United States
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
| þ | Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the quarterly period endedMarch 31, 2019
| ¨ | Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the transition period from ___________________ to __________________.
Commission file number001-15070
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 52-1253406 |
| (State of Incorporation) | (IRS Employer I.D. Number) |
15245 Shady Grove Road – Suite 470
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(301) 208-9191
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
| Yesþ | No¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
| Yesþ | No¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ | |
| Non-accelerated filer þ | Smaller reporting company þ | |
| Emerging growth company¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
| Yes¨ | Noþ |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common | RGRX | OTC |
131,506,494 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding as of May 7, 2019.
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Form 10-Q
Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2019
Index
| 2 |
Part I – Financial Information
| Item 1. | Condensed Financial Statements |
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (See Note 1) | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 662,568 | $ | 237,261 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 29,610 | 36,609 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 692,178 | 273,870 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $98,587 and $97,921 | 752 | 1,418 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use asset | 51,682 | - | ||||||
| Other assets | 5,752 | 5,752 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 750,364 | $ | 281,040 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 38,532 | $ | 92,433 | ||||
| Unearned revenue | 76,761 | 76,761 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | 68,469 | 91,058 | ||||||
| Convertible promisory notes | - | 54,754 | ||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liability | 48,459 | - | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 232,221 | 315,006 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| Unearned revenue | 2,158,896 | 2,178,087 | ||||||
| Convertible promisory notes - net of discount | 307,842 | - | ||||||
| Operating lease liability | 8,146 | - | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 2,707,105 | 2,493,093 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders' deficit | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $.001 par value per share, 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued | - | - | ||||||
| Common stock, par value $.001 per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 130,506,494 and 128,432,478 issued and outstanding | 130,507 | 128,433 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 104,209,546 | 103,541,291 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (106,296,794 | ) | (105,881,777 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' deficit | (1,956,741 | ) | (2,212,053 | ) | ||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit | $ | 750,364 | $ | 281,040 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 3 |
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Revenues | $ | 19,191 | $ | 18,782 | ||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Research and development | 15,304 | 18,845 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 326,748 | 364,071 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 342,052 | 382,916 | ||||||
| Loss from operations | (322,861 | ) | (364,134 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||
| Inducement expense | - | (582,904 | ) | |||||
| Interest expense | (9,590 | ) | (38,826 | ) | ||||
| Total other income (expense) | (9,590 | ) | (621,730 | ) | ||||
| Loss before taxes | (332,451 | ) | (985,864 | ) | ||||
| Provision for income taxes | - | - | ||||||
| Net loss | (332,451 | ) | (985,864 | ) | ||||
| Deemed dividend related to warrants down round provision | (82,566 | ) | - | |||||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholders | $ | (415,017 | ) | $ | (985,864 | ) | ||
| Basic net loss per common share | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | ||
| Diluted net loss per common share | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | ||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic | 129,578,215 | 111,622,073 | ||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted | 129,578,215 | 111,622,073 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 4 |
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit
(unaudited)
| Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock | Additional | Accumulated | stockholders' | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | paid-in capital | deficit | deficit | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2018 | 128,432,478 | $ | 128,433 | $ | 103,541,291 | $ | (105,881,777 | ) | $ | (2,212,053 | ) | |||||||||
| Issuance of common stock - note conversions | 1,149,016 | 1,149 | 67,792 | - | 68,941 | |||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock - warrant exercises | 925,000 | 925 | 114,700 | - | 115,625 | |||||||||||||||
| Warrants issued with debt | - | - | 174,221 | - | 174,221 | |||||||||||||||
| Debt discount related to beneficial conversion feature | - | - | 174,221 | - | 174,221 | |||||||||||||||
| Deemed dividend related to warrant reprice | - | - | 82,566 | (82,566 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | - | - | 54,755 | - | 54,755 | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (332,451 | ) | (332,451 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2019 | 130,506,494 | $ | 130,507 | $ | 104,209,546 | $ | (106,296,794 | ) | $ | (1,956,741 | ) | |||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2017 | 109,789,703 | $ | 109,790 | $ | 100,333,144 | $ | (104,559,226 | ) | $ | (4,116,292 | ) | |||||||||
| Issuance of common stock - note conversions | 4,700,520 | 4,700 | 277,332 | - | 282,032 | |||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock - warrant exercises | 5,147,059 | 5,147 | 1,024,265 | - | 1,029,412 | |||||||||||||||
| Inducement expense related to warrant reprice | - | - | 582,904 | - | 582,904 | |||||||||||||||
| Offering expense related to warrant reprice | - | - | (85,565 | ) | - | (85,565 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Culmulative effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2017-11 | - | - | 614,167 | 671,002 | 1,285,169 | |||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | - | - | 60,168 | - | 60,168 | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (985,864 | ) | (985,864 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2018 | 119,637,282 | $ | 119,637 | $ | 102,806,415 | $ | (104,874,088 | ) | $ | (1,948,036 | ) | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 5 |
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
| For the Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (332,451 | ) | $ | (985,864 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 666 | 755 | ||||||
| Amortization of right-of-use asset | 8,140 | - | ||||||
| Non-cash share-based compensation | 54,755 | 60,168 | ||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | 6,530 | 29,492 | ||||||
| Inducement expense | - | 582,904 | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 6,999 | 12,979 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | (53,901 | ) | 3,122 | |||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilites | (3,055 | ) | 13,173 | |||||
| Operating lease liability | (8,810 | ) | - | |||||
| Unearned revenue | (19,191 | ) | 81,218 | |||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (340,318 | ) | (202,053 | ) | ||||
| Financing activities: | ||||||||
| Payment of offering costs | - | (85,565 | ) | |||||
| Proceeds from the sale of convertible notes | 650,000 | - | ||||||
| Proceeds from the exercise of stock warrants | 115,625 | 1,029,412 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 765,625 | 943,847 | ||||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 425,307 | 741,794 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 237,261 | 181,708 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 662,568 | $ | 923,502 | ||||
| Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Operating and Financing Activities | ||||||||
| Conversion of promissory notes to common stock | $ | 55,000 | $ | 225,000 | ||||
| Conversion of accrued interest to common stock | $ | 13,941 | $ | 57,032 | ||||
| Fair value of warrants issued to placement agent | $ | - | $ | 15,545 | ||||
| Cumulative effect of adjustment from adoption of ASU 2017-11 | $ | - | $ | 1,285,169 | ||||
| Establish right-of-use asset | $ | 59,822 | $ | - | ||||
| Establish operating lease liability | $ | 65,415 | $ | - | ||||
| Issuance of warrants in conjunction with issuance of convertible notes | $ | 174,221 | $ | - | ||||
| Beneficial conversion feaure on issuance of convertible notes | $ | 174,221 | $ | - | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 6 |
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (Unaudited)
| 1. | Organization, Business Overview and Basis of Presentation |
Organization and Nature of Operations.
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“RegeneRx”, the “Company”, “We”, “Us”, “Our”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1982. We are focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to accelerate tissue and organ repair. Our operations are confined to one business segment: the development and marketing of product candidates based on Thymosin Beta 4 (“Tß4”), an amino acid peptide.
Management Plans to Address Operating Conditions.
Our strategy is aimed at being capital efficient while leveraging our portfolio of clinical assets by seeking strategic relationships with organizations with clinical development capabilities including development capital. Currently, we have active partnerships in four major territories: North America, Europe, China and Pan Asia. In each case, the cost of development is being borne by our partners with no financial obligation for RegeneRx. We still have significant clinical assets to develop, primarily RGN-352 (injectable formulation of Tß4 for cardiac and CNS disorders) in the U.S., Pan Asia, and Europe, and RGN-259 in the EU. Our goal is to wait until satisfactory results are obtained from the current ophthalmic clinical program in the U.S. before moving into the EU. However, we intend to continue to develop RGN-352, our injectable systemic product candidate for cardiac and central nervous system indications, either by obtaining grants to fund a Phase 2a clinical trial in the cardiovascular or central nervous system fields or finding a suitable partner with the resources and capabilities to develop it as we have with RGN-259.
Since inception, and through March 31, 2019, we have an accumulated deficit of $106 million and we had cash and cash equivalents of $662,568 as of March 31, 2019. We anticipate incurring additional operating losses in the future as we continue to explore the potential clinical benefits of Tß4-based product candidates over multiple indications. We have entered into a series of strategic partnerships under licensing and joint venture agreements where our partners are responsible for advancing development of our product candidates by sponsoring multiple clinical trials. On February 27, 2019, we sold a series of convertible promissory notes to management, the Company’s Board of Directors and accredited investors including Essetifin S.p.A., our largest stockholder (the “2019 Notes”). The sale of the 2019 Notes will result in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,300,000 over two closings. The first closing in the amount of $650,000 occurred on February 27, 2019 and the second closing, also in the amount of $650,000, will occur within three days of the Company providing notice of the enrollment of the first patent in the ARISE-3 clinical trial in DES sponsored by ReGenTree (See Note 7). ReGenTree has informed us that they now expect the ARISE-3 clinical trial to occur in the second quarter of 2019. Because the Company does not control the timing of the ARISE-3 clinical trial, we cannot be certain that this timing is correct or that it may not change. The 2019 Notes contain a $0.12 conversion price and the purchasers also received a warrant exercisable at $0.18 to purchase additional shares of common stock equal to 75% of the number of shares into which each note is initially convertible (the “2019 Warrants”). In March and April 2019 we received proceeds of $115,625 and $125,000, respectively, pursuant to the exercise of warrants held by Sabby Management (the “Sabby Warrants”). At present, with the receipt of the sale proceeds from the first closing and proceeds from the March and April warrant exercises, coupled with the anticipated proceeds from the second closing, we will have sufficient cash to fund planned operations through the second quarter of 2020.
While we successfully secured additional operating capital to continue operations through the second quarter of 2020, we will need substantial additional funds in order to significantly advance development of our unlicensed programs. Accordingly, we will continue to evaluate opportunities to raise additional capital and are exploring various alternatives, including, without limitation, a public or private placement of our securities, debt financing, corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements, or the sale of our Company or certain of our intellectual property rights.
| 7 |
These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. This basis of accounting contemplates the recovery of our assets and the satisfaction of our liabilities in the normal course of business.
Although we intend to continue to seek additional financing and additional strategic partners, we may not be able to complete a financing or corporate transaction, either on favorable terms or at all. If we are unable to complete a financing or strategic transaction, we may not be able to continue as a going concern after our funds have been exhausted, and we could be required to significantly curtail or cease operations, file for bankruptcy or liquidate and dissolve. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any additional funding beyond our current expectations. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be forced to take any such actions.
If we are not able to secure financing beyond our current expectations, we would likely be forced to delay certain clinical and/or research activities and our financial condition would be materially and adversely affected. Even if we are able to obtain sufficient funding, other factors including competition, dependence on third parties, uncertainty regarding patents, protection of proprietary rights, manufacturing of peptides, and technology obsolescence could have a significant impact on us and our operations.
To achieve profitability, we, and/or a partner, must successfully conduct pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, obtain required regulatory approvals and successfully manufacture and market those pharmaceuticals we wish to commercialize. The time required to reach profitability is highly uncertain, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve sustained profitability, if at all.
Basis of Presentation.
The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for each period presented. These statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP. The accounting policies underlying our unaudited interim financial statements are consistent with those underlying our audited annual financial statements, but do not include all disclosures including notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited annual financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, and related notes thereto, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “Annual Report”).
The Company’s significant accounting policies are included in “Part IV - Item 15 – Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. - Note 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES” in the Company’s Annual Report. There have been no changes to these policies except as described below.
The accompanying December 31, 2018 financial information was derived from our audited financial statements included in the Annual Report. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any other future period.
References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “authoritative guidance” are to the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
| 8 |
Use of Estimates.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Critical accounting policies involved in applying our accounting policies are those that require management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made and those for which different estimates reasonably could have been used for the current period. Critical accounting estimates are also those which are reasonably likely to change from period to period and would have a material impact on the presentation of our financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations. Our most critical accounting estimates relate to accounting policies for revenue recognition, discount rate used to calculate the present value of future lease payments, recoverability of long-lived assets and share-based arrangements. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Convertible Notes with Detachable Warrants.
In accordance with ASC 470-20,Debt with Conversion and Other Options, the proceeds received from convertible notes are allocated between the convertible notes and the detachable warrants based on the relative fair value of the convertible notes without the warrants and the relative fair value of the warrants. The portion of the proceeds allocated to the warrants is recognized as additional paid-in capital and a debt discount. The debt discount related to warrants is accreted into interest expense through maturity of the notes.
Revenue Recognition.
Whenever the Company determines that an arrangement should be accounted for as a combined performance obligation, we must determine the period over which the performance obligation will be performed and when revenue will be recognized. Revenue is recognized using either a relative performance or straight-line method. We recognize revenue using the relative performance method provided that the we can reasonably estimate the level of effort required to complete our performance obligation under an arrangement and such performance obligation is provided on a best-efforts basis. Revenue recognized is limited to the lesser of the cumulative amount of payments received or the cumulative amount of revenue earned, as determined using the relative performance method, as of each reporting period.
Leases.
At the inception of a contract we determine if the arrangement is, or contains, a lease. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We have made certain accounting policy elections whereby we (i) do not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short-term leases (those with original terms of 12-months or less) and (ii) combine lease and non-lease elements of our operating leases. Operating lease ROU assets are included in other noncurrent assets and operating lease liabilities are included in other current and non-current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.
ROU Assets.
ROU assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Recoverability measurement and estimating of undiscounted cash flows is done at the lowest possible level for which we can identify assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, impairment is recognized as the amount by which the carrying amount of assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. As of March 31, 2019, no impairment was noted.
| 9 |
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.
In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2018-07,Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees, and as a result, the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees will be substantially aligned. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 in the first quarter of 2019 and the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on its condensed financial statements and related disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02,Leases(Topic 842) (“ASC 842”), which amends the existing accounting standards for leases. The new standard requires lessees to record an ROU asset and a corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet (with the exception of short-term leases), whereas under prior accounting standards, the Company’s lease portfolio consists of an operating lease and was not recognized on its condensed balance sheets. The new standard also requires expanded disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11,Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides an alternative modified transition method. Under this method, the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings is recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The guidance must be adopted on a modified retrospective basis and provides for certain practical expedients. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2019 using the following practical expedients:
| · | We did not reassess if any expired or existing contracts are, or contain, leases. | |
| · | We did not reassess the classification of any expired or existing leases. |
Additionally, we made ongoing accounting policy elections whereby we (i) do not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short-term leases (those with original terms of 12 months or less) and (ii) combine lease and non-lease elements of our operating leases.
Upon adoption of the new guidance on January 1, 2019, we recorded an ROU asset of approximately $60,000 (net of existing deferred rent liability) and recognized a lease liability of approximately $65,000, with no resulting cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit.
In August 2018, the SEC issued a final rule that amends certain disclosure requirements that were duplicative, outdated or superseded. In addition, the final rule expanded the financial reporting requirements for changes in stockholders’ equity for interim reporting periods. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 with no material impact to the condensed financial statements.
The Company has evaluated all other issued and unadopted ASUs and believes the adoption of these standards will not have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
| 2. | Net Income (Loss) per Common Share |
Basic net income (loss) per common share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the periods. Diluted loss per share is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period in which a loss is incurred. Potentially dilutive shares are excluded because the effect is antidilutive. In periods where there is net income, diluted income per share is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus dilutive securities with a purchase or conversion price below the per share price of our common stock on the last day of the reporting period. The potentially dilutive securities include 20,869,586 shares and 20,212,715 shares in 2019 and 2018, respectively, reserved for the conversion of convertible debt or exercise of outstanding options and warrants.
| 10 |
| 3. | Stock-Based Compensation |
We measure stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the awards, which is then recognized over the period which service is required to be provided. We estimate the value of our stock option awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“Black-Scholes”) and amortize that cost over the expected term of the grant. We recognized $54,755 and $60,168 in stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
We did not issue stock options to employees, consultants and directors during the three months ended March 31, 2019 or 2018, respectively.
A summary of the Company’s stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2019 is as follows:
| Number of Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
| Options Outstanding, December 31, 2018 | 9,044,825 | $ | 0.28 | |||||||||||||
| Granted | - | $ | - | |||||||||||||
| Exercised | - | $ | - | |||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (950,000 | ) | $ | 0.14 | ||||||||||||
| Options Outstanding, March 31, 2019 | 8,094,825 | $ | 0.30 | 4.6 years | $ | 171,550 | ||||||||||
| Vested and unvested but expected to vest, March 31, 2019 | 8,013,673 | $ | 0.30 | 4.6 years | $ | 171,500 | ||||||||||
| Exercisable at March 31, 2019 | 6,391,075 | $ | 0.32 | 3.4 years | $ | 135,428 | ||||||||||
The average expected life was determined using historical data. We expect to recognize the compensation cost related to non-vested options as of March 31, 2019 of $221,187 over the weighted average remaining recognition period of 1.23 years.
| 4. | Income Taxes |
As of March 31, 2019, there have been no material changes to our uncertain tax positions disclosures as provided in Note 9 of the Annual Report. The tax returns for all years in the Company’s major tax jurisdictions are not settled as of January 1, 2019; no changes in settled tax years have occurred through March 31, 2019. Due to the existence of tax attribute carryforwards (which are currently offset by a full valuation allowance), the Company treats all years’ tax positions as unsettled due to the taxing authorities’ ability to modify these attributes.
| 5. | Fair Value Measurements |
The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or the most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are (i) independent, (ii) knowledgeable, (iii) able to transact, and (iv) willing to transact. The guidance describes a fair value hierarchy based on the levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value which are the following:
| 11 |
| Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. |
| Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. |
| Level 3 — Unobservable inputs. |
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our only qualifying assets that required measurement under the foregoing fair value hierarchy were money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents valued at $662,568 and $237,261, respectively, using Level 1 inputs.
| 6. | Convertible Notes |
2012 Convertible Notes
On October 19, 2012 we completed a private placement of convertible notes (“2012 Notes”) raising an aggregate of $300,000 in gross proceeds. The 2012 Notes were originally to mature after twenty-four (24) months from issuance. The 2012 Notes bore interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum and were convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of fifteen cents ($0.15) per share (subject to adjustment as described in the 2012 Notes) at any time prior to repayment, at the election of the investors. In the aggregate, the 2012 Notes were convertible into up to 2,000,000 shares of our common stock excluding interest.
At any time prior to maturity of the 2012 Notes, with the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the 2012 Notes, we could prepay the outstanding principal amount of the 2012 Notes plus unpaid accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal and all accrued interest on the 2012 Notes would accelerate and automatically become immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default.
In connection with the issuance of the 2012 Notes we also issued warrants to each Investor. The warrants were exercisable for an aggregate of 400,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of fifteen cents ($0.15) per share for a period of five years. The relative fair value of the warrants issued was $27,097, calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model value of $0.07 with an expected and contractual life of 5 years, an assumed volatility of 74.36%, and a risk-free interest rate of 0.77%. The warrants were recorded as additional paid-in capital and a discount on the 2012 Notes of $27,097.
The investors, and the principal amount of their respective 2012 Notes and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of their respective warrants, are as set forth below:
| Investor | Note Principal | Warrants | ||||||
| Sinaf S.A. | $ | 200,000 | 266,667 | |||||
| Joseph C. McNay | $ | 50,000 | 66,667 | |||||
| Allan L. Goldstein | $ | 35,000 | 46,666 | |||||
| J.J. Finkelstein | $ | 15,000 | 20,000 | |||||
Sinaf S. A. has historically been affiliated with our largest stockholder. The other investors are members of our Board of Directors including Mr. Finkelstein, who serves as our CEO, and Dr. Goldstein who serves as our Chief Scientific Advisor and the Chairman of our Board of Directors.
During 2014, the Company, amended the existing October 2012 convertible debt agreement with the holders, solely to extend the due date of the principal and accrued unpaid interest until October 19, 2017. No other terms of the original debt were amended or modified, and the lenders did not reduce the borrowed amount or change the interest rate of the debt. The Company considered the restructuring a troubled debt restructuring as a result of the Company’s financial condition (see Note 1 discussion of “going concern”). At the date of the amendment, all existing debt discounts and deferred financing fees were fully amortized and the amendment did not involve any additional fees paid to the lender or third parties; as such there was no gain recognized as a result of the amendment. The 2012 Notes matured, and the holders elected to convert the note balances of $300,000 and accrued interest of approximately $76,000 into common stock and also exercised the associated warrants in October 2017.
| 12 |
2013 Convertible Notes
On March 29, 2013, we completed a private placement of convertible notes (the “March 2013 Notes”) raising an aggregate of $225,000 in gross proceeds. The March 2013 Notes bore interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum, matured sixty (60) months after their date of issuance and were convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of six cents ($0.06) per share (subject to adjustment as described in the March 2013 Notes) at any time prior to repayment, at the election of the investor. In the aggregate, the March 2013 Notes were initially convertible into up to 3,750,000 shares of our common stock.
At any time prior to maturity of the March 2013 Notes, with the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the March 2013 Notes, we could prepay the outstanding principal amount of the March 2013 Notes plus unpaid accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal and all accrued interest on the March 2013 Notes would accelerate and automatically become immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default.
The investors in the offering included two members of the Board of Directors, Dr. Goldstein and Joseph C. McNay, an outside director. The principal amounts of their respective March 2013 Notes are as set forth below:
| Investor | Note Principal | |||
| Joseph C. McNay | $ | 50,000 | ||
| Allan L. Goldstein | $ | 25,000 | ||
The March 2013 Notes contained a down round provision under which the conversion price could be decreased as a result of future equity offerings, as defined in the March 2013 Notes. The adjustment would reduce the conversion price of the March 2013 Notes to be equivalent to that of the newly issued stock or stock-related instruments. As a result, the Company concluded that the conversion feature represented an embedded conversion feature for accounting purposes and should be recognized as a derivative liability, requiring a mark-to-market adjustment at the end of each reporting period until the related March 2013 Notes have been settled prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-11. The bifurcated liability of $225,000 was recorded on the date of issuance which resulted in a residual debt value of $0. The discount related to the embedded feature was accreted back to debt through the maturity of the notes. The March 2013 Notes matured, and the holders elected to convert the note balances of $225,000 and accrued interest of approximately $57,000 into common stock in March 2018.
On July 5, 2013, we completed a private placement of convertible notes (the “July 2013 Notes”) raising an aggregate of $100,000 in gross proceeds. The July 2013 Notes bore interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum, matured sixty (60) months after their date of issuance and were convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of six cents ($0.06) per share (subject to adjustment as described in the July 2013 Notes) at any time prior to repayment, at the election of the investor. In the aggregate, the July 2013 Notes were initially convertible into up to 1,666,667 shares of our common stock.
At any time prior to maturity of the July 2013 Notes, with the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the July 2013 Notes, we could prepay the outstanding principal amount of the July 2013 Notes plus unpaid accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal and all accrued interest on the July 2013 Notes would accelerate and automatically become immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default.
| 13 |
The investors in the offering included three current and one former member of Board of Directors, Mr. Finkelstein, Dr. Goldstein, Mr. McNay and L. Thompson Bowles, previously an outside director. The principal amounts of their respective July 2013 Notes are as set forth below:
| Investor | Note Principal | |||
| Joseph C. McNay | $ | 50,000 | ||
| Allan L. Goldstein | $ | 10,000 | ||
| J.J. Finkelstein | $ | 5,000 | ||
| L. Thompson Bowles | $ | 5,000 | ||
The July 2013 Notes contained a down round provision under which the conversion price could be decreased as a result of future equity offerings, as defined in the July 2013 Notes. The adjustment would reduce the conversion price of the July 2013 Notes to be equivalent to that of the newly issued stock or stock-related instruments. As a result, the Company concluded that the conversion feature represented an embedded conversion feature for accounting purposes and should be recognized as a derivative liability, requiring a mark-to-market adjustment at the end of each reporting period until the related July 2013 Notes have been settled prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-11. The bifurcated liability of $66,667 was recorded on the date of issuance which resulted in a residual debt value of $33,333. The discount related to the embedded feature was accreted back to debt through the maturity of the notes. The July 2013 Notes matured, and the holders elected to convert the note balances of $100,000 and accrued interest of approximately $25,000 into common stock in July 2018.
On September 11, 2013, we completed a private placement of convertible notes raising an aggregate of $321,000 in gross proceeds (the “September 2013 Notes”). The September 2013 Notes bore interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum, mature sixty (60) months after their date of issuance and were convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of six cents ($0.06) per share (subject to adjustment as described in the September 2013 Notes) at any time prior to repayment, at the election of the investor. In the aggregate, the September 2013 Notes were initially convertible into up to 5,350,000 shares of our common stock.
At any time prior to maturity of the September 2013 Notes, with the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the September 2013 Notes, we could prepay the outstanding principal amount of the September 2013 Notes plus unpaid accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal and all accrued interest on the September 2013 Notes would accelerate and automatically become immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default.
The investors in the offering included an affiliate and three current and one former member of the Board of Directors. The principal amounts of their respective September 2013 Notes are as set forth below:
| Investor | Note Principal | |||
| SINAF S.A. | $ | 150,000 | ||
| Joseph C. McNay | $ | 100,000 | ||
| Allan L. Goldstein | $ | 11,000 | ||
| L. Thompson Bowles | $ | 5,000 | ||
| R. Don Elsey | $ | 5,000 | ||
The September 2013 Notes contained a down round provision under which the conversion price could be decreased as a result of future equity offerings, as defined in the September 2013 Notes. The adjustment would reduce the conversion price of the September 2013 Notes to be equivalent to that of the newly issued stock or stock-related instruments. As a result, the Company concluded that the conversion feature represented an embedded conversion feature for accounting purposes and should be recognized as a derivative liability, requiring a mark-to-market adjustment at the end of each reporting period until the related September 2013 Notes have been settled prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-11. The bifurcated liability of $267,500 was recorded on the date of issuance which resulted in a residual debt value of $53,500. The discount related to the embedded feature was accreted back to debt through the maturity of the notes. The September 2013 Notes matured, and the holders elected to convert the note balances of $321,000 and accrued interest of approximately $81,000 into common stock in September 2018.
| 14 |
2014 Convertible Notes
On January 7, 2014, we completed a private placement of convertible notes raising an aggregate of $55,000 in gross proceeds (the “January 2014 Notes”). The January 2014 Notes bore interest at a rate of 5% per annum, matured 60 months after their date of issuance and were convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.06 per share (subject to adjustment as described in the January 2014 Notes) at any time prior to repayment, at the election of the investor. In the aggregate, the Notes were initially convertible into up to 916,667 shares of our common stock.
At any time prior to maturity of the January 2014 Notes, with the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the January 2014 Notes, we could prepay the outstanding principal amount of the January 2014 Notes plus unpaid accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal and all accrued interest on the January 2014 Notes would accelerate and automatically become immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default.
The investors in the offering included two current and one former member of the Board of Directors. The principal amounts of their respective January 2014 Notes are as set forth below:
| Investor | Note Principal | |||
| Joseph C. McNay | $ | 25,000 | ||
| Allan L. Goldstein | $ | 10,000 | ||
| L. Thompson Bowles | $ | 5,000 | ||
The January 2014 Notes contained a down round provision under which the conversion price could be decreased as a result of future equity offerings, as defined in the January 2014 Notes. The adjustment would reduce the conversion price of the January 2014 Notes to be equivalent to that of the newly issued stock or stock-related instruments. As a result, the Company concluded that the conversion feature represented an embedded conversion feature for accounting purposes and should be recognized as a derivative liability, requiring a mark-to-market adjustment at the end of each reporting period until the related January 2014 Notes have been settled prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-11. The bifurcated liability of $55,000 was recorded on the date of issuance which resulted in a residual debt value of $0. The discount related to the embedded feature was accreted back to debt through the maturity of the notes. The January 2014 Notes matured, and the holders elected to convert the note balances of $55,000 and accrued interest of approximately $14,000 into common stock in January 2019.
2019 Convertible Notes
On February 27, 2019 we sold a series of convertible promissory notes to management, the Company’s Board of Directors and accredited investors including Essetifin S.p.A., our largest stockholder. The sale of the notes will result in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,300,000 over two closings (the “2019 Notes”). The first closing in the amount of $650,000 occurred on February 27, 2019 and the second closing, also in the amount of $650,000, will occur within three days of the Company providing notice of the enrollment of the first patent in the ARISE-3 clinical trial in DES sponsored by ReGenTree. This is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2019. The 2019 Notes will mature sixty (60) months from issuance. The 2019 Notes bear interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of twelve cents ($0.12) per share (subject to adjustment as described in the 2019 Notes) at any time prior to repayment, at the election of the investors. In the aggregate, the 2019 Notes issued in the first closing are convertible into up to 5,416,667 shares of our common stock excluding interest.
| 15 |
At any time prior to maturity of the 2019 Notes, with the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the 2019 Notes, we can prepay the outstanding principal amount of the 2019 Notes plus unpaid accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal and all accrued interest on the 2019 Notes will accelerate and automatically become immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default.
In connection with the issuance of the 2019 Notes we also issued warrants to each investor. The warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 4,062,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of eighteen cents ($0.18) per share for a period of five years (the “2019 Warrants”). The relative fair value of the 2019 Warrants issued was $174,221 calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model value of $0.06 with an expected and contractual life of 5 years, an assumed volatility of 67.86%, and a risk-free interest rate of 2.49%. The 2019 warrants are classified in equity.
The Company allocated $174,221 of the gross proceeds to the warrants, on a relative fair value basis. In addition, because the effective conversion price of the 2019 Notes was less than the fair value of the underlying common stock on the issuance date, we allocated the intrinsic value of that feature to additional paid in capital. The debt discount created by the 2019 Warrants and beneficial conversion feature will be amortized over the term of the 2019 Notes as additional interest expense using the effective interest method.
The affiliated investors, and the principal amount of their respective 2019 Notes purchase commitments are as set forth below:
| Investor | Note Principal | |||
| Essetifin S.p.A. | $ | 1,000,000 | ||
| Joseph C. McNay | $ | 25,000 | ||
| J.J. Finkelstein | $ | 25,000 | ||
| Mauro Bove | $ | 10,000 | ||
| Allan L. Goldstein | $ | 5,000 | ||
| R. Don Elsey | $ | 5,000 | ||
Essetifin S.p.A. is currently the holder of all RegeneRx securities previously held by Sigma-Tau and its affiliates and is our largest stockholder. The other listed investors are members of our Board of Directors including Mr. Finkelstein, who serves as our CEO, and Dr. Goldstein who serves as our Chief Scientific Advisor and Chairman of our Board of Directors.
The Company recorded interest expense and discount accretion as set forth below:
| For the 3 months ended | ||||||||
| March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | |||||||
| March 2013 Notes | $ | - | $ | 14,192 | ||||
| July 2013 Notes | - | 4,448 | ||||||
| September 2013 Notes | - | 16,856 | ||||||
| January 2014 Notes | 479 | 3,330 | ||||||
| 2019 Notes | 9,111 | - | ||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | 9,590 | $ | 38,826 | ||||
| 16 |
| 7. | License Agreements |
Joint Venture Agreement – ReGenTree.
On January 28, 2015, the Company entered into the Joint Venture Agreement with GtreeBNT, a stockholder in the Company. The Joint Venture Agreement provides for the creation of the Joint Venture, jointly owned by the Company and GtreeBNT. ReGenTree LLC (“ReGenTree” or “Joint Venture”) will commercialize RGN-259 for treatment of dry eye and neurotrophic keratopathy in the United States and Canada.
GtreeBNT is solely responsible for funding all the product development and commercialization efforts of the Joint Venture. GtreeBNT made an initial contribution of $3 million in cash and received an initial equity stake of 51%. RegeneRx’s ownership interest in ReGenTree was reduced to 38.5% when the Clinical Study Report was filed for the Phase 2/3 dry eye clinical trial. Based on when, and if, certain additional development milestones are achieved in the U.S. with RGN-259, our equity ownership may be incrementally reduced to between 38.5% and 25%, with 25% being the final equity ownership upon approval of an NDA for DES in the U.S. In addition to our equity ownership, RegeneRx retains a royalty on net sales that varies between single and low double digits, depending on whether commercial sales are made by ReGenTree or a licensee. In the event ReGenTree is acquired or there is a change of control that occurs following achievement of an NDA, RegeneRx shall be entitled to a minimum of 40% of all proceeds paid or payable and will forgo any future royalties. The Company is not required or otherwise obligated to provide financial support to the Joint Venture.
The Joint Venture is responsible for executing all development and commercialization activities under the License Agreement, which activities will be directed by a joint development committee comprised of representatives of the Company and GtreeBNT. The License Agreement has a term that extends to the later of the expiration of the last patent covered by the License Agreement or 25 years from the first commercial sale under the License Agreement. The License Agreement may be earlier terminated if the Joint Venture fails to meet certain commercialization milestones, if either party breaches the License Agreement and fails to cure such breach, as a result of government action that limits the ability of the Joint Venture to commercialize the product, as a result of a challenge to a licensed patent, following termination of the license between the Company and certain agencies of the United States federal government, or upon the bankruptcy of either party.
Under the License Agreement, the Company received $1.0 million in up-front payments and is entitled to receive royalties on the Joint Venture’s future sales of products. On April 6, 2016, we received $250,000 from ReGenTree in connection with the amendment of the License Agreement in April 2016 to expand the territorial rights to include Canada. The Company is accounting for the License Agreement with the Joint Venture as a revenue arrangement. Since participation in the joint development committee is required, it was deemed to be a material promise. Management has concluded that the participation in the joint development committee is not distinct from other promised goods and services. The Company assessed the license agreements in accordance with ASC 606. The Company evaluated the promised goods and services under the license agreements and determined that there was one combined performance obligation representing a series of distinct goods and services including the license to research, develop and commercialize RGN-259 and participation in the joint development committee. Revenue is being recognized on a straight-line basis over a period of 30 years, which, in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation and represents the Company’s best estimate of the period of the obligation. Revenue will be recognized for future royalty payments as they are earned.
GtreeBNT.
On March 7, 2014, we entered into license agreements with GtreeBNT Co., Ltd. The two Licensing Agreements are for the license of territorial rights to two of our Thymosin Beta 4-based products candidates, RGN-259 and RGN-137.
Under the License Agreement for RGN-259, our preservative-free eye drop product candidate, GtreeBNT will have the right to develop and commercialize RGN-259 in Asia (excluding China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau). The rights will be exclusive in Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan, and semi-exclusive in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, collectively, the Territory (the “259 Territory”). Under the 259 License Agreement we are eligible to receive aggregate potential milestone payments of up to $3.5 million. In addition, we are eligible to receive royalties of a low double digit percentage of any commercial sales of the licensed product sold by GtreeBNT in the 259 Territory. In late 2016 GtreeBNT informed us that it believes marketing approval in the U.S. will allow expedited marketing in Korea, possibly without the need for a clinical trial.
| 17 |
Under the License Agreement for RGN-137, our topical dermal gel product candidate, GtreeBNT will have the exclusive right to develop and commercialize RGN-137 in the U.S. (the “137 Territory”). Under the 137 License Agreement we are eligible to receive aggregate potential milestone payments of up to $3.5 million. In addition, we are eligible to receive royalties of a low double digit percentage of any commercial sales of the Company’s licensed product sold by GtreeBNT in the 137 Territory. In August 2017, we amended the License Agreement for RGN-137 held by GtreeBNT. Under the amendment, the 137 Territory was expanded to include Europe, Canada, South Korea, Australia and Japan. Under the License Agreement, the Company received a series of non-refundable payments and is entitled to receive royalties on the future sales of products. The Company is accounting for the license agreement as a revenue arrangement. Since participation in the joint development committee is required, it was deemed to be a material promise. Management has concluded that the participation in the joint development committee is not distinct from other promised goods and services. The Company assessed the license agreement in accordance with ASC 606. The Company evaluated the promised goods and services under the license agreement and determined that there was one combined performance obligation representing a series of distinct goods and services including the license to research, develop and commercialize RGN-137 and participation in the joint development committee. Revenue is being recognized on a straight-line basis over a period of 23 years, which, in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation and represents the Company’s best estimate of the period of the obligation. Revenue will be recognized for future royalty payments as they are earned.
Lee’s Pharmaceutical.
We are a party to a license agreement with Lee’s Pharmaceutical (HK) Limited (“Lee’s”), headquartered in Hong Kong, for the license of Thymosin Beta 4 in any pharmaceutical form, including our RGN-259, RGN-352 and RGN-137 product candidates, in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (the “Lee’s License Agreement”). Lee’s previously filed an IND with the Chinese FDA (“CFDA”) to conduct a Phase 2, randomized, double-masked, dose-response clinical trial with RGN-259 in China for dry-eye syndrome. Lee's subsequently informed us that it received notice from CFDA declining its IND application for a Phase 2b dry eye clinical trial because the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient or Tß4) was manufactured outside of China. The API was manufactured in the U.S. and provided to Lee's by RegeneRx pursuant to a license agreement to develop RGN-259 ophthalmic eye drops in the licensed territory. However, in mid-2016, we were informed by Lee’s that the CFDA modified its manufacturing regulations and will now allow Chinese companies to utilize API manufactured outside of China for Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. We have not yet been informed of a projected starting date for Phase 2 trials. In February 2019, the License Agreement was amended and assigned by Lee’s to their affiliate, Zhaoke Ophthalmology Pharmaceutical Limited. There are no economic changes to the License Agreement.
| 8. | Stockholders’ Equity |
On January 6, 2019, the January 2014 Convertible Notes matured, and the holders elected to convert the note balances and accrued interest into common stock. As a result, we issued 1,149,016 shares of common stock.
On March 2, 2018, the Company entered into a warrant reprice and exercise and issuance agreement (the “Reprice Agreement”) with Sabby Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd., and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. (collectively, “March 2018 Investor”). In connection with the Reprice Agreement, the Company issued to the March 2018 Investor warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “March Warrants”). The exercise price under the March Warrants is subject to a limited anti-dilution provision, such that in the event the Company makes an issuance of common stock (subject to customary exceptions) at a price per share less than the applicable exercise price of the March Warrants, the exercise price of the March Warrants will be reduced to the price per share applicable to such new issuance but will not adjust to an exercise price below $0.125. As a result of the issuance of the 2019 Notes and warrants, the exercise price of the March Warrants was adjusted to $0.125 per share. The estimated fair value of the effect of the exercise price adjustment of $82,566 is reflected as a dividend to the March 2018 Investor in 2019.
| 18 |
Subsequent to the reduction of the exercise price of the March Warrants to $0.125 in 2019, the March 2018 Investor exercised warrants for 925,000 shares of common stock and the Company received exercise proceeds of $115,625. The March 2018 Investor has exercised additional warrants subsequent to March 31, 2019 for 1,000,000 shares of common stock.
| 9. | Leases |
In February 2017, we amended our office lease agreement and the term was extended through July 2020. During the extended term our rental payments will average approximately $4,000 per month. Pursuant to the adoption of ASC 842, our facility lease is our only existing lease as of March 31, 2019 and is classified as operating lease. Our facility lease does not have a renewal option although we believe we will be able to extend or renew the lease if desired. The discount rate used in the calculation of our lease liability is approximately 20%, which is based on our estimate of the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term and amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment as the lease does not provide an implicit rate.
Upon adoption the minimum lease payments were:
The future minimum rent payments as of January 1, 2019, were as follows:
| 2019 | $ | 48,101 | |||
| 2020 | 28,850 | ||||
| Total | $ | 76,951 |
The following table summarizes the Company’s recognition of its operating lease:
| March 31, 2019 | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Operating lease right-of-use asset | $ | 51,682 | ||
| Total lease assets | $ | 51,682 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Current | ||||
| Current portion of operating lease liability | $ | 48,459 | ||
| Non-current | ||||
| Operating lease liability | 8,146 | |||
| Total lease liabilities | $ | 56,605 | ||
| 19 |
Rent expense, consisting of minimum operating lease payments and variable lease payments for pass through items such as common area maintenance and real estate taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 is recorded in G&A and consisted of the following:
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 11,937 | $ | 11,590 | ||||
| Variable lease costs | 1,364 | 8,571 | ||||||
| Total lease costs | $ | 13,301 | $ | 20,161 | ||||
A maturity analysis of our operating lease minimum lease payments follows:
| 2019 | $ | 36,163 | ||
| 2020 | 28,850 | |||
| Total | 65,013 | |||
| Discount factor | (8,408 | ) | ||
| Total lease liabilties | 56,605 | |||
| Amounts due within 12 months | (48,459 | ) | ||
| Non-current operating lease liability | $ | 8,146 |
| ITEM 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including this Part I., Item 2., “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward-looking statements regarding us and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “may” or other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our clinical development programs and schedules, our future capital resources and funding requirements, our expectations regarding future licenses of our technology, our anticipated growth and trends in our business and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee that we will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements we make, including those described under “Risk Factors” set forth below in Part II., Item 1A. In addition, any forward-looking statements we make in this document speak only as of the date of this report, and we do not intend to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after that date.
Business Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, or Tß4, for tissue and organ protection, repair, and regeneration. We have formulated Tß4 into three distinct product candidates in clinical development:
| • | RGN-259, a preservative-free topical eye drop for regeneration of corneal tissues damaged by injury, disease or other pathology; | |
| • | RGN-352, an injectable formulation to treat cardiovascular diseases, central and peripheral nervous system diseases, and other medical indications that may be treated by systemic administration; and | |
| • | RGN-137, a topical gel for dermal wounds and reduction of scar tissue. |
| 20 |
We are continuing strategic partnership discussions with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies regarding the further clinical development of all of our product candidates.
Current Financial Status
On February 27, 2019, we sold a series of convertible promissory notes to management, the Company’s Board of Directors and accredited investors including Essetifin S.p.A., our largest stockholder (the “2019 Notes”). The sale of the 2019 Notes will result in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,300,000 over two closings. The first closing in the amount of $650,000 occurred on February 27, 2019 and the second closing, also in the amount of $650,000, will occur within three days of the Company providing notice of the enrollment of the first patent in the ARISE-3 clinical trial in DES sponsored by ReGenTree. ReGenTree has informed us that they now expect the ARISE-3 clinical trial to occur in the second quarter of 2019. Because the Company does not control the timing of the ARISE-3 clinical trial, we cannot be certain that this timing is correct or that it may not change. The 2019 Notes contain a $0.12 conversion price and the purchasers also received a warrant exercisable at $0.18 to purchase additional shares of common stock equal to 75% of the number of shares into which each note is initially convertible (the “2019 Warrants”). In addition, we received proceeds of $115,625 pursuant to the exercise of warrants held by Sabby Management as well as $125,000 for April 2019 warrant exercises. At present, with the receipt of the sale proceeds from the first closing on the 2019 Notes, proceeds from the March and April warrant exercises coupled with the anticipated proceeds from the second closing, we will have sufficient cash to fund planned operations through the second quarter of 2020.
Current Clinical Status
In January 2015, we entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with GtreeBNT whereby we created ReGenTree LLC (“ReGenTree” or “Joint Venture”) jointly owned by us and GtreeBNT, which will commercialize RGN-259 for treatment of dry eye and neurotrophic keratopathy, an orphan indication in the United States.
To date ReGenTree has sponsored a Phase 2/3 clinical trial (“ARISE-1”) and Phase 3 clinical trials in patients with dry eye syndrome (“DES”) (“ARISE-2”) and in patients with neurotrophic keratopathy (“NK”) (“SEER-1”), all in the U.S. In May 2016, we reported the results of the 317-patient ARISE-1 trial and in October 2017, we reported the results of the ARISE-2 trial. The ARISE-2 study, which was sponsored by ReGenTree and managed by Ora, Inc. pursuant a recent contract between the parties, demonstrated a number of statistically significant improvements in both signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome with 0.1% RGN-259 versus placebo, while showing excellent safety, comfort, and tolerability profiles. The ocular discomfort symptom showed a statistically significant reduction in the RGN-259-treated group at day 15 as compared to placebo (p=0.0149) in the change from baseline. For sign, RGN-259 also improved the dry eye patient’s ability to withstand an exacerbated condition in a patient subgroup with both compromised corneal fluorescein staining and Schirmer’s test at baseline. In this population, RGN-259 showed superiority over placebo in reducing corneal fluorescein staining in the change from baseline at days 15 and 29 (p=0.0207 and 0.0254, respectively). RGN-259 confirmed its global effects on dry eye syndrome and fast onset in multiple sign and symptom efficacies with no safety issues in the ARISE-1 and ARISE-2 studies as well as in the pooled data, although ARISE-2 was not successful in duplicating the results of ARISE-1 where the study population was limited and less diversified. ReGenTree is proceeding with its RGN-259 development plan as discussed with the FDA in April 2018. Most recently, ReGenTree reaffirmed that the manufacturing of the investigational product for ARISE-3 has been completed and the protocol for the study has been finalized. ReGenTree and Ora, Inc. have entered into a contract for management of ARISE-3. Ora, Inc. recently initiated the study with the first patient anticipated to be enrolled in the second quarter of 2019.
The NK trial (SEER-1), a smaller study in an orphan population, has enrolled 17 patients. Earlier in 2018, ReGenTree disclosed that 7 of 17 patients enrolled SEER-1 have completely healed. To participate in the trial the patients were required to have a persistent epithelial defect (non-healing corneal wound). While these preliminary observations are encouraging, it should be noted that the patients and treating physicians remain masked while the trial is on-going, so it is not known whether the healed patients are in the RGN-259 group, placebo group, or distributed among both. We expect ReGenTree will likely close SEER-1 and reports results in patients accrued to date during the second half of 2019.
| 21 |
GtreeBNT has developed the CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and controls) dossier required for Phase 3 clinical trials and commercialization in the U.S. and in Korea. This comprehensive and critical effort ensures that final drug product manufacturing, packaging, stability, purity, reproducibility, etc., meets regulatory guidelines and product specifications. The product of this activity is the current product formulation being utilized in the U.S. trials being conducted by ReGenTree and will also be utilized in the planned clinical activity to be conducted by GtreeBNT under the RGN-259 license agreement for Pan Asia.
In February 2017, our licensee for RGN-137, GtreeBNT, received permission from the U.S. FDA to sponsor a Phase 3 clinical trial using RGN-137 to treat patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a genetic disease that causes severe blistering of the skin and internal organs. In August 2017, the Company amended the License Agreement for RGN-137 held by GtreeBNT. Under the amendment the Territory was expanded to include Europe, Canada, South Korea, Australia and Japan. In December 2018, GtreeBNT initiated a small open trial in patients with EB to evaluate RGN-137 in such patients prior to sponsoring a larger Phase 3 trial.
Development of Product Candidates
RGN-259
RGN-259 is our proprietary preservative-free eye drop formulation of Thymosin beta 4. In September 2011, we completed a Phase 2a exploratory clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of RGN-259 in 72 patients with moderate dry eye syndrome. In November 2011, we reported preliminary safety and efficacy results from the trial. RGN-259 was deemed safe and well-tolerated, with no observed drug-related adverse events.
In June 2012, we reported preliminary results from a double-masked, vehicle-controlled, physician-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating RGN-259 for the treatment of nine patients (18 eyes) with severe dry eye. RGN-259 was observed to be safe and well-tolerated and met key efficacy objectives with statistically significant sign and symptom improvements, compared to vehicle control, at various time intervals, including 28 days post-treatment.
Consistent with the reduction of ocular discomfort and fluorescein staining at the 28-day follow-up visit, other improvements seen in the RGN-259-treated patients included tear film breakup time and increased tear volume production. Likewise, these improvements were seen at other time points in the study. These results were publishedCornea in 2015.
In September 2015, ReGenTree began the Phase 2/3 ARISE-1 clinical trial in patients with dry eye syndrome (and the Phase 3 SEER-1 clinical trial in patients with neurotrophic keratopathy (“NK”), both in the U.S. In May 2016, we reported the results of the 317-patient ARISE-1 dry eye trial. In the trial, RGN-259 demonstrated statistically significant improvements in both signs and symptoms of dry eye with 0.05% and 0.1% RGN-259 compared to placebo in a dose dependent manner during a 28-day dosing period. While the primary outcome measures were not met, several key related pre-specified endpoints and subgroups of patients with more severe dry eye showed statistically significant treatment effects. These results confirm the findings from the previous Phase 2 trial providing clear direction for the clinical regulatory pathway and remaining registration trials for RGN-259. Shortly following the ARISE-1 trial, the FDA approved ReGenTree’s Phase 3 ARISE-2 dry eye protocol and we initiated the ARISE-2 trial that enrolled approximately 600 patients.
The ARISE-2 study, which was sponsored by ReGenTree and managed by Ora, Inc., demonstrated a number of statistically significant improvements in both signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome with 0.1% RGN-259 versus placebo, while showing excellent safety, comfort, and tolerability profiles. The ocular discomfort symptom showed a statistically significant reduction in the RGN-259-treated group at day 15 as compared to placebo (p=0.0149) in the change from baseline. For sign, RGN-259 also improved the dry eye patient’s ability to withstand an exacerbated condition in a patient subgroup with both compromised corneal fluorescein staining and Schirmer’s test at baseline. In this population, RGN-259 showed superiority over placebo in reducing corneal fluorescein staining in the change from baseline at days 15 and 29 (p=0.0207 and 0.0254, respectively). RGN-259 confirmed its global effects on dry eye syndrome and fast onset in multiple sign and symptom efficacies with no safety issues in the ARISE-1 and ARISE-2 studies as well as in the pooled data, although ARISE-2 was not successful in duplicating the results of ARISE-1 where the study population was limited and less diversified.
| 22 |
In February 2019 ReGenTree initiated a 700-patient ARISE-3 trial in patients with dry eye syndrome to confirm the results observed in ARISE-2. We anticipate the first patient will be enrolled in the second quarter of 2019.
RGN-352
During 2009, we completed a Phase 1a and Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the intravenous administration of RGN-352 in 60 healthy subjects (40 in each group, 20 of whom participated in both Phases). Based on the results of these Phase 1 trials and extensive preclinical efficacy data published in peer-reviewed journals, in the second half of 2010, we began start-up activities for a Phase 2 study to evaluate RGN-352 (Tß4 Injectable Solution) in patients who had suffered an AMI. We had planned to begin enrolling patients in this clinical trial in the second quarter of 2011. However, in March 2011, we were notified by the FDA that the trial was placed on clinical hold as a result of our contract manufacturer’s alleged failure to comply with the current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations. The manufacturer has since closed its manufacturing facility and filed for bankruptcy protection. The FDA prohibited us from using any of the active drug or placebo formulated by this manufacturer in human trials; consequently, we must have study drug (RGN-352 and RGN-352 placebo) manufactured by a new cGMP-compliant manufacturer in the event we seek to move forward with this trial. While we have identified a qualified manufacturer for RGN-352, we have elected to postpone activities on this trial until the requisite funding or a partner is secured.
In addition to the potential application of RGN-352 for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, preclinical research published in the scientific journalsNeuroscience and theJournal of Neurosurgery,among others, indicates that RGN-352 may also prove useful for patients with multiple sclerosis, or MS, as well as patients suffering a stroke, traumatic brain injury, peripheral neuropathy, or spinal cord injury. In these preclinical studies, the administration of Tß4 resulted in regeneration of neuronal tissue by promoting remyelination of axons and stimulating oligodendrogenesis, resulting in improvement of neurological functional activity. In 2012, researchers studying Tß4 under a material transfer agreement (MTA) found that Tß4 had beneficial effects in animal models of peripheral neuropathy, one of the major complications of diabetes. This research was published in the journal of Neurobiology of Disease in 2012 and appears to corroborate previous findings using Tß4 for repair of central nervous system disorders. We are discussing possible partnership opportunities with companies interested in developing RGN-352 for this indication.
Based on our Phase 1 data and the preclinical research discussed above, we are evaluating various opportunities for government funding for a Phase 2a clinical trial to show proof-of-concept in each case while also talking with prospective strategic partners with the interest, capabilities and resources to further develop product candidate in these fields.
RGN-137
Clinical Development — Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Starting in 2005, we began conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of RGN-137 for the treatment of patients with EB. EB is a genetic disease of approximately 10 gene mutations that results in fragile skin and other epithelial structures (e.g., cornea and GI tract) that can blister spontaneously or separate at the slightest trauma or friction, creating a wound that at times does not heal or heals poorly. In severe cases, recurrent blistering and tissue loss may be life threatening. EB has been designated as an “orphan” indication by the FDA’s Office of Orphan Drugs. We closed the Phase 2 trial in late 2011 and we submitted the final report to the FDA in 2014.
Clinical Development — Pressure Ulcers. In late 2005, we began conducting Phase 2 clinical trial designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of RGN-137 for the treatment of patients with chronic pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores.
| 23 |
In January 2009, we reported final data from this trial. RGN-137 was well-tolerated at all three dose levels studied, with no dose-limiting adverse events, which achieved the primary objective of the study. A follow-on evaluation, reported at the 3rd International Symposium on the Thymosins in Health and Disease in March 2012, showed that for those pressure ulcer patients’ wounds that healed, RGN-137 mid dose (0.02% Tβ4 gel product) accelerated wound closure with a median time to healing of 22 days as compared to 57 days for the placebo. Although those results are clinically significant, they were not statistically significant.
Clinical Development — Venous Stasis Ulcers. In mid-2006 we began conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of RGN-137 for the treatment of patients with venous stasis ulcers. Venous stasis ulcers are a common type of chronic wound that develops on the ankle or lower leg in patients with chronic vascular disease. In these patients’ blood flow in the lower extremities is impaired leading to venous hypertension, edema (swelling) and mild redness and scaling of the skin that gradually progresses to ulceration. In 2009, we reported final data from that trial. Those results were both clinically and statistically significant.
In February 2017, GtreeBNT received permission from the U.S. FDA to sponsor a Phase 3 clinical trial using RGN-137 to treat patients with EB. In December 2018, GtreeBNT initiated a small open trial in a limited number of patients with EB.
Strategic Partnerships
Currently, we have active partnerships in four major territories: North America, Europe, China and Pan Asia. Our partners have been moving forward and making progress in each territory. In each case, the cost of development is being borne by our partners with no financial obligation for RegeneRx. We still have significant clinical assets to develop, primarily RGN-352 (injectable formulation of Tß4 for cardiac and CNS disorders) in the U.S., most of Asia, and Europe; RGN-259 in the EU. In August 2017 we amended the RGN-137 License Agreement with GtreeBNT, expanding the territory to include Europe, Canada, South Korea, Australia and Japan. Regarding RGN-259, our goal is to wait until satisfactory results are obtained from the current ophthalmic clinical program in the U.S. before moving into the EU. This should allow us to obtain a higher value for the asset at that time. However, we intend to continue to develop RGN-352, our injectable systemic product candidate for cardiac and central nervous system indications, either by obtaining grants to fund a Phase 2a clinical trial in the cardiovascular or central nervous system fields or finding a suitable partner with the resources and capabilities to develop it as we have with RGN-259.
We anticipate incurring additional operating losses in the future as we continue to explore the potential clinical benefits of Tß4-based product candidates over multiple indications. To fund further development and clinical trials we have entered into a series of strategic partnerships under licensing and joint venture agreements where our partners are responsible for advancing development of our product candidates with multiple clinical trials.
Lee’s Pharmaceuticals.
We are a party to a license agreement with Lee’s Pharmaceutical for the license of Thymosin Beta 4 in any pharmaceutical form, including our RGN-259, RGN-352 and RGN-137 product candidates, in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. In February 2019, the License Agreement was assigned by Lee’s to their affiliate, Zhaoke Ophthalmology Pharmaceutical Limited. Lee’s previously filed an IND with the Chinese FDA to conduct a Phase 2, randomized, double-masked, dose-response clinical trial with RGN-259 in China for dry-eye syndrome. Lee's subsequently informed us that it received notice from China's FDA declining its IND application for a Phase 2b dry eye clinical trial because the API was manufactured outside of China. The API was manufactured in the U.S. and provided to Lee's by RegeneRx pursuant to a license agreement to develop RGN-259 ophthalmic eye drops in the licensed territory. However, in mid-2016, we were informed by Lee’s that the CFDA modified its manufacturing regulations and will now allow Chinese companies to utilize API manufactured outside of China for Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. We have not yet been informed of a projected starting date for Phase 2 trials.
| 24 |
GtreeBNT.
We are a party to a license agreement with GtreeBNT for the license of RGN-259 related to certain development and commercialization rights for RGN-259, in Asia (excluding China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). Separately, we licensed GtreeBNT the rights to RGN-137 which was recently amended as discussed above. GtreeBNT is currently our second largest stockholder. GtreeBNT filed an IND with the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to conduct a Phase 2/3 study with RGN-259 in patients with dry eye syndrome and in July 2015 received approval to conduct the trial. In late 2016 GtreeBNT informed us that it believes marketing approval in the U.S. will allow expedited marketing in Korea, possibly without the need for a clinical trial. At this point, we are still awaiting marketing approval in the U.S.
U.S. Joint Venture (ReGenTree, LLC).
In January 2015, we entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with GtreeBNT whereby we created ReGenTree LLC (“ReGenTree” or “Joint Venture”) jointly owned by us and GtreeBNT, which will commercialize RGN-259 for treatment of dry eye and neurotrophic keratopathy, an orphan indication in the United States. We are entitled to royalties as a percentage of net sales ranging from single digits to low double digits based on the medical indications approved and whether the Joint Venture commercializes products directly or through a third party. RegeneRx possesses one of three board seats of ReGenTree and certain major decisions and transactions within ReGenTree, such as commercialization strategy, mergers, and acquisitions, require RegeneRx’s board designee’s consent. We currently hold a 38.5% ownership interest in ReGenTree. This ownership interest may be further reduced to as low as 25% once ReGenTree obtains FDA approval of an NDA for Dry Eye Syndrome in the U.S. In the event ReGenTree is acquired, or a change of control occurs following achievement of an NDA, RegeneRx shall be entitled to a minimum of 40% of all proceeds paid or payable and will forgo any future royalties.
Our Strategy
We seek to maximize the value of our product candidates by advancing their clinical development and then identifying suitable partners for further development, regulatory approval, and marketing. We intend to engage in strategic partnerships with companies with clinical development and commercialization strengths in desired pharmaceutical therapeutic fields. We are actively seeking partners with suitable infrastructure, expertise and a long-term initiative in our medical fields of interest. To that end, we have entered the licensing and joint ventures discussed above. We continue to control the cardiovascular and neurovascular assets (RGN-352) in the EU and are able to consolidate them with similar assets in the U.S. and other territories in Asia to create a worldwide portfolio that we believe will be more attractive to multi-national pharmaceutical companies.
Financial Operations Overview
We have never generated product revenues, and we do not expect to generate product revenues until the FDA approves one of our product candidates, if ever, and we begin marketing and selling it. We anticipate incurring additional operating losses in the future as we continue to explore the potential clinical benefits of Tß4-based product candidates over multiple indications. To fund further development and clinical trials we have entered into a series of strategic partnerships under licensing and joint venture agreements where our partners are responsible for advancing development of our product candidates with multiple clinical trials.
Most of our expenditures to date have been for research and development, or R&D, activities and general and administrative, or G&A, activities. R&D costs include all of the wholly-allocable costs associated with our various clinical programs passed through to us by our outsourced vendors. Those costs include manufacturing Tß4 and peptide fragments, formulation of Tß4 into our product candidates, stability studies for both Tß4, and the various formulations, preclinical toxicology, safety and pharmacokinetic studies, clinical trial management, medical oversight, laboratory evaluations, statistical data analysis, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and other related activities. R&D includes cash and non-cash compensation, payroll taxes, travel and other miscellaneous costs of our internal R&D personnel, three persons in total, who are dedicated on a part-time hourly basis to R&D efforts. R&D also includes a proration of our common infrastructure costs for office space and communications. We expense our R&D costs as they are incurred.
| 25 |
R&D expenditures are subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with clinical trials and the FDA review and approval process. As a result, these expenses could exceed our expectations, possibly materially. We are uncertain as to what we will incur in future research and development costs for our clinical studies, as these amounts are subject to, management's continuing assessment of the economics of each individual research and development project and the internal competition for project funding.
G&A costs include outside professional fees for legal, business development, audit and accounting services. G&A also includes cash and non-cash compensation, travel and other miscellaneous costs of our internal G&A personnel, two in total, who are wholly dedicated to G&A efforts. G&A also includes a proration of our common infrastructure costs for office space and communications. Our G&A expenses also include costs to maintain our intellectual property portfolio. Historically we have expanded our patent prosecution activities and in some cases, we have filed patent applications for non-critical strategic purposes intended to prevent others from filing similar patent claims. We continue to closely monitor our patent applications in the United States, Europe and other countries with the advice of outside legal counsel to determine if they will continue to provide strategic benefits. In cases where we believe the benefit has been realized or it becomes unnecessary due to the issuance of other patents, or for other reasons that will not affect the strength of our intellectual property portfolio, we have and will continue to abandon these patent applications in order to reduce our costs of continued prosecution or maintenance.
Critical Accounting Policies
In Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2019, which we refer to as the Annual Report, we included a discussion of the most significant accounting policies and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements. There has been no material change in the policies and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements since the filing of our Annual Report.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
Revenues.For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded revenue in the amount of approximately $19,000 related to the amortization of unearned license fees.
R&D Expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our R&D expenses decreased by approximately $4,000, or 19%, to $15,000 from $19,000 for the same period in 2018. The 2019 decrease relates a decrease in stock option expense from the 2018 period.
G&A Expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our G&A expenses decreased by approximately $37,000, or 10%, to $327,000 from $364,000 for the same period in 2018. The changes in the G&A expenses are reflected in several areas. Decreases in tax expense (decrease of $16,000), facility (decrease $8,000) and personnel related (decrease of $27,000) are offset by increases in investor relations (increase of $2,000), insurance (increase of $10,000) and license fees (increase of $2,000). We expect that our G&A expenses will remain steady.
Net Loss.Our Statements of Operations reflects a net loss of $332,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, versus a net loss of $986,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The 2018 period net loss reflects inducement expense of $583,000 related to the new warrant component of the March 2018 warrant reprice and exercise agreement (see Note 8).
| 26 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We have not commercialized any of our product candidates to date and have incurred significant losses since inception. Over the past couple of years, we have primarily financed our operations through the sale of a series of convertible promissory notes through private placements with accredited investors and the March and August 2014 private placements of common stock with GtreeBNT as well as our entry into the joint venture with ReGenTree in early 2015. The report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 contained an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern based upon our history of net losses and dependence on future financing in order to meet our planned operating activities.
We had cash and cash equivalents of $662,568 at March 31, 2019. Our current cash coupled the anticipated proceeds from the second closing of the February note sale as well as the proceeds from April warrant exercises will be sufficient to fund planned operations through the second quarter of 2020. We will need to secure additional funding in order to advance operations substantially beyond the second quarter of 2020. We may also receive funds from grants, new partnerships or the raising of additional capital if the market climate warrants. Additionally, we intend to continue to pursue additional partnering activities, particularly for RGN-352, our injectable systemic product candidate for cardiac and central nervous system indications.
Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $340,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to approximately $202,000 used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We received gross proceeds of approximately $766,000 from the first closing of the 2019 Notes as well as the exercise of warrants in the three months ended March 31, 2019. In 2018, we received gross proceeds of $1,029,000 pursuant to the March 2018 warrant reprice and exercise transaction.
Future Funding Requirements
The expenditures that will be necessary to execute our business plan are subject to numerous uncertainties that may adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources. Currently, RegeneRx has active partnerships in three major territories: the U.S., China and Pan Asia. Our partners have been moving forward and making progress in each territory. In each case, the cost of development is being borne by our partners with no financial obligation for RegeneRx. Patient accrual, treatment, and follow-up for ophthalmic trials are, in general, relatively fast, as opposed to most other clinical efforts: top line data from the U.S. dry eye trial was released in October and data from the NK study in 2019 or possibly later.
We still have significant clinical assets to develop, primarily RGN-352 (injectable formulation of Tß4 for cardiac and CNS disorders) in the U.S., Pan Asia, and Europe, and RGN-259 in the EU. Our goal is to wait until the results are obtained from the current ophthalmic clinical trials before moving into the EU with RGN-259. If successful, this should allow us to obtain a higher value for the asset at that time. However, we intend to continue to develop RGN-352, either by obtaining grants to fund a Phase 2a clinical trial in the cardiovascular or central nervous system fields or finding a suitable partner with the resources and capabilities to develop it as we have with RGN-259. Our capital resources remain limited: therefore, we will need to secure additional operating capital to continue operations substantially beyond the second quarter of 2020. A sale of common stock and warrants, a convertible instrument or additional partnering of licensed rights are possible sources of operating capital in the future. In addition, the length of time required for clinical trials varies substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of a product candidate. Some of the factors that could impact our liquidity and capital needs include, but are not limited to:
| · | the progress of our clinical trials; | |
| · | the progress of our research activities; | |
| · | the number and scope of our research programs; |
| 27 |
| · | the progress of our preclinical development activities; | |
| · | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, enforcing and defending patent and other intellectual property claims; | |
| · | the costs related to development and manufacture of preclinical, clinical and validation lots for regulatory purposes and commercialization of drug supply associated with our product candidates; | |
| · | our ability to enter into corporate collaborations and the terms and success of these collaborations; | |
| · | the costs and timing of regulatory approvals; and | |
| · | the costs of establishing manufacturing, sales and distribution capabilities. |
In addition, the duration and the cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of differences arising during the clinical trial protocol, including, among others, the following:
| · | the number of patients that ultimately participate in the trial; | |
| · | the duration of patient follow-up that seems appropriate in view of the results; | |
| · | the number of clinical sites included in the trials; and | |
| · | the length of time required to enroll suitable patient subjects. |
Also, we test our product candidates in numerous preclinical studies to identify indications for which they may be efficacious. We may conduct multiple clinical trials to cover a variety of indications for each product candidate. As we obtain results from trials, we may elect to discontinue clinical trials for certain product candidates or for certain indications in order to focus our resources on more promising product candidates or indications.
Our proprietary product candidates have not yet achieved FDA regulatory approval, which is required before we can market them as therapeutic products. In order to proceed to subsequent clinical trial stages and to ultimately achieve regulatory approval, the FDA must conclude that our clinical data establish safety and efficacy. Historically, the results from preclinical studies and early clinical trials have often not been predictive of results obtained in later clinical trials. A number of new drugs and biologics have shown promising results in clinical trials, but subsequently failed to establish sufficient safety and efficacy data to obtain necessary regulatory approvals.
Sources of Liquidity
We have not commercialized any of our product candidates to date and have primarily financed our operations through the issuance of common stock and common stock warrants in private and public financings in addition to a series of five convertible debt placements from October 2012 to January 2014. In June of 2016, we raised $1,520,000 by selling 5,147,059 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 5,147,059 shares of common stock to Sabby. On March 2, 2018 we entered into a warrant reprice and exercise and issuance agreement with Sabby, which, in consideration of the holders exercising in full all of the 2016 Offering warrants the exercise price per share of the warrants was reduced to $0.20 per share. In addition, and as further consideration, we issued to the holders of the 2016 Offering warrants 3,860,294 new warrants with an exercise price of $0.2301 per share. We received gross proceeds of approximately $1,029,000 pursuant to the exercise and issued 5,147,059 of common stock. Most recently, on February 27, 2019, we sold the 2019 Notes. The sale of the 2019 Notes and the 2019 Warrants will result in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,300,000 over two closings. The first closing in the amount of $650,000 occurred on February 27, 2019 and the second closing, also in the amount of $650,000, will occur within three days of the Company providing notice of the enrollment of the first patent in the ARISE-3 clinical trial in DES sponsored by ReGenTree. ReGenTree has informed us that they now expect the ARISE-3 clinical trial to occur in the second quarter of 2019. Because the Company does not control the timing of the ARISE-3 clinical trial, we cannot be certain that this timing is correct or that it may not change. In addition, we received proceeds of $115,625 pursuant to the exercise of warrants held by Sabby Management as well as $125,000 for April 2019 warrant exercises. At present, with the receipt of the sale proceeds from the first closing, proceeds from the March and April warrant exercises coupled with the anticipated proceeds from the second closing, we will have sufficient cash to fund planned operations through the second quarter of 2020. Sabby Management continues to hold the March 2018 Warrants to purchase approximately 1,900,000 shares of stock which if exercised would result in approximately $240,000 in cash proceeds. We continuously monitor our cash use as well as the clinical timelines. We continue to evaluate options including the licensing of additional rights to commercialize our clinical products as well as raising capital through the capital markets.
| 28 |
We have various strategic agreements and license agreements with GtreeBNT, ReGenTree and Lee’s. These license agreements provide for the opportunity for us to receive milestone payments upon specified commercial events and royalty payments in connection with any commercial sales of the licensed products in the respective territories. However, there are no assurances that we will be able to attain any such milestones or generate any such royalty payments under the agreements.
Other Financing Sources
Other potential sources of outside capital include entering into additional strategic business relationships, additional issuances of equity securities or debt financing or other similar financial instruments. If we raise additional capital through a strategic business relationship, we may have to give up valuable rights to our intellectual property. If we raise funds by selling additional shares of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders may be significantly diluted. In addition, if additional funds are raised through the issuance of preferred stock or debt securities, these securities are likely to have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock and may involve significant fees, interest expense, restrictive covenants and the granting of security interests in our assets.
Our failure to successfully address liquidity requirements could have a materially negative impact on our business, including the possibility of surrendering our rights to some technologies or product opportunities, delaying our clinical trials, or ceasing operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional capital in sufficient amounts, on acceptable terms, or at all.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as such term is defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.
| Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. |
Our cash equivalents, which are generally comprised of Federally insured bank deposits, are subject to default, changes in credit rating and changes in market value. These investments are also subject to interest rate risk and will decrease in value if market interest rates increase. As of March 31, 2019, these cash equivalents were $662,568. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, if market interest rates differed by 10% from their levels as of March 31, 2019, the change in fair value of our financial instruments would not have been material.
| Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, in his capacity as our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of March 31, 2019. Based upon this evaluation, management has concluded that, as of March 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified under applicable rules of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
| 29 |
b) Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or which are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
| Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
None.
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
Set forth below and elsewhere in this report and in other documents we file with the SEC are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. The descriptions below include any material changes to and supersede the description of the risk factors affecting our business previously disclosed in “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Annual Report.
Risks Related to Our Liquidity and Need for Financing
Before giving effect to any potential additional sales of our securities, we estimate that our existing capital resources coupled with the proceeds from the February 2019 note sales and warrant exercises will only be sufficient to fund our operations through the second quarter of 2020.
Even though we sold the 2019 Notes in February and will receive proceeds of $1,300,000 and have received approximately $240,000 from the exercise of the warrants, these proceeds are only projected to fund our operations at the current level through the second quarter of 2020, therefore we will need to secure additional operating capital to continue operations substantially beyond the second quarter of 2020. We continuously monitor our cash use as well as the clinical timelines. We will need to secure additional operating capital in 2019 or early 2020 and are evaluating options including the licensing of additional rights to commercialize our clinical products as well as raising capital through the capital markets, either of which could cause a reduction in the trading price of our common stock.
We will need substantial additional capital for the continued development of product candidates through marketing approval and for our longer-term future operations.
We anticipate that substantial new capital resources will be required to continue our longer-term product development efforts, including any and all follow-on trials that will result from our current clinical programs beyond those currently contemplated, and to scale up manufacturing processes for our product candidates. However, the actual amount of funds that we will need will be determined by many factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include, without limitation:
| · | the scope of our, or our partners’, clinical trials, which is significantly influenced by the quality of clinical data achieved as trials are completed and the requirements established by regulatory authorities; | |
| · | the speed with which we, or our partners, complete our clinical trials, which depends on our ability to attract and enroll qualifying patients and the quality of the work performed by our clinical investigators and contract research organizations chosen to conduct the studies; | |
| · | the time required to prosecute, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights, which depends on evolving legal regimes and infringement claims that may arise between us and third parties; |
| 30 |
| · | the ability to manufacture at scales sufficient to supply commercial quantities of any of our product candidates that receive regulatory approval, which may require levels of effort not currently anticipated; and | |
| · | the successful commercialization of our product candidates, which will depend on our, or our partners’, ability to either create or partner with an effective commercialization organization and which could be delayed or prevented by the emergence of equal or more effective therapies. |
Emerging biotechnology companies like ours may raise capital through corporate collaborations and by licensing intellectual property rights to other biotechnology or pharmaceutical enterprises. We intend to pursue this strategy, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into additional license agreements with respect to our intellectual property or product development programs on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. There are substantial challenges and risks that will make it difficult to successfully implement any of these alternatives. If we are successful in raising additional capital through such a license or collaboration, we may have to give up valuable rights to our intellectual property. In addition, the business priorities of a strategic partner may change over time, which creates the possibility that the interests of the strategic partner in developing our technology may diminish and could have a potentially material negative impact on the value of our interest in the licensed intellectual property or product candidates.
Further, if we raise additional funds by selling shares of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock the ownership interest of our existing stockholders may be significantly diluted. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of preferred stock or debt securities, these securities are likely to have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock and may involve significant fees, interest expense, restrictive covenants or the granting of security interests in our assets.
Our failure to successfully address our long-term liquidity requirements would have a material negative impact on our business, including the possibility of surrendering our rights to some technologies or product opportunities, delaying our clinical trials or ceasing our operations.
We have incurred losses since inception and expect to incur significant losses in the foreseeable future and may never become profitable.
We have not commercialized any product candidates to date and incurred net operating losses every year since our inception in 1982. We believe these losses will continue for the foreseeable future and may increase, as we pursue our product development efforts related to Tß4. As of March 31, 2019, our accumulated deficit totaled approximately $106 million.
As we expand our research and development efforts and seek to obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates to make them commercially viable, we anticipate substantial and increasing operating losses. Our ability to generate revenues and to become profitable will depend largely on our ability, alone or through the efforts of third-party licensees and collaborators, to efficiently and successfully complete the development of our product candidates, obtain necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization, scale-up commercial quantity manufacturing capabilities either internally or through third-party suppliers, and market our product candidates. There can be no assurance that we will achieve any of these objectives or that we will ever become profitable or be able to maintain profitability. Even if we do achieve profitability, we cannot predict the level of such profitability. If we sustain losses over an extended period of time and are not otherwise able to raise necessary funds to continue our development efforts and maintain our operations, we may be forced to cease operations.
Our common stock is quoted on the over-the-counter market, which subjects us to the SEC’s penny stock rules and may decrease the liquidity of our common stock.
Our common stock is traded over-the-counter on the OTC Bulletin Board. Over-the-counter markets are generally considered to be less efficient than, and not as broad as, a stock exchange. There may be a limited market for our stock now that it is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, trading in our stock may become more difficult and our share price could decrease. Specifically, you may not be able to resell your shares of common stock at or above the price you paid for such shares or at all.
| 31 |
In addition, our ability to raise additional capital may be impaired because of the less liquid nature of the over-the-counter markets. While we cannot guarantee that we would be able to complete an equity financing on acceptable terms, or at all, we believe that dilution from any equity financing while our shares are quoted on an over-the-counter market would likely be substantially greater than if we were to complete a financing while our common stock is traded on a national securities exchange. Further, we are unable to use short-form registration statements on Form S-3 for the registration of our securities, which could impair our ability to raise additional capital as needed.
Our common stock is also subject to penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell our common stock. The SEC generally defines “penny stock” as an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. The ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock and the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares in the secondary market will be limited and, as a result, the market liquidity for our common stock will likely be adversely affected. We cannot assure you that trading in our securities will not be subject to these or other regulations in the future.
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm contains explanatory language that substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 contains explanatory language that substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern, without raising additional capital. As described in this report in February 2019 we sold the 2019 Notes and will receive proceeds of $1,300,000 and we have received approximately $240,000 from the exercise of the warrants, these proceeds are only projected to fund our operations at the current level through the second quarter of 2020. We will need to secure additional operating capital to continue operations substantially beyond the second quarter of 2020. Therefore, we are seeking sources of capital, but if we are unable to obtain sufficient financing to support and complete these activities, then we would, in all likelihood, experience severe liquidity problems and may have to curtail our operations. If we curtail our operations, we may be placed into bankruptcy or undergo liquidation, the result of which will adversely affect the value of our common shares.
Risks Related to Our Business and Operations
Our planned Phase 2 clinical trial of RGN-352 was placed on clinical hold by the FDA in March 2011 due to non-compliance of cGMP regulations by a contract manufacturer and we are unsure when, if ever, we will be able to resume this trial.
In the second half of 2010, we implemented the development plans for our Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate RGN-352 in patients who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction, or AMI. We had planned to begin enrolling patients near the end of the first quarter of 2011. However, in March 2011, we were notified by the FDA that the trial was placed on clinical hold as a result of our contract manufacturer’s alleged failure to comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (“cGMP”) regulations. The FDA has prohibited us from using any of the active drug or placebo manufactured by this manufacturer in human trials, which will require us to identify a cGMP-compliant manufacturer and to have new material produced in the event that we seek to resume this trial. We have also learned that the contract manufacturer has closed its manufacturing facility and has filed for bankruptcy protection. Significant preparatory time and procedures will be required before any new suitable manufacturer would be able to manufacture RGN-352 for the AMI trial. Since we are unable to estimate the length of time that the trial will be on clinical hold, we have elected to cease activities on this trial until the FDA clinical hold is resolved and the requisite funding might be secured. Consequently, there can be no assurance that we will be able to timely initiate trial activities or complete this trial, if at all.
| 32 |
All of our drug candidates are based on a single compound.
Our current primary business focus is the development of Tß4, and its analogues, derivatives and fragments, for the regeneration and accelerated repair of damaged tissue from non-healing dermal and corneal wounds, cardiac injury, central/peripheral nervous system diseases and other conditions, as well as an improvement in various functions, such as, but not limited to, cardiac and neurological. Unlike many pharmaceutical companies that have a number of unique chemical entities in development, we are dependent on a single molecule, formulated for different routes of administration and different clinical indications, for our potential commercial success. As a result, any common safety or efficacy concerns for Tß4-based products that cross formulations would have a much greater impact on our business prospects than if our product pipeline were more diversified.
We may never be able to commercialize our product candidates.
Although Tß4 has shown biological activity inin vitro studies andin vivo animal models and while we observed clinical activity and efficacious outcomes in our recent RGN-259 Phase 2a trial and earlier Phase 2 dermal trials, we cannot assure you that our product candidates will exhibit activity or importance in humans in large-scale trials. Our drug candidates are still in research and development, and we do not expect them to be commercially available for the foreseeable future, if at all. Only a small number of research and development programs ultimately result in commercially successful drugs. Potential products that appear to be promising at early stages of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons. These include the possibility that the potential products may:
| · | be found ineffective or cause harmful side effects during preclinical studies or clinical trials; | |
| · | fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals; | |
| · | be precluded from commercialization by proprietary rights of third parties; | |
| · | be difficult to manufacture on a large scale; or | |
| · | be uneconomical or otherwise fail to achieve market acceptance. |
If any of these potential problems occurs, we may never successfully market Tß4-based products.
We are subject to intense government regulation, and we may not receive regulatory approvals for our drug candidates.
Our product candidates will require regulatory approvals prior to sale. In particular, therapeutic agents are subject to stringent approval processes, prior to commercial marketing, by the FDA and by comparable agencies in most foreign countries. The process of obtaining FDA and corresponding foreign approvals is costly and time-consuming, and we cannot assure you that such approvals will be granted. Also, the regulations we are subject to change frequently and such changes could cause delays in the development of our product candidates.
Three of our drug candidates are currently in the clinical development stage, and we cannot be certain that we, or our partners, will successfully complete the clinical trials necessary to receive regulatory product approvals. The regulatory approval process is lengthy, unpredictable and expensive. To obtain regulatory approvals in the United States, we or a partner must ultimately demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA that our product candidates are sufficiently safe and effective for their proposed administration to humans. Many factors, known and unknown, can adversely impact clinical trials and the ability to evaluate a product candidate’s safety and efficacy, including:
| · | the FDA or other health regulatory authorities, or institutional review boards, or IRBs, do not approve a clinical trial protocol or place a clinical trial on hold; | |
| · | suitable patients do not enroll in a clinical trial in sufficient numbers or at the expected rate, for reasons such as the size of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria for the trial, the perceptions of investigators and patients regarding safety, and the availability of other treatment options; |
| 33 |
| · | clinical trial data is adversely affected by trial conduct or patient withdrawal prior to completion of the trial; | |
| · | there may be competition with ongoing clinical trials and scheduling conflicts with participating clinicians; | |
| · | patients experience serious adverse events, including adverse side effects of our drug candidates, for a variety of reasons that may or may not be related to our product candidates, including the advanced stage of their disease and other medical problems; | |
| · | patients in the placebo or untreated control group exhibit greater than expected improvements or fewer than expected adverse events; | |
| · | third-party clinical investigators do not perform the clinical trials on the anticipated schedule or consistent with the clinical trial protocol and good clinical practices, or other third-party organizations do not perform data collection and analysis in a timely or accurate manner; | |
| · | service providers, collaborators or co-sponsors do not adequately perform their obligations in relation to the clinical trial or cause the trial to be delayed or terminated; | |
| · | we are unable to obtain a sufficient supply of manufactured clinical trial materials; | |
| · | regulatory inspections of manufacturing facilities, which may, among other things, require us or a co-sponsor to undertake corrective action or suspend the clinical trials, such as the clinical hold with respect to our Phase 2 clinical trial of RGN-352; | |
| · | the interim results of the clinical trial are inconclusive or negative; | |
| · | the clinical trial, although approved and completed, generates data that is not considered by the FDA or others to be clinically relevant or sufficient to demonstrate safety and efficacy; and | |
| · | changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions affect the conduct of the clinical trial or the interpretation of its results. |
There can be no assurance that our, or our partners’, clinical trials will in fact demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the FDA and others, that our product candidates are sufficiently safe or effective. The FDA or we may also restrict or suspend our clinical trials at any time if it is believed that subjects participating in the trials are being exposed to unacceptable health risks.
Clinical trials for product candidates such as ours are often conducted with patients who have more advanced forms of a particular condition or other unrelated conditions. For example, in clinical trials for our product candidate RGN-137, we have studied patients who are not only suffering from chronic epidermal wounds but who are also older and much more likely to have other serious adverse conditions. During the course of treatment with our product candidates, patients could die or suffer other adverse events for reasons that may or may not be related to the drug candidate being tested. Further, and as a consequence that all of our drug candidates are based on Tß4, crossover risk exists such that a patient in one trial may be adversely impacted by one drug candidate, and that adverse event may have implications for our other trials and other drug candidates. However, even if unrelated to our product candidates, such adverse events can nevertheless negatively impact our clinical trials, and our business prospects would suffer.
These factors, many of which may be outside of our control, may have a negative impact on our business by making it difficult to advance product candidates or by reducing or eliminating their potential or perceived value. As a consequence, we may need to perform more or larger clinical trials than planned. Further, if we are forced to contribute greater financial and clinical resources to a study, valuable resources will be diverted from other areas of our business. If we fail to complete or if we experience material delays in completing our clinical trials as currently planned, or we otherwise fail to commence or complete, or experience delays in, any of our other present or planned clinical trials, including as a result of the actions of third parties upon which we rely for these functions, our ability to conduct our business as currently planned could materially suffer.
| 34 |
We may not successfully establish and maintain development and testing relationships with third-party service providers and collaborators, which could adversely affect our ability to develop our product candidates.
We have only limited resources, experience with and capacity to conduct requisite testing and clinical trials of our drug candidates. As a result, we rely and expect to continue to rely on third-party service providers and collaborators, including corporate partners, licensors and contract research organizations, or CROs, to perform a number of activities relating to the development of our drug candidates, including the design and conduct of clinical trials, and potentially the obtaining of regulatory approvals. For example, we currently rely on several third-party contractors to manufacture and formulate Tß4 into the product candidates used in our clinical trials, develop assays to assess Tß4’s effectiveness in complex biological systems, recruit clinical investigators and sites to participate in our trials, manage the clinical trial process and collect, evaluate and report clinical results.
We may not be able to maintain or expand our current arrangements with these third parties or maintain such relationships on favorable terms. Our agreements with these third parties may also contain provisions that restrict our ability to develop and test our product candidates or that give third parties rights to control aspects of our product development and clinical programs. In addition, conflicts may arise with our collaborators, such as conflicts concerning the interpretation of clinical data, the achievement of milestones, the interpretation of financial provisions or the ownership of intellectual property developed during the collaboration. If any conflicts arise with our existing or future collaborators, they may act in their self-interest, which may be adverse to our best interests. Any failure to maintain our collaborative agreements and any conflicts with our collaborators could delay or prevent us from developing our product candidates. We and our collaborators may fail to develop products covered by our present and future collaborations if, among other things:
| · | we or our partners do not achieve our objectives under our collaboration agreements; | |
| · | we or our partners are unable to obtain patent protection for the products or proprietary technologies we develop in our partnerships; | |
| · | we are unable to manage multiple simultaneous product development partnerships; | |
| · | our partners become competitors of ours or enter into agreements with our competitors; | |
| · | we or our partners encounter regulatory hurdles that prevent commercialization of our product candidates; or | |
| · | we develop products and processes or enter into additional partnerships that conflict with the business objectives of our other partners. |
We also have less control over the timing and other aspects of our clinical trials than if we conducted the monitoring and supervision entirely on our own. Third parties may not perform their responsibilities for our clinical trials on our anticipated schedule or consistent with a clinical trial protocol or applicable regulations. We, and our partners, also rely on clinical research organizations to perform much of our data management and analysis. They may not provide these services as required or in a timely manner. If any of these parties do not meet deadlines or follow proper procedures, including procedures required by law, the preclinical studies and clinical trials may take longer than expected, may be delayed or may be terminated, which would have a materially negative impact on our product development efforts. If we were forced to find a replacement entity to perform any of our preclinical studies or clinical trials, we may not be able to find a suitable entity on favorable terms or at all. Even if we were able to find a replacement, resulting delays in the tests or trials may result in significant additional expenditures and delays in obtaining regulatory approval for drug candidates, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and business prospects.
GtreeBNT Co., Ltd. has limited drug development experience.
We are a party to several license agreements and a Joint Venture with GtreeBNT. Historically, GtreeBNT’s business focus has been in the IT software industry in Korea with strong IP positions addressing specific software tools and apps such as optimized multimedia software for smart phones. GtreeBNT made a strategic decision in November 2013 to expand into the biopharmaceutical business through selected strategic alliances with biopharmaceutical companies in the U.S. and EU. The collaboration with RegeneRx is the first strategic investment in this initiative. While GtreeBNT has hired executives and staff with significant pharmaceutical experience, the company has no internal drug development experience. As a result, GtreeBNT may face more and different challenges in the development of these product candidates than would more established pharmaceutical companies.
| 35 |
GtreeBNT Co., Ltd. has limited financial resources.
GtreeBNT has informed us that they have limited financial resources. They have to continuously raise capital to fund research, development, clinical trials, and operations. Therefore, their ability to finance each of these areas is subject to its ability to secured adequate capital. While GtreeBNT has been able to finance each of these areas, to date, there is no assurance that they will be able to do so in the future. If GtreeBNT is unable to secure necessary financing to fund clinical trials or operations, it could have a material adverse impact on RGN-137 and RGN-259 and RegeneRx’s ability to continue funding operations while these products are under development.
We are subject to intense competition from companies with greater resources and more mature products, which may result in our competitors developing or commercializing products before or more successfully than we do.
We are engaged in a business that is highly competitive. Research and development activities for the development of drugs to treat indications within our focus are being sponsored or conducted by private and public research institutions and by major pharmaceutical companies located in the United States and a number of foreign countries. Most of these companies and institutions have financial and human resources that are substantially greater than our own and they have extensive experience in conducting research and development activities and clinical trials and in obtaining the regulatory approvals necessary to market pharmaceutical products that we do not have. As a result, they may develop competing products more rapidly that are safer, more effective, or have fewer side effects, or are less expensive, or they may develop and commercialize products that render our product candidates non-competitive or obsolete.
With respect to our product candidate RGN-259, there are also numerous ophthalmic companies developing drugs for corneal wound healing and other front-of-the-eye diseases and injuries, including dry eye syndrome. Amniotic membranes have been successfully used to treat corneal wounds in certain cases, as have topical steroids and antibacterial agents. Most specialty ophthalmic companies have a number of products on the market that could compete with RGN-259. There are numerous antibiotics to treat eye infections to promote corneal wound healing and many eye lubrication products that are soothing to the eye and help eye healing, many of which are sold without prescriptions. Companies also market steroids to treat certain conditions within our area of interest. Allergan, Inc. markets Restasis™, Ophthalmic Emulsion, which was the only commercially available and FDA-approved eye drop to treat dry eye. Shire PLC recently received FDA approval to market Xiidra™ for the treatment of dry eye and has launched the product in the U.S. Restasis, and other products, have been approved for marketing in certain other countries where we have licensed RGN-259.
We have initially targeted our product candidate RGN-352 for cardiovascular indications. Most large pharmaceutical companies and many smaller biomedical companies are vigorously pursuing the development of therapeutics to treat patients after heart attacks and for other cardiovascular indications.
With respect to our product candidate RGN-137 for wound healing, Johnson & Johnson has previously marketed Regranex™ for this purpose in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Other companies, such as Novartis, are developing and marketing artificial skins, which we believe could also compete with RGN-137. Moreover, wound healing is a large and highly fragmented marketplace attracting many companies, large and small, to develop products for treating acute and chronic wounds, including, for example, honey-based ointments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and low frequency cavitational ultrasound.
We are also developing potential cosmeceutical products, which are loosely defined as products that bridge the gap between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, for example, by improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of aging. This industry is intensely competitive, with potential competitors ranging from large multinational companies to very small specialty companies. New cosmeceutical products often have a short product life and are frequently replaced with newer products developed to address the latest trends in appearance and fashion. We may not be able to adapt to changes in the industry as quickly as larger and more experienced cosmeceutical companies. Further, larger cosmetics companies have the financial and marketing resources to effectively compete with smaller companies like us in order to sell products aimed at larger markets.
| 36 |
Even if approved for marketing, our technologies and product candidates are unproven and they may fail to gain market acceptance.
Our product candidates, all of which are based on the molecule Tß4, are new and unproven and there is no guarantee that health care providers or patients will be interested in our product candidates, even if they are approved for use. If any of our product candidates are approved by the FDA, our success will depend in part on our ability to demonstrate sufficient clinical benefits, reliability, safety, and cost effectiveness of our, or our partners’, product candidates relative to other approaches, as well as on our ability to continue to develop our product candidates to respond to competitive and technological changes. If the market does not accept our product candidates, when and if we are able to commercialize them, then we may never become profitable. Factors that could delay, inhibit or prevent market acceptance of our product candidates may include:
| · | the timing and receipt of marketing approvals; | |
| · | the safety and efficacy of the products; | |
| · | the emergence of equivalent or superior products; | |
| · | the cost-effectiveness of the products; and | |
| · | ineffective marketing. |
It is difficult to predict the future growth of our business, if any, and the size of the market for our product candidates because the markets are continually evolving. There can be no assurance that our product candidates will prove superior to products that may currently be available or may become available in the future or that our research and development activities will result in any commercially profitable products.
We have no marketing experience, sales force or distribution capabilities. If our product candidates are approved, and we are unable to recruit key personnel to perform these functions, we may not be able to commercialize them successfully.
Although we do not currently have any marketable products, our ability to produce revenues ultimately depends on our, or our partners’, ability to sell our product candidates if and when they are approved by the FDA and other regulatory authorities. We currently have no experience in marketing or selling pharmaceutical products, and we do not have a marketing and sales staff or distribution capabilities. Developing a marketing and sales force is also time-consuming and could delay the launch of new products or expansion of existing product sales. In addition, we will compete with many companies that currently have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. If we fail to establish successful marketing and sales capabilities or fail to enter into successful marketing arrangements with third parties, our ability to generate revenues will suffer.
If we enter markets outside the United States our business will be subject to political, economic, legal and social risks in those markets, which could adversely affect our business.
There are significant regulatory and legal barriers to entering markets outside the United States that must be overcome if we, or our partners, seek regulatory approval to market our product candidates in countries other than the United States. We would be subject to the burden of complying with a wide variety of national and local laws, including multiple and possibly overlapping and conflicting laws. We also may experience difficulties adapting to new cultures, business customs and legal systems. Any sales and operations outside the United States would be subject to political, economic and social uncertainties including, among others:
| · | changes and limits in import and export controls; | |
| · | increases in custom duties and tariffs; | |
| · | changes in currency exchange rates; |
| 37 |
| · | economic and political instability; | |
| · | changes in government regulations and laws; | |
| · | absence in some jurisdictions of effective laws to protect our intellectual property rights; and | |
| · | currency transfer and other restrictions and regulations that may limit our ability to sell certain product candidates or repatriate profits to the United States. |
Any changes related to these and other factors could adversely affect our business if and to the extent we enter markets outside the United States. Additionally, we have entered into license agreements with Sigma-Tau S.p.A, Lee’s Pharmaceutical Limited and GtreeBNT Co., Ltd. for the development of certain of our product candidates in international markets. As a result, these development activities will be subject to compliance in all respects with local laws and regulations and may be subject to many of the risks described above.
Governmental and third-party payors may subject any product candidates we develop to sales and pharmaceutical pricing controls that could limit our product revenues and delay profitability.
The successful commercialization of our product candidates, if they are approved by the FDA, will likely depend on our ability to obtain reimbursement for the cost of the product and treatment. Government authorities, private health insurers and other organizations, such as health maintenance organizations, are increasingly seeking to lower the prices charged for medical products and services. Also, the trend toward managed health care in the United States, the growth of healthcare maintenance organizations, and recently enacted legislation reforming healthcare and proposals to reform government insurance programs could have a significant influence on the purchase of healthcare services and products, resulting in lower prices and reducing demand for our product candidates. The cost containment measures that healthcare providers are instituting and any healthcare reform could reduce our ability to sell our product candidates and may have a material adverse effect on our operations. We cannot assure you that reimbursement in the United States or foreign countries will be available for any of our product candidates, and that any reimbursement granted will be maintained, or that limits on reimbursement available from third-party payors will not reduce the demand for, or the price of, our product candidates. The lack or inadequacy of third-party reimbursements for our product candidates would decrease the potential profitability of our operations. We cannot forecast what additional legislation or regulation relating to the healthcare industry or third-party coverage and reimbursement may be enacted in the future, or what effect the legislation or regulation would have on our business.
We have no manufacturing or formulation capabilities and are dependent upon third-party suppliers to provide us with our product candidates. If these suppliers do not manufacture our product candidates in sufficient quantities, at acceptable quality levels and at acceptable cost, or if we are unable to identify suitable replacement suppliers if needed, our clinical development efforts could be delayed, prevented or impaired.
We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities and have little experience in manufacturing pharmaceutical products. We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely, primarily on peptide manufacturers to supply us with Tß4 for further formulation into our product candidates. We have historically engaged three separate smaller drug formulation contractors for the formulation of clinical grade product candidates, one for each of our three product candidates in clinical development, although, as described in this report, the contractor we engaged to formulate and vial RGN-352 has filed for bankruptcy and closed its manufacturing facility, and our clinical trial involving RGN-352 has been placed on clinical hold. We currently do not have an alternative source of supply for either Tß4 or the individual drug candidates. If these suppliers, together or individually, are not able to supply us with either Tß4 or individual product candidates on a timely basis, in sufficient quantities, at acceptable levels of quality and at a competitive price, or if we are unable to identify a replacement manufacturer to perform these functions on acceptable terms as needed, our development programs could be seriously jeopardized.
The clinical hold on our RGN-352 trial will require us to have new material manufactured by a cGMP-compliant manufacturer in the event that we seek to resume this trial. Significant preparatory time and procedures will be required before any new manufacturer would be able to manufacture RGN-352 for the AMI trial, due to the time required for revalidation of processes and assays related to such production that were already in place with the original manufacturer. Since we are unable to estimate the length of time that the trial will be on clinical hold, we have elected to cease activities on this trial until the FDA clinical hold is resolved and the requisite funding might be secured.
| 38 |
Other risks of relying solely on single suppliers for each of our product candidates include:
| · | the possibility that our other manufacturers, and any new manufacturer that we, or our partners, may identify for RGN-352, may not be able to ensure quality and compliance with regulations relating to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals; | |
| · | their manufacturing capacity may not be sufficient or available to produce the required quantities of our product candidates based on our planned clinical development schedule, if at all; | |
| · | they may not have access to the capital necessary to expand their manufacturing facilities in response to our needs; | |
| · | commissioning replacement suppliers would be difficult and time-consuming; | |
| · | individual suppliers may have used substantial proprietary know-how relating to the manufacture of our product candidates and, in the event we must find a replacement or supplemental supplier, our ability to transfer this know-how to the new supplier could be an expensive and/or time-consuming process; | |
| · | an individual supplier may experience events, such as a fire or natural disaster, that force it to stop or curtail production for an extended period; | |
| · | an individual supplier could encounter significant increases in labor, capital or other costs that would make it difficult for them to produce our products cost-effectively; or | |
| · | an individual supplier may not be able to obtain the raw materials or validated drug containers in sufficient quantities, at acceptable costs or in sufficient time to complete the manufacture, formulation and delivery of our product candidates. |
Our suppliers may use hazardous and biological materials in their businesses. Any claims relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of these materials could be time-consuming and costly to us, and we are not insured against such claims.
Our product candidates and processes involve the controlled storage, use and disposal by our suppliers of certain hazardous and biological materials and waste products. We and our suppliers and other collaborators are subject to federal, state and local regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of materials and waste products. Even if we and these suppliers and collaborators comply with the standards prescribed by law and regulation, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from hazardous materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of an accident, we could be held liable for any damages that result, and we do not carry insurance for this type of claim. We may also incur significant costs to comply with current or future environmental laws and regulations.
We face the risk of product liability claims, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We, or our partners, may be subject to product liability claims as a result of our testing, manufacturing, and marketing of drugs. In addition, the use of our product candidates, when and if developed and sold, will expose us to the risk of product liability claims. Product liability may result from harm to patients using our product candidates, such as a complication that was either not communicated as a potential side effect or was more extreme than anticipated. We require all patients enrolled in our clinical trials to sign consents, which explain various risks involved with participating in the trial. However, patient consents provide only a limited level of protection, and it may be alleged that the consent did not address or did not adequately address a risk that the patient suffered. Additionally, we will generally be required to indemnify our clinical product manufacturers, clinical trial centers, medical professionals and other parties conducting related activities in connection with losses they may incur through their involvement in the clinical trials.
| 39 |
Our ability to reduce our liability exposure for human clinical trials and commercial sales, if any, of Tß4 is dependent in part on our ability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance or to collaborate with third parties that have adequate insurance. Although we intend to obtain and maintain product liability insurance coverage if we gain approval to market any of our product candidates, we cannot guarantee that product liability insurance will continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, or that its coverage will be sufficient to cover all claims against us. A product liability claim, even one without merit or for which we have substantial coverage, could result in significant legal defense costs, thereby potentially exposing us to expenses significantly in excess of our revenues, as well as harm to our reputation and distraction of our management.
If any of our key employees discontinue their services with us, our efforts to develop our business may be delayed.
We are highly dependent on the principal members of our management team. The loss of our chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, Allan Goldstein, or chief executive officer, J.J. Finkelstein could prevent or significantly delay the achievement of our goals. We cannot assure you that Dr. Goldstein or Mr. Finkelstein, or any other key employees or consultants, will not elect to terminate their employment or consulting arrangements. In addition, we do not maintain a key man life insurance policy with respect to any of our management personnel. In the future, we anticipate that we will also need to add additional management and other personnel. Competition for qualified personnel in our industry is intense, and our success will depend in part on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel. We cannot assure you that our efforts to attract or retain such personnel will be successful.
Mauro Bove, a member of our Board is a director of Lee’s Pharmaceuticals, a relationship which could give rise to a conflict of interest for Mr. Bove.
Mauro Bove is a member of our Board of Directors and currently provides consulting services to Lee’s Pharmaceuticals Group in Hong Kong. There can be no assurance that we will ever receive any further payments from Lee’s under the current agreement established between RegeneRx and Lee’s. As a result of Mr. Bove’s relationship with Lee’s, Mr. Bove may have interests that are different from our other stockholders in connection with this agreement and circumstances that may require the exercise of the Board’s discretion with respect to Lee’s.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
We may not be able to maintain broad patent protection for our product candidates, which could limit the commercial potential of our product candidates.
Our success will depend in part on our, or our partners’ ability to obtain, defend and enforce patents, both in the United States and abroad. We have attempted to create a substantial intellectual property portfolio, submitting patent applications for various compositions of matter, methods of use and fragments and derivatives of Tß4. As described elsewhere in this report, we currently do not have adequate financial resources to fund our ongoing business activities substantially beyond the second quarter of 2020 without additional funding. As a result of our current financial condition, we continuously evaluate our issued patents and patent applications and may decide to limit their therapeutic and/or geographic coverage in an effort to enhance our ability to focus on certain medical conditions and countries within our financial constraints. As a result, we may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights in indications and/or territories that we otherwise would, and, therefore, our ability to commercialize Tß4, if at all, could be substantially limited, which could have a material adverse impact on our future results of operations.
| 40 |
If we, or our partners, are not able to maintain adequate patent protection for our product candidates, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from using our technology or technology that we license.
Our success will depend in substantial part on our, or our partners’, abilities to obtain, defend and enforce patents, maintain trade secrets and operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others, both in the United States and abroad. Pursuant to an exclusive worldwide license from the NIH, we have exclusive rights to use Tß4 in the treatment of non-healing wounds. While patents covering our use of Tß4 have issued in some countries, we cannot guarantee whether or when corresponding patents will be issued, or the scope of any patents that may be issued, in other countries. We have attempted to create a substantial intellectual property portfolio, submitting patent applications for various compositions of matter, methods of use and fragments and derivatives of Tß4. We have also in-licensed other intellectual property rights from third parties that could be subject to the same risks as our own patents. If any of these patent applications do not issue, or do not issue in certain countries, or are not enforceable, the ability to commercialize Tß4 in various medical indications could be substantially limited or eliminated.
In addition, the patent positions of the products being developed by us and our collaborators involve complex legal and factual uncertainties. As a result, we cannot assure you that any patent applications filed by us, or by others under which we have rights, will result in patents being issued in the United States or foreign countries. In addition, there can be no assurance that any patents will be issued from any pending or future patent applications of ours or our partners, that the scope of any patent protection will be sufficient to provide us with competitive advantages, that any patents obtained by us or our partners will be held valid if subsequently challenged or that others will not claim rights in or ownership of the patents and other proprietary rights we or our partners may hold. Unauthorized parties may try to copy aspects of our product candidates and technologies or obtain and use information we consider proprietary. Policing the unauthorized use of our proprietary rights is difficult. We cannot guarantee that no harm or threat will be made to our or our partners’ intellectual property. In addition, changes in, or different interpretations of, patent laws in the United States and other countries may also adversely affect the scope of our patent protection and our competitive situation.
Due to the significant time lag between the filing of patent applications and the publication of such patents, we cannot be certain that our licensors were the first to file the patent applications we license or, even if they were the first to file, also were the first to invent, particularly with regards to patent rights in the United States. In addition, a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and research and academic institutions have developed technologies, filed patent applications or received patents on various technologies that may be related to our product candidates. Some of these technologies, applications or patents may conflict with our or our licensors’ technologies or patent applications. A conflict could limit the scope of the patents, if any, that we or our licensors may be able to obtain or result in denial of our or our licensors’ patent applications. If patents that cover our activities are issued to other companies, we may not be able to develop or obtain alternative technology.
Additionally, there is certain subject matter that is patentable in the United States but not generally patentable outside of the United States. Differences in what constitutes patentable subject matter in various countries may limit the protection we can obtain outside of the United States. For example, methods of treating humans are not patentable in many countries outside of the United States. These and other issues may prevent us from obtaining patent protection outside of the United States, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes to U.S. patent laws could materially reduce any value our patent portfolio may have.
The value of our patents depends in part on their duration. A shorter period of patent protection could lessen the value of our rights under any patents that may be obtained and may decrease revenues derived from its patents. For example, the U.S. patent laws were previously amended to change the term of patent protection from 17 years following patent issuance to 20 years from the earliest effective filing date of the application. Because the time from filing to issuance of biotechnology applications may be more than three years depending on the subject matter, a 20-year patent term from the filing date may result in substantially shorter patent protection. Future changes to patent laws could shorten our period of patent exclusivity and may decrease the revenues that we might derive from the patents and the value of our patent portfolio.
| 41 |
We, or our partners, may not have adequate protection for our unpatented proprietary information, which could adversely affect our competitive position.
In addition to our patents, we, and our partners, also rely on trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovations and licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our competitive position. However, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose our technology. To protect our trade secrets, we may enter into confidentiality agreements with employees, consultants and potential collaborators. However, we may not have such agreements in place with all such parties and, where we do, these agreements may not provide meaningful protection of our trade secrets or adequate remedies in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of such information. Also, our trade secrets or know-how may become known through other means or be independently discovered by our competitors. Any of these events could prevent us from developing or commercializing our product candidates.
We may be subject to claims that we or our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of former employers.
As is commonplace in the biotechnology industry, we employ now, and may hire in the future, individuals who were previously employed at other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including competitors or potential competitors. Although there are no claims currently pending against us, we may be subject to claims that we or certain employees have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and would be a significant distraction to management.
Risks Related to Our Securities
Our common stock price is volatile, our stock is highly illiquid, and any investment in our securities could decline substantially in value.
For the period from January 1, 2018 through May 7, 2019 the closing price of our common stock has ranged from $0.09 to $0.35, with an average daily trading volume of approximately 55,000 shares. Considering our small size and limited resources, as well as the uncertainties and risks that can affect our business and industry, our stock price is expected to continue to be highly volatile and can be subject to substantial drops, with or even in the absence of news affecting our business. The following factors, in addition to the other risk factors described in this report, and the potentially low volume of trades in our common stock since it is not listed on a national securities exchange, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock, some of which are beyond our control:
| · | results of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials; | |
| · | commercial success of approved products; | |
| · | corporate partnerships; | |
| · | technological innovations by us or competitors; | |
| · | changes in laws and government regulations both in the U.S. and overseas; | |
| · | changes in key personnel at our company; | |
| · | developments concerning proprietary rights, including patents and litigation matters; | |
| · | public perception relating to the commercial value or safety of any of our product candidates; | |
| · | other issuances of our common stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock, causing dilution; | |
| · | anticipated or unanticipated changes in our financial performance; | |
| · | general trends related to the biopharmaceutical and biotechnological industries; and | |
| · | general conditions in the stock market. |
| 42 |
The stock market in general has recently experienced relatively large price and volume fluctuations. In particular, the market prices of securities of smaller biotechnology companies have experienced dramatic fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating results of these companies. Continued market fluctuations could result in extreme volatility in the price of our common stock, which could cause a decline in its value. You should also be aware that price volatility may be worse if the trading volume of the common stock remains limited or declines.
Our principal stockholders have significant voting power and may take actions that may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders.
Our officers, directors and principal stockholders together control approximately 50% of our outstanding common stock. Included in this group are previous stockholders of Sigma-Tau and its affiliates, which now have consolidated their holding into Essetifin S.p.A. which holds outstanding shares representing approximately 27% of our outstanding common stock and GtreeBNT which owns approximately 15.1% of our outstanding common stock. These stockholders also hold options, warrants, convertible promissory notes and stock purchase rights that provide them with the right to acquire significantly more shares of common stock. Accordingly, if these stockholders acted together they could control the outcome of all stockholder votes. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock, and therefore may not be in the best interest of our other stockholders.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports or publish unfavorable research about our business, the price of our common stock and other securities and their trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock and other securities will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If securities or industry analysts do not commence or maintain coverage of us, the trading price for our common stock and other securities would be negatively affected. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our securities, the price of our securities would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to publish regular reports on us, interest in the purchase of our securities could decrease, which could cause the price of our common stock and other securities and their trading volume to decline.
The exercise of options and warrants, conversion of convertible promissory notes, and other issuances of shares of common stock or securities convertible into common stock will dilute your interest.
As of March 31, 2019, there were outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 8,094,825 shares of our common stock under our 2000, 2010 and 2018 incentive equity plans at exercise prices ranging from $0.14 per share to $0.64 per share and outstanding warrants to purchase 7,358,094 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.21 per share. On February 27, 2019 we sold the 2019 Notes that will initially be convertible at $0.12 into 10,833,333 shares and the 2019 Warrants to purchase 8,125,000 shares with an exercise price of $0.18 per share. In March 2018 we entered into a warrant reprice and exercise and issuance agreement (the “Reprice Agreement”) with the holders of the warrants issued in June 2016. Under the terms of the Reprice Agreement, in consideration of the holders exercising in full all of the 2016 Offering warrants the exercise price per share of 5,147,059 warrants was reduced to $0.20 per share. As further consideration, we issued to the holders of the 2016 Offering warrants 3,860,294 new warrants with an exercise price of $0.2301 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the Reprice Agreement the exercise price of the new warrants has been reduced to $0.125 as a result of the February 2019 convertible note sale. Subsequent to the exercise price to $0.125, the warrant holders have exercised warrants for 1,925,000 shares of common stock and we have received exercise proceeds of approximately $240,000. In addition to the notes, options and warrants described above, we had previously issued five series of convertible promissory notes of which one remained outstanding. In January 2014, we sold a series of convertible promissory notes, which notes totaled $55,000 and are initially convertible into 916,667 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $0.06 per share. The notes matured in January 2019 and, along with the accrued interest were converted into common stock. The exercise of options and warrants or note conversions at prices below the market price of our common stock could adversely affect the price of shares of our common stock. Additional dilution may result from the issuance of shares of our capital stock in connection with collaborations or manufacturing arrangements or in connection with other financing efforts.
| 43 |
Any issuance of our common stock that is not made solely to then-existing stockholders proportionate to their interests, such as in the case of a stock dividend or stock split, will result in dilution to each stockholder by reducing his, her or its percentage ownership of the total outstanding shares. Moreover, if we issue options or warrants to purchase our common stock in the future and those options or warrants are exercised or we issue restricted stock, stockholders may experience further dilution. Holders of shares of our common stock have no preemptive rights that entitle them to purchase their pro rata share of any offering of shares of any class or series.
Our certificate of incorporation and Delaware law contain provisions that could discourage or prevent a takeover or other change in control, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to our stockholders, which could affect our stock price adversely and prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.
Our certificate of incorporation provides our Board with the power to issue shares of preferred stock without stockholder approval. In addition, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Subject to specified exceptions, this section provides that a corporation may not engage in any business combination with any interested stockholder, as defined in that statute, during the three-year period following the time that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. This provision could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of our company. The foregoing factors could reduce the price that investors or an acquirer might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
We may become involved in securities class action litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm our business and our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all costs and damages.
The stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market prices for the common stock of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. These broad market fluctuations may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. If we experience this sort of volatility, we may become involved in this type of litigation in the future. Litigation often is expensive and diverts management’s attention and resources, which could hurt our business, operating results and financial condition.
| Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
None.
| Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None.
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not applicable.
| Item 5. | Other Information |
None.
| 44 |
| Item 6. |
| Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |
| 10.1 | Form of Convertible Note Purchase Agreement February 2019 | |
| 10.2 | Form of Convertible Promissory Note February 2019 | |
| 10.3 | Form of Common Stock Warrant February 2019 | |
| 31.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* | |
| 32.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.** | |
| 101 | The following materials from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Balance Sheets at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; (ii) Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018; (iii) Condensed Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the three months ended Match 31, 2019 and 2018; (iv) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018; and (v) Notes to Condensed Financial Statements. |
| * | Filed herewith. Except where noted, the exhibits referred to in this column have heretofore been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the documents indicated and are hereby incorporated by reference thereto. |
| ** | Furnished herewith. This certification is being furnished solely to accompany this quarterly report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the registrant, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing. |
| 45 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. | |
| (Registrant) | |
| Date: May 15, 2019 | /s/J.J. Finkelstein |
| J.J. Finkelstein | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| (On Behalf of the Registrant) |
| 46 |