U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ QUARTERLY
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2022
OR
☐ TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______________ to
______________
Commission File Number 001-38174
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada 27-3425913
( State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization ) ( IRS Employer
Identification No. )
11 Commerce Drive , First Floor , Cranford , NJ
07016
( Address of principal executive offices and
zip code )
(908) 967-6677
( Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code )
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
Title of Each Class Trading Symbol(s) Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common stock, $0.001 par value CTXR Nasdaq Capital Market
Warrants to purchase common stock CTXRW Nasdaq Capital Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
(1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405
of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No
☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.
See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,”
and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
☒
As of May 10, 2022, there were 146,129,630 shares
of common stock, $0.001 par value, of the registrant issued and outstanding.
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
March 31, 2022
Page
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
1
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021
1
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
4
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
15
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
21
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
21
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
22
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
22
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
22
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
22
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
22
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
22
Item 5.
Other Information
22
Item 6.
Exhibits
23
SIGNATURES
24
i
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and unless
the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Citius Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Citius Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Leonard-Meron Biosciences,
Inc., Citius Acquisition Corp., and its majority-owned subsidiary, NoveCite, Inc., taken
as a whole.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking
statements.” Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations,
strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements
are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore,
actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements
due to numerous factors discussed from time to time in this report and in other documents which we file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, such statements could be affected by risks and uncertainties related to:
●
the cost, timing and results of our pre-clinical
and clinical trials;
●
our ability to raise funds for general corporate purposes and operations, including our pre-clinical and clinical trials;
●
our ability to obtain and maintain required regulatory approvals for our product candidates;
● the commercial feasibility
and success of our technology and product candidates;
● our ability to recruit and
retain qualified management and scientific and technical personnel to carry out our operations; and
● the other factors discussed
in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere in this report.
Any forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date on which they are made, and except as may be required under applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to
update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the filing date of this report.
ii
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
March 31,
September 30,
2022
2021
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 55,756,232
$ 70,072,946
Prepaid expenses
2,503,109
2,741,404
Total Current Assets
58,259,341
72,814,350
Property and equipment, net
5,562
7,023
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net
736,209
822,828
Other Assets:
Deposits
38,062
38,062
In-process research and development
59,400,000
59,400,000
Goodwill
9,346,796
9,346,796
Total Other Assets
68,784,858
68,784,858
Total Assets
$ 127,785,970
$ 142,429,059
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 1,705,128
$ 1,277,095
Accrued expenses
1,336,629
621,960
Accrued compensation
793,250
1,906,000
Operating lease liability
186,916
177,237
Total Current Liabilities
4,021,923
3,982,292
Deferred tax liability
4,985,800
4,985,800
Operating lease liability – non current
582,302
678,234
Total Liabilities
9,590,025
9,646,326
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock – $ 0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
—
—
Common stock – $ 0.001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 146,129,630 and 145,979,429 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively
146,129
145,979
Additional paid-in capital
230,283,531
228,084,195
Accumulated deficit
( 112,834,095 )
( 96,047,821 )
Total Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
117,595,565
132,182,353
Non-controlling interest
600,380
600,380
Total Equity
118,195,945
132,782,733
Total Liabilities and Equity
$ 127,785,970
$ 142,429,059
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
1
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
2022 AND 2021
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
March 31,
March 31,
March 31,
March 31,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Revenues
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Operating Expenses
Research and development
3,452,210
1,551,341
8,910,059
7,742,520
General and administrative
3,117,417
2,293,517
6,014,166
3,982,181
Stock-based compensation – general and administrative
1,020,998
342,962
1,925,602
619,544
Total Operating Expenses
7,590,625
4,187,820
16,849,827
12,344,245
Operating Loss
( 7,590,625 )
( 4,187,820 )
( 16,849,827 )
( 12,344,245 )
Other Income (Expense)
Interest income
29,571
69,327
63,553
82,811
Interest expense
—
( 3,939 )
—
( 7,907 )
Total Other Income, Net
29,571
65,388
63,553
74,904
Net Loss
$ ( 7,561,054 )
$ ( 4,122,432 )
$ ( 16,786,274 )
$ ( 12,269,341 )
Net Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted
$ ( 0.05 )
$ ( 0.04 )
$ ( 0.11 )
$ ( 0.16 )
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
Basic and diluted
146,041,852
95,997,427
146,026,847
75,565,121
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
2
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES
IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
2022 AND 2021
(Unaudited)
Preferred
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Total Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shareholder’s
Non-Controlling
Total
Stock
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Interest
Equity
Balance, October 1, 2021
$ —
145,979,429
$ 145,979
$ 228,084,195
$ ( 96,047,821 )
$ 132,182,353
$ 600,380
$ 132,782,733
Issuance of common stock for services
—
50,201
50
95,834
—
95,884
—
95,884
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
904,604
—
904,604
—
904,604
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 9,225,220 )
( 9,225,220 )
—
( 9,225,220 )
Balance, December 31, 2021
—
146,029,630
146,029
229,084,633
( 105,273,041 )
123,957,621
600,380
124,558,001
Issuance of common stock for services
—
100,000
100
177,900
—
178,000
—
178,000
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
1,020,998
—
1,020,998
—
1,020,998
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 7,561,054 )
( 7,561,054 )
—
( 7,561,054 )
Balance, March 31, 2022
$ —
146,129,630
$ 146,129
$ 230,283,531
$ ( 112,834,095 )
$ 117,595,565
$ 600,380
$ 118,195,945
Balance, October 1, 2020
$ —
55,576,996
$ 55,577
$ 104,208,958
$ ( 70,593,867 )
$ 33,670,668
$ —
$ 33,670,668
Issuance of NoveCite common stock
—
—
—
1,799,640
( 2,399,520 )
( 599,880 )
600,380
500
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
276,582
—
276,582
—
276,582
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 8,146,909 )
( 8,146,909 )
—
( 8,146,909 )
Balance, December 31, 2020
—
55,576,996
55,577
106,285,180
( 81,140,296 )
25,200,461
600,380
25,800,841
Issuance of common stock in private placement offering, net of costs of $ 1,549,602
—
15,455,960
15,456
18,434,954
—
18,450,410
—
18,450,410
Issuance of common stock in registered direct offering, net of costs of $ 5,520,160
—
50,830,566
50,830
70,929,012
—
70,979,842
—
70,979,842
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants
—
12,787,697
12,788
14,229,755
—
14,242,543
—
14,242,543
Issuance of common stock for services
—
50,000
50
67,950
—
68,000
—
68,000
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
342,962
—
342,962
—
342,962
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 4,122,432 )
( 4,122,432 )
—
( 4,122,432 )
Balance, March 31, 2021
$ —
134,701,219
$ 134,701
$ 210,289,813
$ ( 85,262,728 )
$ 125,161,786
$ 600,380
$ 125,762,166
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
3
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 AND
2021
(Unaudited)
2022
2021
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ ( 16,786,274 )
$ ( 12,269,341 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense
1,925,602
619,544
Issuance of common stock for services
273,884
68,000
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset
86,619
80,112
Depreciation
1,461
305
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses
238,295
( 1,154,792 )
Deposits
—
19,031
Accounts payable
428,033
( 723,358 )
Accrued expenses
714,669
76,570
Accrued compensation
( 1,112,750 )
( 482,544 )
Accrued interest
—
7,907
Operating lease liability
( 86,253 )
( 77,315 )
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities
( 14,316,714 )
( 13,835,881 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of NoveCite, Inc. common stock
—
500
Net proceeds from private placement
—
18,450,410
Net proceeds from registered direct offering
—
70,979,842
Net proceeds from common stock warrant exercises
—
14,242,543
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
—
103,673,295
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
( 14,316,714 )
89,837,414
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period
70,072,946
13,859,748
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period
$ 55,756,232
$ 103,697,162
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
4
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 AND
2021
(Unaudited)
1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION
AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Citius,”
the “Company,” “we” or “us”) is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and
commercialization of critical care products with a focus on anti-infective products in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products
and stem cell therapy.
On March 30, 2016, Citius acquired Leonard-Meron
Biosciences, Inc. (“LMB”) as a wholly-owned subsidiary by issuing shares of its common stock.
On September 11, 2020, we formed NoveCite, Inc.
(“NoveCite”), a Delaware corporation, of which we own 75 % ( 7,500,000 shares) of the issued and outstanding capital stock (see
Note 3).
On August 23, 2021, we formed Citius Acquisition
Corp., as a wholly-owned subsidiary in conjunction with the acquisition of I/ONTAK (formerly E7777), but no activity has occurred to date.
In-process research and development (“IPR&D”)
consists of (i) the $ 19,400,000 acquisition value of LMB’s leading drug candidate (Mino-Lok), which is an antibiotic solution used
to treat catheter-related bloodstream infections and is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of eight years
commencing upon revenue generation, and (ii) the $ 40,000,000 acquisition value of the exclusive license for I/ONTAK (denileukin diftitox),
which is a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (“CTCL”), a rare form of non-Hodgkin
lymphoma, and is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of twelve years commencing upon revenue generation.
Goodwill of $ 9,346,796 represents the value of
LMB’s industry relationships and its assembled workforce. Goodwill will not be amortized but will be tested at least annually for
impairment.
Citius is subject to a number of risks common
to companies in the pharmaceutical industry including, but not limited to, risks related to the development by Citius or its competitors
of research and development stage product candidates, market acceptance of its product candidates that might be approved, competition
from larger companies, dependence on key personnel, dependence on key suppliers and strategic partners, the Company’s ability to
obtain additional financing and the Company’s compliance with governmental and other regulations.
Basis of Presentation and Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation — The accompanying
condensed consolidated financial statements include the operations of Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
Citius Pharmaceuticals, LLC, LMB, and Citius Acquisition Corp., and its majority-owned subsidiary NoveCite. Citius Acquisition Corp. is
currently inactive. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion
of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the condensed consolidated
financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three and six month periods
ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. The operating results for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2022 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the year ending September 30, 2022. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
5
Use of Estimates — Our accounting
principles require our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the
disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Estimates having relatively higher significance include stock-based compensation, accounting for leases, valuation of
warrants, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and changes in estimates may occur.
Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Common Share —
Basic and diluted net loss per common share applicable to common stockholders is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders
in each period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during such period. For the periods presented, common
stock equivalents, consisting of stock options and warrants were not included in the calculation of the diluted loss per share because
they were anti-dilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06, Debt — Debt
with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own
Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity , which, among other
things, provides guidance on how to account for contracts on an entity’s own equity. This ASU eliminates the beneficial conversion
and cash conversion accounting models for convertible instruments. It also amends the accounting for certain contracts in an entity’s
own equity that are currently accounted for as derivatives because of specific settlement provisions. In addition, this ASU modifies how
particular convertible instruments and certain contracts that may be settled in cash or shares impact the diluted EPS computation. The
amendments in this ASU are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021,
including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2020-06 on its consolidated financial statements.
In October
2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Acquired Contract Assets and Contract
Liabilities. Under the new guidance (ASC 805-20-30-28), the acquirer should determine what contract assets and/or contract liabilities
it would have recorded under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 (the revenue guidance) as of the acquisition date,
as if the acquirer had entered into the original contract at the same date and on the same terms as the acquiree. The recognition and
measurement of those contract assets and contract liabilities will likely be comparable to what the acquiree has recorded on its books
under ASC 606 as of the acquisition date. ASU 2021-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim
periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2021-08 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Early adoption is permitted,
including in an interim period, for any period for which financial statements have not yet been issued. However, adoption in an interim
period other than the first fiscal quarter requires an entity to apply the new guidance to all prior business combinations that have occurred
since the beginning of the annual period in which the new guidance is adopted. The Company is currently evaluating the adoption date of
ASU 2021-08 and the impact, if any, adoption will have on its financial position and results of operations.
2. LIQUIDITY AND MANAGEMENT’S PLAN
The accompanying consolidated financial statements
have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal
course of business. The Company experienced negative cash flows from operations of $ 14,316,714 for the six months ended March 31, 2022.
As a result of the Company’s common stock offerings and common stock warrant exercises during the year ended September 30, 2021,
the Company had working capital of approximately $ 54,200,000 at March 31, 2022. The Company estimates that its available cash resources
will be sufficient to fund its operations through March 2023.
The Company has generated no operating revenue
to date and has principally raised capital through the issuance of debt and equity instruments to finance its operations. The Company’s
continued operations beyond March 2023, including its development plans for Mino-Lok, Mino-Wrap, Halo-Lido, NoveCite and I/ONTAK, will
depend on its ability to obtain regulatory approval to market Mino-Lok and/or I/ONTAK and generate substantial revenue from the sale of
Mino-Lok and/or I/ONTAK and on its ability to raise additional capital through various potential sources, such as equity and/or debt financings,
strategic relationships, or out-licensing of its product candidates. However, the Company can provide no assurances on regulatory approval,
commercialization or future sales of Mino-Lok or I/ONTAK or that financing or strategic relationships will be available on acceptable
terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to raise sufficient capital, find strategic partners or generate substantial revenue from the
sale of Mino-Lok or I/ONTAK, there would be a material adverse effect on its business. Further, the Company expects to incur additional
expenses as it continues to develop its product candidates, including seeking regulatory approval, and protecting its intellectual property.
6
3. PATENT AND TECHNOLOGY LICENSE AGREEMENTS
Patent and Technology License Agreement
– Mino-Lok
LMB has a patent and technology license agreement
with Novel Anti-Infective Therapeutics, Inc. (“NAT”) to develop and commercialize Mino-Lok® on an exclusive, worldwide
sub licensable basis, as amended. LMB pays an annual maintenance fee each June until commercial sales of a product subject to the license
commence. The Company recorded an annual maintenance fee of $ 90,000 in June 2021 and 2020.
LMB will also pay annual royalties on net sales
of licensed products, with royalties ranging from the mid-single digits to the low double digits. In limited circumstances in which the
licensed product is not subject to a valid patent claim and a competitor is selling a competing product, the royalty rate is in the low-
to mid-single digits. After a commercial sale is obtained, LMB must pay minimum aggregate annual royalties of $ 100,000 in the first commercial
year which is prorated for a less than 12-month period, increasing $ 25,000 per year to a maximum of $ 150,000 annually. LMB must also pay
NAT up to an aggregate of $ 1,100,000 upon achieving specified regulatory and sales milestones. Finally, LMB must pay NAT a specified percentage
of payments received from any sub-licensees.
Unless earlier terminated by NAT, based on the
failure to achieve certain development and commercial milestones, the license agreement remains in effect until the date that all patents
licensed under the agreement have expired and all patent applications within the licensed patent rights have been cancelled, withdrawn
or expressly abandoned.
Patent and Technology License Agreement
– Mino-Wrap
On January 2, 2019, we entered into a patent and
technology license agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System on behalf of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center (“Licensor”), whereby we in-licensed exclusive worldwide rights to the patented technology for any and all uses
relating to breast implants. We intend to develop a liquefying gel-based wrap containing minocycline and rifampin for the reduction of
infections associated with breast implants following breast reconstructive surgeries (“Mino-Wrap”). We are required to use
commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize Mino-Wrap under several regulatory scenarios and achieve milestones associated with these
regulatory options leading to an approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).
Under the license agreement, the Company paid
an annual maintenance fee of $ 60,000 and $ 45,000 in January 2022 and 2021, respectively. The annual maintenance fee increases by $15,000
per year up to a maximum of $90,000. Annual maintenance fees cease on the first sale of product. We also must pay up to an aggregate of
$2.1 million in milestone payments, contingent on the achievement of various regulatory and commercial milestones. Under the terms of
the license agreement, we also must pay a royalty of mid- to upper-single digit percentages of net sales, depending on the amount of annual
sales, and subject to downward adjustment to lower- to mid-single digit percentages in the event there is no valid patent for the product
in the United States at the time of sale. After the first sale of product, we will owe an annual minimum royalty payment of $100,000 that
will increase annually by $25,000 for the duration of the term. We will be responsible for all patent expenses incurred by Licensor for
the term of the agreement although Licensor is responsible for filing, prosecution and maintenance of all patents. Unless earlier terminated
by Licensor, based upon the failure by us to achieve certain development and commercial milestones or for various breaches by us, the
agreement expires on the later of the expiration of the patents or January 2, 2034 .
License Agreement with Novellus
On March 31, 2020, we entered into an option agreement
with a subsidiary of Novellus, Inc. (“Novellus”) to in-license from Novellus on a worldwide basis, a novel cellular therapy
for acute respiratory distress syndrome (“ARDS”).
7
Our Board Chairman Leonard Mazur, who is also
our largest stockholder, was at the time a significant shareholder of Novellus and subsequent to the option agreement and the license
agreement discussed below, became a director of Novellus. As required by our Code of Ethics, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors
approved the entry into the option agreement with Novellus, as did the disinterested members of our Board of Directors.
On October 6, 2020, our subsidiary, NoveCite,
exercised the option and signed an exclusive license agreement with Novellus. Upon execution of the agreement, we paid $ 5,000,000 to Novellus,
which was charged to research and development expense in the three-month period ended December 31, 2020, and issued Novellus shares of
NoveCite’s common stock representing 25 % of the outstanding equity. We own the other 75 % of NoveCite’s outstanding equity.
Pursuant to the terms of the stock subscription agreement between Novellus and NoveCite, if NoveCite issued additional equity, subject
to certain exceptions, NoveCite had to maintain Novellus’s ownership at 25 % by issuing additional shares to Novellus.
Citius is responsible for the operational activities
of NoveCite, and bears all costs necessary to operate NoveCite. Citius’s officers are also the officers of NoveCite and oversee
the business strategy and operations of NoveCite. As such, NoveCite is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary with a noncontrolling
interest.
Novellus has no contractual rights in the profits
or obligations to share in the losses of NoveCite, and the Company has not allocated any losses to the noncontrolling interest.
NoveCite is obligated to pay Novellus up to an
aggregate of $51,000,000 upon the achievement of various regulatory and developmental milestones. NoveCite also must pay a royalty equal
to low double-digit percentages of net sales, commencing upon the sale of a licensed product. This royalty is subject to downward adjustment
to an upper-single digit percentage of net sales in any country in the event of the expiration of the last valid patent claim or if no
valid patent claim exists in that country. The royalty will end on the earlier of (i) the date on which a biosimilar product is first
marketed, sold, or distributed in the applicable country or (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of expiration of the last-to-expire
valid patent claim in that country. In the case of a country where no licensed patent ever exists, the royalty will end on the later of
(i) the date of expiry of such licensed product’s regulatory exclusivity and (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of the first
commercial sale of the licensed product in the applicable country. In addition, NoveCite will pay to Novellus an amount equal to a mid-twenties
percentage of any sublicensee fees it receives.
Under the terms of the license agreement, in the
event that Novellus receives any revenue involving the original cell line included in the licensed technology, then Novellus shall remit
to NoveCite 50 % of such revenue.
The term of the license agreement will continue
on a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term. Either
party may terminate the license agreement upon written notice if the other party is in material default. NoveCite may terminate the license
agreement at any time without cause upon 90 days prior written notice.
Novellus will be responsible for preparing, filing,
prosecuting and maintaining all patent applications and patents included in the licensed patents in the territory, provided however, that
if Novellus decides that it is not interested in maintaining a particular licensed patent or in preparing, filing, or prosecuting a licensed
patent, NoveCite will have the right, but not the obligation, to assume such responsibilities in the territory at NoveCite’s sole
cost and expense.
In July 2021, Novellus was acquired by Brooklyn
ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (“Brooklyn”). In connection with that transaction, the stock subscription agreement between Novellus
and NoveCite was amended to assign to Brooklyn all of Novellus’s right, title, and interest in the stock subscription agreement
and delete the anti-dilution protection and replace it with a right of first refusal whereby Brooklyn will have the right to purchase
all or a portion of the securities that NoveCite intends to sell or in the alternative, at the option of NoveCite, Brooklyn may purchase
that amount of the securities proposed to be sold by NoveCite to allow Brooklyn to maintain its then percentage ownership.
License Agreement with Eisai
In September 2021, the Company entered into a
definitive agreement with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories SA, a subsidiary of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Ltd. (collectively, "Dr. Reddy's"),
to acquire its exclusive license of I/ONTAK (denileukin diftitox), a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of CTCL, a rare
form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
8
Under the terms of this agreement, Citius acquired
Dr. Reddy's exclusive license of I/ONTAK from Eisai Co., Ltd. ("Eisai") and other related assets owned by Dr. Reddy's. Citius's
exclusive license includes rights to develop and commercialize I/ONTAK in all markets except for Japan and certain parts of Asia. Additionally,
Citius retained an option on the right to develop and market the product in India. Eisai retains exclusive development and marketing rights
for the agent in Japan and Asia. Citius paid a $40 million upfront payment which represents the acquisition date fair value of the in-process
research and development acquired from Dr. Reddy’s. Dr. Reddy’s is entitled to up to an aggregate of $40 million in development
milestone payments related to CTCL approvals in the U.S. and other markets, up to an aggregate of $70 million in development milestones
for additional indications, as well as commercial milestone payments and low double-digit tiered royalties on net product sales, and up
to an aggregate of $300 million for commercial sales milestones. We also must pay on a fiscal quarter basis tiered royalties equal to
low double-digit percentages of net product sales. The royalties will end on the earlier of (i) the 15-year anniversary of the first commercial
sale of the latest indication that received regulatory approval in the applicable country and (ii) the date on which a biosimilar product
results in the reduction of net sales in the applicable product by 50% in two consecutive quarters, as compared to the four quarters prior
to the first commercial sale of the biosimilar product. We will also pay to Dr. Reddy’s an amount equal to a low-thirties percentage
of any sublicense upfront consideration or milestone payments (or the like) received by us and the greater of (i) a low-thirties percentage
of any sublicensee sales-based royalties or (ii) a mid-single digit percentage of such licensee’s net sales.
Under the license agreement, Eisai is to receive
a $6.0 million development milestone payment upon initial approval and additional commercial milestone payments related to the achievement
of net product sales thresholds (which increases to $7 million in the event we have exercised our option to add India to the licensed
territory prior to FDA approval) and up to an aggregate of $22 million related to the achievement of net product sales thresholds. We
also are required to reimburse Eisai for up to $2.65 million of its costs to complete the ongoing Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial for I/ONTAK
for the CTCL indication and reimburse Eisai for all reasonable costs associated with the preparation of a BLA for I/ONTAK. Eisai will
be responsible for completing the current CTCL clinical trial, and chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) activities through the
filing of a BLA for I/ONTAK with the FDA. Citius will be responsible for development costs associated with potential additional indications.
The term of the license
agreement will continue until (i) if there has not been a commercial sale of a licensed product in the territory, until the 10-year anniversary
of the original license effective date, March 30, 2016, or (ii) if there has been a first commercial sale of a licensed product in the
territory within the 10-year anniversary of the original license effective date, the 10-year anniversary of the first commercial sale
on a country-by-country basis. The term of the license may be extended for additional 10-year periods for all countries in the territory
by notifying Eisai and paying an extension fee equal to $10 million. Either party may terminate the license agreement upon written notice
if the other party is in material breach of the agreement, subject to cure within the designated time periods. Either party also may terminate
the license agreement immediately upon written notice if the other party files for bankruptcy or takes related actions or is unable to
pay its debts as they become due. Additionally, either party will have the right to terminate the agreement if the other party directly
or indirectly challenges the patentability, enforceability or validity of any licensed patent.
Also under the agreement
with Dr. Reddy’s, we are required to (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to make commercially available products in the CTCL
indication, peripheral T-cell lymphoma indication and immuno-oncology indication, (ii) initiate two investigator initiated immuno-oncology
trials, (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to achieve each of the approval milestones, and (iv) complete each specified immuno-oncology
investigator trial on or before the four-year anniversary of the effective date of the definitive agreement. Additionally, we are required
to commercially launch a product in a territory within six months of receiving regulatory approval for such product in each such jurisdiction.
4. NOTES PAYABLE
Notes Payable – Related Parties
Prior to June 31, 2021, we had outstanding notes
payable held by our Chairman, Leonard Mazur, in the amount of $ 160,470 and notes payable held by our then Chief Executive Officer, Myron
Holubiak, in the amount of $ 12,500 . Notes with a principal balance of $104,000 accrued interest at the prime rate plus 1.0% per annum
and notes with a principal balance of $68,970 accrued interest at 12% per annum.
9
In June 2021, we repaid the $ 172,970 principal
balance of these notes and paid accrued interest of $ 38,917 . Accrued interest of $ 59,917 was forgiven and was recorded as other income
in the year ended September 30, 2021.
Interest expense on notes payable – related
parties was $ 3,533 and $ 7,096 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively.
Paycheck Protection Program
On April 12, 2020, the Company applied for a forgivable
loan through the Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). The loan accrued interest
at a rate of 1% and was forgivable if it was used to pay qualifying costs such as payroll, rent and utilities. On April 15, 2020, the
Company received $164,583 from the PPP.
On July 28, 2021, the Small Business Administration
gave full forgiveness of the PPP loan and the Company recorded a gain from debt extinguishment of $ 166,557 consisting of the principal
balance and related accrued interest expense.
Interest expense was $ 406 and $ 811 for the three
and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively.
5. COMMON STOCK, STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Authorized Common Stock
On June 21, 2021, our stockholders approved an
amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of capital stock from 210,000,000 to 410,000,000
and the authorized number of common shares from 200,000,000 to 400,000,000 .
Common Stock Offerings
On January 27, 2021, the Company closed a private
placement for 15,455,960 common shares and warrants to purchase 7,727,980 common shares, at a purchase price of $1.294 per common
share and accompanying warrant, for gross proceeds of $20,000,012. The 7,727,980 warrants are immediately exercisable at $1.231 per common
share for a term of five and one-half years. The Company paid the placement agent a fee of 7% of the gross proceeds totaling $1,400,001
and issued the placement agent 1,081,917 immediately exercisable warrants at $1.6175 per common share for a term of five and one-half
years. The Company also reimbursed the placement agent for $85,000 in expenses and incurred $64,601 in other expenses. Net proceeds from
the offering were $18,450,410. The estimated fair value of the 7,727,980 warrants issued to the investors was approximately $7,582,000
and the estimated fair value of the 1,081,917 warrants issued to the placement agent was approximately $1,025,000.
On February 19, 2021, the Company closed a registered
direct offering for 50,830,566 common shares and warrants to purchase up to 25,415,283 common shares, at a purchase price of $1.505 per
share of common stock and accompanying warrant, for gross proceeds of $76,500,002. The 25,415,283 warrants are immediately exercisable
at $1.70 per common share for a term of five years. The Company paid the placement agent a fee of 7% of the gross proceeds totaling $5,355,000
and issued the placement agent 3,558,140 immediately exercisable warrants at $1.881 per common share for a term of five years.
The Company also reimbursed the placement agent for $85,000 in expenses and incurred $80,160 in other expenses. Net proceeds from the
offering were $70,979,842. The estimated fair value of the 25,415,283 warrants issued to the investors was approximately $42,322,000 and
the estimated fair value of the 3,558,140 warrants issued to the placement agent was approximately $5,850,000.
Common Stock Issued for Services
On November 2, 2021, the Company issued 50,201
shares of common stock for investor relations services and expensed the $ 95,884 fair value of the common stock issued.
On March 21, 2022, the Company issued 100,000
shares of common stock for media, public and investor relations services and expensed the $ 178,000 fair value of the common stock issued.
10
Stock Option Plans
Pursuant to our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, we
reserved 866,667 common shares for issuance to employees, directors and consultants. As of March 31, 2022, options to purchase 855,171
shares were outstanding and no shares remain available for future grants.
On February 7, 2018, our stockholders approved
the 2018 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan and we reserved 2,000,000 common shares for issuance to employees, directors and consultants. As
of March 31, 2022, options to purchase 1,820,000 shares were outstanding.
On February 10, 2020, our stockholders approved
the 2020 Stock Plan and we reserved 3,110,000 common shares for issuance to employees, directors, and consultants. As of March 31, 2022,
options to purchase 1,870,000 shares were outstanding and the remaining 1,240,000 shares were transferred to the 2021 Omnibus Stock Incentive
Plan (“2021 Stock Plan”).
On May 24, 2021, our stockholders approved the
2021 Stock Plan and we reserved 8,740,000 shares for issuance to employees, directors, and consultants through options, SARs, dividend
equivalent rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, or other rights. As of March 31, 2022, options to purchase 4,775,000 shares
were outstanding and there were 3,965,000 shares available for future grants.
The fair value of each stock option award is estimated
on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve
in effect at the time of grant commensurate with the expected term assumption. The expected term of stock options granted, all of which
qualify as “plain vanilla,” is based on the average of the contractual term (generally 10 years) and the vesting period.
For non-employee options, the expected term is the contractual term.
A summary of option activity under our stock option
plans (excluding the NoveCite Stock Plan) is presented below:
Option
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at October 1, 2021
5,755,171
$ 2.13
8.02 years
$ 3,589,392
Granted
3,565,000
1.98
Exercised
—
—
Forfeited or expired
—
—
Outstanding at March 31, 2022
9,320,171
$ 2.07
8.30 years
$ 2,748,165
Exercisable at March 31, 2022
3,555,534
$ 2.50
6.74 years
$ 1,766,476
On October 11, 2021, the Board of Directors granted
options to purchase 2,515,000 shares to employees, 375,000 shares to directors and 175,000 shares to consultants at $ 2.04 per share. On
November 1, 2021, the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 200,000 shares to an employee at $ 1.87 per share. During January
and February 2022, options to purchase 300,000 shares were granted to three new employees at exercise prices ranging from $ 1.44 to $ 1.49
per share. The weighted average grant date fair value of the options granted during the six months ended March 31, 2022 was estimated
at $ 1.69 per share. All of these options vest over terms of 12 to 36 months and have a term of 10 years.
On October 6, 2020, the Board of Directors granted
stock options to purchase a total of 800,000 shares to employees, 175,000 shares to directors and 125,000 shares to consultants at $ 1.01
per share. On February 16, 2021, the Board of Directors granted stock options to purchase a total of 125,000 shares to directors at $ 1.69
per share. The weighted average grant date fair value of the options granted during the six months ended March 31, 2021 was estimated
at $ 0.93 per share. All of these options vest over terms of 12 to 36 months and have a term of 10 years.
Stock-based compensation expense for the three
months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $1,020,998 (including $33,333 for the NoveCite Stock Plan) and $342,962 (including $18,833 for
the NoveCite Stock Plan), respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $1,925,602
(including $66,666 for the NoveCite Stock Plan) and $619,544 (including $31,389 for the NoveCite Stock Plan), respectively.
11
At March 31, 2022, unrecognized total compensation
cost related to unvested awards under the Citius stock plans of $ 7,151,673 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period
of 2.3 years.
On November 5, 2020, the stockholders of NoveCite,
approved NoveCite’s Stock Plan and we reserved 2,000,000 common shares of NoveCite for issuance. The NoveCite Stock Plan provides
incentives to employees, directors, and consultants through grants of options, SARs, dividend equivalent rights, restricted stock, restricted
stock units, or other rights. As of March 31, 2022, there were options outstanding to purchase 2,000,000 common shares of NoveCite and
no shares available for future grants.
As of March 31, 2022, NoveCite has options outstanding
to purchase 2,000,000 common shares at a weighted average exercise price of $0.24 per share, of which 376,665 are exercisable. All of
these options vest over 36 months and have a term of 10 years. The weighted average remaining contractual term of options outstanding
under the NoveCite Stock Plan is 8.9 years. At March 31, 2022, unrecognized total compensation cost related to unvested awards under the
NoveCite Stock Plan of $249,778 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.
Warrants
As of March 31, 2022, we have reserved shares
of common stock for the exercise of outstanding warrants as follows:
Exercise
price
Number
Expiration Date
LMB Warrants
$ 7.50
5,795
April 29, 2022
2017 Public Offering Investors
4.13
1,622,989
August 2, 2022
2017 Public Offering Underwriter
4.54
65,940
February 2, 2023
December 2017 Registered Direct/Private Placement Offering Investors
4.63
640,180
June 19, 2023
December 2017 Registered Direct/Private Placement Offering Placement Agent
5.87
89,625
December 19, 2022
March 2018 Registered Direct/Private Placement Offering Investors
2.86
218,972
October 2, 2023
March 2018 Registered Direct/Private Placement Offering Placement Agent
3.73
46,866
March 28, 2023
August 2018 Offering Investors
1.15
3,921,569
August 14, 2023
August 2018 Offering Agent
1.59
189,412
August 8, 2023
April 2019 Registered Direct/Private Placement Offering Investors
1.42
1,294,498
April 5, 2024
April 2019 Registered Direct/Private Placement Offering Placement Agent
1.93
240,130
April 5, 2024
September 2019 Offering Investors
0.77
2,793,297
September 27, 2024
September 2019 Offering Underwriter
1.12
194,358
September 27, 2024
February 2020 Exercise Agreement Placement Agent
1.28
138,886
August 19, 2025
May 2020 Registered Direct Offering Investors
1.00
1,670,588
November 18, 2025
May 2020 Registered Direct Offering Placement Agent
1.33
155,647
May 14, 2025
August 2020 Underwriter
1.31
201,967
August 10, 2025
January 2021 Private Placement Offering Investors
1.23
3,091,192
July 27, 2026
January 2021 Private Placement Offering Agent
1.62
351,623
July 27, 2026
February 2021 Registered Direct Offering Investors
1.70
20,580,283
February 19, 2026
February 2021 Registered Direct Offering Agent
1.88
2,506,396
February 19, 2026
40,020,213
At March 31, 2022, the weighted average remaining
life of the outstanding warrants is 3.3 years, all warrants are exercisable, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the warrants outstanding
was $ 11,206,022 .
12
Common
Stock Reserved
A
summary of common stock reserved for future issuances as of March 31, 2022 is as follows:
Stock
plan options outstanding
9,320,171
Stock
plan shares available for future grants
3,965,000
Warrants
outstanding
40,020,213
Total
53,305,384
6. RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Company had outstanding debt due to Leonard Mazur (Chairman of the Board) and Myron Holubiak (then Chief Executive Officer) (see Note
4).
Leonard
Mazur was a director and significant shareholder of Novellus until July 2021. On October 6, 2020, the Company, through its subsidiary
NoveCite, entered into an exclusive agreement with Novellus to develop cellular therapies (see Note 3).
In
April 2021, we extended the term by three years for 1,294,498 warrants held by our Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer (see Note
5).
7.
OPERATING LEASE
Effective
July 1, 2019, Citius entered into a 76-month lease for office space in Cranford, NJ. Citius will pay its proportionate share of real
estate taxes and operating expenses in excess of the base year expenses. These costs are considered to be variable lease payments and
are not included in the determination of the lease’s right-of-use asset or lease liability.
The
Company identified and assessed the following significant assumptions in recognizing its right-of-use assets and corresponding lease
liabilities:
● As
the Company’s lease does not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimated the incremental
borrowing rate in calculating the present value of the lease payments based on the remaining
lease term as of the adoption date.
● Since
the Company elected to account for each lease component and its associated non-lease components
as a single combined component, all contract consideration was allocated to the combined
lease component.
● The
expected lease terms include noncancelable lease periods.
The
elements of lease expense are as follows:
Lease
cost
Six Months
Ended
March 31,
2022
Six Months
Ended
March 31,
2021
Operating
lease cost
$ 119,411
$ 119,412
Variable
lease cost
—
194
Total
lease cost
119,411
$ 119,606
Other
information
Weighted-average
remaining lease term - operating leases
3.6 Years
4.6 Years
Weighted-average
discount rate - operating leases
8.0 %
8.0 %
13
Maturities
of lease liabilities due under the Company’s non-cancellable leases as of March 31, 2022 is as follows:
Year
Ending September 30,
March
31,
2022
2022
(excluding the 6 months ended March 31, 2022)
$ 120,260
2023
244,165
2024
249,024
2025
253,883
2026
21,460
Total
lease payments
888,792
Less:
interest
( 119,574 )
Present
value of lease liabilities
$ 769,218
Leases
Classification
March
31,
2022
September 30,
2021
Assets
Lease
asset
Operating
$ 736,209
$ 822,828
Total
lease assets
$ 736,209
$ 822,828
Liabilities
Current
Operating
$ 186,916
$ 177,237
Non-current
Operating
582,302
678,234
Total
lease liabilities
$ 769,218
$ 855,471
Interest
expense on the lease liability was $ 32,792 and $ 39,300 for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
14
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2022
should be read together with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report and
in conjunction with the audited financial statements of Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended September 30, 2021. The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our future
plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed
in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions
or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results and the differences can be material. Please see “Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page ii of this Report.
Historical
Background
Citius
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Citius,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”) is a late-stage biopharmaceutical
company developing and commercializing first-in-class critical care products. On September 12, 2014, we acquired Citius Pharmaceuticals,
LLC as a wholly-owned subsidiary and on March 30, 2016, we acquired Leonard-Meron Biosciences, Inc. (“LMB”) as a wholly-owned
subsidiary. On September 11, 2020, we formed NoveCite, Inc. (“NoveCite”), a Delaware corporation, of which we own 75% of
the issued and outstanding capital stock. On August 23, 2021, we formed Citius Acquisition Corp., as a wholly-owned subsidiary, but no
activity has occurred to date.
Through
March 31, 2022, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, acquiring our proprietary technology,
research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital.
Patent
and Technology License Agreements
Our
patent and technology license agreements are discussed in the footnotes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in
this Report.
Mino-Lok®
- LMB has a patent and technology license agreement with Novel Anti-Infective Therapeutics, Inc. (“NAT”) to develop and
commercialize Mino-Lok® on an exclusive, worldwide sub-licensable basis. Since May 2014, LMB has paid an annual maintenance fee,
which began at $30,000 and that increased over five years to $90,000, where it will remain until the commencement of commercial sales
of a product subject to the license. LMB will also pay annual royalties on net sales of licensed products, with royalties ranging from
the mid-single digits to the low double digits or, in the event the licensed product is not subject to a valid patent claim, the royalty
is reduced to mid- to lower-single digits. In limited circumstances in which the licensed product is not subject to a valid patent claim
and a competitor is selling a competing product, the royalty rate is in the low single digits. After a commercial sale is obtained, LMB
must pay minimum aggregate annual royalties that increase in subsequent years. LMB must also pay NAT up to an aggregate of $1,100,000
upon achieving specified regulatory and sales milestones. Finally, LMB must pay NAT a specified percentage of payments received from
any sub licensees.
15
Mino-Wrap
- On January 2, 2019, we entered into a patent and technology license agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas
System on behalf of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (“Licensor”), whereby we in-licensed exclusive worldwide
rights to the patented technology for any and all uses relating to breast implants. We intend to develop a liquefying gel-based wrap
containing minocycline and rifampin for the reduction of infections associated with breast implants following breast reconstructive surgeries
(“Mino-Wrap”). We are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize Mino-Wrap under several regulatory
scenarios and achieve milestones associated with these regulatory options leading to an approval from the Food and Drug Administration
(“FDA”).
Under
the license agreement, we paid a nonrefundable upfront payment of $125,000. We paid annual maintenance fees of $60,000 and $45,000 in
January 2022 and 2021, respectively. The annual maintenance fee increases annually by $15,000 per year up to a maximum of $90,000. Annual
maintenance fees cease on the first sale of product. We also must pay up to an aggregate of $2.1 million in milestone payments, contingent
on the achievement of various regulatory and commercial milestones. Under the terms of the license agreement, we also must pay a royalty
of mid- to upper-single digit percentages of net sales, depending on the amount of annual sales, and subject to downward adjustment to
lower- to mid-single digit percentages in the event there is no valid patent for the product in the United States at the time of sale.
After the first sale of product, we will owe an annual minimum royalty payment of $100,000 that will increase annually by $25,000 for
the duration of the term. We will be responsible for all patent expenses incurred by Licensor for the term of the agreement although
Licensor is responsible for filing, prosecution and maintenance of all patents.
NoveCite
– On October 6, 2020, our subsidiary NoveCite entered into a license agreement with Novellus Therapeutics Limited (“Licensor”),
to develop and commercialize a stem cell therapy based on the Licensor’s patented technology for the treatment of acute pneumonitis
of any etiology in which inflammation is a major agent in humans. NoveCite paid a $5,000,000 license fee and issued 25% of its outstanding
equity to the Licensor. We own the other 75% of NoveCite’s currently outstanding equity. If NoveCite issues additional equity,
subject to certain exceptions, NoveCite had to maintain Novellus’s ownership at 25% by issuing additional shares to Novellus. In
July 2021, Novellus was acquired by Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (“Brooklyn”). In that transaction, the stock subscription
agreement between Novellus and NoveCite was amended to delete the anti-dilution protection and replace it with a right of first refusal
whereby Brooklyn will have the right to purchase all or a portion of the securities that NoveCite intends to sell or in the alternative,
at the option of NoveCite, Brooklyn may purchase that amount of the securities proposed to be sold by NoveCite to allow Brooklyn to maintain
its then percentage ownership.
Under
the license agreement, NoveCite is obligated to pay Licensor up to an aggregate of $51,000,000 in regulatory and developmental milestone
payments. NoveCite also must pay a royalty equal to low double-digit percentages of net sales, commencing upon the first commercial sale
of a licensed product. This royalty is subject to downward adjustment on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis to an upper-single
digit percentage of net sales in any country in the event of the expiration of the last valid patent claim or if no valid patent claim
exists in that country. The royalty will end on the earlier of (i) the date on which a biosimilar product is first marketed, sold, or
distributed by Licensor or any third party in the applicable country or (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of expiration of the
last-to-expire valid patent claim in that country. In the case of a country where no licensed patent ever exists, the royalty will end
on the later of (i) the date of expiry of such licensed product’s regulatory exclusivity and (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the
date of the first commercial sale of the licensed product in the applicable country. In addition, NoveCite will pay to Licensor an amount
equal to a mid-twenties percentage of any sublicensee fees it receives.
Under
the terms of the license agreement, in the event that Licensor receives any revenue involving the original cell line included in the
licensed technology, then Licensor shall remit to NoveCite 50% of such revenue.
I/ONTAK
- In September 2021 the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories SA,
a subsidiary of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd. (collectively, “Dr. Reddy's”) to acquire its exclusive license of I/ONTAK
(formerly E7777) (denileukin diftitox), a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (“CTCL”),
a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
16
Under
the terms of this agreement, Citius acquired Dr. Reddy's exclusive license of I/ONTAK from Eisai Co., Ltd. (“Eisai”) and
other related assets owned by Dr. Reddy's. Citius's exclusive license rights include rights to develop and commercialize E7777 in all
markets except for Japan and certain parts of Asia. Additionally, Citius has an option on the right to develop and market the product
in India. Eisai retains exclusive development and marketing rights for the agent in Japan and Asia. Dr. Reddy's received a $40 million
upfront payment and is entitled to up to an aggregate of $40 million in development milestone payments related to CTCL approvals in the
U.S. and other markets, up to an aggregate of $70 million in development milestones for additional indications, as well as commercial
milestone payments and low double-digit tiered royalties on net product sales. Eisai is to receive a $6 million development milestone
payment upon initial approval and additional commercial milestone payments related to the achievement of net product sales thresholds.
Eisai will be responsible for completing the current CTCL clinical trial, and chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) activities
through the filing of a biologics license application (“BLA”) for I/ONTAK with the FDA. Citius will be responsible for development
costs associated with potential additional indications.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Three
months ended March 31, 2022 compared with the three months ended March 31, 2021
Three
Months Ended
March 31,
2022
Three
Months Ended
March 31,
2021
Revenues
$ —
$ —
Operating expenses:
Research
and development
3,452,210
1,551,341
General
and administrative
3,117,417
2,293,517
Stock-based
compensation expense
1,020,998
342,962
Total
operating expenses
7,590,625
4,187,820
Operating loss
(7,590,625 )
(4,187,820 )
Interest
income
29,571
69,327
Interest
expense
—
(3,939 )
Net loss
$ (7,561,054 )
$ (4,122,432 )
Revenues
We
did not generate any revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022 or 2021.
Research
and Development Expenses
For
the three months ended March 31, 2022, research and development expenses were $3,452,210 as compared to $1,551,341 during the three months
ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $1,900,869.
Research
and development costs for Mino-Lok® decreased by $203,699 to $906,632 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to $1,110,331
for the three months ended March 31, 2021 due primarily to increased costs related to catheter integrity testing incurred in the three
months ended March 31, 2021.
Research
and development costs for our Halo-Lido product candidate increased by $461,201 to $703,900 for the three months ended March 31, 2022
as compared to $242,699 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 due to start-up costs associated with the Phase 2b trial which is expected
to begin in the quarter ending June 30, 2022. . On February 15, 2022, Citius announced that the FDA issued a Study May Proceed Letter
for our Phase 2b Halo-Lido study.
Research
and development costs for our I/ONTAK product candidate, which we in-licensed in September 2021, was $1,582,571 during the three months
ended March 31, 2022. On April 6, 2022, Citius announced the topline results from the pivotal Phase 3 trial and based on this data, Citius
anticipates filing a BLA with the FDA in the second half of 2022.
We
expect that research and development expenses will continue to increase in fiscal 2022 as we continue to focus on our Phase 3 trials
for Mino-Lok® and I/ONTAK, progress the Halo-Lido product candidate and continue our research and development efforts related to
ARDS and Mino-Wrap.
17
General
and Administrative Expenses
For
the three months ended March 31, 2022, general and administrative expenses were $3,117,417 as compared to $2,293,517 during the three
months ended March 31, 2021. General and administrative expenses increased by $823,900 in comparison with the prior period. The primary
reasons for the increase were additional compensation costs for new employees, increased investor relations costs and additional insurance
expense. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation costs, professional fees for legal, regulatory, accounting,
and corporate development services, and investor relations expenses.
Stock-based
Compensation Expense
For
the three months ended March 31, 2022, stock-based compensation expense was $1,020,998 as compared to $342,962 for the three months ended
March 31, 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, stock-based compensation includes $33,333 in expense for the NoveCite stock
option plan that was adopted in November 2020 as compared to $18,833 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Stock-based compensation
expense for the most recently completed quarter increased by $678,036 in comparison to the prior period primarily due to new grants made
to employees (including new hires), directors and consultants.
Other
Income (Expense)
Interest
income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $29,571 as compared to interest income of $69,327 for the prior period. We have
invested the remaining proceeds of our early 2021 equity offerings and common stock warrant exercises in money market accounts.
There
was no interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to $3,939 in interest expense for the three months ended
March 31, 2021. Interest expense was $3,533 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 on the notes payable – related parties that
were repaid in full in June 2021. Interest expense was $406 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 on the Paycheck Protection Program
loan that was forgiven in July 2021.
Net
Loss
For
the three months ended March 31, 2022, we incurred a net loss of $7,561,054 compared to a net loss for the three months ended March 31,
2021 of $4,122,432. The $3,438,622 increase in the net loss was primarily due to the increase of $1,900,869 increase in research and
development expenses and the $823,900 increase in general and administrative expenses.
Six
months ended March 31, 2022 compared with the six months ended March 31, 2021
Six
Months Ended
March 31,
2022
Six
Months Ended
March 31,
2021
Revenues
$ —
$ —
Operating expenses:
Research
and development
8,910,059
7,742,520
General
and administrative
6,014,166
3.982,181
Stock-based
compensation expense
1,925,602
619,544
Total
operating expenses
16,849,827
12,344,245
Operating loss
(16,849,827 )
(12,344,245 )
Interest
income
63,553
82,811
Interest
expense
—
(7,907 )
Net loss
$ (16,786,274 )
$ (12,269,341 )
Revenues
We
did not generate any revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2022 or 2021.
Research
and Development Expenses
For
the six months ended March 31, 2022, research and development expenses were $8,910,059 as compared to $7,742,520 during the six months
ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $1,167,539.
Research
and development costs for our Halo-Lido product candidate increased by $1,227,904 to $1,701,477 for the six months ended March 31, 2022
as compared to $473,573 for the six months ended March 31, 2021 due to start-up costs associated with the Phase 2b trial which is expected
to begin in the quarter ending June 30, 2022. On February 15, 2022, Citius announced that the FDA issued a Study May Proceed Letter for
our Phase 2b Halo-Lido study.
18
During
the six months ended March 31, 2022, research and development costs for our proposed novel cellular therapy for ARDS decreased by $4,731,973
to $651,753 as compared to $5,383,726 for the six months ended March 31, 2021. We expensed the $5,000,000 license fee paid to Novellus
during the six months ended March 31, 2021.
Research
and development costs for our I/ONTAK product candidate, which we in-licensed in September 2021, was $4,520,366 during the six months
ended March 31, 2022. On April 6, 2022, Citius announced the topline results from the pivotal Phase 3 trial and based on this data, Citius
anticipates filing a BLA with the FDA in the second half of 2022.
We
expect that research and development expenses will continue to increase in fiscal 2022 as we continue to focus on our Phase 3 trials
for Mino-Lok® and I/ONTAK, progress the Halo-Lido product candidate and continue our research and development efforts related to
ARDS and Mino-Wrap.
General
and Administrative Expenses
For
the six months ended March 31, 2022, general and administrative expenses were $6,014,166 as compared to $3,982,181 during the six months
ended March 31, 2021. General and administrative expenses increased by $2,031,985 in comparison with the prior period. The primary reasons
for the increase were additional compensation costs for new employees, increased investor relations costs and additional insurance expense.
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation costs, professional fees for legal, regulatory, accounting, and
corporate development services, and investor relations expenses.
Stock-based
Compensation Expense
For
the six months ended March 31, 2022, stock-based compensation expense was $1,925,602 as compared to $619,544 for the six months ended
March 31, 2021. For the six months ended March 31, 2022, stock-based compensation includes $66,666 in expense for the NoveCite stock
option plan that was adopted in November 2020 as compared to $31,389 for the six months ended March 31, 2021. Stock-based compensation
expense for the most recently completed quarter increased by $1,306,058 in comparison to the prior period primarily due to new grants
made to employees (including new hires), directors and consultants.
Other
Income (Expense)
Interest
income for the six months ended March 31, 2022 was $63,553 as compared to interest income of $82,811 for the prior period. We have invested
the remaining proceeds of our early 2021 equity offerings and common stock warrant exercises in money market accounts.
There
was no interest expense for the six months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to $7,907 in interest expense for the six months ended March
31, 2021. Interest expense was $7,096 for the six months ended March 31, 2021 on the notes payable – related parties that were
repaid in full in June 2021. Interest expense was $811 for the six months ended March 31, 2021 on the Paycheck Protection Program loan
that was forgiven in July 2021.
Net
Loss
For
the six months ended March 31, 2022, we incurred a net loss of $16,786,274 compared to a net loss for the six months ended March 31,
2021 of $12,269,341. The $4,516,933 increase in the net loss was primarily due to the increase of $1,167,539 in research and development
expenses and the increase of $2,031,985 in general and administrative expenses.
19
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
and Working Capital
Citius
has incurred operating losses since inception and incurred a net loss of $16,786,274 for the six months ended March 31, 2022. At March
31, 2022, Citius had an accumulated deficit of $112,834,095. Citius’ net cash used in operations during the six months ended March
31, 2022 was $14,316,714.
As
a result of the Company’s common stock offerings and common stock warrant exercises during the year ended September 30, 2021, the
Company had working capital of approximately $54,200,000 at March 31, 2022. At March 31, 2022, Citius had cash and cash equivalents of
$55,756,232 available to fund its operations. The Company’s primary sources of cash flow since inception have been from financing
activities. Our primary uses of operating cash were for in-licensing of intellectual property, product development and commercialization
activities, employee compensation, consulting fees, legal and accounting fees, insurance and investor relations expenses.
Based
on our cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2022, we expect that we will have sufficient funds to continue our operations through March
2023. We expect to need to raise additional capital in the future to support our operations beyond March 2023. There is no assurance,
however, that we will be successful in raising the needed capital or that the proceeds will be received in an amount or in a timely manner
to support our operations.
Inflation
Our
management believes that inflation has not had a material effect on our results of operations.
Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
We
do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and
the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the amounts of revenues and expenses
recorded during the reporting periods. We base our estimates on historical experience, where applicable, and other assumptions that we
believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from our estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our
critical accounting policies and use of estimates are discussed in, and should be read in conjunction with, the annual consolidated financial
statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021 as filed with the
SEC.
20
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not
applicable.
Item
4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports
filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the specified time periods and accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer
and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Our
Chief Executive Officer (who is our principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (who is our principal financial officer
and principal accounting officer), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2022. In designing and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures,
we recognize that any disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance
of achieving the desired control objective. As of March 31, 2022, based on the evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures,
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring
that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Changes
In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected,
or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
21
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
There
has been no change in the Company’s risk factors since the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 15, 2021.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On
March 21, 2022, we issued 100,000 shares of our common stock to a consultant for investor relations services pursuant to the agreed upon
compensation terms in the consulting agreement with the entity. The issuance of the shares was exempt from registration under Section
4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item
4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not
applicable.
Item
5. Other Information
None.
22
Item
6. Exhibits
10.1
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Myron Holubiak and Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated April 12, 2022 and effective May 1, 2022. *
31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).*
31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).*
32.1
Certification of the Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.*
EX-101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document*
EX-101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document *
EX-101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
EX-101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*
EX-101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
EX-101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
EX-104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
* Filed
herewith.
23
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Date: May 12, 2022
By:
/s/ Leonard
Mazur
Leonard Mazur
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 12, 2022
By:
/s/ Jaime
Bartushak
Jaime Bartushak
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
24
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.