As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2022.
Registration No. 333-264560
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1 to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CELULARITY INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 2836 | 83-1702591 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
170 Park Ave
Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
Telephone: (908) 768-2170
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Celularity Inc.
170 Park Ave
Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
Telephone: (908) 768-2170
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Marianne Sarrazin, Esq. Siavosh Salimi, Esq. Goodwin Procter LLP Three Embarcadero Center, 28th Floor San Francisco, California 94111 Tel: (415) 733-6000 | Keary Dunn, Esq. General Counsel Celularity Inc. 170 Park Ave Florham Park, New Jersey 07932 Tel: (908) 768-2170 | Steven M. Skolnick, Esq. Lowenstein Sandler LLP 1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 Tel: (212) 262-6700 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement is declared effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
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 of 1933 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 preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, Dated May 11, 2022
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
10,533,707 Units consisting of
10,533,707 shares of Class A Common Stock and
Warrants to purchase up to 10,533,707 shares of Class A Common Stock
We are offering 10,533,707 units, or the Units, each consisting of one share of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and one warrant to purchase one share Class A common stock, on a firm commitment basis. Each warrant will have an exercise price per share $ of (115% of the public offering price per Unit in this offering). The warrants will be immediately exercisable and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the original issuance date. The warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of shares, and no fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. The Units will not be certificated or issued in stand-alone form. The shares of Class A common stock and accompanying warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately, but must be purchased together as a Unit in this offering.
Our Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “CELU.” On May 10, 2022, the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq was $7.12 per share. The number of Units offered in this prospectus and all other applicable information has been determined based on the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per share. The final public offering price and the actual number of Units to be offered will be determined through negotiation between us and the lead underwriters in the offering and the most recent market price used throughout the prospectus may not be indicative of the actual offering price.
There is no established trading market for the warrants included in the Unit, and we do not expect an active trading market to develop. We do not intend to list the warrants on any securities exchange or other trading market. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of these warrants will be limited.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in any amendments or supplements to this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| PER UNIT | TOTAL (2) | |||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1) | $ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | ||||||
| (1) | See “Underwriting” for additional disclosure regarding underwriting compensation. |
| (2) | Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants granted to the underwriters as described below. |
We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 45 days from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to an additional 1,580,056 shares of Class A common stock and/or additional warrants to purchase up to 1,580,056 shares of Class A common stock from us, in any combination thereof, at the public offering price per share of $ and public offering price per warrant of $ , less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters expect to deliver the securities against payment on or about , 2022.
| BTIG | Truist Securities | |
The date of this prospectus is , 2022
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On July 16, 2021, Celularity Inc., f/k/a GX Acquisition Corp. or GX, consummated the previously announced merger pursuant to that certain Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated January 8, 2021, or the Merger Agreement, by and among GX, Alpha First Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GX, the First Merger Sub, Celularity LLC, f/k/a Alpha Second Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GX, the Second Merger Sub, and Legacy Celularity.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a business combination between GX and Legacy Celularity was effected through the (a) merger of First Merger Sub with and into Legacy Celularity with Legacy Celularity surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GX, (Legacy Celularity, in its capacity as the surviving corporation of the merger, the Surviving Corporation), or the First Merger, and (b) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, the merger of the Surviving Corporation with and into Second Merger Sub, with Second Merger Sub as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, which ultimately resulted in Legacy Celularity becoming a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GX, or the Second Merger and, together with the First Merger, the Mergers and, collectively with the other transactions described in the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination. On the Closing Date, the registrant changed its name from GX Acquisition Corp. to Celularity Inc.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “Celularity,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Celularity Inc., f/k/a GX Acquisition Corp., and its consolidated subsidiaries (including Legacy Celularity). References to “GX” refer to the predecessor company prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.
The Celularity logo, Celularity IMPACT, Biovance, Interfyl, Lifebank, CentaFlex and other trademarks or service marks of Celularity Inc. appearing in this prospectus are the property of Celularity Inc. This prospectus also contains registered marks, trademarks and trade names of other companies. All other trademarks, registered marks and trade names appearing herein are the property of their respective holders.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with additional information or information different from that contained in this prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither we nor the underwriters take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, our securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
For investors outside of the United States: Neither we nor 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. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.
We may also provide a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to add information to, or update or change information contained in, this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement together with the additional information to which we refer you in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include statements about our future financial and operating results; statements about our plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; statements regarding future performance; and other statements, including regarding the Business Combination. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” “would” and the negative version of these words or other comparable words or phrases, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| • | the success, cost, timing and potential indications of our cellular therapy candidate development activities and clinical trials; |
| • | the timing of the initiation, enrollment and completion of planned clinical trials in the United States and foreign countries; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in any of the indications for which we plan to develop them, and any related restrictions, limitations, and/or warnings in the label of any approved therapeutic; |
| • | our ability to obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete the clinical trials of any of our therapeutic candidates; |
| • | our ability and plans to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize our therapeutic candidates, as well as our degenerative disease products; |
| • | our ability to attract and retain collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; |
| • | the size of the markets for our therapeutic candidates, and our ability to serve those markets; |
| • | our ability to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates; |
| • | our ability to develop and maintain sales and marketing capabilities, whether alone or with potential future collaborators; |
| • | our expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; |
| • | our use of cash and other resources; and |
| • | our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our therapeutic candidates, degenerative disease products, and our ability to operate our business without infringing on the intellectual property rights of others. |
These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this prospectus, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements in this prospectus and in any document incorporated herein by reference should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
| • | risks inherent in developing cellular therapy candidates, such as substantial delays in clinical trials and ability to obtain regulatory approvals; |
| • | risks associated with ongoing and planned clinical trials, such as unexpected data or clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrollment rates that are lower than expected; |
| • | our ability to obtain adequate financing to fund planned clinical trials and other expenses; |
| • | competition and the ability to grow and manage growth profitably; |
| • | changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
| • | risks of undesirable side effects or other properties that could halt clinical development, prevent regulatory approval, limit commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences; |
| • | difficulties arising from reliance on third-party licenses, or supply-chain or manufacturing challenges; |
| • | risks from any strategic alliances or licensing arrangements entered into in the future and not being able to realize the benefits of such alliances or licensing arrangements; |
| • | trends in the industry, changes in the competitive landscape, delays or disruptions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as changes in the legal and regulatory framework for the industry or unexpected litigation or disputes and future expenditures; and |
| • | risk of adverse effects of other economic, business and/or competitive factors, including geopolitical factors, such as the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. |
In addition, statements that “Celularity believes” or “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and such statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or revise their forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause the our future results, performance or transactions to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, please see the section titled “Risk Factors.” You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).
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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS
“2017 Plan” means the Legacy Celularity 2017 Equity Incentive Plan as adopted by Legacy Celularity’s board of directors and approved by Legacy Celularity’s stockholders.
“2021 Plan” means the Celularity Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan that was previously approved by GX’s board of directors on July 12, 2021 and approved by GX’s stockholders on July 14, 2021; the 2021 Plan became effective on the Closing Date.
“Business Combination” means the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, among other things, the Mergers.
“Closing” means the closing of the Business Combination.
“Closing Date” means July 16, 2021, the date on which the Closing occurred.
“Converted Legacy Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Series B preferred stock of Legacy Celularity that were converted into the right to purchase shares of Class A common stock in connection with the Business Combination.
“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
“Effective Time” means the effective time of the First Merger and/or the Second Merger, as the case may be.
“ESPP” means the Celularity Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan that was approved by GX’s board of directors on July 12, 2021 and approved by GX’s stockholders on July 14, 2021; the ESPP became effective on the Closing Date.
“First Merger” means the merger of First Merger Sub with and into Legacy Celularity, with Legacy Celularity surviving.
“First Merger Sub” means Alpha First Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“GX” means GX Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation.
“GX IPO” means GX’s initial public offering, consummated on May 23, 2019.
“Legacy Celularity” means the entity formerly known as Celularity Inc., a Delaware corporation, which was renamed Celularity Operations, Inc. just prior to the Closing.
“Legacy Celularity Board” means the former board of directors of Legacy Celularity.
“Mergers” means the First Merger and the Second Merger, collectively.
“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of January 8, 2021 (as it may be amended from time to time), by and among GX, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Legacy Celularity.
“PIPE” means that certain private placement in the aggregate amount of $83,400,000, consummated immediately prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, pursuant to those certain Subscription Agreements with GX, pursuant to which the subscribers purchased 8,340,000 shares of Class A common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share.
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“PIPE Shares” means an aggregate of 8,340,000 shares of Class A common stock issued to the subscribers in the PIPE.
“Private Placement Warrants” means the 8,499,999 warrants consisting of (i) 7,000,000 warrants purchased by the Sponsor in connection with the GX IPO in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the GX IPO and (ii) 1,499,999 warrants issued to members of the Sponsor in a private placement transaction as repayment for working capital loans made to GX, with each warrant exercisable, at an exercise price of $11.50, for one share of Class A common stock.
“Public Warrants” means the 14,375,000 warrants included as a component of the GX units sold in the GX IPO, each of which is exercisable, at an exercise price of $11.50, for one share of Class A common stock, in accordance with its terms.
“Second Merger” means the merger of Surviving Corporation with and into Second Merger Sub.
“Second Merger Sub” means Alpha Second Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Sponsor” means the GX Sponsor LLC.
“Sponsor Shares” means the 7,187,500 shares of Class A common stock held by the Sponsor following a private placement in connection with the initial public offering of GX and subsequent share recapitalization.
“Surviving Corporation” means the entity surviving the First Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GX.
“Surviving Entity” means the entity surviving the Second Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of GX.
“Warrants” means the Private Placement Warrants and the Public Warrants.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and the information set forth in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the next evolution in cellular medicine by developing off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and immune and infectious diseases. We are developing a pipeline of off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cell therapy candidates including T cells engineered with a chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, unmodified and genetically modified natural killer, or NK cells, and mesenchymal-like adherent stromal cells, or ASCs. These therapeutic candidates target indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. We believe that by harnessing the placenta’s unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant unmet global need for effective, accessible and affordable therapeutics. We currently have three active clinical trials and intend to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to resolve its questions on an Investigational New Drug, or IND, application we submitted in the first quarter of 2022 before commencing an additional clinical trial.
Our Celularity IMPACT platform capitalizes on the benefits of placenta-derived cells to target multiple diseases, and provides seamless integration, from bio sourcing through manufacturing cryopreserved and packaged allogeneic cells, in our purpose-built U.S.-based approximately 150,000 square foot facility. We believe the use of placental-derived cells, sourced from the placentas of full-term healthy informed consent donors, has potential inherent advantages, from a scientific and an economic perspective. First, relative to adult-derived cells, placental-derived cells demonstrate greater stemness, meaning the ability to expand and persist. Second, placental-derived cells are immunologically naïve, meaning the cells have never been exposed to a specific antigen, and suggesting the potential for less toxicity and for low or no graft-versus-host disease, or GvHD, in transplant. Third, our placental-derived cells are allogeneic, meaning they are intended for use in any patient, as compared to autologous cells, which are derived from an individual patient for that patient’s sole use. We believe this a key difference that will enable readily available off-the-shelf treatments that can be delivered faster, more reliably, at greater scale and to more patients. In addition, we also have non-core legacy operations that are complementary to our work in placenta-derived cell therapeutics, including our biobanking operations, directly or through our exclusive distributor.
Background
GX was a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on August 24, 2018 and formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. On the Closing Date, we consummated the Closing, pursuant to the Merger Agreement by and among GX, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Legacy Celularity. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a business combination between GX and Legacy Celularity was effected through a two-step merger, which ultimately resulted in Legacy Celularity becoming a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GX. On the Closing Date, we changed our name from GX Acquisition Corp. to Celularity Inc. Holders of 9,174,705 shares of GX Class A common stock elected to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Business Combination.
On the Closing Date, a number of purchasers, each, a Subscriber purchased from GX the PIPE Shares for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $83,400,000, pursuant to separate
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subscription agreements, each, a Subscription Agreement entered into effective as of January 8, 2021, or the PIPE Financing and PIPE.
On May 5, 2021, GX entered into a subscription agreement with Palantir Technologies pursuant to which Palantir Technologies purchased an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $20,000,000, in a private placement that was consummated concurrently with the Closing.
In connection with the Closing, on July 21, 2021, we issued 400,000 shares of Class A common stock, or the CS Shares, in a private placement to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, or Credit Suisse and 576,943 shares of Class A common stock, and together with the CS Shares, the Advisor Shares, in a private placement to Ardea Partners LP, or Ardea, as partial payment of transaction expenses and fees for financial advisory and other services rendered by such entities, respectively, in connection with the Business Combination.
On March 1, 2022, we amended and restated the Converted Legacy Warrants, or the A&R Warrants to, among other things, (i) reduce the exercise price per share to $3.50 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the A&R Warrants, (ii) remove the transfer restrictions set forth in the Legacy Warrants, and (iii) make other changes reflecting the business combination. Immediately following the amendment and restatement of the Converted Legacy Warrants, the holders of the A&R Warrants exercised such A&R Warrants in full, for cash, for approximately $46.5 million, and we issued the holders an aggregate 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, such A&R Warrants are no longer issued and outstanding.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, and therefore we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being required to have our internal control over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus, our periodic reports and our proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more during such fiscal year (as indexed for inflation), (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in the prior three-year period or (iv) December 31, 2026.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as the market value of the Class A common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of the Class A common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
As a result, the information in this prospectus and that we provide to our investors in the future may be different than what you might receive from other public reporting companies.
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Summary of Risk Factors
Below is a summary of material factors that make an investment in our securities speculative or risky. Importantly, this summary does not address all of the risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional discussion of the risks and uncertainties summarized in this risk factor summary, as well as other risks and uncertainties that we face, can be found under the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. The below summary is qualified in its entirety by that more complete discussion of such risks and uncertainties. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the section titled “Risk Factors” as part of your evaluation of an investment in our securities:
| • | We have incurred net losses in every period since our inception, have no cellular therapeutic candidates approved for commercial sale and we anticipate that we will incur substantial net losses in the future. |
| • | Our placental-derived cellular therapy candidates represent a novel approach to cancer, infectious and degenerative disease treatments that creates significant challenges. |
| • | Our historical operating results indicate substantial doubt exists related to our ability to continue as a going concern. |
| • | Our business could be materially adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of the disease, in regions where we or third parties on which we rely have concentrations of clinical trial sites or other business operations. |
| • | Our business is highly dependent on the success of our lead therapeutic candidates. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for our lead candidates and effectively commercialize our lead therapeutic candidates for the treatment of patients in approved indications, our business would be significantly harmed. |
| • | We rely on CAR-T viral vectors from Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., or Sorrento, for our CYCART-19 therapeutic candidate and termination of this license, or any future licenses, could result in the loss of significant rights, which would harm our business. |
| • | We rely and will continue to rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of, or commercialize, our therapeutic candidates. |
| • | The FDA regulatory approval process is lengthy and time-consuming, and we may experience significant delays in the clinical development and regulatory of our therapeutic candidates. |
| • | We may not be able to submit IND applications to commence additional clinical trials on the timelines we expect, and even if we are able to, the FDA may not permit us to proceed without additional information (such as our recent IND submission for CYCART-19) or at all, and if so, we may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or may not be able to conduct our trials on the timelines we expect. |
| • | We operate our own manufacturing and storage facility, which requires significant resources; manufacturing or other failures could adversely affect our clinical trials and the commercial viability of our therapeutic candidates and our biobanking and degenerative diseases businesses. |
| • | We rely on donors of healthy human full-term post-partum placentas to manufacture our therapeutic candidates, and if we do not obtain an adequate supply of such placentas from qualified donors, development of our placental-derived allogeneic cells may be adversely impacted. |
| • | Our clinical trials may fail to demonstrate the safety and/or efficacy of any of our therapeutic candidates, which would prevent or delay regulatory approval and commercialization. |
| • | If our effort to protect the proprietary nature of the intellectual property related to our technologies are inadequate, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market. |
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| • | We are, and in the future may be, party to agreements with third parties. Disputes may arise with such third parties regarding the terms of such agreements, including terms governing payment obligations, contractual interpretation, or related intellectual property ownership or use rights, which could materially adversely impact us, including by requiring the payment of additional amounts, or requiring us to invest time and money in litigation or arbitration. |
| • | Our therapeutic candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could halt their clinical development, prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences. |
| • | We face significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and our operating results will suffer if we fail to compete effectively. |
| • | We will need substantial additional financing to develop our therapeutics and implement our operating plans. If we fail to obtain additional financing, we may be unable to complete the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates. |
| • | Our relationship with customers, physicians, and third-party payors are subject to numerous laws and regulations. If we or our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors violate these laws, we could face substantial penalties. |
| • | We will incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to various compliance initiatives. |
Certain Preliminary Financial Results
As of March 31, 2022, we had approximately $48 million of cash and cash equivalents. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we expect our revenues to be between $5.7 million and $6.1 million and our operating expenses to between $47 million and $49 million. These amounts are unaudited and preliminary, are subject to completion of customary quarterly financial closing procedures that could result in changes to the amounts, and do not present all information necessary for an understanding of our financial condition as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Our financial statements and related notes as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2022 will not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission until after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 170 Park Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932, and our telephone number is (908) 768-2170. Our corporate website address is www.celularity.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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The Offering
Units offered by us | 10,533,707 Units at an assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, with each Unit consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $ per share (or 115% of the price of each Unit sold in the offering), which will be immediately exercisable and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the original issuance date. The Units will not be certificated or issued in stand-alone form and the shares of Class A common stock and the accompanying warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering. |
Public offering price | $ per Unit |
Shares of Class A common stock outstanding after this offering | 148,122,977 shares of our Class A common stock (or 149,703,033 shares, assuming full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares), assuming no exercise of warrants included in the Units issued in this offering. |
Over-allotment option | We have granted the underwriters the option to 1,580,056 additional shares of Class A common stock and/or additional warrants. The underwriters can exercise this option at any time within 45 days after the date of this prospectus. |
Representative’s warrants | Upon the closing of this offering, we will issue to BTIG, LLC or its designees, as the representative of the underwriters in this offering, warrants entitling it to purchase a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to up to 1% of the shares included in the Units sold in this offering (including shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities) at an exercise price per share equal to 100% of the public offering price of the Units in this offering. The representative’s warrants shall be exercisable immediately and expire five years from the commencement of sales of the offering. |
Use of proceeds | We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $68.8 million (or approximately $79.2 million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants in full), based on the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq on May 10, 2022 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
| We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering, together with our existing cash, for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” for additional information. |
Risk factors | Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read and consider the information set forth in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7. |
Nasdaq ticker symbol | “CELU” |
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The number of shares of our Class A common stock to be outstanding after this offering set forth above is based on 137,589,270 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2021, as adjusted for the March 1, 2022 exercise of the A&R Warrants (which resulted in the issuance of 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock) and excludes:
| • | 26,533,868 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under the 2021 Plan and the 2017 Plan at such date, at a weighted-average exercise price of $4.43 per share; |
| • | 20,124,597 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Plan at such date, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan; |
| • | 3,382,298 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP at such date, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP; and |
| • | 29,404,809 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2021 at a weighted-average exercise price of $ 10.45 per share (as adjusted to reflect the March 1, 2022 exercise of the A&R Warrants for 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock). |
Except as otherwise indicated herein, all information in this prospectus, including the number of shares of our Class A common stock that will be outstanding after this offering, reflects:
| • | no exercise of outstanding options or warrants, in each case listed above; |
| • | no exercise of the representative’s warrants to be issued to the representative in connection with this offering; and |
| • | no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants. |
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before deciding to invest in our securities. If any of the events or developments described below were to occur, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could suffer materially, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
Risks Related to our Business and Industry
We have incurred net losses in every period since inception, have no cellular therapeutics approved for commercial sale and anticipate that we will incur substantial net losses in the future.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, have no cellular therapeutics approved for commercial sale, have not generated any revenue from cellular therapeutic sales to date, generate limited revenues from our degenerative disease and biobanking businesses, and will continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. Investment in biopharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that any potential therapeutic candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval and become commercially viable. As a result, we are not profitable and have incurred net losses in each period since our inception. We reported net losses of $100.1 million and $208.2 million the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $663.7 million.
We expect to incur significant expenditures for the foreseeable future, and we expect these expenditures to increase as we continue our research and development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, cellular therapeutic candidates based on our four placental-derived allogeneic cell types: CAR-T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells, and ASCs. Even if we succeed in commercializing one or more of our therapeutic candidates, we will continue to incur substantial research and development and other expenditures to develop and market additional therapeutic candidates. We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. The size of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of future growth of our expenses and our ability to generate revenue from our cellular therapeutic candidates. Our prior losses and expected future losses have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital.
Our placental-derived cellular therapy candidates represent a novel approach to cancer, infectious and degenerative disease treatments that creates significant challenges.
We are developing a pipeline of allogeneic cellular therapeutic candidates that are derived from healthy, full-term, human donor placentas, and in certain cases, are genetically modified. Allogeneic cells are intended to be “off-the-shelf” for use in any patient. Advancing these novel therapeutic candidates creates significant challenges, including:
| • | manufacturing cellular therapeutic candidates to our and regulatory specifications and in a timely manner to support our clinical trials, and, if approved, commercialization; |
| • | biosourcing placentas and other materials and supplies for the manufacture of our therapeutic candidates; |
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| • | any variability in placental-derived cells, or a higher-rejection rate, which could ultimately affect our ability to produce therapeutics in a reliable and consistent manner and treat certain patients; |
| • | educating medical personnel regarding the potential advantages and potential disadvantages such as the side effect profile of our therapeutics, if approved, such as the potential adverse side effects related to GvHD, cytokine release syndrome, or CRS, neurotoxicity, prolonged cytopenia and neutropenic sepsis; |
| • | using medicines to manage adverse side effects of our therapeutic candidates that may not adequately control the side effects and/or may have a detrimental impact on the efficacy of the treatment; |
| • | obtaining regulatory approval, as the FDA, and other regulatory authorities have limited experience with development of allogeneic cell therapies for cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases; and |
| • | establishing sales and marketing capabilities for our therapeutic portfolio upon obtaining any regulatory approval to gain market acceptance of a novel therapy. |
Our historical operating results indicate substantial doubt exists related to our ability to continue as a going concern.
We have incurred net losses and used significant cash in operating activities since inception. We have an accumulated deficit of approximately $663.7 million and have cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $52.1 million as of December 31, 2021. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and satisfying our estimated liquidity needs 12 months from the issuance of the financial statements. If we continue to experience operating losses, and we are not able to generate additional liquidity through a capital raise or other cash infusion, we might need to secure additional sources of funds, which may or may not be available to us. Additionally, a failure to generate additional liquidity could negatively impact our ability to operate our business.
The gene-editing technology we use is relatively new, and if we are unable to use this technology in our intended therapeutic candidates, our revenue opportunities will be materially limited.
We use gene editing techniques to modify certain of the placental-derived cell types. We use these technologies to either reduce the risk of toxicity or improve the potential for efficacy. These technologies are relatively new, and may not be shown to be effective at achieving the expected effect in clinical studies, or may be associated with safety issues, either in our clinical development programs or those of others using these novel technologies. Any issues with the novel gene editing technologies, even if not experienced by us, could negatively affect our development programs. For instance, the genetic modifications may create unintended changes to the DNA such as a non-target site gene-editing, a large deletion, or a DNA translocation, any of which could lead to unwanted side-effects. The gene-editing of our therapeutic candidates may also not be successful in limiting the risk of GvHD or thrombosis or in increasing affinity.
Some competitors developing allogeneic cell therapy candidates, and more generally gene therapy candidates, have had clinical trials put on hold by the FDA. Based on the circumstances leading to clinical holds, the FDA may request additional testing, request different types of testing or even substantially revise the methodology used to evaluate clinical trials for other companies pursuing similar therapeutic avenues. We cannot control the actions of our competitors, cannot influence the results of their clinical trials and cannot know how FDA may react to a specific fact pattern arising in another clinical trial. Additional testing, different types of testing or a revised regulatory approach may delay our clinical trials, increase costs in our trials or otherwise preclude our trial from being given permission to proceed absent substantial time, effort and resources on our part.
In addition, the gene-editing industry is rapidly developing, and our competitors may introduce new technologies that render the technologies that we employ for our therapeutic candidates obsolete or less attractive. New technology could emerge at any point in the development cycle of our therapeutic candidates. As
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competitors use or develop new technologies, any failures of such technology could adversely impact our programs. We also may be placed at a competitive disadvantage, and competitive pressures may force us to implement new technologies at a substantial cost. In addition, our competitors may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources that allow them to enjoy technological advantages and may in the future allow them to implement new technologies before we can. We cannot be certain that we will be able to implement technologies on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost. If we are unable to maintain technological advancements consistent with industry standards, our operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
Our business could be materially adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of the disease, in regions where we or third parties on which we rely have concentrations of clinical trial sites or other business operations.
Our business could be materially adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of the disease. For example, enrollment in clinical trials of CYNK-001 for acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, our ability to collect healthy, full-term donor placentas was limited during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and the tri-state area as hospital resources were diverted. Although we have reopened our offices and employees have transitioned back to working on site, there is a lack of uniformity of restrictions and requirements among our clinical trial sites, and future shelter-in-place or similar type restrictions could be reimposed, and once again, hospital personnel may not pursue donor consents. We are now also subject to risk of outbreaks at our facilities, and potential exposure to employee claims regarding workplace safety, and unanticipated shutdowns or quarantines could be imposed in the future, which would disrupt our operations. This uncertainty and the evolving nature of policies and restrictions, may negatively impact productivity, disrupt our business and further delay clinical programs and timelines, the magnitude of which will depend, in part, on the length and severity of the restrictions and other limitations on our ability to conduct our business in the ordinary course, which could negatively impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
The spread of COVID-19, which has caused a broad impact globally, may materially affect us economically. While the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, the COVID-19 pandemic, may be difficult to assess or predict, it has resulted in significant disruption of global financial markets. This disruption, if sustained or recurrent, could make it more difficult for us to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. In addition, a recession or market correction resulting from the spread of COVID-19 could materially affect our business and the value of our Class A common stock.
The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and its ultimate impact or that of any similar health pandemic or epidemic is highly uncertain. We do not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, our planned and ongoing clinical trials, the hospitals and healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole. These effects could have a material impact on our operations, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely.
We rely on CAR-T viral vectors from Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. for our CYCART-19 therapeutic candidate and termination of this license, or any future licenses, could result in the loss of significant rights, which would harm our business.
We are dependent on patents, know-how and proprietary technology, both our own and licensed from others. In order to modify the placental-derived T cells to produce our CAR-T cell line, and our CYCART-19 therapeutic candidate, we use retroviral technology licensed from, and supplied by, Sorrento. Celularity depends substantially on our license agreement with Sorrento. This license may be terminated by Sorrento for our uncured material breach. Any termination of this license could result in the loss of significant rights and could harm our ability to commercialize CYCART-19, and any future therapeutic candidates that use the licensed CAR construct. To the extent that obligations under this license agreement are not met, we may lose the benefits of the Sorrento license agreement and the CAR construct we use for CYCART-19. Further, we
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would need an additional license from Sorrento or access to other CAR construct technology to research and develop therapeutic candidates directed at targets not covered by our existing agreement with Sorrento. In addition, the Sorrento CAR-T retroviral technology may fail to produce viable therapeutic candidates. If we were to obtain approval of CYCART-19, there is no assurance that Sorrento would be able to supply sufficient viral vectors for commercial-scale manufacturing. If the agreement with Sorrento was terminated or we required other technology, such a license or technology may not be available to us on reasonable terms, or at all, particularly given the limited number of alternative technologies in the market. See “Business — Licensing Agreements — Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.” for more information regarding the license from Sorrento.
We also use other gene editing technology for the other cellular therapeutics in our pipeline. While certain of these technologies are available from multiple commercial vendors, were any of these vendors to refuse to supply us, it could negatively impact our development of our modified NK cells and ASCs, which depend on genetic modification to achieve the intended clinical benefits. Moreover, some gene editing technology that is currently available without license, could become patented or proprietary to a third party. If we are unable to obtain a license on commercially reasonable terms when needed, we could be forced to redesign our cellular therapeutics and or stop development. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects.
Disputes may also arise between us and our current and future licensors regarding intellectual property subject to a license agreement, including those related to:
| • | the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues; |
| • | whether and the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement; |
| • | our right to sublicense patent and other rights to third parties under collaborative development relationships; |
| • | our diligence obligations with respect to the use of the licensed technology in relation to our development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates, and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations; and |
| • | the ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners. |
If disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed, or may license in the future, prevent or impair our ability to maintain our licensing arrangements on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected therapeutic candidates.
We are generally also subject to all of the same risks with respect to protection of intellectual property that our licenses, as it is for intellectual property that we own, which are described below. If we or our current and future licensors fail to adequately protect this intellectual property, our ability to commercialize products could suffer.
Our therapeutic candidates are based on novel technologies, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of therapeutic candidate development and obtaining regulatory approval.
We have concentrated our research, development and manufacturing efforts on our placental-derived allogeneic T cell, NK cell and mesenchymal-like stromal cell types, and our future success depends on the successful development of this therapeutic approach. We have developed our Celularity IMPACT platform, which covers biosourcing through manufacturing of cryopacked cells, and continue to invest in optimizing and improving our technologies. There can be no assurance that any development problems we experience in the future will not cause significant delays or unanticipated costs, or that such development problems can be
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overcome. We may also experience delays in scaling our manufacturing process when appropriate for commercialization, which may prevent us from completing our clinical studies or commercializing our therapeutics on a timely or profitable basis, if at all. In addition, as we are in the early stages of clinical development, we do not know the doses to be evaluated in pivotal trials or, if approved, commercially. Finding a suitable dose for our cell therapeutic candidates may delay our anticipated clinical development timelines. In addition, our expectations with regard to our scalability and costs of manufacturing may vary significantly as we develop our therapeutic candidates and understands these critical factors.
The clinical study requirements of the FDA, European Medicines Agency, and other regulatory agencies and the criteria these regulators use to determine the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic candidate are determined according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use and market of the potential therapeutics. The regulatory approval process for novel therapeutics candidates such as ours can be more complex and consequently more expensive and take longer than for other, better known or extensively studied pharmaceutical or other therapeutic candidates. In addition, under guidelines issued by the NIH, certain gene therapy clinical trials are subject to review and oversight by an IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees research utilizing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules at that institution. Before a clinical trial can begin at such institution, that institution’s IRB and its IBC assesses the safety of the research and identifies any potential risk to public health or the environment. While the NIH guidelines are not mandatory unless the research in question is being conducted at or sponsored by institutions receiving NIH funding of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research, many companies and other institutions not otherwise subject to the NIH guidelines voluntarily follow them.
While we expect reduced variability in our allogeneic cell therapeutic candidates compared to autologous products, we do not have significant clinical data supporting any benefit of lower variability and the use of healthy donor full-term placentas, and related screening requirements, may create separate variability challenges. More generally, approvals by any regulatory agency may not be indicative of what any other regulatory agency may require for approval or what such regulatory agencies may require for approval in connection with new therapeutic candidates. Moreover, our therapeutic candidates may not perform successfully in clinical trials or may be associated with adverse events that distinguish them from the autologous therapies that have previously been approved. For instance, allogeneic T cell therapeutic candidates may result in GvHD not experienced with autologous T cell products. While we have modified our CAR-T cell candidate to attempt to address this concern, CYCART-19 may still be associated with GvHD and may not be effective in clinical trials. Even if we collect promising initial clinical data of our therapeutic candidates, longer-term data may reveal new adverse events or responses that are not durable. Unexpected clinical outcomes would significantly impact our business.
Our business is highly dependent on the success of our lead therapeutic candidates. If we are unable to obtain approval for our lead candidates and effectively commercialize our lead therapeutic candidates for the treatment of patients in approved indications, our business would be significantly harmed.
Our business and future success depends on our ability to obtain regulatory approval of, and then successfully commercialize, our most advanced therapeutic candidates, including CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001 and PDA-002. Because these placental-derived allogeneic cells are among the first allogeneic placental-derived cell therapies to be evaluated in the clinic, the failure of any such therapeutic candidate, or the failure of other allogeneic cell therapies, may impede our ability to develop our therapeutic candidates, and significantly influence physicians’ and regulators’ opinions in regards to the viability of our entire pipeline of placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies, particularly if high or uncontrolled rates of GvHD or other adverse events are observed. If significant adverse events are observed with the administration of our therapeutic candidates, or if any of the therapeutic candidates is viewed as less safe or effective than autologous therapies, our ability to develop other placental-derived allogeneic therapies may be significantly harmed.
All of our therapeutic candidates, including our lead therapeutic candidates, will require additional clinical and non-clinical development, regulatory review and approval in multiple jurisdictions, substantial investment,
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scaled commercial manufacturing capacity and significant marketing efforts before we can generate any revenue from sales of our cellular therapeutics. In addition, because our therapeutic candidates are all based on a similar process, our Celularity IMPACT platform, if any of the lead therapeutic candidates encounters safety or efficacy problems, manufacturing problems, developmental delays, regulatory issues or other problems, our development plans and business for our therapeutics pipeline would be significantly harmed.
Our therapeutic candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could halt their clinical development, prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential or result in other significant negative consequences.
Undesirable or unacceptable side effects caused by our therapeutic candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Results of our clinical trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of side effects or unexpected characteristics. Approved autologous cell therapies and those under development have shown frequent rates of CRS and neurotoxicity, and adverse events have resulted in the death of patients. Certain of our therapeutic candidates, such as CYCART-19, CYNK-101 and APPL-001 undergo genetic engineering. As these are novel technologies, errors may occur or may not present until used in humans in the clinic, and could cause adverse events. While we believe that placental-derived cells, including our use of NK cells and ASCs, have an inherent safety profile that may limit adverse events, there can be no assurance that this is the case as these are novel therapeutics.
As we continue to evolve our placental-derived therapeutic programs, we may need to halt or modify development of certain candidates as a result of adverse events. For example, in designing APPL-001, we made certain modifications and adjustments, including a genetic modification due to an increased risk of thrombosis observed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of a placental-derived cell therapeutic candidate conducted by Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, or CCT.
In any of our ongoing or planned clinical trials, patients may experience severe adverse events related to our allogeneic cell therapeutic candidates, some of which may result in death. If unacceptable toxicities arise in the development of our therapeutic candidates, we could suspend or terminate our trials or the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease clinical trials or deny approval of our therapeutic candidates for any or all targeted indications. The data safety monitoring board may also suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk, including risks inferred from other unrelated immunotherapy trials. Treatment-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled subjects to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. In addition, these side effects may not be appropriately recognized or managed by the treating medical staff, as toxicities resulting from cell therapy are not normally encountered in the general patient population and by medical personnel. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.
Our clinical trials may fail to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of any of our therapeutic candidates, which would prevent or delay regulatory approval and commercialization.
Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of our cell therapeutic candidates, we must demonstrate through lengthy, complex and expensive preclinical testing and clinical trials that our therapeutic candidates are both safe and effective for use in each target indication. Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and our outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials, including in any post-approval studies.
There is typically an extremely high rate of attrition from the failure of therapeutic candidates proceeding through clinical trials. Therapeutic candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety
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and efficacy profile despite having progressed through preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy, insufficient durability of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. Most therapeutic candidates that commence clinical trials are never approved as therapeutics.
In addition, for ongoing and any future trials that may be completed, we cannot guarantee that the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities will interpret the results as we do, and more trials could be required before we submit applications for approval of our therapeutic candidates. To the extent that the results of the trials are not satisfactory to the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities for support of a marketing application, approval of our therapeutic candidates may be significantly delayed, or we may be required to expend significant additional resources, which may not be available to us, to conduct additional trials in support of potential approval of our therapeutic candidates.
Initial, interim and preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.
From time to time, we may publish initial, interim or preliminary data from our clinical studies. Interim data from clinical trials that we may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. Preliminary data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data previously published. As a result, initial, interim and preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Adverse differences between preliminary or interim data and final data could significantly harm our business prospects.
We may not be able to submit INDs to commence additional clinical trials on the timelines we expect, and even if we are able to, the FDA may not permit such trials to proceed without additional information or at all.
We plan to submit INDs for additional therapeutic candidates in the future. We cannot be certain that submission of an IND or IND amendment will result in the FDA allowing testing and clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that suspend or terminate such clinical trials. For example, in the first quarter of 2022, we submitted an IND to investigate CYCART-19 for treatment of B-cell malignancies and received an e-mail notification from the FDA that it will be seeking additional information before we can proceed with the planned Phase 1/2 clinical trialt. We expect to receive formal written communication with additional information from the FDA by late May 2022. While we intend to work with the FDA in an effort to resolve its questions as promptly as possible, there is no guarantee that we will be able to do so, and initiation of our planned clinical trial has been delayed and may not proceed on the timelines we expect, if at all, until the IND is cleared. The manufacturing of allogeneic cell therapies remains an emerging and evolving field. Accordingly, we expect chemistry, manufacturing and control related topics, including product specification, will be a focus of IND reviews, which may delay the clearance of INDs. Additionally, even if FDA permits the initiation of the clinical trials set forth in an IND or clinical trial application, we cannot guarantee that FDA will not change our requirements in the future.
We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or may not be able to conduct our trials on the timelines we expect.
Clinical testing is expensive, time consuming and subject to uncertainty. We cannot guarantee that any clinical studies will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. Even if our trials begin as planned, issues may arise that could cause us or relevant regulatory authorities to suspend or terminate such clinical trials. A failure of one or more clinical studies can occur at any stage of testing, and our future clinical
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studies may not be successful. Events that may prevent successful or timely completion of clinical development include:
| • | inability to generate sufficient preclinical, toxicology or other in vivo or in vitro data to support the initiation of clinical studies; |
| • | delays in sufficiently developing, characterizing or controlling a manufacturing process suitable for clinical trials; |
| • | difficulty sourcing healthy full-term donor placentas of sufficient quality and in sufficient quantity to meet our development needs; |
| • | delays in developing suitable assays for screening patients for eligibility for trials with respect to certain therapeutic candidates; |
| • | 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 IRB approval at each clinical study site; |
| • | imposition of a temporary or permanent clinical hold by regulatory agencies for a number of reasons; |
| • | delays in patient recruitment, and or difficulty collaborating with patient groups and investigators, or other issues involving patient, such as completing participation or return for post-treatment follow-up, or dropping-out; |
| • | 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 practice, or GCP, requirements or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries; |
| • | issues with manufacturing of cellular therapeutics, including delays in manufacturing, testing, releasing, validating sufficient stable quantities of our therapeutic candidates for use in clinical studies or the inability to do any of the foregoing; |
| • | occurrence of adverse events associated with the therapeutic candidate that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits; |
| • | changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols; |
| • | changes in the standard of care on which a clinical development plan was based, which may require new or additional trials; |
| • | the cost of clinical studies of our therapeutic candidates being greater than we anticipate; |
| • | negative or inconclusive results from clinical studies, which may result in us deciding, or regulators requiring us, to conduct additional clinical studies or abandon development programs; and |
| • | delays or failure to secure supply agreements with suitable raw material suppliers, or any failures by suppliers to meet our quantity or quality requirements for necessary raw materials. |
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the resurgence of cases relating to the spread of variants, or future pandemics, may also increase the risk of certain of the events described above and delay our development timelines. For example, in early 2020 and again in mid 2021, we experienced delays in enrolling our Phase 1 clinical trial of CYNK-001 for AML as a result of the pandemic. Any inability to successfully complete preclinical and clinical development could result in additional costs to us or impair our ability to generate revenue. In addition, if we make manufacturing or formulation changes to our therapeutic candidates, we may be required to, or we may elect to conduct additional studies to bridge our modified candidates to earlier versions or may need to conduct additional studies on newly discovered candidates. Clinical study delays could also shorten any periods during which our therapeutics have patent protection and may allow our competitors to bring cell therapies to market before we do, which could impair our ability to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates and may harm our business and results of operations.
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Monitoring and managing toxicities in patients receiving therapeutic candidates is challenging, which could adversely affect our ability to obtain regulatory approval and commercialize our therapeutic candidates.
We expect to contract with academic medical centers and hospitals experienced in the assessment and management of toxicities arising during clinical trials to monitor patients for GvHD (for CYCART-19), in addition to more generally monitoring patients for adverse events who participate in our clinical trials. Even with these procedures in place, these centers and hospitals may have difficulty observing patients and treating toxicities or any other adverse events, which could lead to more severe or prolonged toxicities or even patient deaths. If there are any serious issues with GvHD or any other unanticipated events, it could result in us or the FDA delaying, suspending or terminating one or more of our clinical trials, which could jeopardize regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates. Moreover, to the extent our cellular therapies are used outside of hospitals or medical centers, and upon any approval if our therapies are made more widely available on a commercial basis, it may become even more difficult to observe and manage adverse events. Moreover, medicines used at centers to help manage adverse side effects of our therapeutic candidates, such as any GvHD, may not adequately control the side effects and/or may have a detrimental impact on the efficacy of the treatment.
Clinical trials are expensive, time-consuming and difficult to design and implement.
Human clinical trials are expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements. Because our allogeneic placental-derived cell therapeutic candidates are based on new technologies and will require the creation of inventory of mass-produced, off-the-shelf therapeutics, we expect that they will require extensive research and development and have substantial manufacturing and processing costs. In addition, costs to treat patients with certain cancers or other targeted indications, including treating any potential side effects, could be significant. Accordingly, our clinical trial costs for our cellular therapeutic candidates are likely to be significantly higher than for more conventional therapeutic technologies or drug products.
If we fail to develop additional therapeutic candidates, our commercial opportunity will be limited.
One of our core strategies is to pursue clinical development of additional therapeutic candidates beyond our initial five key programs, CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001 and PDA-002, and to expand beyond the initial six indications targeted. Developing, obtaining regulatory approval and commercializing additional cell therapeutic candidates will require substantial additional funding and is prone to the risks of failure inherent in medical product development. We cannot provide you any assurance that we will be able to successfully advance any of these additional therapeutic candidates through the development process.
Even if we receive FDA approval to market these or additional therapeutic candidates, we cannot assure any such therapeutic candidates will be successfully commercialized, widely accepted in the marketplace or more effective than other commercially available alternatives. If we are unable to successfully develop and commercialize additional therapeutic candidates, our commercial opportunity will be limited. Moreover, a failure in obtaining regulatory approval of additional therapeutic candidates may have a negative effect on the approval process of any other, or result in losing approval of any approved, therapeutic candidate.
We operate our own manufacturing and storage facility, which requires significant resources; manufacturing or other failures could adversely affect our clinical trials and the commercial viability of our therapeutic candidates and our biobanking and degenerative diseases businesses.
We have a purpose-built facility located in Florham Park, New Jersey, where we process healthy full-term donor placentas for use in cell therapy and tissue products and operate our biobanking business. While we have experience managing the process for our research and existing clinical trial needs, we may not be able to mass-produce off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cellular therapeutics to satisfy demands for any of our therapeutic candidates as we expand into later stage clinical trials, or for commercial production post-approval.
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While we believe the manufacturing and processing approaches are appropriate to support our current needs and that we have a scalable process and have secured appropriate supply from various third-parties, including Sorrento, we cannot be sure that our scaled process will result in allogeneic cells that will be safe and effective. Further, our manufacturing and storage facility, including for our biobanking and degenerative disease businesses, must comply with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs, and applicable current GTPs for human cellular and tissue products. Accordingly, we are subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA and other governmental agencies to ensure strict compliance with cGMPs and GTPs as applicable, and other government regulations.
The manufacture of biopharmaceutical products is complex and requires significant expertise, including the development of advanced manufacturing techniques and process controls. Manufacturers of cell therapy products often encounter difficulties in production, particularly in scaling out and validating initial production and ensuring the absence of contamination. These problems include difficulties with production costs and yields, quality control, including stability of the product, quality assurance testing, operator error, shortages of qualified personnel, as well as compliance with strictly enforced federal, state and foreign regulations. The application of new regulatory guidelines or parameters, such as those related to release testing, may also adversely affect our ability to manufacture our therapeutic candidates. Furthermore, if contaminants are discovered in our supply of therapeutic candidates or in the manufacturing facilities, such supply may have to be discarded and our manufacturing facilities may need to be closed for an extended period of time to investigate and remedy the contamination. We cannot assure any stability or other issues relating to the manufacture of our therapeutic candidates will not occur in the future.
We or any other of our vendors may fail to manage the logistics of storing and shipping our raw materials, including donor placentas. Storage failures and shipment delays and problems caused by us, our vendors or other factors not in our control, such as weather, health pandemics or epidemics, could result in the inability to manufacture therapeutics, the loss of usable therapeutics or prevent or delay the delivery of therapeutic candidates to patients and clinical trial sites. We may also experience manufacturing difficulties due to resource constraints or as a result of labor disputes. If we were to encounter any of these difficulties, our ability to provide our therapeutic candidates to patients would be jeopardized.
We currently have no cellular therapeutics marketing sales force. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our therapeutic candidates once approved, we may not be able to generate product revenue.
We currently have no sales, marketing or distribution capabilities and, as a company, have no experience in marketing cellular therapeutics as our current sales force is limited to our degenerative disease and biobanking businesses. We intend to develop an in-house specialized marketing organization and sales force for our cellular therapeutic candidates, if such candidates receive regulatory approval, which will require significant expenditures, management resources and time. We will have to compete with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to recruit, hire, train and retain marketing and sales personnel. If we are unable or decide not to establish internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities for our cellular therapeutics once approved, we will pursue collaborative arrangements regarding the sales and marketing of cellular therapeutics; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to establish or maintain such collaborative arrangements, or if we are able to do so, that they will have effective sales forces. Any revenue we receive from the sale of cellular therapeutics will depend upon the efforts of such third parties, which may not be successful. We may have little or no control over the marketing and sales efforts of such third parties and our revenue from therapeutic sales may be lower than if we had commercialized our therapeutic candidates directly, as we do for our degenerative disease products and biobanking business. We also face competition in our search for third parties to assist us with the sales and marketing efforts of our therapeutic candidates. There can be no assurance that we will be able to develop in-house sales and distribution capabilities or establish or maintain relationships with third-party collaborators to commercialize any therapeutic that receives regulatory approval in the United States or in other markets.
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A variety of risks associated with conducting research and clinical trials abroad and if and when authorized, marketing our therapeutic candidates internationally, could materially adversely affect our business.
We plan to globally develop our therapeutic candidates. Accordingly, we expect that we will be subject to additional risks related to operating in foreign countries, including:
| • | differing regulatory requirements in foreign countries; |
| • | unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers, price and exchange controls and other regulatory requirements; |
| • | differing standards for the conduct of clinical trials; |
| • | increased difficulties in managing the logistics and transportation of storing and shipping therapeutic candidates produced in the United States and shipping the therapeutic candidate to the patient abroad, which may necessitate local or regional manufacture, including the need to source healthy full-term donor placentas outside the United States; |
| • | import and export requirements and restrictions, including as they pertain to donor placentas and human tissue collection and manufacture; |
| • | economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets; |
| • | compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad; |
| • | foreign taxes, including withholding of payroll taxes; |
| • | foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced revenue, and other obligations incident to doing business in another country; |
| • | difficulties staffing and managing foreign operations; |
| • | workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States; |
| • | differing payor reimbursement regimes, governmental payors or patient self-pay systems, and price controls; |
| • | potential liability under the FCPA or comparable foreign regulations; |
| • | challenges enforcing our contractual and intellectual property rights, especially in those foreign countries that do not respect and protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States; |
| • | production shortages resulting from any events affecting raw material supply, including obtaining sufficient donor placentas, and other issues with manufacturing abroad; and |
| • | business interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or other natural or man-made disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, fires or other medical epidemics, or geo-political actions, including war and terrorism. |
These and other risks associated with our international operations may materially adversely affect our ability to attain or maintain profitable operations.
Because we have multiple programs and therapeutic candidates in our development pipeline and are pursuing a variety of target indications, we may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular therapeutic candidate and fail to capitalize on development opportunities or therapeutic candidates that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
We are focused on the development of cellular therapeutic candidates, targeting indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. Because we have limited financial and personnel resources, we may forgo or delay pursuit of opportunities with potential target indications or therapeutic candidates that later prove to
have greater commercial potential than our current and planned development programs and therapeutic candidates. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Our spending on current and future research and development programs and other future therapeutic candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable future therapeutic candidates. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular therapeutic candidate, we may be required to relinquish valuable rights to that therapeutic candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such future therapeutic candidates.
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We face significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and our operating results will suffer if we fail to compete effectively.
The biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by intense competition and rapid innovation. Our competitors may be able to develop other compounds or drugs that are able to achieve similar or better results. Our potential competitors for our cellular therapeutics include major multinational pharmaceutical companies, established biotechnology companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and universities and other research institutions. 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 and well-established sales forces. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. Mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. 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, either alone or with collaborative partners, may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing on an exclusive basis drug or biologic products that are more effective, safer, more easily commercialized or less costly than our therapeutic candidates or may develop proprietary technologies or secure patent protection that we may need for the development of our technologies and products.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, the availability and price of our competitors’ products could limit the demand and the price we are able to charge for our therapeutic candidates. We may not be able to implement our business plan if the acceptance of our therapeutic candidates is inhibited by price competition or the reluctance of physicians to switch from existing methods of treatment to our therapeutic candidates, or if physicians switch to other new drug or biologic products or choose to reserve our therapeutic candidates for use in limited circumstances. For additional information regarding our competition, see the section entitled “Business — Competition.”
We are highly dependent on our key personnel, and if we are not successful in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel, we may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy.
Our ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified managerial, scientific and medical personnel. We are highly dependent on our management, scientific and medical personnel, including our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our President, Andrew Pecora, M.D., and our Chief Operating Officer, John Haines. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers, other key employees, and other scientific and medical advisors, and our inability to find suitable replacements could result in delays in product development and harm our business. For example, in June 2021, our Chief Scientific Officer, retired and we have not yet replaced her and, there is no assurance that we will be able to find an appropriate officer to fill the role quickly or at all. We conduct substantially all of our operations at our facilities in New Jersey. This region is headquarters to many other biopharmaceutical companies and many academic and research institutions. Competition for skilled personnel in our market is intense and may limit our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all. Despite efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management, scientific and development teams may terminate their employment on short notice. Although we have employment agreements with our key employees, these employment agreements provide for at-will employment, which means that any of our employees could leave employment at any time, with or without notice. We do not maintain “key person” insurance policies on the lives of these individuals or the lives of any of our other employees. Our success also depends on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled junior, mid-level and senior managers as well as junior, mid-level and senior scientific and medical personnel.
We will need to continue to grow the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth.
As of December 31, 2021, we had 225 full-time employees and 143 non-employee leased workers. As our development and commercialization plans and strategies develop, and as we operate as a public company
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following the Business Combination, we have expanded our employee base and expect to add managerial, operational, sales, research and development, marketing, financial and other personnel. Current and future growth imposes significant added responsibilities on members of management, including:
| • | identifying, recruiting, integrating, maintaining and motivating additional employees; |
| • | managing our internal development efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA review process for our therapeutic candidates, while complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third parties; and |
| • | improving our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. |
Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our therapeutic candidates will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage our growth, and our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of attention away from day-to-day activities in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities.
If we are not able to effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and contractors, we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop, manufacture and commercialize our therapeutic candidates and, accordingly, may not achieve our research, development, manufacturing and commercialization goals.
We may form or seek strategic alliances or enter into additional licensing arrangements in the future, and we may not realize the benefits of such alliances or licensing arrangements.
We may form or seek strategic alliances, create joint ventures or collaborations or enter into additional licensing arrangements with third parties that we believe will complement or augment our development and commercialization efforts with respect to our therapeutic candidates and any future therapeutic candidates that we may develop. Any of these relationships may require us to incur non-recurring and other charges, increase our near and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute stockholders or disrupt our management and business. We licensed certain intellectual property back to Celgene Corporation, or Celgene, in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. Given the broad scope of the license, Celgene could use our intellectual property to develop therapeutics that compete with us in the CAR field. Additionally, we have continuing obligations to Celgene under a contingent value rights agreement, or CVR Agreement, under which we may be required to make certain payments to Celgene with respect to certain of our therapeutics, including CYNK-001 and CYNK-101. Our payment obligations to Celgene under the CVR Agreement may limit our ability to partner such assets, were we choose to do so. See “Business — Our Team and Corporate History — Celgene Corporation” for more information regarding the Celgene relationship.
In addition, we face significant competition in seeking appropriate strategic partners and the negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. Moreover, we may not be successful in our efforts to establish a strategic partnership or other alternative arrangements for our therapeutic candidates because they may be deemed to be at too early of a stage of development for collaborative effort and third parties may not view our therapeutic candidates as having the requisite potential to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Any delays in entering into new strategic partnership agreements related to our therapeutic candidates could delay the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates in certain geographies for certain indications, which would harm our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
We have in the past and in the future will continue to explore entering into new strategic alliances, collaborations, and licensing arrangements with third parties related to non-core areas. Such arrangements are entered into based on information available at the relevant time, and may not lead to long-term collaborations after initial research and development is conducted. We are party to certain agreements, and may in the future enter into new agreements, that contain non-competes or otherwise restrict our ability to operate in a particular field.
Further, disputes may arise under our current or future strategic alliances, collaborations, or other agreements or arrangements that include grants of intellectual property rights to or from us, or payments related
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thereto, including disagreements over scope of rights granted, proprietary rights, payment obligations, contract interpretation or the preferred course of research, development or commercialization. As a result of such disagreements, we may be required to pay additional amounts, there may be a reduction or delay in amounts payable to us, or there may be delays in research, development or commercialization activities, or termination of the arrangements, which could adversely impact our business and operations.
If we license products or businesses, we may not be able to realize the benefit of such transactions if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and company culture. We cannot be certain that, following a strategic transaction or license, we will achieve the results, revenue or specific net income that justifies such transaction.
We may not realize the benefits of acquired assets or other strategic transactions.
We actively evaluate various strategic transactions on an ongoing basis. We may acquire other businesses, products or technologies as well as pursue joint ventures or investments in complementary businesses. The success of our strategic transactions, including our license with Sorrento, and any future strategic transactions depends on the risks and uncertainties involved, including:
| • | unanticipated liabilities related to acquired companies or joint ventures; |
| • | difficulties integrating acquired personnel, technologies and operations into our existing business; |
| • | retention of key employees; |
| • | diversion of management time and focus from operating our business to management of strategic alliances or joint ventures or acquisition integration challenges; |
| • | increases in our expenses and reductions in our cash available for operations and other uses; |
| • | disruption in our relationships with collaborators or suppliers as a result of such a transaction; and |
| • | possible write-offs or impairment charges relating to acquired businesses or joint ventures. |
If any of these risks or uncertainties occur, we may not realize the anticipated benefit of any acquisition or strategic transaction. Additionally, foreign acquisitions and joint ventures are subject to additional risks, including those related to integration of operations across different cultures and languages, currency risks, potentially adverse tax consequences of overseas operations and the particular economic, political and regulatory risks associated with specific countries. Future acquisitions or dispositions could result in potentially dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or amortization expenses or write-offs of goodwill, any of which could harm our financial condition.
We will need substantial additional financing to develop our therapeutics and implement our operating plans. If we fail to obtain additional financing, we may be unable to complete the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates.
We expect to spend a substantial amount of capital in the development and manufacture of our therapeutic candidates. We will need substantial additional financing to develop our therapeutics and implement our operating plans. In particular, we will require substantial additional financing to enable commercial production of our therapeutics and initiate and complete registration trials for multiple cellular therapeutics. Further, if approved, we will require significant additional amounts in order to launch and commercialize our therapeutic candidates.
As of December 31, 2021, we had $37.0 million in cash and cash equivalents. We will need to raise additional capital to implement our plans. Further, changing circumstances may cause us to consume capital significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may need to spend more money than currently expected because of circumstances beyond our control. We may also need to raise a large amount of capital sooner than currently anticipated if we choose to expand more rapidly than our present plans. In any event, we will require additional capital for the further development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates, including funding our internal manufacturing capabilities and growth of our degenerative disease business.
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We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. We have no committed source of additional capital and if we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or other research and development initiatives. Our license agreements may also be terminated if we are unable to meet the payment obligations under the agreements, including our license from Sorrento. We could be required to seek collaborators for our therapeutic candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available or relinquish or license on unfavorable terms our rights to our therapeutic candidates in markets where we otherwise would seek to pursue development or commercialization ourself. Any of the above events could significantly harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations and cause the price of our securities to decline.
Our internal computer systems, or those used by our CROs, collaborators or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches.
Our internal computer systems and those of our CROs, collaborators, and other contractors or consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cybersecurity threats, and telecommunication and electrical failures. While we have not experienced any such material system failure or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach in our systems or infrastructure (including provided by third party vendors) were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates could be delayed. In addition, our increased reliance on personnel working from home could increase our cybersecurity risk, create data accessibility concerns, and make us more susceptible to communication disruptions, any of which could adversely impact our business. As an early-stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences, and may not have the resources to allocate to such efforts.
Changes in funding for the FDA and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new therapeutics and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and approve new therapeutics can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept payment of user fees, statutory, regulatory and policy changes, and business disruptions, such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, funding of government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new biologics to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA has had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. In addition, since March 2020 when foreign and domestic inspections of facilities were largely placed on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has been working to resume routine surveillance, bioresearch monitoring and pre-approval inspections on a prioritized basis. Since April 2021, the FDA has conducted limited inspections and employed remote interactive evaluations, using risk management methods, to meet user fee commitments and goal dates. Should FDA determine that an inspection is necessary for approval and an inspection cannot be completed during the review cycle due to restrictions on travel, and the FDA does not determine a remote interactive evaluation to be adequate, the agency has stated that it generally intends to issue, depending on the circumstances, a complete
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response letter or defer action on the application until an inspection can be completed. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, a number of companies announced receipt of complete response letters due to the FDA’s inability to complete required inspections for their applications. Regulatory authorities outside the U.S. may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and may experience delays in their regulatory activities. If a prolonged government shutdown or disruption occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA or other regulatory authorities to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
Business disruptions could seriously harm our future revenue and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.
In addition to the business disruptions and clinical trial delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic described above, our operations, and those of our CROs and other contractors and consultants, could be subject to other disruptions, including those caused by power shortages, telecommunications failures, water shortages, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, extreme weather conditions, medical epidemics and other natural or man-made disasters or business interruptions. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could seriously harm our operations and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses. Our ability to manufacture our therapeutic candidates could be disrupted if our operations or those of our suppliers are affected by a man-made or natural disaster or other business interruption. Moreover, because our core operations are concentrated at our purpose-built facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, any disruptions at this site, if prolonged, could materially harm our business and prospects.
If we do not obtain and maintain federal and state licenses and registrations required for our current and future operations, our ability to generate revenue will be limited.
The health care industry is subject to stringent regulation by a wide range of authorities. Accordingly, our business requires us to maintain certain licenses, registrations, permits, authorizations, approvals, certifications, accreditations and other types of federal, state, and local governmental permissions and to comply with various regulations in every jurisdiction in which we operate. For example, we are required to maintain licenses and registrations in several states, and have obtained biologics, tissue bank and blood bank licenses, permits and registrations in states where such licensure is required for us to market and support our products and services. We also maintain an annual registration with the FDA as a tissue bank, and national accreditation by the American Association of Blood Banks. The failure to comply with such licensure requirements can result in enforcement actions, including the revocation or suspension of the licenses, registrations or accreditations, or subject us to plans of correction, monitoring, civil money penalties, civil injunctive action and/or criminal penalties. While we believe that, given our current and proposed business, we are not presently required to obtain additional licenses or registrations to market our products or services, we cannot predict whether additional regulatory approval will be required in the future and, if so, whether such approval will at such time be obtained, whether for the stem cells and/or any other services that we are developing or may attempt to develop. Our failure to obtain and maintain required federal and state licenses and registration will limit our ability to generate revenue.
Our relationships with customers, physicians, and third-party payors are subject to numerous laws and regulations. If we or our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors violate these laws, we could face substantial penalties.
We operate in a highly-regulated industry, and our relationships with customers, physicians, and third-party payors are subject to numerous laws and regulations. See the section entitled “Business — Government Regulation and Product Approval.” Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors in the United States and elsewhere will play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any therapeutic candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Our current and future arrangements with healthcare providers, third-party payors, customers, and others may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare
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laws and regulations. These laws may impact, among other things, our clinical research and development programs, as well as our proposed and future sales, marketing and education programs for our cellular therapeutics, as well as the sales and marketing of our degenerative disease products and biobanking business. In particular, the promotion, sales and marketing of healthcare items and services is subject to extensive laws and regulations designed to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive and other business arrangements. We may also be subject to federal, state and foreign laws governing the privacy and security of identifiable patient information.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities, or our arrangements with physicians, some of whom may receive stock options as compensation for service on our scientific advisory board, could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. If we or our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors violate these laws, we may be subject to investigations, enforcement actions or significant penalties. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct or business noncompliance, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent inappropriate conduct may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements will comply with applicable healthcare laws may involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourself or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant penalties and corrective measures, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. In addition, the approval and commercialization of any of our therapeutic candidates or our degenerative disease products outside the United States will also likely subject us to an additional overlay of foreign equivalents of the healthcare laws, among other foreign laws.
The scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of healthcare reform, especially in light of the lack of applicable precedent and regulations. Federal and state enforcement bodies often scrutinize interactions between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare industry. Ensuring business arrangements comply with applicable healthcare laws, as well as responding to possible investigations by government authorities, can be time- and resource-consuming and can divert a company’s attention from the business.
The distribution of biological products is subject to additional requirements and regulations, including extensive record-keeping, licensing, storage and security requirements intended to prevent the unauthorized sale of biological products.
Data collection is governed by restrictive regulations governing the use, processing, and cross-border transfer of personal information; and our use of data relating to personal identifier information and personal health information of U.S. citizens is restricted.
Our business is broadly regulated by U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities, and we have both regulatory and contractual obligations with respect to such regulatory authorities concerning the handling, maintenance, and protection of data relating to personal identifier information and personal health information of U.S. citizens. Further, the collection and use of personal data in the European Union, are governed by the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. Other jurisdictions, such as California, are adopting additional privacy regulations restricting the use of personal information and providing individuals certain rights with respect to their data or notices regarding use of their data. See “Business — Government Regulation and Product Approval”. Failure to comply with the requirements of the GDPR and the applicable national data protection laws of the EU member states or other privacy rules and regulations may result in significant fines and other
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administrative penalties. We may be required to put in place additional mechanisms to ensure compliance with the new data protection rules. This may be onerous and may interrupt or delay our development activities, and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. As our business progresses, these privacy regulations may significantly impact our business activities and exemplifies the vulnerability of our business to evolving regulatory environment related to personal data and protected health information.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our therapeutic candidates.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our therapeutic candidates and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any cellular therapeutics, in addition to the risks from the sale of our degenerative disease products. For example, we may be sued if our therapeutic candidates or degenerative disease products cause or are perceived to cause injury or are found to be otherwise unsuitable during clinical testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the therapeutic or product, negligence, strict liability or a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of our therapeutic candidates. Even successful defense would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in a number of adverse effects, any of which could materially harm our financial condition and results of operations.
Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of therapeutics we develop, alone or with corporate collaborators, or negatively impact our degenerative disease business. Our insurance policies may also have various exclusions, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. While we have obtained and expect to obtain clinical trial insurance for our clinical trials, we may have to pay amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts. Even if our agreements with any future corporate collaborators entitle us to indemnification against losses, such indemnification may not be available or adequate should any claim arise.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, and we may identify future material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
Based on our evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021, management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
Specifically, we identified a combination of deficiencies in our internal controls within the financial reporting function, including (i) insufficient internal resources with appropriate accounting and finance knowledge and expertise to design, implement, document and operate effective internal controls around our financial reporting process; (ii) inconsistent and / or incorrect assumptions in our calculation of the contingent consideration liability resulting in identified audit adjustments; (iii) errors in our calculation of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities resulting in identified audit adjustments; and (iv) inconsistent and / or incorrect assumptions in our calculation of the fair value adjustment of warrant liabilities resulting in identified audit adjustments.
We have started the process of remediating these deficiencies and will continue to take initiatives to improve our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls. Towards this end, we are in the process of (i) hiring additional accounting personnel to ensure timely reporting of significant matters; (ii) designing and implementing controls to formalize roles and review responsibilities to align with our team’s
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skills and experience and designing and implementing formalized controls; (iii) designing and implementing procedures to identify and evaluate changes in our business and the impact on our internal controls; (iv) designing and implementing formal processes, policies and procedures supporting our financial close process; (v) consolidating all recurring valuation models under one service provider; (vi) engaging an outside firm to assist with the documentation, design and implementation of our internal control environment. Management believes these efforts will address the issues that led to the aforementioned deficiencies. We are committed to appropriately staffing the accounting and reporting functions. However, the implementation of these initiatives is not complete and may not fully address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and we cannot assure you that we will not identify other material weaknesses or deficiencies, which could negatively impact our results of operations in future periods.
More generally, the process of designing and implementing an effective financial reporting system is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to expend significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that satisfies our reporting obligations. If we are unable to meet the demands placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results in future periods, or report them within the timeframes required by law or securities exchange regulations. Failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, when and as applicable, could also potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Any failure to maintain or implement required new or improved controls, or any difficulties encountered in their implementation, could result in additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in our financial statements. Furthermore, if we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and results of operations could be harmed, and investors could lose confidence in our, reported financial information. We also could become subject to investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
We rely and will continue to rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of, or commercialize, our therapeutic candidates.
We depend and will continue to depend upon independent investigators and collaborators, such as universities, medical institutions, CROs and strategic partners to conduct our preclinical and clinical trials. We negotiate budgets and contracts with CROs and study sites, which may result in delays to our development timelines and increased costs. We will rely heavily on these third parties over the course of our clinical trials, and we control only certain aspects of their activities. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of our studies is conducted in accordance with applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and our reliance on third parties does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We and these third parties are required to comply with GCPs, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for therapeutic candidates in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we or any of these third parties fail to comply with applicable GCP regulations, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that, upon inspection, such regulatory authorities will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with the GCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with biologic product produced under cGMPs and will require a large number of test patients. Our failure or any failure by these third parties to comply with these regulations or to recruit a sufficient number of patients may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process. Moreover, our business may be implicated if any of these third parties violates federal or state fraud and abuse or false claims laws and regulations or healthcare privacy and security laws.
Any third parties conducting our clinical trials are not and will not be our employees and, except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such third parties, we cannot control whether or not they
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devote sufficient time and resources to our ongoing preclinical, clinical and nonclinical programs. These third parties may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical studies or other drug development activities, which could affect their performance. If these third parties 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 or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates. As a result, our financial results and the commercial prospects for our therapeutic candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenue could be delayed.
If any of our relationships with trial sites, or any CRO that we may use in the future, terminates, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative trial sites or CROs or do so on commercially reasonable terms. Switching or adding third parties to conduct our clinical trials involves substantial cost and requires extensive management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new third party commences work. As a result, delays occur, which can materially impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development timelines.
We rely on donors of healthy human full-term placentas to manufacture our therapeutic candidates, and if we do not obtain an adequate supply of such placentas from qualified donors, development of our placental-derived allogeneic cells may be adversely impacted.
We are reliant on biosourcing healthy donor placentas to manufacture our therapeutic candidates, and on hospital personnel to obtain the necessary donor consent. Healthy donor placentas vary in type and quality, and this variation makes producing standardized therapeutic candidates more difficult and makes the development and commercialization pathway of our therapeutic candidates more uncertain. We have developed a process designed to enhance the quality and consistency of the placental-derived cells used in the manufacture of our three allogeneic cell types (CAR-T cells, NK cells and mesenchymal-like stromal cells), but our process may fail to identify suitable donors or detect all issues, and we may discover failures with the material after production. We may also have to update our specifications for new risks that may emerge, such as to screen for new viruses.
We have strict specifications for donor material, which include specifications required by regulatory authorities and rely on informed donor consent. If we are unable to identify and obtain donor material that satisfy specifications, agree with regulatory authorities on appropriate specifications, incentivize hospital personnel to solicit consent to donation or address variability in donor placentas, there may be inconsistencies in the therapeutic candidates we produce or we may be unable to initiate or continue ongoing clinical trials on the timelines we expect, or scale up our manufacturing process for later-stage clinical trials or commercialization, which could harm our reputation and adversely impact our business and prospects.
Cell-based therapies rely on the availability of specialty raw materials, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.
Our therapeutic candidates require many specialty raw materials, including viral vectors that deliver the CAR sequence from Sorrento, and other raw materials, some of which are manufactured by small companies with limited resources and experience to support a commercial therapeutic, or to deliver raw materials to our specifications. Although we are currently negotiating a supply agreement with Sorrento, we generally do not have dedicated supply contracts with many of our suppliers, and we may not be able to contract with them on acceptable terms, or at all. Many suppliers curtailed their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and our ability to source raw materials has been impacted. Further, some of our suppliers may not be able to scale-up as we move to later-stage clinical trials or commercialization. Accordingly, we may experience delays in receiving, or fail to secure entirely, key raw materials to support clinical or commercial manufacturing. Certain raw materials also require third-party testing, and some of the testing service companies may not have capacity or be able to conduct the testing that we request.
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We also face competition for supplies from other cell therapy companies. Such competition may make it difficult for us to secure raw materials or the testing of such materials on commercially reasonable terms or in a timely manner.
Some raw materials are currently available from a single supplier, or a small number of suppliers. We cannot be sure that these suppliers will remain in business or that they will not be purchased by one of our competitors or another company that is not interested in continuing to produce these materials for our intended purpose. In addition, the lead time needed to establish a relationship with a new supplier can be lengthy, and we may experience delays in meeting demand in the event we must switch to a new supplier. The time and effort to qualify a new supplier, including to meet any regulatory requirements for such qualification, could result in additional costs, diversion of resources or reduced manufacturing yields, any of which would negatively impact our operating results. Further, we may be unable to enter into agreements with a new supplier on commercially reasonable terms, which could have a material adverse impact on our business.
If we or third party suppliers acting on our behalf use hazardous, non-hazardous, biological or other materials in a manner that causes injury or violates applicable law, we may be liable for damages.
Our research and development and manufacturing activities involve the controlled use of potentially hazardous substances, including chemical and biological materials. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations in the United States governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of medical and hazardous materials. Although we believe our procedures, as well as the procedures of our third party suppliers for using, handling, storing and disposing of these materials comply with legally prescribed standards, neither we nor our third party suppliers can completely eliminate the risk of contamination or injury resulting from medical or hazardous materials. As a result of any such contamination or injury, we may incur liability or local, city, state or federal authorities may curtail the use of these materials and interrupt our business operations. In the event of an accident, we could be held liable for damages or penalized with fines, and the liability could exceed our resources. We do not have any insurance for liabilities arising from medical or hazardous materials. Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations is expensive, and current or future environmental regulations may impair our research, development and production efforts, which could harm our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
The FDA regulatory approval process is lengthy and time-consuming, and we may experience significant delays in the clinical development and regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates.
The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, import, export, marketing, and distribution of drug products, including biologics, are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States. We are not permitted to market any biological drug product in the United States until we receive approval of a biologics license application, or BLA, from the FDA. We have not previously submitted a BLA to the FDA, or similar approval filings to comparable foreign authorities. A BLA must include extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish the therapeutic candidate’s safety and effectiveness for each desired indication. The BLA must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing and controls for the product.
We expect the novel nature of our therapeutic candidates to create further challenges in obtaining regulatory approval. For example, the FDA has limited experience with commercial development of allogeneic cell therapies. We may also request regulatory approval of future therapeutic candidates by target, regardless of cancer type or origin, which the FDA may have difficulty accepting if our clinical trials only involved cancers of certain origins. The FDA may also require a panel of experts, referred to as an Advisory Committee, to deliberate on the adequacy of the safety and efficacy data to support licensure. The opinion of the Advisory Committee, although not binding, may have a significant impact on our ability to obtain licensure of the therapeutic candidates based on the completed clinical trials, as the FDA often adheres to the Advisory Committee’s recommendations. Accordingly, the regulatory approval pathway for our therapeutic candidates may be uncertain, complex, expensive and lengthy, and approval may not be obtained.
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We may also experience delays in completing planned clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including if physicians encounter unresolved ethical issues associated with enrolling patients in clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates in lieu of prescribing existing treatments that have established safety and efficacy profiles. Further, a clinical trial may be suspended or terminated by us, the IRBs for the institutions in which such trials are being conducted or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities due to a number of factors. The FDA’s review of our data for ongoing clinical trials may, depending on the data, also result in the delay, suspension or termination of one or more of our clinical trials, which would also delay or prevent the initiation of our other planned clinical trials. If we experience termination of, or delays in the completion of, any clinical trial of our therapeutic candidates, the commercial prospects for our therapeutic candidates will be harmed, and our ability to generate revenue will be delayed. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow down our development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence therapeutic sales and generate revenue. Many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates.
To the extent our Biovance and Interfyl products do not qualify as Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products, or HCT/Ps, solely regulated under Section 361 of the PHSA, this could result in removal of these products from the market.
In November 2017, the FDA released a guidance document entitled “Regulatory Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products: Minimal Manipulation and Homologous Use — Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff”, which it revised and reissued in July 2020. The document confirmed the FDA’s stance that sheet forms of amniotic tissue are appropriately regulated as solely Section 361 HCT/Ps when manufactured in accordance with 21 CFR Part 1271 and intended for use as a barrier or covering. However, wound healing is not a homologous use of amniotic tissue, and to the extent we make claims for Biovance and Interfyl, two products in our degenerative disease business, that extend beyond homologous use, we may be subject to FDA enforcement. The Guidance stated that the FDA intends to exercise enforcement discretion under limited conditions with respect to the IND application and pre-market approval requirements for certain HCT/Ps for a period that expired on May 31, 2021. The FDA’s approach is risk-based, and the Guidance clarified that high-risk products and uses could be subject to immediate enforcement action. New York has interpreted the Guidance such that it has restricted the marketing of such products without BLA approval, notwithstanding the current exception in the Guidance, and other states may make similar determination, which would limit the market for such products until a BLA is approved.
Amniotic tissue is generally eligible for regulation solely as an HCT/P under Section 361 of the PHSA depending on whether the specific product at issue and the claims made for it are consistent with the applicable FDA criteria for minimal manipulation and homologous use. HCT/Ps that do not meet these minimal manipulation and homologous use criteria are subject to more extensive regulation as drugs, medical devices, biological products, or combination products. Such HCT/Ps must comply with both the FDA’s requirements for HCT/Ps and the requirements applicable to biologics, devices or drugs, including pre-market clearance or approval from the FDA.
We may need to either modify our claims or cease selling our Biovance and Interfyl products until the FDA approves a BLA, and then we will only be able to market such products for indications that have been approved in a BLA. The loss of our ability to market and sell these products would have an adverse impact on our revenues, business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we expect the cost to manufacture our products will increase due to the costs to comply with the requirements that apply to Section 351 biological products, such as cGMP and ongoing product testing costs. Increased costs relating to regulatory compliance could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the FDA might, at some future point, modify its position on which current or future products qualify as Section 361 HCT/Ps. Any regulatory changes could have adverse consequences for us and make it more difficult or expensive for us to conduct our business by requiring pre-market clearance or approval and compliance with additional post-market regulatory requirements with respect to those products. It is also possible that the FDA could require us to recall our Biovance and Interfyl products.
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We expect the therapeutic candidates we develop will be regulated as biological products, or biologics, and they may be subject to competition sooner than anticipated.
The BPCIA, was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively, the Affordable Care Act, to establish an abbreviated pathway for the approval of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products. The regulatory pathway establishes legal authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics, including the possible designation of a biosimilar as “interchangeable” based on its similarity to an approved biologic. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product cannot be approved by the FDA until 12 years after the reference product was approved under a BLA. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, its ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning remain subject to uncertainty, and could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for our biological products.
We believe that any of the therapeutic candidates we develop that are approved in the United States as a biological product under a BLA should qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity. However, there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider the subject therapeutic candidates to be reference products for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for generic competition sooner than anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of the reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing.
The regulatory landscape that will govern our therapeutic candidates is uncertain; regulations relating to more established cellular therapy products are still developing, and changes in regulatory requirements could result in delays or discontinuation of development of our therapeutic candidates or unexpected costs in obtaining regulatory approval.
Because we are developing novel cellular therapeutic candidates that are unique biological entities, the regulatory requirements that we will be subject to are not entirely clear. Regulatory requirements governing gene therapy products and cell therapy products have changed frequently and may continue to change in the future. Moreover, there is substantial, and sometimes uncoordinated, overlap in those responsible for regulation of existing gene therapy products and cell therapy products. Although the FDA decides whether individual therapy protocols may proceed, review process and determinations of other reviewing bodies can impede or delay the initiation of a clinical study, even if the FDA has reviewed the study and approved its initiation. Conversely, the FDA can place an IND application on clinical hold even if such other entities have provided a favorable review or for other reasons. For example, we submitted an IND to investigate CYCART-19 for treatment of B-cell malignancies and in late April 2022, received an e-mail notification from the FDA that it will be seeking additional information before we can proceed with the planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial. We expect to receive formal written communication with additional information from the FDA by late May 2022 and plan to work with the FDA in an effort to resolve its questions as promptly as possible. Accordingly, we expect to commence the trial in the second half of 2022, assuming clearance of the IND. Furthermore, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent IRB at or servicing each institution at which a clinical trial will be conducted. In addition, adverse developments in clinical trials of gene or cell therapy products conducted by others may cause the FDA or other regulatory bodies to change the requirements for approval of any of our therapeutic candidates. Complex regulatory environments exist in other jurisdictions in which we might consider seeking regulatory approvals for our therapeutic candidates, further complicating the regulatory landscape.
The various committees and advisory groups involved in regulatory review, and new or revised guidelines that they promulgate from time to time may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies, increase our development costs, lead to changes in regulatory positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or lead to significant post-approval limitations or restrictions. Because the regulatory landscape for our placental-derived cell therapeutic candidates is new, we may face even more cumbersome and complex regulations than those for more traditional pharmaceutical or biological products. Furthermore, even if our therapeutic candidates obtain required regulatory
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approvals, such approvals may later be withdrawn as a result of changes in regulations or the interpretation of regulations by applicable regulatory agencies. Delay or failure to obtain, or unexpected costs in obtaining, the regulatory approval necessary to bring a potential therapeutic to market could decrease our ability to generate sufficient revenue to maintain our business.
The FDA may disagree with our regulatory plan and we may fail to obtain regulatory approval of our cell therapeutic candidates.
If we complete our planned and Phase 1 and Phase 1/2a clinical trials and obtain positive data, we expect to advance to potential registrational trials. The general approach for FDA approval of a new biologic or drug is for the sponsor to provide dispositive data from two well-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trials of the relevant biologic or drug in the relevant patient population. Phase 3 clinical studies typically involve hundreds of patients, have significant costs and take years to complete. If the results are sufficiently compelling, we intend to discuss with the FDA submission of a BLA for the relevant therapeutic candidate. However, we do not have any agreement or guidance from the FDA that our regulatory development plans will be sufficient for submission of a BLA. For example, the FDA may require that we conduct a comparative trial against an approved therapy including potentially an approved autologous cell therapy, which would significantly delay our development timelines and require substantially more resources. In addition, the FDA may only allow us to evaluate patients that have failed or who are ineligible for autologous therapy, which are extremely difficult patients to treat and patients with advanced and aggressive cancer, and our therapeutic candidates may fail to improve outcomes for such patients.
Where appropriate, we may seek accelerated approval for one or more of our therapeutic candidates based on Phase 1/2a clinical trial results. If we obtain accelerated approval, the FDA likely will require us to perform one or more post-marketing studies to verify and describe the predicted effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical endpoint; otherwise, our product may be subject to withdrawal procedures by the FDA. Alternatively, the FDA may require a Phase 3 clinical trial prior to approval, particularly because our therapeutic candidates represent a novel treatment. In addition, the standard of care may change with the approval of new therapeutics in the same indications that we are studying. This may result in the FDA or other regulatory agencies requesting additional studies to show that our therapeutic candidate is superior to the new products.
Our clinical trial results may also not support approval. In addition, our therapeutic candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:
| • | the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials; |
| • | We may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that our therapeutic candidates are safe and effective for any of their proposed indications; |
| • | the results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for approval, including due to the heterogeneity of patient populations; |
| • | We may be unable to demonstrate that our therapeutic candidates’ clinical and other benefits outweigh their safety risks; |
| • | the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials; |
| • | the data collected from clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates may not be sufficient to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities to support the submission of a BLA or other comparable submission in foreign jurisdictions or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere; |
| • | the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities will review our manufacturing process and inspect our commercial manufacturing facility and may not approve our manufacturing process or facility; 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. |
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We plan to seek orphan drug designation for some or all of our therapeutic candidates across various indications, but we may be unable to obtain such designations or to maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug designation, including market exclusivity, which may cause our revenue, if any, to be reduced.
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition. 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. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process, but if a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval of that particular product for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a BLA, to market the same biologic (meaning, a product with the same principal molecular structural features) for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances. See the section entitled “Business — Government Regulation and Product Approval” for more information regarding orphan drug designation. Even if one or more of our products receives orphan exclusivity, the FDA can still approve other biologics that do not have the same principal molecular structural features for use in treating the same indication or disease, or the same biologic for a different indication or disease, during the exclusivity period. Furthermore, the FDA can waive orphan exclusivity if we are unable to manufacture sufficient supply of our therapeutic or if a subsequent applicant demonstrates clinical superiority over our product.
We plan to seek orphan drug designation for some or all of our therapeutic candidates in specific orphan indications in which there is a medically plausible basis for the use of these therapeutics. Even if we obtain orphan drug designation, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be limited if we seek approval for an indication broader than the orphan designated indication and may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if we are unable to assure sufficient quantities of the therapeutic to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition, or if a subsequent applicant demonstrates clinical superiority over our therapeutics, if approved.
We may not elect or be able to take advantage of any expedited development or regulatory review and approval processes available to therapeutic candidates granted breakthrough therapy or fast track designation by the FDA.
We intend to evaluate and continue ongoing discussions with the FDA on regulatory strategies that could enable us to take advantage of expedited development pathways for certain of our therapeutic candidates, although we cannot be certain that our therapeutic candidates will qualify for any expedited development pathways or that regulatory authorities will grant, or allow us to maintain, the relevant qualifying designations. Potential expedited development pathways that we could pursue include breakthrough therapy and fast track designation.
Breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of therapeutic candidates that are designed to treat serious or life-threatening diseases when “preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development.” The designation of a therapeutic candidate as a breakthrough therapy provides potential benefits that include more frequent meetings with FDA to discuss the development plan for the therapeutic candidate and ensure collection of appropriate data needed to support approval; more frequent written correspondence from FDA about such things as the design of the proposed clinical trials and use of biomarkers; intensive guidance on an efficient drug development program, beginning as early as Phase 1; organizational commitment involving senior managers; and eligibility for rolling review and priority review. Fast track designation is designed for therapeutic candidates intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, where nonclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need for this disease or condition.
Although we have received fast track designation for certain of our cell therapy candidates, we may elect not to pursue either of breakthrough therapy or fast track designation for our other therapeutic candidates, and the FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant these designations.
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Accordingly, even if we believe that a particular therapeutic candidate is eligible for breakthrough therapy or fast track designation, we cannot assure you that the FDA would decide to grant such designation. Breakthrough therapy designation and fast track designation do not change the standards for product approval, and there is no assurance that such designation or eligibility will result in expedited review or approval or that the approved indication will not be narrower than the indication covered by the breakthrough therapy designation or fast track designation. Thus, even if we do receive breakthrough therapy or fast track designation, the company may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may withdraw breakthrough therapy or fast track designation if it believes that the product no longer meets the qualifying criteria. our business may be harmed if we are unable to avail ourself of these or any other expedited development and regulatory pathways.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in other jurisdictions.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in one jurisdiction does not guarantee that we will be able to obtain or maintain regulatory approval in any other jurisdiction, while a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. For example, even if the FDA grants marketing approval of a therapeutic candidate, comparable regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions must also approve the manufacturing, marketing and promotion of the therapeutic candidate in those countries. Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional preclinical studies or clinical trials as clinical studies conducted in one jurisdiction may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions. In many jurisdictions outside the United States, a therapeutic candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that jurisdiction. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products is also subject to approval.
We may also submit marketing applications in other countries. Regulatory authorities in jurisdictions outside of the United States have requirements for approval of therapeutic candidates with which we must comply prior to marketing in those jurisdictions. Obtaining foreign regulatory approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties and costs and could delay or prevent the introduction of our therapeutics in certain countries. If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets and/or receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our therapeutic candidates will be harmed.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our therapeutic candidates.
Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our therapeutic candidates will require surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the therapeutic candidate. The FDA may also require a REMS in order to approve our therapeutic candidates, which could entail requirements for a medication guide, physician communication plans or additional elements to ensure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. In addition, if the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority approves our therapeutic candidates, the manufacturing processes, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion, import, export and recordkeeping for our therapeutic candidates will be subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration, as well as continued compliance with cGMPs and current GCPs for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval, and compliance with applicable product tracking and tracing requirements. As such, we will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMP and adherence to commitments made in any BLA, other marketing application and previous responses to inspectional observations. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work with must continue to expend time,
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money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control. In addition, the FDA could require us to conduct another study to obtain additional safety or biomarker information. Further, we will be required to comply with FDA promotion and advertising rules, which include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer advertising, restrictions on promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the product’s approved uses (known as “off-label use”), limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and requirements for promotional activities involving the internet and social media. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. However, physicians may, in their independent medical judgment, prescribe legally available products for off-label uses. The FDA does not regulate the behavior of physicians in their choice of treatments, but the FDA does restrict manufacturer’s communications on the subject of off-label use of their products.
Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our therapeutic candidates, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with our third-party suppliers, or our manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information, imposition of post-market studies or clinical studies to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:
| • | restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of our therapeutic candidates, withdrawal of the therapeutic from the market or voluntary or mandatory product recalls; |
| • | fines, warning letters or holds on clinical trials; |
| • | refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or suspension or revocation of license approvals; |
| • | product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of our therapeutic candidates; and |
| • | injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. |
The FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’ policies may change, and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
Negative public opinion and increased regulatory scrutiny of genetic research and therapies involving gene editing or modified cells may damage public perception of our therapeutic candidates or adversely affect our ability to conduct our business or obtain regulatory approvals for our therapeutic candidates.
The gene-editing technologies that we use are novel. Public perception may be influenced by claims that gene editing is unsafe, and products incorporating gene editing may not gain the acceptance of the public or the medical community. In particular, our success will depend upon physicians specializing in our targeted diseases prescribing our therapeutic candidates as treatments in lieu of, or in addition to, existing, more familiar, treatments for which greater clinical data may be available. Any increase in negative perceptions of gene editing may result in fewer physicians prescribing our treatments or may reduce the willingness of patients to utilize our treatments or participate in clinical trials for our therapeutic candidates. In addition, given the novel nature of gene-editing and cell therapy technologies, governments may place import, export or other restrictions in order to retain control or limit the use of the technologies. Increased negative public opinion or more restrictive government regulations either in the United States or internationally, would have a negative effect on our
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business or financial condition and may delay or impair the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or demand for such therapeutic candidates.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, the cell therapies may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, hospitals, cancer treatment centers and others in the medical community.
The use of engineered placental-derived cells as a potential treatment is a recent development and may not become broadly accepted by physicians, patients, hospitals, cancer treatment centers and others in the medical community. We may not be able to educate these persons on the benefits of using our therapeutic candidates for many reasons. For example, certain of the therapeutic candidates that we will be developing target a cell surface marker that may be present on cancer cells as well as non-cancerous cells. It is possible that our therapeutic candidates may kill these non-cancerous cells, which may result in unacceptable side effects, including death. Additional factors will influence whether our therapeutic candidates are accepted in the market, including:
| • | the clinical indications for which our therapeutic candidates are approved; |
| • | physicians, hospitals, cancer treatment centers and patients considering our therapeutic candidates as a safe and effective treatment; |
| • | the potential and perceived advantages of our therapeutic candidates over alternative treatments; |
| • | the prevalence and severity of any side effects; |
| • | product labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA or other regulatory authorities; |
| • | limitations or warnings contained in the labeling approved by the FDA; |
| • | the timing of market introduction of our therapeutic candidates as well as competitive products; |
| • | the cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments; |
| • | the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement by third-party payors and government authorities; |
| • | the willingness of patients to pay out-of-pocket in the absence of coverage and adequate reimbursement by third-party payors and government authorities; |
| • | relative convenience and ease of administration, including as compared to alternative treatments and competitive therapies; and |
| • | the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts. |
If our therapeutic candidates are approved but fail to achieve market acceptance among physicians, patients, hospitals, cancer treatment centers or others in the medical community, we will not be able to generate significant revenue. Even if our cell therapies achieve market acceptance, we may not be able to maintain that market acceptance over time if new products or technologies are introduced that are more favorably received than our therapeutics, are more cost effective or render our therapeutics obsolete.
Coverage and reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market segments for our therapeutic candidates, which could make it difficult for us to sell our cell therapies, if approved, profitably.
Successful sales of our therapeutic candidates, if approved, depend on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors including governmental healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, managed care organizations and commercial payors, among others. Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any therapeutic candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. In addition, because our therapeutic candidates represent new approaches to the treatment of cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases, we cannot accurately estimate the potential revenue from our therapeutic candidates.
Patients who are provided medical treatment for their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. Obtaining coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors is critical to new product acceptance.
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Third-party payors decide which drugs and treatments they will cover and the amount of reimbursement. Reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the third-party payor’s determination that use of a therapeutic is:
| • | a covered benefit under our health plan; |
| • | safe, effective and medically necessary; |
| • | appropriate for the specific patient; |
| • | cost-effective; and |
| • | neither experimental nor investigational. |
Obtaining coverage and reimbursement of a therapeutic from a government or other third-party payor is a time-consuming and costly process that could require us to provide to the payor supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our therapeutics. Even if we obtain coverage for a given therapeutic, if the resulting reimbursement rates are insufficient, hospitals may not approve our therapeutic for use in their facility or third-party payors may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Patients are unlikely to use our therapeutic candidates unless coverage is provided, and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of our therapeutic candidates. Separate reimbursement for the therapeutic itself may or may not be available. Instead, the hospital or administering physician may be reimbursed only for providing the treatment or procedure in which our therapeutic is used. Further, from time to time, CMS revises the reimbursement systems used to reimburse health care providers, including the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Outpatient Prospective Payment System, which may result in reduced Medicare payments. In some cases, private third-party payors rely on all or portions of Medicare payment systems to determine payment rates. Changes to government healthcare programs that reduce payments under these programs may negatively impact payments from private third-party payors and reduce the willingness of physicians to use our therapeutic candidates.
In the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for products can differ significantly from payor to payor. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for the product. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.
We intend to seek approval to market our therapeutic candidates in both the United States and in selected foreign jurisdictions. If we obtain approval in one or more foreign jurisdictions for our therapeutic candidates, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those jurisdictions. In some foreign countries, particularly those in Europe, the pricing of biologics is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after obtaining marketing approval of a therapeutic candidate. Some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular therapeutic candidate to currently available therapies. Other EU member states allow companies to fix their own prices for medicines but monitor and control company profits. The downward pressure on health care costs has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross-border imports from low-priced markets exert a commercial pressure on pricing within a country.
The marketability of any therapeutic candidates for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if government and other third-party payors fail to provide coverage and adequate reimbursement. We expect downward pressure on pharmaceutical pricing to continue. Further, coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more therapeutics for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.
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The advancement of healthcare reform may negatively impact our ability to sell our therapeutic candidates, if approved, profitably.
Third-party payors, whether domestic or foreign, or governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. In both the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the health care system that could impact our ability to sell our therapeutic candidates, if approved, profitably. Further legislation or regulation could be passed that could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. See the section entitled “Business — Government Regulation and Product Approval” for a discussion of these laws and regulations. There have been, and likely will continue to be, legislative and regulatory proposals at the foreign, federal and state levels directed at broadening the availability of healthcare and containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our therapeutics. Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from therapeutic candidates that we may successfully develop and for which we may obtain regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop therapeutic candidates.
In addition, there has been increasing legislative and enforcement interest in the United States with respect to specialty drug pricing practices. Specifically, there have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries and federal and state legislative activity designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient assistance programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drugs. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly active in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing.
We cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future. Additionally, the continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors of healthcare services to contain or reduce costs of healthcare and/or impose price controls may adversely affect:
| • | the demand for our therapeutic candidates, if we obtain regulatory approval; |
| • | our ability to set a price that we believe is fair for our therapeutics; |
| • | our ability to generate revenue and achieve or maintain profitability; |
| • | the level of taxes that we are required to pay; and |
| • | the availability of capital. |
Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors, which may adversely affect our future profitability.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If our efforts to protect the proprietary nature of the intellectual property related to our technologies is not adequate, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market.
As is the case with other biopharmaceutical companies, our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property. We rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection and license agreements to protect the intellectual property related to our technologies. Any disclosure to or misappropriation by third parties of our confidential proprietary information could enable competitors to quickly duplicate or surpass our technological achievements, thus eroding our competitive position in our market.
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We have filed additional patent applications, and we anticipate additional patent applications will be filed in the future, both in the United States and in other countries, as appropriate. However, we cannot predict:
| • | if and when patents will issue; |
| • | the degree and range of protection any issued patents will afford us against competitors, including whether third parties will find ways to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our patents; |
| • | whether or not others will obtain patents claiming aspects similar to those covered by our patents and patent applications; or |
| • | whether we will need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings, which may be costly whether we win or lose. |
Obtaining and enforcing biopharmaceutical patents is costly, time consuming and complex, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications, or maintain, enforce and license any patents that may issue from such patent applications, at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we may fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. We may not have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications licensed from third parties, or to maintain the rights to patents licensed to third parties. Therefore, these patents and applications may not be prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business.
We cannot be certain that the claims in our pending patent applications will be considered patentable by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, or by patent offices in foreign countries, or that the claims in any of our issued patents will be considered valid and enforceable by courts in the United States or foreign countries. The strength of patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical field involves complex legal and scientific questions and can be uncertain. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail to result in issued patents with claims that cover our therapeutic candidates or uses thereof in the United States or in other foreign countries. Even if the patents do successfully issue, third parties may challenge the patentability, validity, enforceability or scope thereof, which may result in such patents being canceled, narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property or prevent others from designing their products to avoid being covered by our claims. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patents and patent applications we hold with respect to our therapeutic candidates is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to develop, and threaten our ability to commercialize, our therapeutic candidates. Further, if we encounter delays in our clinical trials, the period of time during which we could market our therapeutic candidates under patent protection would be reduced. Further, changes in U.S. patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.
Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.
Confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties may not prevent unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.
In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we seek to rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary know-how that is not patentable, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of our product discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. We take steps to protect our intellectual property and proprietary technology by entering into agreements, including confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure agreements and intellectual property assignment agreements, with our employees, consultants, corporate partners and, when needed, advisers. Trade secrets, however, may be difficult to protect.
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Monitoring unauthorized disclosure and detection of unauthorized disclosure is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to prevent such disclosure are, or will be, adequate. If we were to enforce a claim that a third party had illegally obtained and was using our trade secrets, it would be expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome would be unpredictable.
Although we require all of our employees to assign their inventions to us, and requires all of our employees and key consultants who have access to our proprietary know-how, information, or technology to enter into confidentiality agreements, we cannot be certain that our trade secrets and other confidential proprietary information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Furthermore, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same manner as the laws of the United States. As a result, we may encounter significant problems in protecting and defending our intellectual property both in the United States and abroad. If we are unable to prevent unauthorized material disclosure of our confidential information or intellectual property to third parties, we will not be able to establish or maintain a competitive advantage in our market, which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information of third parties.
We have received confidential and proprietary information from third parties. In addition, we employ individuals who were previously employed at other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants, advisors and independent contractors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information of these third parties or our employees’ former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights and face increased competition to business. A loss of key research personnel work product could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize potential technologies and solutions, which could harm our business. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial cost and be a distraction to our management team and employees.
In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in fact, conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. The assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing, or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. Any of the foregoing could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our product discovery and development efforts and our ability to commercialize our therapeutic candidates.
Our commercial success depends in part on us avoiding infringement of the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. There is a substantial amount of litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. 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 our therapeutic candidates. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our therapeutic candidates may give rise to claims of infringement of the patent rights of others.
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Third parties may assert that we infringe their patents or are otherwise employing their proprietary technology without authorization and may sue. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending patent applications that may later result in issued patents that our therapeutic candidates may be alleged to 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 the manufacturing process of our therapeutic candidates, constructs or molecules used in or formed during the manufacturing process, or any final therapeutic itself, the holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize the therapeutic candidate unless we obtain a license under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or they are finally determined to be held not infringed, unpatentable, invalid or unenforceable. Similarly, if any third-party patent were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for manufacture or methods of use, including combination therapy or patient selection methods, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the therapeutic candidate unless we obtain a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held not infringed, unpatentable, invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain a necessary license to a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our ability to commercialize our therapeutic candidates may be impaired or delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business.
Parties making claims against us may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize our therapeutic 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 and may impact our reputation. 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, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. We cannot predict whether any such license would be available at all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, even in the absence of litigation, we may need to obtain licenses from third parties to advance our research or allow commercialization of our therapeutic candidates. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we would be unable to further develop and commercialize our therapeutic candidates, which could harm our business significantly.
We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to product components and processes for our development pipeline through acquisitions and in-licenses.
Presently, we have rights to the intellectual property, through licenses from third parties and under patent applications that we own or will own, that we believe will facilitate the development of our therapeutic candidates. In the future, we may identify third party intellectual property and technology that we may need to acquire or license in order to engage in our business, including to develop or commercialize new technologies or services, and the growth of our business may depend in part on our ability to acquire, in-license or use this technology.
We may be unable to acquire or in-license any third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, which would harm our business. Even if we are able to obtain a license, we may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In that event, we may be required to expend significant time and resources to develop or license replacement technology. We may need to cease use of the compositions or methods covered by such third-party intellectual property rights to the extent we are unable to maintain our license with any such third-party licensors.
The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and companies, which may be more established, or have greater resources than we do, may also be pursuing strategies to license
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or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider necessary or attractive in order to commercialize our therapeutic candidates. More established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities.
In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. If such licenses are available, we may be required to pay the licensor in return for the use of such licensor’s technology, lump-sum payments, payments based on certain milestones such as sales volumes, or royalties based on sales. In addition, our licenses may also place restrictions on our future business opportunities.
In spite of our best efforts, our licensors might conclude that we have materially breached our license agreements and might therefore terminate the license agreements, thereby removing our ability to develop and commercialize technology covered by these license agreements. If these licenses are terminated, or if the underlying intellectual property fails to provide the intended exclusivity, competitors would have the freedom to seek regulatory approval of, and to market products that use technologies identical to those licensed to us. This could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Additionally, termination of these agreements or reduction or elimination of our rights under these agreements, or restrictions on our ability to freely assign or sublicense our rights under such agreements when it is in the interest of our business to do so, may result in us having to negotiate new or reinstated agreements with less favorable terms, or cause us to lose our rights under these agreements, including our rights to important intellectual property or technology or impede, or delay or prohibit the further development or commercialization of one or more technologies that rely on such agreements.
In addition to the above risks, intellectual property rights that may be licensed now or in the future could include sublicenses under intellectual property owned by third parties, in some cases through multiple tiers. The actions of our licensors may therefore affect our rights to use sublicensed intellectual property, even if we are in compliance with all of the obligations under our license agreements. Should our licensors or any of the upstream licensors fail to comply with their obligations under the agreements pursuant to which they obtain the rights that are sublicensed to us, or should such agreements be terminated or amended, our ability to develop and commercialize therapeutic candidates may be materially harmed.
Further, we may not have the right to control the prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of all of our licensed and sublicensed intellectual property, and even when we do have such rights, we may require the cooperation of our licensors and upstream licensors, which may not be forthcoming. Our business could be adversely affected if we or our licensors are unable to prosecute, maintain and enforce licensed and sublicensed intellectual property effectively.
Our licensors may have relied on third-party consultants or collaborators or on funds from third parties such that our licensors are not the sole and exclusive owners of the patents and patent applications in-licensed. If other third parties have ownership rights to patents or patent applications in-licensed by us, they may be able to license such patents to our competitors, and our competitors could market competing products and technology. This could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to enter into necessary agreements on acceptable terms or at all, if any necessary licenses are subsequently terminated, if the licensors fail to abide by the terms of the licenses or fail to prevent infringement by third parties, or if the acquired or licensed patents or other rights are found to be invalid or unenforceable. Moreover, we could encounter delays in the introduction of services while we attempt to develop alternatives. Further, defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any of these licenses on favorable terms could prevent us from commercializing products, which could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations and prospects.
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We may be involved in lawsuits or other legal proceedings to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors or misappropriate or otherwise violate our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of our licensors. In the future, we or our licensors may initiate legal proceedings to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of our licensors, to protect our trade secrets or the trade secrets of our licensors, or to determine the validity or scope of intellectual property rights we own or control.
To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Third parties may also initiate legal proceedings against us or our licensors to challenge the validity or scope of intellectual property rights we own, control or to which we have rights. In an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that one or more of our patents are not valid or are unenforceable or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation or defense proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable or interpreted narrowly and could put one or more of our pending patent applications at risk of not issuing. 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. Additionally, many of our adversaries or adversaries of our licensors in these proceedings may have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to prosecuting these legal actions than we can. 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, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
Third-party pre-issuance submission of prior art to the USPTO, or opposition, derivation, revocation, reexamination, inter partes review or interference proceedings, or other pre-issuance or post-grant proceedings or other patent office proceedings or litigation in the United States or other jurisdictions provoked by third parties or brought by us or our licensors, may challenge or be necessary to determine the inventorship, priority, patentability or validity of inventions with respect to us or our licensor’s patents or patent applications. An unfavorable outcome could leave our technology or therapeutic candidates without patent protection, allow third parties to commercialize our technology or therapeutic candidates and compete directly with us, without payment to us, or could require us or our licensors to cease using the related technology or to obtain license rights from the prevailing party in order to be able to manufacture or commercialize our therapeutic candidates without infringing third-party patent rights.
Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Litigation or other legal proceedings may result in a decision adverse to our interests and, even if we are successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees. We may not be able to prevent, alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our trade secrets or confidential information, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the United States.
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. In addition, there could 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 substantial adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by us or our licensor’s patents and patent applications is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize therapeutic candidates. Moreover, the uncertainties associated with litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue clinical trials, continue research programs, license necessary technology from third parties, or enter into collaborations.
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Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the USPTO, and foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of the patent. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions during the patent application process. While an inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. In such an event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
The lives of our patents may not be sufficient to effectively protect our products and business.
Patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years after its first effective filing date. Although various extensions may be available, the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our therapeutic candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product, we may be open to competition from biosimilar or generic medications. In addition, although upon issuance in the United States a patent’s life can be increased based on certain delays caused by the USPTO, this increase can be reduced or eliminated based on certain delays caused by the patent applicant during patent prosecution. If our technologies require extended development and/or regulatory review, patents protecting our technologies might expire before or shortly after we are able to successfully commercialize them. If we do not have sufficient patent life to protect our products, our business and results of operations will be adversely affected.
We or our licensors may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship of our patents and other intellectual property.
We or our licensors may in the future be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators, or other third parties have an interest in our 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 therapeutic candidates. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship. If we or our licensors 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 or our licensors 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.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights outside the United States. Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on therapeutic candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States 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, and even where such protection is nominally available, judicial and governmental enforcement of such intellectual property rights may be lacking. Whether filed in the United States or abroad, our patents and patent applications may be challenged or may fail to result in issued patents. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions
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in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and further, may 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 products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing. In addition, certain countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to other parties. Furthermore, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against other parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of any patents.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of many other countries do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology, which could make it difficult for us to stop the misappropriation or other violations of our intellectual property rights including infringement of our patents in such countries. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our 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, or that are initiated against us, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. In addition, changes in the law and legal decisions by courts in the United States and foreign countries may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection for our technologies and the enforcement of intellectual property. Accordingly, our efforts to 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.
Changes in patent law, including recent patent reform legislation, could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents.
Changes in either the patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States or other countries or regions may diminish the value of our intellectual property. We cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our patents or in third party patents. We may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable.
Assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, prior to March 16, 2013, in the United States, the first to invent the claimed invention was entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application was entitled to the patent. On or after March 16, 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the America Invents Act, enacted on September 16, 2011, the United States transitioned to a first inventor to file system in which, assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether a third party was the first to invent the claimed invention. A third party that files a patent application in the USPTO on or after March 16, 2013, but before us, could therefore be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours, even if we have made the invention before it was made by such third party. This will require us to be cognizant of the time from invention to filing of a patent application. Because patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing or until issuance, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to either (i) file any patent application related to our technology or (ii) invent any of the inventions claimed in us or our licensor’s patents or patent applications.
The America Invents Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review and derivation proceedings. Because of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the
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evidentiary standard in United States federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action. Therefore, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our owned or in-licensed patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our owned or in-licensed issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
In addition, the patent position of companies in the biotechnology field is particularly uncertain. Various courts, including the United States Supreme Court have rendered decisions that affect the scope of patentability of certain inventions or discoveries relating to biotechnology. These decisions state, among other things, that a patent claim that recites an abstract idea, natural phenomenon or law of nature (for example, the relationship between particular genetic variants and cancer) are not themselves patentable. Precisely what constitutes a law of nature or abstract idea is uncertain, and it is possible that certain aspects of our technology could be considered natural laws. Accordingly, the evolving case law in the United States, and abroad, may adversely affect us and our licensor’s ability to obtain new patents or to enforce existing patents and may facilitate third party challenges to any owned or licensed patents.
Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats to our competitive advantage.
The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations and may not adequately protect our business or permit us to maintain any competitive advantage. For example:
| • | others may be able to make products that are similar to any therapeutic candidates we may develop or utilize similar technology that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we license or may own in the future; |
| • | we, or our, current or future collaborators, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patents and pending patent applications that we license or may own in the future; |
| • | we, or our, current or future collaborators, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our intellectual property or our inventions; |
| • | others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our owned or licensed intellectual property rights; |
| • | it is possible that our pending patent applications or those that we may own in the future will not lead to issued patents; |
| • | issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors; |
| • | our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive therapeutics for sale in our major commercial markets; |
| • | we cannot ensure that any patents issued to us or our licensors will provide a basis for an exclusive market for our commercially viable therapeutic candidates or will provide us with any competitive advantages; |
| • | we cannot ensure that our commercial activities or therapeutic candidates will not infringe upon the patents of others; |
| • | we cannot ensure that we will be able to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates on a substantial scale, if approved, before the relevant patents that we own or licenses expire; |
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| • | we cannot ensure that any of our patents, or any of our pending patent applications, if issued, or those of our licensors, will include claims having a scope sufficient to protect our therapeutic candidates; |
| • | we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; |
| • | the patents or intellectual property rights of others may harm our business; and |
| • | we may choose not to file a patent application in order to maintain certain trade secrets or know-how, and a third party may subsequently file a patent covering such intellectual property. |
Should any of these events occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock
There may not be an active trading market for our securities, which may make it difficult to sell shares of our Class A common stock.
It is possible that an active trading market for our securities will not develop or, if developed, that any market will not be sustained. This would make it difficult for to sell our securities at an attractive price or at all.
The market price of our securities may be volatile, which could cause the value of an investment to decline.
The price of our securities may fluctuate significantly due to general market and economic conditions. An active trading market for our securities may not develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. In addition, fluctuations in the price of our securities could contribute to the loss of all or part of the investment in our company. Even if an active market for our securities develops and continues, the trading price of our securities could be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on your investment in our securities and our securities may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further decline.
Factors affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
| • | the realization of any of the risk factors presented in this prospectus; |
| • | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us; |
| • | changes in the market’s expectations about our operating results; |
| • | our operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts of investors in a particular period; |
| • | operating and share price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us; |
| • | the volume of shares of Class A common stock available for public sale; |
| • | future issuances, sales, resales or repurchases or anticipated issuances, sales, resales or repurchases of our securities; |
| • | the commencement, enrollment or results of our ongoing and planned clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates or any future clinical trials we may conduct, or changes in the development status of our therapeutic candidates; |
| • | our decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate an existing clinical trial; |
| • | adverse results or delays in clinical trials; |
| • | any delay in our regulatory filings for our therapeutic candidates and any adverse development or perceived adverse development with respect to the applicable regulatory authority’s review of such filings, including without limitation the FDA’s issuance of a “refusal to file” letter or a request for additional information; |
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| • | our failure to commercialize our therapeutic candidates; |
| • | adverse regulatory decisions, including failure to receive regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates; |
| • | changes in laws or regulations applicable to our therapeutic candidates, including but not limited to clinical trial requirements for approvals; |
| • | adverse developments concerning manufacturers or suppliers; |
| • | our inability to manufacture or obtain adequate supply for any approved therapeutic or inability to do so at acceptable prices; |
| • | our inability to establish collaborations if needed; |
| • | additions or departures of key scientific or management personnel; |
| • | unanticipated serious safety concerns related to cellular therapies; |
| • | introduction of new therapeutics or services offered by our competitors; |
| • | announcements of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by us or our competitors; |
| • | our ability to effectively manage growth; |
| • | actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results; |
| • | our cash position; |
| • | our failure to meet the estimates and projections of the investment community or that we may otherwise provide to the public; |
| • | publication of research reports about us or our industry, or cellular therapy in particular, or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts; |
| • | changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; |
| • | changes in the market valuations of similar companies; |
| • | overall performance of the equity markets; |
| • | speculation in the press or investment community; |
| • | sales of Class A common stock by us or our stockholders in the future; |
| • | the trading volume of our Class A common stock; |
| • | changes in accounting practices; |
| • | the ineffectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; |
| • | disputes or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain or maintain patent protection for our technologies; |
| • | significant lawsuits, including patent or stockholder litigation; |
| • | general political and economic conditions, including health pandemics, such as COVID-19; and |
| • | other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control. |
In addition, the stock market in general, and Nasdaq and biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of
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a company’s securities. This type of litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which would harm our business, operating results or financial condition.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our Class A common stock if the trading price of your shares increases.
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of the Class A common stock that you purchase in this offering.
The public offering price per Unit is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock immediately following this offering. Therefore, if you purchase Units in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit (the closing price of a share of our Class A common stock on May 10, 2022), you will experience immediate dilution of $7.33 per share, the difference between the price per Unit you pay in this offering and our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2021, after giving effect to the issuance of Units in this offering. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing Units in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid per Unit in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. See “Dilution.”
The percentage of our Class A common stock owned by current stockholders may be diluted in the future because of equity issuances for acquisitions, other capital market transactions or otherwise, including, without limitation, equity awards that we may grant to our directors, officers and employees, or exercise of outstanding warrants. Such issuances may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
The warrants in this offering are speculative in nature.
The warrants included in the Units offered hereby do not confer any rights of Class A common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire Class A common stock at a fixed price. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the warrants included in the Units may acquire the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of such warrants at an exercise price of $ per share of Class A common stock (115% of the public offering price per Unit). Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the warrants will equal or exceed their public offering price.
There is no public market for the warrants being offered in this offering and we do not expect one to develop.
There is presently no established public trading market for the warrants being offered in this offering and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, including the Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of such warrants will be limited.
Sales of Class A common stock by stockholders may have an adverse effect on the then prevailing market price of our Class A common stock.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market following this offering could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of Class A common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our Class A common stock.
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We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may use the net proceeds in ways with which you disagree.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our securities. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our securities to decline. Pending the application of these funds, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq.
If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the listing standards, we and our stockholders could face significant negative consequences including:
| • | limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
| • | a determination that the Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in the Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules; |
| • | possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for shares of the Class A common stock; |
| • | a limited amount of analyst coverage; and |
| • | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
Future sales and issuances of our Class A common stock or rights to purchase common stock, including pursuant to our equity plans, could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our stock price to fall.
We expect that significant additional capital may be needed in the future to continue our planned operations, including conducting clinical trials, commercialization efforts, expanded research and development activities and costs associated with operating as a public company. To raise capital, we may sell common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner it determines from time to time. we may also sell our common stock as part of entering into strategic alliances, creating joint ventures or collaborations or entering into additional licensing arrangements with third parties that we believe will complement or augment our development and commercialization efforts. If we sell common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. Such sales may also result in material dilution to existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights, preferences and privileges senior to the holders of our Class A common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions under our charter documents and Delaware law could delay or prevent a change of control, which could limit the market price of our Class A common stock and may prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws adopted in connection with the completion of the Business Combination contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change of control of our company or changes in our board of directors that our stockholders might consider favorable. Some of these provisions include:
| • | a board of directors divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms, such that not all members of our board of directors will be elected at one time; |
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| • | a prohibition on stockholder action through written consent, which requires that all stockholder actions be taken at a meeting of our stockholders; |
| • | a requirement that special meetings of stockholders be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, the chief executive officer, or by a majority of the total number of authorized directors; |
| • | advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations for election to our board of directors; |
| • | a requirement that no member of our board of directors may be removed from office by our stockholders except for cause and, in addition to any other vote required by law, upon the approval of not less than two-thirds of all outstanding shares of our voting stock then entitled to vote in the election of directors; |
| • | a requirement of approval of not less than two-thirds of all outstanding shares of our voting stock to amend any bylaws by stockholder action or to amend specific provisions of our certificate of incorporation; and |
| • | the authority of our board of directors to issue preferred stock on terms determined by the directors without stockholder approval and which preferred stock may include rights superior to the rights of the holders of common stock. |
In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which may prohibit certain business combinations with stockholders owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. These anti-takeover provisions and other provisions in our charter and bylaws could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirors to obtain control of our board of directors or initiate actions that are opposed by the then-current board of directors and could also delay or impede a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving our company. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing or cause us to take other corporate actions you desire. Any delay or prevention of a change of control transaction or changes in our board of directors could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline.
Our charter provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forums for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.
Our charter provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) will be the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law:
| • | any derivative claim or cause of action brought on our behalf; |
| • | any claim or cause of action for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders; |
| • | any claim or cause of action against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our charter or the bylaws; |
| • | any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our charter or bylaws; |
| • | any claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and |
| • | any claim or cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. |
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This provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our charter provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of our charter. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
These exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. If a court were to find either exclusive-forum provision in our charter to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could seriously harm our business.
General Risk Factors
Unstable market and economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and stock price.
The global credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions in the past, most recently as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These disruptions can result in severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. There can be no assurance that further deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturn, volatile business environment or continued unpredictable and unstable market conditions. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our operations, growth strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon clinical development plans. In addition, there is a risk that one or more of our current service providers may not survive an economic downturn, which could directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in the equity ownership of certain stockholders over a rolling three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use our pre-change federal net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset our post-change income and taxes may be limited. We may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership. As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately $72.4 million of U.S. federal and $15.9 million state NOL carryforwards, and these NOL carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities, which could adversely affect our profitability. We anticipate incurring significant additional net losses
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for the foreseeable future, and our ability to utilize NOL carryforwards associated with any such losses to offset future taxable income may be limited to the extent we incur future ownership changes. In addition, at the state level, there may be periods during which the use of NOL carryforwards is suspended or otherwise limited, which could accelerate or permanently increase state taxes owed. As a result, we may be unable to use all or a material portion of our NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes, which could adversely affect our future cash flows.
Changes in tax law could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
The rules dealing with U.S. federal, state, and local income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to tax laws (which changes may have retroactive application) could adversely affect us or holders of our securities. In recent years, many such changes have been made and changes are likely to continue to occur in the future. Future changes in tax laws could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations. We urge investors to consult with their legal and tax advisers regarding the implications of changes in tax laws on an investment in our securities.
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Certain industry data and market data included in this prospectus were obtained from independent third-party surveys, market research, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and industry publications and surveys. All of management’s estimates presented herein are based upon management’s review of independent third-party surveys and industry publications prepared by a number of sources and other publicly available information. All of the market data used in this prospectus involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. We believe that the information from these industry publications and surveys included in this prospectus is reliable. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
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We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $68.8 million (or approximately $79.2 million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock and/or warrants is exercised in full) based on the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $9.7 million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares of Class A common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $6.6 million, assuming the public offering price of $7.12 per Unit remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We anticipate that we will use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, for working capital and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the remaining net proceeds and our existing cash to in-license, acquire, or invest in complementary businesses, technologies, products or assets. However, we have no current commitments or obligations to do so.
We expect our existing cash, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into early 2023. However, our expected use of proceeds from this offering described above represents our current intentions based on our present plans and business condition. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the proceeds to be received upon the closing of this offering or the actual amounts that we will spend on the uses set forth above.
The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the time and cost necessary to conduct our planned clinical trials, the results of our planned clinical trials and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations and any unforeseen cash needs. Therefore, our actual expenditures may differ materially from the estimates described above. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes.
We will have broad discretion over how to use the net proceeds to us from this offering. We intend to invest the net proceeds to us from the offering that are not used as described above in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.
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MARKET INFORMATION FOR SECURITIES AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Market Information
Our Class A common stock and Public Warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “CELU” and “CELUW,” respectively. Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, GX’s Class A common stock, units and warrants were listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “GXGXU,” “GXGX” and “GXGXW,” respectively. As of March 24, 2022, there were 147 holders of record of the Class A common stock and 15 holders of record of our Warrants.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any dividends on shares of Class A common stock. We anticipate that we will retain all of our future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends on our capital stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
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The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of December 31, 2021:
| • | on an actual basis; |
| • | on a pro forma basis to give effect to the March 1, 2022 cash exercise in full of the A&R Warrants resulting in the issuance of 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock for approximately $46.5 million; and |
| • | on a pro forma, as adjusted basis to give further effect to the assumed sale and issuance by us of 10,533,707 shares of our Class A common stock included in the Units in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
You should read this table below with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of this prospectus.
| As of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Actual | Pro Forma | Pro Forma as Adjusted | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 37,240 | $ | 83,725 | $ | 152,555 | ||||||
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Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued and outstanding, actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted | — | — | — | |||||||||
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 730,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted; 124,307,884 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 137,589,270 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; 148,122,977 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma, as adjusted | 12 | 13 | 15 | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 763,087 | 809,571 | 878,399 | |||||||||
Accumulated deficit | (663,681 | ) | (663,681 | ) | (663,681 | ) | ||||||
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Total stockholders’ equity | 99,418 | 145,903 | 214,733 | |||||||||
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Total capitalization | $ | 99,418 | $ | 145,903 | $ | 214,733 | ||||||
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A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, would increase (decrease) the pro forma, as adjusted amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $9.7 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma, as adjusted amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $6.6 million, assuming the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
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The table above is based on 137,589,270 shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2021, as adjusted for the March 1, 2022 exercise of the A&R Warrants (which resulted in the issuance of 13,281,386 shares of Class A common stock) and excludes:
| • | 26,533,868 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under the 2021 Plan and the 2017 Plan at such date, at a weighted-average exercise price of $4.43 per share; |
| • | 20,124,597 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Plan at such date, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan; |
| • | 3,382,298 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP at such date, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP; and |
| • | 29,404,809 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2021 at a weighted-average exercise price of $ 10.45 per share (as adjusted to reflect the March 1, 2022 exercise of the A&R Warrants for 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock). |
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If you invest in our Class A common stock by acquiring Units in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per Unit and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering. As of December 31, 2021, our historical net tangible book value (deficit) was $(147.1) million, or $(1.18) per share of our Class A common stock. Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities and the carrying value of our preferred stock, which is not included in stockholders’ deficit. Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share represents historical net tangible book value (deficit) divided by 124,307,884 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
After giving effect to the March 1, 2022 cash exercise in full of the A&R Warrants resulting in the issuance of 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock for approximately $46.5 million, our pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) was $(100.6) million, or $(0.73) per share of our Class A common stock.
After giving further effect to our assumed issuance and sale of 10,533,707 Units in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2021 would have been $31.8 million, or $(0.21) per share of our Class A common stock. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.52 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $7.33 in pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors purchasing securities in this offering. Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed public offering price per share paid by new investors. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
Assumed public offering price per Unit | $7.12 | |||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of December 31, 2021 | $(0.73) | |||||||
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Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors purchasing Class A common stock in this offering | 0.52 | |||||||
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Pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering | (0.21) | |||||||
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Dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors purchasing Class A common stock in this offering | $(7.33) | |||||||
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The dilution information discussed above is illustrative only and will depend on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, would increase (decrease) the pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value by $0.07 per share and the dilution to investors purchasing securities in this offering by $0.93 per share, assuming the number of shares 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. An increase of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us in this offering would increase the pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value by $0.05 per share and would decrease the dilution per share to new investors purchasing securities in this offering by $0.05 per Unit, assuming no change in the assumed public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value after this
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offering by $0.05 per share and increase the dilution to new investors purchasing securities in this offering by $0.05 per share, assuming no change in the assumed public offering price and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares and/or warrants in full, our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering would be $(0.14), representing an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $0.59 to existing stockholders and immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $7.26 to new investors purchasing securities in this offering, assuming a public offering price of $7.12 per Unit, which is the last reported sale price of a share of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on May 10, 2022, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The foregoing table and discussion above is based on 137,589,270 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2021, as adjusted for the March 1, 2022 exercise of the A&R Warrants (which resulted in the issuance of 13,281,386 shares of Class A common stock) and excludes:
| • | 26,533,868 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under the 2021 Plan and the 2017 Plan at such date, at a weighted-average exercise price of $4.43 per share; |
| • | 20,124,597 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Plan at such date, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan; |
| • | 3,382,298 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP at such date, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP; and |
| • | 29,404,809 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2021 at a weighted-average exercise price of $ 10.45 per share (as adjusted to reflect the March 1, 2022 exercise of the A&R Warrants for 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock). |
To the extent that outstanding stock options or warrants are exercised, new stock options or equity awards are issued, or we issue additional shares of our Class A common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Such forward-looking statements, which represent our intent, belief, or current expectations, involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “should” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences in results include, but are not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect actual outcomes.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the next evolution in cellular medicine by developing off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and immune and infectious diseases. We are developing a pipeline of off-the-shelf placental-derived allogenic cell therapy candidates including T cells engineered with a CAR, NK cells, and ASCs. These therapeutic candidates target indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. We believe that by harnessing the placenta’s unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant unmet global need for effective, accessible and affordable therapeutics. We currently have three active clinical trials and intend to work with the FDA to resolve its questions on an Investigational New Drug, or IND, application we submitted in the first quarter of 2022 before commencing an additional clinical trial.
Our Celularity IMPACT platform capitalizes on the benefits of placenta-derived cells to target multiple diseases, and provides seamless integration, from bio sourcing through manufacturing cryopreserved and packaged allogeneic cells, in our purpose-built U.S.-based approximately 150,000 square foot facility. We believe the use of placental-derived cells, sourced from the placentas of full-term healthy informed consent donors, has potential inherent advantages, from a scientific and an economic perspective. First, relative to adult-derived cells, placental-derived cells demonstrate greater stemness, meaning the ability to expand and persist. Second, placental-derived cells are immunologically naïve, meaning the cells have never been exposed to a specific antigen, and suggesting the potential for less toxicity and for low or no GvHD in transplant. Third, our placental-derived cells are allogeneic, meaning they are intended for use in any patient, as compared to autologous cells, which are derived from an individual patient for that patient’s sole use. We believe this a key difference that will enable readily available off-the-shelf treatments that can be delivered faster, more reliably, at greater scale and to more patients.
From a single source material, the postpartum human placenta, we derive four allogeneic cell types: T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells and ASCs, which are used in five key cell therapeutic programs — CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001, and PDA-002 — that in turn are focused on six initial indications. CYCART-19 is a placental-derived CAR-T cell therapy, in development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, initially targeting the CD19 receptor, the construct and related CARs for which are in-licensed from Sorrento. We submitted an IND in the first quarter of 2022 and plan to commence a Phase 1 clinical trial of CYCART-19 in the second quarter of 2022 to investigate CYCART-19 for treatment of B-cell malignancies and in late April 2022, received an e-mail notification from the FDA that it will be seeking additional information before we can proceed with the planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial. We expect to receive formal written communication with additional information from the FDA by late May 2022 and plan to work with the FDA in an effort to resolve its questions as promptly as possible and expect to commence the trial in the second half of 2022, assuming clearance of the IND. CYNK-001 is a placental-derived unmodified NK cell in development for the treatment of AML, a blood cancer, and for glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, a solid tumor
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cancer. CYNK-001 is currently in Phase 1 trial for AML and a Phase 1/2a trial for GBM, respectively. CYNK-101 is genetically modified version of a placental-derived NK-cell. We initiated a Phase 1 trial of CYNK-101 in patients with HER2+ gastric and gastroesophageal cancers during the fourth quarter. CYNK-101 will be evaluated in combination with monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, to target HER2+ (traztuzumab) and PDl-1 (pembrolizumab). APPL-001 is a placenta-derived ASC being developed for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, a degenerative disease. PDA-002 is a placenta-derived ASC being developed for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, or FSHD.
Our Celularity IMPACT manufacturing process is a seamless, fully integrated process designed to optimize speed and scalability from the sourcing of placentas from full-term healthy informed consent donors through the use of proprietary processing methods, cell selection, product-specific CMC, advanced cell manufacturing and cryopreservation. The result is a suite of allogeneic inventory-ready, on demand placental-derived cell therapy products. In addition, we have non-core legacy operations that are complementary to our work in placenta-derived cell therapeutics, including biobanking operations that include the collection, processing and cryogenic storage of certain birth byproducts for third-parties, and our degenerative disease business consists of the manufacture and sale of our Biovance and Interfyl products, directly and through our third-party distribution agreement. See “— Commercial Businesses” for more information regarding these operations.
Our current science is the product of the cumulative background and effort over two decades of our seasoned and experienced management team. We have our roots in Anthrogenesis Corporation, or Anthrogenesis, a company founded under the name Lifebank in 1998 by Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our founder and Chief Executive Officer, and acquired in 2002 by Celgene. The team continued to hone their expertise in the field of placental-derived technology at Celgene through August 2017, when we, acquired Anthrogenesis. We have a robust global intellectual property portfolio comprised of over 1,500 patents and patent applications protecting our Celularity IMPACT platform, our processes, technologies and current key cell therapy programs. We believe this know-how, expertise and intellectual property will drive the rapid development and, if approved, commercialization of these potentially lifesaving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
Since inception, we have had significant operating losses. We had net losses of $100.1 million and $208.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We had an accumulated deficit of $663.7 million at December 31, 2021. Our primary use of cash is to fund operations, which consist primarily of research and development expenses, and to a lesser extent, selling, general and administrative expenses. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when it pays these expenses, as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable and accrued expenses. We expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future, and expect our research and development expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses, and capital expenditures will continue to increase. In particular, we expect our expenses and losses to increase as we continue development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our therapeutic candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved therapeutics, as well as hire additional personnel, develop commercial infrastructure for therapeutics, pay fees to outside consultants, lawyers and accountants, and incur increased costs associated with being a public company such as expenses related to services associated with maintaining compliance with Nasdaq listing rules and SEC requirements, insurance and investor relations costs. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly depending on the timing of our clinical trials and our expenditures on other research and development activities.
Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021, along with the $46.5 million received in March 2022 related to the exercise of warrants and the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through early 2023. To date, we have not had any cellular therapeutics approved for sale and have not generated any revenues from the sale of our cellular therapeutics. We generate limited revenues from our biobanking and degenerative disease businesses. We do not expect to generate any revenues from cellular therapeutic product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our therapeutic candidates, which we expect will take a number of years. If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our therapeutic candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization
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expenses related to therapeutic sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution as our current commercialization efforts are limited to our biobanking and degenerative disease businesses. As a result, until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial revenue from therapeutics, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potentially collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. Any failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies. If we are unable to raise capital, we will need to delay, reduce or terminate planned activities to reduce costs.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased unemployment, commodity and stock market volatility during the acute phase of the epidemic. Increases in vaccination rates and lower levels of reported cases suggest that the worst part of the pandemic may have passed. Should a new or mutated variant arise that results in further measures to combat its spread, there could be an adverse material impact to our financial condition, operating results, and timing and amounts of cash flows.
Although we were able to operate continuously throughout 2020 and 2021, we implemented “work from home” policies as needed following local health recommendations for non-essential employees and employees whose roles are able to be performed remotely. Management of remote workers can present special challenges and productivity may not be as high for remote workers. Because certain elements of our operations (such as processing placental tissue, certain biological assays, translational research and storage of cord blood) cannot be performed remotely, we instituted controls and protocols including mandatory temperature checking, symptom assessment forms, incremental cleaning and sanitization of common surfaces to mitigate risks to employees. Although we have not experienced any material disruption to date, there can be no assurance that our mitigation measures will continue to be effective and that there will not be a disruption to an important element of our business in the future.
Due to a broad decline in economic activity and restrictions on physical access to certain medical facilities, we did experience a decrease in the net revenues of our degenerative disease business due to the pandemic. As for clinical trials, we did not cancel or postpone enrollment solely due to the risks of COVID-19. However, enrollment in the clinical trial evaluating CYNK-001 for AML experienced some delays in the first half of 2020 and in mid 2021 as sites assessed their safety protocols and experienced high volumes of COVID-19 patients. We had a year-over-year increase in research and development expenses in 2021 notwithstanding the enrollment delays.
The extent to which COVID-19 or any other health epidemic may impact our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. Accordingly, COVID-19 could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects.
Business Segments
Prior to the third quarter of 2020, we managed our operations as one segment. In the third quarter of 2020, we began to manage our operations through an evaluation of three distinct business segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease, and BioBanking. The reportable segments were determined based on the distinct nature of the activities performed by each segment. Cell Therapy broadly refers to cellular therapies we are researching and developing, which are unproven and in various phases of development. All of the cell therapy programs fall into the Cell Therapy segment. We have no approved cell therapy product and have not generated revenue from the sale of cellular therapies to date. Degenerative Disease produces, sells and licenses products used in surgical and wound care markets, such as Biovance and Interfyl. We sell products in this segment both using our own sales force as well as independent distributors. We are developing additional tissue-based products for the Degenerative Disease segment. BioBanking collects stem cells from umbilical cords and placentas and provides storage of such cells on behalf of individuals for future use. We operate in the biobanking business primarily
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under the LifebankUSA brand. For more information about our reportable business segments refer to Note 18, “Segment Reporting” of our consolidated financial statements elsewhere included in this prospectus.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
Our current operations reflect strategic acquisitions and divestures that we have made since formation. Additional details regarding the following acquisitions can be found in Note 1, “Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation” to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Human Longevity
In May 2017, we acquired HLI Cellular Therapeutics, LLC, or HLI CT, from HLI. HLI CT operated LifebankUSA, a private umbilical cord blood stem cell and cord tissue bank that offers parents the option to collect, process and cryogenically preserve newborn umbilical cord blood stem cells and cord tissue units. The HLI CT acquisition also provided us with rights to a portfolio of biomaterial assets, including Biovance and Interfyl, as well other assets that we are no longer pursuing. In aggregate, the fair value of the consideration to acquire HLI CT was $28.9 million. The acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets including in-process research and development, or IPR&D, and a licensing agreement.
At the time of the HLI CT acquisition, Biovance and Interfyl were subject to an exclusive distribution arrangement with Alliqua Biomedical, Inc., or Alliqua. In May 2018, we acquired certain assets from Alliqua, including Alliqua’s biologic wound care business, which included the marketing and distribution rights to Biovance and Interfyl as well as a Class II medical device, the MIST and UltraMIST Therapy Systems. In connection with the Alliqua asset purchase agreement, we paid cash consideration of $29.0 million. The Alliqua acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets.
In August 2020, we (i) sold the assets comprising our MIST/UltraMIST business to Sanuwave Health, Inc., or Sanuwave, and (ii) entered into a five-year licensing agreement with Sanuwave for total consideration of $24.5 million, of which $20.0 million was paid at or prior to closing. The remaining $4.5 million of the purchase price was financed through a convertible promissory note due on or before August 6, 2021. The convertible promissory note can be converted into common shares of Sanuwave stock at our election any time on or after January 1, 2021, which we have not elected to do as of the date of this prospectus.
The five-year licensing arrangement with Sanuwave includes: (i) an exclusive Biovance license for distribution and commercialization in the wound care market and (ii) a non-exclusive license for the distribution and commercialization of Interfyl in the wound care market. Under the licensing agreement, we were to receive a quarterly license fee and a defined royalty on each product sale. A credit was provided to Sanuwave for Biovance royalties up to the quarterly license fee. We terminated the license in the third quarter of 2021.
Anthrogenesis
In August 2017, we acquired Anthrogenesis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene. The Anthrogenesis acquisition included a portfolio of pre-clinical and clinical stage assets, including key cellular therapeutic assets in that we continue to develop. The Anthrogenesis acquisition gives us access to Anthrogenesis’ proprietary technologies and processes for the recovery of large quantities of high-potential stem cells and cellular therapeutic products derived from postpartum human placentas, each an Anthrogenesis Product. As part of the Anthrogenesis acquisition, some of the inventors of the Anthrogenesis Products and other key members of the Anthrogenesis Product development team joined us. In aggregate, the fair value of the consideration to acquire Anthrogenesis was $346.4 million. The acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets including IPR&D and a licensing agreement and contingent value rights agreement. See “— Licensing Agreements” below.
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CariCord
In October 2018, we acquired CariCord Inc., or CariCord, a family cord blood bank established by ClinImmune Labs University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank and the Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, for and on behalf of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In the aggregate, the fair value of the consideration to acquire CariCord was $9.3 million. The acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets.
Licensing Agreements
In the ordinary course of business, we license in intellectual property and other rights from third parties and have also out-licensed our intellectual property and other rights, including in connection with our acquisitions and divestitures, described above. Additional details regarding our licensing agreements can be found in Note 15, “License and Distribution Agreements” to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Sorrento
In September 2020, we entered into a license and transfer agreement, with Sorrento. Henry Ji, Ph.D., a former member of Legacy Celularity’s board of directors, currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sorrento. Sorrento is also a significant stockholder of ours and invested in the PIPE. Pursuant to the Sorrento Agreement, we obtained a worldwide license, with the right to grant sublicenses with Sorrento’s consent, under certain of Sorrento’s intellectual property rights, including patent rights that would be infringed by the use of certain CD19 CAR constructs, to research, develop, use, reproduce, modify, and create derivative works in the field of placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder, and to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export, and distribute products that consist of a combination of certain specified CAR constructs and placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells in the field of placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder. The foregoing license is exclusive with respect to certain specified patent rights and non-exclusive with respect to all other intellectual property rights of Sorrento. The CD19 CAR construct licensed from Sorrento forms the basis of the genetic modification for CYCART-19.
Under the Sorrento Agreement, we have sole responsibility for the development and commercialization of licensed products, subject to certain reserved rights of Sorrento with respect to CD19 CAR-T therapeutics. Additionally, we are obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize licensed products.
Under the Sorrento Agreement, we are obligated to pay Sorrento a low double-digit percentage of non-royalty sublicensing income payments received by it in connection with a grant of any sublicense for CD19 CAR-T licensed products. Additionally, we are obligated to pay Sorrento a low single-digit royalty on net sales of CD19 CAR-T licensed products in perpetuity. See “Business — Licensing Agreements — Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.” for more information regarding the Sorrento Agreement and the proposed supply agreement.
Celgene (now part of Bristol Myers Squibb)
In August 2017, in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition, we entered into a license agreement, with Celgene, which has since been acquired by Bristol Meyers Squibb. Pursuant to the license, we granted Celgene a worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid up, non-exclusive license, without the right to grant sublicenses (other than to its affiliates), under Anthrogenesis’ intellectual property in existence as of the date of the license or as developed by Celgene in connection with any transition services activities related to the merger for non-commercial pre-clinical research purposes, as well as to develop, manufacture, commercialize and fully exploit products and services that relate to the construction of any CAR, the modification of any T-cell or NK cell to express such a
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CAR, and/or the use of such CARs or T-cells or NK cells for any purpose, which commercial license is sublicensable. Either party may terminate the license upon an uncured material breach of the agreement by the other party or insolvency of the other party.
In August 2017, Legacy Celularity also issued shares of its Series X Preferred Stock to Celgene as merger consideration and entered into the CVR Agreement with Celgene pursuant to which we issued one CVR in respect of each share of Series X Preferred Stock issued to Celgene in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. The CVR Agreement entitles the holders of the CVRs to an aggregate amount, on a per program basis, of $50 million in regulatory milestones and an aggregate $125 million in commercial milestone payments with respect to certain of our investigational therapeutic programs, which would include the current CYNK-001 CYNK-101 and PDA-002 pipeline candidates and the legacy PDA-001 program (certain placenta-derived adherent cells, proprietary to Anthrogenesis, that are formulated for intravenous delivery, that is no longer in development. Such payments under the CVR Agreement also expressly cover PNK-007 (which includes certain NK cells proprietary to Anthrogenesis, produced by a process proprietary to Anthrogenesis as of the closing of the Anthrogenesis transaction) and certain PNK-007 cells with a genetic modification (but not including NK cells with a chimeric receptor, including a CAR), along with any derivatives, parts, subparts, or progeny of any of the foregoing, or any therapeutic based or derived (in whole or in part) on certain related development programs as they existed as of the closing of the Anthrogenesis transaction. Accordingly, as we expand our NK cell type franchise into new indications and, as a general matter, because these payments are not payable until a later stage of development, we expect to continue to evaluate our present and future therapeutic candidates as they develop and evolve in light of the specific terms in the CVR Agreement to determine the specific therapeutics on which such amounts will be payable. In addition, with respect to each such program and calendar year, the CVR holders will be entitled to receive a royalty equal to a mid-teen percentage of the annual net sales for such program’s therapeutics from the date of the first commercial sale of such program’s therapeutic in a particular country until the latest to occur of the expiration of the last to expire of any valid patent claim covering such program therapeutic in such country, the expiration of marketing exclusivity with respect to such therapeutic in such country, and August 2027 (i.e., the tenth anniversary of the closing of the acquisition of Anthrogenesis). No payments under the CVR Agreement have been made to date. We estimate the liability associated with the CVR quarterly. Changes to that liability include but are not limited to changes in our clinical programs, assumptions about the commercial value of those programs and the time value of money.
See “Business — Our Team and Corporate History — Celgene Corporation” for more information regarding the Celgene license and the CVR Agreement.
Components of Operating Results
Net revenues
Net revenues include: (i) sales of HCT/P’s, including Biovance, Biovance 3L, Interfyl and MIST/UltraMIST Therapy System equipment and single-use applicators, collectively, Product Sales and Rentals; (ii) the collection, processing and storage of umbilical cord and placental blood and tissue after full-term pregnancies, collectively, Services; and, (iii) license fees and royalties received under our various license and distribution agreements, collectively, License, Royalty and Other. MIST/UltraMIST revenues are only included within 2020 as the business was divested in August 2020.
Cost of goods sold
Cost of goods sold consists of labor, material and overhead costs associated with our two existing commercial business segments, biobanking and degenerative disease. Biobanking costs include the cost of storage and transportation kits for newly banked materials as well as tank and facility overhead costs for cord blood and other units in storage. Degenerative disease costs include costs associated with procuring placentas, qualifying the placental material and processing the placental tissue into a marketable product. Costs in the
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degenerative disease segment include labor and overhead costs associated with the production of the Biovance, Biovance 3L and Interfyl product lines. License, royalty and other costs reflect expenses incurred related to our distribution agreements.
Research and development expense
Our research and development expenses primarily relate to basic scientific research into placentally derived allogeneic cells, pre-clinical studies to support our current and future clinical programs in cellular medicine, clinical development of our NK cell programs and facilities, depreciation and other direct and allocated expenses incurred as a result of research and development activities. We incur expenses for third party CROs, that assist in running clinical trials, personnel expenses for research scientists, specialized chemicals and reagents used to conduct biologic research, expense for third party testing and validation and various overhead expenses including rent and facility maintenance expense. Basic research, research collaborations involving partners and research designed to enable successful regulatory submissions is critical to our current and future success in cell therapy. We anticipate that our research and development expenditures will increase as we engage in further clinical trials, investigate incremental CAR constructs for our allogeneic T-cell and NK cell platforms and conduct further pre-clinical studies on CYNK-101 in conjunction with various antibody candidates. The amount of increase will depend on numerous factors, including the timing of clinical trials, preliminary evidence of efficacy in clinical trials and the number of indications that we choose to pursue.
General and administrative expense
General and administrative expense consists primarily of personnel costs including salaries, bonuses, stock compensation and benefits for specialized staff that support our core business operations. Executive management, finance, legal, human resources and information technology are key components of general and administrative expense and those expenses are recognized when incurred. We expect that as we engage in more clinical trials and potentially prepares for commercialization of any approved therapies that our general and administrative costs will increase over time. The magnitude and timing of any increase in general and administrative expense will depend on the progress of clinical trials, the release of new products within the degenerative disease portfolio, changes in the regulatory environment or incremental staffing needs to support the growth of the business as well as any incremental expenses associated with being a public company.
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability
Because the acquisitions of Anthrogenesis from Celgene and HLI CT from HLI were accounted for as business combinations, we recognized acquisition-related contingent consideration on the balance sheet in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting. See “— Acquisitions and Divestitures” for more information. The fair value of contingent consideration liability is determined based on a probability-weighted income approach derived from revenue estimates and a probability assessment with respect to the likelihood of achieving regulatory and commercial milestone obligations and royalty obligations. The fair value of acquisition related contingent consideration is remeasured each reporting period with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statement of operations. Changes in contingent consideration fair value estimates result in an increase or decrease in our contingent consideration obligation and a corresponding charge or reduction to operating results. Key elements of the contingent consideration are regulatory milestone payments, sales milestone payments and royalty payments. Regulatory payments are due on regulatory approval of certain cell types in the United States and the European Union. Regulatory milestone payments are one time but are due prior to any potential commercial success of a cell type in a specific indication. Royalty payments are a percentage of net sales. Sales milestone payments are due when certain aggregate sales thresholds have been met. Management must use substantial judgement in evaluating the value of the contingent consideration. Estimates used by management include but are not limited to: (i) the number and type of clinical programs that we are likely to pursue based on the quality of our preclinical data, (ii) the time required to conduct clinical trials, (iii) the odds of regulatory success in those trials, (iv) the potential number of patients treatable for the indications in which we
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are successful and (v) the pricing of treatments that achieve commercial status. All of these areas involve substantial judgement on the part of management and are inherently uncertain.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2020
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||
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Product sales and rentals | $ | 3,801 | $ | 6,854 | $ | (3,053 | ) | (44.5 | )% | |||||||
Services | 5,522 | 5,556 | (34 | ) | (0.6 | )% | ||||||||||
License, royalty and other | 12,012 | 1,868 | 10,144 | 543.0 | % | |||||||||||
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Total revenues | 21,335 | 14,278 | 7,057 | 49.4 | % | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) | ||||||||||||||||
Product sales and rentals | 3,528 | 2,247 | 1,281 | 57.0 | % | |||||||||||
Services | 3,649 | 2,294 | 1,355 | 59.1 | % | |||||||||||
License, royalty and other | 2,476 | 391 | 2,085 | 533.2 | % | |||||||||||
Research and development | 88,353 | 52,707 | 35,646 | 67.6 | % | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 71,341 | 31,336 | 40,005 | 127.7 | % | |||||||||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | (41,145 | ) | (55,566 | ) | 14,421 | (26.0 | )% | |||||||||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 2,192 | 3,394 | (1,202 | ) | (35.4 | )% | ||||||||||
Impairment of acquired intangible assets | — | 129,400 | (129,400 | ) | (100.0 | )% | ||||||||||
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Total operating expense | 130,394 | 166,203 | ||||||||||||||
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Loss from operations | $ | (109,059 | ) | $ | (151,925 | ) | ||||||||||
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Net Revenue and Cost of Goods Sold
Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $21.3 million, an increase of $7.1 million, or 49.4%, compared to the prior year period. The increase was due to an increase of $10.1 million in license, royalty and other revenues primarily driven by (i) recognition of previously deferred revenue as a result of the termination of the Sanuwave license agreement of $6.8 million and (ii) an increase in revenues from supply and distribution agreements recognized during 2021 of $1.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in product sales and rentals revenues of $3.1 million resulting from the sale of the MIST/UltraMIST assets in August 2020. Services revenues were flat compared to the prior period.
Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $4.7 million, or 95.7%, compared to the prior year period. The increase was due to (i) higher license, royalty and other costs of $2.0 million driven by sales under new supply and distribution agreements including Arthrex and Evolution and (ii) higher services costs of $1.4 million resulting from increased labor and overhead costs as well as allocated expenses. Costs related to product sale and rentals increased by $1.2 million due to changes in product mix driven by the sale of the MIST/UltraMIST assets in August 2020, increased material and labor costs and higher allocated costs associated with higher Interfyl production volumes in the second half of the year.
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Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $88.4 million, an increase of $35.6 million, or 67.6%, compared to the prior year period. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to higher stock-based compensation expense of $9.7 million related to awards granted to senior management (for more information about stock-based compensation refer to Note 13, “Stock-Based Compensation” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus), higher cell therapy process development and research expenses related to the CYCART-19 program, and higher personnel costs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $71.3 million, an increase of $40.0 million, or 127.7%, compared to the prior year period, primarily due to higher stock-based compensation expense of $25.9 million related to awards granted to our board of directors and senior management (for more information about stock-based compensation refer to Note 13, “Stock-Based Compensation” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus), a charge related to an estimated legal settlement with CTH Biosourcing LLC and higher personnel costs and professional fees as we began operating as a public company.
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Liability
For the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020 the fair value of the contingent consideration liability decreased resulting in net gains of $41.1 million and $55.6 million, respectively. The change in fair value of the contingent consideration liability for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 resulted from changes in market-based assumptions and underlying projections (for more information about changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liability refer to Note 4, “Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus).
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $2.2 million, which decreased 35.4%, compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the sale of UltraMIST to Sanuwave in August 2020.
Impairment of Acquired Intangible Assets
In 2020, the development of PDA-001 was discontinued for an indefinite period of time as we opted to pursue an alternative clinical program. As a result, we fully impaired our IPR&D asset for PDA-001 (acquired from Celgene) totaling $129.4 million during the third quarter of 2020 (see Note 8, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net” in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus).
Other Income (Expense)
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||
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Interest income | $ | 332 | $ | 370 | $ | (38 | ) | (10.3 | )% | |||||||
Interest expense | (3,171 | ) | (2,354 | ) | (817 | ) | 34.7 | % | ||||||||
Loss on sale of business | — | (4,434 | ) | 4,434 | (100.0 | )% | ||||||||||
Income (expense) related to warrant liabilities | 13,482 | (58,686 | ) | 72,168 | (123.0 | )% | ||||||||||
Other (expense) income, net | (1,682 | ) | 4,096 | (5,778 | ) | (141.1 | )% | |||||||||
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Total other income (expense) | $ | 8,961 | $ | (61,008 | ) | $ | 69,969 | (114.7 | )% | |||||||
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For the year ended December 31, 2021, other income (expense), net changed by $70.0 million compared to the prior year period. The change was primarily due to a gain recognized in 2021 related to our warrants to purchase common stock compared to a loss recognized in 2020, which resulted from changes in the fair value of the corresponding liabilities (see Note 4, “Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus). Other (expense) income, net for the year ended December 31, 2021 also included expense of $2.8 million resulting from the change in fair value of the convertible note receivable obtained in connection with the disposition of the UltraMIST business (see Note 4, “Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus), partially offset by net proceeds of $1.4 million from the sale of unused New Jersey net operating losses, or NOLs, and unused research and development, or R&D, tax credits. Other income (expense), net for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes $3.8 million in net proceeds from the sale of unused New Jersey NOLs and unused R&D tax credits and a $4.4 million loss on sale of business related to the sale of UltraMIST.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
From inception through December 31, 2021, we have raised aggregate net cash proceeds of $483.3 million. As of December 31, 2021, we had $37.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and an accumulated deficit of $663.7 million. In March 2022, we received approximately $46.4 million of cash proceeds from the exercise of warrants to acquire an aggregate of 13,281,386 shares at $3.50 per share. Our primary use of our capital resources is funding our operating expenses, which consist primarily of funding the research and development of our cellular therapeutic candidates, and to a lesser extent, selling, general and administrative expenses.
Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021, along with the $46.5 million received in March 2022 related to the exercise of warrants and the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through early 2023. Following this offering, we will need additional funding and expect to seek such additional funding through public or private equity and/or debt financings. We may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, or at all, and the terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our stockholders. Based on our recurring losses from operations incurred since inception, expectation of continuing operating losses for the foreseeable future, and need to raise additional capital to finance our future operations, we have concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We expect to incur substantial expenses in the foreseeable future for the development and potential commercialization of our cellular therapeutic candidates and ongoing internal research and development programs. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the nature, timing or aggregate amount of costs for our development, potential commercialization, and internal research and development programs. However, to complete our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, and to complete the process of obtaining regulatory approval for our therapeutic candidates, as well as to build the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure that we believe will be necessary to commercialize our cellular therapeutic candidates, if approved, we may require substantial additional funding in the future.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
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Cash (used in)/provided by | ||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 110,096 | $ | (63,193 | ) | |||
Investing activities | 5,903 | (12,815 | ) | |||||
Financing activities | 98,562 | 102,014 | ||||||
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Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | (17,437 | ) | $ | 26,006 | |||
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Operating Activities
We used $110.1 million of net cash in operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to $63.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. Cash used in operating activities in 2021 reflected our net loss of $100.1 million as well as noncash charges of $1.4 million and a net change in our operating assets and liabilities of $11.3 million. Cash used in operating activities in 2020 reflected our net loss of $208.2 million, which was slightly offset by noncash charges of $141.4 million and a net change in our operating assets and liabilities of $3.6 million. The noncash charges primarily consisted of depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, stock-based compensating expense, issuance of common stock to settle a liability, change in fair value of our warrants and contingent consideration.
Investing Activities
We used $6.2 million and $27.8 million on capital expenditures during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In 2021, we received $0.3 million from the sale of a promissory note. In 2020, we received proceeds of $15.0 million from the August 2020 sale of UltraMIST.
Financing Activities
We generated $98.6 million of net cash from financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, which consisted of $108.8 million in cash proceeds from the merger with GX, the PIPE financing and Palantir investment, partially offset by payments for professional services related to the aforementioned transactions of $10.9 million. We also received and paid back $5.0 million in short-term loans and received $0.6 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options. We generated $102.0 million of net cash from financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020, which consisted primarily of proceeds from the issuance of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock and warrants in March 2020.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” included in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, assumptions related to the accounting for business combinations, goodwill and intangible impairment assessment, the valuation of inventory and of contingent consideration, accrual of research and development expenses, and the valuations of stock options and preferred stock warrants. We based our estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates when there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when control of the products and services is transferred to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive from our customers in exchange for those products and services. This process involves identifying the contract with a customer, determining the performance obligations in the contract, determining the contract price, allocating the contract price to the distinct performance obligations in the contract, and recognizing revenue when the performance obligations have been satisfied.
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A performance obligation is considered distinct from other obligations in a contract when it provides a benefit to the customer either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer and is separately identified in the contract. We consider a performance obligation satisfied once it has transferred control of a good or service to the customer, meaning the customer has the ability to use and obtain the benefit of the good or service. Transaction prices of products or services are typically based on contracted rates with customers and to the extent that the transaction price includes variable consideration, we estimate the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method or the most likely amount, depending on the circumstances, to which it expects to be entitled.
Products within our Degenerative Disease segment generally do not contain multiple elements. We allow for a right of return for those products but to date returns have been minimal.
Under the license agreement with Sanuwave, we received a quarterly license fee and a defined royalty on each product sold. A credit was provided to Sanuwave for Biovance royalties up to the quarterly license fee. We recognized the quarterly license fee over each quarterly term based on the actual sales occurring over the period (until we terminated the license in the third quarter of 2021).
Accounting for Business Combinations
Accounting for business combinations requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date with respect to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed and pre-acquisition contingencies. We use our best estimates and assumptions to accurately assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date as well as the useful lives of those acquired intangible assets. Examples of critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets and goodwill we have acquired include but are not limited to developed technologies and IPR&D. Our estimates may also impact our deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.
Valuation of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
We have acquired and may continue to acquire significant intangible assets in connection with business combinations, which we record at fair value. The determination of fair value requires the use of forecasts, estimates and assumptions, which requires significant judgment by management. Each of these factors are subject to uncertainty and can significantly affect the value of the intangible asset.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually or when an event occurs that could result in an impairment. The impairment analysis requires the exercise of significant judgment by management and can involve both the assessment of qualitative factors (which are subject to uncertainty and can change significantly from period to period), as well as a quantitative. For our quantitative impairment tests, we use an estimated future cash flow approach that requires significant judgment with respect to future volume, revenue and expense growth rates, the selection of an appropriate discount rate, asset groupings and other assumptions and estimates. The estimates and assumptions used are subject to uncertainty. The use of alternative estimates and assumptions could increase or decrease the estimated fair value of the assets and could potentially impact our results of operations. Actual results may differ from our estimates.
Contingent Consideration
We have acquisition-related contingent consideration, which consists of potential milestone and royalty obligations, which was recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at our acquisition-date estimated fair value. We remeasure the fair value each reporting period, with changes recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The determination of fair value requires the exercise of significant judgment and estimates by management. These include estimates and assumptions regarding the achievement and timing of milestones,
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forecasted revenues and assumptions utilized in calculating a discount rate. If management’s assumptions prove to be inaccurate, it could result in changes to the contingent consideration liability and have a material effect on our results of operations.
Warrant Liability
Accounting for liability classified warrants requires management to exercise judgment and make estimates and assumptions regarding their fair value (for more information about the material inputs and assumptions used to value the liability classified warrants refer to Note 4, “Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus). The warrant liability was initially recorded at fair value upon the date of issuance and is subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date, with changes recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. Changes in the fair value of the liability classified warrants will continue to be recognized until the warrants are exercised, expire or qualify for equity classification.
Convertible Note Receivable
We have a convertible note receivable from the August 2020 disposition of the UltraMIST business. We use a bond valuation that employs a credit default model, which requires the use of estimates and judgement by management regarding: (i) the fair value and volatility of the issuer’s common stock, (ii) probability and timing of converting the note, and (iii) risk-free interest rate. If our assumptions and estimates prove to be inaccurate, it could result in changes to the convertible note receivable and have a material effect on our results of operations.
Stock-based Compensation
We recognize compensation expense related to stock options granted to employees and nonemployees based on the estimated grant date fair value and recognizes forfeitures as they occur. We estimate the grant date fair value, and the resulting stock-based compensation expense, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for service-based and performance based awards. For awards with market conditions, we utilize a Monte-Carlo model to estimate the fair value of those awards. The grant date fair value of the stock-based awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period of the respective awards. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model and Monte-Carlo model requires the use of highly subjective assumptions to determine the fair value of stock-based awards. See Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for information concerning certain of the specific assumptions used in applying the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the estimated fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Such assumptions involve inherent uncertainties and the application of significant judgment. As a result, if factors or expected outcomes change and we use significantly different assumptions or estimates, our stock-based compensation could be materially different.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for information about recent accounting pronouncements, the timing of their adoption, and our assessment, to the extent it has made one, of their potential impact on our financial condition of results of operations.
JOBS Act Accounting Election
We expect to remain an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies.
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We have elected to use this extended transition period to enable us to comply with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of business. These risks primarily include interest rate sensitivities.
Interest Rate Risk
We had cash and cash equivalents of $37.0 million as of December 31, 2021, which consists principally of cash held in commercial bank accounts and money market funds having an original maturity of less than three months. At December 31, 2021, substantially all cash and cash equivalents were held in either commercial bank accounts or money market funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve capital to fund our operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. Because our investments are primarily short-term in duration, we believe that our exposure to interest rate risk is not significant, and a 1% movement in market interest rates would not have a significant impact on the total value of our portfolio. We had no debt outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
Effects of Inflation
Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our results of operations during the periods presented.
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Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the next evolution in cellular medicine by developing off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and immune and infectious diseases. We are developing a pipeline of off-the-shelf placental-derived allogenic cell therapy candidates including T cells engineered with a CAR, NK cells, and ASCs. These therapeutic candidates target indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. We believe that by harnessing the placenta’s unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant unmet global need for effective, accessible and affordable therapeutics. We currently have three active clinical trials and intend to work with the FDA to resolve its questions on an Investigational New Drug, or IND, application we submitted in the first quarter of 2022 before commencing an additional clinical trial.
Our Celularity IMPACT platform capitalizes on the benefits of placenta-derived cells to target multiple diseases, and provides seamless integration, from bio sourcing through manufacturing cryopreserved and packaged allogeneic cells, in our purpose-built U.S.-based approximately 150,000 square foot facility. We believe the use of placental-derived cells, sourced from the placentas of full-term healthy informed consent donors, has potential inherent advantages, from a scientific and an economic perspective. First, relative to adult-derived cells, placental-derived cells demonstrate greater stemness, meaning the ability to expand and persist. Second, placental-derived cells are immunologically naïve, meaning the cells have never been exposed to a specific antigen, and suggesting the potential for less toxicity and for low or no GvHD in transplant. Third, our placental-derived cells are allogeneic, meaning they are intended for use in any patient, as compared to autologous cells, which are derived from an individual patient for that patient’s sole use. We believe this a key difference that will enable readily available off-the-shelf treatments that can be delivered faster, more reliably, at greater scale and to more patients.
From a single source material, the postpartum human placenta, we derive four allogeneic cell types: T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells and ASCs, which are used in five key cell therapeutic programs: CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001, and PDA-002—that in turn are, focused on six initial indications. CYCART-19 is a placental-derived CAR-T cell therapy, in development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, initially targeting the CD19 receptor, the construct and related CARs for which are in-licensed from Sorrento. We submitted an IND in the first quarter of 2022 and plan to commence a Phase 1 clinical trial of CYCART-19 in the second quarter of 2022 to investigate CYCART-19 for treatment of B-cell malignancies and in late April 2022, received an e-mail notification from the FDA that it will be seeking additional information before we can proceed with the planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial. We expect to receive formal written communication with additional information from the FDA by late May 2022 and plan to work with the FDA in an effort to resolve its questions as promptly as possible and expect to commence the trial in the second half of 2022, assuming clearance of the IND. CYNK-001 is a placental-derived unmodified NK cell in development for the treatment of AML, a blood cancer, and for GBM, a solid tumor cancer. CYNK-001 is currently in Phase 1 trial for AML and a Phase 1/2a trial for GBM, respectively. CYNK-101 is genetically modified version of a placental-derived NK-cell. We initiated a Phase 1 trial of CYNK-101 in patients with HER2+ gastric and gastroesophageal cancers during the fourth quarter. CYNK-101 will be evaluated in combination with mAbs to target HER2+ (traztuzumab) and PDl-1 (pembrolizumab). APPL-001 is a placenta-derived ASC being developed for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, a degenerative disease. PDA-002 is a placenta-derived ASC being developed for the treatment of FSHD.
Our Celularity IMPACT manufacturing process is a seamless, fully integrated process designed to optimize speed and scalability from the sourcing of placentas from full-term healthy informed consent donors through the use of proprietary processing methods, cell selection, product-specific CMC, advanced cell manufacturing and cryopreservation. The result is a suite of allogeneic inventory-ready, on demand placental-derived cell therapy products. In addition, we have non-core legacy operations that are complementary to our work in placenta-
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derived cell therapeutics, including biobanking operations that include the collection, processing and cryogenic storage of certain birth byproducts for third-parties, and our degenerative disease business consists of the manufacture and sale of our Biovance and Interfyl products, directly and through our network of distribution partners. See “— Commercial Businesses” for more information regarding these operations.
Our current science is the product of the cumulative background and effort over two decades of our seasoned and experienced management team. We have our roots in Anthrogenesis, a company founded under the name Lifebank in 1998 by Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our founder and Chief Executive Officer, and acquired in 2002 by Celgene. The team continued to hone their expertise in the field of placental-derived technology at Celgene through August 2017, when we, acquired Anthrogenesis. We have a robust global intellectual property portfolio comprised of over 1,500 patents and patent applications protecting our Celularity IMPACT platform, our processes, technologies and current key cell therapy programs. We believe this know-how, expertise and intellectual property will drive the rapid development and, if approved, commercialization of these potentially lifesaving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
Our Pipeline
Leveraging our Celularity IMPACT platform, we have four placental-derived allogeneic cell types: T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells and ASCs. From this, we have five key therapeutic programs in clinical development focused on six initial indications.
Celularity IMPACT Platform
Placental-derived cell therapies offer potentially lifesaving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. We have developed and acquired proprietary technology for collecting, processing and storing placental stem cells with potentially broad therapeutic applications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases.
We use our proprietary Celularity IMPACT platform for the development of Immuno-Modulatory Placenta-derived Allogeneic Cell Therapies. We believe that by harnessing the placenta’s unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant unmet global need for effective, accessible and affordable therapeutics.
Our Celularity IMPACT manufacturing process is a seamless, fully integrated process that is built to optimize speed and scale from sourcing of human full term healthy postpartum donated placentas through proprietary
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processing methods, cell selection, product-specific CMC, advanced cell manufacturing and cryopreservation and result in allogeneic inventory-ready and on demand placental-derived cell therapy products. The fully integrated process is housed in our purpose-built manufacturing, translational research and biobanking facility.
Our Celularity IMPACT platform capitalizes on our integrated processes and the unique biologic characteristics of placenta-derived allogeneic cells to target multiple diseases including indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. The platform is designed to accelerate the speed at which therapies can be provided to patients while ensuring manufacturing excellence of high quality and pure placental-derived cell therapy products at a lower cost of goods. We believe cell therapy inventory should be available to physicians on demand to treat patients in need and to enable repeat dosing regimens that other cell therapy platforms will not be able to support.
Our Strategy
Our goal is to lead the next evolution in cellular medicine by delivering off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular therapies, at greater scale and quality with attractive economics. We believe achieving this goal will result in placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies becoming a standard of care in various indications across cancer,
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infectious and degenerative diseases, and enable us to make potentially lifesaving therapies more readily accessible to more patients throughout the world. We plan to achieve this mission by:
| • | Leveraging the inherent advantages of placental-derived cells. Our cells come from the postpartum placenta donated by healthy donors who have signed an informed consent, representing a renewable, economical and highly scalable starting material collected under rigorous controls. We use those cells to produce on-demand, off-the-shelf investigational allogeneic cellular therapy products investigational medicines that are designed to sidestep treatment delays inherent to more costly autologous cell therapies and other allogeneic cell therapy approaches, all while offering the potential for greater in vivo expansion, persistence, potency and acceptance. Further, we believe the immunological naïveté of placental cells may allow for potentially less toxicity. |
| • | Capturing efficiencies through our integrated Celularity IMPACT platform. Manufacturing allogeneic cell therapeutic candidates involves a series of complex and precise steps. We believe a critical component to our success will be to leverage our rapidly scalable, end-to-end supply chain. Applying proprietary manufacturing know-how, expertise and capacity utilizing our purpose-built U.S.-based cGMP compliant facility, we believe our fully integrated manufacturing operations and infrastructure will allow us to improve the manufacturing process, eliminate reliance on contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, and more rapidly advance therapeutic candidates. |
| • | Selectively targeting indications with unmet patient need with potential for accelerated development. Our pipeline reflects our intent to leverage the unique biology of the placenta to develop placental-derived allogeneic cells for indications where the demonstrated properties of such cells could provide an advantage, both in terms of development (sourcing and proliferation) and potential efficacy (affinity). In selecting indications, we evaluate where the biological properties of placental-derived cells position them for success, as well as where there is a clearly defined regulatory pathway providing the potential for accelerated development to address unmet patient need. |
| • | Continuing to invest in basic and translational research. We intend to continue to invest in the discovery and development of additional pipeline cell franchises and explore other placental-derived cell opportunities. Preclinical and early clinical data demonstrating the unique biological activity and potential of placental-derived stem cells, provide potential for multiple highly effective cell therapy programs. |
| • | Benefiting from collective experience of deep, seasoned management team. We have a deep, seasoned management team with experience in all aspects of cellular medicine, including discovery and translational research, clinical development and product approval, manufacturing and process development and commercialization. For over two decades, the team has been at the vanguard of cellular medicine, and has collectively seen a number of programs, including one cell therapy, through FDA-approval to commercialization. |
Our Team and Corporate History
Anthrogenesis Corporation
We have our roots in Anthrogenesis, a corporation founded under the name Lifebank in 1998 by Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our founder and Chief Executive Officer. Like us, Anthrogenesis was focused on developing and delivering cellular therapies using placental-derived stem cells for the treatment of cancers, degenerative and infectious diseases. Celgene acquired Anthrogenesis in December 2002 in a stock-for-stock merger, and operated Anthrogenesis as CCT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene. Similarly, CCT continued to focus on the research and development of placental-derived stem cells. In 2016, Dr. Hariri formed Legacy Celularity and began acquiring the assets that form our business today. These include our degenerative disease and biobanking businesses, which Celgene had sold to HLI, a genomic-based health intelligence company co-founded by Dr. Hariri and Dr. Diamandis, one of our directors, as well as our core cellular therapeutics business, which we acquired in August 2017, when we acquired Anthrogenesis from Celgene in exchange for stock and event-driven contingent value rights, or CVRs.
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Celgene Corporation (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb)
License Agreement
In August 2017, in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition, we entered into a license agreement with Celgene. Pursuant to the license with Celgene, we granted Celgene a worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid up, non-exclusive license under Anthrogenesis’ intellectual property in existence as of the date of the Celgene license or as developed by Celgene in connection with any transition services activities related to the merger for preclinical research purposes, as well as to develop, manufacture, commercialize and fully exploit products and services that relate to the construction of any CAR, the modification of any T-cell or NK cell to express such a CAR, and/or the use of such CARs or T-cells or NK cells for any purpose, which commercial license is sublicensable. Either party may terminate the Celgene license upon an uncured material breach of the agreement by the other party or insolvency of the other party.
Contingent Value Rights
In August 2017, in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition, we issued shares of our Series X Preferred Stock to Celgene as merger consideration and entered into the contingent value agreement with Celgene, or the CVR Agreement. Pursuant to the CVR Agreement, we issued one CVR in respect of each share of Series X Preferred Stock issued to Celgene in the acquisition. Such CVRs are not separable from the shares of Series X Preferred Stock other than in an initial public offering or a sale of our company.
The CVR Agreement entitles the holders of the CVRs to an aggregate amount, on a per program basis, of $50 million in regulatory milestones and an aggregate $125 million in commercial milestone payments with respect to certain of our investigational therapeutic programs, which would include the current CYNK-001, CYNK-101 and PDA-002 pipeline candidates and the legacy PDA-001 program (a placenta-derived adherent cells, proprietary to Anthrogenesis, that is formulated for intravenous delivery) that are no longer in development. Such payments under the CVR Agreement also expressly cover PNK-007 (which includes certain NK cells proprietary to Anthrogenesis, produced by a process proprietary to Anthrogenesis as of the closing of the Anthrogenesis transaction) and certain PNK-007 cells with a genetic modification (but not including NK cells with a chimeric receptor, including a CAR), along with any derivatives, parts, subparts, or progeny of any of the foregoing, or any therapeutic based or derived (in whole or in part) on certain related development programs as they existed as of the closing of the Anthrogenesis transaction. Accordingly, as we expand our NK cell type franchise into new indications and, as a general matter, because these payments are not payable until a later stage of development, we expect to continue to evaluate our present and future therapeutic candidates as they develop and evolve in light of the specific terms in the CVR Agreement to determine the specific therapeutics on which such amounts will be payable. In addition, with respect to each such program and calendar year, the CVR holders will be entitled to receive a royalty equal to a mid-teen percentage of the annual net sales for such program’s therapeutics from the date of the first commercial sale of such program’s therapeutic in a particular country until the latest to occur of the expiration of the last to expire of any valid patent claim covering such program therapeutic in such country, the expiration of marketing exclusivity with respect to such therapeutic in such country, and August 2027 (i.e., the tenth anniversary of the closing of the acquisition of Anthrogenesis). No payments under the CVR Agreement have been made to date.
Investors’ Rights Agreement and Investment Rights Agreement
We also entered into an investors’ rights agreement and an investment rights agreement, each with Celgene and certain other parties thereto in August 2017 in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. For more information regarding these agreements, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence — License and Other Agreements” of this prospectus.
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Allogeneic Placental-Derived Cells
Biomaterials Collection
The initial source material for our four allogeneic cell types is the postpartum human placenta. We source human placental birth material used for the manufacture of our products from accredited hospitals and birth centers, with collections performed by licensed health care professionals. Eligibility for donation is determined by a donor screening process that includes education about the donor program, obtaining informed consent from the donor and completion of a detailed maternal health questionnaire and family health history. These forms are completed by the donor, with assistance from trained collection technicians as needed. Donors providing birth materials do not encounter any fees and are not renumerated.
Licensed health care professionals collect donor material utilizing our proprietary collection kits, which include barcode labels for biomaterials (cord blood, placenta and maternal blood samples) along with appropriate chain of custody documentation. Once collected, the donated material and a maternal blood sample are shipped in an insulated container via courier to our Florham Park, New Jersey laboratory and manufacturing facility.
Upon arrival at our facility, the donated material is reviewed for labeling completeness and accuracy of the barcoded kit and is electronically coded into a validated software database. If all quality criteria are met, the donated material is then individually evaluated and forwarded to the appropriate production suite for processing and manufacturing. We believe that our sourcing is rapidly scalable due to numerous established procurement relationships that provide a constant renewable supply to meet current and future manufacturing needs.
Unique Biology of Placenta-Derived Cells
Placental-derived cells have unique biology related to immunological naïveté, stemness, persistence and proliferation that makes them a biologically preferred starting material with the potential for less toxicity and superior biological activity relative to adult bone marrow or peripheral blood-derived cells.
Research has shown that the human placenta is a novel and valuable source of multipotential stem/progenitor cells of mesenchymal and hematopoietic origin, which have multiple therapeutic applications. Our characterization data show that approximately one to five percent of placental-derived cells are CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs, among which expression of certain markers suggests that such HSCs have more self-renewal capacity and the potential to facilitate the early engraftment of the placental-derived cells. In addition, further characterization has shown low T-cell content and immature T subpopulations. This demonstrated immunological naïveté further suggests the potential for low or no GvHD in transplant. Furthermore, mesenchymal-like cells have been shown to possess other characteristics, capabilities and effects (e.g., osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic differentiation capabilities and immunomodulatory effects). The high quantity of mesenchymal-like cells and Treg cells indicate that placental-derived cells can potentially contribute to prevention of GvHD and host microenvironment modulation. In summary, we believe the stemness, potential capacity of proliferation and persistence of placental-derived cells support multiple potential therapeutic applications, including those in development by us.
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The following graphic illustrates the origins of four cell-types that we derived from the placenta, which are T cells that we modify with a CAR, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells and ASCs:
We are also researching placental-derived exosomes for potential therapeutic applications. Exosomes are a kind of extracellular vesicle that act as communication channels between cells and cause functional changes in recipient cells. Exosomes enable intercellular communication by transferring specific cargo contents to a recipient cell and can confer epigenetic changes in the recipient cells by delivering microRNAs, or miRNAs. Exosomes have been identified as the primary factors responsible for paracrine effects detected in all types of stem cells and for the transfer of genetic material from stem cells to the tissue-specific cell that needs regeneration. Exosomes have been shown to possess powerful regenerative potential, including immune-modulatory properties and anti-inflammatory properties. We discovered a type of exosome that we call a placenta-derived adherent cell exosome, or pExo. Rich in growth factors, DNA fragments, miRNAs, and messenger RNAs, pExo exhibit particular markers that distinguish them from other exosomes that are not derived from placenta-derived adherent cells. We are investigating purified pExo formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for human administration to promote angiogenesis and/or vascularization, to modulate immune activity and to repair tissue damage.
Overview of CAR-T Cells
White blood cells are a component of the immune system and responsible for defending the body against infectious pathogens and other foreign material. T cells are a type of white blood cell and are involved in both
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sensing and killing infected or abnormal cells, including cancer cells, as well as coordinating the activation of other cells in an immune response.
Unlike adult peripheral blood mononuclear cell, or PBMC, derived T cells, placental-derived T cells are mostly naïve and can be readily expanded while maintaining an earlier differentiation phenotype, such as greater expression of naïve/memory markers and lower expression of effector/exhaustion markers. These characteristics allow for greater proliferative potential of these cells ex vivo. Placental-derived T cells are also known to have greater immune tolerance and display impaired allogeneic activation, contributing to lower incidences of severe GvHD, which makes them an attractive cell population for use as an allogeneic, adoptive cell therapy. We have developed a robust process for the isolation, transduction and expansion of placental-derived T cells to generate “off-the-shelf” allogeneic CAR-T cells.
Allogeneic human placental T cells are derived from healthy donor placentas. We separate out mononuclear cells using a mononuclear cell separation method to isolate placental T cells prior to cryopreservation. Our allogeneic CAR-T cell product begins with the thawing and activation of the isolated placental T cells, followed by viral transduction of the cancer-targeting CAR construct and an additional genetic modification step to minimize any risk of GvHD. Once transduced and transfected, the CAR-T cells are expanded to yield large quantities of these cells prior to harvest, final formulation and cryopreservation of the cellular therapeutic.
Overview of NK cells — Unmodified and Genetically Modified
NK cells are potent effector cells of the innate immune system responsible for identifying and eliminating abnormal and stressed host cells. They are equipped with NK cell-specific activating receptors that recognize conserved antigens induced by cellular stress while being simultaneously tuned with inhibitory receptors to avoid mistakenly targeting healthy cells. NK cells are particularly relevant in combating viral infections and mediating anti-tumor immunity in which normal cellular processes are stressed for the purposes of perpetuating viral infection and cancer cell proliferation.
Commercializing NK cell therapies has been limited by the difficulty and cost to scale the production of mature NK cells for clinical dosing. Utilizing our Celularity IMPACT platform, our proprietary process has mitigated these limitations by expanding and differentiating placental-derived stem cells into NK cells over a period of 35 days. We derive the HSCs from healthy donor placentas, then propagate and differentiate these cells into NK cells. This process can produce hundreds of doses per donor placenta. We also developed technologies that can achieve high genetic modification efficiency by transducing placenta HSCs and producing downstream stable gene modified CYNK cells with enhanced cancer killing activities. These cells are then cryopreserved and available to be shipped upon request.
For our genetically modified NK cells, our allogeneic modified NK cell product begins with the thawing and activation of the isolated placental NK cells. We then use a lentiviral vector transduction to augment the effector functions of the NK cells and to sustain their tumor-killing properties. We believe that our genetically modified NK cells can be used in combination with therapeutic mAbs to boost antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, or ADCC, potential.
Overview of ASCs
Placental-derived ASCs are a novel, culture-expanded mesenchymal-like cell population derived from placental tissue. In vivo, we demonstrated that ASCs’ immune-modulatory properties alleviate autoimmunity and possess anti-inflammatory activity. Both intravenous and intramuscular administration formulations of the first generation of ASCs have been developed and investigated in clinical studies in Crohn’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, diabetic foot ulcers and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We are developing next generation genetically modified ASCs for the treatment of degenerative diseases.
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Allogeneic human placental ASCs are derived from healthy donor placentas. Our allogeneic ASC product begins with the thawing and activation of the isolated placental-derived ASCs, followed by genetic modification of tissue factor to reduce potential toxicities and lower risk of adverse effects. Once modified, we expand the ASCs to large quantities prior to harvest, final formulation and cryopreservation of the cellular therapeutic.
Allogeneic Cell Therapies — an “Off-the-Shelf” Approach
There are two primary approaches to engineered cell therapies: autologous and allogeneic. Autologous therapies use engineered cells derived from the individual patient, while allogeneic therapies use cells derived from an unrelated third-party healthy donor. We believe our human placental-derived allogeneic platform is leading the next evolution of cellular medicine because we aim to deliver off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular therapies, at greater scale and quality with attractive economics, potentially making lifesaving therapies more readily accessible to more patients throughout the world.
Our human placenta-derived allogeneic platform currently includes placental CAR-T cells (CYCART-19), NK cells (CYNK-001 and CYNK-101) and ASCs (APPL-001 and PDA-002).
CYCART
Currently, autologous CAR-T products are manufactured by isolating T cells from the patient’s blood through a process known as leukapheresis. The cancer-targeting construct expressing specific CAR proteins is virally transduced into the T cells and the engineered T cells are then propagated until a sufficient number are available for infusion. The engineered T cells are then shipped back to the clinical center for administration to the patient. The process from leukapheresis to delivery to the clinical center takes approximately four weeks. While the autologous approach has been revolutionary, demonstrating compelling efficacy in many patients, we are burdened by lengthy vein-to-vein time, high production cost, variable potency and manufacturing failures.
Conversely, our allogeneic placental-derived T cells are derived from healthy donors that have undergone rigorous donor screening and selection. Manufactured drug product can be deployed to patients immediately in sufficient quantities because administration is not limited by patient cell sourcing and individual drug product expansion. As an “off-the-shelf” treatment, CYCART cells also offer the potential to re-dose patients, if necessary. Healthy births are in hundreds of millions worldwide, and the placenta provides an abundant, renewable source of healthy, ready to use lymphocytes. In addition, placental-derived T cells contain an abundance of stem cell memory T cells, which confer high proliferation and durability. Placental T cells are known be immune-privileged and have low donor to host toxicity (GvHD). We are therefore potentially a generally safer cell population. Furthermore, allogeneic placental T cells can be genetically engineered to minimize the risk of GvHD and avoid being destroyed by the patient’s immune system. Therefore, CYCART cells may possess an advantageous safety profile while delivering effective tumor eradication activity and durable persistence in patients.
CYNK
Similarly, autologous NK cells and genetically modified autologous NK cells have been used in the setting of immuno-oncology. NK cells can directly kill cancer cells by recognizing signals of cellular stress and carry no risk of GvHD. However, autologous peripheral blood derived NK cells have limited proliferation capacity and usually require leukemia cell line-based technology to assist production. In addition, autologous CAR-NK was shown to encounter technical challenges due to low transduction efficiency of CAR vectors in the peripheral NK cells. Our NK platform propagates placenta derived HSCs and differentiates these cells into NK cells (CYNK). This process can produce hundreds of doses per placenta donor. We have also developed technologies that can achieve high genetic modification efficiency by transducing placenta HSCs and produce downstream stable gene modified CYNK cells with enhanced cancer killing activities. These cells are then frozen and can be shipped to clinical administration immediately upon request.
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ASCs
Both autologous and allogeneic bone marrow or adipose tissue derived ASCs have been used in human clinical trials. Autologous ASC therapies have advantages including the absence of donor cell related adverse events and fewer regulatory hurdles because cell products are derived from a donor’s own cells. However, ASC products carry the inherited or aging-related biological defects from the donor, which may impair therapeutic value. Furthermore, in most cases, autologous cells still require cultivation before patient administration and there is a risk of manufacturing failure.
Conversely, allogeneic ASCs can provide an off-the-shelf product with high quality and flexibility of dosing. ASCs are regarded as immune-privileged due to their relative low-level MHC class I and II protein expression. Our placenta tissue derived ASCs are potentially more immune privileged due to their fetal origin. Clinical applications of human placenta derived ASCs have not been shown to be associated with severe adverse events. In addition, because APPL cells have higher proliferative capability, they are expected to be more suitable for genetic manipulations to engineer the cells to have specific features to enhance their functions or to mitigate risk factors.
Therapeutic Candidate Pipeline and Development Strategy
We are researching and developing multiple placental-derived allogeneic cellular therapeutic candidates for the treatment of indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. From a single source material, the placenta, we focus on four allogeneic cell types: CAR-T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells and ASCs, which have led to five key cell therapeutic programs, CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001 and PDA-002 which are focused on six initial indications. Our product pipeline is represented in the diagram below:
CYCART-19
Our lead therapeutic program based on our placental-derived CAR-T cell is CYCART-19, an allogeneic CAR-T cell targeting the CD19 receptor. We are granted certain rights related to the CD19 receptor construct and associated CARs utilized in CYCART-19 in the field of placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells from Sorrento, a significant stockholder. For a description of the terms of the Sorrento license and our rights outside the field of placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells, see the section entitled “Licensing Agreements — Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.”
All currently FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapies, and an estimated approximately 75% of clinical assets in development, are autologous. Autologous therapies mean the peripheral blood-derived T-cell is the immune cell vehicle used to express a CAR, making the patient their own donor. Manufacturing these autologous CAR-T cell
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therapies is complex and costly, with a long vein-to-vein time that, can affect therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, multiple rounds of lymphocyte depleting therapies cause inconsistent apheresis cell recovery in relapsed or refractory patients. We believe that our placental-derived CAR-T cell, CYCART-19, is a scalable solution because it does not have apheresis capacity constraints is designed to be manufactured at high volume, and is delivered as an on-demand, off-the-shelf, cryopreserved packaged product. Further, placental-derived cells contain an abundance of stem cell memory cells, which confers greater proliferative potential and increased persistence in vivo.
Preclinical Data
In preclinical studies, placental-derived T cells, which constitute the starting material for CYCART-19, were demonstrated to consist mostly of naïve/T stem cell memory cells, or T scm, with a small proportion of central memory T cells. Following genetic modification and proliferation/expansion in the laboratory, CYCART-19 cells expressed high levels of naïve/memory markers and low levels of the immune inhibitory molecule PD-1. Furthermore, CYCART-19 cells maintained a higher proportion of T scm, as compared to PBMC-derived CD19 CAR+ T cells, which signifies greater self-renewal, proliferative potential, lymphoid homing and increased ability to persist in vivo.
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In vitro, CYCART-19 cells specifically lysed CD19+ targets Daudi (Burkitt’s Lymphoma) and Nalm6 (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) cell lines and secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines and effector proteins in response to these CD19+ targets.
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Growing evidence highlights T cell stemness as a contributing factor for CD19-targeted CAR-T cell activity in the clinic. Nalve, or Tn, and T scm T cells represent longer-lived cells with a greater capacity of self-renewal and differentiation whereas effector, or Te, and effector memory, or Tem, subsets are activated and more differentiated T cell populations.
When comparing placenta T cells to adult peripheral blood T cells, we demonstrate a similar distribution of CD4 and CD8 T cells, but the placenta T cells contained better stemness by exclusively containing Tn and T scm subsets determined by CD45RA+CCR7+ expression. Adult blood T cells contain roughly 50% Tn/T scm T cells with the other 50% representing Te and Tem memory subsets.
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Following CYCART-19 manufacture, we demonstrated effective knockout of the TRAC locus using CRISPR, which is intended to prevent any potential allogeneic associated GvHD. When comparing CD19 CAR-T cell product derived from adult peripheral blood versus placenta T cells, we demonstrated comparable expression of CD19 CAR and a retention of enhanced T scm percentage among CYCART-19 cells (40%) compared to adult blood CD19 CAR-T (15%). CYCART-19 cells yielded a preferable CD4/CD8 CAR-T cell ratio of 1:1, contained longer telomeres, and resisted exhaustion marker expression compared to adult blood-derived CAR-T cells.
On an in vitro, per cell basis, CYCART-19 and adult blood CD19 CAR-T were similarly cytotoxic. However, CYCART-19 cells exhibited robust IL-2 production, which was mostly absent in adult blood CAR-T. This intrinsic IL-2 may provide CYCART-19 a survival and proliferation advantage over adult blood CAR-T cells, potentially translating to enhanced persistence. CYCART-19 cells also have attenuated IFN-gamma production, which is expected to limit local PD-L1 upregulation (which antagonizes CAR-T activity), and potentially mitigate any severity of CRS.
Preclinical studies of lymphoma have demonstrated the survival benefit of CD19 CAR-T cells derived from Tn/T scm versus other subsets of the same donor (Sommermeyer, Leukemia 2016). More importantly, a study stratifying CD19 CAR-T treated patients by clinical response demonstrated clear associations with CAR-T starting material characteristics (Fraietta JF, Nature Medicine 2018). CAR-T drug product from patients experiencing a complete remission more effectively controlled lymphoma in animal models whereas drug product from non-responders showed no benefit. Transcriptome studies showed drug product derived from T cells favored a T cell stemness (early memory, Tn cells) in patients having a complete or partial response. Cell analysis of CD8 T cells CAR-T starting material showed enrichment of Tn/T scm in responding patients (>38%) compared to non-responders (<10%). CAR-T cell expansion was also highest in those patients experiencing remissions highlighting proliferation potential and Cmax.
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In a preclinical study, administration of CYCART-19 in a Daudi lymphoma model eliminated lymphoma beyond 100 days, whereas adult blood CD19 CAR-T provided a 30-day survival benefit with all mice being lost to lymphoma by day 65. At study day 120, surviving mice treated with CYCART-19 were rechallenged with Daudi lymphoma, but not given additional CYCART-19. We observed residual levels of CYCART-19 cells in the circulation of mice at day 115 (0.1% of white blood cells), which expanded 10-fold following Daudi rechallenge. Residual CYCART-19 cells were able to expand and delay lymphoma expansion compared to a nalve cohort of mice inoculated with Daudi lymphoma. CYCART-19 cells were again detectable at the end of study Day 200 post initial infusion in the blood, spleen, and bone marrow. We believe the totality of our pre-clinical in vivo data demonstrate the potency advantage and durability of CYCART-19 persistence as compared to healthy adult-derived CD19-CAR T.
Recent efforts focused on detecting lymphoma associated circulating DNA highlight the importance of CD19 CAR-T activity during the first 28 days post-infusion (Frank, M Blood 2019). 28 day MRD negative status correlated with improved median progression free survival (not reached) versus 2.96 months (P<0.0001) for patients measuring MRD positive. This suggests that a 28 day window of CAR-T activity may be sufficient and is attainable with an allogeneic CAR-T cell approach. As compared with adult blood-derived CD19 CAR-T, CYCART-19 attributes of greater stemness and enhanced IL-2 production led to greater efficacy in animal models and supports proof of concept for further investigation in clinical 28 day MRD clearance.
Placental-derived T cells are unique in that they can contribute to reduced alloreactivity responses and can be associated with lower incidences and severity of GvHD. As shown in the following graphic, expanded placental-derived T cells did not induce xenogeneic GvHD in in vivo mice models. This is evidenced by 100% survival, no weight loss, no increase in detection of any human CD3+ T cells in treated mice. PBMC-treated mice exhibited significant weight loss, death of all mice and increase of detection of human CD3+ T cells at day 28.
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Despite the lack of evidence of GvHD with expanded placental-derived T cells, we do include a CRISPR-mediated T cell receptor alpha constant, or TRAC, knock-out, or KO, step in our process as a further risk mitigation strategy to prevent GvHD. CYCART-19 transfected cells achieved 97-99% TRAC KO efficiency and demonstrated a loss of functional T cell receptor via lack of response (proliferation) to anti-CD3 restimulation.
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Planned Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial
We plan to evaluate CYCART-19 for the treatment of B-cell malignancies (targeting the CD19 receptor) in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial.
The planned Phase 1 trial will evaluate safety and dosing and will include three dose cohorts (40, 120 and 360 x 106 transduced, viable CAR-T cells), in a 3x3 trial design, and will enroll up to 18 patients. The primary endpoint is to determine safety and maximum tolerated dose. Secondary endpoints are overall response rate, or ORR, (the sum of complete responses and partial responses, or CR+PR”), duration of response, or DOR, progression-free survival, or PFS, and overall survival, or OS. We also intend to explore the persistence of CYCART-19.
The planned Phase 2 trial will evaluate efficacy of CYCART-19 and enroll 198 patients. The primary endpoint is to determine ORR (CR+PR). Secondary endpoints are safety, time to response, DOR, PFS and OS. We also intend to explore the persistence of CYCART-19.
We submitted an IND in the first quarter of 2022 to investigate CYCART-19 for treatment of B-cell malignancies and in late April 2022, received an e-mail notification from the FDA that it will be seeking additional information before we can proceed with the planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial. We expect to receive formal written communication with additional information from the FDA by late May 2022 and plan to work with the FDA in an effort to resolve its questions as promptly as possible and expect to commence the trial in the second half of 2022, assuming clearance of the IND. There is no assurance the IND will be approved, will be approved on the time frame contemplated or that the studies will be permitted to begin in the anticipated time frame.
CYNK-001
Our lead therapeutic program based on our placental-derived unmodified NK cell type is CYNK-001, an allogeneic unmodified NK cell being developed as a treatment for AML and GBM.
AML is the second most common type of leukemia in adults and children comprising about one-third of all adult leukemia cases. While most patients respond well to induction chemotherapy and achieve complete remission, two-thirds will relapse after frontline therapy. Patients who experience relapse following standard therapy (Relapse/Refractory-R/R AML) and those that achieve a complete response but have residual measurable residual disease (MRD+ AML) have poor outcomes and remain an unmet medical need for new therapies. We are evaluating CYNK-001 administered to AML patients with either R/R AML or MRD+ AML. We seek to determine if CYNK-001 following the standard of care could further reduce AML burden in R/R AML and/or MRD+ AML potentially to below measurable residual disease (<0.1%) and if this translates to a clinical benefit that could lead to a registration trial.
GBM is an invasive type of glial tumor of the brain. Radiation and temozolomide chemotherapy is standard of care, but the average clinical benefit is three months and long-term remission of GBM tumors despite surgery is elusive in the majority of patients. We are investigating if CYNK-001 can home to the brain and prime anti-tumor immunity following intravenous infusion and will evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of CYNK-001 administered intratumorally. The impact on the tumor immune microenvironment and GBM tumor killing will be studied in brain biopsy sections following surgical resection.
Preclinical Data
Preclinical studies of CYNK-001 showed evidence of significant killing against chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML, AML and MM, cell lines and primary AML samples. CYNK-001 activation released high concentration
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of IFN-g, a cytokine favoring Th1 anti-tumor responses, and CYNK-001 exerted up to 60% specific lysis against primary AML samples at an effector:target (E:T) ratio of 3:1.
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| • | Single or repeated dose of CYNK-001 significantly reduced BLI signal on D25, 28 and 35 compared with PBS control |
| • | Repeated dose significantly reduced BLI signal on D25, 28 and 35 compared with CYNK-001 single dose |
Phase 1 Trial
We have completed a Phase 1 dose escalation trial that enrolled 11 relapsed/refractory AML patients, treating 10 with a single dose of PNK-007, a prior formulation of CYNK-001 that was not cryopreserved. The cell therapy was generally well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities, no GvHD, and no detectable HLA, allo-antibody. Eight of 10 patients were efficacy evaluable (two were not due to inadequate bone marrow for
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evaluation) and two of four of these patients treated with the highest dose (approximately 700 million NK cells) had evidence of a transient biologic effect.
We are currently enrolling a follow-up Phase 1 trial for CYNK-001, the cryopreserved NK cell formulation equivalent of PNK-007, in patients with relapsed/refractory AML and patients in hematologic remission with minimal residual disease, or MRD. As part of the CYNK-001 Phase 1 trial, we assessed dosing of lymphodepletion to maintain serum IL-15 levels above baseline and T regulatory cells at low levels for up to 28 days (“Window of dosing opportunity”) to potentially enhance potency and persistence of NK cells. In total, 13 patients have been enrolled and treated with R/R AML and eight patients with MRD+ AML. While one dose limiting toxicity of CRS was observed in a single patient who received PNK-007, no dose limiting toxicities of CRS have been observed in patients who received CYNK-001 at the dose levels evaluated to date including total dose levels of 1.8, 3.6 and 5.4 billion CYNK-001 cells. There has been the achievement of MRD negative status at highest CYNK-001 cell dose level with documented persistence of CYNK-001 cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood at 28 days post Day 0 Infusion. Upon completion of the 5.4 billion total dose level cohort, we intend to continue dose escalation in the MRD indication to 9.0 billion or more total CYNK-001 cells. To potentially further enhance CYNK-001 potency and persistence, the expansion arms in MRD and R/R AML an augmented lymphodepletion protocol of Cytoxan 3600 mg divided over four days (versus prior 900 mg divided over three days) and fludarabine 120 mg divided over four days (versus prior 75 mg divided over three days) to increase post lymphodepletion IL-15 levels and to add subcutaneous IL-2 (six million international units administered sub-cutaneous for seven doses every other day starting with Day 0 infusion of CYNK-001). Once we identify the dose of NK cells associated with the greatest durable clinical activity, we intend to meet with the FDA to discuss a Phase 2 protocol. We expect to complete enrollment in the dose-escalation phase in the second half of 2022 for R/R AML and fourth quarter of 2022 for MRD AML, and if results are positive, this program will be advanced into Phase 2. In December 2021, we
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received fast track designation from the FDA for CYNK-001 for the treatment of R/R AML to improve overall response rates, and for treatment of primary or secondary AML in complete remission with MRD-positive to convert it from MRD-positive to MRD-negative .
In the fourth quarter of 2021, we initiated a Phase 1 dose escalation trial in recurrent GBM of intravenous and intra-tumoral bed CYNK-001 cells to evaluate dose, NK cell homing and persistence, safety, and biologic effect. We received fast track designation from the FDA for CYNK-001 to improve overall survival in the treatment of recurrent GBM in March 2021 and received orphan drug designation from the FDA for CYNK-001 for the treatment of malignant glioma in April 2021.
COVID-19
We were investigating if intravenous multi-dosing of CYNK-001 can safely facilitate the clearance of SARS-CoV-2 from patients exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms during the early phase of infection. Enhanced clearance of virus from the lung and airways is hypothesized to rescue susceptible patients from developing COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, associated lung inflammation and deterioration. We are no longer enrolling patients in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, and as of July 2021, all trial sites for the trial were closed and no additional trials are being conducted.
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CYNK-101
Our lead therapeutic candidate based on our placental-derived genetically modified NK cell type is CYNK-101, an allogeneic genetically modified NK cell being developed as a treatment in combination with trastuzumab for HER2+ overexpressing gastric and gastroesophageal cancer, collectively gastric cancer.
Initially, we are pursuing CYNK-101 in combination with trastuzumab and pembrolizumab to treat first line, newly diagnosed, metastatic gastric cancer. Gastric cancers are among the most common solid tumors worldwide and are a leading cause of cancer related deaths. Gastric cancers are characterized by poor prognosis. HER2 is involved in the pathogenesis and poor outcomes in many tumors including gastric cancers.
Preclinical Data
CYNK-101 demonstrated in vitro and ex vivo enhanced ADCC activities in combination with trastuzumab against gastric cancer cell lines. In vitro, CYNK-101 in combination with trastuzumab showed significant ADCC activity against both gastric cancer cell lines. Ex vivo-CYNK-101 exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against gastric cell lines in combination with trastuzumab compared to that of IgG control. Compared to pre-infusion CYNK-101, ex vivo-CYNK-101 showed not only a higher ADCC activity against gastric cancer cell lines, but also a more matured NK cell phenotype.
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In vitro ADCC activity of CYNK-101 in combination with trastuzumab against NCI-N87 or OE19 at E:T ratio of 2:1
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Ex vivo ADCC activity of CYNK-101 in combination with trastuzumab against NCI-N87 at E:T ratio of 2:1.
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Phenotype characterization of ex vivo CYNK-101
CYNK-101 provides a platform for a variety of mAb combination therapies. Improved ADCC response was observed from CYNK-101 in combination with other mAbs (Rituximab, Elotuzumab, Daratumumab), as compared to unmodified CYNK cells against lymphoma cells lines. IND-enabling studies are ongoing to evaluate CYNK-101 in combination with mAbs in subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor models.
Phase 1/2a Trial
In the fourth quarter of 2021, we initiated a Phase 1 trial to evaluate CYNK-101 as a first-line treatment in advanced HER2/neu positive gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer in combination with standard chemotherapy, trastuzumab and pembrolizumab.
The Phase 1/2a trial will evaluate safety and dosing and will include three dose cohorts in a 3x3 trial design and will enroll up to 55 first line, newly diagnosed metastatic advanced unresectable gastric cancer overexpressing HER2. The general objective is to establish maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose. The primary endpoint of the Phase 1 portion of the trial is safety (maximum tolerated dose). Secondary endpoints include ORR, DOR, PFS and mOS. The primary endpoint of the Phase 2a portion (expansion) is ORR. Secondary endpoints include ORR, DOR, PFS, mOS and safety. In January 2022, we received fast track designation from FDA for this program for the treatment of locally advanced resectable or metastatic HER2 positive gastric/gastric-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma to improve progression free survival.
ASCs
We are developing the next generation cellular therapies for immune-deregulation diseases and degenerative diseases.
APPL-001
The current lead therapeutic candidate from our placental-derived ASC type is APPL-001, a genetically modified placental-derived ASC. We are initially evaluating APPL-001 for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. In clinical studies of unmodified ASCs, over 50 patients were dosed with ASCs for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Clinical response rates were significantly higher in treatment groups compared with the placebo group.
Phase 1/2a Trial Design
The planned Phase 1/2a trial will evaluate APPL-001 in patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease who are refractory to corticosteroids. The primary objective is to assess the safety and tolerability and to establish recommended Phase 2 dose. The primary objective in the planned Phase 2a part of the trial will be evaluation of clinical activity by measuring clinical remission and clinical response in subjects with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. Secondary objectives are to assess disease modifying measures such as endoscopic measurements and quality of life assessments. The planned primary endpoint is clinical remission/response at four-six weeks and after one year. Planned secondary endpoints include evaluation of mucosal healing, and, patient-reported outcome of quality of life as measured by Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire.
PDA-002
The second therapeutic candidate from our placental-derived ASC type is PDA-002, a placental-derived ASC being developed for the treatment of FSHD.
Phase 1/2a Trial Design
The planned Phase 1/2a trial will evaluate PDA-002 in patients with FSHD. The primary objective is to assess the safety and tolerability and to establish recommended Phase 2 dose. The primary objective in the
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planned Phase 2a part of the trial will be evaluation of change from baseline in 6-minute walk test with PDA-002 in comparison to placebo. Secondary objectives include change in intramuscular fat fraction through MRI from baseline, changes in muscle strength assessed with Handheld Dynamometry (HHD) from baseline, in comparison to placebo at 6-month time period, Quality of life change from baseline assessed by FSHD-HI scores, in comparison to placebo at 6-month time period, and change in reachable workspace from baseline, in comparison to placebo at 6-month time period.
Future Pipeline Opportunities
We plan to utilize our Celularity IMPACT platform to pursue additional targets of interest. These include the additional indications for the four allogeneic cell types currently in the pipeline as well as other targets that might be validated in the future. Our placental-derived T cell platform has potential to target other receptors.
In addition, we regularly survey the scientific and industry landscape for opportunities to license, partner or acquire technologies that may help us advance current or new cell therapies for the benefit of patients.
Commercial Businesses
Degenerative Diseases
The National Cancer Institute defines “degenerative disease” as a disease in which the function or structure of the affected tissues or organs changes for the worse over time. Our degenerative disease business today is comprised primarily of the sale of our Biovance and Interfyl products, directly or through our distribution network. Biovance is decellularized, dehydrated human amniotic membrane derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is an intact, natural extracellular matrix that provides a foundation for the wound regeneration process and acts as a scaffold for restoration of functional tissue. Interfyl is human connective tissue matrix derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is used by a variety of medical specialists to fill soft tissue deficits resulting from wounds, trauma, or surgery. We are investigating additional biomaterial products for use in treating degenerative diseases as well as applications in degenerative diseases for our proprietary cell therapies and possible combination therapies that use of a biomaterial or biomaterials in combination with a cell therapy. Biovance and Interfyl were developed at Anthrogenesis prior to the Celgene acquisition and sold to HLI by Celgene, and then acquired by us from HLI in May 2017, subject to marketing and distribution rights licensed by HLI to a third party, which rights were acquired by us in May 2018, along with the MIST and UltraMIST Therapy Systems. In August 2020, we entered into a five-year licensing arrangement that included: (i) an exclusive Biovance license for distribution and commercialization in the wound care market and (ii) a non-exclusive license for the distribution and commercialization of Interfyl in the wound care market worldwide, except certain Asian jurisdictions, pursuant to which we were to receive royalties based on minimum sales thresholds. The license agreement with Sanuwave was terminated during the third quarter of 2021 due to an uncured material breach.
We have focused our marketing and sales strategy within the degenerative disease segment on developing strong distribution partners for our products rather than building out our own direct sales force. On May 7, 2021, we entered into a six-year supply and distribution agreement with Arthrex, Inc., or Arthrex, that includes: (i) an exclusive Biovance, Interfyl, and Centaflex license for distribution and commercialization within the United States in the field of orthopedic surgery; and (ii) an exclusive license to commercialize and distribute Interfly and Centaflex within the United States in the field of acute and chronic non-healing wound care. On September 1, 2021, we entered into a three-year supply and distribution agreement with Evolution Biologyx, LLC, or Evolution, that includes an exclusive license to commercialize and distribute Interfyl in the United States within any medical specialty where Interfyl is administered in an in-office or in-patient setting and is reimbursed through Medicare Part B or any successor, equivalent or similar category established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Medicare Services or other government authority, except in the medical specialty of orthopedic surgery excluding trauma or spine applications in the medical specialty or orthopedic or neurologic surgery.
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We continue to invest in creating new or differentiated products for the degenerive disease segment to supplement sales of our mature commercial products, Biovance and Interfyl. We have created Biovance 3L, a trilayer human amniotic membrane product focused on the ocular and surgical markets. Biovance 3L will be available in both sheet and disk form depending upon the application. We have also created CentaFlex, a decellularized human placental matrix derived from the umbilical cord. CentaFlex can be used as a surgical covering, wrap or barrier to protect and support the repair of damaged tissue. We have other products based on human placental tissue under development that may follow a variety of regulatory pathways to potentially achieve commercial readiness.
Biobanking
We provide a fee-based biobanking service to expectant parents who contract with the company to collect, process, cryogenically preserve and store certain biomaterial, including umbilical cord blood and placenta derived cells and tissue. We receive a one-time fee for the collection, processing and cryogenic preservation of the biomaterials, and a storage fee to maintain the biomaterials in our biobank payable annually over a period of eighteen years. We acquired our biobanking business in May 2017 from HLI, which HLI operated as LifebankUSA, along with the degenerative disease products Biovance and Interfyl, and in October 2018, we acquired CariCord, a family cord blood bank.
Manufacturing
We have an approximately 150,000 square foot purpose-built facility located in Florham Park, New Jersey, which includes a cGMP-ready manufacturing center, along with dedicated research and office spaces and space for shared services. Our facility includes nine Grade C/ISO-7 and six Grade D/ISO-8 manufacturing suites designed for commercial production of cellular therapies and advanced biomaterials. We intend to manufacture all finished product in-house at our manufacturing facility in Florham Park, New Jersey. We have invested resources to optimize our manufacturing process, including the development of improved analytical methods. We plan to continue to invest in process science, product characterization and manufacturing to improve our production and supply chain capabilities over time. We also use CMOs, as needed, on a non-exclusive basis, and may use CMOs in the future, for certain of our therapeutic candidates. For example, we use a CMO for the clinical manufacture and supply of CYNK-001. All other finished products are manufactured in-house. We are in the process of internalizing the manufacture of CYNK-001 and anticipate that all finished product will be manufactured in-house in 2022. Notwithstanding, we will engage CMOs as necessary to ensure continuous supply of clinical and commercial grade product based on demands.
Our cellular therapeutic candidates are designed and manufactured via a platform comprised of defined unit operations and technologies. The process is gradually developed from small to larger scales, incorporating compliant procedures to create GMP conditions. Notwithstanding this platform-based model, each therapeutic is unique and for each new therapeutic candidate, a developmental phase is necessary to individually customize each engineering step and to create a robust procedure that can later be implemented in a GMP environment to ensure the production of clinical batches. This work is performed in a research and development environment to evaluate and assess variability in each step of the process in order to define the most reliable production conditions.
Licensing Agreements
We enter into license agreements in the ordinary course of our business. We have in-licensed certain technology from Sorrento that is necessary to research and develop our CYCART-19 program. Because of the broad potential applicability of our placental-derived cellular therapeutic candidates, we may also out license our technology to third parties for development for other indications that we do not intend to pursue or for certain territories. For example, in June 2017, we entered into a license agreement with Lung Biotechnology PBC. Under that license agreement, which was terminated in March 2021, we granted Lung Biotechnology an exclusive
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license to placental-derived stem cells in the field of pulmonary diseases and organ transplantation. We have also licensed rights to distribute our degenerative disease products, Biovance and Interfyl, to Sanuwave for a five-year period in connection with the August 2020 sale of other non-core assets, however we terminated this license in the third quarter of 2021.
Further, as part of the acquisition of Anthrogenesis from Celgene, we granted Celgene a worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid up, non-exclusive license, to use certain intellectual property for both research and commercial purposes, and granted Celgene the CVRs, which provide us the right to future milestone and royalty payments in certain circumstances. See the section entitled “— Our Team and Corporate History — Celgene Corporation” for a description of the ongoing relationship between us and Celgene, including the out license agreement and the CVRs.
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
In September 2020, we entered into a license and transfer agreement with Sorrento to obtain rights to Sorrento’s proprietary anti-CD19 CAR-T construct and associated CARs for use in placenta-derived or cord blood-derived cells. Sorrento is a significant stockholder of ours. We are using Sorrento’s technology to genetically modify our placental-derived T-cell to create the CAR T-cell with a CD19 receptor that is our CYCART-19 therapeutic candidate.
Pursuant to the Sorrento Agreement, we obtained a worldwide license, with the right to grant sublicenses with Sorrento’s consent, under certain of Sorrento’s intellectual property rights, including patent rights that would be infringed by the use of certain CD19 CAR constructs, to research, develop, use, reproduce, modify, and create derivative works in the field of placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder, and to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export, and distribute products for use in connection with our research, development, commercialization and exploitation of products combining Sorrento’s proprietary anti-CD19 CAR-T construct and associated CARs with placenta-derived or cord blood-derived cells. The foregoing license is exclusive with respect to a certain U.S. provisional patent application and non-exclusive with respect to all other licensed intellectual property rights of Sorrento.
Sorrento reserves the right to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export, and otherwise research, develop, commercialize and exploit CD19 CAR-T licensed products for use outside the field of placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder and any other products or services that are not CD19 CAR-T licensed products that use or incorporate any CD19 CAR-T constructs or associated CARs.
Under the Sorrento Agreement, we have sole responsibility for the development and commercialization of licensed products, subject to certain reserved rights of Sorrento with respect to CD19 CAR-T products. We are currently negotiating a supply agreement with Sorrento to obtain the continued supply of CAR constructs and licensed products under the Sorrento Agreement. Additionally, we are obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize licensed products.
Pursuant to the Sorrento Agreement, we have agreed to assign all right, title and interest in any improvements generated by us to Sorrento’s background intellectual property. Additionally, we have granted Sorrento a non-exclusive, sublicensable, fully paid-up, royalty free, worldwide license under any new inventions that relate to or cover CD19 CAR-T constructs generated by us under the Sorrento Agreement for use in connection with Sorrento’s reserved rights under CD19 CAR-T licensed products and constructs (as described above). Sorrento has the primary right to control the prosecution and maintenance of patents and patent applications arising out of or relating to the Sorrento Agreement, including any patents or patent applications covering the licensed products, while we have the secondary right to pick up prosecution of any such patents and patent applications abandoned by Sorrento.
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Under the Sorrento Agreement, we are obligated to pay Sorrento a low teens double digit percentage of non-royalty sublicensing income payments received by us in connection with a grant of any sublicense for CD19 CAR-T licensed products. Additionally, we are obligated to pay Sorrento a low single-digit royalty on net sales of CD19 CAR-T licensed products in perpetuity. We will also be obligated to pay Sorrento for the supply of the CAR constructs and licensed products pursuant to the supply agreement, once finalized, which we expect to be based on the cost plus a percentage, with no guaranteed minimums. As of December 31, 2021, we have not paid Sorrento any amounts under the Sorrento Agreement.
Either party may terminate the Sorrento Agreement upon an uncured material breach of the Sorrento Agreement by the other party. Additionally, after the first anniversary of the effective date of the Sorrento Agreement, we have the right to terminate the Sorrento Agreement at any time upon specified written notice to Sorrento.
Intellectual Property
Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary protection for the technologies supporting our Celularity IMPACT platform, and our lead cellular therapeutic candidates, CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001, PDA-002 and future therapeutic candidates, as well as novel discoveries, product development technologies, and know-how. Our commercial success also depends in part on our ability to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others and to prevent others from infringing our proprietary rights. Our policy is to develop and maintain protection of our proprietary position by, among other methods, filing or in-licensing U.S. and foreign patents and applications related to our technology, inventions, and improvements that are important to the development and implementation of our business.
We also rely on trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation, confidentiality agreements, and invention assignment agreements to develop and maintain our proprietary position. The confidentiality agreements are designed to protect our proprietary information and the invention assignment agreements are designed to grant us ownership of technologies that are developed for us by our employees, consultants, or other third parties. We seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and trade secrets by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. While we have confidence in our agreements and security measures, either may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or independently discovered by competitors.
With respect to both licensed and company-owned intellectual property, we cannot be sure 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 that may be granted to us in the future will be commercially useful in protecting our commercial therapeutics and methods of using and manufacturing the same.
We are actively building our intellectual property portfolio around our Celularity IMPACT platform, our four allogeneic cell types and our therapeutic candidates based on our own intellectual property as well as licensed intellectual property. We are the owner of, co-owner of, or the licensee of over 1,500 patents and patent applications in the United States and worldwide protecting our Celularity IMPACT platform, our processes, technologies and current key cell therapy programs.
Our patent portfolio includes patents and patent applications directed toward our four allogeneic placental-derived cell types: CAR-T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells and ASCs as follows:
| • | We have five utility patent families in the CAR-T technology area supporting our CYCART-19 therapeutic candidate comprising two patent families owned by us and three patent families licensed from Sorrento. These patent applications include licensed CAR-T patent families and owned placental-derived CAR-T patent families directed toward early CAR receptor technology, CAR receptor method |
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and composition, anti-CD19 CAR receptor and product characterization. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates ranging from 2039 to 2040 and include pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT. |
| • | We have approximately 15 utility patent families owned by us in the NK technology area supporting our CYNK-001 and CYNK-101 therapeutic candidates that include patents and patent applications covering process, treatment of indications, and product characterization. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates ranging from 2028 to 2041 and include patents issued and pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Eurasian Patent Office, European Patent Office, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Singapore, Taiwan R.O.C., Ukraine, Vietnam, South Africa. |
| • | We have approximately 25 utility patent families owned by us in the ASC technology area supporting our APPL-001 and PDA-002 therapeutic candidates and former PDAC candidates that include patents covering product characterization and method of production, as well as product description and indications. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates ranging from 2021 to 2040 and include patents issued and pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Eurasian Patent Office, European Patent Office, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Russian Federation, Singapore, Taiwan R.O.C., Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam, South Africa. Although patent families in this technology area began to expire in 2021, we have numerous patent families in this technology area directed to improvements in the cells and methods/indications for their use, which include recently filed applications directed towards APPL-001, a second generation, genetically modified ASC therapeutic candidate. These applications have projected expiration dates to 2041 and are expected to replace the early-expiring applications. Accordingly, we do not expect that the expiry of the early-filed ASC patents will have a material effect on our business. |
More generally, our patent portfolio and filing strategy is designed to provide multiple layers of protection by pursuing claims directed toward composition of matter, methods of making, and methods of use, amongst others. We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technologies that we believe are important to our business, including seeking patent protection intended to cover our technology and related technologies and uses thereof.
The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term of the patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries in which we file, the patent term is 20 years from the date of filing of the first non-provisional application to which priority is claimed. In the United States, patent term may be lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in granting a patent or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over an earlier-filed patent. In the United States, the term of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug may also be eligible for a patent term extension of up to five years under the Hatch-Waxman Act, which is designed to, among other things, compensate for the patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. The length of the patent term extension is calculated based on the length of time we take for regulatory review. A patent term extension under the Hatch-Waxman Act cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval and only one patent applicable to an approved drug may be restored. Moreover, a patent can only be restored once, and thus, if a single patent is applicable to multiple products, we can only be extended based on one product. Similar provisions are available in Europe and certain other foreign jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent that covers an approved drug.
Competition
Our products will compete with novel therapies developed by biopharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions, in addition to existing standard of care treatments.
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Due to the promising therapeutic effect of cell therapies in clinical trials, we anticipate increasing competition from existing and new companies developing these therapies, as well as in the development of allogeneic cell therapies.
Potential cell therapy competitors include:
| • | CYCART-19; allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc., Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., Cellectis S.A., Fate Therapeutics Inc. and Precision Biosciences, Inc. |
| • | CYNK-101 and CYNK-001; allogeneic NK cell therapies: Fate Therapeutics Inc., Kiadis Pharma N.V., Century Therapeutics, Inc. and Nkarta, Inc. |
| • | APPL-001 and PDA-002; allogeneic ASC therapies: Mesoblast Limited. |
| • | Cell therapy competition: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc., Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC, Celyad S.A., CRISPR Therapeutics AG, Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc. (acquired Kite Pharma, Inc.), Poseida Therapeutics, Inc., Precision Biosciences, Inc. and Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. |
Competition will also arise from non-cell-based therapies pursued by small-cap biotechnology and large-cap pharmaceutical companies including Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Incyte Corporation, Merck & Co., Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.
Many of our competitors, either alone or with their collaboration partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, preclinical testing, clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing than we do. Future collaborations and mergers and acquisitions may result in further resource concentration among a smaller number of competitors.
Our commercial potential could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize therapeutics that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than cellular therapeutics that we may develop. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their therapies more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market or make development efforts more complicated. The key competitive factors affecting the success of all of our programs are likely to be efficacy, safety and convenience.
These competitors may also vie for a similar pool of qualified scientific and management talent, sites and patient populations for clinical trials, as well as for technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.
Government Regulation and Product Approval
As a biopharmaceutical company that operates in the United States, we are subject to extensive regulation. Our cell therapeutics will be regulated as biologics. With this classification, commercial production of our cellular therapeutics will need to occur in registered facilities in compliance with cGMP for biologics. The FDA categorizes human cell- or tissue-based products as either minimally manipulated or more than minimally manipulated, and has determined that more than minimally manipulated products require clinical trials to demonstrate product safety and efficacy and the submission of a biologics license application, or BLA, for marketing authorization. Our cellular therapeutic candidates are considered more than minimally manipulated and will require evaluation in clinical trials and the submission and approval of a BLA before we can market them.
Government authorities in the United States (at the federal, state and local level) and in other countries extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacturing, quality control,
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approval, labeling, packaging, storage, record-keeping, promotion, advertising, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, marketing and export and import of biopharmaceutical products such as those we are developing. Our therapeutic candidates must be approved by the FDA before they may be legally marketed in the United States and by the appropriate foreign regulatory agencies before they may be legally marketed in foreign countries. Generally, our activities in other countries will be subject to regulation that is similar in nature and scope as that imposed in the United States, although there can be important differences. Additionally, some significant aspects of regulation in Europe are addressed in a centralized way, but country-specific regulation remains essential in many respects. The process for obtaining regulatory marketing approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.
U.S. Product Development Process
In the United States, the FDA regulates pharmaceutical and biological products under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, the Public Health Service Act, or PHSA, and their implementing regulations. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval, may subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions. These sanctions could include, among other actions, the FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold, warning letters, product recalls or withdrawals from the market, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement or civil or criminal penalties. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on our operation and business. The process required by the FDA before a biological product may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
| • | completion of nonclinical laboratory tests and animal studies according to good laboratory practices, or GLPs, and applicable requirements for the humane use of laboratory animals or other applicable regulations; |
| • | submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin; |
| • | approval by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, or ethics committee at each clinical site before the trial is commenced; |
| • | performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials according to the FDA’s regulations commonly referred to as good clinical practices and any additional requirements for the protection of human research patients and their health information, to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed biological product for its intended use; |
| • | submission to the FDA of a BLA for marketing approval that includes substantial evidence of safety, purity, and potency from results of nonclinical testing and clinical trials; |
| • | satisfactory completion of an FDA Advisory Committee review, if applicable; |
| • | satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the biological product is produced to assess compliance with cGMP, to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the biological product’s identity, strength, quality and purity and, if applicable, the FDA’s current good tissue practices, or GTPs, for the use of human cellular and tissue products; |
| • | potential FDA audit of the nonclinical study and clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the BLA; and |
| • | FDA review and approval, or licensure, of the BLA. |
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Before testing any biological product candidate, including our cellular therapeutic candidates, in humans, the therapeutic candidate enters the preclinical testing stage. Preclinical tests, also referred to as nonclinical studies, include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity and formulation, as well as animal studies to assess the potential safety and activity of the product candidate. The conduct of the preclinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements including GLPs. The clinical trial sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol, to the FDA as part of the IND. Some preclinical testing may continue even after the IND is submitted. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA raises concerns or questions regarding the proposed clinical trials and places the trial on a clinical hold within that 30-day time period. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. The FDA may also impose clinical holds on a biological product candidate at any time before or during clinical trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance. If the FDA imposes a clinical hold, trials may not recommence without FDA authorization and then only under terms authorized by the FDA. Accordingly, we cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that suspend or terminate such trials.
In addition to the submission of an IND to the FDA before initiation of a clinical trial in the United States, certain human clinical trials involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules are subject to oversight of institutional biosafety committees, or IBCs, as set forth in the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules, or the NIH Guidelines. Under the NIH Guidelines, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids are defined as: (i) molecules that are constructed by joining nucleic acid molecules and that can replicate in a living cell (i.e., recombinant nucleic acids); (ii) nucleic acid molecules that are chemically or by other means synthesized or amplified, including those that are chemically or otherwise modified but can base pair with naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules (i.e., synthetic nucleic acids); or (iii) molecules that result from the replication of those described in (i) or (ii). Specifically, under the NIH Guidelines, supervision of human gene transfer trials includes evaluation and assessment by an IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees research utilizing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules at that institution. The IBC assesses the safety of the research and identifies any potential risk to public health or the environment, and such review may result in some delay before initiation of a clinical trial. While the NIH Guidelines are not mandatory unless the research in question is being conducted at or sponsored by institutions receiving NIH funding of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research, many companies and other institutions not otherwise subject to the NIH Guidelines voluntarily follow them.
Clinical trials involve the administration of the biological product candidate to patients under the supervision of qualified investigators, generally physicians not employed by or under the trial sponsor’s control. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters to be used to monitor subject safety, including stopping rules that assure a clinical trial will be stopped if certain adverse events should occur. Each protocol and any amendments to the protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Clinical trials must be conducted and monitored in accordance with the FDA’s regulations comprising the GCP requirements, including the requirement that all research patients provide informed consent. Further, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent IRB at or servicing each institution at which the clinical trial will be conducted. An IRB is charged with protecting the welfare and rights of trial participants and considers such items as whether the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trials are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The IRB also approves the form and content of the informed consent that must be signed by each clinical trial subject or his or her legal representative and must monitor the clinical trial until completed. Some studies also include oversight by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical study sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board, or DSMB, which provides authorization for whether or not a study may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the study and may recommend halting the clinical trial if the DSMB determines that there is an unacceptable safety risk for subjects or other grounds, such as no demonstration of efficacy. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical studies and clinical study results to public registries.
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Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined:
| • | Phase 1. The biological product is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety. In the case of some products for severe or life-threatening diseases, especially when the product may be too inherently toxic to ethically administer to healthy volunteers, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients. |
| • | Phase 2. The biological product is evaluated in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance, optimal dosage and dosing schedule. |
| • | Phase 3. Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy, potency, and safety in an expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk to benefit ratio of the product and provide an adequate basis for product labeling. |
Post-approval clinical trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These clinical trials are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication, particularly for long-term safety follow-up. During all phases of clinical development, regulatory agencies require extensive monitoring and auditing of all clinical activities, clinical data, and clinical trial investigators. Annual progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA. Written IND safety reports must be promptly submitted to the FDA, and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events, any findings from other studies, tests in laboratory animals or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk for human patients, or any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. The sponsor must submit an IND safety report within 15 calendar days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies for reporting. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven calendar days after the sponsor’s initial receipt of the information. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the sponsor or its data safety monitoring board may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk, including risks inferred from other unrelated immunotherapy trials. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the biological product has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
Human cellular therapy products are a new category of therapeutics. Because this is a relatively new and expanding area of novel therapeutic interventions, there can be no assurance as to the length of the trial period, the number of patients the FDA will require to be enrolled in the trials in order to establish the safety, efficacy, purity and potency of cellular therapy products, or that the data generated in these trials will be acceptable to the FDA to support marketing approval.
Concurrently with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional studies and must also develop additional information about the physical characteristics of the biological product as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. To help reduce the risk of the introduction of adventitious agents with use of biological products, the PHSA emphasizes the importance of manufacturing control for products whose attributes cannot be precisely defined. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the sponsor must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, potency and purity of the final biological product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the biological product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
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U.S. Review and Approval Processes
After the completion of clinical trials of a biological product, FDA approval of a BLA must be obtained before commercial marketing of the biological product. The BLA submission must include results of product development, laboratory and animal studies, human trials, information on the manufacture and composition of the product, proposed labeling and other relevant information. The testing and approval processes require substantial time and effort and there can be no assurance that the FDA will accept the BLA for filing and, even if filed, that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.
Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, as amended, or PDUFA, each BLA must be accompanied by a significant user fee. The FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual program fee for biological products. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, including a waiver of the application fee for the first application filed by a small business. Additionally, no user fees are assessed on BLAs for products designated as orphan drugs, unless the product also includes a non-orphan indication.
Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews a BLA submitted to determine if it is substantially complete before the agency accepts it for filing. The FDA may refuse to file any BLA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of submission and may request additional information. In this event, the BLA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth substantive review of the BLA. The FDA reviews the BLA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe, potent, and/or effective for its intended use, and has an acceptable purity profile, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMP to assure and preserve the product’s identity, safety, strength, quality, potency and purity. The FDA may refer applications for novel biological products or biological products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions. During the biological product approval process, the FDA also will determine whether a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, is necessary to assure the safe use of the biological product. A REMS is a safety strategy to manage a known or potential serious risk associated with a medicine and to enable patients to have continued access to such medicines by managing their safe use, and could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the BLA must submit a proposed REMS. The FDA will not approve a BLA without a REMS, if required.
Before approving a BLA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the therapeutic unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the therapeutic within required specifications. For cellular therapies, the FDA also will not approve the product if the manufacturer is not in compliance with the GTPs, to the extent applicable. These are FDA regulations and guidance documents that govern the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the manufacture of HCT/Ps, which are human cells or tissue intended for implantation, transplant, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient. In November 2017, the FDA released a guidance document entitled “Regulatory Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue — Based Products: Minimal Manipulation and Homologous Use — Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff”, which it revised and reissued in July 2020, or the Guidance. The document confirmed the FDA’s stance that sheet forms of amniotic tissue are appropriately regulated as solely Section 361 HCT/Ps when manufactured in accordance with 21 CFR Part 1271 and intended for use as a barrier or covering. The primary intent of the GTP requirements is to ensure that cell and tissue-based therapeutics are manufactured in a manner designed to prevent the introduction, transmission and spread of communicable disease. FDA regulations also require tissue establishments to register and list their HCT/Ps with the FDA and, when applicable, to evaluate donors through screening and testing.
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Although FDA had indicated in its Guidance that the agency would exercise enforcement discretion under limited conditions with respect to the IND application and pre-market approval requirements for certain HCT/Ps, this period of enforcement discretion ended May 31, 2021. Additionally, before approving a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in compliance with IND trial requirements and GCP requirements. To assure cGMP, GTP and GCP compliance, an applicant must incur significant expenditure of time, money and effort in the areas of training, record keeping, production and quality control.
Notwithstanding the submission of relevant data and information, the FDA may ultimately decide that the BLA does not satisfy its regulatory criteria for approval and deny approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret the same data. If the agency decides not to approve the BLA in its present form, the FDA will issue a complete response letter that describes all of the specific deficiencies in the BLA identified by the FDA. The deficiencies identified may be minor, for example, requiring labeling changes, or major, for example, requiring additional clinical trials. Additionally, the complete response letter may include recommended actions that the applicant might take to place the application in a condition for approval. If a complete response letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the BLA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application.
If a therapeutic receives regulatory approval, the approval may be limited to specific diseases and dosages or the indications for use may otherwise be limited, which could restrict the commercial value of the therapeutic. Further, the FDA may require that certain contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the labeling. The FDA may impose restrictions and conditions on distribution, prescribing, or dispensing in the form of a risk management plan, or otherwise limit the scope of any approval. In addition, the FDA may require post marketing clinical trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, designed to further assess a biological product’s safety and effectiveness, and testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved therapeutics that have been commercialized.
In addition, under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, a BLA or supplement to a BLA must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers. Unless otherwise required by regulation, PREA does not apply to any product for an indication for which orphan designation has been granted. However, if only one indication for a therapeutic has orphan designation, a pediatric assessment may still be required for any applications to market that same therapeutic for the non-orphan indication(s).
Orphan Drug Designation
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more than 200,000 individuals in the United States and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available in the United States a drug or biologic for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the United States for that drug or biologic. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting a BLA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. The orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review or approval process.
If a therapeutic that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease for which it has such designation, the therapeutic is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full BLA, to market the same biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority to the
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therapeutic with orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent FDA from approving a different drug or biologic for the same disease or condition, or the same drug or biologic 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 BLA application user fee.
A designated orphan drug may not receive orphan drug exclusivity if it is approved for a use that is broader than the indication for which it received orphan designation. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States 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 quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition.
In April 2021, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to our non-genetically modified cryopreserved human placental hematopoietic stem cell-derived NK cell therapy, CYNK-001, for the treatment of patients with malignant gliomas and in February 2022 for our genetically modified cryopreserved human placental hematopoietic stem cell-derived NK cell therapy, CYNK-101 for gastric/GEJ cancer.
Expedited Development and Review Programs
The FDA has programs intended to facilitate and expedite the development and review of new drugs to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition. These programs include fast track designation, breakthrough therapy designation, accelerated approval, and priority review designation. Specifically, new therapeutics are eligible for fast track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition. Fast track designation applies to the combination of the therapeutic and the specific indication for which it is being studied. Unique to a fast track product, the FDA may consider for review sections of the BLA on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the BLA, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the BLA and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the BLA.
Any therapeutic submitted to the FDA for approval, including a therapeutic with a fast track designation, may also be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to expedite development and review, such as priority review and accelerated approval. A therapeutic is eligible for priority review if it has the potential to provide safe and effective therapy where no satisfactory alternative therapy exists or a significant improvement in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a disease compared to marketed therapeutics. The FDA will attempt to direct additional resources to the evaluation of an application for a new therapeutic designated for priority review in an effort to facilitate the review. Additionally, a therapeutic may be eligible for accelerated approval. Therapeutics studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions may receive accelerated approval upon a determination that the product has an effect on 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. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug or biological product receiving accelerated approval perform adequate and well-controlled post-marketing clinical studies. In addition, for products being considered for accelerated approval, the FDA currently requires, unless otherwise informed by the agency, that all advertising and promotional materials intended for dissemination or publication within 120 days of marketing approval be submitted to the agency for review during the pre-approval review period, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product. In addition, breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of therapeutics that treat serious or life-threatening conditions. The designation by FDA requires preliminary clinical evidence that a therapeutic candidate, alone or in combination with other drugs and biologics, demonstrates substantial improvement over currently available therapy on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. If
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the FDA designates a breakthrough therapy, it may take actions appropriate to expedite the development and review of the application, which may include (i) holding meetings with the sponsor and the review team throughout the development of the therapy, (ii) providing timely advice to, and interactive communication with, the sponsor regarding the development of the drug to ensure that the development program to gather the nonclinical and clinical data necessary for approval is as efficient as practicable, (iii) involving senior managers and experienced review staff, as appropriate, in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary review, (iv) assigning a cross-disciplinary project lead for the FDA review team to facilitate an efficient review of the development program and to serve as a scientific liaison between the review team and the sponsor and (v) considering alternative clinical trial designs when scientifically appropriate, which may result in smaller trials or more efficient trials that require less time to complete and may minimize the number of patients exposed to a potentially less efficacious treatment. Breakthrough therapy designation comes with all of the benefits of fast track designation, which means that the sponsor may file sections of the BLA for review on a rolling basis if certain conditions are satisfied, including an agreement with FDA on the proposed schedule for submission of portions of the application and the payment of applicable user fees before the FDA may initiate a review. The breakthrough therapy designation is a distinct status from both accelerated approval and priority review, which can also be granted to the same product if relevant criteria are met. If a product is designated as breakthrough therapy, FDA will expedite the development and review of such product.
Fast track designation, priority review and breakthrough therapy designation do not change the standards for approval but may expedite the development or approval process.
We have received fast track designation from the FDA for our non-genetically modified cryopreserved human placental hematopoietic stem cell-derived NK cell therapy, CYNK-001, for the treatment of adults with recurrent GBM, and for our genetically modified cryopreserved human placental hematopoietic stem cell-derived NK cell therapy, CYNK-101 for gastric/GEJ cancer and for AML.
Post-Approval Requirements
Any therapeutics for which we receive FDA approvals are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse experiences with the product, providing the FDA with updated safety and efficacy information, product sampling and distribution requirements, and complying with FDA promotion and advertising requirements, which include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer advertising, restrictions on promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the product’s approved labeling (known as “off-label use”), limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities, and requirements for promotional activities involving the internet. Although a physician may prescribe a legally available product for an off-label use, if the physicians deems such product to be appropriate in his/her professional medical judgment, a manufacturer may not market or promote off-label uses. However, companies may share truthful and not misleading information that is otherwise consistent with a product’s FDA approved labeling. A company that is found to have promoted off-label use of its product may be subject to significant liability, including administrative, civil and criminal sanctions.
In addition, quality control and manufacturing procedures must continue to conform to applicable manufacturing requirements after approval to ensure the long-term stability of the product. cGMP regulations require among other things, quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation and the obligation to investigate and correct any deviations from cGMP. Manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved products are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with cGMP and other laws. Manufacturers and other parties involved in the drug supply chain for prescription drug products must also comply with product tracking and tracing requirements and for notifying the FDA of counterfeit, diverted, stolen and intentionally adulterated products or products that are otherwise unfit for distribution in the United States. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money, and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. Discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a
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product, manufacturer, or holder of an approved BLA, including, among other things, recall or withdrawal of the product from the market. In addition, changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and depending on the significance of the change, may require prior FDA approval before being implemented. Other types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications and claims, are also subject to further FDA review and approval.
The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product. Discovery of previously unknown problems with a product or the failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements can have negative consequences, including adverse publicity, judicial or administrative enforcement, warning letters from the FDA, mandated corrective advertising or communications with doctors, and civil or criminal penalties, among others. Newly discovered or developed safety or effectiveness data may require changes to a product’s approved labeling, including the addition of new warnings and contraindications, and also may require the implementation of other risk management measures. Also, new government requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may be established, or the FDA’s policies may change, which could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our therapeutics under development.
U.S. Marketing Exclusivity
The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, or the BPCIA, amended the PHSA to authorize the FDA to approve similar versions of innovative biologics, commonly known as biosimilars. A competitor seeking approval of a biosimilar must file an application to establish its molecule as highly similar to an approved innovator biologic, among other requirements. The BPCIA, however, bars the FDA from approving biosimilar applications for 12 years after an innovator biological product receives initial marketing approval. This 12-year period of data exclusivity may be extended by six months, for a total of 12.5 years, if we obtain pediatric exclusivity, which adds six months to the end of other regulatory exclusivity. Pediatric exclusivity may be granted if the FDA requests that the innovator company conduct pediatric clinical investigations of the product in accordance with an FDA-issued “written request” and the company completes clinical investigations that fairly respond to that written request.
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of the FDA approval of the use of our therapeutic candidates, some of its U.S. patents, if granted, may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, commonly referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent restoration term of up to five years, as compensation for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process. However, patent term restoration cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date. The patent term restoration period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of a BLA plus the time between the submission date of a BLA and the approval of that application. Only one patent applicable to an approved therapeutic is eligible for the extension and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in consultation with the FDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration. In the future, we may intend to apply for restoration of patent term for one of its currently owned or licensed patents to add patent life beyond its current expiration date, depending on the expected length of the clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of the relevant BLA.
Federal and State Licenses and Registrations
The health care industry is subject to stringent regulation by a wide range of authorities. Accordingly, our business requires us to maintain certain licenses, registrations, permits, authorizations, approvals, certifications, accreditations and other types of federal, state, and local governmental permissions and to comply with various regulations in every jurisdiction in which we operate. For example, we are required to maintain licenses and registrations in several states, and has obtained biologics, tissue bank and blood bank licenses, permits and
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registrations in states where such licensure is required for us to market and support our products and services. Some states, such as New York, impose state law restrictions on products that have not been the subject of a BLA based upon their interpretation of guidance issued under federal law, including the FDA’s guidance on HCT/Ps, which can lead to different, and potentially conflicting, regulatory frameworks applicable to our degenerative disease products on a state by state basis. We also maintain an annual registration with the FDA as a tissue bank, and national accreditation by the American Association of Blood Banks. The failure to comply with such licensure requirements can result in enforcement actions, including the revocation or suspension of the licenses, registrations or accreditations, or subject us to plans of correction, monitoring, civil money penalties, civil injunctive action and/or criminal penalties.
Other U.S. Healthcare 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 but not limited to, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, and individual U.S. Attorney offices within the DOJ, and state and local governments. For example, our business practices, including our research and sales, marketing and scientific/educational grant programs may be required to comply with the fraud and abuse provisions of the Social Security Act, false claims laws, anti-kickback and anti-bribery laws, the data privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, federal transparency requirements and similar state laws, each as amended.
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, any person or entity, from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs. The term remuneration has been interpreted broadly to include anything of value. The federal Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers on one hand and prescribers, purchasers, and formulary managers on the other. There are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting some common activities from prosecution. The exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly and require strict compliance in order to offer protection. Practices that involve remuneration that may be alleged to be intended to induce prescribing, purchasing or recommending may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exception or safe harbor. Failure to meet all of the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per se illegal under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on a cumulative review of all of its facts and circumstances. Our practices may not in all cases meet all of the criteria for protection under a statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor.
Additionally, the intent standard under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute was amended by the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively, the Affordable Care Act, to a stricter standard such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. Rather, if “one purpose” of the remuneration is to induce referrals, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute is violated. In addition, the Affordable Care Act codified case law that a claim that includes items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act (discussed below).
The federal civil monetary penalties statute imposes penalties against any person or entity who, among other things, is determined to have knowingly presented or caused to be presented a false or fraudulent claim to, among others, a federal healthcare program that the person knows or should know is for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent.
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The federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the federal civil False Claims Act, prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment or approval from Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal government programs that are false or fraudulent or knowingly making a false statement to improperly avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government, including federal healthcare programs. As a result of a modification made by the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, a claim includes “any request or demand” for money or property presented to the federal government. Pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies are being investigated or, in the past, have been prosecuted under these laws for, among other things, allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product. In addition, pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies also have been prosecuted for causing false claims to be submitted because of the companies’ marketing of the product for unapproved, and thus non-reimbursable, uses.
HIPAA created additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud or to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any money or property owned by, or under the control or custody of, any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by trick, scheme or device, a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.
We may be subject to data privacy and security regulations by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, or HITECH, and their implementing regulations, imposes requirements on certain types of individuals and entities, including covered entities (i.e., certain healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses), relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. Among other things, HITECH makes HIPAA’s privacy and security standards directly applicable to business associates (and their subcontractors) that are independent contractors or agents of covered entities that receive or obtain protected health information in connection with providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in specified circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. For example, in California, the California Consumer Protection Act, or CCPA, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, establishes a new privacy framework for covered businesses by creating an expanded definition of personal information, establishing new data privacy rights for consumers in the State of California, imposing special rules on the collection of consumer data from minors, and creating a new and potentially severe statutory damages framework for violations of the CCPA and for businesses that fail to implement reasonable security procedures and practices to prevent data breaches. While clinical trial data and information governed by HIPAA are currently exempt from the current version of the CCPA, other personal information may be applicable and possible changes to the CCPA may broaden its scope. In addition, a new California ballot initiative, the California Privacy Rights Act, or CPRA, was passed in November 2020. Effective starting on January 1, 2023, the CPRA imposes additional obligations on companies covered by the legislation and will significantly modify the CCPA, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information.
Additionally, the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act created under the Affordable Care Act, and its implementing regulations, require that certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biological and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) annually report information to CMS related to certain payments or other transfers of value made or distributed to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, the physicians and teaching hospitals and to report annually certain ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their
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immediate family members. Applicable manufacturers are required to report information regarding payments and other transfers of value provided during the previous year to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologist assistants and certified nurse-midwives.
Also, many states have similar fraud and abuse statutes or regulations that apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor. In order to distribute therapeutics commercially, we must comply with state laws that require the registration of manufacturers and wholesale distributors of drug and biological products in a state, including, in certain states, manufacturers and distributors who ship products into the state even if such manufacturers or distributors have no place of business within the state. Some states also impose requirements on manufacturers and distributors to establish the pedigree of product in the chain of distribution, including some states that require manufacturers and others to adopt new technology capable of tracking and tracing product as it moves through the distribution chain. Several states and local jurisdictions have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to establish marketing compliance programs and comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, file periodic reports with the state, make periodic public disclosures on sales, marketing, pricing, clinical trials and other activities, and/or register their sales representatives, as well as to prohibit pharmacies and other healthcare entities from providing certain physician prescribing data to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for use in sales and marketing, and to prohibit certain other sales and marketing practices. All of our activities are potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.
If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the federal and state healthcare laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to significant penalties, including without limitation, civil, criminal and/or administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, exclusion from participation in government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, injunctions, contractual damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens, diminished profits and future earnings, additional reporting requirements and/or oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.
Coverage, Pricing and Reimbursement
Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any therapeutic candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. In the United States and certain markets in other countries, sales of any therapeutics for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale will depend, in part, on the extent to which third-party payors provide coverage, and establish adequate reimbursement levels for such products. No uniform policy for coverage and reimbursement exists in the United States, and coverage and reimbursement can differ significantly from payor to payor. As a result, the coverage determination process is often time-consuming and costly. In the United States, third-party payors include federal and state healthcare programs, private managed care providers, health insurers and other organizations. The process for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price of a product or from establishing the reimbursement rate that such a payor will pay for the product. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, also known as a formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular indication. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price, examining the medical necessity and reviewing the cost-effectiveness of medical products, therapies and services, in addition to questioning their safety and efficacy. We may need to conduct expensive pharmaco-economic studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of our therapeutics, in addition to the costs required to obtain the FDA approvals. Our therapeutic candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective. A payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a therapeutic does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for the therapeutic. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in therapeutic development.
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Different pricing and reimbursement schemes exist in other countries. In the EU, governments influence the price of pharmaceutical products through their pricing and reimbursement rules and control of national health care systems that fund a large part of the cost of those products to consumers. Some jurisdictions operate positive and negative list systems under which products may only be marketed once a reimbursement price has been agreed. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval, some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular therapeutic candidate to currently available therapies. Other member states allow companies to fix their own prices for medicines, but monitor and control company profits. The downward pressure on health care costs has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross-border imports from low-priced markets exert a commercial pressure on pricing within a country. 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. Pricing and rebate programs must comply with the Medicaid rebate requirements of the U.S. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and more recent requirements in the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively, the Affordable Care Act. If products are made available to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration, additional laws and requirements apply.
The marketability of any therapeutic candidates for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if the government and third-party payors fail to provide adequate coverage and reimbursement. In addition, emphasis on managed care in the United States has increased and we expect will continue to increase the pressure on healthcare pricing. For example, actions by federal and state governments and health plans may put additional downward pressure on pharmaceutical pricing and health care costs, which could negatively impact coverage and reimbursement for our products if approved, our revenue, and our ability to compete with other marketed products and to recoup the costs of our research and development. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more therapeutics for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.
Healthcare Reform
In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and continue to be, several legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval of therapeutic candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities, and affect the ability to profitably sell therapeutic candidates for which marketing approval is obtained. Among policy makers and payors in the United States and elsewhere, there is significant interest in promoting changes in healthcare systems with the stated goals of containing healthcare costs, improving quality and/or expanding access. In the United States, the pharmaceutical industry has been a particular focus of these efforts and has been significantly affected by major legislative initiatives.
For example, the Affordable Care Act has substantially changed healthcare financing and delivery by both governmental and private insurers. Among the Affordable Care Act provisions of importance to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in addition to those otherwise described above, are the following:
| • | an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents apportioned among these entities according to their market share in some government healthcare programs that began in 2011; |
| • | an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, retroactive to January 1, 2010, to 23.1% and 13% of the average manufacturer price for most branded and generic drugs, respectively, and capped the total rebate amount for innovator drugs at 100% of the Average Manufacturer Price (AMP); |
| • | a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must now agree to offer 70% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible |
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beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturers’ outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D; |
| • | extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations; |
| • | expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability; |
| • | expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the 340B Drug Discount Program; |
| • | a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research; |
| • | expansion of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the FCA and the Anti-Kickback Statute, new government investigative powers, and enhanced penalties for noncompliance; |
| • | a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted, or injected; |
| • | requirements to report certain financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals; |
| • | a requirement to annually report certain information regarding drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; |
| • | establishment of a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending; and |
| • | a licensure framework for follow on biologic products. |
There remain executive, legal and political challenges to certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act. For example:
| • | In December 2017, Congress repealed the tax penalty for an individual’s failure to maintain Affordable Care Act-mandated health insurance as part of the Tax Act. Further, the 2020 federal spending package permanently eliminated, effective January 1, 2020, the Affordable Care Act-mandated “Cadillac” tax on certain high cost employer-sponsored insurance plans and the medical device excise tax on non-exempt medical devices, and, also eliminated the health insurer tax. |
| • | The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, or BBA, among other things, amended the Affordable Care Act to close the coverage gap in most Medicare drug plans, commonly referred to as the “donut hole.” |
| • | On December 14, 2018, a Texas United States District Court Judge ruled that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional in its entirety because the “individual mandate” was effectively repealed by Congress as part of the Tax Act. The United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit later upheld the District Court ruling that the individual mandate was unconstitutional and remanded the case back to the District Court to determine whether the remaining provisions of the Affordable Care Act are invalid as well. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the Affordable Care Act brought by several states without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. |
| • | Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, President Biden issued an Executive Order to initiate a special enrollment period from February 15, 2021 through August 15, 2021 for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The Executive Order also instructed certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their existing policies and rules that limit access to healthcare, including among others, reexamining Medicaid demonstration projects and waiver programs that include work requirements, and policies that create unnecessary barriers to obtaining access to health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act. The ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare reform legislation on the United States healthcare industry is unclear. |
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Prior to the Biden administration, on October 13, 2017, former President Trump signed an Executive Order terminating the cost-sharing subsidies that reimburse insurers under the Affordable Care Act. The former Trump administration concluded that cost-sharing reduction, or CSR, payments to insurance companies required under the Affordable Care Act have not received necessary appropriations from Congress and announced that it will discontinue these payments immediately until those appropriations are made. Several state Attorneys General filed suit to stop the administration from terminating the subsidies, but their request for a restraining order was denied by a federal judge in California on October 25, 2017. On August 14, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in two separate cases that the federal government is liable for the full amount of unpaid CSRs for the years preceding and including 2017. For CSR claims made by health insurance companies for years 2018 and later, further litigation will be required to determine the amounts due, if any. Further, on June 14, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the federal government was not required to pay more than $12 billion in Affordable Care Act risk corridor payments to third-party payors who argued the payments were owed to them. On April 27, 2020, the United States Supreme Court reversed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s decision and remanded the case to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, concluding the government has an obligation to pay these risk corridor payments under the relevant formula.
We anticipate that the Affordable Care Act, if substantially maintained in its current form, will continue to result in additional downward pressure on coverage and the price that we receive for any approved therapeutic, and could seriously harm our business. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare and other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our therapeutics. Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from therapeutic candidates that we may successfully develop and for which we may obtain regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop therapeutic candidates.
Further legislation or regulation could be passed that could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. For example, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, created the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recommend to Congress proposals in spending reductions. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction did not achieve a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for fiscal years 2013 through 2021, triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year. These reductions went into effect on April 1, 2013 and, due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will remain in effect through 2030, with the exception of a temporary suspension from May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022. Then, a 1% payment reduction occurred beginning April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022, and the 2% payment reduction will resume on July 1, 2022. Further, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years.
Additionally, there has been increasing legislative and enforcement interest in the United States with respect to specialty drug pricing practices. At the federal level, President Biden signed an Executive Order on July 9, 2021 affirming the administration’s policy to (i) support legislative reforms that would lower the prices of prescription drug and biologics, including by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, imposing inflation caps and supporting the development and market entry of lower-cost generic drugs and biosimilars; and (ii) support the enactment of a public health insurance option. Among other things, the Executive Order also directs HHS to provide a report on actions to combat excessive pricing of prescription drugs, to enhance the domestic drug supply chain, to reduce the price that the Federal government pays for drugs, and to address price gouging in the industry; and directs the FDA to work with states and Indian Tribes that propose to develop section 804 Importation Programs in accordance with the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, and the FDA’s implementing regulations. FDA released such implementing regulations on September 24, 2020, which went into effect on November 30, 2020, providing guidance for states to build and
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submit importation plans for drugs from Canada. Further, authorities in Canada have passed rules designed to safeguard the Canadian drug supply from shortages. If implemented, importation of drugs from Canada may materially and adversely affect the price we receive for any of our therapeutic candidates.
Additionally, on December 2, 2020, HHS published a regulation removing safe harbor protection for price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers, unless the price reduction is required by law. The rule also created a new safe harbor for price reductions reflected at the point-of-sale, as well as a safe harbor for certain fixed fee arrangements between pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers. Pursuant to a court order, the removal and addition of the aforementioned safe harbors were delayed and recent legislation imposed a moratorium on implementation of the rule until January 1, 2026.
Although a number of these and other proposed measures may require authorization through additional legislation to become effective, and the Biden administration may reverse or otherwise change these measures, both the Biden administration and Congress have indicated that they will continue to seek new legislative measures to control drug costs. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly active in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing.
In addition, On May 30, 2018, the Right to Try Act was signed into law. The law, among other things, provides a federal framework for certain patients to access certain investigational new drug products that have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and that are undergoing investigation for FDA approval. Under certain circumstances, eligible patients can seek treatment without enrolling in clinical trials and without obtaining FDA permission under the FDA expanded access program. There is no obligation for a pharmaceutical manufacturer to make its drug products available to eligible patients as a result of the Right to Try Act.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, prohibits any U.S. individual or business from paying, offering, or authorizing payment or offering of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the United States to comply with accounting provisions requiring us to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all transactions of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls for international operations.
Additional Regulation
In addition to the foregoing, state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Resource Conservancy and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, affect our business. These and other laws govern our use, handling and disposal of various biological, chemical and radioactive substances used in, and wastes generated by, our operations. If our operations result in contamination of the environment or expose individuals to hazardous substances, we could be liable for damages and governmental fines. We believe that we are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and that continued compliance therewith will not have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot predict, however, how changes in these laws may affect our future operations.
Europe/Rest of World Government Regulation
In addition to regulations in the United States, we will be subject to a variety of regulations in other jurisdictions governing, among other things, clinical trials and any commercial sales and distribution of our
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therapeutics. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval of a therapeutic, we must obtain the requisite approvals from regulatory authorities in foreign countries prior to the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of the therapeutic in those countries. Certain countries outside of the United States have a similar process that requires the submission of a clinical trial application much like the IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In the EU, for example, a clinical trial application must be submitted to each country’s national health authority and an independent ethics committee, much like the FDA and IRB, respectively. Once the clinical trial application is approved in accordance with a country’s requirements, clinical trial development may proceed. Because biologically sourced raw materials are subject to unique contamination risks, their use may be restricted in some countries.
The requirements and process governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, the clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki.
To obtain regulatory approval of an investigational drug or biological product under EU regulatory systems, we must submit a Market Authorization Application. The application used to file the BLA in the United States is similar to that required in the EU, with the exception of, among other things, country-specific document requirements.
For other countries outside of the EU, such as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America or Asia, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, again, the clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki.
If we fail to comply with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals, product recalls, seizure of therapeutics, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.
Employees and Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2021, we had 225 full-time employees and 143 non-employee leased workers. Of these employees, 27 held Ph.D. or M.D. degrees, 33 were engaged in research, 16 were engaged clinical development and 92 were engaged in technical operations. Substantially all of our employees are located in Florham Park, New Jersey. Our employees are not represented by labor unions or covered by collective bargaining agreements. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.
Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and additional employees. The principal purposes of our incentive plans are to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants and directors through the granting of stock-based compensation awards and cash-based performance bonus awards.
Facilities
We occupy approximately 150,000 square feet of office, laboratory and manufacturing space in Florham Park, New Jersey under a lease expiring in 2036, which we use as our principal place of business. We lease additional properties in New Jersey. We believe that our existing facilities and other available properties will be sufficient for our needs for the foreseeable future.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other legal proceedings. We are not currently a party to any litigation or legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material
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adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
On June 9, 2021, John Schlechtweg, a former employee, filed a complaint against us in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut alleging breach of verbal contract and, alternatively, unjust enrichment. The complaint specifically alleges that we have refused to pay Mr. Schlechtweg additional compensation relating to his involvement in the sale of certain assets to Sanuwave. On March 14, 2022, upon order by the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the case was transferred to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. We believe the claims asserted in the action are without merit and intend to vigorously defend against them, but there can be no assurance as to the outcome of the litigation.
On February 4, 2021, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York by a purported stockholder in connection with the Business Combination: Spero v. GX Acquisition Corp., et al., Index No. 650812/2021 (N.Y. Sup Ct. Feb 04, 2021). On February 26, 2021, the same purported stockholder filed an amended complaint in the lawsuit removing the class action allegations and certain of the other allegations, or the Spero Complaint. On February 8, 2021, a complaint was filed with the Supreme Court of the State of New York by a purported stockholder in connection with the Business Combination: Rogalla v. GX Acquisition Corp., et al., Index No. 650877/2021 (N.Y. Sup Ct. Feb 08, 2021), or the Rogalla Complaint, and together with the Spero Complaint, the Complaints). The complaints name our company and members of our board of directors (prior to the Business Combination), or GX and the GX Board, respectively, as defendants. Additionally, the Rogalla Complaint named First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Legacy Celularity as defendants. The Rogalla Complaint alleged breach of fiduciary duty claims against the GX Board in connection with the Business Combination and aiding and abetting the GX Board’s breaches of fiduciary duties claims against GX, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Legacy Celularity. These claims are based on allegations that the prospectus in connection with the Business Combination was materially misleading and/or omitted material information concerning the Business Combination. The Spero Complaint alleged breach of fiduciary duty claims against the GX Board in connection with the Business Combination and aiding and abetting the GX Boards’ breaches of fiduciary duties claims against GX. These claims were based on the sales process and valuation of Legacy Celularity, as well as allegations that the S-4 registration statement related to the Business Combination was materially misleading and/or omitted material information concerning the Business Combination. The complaints generally requested injunctive relief or rescission, unspecified damages and awards of attorneys’ and experts’ fees, among other remedies. On April 29, 2021, the plaintiff that filed the Spero Complaint voluntarily discontinued that action. On July 20, 2021, the plaintiff that filed the Rogalla Complaint voluntarily discontinued that action.
The GX Board also received four demands from putative stockholders of GX dated February 18, 2021, March 2, 2021, March 19, 2021 and March 24, 2021, alleging that GX and the GX Board have breached their fiduciary duties and violated federal securities laws because the prospectus allegedly was materially misleading and/or omitted material information concerning the Business Combination. The demands sought the issuance of corrective disclosures in an amendment or supplement to the prospectus. While GX believed that the above allegations were all without merit, on March 29, 2021, GX filed an amended Form S-4 with the SEC that contained certain additional information that mooted the disclosure claims asserted in the complaints and the demands, the Supplemental Disclosures. In connection with the filing of the Supplemental Disclosures, counsel for the plaintiffs in the complaint and the demands agreed that, in light of the mootness of their claims, they would stand down and not take any further action with respect to the Business Combination or the prospectus, and subsequently entered into a confidential agreement with GX to resolve any and all claims that were or could have been raised in the complaints and the demands.
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Executive Officers and Directors
Our directors and executive officers and their ages as of May 10, 2022 are listed below:
Name | Age | Position(s) | ||||
Executive Officers | ||||||
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 63 | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||||
Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P | 64 | President | ||||
David C. Beers | 52 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Stephen A. Brigido, DPM | 46 | President, Degenerative Disease | ||||
Keary Dunn, Esq. | 52 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Business Development | ||||
Bradley Glover, Ph.D. | 53 | Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer | ||||
John R. Haines | 64 | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ||||
Anne Jones, Ph.D. | 52 | Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer | ||||
Non-Employee Directors | ||||||
John Sculley (3) | 83 | Director | ||||
Jay R. Bloom (2) | 66 | Director | ||||
Peter Diamandis, M.D. (1) | 60 | Director | ||||
Dean C. Kehler (1)(2) | 65 | Director | ||||
Lim Kok Thay (3) | 70 | Director | ||||
Marc Mazur (1)(2) | 62 | Director | ||||
Robin L. Smith, M.D., MBA | 57 | Director | ||||
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. (3) | 80 | Director | ||||
| (1) | Member of the audit committee. |
| (2) | Member of the compensation committee. |
| (3) | Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee. |
Executive Officers
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Hariri is the founder of Legacy Celularity and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors since the Business Combination, served as President from the Business Combination through September 2021 and was Legacy Celularity’s founder before the Business Combination and previously served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and as Chairman of its board of directors from 2016. Prior to joining Legacy Celularity, Dr. Hariri founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Anthrogenesis Corporation, and after its acquisition by Celgene, Dr. Hariri served as Chief Executive Officer of Celgene Cellular Therapeutics from 2005 to 2013. Dr. Hariri also co-founded the genomic-based health intelligence company, Human Longevity, Inc. Dr. Hariri is also an Adjunct Professor of Neurosurgery and a member of the Board of Overseers at the Weill-Cornell University Medical College. He is a member of the X PRIZE Foundation scientific advisory board for the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics. Dr. Hariri is a trustee and vice-chair of the Liberty Science Center. Dr. Hariri has served as a member of the board of directors of various companies, including Myos Corporation from July 2011 to November 2020, where he served as Chairman of the board from April 2012 to November 2020, Bionik Laboratories Corp. from March 2015 to October 2017, Cryoport since 2017, Bio Vie Inc. since June 2020. Dr. Hariri obtained an A.B. in Biological Anthropology from Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Columbia College and an M.D. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Hariri’s history in building companies in biotechnology, medical devices and therapeutics, as well as his expertise and experience in life sciences, including his work in immune-oncology and cell therapeutics and his educational background, provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve on our board of directors.
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Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P. has been serving as President since September 2021. He was a director of our wholly owned subsidiary Celularity Operations, Inc. from June 2017 through the Business Combination. He also was a consultant to Celularity Operations and Chair of its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Pecora has been a practicing physician since 1989 and is the founder and first president of Regional Cancer Care Associates. He also is the founder of COTA, Inc. a data analytics company, and has served as COTA’s Chairman since 2011. He also is Chairman of Outcomes Matter Innovation LLC, or OMI, and served as OMI’s Chief Executive Officer from 2019 to September 2021. Prior to consulting with Celularity Operations, Inc., Dr. Pecora served as a director of Caladrius Biosciences, Inc., from 2011 to 2016, as Chief Medical Officer from 2011 to 2015, and as Chief Visionary Officer from 2013 to 2015. He co-founded and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Progenitor Cell Therapy, or PCT, prior to its acquisition by Caladrius in 2011 and served as PCT’s Chief Medical Officer from 2011 to 2015. Earlier, he founded and was Chairman of Amorcyte, Inc., a clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on developing novel treatments for cardiovascular disease. Dr. Pecora was Chairman and Director of the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center from 2001 to 2011. He was Vice President of Cancer Services and Chief Innovations Officer of Hackensack Meridian Health from 2011 to 2016. From 2016 to 2019, Dr. Pecora served as President Physician Enterprise, Chief Innovations Officer, and Institutional Official of Hackensack Meridian Health. Dr. Pecora is a Professor of Medicine and Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center. He received an M.D. from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, graduating with honors. He went on to complete his medical education in internal medicine at New York Hospital and in hematology and oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, both in New York City. He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, and oncology.
David C. Beers. Mr. Beers has served as our Chief Financial Officer since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination served as Legacy Celularity’s Chief Financial Officer from January 2020. Mr. Beers previously served as a portfolio manager at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, or GSAM. from 2010 to 2019, where he managed the Goldman Sachs Income Builder portfolio and the Real Estate Balanced portfolio as a member of the GSAM high yield team. Previously, Mr. Beers served as a technology and media analyst with T. Rowe Price from 2004 to 2010 and with Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Beers obtained an AB from Princeton University in 1992 and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania in 2004.
Stephen A. Brigido, DPM. Dr. Brigido has served as our President, Degenerative Disease since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination, served as Legacy Celularity’s President, Degenerative Disease and Biobanking from September 2019. Prior thereto, Dr. Brigido served as Managing Partner at Venel Holdings from November 2010 to present, and at BBHP Medical LLC from October 2016 to present. Before his tenure at BBHP Medical LLC, Dr. Brigido served as President and Chief Medical Officer at Edge Orthopaedics, LLC from April 2012 to July 2016. While at Edge Orthopaedics, Dr. Brigido was responsible for the development and commercial release of over 30 FDA approved products in foot and ankle surgery. In 2016, he facilitated a sale of that company to Orthofix SRL in Verona, Italy. Dr. Brigido is a founding partner of Plazmology 4, Inc., and has served on its board of directors since 2012. From 2005-2019 Dr. Brigido was the Section Chief of Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Coordinated Health; and was Director of the Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Fellowship from 2010-2019. In addition to his duties as a surgeon, Dr. Brigido served on the Board of Directors of Coordinated Health Holding Company from 2008-2019. Dr. Brigido has published over 120 peer reviewed papers in regenerative medicine and orthopedics; and has written numerous book chapters. Dr. Brigido is a Professor of Surgery at The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, PA, and has numerous patents involving biomaterials and orthopedic hardware. Dr. Brigido obtained a Bachelor of Science from Randolph-Macron College and a Medical Degree from Temple University.
Keary L. Dunn, Esq. Mr. Dunn has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Business Development since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination served as Legacy Celularity’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel from March 2020. Prior thereto, from January 2017 to March 2020, Mr. Dunn served as Vice President, U.S. Head Legal, Novartis Global Drug Development. At Novartis, Mr. Dunn also served as General Counsel of the Cell and Gene Therapy Unit from 2014 to 2017. He
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also served as the Global Ethics and Compliance Officer for Novartis Oncology from 2012 to 2014. Prior to his tenure at Novartis, from 2008 to 2010, Mr. Dunn served as Senior Corporate Counsel at Sanofi-Aventis U.S. as a member of the Regulatory/Privacy/Policy and Managed Markets legal groups. Mr. Dunn holds a Juris Doctor Degree from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemical pharmacology from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Bradley Glover, Ph.D. Dr. Glover has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination served as Legacy Celularity’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer from March 2021. Prior thereto, from August 2019 to March 2021, Dr. Glover served as Vice President Corporate Development, Head of Corporate Strategy & Operations at Kite Pharma, Inc., which he first joined in September 2016 and held several executive roles in corporate development and technical operations. Prior to Kite, Dr. Glover he held several roles of increasing responsibility at Genentech, Inc. (now part of the Roche Group) from 2008 through September 2016 in the areas of finance, strategy, supply chain operations and alliance management. Dr. Glover holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular genetics from the University of Colorado, an M.B.A. from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of California San Diego. Dr. Glover was also a Jane Coffin Childs Medical Research Fellow at the University of California Berkeley.
John R. Haines Mr. Haines has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination served as Legacy Celularity’s Chief Operating Officer from October 2020, and prior to that role, Mr. Haines served as its Chief Administrative Officer from September 2017. Prior thereto, from 2013 to 2017, Mr. Haines served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Andiscern Corporation, a private company he cofounded to develop particle accelerator-based technology to detect fissile material used to make nuclear weapons. Prior to his tenure at Andiscern, from 2009 to 2013, Mr. Haines served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Ionetix Corporation, a private company he cofounded in 2009 to commercialize superconducting cyclotron technology developed at the MIT Plasma Fusion Laboratory. Mr. Haines served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Anthrogenesis Corporation from July 1999 through December 2002, when it was acquired by Celgene Corporation and renamed Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Mr. Haines obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Villanova University, a Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine, a Master of Arts from King’s College London, and a postgraduate diploma from Stanford University.
Anne Jones, Ph.D. Dr. Jones has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination served as Legacy Celularity’s Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer from April 2021. Prior thereto, Dr. Jones served as Chief Operating Officer at Genuity Science leading their core business in Ireland, Iceland, and the United States. Dr. Jones also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Genomics Medicine Ireland (GMI), leading the company on population genomics and data analytics in oncology and complex diseases. Prior to GMI, she was Vice President and General Manager for Pall Corporations Lab, Food & Beverage business at U.S.-based Danaher Corp. Dr. Jones also held senior roles in strategy development and planning at Agilent Technologies where she led business development and M&A activities for Agilent’s Life Sciences and Applied Markets division and developed the strategy for Agilent’s successful entry into cell analysis. Dr. Jones has also worked with Amersham Biosciences in the UK and GE Healthcare Life Sciences in the UK and USA in marketing and R&D roles. Dr. Jones obtained a B.S. in Microbiology and Molecular Biology from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a Ph.D. at Cancer Research UK, studying protein biochemistry and molecular biology in DNA Repair.
Non-Employee Directors
John Sculley. Mr. Sculley has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination and before the Business Combination served as Vice Chairman of Legacy Celularity’s board of directors from
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June 2017. Mr. Sculley has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Marketing Officer for RxAdvance Corporation, a modern Pharmacy Benefit Manager platform company, a position he has held since 2015. Mr. Sculley is the co-founder and vice chairman of Zeta Global, a personalized marketing platform, positions he has held since 2009. Mr. Sculley has also served as a member of the Board of Directors at Zeta Global since 2009 and he previously served as a member of the Board of Directors at Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. from October 2018 to January 2020. Mr. Sculley previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Pepsi-Cola Co from 1978 to 1983. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. from 1983 to 1993. Mr. Sculley was a founding Board member of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. from 1996 to 2008 and Rally Health, Inc. from 2011 to 2014. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of MDLIVE, Inc. from 2009 to 2017. Mr. Sculley obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. Mr. Sculley has also been awarded ten Ph.D.s and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Our board of directors believes that Mr. Sculley is qualified to serve based on his experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, including his extensive experience in leadership roles at other companies.
Jay R. Bloom Mr. Bloom has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Mr. Bloom is also a Managing Partner of Trimaran, which he co-founded in 1998, serves as a Manager of Trimaran Fund II, an existing private equity fund, and serves as Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a director of GX Acquisition Corp. II. Trimaran and affiliated entities have managed, through Trimaran Fund Management, L.L.C., private equity funds, collateralized loan obligations, and hedge funds (in the case of hedge funds, as sub-advisor). Prior to Trimaran, Mr. Bloom was a Managing Director and Vice Chairman of CIBC, where he was responsible for CIBC’s United States and European Merchant Banking activities, which were conducted through the CIBC Funds. In addition, Mr. Bloom was responsible for overseeing CIBC’s United States and European Leveraged Finance businesses, which included financial sponsor coverage; acquisition finance; high yield origination, underwriting, sales and trading; private placements; and financial restructuring advisory services. Prior to CIBC, Mr. Bloom was a co-founder of Argosy, a boutique investment bank that engaged in leveraged finance activities and principal investing. Argosy was acquired by CIBC in 1995. Prior to Argosy, Mr. Bloom was a Managing Director of Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., and before that he was an investment banker at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Bloom also practiced law at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison. Within the last five years, Mr. Bloom has served on the Board of Directors of El Pollo Loco, Inc. until its IPO (restaurants), KCAP Financial Inc. (fixed income investments/asset management; NASDAQ: KCAP), ChanceLight, Inc. (for-profit education), Norcraft Companies, Inc. (building products) and Brite Media Group LLC (specialty advertising). He has also in the past served as a director of Accuride Corporation (heavy truck components; NYSE: ACW), Consolidated Advisors, LLC (asset management), Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (restaurants), Freightcar America, Inc. (rail cars), Global Crossing Ltd. (telecommunications; NYSE: GX), Heating Oil Partners, L.P. (energy), IASIS Healthcare Corporation (hospitals and insurance), Millennium Digital Media Holdings (cable/telecom), Morris Materials Handling, Inc. (capital equipment), NSP Holdings LLC (safety products), PrimeCo Wireless Communications LLC (communications), Source Financial Corporation (retail), Standard Steel, LLC (railcar components) and Transportation Technologies, Inc (heavy truck components). He serves on the Advisory Board of the Richman Center for Business, Law and Public Policy at Columbia University, has served as a member of the Cornell University Council and the Cornell University Undergraduate Business Program Advisory Council, and is an emeritus member of the Advisory Council of the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Mr. Bloom graduated summa cum laude from Cornell University with a B.S degree, from the Johnson Graduate School with an M.B.A degree and from Columbia University School of Law with a J.D. degree, where he was a member of the Board of Editors of the Columbia Law Review. Mr. Bloom is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive financial, investment, operation and private and public company experience.
Peter H. Diamandis, M.D. Dr. Diamandis has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Dr. Diamandis was a co-founder and before the Business Combination served as a Vice Chairman of Legacy Celularity’s board of directors since 2016. Dr. Diamandis is also the Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, a non-profit foundation that has designed and operated large-scale incentive competitions and the Executive Founder of Singularity University, a graduate-level Silicon Valley
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institution founded in 2008 that counsels the world’s leaders on exponentially growing technologies. Dr. Diamandis is the Vice Chairman and co-Founder of Human Longevity, Inc., a company focused on extending the human lifespan. Dr. Diamandis obtained degrees in Molecular Engineering and Aerospace Engineering from MIT and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Our board of directors believes he is well qualified to serve on the board due to his extensive operational and management experience in the technology industry.
Dean C. Kehler. Mr. Kehler has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Mr. Kehler is also a Managing Partner of Trimaran, which he co-founded in 1998, serves as a Manager of Trimaran Fund II, and serves as Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a director of GX Acquisition Corp. II. Prior to Trimaran, Mr. Kehler was a Managing Director and Vice Chairman of CIBC, where he was responsible for CIBC’s United States and European Merchant Banking activities, which were conducted through the CIBC Funds. In addition, Mr. Kehler was responsible for overseeing CIBC’s United States and European Leveraged Finance businesses, which included financial sponsor coverage; acquisition finance; high yield origination, underwriting, sales and trading; private placements; and financial restructuring advisory services. Prior to CIBC, Mr. Kehler was a co-founder of Argosy. Prior to Argosy, Mr. Kehler was a Managing Director of Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., and before that he was an investment banker at Lehman Brothers. Mr.��Kehler serves on the Boards of Directors of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (restaurants; NASDAQ: LOCO); Portman Ridge Finance Corporation. (investment company; NASDAQ: PTMN) and Security First Corp. (cyber security and data management software), of which he is Vice Chairman. He also serves as a Member of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and formerly served as its Chairman. Within the last five years, he has served a director of Inviva Inc. (insurance), and Graphene Frontiers, LLC (graphene). Mr. Kehler previously served as a director of Ashley Stewart Holdings, Inc. (retail); Continental Airlines Inc. (airlines; NYSE: CAL); Global Crossing Ltd. (telecommunications; NYSE: GX); Hills Department Stores, Inc. (retail; NYSE: HDS); TeleBanc Financial Corp. (Internet banking; NASDAQ: TBFC); Booth Creek Ski Group, Inc. (real estate; leisure); CB Holding Corp. (restaurants); CNC Holding Corp. (retail); Heating Oil Partners, L.P. (energy); Jefferson National Financial Corporation (annuities); PrimeCo Wireless Communications, LLC (communications); Source Financing Corp. (retail); TLC Beatrice International Inc. (consumer products); and Urban Brands, Inc. (retail). In addition, Mr. Kehler previously served as a board observer of ITC Holdings, Inc. (electric transmission). Mr. Kehler previously served as a Director, Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee of CARE USA, one of the world’s largest private humanitarian organizations. Mr. Kehler graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kehler is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive financial, investment, operation and private and public company experience.
Lim Kok Thay. Tan Sri Lim has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Before the Business Combination, Tan Sri Lim has previously served on Legacy Celularity’s board of directors from 2018, and is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad. He is also the Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Malaysia Berhad, the Deputy Chairman and Executive Director of Genting Plantations Berhad, the Executive Chairman of Genting Singapore Limited and the Chairman of Genting UK Plc. Tan Sri Lim has served in various positions within the Genting Group since 1976. He is a Founding Member, a Permanent Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the charitable foundation The Community Chest, Malaysia. In addition, he is a member of the board of directors of several other companies as well as a member of the board of trustees of several charitable organizations in Malaysia. Tan Sri Lim is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genting Hong Kong Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Tan Sri Lim holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of London. He attended the Program for Management Development of Harvard Business School in 1979. Our board of directors believes that Tan Sri Lim is qualified to serve on the board based on his experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, including his extensive experience in leadership roles at other companies.
Marc Mazur. Mr. Mazur has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Mr. Mazur also serves as a director of GX Acquisition Corp. II. Mr. Mazur has served as an Industry Advisor for
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Brightwood Capital Advisors, LLC, a private debt fund, since 2014. From 2006 until 2008, Mr. Mazur served as the Chief Executive Officer of Brevan Howard U.S. Asset Management, a London-based global macro hedge fund, and a senior advisor of this company until 2010. From 2010 through December 2019, Mr. Mazur served as a member of the board of directors for Fibrocell Science, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCSC), an autologous cell and gene therapy company. Mr. Mazur serves as chairman of the audit committee and a member of the valuation committee of SuRo Capital Corp. (NASDAQ:SSSS), a business development company that invests in late-stage venture-backed private companies since 2017. He served a senior advisor to Tsinghua Venture Capital from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Mazur served as a Vice President at Salomon Brothers, Inc from 1984 to 1987 and served as a Vice President in the Fixed Income Division of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from 1987 until 1996, and served as a consultant for Goldman from 1997 to 1999. Between 2010 and 2014, he served as a director of Staywell Health and as a director of DeVilbiss Health, private companies in the wellness and medical device fields. Mr. Mazur received his B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. He is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his senior executive-level experience in finance, life science, healthcare consulting and business strategy, as well as his board experience.
Robin L. Smith, M.D., MBA. Dr. Smith has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Before the Business Combination, Dr. Smith served as one of Legacy Celularity’s directors from August 2019. Dr. Smith has also served as a director of Sorrento since December 2019. She has served as partner of BRM Holdings, LLC, a consulting firm, since March 2015. In 2007, Dr. Smith founded The Stem for Life Foundation (SFLF), a nonprofit organization, and has served as Chairman of the Board and President of the Stem for Life Foundation since its inception. The Stem for Life Foundation is now part of the Cura Foundation of which Dr. Smith serves as Chair of the Board and President. She has served as Vice President of the Science and Faith STOQ Foundation in Rome since 2015 and has served as a member of its Board of Directors since 2012. She also co-founded Spiritus Therapeutics, Inc. in 2018 and serves as President and Chair of the Board. From 2006 to 2015, Dr. Smith served as Chair and CEO of Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. (formerly NeoStem Inc.). She has served Chair of the board of directors of Mynd Analytics, Inc. since August 2015 and then its successor Emmaus Medical, Inc. until September 2019, served on the board of directors of Rockwell Medical, Inc. from June 2016 to November 2019 and served on the board of Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. since January 2019. Dr. Smith has been a member of the Board of Overseers at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York since 2014, a member of the International Board of Sanford Health since 2016, co-chair of the Life Sci advisory board on gender diversity since April 2016, a member of the board of directors of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Foundation since 2017 and a co-founder and member of the board of directors of Unite to Prevent Cancer Foundation since 2018. She has served as a voluntary Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School since 2017. She served on the Board of Trustees of the NYU Langone Medical Center from 2006 to 2014 and was on the board of directors of Signal Genetics, Inc. from July 2014 to February 2016, BioXcel Corporation from August 2015 to June 2017 and ProLung Inc. from February 2017 to July 2018. Dr. Smith obtained her M.D. from Yale University, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business and a B.A. from Yale University. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Smith’s scientific background and her broader business development and corporate experience, qualify her to serve on the board.
Andrew C von Eschenbach, M.D. Dr. von Eschenbach has served as a member of our board of directors since the Business Combination. Before the Business Combination, Dr. von Eschenbach served as one of Legacy Celularity’s directors from June 2017. Dr. von Eschenbach serves as President of Samaritan Health Initiatives since January 2010. Prior to his tenure there, from 2005 to 2009, he served as Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Previously, Dr. Eschenbach served as a director at the National Cancer Institute and as Executive Vice President/Chief Academic Officer and Professor of Urologic Oncology at the University of Texas MD Cancer Center. Dr. von Eschenbach obtained a B.S. from St. Joseph’s University and an M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. von Eschenbach served as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, and after completing a residency in urologic surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, he was an instructor in urology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. von Eschenbach completed a Fellowship in Urologic Oncology at the University of
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Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Our board of directors believes that Dr. von Eschenbach is qualified to serve on the board due to his extensive experience in biotechnology and his expertise in oncology.
Board Composition
Our business and affairs is organized under the direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors currently consists of nine members and Dr. Hariri serves as Chairman of the board of directors. The primary responsibilities of our board of directors are to provide oversight, strategic guidance, counseling and direction to the management. The board of directors meets on a regular basis and on an ad hoc basis as required.
In accordance with the terms of our certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws, the board of directors is divided into three classes, as follows:
| • | Class I, which consists of Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Jay R. Bloom and Peter Diamandis, M.D., whose terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022; |
| • | Class II, which consists of Dean C. Kehler, Robin L. Smith, M.D. and Lim Kok Thay, whose terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023; and |
| • | Class III, which consists of Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., John Sculley and Marc Mazur, whose terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2024. |
At each annual meeting of stockholders to be held after the initial classification, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will serve until the third annual meeting following their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The authorized size of the board of directors will be fixed exclusively by resolutions of the board of directors. The authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed between the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. This classification of the board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or our management. Our board of directors may be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our voting stock.
Director Independence
Each of the directors on the board of directors, other than Dr. Hariri, qualifies as an independent director, as defined by Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the board of directors consists of a majority of “independent directors” as defined under the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq listing rules relating to director independence requirements. In addition, we are subject to the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq relating to the membership, qualifications and operations of the audit committee, as discussed below.
Board Leadership Structure
Our board of directors is chaired by Dr. Hariri, the Chief Executive Officer. In such role, Dr. Hariri has the authority, among other things, to call and preside over board of directors meetings, to set meeting agendas and to determine materials to be distributed to the board of directors. The board of directors believes that combining the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair helps to ensure that the board of directors and management act with a common purpose and that separating the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair has the potential to give rise to divided leadership, which could interfere with good decision-making or weaken the ability to develop and implement strategy. Instead, the board of directors believes that combining the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair provides a single, clear chain of command to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans. In addition, the board of directors believes that a combined Chief Executive Officer/Board Chair is better positioned to act as a bridge between management and the board of directors, facilitating the regular flow of information. We also believe that it is advantageous to have a Board Chair with an extensive history with and knowledge of the company (as is the case with our Chief Executive Officer) as compared to a relatively less informed independent Board Chair.
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Role of the Board in Risk Oversight
The audit committee of the board of directors are primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes on behalf of the board of directors. Going forward, we expect that the audit committee will receive reports from management at least quarterly regarding its assessment of risks. In addition, the audit committee reports regularly to the board of directors, which also considers our risk profile. The audit committee and the board of directors focus on the most significant risks we face and our general risk management strategies. While the board of directors oversees risk management, management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes, the board of directors expects management to consider risk and risk management in each business decision, to proactively develop and monitor risk management strategies and processes for day-to-day activities and to effectively implement risk management strategies adopted by the audit committee and the board of directors. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks we face and that the board of directors leadership structure, which also emphasizes the independence of the board of directors in its oversight of our business and affairs, supports this approach.
Board Committees
The board of directors has established the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. The board of directors has adopted a charter for each of these committees, which comply with the applicable requirements of current Nasdaq rules. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they are applicable to us. Copies of the charters for each committee are available on the investor relations portion of our website.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee consists of Jay R. Bloom, Dean C. Kehler and, Marc Mazur. Each of the members of the audit committee satisfy the independence requirements of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Each member of the audit committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements in accordance with Nasdaq audit committee requirements.
Dean C. Kehler serves as the chair of the audit committee. The functions of this committee include, among other things:
| • | evaluating the performance, independence and qualifications of our independent auditors and determining whether to retain our existing independent auditors or engage new independent auditors; |
| • | reviewing and approving the engagement of our independent auditors to perform audit services and any permissible non-audit services; |
| • | monitoring the rotation of partners of our independent auditors on our engagement team as required by law; |
| • | prior to engagement of any independent auditor, and at least annually thereafter, reviewing relationships that may reasonably be thought to bear on their independence, and assessing and otherwise taking the appropriate action to oversee the independence of our independent auditor; |
| • | reviewing our annual and quarterly financial statements and reports, including the disclosures contained under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and discussing the statements and reports with our independent auditors and management; |
| • | reviewing, with our independent auditors and management, significant issues that arise regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentation and matters concerning the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of our financial controls; |
| • | reviewing with management and our independent auditors any earnings announcements and other public announcements regarding material developments; |
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| • | establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding financial controls, accounting or auditing matters and other matters; |
| • | preparing the report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement; |
| • | reviewing and providing oversight of any related-person transactions in accordance with our related person transaction policy and reviewing and monitoring compliance with legal and regulatory responsibilities, including our code of business conduct and ethics; |
| • | reviewing our major financial risk exposures, including the guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management are implemented; |
| • | reviewing on a periodic basis our investment policy; and |
| • | reviewing and evaluating on an annual basis the performance of the audit committee and the audit committee charter. |
Dean C. Kehler qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations and meets the financial sophistication requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Our independent registered public accounting firm and the management periodically meet privately with the audit committee.
The composition and functioning of the audit committee complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and all applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee consists of Peter Diamandis, Marc Mazur and Dean C. Kehler. Marc Mazur serves as the chair of the compensation committee. Each of the members of our compensation committee are a non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and satisfies the Nasdaq Stock Market independence requirements. The functions of this committee include, among other things:
| • | reviewing, modifying and approving (or if it deems appropriate, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding) our overall compensation strategy and policies; |
| • | reviewing and making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the compensation and other terms of employment of our executive officers; |
| • | reviewing and approving (or if it deems it appropriate, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding) performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers and assessing their performance against these goals and objectives; |
| • | reviewing and approving (or if it deems it appropriate, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding) the equity incentive plans, compensation plans and similar programs advisable for us, as well as modifying, amending or terminating existing plans and programs; |
| • | evaluating risks associated with our compensation policies and practices and assessing whether risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us; |
| • | reviewing and making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the type and amount of compensation to be paid or awarded to our non-employee board members; |
| • | establishing policies with respect to votes by our stockholders to approve executive compensation as required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act and determining our recommendations regarding the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation, to the extent required by law; |
| • | reviewing and assessing the independence of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisors as required by Section 10C of the Exchange Act; |
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| • | administering our equity incentive plans; |
| • | establishing policies with respect to equity compensation arrangements; |
| • | reviewing the competitiveness of our executive compensation programs and evaluating the effectiveness of our compensation policy and strategy in achieving expected benefits to us; |
| • | reviewing and making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the terms of any employment agreements, severance arrangements, change in control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive officers; |
| • | reviewing with management and approving our disclosures under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in our periodic reports or proxy statements to be filed with the SEC, to the extent such caption is included in any such report or proxy statement; |
| • | preparing the report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement; and |
| • | reviewing and assessing on an annual basis the performance of the compensation committee and the compensation committee charter. |
The composition and functioning of the compensation committee complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and all applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee consists of John Sculley, Lim Kok Thay, Robin Smith and Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. John Sculley serves as the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of the members of this committee satisfy the Nasdaq Stock Market independence requirements. The functions of this committee include, among other things:
| • | identifying, reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve on the board of directors consistent with criteria approved by the board of directors; |
| • | determining the minimum qualifications for service on the board of directors; |
| • | evaluating director performance on the board of directors and applicable committees of the board of directors and determining whether continued service on the board of directors is appropriate; |
| • | evaluating, nominating and recommending individuals for membership on the board of directors; |
| • | evaluating nominations by stockholders of candidates for election to the board of directors; |
| • | considering and assessing the independence of members of the board of directors; |
| • | developing a set of corporate governance policies and principles, including a code of business conduct and ethics, periodically reviewing and assessing these policies and principles and their application and recommending to the board of directors any changes to such policies and principles; |
| • | considering questions of possible conflicts of interest of directors as such questions arise; and |
| • | reviewing and assessing on an annual basis the performance of the nominating and corporate governance committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee charter. |
The composition and functioning of the nominating and corporate governance committee complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and all applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or person performing similar functions. A current copy of the code is available on the Corporate Governance section of our website, www.celularity.com. Information contained on or accessible through the website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of the website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only. The nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors are be responsible for overseeing the code of conduct and must approve any waivers of the code of conduct for employees, executive officers and directors. We expect that any amendments to the code of conduct, or any waivers of our requirements, are be disclosed on our website.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:
| • | breach of his or her duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; |
| • | act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
| • | unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or |
| • | transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
Our certificate of incorporation does not eliminate a director’s duty of care and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies, such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief, will remain available under Delaware law. These limitations also do not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or other state or federal laws. Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and executive officers and may indemnify other officers, employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Our bylaws also provide that we are obligated to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding and also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in connection with their services to us. The board of directors has obtain a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our bylaws. These agreements, among other things, are expected to require us to indemnify our directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or executive officers or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. A stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
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We believe that these provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
Except as otherwise disclosed in the “Business — Legal Proceedings” section of this prospectus, at present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or executive officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.
Scientific Advisory Board
We established a scientific advisory board. We expect to regularly seek advice and input from these experienced scientific leaders on matters related to our research and development programs. Our scientific advisory board consists of experts across a range of key disciplines relevant to our programs and science. We intend to continue to leverage the broad expertise of our advisors by seeking their counsel on important topics relating to our research and development programs. Some of the members of our scientific advisory board have entered into consulting agreements with us covering their respective confidentiality, non-disclosure and proprietary rights matters and own or have owned shares of our Class A common stock or options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following is a discussion and analysis of compensation arrangements of our named executive officers. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. The actual compensation programs that we adopt may differ materially from the currently planned programs that are summarized in this discussion. As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and has elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to us refer to us and/or our subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Business Combination and to us and our subsidiaries after the Business Combination.
To achieve our goals, we have designed, and intend to modify as necessary, our compensation and benefits programs to attract, retain, incentivize and reward deeply talented and qualified executives who share our philosophy and desire to work towards achieving our goals. We believe our compensation programs should promote the success of the company and align executive incentives with the long-term interests of our stockholders. This section provides an overview of our executive compensation programs, including a narrative description of the material factors necessary to understand the information disclosed in the summary compensation table below.
Our board of directors , with input from our Chief Executive Officer, have historically determined the compensation for our named executive officers. Our named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2021, were Dr. Hariri, our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pecora, our President, and Mr. Haines, our Chief Operating Officer.
2021 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Name and principal position | Year | Salary ($) (1) | Bonus ($) (2) | Option awards ($) (3) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (4) | All other compensation ($) (5) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 2021 | 1,200,000 | — | 20,214,697 | 369,250 | 35,809 | 21,819,756 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2020 | 1,200,000 | — | 845,845 | 600,000 | 35,809 | 2,681,654 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P. | 2021 | 262,506 | — | 8,398,741 | — | 389,750 | 9,050,997 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Haines | 2021 | 420,625 | — | 3,464,957 | 99,110 | 41,435 | 4,026,127 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Salary amounts represent actual amounts earned during 2021. For Dr. Pecora, amount is pro-rated reflecting his September 15, 2021 start date. For Mr. Haines, reflects an increase in salary effective July 16, 2021. |
| (2) | Dr. Pecora was advanced a $300,000 bonus in 2021 (the first installment of an aggregate $1,200,000 award) in connection with his September 2021 employment as President, but such bonus is not deemed earned until September 2022. |
| (3) | Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock options granted to the named executive officers, computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the stock options reported in this column are set forth in Note 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the named executive officer, which will depend on factors including the continued service of the executive and the future value of our stock. |
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| (4) | Represents performance-based cash bonuses awarded to our named executive officers. See “Narrative Disclosures to the Summary Compensation Table —Bonus Compensation” below for a description of this compensation. |
| (5) | This column reflects the aggregate value of other categories of payment, consisting of (i) for Dr. Hariri, in 2020, $11,200 for 401(k), $24,069 for health insurance coverage and $540 for life insurance coverage; and in 2021 $11,200 for 401(k), $30,381 for health insurance coverage and $540 for life insurance coverage (ii) for Dr. Pecora $389,750 of fees paid for services as a consultant to us and fees paid for services as a member of the Legacy Celularity board of directors prior to the Business Combination; and (iii), for Mr. Haines, $11,200 for 401(k), $29,695 for health insurance coverage and $540 for life insurance coverage. |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Annual Base Salary is provided below.
Name | 2021 Base Salary ($) | 2022 Base Salary ($) | ||||||
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | ||||||
Andrew Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P. | 900,000 | (1) | 900,000 | |||||
John Haines | 420,625 | (2) | 445,000 | |||||
| (1) | Dr. Pecora was appointed President in September 2021. |
| (2) | Mr. Haines’ salary was increased from $400,000 to $445,000 effective July 16, 2021, the Closing Date of the Business Combination. |
The base salary of our executive officers is generally determined and approved by our compensation committee of our board of directors in connection with the executive officer’s commencement of employment. The annual base salaries of our named executive officers are generally reviewed, determined and approved by our compensation committee periodically in order to compensate its named executive officers for the satisfactory performance of duties to us. Annual base salaries are intended to provide a fixed component of compensation to our named executive officers, reflecting their skill sets, experience, roles and responsibilities.
Bonus Compensation
From time to time the board of directors or compensation committee may approve bonuses for our executive officers based on individual performance, company performance or as otherwise determined appropriate. In 2020, Dr. Hariri was entitled to a target bonus equal to 100% of his base salary, and in 2021, pursuant to his new employment agreement, such amount was 75%. In 2021, Mr. Haines was entitled to a target bonus equal to 40% of his base salary. Dr. Pecora will be entitled to a short-term discretionary performance bonus beginning with calendar year 2022, with a target bonus percentage equal to 60% of his then current base salary.
Equity-Based Incentive Awards
Our equity-based incentive awards are designed to align our interests and those of our stockholders with those of our employees and consultants, including our executive officers. The board of directors is responsible for approving equity grants. As of the date of this prospectus, stock option awards were the only form of equity awards we have granted to any of our executive officers.
We have historically used stock options as an incentive for long-term compensation to our executive officers because the stock options allow our executive officers to profit from this form of equity compensation only if our stock price increases relative to the stock option’s exercise price, which exercise price is set at the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. We may grant equity awards at such times as our board of directors determines appropriate. our executives generally are awarded an initial grant in the form of a stock
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option in connection with their commencement of employment. Additional grants may occur periodically in order to specifically incentivize executives with respect to achieving certain corporate goals or to reward executives for exceptional performance.
All stock options prior to the Business Combination were granted pursuant to the 2017 Plan. We now grant equity incentive awards under the 2021 Plan.
All options are granted with an exercise price per share that is no less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant of such award. Stock option awards generally vest over a four-year period and may be subject to acceleration of vesting and exercisability under certain termination and change in control events. See “— Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End.”
Agreements with Named Executive Officers and Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control
Each of Dr. Hariri and Mr. Haines, as summarized below, has entered into amended and restated employment agreements (which we refer to as the “employment agreements”) that took effect upon completion of the Business Combination, and Dr. Pecora entered into an employment agreement in connection with his appointment as President, all of which are filed as exhibits hereto to this prospectus. The material terms of each of these agreements are described below. For a discussion of the severance pay and other benefits to be provided in connection with a termination of employment and/or a change in control under the arrangements with our named executive officers, please see the descriptions below that summarize the potential payments provided for in their respective employment agreements.
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D.
We entered into an employment agreement dated as of the Closing Date, setting forth the terms of Dr. Hariri’s employment as our Chief Executive Officer. The employment agreement incorporates our Employee Confidential Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement, which Dr. Hariri signed in connection with the employment agreement.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, Dr. Hariri is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $1,200,000. Dr. Hariri’s employment agreement also provides for an annual target bonus of up to 75% of his base salary. Receipt of an annual bonus is subject to achievement of individual and company-wide annual performance goals, as set by us and confirmed by our board of directors. On September 9, 2021, as contemplated by such agreement, Dr. Hariri was granted an option to purchase 2,690,079 shares of Class A common stock under the 2021 Plan at an exercise price of $10.23 per share, with 50% fully-vested as of the grant date and 50% is subject to time-based vesting over a four-year period from the Closing Date, with 25% of this tranche vesting on the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and the remainder vesting monthly thereafter so that vested in full on the four-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and subject to Dr. Hariri’s continuous service on each vesting date. Dr. Hariri’s employment agreement provides that he is eligible to participate in our standard benefit plans maintained for the benefit of our similarly-situated employees.
Under Dr. Hariri’s employment agreement, if he resigns for “good reason” or we terminate Dr. Hariri’s employment without “cause” (each as defined in the employment agreement, and excluding a termination on account of Dr. Hariri’s death or disability), and if such termination or resignation is not in connection with a “change in control” (as defined in the 2021 Plan), then Dr. Hariri will be eligible to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for 24 months following the termination (less applicable tax withholdings), (ii) COBRA premium coverage for up to 18 months, (iii) a prorated bonus for the year of termination paid in a lump sum, and (iv) 24 months’ of accelerated vesting of Dr. Hariri’s unvested time-based equity awards. As a condition to receiving the foregoing severance benefits, Dr. Hariri must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us, return all company property and confidential information in his possession, comply with his post-termination obligations, and resign from any positions held with us.
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Under Dr. Hariri’s employment agreement, if he resigns for “good reason” or we terminate Dr. Hariri’s employment without “cause”, and excluding a termination on account of Dr. Hariri’s death or disability), and if such termination or resignation occurs within three months prior to or within 12 months following the effective date of a “change in control”, then Dr. Hariri will be eligible to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for 36 months following the termination (less applicable tax withholdings), (ii) COBRA premium coverage for up to 18 months, (iii) 100% of his target bonus for the calendar year of termination paid in a lump sum, and (iv) full acceleration of the vesting of Dr. Hariri’s unvested equity awards. As a condition to receiving the foregoing severance benefits, Dr. Hariri must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us, return all company property and confidential information in his possession, comply with his post-termination obligations, and resign from any positions held with us.
Under Dr. Hariri’s employment agreement, if payments and benefits payable to Dr. Hariri in connection with a change in control are subject to Section 4999 of the Code, then such payments and benefits will equal an amount determined by us in good faith to be the maximum amount that may be provided to Dr. Hariri so that the Section 4999 excise tax does not apply, or the largest portion of the payments after taking into account all applicable taxes, whichever results in Dr. Hariri receiving the greater economic benefit on an after-tax basis notwithstanding that some or all of the payment or benefit may be subject to excise tax.
Under Dr. Hariri’s employment agreement, if Dr. Hariri is terminated on account of his death or “disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), then Dr. Hariri (or his legal representatives, in the event of his death) will be eligible to receive a prorated bonus for the year of termination paid in a lump sum. As a condition to receiving the foregoing payment, Dr. Hariri (or his legal representatives, in the event of his death) must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us.
Andrew Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P.
We entered into an employment agreement, dated as of September 15, 2021, setting forth the terms of Dr. Pecora’s employment as our President, on an at-will basis, as a full-time employee, subject to a limited exception to continue his clinical practice no more than 1/2 day a week, and other reasonable exceptions that do not interfere with the performance of his duties under the employment agreement. The employment agreement incorporates our Employee Confidential Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement, which Dr. Pecora signed in connection with the employment agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Dr. Pecora is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $900,000 per year, a short-term discretionary performance bonus beginning with calendar year 2022 with a target bonus percentage equal to 60% of his then current base salary. Receipt of a short-term discretionary performance bonus is subject to achievement of individual and company-wide annual performance goals, as set by us and confirmed by our board of directors. Dr. Pecora was also granted a one-time front-loaded equity award under the 2021 Plan to purchase 2,469,282 shares of our Class A common stock, which award will vest in up to five installments in respect of achieving certain share price targets between the third and fourth anniversary of the effective date, subject to Dr. Pecora’s continued employment with us. Dr. Pecora was also granted a signing bonus equal to $1,200,000 payable in four annual installments of $300,000, with the first payment advanced on the effective date of his employment and deemed earned on the one-year anniversary thereof, with subsequent payments advanced and deemed earned on a similar basis, in each case subject to Dr. Pecora’s continued employment through such date. If Dr. Pecora’s employment terminates other than for death or disability, or Dr. Pecora is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason prior to such sign-on bonus being deemed earned, then such payment is subject to repayment to us, with pro rata forgiveness by us for each full month of service in the applicable year prior to termination of employment.
Under Dr. Pecora’s employment agreement, if he resigns for “good reason” or we terminate his employment without “cause” (each as defined in the employment agreement, and excluding a termination on account of Dr. Pecora’s death or disability), and if such termination or resignation is not in connection with a “change in
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control” (as defined in the 2021 Plan), then Dr. Pecora will be eligible to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for nine months following the termination (less applicable tax withholdings), (ii) COBRA premium coverage for up to nine months, (iii) a prorated bonus for the year of termination paid in a lump sum, and (iv) accelerated vesting of unvested time-based equity awards that would have vested over the nine-month period following termination had he remained continuously employed (provided that his front-loaded equity grant will not accelerate if the four-year anniversary as not been achieved as of the date of termination). As a condition to receiving the foregoing severance benefits, Dr. Pecora must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us, return all company property and confidential information in his possession, comply with his post-termination obligations, and resign from any positions held with us.
Under Dr. Pecora’s employment agreement, if he resigns for “good reason” or if we terminate Dr. Pecora’s employment without “cause”, and excluding a termination on account of Dr. Pecora’s death or disability, and if such termination or resignation occurs within three months prior to or within 12 months following the effective date of a “change in control”, then Dr. Pecora will be eligible to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for 12 months following the termination (less applicable tax withholdings), (ii) COBRA premium coverage for up to 12 months, (iii) 100% of his short-term bonus for the calendar year of termination paid in a lump sum, and (iv) full acceleration of the vesting of Dr. Pecora’s unvested equity awards, provided, however, that the front-loaded equity grant remains subject to achievement of the price targets specified in the award agreement if the change in control is after the one year anniversary of the grant but prior to the four year anniversary and vest pro rata such that they reflect the annualized rate of return implied over the four-year period adjusted to reflect the number of days between the grant day and date of the change in control. As a condition to receiving the foregoing severance benefits, Dr. Pecora must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us, return all company property and confidential information in his possession, comply with his post-termination obligations, and resign from any positions held with us.
Under Dr. Pecora’s employment agreement, if payments and benefits payable to Dr. Pecora in connection with a change in control are subject to Section 4999 of the Code, then such payments and benefits will equal an amount determined by us in good faith to be the maximum amount that may be provided to Dr. Pecora so that the Section 4999 excise tax does not apply, or the largest portion of the payments after taking into account all applicable taxes, whichever results in Dr. Pecora receiving the greater economic benefit on an after-tax basis notwithstanding that some or all of the payment or benefit may be subject to excise tax.
Under Dr. Pecora’s employment agreement, if Dr. Pecora is terminated on account of his death or “disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), then Dr. Pecora (or his legal representatives, in the event of his death) will be eligible to receive a prorated bonus for the year of termination paid in a lump sum. As a condition to receiving the foregoing payment, Dr. Pecora (or his legal representatives, in the event of his death) must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us.
John Haines
We entered into an employment agreement dated as of the Closing Date, setting forth the terms of Mr. Haines’s employment as our Chief Operating Officer. The employment agreement incorporates our Employee Confidential Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement, which Mr. Haines signed in connection with the employment agreement.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Haines is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $445,000. Mr. Haines’s employment agreement also provides for an annual target bonus of up to 40% of his base salary. Receipt of an annual bonus is subject to achievement of individual and company-wide annual performance goals, as set by us and confirmed by our board of directors. On September 9, 2021, as contemplated by such agreement, Mr. Haines was granted an option to purchase 384,297 shares of Class A common stock under the 2021 Plan at an exercise price of $10.23 per share, with 50% fully-vested as of the grant date and 50% is subject to time-based vesting over a four-year period from the Closing Date, with 25% of this tranche vesting on the one-year
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anniversary of the Closing Date, and the remainder vesting monthly thereafter so that vested in full on the four-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and subject to Mr. Haines’ continuous service on each vesting date. Mr. Haines’ employment agreement provides that he is eligible to participate in our standard benefit plans maintained for the benefit of our similarly-situated employees.
Under Mr. Haines’s employment agreement, if he resigns for “good reason” or we terminate Mr. Haines’s employment without “cause” (each as defined in the employment agreement, and excluding a termination on account of Mr. Haines’s death or disability), and if such termination or resignation is not in connection with a “change in control” (as defined in the 2021 Plan), then Mr. Haines will be eligible to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for nine months following the termination (less applicable tax withholdings), (ii) COBRA premium coverage for up to nine months, (iii) a prorated bonus for the year of termination paid in a lump sum, and (iv) nine months’ of accelerated vesting of Mr. Haines’s unvested time-based equity awards. As a condition to receiving the foregoing severance benefits, Mr. Haines must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us, return all company property and confidential information in his possession, comply with his post-termination obligations, and resign from any positions held with us.
Under Mr. Haines’s employment agreement, if he resigns for “good reason” or we terminate Mr. Haines’s employment without “cause”, and if such termination or resignation occurs within three months prior to or within 12 months following the effective date of a “change in control”, then Mr. Haines will be eligible to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for 12 months following the termination (less applicable tax withholdings), (ii) COBRA premium coverage for up to 12 months, (iii) 100% of his target bonus for the calendar year of termination paid in a lump sum, and (iv) full acceleration of the vesting of Mr. Haines’s unvested equity awards. As a condition to receiving the foregoing severance benefits, Mr. Haines must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us, return all company property and confidential information in his possession, comply with his post-termination obligations, and resign from any positions held with us.
Under Mr. Haines’s employment agreement, if payments and benefits payable to Mr. Haines in connection with a change in control are subject to Section 4999 of the Code, then such payments and benefits will equal an amount determined by us in good faith to be the maximum amount that may be provided to Mr. Haines so that the Section 4999 excise tax does not apply, or the largest portion of the payments after taking into account all applicable taxes, whichever results in Mr. Haines receiving the greater economic benefit on an after-tax basis notwithstanding that some or all of the payment or benefit may be subject to excise tax.
Under Mr. Haines’s employment agreement, if Mr. Haines is terminated on account of his death or “disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), then Mr. Haines (or his legal representatives, in the event of his death) will be eligible to receive a prorated bonus for the year of termination paid in a lump sum. As a condition to receiving the foregoing payment, Mr. Haines (or his legal representatives, in the event of his death) must sign and not revoke a general release contained in a separation agreement in the form presented by us.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information with respect to outstanding common stock option awards for each of us named executive officers as of December 31, 2021. The table reflects both vested and unvested option awards.
Option Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | |||||||||||||||
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 02/20/18 | 334,816 | (1) | 14,554 | $ | 2.87 | 02/20/28 | |||||||||||||
| 12/03/18 | 174,679 | — | $ | 3.88 | 12/03/28 | |||||||||||||||
| 02/06/20 | 192,119 | (1) | 192,177 | $ | 3.70 | 02/06/30 | ||||||||||||||
| 04/06/21 | 1,921,485 | — | $ | 10.21 | 04/06/31 | |||||||||||||||
| 09/09/21 | 1,345,039 | (2) | 1,345,040 | $ | 10.23 | 09/09/31 | ||||||||||||||
Andrew Pecora, M.D. | 06/02/17 | 384,297 | — | $ | 0.28 | 06/02/27 | ||||||||||||||
| 05/07/20 | 153,718 | — | $ | 3.70 | 05/07/31 | |||||||||||||||
| 03/24/21 | 269,007 | — | $ | 3.83 | 03/24/31 | |||||||||||||||
| 04/06/21 | 153,718 | — | $ | 10.21 | 04/06/31 | |||||||||||||||
| 09/09/21 | 76,859 | (2) | 76,859 | $ | 10.23 | 09/09/21 | ||||||||||||||
| 09/15/21 | 2,469,282 | (2) | — | $ | 6.32 | 09/15/31 | ||||||||||||||
John Haines | 06/02/17 | 102,607 | — | $ | 0.28 | 06/02/27 | ||||||||||||||
| 02/20/18 | 322,015 | (1) | 5,089 | $ | 2.87 | 02/20/28 | ||||||||||||||
| 12/03/18 | 61,138 | — | $ | 3.88 | 12/03/28 | |||||||||||||||
| 02/06/20 | 30,589 | (1) | — | $ | 3.70 | 02/06/30 | ||||||||||||||
| 04/06/21 | 384,296 | — | $ | 10.21 | 04/06/31 | |||||||||||||||
| 09/09/21 | 192,148 | (2) | 192,149 | $ | 10.23 | 09/09/31 | ||||||||||||||
| (1) | 25% vest at one year after grant, and monthly thereafter for three years. |
| (2) | 50% is fully-vested as of the grant date; 50% is subject to time-based vesting over a four-year period from July 16, 2021, with 25% of this tranche vesting on the one-year anniversary of July 16, 2021, and the remainder vesting monthly thereafter so that vested in full on the four-year anniversary of July 16, 2021. |
| (3) | Up to five installments in respect of achieving certain share price targets between third and fourth anniversary of the effective date, subject to continuous service on each vesting date. |
Perquisites, Health, Welfare and Retirement Benefits
Our executive officers, during their employment with our company, are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans, including our medical, dental, group term life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as all of our other employees. In addition, We provide a 401(k) plan to our employees, including our executive officers, as discussed in the section below entitled “— 401(k) Plan.”
We generally do not provide perquisites or personal benefits to our named executive officer, except in limited circumstances. We do, however, pay the premiums for medical, dental, group term life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for all of our employees, including our named executive officers. The board of directors may elect to adopt qualified or nonqualified benefit plans in the future if we determine that doing so is in our best interests.
401(k) Plan
We maintain a defined contribution employee retirement plan, or 401(k) plan, for our employees. Our executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same basis as our other employees. The
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401(k) plan is intended to qualify as a tax-qualified plan under Section 401(k) of the Code. The 401(k) plan provides that each participant may contribute up to the lesser of 100% of his or her compensation or the statutory limit, which is $19,500 for each of calendar years 2020 and 2021. Participants that are 50 years or older can also make “catch-up” contributions, which in each of calendar years 2020 and 2021 may be up to an additional $6,500 above the statutory limit. We currently make matching contributions into the 401(k) plan on behalf of participants. Participant contributions are held and invested, pursuant to the participant’s instructions, by the plan’s trustee.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not maintain nonqualified defined contribution plans or other nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The board of directors may elect to provide our officers and other employees with nonqualified defined contribution or other nonqualified deferred compensation benefits in the future if we determines that doing so is in our best interests.
Equity Benefit Plans
2021 Plan
In July 2021 our board of directors adopted the 2021 Plan and our stockholders approved the 2021 Plan in July 2021. The 2021 Plan became effective immediately upon the closing of the Business Combination.
Eligibility. Our employees, consultants and directors, and employees and consultants of our affiliates, may be eligible to receive awards under the 2021 Plan.
Award Types. The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, or ISOs to employees and for the grant of nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance awards and other forms of stock awards to employees, directors, and consultants.
Share Reserve. The number of shares of Class A common stock initially reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan is 20,915,283 shares of Class A common stock (9.78% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock immediately after the Closing), or the Share Reserve. The number of shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, for a period of ten years, from January 1, 2022 continuing through January 1, 2031, by 4% of the total number of shares of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares as may be determined by our board of directors. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs under the 2021 Plan is (300% of the number of shares of Class A common stock initially reserved under the 2021 Plan). Shares issued under the 2021 Plan may be authorized but unissued or reacquired shares. Shares subject to stock awards granted under the 2021 Plan that expire or terminate without being exercised in full, or that are paid out in cash rather than in shares, will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. Additionally, shares issued pursuant to stock awards under the 2021 Plan that are repurchased or forfeited, as well as shares that are reacquired as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of a stock award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to a stock award, will become available for future grant under the 2021 Plan.
Plan Administration. Our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, will have the authority to administer the 2021 Plan. Our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, may also delegate to one or more officers the authority to (i) designate employees other than officers to receive specified stock awards and (ii) determine the number of shares to be subject to such stock awards. Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan, the plan administrator has the authority to determine the terms of awards, including recipients, the exercise price or strike price of stock awards, if any, the number of shares subject to each stock award, the fair market value of a share, the vesting schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting acceleration, the form of
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consideration, if any, payable upon exercise or settlement of the stock award and the terms and conditions of the award agreements for use under the 2021 Plan. The plan administrator has the power to modify outstanding awards under the 2021 Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan and in connection with a corporate transaction or capitalization adjustment, the plan administrator may not reprice or cancel and regrant any award at a lower exercise price, strike price or purchase price or cancel any award with an exercise price, strike price or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other awards without first obtaining the approval of our stockholders.
Stock Options. ISOs and NSOs are granted under stock option agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the exercise price for stock options, within the terms and conditions of the 2021 Plan, provided that the exercise price of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of the Class A common stock on the date of grant (however, a stock option may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the fair market value on the date of grant of such award if such award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another option pursuant to a Corporate Transaction (as such term is defined in the 2021 Plan) and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 409A and, if applicable, 424(a) of the Code). Options granted under the 2021 Plan vest at the rate specified in the stock option agreement as determined by the plan administrator. However, no stock option granted to an employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, will generally be first exercisable until at least six months following the date of grant. The plan administrator determines the term of stock options granted under the 2021 Plan, up to a maximum of ten years. Unless the terms of an optionholder’s stock option agreement provide otherwise, if an optionholder’s service relationship ceases for any reason other than disability, death or cause, the optionholder may generally exercise any vested options for a period of three months following the cessation of service. The option term may be extended in the event that the exercise of the option following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws or our insider trading policy. If an optionholder’s service relationship ceases due to disability or death, or an optionholder dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the optionholder or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested options for a period of 12 months in the event of disability and 18 months in the event of death. Options generally terminate immediately upon the termination of an optionholder’s service for cause. In no event may an option be exercised beyond the expiration of its term. Acceptable consideration for the purchase of GX common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the plan administrator and may include (i) cash, check, bank draft, or money order, (ii) a broker-assisted cashless exercise, (iii) the tender of shares of Class A common stock previously owned by the optionholder, (iv) a net exercise of the option if it is an NSO and (v) other legal consideration approved by the plan administrator.
Tax Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of Class A common stock with respect to ISOs that are exercisable for the first time by an optionholder during any calendar year under all stock plans maintained by us may not exceed $100,000. Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will generally be treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any of our affiliates unless (1) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant, and (2) the option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.
Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards are granted under restricted stock award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. A restricted stock award may be awarded in consideration for cash, check, bank draft or money order, past services, or any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the plan administrator and permissible under applicable law. The plan administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted stock awards, including vesting and forfeiture terms. Except as provided otherwise in the applicable award agreement, if a participant’s service relationship ends for any reason, we may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares held by the participant under his or her restricted stock award that have not vested as of the date the participant terminates service.
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Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted stock units are granted under restricted stock unit award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. Restricted stock units may be granted in consideration for any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the plan administrator and permissible under applicable law. A restricted stock unit may be settled by cash, delivery of stock, a combination of cash and stock as deemed appropriate by the plan administrator, or in any other form of consideration set forth in the restricted stock unit agreement. Additionally, dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a restricted stock unit. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited once the participant’s continuous service ends for any reason.
Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock appreciation rights are granted under stock appreciation grant agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the purchase price or strike price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of Class A common stock on the date of grant (however, a stock appreciation right may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the fair market value on the date of grant of such award if such award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another option pursuant to a Corporate Transaction (as such term is defined in the 2021 Plan) and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 409A and, if applicable, 424(a) of the Code). A stock appreciation right granted under the 2021 Plan vests at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the plan administrator. However, no stock-settled stock appreciation right granted to an employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, will generally be first exercisable until at least six months following the date of grant.
Performance Awards. The 2021 Plan permits the grant of performance-based stock and cash awards. The plan administrator may structure awards so that the shares of Class A common stock, cash, or other property will be issued or paid only following the achievement of certain pre-established performance goals during a designated performance period. The performance criteria that will be used to establish such performance goals may be based on any measure of performance selected by the plan administrator. The performance goals may be based on a company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise (i) in the award agreement at the time the award is granted or (ii) in such other document setting forth the performance goals at the time the goals are established, the plan administrator will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of performance goals as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; (5) to exclude the effects of items that are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any business divested by us achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a performance period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of Class A common stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock-based compensation and the award of bonuses under our bonus plans; (10) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to expense under generally accepted accounting principles; and (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the plan administrator retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of the performance goals. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the applicable award agreement or the written terms of a performance cash award. The performance goals may differ from participant to participant and from award to award.
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Other Stock Awards. The plan administrator may grant other awards based in whole or in part by reference to Class A common stock. The plan administrator will set the number of shares under the stock award and all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. The aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid by us to any individual for service as a non-employee director with respect to any calendar year, or such period, the annual period, including stock awards and cash fees paid by us to such non-employee director, will not exceed (i) $750,000 in total value or (ii) in the event such non-employee director is first appointed or elected to the board during such annual period, $1,000,000 in total value. For purposes of these limitations, the value of any such stock awards is calculated based on the grant date fair value of such stock awards for financial reporting purposes.
Changes to Capital Structure. In the event there is a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity restructuring transaction, appropriate adjustments will be made to (i) the class(es) and maximum number of shares of Class A common stock subject to the 2021 Plan and the maximum number of shares by which the share reserve may annually increase; (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs; and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities and exercise price, strike price or purchase price of common stock subject to outstanding awards.
Corporate Transactions. The following applies to stock awards under the 2021 Plan in the event of a corporate transaction, as defined in the 2021 Plan, unless otherwise provided in a participant’s stock award agreement or other written agreement with us or unless otherwise expressly provided by the plan administrator at the time of grant. In the event of a corporate transaction, any stock awards outstanding under the 2021 Plan may be assumed, continued or substituted by any surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to the stock award may be assigned to the successor (or its parent company). If the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume, continue or substitute such stock awards, then with respect to any such stock awards that are held by participants whose continuous service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the transaction, or current participants, the vesting (and exercisability, if applicable) of such stock awards will be accelerated in full to a date prior to the effective time of the transaction (contingent upon the effectiveness of the transaction), and such stock awards will terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the transaction, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to such stock awards will lapse (contingent upon the effectiveness of the transaction). With respect to performance awards with multiple vesting levels depending on performance level, unless otherwise provided by an award agreement or by the plan administrator, the award will accelerate at 100% of target. If the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume, continue or substitute such stock awards, then with respect to any such stock awards that are held by persons other than current participants, such awards will terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the transaction, except that any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to such stock awards will not terminate and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding the transaction. The plan administrator is not obligated to treat all stock awards or portions of stock awards in the same manner and is not obligated to take the same actions with respect to all participants. In the event a stock award will terminate if not exercised prior to the effective time of a transaction, the plan administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, that the holder of such stock award may not exercise such stock award but instead will receive a payment equal in value, at the effective time, to the excess (if any) of (1) the value of the property the participant would have received upon the exercise of the stock award over (2) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise.
Change in Control. In the event of a change in control, as defined under the 2021 Plan, awards will generally be treated as described above in connection with a corporate transaction. Notwithstanding the
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foregoing, in the event of a change in control, vested awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code will be settled in connection with the change in control (to the extent the change in control constitutes a Section 409A change in control).
Plan Amendment or Termination. Our board of directors will have the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate the 2021 Plan, provided that such action does not materially impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. No ISOs may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the date the our board of directors adopted the 2021 Plan.
ESPP
In July 2021 our board of directors adopted the ESPP and our stockholders approved the ESPP in July 2021. The ESPP became effective immediately upon the Closing of the Business Combination.
Purpose of the ESPP
The purpose of the ESPP is to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to increase their proprietary interest in our success by purchasing Class A common stock from us on favorable terms and to pay for such purchases through payroll deductions. We believe by providing eligible employees with an opportunity to increase their proprietary interest in our success, the ESPP will motivate recipients to offer their maximum effort to us and help focus them on the creation of long-term value consistent with the interests of our stockholders.
Summary of the ESPP
This section summarizes certain principal features of the ESPP. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the ESPP.
Eligibility. Our employees and employees of our designated affiliates may be eligible to participate in the ESPP.
Share Reserve. The ESPP authorizes the issuance of 2,139,220 shares of Class A common stock under purchase rights granted to our employees or to employees of any of our designated affiliates. The number of shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each calendar year, from January 1, 2022 through January 1, 2031, by the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, and (ii) 2,139,220 shares (100% of the initial share reserve); provided, that prior to the date of any such increase, our board of directors may determine that such increase will be less than the amount set forth in clauses (i) and (ii). The shares purchasable under the ESPP will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Class A common stock, including shares repurchased by us on the open market. If purchase rights granted under the ESPP terminate without having been exercised, the shares of Class A common stock not purchased under such purchase rights will again become available for issuance under the ESPP.
Plan Administration. Our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, have the authority to administer the ESPP. The ESPP is implemented through a series of offerings under which eligible employees are granted purchase rights to purchase shares of Class A common stock on specified dates during such offerings. Under the ESPP, the plan administrator may specify offerings with durations of not more than 27 months, and may specify shorter purchase periods within each offering. Each offering will have one or more purchase dates on which shares of Class A common stock will be purchased for employees participating in the offering. An offering under the ESPP may be terminated under certain circumstances.
Payroll Deductions. Generally, all regular employees, including executive officers, employed by us or by any of our designated affiliates, will be eligible to participate in the ESPP and may contribute, normally through payroll deductions, up to 15% of their earnings (as defined in the ESPP) for the purchase of Class A common stock under the ESPP. Unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator, Class A common stock will be
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purchased for the accounts of employees participating in the ESPP at a price per share equal to not less than the lesser of (i) 85% of the fair market value of a share of Class A common stock on the first trading date of an offering or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of a share of Class A common stock on the date of purchase.
Limitations. Employees may have to satisfy one or more of the following service requirements before participating in the ESPP, as determined by the plan administrator, including: (i) being customarily employed for more than 20 hours per week; (ii) being customarily employed for more than five months per calendar year; or (iii) continuous employment for a period of time (not to exceed two years). No employee may purchase shares under the ESPP at a rate in excess of $25,000 worth of Class A common stock based on the fair market value per share of Class A common stock at the beginning of an offering for each year such a purchase right is outstanding. Finally, no employee will be eligible for the grant of any purchase rights under the ESPP if immediately after such rights are granted, such employee has voting power over 5% or more of our capital stock measured by vote or value pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code.
Changes to Capital Structure. In the event that there occurs a change in our capital structure through such actions as a stock split, merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other similar equity restructuring transactions, the plan administrator will make appropriate adjustments to (i) the class(es) and maximum number of shares reserved under the ESPP, (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of shares by which the share reserve may increase automatically each year, (iii) the class(es) and maximum number of shares and purchase price applicable to all outstanding offerings and purchase rights and (iv) the class(es) and number of shares that are subject to purchase limits under ongoing offerings.
Corporate Transactions. In the event of a corporate transaction, as defined in the ESPP, any then-outstanding rights to purchase shares under the ESPP may be assumed, continued or substituted by any surviving or acquiring entity (or its parent company). If the surviving or acquiring entity (or its parent company) elects not to assume, continue or substitute such purchase rights, then the participants’ accumulated payroll contributions will be used to purchase shares of Class A common stock within ten business days prior to such corporate transaction, and such purchase rights will terminate immediately.
ESPP Amendment or Termination. Our board of directors will have the authority to amend or terminate the ESPP, provided that except in certain circumstances such amendment or termination may not materially impair any outstanding purchase rights without the holder’s consent. We must obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the ESPP to the extent required by applicable law or listing rules.
Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan
A summary description of the material features of Legacy Celularity’s Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2017 Plan, is set forth below. The following summary does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the 2017 Plan and is qualified by reference to the 2017 Plan.
The Legacy Celularity Board originally adopted and its stockholders approved the 2017 Plan on June 2, 2017. The 2017 Plan was subsequently amended and restated on December 3, 2018 and October 22, 2020 by the Legacy Celularity Board and on January 26, 2021 by Legacy Celularity’s stockholders. The 2017 Plan terminated in connection with the Closing, and no further grants will be made under the 2017 Plan. Any outstanding awards granted under the 2017 Plan remain subject to the terms of the 2017 Plan and the applicable award agreement.
Stock Awards. The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock intended to qualify as ISOs under Section 422 of the Code, options that do not so qualify, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and other awards, collectively, stock awards. ISOs may be granted only to employees and the employees of its parent corporation or subsidiary corporation. All other awards may be granted to employees, directors, and consultants and the employees, directors, and
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consultants of our affiliates. Legacy Celularity granted stock options under the 2017 Plan. Subject to adjustments for changes to the capital structure, the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to awards will not exceed 42,079,496 shares.
If a stock award or any portion thereof granted under the 2017 Plan, (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all shares subject to such award being issued, (ii) is settled in cash, (iii) is forfeited to or repurchased because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares, or (iv) is reacquired in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations or as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of a stock award, then such shares subject to the stock award will once again become available for issuance under the 2017 Plan.
Administration. The board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, has the authority to administer the 2017 Plan. The board of directors may also delegate to one or more officers the authority to (1) designate employees (other than other officers) to be recipients of certain stock awards, and (2) determine the number of shares of common stock to be subject to such stock awards. Subject to the terms of the 2017 Plan, the plan administrator determines the award recipients, dates of grant, the numbers and types of stock awards to be granted and the applicable fair market value and the provisions of the stock awards, including the period of their exercisability, the vesting schedule applicable to a stock award and any repurchase rights that may apply.
The plan administrator has the authority to modify outstanding awards, including reducing the exercise, purchase or strike price of any outstanding stock award, canceling any outstanding stock award in exchange for new stock awards, cash or other consideration or taking any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, with the consent of any adversely affected participant.
Stock Options. ISOs and NSOs are granted pursuant to stock option agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the exercise price for a stock option, provided that the exercise price of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the 2017 Plan vest at the rate specified by the plan administrator.
The plan administrator determines the term of stock options granted under the 2017 Plan, up to a maximum of ten years. Unless the terms of an optionholder’s stock option agreement provide otherwise, if an optionholder’s service with Celularity, or any of Celularity’s affiliates, ceases for any reason other than disability, death or cause, the optionholder may generally exercise any vested options for a period of three months following the cessation of service. The option term may be extended in the event that the exercise of the option following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws. If an optionholder’s service with Celularity or any of Celularity’s affiliates ceases due to disability or death, or an optionholder dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the optionholder or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested options for a period of 12 months. In the event of a termination for cause, options generally terminate immediately upon the termination of the individual’s service for cause. In no event may an option be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.
Acceptable consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the plan administrator and may include (1) cash, check, bank draft, electronic funds transfer or money order, (2) a broker-assisted cashless exercise, (3) the tender of cash proceeds from a sale to a third party investor of some of the shares to be exercised, (4) delivery of our common shares, (5) a net exercise of the option if it is an NSO, or (6) deferred payment or a similar arrangement with the optionholder, and (7) other legal consideration approved by the plan administrator.
Tax Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of common stock with respect to ISOs that are exercisable for the first time by an optionholder during any calendar year under all Celularity’s stock plans may not exceed $100,000. Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will generally be treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of Celularity’s total combined voting power or that of
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any of Celularity’s affiliates unless (1) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant and (2) the term of the ISO does not exceed five years from the date of grant.
Incentive Stock Option Limit. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs under the 2017 Plan is 53,655,600 shares.
Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. Restricted stock awards may be granted in consideration for (1) cash, check, bank draft, electronic funds, wire transfer, or money order, (2) past services rendered to Celularity or Celularity’s affiliates, or (3) any other form of legal consideration. Common stock acquired under a restricted stock award may be subject to a share repurchase option in Celularity’s favor in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the plan administrator. A restricted stock award may be transferred only upon such terms and conditions as set by the plan administrator. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock awards that have not vested may be forfeited or repurchased by Celularity upon the participant’s cessation of continuous service for any reason.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted stock unit awards are granted under restricted stock unit award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. Restricted stock unit awards may be granted in consideration for any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the board of directors and permissible under applicable law. A restricted stock unit award may be settled by cash, delivery of stock, a combination of cash and stock as deemed appropriate by the administrator or in any other form of consideration set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Additionally, dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock unit awards that have not vested will be forfeited once the participant’s continuous service ends for any reason.
Other Awards. The plan administrator may grant other awards based in whole or in part by reference to Celularity’s common stock. The plan administrator will set the number of shares under the stock award and all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Changes to Capital Structure. In the event that there is a specified type of change in Celularity’s capital structure, such as a stock split or recapitalization, appropriate adjustments will be made to (1) the class(es) and maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan, (2) the class(es) and maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs and (3) the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of stock subject to outstanding stock awards.
Change in Control. The 2017 Plan provides that in the event of a change in control, unless otherwise provided in an award agreement or other written agreement between Celularity and the award holder, the plan administrator may take one or more of the following actions with respect to each stock award, contingent upon the closing or completion of the transaction: (1) arrange for the assumption, continuation or substitution of the stock award by a successor corporation, (2) arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by Celularity in respect of our common stock issued pursuant to the stock award to a successor corporation, (3) accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the stock award and provide for its termination if not exercised immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction, (4) arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by Celularity with respect to the stock award, (5) cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the stock award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the transaction, in exchange for a cash payment, or no payment, as determined by the plan administrator or (6) make a payment, in the form determined by the plan administrator, equal to the excess, if any, of the value of the property the holder would have received upon exercise of the stock award immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction over any exercise price payable by the holder. The plan administrator is not obligated to treat all stock awards or portions thereof in the same manner, and the plan administrator may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of a stock award.
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If the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) refuses to assume, continue, replace with new awards or otherwise substitute a new award for, an outstanding stock award (including unvested outstanding shares), such stock award will become fully vested as of immediately prior to the closing of the change in control.
Under the 2017 Plan, a change in control is generally the consummation of one or more of the following events: (1) any person becomes the owner, directly or indirectly, of our securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of our then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction; (2) a consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) us and, immediately after such transaction, our stockholders immediately prior thereto do not own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity in such transaction, or (B) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving entity in such transaction, or (3) a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Celularity and its subsidiaries.
Transferability. A participant generally may not transfer stock awards under the 2017 Plan other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided under the 2017 Plan.
Amendment and Termination. The board of directors has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2017 Plan, provided that, with certain exceptions, such action does not materially impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. Unless terminated sooner by the board of directors, the 2017 Plan will automatically terminate on June 2, 2027. No stock awards may be granted under the 2017 Plan while it is suspended or terminated. The 2017 Plan terminated in connection with the Closing, and no further grants will be made under the 2017 Plan.
Director Compensation
In September 2021, we adopted a non-employee director compensation policy, which sets forth the terms upon which non-employee directors will be compensated for their service on the Board. Under this policy, non-employee directors ae compensated in cash for their board service and service on committees, receive equity and reimbursement for reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board and committee meetings or performing other services in their capacities as directors. Under the terms of the policy in effect in 2021, each non-employee director received an annual cash retainer of $45,000. Members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will each receive additional annual cash retainers of $10,000, $8,000 and $5,000, respectively, while the chairs of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received additional annual cash retainers of $20,000, $16,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Under the terms of the policy, each non-employee member of the Board will automatically receive an annual option grant equal to $250,000 as of the date of grant, at an exercise price based on the grant-date fair value of the award, which will vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and the next annual stockholder meeting, subject to the director’s continued service as a director through such date. In 2022, our directors modified the equity component of our non-employee director compensation program to increase the value of the annual grant to $300,000 and provide for the issuance of 50% options and 50% restricted stock units, and also provided for an initial equity grant equal to $300,000 of options, which options will vest ratably over three years from the grant date.
The aggregate amount of compensation, including both equity compensation and cash compensation, paid to any non-employee director in a calendar year will not exceed $1,000,000 in the first calendar year such individual becomes a non-employee director and $750,000 in any other calendar year.
Dr. Hariri does not receive additional compensation for his services as a director.
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The following table provides the compensation paid to our non-employee directors in 2021:
Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | Option awards ($) | All other compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||
Jay R. Bloom | 27,000 | 249,996 | — | 276,996 | ||||||||||||
Peter H. Diamandis, M.D. | 43,000 | 1,947,496 | — | 1,990,496 | ||||||||||||
Dean C. Kehler | 36,500 | 249,996 | — | 286,496 | ||||||||||||
Lim Kok Thay | 55,000 | 1,947,496 | — | 2,002,496 | ||||||||||||
Marc Mazur | 35,550 | 249,996 | — | 285,546 | ||||||||||||
John Sculley | 47,250 | 1,947,496 | — | 1,994,746 | ||||||||||||
Robin L. Smith, M.D., M.B.A. | 42,000 | 1,947,496 | — | 1,989,496 | ||||||||||||
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. | 37,000 | 1,947,496 | — | 1,984,496 | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock options and a deferred compensation award granted to the non-employee directors during 2021, computed in accordance with the FASB’s ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the stock options reported in this column are set forth in Note 11 to Celularity’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the non-employee director, which will depend on factors including the continued service of the executive and the future value of our stock. |
The table below shows the aggregate numbers of option awards (exercisable and unexercisable) held as of December 31, 2021 by each non-employee director who was serving as a member of our board of directors as of December 31, 2021 and who is currently serving as a member of the board of directors.
Name | Options Outstanding at December 31, 2021 | |||
Jay R. Bloom | 56,053 | |||
Peter H. Diamandis, M.D. | 4,056,196 | |||
Dean C. Kehler | 56,053 | |||
Lim Kok Thay | 325,060 | |||
Marc Mazur | 56,053 | |||
John Sculley | 1,093,654 | |||
Robin L. Smith, M.D., M.B.A. | 709,357 | |||
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. | 532,498 | |||
Deferred Compensation — Director Awards
In August 2020, Legacy Celularity’s board of directors authorized the grant to each of our non-employee directors an option to purchase 350,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of the then-current fair market value of its common stock, which its board of directors had anticipated to be similar to the fair market value of common stock at June 30, 2020. This grant of the options was subject to the completion of a 409A valuation. Due to its inability to timely obtain the required 409A valuation prior to initial discussions regarding a potential business combination, the option awards that had been previously authorized in August 2020 were not granted to the non-employee directors. In March 2021, in lieu of granting the previously authorized stock options, Legacy Celularity’s Board separately approved the grant of deferred compensation awards under the 2017 Plan to each of its current non-employee directors (but not including any non-employee directors who became our director upon completion of the Business Combination). These awards were structured to be non-qualified deferred compensation compliant with, and not be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code (the “Director Awards”). The Director Awards are not stock options for purposes of the 2017 Plan and are classified as “other awards” thereunder. Each Director Award, as assumed in the Merger, provides the
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non-employee director with the right to purchase 269,007 shares of Class A common stock for a price of $3.83 per share. The Director Awards are fully vested at grant, but in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code, are only exercisable upon the earlier of (i) the 90-day period following the second anniversary of the grant date and (ii) a change in control of our Company (as defined in the 2017 Plan, but specifically excluding the Business Combination and requiring that event also constitutes a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A). The Director Awards will expire to the extent not exercised at the earlier of such times. The Director Awards will remain outstanding if the director leaves the board of directors through the earlier of such events, and will expire if not exercised in connection with the first to occur of the events described above. The non-employee director would not have discretion as to when to exercise the Director Awards.
As the Director Awards are not intended to be stock options that are exempt from the application of Section 409A, the Director Awards could have been authorized for grant at any exercise price (including for no exercise price, similar to a restricted stock unit award). However, in order to honor the original intent for such awards, the Legacy Celularity board of directors used the fair market value of its common stock as of June 30, 2020, $2.94 per share, as determined by its independent third-party 409A valuation provider. This value corresponds to the fair market value of its common stock as of the date Legacy Celularity’s Board authorized the grant of options to the non-employee directors in August 2020 but ultimately did not grant due to the inability to timely obtain this valuation. Legacy Celularity’s board of directors received this 409A valuation at the March 2021 board meeting in connection with the granting of the Director Awards. While no valuation is required to make these grants for Section 409A compliance purposes, its Board used the valuation solely for purposes of determining the exercise price for the Director Awards. Given the structure of the Director Awards, we recognized the expense for the grant of Director Awards in the amount of $13.6 million in the second quarter of 2021.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The following includes a summary of transactions since January 1, 2019 to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described under “Executive Compensation.”
Subscription Agreements
On the Closing Date, certain significant stockholders or their affiliates (including Sorrento), Starr International Investments Ltd., or Starr International, and Dragasac Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, collectively, the “Subscribers”) purchased from us an aggregate of 8,340,000 shares of Class A common stock, for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $83.4 million, pursuant to separate subscription agreements dated January 8, 2021. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, we agreed to provide the Subscribers with certain registration rights with respect to the PIPE Shares.
Lock-Up Agreements
In connection with the Closing, certain of our stockholders, including the directors and officers, agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to, without the prior written consent of our board of directors, transfer (i) any shares of our Class A common stock held by such parties immediately after the Business Combination, (ii) any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A common stock, including the Private Placement Warrants, held by such parties immediately after the Business Combination and (iii) any shares of our Class A common stock issued upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any of the securities described in clause (ii). The lock-up period commenced upon the Closing and continues through the earliest to occur of: (i) 365 days after the date of the Closing; (ii) the first day after the date on which the closing price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the date of the Closing; or (iii) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property. The lock-up restrictions contain customary exceptions, including for estate planning transfers, affiliates transfers, and transfers upon death or by will.
Sponsor Vesting Agreement
In connection with the Closing, GX Sponsor LLC the sponsor of GX prior to consummation of the Business Combination, distributed to its members 7,087,500 shares of Class A common stock, and 7,000,000 Private Placement Warrants.
Following the distribution, the Sponsor and each member of Sponsor that received such shares in the distribution entered into vesting agreements pursuant to which 25% of the shares received by each such holder became subject to a restriction on transfer, with such shares being released from this transfer restriction on the first day that the volume weighted average price of the Class A common stock on Nasdaq is at or above $12.00 for 20 trading days over a 30 consecutive trading day period. Any such shares that do not vest by July 15, 2031 will be forfeited.
Each member of Sponsor that received shares in the distribution also entered into a lock-up agreement on substantially the same terms as described above under “— Lock-up Agreements”.
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The foregoing description of the vesting agreements is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of the vesting agreement, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Related Party Financings
Series B Preferred Stock Financing
In February 2019, Dragasac Limited, or Dragasac, a significant stockholder, exercised its right to purchase 8,640,055 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, at an exercise price of $5.787 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $50 million pursuant to a warrant initially issued in May 2018. Dragasac is an indirect subsidiary of Genting Berhad, a public limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in Malaysia. Lim Kok Thay, a current member of the board of directors, is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad.
In May 2019, we amended and restated the Dragasac warrant to reduce the exercise price for the remaining warrant shares in exchange for Dragasac agreeing to purchase 4,464,286 shares of Series B Preferred Stock on or before May 31, 2019. In May 2019, Dragasac exercised its right to purchase 4,464,286 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a price per share of $5.60, for gross proceeds of approximately $25 million. In November 2019, we again amended the initial Dragasac warrant to reduce the exercise price to $5.20 for the remaining warrant shares in exchange for Dragasac agreeing to purchase 8,495,796 shares of Series B Preferred Stock on or before November 4, 2019. On November 4, 2019, Dragasac exercised its right to purchase the remaining 8,495,796 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, at a price per share of $5.20, for gross proceeds of approximately $44.2 million. Following such exercise, the initial Dragasac warrant is no longer outstanding and was exercised in full.
In January 2020, we issued to Dragasac a new warrant to purchase 8,495,796 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or the New Dragasac Warrant. at an exercise price per share equal to the lesser of (a) $5.20 per share or (b) 80% of either (i) the value attributed to one share of Series B Preferred Stock upon consummation of a change in control or the closing of a strategic transaction pursuant to which our stockholders exchange their existing shares of capital stock in our company for shares in a company whose shares are listed on a national stock exchange or (ii) the price at which one share of common stock is sold to the public market in an initial public offering. The warrant originally expired upon the earlier to occur of the 12-month anniversary of issuance, the consummation of a change in control, the closing of a strategic transaction or an initial public offering, which 12-months was extended to March 2025 by an amendment in March 2020. In January 2021, we and Dragasac further amended the New Dragasac Warrant to add a cashless exercise provision and eliminate the provision that would have provided for expiration of the New Dragasac Warrant upon consummation of the Business Combination. Any portion of the New Dragasac Warrant that was unexercised prior to consummation of the Business Combination converted into warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock, with the exercise price and number of shares adjusted as per the Exchange Ratio and the terms of the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, the New Dragasac Warrant is now exercisable for 6,529,818 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise price of $6.77 per share.
In March 2020, we issued to Starr International, a significant stockholder, 8,640,055 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $5.787 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $50 million. Additionally, we issued to Starr International warrants to purchase an aggregate of 8,640,055 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or the Starr Warrant. The Starr Warrant expired upon the earlier to occur of the 60-month anniversary of issuance, the consummation of an initial public offering or the consummation of a change in control. In January 2021, we and Starr International amended the Starr Warrant to add cashless exercise provisions following the consummation of the Business Combination. Any portion of the Starr Warrant that was unexercised prior to the consummation of the Business Combination converted into warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock, with the expiration date, exercise price and number of shares adjusted as per the Exchange Ratio and the terms of the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, the Starr Warrant became exercisable for 6,640,694 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise price of $7.53 per share.
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On March 1, 2022, in order to induce Starr International to cash exercise such warrants in full, we amended and restated the Starr Warrant to, among other things, (i) reduce the exercise price per share to $3.50 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth therein, (ii) remove the transfer restrictions set forth therein, and (iii) make other changes reflecting the Business Combination. Immediately following the amendment and restatement of the Starr Warrant, Starr International exercised such warrants in full, for cash, for approximately $23.2 million, and we issued shares of our Class A common stock in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act to Starr International. Accordingly, the Starr Warrant is no longer issued and outstanding.
The following table summarizes purchases of Series B Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock warrants by our directors and by holders of more than 5% of its capital stock and their affiliated entities. All shares of Series B Preferred Stock were exchanged in the Business Combination for shares of our Class A common stock, and the warrants are now exercisable for shares of our Class A common stock.
Greater than 5% Stockholders | Series B Preferred Stock | Series B Preferred Stock Aggregate Purchase Price | Series B Warrants | Series B Warrant Aggregate Exercise Price | ||||||||||||
Dragasac Limited | 12,960,082 | $ | 74,999,994.54 | 30,095,933 | (1) | $ | 119,178,133.09 | (2) | ||||||||
Starr International Investments, Ltd. | 8,640,055 | $ | 49,999,998.29 | 8,640,055 | $ | 49,999,998.29 | ||||||||||
| (1) | Dragasac exercised in full the initial Dragasac warrant for 21,600,137 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination held the New Dragasac Warrant for 8,495,796 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or 6,529,818 shares of our Class A common stock. |
| (2) | Includes the aggregate exercise price for the initial Dragasac warrant, which has been exercised by Dragasac. The table above does not include the exercise price of the New Dragasac Warrant. The exercise price of New Dragasac Warrant is the lesser of (a) $5.20 per share or (b) 80% of either (i) the value attributed to one share of Series B Preferred Stock upon consummation of a change in control or the closing of a strategic transaction pursuant to which our stockholders exchange their existing shares of capital stock in our Company for shares in a company whose shares are listed on a national stock exchange or (ii) the price at which one share of common stock is sold to the public market in an IPO. |
License and Other Agreements
TNK License and Transfer Agreement
In June 2017, we entered into a Contribution Agreement with TNK Therapeutics, Inc., or TNK, and Sorrento. In order to effectuate the contribution under the TNK Contribution Agreement, in August 2017, we entered into a license and transfer agreement with TNK and Sorrento. Henry Ji, Ph.D., a former member of our Board, currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Sorrento and as Chief Executive Officer of TNK, a majority owned subsidiary of Sorrento. Sorrento is a holder of more than 5% of our capital stock. The license and transfer agreement with TNK and Sorrento contemplated certain payments by us as a proportion of sublicensing revenues received for certain products. The license and transfer agreement with TNK and Sorrento was subsequently amended in March 2018 and December 2019 and terminated for mutual convenience in January 2020.
Sorrento License and Transfer Agreement
In September 2020, we entered into a license and transfer agreement, as amended effective November 13, 2020, with Sorrento. Henry Ji, Ph.D., a former member of our Board, currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Sorrento. Dr. Robin L. Smith and Jaisim Shah, both former members of our Board and Dr. Smith is a current member of the board of directors, are also affiliated with Sorrento.
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Under the Sorrento Agreement, we are obligated to pay Sorrento a low single-digit royalty on net sales of licensed products containing the CD19 CAR-T construct licensed from Sorrento in perpetuity. Additionally, we are obligated to pay Sorrento a low double-digit percentage of non-royalty sublicensing received by it in connection with a grant of any sublicense of the intellectual property licensed from Sorrento. In November 2020, we amended the Sorrento Agreement to add a patent application to the licensed intellectual property included in the Sorrento Agreement.
We are currently negotiating a supply agreement with Sorrento to obtain the continued supply of CAR constructs and licensed products under the Sorrento Agreement, which we expect to be based on the cost plus a percentage, with no guaranteed minimums.
Celgene License, Investment Rights Contingent Value Rights Agreements
In August 2017, in connection with the Anthrogenesis Corporation acquisition, we entered into a license agreement with Celgene and we issued shares of our Series X Preferred Stock to Celgene as merger consideration and also entered into the CVR Agreement and investment rights agreement with Celgene. Celgene is a holder of more than 5% of our capital stock.
Pursuant to the Celgene license agreement, we granted Celgene (i) a worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid up, non-exclusive license, without the right to grant sublicenses (other than to its affiliates), to certain of Anthrogenesis’ intellectual property for preclinical research purposes in all fields and (ii) a worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid up, non-exclusive, sublicensable license to certain of Anthrogenesis’ intellectual property to develop, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise fully exploit products and services in connection with the construction of any CAR, the modification of any T-cells or NK cells to express such a CAR, and/or the use of such CARs or T-cells or NK cells for any purpose.
The Celgene investment rights agreement entitled Celgene to board observation rights and certain information rights that terminate upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In addition, pursuant to the investment rights agreement, Celgene had certain rights regarding any acquisition proposals received by us, such as the right to receive notice of any proposed acquisitions, and a period of time in which we would not take any further action with respect such proposal. On March 4, 2021, the parties amended the investment rights agreement. As amended, upon the consummation of the Business Combination, the acquisition proposal rights terminated along with the board observation and information rights noted above. The only rights that continue after consummation of the Business Combination are Celgene’s rights to participate in any process in connection with a sale of our company. In addition, if at any time we ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (other than as a result of a change of control or other liquidation event), Celgene’s information rights and board observer rights will be reinstated.
Pursuant to the CVR Agreement, we issued one CVR in respect of each share of Series X Preferred Stock issued to Celgene in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. Such CVRs are not separable from the shares of Series X Preferred Stock other than in an initial public offering or a sale of our Company. Celgene has agreed that the CVRs will become separable from the shares of Series X Preferred Stock upon the consummation of the Business Combination, such that the CVRs may be sold, assigned and transferred apart from the shares of Series X Preferred Stock, which converted into Class A common stock at the Closing. On March 4, 2021, the parties entered into Amendment No. 1 to the CVR Agreement reflecting the parties’ agreement to separate the CVRs from the shares of Series X Preferred Stock.
The CVR Agreement entitles the holders of the CVRs to an aggregate amount, on a per program basis, of $50 million in regulatory milestones and an aggregate $125 million in commercial milestone payments with respect to certain of our investigational therapeutic programs, which would include the current CYNK-001, CYNK-101, and PDA-002 pipeline candidates and the legacy PDA-001 program (certain placenta-derived adherent cells, proprietary to Anthrogenesis, that are formulated for intravenous delivery, with respect to
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PDA-001 that is no longer in development. Such payments under the CVR Agreement also expressly cover PNK-007 (which includes certain NK cells proprietary to Anthrogenesis, produced by a process proprietary to Anthrogenesis as of the closing of the Anthrogenesis transaction) and certain PNK-007 cells with a genetic modification (but not including NK cells with a chimeric receptor, including a CAR), along with any derivatives, parts, subparts, or progeny of any of the foregoing, or any therapeutic based or derived (in whole or in part) on certain related development programs as they existed as of the closing of the Anthrogenesis transaction. Accordingly, as we expand our NK cell type franchise into new indications and, as a general matter, because these payments are not payable until a later stage of development, we expect to continue to evaluate its present and future therapeutic candidates as they develop and evolve in light of the specific terms in the CVR Agreement to determine the specific products on which such amounts will be payable. In addition, with respect to each such program and calendar year, the CVR holders will be entitled to receive a royalty equal to a mid-teen percentage of the annual net sales for such program’s therapeutics from the date of the first commercial sale of such program’s therapeutic in a particular country until the latest to occur of the expiration of the last to expire of any valid patent claim covering such program therapeutic in such country, the expiration of marketing exclusivity with respect to such therapeutic in such country, and August 2027 (i.e., the tenth anniversary of the closing of the acquisition of Anthrogenesis).
Lung Biotechnology License Agreement
In June 2017, we entered into a license agreement with Lung Biotechnology PBC, or Lung Biotechnology, a holder of more than 5% of our shares of common stock. Under the license agreement, we granted Lung Biotechnology an exclusive license to placental-derived stem cells in the field of pulmonary diseases and organ transplantation. In April 2020, we agreed to amend the license agreement with Lung Biotechnology to collaborate on the development of CYNK-001 in COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. On April 11, 2021, such license agreement was voluntarily terminated without cause by Lung Biotechnology.
Genting Distribution Agreement
In May 2018, in connection with our Series B Preferred Stock Financing, we entered into a distribution agreement with Genting Innovation Pte Ltd., or Genting, an affiliate of Dragasac. Genting and Dragasac are both subsidiaries of Genting Berhad, a public limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in Malaysia. Lim Kok Thay, a current member of the board of directors, is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad.
Pursuant to the Genting distribution agreement, we granted to Genting sole and exclusive rights to import, market, promote, sell, offer for sale and distribute in certain Asian markets our then-current portfolio of degenerative disease products, Biovance and Interfyl, that are approved for sale in the United States. The Genting distribution agreement also provides that future products developed by or on behalf of (or acquired or in-licensed by) us or our affiliates, for which no approval in the United States is required, or otherwise once approved in the United States, other than those in any of the CAR, organ or pulmonary fields, will be added to the Genting distribution agreement.
Consulting Agreements
In September 2017, we entered into a scientific and clinical advisor agreement, or the SAB Agreement, with Dr. Andrew Pecora, our current President and a former member of the Legacy Celularity Board, which was superseded by a new SAB Agreement in February 1, 2019, and then further amended in April 2020 and October 2020. Under the SAB Agreement, as amended by the second amended and restated second amendment, Dr. Pecora provided consulting and advisory services to Celularity LLC until his appointment as our President and execution of his employment agreement effective September 2021.
The April 2020 amendment had a term of six months and provided for the payment of $20,000 per month and the issuance of a stock option to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock (or 153,718 shares of Class A
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common stock as adjusted). Under the October 2020 amendment, Dr. Pecora was entitled to: (i) cash consideration of $20,000 per month, (ii) a one-time cash bonus of $50,000 upon consummation of the Business Combination and (iii) a non-qualified stock option to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock(or 153,718 shares of Class A common stock as adjusted), which vests based on certain defined performance objectives. The option awards were assumed in the Business Combination and are now exercisable for shares of Class A common stock as adjusted by the Exchange Ratio.
Service Agreements
COTA, Inc.
In November 2020, our Company and COTA, Inc., or COTA, entered into an Order Schedule, to the Master Data License Agreement between us and COTA, dated October 29, 2018, pursuant to which COTA will provide to us the licensed data in connection with AML patients. The COTA Order Schedule will terminate on the one-year anniversary following the final licensed data deliverable described therein. Andrew Pecora, M.D., our current President and a former member of the Legacy Celularity Board, is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of COTA, and Dr. Robin L. Smith, a member of the board of directors, is an investor in COTA.
Cryoport Systems, Inc.
In January 2019, we entered into a master services agreement with Cryoport Systems, Inc., or Cryoport, pursuant to which Cryoport will provide cold-chain logistic services to us to support our preclinical and clinical studies. Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is a member of the board of directors of Cryoport.
Stock Purchase Agreement
On September 18, 2020, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., a member of the board of directors, pursuant to which we agreed to purchase from Dr. von Eschenbach 100,000 option shares at a price of $2.56 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $256,000, less the exercise price of the option shares of $21,000, for a net purchase price of $235,000.
CURA Foundation Charitable Grants
During each of the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, we made a grant of $125,000, $375,000 and $500,000, respectively, to the CURA Foundation in support of the International Vatican. Dr. Robin L. Smith, a member of the board of directors, is the president and chairperson of the board of the CURA Foundation.
Employment of an Immediate Family Member
Alexandra Hariri, the daughter of Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is employed by us as an Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Business Development. For each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, Ms. Hariri’s base salary (as a part-time employee) was $37,520 per year. In 2021, Ms. Hariri transitioned back to full-time and her base salary is $210,000. Ms. Hariri has received and continues to be eligible to receive a bonus, equity awards and benefits on the same general terms and conditions as applicable to unrelated employees in similar positions.
Matthew Pecora, the son of Andrew Pecora, M.D., our President and a member of our Scientific Advisory Board, a former member of the Legacy Celularity Board, our President of Medical Affairs and former member of our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board, is employed by us as Manager, Clinical Supply Chain. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Mr. Pecora earned $90,000.00, $103,534.39, and $121,275.12, respectively, in base salary and bonus and he earned equity awards which were in line with similar roles at our company before the Business Combination. Mr. Pecora terminated his employment with us in April 2021.
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Employment Agreements
We entered into amended and restated employment agreements with each of our executive officers upon the closing of the Business Combination. These agreements superseded the prior change in control severance agreements. See “Executive Compensation — Agreements with Named Executive Officers and Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control” for a description of the terms of the employment agreements with our named executive officers.
Stock Options Granted to Executive Officers and Directors
We have granted stock options to our executive officers and directors, each as more fully described in “Executive Compensation — Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” and “Executive Compensation — Agreements with Named Executive Officers and Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control” respectively.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers in addition to the indemnification provided for in our bylaws. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of us, arising out of the person’s services as a director or executive officer.
Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Parties
We have adopted a written related-person transactions policy that sets forth our policies and procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration and oversight of “related-party transactions.” A “related-party transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we and any “related party” are participants involving an amount that exceeds the lesser of $120,000 and 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, consultant or director will be considered pre-approved related-party transactions by the audit committee under this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director, nominee to become a director or a holder of more than 5% of our common stock, including any of their immediate family members and affiliates, including entities owned or controlled by such persons.
Under the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related-party transaction, management must present information regarding the proposed related-party transaction to the audit committee (or, where review by the audit committee would be inappropriate, to another independent body of the board of directors) for review. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, all of the parties thereto, the direct and indirect interests of the related parties, the purpose of the transaction, the material facts, the benefits of the transaction to us and whether any alternative transactions are available, an assessment of whether the terms are comparable to the terms available from unrelated third parties and management’s recommendation. To identify related-party transactions in advance, we will rely on information supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related-party transactions, our audit committee or another independent body of our board of directors will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:
| • | the risks, costs and benefits to us; |
| • | the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related party is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated; |
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| • | the terms of the transaction; |
| • | the availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and |
| • | the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties. |
In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval.
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The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Class A common stock as of March 31, 2022 by:
| • | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Class A common stock; |
| • | each of our named executive officers and directors; and |
| • | all of our executive officers and directors as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options, warrants and restricted stock units that are currently exercisable or vested or that will become exercisable or vest within 60 days. This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13G or 13D filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Class A common stock beneficially owned by them.
The beneficial ownership percentages set forth in the table below are based on (i) 137,722,917 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and (ii) 145,946,601 shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the sales of all of the Units and no exercise of the warrants included in the Units, the underwriters’ overallotment option and the underwriters’ warrants, and other than as noted below, do not take into account the issuances of any shares of Class A common stock upon the exercise of warrants or options.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | Number of shares of Class A Common Stock | Percentage of shares Class A common stock Owned | ||||||||||
| Prior to this offering | After this offering | |||||||||||
Five Percent or Greater Stockholders | ||||||||||||
Dragasac Limited (2) | 36,592,597 | 25.4 | % | 24.0 | % | |||||||
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (3) | 20,422,124 | 14.8 | % | 14.0 | % | |||||||
Starr International Investments Ltd. (4) | 15,281,389 | 11.1 | % | 10.5 | % | |||||||
Celgene Corporation (5) | 11,953,274 | 8.7 | % | 8.2 | % | |||||||
Lung Biotechnology PBC (6) | 7,968,848 | 5.8 | % | 5.5 | % | |||||||
Human Longevity, Inc. (7) | 7,012,573 | 5.1 | % | 4.8 | % | |||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers | ||||||||||||
Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. (8) | 11,757,406 | 8.3 | % | 7.8 | % | |||||||
John R. Haines (9) | 1,104,247 | * | * | |||||||||
Andrew Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P. (10) | 1,037,599 | * | * | |||||||||
John Sculley (11) | 1,037,601 | * | * | |||||||||
Jay R. Bloom (12) | 4,336,617 | 3.1 | % | 2.9 | % | |||||||
Peter Diamandis, M.D. (13) | 4,000,143 | 2.8 | % | 2.7 | % | |||||||
Dean C. Kehler (14) | 4,343,779 | 3.1 | % | 2.9 | % | |||||||
Lim Kok Thay (15) | 36,861,604 | 25.5 | % | 24.1 | % | |||||||
Marc Mazur (16) | 73,927 | * | * | |||||||||
Robin L. Smith, M.D., M.B.A. (17) | 653,304 | * | * | |||||||||
Andrew C. Von Eschenbach, M.D. (18) | 576,445 | * | * | |||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers of as a Group (16 Individuals) (19) | 66,821,523 | 46.8 | % | 39.0 | % | |||||||
| * | Less than one percent. |
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the executive officers and directors is c/o Celularity Inc., 170 Park Ave, Florham Park, NJ 07932. |
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| (2) | Consists of (i) 30,062,779 shares of Class A common stock and (ii) 6,529,818 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of a Converted Legacy Warrant at an exercise price of $6.77 per share. These securities are directly held by Dragasac, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, a public company listed on the Malaysian stock exchange. Lim Kok Thay is an indirect beneficial owner of the largest shareholder of Genting Berhad, where he serves as Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board, and in such capacity may be deemed to beneficially own shares held by Dragasac Limited. The address for Dragasac Limited is c/o 24th Floor, Wisma Genting, 28 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
| (3) | The address for Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. is 4955 Directors Place, San Diego, California 92121. |
| (4) | The address for Starr International Investments Ltd. is Bermuda Commercial Bank Building, 19 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 11, BM Bermuda. Starr International Investments Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starr International Company, Inc., a Swiss corporation, which, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own these securities. |
| (5) | The address for Celgene Corporation is 86 Morris Avenue, Summit, New Jersey 07901. |
| (6) | The address for Lung Biotechnology Investments, Ltd. is 1040 Spring Street, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. |
| (7) | The address for Human Longevity, Inc. is 4570 Executive Drive, San Diego, California 92121. |
| (8) | Consists of 7,734,689 shares held directly by Dr. Hariri and 4,022,717 shares issuable to Dr. Hariri pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (9) | Reflects 1,104,247 shares issuable to Mr. Haines pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (10) | Reflects 1,037,599 shares issuable to Dr. Pecora pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (11) | Reflects 1,037,601 shares issuable to Mr. Sculley pursuant to options and a deferred compensation awards exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (12) | Consists of: (i) 1,661,253 shares of common stock received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor, (ii) 100,000 shares retained by Sponsor, (iii) 1,730,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor and (iv) 845,364 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants of GX, which were acquired from GX upon completion of the Business Combination as the repayment of $845,364 in promissory notes in connection with certain working capital loans. Cooper Road, LLC is the record holder of the securities in clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) of the preceding sentence. Cooper Road, LLC is an entity controlled by Jay R. Bloom. Mr. Bloom disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest he may have therein, directly or indirectly. Sponsor is the record holder of the shares described in clause (ii) of the first sentence. Cooper Road, LLC (an entity controlled by Jay R. Bloom) and Dean C. Kehler are the managing members of Sponsor, and as such Messrs. Bloom and Kehler have voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held of record by Sponsor and may be deemed to have shared beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by Sponsor. Each such entity or person disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported securities other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest they may have therein, directly or indirectly. |
| (13) | Reflects 4,000,143 shares issuable to Dr. Diamandis pursuant to options and a deferred compensation awards exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (14) | Consists of: (i) 1,414,768 shares of common stock received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor, (ii) 394,376 shares of common stock received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor to Elizabeth Kehler 2012 Trust, of which Dean Kehler’s spouse serves as a trustee, (iii) 100,000 shares retained by Sponsor, (iv) 1,880,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor and (iv) 554,635 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants of GX, which were acquired from GX upon completion of the Business Combination as the repayment of $554,635 in promissory notes in connection with certain working capital loans. Sponsor is the record holder of the shares described in clause (iii) of the previous sentence. Cooper Road, LLC (an entity controlled by Jay R. Bloom) and Dean C. Kehler are the managing members of Sponsor, and as such Messrs. Bloom and Kehler have voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held of record by Sponsor and may be deemed to have shared beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by Sponsor. Each such entity or person disclaims any |
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| beneficial ownership of the reported securities other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest they may have therein, directly or indirectly. |
| (15) | Consists of (i) 36,592,596 shares held by Dragasac Limited and (ii) 269,007 shares issuable to Mr. Lim pursuant to a deferred compensation award exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2021. See footnote 2. Mr. Lim may be deemed to beneficially own shares held by Dragasac Limited. |
| (16) | Consists of (i) 48,927 shares of common stock received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor and (ii) 25,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants received in a pro rata distribution-in-kind from Sponsor. |
| (17) | Reflects 653,304 shares issuable to Dr. Smith pursuant to options and a deferred compensation award exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (18) | Consists of (i) 100,000 shares and (ii) 476,445 shares issuable to Dr. Von Eschenbach pursuant to options and a deferred compensation award exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
| (19) | Reflects (i) 41,516,792 shares, (ii) 11,664,817 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants and (iii) 13,639,914 shares issuable upon exercise of options and deferred compensation awards exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022. |
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING
We are offering 10,533,707 Units consisting of one share of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and one warrant to purchase one Class A common stock.
We are also registering the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units and the shares of Class A common stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of the warrants offered hereby.
Shares of Class A common stock can each be purchased in this offering only with the accompanying warrant (other than pursuant to the option of the representative of the underwriters to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants) as part of a Unit, but the components of the Units will immediately separate upon issuance.
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the warrants offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the form of warrant, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions set forth in the form of warrant.
Warrants
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the warrants, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the warrants.
Exercise Price and Duration. Each warrant will have an exercise price per share of $ , equal to 115% of the of the public offering price per Unit in this offering. The warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance, and at any time thereafter up to the fifth anniversary of the issuance date. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our shares of Class A common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants.
Exercisability. The warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the issuance of the Class A common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is effective and available for the issuance of such shares, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such shares, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of Class A common stock purchased upon such exercise.
Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, then the warrants may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of Class A common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the warrant.
Exercise Limitation. A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99% upon the request of the holder) of the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as
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such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage, provided that any increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such election.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.
Fractional Shares. No fractional share of Class A common stock will be issued upon the exercise of the warrants. Rather, the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued will be rounded to the nearest whole number.
Trading Market. There is no established public trading market for the warrants being issued in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the warrants will be limited.
Fundamental Transactions. If a fundamental transaction occurs, then the successor entity will succeed to, and be substituted for us, and may exercise every right and power that we may exercise and will assume all of our obligations under the warrants with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named in the warrant itself. If holders of our Class A common stock are given a choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a fundamental transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to the consideration it receives upon any exercise of the warrant following such fundamental transaction. In addition, in certain circumstances, upon a fundamental transaction, the holder will have the right to require us to repurchase its warrant at its fair value using the Black Scholes option pricing formula; provided, however, that, if the fundamental transaction is not within our control, including not approved by our board of directors, then the holder shall only be entitled to receive the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes value of the unexercised portion of the warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of our Class A common stock in connection with the fundamental transaction.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our Class A common stock, the holder of a warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our Class A common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the warrant.
Amendment and Waiver. The warrants may be modified or amended or the provisions thereof waived with the written consent of our company on the one the hand and a holder on the other hand.
Representative’s Warrants
The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also registers for sale the representative’s warrants, as a portion of the underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. The representative’s warrants will be exercisable for a period of five years from the commencement of sales at an exercise price of $ (100% of the public offering price per Unit). Please see “Underwriting” for a description of the warrants we have agreed to issue to the underwriters in this offering, subject to the completion of the offering.
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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock and the purchase, exercise, disposition and lapse of our warrants. The Class A common stock and the warrants are collectively referred to herein as our securities. This discussion is for general information only and is not tax advice. All prospective holders of our securities should consult their tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our securities.
This discussion is not a complete analysis of all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our securities. This summary is based upon current provisions of the Code, existing U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, published administrative pronouncements and rulings of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus. These authorities are subject to change and differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change or differing interpretation could alter the tax consequences to holders described in this discussion. There can be no assurance that a court or the IRS will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a holder of the purchase, ownership or disposition of our securities.
We assume in this discussion that a holder holds our securities as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of that holder’s individual circumstances, nor does it address the special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code, any alternative minimum, Medicare contribution, estate or gift tax consequences, or any aspects of U.S. state, local or non-U.S. taxes or any non-income U.S. federal tax laws. This discussion also does not address consequences relevant to holders subject to special tax rules, such as holders that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below), corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax, tax-exempt organizations, governmental organizations, banks, financial institutions, investment funds, insurance companies, brokers, dealers or traders in securities, commodities or currencies, regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts, persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, tax-qualified retirement plans, holders who hold or receive our securities pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, holders holding our securities as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, holders deemed to sell our securities under the constructive sale provisions of the Code, “passive foreign investment companies” or “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of the Code, and former U.S. citizens or long-term residents.
In addition, this discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships (or entities or arrangements that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or persons that hold our securities through such partnerships. If a partnership, including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such partners and partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our securities.
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our securities (other than a partnership or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| • | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| • | a corporation, or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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| • | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
| • | a trust if (a) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the trust’s substantial decisions or (b) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
For purposes of this discussion, a non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| • | a non-resident alien individual; |
| • | a foreign corporation or other foreign organization taxable as a corporation; or |
| • | a foreign trust or estate the income of which is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis. |
Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders
Investment Unit
The Class A common stock and the warrants should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an investment unit consisting of one share of our Class A common stock and one warrant to acquire one share of our Class A common stock. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the purchase price paid for each investment unit will be allocated between the shares of Class A common stock and the warrants based on their respective relative fair market values. This allocation will be based upon our determination of the relative values of the warrants and of our Class A common stock, which we will complete following the closing of the offering. While uncertain, the IRS, by analogy to the rules relating to the allocation of the purchase price to components of a unit consisting of debt and equity, may take the position that this allocation is binding on you unless you explicitly disclose in a statement attached to your timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the tax year that includes your acquisition date of the unit that your allocation of the purchase price is different than our allocation. This allocation is not binding, however, on the IRS or the courts. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in a unit, and the allocation of the purchase price paid for a unit.
Taxation of Distributions
If we pay distributions (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) or are deemed to make constructive distributions to U.S. Holders of shares of our common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our common stock, subject to the tax treatment as described under “— Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock” below.
Dividends we pay to a U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation will generally qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will generally constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at long-term capital gains rates. If the requirements are not satisfied, a U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and a non-corporate U.S. Holder may be subject to tax on such dividend at ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rates that apply to qualified dividend income.
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Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock
A U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock. Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. The amount of gain or loss recognized will generally be equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition and (2) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock will generally equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost for such Class A common stock (or, in the case of common stock received upon exercise of a warrant, the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for such common stock, as discussed below), less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders are generally eligible for reduced rates of tax under current law. If the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock so disposed of is one year or less, any gain on a sale or other taxable disposition of the shares would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at ordinary income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Exercise of a Warrant
A U.S. Holder generally will not recognize taxable gain or loss upon the exercise of a warrant for cash. The U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the share of our common stock received upon exercise of the warrant for cash will generally be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost of the warrant and the exercise price of such warrant. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock received upon exercise of the warrant will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant and generally would commence on the day following the date of exercise of the warrant.
In certain circumstances, the warrant may be exercised on a cashless basis. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of an exercise of a warrant on a cashless basis is not clear. It is possible that a cashless exercise could be a taxable event. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of an exercise of a warrant on a cashless basis, including with respect to their holding period and tax basis in the common stock received upon exercise of the warrant.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Lapse of a Warrant
Upon a sale, exchange (other than by exercise), redemption, or other taxable disposition of a warrant, a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the amount realized upon such disposition and (2) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the warrant. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrant will generally equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost, increased by the amount of any
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constructive distributions included in income by such U.S. Holder (as described below under “Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders — Possible Constructive Distributions”). Such gain or loss generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the warrant is held by the U.S. Holder for more than one year at the time of such disposition or expiration.
If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the warrant. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss and will be long-term capital loss if the warrant is held for more than one year. Because the term of each warrant is more than one year, a U.S. Holder’s capital loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant upon the occurrence of certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of our Securities — Redeemable Warrants.” An adjustment that has the effect of only preventing dilution generally should not be a taxable event. Nevertheless, a U.S. Holder of Warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or an adjustment to the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described above under “Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” in the same manner as if such U.S. Holder received a cash distribution from us on common stock equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our shares of Class A common stock and warrants, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number (or furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number) or a certification of exempt status, or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Taxpayers should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption.
Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders
Investment Unit
The Class A common stock and warrants should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an investment unit consisting of one share of our Class A common stock and one warrant to acquire of one share of our Class A common stock. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the purchase price paid for each unit will be allocated between the shares of Class A common stock and the warrants based on their respective relative fair market values.
Taxation of Distributions
In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a non-U.S. Holder of shares on our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined
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under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividends at a rate of 30%, unless such non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or successor form, as applicable). In the case of any constructive dividend (as described below under “Non-U.S. Holders — Possible Constructive Distributions”), it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a non-U.S. Holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from shares of Class A common stock, warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the common stock, which will be treated as described under “Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are likely to be classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Dividends we pay to a non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or if a tax treaty applies are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. Holder) will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (generally by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI, or successor form). Instead, such dividends generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. Holders. If the non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
Exercise of a Warrant
A non-U.S. Holder generally will not recognize taxable gain or loss upon the exercise of a warrant for cash. To the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the tax consequences to the non-U.S. Holder would generally be the same as those described below in “— Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants
Subject to the discussions below under “— Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” and “— Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” a non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock or warrants or an expiration or redemption of our warrants, unless:
| • | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, if an applicable tax treaty so requires, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. Holder); |
| • | the non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met; or |
| • | we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. Holder held our Class A common stock or warrants and, in the case where |
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shares of our common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our common stock. These rules may be modified as applied to the warrants. There can be no assurance that our common stock will be treated as regularly traded or not regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose. |
Gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower applicable treaty rate). Gain described in the second bullet point above will generally be subject to a flat 30% U.S. federal income tax. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding possible eligibility for benefits under income tax treaties.
If the third bullet point above applies to a non-U.S. Holder and applicable exceptions are not available, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock or warrants, as applicable, will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We do not believe we currently are or will become a United States real property holding corporation; however, there can be no assurance in this regard. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant upon the occurrence of certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of our Securities — Warrants.” An adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution generally should not be a taxable event. Nevertheless, a non-U.S. Holder of warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or an adjustment to the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our common stock. A non-U.S. Holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding as described above under “Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” under that section in the same manner as if such non-U.S. Holder received a cash distribution from us on common stock equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder commonly referred as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” (“FATCA”) generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends (including constructive dividends) in respect of our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an
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applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Withholding under FATCA was scheduled to apply to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of property that produces U.S.-source interest or dividends. However, the IRS released proposed regulations that, if finalized in their proposed form, would eliminate the obligation to withhold on such gross proceeds. Although these proposed Treasury Regulations are not final, taxpayers generally may rely on them until final Treasury Regulations are issued. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our common stock or warrants. A non-U.S. Holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. 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.
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The following is a summary of the rights of our securities. This summary is qualified by reference to the complete text of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities. The descriptions below are qualified by reference to the actual text of the Certificate of Incorporation. We urge you to read our Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.
Authorized and Outstanding Stock
The Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 730,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The outstanding shares of Class A common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. There are no outstanding shares of Class B common stock. As of March 31, 2022, there were 137,722,917 shares of Class A common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Voting Power
Except as otherwise required by law or as otherwise provided in any certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, the holders of common stock possess all voting power for the election of our directors and all other matters requiring stockholder action. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted on by stockholders.
Dividends
Holders of Class A common stock will be entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors in its discretion out of funds legally available therefor. In no event will any stock dividends or stock splits or combinations of stock be declared or made on common stock unless the shares of common stock at the time outstanding are treated equally and identically.
Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding-up, the holders of the common stock will be entitled to receive an equal amount per share of all of our assets of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders, after the rights of the holders of the preferred stock have been satisfied.
Preemptive or Other Rights
Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to common stock.
Election of Directors
Our board of directors is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term, except with respect to the election of directors at the special meeting held in connection with the Business Combination, Class I directors are elected to an initial one-year term (and three-year terms subsequently), the Class II directors are elected to an initial two-year term (and three-year terms subsequently) and the Class III directors are elected to an initial three-year
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term (and three-year terms subsequently). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
Preferred Stock
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers and preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series of preferred stock. The board of directors is able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of Celularity or the removal of existing management.
Celularity has no preferred stock outstanding at the date hereof.
Stock Awards
Upon the closing of the Business Combination, we assumed and converted Legacy Celularity stock awards that were outstanding under Legacy Celularity’s 2017 Plan into stock awards to purchase an aggregate of 21,723,442 shares of Class A common stock. As of the closing of the Business Combination, 20,915,283 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Plan, which amount may be subject to increase from time to time, and no stock awards as of the date hereof have been granted pursuant to such plan. For additional information regarding the terms of these plans, see “Executive Compensation — Equity Benefit Plans.” We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 with respect to these plans after 60 days from the closing of the Business Combination.
Warrants
As of the closing of the Business Combination, there were 22,874,999 Warrants to purchase Class A common stock outstanding, consisting of 14,375,000 Public Warrants and 8,499,999 Private Placement Warrants. Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one whole share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of the GX IPO or 30 days after the completion of our Business Combination. The Warrants will expire five years after the completion of the Business Combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No Public Warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a Public Warrant unless Class A common stock issuable upon such Public Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Public Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Public Warrant, the holder of such Public Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such Public Warrant and such Public Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any Public Warrant.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our Business Combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the
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shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our Business Combination, warrantholders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of our Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Public Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis.
Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption:
| • | in whole and not in part; |
| • | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| • | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, or the 30-day redemption period to each warrantholder; and |
| • | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders. |
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our best efforts to register or qualify such shares of Class A common stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the Public Warrants were offered by us in this offering.
We have established the last of the redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the Public Warrants, each warrantholder will be entitled to exercise its Public Warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of Class A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
If we call the Public Warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their Public Warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of Public Warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our Public Warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all holders of Public Warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their Public Warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the Public Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Public Warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading
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day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A common stock to be received upon exercise of the Public Warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the Public Warrants after our Business Combination. If we call our warrants for redemption and our management does not take advantage of this option, the Sponsor and its permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their Private Placement Warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other warrantholders would have been required to use had all warrantholders been required to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.
A holder of a Public Warrants may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such Public Warrants, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
If the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A common stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock) and (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock, in determining the price payable for Class A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted-average price of Class A common stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the Public Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A common stock on account of such shares of Class A common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the Public Warrants are convertible), other than in certain circumstances as described in the Warrant Agreement, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A common stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant
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exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the Public Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Public Warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Class A common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Public Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their Public Warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the Public Warrant properly exercises the Public Warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the Warrant Agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) of the Public Warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the Public Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the Public Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the Public Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the Public Warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the Public Warrant. This formula is to compensate the Public Warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the Public Warrant due to the requirement that the Public Warrant holder exercise the Public Warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The Public Warrants have been issued in registered form under the Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the Warrant Agreement, which is an exhibit to this registration statement, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Public Warrants. The Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the Public Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants.
The Public Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the Public Warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of Public Warrants being exercised. The warrantholders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Public Warrants and receive shares of Class A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Public Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round
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down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the warrantholder.
The Private Placement Warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our Business Combination (except for limited exceptions) and they will not be redeemable by us so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees. The Sponsor or its permitted transferees, have the option to exercise the Private Placement Warrants on a cashless basis. Except as described below, the Private Placement Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Public Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by holders other than the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
If holders of the Private Placement Warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination, members of the Sponsor entered into promissory notes with GX to provide working capital funds. In connection with the Business Combination, 1,499,999 Private Placement Warrants were issued to members of the Sponsor in a private placement transaction as repayment for the working capital loans made to GX.
Representative’s Warrants
The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also registers for sale the representative’s warrants, as a portion of the underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. The representative’s warrants will be exercisable for a period of five years from the commencement of sales at an exercise price of $ (100% of the public offering price per share). Please see “Underwriting” for a description of the warrants we have agreed to issue to the underwriters in this offering, subject to the completion of the offering.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law
Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of the board of directors, by the Chairperson of the board of directors, or by the chief executive officer.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely under our current bylaws and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a stockholder’s notice will need to be received by the company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the open of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the
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form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exclusive Forum Selection
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (subject to certain limited exceptions) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any of the following claims (i) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on our behalf, (ii) any claim or cause of action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of Celularity to Celularity or Celularity’s stockholders, (iii) any claim or cause of action against us, our directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated Bylaws, (iv) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated Bylaws, (v) any claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any claim or cause of action against Celularity or any current or former director, officer or other employee of Celularity governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of Celularity shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to such provisions.
Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which they apply, a court may determine that these provisions are unenforceable, and to the extent they are enforceable, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Additionally, we cannot be certain that a court will decide that these provisions are either applicable or enforceable, and if a court were to find the choice of forum provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, the Proposed Charter provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
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Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
We are subject to provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers under our Certificate of Incorporation. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:
| • | a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, otherwise known as an “interested stockholder; |
| • | an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or |
| • | an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder. |
A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:
| • | our board of directors approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction; |
| • | after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of common stock; or |
| • | on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, our initial business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with our company for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Certificate of Incorporation eliminates directors’ liability for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Our Certificate of Incorporation requires us to indemnify and advance expenses to, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, our directors, officers and agents and prohibit any retroactive changes to the rights or protections or increase the liability of any director in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or indemnification. We believe these provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. However, these provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our securities is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The transfer agent’s address is One State Street Plaza, 30th Floor New York, New York 10004.
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We are offering the shares of Class A common stock and accompanying warrants described in this prospectus through BTIG, LLC as sole bookrunner. We have entered into a firm commitment underwriting agreement with BTIG, LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named below. The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters will purchase all of the shares of common stock and accompanying warrants, if any of them are purchased. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of our common stock and accompanying warrants listed opposite its name below:
| Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock | Number of Warrants | |||||||
BTIG, LLC | ||||||||
Truist Securities, Inc. | ||||||||
Total | ||||||||
The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the shares of Class A common stock and accompanying warrants offered by this prospectus, if any are purchased. We have also granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,580,056 additional shares of Class A common stock and/or additional warrants to purchase up to 1,580,056 shares of Class A common stock from us, in any combination thereof, at the public offering price per share of $ and public offering price per warrant of $ , less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters are offering the shares of Class A common stock and accompanying warrants subject to various conditions and may reject all or part of any order. The representative has advised us that it proposes initially to offer the shares of Class A common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase shares of Class A common stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at a price less a concession not in excess of $ per share and warrant based on the combined public offering price per share and accompanying warrant. After the shares of Class A common stock and accompanying warrants are released for sale to the public, the representative may change the offering price, the concession, and other selling terms at various times.
The following table provides information regarding the amount of the discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us, before expenses:
| Per Share and Accompanying Warrant | Total Without Exercise of Option | Total With Full Exercise of Option | ||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Proceeds to us, before expenses | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (1) | We have agreed to pay the underwriters a commission of up to 7.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering, subject to adjustment for certain investors in the offering. |
We estimate that our total expenses of the offering, excluding the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions will be approximately $545,000, which includes the fees and expenses for which we have agreed to reimburse the underwriters, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $125,000.
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We have also agreed to issue to the representative warrants, or the Representative’s Warrants, to purchase up to shares of Class A common stock (or warrants to purchase up to shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional securities in full) (representing up to 1% of the aggregate number of shares sold in this offering), at an exercise price of $ per share (representing 100% of the public offering price for a Unit to be sold in this offering). The Representative’s Warrants will be exercisable immediately and for five years from the date of commencement of sales in this offering. The issuance of the Representative’s Warrants and the shares issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants are registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
We, our officers and directors have agreed to a 90-day “lock-up” with respect to shares of our Class A common stock and other of our securities that they beneficially own, including securities that are convertible into shares of Class A common stock and securities that are exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Class A common stock. This means that, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of 90 days following the date of this prospectus, we and such persons may not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of these securities without the prior written consent of the representative.
Rules of the SEC may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for or purchase shares before the distribution of the shares is completed. However, the underwriters may engage in the following activities in accordance with the rules:
| • | Stabilizing transactions — the representative may make bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the shares, so long as stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
| • | Penalty bids — if the representative purchases shares in the open market in a stabilizing transaction or syndicate covering transaction, it may reclaim a selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those shares as part of this offering. |
| • | Passive market making — market makers in the shares who are underwriters or prospective underwriters may make bids for or purchases of shares, subject to limitations, until the time, if ever, at which a stabilizing bid is made. |
Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales or to stabilize the market price of our Class A common stock may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our Class A common stock or preventing or mitigating a decline in the market price of our Class A common stock. As a result, the price of the shares of our Class A common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the shares if it discourages resales of the shares.
Neither we nor the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the shares. These transactions may occur on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or otherwise. If such transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.
A prospectus in electronic format may be delivered to potential investors by the underwriters. The prospectus in electronic format will be identical to the paper version of such prospectus. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The underwriters and their affiliates have provided, or may in the future, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the
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underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our Company. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below) (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Regulation is implemented in that Relevant Member State, an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:
| • | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; |
| • | by the placement agents to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), as permitted under the Prospectus Regulation, subject to obtaining the prior consent of BTIG, LLC for any such offer; or |
| • | in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation; |
| • | provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any placement agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation. |
For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on its behalf, other than offers made by the placement agents with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the securities is authorized to make any further offer of the securities on behalf of us or the placement agents.
The EEA selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out in this prospectus.
United Kingdom
This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a “relevant person”). This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
Canada
Our securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration
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Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of our securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if the prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Israel
This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Securities Law, and has not been filed with or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. In Israel, this prospectus is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer of the ordinary shares is directed only at (i) a limited number of persons in accordance with the Israeli Securities Law and (ii) investors listed in the first addendum (“the Addendum”) to the Israeli Securities Law, consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals,” each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case, purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who are investors listed in the Addendum). Qualified investors are required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.
Hong Kong
No securities have been offered or sold, and no securities may be offered or sold, in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent; or to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong. No document, invitation or advertisement relating to the securities has been issued or may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance.
This prospectus has not been registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. Accordingly, this prospectus may not be issued, circulated or distributed in Hong Kong, and the securities may not be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Each person acquiring the securities will be required, and is deemed by the acquisition of the securities, to confirm that he is aware of the restriction on offers of the securities described in this prospectus and the relevant offering documents and that he is not acquiring, and has not been offered any securities in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions.
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The validity of any securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, San Francisco, California. The underwriters are being represented in connection with this offering by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, New York, New York.
The financial statements of Celularity Inc. as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
CHANGES IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
As previously reported, on July 16, 2021, our board of directors informed Marcum LLP, or Marcum, GX’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination, that Marcum would be dismissed effective following the completion of the review for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, which consisted only of the pre-Business Combination accounts of GX.
The report of Marcum on GX’s financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the years then ended, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified as to audit scope or accounting principles. Their financial statements contained an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of GX Acquisition Corp. to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements.
During the period from August 24, 2018 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the subsequent period through July 16, 2021, there were no disagreements with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused it to make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report covering such period. In addition, no “reportable events,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, occurred within the period of Marcum’s engagement and the subsequent period through July 16, 2021.
We provided Marcum with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested that Marcum furnish a letter addressed to the SEC, which is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms part, stating whether it agrees with such disclosures, and, if not, stating the respects in which is does not agree.
On July 16, 2021, our board of directors approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP, or Deloitte, as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2021. Deloitte served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Legacy Celularity prior to the Business Combination.
During the period from August 24, 2018 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the interim period through July 16, 2021, we did not consult with Deloitte with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to us by Deloitte that Deloitte concluded was an important factor considered by us in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, or a reportable event, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to Celularity and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for review at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.celularity.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Audit Committee of Celularity Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Celularity Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Emphasis of Matter Regarding Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations since inception, has an expectation of continuing operating losses for the foreseeable future, and needs to raise additional capital to finance its future operations, that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
March 31, 2022
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.
F-2
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 37,240 | $ | 54,311 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $283 and $272 as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively | 2,745 | 1,134 | ||||||
Notes receivable | 2,488 | 5,416 | ||||||
Inventory | 9,549 | 3,850 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 7,076 | 6,576 | ||||||
Other current assets | 2 | 873 | ||||||
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Total current assets | 59,100 | 72,160 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 90,625 | 90,077 | ||||||
Goodwill | 123,304 | 123,304 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net | 123,187 | 125,379 | ||||||
Restricted cash | 14,836 | 15,202 | ||||||
Inventory, net of current portion | 2,721 | 1,998 | ||||||
Other long-term assets | 355 | 2,888 | ||||||
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Total assets | $ | 414,128 | $ | 431,008 | ||||
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Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 9,317 | $ | 5,390 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 11,661 | 13,451 | ||||||
Current portion of financing obligation | 3,051 | 3,008 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 2,196 | 4,828 | ||||||
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Total current liabilities | 26,225 | 26,677 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, net of current portion | 1,871 | 7,621 | ||||||
Acquisition-related contingent consideration | 232,222 | 273,367 | ||||||
Financing obligations | 28,085 | 27,634 | ||||||
Warrant liabilities | 25,962 | 76,640 | ||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities | 10 | 7 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 335 | 349 | ||||||
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Total liabilities | 314,710 | 412,295 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | ||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred stock: | ||||||||
Series A preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, none authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021; 29,484,740 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | — | 184,247 | ||||||
Series B preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, none authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021; 75,088,327 shares authorized, 41,205,482 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | — | 290,866 | ||||||
Series X preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, none authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021; 11,953,274 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | — | 75,000 | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity (deficit): | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021; none authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | — | |||||||
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, 730,000,000 shares authorized, 124,307,884 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021; 155,640,290 shares authorized, 18,529,453 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | 12 | 1 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 0 and 90,834 shares as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively | — | (256 | ) | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 763,087 | 32,418 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (663,681 | ) | (563,563 | ) | ||||
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Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) | 99,418 | (531,400 | ) | |||||
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Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | 414,128 | $ | 431,008 | ||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net revenues: | ||||||||
Product sales and rentals | $ | 3,801 | $ | 6,854 | ||||
Services | 5,522 | 5,556 | ||||||
License, royalty and other | 12,012 | 1,868 | ||||||
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Total revenues | 21,335 | 14,278 | ||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||
Cost of goods sold (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) | ||||||||
Product sales and rentals | 3,528 | 2,247 | ||||||
Services | 3,649 | 2,294 | ||||||
License, royalty and other | 2,476 | 391 | ||||||
Research and development | 88,353 | 52,707 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 71,341 | 31,336 | ||||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | (41,145 | ) | (55,566 | ) | ||||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 2,192 | 3,394 | ||||||
Impairment of acquired intangible assets | — | 129,400 | ||||||
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Total operating expenses | 130,394 | 166,203 | ||||||
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Loss from operations | (109,059 | ) | (151,925 | ) | ||||
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Other income (expense): | ||||||||
Interest income | 332 | 370 | ||||||
Interest expense | (3,171 | ) | (2,354 | ) | ||||
Loss on the sale of business | — | (4,434 | ) | |||||
Income (expense) related to warrant liabilities | 13,482 | (58,686 | ) | |||||
Other (expense) income, net | (1,682 | ) | 4,096 | |||||
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Total other income (expense) | 8,961 | (61,008 | ) | |||||
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Net loss before income taxes | (100,098 | ) | (212,933 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 20 | (4,700 | ) | |||||
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Net loss | $ | (100,118 | ) | $ | (208,233 | ) | ||
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Per share information: | ||||||||
Net loss per share — basic and diluted | $ | (1.49 | ) | $ | (11.31 | ) | ||
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Weighted average shares outstanding — basic and diluted | 67,057,278 | 18,417,910 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(In thousands, except share amounts)
| Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock | Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock | Series X Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2019 | 29,484,740 | $ | 184,247 | 27,552,236 | $ | 206,035 | 11,953,274 | $ | 75,000 | 18,421,084 | $ | 1 | (13,975 | ) | $ | — | $ | 27,909 | $ | (355,330 | ) | $ | (327,420 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Exercise of stock options | — | — | — | — | — | — | 108,369 | — | — | — | 138 | — | 138 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (76,859 | ) | (256 | ) | — | — | (256 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4,371 | — | 4,371 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share issuance costs | — | — | — | (15 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series B preferred stock | — | — | 13,620,063 | 84,596 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock in connection with CariCord acquisition | — | — | 33,183 | 250 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (208,233 | ) | (208,233 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balances at December 31, 2020 | 29,484,740 | $ | 184,247 | 41,205,482 | $ | 290,866 | 11,953,274 | $ | 75,000 | 18,529,453 | $ | 1 | (90,834 | ) | $ | (256 | ) | $ | 32,418 | $ | (563,563 | ) | $ | (531,400 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Exercise of stock options | — | — | — | — | — | — | 572,252 | — | — | — | 197 | — | 197 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40,010 | — | 40,010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recapitalization from GX Acquisition Corp. merger, net of redemptions, equity issuance costs and merger costs | (29,484,740 | ) | (184,247 | ) | (41,205,482 | ) | (290,866 | ) | (11,953,274 | ) | (75,000 | ) | 94,122,408 | 10 | 90,834 | 256 | 485,332 | — | 485,598 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock to PIPE investors | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8,340,000 | 1 | — | — | 83,399 | — | 83,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of liability classified legacy warrants to equity | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 96,398 | — | 96,398 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock to Palantir | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,000,000 | — | — | — | 20,000 | — | 20,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock to settle liability with CTH | — | — | — | — | — | — | 743,771 | — | — | — | 5,333 | — | 5,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (100,118 | ) | (100,118 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balances at December 31, 2021 | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | 124,307,884 | $ | 12 | — | $ | — | $ | 763,087 | $ | (663,681 | ) | $ | 99,418 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash flow from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (100,118 | ) | $ | (208,233 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8,817 | 8,174 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | (1,353 | ) | (8,482 | ) | ||||
Impairment charges | — | 129,400 | ||||||
Provision for doubtful accounts | 298 | 292 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 40,010 | 4,371 | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | (13,482 | ) | 58,686 | |||||
Amortization of inventory step-up | — | 57 | ||||||
Issuance of common stock to settle liability with CTH | 5,333 | — | ||||||
Loss on sale of business | — | 4,434 | ||||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration | (41,145 | ) | (55,566 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 2,627 | 70 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | (1,909 | ) | 1,652 | |||||
Inventory | (6,422 | ) | (643 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 3,068 | (5,761 | ) | |||||
Sale of net operating losses and research and development tax credits | 1,356 | 3,765 | ||||||
Accounts payable | 3,007 | 314 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | (1,801 | ) | 184 | |||||
Deferred revenue | (8,382 | ) | 4,093 | |||||
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Net cash used in operating activities | (110,096 | ) | (63,193 | ) | ||||
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Cash flow from investing activities: | ||||||||
Capital expenditures | (6,203 | ) | (27,834 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from the sale of business | — | 15,019 | ||||||
Proceeds from promissory note | 300 | — | ||||||
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Net cash used in investing activities | (5,903 | ) | (12,815 | ) | ||||
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Cash flow from financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock and warrants, net of issuance costs | — | 102,535 | ||||||
Repurchase of common stock | — | (256 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from short term borrowings — related party | 5,000 | — | ||||||
Payment of short term borrowings — related party | (5,000 | ) | — | |||||
Cash received from GX Acquisition Corp. on recapitalization | 5,386 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from Palantir investment | 20,000 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from PIPE financing | 83,400 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options | 638 | 138 | ||||||
Payments of PIPE/SPAC related costs | (10,862 | ) | (403 | ) | ||||
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Net cash provided by financing activities | 98,562 | 102,014 | ||||||
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Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (17,437 | ) | 26,006 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year | 69,513 | 43,507 | ||||||
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year | $ | 52,076 | $ | 69,513 | ||||
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Cash paid for interest | $ | 146 | $ | — | ||||
Cash paid for income taxes | $ | — | $ | 13 | ||||
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
Property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | (970 | ) | $ | (806 | ) | ||
Recapitalization from GX Acquisition Corp. merger | $ | 550,113 | $ | — | ||||
Cancellation of treasury stock | $ | 256 | $ | — | ||||
Non-cash assets acquired from merger with GX Acquisition Corp. | $ | 163 | $ | — | ||||
Warrant liability assumed from the merger with GX Acquisition Corp. | $ | 59,202 | $ | — | ||||
Issuance of common stock as payment for PIPE/merger related costs | $ | 10,795 | $ | — | ||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities to equity | $ | 96,398 | $ | — | ||||
Reclass of offering costs paid in prior year | $ | 153 | $ | — | ||||
Changes in PIPE/SPAC related costs in accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | — | $ | (2,130 | ) | |||
Recognition of asset and financing obligation related to facility build out | $ | — | $ | (216 | ) | |||
Receipt of convertible note in connection with the Sanuwave Transaction | $ | — | $ | 4,524 | ||||
UltraMIST systems reclass from inventory to fixed assets | $ | — | $ | 79 | ||||
Fair value of warrants issued in connection with Series B preferred stock sale | $ | — | $ | 17,954 | ||||
Issuance of warrants at estimated fair value | $ | — | $ | 11,988 | ||||
Issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock in connection with CariCord acquisition | $ | — | $ | 250 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| 1. | Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation |
Celularity Inc., (“Celularity” or the “Company”), formerly known as GX Acquisition Corp. (“GX”), was a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on August 24, 2018. The Company was formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses.
On July 16, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), the Company consummated the previously announced merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated January 8, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among GX, Alpha First Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GX (“First Merger Sub”), Celularity LLC (f/k/a Alpha Second Merger Sub LLC), a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GX (“Second Merger Sub”), and the entity formerly known as Celularity Inc., incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on August 29, 2016 (“Legacy Celularity”). Upon completion of the merger transaction, GX changed its name to Celularity Inc.
The business combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (see Note 3). Reported shares and earnings per share available to holders of the Company’s common stock, prior to the business combination, have been retroactively restated as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the business combination (1.00 share of Legacy Celularity for approximately 0.7686 shares of Celularity).
Description of Business
Celularity is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the next evolution in cellular medicine by developing off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR”) T cells, natural killer (“NK”) cells and mesenchymal-like adherent stromal cells (“ASCs”), targeting indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. Celularity is headquartered in Florham Park, NJ. Legacy Celularity acquired Anthrogenesis Corporation (“Anthrogenesis”) in August 2017 from Celgene Corporation (“Celgene”), a global biotechnology company that merged with Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Previously, Anthrogenesis operated as Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, Celgene’s cell therapy division. Celularity currently has three active clinical trials and plans to submit two additional investigational new drug (“IND”) applications in 2022. The Celularity IMPACT platform capitalizes on the benefits of placenta-derived cells to target multiple diseases, and provides seamless integration, from bio sourcing through manufacturing cryopreserved and packaged allogeneic cells at its purpose-built U.S.-based 150,000 square foot facility. Celularity’s placental-derived cells are allogeneic, meaning they are intended for use in any patient, as compared to autologous cells, which are derived from an individual patient for that patient’s use. From a single source material, the postpartum human placenta, Celularity derives four allogeneic cell types: T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically-modified NK cells and ASCs, which have resulted in five key cell therapeutic programs: CYCART-19, CYNK-001, CYNK-101, APPL-001 and PDA-002, focused on six initial indications. CYCART-19 is a placental-derived CAR-T cell therapy, in development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, initially targeting the CD19 receptor. CYNK-001 is a placental-derived unmodified NK cell in development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (“AML”), a blood cancer, and for glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”), a solid tumor cancer. CYNK-101 is a placental-derived genetically modified NK cell in development, to be evaluated in combination with a monoclonal antibody to target HER2+ cancers, such as gastric cancer. APPL-001 is a placenta-derived ASC being developed for the treatment of Crohn’s disease.
The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to early-stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to, development by competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with governmental regulations and the ability to
F-7
secure additional capital to fund operations. Drug candidates currently under development will require significant additional approval prior to commercialization, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel, and infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s drug development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant revenue from product sales.
Acquisitions
Shortly after Legacy Celularity’s incorporation in 2016, it completed four business combinations. Legacy Celularity did not have any significant activities prior to its acquisitions.
On May 31, 2017, Legacy Celularity acquired HLI Cellular Therapeutics, LLC (“HLI CT”) from Human Longevity Inc. (“Human Longevity”). HLI CT operated LifebankUSA, a private umbilical cord blood stem cell and cord tissue bank that offers parents the option to collect, process and cryogenically preserve newborn umbilical cord blood stem cells and cord tissue units. The HLI CT acquisition also provided Legacy Celularity with rights to a portfolio of biomaterial assets, including Biovance® and Interfyl® as well as PSC-100, a development-stage placental stem cell program. Prior to the acquisition, Human Longevity entered into to a Supply Agreement and a License, Marketing and Development Agreement (collectively, “the HLI Agreements”) with Alliqua Biomedical Inc. (“Alliqua”). The HLI Agreements gave Alliqua exclusive rights to market and distribute Biovance® and Interfyl®. Rights, title and interest into the HLI Agreements transferred to the Company as a result of the HLI CT acquisition. In aggregate, the fair value of the consideration to acquire HLI CT was $28,876. The acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets including in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) and a licensing agreement.
On August 15, 2017, Legacy Celularity executed a Merger Agreement with Celgene whereupon it acquired Anthrogenesis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene (the “Anthrogenesis Merger Agreement”). The Anthrogenesis acquisition included a portfolio of pre-clinical and clinical stage assets, including key cellular therapeutic assets in immuno-oncology, inflammatory and age-related diseases, that Legacy Celularity continues to develop. The Anthrogenesis acquisition gives Legacy Celularity access to Anthrogenesis’ proprietary technologies and processes for the recovery of large quantities of high-potential stem cells and cellular therapeutic products derived from postpartum human placentas (each an “Anthrogenesis Product”). As part of the Anthrogenesis acquisition, some of the inventors of the Anthrogenesis Products and other key members of the Anthrogenesis Product development team joined Legacy Celularity. In aggregate, the fair value of the consideration to acquire Anthrogenesis was $346,430. The acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets including IPR&D and a licensing agreement and contingent value rights (“CVR”) agreement.
In August 2017, Legacy Celularity issued shares of its Series X Preferred Stock to Celgene as merger consideration and entered into a contingent value rights agreement (the “CVR Agreement”) with Celgene pursuant to which it issued one CVR in respect of each share of Series X Preferred Stock issued to Celgene in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. The CVR Agreement entitles the holders of the CVRs to an aggregate amount, on a per program basis, of $50,000 in regulatory milestones and an aggregate $125,000 in commercial milestone payments with respect to certain programs. In addition, with respect to each such program and calendar year, the CVR holders will be entitled, with respect to a given calendar year and program, to receive a royalty equal to a mid-teen percentage of the annual net sales for such program, from the date of the first commercial sale of such program’s product in a particular country until the latest to occur of the expiration of the last to expire of any valid patent claim covering such program product in such country, the expiration of marketing exclusivity with respect to such product in such country, and August 2027 (i.e., the tenth anniversary of the closing of the acquisition of Anthrogenesis). Celularity estimates the liability associated with the CVR quarterly. Changes to that liability include but are not limited to changes in Celularity clinical programs, assumptions about the commercial value of those programs and the time value of money.
On May 7, 2018, the Company completed an Asset Purchase Agreement with Alliqua, a regenerative technologies company that commercializes regenerative medical products (the “Alliqua APA”). The Alliqua APA included the acquisition of Alliqua’s biologic wound care business, including the marketing and distribution
F-8
rights to Biovance® and Interfyl® as well as a Class II medical device, the MIST® and UltraMIST® Therapy Systems. In connection with the Alliqua APA, the Company paid cash consideration of $29,000. The Alliqua acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets. No debt or significant liabilities were assumed by the Company.
On October 5, 2018, the Company acquired CariCord Inc. (“CariCord”), a family cord blood bank established by ClinImmune Labs University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank (“ClinImmune Labs”) and the Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, for and on behalf of the University of Colorado School of Medicine (the “University of Colorado”). In the aggregate, the fair value of the consideration to acquire CariCord was $9,326. The acquisition led to goodwill and intangible assets.
COVID-19
On March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. The virus and actions taken to mitigate its spread have had, and are expected to continue to have, a broad adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the geographical areas in which the Company operates and conducts its business and which the Company’s partners operate and conduct their business. The Company is currently following the recommendations of local health authorities to minimize exposure risk for its team members and visitors. However, the scale and scope of this pandemic is unknown and the duration of the business disruption and related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. While management has implemented specific business continuity plans to reduce the potential impact of COVID-19, there is no guarantee that the Company’s continuity plans will be successful.
Although the Company was able to operate continuously throughout 2020 and 2021, the Company implemented work-from-home policies as needed following local health recommendations for non-essential employees and employees whose roles are able to be performed remotely. Because certain elements of the Company’s operations (such as processing placental tissue, certain biological assays, translational research and storage of cord blood) cannot be performed remotely, the Company instituted controls and protocols including mandatory temperature checking, symptom assessment forms, incremental cleaning and sanitization of common surfaces to mitigate risks to employees.
Due to a broad decline in economic activity and restrictions on physical access to certain medical facilities, the Company did experience a decrease in the net revenues of its degenerative disease business due to the pandemic in 2021. As for clinical trials, the Company did not cancel or postpone enrollment solely due to the risks of COVID-19. However, enrollment in the clinical trial evaluating CYNK-001 for AML experienced some delays in the first half of 2020 as sites assessed their safety protocols and experienced high volumes of COVID-19 patients. Enrollment has continued in the AML trial and remains ongoing. As a result, during 2020 the Company had a year-over-year increase in research and development expenses notwithstanding the enrollment delays. The Company also initiated a clinical trial evaluating CYNK-001 in patients with COVID-19, which necessitated additional research and development and project management resources. The Company believes that it would have deployed its human and capital resources to other efforts, such as its CYCART-19 clinical development program, had the COVID-19 pandemic not struck.
COVID-19 did not have a material negative impact on oncology clinical trial patient accrual rates during 2021. However, screenings and enrollments in the COVID-19 trial were lower once vaccines became more widely available. During 2021, Celularity continued to utilize mandatory temperature checking and symptom assessment forms and, commencing with the third quarter of 2021, instituted additional safety protocols for unvaccinated employees. Celularity also utilized a liaison to help schedule vaccination appointments for employees.
The extent to which COVID-19 or any other health epidemic may impact the Company’s results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. Accordingly, COVID-19 could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects.
F-9
Going Concern
In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), the Company has evaluated whether there are certain conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued.
Since its inception, Legacy Celularity funded its operations primarily with proceeds from the sales of preferred stock as well as revenues generated through its biobanking and degenerative disease commercial operations. The Company has incurred recurring losses since its inception, including net losses of $100,118 and $208,233 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $663,681. The Company expects to continue to generate operating losses for the foreseeable future. As of the date these financial statements are issued, the Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents will not be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements.
The Company is seeking additional funding through public or private equity and/or debt financings. The Company may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, or at all. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders.
Based on its recurring losses from operations incurred since inception, expectation of continuing operating losses for the foreseeable future, and need to raise additional capital to finance its future operations, the Company has concluded that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis that assumes the Company will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business.
| 2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of wholly owned subsidiaries, after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. The consolidated financial information presented herein reflects all financial information that, in the opinion of management, is necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, assumptions related to the Company’s goodwill and intangible impairment assessment, the valuation of inventory and of contingent consideration, accrual of research and development expenses, and the valuations of stock options and preferred and common stock warrants. The Company based its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates when there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
F-10
Fair Value Measurements
Certain assets and liabilities of the Company are carried at fair value under GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:
| • | Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
| • | Level 2 — Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices), such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. |
| • | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity that are significant to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist principally of cash held in commercial bank accounts, money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities having an original maturity of less than three months. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, substantially all cash and cash equivalents were held in either commercial bank accounts or money market funds.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company maintained letters of credit of $14,836 and $15,202, respectively, for the benefit of the landlord of leased properties, which the Company classified as restricted cash (non-current) on its consolidated balance sheets.
Inventory
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market (net realizable value), with cost being determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Prior to initial approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory agencies, the Company expenses costs relating to the production of inventory in the period incurred. After such time as the product receives initial regulatory approval, the Company capitalizes the inventory costs related to the product. The Company continues to expense costs associated with clinical trial material as research and development expense.
The Company periodically analyzes the inventory levels to determine whether there is any obsolete, expired, or excess inventory. If any inventory is (i) expected to expire prior to being sold, (ii) has a cost basis in excess of its net realizable value, (iii) is in excess of expected sales requirements as determined by internal sales forecasts, or (iv) fails to meet commercial sale specifications, the inventory is written-down through a charge to cost of goods sold. The determination of whether inventory costs will be realizable requires estimates by management of future expected inventory requirements, based on sales forecasts. Once packaged, Biovance® currently has a shelf-life of five years in the United States and between two and three years outside of the United States, and Interfyl® has a shelf-life of five years. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, inventory write-downs may be required. Inventory, net of current portion on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets includes inventory expected to remain on hand beyond one year.
F-11
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset, as follows:
| Estimated Useful Life | ||
Building | 26 years | |
Furniture and fixtures | 5 - 7 years | |
Lab equipment | 5 years | |
Computer equipment | 3 years | |
Software | 3 years | |
Leasehold improvements | shorter of the estimated useful life and the lease term |
Estimated useful lives are periodically assessed to determine if changes are appropriate. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of these assets and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are eliminated from the consolidated balance sheet and any resulting gains or losses are included in the consolidated statement of operations in the period of disposal. Costs for capital assets not yet placed into service are capitalized as construction-in-progress and depreciated once placed into service.
Impairment of Tangible Long-Lived Assets
Tangible long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment. Tangible long-lived assets to be held and used are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant underperformance of the business in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate a long-lived asset group for recoverability, the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized in loss from operations when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset group are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset group over its fair value, determined based on discounted cash flows. The Company did not record any impairment losses on tangible long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Business Combinations
The purchase price allocation for business combinations requires extensive use of accounting estimates and judgments to allocate the purchase price to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values. Under Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations, the Company first determines whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the single asset or group of assets, as applicable, is not a business. If the single asset or group of similar assets does not meet the threshold, an entity must next evaluate whether both an input and substantive process are present.
The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. Application of this method of accounting requires that (i) identifiable assets acquired (including identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities assumed generally be measured and recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date and (ii) the excess of the purchase price over the net fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized as goodwill, which is not amortized for accounting purposes but is tested for impairment at least annually. Acquired IPR&D is recognized at fair value and initially characterized as an indefinite-lived intangible asset, irrespective of whether the acquired IPR&D has an alternative future use. Transaction costs related to business combinations are expensed as incurred.
F-12
Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination requires management to use significant judgment and estimates, especially with respect to intangible assets. Critical estimates in valuing certain identifiable assets include, but are not limited to, the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenue and cash flows, expected long-term market growth, future expected operating expenses, costs of capital and appropriate discount rates. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and, as a result, actual results may differ materially from estimates.
During the measurement period, which extends no later than one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record certain adjustments to the carrying value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. After the measurement period, all adjustments are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as operating expenses or income.
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, which consists of potential milestone and royalty obligations (see Note 11), was recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at its acquisition-date estimated fair value, in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting. The fair value of the acquisition-related contingent consideration is remeasured each reporting period, with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable by market participants and thus represents a Level 3 input in the fair value hierarchy (see Note 4).
Asset Acquisitions
The Company measures and recognizes asset acquisitions that are not deemed to be business combinations based on the cost to acquire the assets, which includes transaction costs. In an asset acquisition, the cost allocated to acquire IPR&D with no alternative future use is charged to research and development expense at the acquisition date.
In-Process Research and Development
The fair value of IPR&D acquired through a business combination is capitalized as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the completion or abandonment of the related research and development activities. When the related research and development is completed, the asset is reclassified to a definite-lived asset and amortized over its estimated useful life.
The fair value of an IPR&D intangible asset is typically determined using an income approach whereby management forecasts the net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset over its estimated useful life. The net cash flows reflect the asset’s stage of completion, the probability of technical success, the projected costs to complete, expected market competition, and an assessment of the asset’s life-cycle. The net cash flows are then adjusted to present value by applying an appropriate discount rate that reflects the risk factors associated with the cash flow streams.
Indefinite-lived IPR&D is not subject to amortization but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indicators of impairment. The Company tests its indefinite-lived IPR&D annually for impairment during the fourth quarter. In testing indefinite-lived IPR&D for impairment, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances would indicate that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount, or the Company can perform a quantitative impairment analysis to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D without performing a qualitative assessment. Qualitative factors that the Company considers include significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If the Company chooses to first assess qualitative factors and the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D is less than its carrying amount, the Company would then determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D. Under either approach, if the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D is less than its carrying amount,
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an impairment charge is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge related to its indefinite-lived IPR&D of $129,400. No such charge was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2021 (see Note 8).
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indicators of impairment. The Company typically tests its goodwill annually for impairment in the fourth quarter of each year.
Prior to the third quarter of 2020, the Company managed its operations as one reporting unit. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company began to manage its operations through an evaluation of three different operating segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease and BioBanking (see Note 18). The Company determined that the operating segments represented the reporting units.
As a result of the change in reporting units, goodwill was required to be allocated across the operating segments under the new reporting structure. Goodwill was attributed to each reporting unit based on the acquired value, which is reflective of the relative fair value.
In testing goodwill for impairment, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances would indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying amount, or the Company can perform a quantitative impairment analysis without performing the qualitative assessment. Examples of such events or circumstances considered in the Company’s qualitative assessment include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal or business climate, an adverse regulatory action or unanticipated competition. If the Company chooses to first assess qualitative factors and the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company would then perform the quantitative impairment test. The quantitative test starts with comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying amount, no impairment loss is recognized. However, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
Preferred Stock Warrants Liabilities
Prior to the business combination with GX (see Notes 1 and 3), the Company classified warrants for the purchase of shares of its convertible preferred stock (see Note 12) as liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets as these warrants were freestanding financial instruments that may have required the Company to transfer assets upon exercise. The warrant liabilities, which consisted of warrants for the purchase of Series B convertible preferred stock, were initially recorded at fair value upon the date of issuance of each warrant and was subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date. Changes in the fair value of the warrant liabilities were recognized as a component of other (expense) income in the consolidated statement of operations. Fair value of the preferred stock warrant liabilities were remeasured through the July 16, 2021 closing date on the consolidated statement of operations until the liability was reclassified to equity on the closing date.
Leases
The Company enters into lease agreements for its laboratory and office facilities. The Company determines if a lease arrangement is an operating lease or capital lease at inception. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Incentives granted under the Company’s facilities leases, including allowances to fund leasehold improvements and rent holidays, are recorded as a deferred rent liability and are recognized as reductions to rental expense on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the lease.
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The Company considers the nature of the renovations and the Company’s involvement during the construction period of newly leased office space to determine if it is considered to be the owner of the construction project during the construction period. If the Company determines that it is the owner of the construction project, it is required to capitalize the fair value of the asset, including potentially the building, construction costs incurred, and capitalized interest, on its consolidated balance sheet along with a corresponding financing liability (“build-to-suit accounting”). Upon occupancy for build-to-suit leases, the Company assesses whether the circumstances qualify for sales recognition under the sale-leaseback accounting guidance. If the lease meets the sale-leaseback criteria, the Company will remove the asset and related financial obligation from the balance sheet and evaluate the lease for treatment as a capital or operating lease. If upon completion of construction, the project does not meet the sale-leaseback criteria, the leased property will be treated as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes.
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates revenue from its degenerative disease commercial operations (i.e., the sale of Biovance®, Interfyl® and MIST® and UltraMIST® Therapy System), biobanking services (i.e., the collection, processing and storage of umbilical cord and placental blood and tissue after full-term pregnancies), and license, royalty and other operations (i.e., license agreement with Sanuwave Health Inc.).
Product sales and rentals
Biovance® is a decellularized, dehydrated human amniotic membrane with a preserved natural epithelial basement membrane and an intact extracellular matrix structure with its biochemical components, and is intended for use as a biological membrane covering that provides the extracellular matrix while supporting the repair of damaged tissue. Interfyl® is an allogeneic decellularized particulate human placental connective tissue matrix consisting of natural human structural and biochemical extracellular matrix components and is intended for use in both surgical requirements and wound care as the replacement or supplementation of damaged or inadequate integumental tissue. UltraMIST® is a low frequency ultrasound system used to promote wound healing through wound cleansing and maintenance debridement by the removal of fibrin, yellow slough, tissue exudates and bacteria. The MIST®/UltraMIST® Therapy System consists of a generator and treatment wand (collectively, the “MIST Equipment”) along with single-use applicators (the “MIST Applicators”) and optional accessories (e.g., roll stand and carts).
The Company recognizes revenue when control of the products and services is transferred to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive from its customers in exchange for those products and services. This process involves identifying the contract with a customer, determining the performance obligations in the contract, determining the contract price, allocating the contract price to the distinct performance obligations in the contract, and recognizing revenue when, or as, the performance obligations have been satisfied.
A performance obligation is considered distinct from other obligations in a contract when it provides a benefit to the customer either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer and is separately identified in the contract. The Company considers a performance obligation satisfied once it has transferred control of a good or service to the customer, meaning the customer has the ability to use and obtain the benefit of the good or service. Transaction prices of products or services are typically based on contracted rates with customers and to the extent that the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method or the most likely amount, depending on the circumstances, to which the Company expects to be entitled.
The Company provides for rights of return to customers on its degenerative disease products. To date, the Company has had minimal product returns and therefore does not record a provision for returns. The Company
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offers product warranties which provide assurance that the product will function as expected and in accordance with specification. Customers can purchase warranties separately and these warranties give rise to a separate performance obligation.
The Company’s MIST®/UltraMIST® Therapy System had both software and non-software (e.g., hardware) components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality. In addition, the hardware sold could not be used apart from the embedded software. The MIST Equipment was obtained by the customer in three ways: (a) the purchase of the MIST Equipment outright; (b) the lease of the MIST Equipment for a monthly rental fee; or (c) pay-per-use arrangement whereupon the Company provided the MIST Equipment for a single pay per use fee, subject to a minimum purchase requirement of MIST Applicators. MIST Applicators were separately ordered and purchased by customers who opted to purchase or directly lease the equipment. In addition, the Company offered the MIST Equipment for a standard 90 day evaluation period at no charge to the customer for the MIST Equipment; however, MIST Applicators were required to be purchased during the evaluation term. When the Company leased or entered into a pay-per-use arrangement, it retained title to the equipment at all times.
For multiple-element arrangements, revenue is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. Standalone selling prices are determined based on observable prices at which the Company separately sells its products or services. When the Company’s customer arrangements are multiple-element arrangements that contains a lease or pay-per-use arrangement, the Company allocates the arrangement consideration between the lease deliverable (i.e., the MIST Equipment) and non-lease deliverable (i.e., the MIST Applicators). The consideration related to the pay-per-use arrangements was allocated to the lease deliverable based on the “Minimum Volume Method”, which used the contractual minimum volume in the relative fair value calculation because the ultimate level of MIST Applicator purchases was unknown. The consideration allocated related to the lease arrangement was established in the lease arrangement.
The Company provides inventory to certain customers through pre-arranged agreements on a consignment basis. Customers consigned inventory is maintained and stored by certain customers; however, ownership remains with the Company.
Services
Processing and storage services include the Company providing umbilical cord blood, placental blood and tissue processing and storage for private use. Revenues recognized for the fees for processing and storage represent sales of the biobanking to customers. The Company recognizes revenue from processing fees at the point in time of the successful completion of processing and recognizes storage fees over time, which is ratably over the contractual storage period.
License, royalty and other
Under license agreements, the Company assesses whether the related performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time.
Under the license agreement with Sanuwave Health Inc. (“Sanuwave”) which acquired certain assets comprising its MIST®/UltraMIST® business (see Note 14), the Company received a quarterly license fee and a defined royalty on each product sold. A credit was provided to Sanuwave for Biovance royalties up to the quarterly license fee. The Company recognized the quarterly license fee over each quarterly term based on the actual sales occurring over the period. The license agreement with Sanuwave was terminated during the third quarter of 2021 due to an uncured material breach.
At the inception of each arrangement that includes milestone payments based on certain events, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone
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payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. The Company evaluates factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone in making this assessment. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company reevaluates the probability of achievement of all milestones subject to constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment. If a milestone or other variable consideration relates specifically to the Company’s efforts to satisfy a single performance obligation or to a specific outcome from satisfying the performance obligation, the Company generally allocates the milestone amount entirely to that performance obligation once it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur. See Note 14 for further discussion of the Company’s license agreements.
For certain distribution agreements as described in Note 15, the Company will utilize the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-55-83, whereby an entity may recognize revenue in the amount to which the entity has a right to invoice so long as the consideration from a customer corresponds directly with the value received. Thus, the Company will recognize revenue upon invoicing for these agreements (subsequent to receipt of the related purchase order).
Research and Development Costs
The Company has entered into various research and development and other agreements with commercial firms, researchers, universities and others for provisions of goods and services. These agreements are generally cancellable, and the related costs are recorded as research and development expenses as incurred. Research and development expenses include costs for salaries, employee benefits, subcontractors, facility-related expenses, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, third-party license fees, laboratory supplies, and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct discovery, preclinical and clinical development activities and clinical trials as well as to manufacture clinical trial materials, and other costs. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research and development costs. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the studies or clinical trials, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from the Company’s estimates. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. Such prepaid expenses are recognized as an expense when the goods have been delivered or the related services have been performed, or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered.
Upfront payments, milestone payments and annual maintenance fees under license agreements are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
Advertising and Marketing Costs
Advertising and marketing costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and were $252 and $764 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Government Grants
From time to time, the Company may be awarded a government research grant. Under these arrangements, the Company recognizes awarded grants as a reduction to research and development expense at the point in time where achievement of related milestones is confirmed by the governmental agency. The Company recorded a reduction of $290 to research and development expense resulting from grant awards for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company did not receive grant monies during 2021.
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Patent Costs
All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures all stock-based awards granted to employees and directors based on the fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense for those awards, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The Company typically issues stock-based awards with only service-based vesting conditions and records the expense for these awards using a straight-line method.
During 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the award of performance-based stock options to a non-employee consultant who also serves as a director for the Company (see Note 13). The performance-based stock options are earned based on the attainment of specified goals achieved over the performance period. The Company recognizes expense for performance-based awards over the related vesting period once it deems the achievement of the performance condition is probable. The Company reassesses the probability of vesting at each reporting period for performance-based awards and adjusts expense accordingly on a cumulative basis.
The fair value of each services and performance-based stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company historically has been a private company and lacks company-specific historical and implied volatility information for its stock. Therefore, it estimates its expected stock price volatility based on the historical volatility of publicly traded peer companies and expects to continue to do so until such time as it has adequate historical data regarding the volatility of its own traded stock price. The expected term of the Company’s stock options granted to employees is determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The expected term of stock options granted to non-employee consultants is equal to the contractual term of the option award. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. The expected dividend yield is zero based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends on common stock and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future (see Note 13).
In September 2021, the Company awarded options to its President which have market-based vesting conditions. The Company uses the Monte-Carlo model in order to calculate the fair value of the market-based awards. Also in 2021, the Company granted restricted stock units (“RSU”), the fair value of which is determined based on the stock price on the date of grant.
The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in its consolidated statement of operations in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified. The Company elects to account for forfeitures as they occur and compensation cost previously recognized for an award that is forfeited because of a failure to satisfy a service or performance condition is reversed in the period of the forfeiture.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) that result from transactions and economic events other than those with stockholders. There was no difference between net loss and comprehensive loss for each of the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
F-18
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of unrecognized tax benefits, as well as the related interest and penalties (see Note 17).
Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted net loss per share of common stock includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as redeemable convertible preferred stock, stock options and warrants, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock is the same for basic net loss per share due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive.
The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, prior to the use of the two-class method, as they would be anti-dilutive:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred stock | — | 82,643,496 | ||||||
Stock options | 26,533,868 | 17,167,165 | ||||||
Restricted stock units | 474,700 | — | ||||||
Warrants | 42,686,195 | 19,811,204 | ||||||
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Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources in assessing performance. Prior to the third quarter of 2020, the Company managed its operations as one segment. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company began to manage its operations through an evaluation of three distinct businesses segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease and BioBanking. These segments are presented for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 in Note 18.
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Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Customers
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents. The Company generally maintains balances in various operating accounts at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality, in amounts that may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to its cash and cash equivalents or restricted cash and does not believe that it is subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.
The Company is subject to credit risk from trade accounts receivable related to both degenerative disease product sales and biobanking services. All trade accounts receivables are a result from product sales and services performed in the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company had one customer (Customer A) provide for 38% of revenue and another customer provide for 11% of total revenue. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had one customer provide for 13% of the revenue earned. As of December 31, 2021, Customer A comprised approximately 47% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2020, one of the Company’s customers comprised approximately 24% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivables.
Emerging Growth Company
Section 102(b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act of 1933, as amended, registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.
This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740) (“ASU 2019-12”). The objective of the standard is to improve areas of GAAP by removing certain exceptions permitted by Accounting Standards Codification 740 and clarifying existing guidance to facilitate consistent application. The standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 as of January 1, 2021 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, (Subtopic 470-20): Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (“ASU 2020-06”) to address the complexity associated with applying GAAP to certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. ASU 2020-06 includes amendments to the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivative scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments which include beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features by removing certain separation models in Subtopic 470-20. Additionally, ASU 2020-06 will require entities to use the “if-converted” method when calculating diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 (fiscal year 2022 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. As no debt is currently outstanding, the Company does not expect the impact of ASU 2020-06 to have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (“ASU 2016-13”), which changes the accounting for recognizing impairments of financial assets. Under the new guidance, credit losses for certain types of financial instruments will be estimated based on expected losses. ASU 2016-13 also modifies the impairment models for available-for-sale debt securities and for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022 (fiscal year 2023 for the Company), and interim periods within those periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less may be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted.
The Company adopted ASC 842 as of January 1, 2022 using the modified retrospective method, which did not require it to restate prior periods and did not have an impact on retained earnings. The Company has elected the “package of 3” practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which eliminates the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. The Company also adopted an accounting policy which provides that leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and no purchase option that the Company is reasonably certain of exercising will not be included within the lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
At the inception of an arrangement, the Company will determine whether the arrangement is or contains a lease based on the circumstances present. Leases with a term greater than one year will be recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, and if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company includes renewal options to extend the lease in the lease term where it is reasonably certain that it will exercise these options. Lease liabilities and the corresponding right-of-use assets will be recorded based on the present values of lease payments over the terms. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company will utilize the appropriate incremental borrowing rates, which are the rates that would be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis, over similar terms, amounts equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Variable payments that do not depend on a rate or index are not included in the lease liability and are recognized as incurred. Lease contracts do not include residual value guarantees nor do they include restrictions or other covenants. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use assets may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid, incentives received, or lease prepayments. If significant events, changes in circumstances, or other events indicate that the lease term or other inputs have changed, the Company would reassess lease classification, remeasure the lease liability using revised inputs as of the reassessment date, and adjust the right-of-use asset.
The Company has not yet finalized the impact of this new standard, however, the Company is expecting its adoption will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Upon adoption, the most significant impact relates to an equity adjustment and the recognition of a new right-of-use asset and lease liability arising from the derecognition of existing assets and liabilities from the failed sale-leaseback transaction of the Company’s Florham Park, New Jersey facility. Upon adoption, the Company will derecognize the portion of the existing build-to-suit facility financing obligation and the corresponding existing asset that was recorded solely as a result of the transaction’s build-to-suit designation in accordance with Topic 840. The difference associated with this derecognition will be recorded as an adjustment to equity as of January 1, 2022. The Company will then follow the general lessee transition requirements discussed above to record the new right-of-use asset and lease liability in accordance with Topic 842. Certain Company-paid costs associated with this
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transaction that were capitalized will not be derecognized and thus will be carried over and retained at their currently recognized balances as they would have been recognized in the absence of the build-to-suit designation. Further information regarding this transaction is discussed within Note 11.
| 3. | Business Combinations and Disposals |
Fiscal 2021
On July 16, 2021, the Company consummated the previously announced merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, by and among GX, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Legacy Celularity (see Note 1).
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a business combination between GX and Legacy Celularity was effected through the (a) merger of First Merger Sub with and into Legacy Celularity with Legacy Celularity surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GX (Legacy Celularity, in its capacity as the surviving corporation of the merger, the “Surviving Corporation”) (the “First Merger”) and (b) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, the merger of the Surviving Corporation with and into Second Merger Sub, with Second Merger Sub as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, which ultimately resulted in Legacy Celularity becoming a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GX (the “Second Merger” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers” and, collectively with the other transactions described in the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”). On the Closing Date, the Company changed its name from GX Acquisition Corp. to Celularity Inc.
Immediately prior to the effective time of the Mergers (the “Effective Time”), each share of preferred stock of Legacy Celularity (the “Legacy Celularity Preferred Stock”) that was issued and outstanding was automatically converted into a number of shares of common stock of Legacy Celularity, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Legacy Celularity Common Stock”) at the then-effective conversion rate as calculated pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Legacy Celularity, dated March 16, 2020, as amended (the “Legacy Celularity Charter”), such that each converted share of Legacy Celularity Preferred Stock was no longer outstanding and ceased to exist, and each holder of Legacy Celularity Preferred Stock thereafter ceased to have any rights with respect to such securities (the “Legacy Celularity Preferred Stock Conversion”).
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the First Merger and without any action on the part of GX, First Merger Sub, Legacy Celularity or the holders of any of the following securities:
| a) | each share of Legacy Celularity Common Stock (including shares of Legacy Celularity Common Stock resulting from the conversion of shares of Celularity Preferred Stock described above) that was issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Company Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Company Class A Common Stock”) equal to the Exchange Ratio (as defined below) (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”); |
| b) | each share of Legacy Celularity Common Stock or Legacy Celularity Preferred Stock (together, “Legacy Celularity Capital Stock”) held in the treasury of Celularity was cancelled without any conversion thereof and no payment or distribution was made with respect thereto; |
| c) | each share of First Merger Sub common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Surviving Corporation; |
| d) | each Legacy Celularity Warrant (as to which no notice of exercise had been delivered to Legacy Celularity prior to the Closing) that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (and which would have otherwise been exercisable in accordance with its terms immediately following the Effective Time), became, to the extent consistent with the terms of such Legacy Celularity Warrant, the right to purchase shares of Company Class A Common Stock (and not Celularity Capital Stock) (each, a “Converted Warrant”) on the same terms and conditions (including exercisability terms) as were |
F-22
| applicable to such Legacy Celularity Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that (A) each Converted Warrant became exercisable for that number of shares of Company Class A Common Stock equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (1) the number of shares of Legacy Celularity Common Stock that would have been issuable upon the exercise of a Legacy Celularity Warrant for cash and assuming the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock underlying such outstanding Legacy Celularity Warrant into Legacy Celularity Common Stock (the “Celularity Warrant Shares”) subject to the Legacy Celularity Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time and (2) the Exchange Ratio (as defined below); and (B) the per share exercise price for each share of Company Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Converted Warrant is equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (1) the per share exercise price for each share of Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of such Celularity Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time by (2) the Exchange Ratio (as defined below); and |
| e) | each option to purchase Legacy Celularity Common Stock, whether or not exercisable and whether or not vested, that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a “Legacy Celularity Option”) was assumed by GX and converted into an option to purchase shares of Company Class A Common Stock (each, a “Converted Option”). |
The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Under this method of accounting, GX was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on existing Legacy Celularity stockholders comprising a relative majority of the voting power of the combined company, Legacy Celularity’s operations prior to the acquisition comprising the only ongoing operations of Celularity, the majority of Celularity’s board of directors appointment by Legacy Celularity, and Legacy Celularity’s senior management comprising a majority of the senior management of Celularity. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of the combined entity represented a continuation of the financial statements of Legacy Celularity with the business combination being treated as the equivalent of Legacy Celularity issuing stock for the net assets of GX, accompanied by a recapitalization. The Company recorded net assets of GX at historical costs, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the business combination are those of Legacy Celularity. Reported shares and earnings per share available to holders of the Company’s Class A common stock, prior to the Business Combination, have been retroactively restated as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the business combination (1.00 share of Legacy Celularity for approximately 0.7686 shares of Celularity Class A common stock).
Net proceeds from this transaction totaled $108,786. These proceeds were comprised of $5,386 held in GX’s trust account, $83,400 received from the completion of a concurrent private investment in public equity financing (“PIPE Financing”) and $20,000 received from an investment by Palantir Technologies, Inc. The Company incurred $21,657 in transaction costs relating to the merger with GX of which $10,795 were satisfied by the issuance of Class A common stock, which has been offset against additional paid-in capital in the Consolidated Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit).
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the existing stockholders of Legacy Celularity exchanged their interests for shares of Class A common stock of Celularity. In addition, GX had previously issued public warrants and private placement warrants (collectively, the “GX Warrants”) as part of the Units in its initial public offering in May 2019. None of the terms of the GX Warrants were modified as a result of the Business Combination. On the date of the Business Combination, the Company recorded a liability related to the GX Warrants of $59,202, with an offsetting entry to additional paid-in capital. During the period from July 17, 2021 to December 31, 2021, the fair value of the GX Warrants decreased to $25,962, resulting in an expense reduction of $33,240 in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, Legacy Celularity warrants qualified for equity classification. As a result, the transaction date fair value of the Legacy Celularity warrants of $96,398 was reclassified from warrant liability to additional paid-in capital (see Note 12).
F-23
Immediately following the Business Combination, there were 122,487,174 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 issued and outstanding, options to purchase an aggregate of 21,723,273 shares of Class A common stock and 42,686,195 warrants outstanding to purchase shares of Class A common stock.
PIPE Financing (Private Placement)
On the Closing Date, certain significant stockholders of Legacy Celularity or their affiliates (including Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., Starr International Investments Ltd. and Dragasac Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, collectively, the “Subscribers”) purchased from Celularity an aggregate of 8,340,000 shares of Class A common stock (the “PIPE Shares”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $83,400, pursuant to separate subscription agreements dated January 8, 2021 (collectively, the “Subscription Agreements”). Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, the Company agreed to provide the Subscribers with certain registration rights with respect to the PIPE Shares.
Arrangement with Palantir Technologies Inc.
Pursuant to the subscription agreement entered into by GX with Palantir Technologies Inc. (“Palantir”) on May 5, 2021, Palantir purchased 2,000,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $20,000, upon closing of the Business Combination and closing of the PIPE financing.
Fiscal 2020
On August 6, 2020, the Company executed (i) an asset purchase agreement to sell certain assets comprising its MIST®/UltraMIST® business to Sanuwave and (ii) a five-year licensing agreement with Sanuwave for total consideration of $24,524 (the “Sanuwave Transaction”), of which $20,000 was paid at or prior to closing. The remaining $4,524 of the purchase price was financed through a convertible promissory note due on or before August 6, 2021. The convertible promissory note can be converted into shares of Sanuwave stock at the election of the Company any time on or after January 1, 2021. As of December 31, 2021 the fair value of the convertible promissory note related to Sanuwave was $2,488 which is included in other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
The five-year licensing arrangement with Sanuwave includes: (i) an exclusive Biovance license for distribution and commercialization in the wound care market and (ii) a non-exclusive license for the distribution and commercialization of Interfyl in the wound care market. Under the licensing agreement, the Company will receive a quarterly license fee and a defined royalty on each product sold. A credit is provided to Sanuwave for Biovance royalties up to the quarterly license fee amount.
The following assets and liabilities were divested/written off in this transaction:
Assets Divested | ||||
Inventory | $ | 1,901 | ||
Intangible assets, net | 13,296 | |||
Property, and equipment, net | 452 | |||
Goodwill | 3,764 | |||
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Total assets divested | $ | 19,413 | ||
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The total upfront consideration was allocated between both components of the Sanuwave Transaction to (i) calculate the goodwill attributed to the UltraMIST business, (ii) determine the allocation of arrangement consideration to the three performance obligations and (iii) determine the loss on sale of the UltraMIST business. The Company utilized a discounted cash flow model to value the UltraMIST business, which determined the fair value of the UltraMIST business was $15,019. Significant inputs of this discounted cash flow model included (i) a discount rate of 11%, (ii) tax rate of 26% and (iii) a long-term growth rate of 2%. The remaining proceeds of $9,505 were allocated to the license agreement on a residual basis. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recognized a loss on sale of UltraMIST of $4,434, which included approximately $40 in related professional fees. Due to the Company’s tax position as of the closing date, there was no tax impact resulting from the sale of the UltraMIST business.
F-24
| 4. | Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities |
The following tables present information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level of the fair value hierarchy used to determine such fair values:
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents — money market funds | $ | 36,700 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 36,700 | ||||||||
Convertible note receivable | — | — | 2,488 | 2,488 | ||||||||||||
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| $ | 36,700 | $ | — | $ | 2,488 | $ | 39,188 | |||||||||
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Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration obligations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 232,222 | $ | 232,222 | ||||||||
Warrant liability — Sponsor Warrants | — | — | 13,600 | 13,600 | ||||||||||||
Warrant liability — Public Warrants | 12,362 | — | — | 12,362 | ||||||||||||
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| $ | 12,362 | $ | — | $ | 245,822 | $ | 258,184 | |||||||||
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| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents — money market funds | $ | 45,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 45,000 | ||||||||
Convertible note receivable | — | — | 4,715 | 4,715 | ||||||||||||
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| $ | 45,000 | $ | — | $ | 4,715 | $ | 49,715 | |||||||||
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Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration obligations | — | — | 273,367 | 273,367 | ||||||||||||
Preferred stock warrants | — | — | 76,640 | 76,640 | ||||||||||||
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| $ | — | $ | — | $ | 350,007 | $ | 350,007 | |||||||||
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During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
The Company’s cash equivalents consisted of a money market fund. The money market fund was valued using inputs observable in active markets for similar securities, which represents a Level 1 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying values of accounts receivable, accounts payable, deferred revenue and other current liabilities approximate fair value in the accompanying consolidated financial statements due to the short-term nature of those instruments.
Valuation of Contingent Consideration
The fair value measurement of the contingent consideration obligations is determined using Level 3 inputs and is based on a probability-weighted income approach. The measurement is based upon unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity based on the Company’s own assumptions.
F-25
The following table presents a reconciliation of contingent consideration obligations measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Balance as of December 31, 2020 | Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | Purchases, settlements and other net | Fair value adjustments | Balance as of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration obligations | $ | 273,367 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (41,145 | ) | $ | 232,222 | |||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2019 | Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | Purchases, settlements and other net | Fair value adjustments | Balance as of December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration obligations | $ | 328,933 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (55,566 | ) | $ | 273,367 | |||||||||
The fair value of the liability to make potential future milestone and earn-out payments was estimated by the Company at each reporting date based, in part, on the results of a third-party valuation using a discounted cash flow analysis based on various assumptions, including the probability of achieving specified events, discount rates, and the period of time until earn-out payments are payable and the conditions triggering the milestone payments are met. The actual settlement of contingent consideration could differ from current estimates based on the actual occurrence of these specified events.
At each reporting date, the Company revalues the contingent consideration obligation to estimated fair value and records changes in fair value as income or expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations may result from changes in discount periods and rates, changes in the timing and amount of revenue estimates and changes in probability assumptions with respect to the likelihood of achieving the various contingent consideration obligations. The Company has classified all of the contingent consideration as a long-term liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. See Note 11, “Commitment and Contingencies”, for more information on contingent consideration.
Valuation of Stock Warrant Liabilities
The warrant liability at December 31, 2021 is composed of the fair value of warrants to purchase shares of common stock. The private placement warrants assumed upon the Business Combination (the “Sponsor Warrants”) were recorded at the Closing Date fair value based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model that utilizes inputs for: (i) value of the underlying asset, (ii) the exercise price, (iii) the risk-free rate, (iv) the volatility of the underlying asset, (v) the dividend yield of the underlying asset and (vi) maturity. The Black-Scholes option pricing model’s primary unobservable input utilized in determining the fair value of the Sponsor Warrants is the expected volatility of the Class A common stock. Inputs to the Black-Sholes option pricing model for the Sponsor Warrants are updated each reporting period to reflect fair value. The public warrants assumed upon the Business Combination (the “Public Warrants”) were recorded at the Closing Date fair value based on the close price of such warrants. Each subsequent reporting period, the Public Warrants are marked-to-market based on the period-end close price.
The preferred stock warrant liability at December 31, 2020 is composed of the fair value of warrants to purchase shares of Legacy Celularity Series B convertible preferred stock that were issued in 2020 and became exercisable for Class A common stock upon consummation of the Business Combination in accordance with their terms. Warrants were issued by Legacy Celularity to Dragasac Limited (“Dragasac”) in January 2020 for no consideration and were recorded at fair value at the date of issuance (see Note 12). The liability associated with the warrants was recorded at fair value on the dates the warrants were issued and exercisable and was subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date through the Business Combination date. The aggregate fair value of the warrant liability was determined based on significant inputs not observable in the market, which represents a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
F-26
The Company used a lattice model to value the Legacy Celularity warrants issued as the exercise price was a function of the stock price. In the application of each model, estimates and assumptions impacting the fair value measurement included the fair value per share of the underlying shares of Legacy Celularity’s Series B convertible preferred stock, risk-free interest rate, and exercise date with considerations of the earlier of when the investor was required to exercise and the anticipated exit date. The most significant assumption in the forward contract model impacting the fair value of the preferred stock warrants was the fair value of Legacy Celularity’s convertible preferred stock as of each remeasurement date. The Company determined the fair value per share of the underlying preferred stock by taking into consideration the most recent sales of Legacy Celularity’s convertible preferred stock, results obtained from third-party valuations and additional factors that are deemed relevant.
As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the fair value of the warrant liabilities was $25,962 and $76,640, respectively. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve for time periods approximately equal to the estimated remaining term of the warrants.
The following table provides a roll-forward of the aggregate fair values of the Company’s warrant liabilities for which fair values are determined using Level 3 inputs:
Balance as of December 31, 2019 | $ | — | ||
Fair value of warrants issued in connection with Series B preferred stock sale | 17,954 | |||
Issuance of warrant at fair value* | 11,988 | |||
Loss recognized in earnings from change in fair value | 46,698 | |||
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Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | 76,640 | ||
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Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | 76,640 | ||
Gain recognized in earnings from change in fair value | (13,482 | ) | ||
Warrant liability assumed at Closing Date (Sponsor Warrants) | 34,764 | |||
Warrant liability assumed at Closing Date (Public Warrants) | 24,438 | |||
Reclassification of Legacy Celularity Warrants to equity | (96,398 | ) | ||
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Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | 25,962 | ||
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| * | The warrants issued at fair value were immediately charged to expense see Note 12. |
The fair value of the Public Warrants was $12,362 and $24,438 as of December 31, 2021 and July 16, 2021, respectively, based on the publicly stated closing price. The fair value of the Sponsor Warrants was $13,600 and $34,764 as of December 31, 2021 and July 16, 2021, respectively. Significant inputs for the Sponsor Warrants are as follows:
| December 31, 2021 | July 16, 2021 | |||||||
Common share price | $ | 5.12 | $ | 10.20 | ||||
Exercise price | $ | 11.50 | $ | 11.50 | ||||
Dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Term | 4.5 | 5.0 | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 1.19 | % | 0.79 | % | ||||
Volatility | 63.0 | % | 50.0 | % | ||||
F-27
The fair value of the warrants issued to Dragasac was $33,435 as of July 16, 2021. On the Closing Date, the Dragasac warrants qualified for equity classification and were reclassified accordingly. Significant inputs for the warrants issued to Dragasac are as follows:
| July 16, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Fair value of common stock | $ | 9.66 - 10.20 | $ | 4.17 - 6.95 | ||||
Exercise price a | $ | 6.77 | $ | 6.77 | ||||
Term | 3.67 | 0.33 - 1.33 | ||||||
Volatility | 54 | % | 90 | % | ||||
Risk-free interest rate | 0.60 | % | 0.09% - 0.10 | % | ||||
| (a) | The exercise price is the lower of $6.77 per share or 80% of either (i) the value attributed to one share of Legacy Celularity Series B Preferred Stock upon a consummation of a change of control or the closing of a strategic transaction or (ii) the price at which one share of Legacy Celularity common stock is sold to the public in an initial public offering. As amended on March 16, 2020, the warrants are exercisable on the first to occur of (a) March 16, 2025, (b) the consummation of Legacy Celularity’s initial public offering, (c) the consummation of a change of control and (d) the closing of a strategic transaction pursuant to which Legacy Celularity’s stockholders exchange their existing shares of capital stock in Legacy Celularity for shares in a company whose shares are listed on a national stock exchange. |
The fair value of the warrants issued in connection with the Legacy Celularity Series B Preferred Stock was $62,963 as of July 16, 2021. On the Closing Date, these warrants qualified for equity classification and were reclassified accordingly. Significant inputs for the warrants issued in connection with the Legacy Celularity Series B Preferred Stock are as follows:
| July 16, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Fair value of common stock | $ | 9.66 - 10.20 | $ | 4.17 - 6.95 | ||||
Exercise price b | $ | 7.53 | $ | 7.53 | ||||
Term | 3.67 | 0.33 - 1.33 | ||||||
Volatility | 54 | % | 90 | % | ||||
Risk-free interest rate | 0.60 | % | 0.09% - 0.10 | % | ||||
| (b) | The warrants are exercisable at a price of $7.53 per share on the first to occur of: (a) the 60-month anniversary of the date of issuance of the warrants, (b) the consummation of an agreement for a public exit event, and (c) the consummation of a change of control. |
Valuation of the Convertible Note Receivable
The convertible note receivable was received in connection with the disposition of the UltraMIST/MIST business. At any time on or after January 1, 2021, at the sole discretion of the Company, amounts outstanding under the convertible note receivable (including accrued interest) may be converted into Sanuwave common stock at a defined rate. The convertible promissory note was to be paid on or before August 6, 2021, however, remains outstanding in full at December 31, 2021. The fair value of this note was determined using Level 3 inputs and is based on a bond valuation which employs a credit default model as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the Company utilized Level 3 inputs on a probability weighted model based on outcomes of a default, repayment and conversion of the note. The measurement is based upon unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity based on the Company’s own assumptions.
F-28
Significant inputs for the convertible note valuation model are as follows:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Face value | $ | 4,000 | $ | 4,000 | ||||
Coupon rate | 12% - 17 | % | 12 | % | ||||
Stock price | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.19 | ||||
Term (years) | .7 - 3.19 | 0.6 | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 0.29 | % | 0.09 | % | ||||
Volatility | n/a | 70 | % | |||||
| 5. | Inventory |
The Company’s major classes of inventories were as follows:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Raw materials | $ | 2,359 | $ | 376 | ||||
Work in progress | 5,902 | 460 | ||||||
Finished goods | 4,057 | 5,016 | ||||||
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Inventory, gross | 12,318 | 5,852 | ||||||
Less: inventory reserves | (48 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
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Inventory, net | $ | 12,270 | $ | 5,848 | ||||
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Balance Sheet Classification: | ||||||||
Inventory | 9,549 | 3,850 | ||||||
Inventory, net of current portion | 2,721 | 1,998 | ||||||
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| $ | 12,270 | $ | 5,848 | |||||
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Inventory, net of current portion includes inventory expected to remain on-hand beyond one year from each balance sheet date presented.
| 6. | Prepaid Expenses |
Prepaid expenses consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Prepaid clinical expenses | $ | 3,269 | $ | 5,151 | ||||
Prepaid insurance expense | 1,399 | 206 | ||||||
Other | 2,408 | 1,219 | ||||||
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| $ | 7,076 | $ | 6,576 | |||||
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F-29
| 7. | Property and Equipment, Net |
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Building(1) | $ | 12,513 | $ | 12,513 | ||||
Leasehold improvement(2) | 71,468 | 55,289 | ||||||
Laboratory and production equipment | 11,395 | 5,884 | ||||||
Machinery, equipment and fixtures | 7,974 | 3,704 | ||||||
Construction in progress | 2,054 | 19,773 | ||||||
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Property and equipment | 105,404 | 97,163 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation(3) | (14,779 | ) | (7,086 | ) | ||||
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Property and equipment, net | $ | 90,625 | $ | 90,077 | ||||
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| (1) | Includes $12,513 at December 31, 2021 and 2020 under financing lease resulting from a failed sale leaseback (see Note 11). |
| (2) | Includes $70,959 and $55,273 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, under financing lease resulting from a failed sale leaseback (see Note 11). |
| (3) | Includes $5,971 and $2,624 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, under financing lease resulting from a failed sale leaseback (see Note 11). |
Depreciation expense was $6,625 and $4,780 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Construction in progress
Construction in progress of $2,054 and $19,773 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 primarily relates to the leasehold improvements made at the Company’s leased facilities in Florham Park, NJ.
| 8. | Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net |
The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of every year, unless a triggering event occurs prior to the impairment test. Based on the Company’s annual assessment performed during the fourth quarter of 2021, it was determined that goodwill was not impaired.
The carrying values of goodwill assigned to the Company’s operating segments are as follows:
| Cell Therapy | Degenerative Disease | Biobanking | Total | |||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 112,347 | $ | 7,374 | $ | 7,347 | $ | 127,068 | ||||||||
Derecognition of goodwill related to sale of UltraMIST business | — | (3,764 | ) | — | (3,764 | ) | ||||||||||
Impairment | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
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Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 112,347 | $ | 3,610 | $ | 7,347 | $ | 123,304 | ||||||||
Impairment | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
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Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | 112,347 | $ | 3,610 | $ | 7,347 | $ | 123,304 | ||||||||
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F-30
Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Estimated Useful Lives | ||||||||||
Amortizable intangible assets: | ||||||||||||
Developed technology | $ | 16,810 | $ | 16,810 | 11 – 16 years | |||||||
Customer relationships | 2,413 | 2,413 | 10 years | |||||||||
Trade names & trademarks | 570 | 570 | 10 – 13 years | |||||||||
Reacquired rights | 4,200 | 4,200 | 6 years | |||||||||
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| 23,993 | 23,993 | |||||||||||
Less: Accumulated amortization | ||||||||||||
Developed technology | (5,376 | ) | (4,203 | ) | ||||||||
Customer relationships | (1,170 | ) | (906 | ) | ||||||||
Trade names & trademarks | (220 | ) | (165 | ) | ||||||||
Reacquired rights | (2,540 | ) | (1,840 | ) | ||||||||
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| (9,306 | ) | (7,114 | ) | |||||||||
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Amortizable intangible assets, net | 14,687 | 16,879 | ||||||||||
Non-amortized intangible assets | ||||||||||||
Acquired IPR&D product rights | 108,500 | 108,500 | indefinite | |||||||||
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| $ | 123,187 | $ | 125,379 | |||||||||
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Amortization expense for intangible assets was $2,192 and $3,394 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years related to intangible assets held as of December 31, 2021 is estimated as follows:
| 2022 | $ | 2,193 | ||
| 2023 | 2,193 | |||
| 2024 | 1,784 | |||
| 2025 | 1,493 | |||
| 2026 | 1,356 |
During the third quarter of 2020, the Company experienced a triggering event as it discontinued development of PDA-001 for an indefinite period of time and opted to pursue an alternative clinical program. As of September 30, 2020, the Company determined PDA-001 did not have future cash flows as the Company did not intend to further develop and commercialize the asset. The triggering event required the Company to perform a quantitative impairment test as of September 30, 2020. As a result of this impairment test, the Company recorded a $129,400 impairment charge to write-off the entire IPR&D intangible asset related to PDA-001.
F-31
| 9. | Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Accrued clinical trial expense | $ | 1,861 | $ | 2,644 | ||||
Accrued professional fees | 1,653 | 2,866 | ||||||
Accrued wages, bonuses, commissions and vacation | 3,824 | 4,991 | ||||||
Accruals for construction in progress | — | 171 | ||||||
Deferred rent | 2 | 292 | ||||||
Other | 4,321 | 2,487 | ||||||
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| $ | 11,661 | $ | 13,451 | |||||
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| 10. | Short-term borrowings — related party |
On June 8, 2021, Legacy Celularity entered into a $5,000 loan agreement with C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. (“CV Starr”), a stockholder of the Company. The loan accrued interest on outstanding principal at a rate equal to (a) 8.0% per year until, and including, July 31, 2021 and (b) 10.0% per year commencing on, and including August 1, 2021. Accrued and unpaid interest was payable on July 31, 2021, the last day of each month thereafter, on the date of any prepayment of the loan, on the maturity date and, after the maturity date, on demand. The loan was required to be paid in full on the earlier of (i) June 8, 2022, (ii) the date of the consummation of the Business Combination and (iii) the date the outstanding principal was declared due and payable by CV Starr as remedy to an event of default (the “Maturity Date”). On the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date or (ii) the date on which the loan was repaid in full and the commitments of CV Starr were terminated, Legacy Celularity was required to pay CV Starr an exit fee in an amount equal to 2.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the loan advanced.
Under the terms of the loan, Legacy Celularity could not permit the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents to be less than $5,000 for more than five consecutive business days. Legacy Celularity could not borrow an additional $5,000 under the loan agreement should it project that the aggregate amount of its cash and cash equivalents would be less than $5,000 prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company repaid amounts outstanding under the short term borrowing arrangement with CV Starr and the arrangement was cancelled. Total amount paid to CV Starr was $5,146, which included principal, accrued interest and the exit fee.
| 11. | Commitments and contingencies |
Lease Agreements
In September 2017, Legacy Celularity entered into an operating lease for office space in Warren, New Jersey, which expires in 2022. In connection with entering into this lease agreement, Legacy Celularity issued a letter of credit of $481, which is classified as restricted cash (non-current) on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020. During the second quarter of 2021, the full $481 was drawn by the landlord. During the third quarter of 2021, the lease for office space in Warren, New Jersey was terminated.
On September 10, 2019, Legacy Celularity extended the operating lease for the office and laboratory space in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey on a month-to-month basis. Beginning November 1, 2019, Legacy Celularity began paying the landlord the base annual rent and all additional rent at a 2% increase, pro-rated monthly for each month it remains in possession of the premises. Monthly lease payments of $15 due under the lease include base rent and ancillary charges.
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On March 13, 2019, Legacy Celularity entered into a lease agreement for a 147,215 square foot facility consisting of office, manufacturing and laboratory space in Florham Park, New Jersey, which expires in 2036. The Company has the option to renew the term of the lease for two additional five-year terms so long as the lease is then in full force and effect. The lease term commenced on March 1, 2020 subject to an abatement of the fixed rent for the first 13 months following the lease commencement date. The initial monthly base rent is approximately $230 and will increase annually. The Company is obligated to pay real estate taxes and costs related to the premises, including costs of operations, maintenance, repair, replacement and management of the new leased premises. In connection with entering into this lease agreement, Legacy Celularity issued a letter of credit of $14,722 which is classified as restricted cash (non-current) on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The lease agreement allows for a landlord provided tenant improvement allowance of $14,722 to be applied to the costs of the construction of the leasehold improvements.
The Company is not the legal owner of the leased space. However, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 840, Leases, the Company is deemed to be the owner of the leased space, including the building shell, during the construction period because of the Company’s level of direct financial and operational involvement in the substantial tenant improvement. The lease arrangement did not meet all the criteria for sale-leaseback accounting due to the continuing involvement of the Company in the property and therefore was accounted for as a failed sale-leaseback financing obligation. As a result, as of December 31, 2019, Legacy Celularity capitalized the fair value of the building shell, the tenant improvement allowance, and ground rent expense, approximately $28,062, as construction-in-progress within property and equipment, net and recorded a corresponding build-to-suit facility lease financing obligation. As of December 31, 2021, $28,085 related to the lease financing obligation was classified as a long-term capital lease liability on its consolidated balance sheet, while $3,051 was classified as a current liability.
Additionally, construction costs incurred as part of the build-out and tenant improvements were capitalized as construction-in-progress within property and equipment, net. Legacy Celularity began to occupy completed portions of the facility in the first quarter of 2020. As the building was occupied, costs were moved out of construction-in-process and were placed in service. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were $0 and $15,415 of costs related the facility included in construction-in-progress, respectively. Remaining construction was completed during January 2021 and remaining construction-in-progress costs were placed in service.
The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the respective lease period and has recorded deferred rent for rent expense incurred but not yet paid. Rent expense was $668 and $1,612 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Future minimum payments inclusive of the amended lease, by year and in aggregate, under non-cancelable leases consist of the following as of December 31, 2021:
2022 | $ | 2,861 | ||
2023 | 2,895 | |||
2024 | 2,969 | |||
2025 | 3,042 | |||
2026 | 3,116 | |||
Thereafter | 73,531 | |||
|
| |||
Total | $ | 88,414 | ||
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|
Contingent Consideration Related to Business Combinations
In connection with the Company’s acquisition of HLI CT, Anthrogenesis and CariCord, the Company has agreed to pay future consideration to the sellers upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. As a result, the Company recorded $232,222 and $273,367 as contingent consideration as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Due to the contingent nature of these milestone and royalty payments, there is a high degree of management estimates that determine the fair value of the contingent consideration. See note 4 for further discussion.
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Indemnification Agreements
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors and its executive officers that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications. The Company is not currently aware of any indemnification claims and has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 or 2020.
Agreement with Palantir Technologies Inc.
On May 5, 2021, Legacy Celularity executed a Master Subscription Agreement with Palantir under which it will pay $40,000 over five years for access to Palantir’s Foundry platform along with certain professional services. The Company will utilize Palantir’s Foundry platform to secure deeper insights into data obtained from the Company’s discovery and process development, as well as manufacturing and biorepository operations. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company paid its first annual fee of $6,000. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company has recorded costs of $5,333 on a straight-line basis related to this agreement, which was included as a component of selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
Sirion License Agreement
In December 2021, the Company entered into a license agreement (“Sirion License”) with Sirion Biotech GmbH (“Sirion”). Under the Sirion License, Sirion granted the Company a license related to patent rights and know-how associated with poloxamers (“Licensed Product”). As part of the Sirion License, the Company will pay Sirion $136 as an upfront fee, a $113 annual maintenance fee and may owe up to $5,099 million related to clinical and regulatory milestones for each Licensed Product during the term. The Company also agreed to pay Sirion low-single digit royalties on net sales on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product and country-by-country basis and until the later of: (i) expiration of the last to expire valid claim of the patents covering such Licensed Product, and (ii) 10 years after first Commercial Sale of a Licensed Product. In addition, the Sirion License is subject to termination rights including for termination for material breach and by the Company for convenience upon 30 days written notice.
Legal Proceedings
At each reporting date, the Company evaluates whether or not a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under the provisions of the authoritative guidance that addresses accounting for contingencies. The Company expenses as incurred the costs related to such legal proceedings.
On March 24, 2021, CTH Biosourcing LLC (“CTH”) filed a petition and request for disclosure in the District Court of Travis County, Texas seeking declaratory relief challenging Legacy Celularity’s for-cause termination of a Tissue Procurement Agreement (“TPA”). During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company entered into a tri-party settlement with CTH and the CariCord participating shareholders, as interested parties, in which the Company agreed to amend the TPA in exchange for a full release of all claims underlying the aforementioned litigation. In addition, the Company issued 743,771 shares of Celularity Class A Common Stock to the CariCord participating shareholders, with an estimated fair value of $5,333 in exchange for a full release. This amount was recorded as a legal settlement expense within selling, general and administrative in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the CariCord participating shareholders are entitled to receive up to an additional 371,885 shares of Celularity Class A Common Stock if certain procurement targets are met by CTH under the TPA during a specified period, which was not probable of being achieved at December 31, 2021.
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| 12. | Equity |
Common Stock
Subsequent to Business Combination
As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized the Company to issue 730,000,000 shares of $0.0001 par value Class A common stock.
Voting Power
Except as otherwise required by law or as otherwise provided in any certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, the holders of common stock possess all voting power for the election of the Company’s directors and all other matters requiring stockholder action. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted on by stockholders.
Dividends
Holders of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Company’s board of directors in its discretion out of funds legally available therefor. In no event will any stock dividends or stock splits or combinations of stock be declared or made on common stock unless the shares of common stock at the time outstanding are treated equally and identically.
Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
In the event of the Company’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding-up, the holders of the common stock will be entitled to receive an equal amount per share of all of the Company’s assets of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders, after the rights of the holders of the preferred stock have been satisfied.
Preemptive or Other Rights
The Company’s stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to common stock.
Election of Directors
The Company’s board of directors is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term, except with respect to the election of directors at the special meeting held in connection with the merger with GX. Class I directors are elected to an initial one-year term (and three-year terms subsequently), the Class II directors are elected to an initial two-year term (and three-year terms subsequently) and the Class III directors are elected to an initial three-year term (and three-year terms subsequently). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
Prior to Business Combination
As of December 31, 2020, Legacy Celularity’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized Legacy Celularity to issue 155,640,290 shares of $0.0001 par value common stock. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of Legacy Celularity’s common stock were subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of the Preferred Stock (as set forth below).
Each share of common stock entitled the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of Legacy Celularity stockholders. The holders of common stock, voting exclusively and as a separate class, were entitled to elect one director of the Legacy Celularity. Common stockholders were entitled to receive dividends, as was declared by the board of directors, if any, subject to the preferential dividend rights of Preferred Stock. Through the Closing Date, no cash dividends were declared or paid.
As of December 31, 2020, Legacy Celularity had 90,834 of repurchased shares recorded as treasury stock. On the Closing Date, previously existing Legacy Celularity shares held in treasury were cancelled without any conversion.
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Preferred Stock
Subsequent to Business Combination
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Company’s board of directors is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers and preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series of preferred stock. The Company’s board of directors is able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of the Company’s board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of Celularity or the removal of existing management. As of December 31, 2021, the Company does not have any outstanding preferred stock.
Prior to Business Combination
Legacy Celularity issued Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), Series B convertible redeemable preferred stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and Series X convertible redeemable preferred stock (the “Series X Preferred Stock”). The Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series X Preferred Stock are collectively referred to as the “Preferred Stock”. Immediately prior to closing of the Business Combination on July 16, 2021, the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock were converted into shares of Legacy Celularity common stock and then exchanged for the Company’s Class A common stock at the Effective Time. As of December 31, 2020, Legacy Celularity certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized Legacy Celularity to issue a total of 116,526,341 shares of Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of December 31, 2020, no shares of Preferred Stock remained undesignated.
The holders of Preferred Stock had liquidation rights in the event of a deemed liquidation that, in certain situations, were not solely within the control of Legacy Celularity. Therefore, the Preferred Stock was classified outside of stockholders’ deficit on the consolidated balance sheet.
On March 16, 2020, Legacy Celularity entered into a Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional investors and certain individual investors (collectively “Investors”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Legacy Celularity sold and issued to the Investors an aggregate of 13,620,063 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 13,281,386 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $102,550. Legacy Celularity utilized a probability-weighted option pricing model to determine the fair value of the warrants at the issuance date with the residual proceeds allocated to the Series B Preferred Stock. Based on this valuation, Legacy Celularity determined the purchase price allocated to the Series B Preferred Stock was $84,596 and the purchase price allocated to the warrants was $17,954.
Legacy Celularity’s classified Preferred Stock in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, which required that contingently redeemable securities be classified outside of permanent stockholders’ equity. Accordingly, Legacy Celularity classified all shares and classes of Preferred Stock as mezzanine equity on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2021.
Rights, Preferences and Privileges of the Preferred Stock
The holders of the Preferred Stock had the following rights and preferences except where noted:
Voting
The holders of Preferred Stock were entitled to vote, together with the holders of common stock as a single class, on all matters submitted to stockholders for a vote and had the right to vote the number of shares equal to the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Preferred Stock could convert on the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote.
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As long as there were at least 5,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, could elect one director of Legacy Celularity. The remaining directors were elected by holders of common stock and Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class on an as converted basis.
Conversion
Each share of Preferred Stock was convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time after the date of issuance. In addition, each share of Preferred Stock could automatically converted into shares of common stock at the applicable conversion ratio then in effect (i) upon the closing of a firm-commitment public offering resulting in at least $50,000 of gross proceeds to Legacy Celularity at a price of at least $9.41 per share of common stock, subject to appropriate adjustment of any recapitalization (“Qualified IPO”), or (ii) upon the written consent of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
The conversion ratio of each series of Preferred Stock was determined by dividing the Original Issue Price of each series by the Conversion Price of each series. The Original Issue Price per share was $6.27 for Series A and X Preferred Stock (the “Series A and X Original Issue Price”) and $7.53 for Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Original Issue Price”), each subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization and other adjustments as set forth in Legacy Celularity’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated. As of December 31, 2020 and the Closing Date, the Conversion Price was equal to the Original Issue Price for each series of Preferred Stock. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2020 and the Closing Date, each share of each series of Preferred Stock was convertible into shares of Legacy Celularity common stock on a one-for-one basis.
Dividends
The holders of Preferred Stock were entitled to receive noncumulative dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors. Dividends accrued on the Preferred Stock at a rate of 6% of the Original Issue Price per year; however, such dividends were only payable when, as and if declared by the board of directors. Holders of the Preferred Stock were to be paid dividends prior and in preference to any dividends on common stock. As of the Closing Date, no cash dividends were declared or paid.
Liquidation
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Legacy Celularity or Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), each holder of the then-outstanding Preferred Stock was entitled to receive the greater of (i) an amount equal to the Original Issue Price for each series of Preferred Stock plus any dividends declared but unpaid thereon or (ii) the amount such holder would have received if such holder had converted its shares into common stock immediately prior to such liquidation event at the conversion price. In the event that the assets available for distribution to stockholders were insufficient to pay Preferred Stock holders the full amounts to which they were entitled, the assets available for distribution were to be distributed on a pro rata basis among the holders of the Preferred Stock in proportion to the respective amounts that would otherwise be payable in respect of such shares.
After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holders of Preferred Stock, then, to the extent available, the remaining assets of Legacy Celularity were to be distributed among the holders of common stock, pro rata based on the number of shares held by each such holder.
Unless (i) the holders of Series B Preferred Stock received an amount less the Original Issue Price or (ii) the holders of majority of the then-outstanding Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, elect otherwise, a Deemed Liquidation Event included a merger or consolidation (other than one in which stockholders of Legacy Celularity own a majority by voting power of the outstanding shares of the surviving or acquiring corporation) or a sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Legacy Celularity.
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Redemption
Legacy Celularity’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, did not provide redemption rights to the holders of Preferred Stock.
Warrants
Legacy Celularity Warrants
On May 7, 2018, Legacy Celularity granted Dragasac a warrant for the purchase of an aggregate of 16,601,736 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Dragasac Warrant”) at an exercise price of $7.53 per share. On February 15, 2019, Dragasac exercised its rights under the Dragasac Warrant to purchase 6,640,695 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, at an exercise price of $7.53 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $50,000. On May 29, 2019, Legacy Celularity amended and restated the Dragasac Warrant to provide for a reduced exercise price of $7.29 for the remaining warrant shares in exchange for Dragasac agreeing to purchase 3,431,223 shares of Series B Preferred Stock on or before May 31, 2019. On May 31, 2019, Dragasac exercised its rights under the Dragasac Warrant to purchase 3,431,223 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a price per share of $7.29, for gross proceeds of approximately $25,000. On November 1, 2019, Legacy Celularity again amended the Dragasac Warrant to provide for a reduced exercise price of $6.77 for the remaining warrant shares in exchange for Dragasac agreeing to purchase 6,529,818 shares of Series B Preferred Stock on or before November 4, 2019. On November 4, 2019, Dragasac exercised its right to purchase 6,529,818 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, at a price per share of $6.77, for gross proceeds of approximately $44,178.
On January 9, 2020, Legacy Celularity issued a warrant for the purchase of an aggregate of 6,529,818 shares of Series B Preferred Stock to Dragasac. The exercise price per share at which the warrant will be exercised shall be the lesser of $6.77 per share or 80% of either (i) the value attributed to one share of Series B Preferred Stock upon a consummation of a change of control or the closing of a strategic transaction or (ii) the price at which one share of the common stock is sold to the public in an initial public offering. As amended on March 16, 2020, the warrants are exercisable on the first to occur of (a) March 16, 2025, (b) the consummation of Legacy Celularity’s initial public offering, (c) the consummation of a change of control and (d) the closing of a strategic transaction pursuant to which Legacy Celularity’s stockholders exchange their existing shares of capital stock in Legacy Celularity for shares in a company whose shares are listed on a national stock exchange. The estimated fair value of the warrant of $11,988 at the issuance date was immediately charged to expense and recorded in expense related to warrant liabilities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The incremental change in fair value resulting from the amendment was also immediately charged to expense and recorded in the same line item.
On January 8, 2021, Legacy Celularity entered into a warrant amendment agreement (“Amendment No. 2”) to amend the warrant issued to Dragasac on January 9, 2020, as amended on March 16, 2020. Amendment No. 2 added a cashless exercise provision and eliminated the provision that would have provided for expiration of the warrant upon consummation of the Business Combination. Any portion of the warrant that was unexercised prior to consummation of the Business Combination converted into warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, with the exercise price and number of shares adjusted as per the exchange ratio and the terms of the Merger Agreement (see Note 3). This amendment did not result in any changes to the accounting for these warrants.
On March 16, 2020, Legacy Celularity entered into the Purchase Agreement with the Investors. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Legacy Celularity sold and issued to the Investors an aggregate of 13,620,063 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 13,281,386 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $102,550. The warrants are exercisable at a price of $7.53 per share on the first to occur of (a) the 60-month anniversary of the date of issuance of the warrants, (b) the consummation of Legacy Celularity’s initial public offering and (c) the consummation of a change of control. On January 8, 2021, Legacy Celularity entered into a warrant amendment agreement to amend the warrant
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issued the Investors on March 16, 2020. The warrant was amended to add cashless exercise provisions following the consummation of the Business Combination. Any portion of warrant held by the Investors that was unexercised prior to the consummation of the Business Combination converted into a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, with the exercise price and number of shares adjusted as per the exchange ratio and the terms of the Merger Agreement (see Note 3). This amendment did not result in any changes to the accounting for these warrants.
Prior to the Business Combination, Legacy Celularity classified the warrants as liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets because the warrants were freestanding financial instruments that might have required Legacy Celularity to transfer assets upon exercise. The liability associated with each of these warrants was initially recorded at fair value upon the issuance date of each warrant and was subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date with the final remeasurement occurring on the Closing Date. Changes in the fair value of the warrant liability were recognized as a component of other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. On the Closing Date, the warrants held by Dragasac and the Investors were converted into warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. The aforementioned warrants qualified for equity classification on the Closing Date and were reclassified accordingly.
Legacy GX Warrants
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the Public Warrants and Sponsor Warrants remain outstanding. The Public Warrants became exercisable on August 15, 2021, which is the later of (a) 30 days after the consummation of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the effective date of the registration statement relating to GX’s initial public offering. No Public Warrants would have been exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such common shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the common shares issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants were not effective within 90 days from the consummation of the Business Combination, the holders could have, until such time as there was an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise the Public Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration were not available, holders would not have been able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis. The Company filed its registration statement on August 12, 2021. The Public Warrants will expire five years from the consummation of the Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption (excluding the Sponsor Warrants), in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:
| • | at any time while the Public Warrants are exercisable, |
| • | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Public Warrant holder, and |
| • | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the issuance of the common stock underlying such warrants at the time of redemption and for the entire 30-day trading period referred to above and continuing. |
The Sponsor Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the units sold in GX’s initial public offering, except that the Sponsor Warrants and the common shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants were not transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of the Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Sponsor Warrants are exercisable on a cashless basis and are non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the Sponsor Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Sponsor Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
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The exercise price and number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and Sponsor Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation.
Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Public Warrants. If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of Class A common shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination, members of GX’s sponsor, GX Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), entered into promissory notes with GX to provide working capital funds. In connection with the Business Combination, 1,499,999 Sponsor Warrants were issued to members of the Sponsor as repayment for the working capital loans made to GX.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 42,686,195 outstanding warrants to purchase Class A common stock. A summary of the warrants is as follows:
| Number of shares | Exercise price | Expiration date | ||||||||||
Dragasac Warrant | 6,529,818 | $ | 6.77 | * | March 16, 2025 | |||||||
March 2020 Series B Warrants | 13,281,386 | $ | 7.53 | March 16, 2025 | ||||||||
Public Warrants | 14,374,992 | $ | 11.50 | July 16, 2026 | ||||||||
Sponsor Warrants | 8,499,999 | $ | 11.50 | July 16, 2026 | ||||||||
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| 42,686,195 | ||||||||||||
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| * | The exercise price is the lesser of $6.77 per share or 80% of either (i) the value attributed to one share of Legacy Celularity Series B Preferred Stock upon consummation of a change in control or the closing of a strategic transaction or (ii) the price at which one share of common stock is sold to the public market in an initial public offering. |
| 13. | Stock-Based Compensation |
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
In July 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options (“ISOs”) to employees and for the grant of nonstatutory stock options (“NSOs”), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance awards and other forms of stock awards to employees, directors and consultants.
The number of shares of Class A common stock initially reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan is 20,915,283. As of December 31, 2021, 15,152,282 shares remain available for future grant under the 2021 Plan. The number of shares reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, for a period of 10 years, from January 1, 2022 through January 1, 2031, by 4% of the total number of shares of Celularity capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Company’s board of directors. Shares subject to stock awards granted under the 2021 Plan that expire or terminate without being exercised in full, or that are paid out in cash rather than in shares, will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. Additionally, shares issued pursuant to stock awards under the 2021 Plan that are repurchased or forfeited, as well as shares that are reacquired as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of a stock award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to a stock award, will become available for future grant under the 2021 Plan.
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The 2021 Plan is administered by the Company’s board of directors. The Company’s board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, may delegate to one or more officers the authority to (i) designate employees other than officers to receive specified stock awards and (ii) determine the number of shares to be subject to such stock awards. Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan, the plan administrator has the authority to determine the terms of awards, including recipients, the exercise price or strike price of stock awards, if any, the number of shares subject to each stock award, the fair market value of a share, the vesting schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting acceleration, the form of consideration, if any, payable upon exercise or settlement of the stock award and the terms and conditions of the award agreements for use under the 2021 Plan. The plan administrator has the power to modify outstanding awards under the 2021 Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan and in connection with a corporate transaction or capitalization adjustment, the plan administrator may not reprice or cancel and regrant any award at a lower exercise price, strike price or purchase price or cancel any award with an exercise price, strike price or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other awards without first obtaining the approval of the Company’s stockholders.
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
The 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) adopted by Legacy Celularity’s board of directors and approved by Legacy Celularity’s stockholders provided for Legacy Celularity to grant stock options to employees, directors and consultants of Legacy Celularity. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination and effectiveness of the 2021 Plan, no further grants will be made under the 2017 Plan.
The total number of stock options that could have been issued under the 2017 Plan was 32,342,049. Shares that expired, forfeited, canceled or otherwise terminated without having been fully exercised were available for future grant under the 2017 Plan.
The 2017 Plan is administered by the Company’s board of directors or, at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors, by a committee of the board of directors. The exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions were determined at the discretion of Legacy Celularity’s board of directors, or its committee if so delegated, except that the exercise price per share of stock options could not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the share of common stock on the date of grant and the term of stock option could not be greater than ten years. Stock options granted to employees, officers, members of the board of directors and consultants typically vested over a three or four year period.
Stock Option Valuation
Awards with Service Conditions
The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account inputs such as the exercise price, the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock at grant date, expected term, expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield. The fair value of each grant of stock options was determined by the Company using the methods and assumptions discussed below. Certain of these inputs are subjective and generally required judgment to determine.
| • | The expected term of employee stock options with service-based vesting is determined using the “simplified” method, whereby the expected life equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option due to the Company’s lack of sufficient historical data. The expected term of non-employee options is equal to the contractual term. |
| • | The expected stock price volatility is based on historical volatilities of comparable public entities within the Company’s industry. |
| • | The risk-free interest rate is based on the interest rate payable on U.S. Treasury securities in effect at the time of grant for a period that is commensurate with the respective expected term or contractual term. |
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| • | The expected dividend yield is 0% because the Company has not historically paid, and does not expect, for the foreseeable future, to pay a dividend on its common stock. |
The following table presents, on a weighted average basis, the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 0.8 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||
Expected term (in years) | 4.65 | 6.0 | ||||||
Expected volatility | 80.4 | % | 67.8 | % | ||||
Expected dividend yield | — | % | — | % | ||||
The weighted average grant-date fair value per share of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $4.13 and $2.24, respectively.
The following table summarizes option activity under the 2021 Plan and the 2017 Plan:
| Options | Weighted average exercise price | Weighted average contract life | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Balance at December 31,2019 | 13,954,174 | $ | 0.75 | 7.6 | $ | 40,572 | ||||||||||
Granted | 4,662,072 | 3.70 | ||||||||||||||
Exercised | (108,369 | ) | 3.88 | |||||||||||||
Forfeited | (1,340,712 | ) | 2.17 | |||||||||||||
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Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | 17,167,165 | $ | 1.63 | 7.3 | $ | 100,633 | ||||||||||
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Granted | 9,681,736 | 8.57 | ||||||||||||||
Exercised | (703,512 | ) | 0.91 | |||||||||||||
Forfeited | (2,080,803 | ) | 4.04 | |||||||||||||
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Outstanding at December 31, 2021 | 24,064,586 | $ | 4.23 | 7.4 | $ | 56,525 | ||||||||||
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Vested and expected to vest December 31, 2021 | 24,064,586 | $ | 4.23 | 7.4 | $ | 56,525 | ||||||||||
Exercisable at December 31, 2021 | 17,840,068 | $ | 3.51 | 6.9 | $ | 51,898 | ||||||||||
The aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock.
In March 2021, Legacy Celularity’s board of directors approved the issuance of fully vested options to acquire 269,007 shares at $3.83 per share to each of its non-employee directors. During the second quarter of 2021, the grant notice was provided to the non-employee directors. Accordingly, the grant date was established in the second quarter of 2021 under ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and the Company recognized the commensurate expense.
During the second quarter of 2021, Legacy Celularity’s board of directors approved the issuance of fully vested options to acquire a total of 2,613,217 shares at $10.21 per share to certain members of senior management. Accordingly, the Company recognized the full expense of $13,723 during the second quarter of 2021, of which $6,861 was recorded to research and development expense and $6,862 was recorded to selling, general and administrative expense on the consolidated statement of operations.
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In September 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved the issuance of options to acquire a total of 3,766,107 shares of common stock at $10.23 per share to certain members of senior management as a result of the Business Combination (the “Transaction Awards” or “Performance Awards”). The Transaction Awards vested 50% on the Closing Date, with the remaining 50% vesting over four years. Accordingly, the Company recognized expense of $7,186 during the third quarter of 2021 for the shares that vested on the grant date, of which $3,388 was recorded to research and development expense and $3,798 was recorded to selling, general and administrative expense on the consolidated statement of operations. Additional expense was recognized in 2021 for the portion of the awards that vest over time.
In July 2021, the Company amended two non-employee stock option awards such that any unvested awards at the time of the Business Combination would become fully vested. The Company accelerated the recognition of $567 of expense related to the modification of these awards.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate intrinsic value was $2,959 and $671 for the stock options exercised, respectively. 131,256 options exercised with a value of $441 were classified as liabilities at December 31, 2021 until the shares are issued to the holder.
As of December 31, 2021, unrecognized compensation cost for options issued was $12,408, and will be recognized over an estimated weighted-average amortization period of 3.3 years.
Awards with Performance Conditions
The Company had certain performance-based stock options, which were earned based on the attainment of specified goals achieved over the performance period. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $31 and $21 expense related to the performance awards in which the performance condition was probable. until those awards were amended such that the entire unvested portion of the award vested upon closing of the Business Combination. The Company accelerated the recognition of $121 of expense related to the modification of this award and as of December 31, 2021, the there was no amount of unrecognized expense related to these performance awards.
Awards with Market Conditions
In September 2021, the Company awarded options to acquire a total of 2,469,282 shares with an exercise price of $6.32 to the Company’s President in connection with the commencement of his employment. The grant was comprised of four equal tranches, which award will vest in up to five equal installments in respect of achieving certain share price targets between the third and fourth anniversary of the effective date, subject to his continued employment with the Company. The fair value of the President’s award was determined based upon a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. The Company’s assumptions for expected volatility and closing price were 75.0% and $6.32, respectively. The aggregate estimated fair value of the President’s award was $7,013, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of four years. The Company recognized $514 in share-based expense related to the President’s award for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, there was $6,499 of unrecognized compensation costs that the Company plans to recognize over the weighted average period of 3.7 years.
Restricted Stock Units
The Company issues restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to employees that generally vest over a two-year period with 50% of awards vesting after 1 year and then the remaining 50% vesting after 2 years. Any unvested shares will be forfeited upon termination of services. The fair value of an RSU is equal to the fair market value price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. RSU expense is amortized straight-line over the vesting period.
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The following table summarizes activity related to RSU stock-based payment awards:
| Number of shares | Weighted average grant date fair value | |||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | — | $ | — | |||||
Granted | 488,600 | 7.20 | ||||||
Forfeited | (13,900 | ) | 7.20 | |||||
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Outstanding at December 31, 2021 | 474,700 | $ | 7.20 | |||||
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The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $222 for the year ended December 31, 2021, related to RSUs. As of December 31, 2021, the total unrecognized expense related to all RSUs was $3,296, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 1.92 years
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the following expense categories of its consolidated statements of operations:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cost of goods sold | $ | 72 | $ | 70 | ||||
Research and development | 11,105 | 1,384 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 28,833 | 2,917 | ||||||
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| $ | 40,010 | $ | 4,371 | |||||
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| 14. | Revenue Recognition |
The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by product and services:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Product sales and rentals | $ | 3,801 | $ | 6,854 | ||||
Services | 5,522 | 5,556 | ||||||
License, royalty and other | 12,012 | 1,868 | ||||||
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Net revenues | $ | 21,335 | $ | 14,278 | ||||
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The following table provides changes in deferred revenue from contract liabilities:
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Balance at January 1 | $ | 12,449 | $ | 3,833 | ||||
Deferral of revenue* | 4,928 | 14,532 | ||||||
Recognition of unearned revenue** | (13,310 | ) | (5,916 | ) | ||||
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Balance at December 31 | $ | 4,067 | $ | 12,449 | ||||
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| * | 2020 includes $9,505 received in advance of performing services under a license agreement (see Note 15). The remainder of the 2020 and all of the 2021 deferral of revenue resulted from payments received in advance of performance under the biobanking services storage contracts that are recognized as revenue under the contract as performance is completed. |
| ** | During the third quarter of 2021, the Company terminated the license agreement with Sanuwave due to an uncured material breach (See Note 15). As a result, the Company recognized the remaining deferred revenue of $6,754 that was to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable term of the license agreement. |
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The Company has made the following accounting policy elections and elected to use certain practical expedients, as permitted by the FASB, in applying Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”): (1) the Company accounts for amounts collected from customers for sales and other taxes, net of related amounts remitted to tax authorities; (2) the Company does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component because, at contract inception, the Company expects the period between the time when the Company transfers a promised good or service to the customer and the time when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less; (3) the Company expenses costs to obtain a contract as they are incurred in the expected period of benefit and therefore, the amortization period is one year or less; (4) the Company accounts for shipping and handling activities that occur after control transfers to the customer as a fulfillment cost rather than an additional promised service and these fulfillment costs are recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses; (5) the Company does not assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract with the customer; and (6) the Company does not disclose the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations when the original expected contract duration is one year or less.
Product sales and rentals
Performance obligations
At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services promised in the contracts with customers and identifies a performance obligation for each promise to transfer to the customer a good or service (or bundle of goods or services) that is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. To identify the performance obligations, the Company considers all of the goods or services promised in the contract regardless of whether they are explicitly stated or are implied by customary business practices. For each contract, the Company considers the obligation to transfer products and services to the customer, each of which are distinct, to be performance obligations.
The Company determined that the following distinct goods and services represent separate performance obligations involving the sale of its degenerative disease products. The goods and services listed below may not all be included in every contract. Some contracts may include all of the Company’s products and services while others may only include one product or service type.
| • | Supply of Biovance® products; |
| • | Supply of Interfyl® products; |
| • | Supply of Biovance 3L® products; |
| • | Supply of MIST® and UltraMIST® product; |
| • | Supply of MIST® and UltraMIST® rental product. |
Degenerative disease commercial operations revenue is generally recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, and may be upon shipment or upon delivery based on the contractual shipping terms of a contract. Sales and other taxes collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from revenue.
Variable Consideration
Under ASC 606, the Company is required to make estimates of the net sales price, including estimates of variable consideration (such as rebates, discounts, and other deductions), and recognize the estimated amount as revenue, when the Company transfers control of the product to customers. To the extent that the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method or the most likely amount, depending on the circumstances, to which the Company expects to be entitled. An expected value method may be an appropriate estimate of the amount of variable consideration if an entity has a large number of contracts with similar characteristics whereas the most likely amount method may be an appropriate estimate of the amount of variable consideration if the contract has only two possible outcomes. Variable consideration is included in the transaction
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price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of the Company’s anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available.
Sales Incentives and Other Promotional Programs
The Company offers volume-based discounts, rebates and prompt pay discounts and other various incentives which are accounted for under the variable consideration model. If sales incentives may be earned by a customer for purchasing a specified amount of product, the Company estimates whether such incentives will be achieved and recognizes these incentives as a reduction in revenue in the same period the underlying revenue transaction is recognized. The Company primarily uses the expected value method to estimate incentives. Under the expected value method, the Company considers the historical experience of similar programs as well as reviews sales trends on a customer-by-customer basis to estimate what levels of incentives will be earned.
Product Returns
Consistent with industry practice, the Company maintains a returns policy that generally offers customers a right of return for products that have been purchased from the Company. To date, the Company has had minimal product returns and currently does not have an accrual for product returns. The Company will continue to assess the estimate for product returns as it gains additional historical experience.
Services
Performance Obligations
The Company determined that the following distinct goods and services represent separate performance obligations involving the sale of its biobanking services:
| • | Collection and processing services; and |
| • | Storage services. |
Processing and storage services include the Company providing umbilical cord blood, placental blood and tissue processing and storage for private use. Revenues recognized for the fees for processing and storage represent sales of the biobanking to customers. The Company recognizes revenue from processing fees at the point in time of the successful completion of processing and recognizes storage fees over time, which is ratably over the contractual storage period.
Contracted storage periods are 18 years and 25 years. Deferred revenue on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets includes the portion of the 18- and the 25-year storage fees that are being recognized over the contractual storage period. The Company classifies deferred revenue as current if the Company expects to recognize the related revenue over the next 12 months from the balance sheet date.
Significant Financing
When determining the transaction price of a contract, an adjustment is made if payment from a customer occurs either significantly before or significantly after performance, resulting in a significant financing component. For all plans (annual, 18 years and 25 years), the storage fee is paid at the beginning of the storage period (prepaid plans). Alternatively, the Company offers payment plans for customers to pay over time for a period of one to 24 months (over time plans). The Company concluded that a significant financing component is not present within either the prepaid or overtime payment plans. The Company has determined that the prepaid plans do not include a significant financing component as the payment terms were structured primarily for reasons other than the provision of financing and to maximize profitability.
When considered over a 24-month period for over time plans, the difference between the cash selling price and the consideration paid is nominal. As such, the Company believes that its payment plans do not include significant financing components as they are not significant in the aggregate when considered in the context of all contracts entered into nor significant at the individual contract level.
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The Company elected to apply the practical expedient where the Company does not need to assess whether a significant financing component exists if the period between when it performs its obligations under the contract and when the customer pays is one year or less.
As of December 31, 2021, the total aggregate transaction price allocated to the unsatisfied performance obligations for services was recorded as deferred revenue amounting to $4,067, which will be recognized as revenue ratably on a straight-line basis over the contractual period of which $2,196 will be recognized as revenue over the next 12 months.
Sales Incentives and Other Promotional Programs
The Company offers promotional discounts and other various incentives which are accounted for under the variable consideration model. The Company estimates whether such incentives will be achieved and recognizes these incentives as a reduction in revenue in the same period the underlying revenue transaction is recognized. The Company primarily uses the expected value method to estimate incentives. Under the expected value method, the Company considers the historical experience of similar programs as well as reviews sales trends on a customer-by-customer basis to estimate what levels of incentives will be earned.
Allocation of Transaction Price
As the Company’s processing and storage agreements contain multiple performance obligations, ASC 606 requires an allocation of the transaction price based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised services underlying each performance obligation. The Company has selected an adjusted market assessment approach to estimate the standalone selling prices of the processing services and storage services and concluded that the published list price is the price that a customer in that market would be willing to pay for those goods or services. The Company also considered the fact that all customers are charged the list prices current at the time of their enrollment where the Company has separately stated list prices for processing and storage.
License, royalty and other
Under the license agreement with Sanuwave which acquired certain assets comprising its MIST®/UltraMIST® business, the Company received a quarterly license fee and a defined royalty on each product sold. A credit was provided to Sanuwave for Biovance royalties up to the quarterly license fee. The Company recognize the quarterly license fee over each quarterly term based on the actual sales occurring over the period. If quarterly revenues were lower than the quarterly license fee, the Company recognized the difference during the third month of the quarterly period. Any royalties earned in excess of the quarterly license fee were recognized at the end of each quarterly period, as that is when it is probable that a significant future reversal of revenue under the arrangement will not occur. During the third quarter of 2021, the license agreement with Sanuwave was terminated due to an uncured material breach.
| 15. | License and Distribution Agreements |
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. License and Transfer Agreement
On August 15, 2017, Legacy Celularity entered into a License and Transfer Agreement with TNK Therapeutics, Inc. and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (collectively “Sorrento”), pursuant to which Legacy Celularity was granted an exclusive license to certain materials, patents and intellectual property related to Sorrento to develop and commercialize products for the treatment of any disease or disorder (the “2017 License Agreement”). During the first quarter of 2020, the 2017 License Agreement was mutually terminated.
On August 26, 2020, Legacy Celularity and Sorrento entered into a binding term sheet for the exclusive worldwide license to CD19 CAR-T constructs for use in placenta-derived cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder (the “2020 Sorrento Term Sheet”). The 2020 Sorrento Term Sheet outlined various provisions to be incorporated and further negotiated in contemplation of a final license and supply agreement.
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On September 30, 2020, Legacy Celularity and Sorrento entered into a new License and Transfer Agreement for the exclusive worldwide license to CD19 CAR-T constructs for use in placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder (the “2020 Sorrento License Agreement”). Celularity retains the right to sublicense the rights granted under the agreement with Sorrento’s prior written consent. As consideration for the license, the Company is obligated to pay Sorrento a royalty equal to low single-digit percentage of net sales (as defined within the agreement) and a royalty equal to low double-digit percentage of all sublicensing revenues (as defined within the agreement). The 2020 Sorrento License Agreement will remain in effect until terminated by either the Company or Sorrento for uncured material breach upon 90 days written notice or, after the first anniversary of the effective date of the Sorrento Agreement, by the Company for convenience upon six months’ written notice to Sorrento.
The Company and Sorrento are actively negotiating a new supply agreement related to the 2020 Sorrento License Agreement. The 2020 Sorrento Term Sheet details certain aspects of this supply agreement, including pricing terms on material and/or licensed product supplied under the 2020 Sorrento License Agreement. The Company did not incur incentive payments related to the 2020 Sorrento Term Sheet.
Lung Biotechnology PBC License Agreement
On June 30, 2017, Legacy Celularity entered into a license agreement with Lung Biotechnology PBC (“LB”), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation (the “LB Agreement”), whereupon Legacy Celularity granted to LB an exclusive, worldwide sublicensable license of certain intellectual property to develop and commercialize products in the fields of thoracic and abdominal organ transplantation and pulmonary diseases (the “LB Licensed IP”). Pursuant to the LB Agreement, Legacy Celularity agreed to supply LB with placental-derived stem cells for use in the development and commercialization of products.
On April 3, 2020, Legacy Celularity and LB agreed to expand their strategic collaborative license agreement to include treatment of COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (“ARDS”). Under the amended collaborative agreement, the Company will seek regulatory approval for CYNK-001 in the treatment of COVID-19, and LB will seek regulatory approval for CYNK-001 in the treatment of ARDS. LB has global rights under the amended collaborative agreement to commercialize CYNK-001 in the treatment of COVID-19 and ARDS. The collaboration will be governed by a joint steering committee to oversee development and commercialization activities. LB will provide financial support as needed and requested by Legacy Celularity, subject to a maximum of $75 per enrolled patient in the related clinical studies, which will be recorded as an offset to research and development expense.
During the first quarter of 2021, the license agreement with LB was terminated in its entirety effective April 11, 2021. The termination applies to the April 3, 2020 amendment for the treatment of CYNK-001 in COVID-19 and ARDS.
Genting Innovation PTE LTD Distribution Agreement
On May 4, 2018, concurrently with Dragasac’s equity investment in the Series B Preferred Stock, the Company entered into a distribution agreement with Genting Innovation PTE LTD (“Genting”) pursuant to which Genting was granted supply and distribution rights to certain Company products in select Asia markets (the “Genting Agreement”). The Genting Agreement grants Genting limited distribution rights to the Company’s then-current portfolio of degenerative disease products and provides for the automatic rights to future products developed by or on behalf of the Company.
The term of the Genting Agreement was renewed on January 31, 2021, and automatically renews for successive twelve month terms unless: Genting provides written notice of its intention not to renew at least three months prior to a renewal term or the Genting Agreement is otherwise terminated by either party for cause.
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Genting and Dragasac are both direct subsidiaries of Genting Berhad, a public limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in Malaysia.
Celgene Corporation License Agreement
In connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition, on August 20, 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement with Celgene (the “Celgene Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company granted Celgene two separate licenses to certain intellectual property owned or controlled by Anthrogenesis as of the date of the Company’s acquisition of Anthrogenesis (the “Anthrogenesis IP”). The Celgene Agreement grants Celgene a royalty-free, fully-paid up, worldwide, non-exclusive license to the Anthrogenesis IP for pre-clinical research purposes in all fields and a royalty-free, fully-paid up, worldwide license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to the Anthrogenesis IP for the development, manufacture, commercialization and exploitation of products in the field of the construction of any CAR, the modification of any T-lymphocyte or NK cell to express such a CAR, and/or the use of such CARs or T-lymphocytes or NK cells for any purpose, including prophylactic, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic uses thereof.
The Celgene Agreement will remain in effect until its termination by either party for cause.
Sanuwave Licensing Agreement
On August 6, 2020, in conjunction with the sale of the UltraMIST business, Legacy Celularity entered into a five-year licensing arrangement with Sanuwave that includes (i) an exclusive Biovance license for distribution and commercialization in the wound care market worldwide, except for certain Asian jurisdictions and (ii) a non-exclusive license for the distribution and commercialization of Interfyl in the wound care market worldwide, except for certain Asian jurisdictions (the “Sanuwave Licensing Agreement”). Sanuwave has the right to grant sublicenses of the exclusive Biovance license and non-exclusive Interfyl license to (i) its affiliates without the consent of the Company and (ii) any third party for the sole purpose of providing services directly to Sanuwave upon prior written consent by the Company. The Sanuwave License Agreement will automatically renew for additional one-year periods unless either party gives written notice of termination at least 180 days prior to the expiration of the then-current term. Under the Sanuwave License Agreement, the Company will receive a quarterly license fee and a defined royalty on each product sold. A credit is provided to Sanuwave for Biovance royalties up to the quarterly license fee amount. The Company may terminate the Sanuwave Licensing Agreement following the second year if annual sales of that year are less than $3,000. Following the third year of the agreement, either party may terminate the Sanuwave Licensing Agreement upon 90 days written notice should annual sales not exceed $5,000 in that third year or any year thereafter.
Under the Sanuwave Licensing Agreement, the Company will serve on a joint steering committee where it will oversee Sanuwave’s marketing efforts with respect to the licensed products.
During the second quarter of 2021, Legacy Celularity sent a notice of deficiency to Sanuwave under the existing license agreement, where Sanuwave had until July 19, 2021 to cure a material breach. This material breach was not cured by Sanuwave and, as a result, the agreement with Sanuwave was terminated.
Exclusive Supply and Distribution Agreements
On May 7, 2021, the Company entered into a six-year supply and distribution agreement with Arthrex, Inc. (Arthrex) that includes (i) an exclusive Biovance, Interfyl, and Centaflex license for distribution and commercialization within the United States for the orthopedic surgery and (ii) an exclusive Interfly and Centaflex license for commercialization and distribution within the United States for the acute and chronic non-healing wound market (the “Arthrex Supply and Distribution Agreement”). The Arthrex Supply and Distribution Agreement will automatically renew for terms of two-year periods unless either party gives notice of non-renewal at least twelve months advance of the end of the then current term. At least ninety days prior to the start of each calendar quarter, the Company and Arthrex will agree in good faith to a minimum binding forecast based upon projected sales volume by Arthrex for said upcoming calendar quarter for each of the products. Upon
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agreement, Arthrex shall submit to the Company a purchase order to purchase products for the minimum forecasted quantities. The Company shall invoice Arthrex after the product has been issued and payments for such invoices will be 2%, ten net forty-five days from the date of the invoice. Upon material breach of the Arthrex Supply and Distribution Agreement either party may deliver such breach to the other party and the notified party will have thirty days to cure such breach. If the notified party fails to cure the material breach of the Arthrex Supply and Distribution Agreement the non-breaching party may terminate the respective agreement.
Under the Arthrex Supply and Distribution Agreement, the Company and Arthrex will establish a joint steering committee to oversee commercialization activities of the products. Membership of the joint steering committee will be comprised of an equal number of employees of each respective party.
On September 1, 2021, the Company entered into a three-year supply and distribution agreement with Evolution Biologyx, LLC (“Evolution”) that includes an exclusive Interfyl license for the distribution and commercialization within the United States within any medical specialty where Interfyl is administered in an in-office or in-patient setting and is reimbursed through Medicare Part B or any successor, equivalent or similar category established by the Center for Medicare Services or other Government Authority, except in the medical specialty of orthopedic surgery excluding trauma or spine applications in the medical specialty or orthopedic or neurologic surgery (the “Evolution Supply and Distribution Agreement”). The Evolution Supply and Distribution Agreement will automatically renew for terms of two-year periods unless either party gives notice of non-renewal at least twelve months in advance of the current term. Evolution will provide a non-binding twelve month rolling forecast to the Company. The next forecast is due October 31, 2022, and each October 31 thereafter. At least forty-five days prior to the start of each calendar quarter, the Company and Evolution will agree in good faith to a minimum binding forecast based upon projected sales volume by Evolution for said upcoming calendar quarter for each of the products. The forecast may not deviate to less than 70% for the immediate following quarter, 50% two quarters out, 40% three quarters out, and 25% for full quarters from the original forecasted amount for that specific quarter set forth in the respective agreed upon binding forecast. Upon agreement, Evolution shall submit to the Company a purchase order to purchase products for the minimum binding forecasted quantities. The Company shall invoice Evolution after the product has been issued and payments for such invoices will be 50% upon receipt and acceptance of purchase order and 50% 2%, ten net forty-five days from the date of invoice. The Evolution Supply and Distribution Agreement may be terminated by (i) material breach of the Evolution Supply and Distribution Agreement and subsequent failure to cure the material breach within thirty days of notice of material breach and (ii) otherwise mutually agreed in writing by the Company and Evolution.
| 16. | Benefit Plans |
The Company established a defined contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan covers all employees who meet minimum age and service requirements and allows participants to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis. Matching contributions to the plan may be made at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company made contributions of $989 and $835, respectively, to the plan.
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| 17. | Income Taxes |
A summary of the Company’s current and deferred tax provision is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Current income tax expense (benefit): | ||||||||
Federal | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
State | 17 | 17 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total current income tax expense (benefit) | 17 | 17 | ||||||
Deferred income tax expense (benefit): | ||||||||
Federal | 1 | (2,366 | ) | |||||
State | 2 | (2,351 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total deferred tax expense (benefit) | 3 | (4,717 | ) | |||||
|
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| |||||
Total (benefit) from income taxes | $ | 20 | $ | (4,700 | ) | |||
|
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| |||||
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Federal statutory income tax rate | 21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | ||||
State income taxes, net of federal benefits | 9.8 | % | 3.0 | % | ||||
Research and development tax credits | 1.5 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||
Interest accretion expense | 8.6 | % | 5.5 | % | ||||
Change in valuation allowance | (46.1 | )% | (21.6 | )% | ||||
Mark to market warrant | 2.8 | (5.7 | )% | |||||
Other permanent items | 2.4 | % | (1.0 | )% | ||||
Effective income tax rate | (0.0 | )% | 2.2 | % | ||||
|
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|
| |||||
Net deferred tax liabilities as of years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | $ | 88,327 | $ | 53,495 | ||||
Research and development tax credit carryforwards | 7,672 | 5,673 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 11,748 | 1,304 | ||||||
Startup costs | 697 | 729 | ||||||
Intangible assets | 4,471 | 4,544 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 1,103 | 3,226 | ||||||
Unicap | 6 | 6 | ||||||
Imputed interest on contingent payments | 4,410 | 2,340 | ||||||
Legal fee capitalization and amortization | 1,550 | 1,587 | ||||||
Other | 1,535 | 1,158 | ||||||
|
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| |||||
Total deferred tax assets | 121,519 | 74,062 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
In-process research and development | (29,232 | ) | (27,930 | ) | ||||
|
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| |||||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (29,232 | ) | (27,930 | ) | ||||
|
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| |||||
Valuation allowance | (92,297 | ) | (46,139 | ) | ||||
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| |||||
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | (10 | ) | $ | (7 | ) | ||
|
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|
| |||||
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A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
| Unrecognized Tax Benefits | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 786 | ||
|
| |||
Increase related to prior year tax positions | — | |||
Increase related to current year tax provisions | 242 | |||
Decrease for settlements | — | |||
Reduction for lapse of applicable statute of limitations | — | |||
|
| |||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 1,028 | ||
|
| |||
Increase related to prior year tax positions | — | |||
Increase related to current year tax provisions | 242 | |||
Decrease for settlements | — | |||
Reduction for lapse of applicable statute of limitations | — | |||
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| |||
Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | 1,270 | ||
|
| |||
As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, the Company had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $88,327 and $53,495, respectively, which may be available to offset future taxable income and begin to expire in 2040. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, the Company also had U.S. federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $7,672 and $5,673, respectively, which may be available to offset future tax liabilities and begin to expire in 2032.
Utilization of the U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and corresponding provisions of state law, due to ownership changes that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from transactions increasing the ownership of certain stockholders in the stock of a corporation by more than 50% over a three-year period. A corporation that experiences an ownership change is subject to an annual limitation under Section 382, which is determined by first multiplying the value of the Company’s stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate subject to additional adjustments, as required. The Company experienced an ownership change on August 15, 2017. The annual limitation from the ownership change is not expected to result in the expiration of net operating losses or research and development credits before utilization.
The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company’s ability to generate taxable income in future years. Accounting Standards Codification 740-10, Income Taxes, requires a valuation allowance to be applied against deferred tax assets when it is considered “more likely than not” that some or all of the gross deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and recent financial performance.
At December 31, 2021, based upon the weight of available evidence, the Company concluded that it is not more likely than not that the benefits of the federal and state deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded valuation allowance against its federal and state gross deferred tax assets.
The impact of an uncertain income tax position is recognized at the largest amount that is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1,270 and $1,028, respectively. The Company does not expect that there will be a significant change in the unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months. The Company’s policy is to record interest and penalties related to income
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taxes as part of its income tax provision. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions and no amounts had been recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and numerous states, as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and state jurisdictions, where applicable. There are currently no pending tax examinations. The Company is open to future tax examination under statute from 2016 to the present; however, carryforward attributes that were acquired may still be adjusted upon examination by federal, state or local tax authorities if they either have been or will be used in a future period.
The Company sold $1,356 and $4,005 of its net operating losses and unused R&D tax credits through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program during 2021 and 2020, respectively. The income resulting from the sale of net operating losses and unused R&D tax credits is recorded as a component of other income (expense) on the consolidated statement of operations.
| 18. | Segment Information |
The Company regularly reviews its segments and the approach used by management to evaluate performance and allocate resources. Prior to the third quarter of 2020, the Company managed operations as one segment. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company began to manage its operations through an evaluation of three distinct business segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease, and BioBanking. This change was prompted by certain organizational and personnel changes. The chief operating decision maker uses the revenues and earnings of the operating segments, among other factors, for performance evaluation and resource allocation among these segments.
The reportable segments were determined based on the distinct nature of the activities performed by each segment. Cell Therapy broadly refers to therapies the Company is researching and developing. Therapies being researched are unproven and in various phases of development. Degenerative Disease produces, sells and licenses products used in surgical and wound care markets. Biobanking collects stem cells from umbilical cords and placentas and provides storage of such cells on behalf of individuals for future use.
The Company manages its assets on a total company basis, not by operating segment. Therefore, the chief operating decision maker does not regularly review any asset information by operating segment and, accordingly, asset information is not reported by operating segment. Total assets were approximately $414,128 and $431,008 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Financial information by segment is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cell Therapy | BioBanking | Degenerative Disease | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | — | $ | 5,522 | $ | 15,813 | $ | — | $ | 21,335 | ||||||||||
Gross profit | — | 1,873 | 9,809 | — | 11,682 | |||||||||||||||
Direct expenses | 85,107 | 2,119 | 8,450 | 64,017 | 159,693 | |||||||||||||||
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|
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|
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| |||||||||||
Segment contribution | (85,107 | ) | (246 | ) | 1,359 | (64,017 | ) | (148,011 | ) | |||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Indirect expenses | (38,953 | )(a) | $ | (38,953 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (109,058 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
(a) Components of other | ||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | (41,145 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization | 2,192 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| |||||||||||||||||||
Total other | $ | (38,953 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
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| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cell Therapy | BioBanking | Degenerative Disease | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | — | $ | 5,556 | $ | 8,722 | $ | — | $ | 14,278 | ||||||||||
Gross profit | — | 3,262 | 6,084 | — | 9,346 | |||||||||||||||
Direct expenses | 51,470 | 1,653 | 10,348 | 20,573 | 84,043 | |||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
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|
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| |||||||||||
Segment contribution | (51,470 | ) | 1,609 | (4,264 | ) | (20,573 | ) | (74,697 | ) | |||||||||||
|
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|
| |||||||||||
Indirect expenses | 77,228 | (a) | $ | 77,228 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (151,925 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
(a) Components of other | ||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | (55,566 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Impairment of acquired intangible assets | 129,400 | |||||||||||||||||||
Amortization | 3,394 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| |||||||||||||||||||
Total other | $ | 77,228 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 19. | Related Party Transactions |
The related party transactions described below do not have any associated balances on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021.
Consulting Agreement with Dr. Andrew Pecora
On September 1, 2017, Legacy Celularity entered into a scientific and clinical advisor agreement (the “SAB Agreement”) with Dr. Andrew Pecora, a member of Legacy Celularity’s board of directors, for the provision of consulting and advisory services. The SAB Agreement was superseded by a new SAB Agreement executed by Legacy Celularity on February 1, 2019.
On April 13, 2020, Legacy Celularity executed the First Amendment of the SAB Agreement with Dr. Pecora. The term of the First Amendment was six months. It provided for the payment of $20 per month and the issuance of a stock option to purchase 153,718 shares of Legacy Celularity’s common stock. This consideration was in addition to consideration defined in prior agreements. Upon the execution of the agreement, 76,859 of the options were vested. The remaining 76,859 options were vested upon Dr. Pecora’s achievement of a performance objective.
On October 15, 2020, Legacy Celularity executed the Second Amendment to the SAB Agreement with Dr. Pecora. Under the Second Amendment, Dr. Pecora agreed to provide Legacy Celularity with strategic advice on clinical development operations and strategy and assist in establishing a long-range clinical development plan. Compensation under the arrangement includes: (i) cash consideration of $20 per month, (ii) a one-time cash bonus of $50 upon consummation of a merger, combination, consolidation or similar transaction involving Legacy Celularity in relation to a transaction with GX, (iii) a non-qualified stock option to purchase 153,718 shares of Legacy Celularity’s common stock. This non-qualified stock option was granted during the second quarter of 2021. The original expiration of the Second Amendment was January 31, 2021. On January 31, 2021, the Company executed the amended and restated second amendment to the SAB Agreement which extended the term of the Second Amendment to September 30, 2021, unless earlier terminated by the Company for cause.
Pursuant to the SAB Agreements, the Company paid Dr. Pecora $390 and $460 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. On September 15, 2021, the Company hired Dr. Pecora to serve as President. Upon hiring Dr. Pecora, the SAB Agreement was terminated.
CURA Foundation
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company made a contribution of $500 and $375, respectively to the CURA Foundation in support of the International Vatican. Dr. Robin L. Smith serves on the Company’s Board of Directors, previously served on the board of directors of Legacy Celularity, and is the president and chairperson of the board of the CURA Foundation.
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COTA, Inc
In November 2020, Legacy Celularity and COTA, Inc. (“COTA”) entered into an Order Schedule (the “Order Schedule No. 2”), to the Master Data License Agreement between Legacy Celularity and COTA, dated October 29, 2018, pursuant to which COTA will provide the licensed data in connection with AML patients. The COTA Order Schedule No. 2 will terminate on the one-year anniversary following the final licensed data deliverable described therein. Andrew Pecora, M.D., Celularity’s President, is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of COTA and Dr. Robin L. Smith, a member of the Company’s Board, is an investor in COTA. The Company paid COTA $149 during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Cryoport Systems, Inc
The Company made payments totaling $104 and $158 to the Cryoport Systems, Inc (“Cryoport”) for transportation of cryopreserved materials during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and director, Dr. Robert Hariri, M.D, Ph.D., has served on Cryoport’s board of directors since September 2015.
CV Starr Loan
On June 8, 2021, Legacy Celularity entered into a $5,000 loan agreement with CV Starr. CV Starr is an investor in the Company, holding 3,320,346 warrants to purchase Class A common stock and 4,320,347 shares of Class A common stock as of December 31, 2021. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company repaid amounts outstanding under the short-term borrowing arrangement with CV Starr.
Stock Purchase Agreement with a Director
On September 18, 2020, a Director of the Company exercised options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at a price of $0.21 per share. Subsequent to the aforementioned exercise, the Company and the Director entered into a stock purchase agreement on September 18, 2020 whereby the 100,000 shares of common stock were repurchased by the Company at the then current fair market value of $2.56 per share.
Employment of an Immediate Family Member
Alexandra Hariri, the daughter of Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., Celularity’s Chairman and Executive Officer, is employed by Celularity as an Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Business Development. Ms. Hariri transitioned to part-time in late 2018, and her base salary for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 was $38 per year. In 2021, Ms. Hariri transitioned back to full-time and her base salary is $210. Ms. Hariri has received and continues to be eligible to receive a bonus, equity awards and benefits on the same general terms and conditions as applicable to unrelated employees in similar positions.
Matthew Pecora, the son of Andrew Pecora, M.D., the Company’s President, was employed by Celularity as Manager, Clinical Supply Chain. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Mr. Pecora earned $104 in base salary and bonus and he earned equity awards which were in line with similar roles at Celularity.
| 20. | Subsequent Events |
The Company has evaluated subsequent events and there are no items requiring disclosure except the following:
Warrant Amendment and Exercise
On March 1, 2022, Celularity and certain of the investors amended and restated the investors’ respective Legacy Celularity Warrants (the “A&R Warrants”) to (i) reduce the exercise price per share from $7.53 per share to $3.50 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the A&R Warrants, (ii) remove the transfer restrictions set
forth in the A&R Warrants, and (iii) make other changes reflecting the impact of the business combination. In conjunction with the amendment, those investors exercised 13,281,386 of the A&R Warrants in exchange for 13,281,386 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for gross proceeds of $46,485.
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10,533,707 Units consisting of
10,533,707 shares of Class A Common Stock and
Warrants to purchase up to 10,533,707 shares of Class A Common Stock
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
| BTIG | Truist Securities | |
, 2022
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 13. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following table sets forth all costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and FINRA fee.
| Amount | ||||
SEC registration fee | $ 17,270 | |||
FINRA fee | 28,445 | |||
Accountants’ fees and expenses | 93,000 | |||
Legal fees and expenses | 400,000 | |||
Printing fees | 6,000 | |||
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | 285 | |||
|
| |||
Total expenses | 545,000 | |||
|
| |||
| Item 14. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the registrant. The DGCL provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for indemnification by us of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases redemptions or other distributions or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for such limitation of liability to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided in our Certificate of Incorporation. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification and advancements by us of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from his or her service to our company or, at our request, service to other entities, as officers or directors to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. We believe that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract qualified directors.
We also maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (1) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, while acting in their capacity as directors and officers of our company, and (2) to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to such officers and directors pursuant to any indemnification provision contained in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws or otherwise as a matter of law.
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| Item 15. | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities. |
The following list sets forth information regarding all unregistered securities sold by us since April 1, 2019:
| (1) | In May 2019, we issued an aggregate of 7,000,000 private placement warrants to GX Sponsor LLC at a price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, generating gross proceeds of $7,000,000. |
| (2) | In July 2021, concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination, the PIPE Investors purchased from us an aggregate of 8,340,000 shares of our Class A common stock at a price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price equal to $83.4 million. |
| (3) | In July 2021, concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination, we issued 2,000,000 shares of Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $20 million to Palantir Technologies at a purchase price of $10.00 per share. |
| (4) | In July 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, we issued 400,000 shares of Class A common stock to Credit Suisse as partial payment of their fees for transaction services provided in connection with the Business Combination. |
| (5) | In July 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, we issued 576,943 shares of Class A common stock to Ardea as partial payment of their fees for financial advisory services provided in connection with the Business Combination. |
| (6) | In November 2021, in connection with a settlement of a dispute with CTH Biosourcing LLC, or CTH, we issued 743,771 shares of Class A common stock to CariCord participating shareholders. |
| (7) | In March 2022, we amended and restated certain warrants held by Starr International Investments Ltd. and its affiliates to (i) reduce the exercise price per share from $7.53 per share to $3.50 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the amended and restated warrants, (ii) remove the transfer restrictions set forth in the warrants, and (iii) make other changes reflecting the impact of the Business Combination. Immediately following the amendment and restatement of the warrants, such holders exercised these amended and restated warrants in full, for cash, for approximately $46.5 million, and we issued the holders an aggregate 13,281,386 shares of our Class A common stock. |
None of the foregoing transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. We believe each of these transactions was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (and Regulation D promulgated thereunder) as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering or Rule 701 promulgated under Section 3(b) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer under benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation as provided under Rule 701. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends were placed on the share certificates issued in these transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about us. The sales of these securities were made without any general solicitation or advertising.
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| Item 16. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. |
(a) Exhibits.
The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this registration statement
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| * | Filed herewith. |
| + | Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request. |
| ¥ | Certain portions of this exhibit are omitted because they are not material and are the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential. |
(b) Financial Statement Schedules.
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
| Item 17. | Undertakings. |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows:
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
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| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or our securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
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| (b) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the undersigned pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the undersigned has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the undersigned of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the undersigned 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 undersigned will, unless in the opinion of our 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. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant as duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Florham Park, State of New Jersey, on this 11th day of May, 2022.
| CELULARITY INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | |
| Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board (Principal Executive Officer) | May 11, 2022 | ||
/s/ David C. Beers David C. Beers | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | May 11, 2022 | ||
* Jay R. Bloom | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
* Peter Diamandis, M.D. | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
* Dean C. Kehler | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
Lim Kok Thay | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
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Signature | Title | Date | ||
* Marc Mazur | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
* Robin L. Smith, M.D., MBA | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
* Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
| *By: | /s/ Keary Dunn | |
| Keary Dunn | ||
| Attorney-in-Fact |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., David C. Beers and Keary Dunn, Esq., and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by this registration statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ John Sculley John Sculley | Director | May 11, 2022 | ||
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