Company's Board approved a grant of 540,000 share options to the CEO and CFO and business development manager with vesting periods of three years. Each share option is exercisable at the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 165,000, using the Black - Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share, expected volatility of 74.34% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.403 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 2.11% and expected life of 10 years. |
Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of this grant were NIS 72,000. At the beginning of October 2015, the employment of the CEO and CFO of the Company, Mr. Jonathan Berger, was terminated and the unvested share options have been forfeited thereby reducing the expense by NIS 37,000 so that the net expense recorded in respect of this grant totaled NIS 35,000.
| 6. | On May 20, 2015, the Company's Board decided to grant, subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders, 250,000 share options to the Company's chairman, Dr. Asher Shmulevitz, with a vesting period of three years. Each share option is exercisable at the exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share. The share option grant was approved by the shareholders on February 14, 2016. The fair value of the share options at the end of the reporting period was estimated at approximately NIS 192,000. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of this grant were approximately NIS 99,000. |
| 7. | On May 20, 2015, the Company's Board decided to grant, subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders, 50,000 share options to a former director and another director each, with vesting periods of three years. Each share option has an exercise price of NIS 0.5 per share. The share option grant was approved by the shareholders on February 14, 2016. The fair value of the share options at the end of the reporting period was estimated at approximately NIS 80,000. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of this grant were approximately NIS 40,000. |
| 8. | On February 16, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant to a consultant of 120,000 share options. The share options vest over two years in four semi-annual portions effective November 17, 2015. Each share option is exercisable at the exercise price of NIS 0.995 per share. The fair value of the share options at the end of the reporting period was estimated at approximately NIS 87,000. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of this grant were approximately NIS 11,000. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 17:- | SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS (Cont.) |
| b. | Share-based payment transactions with the Company's employees (cont.): |
| 9. | On February 16, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 300,000 share options to two officers of the Company with vesting periods of three years effective November 25, 2015. Each share option is exercisable at the exercise price of NIS 0.995 per share. The fair value of the share options at the end of the reporting period was estimated at approximately NIS 219,000. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of this grant were approximately NIS 25,000. |
| 10. | As for share options granted to the Company's CEO, see Note 21d. |
| c. | Movement during the year: |
The following table lists the number of share options, the weighted average exercise prices of share options and changes in employee and consultants share options during the current and previous year:
| | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | | Number of share options | | | Weighted average exercise price | | | Number of share options | | | Weighted average exercise price | |
| | | | | | NIS | | | | | | NIS | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Share options outstanding at beginning of year | | | 1,210,443 | | | | 4.39 | | | | 8,019,255 | | | | 0.73 | |
| Consolidation of share options as a result of capital consolidation | | | - | | | | - | | | | (7,217,329 | ) | | | 0.73 | |
| Share options granted during the year | | | 1,340,000 | | | | 0.59 | | | | 689,279 | | | | 0.86 | |
| Share options exercised during the year | | | (33,333 | ) | | | 0.5 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| Share options forfeited or expired during the year | | | (1,179,957 | ) | | | 0.63 | | | | (280,762 | ) | | | 13.62 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Share options outstanding at end of year | | | 1,337,153 | | | | 4.00 | | | | 1,210,443 | | | | 4.39 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Share options exercisable at end of year | | | 623,890 | | | | 3.52 | | | | 377,914 | | | | 5.45 | |
| d. | The weighted average remaining contractual life of the share options outstanding was 7.89 years and 8.64 years as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. |
| e. | The weighted average fair value of the share options granted in 2015 was NIS 0.23 (2014 - NIS 0.86). |
| f. | The range of exercise prices of share options outstanding at the end of the year was NIS 0.1-NIS 44.58 as of December 31, 2015 and NIS 0.1-NIS 44.58 as of December 31, 2014. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 18:- | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE ITEMS OF PROFIT OR LOSS |
| | | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, |
| | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 |
| | | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands |
| a. | Research and development expenses, net: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wages and related expenses | | | 506 | | | | 183 | | | 47 |
| | Materials | | | 25 | | | | 31 | | | 8 |
| | Share-based payment | | | 8 | | | | 6 | | | 2 |
| | Consultants and subcontractors | | | 582 | | | | 441 | | | 113 |
| | Depreciation | | | 49 | | | | 6 | | | 1 |
| | Patents | | | 284 | | | | 243 | | | 62 |
| | Other expenses | | | 375 | | | | 21 | | | 6 |
| | Grants from the Chief Scientist | | | (29 | ) | | | - | | | - |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 1,800 | | | | 931 | | | 239 |
| b. | General and administrative expenses: | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wages, salaries and related expenses | | | 1,581 | | | | 1,412 | | | 362 |
| | Share-based payment | | | 136 | | | | 526 | | | 135 |
| | Professional services including business development | | | 2,562 | | | | 2,035 | | | 521 |
| | Insurance and directors' fees | | | 244 | | | | 214 | | | 55 |
| | Depreciation | | | 100 | | | | 6 | | | 1 |
| | Office maintenance and rent and other | | | 615 | | | | 1,104 | | | 283 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 5,238 | | | | 5,297 | | | 1,357 |
| c. | Finance income (expenses): | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Finance income: | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Interest income on bank deposits | | | 5 | | | | - | | | - |
| | Change in fair value of warrants | | | 396 | | | | - | | | - |
| | Exchange rate differences | | | - | | | | 20 | | | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 401 | | | | 20 | | | 5 |
The change in fair value of warrants (accounted for as a liability in 2013) was recorded due to the expiration, during September 2014, of warrants granted on December 25, 2013, as part of the investment agreement with Acebright Holding Limited. The fair value of the warrant was originally calculated using the Black-Scholes model.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 18:- | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE ITEMS OF PROFIT OR LOSS (Cont.) |
| | | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, |
| | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 |
| | | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands |
| | Finance expenses: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Finance expenses from interest and commissions | | | 13 | | | | - | | | - |
| | Finance expenses from liability to the Chief Scientist | | | 56 | | | | 35 | | | 9 |
| | Exchange rate differences | | | 8 | | | | - | | | - |
| | Impairment of financial instrument | | | 350 | | | | - | | | - |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 427 | | | | 35 | | | 9 |
| d. | Other income (expenses): | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Share-based payment (see Note 15c) | | | - | | | | 3,906 | | | 1,001 |
| | Change in liability to the Chief Scientist (Note 11) | | | - | | | | (191 | ) | | (49) |
| | Capital gain from sale of equipment | | | 115 | | | | 19 | | | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 115 | | | | 3,734 | | | 957 |
| a. | Details of the number of shares and loss used in the computation of loss per share: |
| | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | Weighted number of shares | | | Loss | | | Weighted number of shares | | | Loss | | | Weighted number of shares | | | Loss | |
| | | In thousands | | | NIS in thousands | | | In thousands | | | NIS in thousands | | | In thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of shares and loss used in the computation of basic and diluted loss per share | | | 16,072 | | | | (7,292 | ) | | | 23,853 | | | | (10,174 | ) | | | 23,853 | | | | (2,607 | ) |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 19:- | LOSS PER SHARE (Cont.) |
| b. | The computation of diluted loss per share did not include the following convertible securities since their inclusion would decrease the loss per share (anti-dilutive effect): |
| 1. | Share options to employees, officers and consultants. |
| 2. | Marketable warrants (series 1). |
| 3. | Non-marketable warrants (series 4). |
| 3. | Non-marketable warrants to investor. |
NOTE 20:- | OPERATING SEGMENTS |
The Company applies the principles of IFRS 8 regarding operating segments. The segment reporting is based on internal management reports of the Company's management which are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated and assess performance ("the management approach"). According to the principles of IFRS 8, management determined that the Company has one reportable segment: development of drugs based on cannabinoid molecules to be approved by an official regulatory authority.
NOTE 21:- | TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES WITH RELATED PARTIES |
| a. | Balances with related parties: |
December 31, 2015:
| | | Key management personnel | | | Other related parties | |
| | | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Other accounts payable | | | 21 | | | | 58 | |
December 31, 2014:
| | | Key management personnel | | | Other related parties | |
| | | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Other accounts payable | | | 120 | | | | 84 | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 21:- | TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES WITH RELATED PARTIES (Cont.) |
| b. | Benefits to key management personnel (including directors) who are not employed by the Company: |
| | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD(Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Short-term benefits | | | 1,321 | | | | 1,117 | | | | 286 | |
| Share-based payment (see Note 17) | | | 111 | | | | 367 | | | | 94 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1,462 | | | | 1,484 | | | | 380 | |
| c. | Benefits to key management personnel who are employed by the Company: |
| | | Year ended December 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1b) year ended December 31, | |
| | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2015 | |
| | | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| Short-term benefits | | | 844 | | | | 905 | | | | 232 | |
| Share-based payment (see Note 17) | | | 17 | | | | 134 | | | | 34 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 861 | | | | 1,039 | | | | 266 | |
| Number of individuals to whom the salary and benefits relate: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interested parties and directors who are not employed by the Company | | | 12 | | | | 10 | | | | | |
| Related and interested parties who are employed by or on behalf of the Company | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | | | | 12 | | | | | |
| d. | Material agreements signed with related parties: |
| 1. | On January 8, 2014, the Company's Board appointed Mr. Asher Shmulevitz as active Chairman of the Company's Board. |
| 2. | On February 16, 2014, the Company and the CEO, Mr. Ari Aminetzah, reached understandings regarding the termination of his employment as the Company's CEO at the end of March 2014. During April-May 2014 Mr. Aminetzah rendered business development services to the Company. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 21:- | TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES WITH RELATED PARTIES (Cont.) |
| d. | Material agreements signed with related parties (cont.): |
| 3. | On March 24, 2014, the shareholders approved payment of compensation to the Company's Chairman: (1) for September-December 2013 - monthly payment of USD 10,000 (2) from January 8, 2014 - monthly payment of NIS 50,000 and (3) issuance of 423,037 unlisted share options of the Company at exercise price of not less than the share market price in the 30 days before the issuance plus 10%. The share options vest equally on a quarterly basis over three years. Also, the Company's remuneration policy was approved by the shareholders. The share options were issued on April 1, 2014. |
| 4. | As for a license agreement with a company owned by the Company's chairman, Mr. Asher Shmulevitz, see Note 15c. |
| 5. | On April 2, 2015, the Company reported that Jonathan Berger, was appointed as the Company's CFO and on that date the Company reported that the Company's former CFO, Uri Ben-Or, and the former comptroller, Dov Weinberg, are leaving the Company. |
| 6. | On April 5, 2015, the Company reported that the Company's CEO, Mr. Jan Turek, is leaving the Company effective May 31, 2015. On May 21, 2015, the Company reported that Jonathan Berger, was appointed as the Company's CEO in addition to his role as the Company's CFO. On August 31, 2015, the Company reported that Jonathan Berger, terminated his role as the Company's CEO and CFO effective October 1, 2015. |
| 7. | At the beginning of October 2015, the employment of the CEO and CFO of the Company, Mr. Jonathan Berger, was terminated. |
| 8. | On November 19, 2015, the Company reported that Guy Goldin, was appointed as the Company's CFO effective November 1, 2015. |
| 9. | On November 25, 2015, the Company reported that Dr. Elran Haber was appointed as the Company's CEO. On February 14, 2016, the shareholders approved his employment contract effective November 1, 2015. According to the terms of the contract, the CEO is entitled to a monthly salary of NIS 45,000, to an annual bonus of up to 6 monthly salaries subject to a target plan set by the Board and to receive 700,000 share options at the exercise price of NIS 0.995 per share. The share options vest on a quarterly basis over three years from the date of issuance. Total expense recorded in respect of these share options during the reporting period was approximately NIS 52,000. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 22:- | EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE |
| a. | On January 28, 2016, the Company reported that 161,875 share options which had been granted to consultants expired. |
| b. | On February 14, 2016, the Company and Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd., the Tel-Aviv University's technology transfer company, signed a definitive and binding agreement for conducting research and for granting a research and development and commercialization license regarding Ramot's cannabinoid-based technology for treating deterioration in cognitive functioning through administration of ultralow doses of THC cannabinoid. According to the license agreement, Ramot will grant the Company an exclusive, international royalty-bearing license which can be sublicensed to use the technology (including the yields of the research project as defined below) for research, development, manufacture, use, commercialization, sublicensing, sale and import of products based on the technology. As consideration, the Company will manage and finance (on its own and/or through third parties) the technology's research and development process for the development and manufacture of medical products based on the development stages and milestones determined in the agreement (which can be modified and revised as stipulated in the agreement). |
| c. | Further to the description in Note 17b(6), (7) and (8), on February 16, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 700,000 share options to the Company's CEO, 250,000 to the Company's chairman, 50,000 to a director of the Company and 50,000 to a former director. The total fair value of those grants at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 789,000, calculated using the Black- Scholes model based on the exercise price determined for each optionee, expected volatility of 74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.94 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 1.97% a year and expected life of 10 years. |
| d. | On February 16, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 800,000 share options to three of its officers, 300,000 to three employees and 120,000 to a consultant. The share options vest over three years except for the 120,000 share options that were granted to the consultant which vest over two years. Each share option is exercisable at the exercise price per share of NIS 0.995-NIS 1.061. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 882,000, calculated using the Black & Scholes model based on the exercise price determined for each optionee, expected volatility of 74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.94 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 1.97% a year and expected life of 10 years. |
| e. | On March 22, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 150,000 options to an officer. The options vest over three years. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 104,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 1.011 per share, expected volatility of 74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.905 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 1.97% a year and expected life of 10 years. |
| f. | On April 3, 2016, 150,000 options were granted to a company that is controlled by the Company's consultant. The options granted may be exercised immediately and expire on December 31, 2016. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 19,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 1 per share, expected volatility of 53.36% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.894 at the grant date and risk-free interest rate of 0.51% a year. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 22:- | EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE (Cont.) |
| g. | On April 7, 2016, the Company and Karma Link Ltd. (the "Purchaser") signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding for the sale of all Company's assets underlying the Anti-CD3 technology (which mostly consist of the Company's license and certain Company assets related to the development of the technology) in consideration for royalties from future revenues that the Purchaser will receive. On June 22, 2016, the Company entered into a share transfer agreement (the "Agreement") with Orimmune Bio Ltd. ("Orimmune") and the Purchaser. The Purchaser's controlling shareholder served as director on the Company's Board till February 2016. Under the Agreement the Company will sell its holdings in Orimmune to the Purchaser and will transfer its rights to its antibody anti-CD3 technology (including the Company's license from Hadasit (the "License") and certain assets of the Company related to the development of the technology (the "Technology"). The terms of the Agreement are as follows: |
| 1. | The Company shall transfer its holdings in Orimmune to the Purchaser and will assist in the assignment of the License to the Orimmune, including certain intellectual property developed by the Company associated with the License. |
| 2. | Subject to the completion of the assignment of the License, the Company will be entitled to a percentage of the revenue, in the lower double-digits, from the Purchaser (and its affiliates, as defined in the agreement) will receive from Orimmune or third parties up to an aggregate amount of NIS 40 million (the “Aggregate Amount"). For proceeds beyond the Aggregate Amount, the Company shall be entitled to a lower rate as set forth in the Agreement. |
| | |
| 3. | The Company will assign to the Purchaser the right to increase its stake in the share capital of Orimmune as stipulated in the investment agreement dated September 2, 2013 between the Company, Orimmune and Acebright Holdings Limited (an additional shareholder in Orimmune). During the interim period, until the license assignment process is complete, the Purchaser shall bear all fees associated with the License (including payments for the maintenance of patents under the License and any pending legal proceedings in relation to such patent). Such amounts will not be refunded to the Purchaser. During the interim period, as stated, in the event that the Company will receive any revenue proceeds from the commercialization of the Technology, the Company will remit them to Orimmune, net of fees and other expenses required under the License. |
Closing of the transaction is subject to the approval ofOrimmune's shareholders and the acceptance of the signed closing documents and deliverables under the agreement by both parties. The approval will be obtained no later than 60 days following the date of signing of the Agreement. The closing of the Agreement is not subject to completion of the License assignment process, and failure to complete the assignment of the License will not constitute a breach by the Company of the Agreement.
| h. | During May 2016, the Company and Lara signed a settlement and termination agreement (the "Settlement Agreement"). Under the Settlement Agreement the parties agreed that the Company will continue to hold approximately 27% of Lara's share capital, it will be exempt from making the remaining payments under the Investment Agreement and all other terms of the Investment Agreement will have no further binding effect. Under the Settlement Agreement, Lara's founder was granted an option, for a period of 12 months, to purchase all of the Company's holding in Lara for USD 500,000. Furthermore, the parties agreed in the Settlement Agreement that the Company's representative in Lara's board of directors will resign. Accordingly, the Company lost its material effect on Lara, and as of June 30, 2016, the balance for the investment in Lara is NIS 0. |
| i. | Further to the matter discussed in Note 15c, on May 16, 2016 after obtaining the TASE approval and as part of the conditions of the license agreement with Dekel, which became effective on August 19, 2015, and in order to fulfill the contingent liability of the Company to Dekel under the License Agreement, the Company issued to Dekel 200,000 Ordinary shares associated with the advance payment according to the License Agreement. |
| j. | On May 31, 2016, the Board approved the grant of 210,000 options to several of the Company's consultants, out of which 150,000 options were effectively granted (the "Granted Options"). The Granted Options are immediately exercisable. 70,000 of the Granted Options will be exercisable for one year from their date of grant and the remainder will be exercisable for 10 years from their date of grant. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 62,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 1.03, expected volatility was between 53.04%-74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.869 at the grant date and risk-free interest rate between 0.62%-1.97% a year. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF MARCH 31, 2016
UNAUDITED
INDEX
- ----------
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
| | December 31, | | | March 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2016 | |
| | Audited | | | Unaudited | | | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash | | | 6,136 | | | | 197 | | | | 4,812 | | | | 1,278 | |
Restricted cash | | | 44 | | | | 44 | | | | 44 | | | | 11 | |
Accounts receivable | | | 279 | | | | 92 | | | | 143 | | | | 38 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 6,459 | | | | 333 | | | | 4,999 | | | | 1,327 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NON-CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment in associate | | | - | | | | 73 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Equipment | | | 42 | | | | 38 | | | | 52 | | | | 14 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 42 | | | | 111 | | | | 52 | | | | 14 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 6,501 | | | | 444 | | | | 5,051 | | | | 1,341 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
| | December 31, | | | March 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2016 | |
| | Audited | | | Unaudited | | | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trade payables | | | 1,779 | | | | 1,789 | | | | 1,928 | | | | 512 | |
Other accounts payable | | | 215 | | | | 158 | | | | 269 | | | | 72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 1,994 | | | | 1,947 | | | | 2,197 | | | | 584 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities for government grants | | | - | | | | 170 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EQUITY (DEFICIT) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share capital | | | 3,540 | | | | 1,892 | | | | 3,540 | | | | 940 | |
Share premium | | | 95,772 | | | | 83,411 | | | | 95,772 | | | | 25,430 | |
Foreign currency translation reserve | | | 20 | | | | 5 | | | | 20 | | | | 5 | |
Warrants | | | - | | | | 2,249 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based payment transactions | | | 18,309 | | | | 15,257 | | | | 18,608 | | | | 4,941 | |
Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | 941 | | | | 941 | | | | 941 | | | | 250 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (113,468 | ) | | | (105,096 | ) | | | (115,405 | ) | | | (30,644 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 5,114 | | | | (1,341 | ) | | | 3,476 | | | | 922 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-controlling interests | | | (607 | ) | | | (332 | ) | | | (622 | ) | | | (165 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total equity (deficit) | | | 4,507 | | | | (1,673 | ) | | | 2,854 | | | | 757 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 6,501 | | | | 444 | | | | 5,051 | | | | 1,341 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2016 | |
| | Audited | | | Unaudited | | | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands (except per share data) | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expenses, net | | | (931 | ) | | | (230 | ) | | | (585 | ) | | | (155 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expenses | | | (5,297 | ) | | | (1,152 | ) | | | (1,314 | ) | | | (349 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (6,228 | ) | | | (1,382 | ) | | | (1,899 | ) | | | (504 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other expenses | | | (3,734 | ) | | | (19 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | | (9,962 | ) | | | (1,401 | ) | | | (1,899 | ) | | | (504 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance income | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance expenses | | | (35 | ) | | | (17 | ) | | | (53 | ) | | | (14 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Company's share of losses of an associate | | | (197 | ) | | | (109 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (1,527 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity holders of the Company | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (1,505 | ) | | | (1,937 | ) | | | (514 | ) |
Non-controlling interests | | | (297 | ) | | | (22 | ) | | | (15 | ) | | | (4 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (10,174 | ) | | | (1,527 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to equity holders of the Company | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2016 | |
| | Audited | | | Unaudited | | | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (1,527 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations | | | 10 | | | | (5 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | | | 10 | | | | (5 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | (10,164 | ) | | | (1,532 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attributable to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity holders of the Company | | | (9,867 | ) | | | (1,510 | ) | | | (1,937 | ) | | | (514 | ) |
Non-controlling interests | | | (297 | ) | | | (22 | ) | | | (15 | ) | | | (4 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (10,164 | ) | | | (1,532 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
| | Attributable to equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | |
| | Issued capital | | | Share premium | | | Share-based payment transactions | | | Foreign currency translation reserve | | | Warrants | | | Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | Accumulated deficit | | | Total | | | Non-controlling interests | | | Total equity | |
| | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 1, 2016 | | | 3,540 | | | | 95,772 | | | | 18,309 | | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | 941 | | | | (113,468 | ) | | | 5,114 | | | | (607 | ) | | | 4,507 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,937 | ) | | | (1,937 | ) | | | (15 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,937 | ) | | | (1,937 | ) | | | (15 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) |
Share-based payments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 299 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 299 | | | | - | | | | 299 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at March 31, 2016 | | | 3,540 | | | | 95,772 | | | | 18,608 | | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | 941 | | | | (115,405 | ) | | | 3,476 | | | | (622 | ) | | | 2,854 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 1, 2015 | | | 1,841 | | | | 80,460 | | | | 15,215 | | | | 10 | | | | 4,981 | | | | 941 | | | | (103,591 | ) | | | (143 | ) | | | (310 | ) | | | (453 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,505 | ) | | | (1,505 | ) | | | (22 | ) | | | (1,527 | ) |
Total other comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (5 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (5 | ) | | | - | | | | (5 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (5 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,505 | ) | | | (1,510 | ) | | | (22 | ) | | | (1,532 | ) |
Issuance of shares and share options (1) | | | 50 | | | | 193 | | | | 2 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 245 | | | | - | | | | 245 | |
Exercise of warrants | | | 1 | | | | 29 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (3 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | 27 | | | | - | | | | 27 | |
Expiration of warrants | | | - | | | | 2,729 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (2,729 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based payments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 40 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 40 | | | | - | | | | 40 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at March 31, 2015 | | | 1,892 | | | | 83,411 | | | | 15,257 | | | | 5 | | | | 2,249 | | | | 941 | | | | (105,096 | ) | | | (1,341 | ) | | | (332 | ) | | | (1,673 | ) |
| (1) | Net of issuance expenses of NIS 5,000. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
| | Attributable to equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | |
| | Issued capital | | | Share premium | | | Share-based payment transactions | | | Foreign currency translation reserve | | | Warrants | | | Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | Accumulated deficit | | | Total | | | Non-controlling interests | | | Total equity | |
| | Audited | |
| | NIS in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 1, 2015 | | | 1,841 | | | | 80,460 | | | | 15,215 | | | | 10 | | | | 4,981 | | | | 941 | | | | (103,591 | ) | | | (143 | ) | | | (310 | ) | | | (453 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (297 | ) | | | (10,174 | ) |
Other comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | 10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (9,877 | ) | | | (9,867 | ) | | | (297 | ) | | | (10,164 | ) |
Issuance of shares (1) | | | 806 | | | | 4,858 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,664 | | | | - | | | | 5,664 | |
Exercise of share options and warrants | | | 893 | | | | 6,134 | | | | (1,344 | ) | | | - | | | | (661 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,022 | | | | - | | | | 5,022 | |
Expiration of warrants | | | - | | | | 4,320 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (4,320 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based payments | | | - | | | | | | | | 4,438 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,438 | | | | - | | | | 4,438 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2015 | | | 3,540 | | | | 95,772 | | | | 18,309 | | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | 941 | | | | (113,468 | ) | | | 5,114 | | | | (607 | ) | | | 4,507 | |
| (1) | Net of issuance expenses of NIS 84,000. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
| | Attributable to equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | |
| | Issued capital | | | Share premium | | | Share-based payment transactions | | | Foreign currency translation reserve | | | Warrants | | | Transactions with non-controlling interests | | | Accumulated deficit | | | Total | | | Non-controlling interests | | | Total equity | |
| | Unaudited | |
| | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) in thousands | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 1, 2016 | | | 940 | | | | 25,431 | | | | 4,862 | | | | 5 | | | | - | | | | 250 | | | | (30,130 | ) | | | 1,358 | | | | (161 | ) | | | 1,197 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (514 | ) | | | (514 | ) | | | (4 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (514 | ) | | | (514 | ) | | | (4 | ) | | �� | (518 | ) |
Share-based payments | | | | | | | | | | | 79 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 79 | | | | | | | | 79 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at March 31, 2016 | | | 940 | | | | 25,431 | | | | 4,941 | | | | 5 | | | | - | | | | 250 | | | | (30,644 | ) | | | 923 | | | | (165 | ) | | | 758 | |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2016 | |
| | Audited | | | Unaudited | | | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | (10,174 | ) | | | (1,527 | ) | | | (1,952 | ) | | | (518 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 11 | | | | 10 | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | |
Loss from sale of equipment | | | 19 | | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based payment expense | | | 4,438 | | | | 40 | | | | 299 | | | | 79 | |
Change in liability to the Chief Scientist | | | (191 | ) | | | 14 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Finance expenses, net | | | 35 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share of losses of an associate | | | 197 | | | | 109 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 4,509 | | | | 193 | | | | 302 | | | | 80 | |
Working capital adjustments: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable | | | (177 | ) | | | 10 | | | | 136 | | | | 36 | |
Increase in trade payables | | | 597 | | | | 607 | | | | 149 | | | | 40 | |
Increase in other accounts payable | | | 83 | | | | 26 | | | | 54 | | | | 15 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 503 | | | | 643 | | | | 339 | | | | 91 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (5,162 | ) | | | (691 | ) | | | (1,311 | ) | | | (347 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | Year ended December 31, | | | Three months ended March 31, | | | Convenience translation into USD (Note 1d) March 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2015 | | | 2016 | | | 2016 | |
| | Audited | | | Unaudited | | | Unaudited | |
| | NIS in thousands | | | USD in thousands | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of equipment | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Purchase of equipment | | | (4 | ) | | | - | | | | (13 | ) | | | (4 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | (2 | ) | | | 2 | | | | (13 | ) | | | (4 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from issuance of share capital and share options (net of issuance expenses) | | | 5,664 | | | | 245 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Proceeds from exercise of share options and warrants | | | 5,022 | | | | 27 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | 10,686 | | | | 272 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Increase (decrease) in cash | | | 5,522 | | | | (417 | ) | | | (1,324 | ) | | | (352 | ) |
Cash at the beginning of the period | | | 614 | | | | 614 | | | | 6,136 | | | | 1,630 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash at the end of the period | | | 6,136 | | | | 197 | | | | 4,812 | | | | 1,278 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| a. | These financial statements have been prepared in a condensed format as of March 31, 2016 and for the three months then ended ("interim consolidated financial statements"). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Therapix Biosciences Ltd. (the "Company") annual financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and for the year then ended and accompanying notes ("annual consolidated financial statements"). |
| b. | The interim consolidated financial statement of the Company and its subsidiaries for the six months ended March 31, 2016 were authorized for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on August 8, 2016. The Company, a pharmaceutical company, was incorporated in Israel and commenced its operations on August 23, 2004. Until March 2014, the Company was mainly engaged in developing several innovative immunotherapy products. In August 2015, the Company revised its business strategy according to which it will focus on developing approved drugs based on cannabinoid molecules. The Company controls Orimmune Bio Ltd. and NasVax Inc. whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company (the "Subsidiaries") and owns approximately 27% of Lara Pharm Ltd.'s share capital ("Lara"). |
The Company is presently developing a cannabinoid based medical product for Tourette syndrome using the entourage technology and is preparing to develop a cannabinoid based medical product for deterioration in cognitive functioning using the ultralow dose technology.
| c. | For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company incurred a net loss of NIS 1.95 million and had negative cash flow from operating activities totaling NIS 1.3 million. As of March 31, 2016 the Company had an accumulated deficit totaling NIS 115.4 million as a result of recurring operating losses. As discussed in 1b above, the Company's business strategy is to focus on developing approved drugs based on cannabinoid molecules. |
These activities involve, among others, continuous development efforts and obtaining pertinent regulatory approvals. Also, from the date of commencement of operation, the Company did not generate cash flows from the sale of its products to sustain its activities. Accordingly, as the Company presently has no activities that generate revenues, the Company's continued operation is dependent on its ability to raise funding from external sources. This dependency will continue until the Company will be able to finance its operation by selling its products or commercializing the technology it owns.
The Company's management believes that the balance of cash held by the Company may not be sufficient to finance its operating activities. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company's management is focusing on securing the Company's financial stability, among others, by exploring the alternative of raising capital from private investors including existing shareholders.
The interim consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| d. | Convenience translation into U.S. dollars (“dollars”, “USD” or “$”) |
For the convenience of the reader, the reported New Israeli Shekel (NIS) amounts as of March 31, 2016, and for the three months then ended have been translated into dollars at the Bank of Israel’s representative rate of exchange for March 31, 2016 ($1 = NIS 3.766). The dollar amounts presented in these financial statements should not be construed as representing amounts that are receivable or payable in dollars or convertible into dollars, unless otherwise indicated. The dollars amounts were rounded to whole numbers for convenience.
NOTE 2:- | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of preparation of the interim consolidated financial statements:
The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, "Interim Financial Reporting". The significant accounting policies and methods of computation adopted in the preparation of the interim consolidated financial statements are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the annual consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3:- | EVENTS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD |
| a. | On January 28, 2016, 161,875 options which had been granted to consultants expired. |
| b. | On February 14, 2016, the Company and Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd., the Tel-Aviv University's technology transfer company, signed a definitive and binding agreement for conducting research and for granting a research and development and commercialization license regarding Ramot's cannabinoid-based technology for treating deterioration in cognitive functioning through administration of ultralow doses of THC cannabinoid. According to the license agreement, Ramot will grant the Company an exclusive, international royalty-bearing license which can be sublicensed to use the technology (including the yields of the research project as defined below) for research, development, manufacture, use, commercialization, sublicensing, sale and import of products based on the technology. As consideration, the Company will manage and finance (on its own and/or through third parties) the technology's research and development process for the development and manufacture of medical products based on the development stages and milestones determined in the agreement (which can be modified and revised as stipulated in the agreement). |
| c. | On February 16, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 700,000 options to the Company's CEO, 250,000 to the Company's chairman, 50,000 to a director of the Company and 50,000 to a former director. The total fair value of those grants at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 789,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price determined for each optionee, expected volatility of 74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.94 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 1.97% a year and expected life of 10 years. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of the above grant were approximately NIS 144,000. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 3:- | EVENTS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD (Cont.) |
| d. | On February 16, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 800,000 options to three of its officers, 300,000 to three employees and 120,000 to a consultant. The options vest over three years except 120,000 options that were granted to the consultant with vesting terms of two years. Each option is exercisable at the exercise price of NIS 0.995-NIS 1.061 per share. |
The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 882,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price determined for each optionee, expected volatility of 74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.94 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 1.97% a year and expected life of 10 years. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of the above grant were approximately NIS 148,000.
| e. | On March 22, 2016, the Company's Board approved a grant of 150,000 options to an officer. The options vest over three years. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 104,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 1.011, standard deviation of 74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.905 at the grant date, risk-free interest rate of 1.97% a year and expected life of 10 years. Total share-based payment expenses recorded during the period in respect of the above grant were approximately NIS 3,000. |
NOTE 4:- | EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD |
| a. | On April 3, 2016, 150,000 options were granted to a company that is controlled by the Company's consultant. The options granted may be exercised immediately and expire on December 31, 2016. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 19,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 1, standard deviation of 53.36% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.894 at the grant date and risk-free interest rate of 0.29% a year. |
| b. | On April 7, 2016, the Company and Karma Link Ltd. (the "Purchaser") signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding for the sale of all Company's assets underlying the Anti-CD3 technology (which mostly consist of the Company's license and certain Company assets related to the development of the technology) in consideration for royalties from the future revenues that the Purchaser will receive. On June 22, 2016, the Company entered into a share transfer agreement (the "Agreement") with Orimmune Bio Ltd. ("Orimmune") and the Purchaser. The Purchaser's controlling shareholder served as director on the Company's Board until February 2016. Under the Agreement the Company will sell its holdings in Orimmune to the Purchaser and will transfer its rights to its antibody anti-CD3 technology (including the Company's license from Hadasit Medical Research Services & Development Ltd. (the "License") and certain assets of the Company related to the development of the technology (the "Technology"). The terms of the Agreement are as follows: |
| 1. | The Company shall transfer its holdings in Orimmune to the Purchaser and will assist in the assignment of the License to the Orimmune, including certain intellectual property developed by the Company associated with the License. |
THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 4:- | EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD (Cont.) |
| 2. | Subject to the completion of the assignment of the License, the Company will be entitled to a percentage of the revenue, in the lower double-digits, that the Purchaser (and its affiliates, as defined in the agreement) will receive from Orimmune or third parties up to an aggregate amount of NIS 40 million (the “Aggregate Amount"). For proceeds beyond the Aggregate Amount, the Company shall be entitled to a lower rate as set forth in the Agreement. |
| | |
| 3. | The Company will assign to the Purchaser the right to increase its stake in the share capital of Orimmune as stipulated in the investment agreement dated September 2, 2013 between the Company, Orimmune and Acebright Holdings Limited (an additional shareholder in Orimmune). During the interim period, until the license assignment process is complete, the Purchaser shall bear all fees associated with the License (including payments for the maintenance of patents under the License and any pending legal proceedings in relation to such patent). Such amounts will not be refunded to the Purchaser. During the interim period, as stated, in the event that the Company will receive any revenue proceeds from the commercialization of the Technology, the Company will remit them to Orimmune, net of fees and other expenses required under the License. |
Closing of the transaction is subject to the approval ofOrimmune's shareholders and the acceptance of the signed closing documents and deliverables under the agreement by both parties. The approval will be obtained no later than 60 days following the date of signing of the Agreement. The closing of the Agreement is not subject to completion of the License assignment process, and failure to complete the assignment of the License will not constitute a breach by the Company of the Agreement.
| c. | During May 2016, the Company and Lara signed a settlement and termination agreement (the "Settlement Agreement"). Under the Settlement Agreement the parties agreed that the Company will continue to hold approximately 27% of Lara's share capital, and that the Company will be exempt from making the remaining payments under the investment agreement entered into between the Company and Lara on June 15, 2014 (the “Investment Agreement”), and all other terms of the Investment Agreement will have no further binding effect. Under the Settlement Agreement, Lara's founder was granted an option, for a period of 12 months, to purchase all of the Company's holding in Lara for USD 500,000. Furthermore, the parties agreed in the Settlement Agreement that the Company's representative in Lara's board of directors will resign. Accordingly, Lara's lost its material effect on Lara, and as of June 30, 2016, the balance for the investment in Lara is NIS 0. |
| | |
| d. | Further to the matter discussed in Note 15c to the Company's annual consolidated financial statements, on May 16, 2016 after obtaining the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange approval and as part of the conditions of the license agreement with Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd. ("Dekel") which became effective on August 19, 2015, and in order to fulfill the commitment of the Company to Dekel under the license agreement, the Company issued to Dekel 200,000 Ordinary shares associated with the payment of the advance according to the license agreement. |
| e. | On May 31, 2016, the Board approved the grant of 210,000 options to several of the Company's consultants, out of which 150,000 options were effectively granted (the "Granted Options"). The Granted Options are immediately exercisable. 70,000 of the Granted Options will be exercisable for one year from their date of grant and the remainder will be exercisable for 10 years from their date of grant. The fair value at the grant date was estimated at approximately NIS 62,000, calculated using the Black-Scholes model based on the exercise price of NIS 1.03, expected volatility was between 53.04%-74.07% at the grant date, a price per share of NIS 0.869 at the grant date and risk-free interest rate between 0.62%-1.97% a year. |
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American Depositary Shares
Representing Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS
, 2016
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees
An Israeli company may indemnify an office holder in respect of certain liabilities either in advance of an event or following an event provided that a provision authorizing such indemnification is inserted in its articles of association. Our articles of association contain such a provision. An undertaking provided in advance by an Israeli company to indemnify an office holder with respect to a financial liability imposed on him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, settlement or arbitrator's award approved by a court must be limited to events which in the opinion of the Board of Directors can be foreseen based on the company's activities when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an amount or a criteria determined by the Board of Directors as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking must detail the abovementioned events and amount or criteria.
In addition, a company may indemnify an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed as an office holder:
| ● | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the office holder as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an authority authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding, provided that (i) no indictment was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (ii) no financial liability, such as a criminal penalty, was imposed upon him or her as a substitute for the criminal proceeding as a result of such investigation or proceeding or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent or as a monetary sanction; |
| ● | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the office holder or imposed by a court in proceedings instituted against him or her by the company, on its behalf or by a third party or in connection with criminal proceedings in which the office holder was acquitted or as a result of a conviction for a crime that does not require proof of criminal intent; |
| ● | an Israeli company may insure a director or officer against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed as a director or officer; |
| ● | a breach of duty of care to the company or to a third party, including a breach arising out of the negligent conduct of an office holder; |
| ● | a breach of duty of loyalty to the company, provided the director or officer acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not prejudice the interests of the company; and |
| ● | financial liabilities imposed on the office holder for the benefit of a third party. |
An Israeli company may not, however, indemnify or insure an office holder against any of the following:
| ● | a breach of duty of loyalty, except to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not prejudice the company; |
| ● | a breach of duty of care committed intentionally or recklessly, excluding a breach arising out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; |
| ● | an act or omission committed with intent to derive unlawful personal benefit; or |
| ● | a fine, monetary sanction, penalty or forfeit levied against the office holder. |
Under the Israeli Companies Law, or the Companies Law, indemnification and insurance of office holders must be approved by our compensation committee, our Board of Directors and, in certain circumstances, by our shareholders. We have obtained directors' and officers' liability insurance for the benefit of our office holders and intend to continue to maintain such coverage and pay all premiums thereunder to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors providing them with indemnification for liabilities or expenses incurred as a result of acts performed by them in their capacity as our, or our subsidiaries', directors and officers. This indemnification is limited both in terms of amount and coverage. In the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, however, indemnification of directors and office holders for liabilities arising under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securites Act, is against public policy and therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Set forth below are the sales of all securities by the Company during the three years preceding this offering, which were not registered under the Securities Act. We believe that each of such issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, Rule 701 and/or Regulation S under the Securities Act.
On August 26, 2013 we issued to Clal Underwriting Finance Ltd., or Clal publicly traded warrants to purchase 566,016 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.90 (approximately $0.53) per share, under the terms of a private placement, and in consideration for services previously provided by Clal in our previous public offering. These warrants expired unexercised.
On August 26, 2013 we issued to Amira B.V., a private company in control of our then chief executive officer Mr. Ari Aminetzah, options to purchase 150,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.00 (approximately $0.28) per share. These warrants expired unexercised.
On December 25, 2013 we issued to Acebright Holdings Ltd. 1,050,750 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 1.55 (approximately $0.44), together with warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,850,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.55 (approximately $0.44) per share. The net proceeds were approximately NIS 1.6 million (approximately $460,000). The warrants expired unexercised.
On January 27, 2014, we granted our chairman, Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz, options to purchase an aggregate of 423,037 Ordinary Shares under our Israeli Share Option Plan (2005), or the 2005 Plan, at an exercise price of NIS 0.79 (approximately $0.23).
On April 23, 2014, we granted our chief executive officer, Dr. Elran Haber, options to purchase an aggregate of 266,242 Ordinary Shares under our 2005 Plan, at an exercise price of NIS 0.99 (approximately $0.28).
On May 8, 2014 we issued 3,009,400 Ordinary Shares in a public offering on the TASE, at a price per share of NIS 0.95 (approximately $0.28), together with publicly traded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,009,400 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.20 (approximately $0.35 per share, and together with publicly traded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,009,400 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.90 (approximately $0.55 per share. The aggregate net proceeds from the offering were approximately NIS 2.86 million (approximately $830,000). The warrants expired unexercised. As part of the offering, we issued the distributors, publicly traded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 406,269 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.90 (approximately $0.55 per share. These warrants expired unexercised.
On December 21, 2014 we issued to three investors an aggregate of 1,300,000 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 0.5 (approximately $0.13), together with warrants to purchase 1,300,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.5 (approximately $0.13) per share, and warrants to purchase 1,300,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.65 (approximately $0.17) per share. The aggregate net proceeds were approximately NIS 0.65 million (approximately $170,000). The warrants were exercised in consideration for additional aggregate net proceeds of approximately NIS 1.5 million (approximately $400,000).
On March 15, 2015 we issued to two investors an aggregate of 500,000 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 0.5 (approximately $0.12), together with warrants to purchase 500,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.65 (approximately $0.16) per share, and warrants to purchase 500,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 1.10 (approximately $0.27) per share. The aggregate net proceeds were approximately NIS 0.25 million (approximately $60,000). The first set of warrants (at an exercise price of NIS 0.65) were exercised. The remaining warrants expired unexercised.
On February 19, 2015 we issued to a service provider warrants to purchase 40,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.12) per share. These warrants were exercised.
On April 29, 2015 we issued to an investor 4,400,000 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 0.5 (approximately $0.12). The aggregate net proceeds were approximately NIS 2.2 million (approximately $600,000).
On May 20, 2015, we granted our former chief executive officer, Mr. Jonathan Berger, options to purchase an aggregate of 400,000 Ordinary Shares under our 2005 Plan, at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.13). 33,333 of these options were exercised, and the remaining options have expired.
On May 20, 2015, we granted our current chief executive officer, Dr. Elran Haber, options to purchase an aggregate of 140,000 Ordinary Shares under our 2005 Plan, at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.13).
On June 10, 2015, we granted our former chief executive officer, Mr. Jan Turek, options to purchase an aggregate of 800,000 Ordinary Shares under our 2005 Plan, at an average exercise price of NIS 0.65 (approximately $0.17) These options expired unexercised.
On August 24, 2015, pursuant to a license agreement, we issued to Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd., or Dekel, options to purchase 3,876,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.50 (approximately $0.13) per share, and options to purchase 11,926,154 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.65 (approximately $0.17) per share. The first options (at an exercise price of NIS 0.50) were all exercised in consideration for net proceeds of approximately NIS 1.9 million (approximately $500,000). The second set of options (at an exercise price of NIS 0.65) were exercised in part in consideration for additional aggregate net proceeds of approximately NIS 1.5 million (approximately $400,000), and 9,556,884 options remain outstanding (exercisable, until not later than August 19, 2016). In addition, as part of the consideration Dekel was entitled to a payment of NIS 100,000 in cash or shares, and on May 15, 2016, we issued Dekel, 200,000 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 0.5 (approximately $0.13).
On November 25, 2015 we issued to eight investors an aggregate of 3,159,025 Ordinary Shares, at a price per share of NIS 1.05 (approximately $0.27), in private placements. The aggregate net proceeds from the private placements were approximately NIS 3.3 million (approximately $850,000).
On February 16, 2016, we granted our current chief executive officer, Dr. Elran Haber, options to purchase an aggregate of 700,000 Ordinary Shares under our 2015 Plan, at an exercise price of NIS 1.00 (approximately $0.26).
On February 16, 2016, March 22, 2016 and May 31, 2016, we granted our chairman, a director, former director, senior management, consultants and service providers options to purchase an aggregate of 2,020,000 Ordinary Shares under our 2015 Plan, at an average exercise price of NIS 0.93 (approximately $0.24).
Item 8. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Exhibits:
Exhibit Number | | Exhibit Description |
| | |
1.1* | | Form of Underwriting Agreement by and among Therapix Biosciences Ltd. and the underwriters named therein. |
| | |
3.1* | | Articles of Association of Therapix Biosciences Ltd. |
| | |
4.1* | | Form of Depositary Agreement. |
| | |
5.1* | | Opinion of Horn & Co. - Law Offices. |
| | |
10.1* | | License Agreement dated June 2015, by and between the Company and Dekel Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
| | |
10.2* | | License Agreement dated February 2016, by and between the Company and Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd. |
| | |
10.3* | | License Agreement dated June 2016, by and between the Company and Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. |
| | |
10.4* | | Binding Term Sheet for License dated June 2016. |
| | |
10.5* | | Israeli Share Option Plan (2015). |
| | |
10.6* | | Israeli Share Option Plan (2005). |
| | |
10.7* | | Employment Agreement dated November 1, 2015, as amended on April 17, 2016, by and between the Company and Dr. Elran Haber. |
| | |
10.8* | | Consulting Agreement dated November 29, 2015, by and between the Company and Mr. Doron Ben-Ami. |
| | |
10.9* | | Financial Services Agreement dated November 2015, and addendum dated March 22, 2016, by and between the Company and Mr. Guy Goldin. |
| | |
10.10* | | Employment Agreement dated February 16, 2016, by and between the Company and Dr. Adi Zuloff-Shani. |
| | |
10.11* | | Consulting Agreement dated February 16, 2016, and addendum dated April 17, 2016, by and between the Company and Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz. |
| | |
21.1* | | List of Subsidiaries. |
| | |
23.1* | | Consent of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of EY Global). |
| | |
23.2* | | Consent of Horn & Co. Law Offices (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
| | |
24.1 | | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration Statement). |
* To be filed by amendment.
Financial Statement Schedules:
All financial statement schedules have been omitted because either they are not required, are not applicable or the information required therein is otherwise set forth in the Company’s financial statements and related notes thereto.
Item 9. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 hereof, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement on Form F-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Tel-Aviv, Israel on , 2016.
| THERAPIX BIOSCIENCES LTD. |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Dr. Elran Haber |
| | Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned officers and directors of Therapix Biosciences Ltd. hereby constitute and appoint each of Dr. Elran Haber and Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz with full power of substitution, each of them singly our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents to take any actions to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the SEC, in connection with this registration statement on Form F-1, including the power and authority to sign for us in our names in the capacities indicated below any and all further amendments to this registration statement and any other registration statement filed pursuant to the provisions of Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to the registration statement on Form F-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | | Title | | Date |
| | | | |
| | Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | | |
Dr. Elran Haber | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | |
Guy Goldin | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors | | |
Dr. Ascher Shmulewitz | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Director | | |
Abraham (Avi) Meizler | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Director | | |
Amit Berger | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Director | | |
Dr. Yafit Stark | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Director | | |
Micha Jesselson | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Director | | |
Zohar Heiblum | | | | |
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, Zysman, Aharoni, Gayer & Sullivan & Worcester LLP, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Therapix Biosciences Ltd., has signed this registration statement on , 2016.
| |
| ZYSMAN, AHARONI, GAYER AND SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP |
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