Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management’s
discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) provides supplemental information, which sets forth the major factors that have affected
our financial condition and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
and related notes. The following information should provide a better understanding of the major factors and trends that affect our earnings
performance and financial condition, and how our performance during the first quarter of 2024 compares with prior-year periods. Throughout
this section, Biofrontera Inc., including its wholly owned subsidiary, Bio-FRI GmbH (“Bio-FRI” or “subsidiary”),
is referred to as “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our.”
Forward-Looking
Statements
The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain
statements in this Form 10-Q constitute “forward-looking statements”. Such statements include estimates of our expenses,
future revenue, capital requirements, our need for additional financing, statements regarding the efficacy and intended use of our
technologies under development, the timelines and strategy for bringing licensed products to market, the timeline for regulatory
review and approval of our licensed products, and other statements that are not historical facts. The words “intends,”
“may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,”
“projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,”
“hopes,” “potential ”, “target”, “goal”, “assume”,
“would”, “could” or similar words
are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
You should read this Form 10-Q and the documents that we have filed as exhibits completely and with the understanding that our
actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our
current expectations and projections about future events, we may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations
disclosed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us and accordingly, actual
results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in or implied by the forward-looking
statements we make.
Factors
that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to:
●
our
reliance on sales of products we license from other companies as our sole source of revenue;
●
the
success of our competitors in developing generic topical dermatological products that successfully compete with our licensed products;
●
the
success of our principal licensed product Ameluz ® ;
●
the
ability of Biofrontera Pharma GmbH (“Biofrontera Pharma”), Biofrontera Bioscience
GmbH (“Biofrontera Bioscience”) and Ferrer Internacional S.A. (“Ferrer”) , referred to collectively as
our (“Licensors”) to establish and maintain relationships with contract manufacturers that are able to supply us with
enough of the licensed products to meet our demand;
●
the
ability of our Licensors or our Licensors’ manufacturing partners, as applicable, to supply Ameluz®, BF-RhodoLED® lamps,
Xepi® or other licensed products that we market in sufficient quantities and at acceptable quality and cost levels, and to fully
comply with current good manufacturing practice or other applicable manufacturing regulations;
●
the
ability of our Licensors to successfully defend or enforce patents related to our licensed products;
22
●
the
availability of insurance coverage and medical expense reimbursement for our licensed products;
●
the
impact of legislative and regulatory changes;
●
competition
from other pharmaceutical and medical device companies and existing treatments, such as simple curettage and cryotherapy;
●
our
success in achieving profitability;
●
our
ability to obtain additional financing as needed to implement our growth strategy;
●
the
effect of the COVID-19 global pandemic, including mitigation efforts and economic effects;
●
our
ability to retain and recruit key personnel;
●
such
other risks identified in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
(as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) on March 15, 2024, the “Form 10-K”) , Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any other filings with the SEC.
More
detailed information about us and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements, including the forward-looking
statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is set forth in our filings with the SEC, including our Form 10-K. We urge investors and security holders to read those documents free of charge at the SEC’s
web site at www.sec.gov. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Note
About Reverse Stock Split
All
information included in this section has been adjusted, on a retrospective basis, to reflect our 1-for-20
Reverse Stock Split as if it had been effective from the beginning of the earliest period discussed, unless otherwise stated.
Overview
We
are a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company commercializing a portfolio of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of dermatological
conditions with a focus on photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) and topical antibiotics. The Company’s licensed products are
used for the treatment of actinic keratoses (“AKs”), which are pre-cancerous skin lesions, as well as impetigo, a bacterial
skin infection. Our subsidiary, Bio-FRI was formed on February 9, 2022, as a German presence to facilitate our relationship with
Biofrontera Pharma and Biofrontera Bioscience (together, the “Ameluz Licensor”), both of which are related parties as they
are wholly owned subsidiaries of Biofrontera AG.
Our
principal licensed product is Ameluz ® , which is a prescription drug approved for use in combination with the BF-RhodoLED ®
lamp series, for PDT (when used together, “Ameluz ® PDT”). In the United States, the PDT treatment
is used for the lesion-directed and field-directed treatment of AKs of mild-to-moderate severity on
the face and scalp. AKs are premalignant lesions of the skin that can potentially develop into skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)
if left untreated. International treatment guidelines list PDT as the “gold standard” for treating AK, especially multiple
AKs and the surrounding photodamaged skin. 1 We are currently selling Ameluz ® for this indication in the U.S.
under an exclusive license and supply agreement, (the “Ameluz LSA”) with the Ameluz Licensor.
In
May 2023, we began research and development (“R&D”) activities to support PDT growth and will continue to opportunistically
invest in these activities going forward. Our R&D program currently aims to improve the capabilities of our BF-RhodoLED® lamps
to better fulfill the needs of dermatologists. Our goal is to improve the effectiveness of our commercial team by allowing sales representatives
to carry approved devices with them allowing for easier product demonstrations and evaluations.
On
February 19, 2024, we entered into the Second A&R Ameluz LSA with the Ameluz Licensor under which, with immediate effect, the
Transfer Price of Ameluz ® was reduced from 50% to 25% for all purchases through 2025. Starting on January 1,
2026, until 2032 there will be stepwise increases in the Transfer Price from 25% to 35% for sales related to AK and,
if approved by the FDA, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The Transfer Price for sales related to acne, another
indication currently in development, will remain at 25% indefinitely. The Transfer Price covers the cost of goods, royalties on
sales, and services including all regulatory efforts, agency fees, pharmacovigilance, and patent administration.
In
addition, effective June 1, 2024, under the Second A&R Ameluz LSA, we will take control of all clinical trials relating to Ameluz ®
in the US, allowing for more effective cost management and direct oversight of trial efficiency. The reduced LSA Transfer Price
will allow the Company to finance such R&D activities and continue our commercial growth trajectory.
Our
second prescription drug licensed product in our portfolio is Xepi ® (ozenoxacin cream, 1%), a topical non-fluorinated
quinolone that inhibits bacterial growth. Currently, no antibiotic resistance against Xepi ® is known and it has been specifically
approved by the FDA for the treatment of impetigo, a common skin infection, due to Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. It
is approved for use in the United States in adults and children 2 months and older. Our exclusive license and supply agreement, as amended
(“Xepi LSA”), with Ferrer that we assumed on March 25, 2019 through
our acquisition of Cutanea Life Sciences, Inc. (“Cutanea”) enables us to market and sell this product in the United States.
23
Our
principal objective is to increase the sales of our licensed products in the United States. The key elements of our strategy include
the following:
●
expanding
our sales in the United States of Ameluz ® in combination with the BF-RhodoLED ® lamp for the treatment
of minimally to moderately thick AKs of the face and scalp and positioning Ameluz ® to be the standard
of care in the United States by growing our dedicated sales and marketing infrastructure in the United States;
●
leveraging
the potential for future approvals and label extensions of our portfolio products that are in the pipeline for the U.S. market through
the license and supply agreements with our Licensors; and
●
opportunistically
adding complementary products or services to our portfolio by acquiring or licensing IP to further leverage our commercial infrastructure
and customer relationships.
We
devote a substantial portion of our cash resources to the commercialization of our licensed products, Ameluz ® and the
BF-RhodoLED ® lamp series. We have financed our operating and capital expenditures through cash proceeds generated from
our product sales, our line of credit, short term debt and proceeds received in equity financings.
We
believe that important measures of our results of operations include product revenue, operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA (a
non-U.S GAAP measure as defined below). Our sole source of product revenue is sales of products that we license from certain related
and unrelated companies. Our long-term financial objectives include consistent revenue growth and expanding operating margins.
Accordingly, we are focused on licensed product sales expansion to drive revenue growth and improve operating efficiencies,
including effective resource utilization, information technology leverage, and overhead cost management.
Key
factors affecting our performance
As
a result of a number of factors, our historical results of operations may not be comparable to our results of operations in future periods,
and our results of operations may not be directly comparable from period to period. Set forth below is a brief discussion of the key
factors impacting our results of operations.
1 Werner
RN, Stockfleth E, Connolly SM, et al. Evidence- and consensus-based (S3) Guidelines for the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis - International
League of Dermatological Societies in cooperation with the European Dermatology Forum - Short version. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.
2015;29(11):2069-2079. doi:10.1111/jdv.13180.
24
Seasonality
Because
traditional photodynamic therapy treatments using a lamp are performed more frequently during the winter, our revenue is subject to some
seasonality and has historically been higher during the first and fourth quarters than during the second and third quarters.
Supply
Chain
While
our Licensors take reasonable precautions to ensure the successful production of our commercially licensed products, their contract manufacturers
may experience a myriad of business difficulties (i.e., workforce instability, supply chain issues, erosion of customer base, etc.) that
could impact their financial solvency. As previously disclosed since 2021, the Xepi product has experienced manufacturing delays at Ferrer’s
third-party manufacturer, which have not yet been resolved. We expect to receive commercial product in the fourth quarter of 2024. In
addition, we are expecting to launch the RhodoLED ® XL in the second quarter of 2024 and have begun production activities
for that product. However, we have historically experienced delays due to supply chain issues, and there is a possibility that there
are additional supply chain challenges, or our orders are fulfilled at a slower rate than expected. Despite these historic and possible
future delays, we expect total revenues will not be significantly impacted (i.e., we experience less growth than expected vs. declining
sales) since the majority of our revenues are from sales of Ameluz ® and we have BF-RhodoLED ® lamps on hand
and on order. We continue to monitor the impacts of the supply chain on our business and are focused on ensuring the stability of the
supply chains for Ameluz ® and BF-RhodoLED ® lamp series.
Components
of Our Results of Operations
Product
Revenue, net
We
generate product revenues through the third-party sales of our licensed products Ameluz ® , BF-RhodoLED ®
lamps and to a much lesser extent Xepi ® covered by our exclusive license and supply agreements with our Licensors . Revenues
from product sales are recorded net of discounts, rebates and other incentives, including trade discounts and allowances, product
returns, government rebates, and other incentives such as patient co-pay assistance. Revenue from the sales of our
BF-RhodoLED ® lamp and Xepi ® are relatively insignificant compared with revenues generated through our
sales of Ameluz ® .
The
primary factors that determine our revenue derived from our licensed products are:
●
the
level of orders generated by our sales force;
●
the
level of prescriptions and institutional demand for our licensed products; and
●
unit
sales prices.
Related
Party Revenues
We
also generate insignificant related party revenue in connection with an agreement with Biofrontera Bioscience to provide BF-RhodoLED ®
lamps and associated services for the clinical trials performed by Biofrontera Bioscience.
Cost
of Revenues, Related Party
Cost
of revenues, related party, is comprised of purchase costs of our licensed products, Ameluz ® and BF-RhodoLED ®
lamps from Biofrontera Pharma and insignificant inventory adjustments due to scrapped, expiring and excess products.
The
price we paid for inventory purchased through February 12, 2024, was based on the Ameluz LSA as amended on October 8, 2021, under which
the price paid per unit was based upon our sales history. The purchase price we paid the Ameluz Licensor for Ameluz ® was
determined in the following manner:
●
fifty
percent of the anticipated net price per unit until we generate $30 million in revenue from sales of the products we license from
the Ameluz Licensor during a given Commercial Year (as defined in the Ameluz LSA);
●
forty
percent of the anticipated net price per unit for all revenues we generate between $30 million and $50 million from sales of the
products we license from the Ameluz Licensor; and
●
thirty
percent of the anticipated net price per unit for all revenues we generate above $50 million from sales of the products we license
from the Ameluz Licensor.
Effective
February 12, 2024, the Second A&R Ameluz LSA, among other things, was amended to change the Transfer Price to 25% through 2025
and then increasing over time pursuant to the schedule set forth in the Second A&R Ameluz LSA to a maximum of 35% starting in 2032,
subject to a minimum dollar amount per unit.
Cost
of Revenues, Other
Cost
of revenues, other, is comprised of purchase costs of our licensed product, Xepi ® , third-party logistics and distribution
costs including packaging, freight, transportation, shipping and handling costs, and inventory adjustment due to expiring Xepi ®
products.
25
Selling,
General and Administrative Expense
Selling,
general and administrative expenses consist principally of costs associated with our sales force, commercial support personnel, personnel
in executive and other administrative functions, and medical affairs professionals. Other selling, general and administrative
expenses include marketing, trade, and other commercial costs necessary to support the commercial operation of our licensed products
and professional fees for legal, consulting and accounting services. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include the amortization
of our intangible assets and our legal settlement expenses.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses, Related Party
Selling,
general and administrative expenses, related party, relate to the services provided by our significant stockholder, Biofrontera AG,
primarily for regulatory support and pharmacovigilance. These expenses are charged to us based on costs incurred plus 6% in
accordance with the Amended and Restated Master Contact Services Agreement entered into on December 2021 (the “2021 Services
Agreement”). The 2021 Services Agreement enables us to continue relying on Biofrontera AG and its subsidiaries for various
services it has historically provided to us, including regulatory and pharmacovigilance support for as long as we deem necessary. We
currently have statements of work in place regarding information technology, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance,
and investor relations services, and are continuously assessing the other services historically provided to us by Biofrontera AG to
determine (i) if they will be needed, and (ii) whether they can or should be obtained from other third-party providers. As of March 31,
2024, we have migrated most of our significant information technology and investor relation services from Biofrontera AG
to third-party providers.
Research
and Development
Our
current R&D programs aim to improve the capabilities of our BF-RhodoLED ® lamps to better fulfill the needs of dermatologists
and improve the effectiveness of our commercial team by letting sales representatives carry approved devices with them, allowing for easier
product demonstrations and evaluations.
Change
in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration
In
connection with the Cutanea acquisition, we recorded contingent consideration related to the estimated profits from the sale of Cutanea
products to be shared equally with Maruho. The fair value of such contingent consideration was determined to be $6.5 million on the acquisition
date of March 25, 2019 and was re-measured at each reporting date until the contingency was resolved as of December 31, 2023.
Change
in Fair Value of Warrant Liabilities
For
warrants that are classified as liabilities, the Company records the fair value of the warrants at each balance sheet date and records
changes in the estimated fair value as a non-cash gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations until the warrants are exercised,
expire or other facts and circumstances lead the warrant liabilities to be reclassified to stockholders’ equity or deficit.
Change
in Fair Value of Investment, Related Party
Our
investments are comprised of equity securities in shares of Biofrontera AG, which are initially recorded at cost, plus transaction costs,
and subsequently measured at fair value, based on quoted market prices, with the gains and losses reported in the Company’s consolidated
statement of operations. For the investments held in foreign currencies, the change in fair value attributable to changes in foreign
exchange rates is included in gains and losses in the consolidated statement of operations.
Interest
Expense, net
Interest
expense, net, primarily consists of interest on our debt instruments, as well as amortization of the contract asset related to the start-up
cost financing from Maruho under a share purchase a greement, offset
by immaterial amounts of interest income earned on our financing of customer purchases of BF-RhodoLED ® lamps.
26
Other
Income (Expense), net
Other
income (expense), net primarily includes (i) gain (loss) on return of leased assets and (ii) gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions.
Income
Taxes
As
a result of the net losses we have incurred in each fiscal year since inception, we have recorded no provision for federal income taxes
during such periods. Income tax expense incurred relates to state income taxes.
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
The
following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
( in
thousands)
2024
2023
Change
Product
revenues, net
$ 7,901
$ 8,715
$ (814 )
Related
party revenues
11
18
(7 )
Revenues,
net
$ 7,912
$ 8,733
$ (821 )
Operating
expenses:
Cost
of revenues, related party
3,946
4,547
(601 )
Cost
of revenues, other
170
51
119
Selling,
general and administrative
9,250
9,800
(550 )
Selling,
general and administrative, related party
(4 )
27
(31 )
Research
and development
17
-
17
Change
in fair value of contingent consideration
-
(200 )
200
Total
operating expenses
13,379
14,225
(846 )
Loss
from operations
(5,467 )
(5,492 )
(25 )
Change
in fair value of warrant liabilities
(3,429 )
1,028
(4,457 )
Change
in fair value of investment, related party
3
(2,941 )
2,944
Loss
on debt extinguishment
(316 )
-
(316 )
Interest
expense, net
(1,407 )
(35 )
(1,372 )
Other
income (expense), net
180
(33 )
213
Loss
before income taxes
(10,436 )
(7,473 )
(2,963 )
Income
tax expenses
1
5
(4 )
Net
loss
$ (10,437 )
$ (7,478 )
$ (2,959 )
Product
Revenue, net
Net
product revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 decreased by $0.8 million, or 9.3% as compared to the three months ended
March 31, 2023. This decrease was driven by a relatively lower volume of Ameluz revenue in the first quarter of 2024. This was
caused in part by the impact of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity attack that occurred in the first quarter of 2024, which caused
reimbursement delays for our customers which in turn delayed or reduced
orders in the short term.
27
Operating
Expenses
Cost
of Revenues, Related Party
Cost
of revenues, related party for the three months ended March 31, 2024 decreased by $0.6 million, or 13.2% as compared to the three months
ended March 31, 2023. This was driven by the decrease in Ameluz product revenue. Cost of revenues, related party, is directly correlated
to the selling price of Ameluz under the Ameluz LSA.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Selling,
general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 decreased by $0.6 million, or 5.6% as compared to the
three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by a $1.1 million decrease in non-recurring legal costs
due to the settlement with Biofrontera AG in April 2023, and a decrease of non-personnel sales and marketing expenses of $0.3 million. The decrease was offset by a $0.4 million increase in
accounting and general business consulting expenses, a $0.3 million increase in personnel costs, and another $0.3 million increase in issuance costs.
Change
in Fair Value of Warrant Liabilities
The
change in fair value of warrant liabilities was $(3.4) million for three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $1.0 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The change in fair value of warrant liabilities was driven primarily by an increase in
the underlying value of the Company’s Common Stock.
Change
in Fair Value of Investment, Related Party
In
accordance with the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release (the “Release”), dated December 27, 2023, by and between
Maruho and the Company, the Company transferred substantially all of its investment in Biofrontera AG to Maruho in exchange for the release of
certain obligations. As a result, during the first quarter of 2024, the net balance of our investment in Biofrontera AG was minimal
as was the related change in fair value.
Loss
on Debt Extinguishment
Effective
as of January 4, 2024, we voluntarily terminated the Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Midcap Business Credit
LLC. The Company recognized a $0.3 million loss on debt
extinguishment upon the early termination of the Loan Agreement related to prepayment fees and the write-off of deferred financing costs.
Interest
expense, net
The
increase of interest expense of $1.4 million is driven by the interest and debt discount recognized on the loans issued on December
21, 2023, with two different lenders, for an aggregate principal balance of $4.0 million. Each of the loans requires the Company to make weekly payments of principal and interest in the amount of approximately
$102,857 through July 5, 2024, the maturity date. Interest expense is recognized using the
effective interest method, such that a constant effective interest rate is applied to the carrying amount of the debt at the
beginning of each period until maturity.
Net
Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
We
define adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and
other non-operating items from our statements of operations as well as certain other items considered outside the normal course of
our operations specifically described below. Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our definition
of adjusted EBITDA may vary from the use of similarly-titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies
in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an
alternative to net income or loss, operating income/(loss), cash flows from operating activities or any other performance measures
derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP as measures of operating performance or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an
analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under
U.S. GAAP.
Loss
on debt extinguishment: Effective as of January 4, 2024, we voluntarily terminated the Loan Agreement . The Company recognized
a $0.3 million loss on debt extinguishment upon the early termination of the Loan Agreement. We exclude the impact of this loss as it
is attributed to the prepayment fee, which is considered non-recurring, and the write-off of deferred financing costs, which is considered
non-cash.
Change
in fair value of contingent consideration: Pursuant to a share purchase agreement with Maruho, the profits from the sale of Cutanea
products were to be shared equally between Maruho and Biofrontera until 2030. The fair value of the contingent consideration was determined
to be $6.5 million on the acquisition date and was re-measured at each reporting date. We exclude the historical impact of the change
in fair value of contingent consideration as this is non-cash. We were relieved of our obligations relating to the contingent consideration
under the Release. As such, our Q1 2024 results of operations were not impacted by the change in fair value.
Change
in fair value of warrant liabilities: The warrants issued in conjunction with our private placement offerings and registered public
offerings were accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception
and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within the consolidated statement of operations. We exclude the impact
of the change in fair value of warrant liabilities as this is non-cash.
Change
in fair value of investment, related party: The Company accounts for its investment, related party in accordance with ASC 321, Investments
— Equity Securities . Equity securities, which are comprised of investments in common stock, are initially
recorded at cost, plus transaction costs, and subsequently measured at fair value, based on quoted market prices, with the gains and
losses reported in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. For the investments held in foreign currencies, the change
in fair value attributable to changes in foreign exchange rates is included in gains and losses in the consolidated statement of operations.
We exclude the impact of the realized gain as this is non-recurring and the unrealized change in fair value of investments
is excluded as this is non-cash.
Legal
settlement expenses : To measure operating performance, we exclude legal settlement expenses. We do not expect to incur these types
of legal expenses on a recurring basis and believe the exclusion of such amounts allows management and the users of the financial statements
to better understand our financial results.
Stock-Based Compensation : To measure operating performance, we exclude the impact of costs relating to share-based compensation. Due to
the subjective assumptions and the variety of award types, we believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense, which is
non-cash, allows for more meaningful comparisons of our operating results to peer companies. Share-based compensation expense can vary
significantly based on the timing, size and nature of awards granted.
Expensed
issuance costs: To measure operating performance, we exclude the portion of issuance costs allocated to our warrant liabilities.
We do not expect to incur this type of expense on a recurring basis and believe the exclusion of these costs allows management and the
viewers of the financial statements to better understand our financial results.
28
Adjusted
EBITDA margin is adjusted EBITDA for a particular period expressed as a percentage of revenues for that period.
We
use adjusted EBITDA to measure our performance from period to period and to compare our results to those of our competitors. In addition
to adjusted EBITDA being a significant measure of performance for management purposes, we also believe that this presentation provides
useful information to investors regarding financial and business trends related to our results of operations and that when non-U.S. GAAP
financial information is viewed with U.S. GAAP financial information, investors are provided with a more meaningful understanding of
our ongoing operating performance.
The
below table presents a reconciliation from net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
Three
Months Ended March 31,
2024
2023
Net
loss
$ (10,437 )
$ (7,478 )
Interest
expense, net
1,407
35
Income
tax expenses
1
5
Depreciation
and amortization
128
127
EBITDA
(8,901 )
(7,311 )
Loss
on debt extinguishment
316
-
Change
in fair value of contingent consideration
-
(200 )
Change
in fair value of warrant liabilities
3,429
(1,028 )
Change
in fair value of investment, related party
(3 )
2,941
Legal
settlement expenses
-
1,118
Stock
based compensation
228
351
Expensed
issuance costs
354
-
Adjusted
EBITDA
$ (4,577 )
$ (4,129 )
Adjusted
EBITDA margin
-57.9 %
-47.3 %
Adjusted
EBITDA
Adjusted
EBITDA decreased from ($4.1) million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to ($4.6) million for the three months ended March
31, 2024. The decrease was driven by a decrease in revenue of $0.8 million and an increase of $0.2 million in various sales, general
and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease in our cost of revenues of $0.5 million.
29
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Since
we commenced operations in 2015, we have generated significant losses. We incurred net cash outflows from operations of $3.3 million
and $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company had an accumulated deficit as of March
31, 2024 of $110.1 million. The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are its cash collected from the sales of its products, and
cash flows from financing transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we received net proceeds of $7.3 million from the
issuance of preferred stock and warrants, net of issuance costs (See Note 13. Mezzanine Equity and Stockholders’ Equity in our
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Note 13”)) . As of
March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $3.8 million, compared to $1.3 million as of December 31, 2023. These conditions
raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for at least twelve months from the issuance date of this report,
which management believes has been alleviated through its plans to mitigate these conditions and obtain additional liquidity.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-40,
Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, management must evaluate whether there are
conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern for one year from the date the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q are issued. This evaluation does
not take into consideration the potential mitigating effect of management’s plans that have not been fully implemented or are not
within control of the Company as of the date the financial statements are issued. When substantial doubt exists under this methodology,
management evaluates whether the mitigating effect of its plans sufficiently alleviates substantial doubt about the Company’s ability
to continue as a going concern. The mitigating effect of management’s plans, however, is only considered if both (1) it is probable
that the plans will be effectively implemented within one year after the date that the financial statement are issued, and (2) it is
probable that the plans, when implemented, will mitigate the relevant conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s
ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued.
In
an effort to alleviate these conditions, management’s plans include adhering to the 2024 budget approved by the Board of Directors
(“Board”), which includes significant sales and marketing, medical affairs, and dermatology community outreach efforts
as we seek to expand the commercialization of Ameluz® in the United States while decreasing discretionary expenses by approximately
$5.5 million when compared to the year ended 2023. We have reduced spending at both the commercial and general and administrative
level but do not expect these reductions to impact our ability to grow and achieve our revenue targets.
On
February 19, 2024, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated License and Supply Agreement (“Second A&R Ameluz
LSA”) with the Ameluz Licensor, effective as of February 13, 2024. The terms of the Second A&R Ameluz LSA is expected to significantly
reduce our cost of inventory in the future. The Company will begin to see gross margins of its primary product, Ameluz®, of approximately
75% as opposed to the prior 50% beginning with inventory purchases after the execution date. This will reduce our cash needs for inventory
which will be partially offset by increased R&D costs, resulting in expected net savings of $1.5 million through May 2025 and
continuing in subsequent years.
In
addition, on February 19, 2024, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements (collectively, the “Preferred Purchase
Agreement”) with healthcare-focused institutional investors resulting in net proceeds of $7.3 million, which the Company received
on February 22, 2024. Under the Preferred Purchase Agreement, we also issued warrants to purchase 8,000 shares of Series B-3 Convertible
Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $1,000 per share. As of May 15, 2024, all five investors have exercised the B-3 Preferred
Convertible Share Warrants and the Company received net proceeds of $7.4 million. See Note 13 . Mezzanine Equity and Stockholder’s
Equity for more details regarding the Preferred Purchase Agreement .
Based
on management’s plans described above, combined with the impact of the Second A&R Ameluz LSA and Preferred Purchase
Agreement, the Company’s management believes that the Company will have sufficient liquidity and probable financing to meet
its funding requirements for at least one year from the date the financial statements in this Form 10-Q are issued. However, this
will depend on several factors, including executing on its sales plan within the time period needed and controlling our operating
costs, as well as other possible
challenges and unforeseen circumstances. A lack of execution or unforeseen circumstances may require the Company to raise additional
capital or debt which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all which could result in a material adverse effect on the
Company, as well as its business, financial condition, results of operations, growth prospects and financial
statements.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction
of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability
and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of the
uncertainties described above.
30
Cash
Flows
The
following table summarizes our cash provided by and (used in) operating, investing and financing activities:
Three
Months Ended March 31,
(in
thousands)
2024
2 0 23
Net
cash used in operating activities
$ (3,325 )
$ (3,689 )
Net
cash provided by (used) in investing activities
-
(14 )
Net
cash provided by financing activities
5,799
-
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
$ 2,474
$ (3,703 )
Operating
Activities
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, operating activities used $3.3 million of cash, primarily resulting from our loss from
operations of $10.4 million, adjusted for the change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $3.4 million, non-cash expense of
stock-based compensation of $0.2 million, non-cash interest expense of $0.2 million, loss on debt extinguishment of $0.3 million,
depreciation and amortization in the aggregate of $0.3 million, and net cash used by changes in our operating assets and liabilities
of $2.6 million.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2023, operating activities used $3.7 million of cash, primarily resulting from our loss from
operations of $7.5 million, adjusted for change in fair value of investment, related party of $2.9 million, non-cash expense of
stock-based compensation of $0.4 million, non-cash interest expense of $0.1 million, depreciation and amortization in the
aggregate of $0.3 million, and net cash used by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $1.4 million, offset by change in
fair value of warrants of $1.0 million and change in contingent consideration of $0.2 million.
Investing
Activities
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by investing activities consisted of $0.1 million of proceeds from the sales
of equity investments, which was offset by the purchase of capitalized software.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2023 net cash used in investing activities consisted of the purchase
of machinery & computer equipment.
Financing
Activities
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash from financing activities consisted of proceeds of $7.7 million, net of capitalized issuance
costs, from the issuance of preferred stock and warrants, offset by repayments of $1.5 million on our short-term loan, repayments of
$0.2 million on our line of credit and prepayment fees of $0.2 million to extinguish our line of credit. See Note 13 .
During
the three months ended March 31, 2023, there was no net cash provided by or used in financing activities.
31
Accounting
Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our
management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial
statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States, or U.S. GAAP.
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management
that affect the value of assets and liabilities, as well as contingent assets and liabilities, as reported on the balance sheet
date, and revenues and expenses arising during the reporting period. The main areas in which assumptions, estimates and the
exercising of a degree of judgment are appropriate relate to contingent consideration, fair value measurements, valuation of
intangible assets and impairment assessment, and stock compensation. Estimates are based on historical experience and other
assumptions that are considered appropriate in the circumstances. They are continuously reviewed but may vary from the actual
values.
Our
significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , to
our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in our Form
10-K.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
A
summary of our critical accounting estimates is discussed in the section entitled “Critical Accounting Estimates” in Item 7. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
in our Form 10-K. There were no material changes to our critical accounting estimates for the three months ended March 31,
2024 , except for the following:
The warrants for convertible preferred stock issued
in conjunction with our private placement offering conducted pursuant to the securities purchase agreements entered into on
February 19, 2024 with institutional investors were accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented
within warrant liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception
and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within the consolidated statement of operations. Due to the uncertainty
of the how the convertible preferred warrants will ultimately settle, the Company used a probability-weighted approach along with a Black-Scholes-Merton
(“BSM”) model equation to estimate the fair value of the preferred warrants under different scenarios. While we believe these
assumptions were reasonable, the manner or timeframe in which the warrants ultimately settle may differ. The BSM model also considers
several variables and assumptions in estimating the fair value of financial instruments, including the per-share fair value of the underlying
common stock, exercise price, expected term, risk-free interest rate, expected stock price volatility over the expected term, and expected
annual dividend yield. Certain inputs utilized in our BSM pricing model may fluctuate in future periods based upon factors which are
outside of the Company’s control. A significant change in one or more of these inputs used in the calculation of the fair value
may cause a significant change to the fair value of our warrant liability which could also result in material non-cash gain or loss being
reported in our consolidated statement of operations.
Off-balance
Sheet Arrangements
Other
than those items reflected in Note 17. Commitments and Contingencies we did not have during the periods presented, and we do not
currently have, any other off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging
Growth Company Status
The
Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 permits an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended
transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of such extended transition period, which means that when an accounting
standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised
standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard and will do so until such time that we either (i) irrevocably
elect to “opt out” of such extended transition period or (ii) no longer qualify as an emerging growth company.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As
a “smaller reporting company,” we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
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.