Item 1. Financial Statements
ITEM
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($
in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 17,558
$ 14,473
Short-term investments
44,786
37,753
Restricted cash
338
338
Other receivables
2,232
2,444
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,811
729
Total current assets
66,725
55,737
Property and equipment, net
3,767
3,533
Operating lease right-of-use assets
4,222
4,455
Other assets
114
277
Total assets
$ 74,828
$ 64,002
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 3,362
$ 1,858
Accrued expenses
2,791
5,985
Current portion of operating lease liability
1,044
998
Current portion of payable to licensor
4,691
4,580
Other current liabilities
1
1
Total current liabilities
11,889
13,422
Long-term operating lease liabilities
4,046
4,402
Long-term debt
18,079
—
Derivative liabilities
1,005
—
Warrant liabilities
48,690
31,352
Total liabilities
83,709
49,176
Commitments and contingencies
-
-
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:
Preferred stock - $ 0.01 par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; No shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
—
—
Common stock - $ 0.01 par value; authorized 200,000,000 shares; 27,550,593 and 26,523,878 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
276
265
Additional paid-in capital
772,129
764,151
Accumulated deficit
( 781,102 )
( 749,524 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
( 184 )
( 66 )
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity
( 8,881 )
14,826
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 74,828
$ 64,002
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
3
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
($
in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
2024
2023
For the three months ended March 31,
2024
2023
Revenues:
License and other revenues
$ —
$ —
Expenses:
Research and development
7,207
8,041
General and administrative
7,123
3,997
Total expenses
14,330
12,038
Loss from operations
( 14,330 )
( 12,038 )
Interest income
843
364
Interest expense
( 952 )
( 101 )
Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities
( 17,301 )
2,265
Other income
162
403
Net loss
$ ( 31,578 )
$ ( 9,107 )
Basic and diluted loss per common share
$ ( 1.16 )
$ ( 0.54 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
27,315,537
16,904,024
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized (losses) gains related to available-for-sale debt securities
( 118 )
64
Comprehensive loss
$ ( 31,696 )
$ ( 9,043 )
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
4
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
($
in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Loss
(Deficit)
Accumulated
Total
Additional
Other
Stockholders’
Common Stock
Paid-in
Accumulated
Comprehensive
Equity
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Loss
(Deficit)
Balance at December 31, 2023
26,523,878
$ 265
$ 764,151
$ ( 749,524 )
$ ( 66 )
$ 14,826
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
1,546
—
—
1,546
Issuance of common stock in connection with restricted share awards, net of cancellations and shares settled for tax withholding settlement
137,500
2
( 16 )
—
—
( 14 )
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs under open market sale agreement (ATM)
889,315
9
6,448
—
—
6,457
Net loss
—
—
—
( 31,578 )
—
( 31,578 )
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
( 118 )
( 118 )
Balance at March 31, 2024
27,550,693
$ 276
$ 772,129
$ ( 781,102 )
$ ( 184 )
$ ( 8,881 )
Accumulated
Additional
Other
Total
Common Stock
Paid-in
Accumulated
Comprehensive
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Loss
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2022
17,719,720
$ 177
$ 722,049
$ ( 695,336 )
$ ( 129 )
$ 26,761
Balance
17,719,720
$ 177
$ 722,049
$ ( 695,336 )
$ ( 129 )
$ 26,761
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
770
—
—
770
Issuance of common stock in connection with restricted share awards, net of cancellations and shares settled for tax withholding settlement
111,064
1
( 5 )
—
—
( 4 )
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs under open market sale agreement (ATM)
98,560
1
255
—
—
256
Net loss
—
—
—
( 9,107 )
—
( 9,107 )
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
64
64
Balance at March 31, 2023
17,929,344
$ 179
$ 723,069
$ ( 704,443 )
$ ( 65 )
$ 18,740
Balance
17,929,344
$ 179
$ 723,069
$ ( 704,443 )
$ ( 65 )
$ 18,740
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
5
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($
in thousands)
(Unaudited)
2024
2023
For the three months ended March 31,
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ ( 31,578 )
$ ( 9,107 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
491
661
Stock-based compensation expense
1,546
770
Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities
17,301
( 2,265 )
Accretion and interest on short-term investments
( 59 )
( 117 )
Amortization of right-of-use lease assets
233
227
Non-cash interest
345
100
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Other receivables
252
( 75 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
( 1,232 )
( 1,199 )
Other assets
163
( 56 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
( 1,690 )
( 376 )
Lease liabilities
( 310 )
( 308 )
Other current liabilities
—
1
Net cash used in operating activities
( 14,538 )
( 11,744 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
( 725 )
( 218 )
Purchases of short-term investments
( 29,343 )
( 7,964 )
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments
22,251
10,393
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
( 7,817 )
2,211
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from ATM sales of common stock, net of issuance costs
6,417
—
Payment from net settlement of restricted share awards
( 14 )
( 4 )
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
20,000
—
Payment of debt issuance costs
( 963 )
—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
25,440
( 4 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
3,085
( 9,537 )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
14,811
14,555
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$ 17,896
$ 5,018
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 17,558
$ 4,680
Restricted cash
338
338
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$ 17,896
$ 5,018
Supplemental non-cash flow information:
Derivative
and warrant additions associated with loan and security agreement
$ 1,042
$ —
Cash paid for interest
$ 607
$ —
Cash paid for taxes
$ 8
$ 6
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
6
ABEONA
THERAPEUTICS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE
1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Background
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc. (together with the Company’s subsidiaries, “Abeona” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation,
is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening diseases. The Company’s lead
clinical program is for pz-cel, an autologous, engineered cell therapy currently in development for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis
bullosa (“RDEB”). The Company’s development portfolio also features adeno-associated virus (“AAV”)-based
gene therapies designed to treat highly unmet, medically needed ophthalmic diseases using the novel AIM™ capsids that the
Company has exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and internal AAV vector research programs.
Basis
of Presentation
The
Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated
in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, except as otherwise
disclosed, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and changes in financial position for
such periods, have been made. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statement results are not necessarily indicative
of results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period. Certain information that is normally required by U.S. GAAP has
been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The December 31, 2023 condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from the audited statements, but does not include all disclosures
required by U.S. GAAP.
Therefore,
these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the
SEC on March 18, 2024.
Liquidity
In
accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there
are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as
a going concern within one year after the date the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.
As
a biopharmaceutical organization, the Company has devoted substantially all of its resources since inception to research and development
activities for pz-cel and other product candidates, business planning, raising capital, establishing its intellectual property portfolio,
acquiring or discovering product candidates, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. As a result, the
Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and anticipates such losses
and negative cash flows will continue for the foreseeable future.
Since
its inception, the Company has funded its operations primarily with proceeds from sales of shares of its stock. The Company has incurred
recurring losses since its inception, including net losses of $ 31.6 million and $ 9.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024
and 2023, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $ 781.1 million. To date the Company
has not generated any significant revenues and expects to continue to generate operating losses for the foreseeable future. As of the
issuance date of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company expects that its existing cash, cash
equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of $ 62.7 million as of March 31, 2024 plus the gross proceeds of $ 75.0 million
from its underwritten offering that closed on May 7, 2024, will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements for at least the next 12 months from the issuance date of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
While
the Company believes its capital resources are sufficient to fund the Company’s on-going operations for the next 12 months
from the issuance date of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company’s liquidity could be
materially affected over this period by: (1) its ability to raise additional capital through equity offerings, debt financings, or
other non-dilutive third-party funding; (2) costs associated with new or existing strategic alliances, or licensing and
collaboration arrangements; (3) negative regulatory events or unanticipated costs related to pz-cel; (4) any other unanticipated
material negative events or costs. One or more of these events or costs could materially affect the Company’s liquidity. If
the Company is unable to meet its obligations when they become due, the Company may have to delay expenditures, reduce the scope of
its research and development programs, or make significant changes to its operating plan. The accompanying unaudited interim
condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported
period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.
Other
receivables
Other
receivables include employee retention credits (“ERC”), sublease rent receivables and other miscellaneous receivables. As
of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had ERC receivables of $ 2.1 million.
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
There
have been no new or material changes to the significant accounting policies discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2023 that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company.
Credit
Losses
The
Company reviews its available-for-sale investments for credit losses on a collective basis by major security type and in line with the
Company’s investment policy. As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s available-for-sale investments were in securities that are
issued by the U.S. treasury and U.S. federal agencies, are highly rated, and have a history of zero credit losses. The Company reviews
the credit quality of its accounts receivables by monitoring the aging of its accounts receivable, the history of write offs for uncollectible
accounts, and the credit quality of its significant customers, the current economic environment/macroeconomic trends, supportable forecasts,
and other relevant factors. The Company’s accounts receivable are with customers that do not have a history of uncollectibility
nor a history of significantly aged accounts receivables. As of March 31, 2024, the Company did not recognize a credit loss allowance
for its investments or accounts receivable.
Net
Loss Per Share
Basic
and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of
shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The weighted average number of shares of common stock includes the weighted average
effect of outstanding pre-funded warrants for the purchase of shares of common stock for which the remaining unfunded exercise price
is $ 0.0001 or less per share. The Company does not include the potential impact of dilutive securities in diluted net loss per share,
as the impact of these items is anti-dilutive. Potential dilutive securities result from outstanding restricted stock, stock options,
and stock purchase warrants.
8
The
following table sets forth the potential securities that could potentially dilute basic loss per share in the future that were not included
in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented:
SCHEDULE OF ANTI-DILUTIVE SECURITIES EXCLUDED FROM COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
2024
2023
For the three months ended March 31,
2024
2023
Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options
179,001
234,697
Shares of common stock underlying restricted stock
2,542,619
929,946
Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants
9,903,142
9,397,879
Total
12,624,762
10,562,522
In
January 2024 as part of the Loan and Security Agreement, see Note 8, the Company issued warrants to purchase $ 2,400,000
worth of shares of the Company’s stock which have an exercise price equal to the lesser of (i) $ 4.75
and (ii) the price per share of the Company’s net bona fide round of equity financing before September 30, 2024 (the “2024 Loan Agreement Warrants”). Utilizing
the exercise price of $ 4.75 ,
which is the only known price at March 31, 2024, the Company included 505,263
and nil
of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the 2024 Loan Agreement Warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in
the table above. In connection with the underwritten common stock financing consummated on May 7, 2024 pursuant to the terms of the
2024 Loan Agreement Warrants, the exercise price of the 2024 Loan Agreement Warrants was reduced to the lesser of (i) $ 4.07
per share and (ii) the price per share of the Company’s next bona fide round of equity financing before September 30, 2024 in
which the Company sells or issues shares of its common stock, excluding certain excluded issuances.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
The
Company did not adopt any new accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures . ASU 2023-09
is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures
primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption will
have on its consolidated financial statements.
In
November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which
expands disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and requires more enhanced information about a reportable segment’s
expenses, interim segment profit or loss, and how a public entity’s chief operating decision maker uses reported segment profit
or loss information in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted.
The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.
9
NOTE
2 – SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
The
following table provides a summary of the short-term investments (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABLE FOR SALE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
March 31, 2024
Amortized Cost
Gross
Unrealized Gain
Gross
Unrealized Loss
Fair Value
Available-for-sale, short-term investments:
U.S. treasury securities
$ 36,999
—
( 167 )
$ 36,832
U.S. federal agency securities
7,970
—
( 16 )
7,954
Total available-for-sale, short-term investments
$ 44,969
—
( 183 )
$ 44,786
December 31, 2023
Amortized Cost
Gross
Unrealized Gain
Gross
Unrealized Loss
Fair Value
Available-for-sale, short-term investments:
U.S. treasury securities
$ 8,406
—
( 13 )
$ 8,393
U.S. federal agency securities
29,413
—
( 53 )
29,360
Total available-for-sale, short-term investments
$ 37,819
—
( 66 )
$ 37,753
As
of March 31, 2024, the available-for-sale securities classified as short-term investments mature in one year or less. The Company carries
its available-for-sale securities at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized losses on available-for-sale
securities as of March 31, 2024, were not significant and were primarily due to changes in interest rates, including market credit spreads,
and not due to increased credit risks associated with specific securities. None of the short-term investments have been in a continuous
unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. Accordingly, no other-than-temporary impairment was recorded for the three months ended
March 31, 2024.
There
were no significant realized gains or losses recognized on the sale or maturity of available-for-sale investments for the three months
ended March 31, 2024 or 2023.
10
NOTE
3 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property
and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method based on useful lives as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Useful lives (years)
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Laboratory equipment
5
$ 7,498
$ 6,935
Furniture, software and office equipment
3 to 5
1,045
986
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of remaining lease term or useful life
8,706
8,603
Subtotal
17,249
16,524
Less: accumulated depreciation
( 13,482 )
( 12,991 )
Total property and equipment, net
$ 3,767
$ 3,533
Depreciation
and amortization on property and equipment was $ 0.5 million and $ 0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
NOTE
4 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The
Company calculates the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments and includes additional
information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of these financial
instruments. The estimated fair value of other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, accounts payable,
accrued expenses, and payables to licensor approximate their carrying amounts due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.
U.S.
GAAP defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in
the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
date. This guidance establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy
requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used
to measure fair value are as follows:
●
Level
1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
●
Level
2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active
markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable
or can be corroborated by observable market data.
●
Level
3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets
and liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar valuation techniques that use
significant unobservable inputs.
The
Company has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually)
into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement
date in the table below.
11
The
following table provides a summary of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of March 31,
2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF FAIR VALUE, ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED ON RECURRING AND NON-RECURRING BASIS
Description
Fair Value at March 31, 2024
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Recurring Assets
Cash equivalents
Money market fund
$ 17,558
$ 17,558
$ —
$ —
Short-term investments
U.S. treasury securities
36,832
36,832
—
—
U.S. federal agency securities
7,954
—
7,954
—
Total assets measured at fair value
$ 62,344
$ 54,390
$ 7,954
$ —
Liabilities
Payable to licensor
$ 4,691
$ —
$ —
$ 4,691
Derivative liabilities
1,005
—
—
1,005
Warrant liabilities
48,690
—
—
48,690
Total liabilities measured at fair value
$ 54,386
$ —
$ —
$ 54,386
Description
Fair Value at December 31, 2023
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Recurring Assets
Cash equivalents
Money market fund
$ 1,034
$ 1,034
$ —
$ —
Short-term investments
U.S. treasury securities
8,393
8,393
—
—
U.S. federal agency securities
29,360
—
29,360
—
Total assets measured at fair value
$ 38,787
$ 9,427
$ 29,360
$ —
Liabilities
Payable to licensor
$ 4,580
$ —
$ —
$ 4,580
Warrant liabilities
31,352
—
—
31,352
Total liabilities measured at fair value
$ 35,932
$ —
$ —
$ 35,932
Warrant
Liabilities
As
of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following outstanding warrant liabilities:
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING WARRANT LIABILITIES
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Warrants issued as part of the 2021 Public Offering, expiration date December
2026 , exercise price of $ 9.75
per share
1,788,000
1,788,000
Warrants issued as part of the 2022 Private Placement, expiration date November 2027 , exercise price $ 4.75 per share
7,609,879
7,609,879
Warrants issued as part of the 2024 loan agreement, expiration date January
2029 , exercise price equal to the lesser of (i) $ 4.75
and (ii) the price per share of the Company’s next bona fide round of equity financing before September 30, 2024
505,263
—
Outstanding warrants
505,263
—
12
For
the warrants issued as part of the 2024 loan agreement, the Company utilized the exercise price of $ 4.75 ,
which is the only known price at March 31, 2024, to calculate the number of warrants in the table above. The Company included the
calculated warrants of 505,263
and nil for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in the table above.
The
common stock warrants related to the 2021 Public Offering and the 2022 Private Placement are not indexed to the Company’s own stock
and therefore have been classified as liabilities at their estimated fair value. The common stock warrants related to the Loan Agreement
were determined to be liability classified under ASC 815 as the common stock warrants do not include an explicit share limit and the
number of shares issuable under the warrant agreements are variable based on the exercise price. Changes in the estimated fair value
of the warrant liabilities is recorded as changes in fair value of warrant liabilities in the consolidated statement of operations and
comprehensive loss.
The
following table provides a summary of the activity on the warrant liabilities (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITY OF WARRANT LIABILITIES
Warrant liabilities as of December 31, 2023
$ 31,352
Fair value of warrants issued in connection with Loan Agreement
220
Loss recognized in earnings from change in fair value
17,118
Warrant liabilities as of March 31, 2024
$ 48,690
The
warrant liabilities are valued using significant inputs not observable in the market. Accordingly, the warrant liability is measured
at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs and are classified as Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Fair
value measurements categorized within Level 3 are sensitive to changes in the assumptions or methodology used to determine fair value
and such changes could result in a significant increase or decrease in the fair value. The Company’s valuation of the common stock
warrants utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which incorporated assumptions and estimates to value the common stock warrants.
The Company assessed these assumptions and estimates at the end of each reporting period.
SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATE FAIR VALUE OF WARRANTS
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Common share price
$ 7.25
$ 5.01
Expected term (years)
2.71 – 4.77
2.96 – 3.84
Risk-free interest rate (%)
4.12 % – 4.34 %
3.84 % – 3.92 %
Volatility (%)
100.00 % - 103.15 %
100%
Expected dividend yield (%)
0%
0%
Derivative
Liabilities
The
Conversion Right embedded within the Loan Agreement (see Note 8 below) required bifurcation as certain adjustments to the conversion
price were not indexed to the Company’s own stock and therefore the Conversion Right was recorded as a derivative liability. The
derivative liability is remeasured at each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to changes in fair value of warrants and derivative liabilities in the condensed
consolidated statement of operations until the derivative is exercised, expired, reclassified, or otherwise settled.
The
following table provides a summary of the activity on the derivative liabilities (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITY OF DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES
Derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2023
$ —
Fair value of derivatives issued in connection with Loan Agreement
822
Loss recognized in earnings from change in fair value
183
Derivative liabilities as of March 31, 2024
$ 1,005
The
derivative liabilities are valued using significant inputs not observable in the market. Accordingly, the derivative liability is measured
at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs and are classified as Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Fair
value measurements categorized within Level 3 are sensitive to changes in the assumptions or methodology used to determine fair value
and such changes could result in a significant increase or decrease in the fair value. The Company’s valuation of the derivatives
utilized the Monte Carlo simulation model, which incorporated assumptions and estimates to value the derivatives. The Company assessed
these assumptions and estimates at the end of each reporting period.
SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATE FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVES
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Common share price
$ 7.25
—
Expected term (years)
3.25
—
Risk-free interest rate (%)
4.27 %
—
Volatility (%)
89.70 %
—
13
NOTE
5 – SETTLEMENT LIABILITY
On
November 12, 2021, the Company entered into a settlement agreement (“Settlement Agreement”) with the Company’s prior
licensor REGENXBIO Inc. (“REGENXBIO”) to resolve all existing disputes between the parties. In accordance with the Settlement
Agreement, the Company agreed to pay REGENXBIO a total of $ 30.0 million, payable as follows: (1) $20.0 million paid in November 2021
after execution of the Settlement Agreement, (2) $5.0 million on the first anniversary of the effective date of the Settlement Agreement
(paid in November 2022), and (3) $5.0 million upon the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the effective date of the Settlement Agreement
or (ii) the closing of a Strategic Transaction, as defined in the Settlement Agreement.
As
of March 31, 2024, the Company recorded the payable due to REGENXBIO in the condensed consolidated balance sheets based on the present
value of the remaining payments due to REGENXBIO under the Settlement Agreement using an effective interest rate of 9.6 %. The present
value of the amount due in November 2024 was $ 4.7 million and $ 4.6 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
NOTE
6 – ACCRUED EXPENSES
The
following table provides a summary of the components of accrued expenses (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF ACCRUED EXPENSES
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Accrued employee compensation
$ 1,328
$ 3,688
Accrued contracted services and other
1,463
2,297
Total accrued expenses
$ 2,791
$ 5,985
NOTE
7 – LEASES
The
Company leases space under operating leases for administrative, manufacturing and laboratory facilities in Cleveland, Ohio. The Company
also leases office space in New York, New York, that the Company sublets. The Company also leases certain office equipment under operating
leases, which have a non-cancelable lease term of less than one year and the Company has elected the practical expedient to exclude these
short-term leases from the Company’s right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.
The
Company has entered into two sublease agreements with unrelated third parties to occupy the Company’s administrative offices in
New York, New York. The Company expects to receive $ 1.0 million in future sublease income through September 2025 from the two subleases
noted above.
The
following table provides a summary of the Company’s operating lease liabilities (in thousands):
SUMMARY OF OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Current operating lease liability
$ 1,044
$ 998
Non-current operating lease liability
4,046
4,402
Total operating lease liability
$ 5,090
$ 5,400
14
Lease
costs and rent are reflected in general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses in the consolidated statements
of operations and comprehensive loss, as determined by the underlying activities. The following table provides a summary of the components
of lease costs and rent (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF COMPONENTS OF LEASE COST
2024
2023
For
the three months ended March 31,
2024
2023
Operating
lease cost
$
334
$
415
Variable
lease cost
74
39
Short-term
lease cost
23
18
Total
operating lease costs
$
431
$
472
Cash
paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $ 0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024
and 2023.
Future
minimum lease payments and obligations, which do not include short-term leases, related to the Company’s operating lease liabilities
as of March 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF MATURITIES OF OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
Future minimum lease payments and obligations
Operating Leases
2024, remainder
$ 591
2025
1,555
2026
791
2027
807
2028
823
Thereafter
1,693
Total undiscounted operating lease payments
6,260
Less: imputed interest
1,170
Present value of operating lease liabilities
$ 5,090
The
weighted-average remaining term of the Company’s operating leases was 63 months and the weighted-average discount rate used to
measure the present value of the Company’s operating lease liabilities was 7.3 % as of March 31, 2024.
The
Company received $ 0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, of sublease income which is recorded in other income
on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Future cash receipts from the Company’s sublease
agreements as of March 31, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CASH RECEIPTS FROM OPERATING SUBLEASE
Operating
Future cash receipts
Subleases
2024, remainder
$ 477
2025
485
Total future cash receipts
$ 962
15
NOTE
8 – DEBT
The
following table provides a summary of the Company’s debt, net of debt issuance costs and discounts (in thousands):
SCHEDULE
OF COMPANY DEBT AND NET OF DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Loan Agreement principal
$ 20,000
$ —
Accreted final payment fee
74
—
Unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts
( 1,995 )
—
Total debt
$ 18,079
$ —
Loan
and Security Agreement
On
January 8, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Agreement”)
with Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as administrative agent and collateral agent (“Avenue”
and the “Agent”) and Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund II, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (“Avenue 2”
and, together with Avenue, the “Lenders”). Also on January 8, 2024, the Company entered into a Supplement to the Agreement
(collectively with the Agreement, the “Loan Agreement”) with the Agent and the Lenders. The Loan Agreement provides for senior
secured term loans (the “Loans”) in an aggregate principal amount up to $ 50 million, with (i) a committed tranche of $ 20
million advanced on the Closing Date (“Tranche 1”), (ii) a committed tranche of up to $ 10 million which may be advanced upon
the request of the Company between June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, subject to the Company obtaining FDA approval of pz-cel in recessive
dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, with the issuance of a Priority Review Voucher (“Tranche 2”), and (iii) a discretionary
tranche of up to $ 20 million which may be advanced between March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2026 (the “Discretionary Tranche”)
provided at the discretion of the Lenders. The Loans are due and payable on July 1, 2027 (the “Maturity Date”).
The
Loan principal is repayable in equal monthly installments beginning on April 8, 2025, with the possibility of deferring principal payments
an additional nine to fifteen months contingent upon (i) the Company obtaining FDA approval of pz-cel in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis
bullosa, with the issuance of a Priority Review Voucher and (ii) the Company raising $ 90 million of cumulative equity and/or non-dilutive
capital subsequent to the Closing Date. The Loans bear interest at a rate per annum (subject to increase during an event of default)
equal to the greater of (i) the prime rate, as published by the Wall Street Journal from time to time, plus 5.00 % and (ii) 13.50 %. The
interest rate as of March 31, 2024 was 13.50 %.
The
Company may, subject to certain parameters, voluntarily prepay the Loans, in whole, at any time. If prepayment occurs on or before the
one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company is required to pay a prepayment fee equal to 3.00% of the principal amount of the
Loans prepaid; if prepayment occurs after the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date and on or before the two-year anniversary of the
Closing Date, the Company is required to pay a fee equal to 2.00% of the principal amount of the Loans; if prepayment occurs after
the two-year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company is required to pay a fee equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Loans.
A final payment fee of 5.00% of the principal amount of the funded Tranche 1, Tranche 2 Loans and Discretionary Tranche Loans is also
due upon the Maturity Date or any earlier date of prepayment.
The
Company’s obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the Company’s assets. Pursuant
to the Loan Agreement, the Company is subject to a financial covenant requiring the Company to maintain at all times $ 5 million in unrestricted
cash. The Loan Agreement also contains affirmative and negative covenants customary for financings of this type that, among other things,
limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to (i) incur additional debt, guarantees or liens; (ii) pay dividends;
(iii) enter into certain change of control transactions; (iv) sell, transfer, lease, license, or otherwise dispose of certain assets;
(v) make certain investments or loans; and (vi) engage in certain transactions with related persons, in each case, subject to certain
exceptions. The Loan Agreement also includes events of default customary for financings of this type, in certain cases subject to customary
periods to cure, following which the Agent may accelerate all amounts outstanding under the Loans.
16
Pursuant
to the Supplement to the Loan and Security Agreement, Avenue also has the right to convert up to $ 3 million of the outstanding principal
of the Loans into shares of Company common stock (the “Conversion Right”) at a price per share equal to 120% of the exercise
price of the Warrants (further discussed below) at any time while the Loans are outstanding, subject to certain terms and conditions,
including ownership limitations. The Conversion Right required bifurcation as certain adjustments to the conversion price were not indexed to the
Company’s own stock and therefore the Conversion Right was recorded as a derivative liability. On January 8, 2024, the Conversion
Right was recorded at the closing date fair value of $ 0.8 million which was based on a Monte Carlo simulation model. The derivative liability
is remeasured at each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to change in fair value of warrants and derivative liabilities
in the condensed consolidated statement of operations until the derivative is exercised, expired, reclassified, or otherwise settled.
In
addition, subject to applicable law and specified provisions set forth in the Supplement to the Loan and Security Agreement and solely
to the extent permitted under applicable stock exchange rules without requiring stockholder approval, the Lenders may participate in
certain equity financing transactions of the Company in an aggregate amount of up to $ 1 million on the same terms, conditions and pricing
offered by the Company to other investors participating in such financing transactions (such right, the “Participation Right”).
The Participation Right automatically terminates upon the earliest of (i) July 1, 2027, (ii) such time that the Lenders have purchased
$1 million of the Company’s equity securities in the aggregate pursuant to the Participation Right, and (iii) the repayment in
full of all of the obligations under the Loan Agreement.
On
the Closing Date and pursuant to the funding of Tranche 1 of the Loan Agreement, the Company issued to each of Avenue and Avenue 2 (collectively,
the “Warrantholders”) warrants to purchase up to $ 480,000 and $ 1,920,000 of Company common stock, respectively which is more
fully described in Note 9 below.
The
future payment obligations of the principal are as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE
OF FUTURE PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
2024, remainder
$ —
2025
6,667
2026
8,889
2027
4,444
Total principal
$ 20,000
NOTE
9 – EQUITY
Public
Offerings
On
December 21, 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 1,788,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price
of $ 9.75 per share and stock purchase warrants to purchase 1,788,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $ 9.75 . The net proceeds
to the Company were $ 16.0 million, after deducting $ 1.5 million of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable
by the Company. The net proceeds were allocated to the warrant liability as noted below with the remainder of $ 7.0 million recorded in
common stock and additional paid-in capital. In the event of certain fundamental transactions involving the Company, the holders of the
stock purchase warrants may require the Company to make a payment based on a Black-Scholes valuation, using specific inputs that are
not considered indexed to the Company’s stock in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hed ging (“ASC 815”).
Therefore, the Company accounted for the stock purchase warrants as liabilities, which were recorded at the closing date fair value of
$ 9.0 million which was based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The remainder of the proceeds were allocated to common stock issued
and recorded as a component of equity.
As
of March 31, 2024, there were 1,788,000
stock purchase warrants outstanding related to this public offering. These stock purchase warrants expire on December 21, 2026. During such time as each warrant is
outstanding, the holder of the warrant is entitled to participate in any dividends or other distribution of assets to holders of
shares of common stock. There was no warrant activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024, other than the change in fair
value of the warrants for the stock purchase warrants issued as part of this public offering.
Open
Market Sale Agreement
On
August 17, 2018, the Company entered into an open market sale agreement (as amended, the “ATM Agreement”) with Jefferies
LLC (“Jefferies”) pursuant to which, the Company may sell from time to time, through Jefferies, shares of its common stock
for an aggregate sales price of up to $ 150.0
million. Any sales of shares pursuant to this
agreement are made under the Company’s effective “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that is on file with and
has been declared effective by the SEC. The Company sold 889,315
and 98,560
shares of its common stock under the ATM Agreement
during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, resulting in net proceeds of $ 6.5
million and $ 0.3
million during the three months ended March 31,
2024 and 2023, respectively. Subsequent to March 31, 2024 and through April 24, 2024, the Company sold 1,013,061 shares of common
stock under the ATM Agreement resulting in $ 3.5 million of net proceeds.
17
Private
Placement Offerings
On
November 3, 2022, the Company sold 7,065,946 shares of its common stock, and in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants exercisable
for 543,933 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase 7,609,879 shares of its common stock to a group of new and existing
institutional investors in a private placement. The offering price for each share of common stock and accompanying warrant was $ 4.60 ,
and the offering price for each pre-funded warrant and accompanying warrant was $ 4.59 , which equaled the offering price per share of
the common stock and accompanying warrant, less the $ 0.01 per share exercise price of each pre-funded warrant. Each accompanying warrant
represents the right to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 4.75 per share of common stock.
The pre-funded warrants were exercised in December 2022 and converted to 543,933 shares of commons stock. Total shares sold and converted
during the year ended December 31, 2022 were 7,609,879 for an aggregate purchase price of $ 35.0 million gross, or $ 32.6 million net of
related costs of $ 1.5 million which was expensed to general and administrative expenses and $ 0.9 million which was recorded as a reduction
to additional paid-in-capital. The net proceeds were allocated to the warrant liability as noted below with the remainder of $ 12.9 million
and $ 0.1 million recorded in additional paid-in capital and common stock, respectively.
In
the event of certain fundamental transactions involving the Company, the holders of the stock purchase warrants may require the Company
to make a payment based on a Black-Scholes valuation, using specific inputs that are not considered indexed to the Company’s stock
in accordance with ASC 815. Therefore, the Company is accounting for the stock purchase warrants as liabilities. On November 3, 2022,
the stock purchase warrants were recorded at the closing date fair value of $ 22.0 million which was based on a Black-Scholes option pricing
model. The remainder of the proceeds were allocated to common stock issued and recorded as a component of equity.
As
of March 31, 2024, there were 7,609,879 warrants outstanding related to this private placement offering. The warrants expire on November
3, 2027. During such time as each warrant is outstanding, the holder of the warrant is entitled to participate in any dividends or other
distribution of assets to holders of shares of common stock. There was no warrant activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024,
other than the change in fair value of the warrants related to warrants issued as part of this private placement offering.
Direct
Placement Offering
On
July 6, 2023, the Company sold 3,284,407 shares of its common stock, and
in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants exercisable for 2,919,140 shares of common stock (the
“2023 Pre-Funded Warrants”) , to a group of existing institutional investors for an aggregate purchase price of $ 25.0
million gross, or $ 23.0 million net of related costs. The offering price for each share of common stock was $ 4.03 , and the offering price
for the 2023 Pre-Funded Warrants was $ 4.0299 ,
which represents the per share offering price for the Company’s common stock less a $0.0001
per share exercise price for each such 2023 Pre-Funded Warrant . The 2023 Pre-Funded Warrants
are immediately exercisable at a nominal exercise price of $ 0.0001 per share, may be exercised at any time and do not have an expiration
date. None of the 2023 Pre-Funded Warrants have been exercised as of March 31, 2024 . The
prefunded warrants are classified as equity in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging , given the prefunded warrants
are indexed to the Company’s own shares of common stock and meet the requirements to be classified in equity. The prefunded warrants
were recorded at their relative fair value at issuance in the stockholders’ equity (deficit) section of the consolidated balance
sheet and the prefunded warrants are considered outstanding shares in the basic earnings per share calculation for the three months ended
March 31, 2024 given their nominal exercise price.
Common
Stock Warrants related to the Loan and Security Agreement
On
January 8, 2024, in connection with entering into the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company issued to each of Avenue and Avenue 2
(collectively, the “Warrantholders”) warrants to purchase up to $ 480,000 and $ 1,920,000 worth of shares, respectively, of
Company common stock (collectively, the “January Warrants”). The Warrants expire on January 8, 2029 (the “Expiration
Date”) and upon issuance, had an exercise price per share equal to the lesser of (i) $ 4.75 and (ii) the price per share of the
Company’s next bona fide round of equity financing before September 30, 2024 in which the Company sells or issues shares of its
common stock, excluding certain excluded issuances as defined in the Supplement. Assuming an exercise price of $ 4.75 per share, 505,263
shares of common stock would be issued in connection with the exercise in full of the January Warrants. The January 204 warrants do not include an explicit share limit and the number of shares issuable under the warrant
agreements are variable based on the exercise price and therefore the warrants were liability classified based on a Black-Scholes valuation
in accordance with ASC 815. On January 8, 2024, the warrants were recorded at the closing date fair value of $ 0.2 million which was based
on a Black-Scholes option pricing model.
18
In
connection with the underwritten common stock financing consummated on May 7, 2024, and pursuant to the term of the January Warrants,
the exercise price of the January Warrants was reduced to the lesser of (i) $ 4.07 per share and (ii) the price per share of the Company’s
next bona fide round of equity financing before September 30, 2024 in which the Company sells or issues shares of its common stock, excluding
certain excluded issuances. Assuming an exercise at $ 4.07 per share, 589,680 shares of common stock would be issued in connection with
the exercise in full of the January Warrants. In addition, upon a change of control where the per share price of the Company common stock
is less than or equal to two times that of the exercise price, the Warrantholders would be entitled to receive the shares of common stock
underlying the Warrant without payment of the exercise price.
The
Warrantholders may exercise the Warrants at any time, or from time to time up to and including the Expiration Date, by making a cash
payment equal to the exercise price multiplied by the quantity of shares. The Warrantholders may also exercise the Warrants on a cashless
basis by receiving a net number of shares calculated pursuant to the formula set forth in the Warrants. The Warrants are subject to anti-dilution
adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, and reverse stock splits.
NOTE
10 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The
Company previously granted stock options under its 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Incentive Plan”), under which no
further grants can be made. In addition, prior to May 17, 2023, the Company had previously granted stock options and stock awards under
the Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Incentive Plan”). As of May 17, 2023, no further grants
can be made under the 2015 Incentive Plan. The Company now grants stock options and stock awards under the Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2023
Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Incentive Plan”) which was approved by stockholders on May 17, 2023. As of March 31, 2024,
there were 156,591 shares available to be granted under the 2023 Incentive Plan. In addition, in 2023, the Company’s board of directors
approved various restricted stock awards granted to certain new hires as inducement grants. On October 10, 2023, the Company’s
board of directors approved the Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2023 Employment Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “Inducement Plan”).
As of March 31, 2024, there were 721,900 shares available to be granted under the Inducement Plan.
The
following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
SCHEDULE
OF STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
2024
2023
For the three months ended March 31,
2024
2023
Research and development
$ 346
$ 584
General and administrative
1,220
186
Total stock-based compensation expense
$ 1,546
$ 770
Stock
Options
The
Company estimates the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company
then recognize the grant date fair value of each option as compensation expense ratably using the straight-line attribution method over
the service period (generally the vesting period). The Black-Scholes model incorporates the following assumptions:
●
Expected
volatility – the Company estimates the volatility of the share price at the date of grant using a “look-back” period
which coincides with the expected term, defined below. The Company believes using a “look-back” period which coincides
with the expected term is the most appropriate measure for determining expected volatility.
●
Expected
term – the Company estimates the expected term using the “simplified” method, as outlined in SEC Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107, “Share-Based Payment.”
●
Risk-free
interest rate – the Company estimates the risk-free interest rate using the U.S. Treasury yield curve for periods equal to
the expected term of the options in effect at the time of grant.
●
Dividends
– the Company uses an expected dividend yield of zero because the Company has not declared nor paid a cash dividend, nor are
there any plans to declare a dividend.
19
The
Company did not grant any stock options in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The
Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur, which may result in the reversal of compensation costs in subsequent periods as the forfeitures
arise.
The
following table summarizes stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024:
SCHEDULE
OF STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY
Number of
Options
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2023
179,001
$ 38.58
6.83
$ 3
Granted
—
$ —
—
$ —
Cancelled/forfeited
—
$ —
—
$ —
Exercised
—
$ —
—
$ —
Outstanding at March 31, 2024
179,001
$ 38.58
6.58
$ 14
Exercisable
143,907
$ 38.58
6.42
$ 6
Unvested
35,094
$ 38.59
7.24
$ 8
The
aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the fair
value of the Company’s common stock for those options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s
common stock. As of March 31, 2024, the total compensation cost related to non-vested option awards not yet recognized was approximately
$ 1.0 million with a weighted average remaining vesting period of 1.1 years.
Restricted
Stock
The
following table summarizes restricted stock award activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024:
SCHEDULE OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD ACTIVITY
Number
of Awards
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Unit
Outstanding at December 31, 2023
2,448,169
$ 4.25
Granted
137,500
$ 5.31
Cancelled/forfeited
—
$ —
Vested
( 43,050 )
$ 7.56
Outstanding at March 31, 2024
2,542,619
$ 4.18
As
of March 31, 2024, there was $ 7.4 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards, which
is expected to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of 2.2 years. The total fair value of restricted stock awards that
vested during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $ 0.5 million.
20
NOTE
11 – LICENSE/SUPPLIER AGREEMENT
Sublicense
and Inventory Purchase Agreements Relating to CLN1 Disease
In
August 2020, the Company entered into sublicense and inventory purchase agreements with Taysha Gene Therapies (“Taysha”)
relating to a potential gene therapy for CLN1 disease. Under the sublicense agreement, Taysha received worldwide exclusive rights to
intellectual property and know-how relating to the research, development, and manufacture of the potential gene therapy, which the Company
had referred to as ABO-202. Under the inventory purchase agreement, the Company sold to Taysha certain inventory and other items related
to ABO-202. The Company assessed the nature of the promised license to determine whether the license has significant stand-alone functionality
and evaluated whether such functionality can be retained without ongoing activities by the Company and determined that the license has
significant stand-alone functionality. Furthermore, the Company has no ongoing activities associated with the license to support or maintain
the license’s utility. Based on this, the Company determined that the pattern of transfer of control of the license to Taysha was
at a point in time.
The
transaction price of the contract includes (i) $ 7.0 million of fixed consideration, (ii) up to $ 26.0 million of variable consideration
in the form of event-based milestone payments, (iii) up to $ 30.0 million of variable consideration in the form of sales-based milestone
payments, and (iv) other royalty-based payments based on net sales. The event-based milestone payments are based on certain development
and regulatory events occurring. At inception, the Company evaluated whether the milestone conditions had been achieved and if it was
probable that a significant cumulative revenue reversal would not occur before recognizing the associated revenue and determined that
these milestone payments were not within the Company’s control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, and
were not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals were received. Accordingly, at inception, the Company fully constrained
the $ 26.0 million of event-based milestone payments until such time that it is probable that significant cumulative revenue reversal
would not occur. The sales-based milestone payments and other royalty-based payments are based on a level of sales for which the license
is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate. The Company will recognize revenue for these payments at the later
of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has
been satisfied or partially satisfied. To date, the Company has not recognized any sales-based or royalty revenue resulting from this
licensing arrangement.
Under
this arrangement, the Company has no t recognized any revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively based
on event-based-milestone payments. The Company has no contract assets or contract liabilities as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
as a result of this transaction.
Sublicense
Agreement Relating to Rett Syndrome
In
October 2020, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement with Taysha for a gene therapy
for Rett syndrome, including intellectual property related to MECP2 gene constructs and regulation of their expression. The agreement
grants Taysha worldwide exclusive rights to intellectual property developed by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, the University of Edinburgh and the Company, and the Company’s know-how relating to the research, development, and manufacture
of the gene therapy for Rett syndrome and MECP2 gene constructs and regulation of their expression.
The
Company assessed the nature of the promised license to determine whether the license has significant stand-alone functionality and evaluated
whether such functionality can be retained without ongoing activities by the Company and determined that the license has significant
stand-alone functionality. Furthermore, the Company has no ongoing activities associated with the license to support or maintain the
license’s utility. Based on this, the Company determined that the pattern of transfer of control of the license to Taysha was at
a point in time.
21
The
transaction price of the contract includes (i) $ 3.0 million of fixed consideration, (ii) up to $ 26.5 million of variable consideration
in the form of event-based milestone payments, (iii) up to $ 30.0 million of variable consideration in the form of sales-based milestone
payments, and (iv) other royalty-based payments based on net sales. The event-based milestone payments are based on certain development
and regulatory events occurring. The Company evaluated whether the milestone conditions have been achieved and if it is probable that
a significant cumulative revenue reversal would not occur before recognizing the associated revenue. The Company determined that these
milestone payments are not within the Company’s control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, and are
not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. Accordingly, the Company has fully constrained the $ 26.5
million in event-based milestone payments until such time that it is probable that a significant cumulative revenue reversal would not
occur. The sales-based milestone payments and other royalty-based payments are based on a level of sales for which the license is deemed
to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate. The Company will recognize revenue for these payments at the later of (i) when
the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied
or partially satisfied. To date, the Company has not recognized any sales-based or royalty revenue resulting from this licensing arrangement.
Under
this arrangement, the Company recognized no revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, As of March 31, 2024 and
December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any contract assets or contract liabilities as a result of this transaction.
Ultragenyx
License Agreement
On
May 16, 2022, the Company and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (“Ultragenyx”) entered into an exclusive license agreement (the
“License Agreement”) for AAV gene therapy, ABO-102, for the treatment of Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA). Under the
License Agreement, Ultragenyx assumed responsibility for the ABO-102 program from the Company, with the exclusive right to develop, manufacture,
and commercialize ABO-102 worldwide. Also pursuant to the License Agreement, following regulatory approval, the Company is eligible to
receive tiered royalties from mid-single-digit up to 10% on net sales and up to $ 30.0 million in commercial milestone payments. Both
forms of consideration comprise the transaction price to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring the related
intellectual property and certain, contractually-specified, transition services to Ultragenyx. The sales-based royalty and milestone
payments are subject to the royalty recognition constraint. As such, these fees are not recognized as revenue until the later of: (a)
the occurrence of the subsequent sale, and (b) the performance obligation to which they relate has been satisfied.
Additionally,
pursuant to the License Agreement, Ultragenyx will reimburse the Company for certain development and transition costs actually incurred
by the Company. These costs are passed through to Ultragenyx without mark-up. The Company has determined that these costs are not incurred
for the purpose of satisfying any performance obligation under the License Agreement. Accordingly, the reimbursement of these costs is
recognized as a reduction of research and development costs. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any
contract assets or contract liabilities as a result of this transaction.
NOTE
12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
May 7, 2024, the Company closed on an underwritten offering of 12,285,056 shares of its common stock and, in lieu of common stock, pre-funded
warrants to purchase 6,142,656 shares of its common stock, at an offering price of $ 4.07 per share, which is equal to the closing price
on Thursday, May 2, 2024, or $ 4.0699 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the per share offering price for the common stock less
the $ 0.0001 per share exercise price for each pre-funded warrant. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable at a nominal
exercise price of $ 0.0001 per share and may be exercised at any time until the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. The Company
estimates that the net proceeds from the Offering will be approximately $ 70.2 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and
commissions and paying estimated offering expenses.
22
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.