Table
of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021
OR
☐ 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 001-37487
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
nevada
13-3632859
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
9635 GRANITE RIDGE DRIVE , SUITE 100 , SAN DIEGO ,
CA
92123
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
( 858 ) 459-7800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
AEMD
The Nasdaq
Capital Market
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 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 ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions
of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging
growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated Filer ☐
Accelerated Filer ☐
Non-accelerated Filer ☒
Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant
to section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐ NO ☒
As of August 4, 2021, the registrant had outstanding 15,386,367 shares
of common stock, $0.001 par value.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
3
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT JUNE 30, 2021 (UNAUDITED) AND MARCH 31, 2021
3
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND 2020 (UNAUDITED)
4
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND 2020 (UNAUDITED)
5
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND 2020 (UNAUDITED)
7
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
8
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
19
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
24
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
25
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
26
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
26
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
26
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
27
ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
27
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
27
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
27
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
28
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
June 30,
2021
March 31,
2021
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
$ 25,171,679
$ 9,861,575
Accounts receivable
131,966
149,082
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
244,121
341,081
Total current assets
25,547,766
10,351,738
Property and equipment, net
187,821
160,976
Right-of-use lease asset
15,722
40,363
Patents, net
56,817
56,954
Restricted cash
46,726
46,726
Deposits
12,159
12,159
Total assets
$ 25,867,011
$ 10,668,916
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$ 243,650
$ 337,678
Due to related parties
119,578
118,520
Deferred revenue
114,849
114,849
Lease liability, current portion
16,835
42,543
Other current liabilities
636,387
761,636
Total current liabilities
1,131,299
1,375,226
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock, par value $ 0.001 per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 15,386,367 and 12,150,597 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively
15,388
12,152
Additional paid-in capital
146,868,766
129,331,542
Accumulated deficit
( 122,010,393 )
( 119,913,090 )
Total Aethlon Medical, Inc. stockholders’ equity before noncontrolling interests
24,873,761
9,430,604
Noncontrolling interests
( 138,049 )
( 136,914 )
Total stockholders’ equity
24,735,712
9,293,690
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 25,867,011
$ 10,668,916
See accompanying notes.
3
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Month Periods Ended June 30, 2021
and 2020
(Unaudited)
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2021
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2020
REVENUES
Government contract revenue
$ 131,966
$ –
OPERATING EXPENSES
Professional fees
583,469
564,284
Payroll and related expenses
1,016,742
436,911
General and administrative
630,068
409,223
Total operating expenses
2,230,279
1,410,418
OPERATING LOSS
( 2,098,313 )
( 1,410,418 )
OTHER EXPENSE
Interest and other debt expenses
125
728
Total other expense
125
728
NET LOSS
( 2,098,438 )
( 1,411,146 )
LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
( 1,135 )
( 863 )
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO AETHLON MEDICAL, INC.
$ ( 2,097,303 )
$ ( 1,410,283 )
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
$ ( 0.16 )
$ ( 0.15 )
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING – BASIC AND DILUTED
12,828,816
9,632,977
See accompanying notes.
4
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
(Unaudited)
COMMON STOCK
ADDITIONAL PAID IN
ACCUMULATED
NON-
CONTROLLING
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’
SHARES
AMOUNT
CAPITAL
DEFICIT
INTERESTS
EQUITY
BALANCE - MARCH 31, 2021
12,150,597
$ 12,152
$ 129,331,542
$ ( 119,913,090 )
$ ( 136,914 )
$ 9,293,690
Issuances of common stock for cash under at the market program
626,000
626
4,947,159
–
–
4,947,785
Issuances of common stock for cash in registered direct financing
1,380,555
1,381
11,657,663
–
–
11,659,044
Issuances of common stock for cash under warrant exercises
531,167
531
820,407
–
–
820,938
Issuances of common stock for cash under stock option exercises
11,562
11
28,314
–
–
28,325
Issuances of common stock under cashless warrant exercises
675,554
676
( 676 )
–
–
–
Issuance of common shares upon vesting of restricted stock units
10,932
11
( 35,797 )
–
–
( 35,786 )
Stock-based compensation expense
–
–
120,154
–
–
120,154
Net loss
–
–
–
( 2,097,303 )
( 1,135 )
( 2,098,438 )
BALANCE - June 30, 2021
15,386,367
$ 15,388
$ 146,868,766
$ ( 122,010,393 )
$ ( 138,049 )
$ 24,735,712
5
COMMON STOCK
ADDITIONAL PAID IN
ACCUMULATED
NON-
CONTROLLING
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’
SHARES
AMOUNT
CAPITAL
DEFICIT
INTERESTS
EQUITY
BALANCE MARCH 31, 2020
9,366,873
$ 9,368
$ 121,426,563
$ ( 112,026,381 )
$ ( 132,124 )
$ 9,277,426
Issuances of common stock for cash under at the market program
2,685,600
2,686
7,258,183
–
–
7,260,869
Issuance of common shares upon vesting of restricted stock units and net stock option exercise
17,920
18
( 24,269 )
–
–
( 24,251 )
Stock-based compensation expense
–
–
84,207
–
–
84,207
Net loss
–
–
–
( 1,410,283 )
( 863 )
( 1,411,146 )
BALANCE June 30, 2020
12,070,393
$ 12,072
$ 128,744,684
$ ( 113,436,664 )
$ ( 132,987 )
$ 15,187,105
See accompanying notes.
6
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
(Unaudited)
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2021
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2020
Cash flows used in operating activities:
Net loss
$ ( 2,098,438 )
$ ( 1,411,146 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
11,666
8,770
Stock based compensation
120,154
84,207
Accretion of right-of-use lease asset
( 1,067 )
( 188 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
96,960
62,660
Accounts receivable
17,116
–
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
( 219,277 )
( 73,142 )
Deferred revenue
–
206,729
Due to related parties
1,058
20,137
Net cash used in operating activities
( 2,071,828 )
( 1,101,973 )
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment
( 38,374 )
( 17,809 )
Net cash used in investing activities
( 38,374 )
( 17,809 )
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net
17,456,092
7,260,869
Tax withholding payments or tax equivalent payments for net share settlement of restricted stock units
( 35,786 )
( 24,251 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
17,420,306
7,236,618
Net increase in cash
15,310,104
6,116,836
Cash at beginning of period
9,861,575
9,604,780
Cash at end of period
$ 25,171,679
$ 15,721,616
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock under cashless warrant exercises
$ 676
$ –
Par value of shares issued for vested restricted stock units
$ 11
$ 18
See accompanying notes.
7
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
June 30, 2021
1. NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION ORGANIZATION
Aethlon Medical, Inc. and its subsidiary (collectively,
“Aethlon”, the “Company”, “we” or “us”), is a medical technology company focused on developing
products to diagnose and treat life and organ threatening diseases. The Aethlon Hemopurifier is a clinical-stage immunotherapeutic device
designed to combat cancer and life-threatening viral infections. In cancer, the Hemopurifier is designed to deplete the presence of circulating
tumor-derived exosomes that promote immune suppression, seed the spread of metastasis and inhibit the benefit of leading cancer therapies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has designated the Hemopurifier as a “Breakthrough Device” for two independent
indications:
· the treatment of individuals with advanced or metastatic cancer who are either unresponsive to or intolerant of standard of care therapy,
and with cancer types in which exosomes have been shown to participate in the development or severity of the disease; and
· the treatment of life-threatening viruses that are not addressed with approved therapies.
We believe the Hemopurifier can be a substantial
advance in the treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic cancer through the clearance of exosomes that promote the growth and
spread of tumors through multiple mechanisms. We are currently preparing for the initiation of clinical trials in patients with advanced
and metastatic cancers. We are initially focused on the treatment of solid tumors, including head and neck cancer, gastrointestinal cancers
and other cancers. As we advance our clinical trials, we are in close contact with our clinical sites to navigate and assess the impact
of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our clinical trials and current timelines.
On October 4, 2019, the FDA approved our Investigational
Device Exemption, or IDE, application to initiate an Early Feasibility Study, or EFS, of the Hemopurifier in patients with head and neck
cancer in combination with standard of care pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The primary endpoint for the EFS, which will enroll 10 to12 subjects
at a single center, will be safety, with secondary endpoints including measures of exosome clearance and characterization, as well as
response and survival rates. This study, which is being conducted at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, PA, is in the process
of recruiting and treating patients.
We also believe the Hemopurifier can be a part
of the broad-spectrum treatment of life-threatening highly glycosylated, or carbohydrate coated, viruses that are not addressed with an
already approved treatment. In small-scale or early feasibility human studies, the Hemopurifier has been used to treat individuals infected
with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, hepatitis-C, and Ebola.
Additionally, in vitro, the Hemopurifier
has been demonstrated to capture Zika virus, Lassa virus, MERS-CoV, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes simplex virus, Chikungunya
virus, Dengue virus, West Nile virus, smallpox-related viruses, H1N1 swine flu virus, H5N1 bird flu virus, and the reconstructed Spanish
flu virus of 1918. In several cases, these studies were conducted in collaboration with leading government or non-government research
institutes.
On June 17, 2020, the FDA approved a supplement
to our open IDE for the Hemopurifier in viral disease to allow for the testing of the Hemopurifier in patients with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
in a New Feasibility Study. This study is designed to enroll up to 40 subjects at up to 20 centers
in the U.S. Subjects will have established laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, be admitted to an intensive care unit, or ICU, and will have
acute lung injury and/or severe or life threatening disease, among other criteria. Endpoints for this study, in addition to safety, will
include reduction in circulating virus as well as clinical outcomes (NCT # 04595903). The initial sites for this trial, Hoag Memorial
Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, CA, Hoag Hospital – Irvine in Irvine, CA, Loma Linda Hospital in Loma Linda, CA, and Cooper
Medical in Camden, NJ, have completed clinical trial agreements, and have received IRB approval in the case of the Hoag hospitals, and
are preparing to open for patient enrollment. Under Single Patient Emergency Use regulations, the Company has also treated two patients
with COVID-19 with the Hemopurifier.
8
We are also the majority owner of Exosome Sciences,
Inc., or ESI, a company focused on the discovery of exosomal biomarkers to diagnose and monitor life-threatening diseases. Included among
ESI’s activities is the advancement of a TauSome™ biomarker candidate to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE,
in the living. ESI previously documented TauSome levels in former NFL players to be nine times higher than same age-group control subjects.
Through ESI, we are also developing exosome based biomarkers in patients with, or at risk for, a number of cancers. We consolidate ESI’s
activities in our consolidated financial statements.
Successful outcomes of human trials will also
be required by the regulatory agencies of certain foreign countries where we plan to sell the Hemopurifier. Some of our patents may expire
before FDA approval or approval in a foreign country, if any, is obtained. However, we believe that certain patent applications and/or
other patents issued more recently will help protect the proprietary nature of the Hemopurifier treatment technology.
In addition to the foregoing, we are monitoring
closely the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our business and have taken steps designed to protect the health and safety of our
employees while continuing our operations. Given the level of uncertainty regarding the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
capital markets and the U.S. economy, we are unable to assess the impact of the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the resulting COVID-19
pandemic on our timelines and future access to capital. We are continuing to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and its potential impact on
our operations. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will impact our business, results of operations, financial condition, clinical
trials, and preclinical research will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including actions taken to contain or treat
COVID-19 and their effectiveness, as well as the economic impact on national and international markets.
Our executive offices are located at 9635 Granite
Ridge Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92123. Our telephone number is (858) 459-7800. Our website address is www.aethlonmedical.com.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol
“AEMD.”
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
During the three months ended June 30, 2021, there were no changes
to our significant accounting policies as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for
interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC Regulation
S-X. Accordingly, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2021, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2021. The accompanying unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aethlon Medical, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiary. All significant
inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the condensed
consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended June 30, 2021, and the condensed consolidated statement of cash
flows for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Estimates were made relating to useful lives of fixed assets, impairment of assets, share-based
compensation expense and accruals for clinical trial and research and development expenses. Actual results could differ materially from
those estimates. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2021 has been derived from the audited consolidated
balance sheet at March 31, 2021, contained in the above referenced 10-K. The results of operations for the three months ended June 30,
2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any future interim periods.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year balances within the unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
9
LIQUIDITY AND GOING CONCERN
Management expects existing cash as of June 30,
2021 to be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations for at least twelve months from the issuance date of these condensed consolidated
financial statements.
Restricted Cash
To comply with the terms of our new laboratory
and office lease, we caused our bank to issue a standby letter of credit, or the L/C, in the amount of $ 46,726 in favor of the landlord.
The L/C is in lieu of a security deposit. In order to support the L/C, we agreed to have our bank withdraw $46,726 from our operating
accounts and to place that amount in a restricted certificate of deposit. We have classified that amount as restricted cash, a long-term
asset, on our balance sheet.
2. LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net
loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period of computation. Diluted loss per share is computed
similar to basic loss per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional dilutive common shares that
would have been outstanding if potential common shares had been issued, if such additional common shares were dilutive. Since we had net
losses for all periods presented, basic and diluted loss per share are the same, and additional potential common shares have been excluded,
as their effect would be antidilutive.
As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, an aggregate of
1,654,464 and 2,150,690 potential common shares, respectively, consisting of shares underlying outstanding stock options, warrants and
unvested restricted stock units, were excluded, as their inclusion would be antidilutive.
3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES
Our research and development costs are expensed
as incurred. We incurred research and development expenses during the three month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, which are included
in various operating expense line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Our research and development
expenses in those periods were as follows:
Research and Development expenses
June 30,
June 30,
2021
2020
Three months ended
$ 587,687
$ 377,167
4. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
On April 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC Topic
842, Leases, utilizing the alternative transition method allowed for under this guidance. As a result, the Company recorded lease liabilities
and right-of-use lease assets of $ 228,694 on its balance sheet as of April 1, 2019. The lease liabilities represent the present value
of the remaining lease payments of the Company’s corporate headquarters lease (see Note 12), discounted using the Company’s
incremental borrowing rate as of April 1, 2019. The corresponding right-of-use lease assets are recorded based on the lease liabilities
and the cumulative difference between rent expense and amounts paid under its corporate headquarters lease. The Company also elected the
short-term lease recognition exemption for its laboratory lease. For the laboratory lease that qualified as short-term, the Company did
not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities at adoption.
10
Topic 842 also allows lessees and lessors to elect
certain practical expedients. The Company elected the following practical expedients:
· Transitional practical expedients, which must be elected as a package and applied consistently to all of the Company’s leases:
The Company need not reassess whether any expired or existing
contracts are or contain leases.
The Company need not reassess the lease classification for
any expired or existing leases (that is, all existing leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with the previous
guidance will be classified as operating leases, and all existing leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with the
previous guidance will be classified as finance leases).
The Company need not reassess initial direct costs for any
existing leases.
· Hindsight practical expedient. The Company elected the hindsight practical expedient in determining the lease term (that is, when
considering lessee options to extend or terminate the lease and to purchase the underlying asset) and in assessing impairment of the Company’s
right-of-use assets.
5. EQUITY TRANSACTIONS IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021
Common Stock Sales Agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
On March 22, 2021, we entered into an At the Market
Offering Agreement, or the Offering Agreement, with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright, as sales agent, pursuant to which we
may offer and sell shares of our common stock, from time to time as set forth in the Offering Agreement.
The
offering was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Act ,
pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-237269), as previously filed
with the SEC and declared effective on March 30, 2020. We filed a prospectus supplement with the SEC, dated March 22, 2021, in
connection with the offer and sale of the shares of common stock, pursuant to which we may
offer and sell shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $5,080,000 from
time to time.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the Offering Agreement, Wainwright agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices
to sell the shares under the Offering Agreement from time to time, based upon our instructions. We provided Wainwright with customary
indemnification rights under the Offering Agreement, and Wainwright is entitled to a commission at a fixed rate equal to three percent
of the gross proceeds per share sold. In addition, we agreed to reimburse Wainwright for certain specified expenses in connection with
entering into the Offering Agreement. The Offering Agreement will terminate upon the written termination by either party as permitted
thereunder.
Sales of the shares, if any, under the Offering
Agreement will be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities
Act, including sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, including on the Nasdaq Capital Market, at market prices or
as otherwise agreed with Wainwright. We have no obligation under the Offering Agreement to sell any of the shares, and, at any time, we
may suspend offers under the Offering Agreement or terminate the agreement.
In the three months ended June 30, 2021, we raised
aggregate net proceeds under the Offering Agreement described above of $ 4,947,785 , net of $ 126,922 in commissions to Wainwright and $ 2,154
in other offering expense through the sale of 626,000 shares of our common stock at an average price of $ 7.90 per share of net proceeds.
No further sales can be made under the Offering Agreement.
Registered Direct Financing
In the three months ended June 30, 2021, we sold
an aggregate of 1,380,555 shares of our common stock at a purchase price per share of $ 9.00 , for aggregate net proceeds to us of $ 11,659,044
after deducting fees payable to Maxim Group LLC, the placement agent and other offering expenses. These shares were sold through a securities
purchase agreement with certain institutional investors. The shares were issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement
on Form S-3, which was originally filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020, and was declared effective on March 30, 2020 (File No. 333-237269)
and a prospectus supplement thereunder.
11
Warrant Exercises
In the three months ended June 30, 2021, pursuant
to the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase 531,167 shares of our common stock, we received proceeds in the amount of $ 820,938
from institutional investors.
Also in the three months ended June 30, 2021,
pursuant to the exercise of 874,664 outstanding warrants on a cashless basis, we issued 675,554 shares of our common stock. The difference
of 199,110 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the warrants were cancelled.
Stock Option Exercises
In the three months ended June 30, 2021, former
employees paid us an aggregate of $ 28,325 for the exercise of outstanding options to purchase 11,562 shares of our common stock.
Restricted Stock Unit Grants
In 2012, as amended through October 30, 2020,
our Board of Directors established the Non-Employee Directors Compensation Program, to provide for cash and equity compensation for persons
serving as non-employee directors of the Company. Under this program, each new director receives either stock options or a grant of restricted
stock units, or RSUs, as well as an annual grant of RSUs at the beginning of each fiscal year. The RSUs are subject to vesting and represent
the right to be issued on a future date shares of our common stock upon vesting.
On April 1, 2021, pursuant to the terms of the
Company’s 2012 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Program, as amended, or the Directors Plan, the Compensation Committee of the
Board granted RSUs under the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2020 Plan, to each non-employee director of the Company. The
Director’s Plan provides for a grant of $50,000 worth of RSUs at the beginning of each fiscal year, priced at the average for the
closing prices for the five days preceding and including the date of grant, or $2.06 per share as of April 1, 2021. Each eligible director
was granted an RSU in the amount of 24,295 shares under the 2020 Plan. The RSU’s are subject to vesting in four equal quarterly
installments on June 30, September 30, December 31, 2021, and March 31, 2022, subject to the recipient’s continued service with
the Company on each such vesting date.
In June 2021, 18,221 vested RSUs held by our non-employee
directors were exchanged into the same number of shares of our common stock. All three non-employee directors elected to return 40% of
their vested RSUs in exchange for cash, in order to pay their withholding taxes on the share issuances, resulting in 7,289 of the vested
RSUs being cancelled in exchange for $ 35,786 in aggregate cash proceeds to those independent directors.
RSUs outstanding that have vested as of, and
are expected to vest subsequent to, June 30, 2021 are as follows:
Schedule of RSU activity
Number of RSUs
Vested
–
Expected to vest
54,664
Total
54,664
6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the three months ended June 30, 2021,
we accrued unpaid fees of $ 52,000 owed to our
non-employee directors as of June 30, 2021. Amounts due to related parties were comprised of the following items:
Due to related parties
June 30, 2021
March 31, 2021
Accrued Board fees
$ 52,000
$ 52,000
Accrued vacation to all employees
67,578
66,520
Total due to related parties
$ 119,578
$ 118,520
12
7. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other current liabilities were comprised of the following items:
Other Current Liabilities
June 30,
March 31,
2021
2021
Accrued separation expenses for former executive (see Note 12)
$ 167,743
$ 284,270
Accrued professional fees
468,644
477,366
Total other current liabilities
$ 636,387
$ 761,636
8. STOCK COMPENSATION
The following tables summarize share-based compensation expenses relating
to RSUs and stock options and the effect on basic and diluted loss per common share during the three month periods ended June 30, 2021
and 2020:
Share-based compensation expense relating to RSUs
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2021
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2020
Vesting of stock options and restricted stock units
$ 120,154
$ 84,207
Total stock-based compensation expense
$ 120,154
$ 84,207
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
12,828,816
9,632,977
Basic and diluted loss per common share attributable to stock-based compensation expense
$ ( 0.01 )
$ ( 0.01 )
All of the stock-based compensation expense recorded
during the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, which totaled $ 120,154 and $ 84,207 , respectively, is included in payroll and related
expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Stock-based compensation expense recorded during the three
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 represented an impact on basic and diluted loss per common share of $(0.01) and $(0.01), respectively.
We review share-based compensation on a quarterly
basis for changes to the estimate of expected award forfeitures based on actual forfeiture experience. The cumulative effect of adjusting
the forfeiture rate for all expense amortization is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. The effect of forfeiture
adjustments for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was insignificant.
Stock Option Activity
During the three months ended June 30, 2021, we issued a stock option
grant to our CEO for the purchase of 266,888 shares of our common stock under our 2020 Plan. The purchase price for the shares subject
to the option is $ 5.17 per share, the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. The shares subject to the option
are subject to vesting over four years, commencing on the date of grant, or Vesting Commencement Date, with twenty-five percent (25%)
of the shares subject to the option vesting on the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date and the remaining shares vesting
in equal monthly installments over the following thirty-six (36) months, in each case subject to Dr. Fisher’s Continuous Service
(as defined in the 2020 Plan) through each vesting date.
We did not issue any stock options during the three months ended June
30, 2020.
13
Options outstanding that have vested as of June 30, 2021 and options
that are expected to vest subsequent to June 30, 2021 are as follows:
Options outstanding that have vested and are expected to vest
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in
Years
Vested
87,210
$ 8.83
8.29
Expected to vest
926,449
$ 2.76
9.43
Total
1,013,659
A summary of stock option activity during the three months ended June
30, 2021 is presented below:
Schedule of stock option activity
Amount
Range of
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2021
844,089
$ 1.28 - 142.50
$ 3.07
Exercised
( 11,562 )
$ 2.45
$ 2.45
Granted
266,888
$ 5.17
$ 5.17
Cancelled/Expired
( 85,756 )
$ 2.45 - 18.75
$ 7.22
Stock options outstanding at June 30, 2021
1,013,659
$ 1.28 - 142.50
$ 2.76
Stock options exercisable at June 30, 2021
87,210
$ 1.28 - 142.50
$ 8.83
On June 30, 2021, our stock options had an intrinsic value of approximately $ 1,664,000 based on our closing share price of $ 4.92 on that date.
At June 30, 2021, there was approximately $ 3,722,000
of unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based payments, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of
7.7 years.
9. WARRANTS
During the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, we did not issue
any warrants.
A summary of warrant activity during the three months ended June 30,
2021 is presented below:
Schedule of Warrant Activity
Amount
Range of
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Warrants outstanding at March 31, 2021
1,991,973
$ 1.50 - 99.00
$ 5.23
Exercised
( 1,206,721 )
$ 1.50 – 2.50
$ 2.21
Cancelled/Expired
( 199,111 )
$ 1.50 – 2.75
$ 2.74
Warrants outstanding at June 30, 2021
586,141
$ 1.50 – 99.00
$ 12.28
Warrants exercisable at June 30, 2021
586,141
$ 1.50 – 99.00
$ 12.28
14
10. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND RELATED REVENUE RECOGNITION
We entered into the following contracts with the National Cancer Institute,
or NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, over the past two years:
Phase 2 Melanoma Cancer Contract
On September 12, 2019, the NCI awarded to us an
SBIR Phase II Award Contract, for NIH/NCI Topic 359, entitled “A Device Prototype for Isolation of Melanoma Exosomes for Diagnostics
and Treatment Monitoring”, or the Award Contract. The Award Contract amount is $ 1,860,561 and runs for the period from September
16, 2019 through September 15, 2021.
The work to be performed pursuant to this Award
Contract will focus on melanoma exosomes. This work follows from our completion of a Phase I contract for the Topic 359 solicitation that
ran from September 2017 through June 2018, as described below. Following on the Phase I work, the deliverables in the Phase II program
involve the design and testing of a pre-commercial prototype of a more advanced version of the exosome isolation platform.
We recorded $ 114,849 of government contract revenue
on the Phase 2 Melanoma Cancer Contract in the three months ended June 30, 2021. That revenue related to work performed in
the three months ended March 31, 2021 that had previously been recorded as deferred revenue as a result of falling short on certain milestones.
We then achieved those March period milestones in the June quarter and therefore recorded the previously deferred revenue as government
contract revenue. We recorded the invoice related to the June period as deferred revenue since we fell short of certain milestones related
to that period.
We did not record any government contract revenue
during the three months ended June 30, 2020 as we did not achieve certain milestones for that period.
Subaward with University of Pittsburgh
In 2020, we entered into a cost reimbursable subaward
arrangement with the University of Pittsburgh in connection with an NIH contract entitled “Depleting Exosomes to Improve Responses
to Immune Therapy in HNNCC.” Our share of the award is $ 256,750 . We recorded $ 17,117 of revenue related to this subaward in the
three months ended June 30, 2021.
11. SEGMENTS
We operate our businesses principally through
two reportable segments: Aethlon, which represents our therapeutic business activities, and ESI, which represents our diagnostic business
activities. Our reportable segments have been determined based on the nature of the potential products being developed. We record discrete
financial information for ESI and our chief operating decision maker reviews ESI’s operating results in order to make decisions
about resources to be allocated to the ESI segment and to assess its performance.
Aethlon’s revenue is generated primarily
from government contracts to date and ESI does not yet have any revenues. We have not included any allocation of corporate overhead to
the ESI segment.
15
The following tables set forth certain information regarding our segments:
Schedule of segment activity
Three Months Ended June 30,
2021
2020
Revenues:
Aethlon
$ 131,966
$ –
ESI
–
–
Total Revenues
$ 131,966
$ –
Operating Losses:
Aethlon
$ ( 2,092,638 )
$ ( 1,406,103 )
ESI
( 5,675 )
( 4,315 )
Total Operating Loss
$ ( 2,098,313 )
$ ( 1,410,418 )
Net Losses:
Aethlon
$ ( 2,092,763 )
$ ( 1,406,831 )
ESI
( 5,675 )
( 4,315 )
Net Loss Before Non-Controlling Interests
$ ( 2,098,438 )
$ ( 1,411,146 )
Cash:
Aethlon
$ 25,171,482
$ 15,721,419
ESI
197
197
Total Cash
$ 25,171,679
$ 15,721,616
Total Assets:
Aethlon
$ 25,866,814
$ 16,427,057
ESI
197
197
Total Assets
$ 25,867,011
$ 16,427,254
Capital Expenditures:
Aethlon
$ 38,374
$ 17,809
ESI
–
–
Capital Expenditures
$ 38,374
$ 17,809
Depreciation and Amortization:
Aethlon
$ 11,666
$ 8,770
ESI
–
–
Total Depreciation and Amortization
$ 11,666
$ 8,770
Interest Expense:
Aethlon
$ ( 125 )
$ ( 728 )
ESI
–
–
Total Interest Expense
$ ( 125 )
$ ( 728 )
16
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS
There have been no material changes to our contractual
obligations and commitments outside the ordinary course of business from those disclosed under the heading “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Contractual Obligations and Commitments” as contained in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021, filed by us with the SEC on June 24, 2021.
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
On October 30, 2020, we entered into a Separation
Agreement with Timothy Rodell, M.D., our former Chief Executive Officer, or the Separation Agreement. Under the Separation Agreement,
we agreed to pay Dr. Rodell a total of $ 444,729 and to cover his medical insurance costs over a twelve-month period that began on November
1, 2020, all in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement with the Company.
The total expense accrued at June 30, 2021 relating
to the Separation Agreement, was $ 167,743 (see Note 7).
LEASE COMMITMENTS
We currently lease approximately 2,600 square
feet of executive office space at 9635 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 100, San Diego , California 92123 under a 39-month gross plus
utilities lease that commenced on December 1, 2014 and expires on August 31, 2021. We recently extended that lease by one month to September
30, 2021. The current rental rate under the lease extension is $8,265 per month.
We also rent approximately 1,700 square feet of
laboratory space at 11585 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 109, San Diego, California 92121 at the rate of $6,148 per month on a one-year lease
that originally was to expire on November 30, 2020. In December 2020, we entered into a short-term lease extension running from December
1, 2020 through the completion date of our construction of our planned new laboratory space which is adjacent to our current laboratory.
Rent expense, which is included in general and
administrative expenses, approximated $ 48,000 and $ 44,000 for the three month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments under the Granite Ridge Lease as of
June 30, 2021, are as follows:
Lease commitments
July 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021
$ 16,835
Less: discount
- n/a
Total lease liability
$ 16,835
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, we
adopted ASU Topic 842 on April 1, 2019 utilizing the alternative transition method allowed for under this guidance. As a result, we recorded
lease liabilities and right-of-use lease assets of $ 228,694 on our balance sheet as of April 1, 2019. The lease liabilities represent
the present value of the remaining lease payments of our corporate headquarters lease, discounted using our incremental borrowing rate
as of April 1, 2019. The corresponding right-of-use lease assets are recorded based on the lease liabilities and the cumulative difference
between rent expense and amounts paid under its corporate headquarters lease. We also elected the short-term lease recognition exemption
for our laboratory lease. For the laboratory lease that qualified as short-term, we did not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities
at adoption.
17
In December 2020, we entered into an agreement
to lease approximately 2,823 square feet of office space and 1,807 square feet of laboratory space. The agreement carries a term of 63
months and we will commence paying rent when we take occupancy of those spaces, which is expected to occur in the second half of 2021.
Upon taking occupancy of the space, we will record lease liabilities and right-of-use lease assets related to this agreement on our balance
sheet. We estimate that the present value of the contractual payments under the lease agreement to be approximately $ 806,000 .
In addition, the new lease agreement required
us to post a standby letter of credit in favor of the landlord in the amount of $ 46,726 in lieu of a security deposit. We arranged for
our bank to issue the standby letter of credit in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and transferred a like amount to a restricted certificate
of deposit which secured the bank’s risk in issuing that letter of credit. We have classified that restricted certificate of deposit
on our balance sheet as restricted cash.
LEGAL MATTERS
From time to time, claims are made against us
in the ordinary course of business, which could result in litigation. Claims and associated litigation are subject to inherent uncertainties
and unfavorable outcomes could occur, such as monetary damages, fines, penalties or injunctions prohibiting us from selling one or more
products or engaging in other activities.
The occurrence of an unfavorable outcome in any
specific period could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for that period or future periods. We are not presently
a party to any pending or threatened legal proceedings.
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has evaluated events subsequent to
June 30, 2021 through the date that the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements were filed with the SEC for transactions
and other events which may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.
18
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of
operations should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the condensed consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto included in Item 1 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This item contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements, other than statements of historical
fact, included in this Form 10-Q are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
or the Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which
may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without
limitation, completion of our capital-raising activities, our ability to maintain our Nasdaq listing, U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
or FDA, approval of our products, other regulations, patent protection of our proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty
of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors detailed herein and in other of our filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, or the Commission. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Form 10-Q, and we assume no
obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those projected in such
forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a medical technology company focused on
developing products to diagnose and treat life and organ threatening diseases. The Aethlon Hemopurifier®, or Hemopurifier, is a clinical-stage
immunotherapeutic device designed to combat cancer and life-threatening viral infections. In cancer, the Hemopurifier is designed to deplete
the presence of circulating tumor-derived exosomes that promote immune suppression, seed the spread of metastasis and inhibit the benefit
of leading cancer therapies. The FDA has designated the Hemopurifier as a “Breakthrough Device” for two independent indications:
· the treatment of individuals with advanced or metastatic cancer who are either unresponsive to or intolerant of standard of care therapy,
and with cancer types in which exosomes have been shown to participate in the development or severity of the disease; and
· the treatment of life-threatening viruses that are not addressed with approved therapies.
We believe the Hemopurifier can be a substantial
advance in the treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic cancer through the clearance of exosomes that promote the growth and
spread of tumors through multiple mechanisms. We are currently preparing for the initiation of clinical trials in patients with advanced
and metastatic cancers. We are initially focused on the treatment of solid tumors, including head and neck cancer, gastrointestinal cancers
and other cancers. As we advance our clinical trials, we are in close contact with our clinical sites to navigate and assess the impact
of the global COVID-19 pandemic on our clinical trials and current timelines.
On October 4, 2019, the FDA approved our Investigational
Device Exemption, or IDE, application to initiate an Early Feasibility Study, or EFS, of the Hemopurifier in patients with head and neck
cancer in combination with standard of care pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The primary endpoint for the EFS, which will enroll 10-12 subjects
at a single center, will be safety, with secondary endpoints including measures of exosome clearance and characterization, as well as
response and survival rates. This study, which will be conducted at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, PA, has been approved
by the Institutional Review Board, or IRB, and is in the process of starting up.
We also believe the Hemopurifier can be part of
the broad-spectrum treatment of life-threatening highly glycosylated, or carbohydrate coated, viruses that are not addressed with an already
approved treatment. In small-scale or early feasibility human studies, the Hemopurifier has been used to treat individuals infected with
HIV, hepatitis-C, and Ebola.
19
Additionally, in-vitro , the Hemopurifier
has been demonstrated to capture Zika virus, Lassa virus, MERS-CoV, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes simplex virus, Chikungunya
virus, Dengue virus, West Nile virus, smallpox-related viruses, H1N1 swine flu virus, H5N1 bird flu virus, and the reconstructed Spanish
flu virus of 1918. In several cases, these validations were conducted in collaboration with leading government or non-government research
institutes.
On June 17, 2020, the FDA approved a supplement
to the Company’s open IDE for the Company’s Hemopurifier in viral disease to allow for the testing of the Hemopurifier in
patients with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in a New Feasibility Study. This study is designed to enroll up
to 40 subjects at up to 20 centers in the U.S. Subjects will have established laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, be admitted to an
intensive care unit, or ICU and will have acute lung injury and/or severe or life threatening disease among other criteria. Endpoints
for this study, in addition to safety, will include reduction in circulating virus as well as clinical outcomes. The Company is currently
recruiting sites to conduct this trial.
We are also the majority owner of ESI, a company
focused on the discovery of exosomal biomarkers to diagnose and monitor life-threatening diseases. Included among ESI’s activities
is the advancement of a TauSome™ biomarker candidate to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, in the living. ESI previously
documented TauSome levels in former NFL players to be nine times higher than same age-group control subjects. Through ESI, we are also
developing exosome based biomarkers in patients with, or at risk for, a number of cancers. We consolidate ESI’s activities in our
consolidated financial statements.
Successful outcomes of human trials will also
be required by the regulatory agencies of certain foreign countries where we plan to sell the Hemopurifier. Some of our patents may expire
before FDA approval or approval in a foreign country, if any, is obtained. However, we believe that certain patent applications and/or
other patents issued more recently will help protect the proprietary nature of the Hemopurifier treatment technology.
We were formed on March 10, 1999. Our executive
offices are located at 9635 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92123. Our telephone number is (858) 459-7800. Our website
address is www.aethlonmedical.com.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol
“AEMD.”
COVID-19 Update
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared
COVID-19 a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted global supply chains and created significant
volatility and disruption of financial markets.
We are monitoring closely the impact of the COVID-19
global pandemic on our business and have taken steps designed to protect the health and safety of our employees while continuing our operations,
including clinical trials. Given the level of uncertainty regarding the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on capital markets
and the U.S. economy, we are unable to assess the impact of the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the resulting COVID-19 pandemic on
our future access to capital. Further, while we have not experienced significant disruptions to our manufacturing supply chain, business,
results of operations, financial condition, clinical trials, or preclinical research to date, we are unable to assess the potential impact
this pandemic could have on our manufacturing supply chain, business, results of operations, financial condition, clinical trials, or
preclinical research in the future.
As we continue to actively advance our clinical
trials, we remain in close contact with our clinical sites and are assessing the impact of COVID-19 on our trials, expected timelines
and costs on an ongoing basis. We will assess any potential delays in our ability to timely ship clinical trial materials, including internationally,
due to transportation interruptions. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our operational and financial performance will depend on
certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, impact on our clinical trials, employees and vendors, all of
which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. Given these uncertainties, we cannot reasonably estimate the related impact to our business,
operating results and financial condition, if any.
20
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements
of the Exchange Act, and must file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission maintains a web
site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, like us,
which file electronically with the Commission. Our headquarters are located at 9635 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123.
Our phone number at that address is (858) 459-7800. Our website is http://www.aethlonmedical.com.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 2020
Government Contract Revenues
We entered into the following contract with the NCI, part of the NIH,
over the past two years:
Phase 2 Melanoma Cancer Contract
On September 12, 2019, the NCI awarded to us an
SBIR Phase II Award Contract, for NIH/NCI Topic 359, entitled “A Device Prototype for Isolation of Melanoma Exosomes for Diagnostics
and Treatment Monitoring”, or the Award Contract. The Award Contract amount is $1,860,561 and runs for the period from September
16, 2019 through September 15, 2021.
The work to be performed pursuant to this Award
Contract will focus on melanoma exosomes. This work follows from our completion of a Phase I contract for the Topic 359 solicitation that
ran from September 2017 through June 2018, as described below. Following on the Phase I work, the deliverables in the Phase II program
involve the design and testing of a pre-commercial prototype of a more advanced version of the exosome isolation platform.
We recorded $114,849 of government contract revenue
on the Phase 2 Melanoma Cancer Contract in the three months ended June 30, 2021. That revenue related to work performed in
the three months ended March 31, 2021 that had previously been recorded as deferred revenue as a result of falling short on certain milestones.
We then achieved those March period milestones in the June quarter and therefore recorded the previously deferred revenue as government
contract revenue. We recorded the invoice related to the June period as deferred revenue since we fell short of certain milestones related
to that period.
We did not record any government contract revenue
during the three month period ended June 30, 2020 as we did not achieve certain milestones for that period.
Subaward with University of Pittsburgh
In 2020, we entered into a cost reimbursable subaward
arrangement with the University of Pittsburgh in connection with an NIH contract entitled “Depleting Exosomes to Improve Responses
to Immune Therapy in HNNCC.” Our share of the award is $256,750. We recorded $17,117 of revenue related to this subaward in the
three months ended June 30, 2021.
Operating Expenses
Consolidated operating expenses for the three
months ended June 30, 2021 were $2,230,279, compared to $1,410,418 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. This increase of $819,861,
or 58.1%, in the 2021 period was due to increases in payroll and related expenses of $579,831, in general and administrative expenses
of $220,845, and in professional fees of $19,185.
The $579,831 increase in payroll and related expenses
was primarily due to the combination of a $233,858 increase in our R&D payroll as the result of hiring additional scientists, a $210,216
bonus payment to our CEO as the result of achieving certain milestones in his employment contract, a $63,884 increase in general and administrative
payroll expense as the result of additional headcount and a $35,947 increase in our stock-based compensation.
21
The $220,845 increase in general and administrative
expenses was primarily due to a $132,542 increase in our subcontractor expenses related to our government contracts and a $73,800 increase
in our insurance expenses.
The $19,185 increase in our professional fees
was primarily due to a $50,306 increase in our legal fees which was partially offset by a $21,962 decrease in our scientific consulting
expenses and a $5,984 decrease in our accounting expenses.
Other Expense
Other expense during the three months ended June
30, 2021 and 2020 consisted of interest expense only as follows:
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $125 and $728 for the three
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Three Months
Ended
Three Months
Ended
6/30/21
6/30/20
Change
Interest Expense
$ 125
$ 728
$ (603 )
Total Interest Expense
$ 125
$ 728
$ (603 )
Net Loss
As a result of the changes in revenues and expenses
noted above, our net loss increased to approximately $2,097,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2021, from approximately $1,410,000
in the three months period ended June 30, 2020.
Basic and diluted loss attributable to common
stockholders were ($0.16) for the three months period ended June 30, 2021, compared to ($0.15) for the three months period ended June
30, 2020.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of June 30, 2021, we had a cash balance of
$25,171,679 and working capital of $24,416,467. This compares to a cash balance of $9,861,575 and working capital of $8,976,512 at March
31, 2021. We expect our existing cash as of June 30, 2021 to be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations for at least twelve
months from the issuance date of these financial statements.
The primary sources of our increase in cash during
the three months ended June 30, 2021 resulted from our Common Stock Sales Agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright
and our registered direct financing through Maxim Group LLC. The cash raised from those activities is noted below:
22
Common Stock Sales Agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
On March 22, 2021, we entered into an At the Market
Offering Agreement, or the Offering Agreement, with Wainwright as sales agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares of our common
stock, from time to time as set forth in the Offering Agreement.
The offering
has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Act , pursuant
to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-237269), as previously filed with the SEC
and declared effective on March 30, 2020. We filed a prospectus supplement, dated March 22, 2021, with the SEC in connection with the
offer and sale of the shares of common stock, pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares
of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $5,080,000 from time to time.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the Offering Agreement, Wainwright agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices
to sell the shares under the Offering Agreement from time to time, based upon our instructions. We provided Wainwright with customary
indemnification rights under the Offering Agreement, and Wainwright is entitled to a commission at a fixed rate equal to three percent
of the gross proceeds per share sold. In addition, we agreed to reimburse Wainwright for certain specified expenses in connection with
entering into the Offering Agreement. The Offering Agreement will terminate upon the written termination by either party as permitted
thereunder.
Sales of the shares, if any, under the Offering
Agreement will be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities
Act, including sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, including on the Nasdaq Capital Market, at market prices or
as otherwise agreed with Wainwright. We have no obligation to sell any of the shares, and, at any time, we may suspend offers under the
Offering Agreement or terminate the agreement.
In the three months ended June 30, 2021, we raised
aggregate net proceeds under the Offering Agreement described above of $4,947,785, net of $126,922 in commissions to Wainwright and $2,154
in other offering expense through the sale of 626,000 shares of our common stock at an average price of $7.90 per share of net proceeds.
No further sales may be made under the agreement.
Registered Direct Financing
In the three months ended June 30, 2021, we sold
an aggregate of 1,380,555 shares of our common stock at a purchase price per share of $9.00, for aggregate net proceeds to us of $11,659,044
after deducting fees payable to Maxim Group LLC, the placement agent and other offering expenses. These shares were sold through a securities
purchase agreement with certain institutional investors, The shares were issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement
on Form S-3, which was originally filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020, and was declared effective on March 30, 2020 (File No. 333-237269)
and a prospectus supplement thereunder.
Future capital requirements will depend upon many
factors, including progress with pre-clinical testing and clinical trials, the number and breadth of our clinical programs, the time and
costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims and other proprietary rights, the time and costs
involved in obtaining regulatory approvals, competing technological and market developments, as well as our ability to establish collaborative
arrangements, effective commercialization, marketing activities and other arrangements. We expect to continue to incur increasing negative
cash flows and net losses for the foreseeable future.
Cash Flows
Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected
in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, are summarized as follows:
(In thousands)
For the three months ended
June 30,
2021
June 30,
2020
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$ (2,072 )
$ (1,102 )
Investing activities
(38 )
(18 )
Financing activities
17,420
7,237
Net increase (decrease) in cash
$ 15,310
$ 6,117
23
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES. We used
cash in our operating activities due to our losses from operations. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $2,072,000
in the three month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to approximately $1,102,000 in the three month period ended June 30, 2020.
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES. We used
approximately $38,000 of cash to purchase laboratory and office equipment in the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to approximately
$18,000 in the three month period ended June 30, 2020.
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES. During
the three months ended June 30, 2021, we raised approximately $17,456,000 from the issuance of common stock. That source of cash from
our financing activities was partially offset by the use of approximately $36,000 to pay for the tax withholding on restricted stock units,
for an aggregate increase of cash provided by financing activities of approximately $17,420,000.
During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we
raised approximately $7,261,000 from the issuance of common stock. That source of cash from our financing activities was partially offset
by the use of approximately $24,000 to pay for the tax withholding on restricted stock units, for an aggregate increase of cash provided
by financing activities of approximately $7,237,000.
As of the date of this filing, we plan to invest
significantly into purchases of our raw materials and in our internal manufacturing facility for our clinical trials.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, requires us to make a number of
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting
period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate estimates and assumptions based upon historical experience and various other factors and circumstances.
We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances; however, actual results may differ from these estimates
under different future conditions.
We believe that the estimates and assumptions
that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, in that they require the most difficult,
subjective or complex judgments, form the basis for the accounting policies deemed to be most critical to us. These critical accounting
estimates relate to revenue recognition, stock purchase warrants issued with notes payable, beneficial conversion feature of convertible
notes payable, impairment of intangible assets and long lived assets, stock compensation, deferred tax asset valuation allowance, and
contingencies.
There have been no changes to our critical accounting policies as disclosed
in our Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of June 30, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
As a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act and in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are electing scaled disclosure reporting obligations and therefore are not required to
provide the information requested by this item.
24
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design
and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end
of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.
Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective
in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that
we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are effective in ensuring that information required to be
disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated
to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting
during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting.
25
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
From time to time, claims are made against us
in the ordinary course of business, which could result in litigation. Claims and associated litigation are subject to inherent uncertainties
and unfavorable outcomes could occur, such as monetary damages, fines, penalties or injunctions prohibiting us from selling one or more
products or engaging in other activities.
The occurrence of an unfavorable outcome in any
specific period could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for that period or future periods. We are not presently
a party to any pending or threatened legal proceedings.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
RISK FACTOR SUMMARY
Below is a summary of the principal factors that
make an investment in our securities speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Additional discussion
of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below under the heading “Risk Factors”
and should be carefully considered, together with other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the
SEC before making investment decisions regarding our securities.
· We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception and have not generated any revenue.
We expect to incur continued losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.
· We will require substantial additional funding to sustain our operations. If we are unable to raise capital
on favorable terms when needed, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research or device development programs or any future
commercialization efforts.
· To achieve the levels of production necessary to commercialize our Hemopurifier and any other future products,
we will need to secure large-scale manufacturing agreements with contract manufacturers which comply with good manufacturing practice
standards and other standards prescribed by various federal, state and local regulatory agencies in the U.S. and any other country of
use. We have limited experience coordinating and overseeing the manufacture of medical device products on a large-scale.
· Our Hemopurifier product may be made unmarketable prior to commercialization by us by new scientific or
technological developments by others with new treatment modalities that are more efficacious and/or more economical than our products.
Any one of our competitors could develop a more effective product which would render our technology obsolete.
· Our Hemopurifier product is subject to extensive government regulations related to development, testing,
manufacturing and commercialization in the U.S. and other countries. If we fail to comply with these extensive regulations of the U.S.
and foreign agencies, the commercialization of our products could be delayed or prevented entirely.
· As a public company with limited financial resources undertaking the launch of new medical technologies,
we may have difficulty attracting and retaining executive management and directors.
· We will need to significantly expand our operations to implement our longer-term business plan and growth
strategies. We will also be required to manage multiple relationships with various strategic partners, technology licensors, customers,
manufacturers and suppliers, consultants and other third parties. The time and costs to effectuate these steps may place a significant
strain on our management personnel, systems and resources, particularly given the limited amount of financial resources and skilled employees
that may be available at the time.
· Our business prospects will depend on our ability to complete studies, clinical trials, obtain satisfactory
results, obtain required regulatory approvals and successfully commercialize our Hemopurifier product candidate. Delays in successfully
completing the clinical trials could jeopardize our ability to obtain regulatory approval.
· If we are unable to adequately address these and other risks we face, our business, financial condition,
operating results and prospects may be adversely affected.
· Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics, including the
COVID-19 pandemic.
26
As a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act and in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are electing scaled disclosure reporting obligations and therefore
are not required to provide the information requested by this item. For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, please
see the information listed in the item captioned “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2021.
*Should any of our potential products, including
the Hemopurifier, be approved for commercialization, adverse changes in reimbursement policies and procedures by payors may impact our
ability to market and sell our products.
Healthcare costs have risen significantly over
the past decade, and there have been and continue to be proposals by legislators, regulators and third-party payors to decrease costs.
Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products and services and instituting cost containment
measures to control or significantly influence the purchase of medical products and services.
For example, in the U.S., the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively, PPACA, among other things,
reduced and/or limited Medicare reimbursement to certain providers. However, on December 14, 2018, a Texas U.S. District Court Judge ruled
that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional in its entirety because the “individual mandate” was repealed by Congress
as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Additionally, on June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a challenge on procedural
grounds that argued the ACA is unconstitutional in its entirety because the “individual mandate” was repealed by Congress.
Thus, the ACA will remain in effect in its current form. Further, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, on January 28, 2021, President
Biden issued an executive order that initiated a special enrollment period for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage through
the ACA marketplace, which began on February 15, 2021 and will remain open through August 15, 2021. The executive order also instructed
certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their existing policies and rules that limit access to healthcare, including among
others, reexamining Medicaid demonstration projects and waiver programs that include work requirements, and policies that create unnecessary
barriers to obtaining access to health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the ACA. It is possible that the ACA will be subject to
judicial or Congressional challenges in the future. It is unclear how any such challenges and litigation, and the healthcare reform measures
of the Biden administration will impact the ACA and our business. The Budget Control Act of 2011, as amended by subsequent legislation,
further reduces Medicare’s payments to providers by two percent through fiscal year 2030. However, COVID-19 relief legislation suspended
the two percent Medicare sequester from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021. These reductions may reduce providers’ revenues or
profits, which could affect their ability to purchase new technologies. Furthermore, the healthcare industry in the U.S. has experienced
a trend toward cost containment as government and private insurers seek to control healthcare costs by imposing lower payment rates and
negotiating reduced contract rates with service providers. Legislation could be adopted in the future that limits payments for our products
from governmental payors. It is possible that additional governmental action is taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, commercial
payors such as insurance companies, could adopt similar policies that limit reimbursement for medical device manufacturers’ products.
Therefore, it is possible that our product or the procedures or patient care performed using our product will not be reimbursed at a cost-effective
level. We face similar risks relating to adverse changes in reimbursement procedures and policies in other countries where we may market
our products. Reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly among international markets. Our inability to obtain international
reimbursement approval, or any adverse changes in the reimbursement policies of foreign payors, could negatively affect our ability to
sell our products and have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
We did not issue or sell any unregistered securities during the three
months ended June 30, 2021.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
We have no disclosure applicable to this item.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
We have no disclosure applicable to this item.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
We have no disclosure applicable to this item.
27
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
(a) Exhibits. The following documents are filed as part of this
report:
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
SEC File No.
Exhibit
Number
Date
Filed
Herewith
3.1
Articles of Incorporation.
S-3
333-211151
3.1
May 5, 2016
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
8-K
001-37487
3.1
September 12, 2019
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate.
S-1
333-201334
4.1
December 31, 2014
4.2
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated August 29, 2012.
8-K
000-21846
4.1
September 6, 2012
4.3
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated October, November and December 2012.
10-Q
000-21846
4.1
February 12, 2013
4.4
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated June 14, 2013.
10-Q
000-21846
4.1
August 13, 2013
4.5
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated June 24, 2014.
8-K
000-21846
4.1
June 30, 2014
4.6
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated July 24, 2014.
8-K
000-21846
4.1
July 28, 2014
4.7
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated August and September 2014.
10-Q
000-21846
4.3
November 10, 2014
4.8
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated June 25, 2015.
8-K
000-21846
4.1
June 24, 2015
4.9
Form of Purchase Agent Warrant dated June 25, 2015.
8-K
000-21846
4.1
June 26, 2015
4.10
Form of Warrant Agreement dated March 27, 2017.
8-K
001-37487
4.1
March 22, 2017
4.11
Form of Warrant dated _______, 2017.
S-1/A
333-219589
4.29
September 18, 2017
4.12
Form of Placement Agent Warrant dated _______, 2017.
S-1/A
333-219589
4.30
September 22, 2017
4.13
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock.
S-1/A
333-234712
4.14
December 11, 2019
4.14
Form of Underwriter Warrant.
S-1/A
333-234712
4.15
December 11, 2019
4.15
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant.
8-K
001-37487
4.1
January 17, 2020
28
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
SEC File No.
Exhibit
Number
Date
Filed
Herewith
31.1
Certification of our Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Securities Exchange Act rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
X
31.2
Certification of our Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Securities Exchange Act rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
X
32.1
Statement of our Chief Executive Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).
X
32.2
Statement of our Chief Financial Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).
X
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the
Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
X
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
X
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
X
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
X
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
X
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
X
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in IXBRL, and included
in exhibit 101).
X
29
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.
AETHLON MEDICAL, INC.
Date: August 9, 2021
By:
/s/ JAMES B. FRAKES
JAMES B. FRAKES
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
30
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.