Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You
should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our unaudited condensed
financial statements and the related notes appearing under Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly
Report”). Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including
information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and expected financial results, includes forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the “Risk Factors” discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024, and the cautionary statements elsewhere in this Quarterly Report
for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by
the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
Celcuity
is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of targeted therapies for treatment of multiple solid tumor indications. The
Company’s lead therapeutic candidate is gedatolisib, a pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. Its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic
properties are highly differentiated from other currently approved and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or
together. In 2022, the Company began enrolling patients in VIKTORIA-1, a Phase 3 study evaluating gedatolisib and fulvestrant with
and without Ibrance® (palbociclib) as second line treatment for patients with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. In early 2024,
the Company began enrolling patients in CELC-G-201, a Phase 1b/2 study evaluating gedatolisib combined with Nubeqa®
(darolutamide) in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In May 2024, the Company announced plans to
initiate VIKTORIA-2, a Phase 3 trial evaluating gedatolisib combined with fulvestrant plus a CDK 4/6 inhibitor as first-line
treatment for patients with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. The first patient is expected to be enrolled in the second quarter of
2025. The Company’s CELsignia companion diagnostic platform is uniquely able to analyze live patient tumor cells to identify
new groups of cancer patients likely to benefit from already approved targeted therapies.
Gedatolisib
is a potent, well-tolerated, reversible, ATP-competitive, pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor that selectively targets all Class I isoforms of PI3K
and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In April 2021, we obtained exclusive global development and commercialization rights to gedatolisib
under a license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. We believe gedatolisib’s unique mechanism of action, differentiated chemical structure,
favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and intravenous formulation offer distinct advantages over currently approved and investigational
therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together.
●
Overcomes
limitations of therapies that only inhibit a single Class I PI3K isoform or only one mTOR kinase complex.
Gedatolisib
is a pan-class I isoform PI3K inhibitor with low nanomolar potency for the p110α, p110β, p110γ, and p110δ
isoforms and mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes. Each PI3K isoform and mTOR complex is known to preferentially affect different signal transduction
events that involve tumor cell survival, depending upon the aberrations associated with the linked pathway. When a therapy only inhibits
a single Class I isoform (e.g., alpelisib, a PI3K-α inhibitor) or only one mTOR kinase complex (e.g., everolimus, an mTORC1
inhibitor), numerous feedforward and feedback loops between the PI3K isoforms and mTOR complexes cross-activate the uninhibited sub-units.
This, in turn, induces compensatory resistance that can reduce the efficacy of isoform specific PI3K or single mTOR kinase complex
inhibitors. Inhibiting all four PI3K isoforms and both mTOR complexes, as gedatolisib does, thus prevents the confounding effect
of isoform interaction that may occur with isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors and the confounding interaction between PI3K isoforms
and mTOR.
●
Better
tolerated by patients than oral PI3K and mTOR drugs.
Gedatolisib
is administered intravenously (IV) on a four-week cycle of three weeks-on, one week-off, in contrast to the orally administered pan-PI3K
or dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors that are no longer being clinically developed. Oral pan-PI3K or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors have repeatably
been found to induce significant side effects that were not well tolerated by patients. This typically leads to a high proportion
of patients requiring dose reductions or treatment discontinuation. The challenging toxicity profile of these drug candidates ultimately
played a significant role in the decisions to halt their development, despite showing promising efficacy. By contrast, gedatolisib
stabilizes at lower concentration levels in plasma compared to orally administered PI3K inhibitors, resulting in less toxicity, while
maintaining concentrations sufficient to inhibit PI3K/mTOR signaling.
Isoform-specific
PI3K inhibitors administered orally were developed to reduce toxicities in patients. While the range of toxicities associated with
isoform-specific inhibitors is narrower than oral pan-PI3K or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors, administering them orally on a continuous basis
still leads to challenging toxicities. The experience with an FDA approved oral p110-α specific inhibitor, Piqray, illustrates
the challenge. In its Phase 3 pivotal trial Piqray was found to induce a Grade 3 or 4 adverse event (AE) related to hyperglycemia
in 39% of patients evaluated. In addition, 26% of patients discontinued alpelisib due to treatment related adverse events. By contrast,
in the 103-patient dose expansion portion of the Phase 1b clinical trial with gedatolisib, only 7% of patients experienced Grade
3 or 4 hyperglycemia and less than 9% discontinued treatment.
15
As
of June 30, 2024, 492 patients with solid tumors have received gedatolisib in eight completed clinical trials. Of the 492 patients, 129
were treated with gedatolisib as a single agent in three clinical trials. The remaining 363 patients received gedatolisib in combination
with other anti-cancer agents in five clinical trials. Additional patients received gedatolisib in combination with other anti-cancer
agents in nine investigator sponsored clinical trials.
A
Phase 1b trial (B2151009) evaluating patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer was initiated in 2016 and subsequently enrolled
138 patients. Four patients from this study continue to receive study treatment, as of June 30, 2024, each of whom have received study
treatment for more than five years. The B2151009 clinical was an open label, multiple arm Phase 1b study that evaluated gedatolisib in
combination with palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and fulvestrant or letrozole in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Thirty-five
patients were enrolled in two dose escalation arms to evaluate the safety and tolerability and to determine the maximum tolerated dose
(MTD) of gedatolisib when used in combination with the standard doses of palbociclib and endocrine therapy (letrozole or fulvestrant).
The MTD was determined to be 180 mg administered intravenously once weekly. A total of 103 patients were subsequently enrolled in one
of four expansion arms (A, B, C, D).
High
objective overall response rates (ORR) were observed in all four expansion arms and were comparable in each arm for PIK3CA WT and
PIK3CA MT patients. As of the data cut-off date, March 16, 2023, for treatment- naïve patients in Escalation Arm A and
Expansion Arm A (n=41), median progression free survival (mPFS) was 48.6 months, median duration of response (mDOR) was 46.9 months,
and ORR was 79%, respectively. This data compares favorably to published data for current first-line standard-of-care treatments for
patients with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. In patients who received prior hormonal therapy alone or in combination with a
CDK4/6 inhibitor (Arms B, C, and D), ORR (including unconfirmed partial responses) ranged from 36% to 77%. Each arm achieved its
primary endpoint target, which was reporting higher ORR in the study arm than ORR from either the PALOMA-2 (ORR=55%) study that
evaluated palbociclib plus letrozole for Arm A or the PALOMA-3 study (ORR=25%) that evaluated palbociclib plus fulvestrant for Arms
B, C, and D. For all enrolled patients, a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of ≥ 79% was observed. Median progression-free survival
(PFS) was 12.9 months for patients who received a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor and were treated in the study with the Phase 3 dosing
schedule (Arm D).
Gedatolisib
combined with palbociclib and endocrine therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile with manageable toxicity. The majority of treatment
emergent adverse events were Grade 1 and 2. The most frequently observed adverse events included stomatitis/mucosal inflammation, the
majority of which were Grade 1 and 2. The most common Grade 4 AEs were neutropenia and neutrophil count decrease, which were assessed
as related to treatment with palbociclib. No grade 5 events were reported in this study.
We
are currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3, open-label, randomized clinical trial (VIKTORIA-1) to evaluate the efficacy and safety
of two regimens in adults with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer whose disease has progressed after prior CDK4/6 therapy in combination
with an aromatase inhibitor: 1) gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant; and 2) gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant.
Approximately two hundred clinical sites in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia have been selected to participate
in the study. The first clinical site was activated in the third quarter of 2022, and the first patient was dosed in December 2022.
The
VIKTORIA-1 clinical trial will enable separate evaluation of subjects according to their PIK3CA status. Subjects who meet
eligibility criteria and are PIK3CA WT will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a regimen of either gedatolisib, palbociclib,
and fulvestrant (Arm A), gedatolisib and fulvestrant (Arm B), or fulvestrant (Arm C). Subjects who meet eligibility criteria and are
PIK3CA MT will be randomly assigned (3:3:1) to receive a regimen of either gedatolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant (Arm D) or
alpelisib and fulvestrant (Arm E), or gedatolisib and fulvestrant (Arm F). Enrollment of the PIK3CA wild-type cohort is more than
80% complete and expected to reach the enrollment target during Q4 2024. The PIK3CA wild-type cohort represents approximately 60% of
the total patients enrolled to date in VIKTORIA-1 . In light of this, we expect topline data for the PIK3CA WT cohort to shift
to sometime between late Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.
We
received approval from the FDA in mid-2023 to proceed with the clinical development of gedatolisib in combination with Nubeqa® (darolutamide),
an approved androgen receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with mCRPC. We have since initiated a Phase 1b/2 study (CELC-G-201)
that will enroll up to 54 participants with mCRPC who progressed after treatment with an androgen receptor inhibitor. We dosed our first
patient in this trial in February 2024.
In
the Phase 1b portion of the study, Celcuity expects that 36 participants will be randomly assigned to receive 600 mg darolutamide combined
with either 120 mg gedatolisib in Arm 1 or 180 mg gedatolisib in Arm 2. An additional 12 participants will then be enrolled in the Phase
2 portion of the study at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) level to enable evaluation of 30 participants treated with the RP2D of
gedatolisib.
The
primary objectives of the Phase 1b portion of the trial include assessment of the safety and tolerability of gedatolisib in combination
with darolutamide and determination of the recommended Phase 2 dose of gedatolisib. The primary objective of the Phase 2 portion of the
trial is to assess the radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) at six months of patients who received the RP2D.
16
The
Phase 3 VIKTORIA-2 clinical trial, an open-label, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gedatolisib combined with
fulvestrant plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor in comparison to fulvestrant plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor as first-line treatment for patients with
HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer who are endocrine therapy resistant, will be initiated in 2025. For the CDK4/6 inhibitor,
investigators may choose either ribociclib or palbociclib. The safety profile of gedatolisib combined with fulvestrant and
palbociclib is well described, but the investigational combination of gedatolisib with ribociclib has not yet been clinically
tested. Therefore, a safety run-in of approximately 12-36 subjects will evaluate the safety profile of gedatolisib combined with
ribociclib and fulvestrant. The safety run-in will be completed, and gedatolisib’s Phase 3 dose confirmed, before enrolling
patients in the Phase 3 portion of the study.
For
the Phase 3 study, approximately 638 subjects who meet the eligibility criteria will be assigned to a cohort based on their PIK3CA mutation
status. After the investigator selects the CDK4/6 inhibitor for a subject, the subject will then be randomly assigned on a 1:1 basis
to either Arm A (gedatolisib, fulvestrant, and Investigator’s choice of ribociclib or palbociclib) or Arm B (fulvestrant and Investigator’s
choice of ribociclib or palbociclib).
The
clinical trial primary endpoints are progression free survival (PFS), per RECIST 1.1 criteria, as assessed by blinded independent central
review. The primary PFS endpoints will be evaluated separately in subjects who are PI3KCA wild type and PI3KCA mutant.
The
study’s design was reviewed and discussed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during a Type C meeting. This
global trial is expected to enroll subjects at up to 200 clinical sites across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Celcuity expects to enroll the first patient in the second quarter of 2025.
Recent
Developments
On
May 30, 2024, the Company announced plans to initiate a Phase 3 VIKTORIA-2 trial evaluating gedatolisib combined with fulvestrant plus
a CDK 4/6 inhibitor as first-line treatment for patients with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. The first patient is expected to be
enrolled in the second quarter of 2025.
We
expect to reach our enrollment target for VIKTORIA-1 PIK3CA WT cohort in Q4 2024 and report topline data for this cohort in late Q4
2024 or Q1 2025.
During
the quarter, the Company raised $129.0 million in gross proceeds from equity and debt financings, which will provide sufficient cash
to finance our operations and pay obligations when due through 2026.
Results
of Operations
We
have not generated any revenue from sales to date, and we continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related
to our ongoing operations. As a result, we are not and have never been profitable and have incurred losses in each period since our inception
in 2012. For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we reported a net loss of approximately $23.7 million and $14.6 million,
respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2024, we reported a net loss of approximately $45.3 million and $26.5 million, respectively.
As of June 30, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $205.4 million. As of June 30, 2024, we had cash and cash
equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $283.1 million.
Components
of Operating Results
Revenue
To
date, we have not generated any revenue. With the execution of the Pfizer license agreement in April 2021, whereby we acquired exclusive
world-wide licensing rights to develop and commercialize gedatolisib, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial, VIKTORIA-1, in 2022 to support
potential regulatory approval to market gedatolisib as a second line treatment for HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. In August 2023,
we announced plans to proceed with the clinical development of gedatolisib in combination with Nubeqa® (darolutamide), an approved
androgen receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with mCRPC. In May 2024, we announced plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical
trial, VIKTORIA-2, to evaluate gedatolisib plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor and fulvestrant as a first-line treatment for patients with HR+, HER2,
advanced breast cancer who are endocrine therapy resistant. If we obtain regulatory approvals to market gedatolisib, we expect to initially
generate revenue from sales of the drug for the treatment of breast cancer patients.
17
Research
and Development
Since
our inception, we have primarily focused on research and development of gedatolisib, a PI3K/mTOR targeted therapy and our CELsignia platform
and corresponding tests. Research and development expenses primarily include:
●
employee-related
expenses related to our research and development activities, including salaries, benefits, recruiting, travel and stock-based compensation
expenses;
●
laboratory
supplies;
●
consulting
fees paid to third parties;
●
clinical
trial costs;
●
validation
costs for gedatolisib;
●
facilities
expenses; and
●
legal
costs associated with patent applications.
Internal
and external research and development costs are expensed as they are incurred. As we continue development of gedatolisib and manage studies
and clinical trials, including the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, the CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trial, and other clinical trials to evaluate the
efficacy of targeted therapies in cancer patients selected with one of our CELsignia tests, the proportion of research and development
expenses allocated to external spending will grow at a faster rate than expenses allocated to internal expenses.
General
and Administrative
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation related to our executive, finance and
support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees for auditing, tax, and legal services associated
with being a public company, director and officer insurance, investor relations and travel expenses for our general and administrative
personnel.
Sales
and Marketing
Sales
and marketing expenses consist primarily of professional and consulting fees related to these functions. To date, we have incurred immaterial
sales and marketing expenses as we continue to focus primarily on the development of our first drug, gedatolisib, managing the VIKTORIA-1
Phase 3 and CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials. We would expect to begin to incur increased sales and marketing expenses in anticipation of
the commercialization of our first drug, gedatolisib. These increased expenses are expected to include employee-related, consulting costs
and professional fees.
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense is primarily due to a Loan Agreement.
Interest
Income
Interest
income consists of interest income earned on our cash, cash equivalents, and investment balances.
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
Three Months
Ended
June
30,
Increase
(Decrease)
2024
2023
$
Percent
Change
Statements of Operations
Data:
Operating expenses:
Research and
development
$ 22,496,975
$ 13,746,082
$ 8,750,893
64 %
General and administrative
1,786,111
1,309,403
476,708
36
Total operating expenses
24,283,086
15,055,485
9,227,601
61
Loss from operations
(24,283,086 )
(15,055,485 )
(9,227,601 )
61
Other income (expense)
Interest expense
(2,260,583 )
(1,314,996 )
(945,587 )
72
Interest income
2,821,849
1,782,794
1,039,055
58
Other income (expense),
net
561,266
467,798
93,468
20
Net
loss before income taxes
(23,721,820 )
(14,587,687 )
(9,134,133 )
63
Income tax benefits
-
-
-
-
Net
loss
$ (23,721,820 )
$ (14,587,687 )
$ (9,134,133 )
63 %
18
Comparison
of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
Six Months
Ended
June
30,
Increase
(Decrease)
2024
2023
$
Percent
Change
Statements of Operations
Data:
Operating expenses:
Research and
development
$ 43,144,534
$ 25,024,575
$ 18,119,959
72 %
General and administrative
3,632,387
2,578,447
1,053,940
41
Total operating expenses
46,776,921
27,603,022
19,173,899
69
Loss from operations
(46,776,921 )
(27,603,022 )
(19,173,899 )
69
Other income (expense)
Interest expense
(3,661,295 )
(2,557,008 )
(1,104,287 )
43
Interest income
5,103,941
3,633,926
1,470,015
40
Other income (expense),
net
1,442,646
1,076,918
365,728
34
Net
loss before income taxes
(45,334,275 )
(26,526,104 )
(18,808,171 )
71
Income tax benefits
-
-
-
-
Net
loss
$ (45,334,275 )
$ (26,526,104 )
$ (18,808,171 )
71 %
Research
and Development
Our
research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were approximately $22.5 million, representing an increase
of approximately $8.7 million, or 64%, compared to the same period in 2023. Of the $8.7 million increase in research and development
expense, $2.1 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $6.6 million increase of research and
development costs are primarily related to costs supporting activities for the VIKTORIA-1 and CELC-G-201 pivotal trials.
Our
research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were approximately $43.1 million, representing an increase of
approximately $18.1 million, or 72%, compared to the same period in 2023. Of the $18.1 million increase in research and development expenses,
$3.5 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $14.6 million increase of research and development
expenses is primarily related to costs supporting activities for the VIKTORIA-1 pivotal trial and other existing clinical trials.
Conducting
a significant amount of research and development is central to our business model. We plan to increase our research and development expenses
for the foreseeable future as we seek to develop gedatolisib, manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 and the CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials.
General
and Administrative
Our
general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were approximately $1.8 million, representing an increase
of approximately $0.5 million, or 36%, compared to the same period in 2023. Of the $0.5 million increase in general and administrative
expense, $0.3 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $0.2 million of the $0.5 million increase
resulted from professional fees and other administrative expenses.
Our
general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were approximately $3.6 million, representing an increase
of approximately $1.1 million, or 41%, compared to the same period in 2023. Employee related expenses accounted for $0.6 million of the
$1.1 million increase. The remaining $0.5 million of the increase resulted from professional fees and other administrative expenses.
We
anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in future periods, reflecting both increased costs in connection
with the potential future commercialization of gedatolisib, an expanding infrastructure, and increased professional fees associated with
public company regulatory developments and other compliance matters.
19
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $2.3 million and represents an increase of $0.9 million, or 72%, compared to the
same period in 2023. Interest expense is the result of a Loan Agreement that was executed in April 2021, amended in August 2022 and
March 2024, and further amended and restated in May 2024. The increase is due primarily to the incremental $61.7 million funding of
Term Loan C in May 2024. The $2.3 million of interest expense includes $0.6 million of non-cash interest expense.
Interest
expense for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $3.7 million and represents an increase of $1.1 million, or 43%, compared to the same
period in 2023. The increase is due primarily to the incremental $61.7 million funding of Term Loan C in May 2024. The $3.7 million of
interest expense includes $1.2 million of non-cash interest expense.
Interest
Income
Interest
income for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $2.8 million and represents an increase of $1.0 million compared to the same
period in 2023. The increase was primarily from the closing of additional equity and debt financing activities, leading to higher
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.
Interest
income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $5.1 million and represents an increase of $1.5 million compared to the same
period in 2023. The increase was primarily from the closing of additional equity and debt financing activities, leading to higher
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Since
our inception, we have incurred losses and cumulative negative cash flows from operations. Through June 30, 2024, we have funded our
operations primarily through private placements and registered offerings of our equity securities and unsecured convertible notes, and
borrowings under loan agreements. From inception through June 30, 2024, we raised an aggregate of approximately $367.8 million of net
proceeds through sales of our securities, and as of June 30, 2024 had $100.0 million of borrowings under loan agreements, not including
payable-in-kind interest. As of June 30, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were approximately $30.5 million
and $252.6 million, respectively, and we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $205.4 million.
Pre-funded
Warrants. On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement to sell pre-funded warrants at a price of
$8.70 per warrant, to purchase up to 5,747,787 shares of the Company’s common stock in a private placement. The closing of the
private placement occurred on October 20, 2023, and resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $50 million, before deducting offering
expenses of approximately $0.1 million.
Open
Market Sale Agreement. On February 4, 2022, we entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement with Jefferies LLC, as agent, pursuant
to which we may offer and sell, from time to time, through Jefferies, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price
of up to $50,000,000. On October 12, 2022, pursuant to this agreement, the Company sold 500,000 shares of common stock in a single
transaction at a price of $10.35 per share generating gross proceeds of $5.2 million ($4.8 million net of commissions and offering
expenses) On December 1, 2023, pursuant to this agreement, the Company sold 1,034,500 shares of common stock in a single
transaction at a price of $14.50 per share, generating gross proceeds of $15 million ($14.4 million net of commissions and offering
expenses). In April 2024 and May 2024, pursuant to the Open Market Sale Agreement with Jefferies LLC, as agent, the Company sold
285,714 and 149,700 shares of common stock, respectively, at an average selling price of $ 17.55 per share, generating gross
proceeds of $7.6 million before deducting commissions and other offering expenses of $0.3 million. At June 30, 2024, $22.2 million
of common stock remains available for sale under the Jefferies agreement.
Equity
Offering : On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Leerink Partners LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC
and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated as representatives of the several underwriters relating to the issuance and sale of
3,871,000 shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $15.50, generating gross proceeds of approximately $60 million. The offering
closed on May 31, 2024 and resulted in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $56.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts
and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital
and general corporate purposes, which may include research and development expenditures, clinical trial expenditures,
expansion of business development activities and other general corporate purposes.
20
Loan
Agreement. On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “A&R Loan
Agreement”) with Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Innovatus”), as collateral
agent, and the Lenders including Innovatus in its capacity as a Lender and Oxford Finance LLC (“Oxford”), pursuant to which
Innovatus and Oxford, as Lenders, have agreed to make certain term loans (“Term Loans”) to the Company in the aggregate principal
amount of up to $180 million. The A&R Loan Agreement amends and restates, in its entirety, that certain Loan and Security Agreement,
dated April 8, 2021, as amended, between the Company and Innovatus, as collateral agent, and the Lenders named therein.
Funding
of the first $100 million under the A&R Loan Agreement occurred on May 30, 2024, including tranche payments of $16.8 million (the
“Term A Loan”) and $21.5 million (the “Term B Loan”) reflecting repayment of the principal amount of loans under
the Prior Loan Agreement plus accrued payment-in-kind interest, in addition to $61.7 million of new borrowings (the “Term C Loan”).
The Company will be eligible to draw on a fourth tranche of $30 million (the “Term D Loan”) and fifth tranche of $50 million
(the “Term E Loan”), in each case upon achievement of certain clinical trial milestones and satisfaction of certain financial
covenants determined on a pro forma as-funded basis. The Lenders may, in their sole discretion upon the Company’s request, make
additional term loans to the Company of $45 million (the “Term F Loan”). Funding of these additional tranches is also subject
to other customary conditions and limits on when the Company can request funding for such tranches. Costs associated with the new borrowings was approximately $2.4 million.
The
Company is entitled to make interest-only payments for thirty-six months, or up to forty-eight months if certain conditions are met.
The Term Loans will mature on May 1, 2029 and will bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of (a) the greater of (i) the Prime Rate
(as defined in the A&R Loan Agreement) or (ii) 7.75%, plus (b) 2.85%, provided that 1.0% of such interest will be payable in-kind
by adding an amount equal to such 1.0% of the outstanding principal amount to the then outstanding principal balance on a monthly basis
through May 31, 2027. The A&R Loan Agreement is secured by all assets of the Company. Proceeds will be used for working capital purposes
and to fund the Company’s general business requirements, including the Phase 3 VIKTORIA-2 clinical trial. The A&R Loan Agreement
contains customary representations and warranties and covenants, subject to customary carve-outs, and includes financial covenants related
to liquidity and other financial measures. Innovatus has the right, at its election and until August 9, 2025, to convert
up to 20% of the outstanding principal of the Term A Loan into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $10.00
(the “Conversion Right”). Innovatus will continue to have the right to exercise a previously disclosed warrant granted to
it under the Prior Loan Agreement to purchase 26,042 shares of common stock at a price per share of $14.40 through April 8, 2031.
The
A&R Loan Agreement contains a Final Fee, which is equal to 4.5 %
of the initial funding of the agreement and is due on the earliest to occur of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the acceleration of any
Term Loan, and (c) the prepayment of the Term Loans. There is also a contingent non-utilization fee for both the Term D and Term E
loans. If the Company achieves the Term D Milestone and (i) fails to draw the full amount of the Term D Loan during the Term D Draw
Period and (ii) fails to notify Collateral Agent, at any time before the date that is four weeks after the Company’s
achievement of the Term D Milestone, of the Company’s intent not to draw the full amount of the Term D Loan, a non-utilization
fee of $ 900,000 ,
with respect to the Term D Loan shall become due and payable on the earliest of (i) the termination of the Term D Draw Period, (ii)
the Maturity Date, (iii) the acceleration of any Term Loan, and (iv) the prepayment in whole of the Term Loans. If the Company
achieves the Term E Milestone and (i) fails to draw the full amount of the Term E Loan during the Term E Draw Period and (ii) fails
to notify Collateral Agent, at any time before the date that is four weeks after the Company’s achievement of the Term E
Milestone, of the Company’s intent not to draw the full amount of the Term E Loan, a non-utilization fee of $ 1,500,000 ,
with respect to the Term E Loan shall become due and payable on the earliest of (i) the termination of the Term E Draw Period, (ii)
the Maturity Date, (iii) the acceleration of any Term Loan, and (iv) the prepayment in whole of the Term Loans. After the 18-month
anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company shall have the option to prepay all, but not less than all, of the Term Loans
advanced by the Lenders under the A&R Loan Agreement, provided the Company (i) provides written notice to Collateral Agent of
its election to prepay the Term Loans at least seven Business Days prior to such prepayment, and (ii) pays to Lenders on the date of
such prepayment, payable to each Lender in accordance with its respective Pro Rata Share, an amount equal to the sum of (A) all
outstanding principal of the Term Loans plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the prepayment date, (B) the Final Fee, (C)
the Prepayment Fee, plus (D) all other outstanding Obligations that are due and payable, including, without limitation,
Lenders’ Expenses and interest at the Default Rate with respect to any past due amounts. At May 30, 2024, the Company
recognized the Final Fee of $ 4.5
million as additional debt principal and a corresponding debt discount to be amortized over the life of the loan.
In
connection with the funding of each of the Term C Loan, the Term D Loan, the Term E Loan and the Term F Loan, the Company agreed to issue
to Innovatus and Oxford warrants to purchase that number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to 2.5% of the principal
amount of the applicable Term Loan divided by the exercise price, which shall, with respect to the Term C Loan, be equal to the lower
of (i) the volume weighted average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the five-trading day period ending on the last
trading day immediately preceding the execution of the A&R Loan Agreement or (ii) the closing price on the last trading day immediately
preceding the execution of the A&R Loan Agreement. Accordingly, on May 30, 2024, the Company issued 103,876 warrants with an exercise
price of $14.84 per share. The relative fair value of the warrants was approximately $1.2 million. For the additional Term Loans, the
exercise price will be based on the lower of (i) the exercise price for the Warrants issued pursuant to the Term C Loan or (ii) the volume
weighted average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the five-trading day period ending on the last trading day immediately
preceding the applicable Term Loan funding. The Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and are exercisable through the tenth anniversary
of the applicable funding date. The number of shares of common stock for which each Warrant is exercisable and the associated exercise
price are subject to certain proportional adjustments as set forth in such Warrant.
We
expect that our research and development and general and administrative expenses will increase as we continue to develop gedatolisib,
manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 and CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials, conduct
other studies and clinical trials, and pursue other business development activities. We would also expect to incur sales and marketing
expenses as we commercialize gedatolisib. We expect to use cash on hand, together with the funds to be received under the debt and equity
financings described above, to fund our research and development expenses, clinical trial costs, capital expenditures, working capital,
sales and marketing expenses, and general corporate expenses.
Based
on our current business plan, we believe that our current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments together with available borrowings
under the Innovatus Loan Agreement will provide sufficient cash to finance our operations and pay obligations when due through 2026.
Our
expectations as to how long our current capital resources will be sufficient to fund our operations are based on assumptions that may
not be accurate, and we could use our current capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, we may seek to raise additional
capital to finance capital expenditures and operating expenses over the next several years as we launch our integrated therapeutic and
companion diagnostic strategy and expand our infrastructure, commercial operations and research and development activities, and to take
advantage of financing or other opportunities that we believe to be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. Additional
capital may be raised through the sale of common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, entry into debt facilities or other
third-party funding arrangements. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our stockholders and those
securities may have rights senior to those of our common shares. Agreements entered into in connection with such capital raising activities
could contain covenants that would restrict our operations or require us to relinquish certain rights. Additional capital may not be
available on reasonable terms, or not at all.
21
Cash
Flows
The
following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for the six months ended June 30:
2024
2023
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$ (35,135,062 )
$ (22,529,890 )
Investing activities
(102,531,391 )
29,957,540
Financing activities
137,462,479
239,495
Net increase (decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents
$ (203,974 )
$ 7,667,145
Operating
Activities
Net
cash used in operating activities was approximately $35.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and consisted primarily of a
net loss of approximately $45.3 million, offset by working capital changes of $6.9 million and non-cash expense items of approximately
$3.3 million. Non-cash expense items of approximately $3.3 million primarily consisted of $2.7 million of stock-based compensation expense
and net non-cash interest of $0.5 million. The approximately $6.9 million of working capital changes was primarily due to increases in
accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current assets.
Net
cash used in operating activities was approximately $22.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and consisted primarily of a
net loss of approximately $26.5 million offset by non-cash expense items of approximately $3.7 million and working capital changes
of $0.3 million. Non-cash expense items of approximately $3.7 million primarily consisted of $2.6 million of stock-based compensation
expense, non-cash interest expense of $1.0 million, and depreciation expense of $0.1 million. The approximately $0.3 million of working
capital changes was primarily due to approximately $0.2 million net increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and approximately
$0.1 million decrease in other assets.
Investing
Activities
Net
cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was approximately $102.5 million and consisted primarily of
net purchases of short-term investments in government securities (U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S.
government agency).
Net
cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was approximately $30.0 million and consisted primarily
of net proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in government securities (U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. government securities)
and minimal purchase of property and equipment.
Financing
Activities
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was approximately $137.5 million and consisted of net proceeds
of approximately $56.3 million from an equity offering, $59.2 million from incremental debt financing, $7.3 million from an at-the market
offering. The remaining $14.7 million consisted of proceeds from the exercise of common stock warrants, the exercise of employee stock
options and employee stock purchases.
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was approximately $0.2 million and primarily consisted of
proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options and proceeds from employee stock purchases, slightly offset by payments for secondary
registration and debt issuance costs.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
From
time-to-time new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies and
adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed financial statements
included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective
will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.
22
Critical
Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Our
management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our unaudited condensed financial
statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses during the reporting periods. These items are monitored and
analyzed by us for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. We base our
estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances; the results of
which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results for the period in which they become known. Actual results may differ
materially from these estimates.
Our
significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed financial statements included in Item 1
of Part I of this Quarterly Report.
Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act
The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
information is included in this Quarterly Report and in other materials filed or to be filed by us with the SEC (as well as information
included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us). Forward-looking statements include all statements
based on future expectations. This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including,
but not limited to, (i) our clinical trial plans and the estimated costs for such trials; (ii) our expectations with respect to our competitive
advantages, including the potential efficacy of gedatolisib in various patient types alone or in combination with other treatments; (iii)
our expectations regarding the timeline of patient enrollment and results from clinical trials, including our existing Phase 3 VIKTORIA-1
clinical trial and Phase 1b/2 study and clinical trial for gedatolisib, as well as our planned Phase 3 VIKTORIA-2 clinical trial for
gedatolisib; (iv) our expectations regarding our ability to obtain FDA approval to commercialize gedatolisib; (v) our expectations with
respect to the development, validation, required approvals, costs and timelines of gedatolisib and our CELsignia tests; (vi) our plans
with respect to research and development and related expenses for the foreseeable future; (vii) our beliefs about our ability to capitalize
on the exclusive global development and commercialization rights obtained from our license agreement with Pfizer with respect to gedatolisib;
(viii) the future payments that may be owed to Pfizer under the license agreement; (ix) our beliefs related to the perceived advantages
of our CELsignia tests compared to traditional molecular or other diagnostic tests; (x) our revenue expectations; (xi) our expectations
regarding business development activities, including collaborations with pharmaceutical companies; (xii) our expectations as to the use
of proceeds from our recent financing activities; (xiii) our expectations with respect to availability of capital, including accessing
our current debt facility or any other debt facility or other capital sources in the future, and our assumption that we will have adequate
authorized shares for future equity issuances; (xiv) our beliefs regarding the ability of our cash on hand to fund our research and development
expenses, capital expenditures, working capital, sales and marketing expenses, and general corporate expenses, as well as the increased
costs associated with being a public company; and (xv) our plans with respect to potentially raising capital.
In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,”
“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,”
“potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,”
or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking
statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and
assumptions, which in turn are based on their interpretation of currently available information.
These
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results or our industry’s actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our limited operating history;
our potential inability to develop, validate and commercialize gedatolisib on a timely basis or at all; the uncertainties and costs associated
with clinical studies and with developing and commercializing biopharmaceuticals; the complexity and difficulty of demonstrating the
safety and sufficient magnitude of benefit to support regulatory approval of gedatolisib and other products we may develop; challenges
we may face in developing and maintaining relationships with pharmaceutical company partners; the complexity and timeline for development
of CELsignia tests; the uncertainty and costs associated with clinical trials; the uncertainty regarding market acceptance by physicians,
patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community, and with the size of market opportunities available to us; the pricing
of molecular and other diagnostic products and services that compete with us; uncertainty with insurance coverage and reimbursement for
our CELsignia tests; difficulties we may face in managing growth, such as hiring and retaining
a qualified sales force and attracting and retaining key personnel; changes in government regulations; tightening credit markets and
limitations on access to capital; stock market volatility or other factors that may affect our ability to access capital on favorable
terms or at all; and obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our technology and time and expense associated with
defending third-party claims of intellectual property infringement, investigations or litigation threatened or initiated against us.
These and additional risks, uncertainties and other factors are described more fully in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2023 and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC’s
electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.
You
should read the cautionary statements made in this Quarterly Report as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever
they appear in this Quarterly Report. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report will prove to
be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should read this
Quarterly Report completely. Other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even
though our situation may change in the future.
ITEM
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
As
a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to 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.