UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended: June 30, 2009
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 001-34217
Icagen, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | |
Delaware | | 56-1785001 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
4222 Emperor Boulevard, Suite 350
Durham, North Carolina 27703
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (919) 941-5206
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| | | | | | |
Large Accelerated Filer | | ¨ | | Accelerated Filer | | ¨ |
| | | |
Non-Accelerated Filer | | ¨ (Do not check if smaller reporting company) | | Smaller Reporting Company | | x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
As of July 31, 2009, there were outstanding 47,058,604 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share.
ICAGEN, INC.
INDEX
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would,” or similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations, contain projections of future results of operations or of financial position or state other “forward-looking” information. The important factors listed below, as well as any cautionary language elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in these forward-looking statements. You should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the risk factors appearing in Item 1A of Part II below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
Any forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements, possibly materially. We disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements.
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – UNAUDITED
Icagen, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2009 | | | December 31, 2008 | |
| | (unaudited) | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 24,130 | | | $ | 34,215 | |
Accounts receivable | | | 19 | | | | 14 | |
Prepaid expenses and other | | | 1,517 | | | | 568 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total current assets | | | 25,666 | | | | 34,797 | |
Non-current assets: | | | | | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | | | 2,221 | | | | 2,586 | |
Technology licenses and related costs, net of accumulated amortization of $376 and $383 as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively | | | 354 | | | | 392 | |
Deposits and other | | | 131 | | | | 105 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 28,372 | | | $ | 37,880 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 1,790 | | | $ | 1,436 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 513 | | | | 892 | |
Current portion of deferred revenue | | | 1,605 | | | | 5,378 | |
Current portion of equipment debt financing | | | 497 | | | | 662 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | | | 4,405 | | | | 8,368 | |
Deferred revenue, less current portion | | | — | | | | 56 | |
Equipment debt financing, less current portion | | | 721 | | | | 971 | |
Other non-current liabilities | | | 357 | | | | 373 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 5,483 | | | | 9,768 | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | |
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008; 47,028,604 and 46,906,589 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively | | | 47 | | | | 47 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 155,275 | | | | 154,505 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (132,433 | ) | | | (126,440 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 22,889 | | | | 28,112 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 28,372 | | | $ | 37,880 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
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Icagen, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Collaborative research and development revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development fees | | $ | 2,944 | | | $ | 2,949 | | | $ | 5,887 | | | $ | 5,824 | |
Reimbursed research and development costs | | | 64 | | | | 235 | | | | 133 | | | | 328 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total collaborative research and development revenues | | | 3,008 | | | | 3,184 | | | | 6,020 | | | | 6,152 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | | 4,238 | | | | 5,620 | | | | 9,591 | | | | 11,093 | |
General and administrative | | | 1,107 | | | | 1,526 | | | | 2,339 | | | | 3,035 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | | | 5,345 | | | | 7,146 | | | | 11,930 | | | | 14,128 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss from operations | | | (2,337 | ) | | | (3,962 | ) | | | (5,910 | ) | | | (7,976 | ) |
Other (expense) income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 6 | | | | 298 | | | | 19 | | | | 711 | |
Interest expense | | | (48 | ) | | | (49 | ) | | | (102 | ) | | | (93 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total other (expense) income, net | | | (42 | ) | | | 249 | | | | (83 | ) | | | 618 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income taxes | | | (2,379 | ) | | | (3,713 | ) | | | (5,993 | ) | | | (7,358 | ) |
Income taxes | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (2,379 | ) | | $ | (3,713 | ) | | $ | (5,993 | ) | | $ | (7,358 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss per share – basic and diluted | | $ | (0.05 | ) | | $ | (0.08 | ) | | $ | (0.13 | ) | | $ | (0.16 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted | | | 47,002,455 | | | | 46,834,932 | | | | 46,990,577 | | | | 45,432,546 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
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Icagen, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operating activities | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (5,993 | ) | | $ | (7,358 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment | | | 409 | | | | 380 | |
Amortization of technology licenses and related costs | | | 20 | | | | 24 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | 772 | | | | 1,319 | |
Write-off of technology license and related costs | | | 18 | | | | — | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | | (5 | ) | | | (164 | ) |
Prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets | | | (975 | ) | | | (584 | ) |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | | (25 | ) | | | (1,401 | ) |
Other liabilities | | | (33 | ) | | | 301 | |
Deferred revenue | | | (3,829 | ) | | | (2,539 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (9,641 | ) | | | (10,022 | ) |
| | |
Investing activities | | | | | | | | |
Acquisition of property and equipment | | | (44 | ) | | | (1,111 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (44 | ) | | �� | (1,111 | ) |
| | |
Financing activities | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs | | | — | | | | 9,994 | |
Proceeds from equipment debt financing | | | — | | | | 559 | |
Payments on equipment debt financing | | | (415 | ) | | | (372 | ) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants | | | 15 | | | | 54 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | | (400 | ) | | | 10,235 | |
| | | | | | | | |
(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | (10,085 | ) | | | (898 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 34,215 | | | | 43,513 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 24,130 | | | $ | 42,615 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for interest | | $ | 99 | | | $ | 98 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
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Icagen, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
June 30, 2009
(unaudited)
1. Company Description and Significant Accounting Policies
Company Description
Icagen, Inc. (“Icagen” or the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in November 1992. Icagen is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel orally-administered small molecule drugs that modulate ion channel targets. The Company has identified multiple drug candidates that modulate ion channels. These drug candidates were developed internally or through collaborative research programs. The Company is conducting research and development activities in a number of disease areas, including epilepsy, asthma, pain and inflammation.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2008.
In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements, and reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary to present fairly results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.
Liquidity
The Company expects to incur losses from operations for at least the next several years. The Company believes that based on its current operating plan, its existing cash and cash equivalents, which were provided primarily from the $12.0 million up front license fee from Pfizer received in August 2007 and the gross proceeds of approximately $15.0 million from the Pfizer equity investments completed in August 2007 and February 2008, will be sufficient to enable it to fund its operating expenses, obligations under its equipment debt financing and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. The Company will need additional funds to meet its obligations and fund operations beyond that time. In order to conserve capital, the Company recently implemented a limited reduction of its workforce. If the Company is not able to secure adequate funding on a timely basis or at all, the Company may be required to significantly curtail one or more of its discovery or development programs or other aspects of its operations. The Company’s future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| • | | the scope and results of its research, preclinical and clinical development activities; |
| • | | the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals; |
| • | | the cost of commercialization activities, including product marketing, sales and distribution; |
| • | | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims and other patent-related costs, including litigation costs and the results of such litigation; |
| • | | the extent to which it acquires or invests in businesses, products and technologies; |
| • | | the success of its collaboration with Pfizer; and |
| • | | its ability to establish and maintain additional collaborations. |
The Company does not anticipate that it will generate product revenue for at least the next several years. To the extent its capital resources are insufficient to meet future capital requirements, the Company will need to finance future cash needs through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. Research funding under the Company’s collaboration with Pfizer will expire in August 2009 unless the initial two-year research term of the collaboration is extended. The Company is currently in discussions with Pfizer concerning the terms of a potential renewal of the research collaboration. The Company does not currently have any commitments for future external funding.
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Additional equity or debt financing, or corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements, may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all, particularly in the current economic environment. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate its research and development programs, reduce its planned commercialization efforts, or obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require it to relinquish rights to certain drug candidates that it might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently. Additionally, any future equity funding may dilute the ownership of the Company’s equity investors.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s collaboration agreements contain multiple elements, including non-refundable upfront license fees, payments for reimbursement of research and development costs, payments for ongoing research and development, payments associated with achieving development, regulatory and commercialization milestones and royalties based on specified percentages of net product sales, if any. The Company applies the revenue recognition criteria outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104,Revenue Recognition (“SAB 104”) and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 00-21,Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables (“EITF 00-21”). In applying these revenue recognition criteria, the Company considers a variety of factors in determining the appropriate method of revenue recognition under these arrangements, such as whether the elements are separable, whether there are determinable fair values and whether there is a unique earnings process associated with each element of a contract.
Cash received in advance of revenue recognition is recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as revenue as services are performed over the applicable term of the agreement. When the period of deferral cannot be specifically identified from the agreement, the deferral period is estimated based upon other factors contained within the agreement. The Company continually reviews these estimates, which could result in a change in the deferral period and which might impact the timing and the amount of revenue recognized.
When a payment is specifically tied to a separate earnings process, revenues are recognized when the specific performance obligation associated with the payment is completed. Performance obligations typically consist of significant milestones in the development life cycle of the related program, such as the initiation or completion of clinical trials, filing for approval with regulatory agencies, receipt of approvals by regulatory agencies and the achievement of commercial milestones. Revenues from milestone payments may be considered separable from funding for research and development services because of the uncertainty surrounding the achievement of milestones for products in early stages of development. Accordingly, these payments could be recognized as revenue if and when the performance milestone is achieved if they represent a separate earnings process as described in EITF 00-21.
In connection with the Company’s research and development collaboration with Pfizer, a non-refundable upfront license fee was received. Revenues from non-refundable upfront license fees, which the Company does not believe to be specifically tied to a separate earnings process, are recognized ratably over the term of the agreement. With respect to the Company’s collaboration with Pfizer, this period is the initial term of the research phase of the collaboration. Research and development services provided under the Company’s collaboration agreement with Pfizer are on a fixed fee basis. Revenues associated with long-term, fixed fee contracts are recognized based on the performance requirements of the agreements and as services are performed. The Company’s collaboration agreement with Pfizer allows for research term extensions upon mutually agreeable terms. Revenues from contract extensions are recognized as the extended services are performed.
Revenues derived from reimbursement of direct out-of-pocket expenses for research and development costs associated with the Company’s collaboration with Pfizer are recorded in compliance with EITF Issue 99-19,Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an Agent (“EITF 99-19”) and EITF Issue 01-14,Income Statement Characterization of Reimbursements Received for “Out-of-Pocket” Expenses Incurred (“EITF 01-14”). According to the criteria established by these EITF issues, in transactions where the Company acts as a principal, with discretion to choose suppliers, bears credit risk and performs part of the services required in the transaction, the Company records revenue for the gross amount of the reimbursement. The costs associated with these reimbursements are reflected as a component of research and development expense in the statements of operations.
None of the payments that the Company has received from collaborators to date, whether deferred or recognized as revenue, is refundable even if the related program is not successful.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
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Research and Development Costs
The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred. Research and development expense includes, among other items, clinical trial costs. The Company accounts for its clinical trial costs by estimating the total cost to treat a patient in each clinical trial and recognizing this cost, based on a variety of factors, beginning with the preparation for the clinical trial. This estimated cost includes payments to contract research organizations for trial site and patient-related costs, including laboratory costs related to the conduct of the trial, and other costs. The cost per patient varies based on the type of clinical trial, the site of the clinical trial and the length of the treatment period for each patient.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109,Accounting for Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities and are estimated using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when the Company determines that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Net Loss Per Share
The Company computes net loss per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128,Earnings Per Share (“SFAS No. 128”). Under the provisions of SFAS No. 128, basic net loss per share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents then outstanding. Common share equivalents consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock, shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units and shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants. For the periods presented, Diluted EPS is identical to Basic EPS because common share equivalents, including all of the Company’s outstanding stock options, outstanding restricted stock units and outstanding warrants, are excluded from the calculation, as their effect is antidilutive. Had the Company been in a net income position, these securities may have been included in the calculation. These potentially dilutive securities consist of the following on a weighted average basis:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
Outstanding common stock options | | 5,702,788 | | 5,631,756 | | 5,693,226 | | 5,591,891 |
Restricted stock units | | 2,068,091 | | 612,650 | | 1,927,500 | | 600,367 |
Outstanding warrants | | 5,218,920 | | 5,218,920 | | 5,218,920 | | 5,218,920 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | 12,989,799 | | 11,463,326 | | 12,839,646 | | 11,411,178 |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 168,The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162(“SFAS No. 168”). SFAS No. 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”) as the single source of authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards applicable for all non-governmental entities, with the exception of guidance issued by the SEC and its staff. SFAS 168 is effective July 1, 2009 and will apply to all interim periods ending after September 15, 2009. SFAS 168 will amend the Company’s disclosure for references to accounting guidance to include reference to the applicable section of the Codification.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165,Subsequent Events(“SFAS No. 165”). SFAS No. 165 establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. SFAS No. 165 is currently effective for the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a significant impact upon the Company’s accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007),Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. This statement also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the
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financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In November 2007, the EITF of the FASB reached consensus on Issue No. 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” (“EITF Issue No. 07-1”). EITF Issue No. 07-1 addresses the issue of how costs incurred and revenue generated on sales to third parties should be reported by participants in a collaborative arrangement in each of their respective income statements. EITF Issue No. 07-1 also provides guidance on how an entity should characterize payments made between participants in a collaborative arrangement in the income statement and what participants should disclose in the notes to the financial statements about collaborative arrangements. EITF Issue No. 07-1 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and has been applied retrospectively to all periods presented for all collaborative arrangements existing as of the effective date. The adoption of EITF Issue No. 07-1 did not have a material impact to the Company’s financial statements.
In June 2007, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF on EITF Issue No. 07-3,Accounting for Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities (“EITF 07-3”). EITF 07-3 requires companies to defer and capitalize prepaid, nonrefundable research and development payments to third parties and amortize them over the period that the research and development activities are performed or the services are provided, subject to an assessment of recoverability. EITF 07-3 was effective for new contracts entered into during fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of EITF 07-3, effective January 1, 2008, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159,The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The provisions of SFAS No. 159 were effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 159, effective January 1, 2008, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157,Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This pronouncement applies under the other accounting standards that require or permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, this statement does not require any new fair value measurement. SFAS No. 157 was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years, for all financial assets and liabilities and for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value at least annually. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for all other nonfinancial assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 is to be applied prospectively. The adoption of the requirements of SFAS No. 157 that were effective January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
2. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $327,000 and $640,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $772,000 and $1,319,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
3. Private Placement
On February 13, 2008, the Company sold 5,847,953 shares of common stock to Pfizer at a price of $1.71 per share, which was the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the business day preceding February 5, 2008, the date of the Company’s exercise of its put option to sell the shares, resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $10.0 million.
4. Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through August 7, 2009, the date of issuance of the Company’s financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2009. In July 2009, the Company implemented a number of cost savings measures, including a limited workforce reduction, in order to conserve cash. The Company expects to record restructuring charges of approximately $400,000 in the third quarter of 2009 related to termination benefits. The restructuring costs will be accounted for pursuant to SFAS No. 146,Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.
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ITEM 2 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel orally-administered small molecule drugs that modulate ion channel targets. Utilizing our proprietary know-how and integrated scientific and drug development capabilities, we have identified multiple drug candidates that modulate ion channels. We are conducting research and development activities in a number of disease areas, including epilepsy, asthma, pain and inflammation.
Since our incorporation in November 1992, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to the discovery and development of drug candidates with activity at ion channels. We currently have two clinical development programs, as well as other drug discovery programs addressing specific ion channel targets. We have not received approval to market any product and, to date, have received no product revenues.
Since our inception, we have incurred substantial losses and, as of June 30, 2009, we had an accumulated deficit of $132.4 million. These losses and accumulated deficit have resulted from the significant costs incurred in the research and development of our compounds and technologies and general and administrative costs. We expect that our operating losses will continue and likely increase substantially for at least the next several quarters and years as we continue to expand our research, development and clinical trial activities and infrastructure.
A substantial portion of our revenue for at least the next several years will depend on our achieving development and regulatory milestones in our existing collaborative research and development program and entering into new collaborations. Our revenue may vary substantially from quarter to quarter and year to year. Our operating expenses may also vary substantially from quarter to quarter and year to year based on the timing of clinical trial patient enrollment and our research activities. We believe that period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations are not meaningful and should not be relied on as indicative of our future performance.
The successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. We estimate that we will incur at least approximately $3.0 million over the course of the next year for the planned proof-of-concept trials for ICA-105665 in epilepsy and in pain. Additionally, we expect to incur at least approximately $1.0 million over the course of the next year to complete the two ongoing proof-of-concept trials of senicapoc for the treatment of asthma. The conduct of these programs beyond these proof-of-concept studies will be dependent upon the availability of additional capital or the formation of one or more new collaborations.
Recent Developments
In July 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, lifted the partial clinical hold related to the development of ICA-105665, our novel orally available small molecule KCNQ potassium channel agonist, for the treatment of epilepsy. We expect to initiate the proof-of-concept study in epilepsy patients during the third quarter of this year. In addition, we expect to initiate a proof-of-concept pain study in healthy volunteers during the third quarter of this year.
In June 2009, we completed enrollment of our Phase II proof-of-concept study of senicapoc, a novel orally available small molecule inhibitor of the KCa3.1 potassium ion channel, in patients with exercise-induced asthma. This study complements an ongoing proof-of-concept study in patients with allergic asthma which we initiated during the fourth quarter of 2008 and for which we completed enrollment in April 2009.
In June 2009, we announced that we had retained J.P. Morgan to provide advice and assistance on a range of possible transactions, including the formation of one or more collaborations or the potential acquisition of the Company. We also announced that we have not determined whether to pursue any particular strategic alternative, and, given market conditions and discussions with third parties to date, expect that the process may extend over the next two quarters and possibly longer. Finally, we noted that we do not expect to provide any updates until the process or any strategic transaction has concluded. There can be no assurance that, if any transaction is commenced, it will be completed or as to the value that any such transaction might have for our stockholders.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates. Critical accounting policies are those policies that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Our most critical accounting policies involve: revenue recognition, accrued expenses, research and development, stock-based compensation and accounting for income taxes. For a more detailed explanation of our critical accounting policies, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 16, 2009.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
Collaborative Research and Development Revenues
Collaborative research and development revenues decreased by $176,000, or 6%, to $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 from $3.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, and consisted of research and development funding and amortization of the initial upfront payment related to our collaboration with Pfizer for both periods. The decrease was due primarily to a $171,000 decrease in reimbursement for research and development expenses as a result of a reduction in the corresponding expenses.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense decreased by $1.4 million, or 25%, to $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 from $5.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease of $1.2 million in expenses associated with our epilepsy and neuropathic pain program, a decrease of $326,000 in patent expense, a decrease of $135,000 in equity compensation expense, a decrease of $65,000 in license fee expense, a decrease of $64,000 in pharmacology study expenses and a decrease of $62,000 in outsourced chemistry expense, partially offset by an increase of $575,000 in expenses related to the development of senicapoc for asthma.
Senicapoc for asthma, and formerly senicapoc for sickle cell disease, and ICA-105665 and our other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain represent a substantial majority of the total research and development payments by us to third parties. The following table shows, for the periods presented, the total out-of-pocket payments made by us to third parties for preclinical study support, clinical supplies and clinical trials associated with these programs:
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended June 30, | | Cumulative from |
Development Program | | 2009 | | 2008 | | Inception |
| | (in thousands) |
Senicapoc | | $ | 818 | | $ | 269 | | $ | 50,717 |
ICA-105665 and other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain | | | 124 | | | 1,347 | | | 18,901 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 942 | | $ | 1,616 | | $ | 69,618 |
| | | | | | | | | |
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense decreased by $419,000, or 27%, to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 from $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease of $178,000 in equity compensation expense, a decrease of $81,000 in auditing expense, a decrease of $76,000 in corporate development expense and a decrease of $65,000 in salary and benefits expense.
Interest Income and Interest Expense
Interest income decreased by $292,000, or 98%, to $6,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, from $298,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in interest income was attributable to decreased interest rates and a lower average balance of cash and cash equivalents during the period.
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Interest expense decreased by $1,000, or 2%, to $48,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 from $49,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in interest expense was attributable to decreased weighted average borrowings outstanding under our equipment debt financing.
Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and June 30, 2008
Collaborative Research and Development Revenues
Collaborative research and development revenues decreased by $132,000, or 2%, to $6.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from $6.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease was due primarily to a $195,000 decrease in reimbursement for research and development expenses as a result of a reduction in the corresponding expenses.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense decreased by $1.5 million, or 14%, to $9.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from $11.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease of $1.6 million in expenses associated with our epilepsy and neuropathic pain program, a decrease of $416,000 in patent expense, a decrease of $257,000 in equity compensation expense, a decrease of $155,000 in pharmacology study expenses, a decrease of $122,000 in outsourced chemistry expense, a decrease of $94,000 in license fee expense and a decrease in the aggregate of $182,000 related to travel expense, laboratory supply expense and software license expense, partially offset by an increase of $1.2 million in expenses related to the development of senicapoc for asthma and an increase of $192,000 in salary and benefits expense.
Senicapoc for asthma, and formerly senicapoc for sickle cell disease, and ICA-105665 and our other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain represent a substantial majority of the total research and development payments by us to third parties. The following table shows, for the periods presented, the total out-of-pocket payments made by us to third parties for preclinical study support, clinical supplies and clinical trials associated with these programs:
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Six months ended June 30, | | Cumulative from |
Development Program | | 2009 | | 2008 | | Inception |
| | (in thousands) |
Senicapoc | | $ | 1,747 | | $ | 553 | | $ | 50,717 |
ICA-105665 and other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain | | | 870 | | | 2,515 | | | 18,901 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 2,617 | | $ | 3,068 | | $ | 69,618 |
| | | | | | | | | |
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense decreased by $696,000, or 23%, to $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease of $288,000 in equity compensation expense, a decrease of $151,000 in salary and benefits expense, a decrease of $133,000 in audit and tax expense and a decrease of $128,000 in corporate development expense.
Interest Income and Interest Expense
Interest income decreased $692,000, or 97%, to $19,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from $711,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in interest income was attributable to decreased interest rates and a lower average balance of cash and cash equivalents during the period.
Interest expense increased $9,000, or 10%, to $102,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from $93,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The increase in interest expense was attributable to increased average borrowings under our equipment debt financing.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have financed our operations since inception through the issuance of equity securities, payments received under our collaboration agreements, proceeds from equipment debt financing and capital leases and interest income. At June 30, 2009, our cash and cash equivalents were $24.1 million as compared to $34.2 million at December 31, 2008. Our cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less at date of purchase and consist of time deposits and investments in money market funds with commercial banks and financial institutions and United States government obligations.
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In August 2007, we entered into a collaborative research and license agreement with Pfizer for the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of compounds and products that modulate three specific sodium ion channels as new potential treatments for pain and related disorders. Pursuant to the collaboration arrangement, Pfizer paid us an initial upfront license fee of $12.0 million. In addition to the upfront license fee, Pfizer is providing us with research and development funding over a two-year research period concluding in August 2009 pursuant to the agreement. We are currently negotiating the terms of a possible extension of the research period with Pfizer, but there can be no assurance that such an extension will be secured. Pfizer is obligated to make payments to us upon achievement of specified research, development, regulatory and commercialization milestones of up to $359.0 million for each drug candidate developed. We are also eligible to receive tiered royalties, against which Pfizer may credit any commercialization milestones, based on specified percentages of net product sales.
In August 2007, in connection with the collaborative research and license agreement with Pfizer, we also entered into a purchase agreement with Pfizer to sell to Pfizer up to $15.0 million of our common stock. In a first closing of the transaction on August 20, 2007, we sold 2,688,172 shares of common stock to Pfizer at a price of $1.86 per share, which was the closing bid price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the business day preceding the execution of the purchase agreement, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $5.0 million. In a subsequent closing of the transaction on February 13, 2008, we sold an additional 5,847,953 shares of common stock to Pfizer at a price of $1.71 per share, which was the closing bid price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the business day preceding the date of our exercise of our put option to sell the shares, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $10.0 million.
Cash Flows
Net cash used in operating activities was $9.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. This reflects a net loss of approximately $6.0 million, a decrease of $3.8 million in deferred revenue and an increase of $975,000 in prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets. These amounts were partially offset by $772,000 of non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation and $409,000 of non-cash expenses related to depreciation and amortization of property and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities in the three months ended June 30, 2009 was $44,000, consisting of the purchase of property and equipment.
Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended June 30, 2009 was $400,000 and consisted primarily of principal repayments related to our equipment debt financing.
Net cash used in operating activities was $10.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. This reflects a net loss of approximately $7.4 million, a decrease of approximately $2.5 million in deferred revenue, a decrease of approximately $1.4 million in accounts payable and accrued expenses, an increase of approximately $584,000 in prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets, and an increase of approximately $164,000 in accounts receivable, partially offset by $1.3 million of non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation, $380,000 of non-cash expenses for depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and an increase of $301,000 in other liabilities.
Net cash used in investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $1.1 million, consisting of the purchase of property and equipment.
Net cash generated by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $10.2 million and consisted of $10.0 million in net proceeds from the private placement completed in February 2008 and $559,000 in proceeds related to our equipment debt financing, partially offset by $372,000 in principal repayments related to our equipment debt financing.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2008 are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Funding Requirements
We expect to incur losses from operations for at least the next several years. We believe, based upon our current operating plan, that our existing cash and cash equivalents, which were provided primarily from the $12.0 million up front license fee from Pfizer received in August 2007 and the gross proceeds of approximately $15.0 million from the Pfizer equity investments completed in
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August 2007 and February 2008, will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses, obligations under our equipment debt financing and capital expenditure requirements at least for the next twelve months. We will need additional funds to meet our obligations and fund our operations beyond that time. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| • | | the scope and results of our research, preclinical and clinical development activities; |
| • | | the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals; |
| • | | the cost of commercialization activities, including product marketing, sales and distribution; |
| • | | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims and other patent-related costs, including litigation costs and the results of such litigation; |
| • | | the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies; |
| • | | the success of our collaboration with Pfizer; and |
| • | | our ability to establish and maintain additional collaborations. |
We do not anticipate that we will generate product revenue for at least the next several years. To the extent our capital resources are insufficient to meet future capital requirements, we will need to finance future cash needs through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements.Research funding under our collaboration with Pfizer will expire in August 2009 unless the initial two-year research term of the collaboration is extended. The Company is currently in discussions with Pfizer concerning the terms of a potential renewal of the research collaboration. We do not currently have any commitments for future external funding.
Additional equity or debt financing, or corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements, may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all, particularly in the current economic environment. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate our research and development programs, reduce our planned commercialization efforts, or obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish rights to certain drug candidates that we might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently. Additionally, any future equity funding may dilute the ownership of our equity investors.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued SFAS No. 168,The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162, or SFAS No. 168. SFAS No. 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or the Codification, as the single source of authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards applicable for all non-governmental entities, with the exception of guidance issued by the SEC and its staff. SFAS 168 is effective July 1, 2009 and will apply to all interim periods ending after September 15, 2009. SFAS 168 will amend our disclosure for references to accounting guidance to include reference to the applicable section of the Codification.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165,Subsequent Events,or SFAS No. 165. SFAS No. 165 establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. SFAS No. 165 is currently effective for us for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a significant impact upon the accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events.
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 141 (revised 2007),Business Combinations,or SFAS No. 141(R). SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. This statement also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In November 2007, the Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, of the FASB reached consensus on Issue No. 07-1,Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements, or EITF Issue No. 07-1. EITF Issue No. 07-1 addresses the issue of how costs incurred and revenue generated on sales to third parties should be reported by participants in a collaborative arrangement in each of their respective income statements. EITF Issue No. 07-1 also provides guidance on how an entity should characterize payments made between participants in
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a collaborative arrangement in the income statement and what participants should disclose in the notes to the financial statements about collaborative arrangements. EITF Issue No. 07-1 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and has been applied retrospectively to all periods presented for all collaborative arrangements existing as of the effective date. The adoption of EITF Issue No. 07-1 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In June 2007, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF on EITF Issue No. 07-3,Accounting for Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities,or EITF 07-3. EITF 07-3 requires companies to defer and capitalize prepaid, nonrefundable research and development payments to third parties and amortize them over the period that the research and development activities are performed or the services are provided, subject to an assessment of recoverability. EITF 07-3 was effective for new contracts entered into during fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of EITF 07-3, effective January 1, 2008, did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159,The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, or SFAS No. 159. SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The provisions of SFAS No. 159 were effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 159, effective January 1, 2008, did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157,Fair Value Measurements, or SFAS No. 157. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This pronouncement applies under the other accounting standards that require or permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, this statement does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years, for all financial assets and liabilities and for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value at least annually. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for all other nonfinancial assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 is to be applied prospectively. The adoption of the requirements of SFAS No. 157 that were effective January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
ITEM 3 – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risk is currently confined to our cash and cash equivalents that have maturities of less than 90 days. We currently do not hedge interest rate exposure. We have not used derivative financial instruments for speculation or trading purposes. Because of the short-term maturities of our cash and cash equivalents, we do not believe that an increase in market rates would have any significant impact on the realized value of our investments.
We have operated primarily in the United States and have received payments from our collaborators in United States dollars. Accordingly, we do not have any material exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2009. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2009, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS
The following discussion includes eight revised risk factors (“We have incurred losses since inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future. We might never achieve or maintain profitability,” “We will need substantial additional funding and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force us to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts,” “Our business and results of operations may be negatively impacted by general economic and financial market conditions and such conditions may exacerbate the other risks that affect our business,” “If we fail to continue to meet all applicable Nasdaq Global Market requirements and Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock, impair the value of your investment and harm our business,” “We depend heavily on the success of our most advanced internal product candidates, ICA-105665 and our other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain and senicapoc for asthma, which are still under development. If we are unable to commercialize any of these product candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed,” “We will not be able to commercialize our product candidates if our preclinical studies do not produce successful results or our clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans,” “We depend significantly on collaborations with third parties to discover, develop and commercialize some of our product candidates,” and “If we fail to attract and keep senior management and key scientific personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop or commercialize our product candidates.”) that reflects material developments subsequent to the discussion of risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Risks Related to Our Financial Results and Need for Additional Financing
We have incurred losses since inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future. We might never achieve or maintain profitability.
We have a limited operating history and have not yet commercialized any products or generated any product revenues. As of June 30, 2009, we had an accumulated deficit of $132.4 million. We have incurred losses in each year since our inception in 1992. Our net losses were $6.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, $14.8 million in 2008, $10.9 million in 2007 and $24.8 million in 2006. These losses resulted principally from costs incurred in our research and development programs and from our general and administrative expenses. We expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for at least the next several years as we continue our research activities, conduct development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our initial drug candidates, and commercialize any approved drugs. These losses, among other things, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity, total assets and working capital.
We have financed our operations and internal growth principally through the issuance of equity securities and funding under collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies. We have devoted substantially all of our efforts to research and development, including clinical trials, and we have not completed development of any drugs. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing drugs targeting ion channels, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses, whether or when any of our product candidates will become commercially available, or when we will become profitable, if at all. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
If we are unable to achieve and then maintain profitability, the market value of our common stock will decline.
We will need substantial additional funding and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force us to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts.
We expect our research and development expenses to continue and, if sufficient funding is available and the scope of the clinical trials that we are conducting expands, to increase in connection with our ongoing activities. In addition, subject to regulatory approval of any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses for product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. We will need substantial additional funding and may be unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, particularly in the current economic environment. An inability to raise necessary funds would force us to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or commercialization efforts.
We believe that, based upon our current operating plan, our existing cash and cash equivalents, including the gross proceeds of $10.0 million from our exercise of the equity put option with Pfizer in February 2008, will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses, obligations under our equipment debt financing and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. We will need additional funds to meet our obligations and fund operations beyond that time. In order to conserve capital, we recently implemented a limited reduction of our workforce. If we are not able to secure adequate funding on a timely basis or at all,
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we may be required to significantly curtail one or more of our discovery or development programs or other aspects of our operations. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| • | | the scope and results of our research, preclinical and clinical development activities; |
| • | | the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals; |
| • | | the cost of commercialization activities, including product marketing, sales and distribution; |
| • | | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims and other patent-related costs, including litigation costs and the results of such litigation; |
| • | | the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies; |
| • | | the success of our collaboration with Pfizer; and |
| • | | our ability to establish and maintain additional collaborations. |
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through public or private equity offerings, debt financings and corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms, such as liquidation and other preferences, that are not favorable to us or our stockholders. If we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements with third parties, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.
Our business and results of operations may be negatively impacted by general economic and financial market conditions and such conditions may exacerbate the other risks that affect our business.
The world’s financial markets are currently experiencing significant turmoil, resulting in reductions in available credit, constraints in access to capital, extreme volatility in security prices, rating downgrades of investments and reduced valuations of securities generally. These economic conditions have had, and we expect will continue to have, an adverse impact on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Our business depends on our ability to raise substantial additional capital and to maintain and enter into new collaborative research, development and commercialization agreements with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Current market conditions could impair our ability to raise additional capital when needed for our research and development programs, or on attractive terms. Our arrangements with collaborators typically require our collaborators to make a significant commitment of capital and other resources. Recent economic conditions may reduce the amount of discretionary investment that our current collaborator and prospective collaborators may have available to invest in our business. This may result in prospective collaborators electing to defer entering into collaborative agreements with us, or our existing collaborator choosing not to extend our existing collaboration beyond the initial two-year research term, which expires in August 2009. A reduction in research and development funding, even if economic conditions improve, would significantly adversely impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruption in financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad, but the longer the duration the greater risks we face in operating our business. There can be no assurance, therefore, that current economic conditions or worsening economic conditions or a prolonged or recurring recession will not have a significant adverse impact on our operating results.
If we fail to continue to meet all applicable Nasdaq Global Market requirements and Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock, impair the value of your investment and harm our business.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. In order to maintain that listing, we must satisfy minimum financial and other requirements. On October 27, 2006, we received notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department that our common stock had not met the $1.00 per share minimum bid price requirement for 30 consecutive business days and that, if we were unable to demonstrate compliance with this requirement during the applicable grace periods, our common stock would be delisted after that time. On January 17, 2007, we were notified by Nasdaq that we had regained compliance with this listing requirement.
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The closing bid price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $0.61 on July 31, 2009, and has been below $1.00 each trading day since November 10, 2008. Nasdaq had temporarily suspended enforcement of the minimum bid price requirement through July 31, 2009 due to current economic conditions. However, Nasdaq has provided notification that it intends to resume enforcement of this requirement as of August 3, 2009. As a result, it is likely that we will be subject to a delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Global Market in the near future. We may seek shareholder approval to effect a reverse stock split to prevent our common stock from dropping below the minimum bid price requirement; however, a reverse stock split may not prevent the common stock from dropping back down towards the Nasdaq minimum per share price requirement or below the required level. It is also possible that we would otherwise fail to satisfy another Nasdaq requirement for continued listing of our common stock.
If we fail to continue to meet all applicable Nasdaq Global Market requirements in the future and Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock, adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations and harm our business. This delisting could also impair the value of your investment.
If our stock price is volatile, purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses.
Our stock price is likely to be volatile. The stock market in general and the market for biotechnology companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies, particularly in recent months due to the turmoil in world financial markets. As a result of this volatility, investors may not be able to sell their common stock at or above the price at which they purchase it. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:
| • | | results of clinical trials of our product candidates or those of our competitors; |
| • | | regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; |
| • | | variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us; |
| • | | changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; |
| • | | market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors and issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations; |
| • | | general economic, industry and market conditions; and |
| • | | the other factors described in this “Risk Factors” section. |
Risks Related to Development of Product Candidates
We depend heavily on the success of our most advanced internal product candidates, ICA-105665 and our other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain and senicapoc for asthma, which are still under development. If we are unable to commercialize any of these product candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.
We have invested a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources in the development of our most advanced internal product candidates, ICA-105665 and our other lead compounds for the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain and senicapoc for asthma. Our ability to generate product revenues, which we do not expect in any case will occur for at least the next several years, will depend heavily on the successful development and commercialization of these product candidates. The commercial success of these product candidates will depend on several factors, including the following:
| • | | successful completion of clinical trials; |
| • | | receipt of marketing approvals from the FDA and similar foreign regulatory authorities; |
| • | | establishing commercial manufacturing arrangements with third-party manufacturers; |
| • | | launching commercial sales of the product, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and |
| • | | acceptance of the product in the medical community and with third-party payors. |
Our efforts to commercialize ICA-105665 and the other lead compounds that we are developing for epilepsy and neuropathic pain and senicapoc are at an early stage. We submitted an Investigational New Drug, or IND, and began Phase I clinical trials with respect to ICA-105665 during the third quarter of 2007. The results of these Phase I trials were reported during the second quarter of 2009. In March 2009, we received notification from the FDA, that, based on a review of certain preclinical data, ICA-105665 had been placed on partial clinical hold. This partial clinical hold related to the development of ICA-105665 for epilepsy but did not
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pertain to studies of the compound for pain. We submitted to the FDA additional preclinical data along with a revised protocol for a study of ICA-105665 in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. In July, the FDA lifted the partial clinical hold. Accordingly, we plan to initiate a study in patients with photosensitive epilepsy during the third quarter of 2009.
We submitted an IND for senicapoc as a potential treatment for asthma during the fourth quarter of 2007 and initiated a Phase I multiple dose escalation study to explore doses higher than those used in previous clinical trials for sickle cell disease during the first quarter of 2008. This trial was completed during the third quarter of 2008. In October 2008 we initiated a Phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial in patients with allergic asthma, and in March 2009, we initiated a Phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial in patients with exercise-induced asthma to evaluate the safety and efficacy of senicapoc. Previously we had conducted a pivotal Phase III clinical trial of senicapoc for the chronic treatment of sickle cell disease. Following a planned meeting in April 2007, the Data Monitoring Committee, or DMC, recommended that the clinical trial be terminated because of the low probability of achieving a reduction in crisis rate, the primary endpoint. In accordance with the recommendation of the DMC, we terminated the study following notification provided to the FDA. At this time, we do not expect to resume clinical development of senicapoc as a potential treatment for sickle cell disease.
If we are not successful in commercializing either or both of ICA-105665 or one of our other lead compounds for epilepsy and neuropathic pain or senicapoc for asthma, or are significantly delayed in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.
We will not be able to commercialize our product candidates if our preclinical studies do not produce successful results or our clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans.
Before obtaining regulatory approval for the sale of our product candidates, we must conduct, at our own expense, extensive preclinical tests and clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy in humans of our product candidates. Preclinical and clinical testing is expensive, difficult to design and implement, can take many years to complete and is uncertain as to outcome. Success in preclinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. A failure of one or more of our clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, preclinical testing and the clinical trial process that could delay or prevent our ability to receive regulatory approval or commercialize our product candidates, including:
| • | | regulators or institutional review boards may not authorize us to commence a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site; |
| • | | our preclinical tests or clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional preclinical testing or clinical trials or we may abandon projects that we expect to be promising. For example, our pivotal Phase III clinical trial of senicapoc for sickle cell disease was not successful. As another example, we were notified in the third quarter of 2007 by our collaborator Bristol-Myers Squibb that it had decided, based on formulation issues, among others, not to pursue further development of a lead compound discovered in collaboration with us for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. As a third example, we were notified in the fourth quarter of 2007 by our collaborator, Astellas, that it had decided, based on genotoxicity issues, not to pursue further development of a lead compound discovered in collaboration with us for the treatment of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease; |
| • | | enrollment in our clinical trials may be slower than we currently anticipate, resulting in significant delays. For example, enrollment of patients in our Phase II clinical trial of senicapoc for sickle cell disease took longer than we initially expected. Additionally, participants may drop out of our clinical trials; |
| • | | we might have to suspend or terminate our clinical trials if the participating patients are being exposed to unacceptable health risks. For example, in March 2005, results of our multiple dose safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic study of ICA-69673 did not support the continued development of ICA-69673 for the chronic oral treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. As a result, at this time, we have decided not to pursue the further clinical development of this compound; |
| • | | regulators or institutional review boards may require that we hold, suspend or terminate clinical research for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements. For example, in March 2009, we received notification from the FDA, that, based on a review of certain preclinical data, ICA-105665 had been placed on partial clinical hold; |
| • | | the cost of our clinical trials may be greater than we currently anticipate; |
| • | | any regulatory approval we ultimately obtain may be limited or subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render the product not commercially viable; and |
| • | | the effects of our product candidates may not be the desired effects or may include undesirable side effects or the product candidates may have other unexpected characteristics. |
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During the development program for sickle cell disease, 445 clinical trial participants received one or more doses of senicapoc. Of these, 159 were healthy volunteers and 286 were patients with sickle cell disease. In these studies, we obtained safety information that we believe will be important in our development program for asthma. During the development program for sickle cell disease, senicapoc was generally found to be safe and well-tolerated. In a published Phase II study of senicapoc in patients with sickle cell disease, diarrhea and nausea occurred more frequently in patients who received either of two doses of senicapoc than in those who received a placebo. The most common serious adverse events were related to sickle cell disease and none were considered to be related to senicapoc. Patients who took senicapoc had small increases in serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, or GGT, a protein found in the liver and biliary tract, but the clinical significance of this change is not known.
During 2008, we completed a Phase I multiple dose escalation study of senicapoc to explore doses higher than those used in previous clinical trials. In October 2008, we initiated a Phase II proof-of-concept study of senicapoc in patients with allergic asthma, and in March 2009, we initiated a Phase II study of senicapoc in patients with exercise-induced asthma. Analyses of data from these Phase II trials or data from future trials may reveal information that leads us to discontinue development of senicapoc in asthma or other indications.
If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other testing of our product candidates beyond those that we currently contemplate, if we are unable to successfully complete our clinical trials or other testing or if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive, we may:
| • | | be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates; |
| • | | not be able to obtain marketing approval; or |
| • | | obtain approval for indications that are not as broad as intended. |
Our product development costs will also increase if we experience delays in testing or approvals. We do not know whether planned clinical trials will begin as planned, will need to be restructured or will be completed on schedule, if at all. For example, in our Phase III trial of senicapoc, the DMC initially recommended a modification to the protocol and subsequently recommended termination of the trial, as described above. Significant clinical trial delays also could allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do and impair our ability to commercialize our products or product candidates.
Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties for Manufacturing,
Research and Development and Marketing and Distribution Activities
We depend significantly on collaborations with third parties to discover, develop and commercialize some of our product candidates.
A key element of our business strategy is to collaborate with third parties, particularly leading pharmaceutical companies, to research, develop and commercialize some of our product candidates. We are currently a party to one such collaboration with Pfizer. In 2008, research funding from our collaboration with Pfizer accounted for all of our net revenues. Our collaboration with McNeil terminated effective September 18, 2007. Our collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb concluded in the third quarter of 2007 upon notification by Bristol-Myers Squibb that it was no longer pursuing a lead compound discovered in collaboration with us for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Unless the initial two-year term of the research phase of the collaboration is extended, the substantial majority of our research funding under our collaboration with Pfizer is scheduled to end in August 2009. Our collaborations may not be scientifically or commercially successful. The termination of any of these arrangements might adversely affect the development of the related product candidates and our ability to derive revenue from them.
The success of our collaboration arrangements will depend heavily on the efforts and activities of our collaborators. Our collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations. The risks that we face in connection with these collaborations, and that we anticipate being subject to in future collaborations, include the following:
| • | | our collaboration agreements are for fixed terms and subject to termination by our collaborators in the event of a material breach by us; |
| • | | our collaborators in some cases have the first right to maintain or defend our intellectual property rights and, although we have the right to assume the maintenance and defense of our intellectual property rights if our collaborators do not, our ability to do so may be compromised by our collaborators’ acts or omissions; and |
| • | | our collaborators may utilize our intellectual property rights in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property rights or expose us to potential liability. |
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Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and other third parties often are terminated or allowed to expire by the other party. A termination or expiration of our current collaboration with Pfizer or any potential future collaborations would adversely affect us financially and could harm our business reputation.
If one of our collaborators were to change its strategy or the focus of its development and commercialization efforts with respect to our relationship, the success of our product candidates and our operations could be adversely affected.
There are a number of factors external to us that may change our collaborators’ strategy or focus with respect to our relationship with them. For example:
| • | | our collaborators may develop and commercialize, either alone or with others, products and services that are similar to or competitive with the products that are the subject of the collaboration with us; |
| • | | our collaborators may change the focus of their development and commercialization efforts. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies historically have re-evaluated their priorities from time to time, including following mergers and consolidations, which have been common in recent years in these industries. For example, in May 2004 our collaborator Yamanouchi signed a definitive merger agreement with Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which took effect on April 1, 2005, and Yamanouchi and Fujisawa were renamed Astellas Pharma Inc. As additional examples, during 2006 Johnson & Johnson acquired the Consumer Healthcare Business of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and integrated this unit with McNeil, and in January 2009, Pfizer announced its planned acquisition of Wyeth; and |
| • | | the ability of our product candidates and products to reach their potential could be limited if our collaborators decrease or fail to increase spending relating to such products. For example, McNeil provided notification of termination of our collaboration, effective as of September 18, 2007. As another example, our collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb concluded upon notification by Bristol-Myers Squibb in the third quarter of 2007 that it was no longer pursuing a lead compound discovered in collaboration with us for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. |
If any of the above factors were to occur, our collaborator might terminate the collaboration or not commit sufficient resources to the development, manufacture or marketing and distribution of our product or product candidate that is the subject of the collaboration. In such event, we might be required to devote additional resources to the product or product candidate, seek a new collaborator or abandon the product or product candidate, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business.
We may not be successful in establishing additional collaborations, which could adversely affect our ability to discover, develop and commercialize products.
If we are unable to reach new agreements with suitable collaborators, we may fail to meet our business objectives for the affected product or program. We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Moreover, these collaboration arrangements are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. We may not be successful in our efforts to establish additional collaborations or other alternative arrangements. The terms of any additional collaborations or other arrangements that we establish may not be favorable to us. Moreover, these collaborations or other arrangements may not be successful.
If third parties do not manufacture our product candidates in sufficient quantities and at an acceptable cost, clinical development and commercialization of our product candidates could be delayed, prevented or impaired.
We do not currently own or operate manufacturing facilities and have little experience in manufacturing pharmaceutical products. We rely and expect to continue to rely on third parties for the production of clinical and commercial quantities of our product candidates. There are a limited number of manufacturers that operate under the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, regulations and that are both capable of manufacturing for us and willing to do so. We do not have any long-term manufacturing agreements with third parties, and manufacturers under our short-term supply agreements are not obligated to accept any purchase orders we may submit. Our current and anticipated future dependence upon others for the manufacture of our product candidates may adversely affect our future profit margins and our ability to develop product candidates and commercialize any products that receive regulatory approval on a timely and competitive basis. In particular, if the third parties that are currently manufacturing the lead compounds, including ICA-105665, which we are developing for the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain, or senicapoc, which we are developing for the treatment of asthma, for our preclinical studies or clinical trials should cease to continue to do so for any reason, we expect that we would experience delays in advancing these trials while we identify and qualify replacement suppliers.
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Use of third-party manufacturers may increase the risk that we will not have adequate supplies of our product candidates.
Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks to which we would not be subject if we manufactured product candidates or products ourselves, including:
| • | | reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance and quality assurance; |
| • | | the possible breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party; and |
| • | | the possible termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party, based on its own business priorities, at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us. |
If we are not able to obtain adequate supplies of our product candidates and any approved products, it will be more difficult for us to develop our product candidates and compete effectively. Our product candidates and any products that we successfully develop may compete with product candidates and products of third parties for access to manufacturing facilities.
Our contract manufacturers are subject to ongoing, periodic, unannounced inspection by the FDA and corresponding state and foreign agencies or their designees to ensure strict compliance with cGMP regulations and other governmental regulations and corresponding foreign standards. We cannot be certain that our present or future manufacturers will be able to comply with cGMP regulations and other FDA regulatory requirements or similar regulatory requirements outside the United States. We do not control compliance by our contract manufacturers with these regulations and standards. Failure of our third-party manufacturers or us to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on us, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, failure of regulatory authorities to grant marketing approval of our product candidates, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, license revocation, seizures or recalls of product candidates or products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly and adversely affect supplies of our product candidates and products.
If third parties on whom we rely for clinical trials do not perform as contractually required or as we expect or fail to comply with all applicable regulatory requirements, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates, and our business may suffer.
We do not have the ability to independently conduct the clinical trials required to obtain regulatory approval for our products. We depend on independent clinical investigators, contract research organizations and other third-party service providers to conduct the clinical trials of our product candidates and expect to continue to do so for at least the next several years. We rely on Quintiles Transnational Corp. for the performance of some of our clinical trials. One of our directors, Dr. Dennis B. Gillings, is chairman and chief executive officer of Quintiles Transnational Corp., and PharmaBio Development Inc. d/b/a NovaQuest, the holder of approximately 4% of our outstanding capital stock, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Quintiles Transnational Corp.
We rely heavily on independent clinical investigators, contract research organizations and other third-party service providers for successful execution of our clinical trials, but do not control many aspects of their activities. We are responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the general investigational plan and protocols for the trial. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with standards, commonly referred to as Good Clinical Practices, for conducting and recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial participants are protected. The FDA closely monitors the progress of clinical trials that are conducted in the U.S., and the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, or FDAAA, significantly expands the federal government’s clinical trial registry to cover more trials and more information, including information on the results of completed trials. Our reliance on third parties that we do not control does not relieve us of these responsibilities and requirements. Third parties may not complete activities on schedule, or may not conduct our clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements or our stated protocols. The failure of these third parties to carry out their obligations could delay or prevent the development, approval and commercialization of our product candidates.
We plan to expand our internal clinical development and regulatory capabilities. We will not be successful in doing so unless we are able to recruit appropriately trained personnel and add to our infrastructure.
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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain and maintain protection for the intellectual property relating to our technology and products, the value of our technology and products will be adversely affected.
Our success will depend in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain protection in the United States and other countries for the intellectual property covering or incorporated into our technology and products. The patent situation in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals generally is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and scientific questions. We may not be able to obtain additional issued patents relating to our technology or products. Even if issued, patents may be challenged, narrowed, invalidated or circumvented, which could limit our ability to stop competitors from marketing similar products or limit the length of term of patent protection we may have for our products. Changes in either patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of our patent protection.
Our patents also may not afford us protection against competitors with similar technology. Because patent applications in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all, and because publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, neither we nor our licensors can be certain that we or they were the first to make the inventions claimed in issued patents or pending patent applications, or that we or they were the first to file for protection of the inventions set forth in these patent applications.
If we fail to comply with our obligations in our intellectual property licenses with third parties, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.
We are a party to a number of license agreements. We consider only our license with Children’s Medical Center Corporation, or CMCC, to be material to our business. We expect to enter into additional licenses in the future. Our existing licenses impose, and we expect future licenses will impose, various diligence, milestone payment, royalty, insurance and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with these obligations, the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, in which event we might not be able to market any product that is covered by the licensed patents.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our proprietary information and know-how, the value of our technology and products could be adversely affected.
In addition to patented technology, we rely upon unpatented proprietary technology, processes and know-how. We seek to protect this information in part by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors. If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our proprietary information and know-how, competitors may be able to use this information to develop products that compete with our products, which could adversely impact our business.
If we infringe or are alleged to infringe intellectual property rights of third parties, it will adversely affect our business.
Our research, development and commercialization activities, as well as any product candidates or products resulting from these activities, may infringe or be claimed to infringe patents or patent applications under which we do not hold licenses or other rights. Third parties may own or control these patents and patent applications in the United States and abroad. These third parties could bring claims against us or our collaborators that would cause us to incur substantial expenses and, if successful against us, could cause us to pay substantial damages. Further, if a patent infringement suit were brought against us or our collaborators, we or they could be forced to stop or delay research, development, manufacturing or sales of the product or product candidate that is the subject of the suit.
As a result of patent infringement claims, or in order to avoid potential claims, we or our collaborators may choose or be required to seek a license from the third party and be required to pay license fees or royalties or both. These licenses may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Even if we or our collaborators were able to obtain a license, the rights may be nonexclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property. Ultimately, we could be prevented from commercializing a product, or be forced to cease some aspect of our business operations, if, as a result of actual or threatened patent infringement claims, we or our collaborators are unable to enter into licenses on acceptable terms. This could harm our business significantly.
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There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In addition to infringement claims against us, we may become a party to other patent litigation and other proceedings, including interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and opposition proceedings in the European Patent Office, regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our products and technology. The cost to us of any patent litigation or other proceeding, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace. Patent litigation and other proceedings may also absorb significant management time.
Risks Related to Regulatory Approval of Our Product Candidates
If we are not able to obtain required regulatory approvals, we will not be able to commercialize our product candidates, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.
Our product candidates and the activities associated with their development and commercialization, including their testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, recordkeeping, labeling, storage, approval, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution, are subject to comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory agencies in the United States and by comparable authorities in other countries. Failure to obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate will prevent us from commercializing the product candidate. We have not received regulatory approval to market any of our product candidates in any jurisdiction. We have only limited experience in filing and prosecuting the applications necessary to gain regulatory approvals and expect to rely on third-party contract research organizations to assist us in this process. Securing FDA approval requires, among other things, the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data, information about product manufacturing processes and supporting information to the FDA for each therapeutic indication and inspection of facilities to establish the product candidate’s safety and efficacy. Our future products may not be effective, may be only moderately effective or may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that may preclude our obtaining regulatory approval or prevent or limit commercial use.
The process of obtaining regulatory approvals is expensive, often takes many years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. Changes in the regulatory approval policy during the development period, changes in or the enactment of additional statutes or regulations, or changes in regulatory review for each submitted product application, may delay or prevent regulatory approval of an application. The FDA has substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical, clinical or other studies. In addition, varying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical and clinical testing or negative, inconsistent or inconclusive results obtained from preclinical or clinical trials could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval of a product candidate.
Our products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated problems with our products, when and if any of them are approved.
Any product for which we obtain marketing approval, along with the manufacturing processes, post-approval clinical data, labeling, advertising and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to continual requirements of and review by the FDA and other regulatory bodies. These requirements include, among other things, submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration requirements, cGMP requirements relating to quality control, quality assurance and corresponding maintenance of records and documents, and requirements regarding the distribution of samples to physicians and recordkeeping. Even if regulatory approval of a product is granted, the approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for costly post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the product. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in:
| • | | restrictions on such products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes; |
| • | | withdrawal of the products from the market; |
| • | | refusal to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications that we submit; |
| • | | required labeling changes; |
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| • | | required post-marketing studies or clinical trials; |
| • | | distribution and use restrictions; |
| • | | suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals; |
| • | | refusal to permit the import or export of our products; |
| • | | injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. |
Failure to obtain regulatory approval in international jurisdictions would prevent us from marketing our products abroad.
We intend to market our products, if approved, outside the United States. In order to market our products in the European Union and other foreign jurisdictions, we must obtain separate regulatory approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. With respect to some of our product candidates, our collaborator has, or we expect that a future collaborator will have, responsibility to obtain regulatory approvals outside the United States, and we will depend on our collaborators to obtain these approvals. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing and additional review periods. The time required to obtain approval may differ from and may be longer than that required to obtain FDA approval. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval as well as additional risks. We may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or jurisdictions or by the FDA, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may negatively impact the regulatory process in others. We and our collaborators may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market.
Risks Related to Commercialization
The commercial success of any products that we may develop will depend upon the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payors and others in the medical community.
Any products that we bring to the market may not gain market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payors and others in the medical community. If these products do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate material product revenues and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
| • | | the prevalence and severity of any side effects; |
| • | | the efficacy and potential advantages over alternative treatments; |
| • | | the ability to offer our product candidates for sale at competitive prices; |
| • | | relative convenience and ease of administration; |
| • | | the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies; |
| • | | the strength of marketing and distribution support; and |
| • | | sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement. |
If we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our product candidates, we may be unable to generate product revenues.
We do not have a sales organization and have no experience in the sale, marketing or distribution of pharmaceutical products. To achieve commercial success for any approved product, we must either develop a sales and marketing organization or outsource these functions to third parties. Currently, we plan to build a focused specialty sales and marketing infrastructure to market or copromote some of our product candidates if and when they are approved. There are risks involved with establishing our own sales and
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marketing capabilities, as well as in entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. For example, developing a sales force is expensive and time-consuming and could delay any product launch. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed as a result of FDA requirements or other reasons, we would incur related expenses too early relative to the product launch. This may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain our sales and marketing personnel. In addition, marketing and promotion arrangements in the pharmaceutical industry are heavily regulated, and many marketing and promotional practices that are common in other industries are prohibited or restricted. These restrictions are often ambiguous and subject to conflicting interpretations, but carry severe administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for noncompliance. It may be costly to implement internal controls to facilitate compliance by our sales and marketing personnel.
If we are unable to obtain adequate reimbursement from third-party payors for any products that we may develop or acceptable prices for those products, our revenues and prospects for profitability will suffer.
Most patients will rely on Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party payors to pay for their medical needs, including any drugs we or our collaborators may market. If third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage or reimbursement for any products that we may develop, our revenues and prospects for profitability will suffer.
Regulatory approval to market a drug product does not assure that the product will be eligible for coverage by third-party payors or, assuming it is covered, that it will receive a profitable price. The process for obtaining third-party coverage and payment is costly and time-consuming. We may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our products. Our products may not be considered medically necessary or cost- effective. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.
Coverage through the Medicare prescription drug benefit program may increase demand for our products, but participating suppliers are required to negotiate prices with drug procurement organizations on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. These prices are likely to be lower than we might otherwise obtain. Future legislation might allow government agencies to negotiate prices directly with drug companies, which could lead to even lower prices. Drugs sold to state-operated Medicaid programs are subject to mandatory rebate agreements that require quarterly payments to states based on the drug’s average manufacturer price and best price. Private, non-governmental third-party payors frequently base their coverage policies and the prices they are willing to pay on the policies and payment rates under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
A primary trend in the United States healthcare industry is toward cost containment. Third-party payors are challenging the prices charged for medical products and services, and many third-party payors limit reimbursement for newly-approved healthcare products. In particular, third-party payors may limit the indications for which they will reimburse patients who use any products that we may develop. Cost control initiatives could decrease the price we might establish for products that we may develop, which would result in lower product revenues to us.
U.S. drug prices may be further constrained by possible Congressional action regarding drug reimportation into the United States. Legislation proposed in past Congressional sessions would allow the reimportation of approved drugs originally manufactured in the United States back into the United States from other countries where the drugs are sold at a lower price. Some governmental authorities in the U.S. are pursuing lawsuits to obtain expanded reimportation authority. Such legislation, regulations, or judicial decisions could reduce the prices we receive for any products that we may develop, if approved, negatively affecting our revenues and prospects for profitability. Alternatively, in response to legislation such as this, we might elect not to seek approval for or market our products in foreign jurisdictions in order to minimize the risk of reimportation, which could also reduce the revenue we generate from our product sales. Even without legislation authorizing reimportation, patients have been purchasing prescription drugs from Canadian and other non-United States sources, which has reduced the price received by pharmaceutical companies for their products.
In addition, in some foreign countries, particularly the countries of the European Union, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take six to 12 months or longer after the receipt of regulatory marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product candidates or products to other available therapies. The conduct of such a clinical trial could be expensive and result in delays in commercialization of our products.
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If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of any products that we may develop.
We face an inherent risk of product liability exposure related to the testing of our product candidates in human clinical trials and will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell any products that we may develop. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against claims that our product candidates or products caused injuries, we will incur substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
| • | | decreased demand for any product candidates or products that we may develop; |
| • | | injury to our reputation; |
| • | | withdrawal of clinical trial participants; |
| • | | costs to defend the related litigation; |
| • | | substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients; |
| • | | the inability to commercialize any products that we may develop. |
We have product liability insurance that covers our clinical trials up to a $5.0 million annual aggregate limit with a deductible of $25,000 per claim. The amount of insurance that we currently hold may not be adequate to cover all liabilities that may occur. We intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sale of commercial products if we obtain marketing approval for any products. Insurance coverage is increasingly expensive. We may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost and we may not be able to obtain insurance coverage that will be adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise.
We face substantial competition which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before or more successfully than we do.
The development and commercialization of new drugs is highly competitive. We face competition with respect to our current product candidates and any products we may seek to develop or commercialize in the future from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide. Our competitors may develop products that are more effective, safer, more convenient or less costly than any that we are developing. Our competitors may also obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours. We believe that our most significant competitors in the area of drugs that work by modulating the activity of ion channels are large pharmaceutical companies which have internal ion channel drug discovery groups as well as smaller more focused companies engaged in ion channel drug discovery.
There are approved products on the market for all of the diseases and indications for which we are developing products. In many cases, these products have well known brand names, are distributed by large pharmaceutical companies with substantial resources and have achieved widespread acceptance among physicians and patients. In addition, we are aware of product candidates of third parties that are in development, which, if approved, would compete against product candidates for which we receive marketing approval.
Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Smaller or early stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to or necessary for our programs or advantageous to our business.
Our business activities involve the use of hazardous materials, which require compliance with environmental and occupational safety laws regulating the use of such materials. If we violate these laws, we could be subject to significant fines, liabilities or other adverse consequences.
Our research and development programs involve the controlled use of hazardous materials. Accordingly, we are subject to federal, state and local laws governing the use, handling and disposal of these materials. Although we believe that our safety procedures for handling and disposing of these materials comply in all material respects with the standards prescribed by state and federal regulations, we cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In addition, our collaborators may not comply with these laws. In the event of an accident or failure to comply with environmental laws, we could be held liable for damages that result, and any such liability could exceed our assets and resources. We maintain liability insurance for some of these risks, but our policy excludes pollution and has a coverage limit of $5.0 million.
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Risks Related to Employees and Growth
If we fail to attract and keep senior management and key scientific personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop or commercialize our product candidates.
Our success depends on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified managerial and key scientific personnel. We consider retaining Dr. P. Kay Wagoner, our president and chief executive officer, to be key to our efforts to develop and commercialize our product candidates. All of our employees, other than Dr. Wagoner, Dr. Richard D. Katz and Dr. Seth V. Hetherington, are at-will employees and can terminate their employment at any time. Our employment agreements with Dr. Wagoner, Dr. Katz and Dr. Hetherington are terminable by them on short notice.
Our business requires us to maintain a significant number of qualified scientific and commercial personnel, including clinical development, regulatory, marketing and sales executives and field personnel, as well as administrative personnel. We recently implemented a number of cost savings measures in an effort to conserve cash, including a limited reduction in the workforce. There is competition from other companies and research and academic institutions for qualified personnel in the areas of our activities. If we cannot continue to retain and attract, on acceptable terms, the qualified personnel necessary for the continued development of our business, we may not be able to sustain our operations or grow.
Risks Relating to Our Private Placements
The number of shares of our common stock outstanding has increased substantially as a result of the private placement that closed on February 6, 2007, and certain purchasers beneficially own significant blocks of our common stock; these shares have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and are generally available for resale in the public market.
Upon the closing of a private placement on February 6, 2007, we issued to a group of institutional and other accredited investors a total of 15,423,640 shares of our common stock, plus warrants to purchase a total of 5,398,256 additional shares of common stock. We refer to this transaction as the private placement. The issuance of these shares and warrants resulted in substantial dilution to stockholders who held our common stock prior to the private placement. Certain purchasers in the private placement will have significant influence over the outcome of any stockholder vote, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions.
In accordance with the securities purchase agreement for the private placement, we filed a registration statement with the SEC covering the resale of the 15,423,640 shares of common stock issued in the private placement and the 5,398,256 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. This registration statement became effective on May 1, 2007. These shares are now generally available for immediate resale in the public market. The market price of our common stock could fall due to an increase in the number of shares available for sale in the public market.
If we do not maintain effectiveness of the registration statement covering the resale of the shares issued in the private placement, we will be required to pay certain liquidated damages, which could be material in amount.
The terms of the securities purchase agreement that we entered into in connection with the private placement require us to pay liquidated damages to the purchasers in the private placement in the event that the registration statement is suspended by us or ceases to remain continuously effective as to all registrable securities for which it is required to be effective, with certain specified exceptions. We refer to this event as a registration default. Subject to the specified exceptions, for each 30-day period or portion thereof during which a registration default remains uncured, we are obligated to pay each purchaser an amount in cash equal to 1% of that purchaser’s aggregate purchase price, up to a maximum of 10% of the aggregate purchase price paid by that purchaser. These amounts could be material, and any liquidated damages we are required to pay could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
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The number of shares of our common stock outstanding has increased substantially as a result of the equity investments by Pfizer that closed on August 20, 2007 and February 13, 2008; Pfizer beneficially owns a significant block of our common stock; and upon registration under the Securities Act, these shares will be generally available for resale in the public market.
Upon the closing of the equity investment by Pfizer on August 20, 2007, we issued 2,668,172 shares of our common stock to Pfizer. Upon the closing of the equity investment by Pfizer on February 13, 2008, we issued an additional 5,847,953 shares of our common stock to Pfizer as a result of the exercise of our put option to sell to Pfizer up to an additional $10.0 million of common stock at the fair market value of the common stock at the time of exercise. The issuance of the aggregate of 8,516,125 shares to Pfizer, which owns approximately 18% of our common stock as of July 31, 2009, resulted in substantial dilution to stockholders who held our common stock prior to the equity investments by Pfizer.
In accordance with the purchase agreement for the equity investment by Pfizer, we have agreed to file, at any time after August 20, 2008, upon the request of Pfizer, a registration statement with the SEC covering the resale of the aggregate number of shares issued pursuant to the purchase agreement. Upon such registration of the shares issued in the equity investment by Pfizer, these shares will become generally available for immediate resale in the public market. In addition, Pfizer may sell these shares prior to their registration in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The market price of our common stock could fall due to an increase in the number of shares available for sale in the public market or if Pfizer decides to sell our shares of common stock.
If we do not obtain and maintain effectiveness of the registration statement covering the resale of the shares issued in the equity investment by Pfizer, upon the request of Pfizer, we will be required to pay certain liquidated damages, which could be material in amount.
The terms of the purchase agreement that we entered into in connection with the equity investment by Pfizer require us to pay liquidated damages to Pfizer in the event that we do not file the registration statement with the SEC within 30 days after the request by Pfizer to file such registration statement, the registration statement does not become effective or its effectiveness is not maintained beginning 90 days after the registration request (if the registration statement is not reviewed by the SEC) or 120 days after the registration request (if it is so reviewed) or, after the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC, the registration statement is suspended by us or ceases to remain continuously effective as to all registrable securities for which it is required to be effective, with certain specified exceptions. We refer to each of these events as a registration default. Subject to the specified exceptions, for each 30-day period or portion thereof during which a registration default remains uncured, we are obligated to pay Pfizer an amount in cash equal to 1% of Pfizer’s aggregate purchase price, up to a maximum of 10% of the aggregate purchase price paid by Pfizer. These amounts could be material, and any liquidated damages we are required to pay could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
General Company Related Risks
Our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders have substantial control over us and could limit your ability to influence the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders for approval.
As of July 31, 2009, our executive officers, directors and stockholders who owned more than 5% of our outstanding common stock beneficially owned, in the aggregate, shares representing approximately 64% of our capital stock. As a result, if these stockholders were to choose to act together, they could influence or control matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, as well as our management and affairs. For example, these persons, if they choose to act together, could influence the election of directors and approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. This concentration of voting power could lead to a delay in or prevent an acquisition of our company on terms that other stockholders may desire.
Our corporate charter documents, our stockholder rights plan, Delaware law and our purchase agreement for the equity investment by Pfizer contain provisions that may prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to change our management and hinder efforts to acquire a controlling interest in us.
Provisions of our corporate charter and bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions include:
| • | | a classified board of directors; |
| • | | limitations on the removal of directors; |
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| • | | advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations; |
| • | | the inability of stockholders to act by written consent or to call special meetings; and |
| • | | the ability of our board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. |
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our shares of capital stock entitled to vote is necessary to amend or repeal the above provisions of our corporate charter. In addition, absent approval of our board of directors, our bylaws may only be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our shares of capital stock entitled to vote.
On December 2, 2008, we adopted a stockholder rights plan pursuant to which we issued a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each share of our common stock held by stockholders of record on December 15, 2008. Each right entitles stockholders to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of our newly created Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at a price of $7.50, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. Unless we redeem or exchange the rights at an earlier date, they will expire upon the close of business on the earlier of (1) December 2, 2018 or (2) December 2, 2009, if our stockholders do not approve the rights plan by that date.
The rights issued under our rights plan will automatically trade with the underlying common stock and will initially not be exercisable. If a person acquires or commences a tender offer for 15% (or in the case of Pfizer, which currently owns approximately 18% of our common stock, 20%) or more of our common stock in a transaction that was not approved by our board of directors, each right, other than those owned by the acquiring person, would instead entitle the holder to purchase $15.00 worth of our common stock for the $7.50 exercise price. If we are involved in a merger or other transaction with another company that is not approved by our board of directors, in which we are not the surviving corporation or which transfers more than 50% of our assets to another company, then each right, other than those owned by the acquiring person, would instead entitle the holder to purchase $15.00 worth of the acquiring company’s common stock for the $7.50 exercise price. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our board of directors. Although we believe that our stockholder rights plan will help enhance our ability to negotiate with a prospective acquirer in order to ensure that all company stockholders realize the long-term value of their investment, it could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change of control of our company, including under circumstances that some stockholders may consider favorable.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person which together with its affiliates owns or within the last three years has owned 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, Section 203 may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company.
Pfizer has agreed to constitute and appoint our president and treasurer, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as the proxies of Pfizer with respect to matters on which Pfizer is entitled to vote as a holder of common stock, and authorize each of them to represent and to vote all of Pfizer’s shares with respect to matters other than a merger or acquisition of our company, the disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, or a change of control of our company. In addition, if on the record date for any vote of our common stock Pfizer holds greater than 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, with respect to any of Pfizer’s shares in excess of the number of shares equal to 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, Pfizer has agreed to constitute and appoint such persons as the proxies of Pfizer and authorize each of them to represent and to vote with respect to matters related to a merger or acquisition of our company, the disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, or a change of control of our company, in the same manner and in the same proportion as shares of common stock held by our other shareholders are voted on such matters. However, if both (1) we issue common stock that represents more than 10% of our then outstanding common stock to a third party strategic investor in connection with a collaboration agreement and (2) the voting rights granted to such third party contain fewer restrictions, then Pfizer’s voting rights shall be deemed to be automatically modified so as to make such rights no less favorable to Pfizer than those granted to the third party strategic investor. Pfizer will have significant influence over the outcome of a stockholder vote with respect to the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. In addition, with respect to matters other than the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions, our management will control how Pfizer’s shares are voted and therefore may have significant influence over the outcome of a stockholder vote with respect to such matters.
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A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the market at any time. This could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. As of July 31, 2009, we had 47,058,604 shares of common stock outstanding. Substantially all of these shares, including those shares issued in the private placement, may be resold in the public market at any time. Moreover, holders of an aggregate of approximately 11,200,000 shares of our common stock, which include the 8,516,125 shares of common stock issued to Pfizer as discussed above, have rights, subject to some conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. We also have registered all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans. As a result, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance.
ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act in the second quarter of 2009.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not make any purchases of our shares of common stock, nor did any affiliated purchaser or anyone acting on behalf of us or an affiliated purchaser, in the second quarter of 2009.
ITEM 4 – SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On June 2, 2009, we held our annual meeting of stockholders. The results of the proposals submitted for vote at this meeting were as follows:
1. | Election of two Class II directors for the next three years (there were no abstentions or broker non-votes in connection with the election of directors): |
| | | | |
| | For | | Withheld |
Charles A. Sanders | | 39,445,606 | | 410,961 |
Adeoye Y. Olukotun | | 38,780,493 | | 1,076,074 |
In addition to the directors listed above who were elected at the meeting, the terms of the following directors continued after the meeting: André L. Lamotte, Sc.D., Richard G. Morrison, Ph.D., P. Kay Wagoner, Ph.D, Anthony B. Evnin, Ph.D., Dennis B. Gillings, CBE, Ph.D., and Martin A. Simonetti.
2. | Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009: |
| | | | | | |
For | | Against | | Abstain | | Broker Non-Votes |
39,722,671 | | 101,892 | | 32,002 | | N/A |
3. | Approval of the rights agreement entered into between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, as rights agent, on December 2, 2008: |
| | | | | | |
For | | Against | | Abstain | | Broker Non-Votes |
21,654,047 | | 2,351,715 | | 14,900 | | 15,835,905 |
ITEM 6 – EXHIBITS
The exhibits filed herewith or incorporated by reference are set forth on the Exhibit Index attached hereto.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | |
ICAGEN, INC. |
| |
By: | | /s/ Richard D. Katz, M.D. |
| | Richard D. Katz, M.D. |
| | Executive Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Duly authorized officer and principal financial and accounting officer) |
Date: August 7, 2009
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| | |
Exhibit Number | | Description |
31.1 | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a). |
| |
31.2 | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a). |
| |
32.1 | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
32.2 | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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