Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth
in this Report, consider the risk factors discussed in Part 1, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report filed
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021, and the risk factors discussed
in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described
in the aforementioned report are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the
Company or that it currently deems to be not material also may materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition
and or operating results.
The following are the risk factors that have materially
changed from our risk factors included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 11,
2021:
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Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
We will need to grow our Company, and we may encounter difficulties
in managing this growth, which could disrupt our operations.
As
of March 31, 2021, we had 13 employees. To manage our anticipated future growth, we must continue to implement and improve
our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel.
Also, our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from our day-to-day activities and devote a substantial
amount of time to managing these growth activities. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion
of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, give rise
to operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. The physical
expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert financial resources from other projects. If our management is
unable to effectively manage our future growth, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate revenue could be
reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our
product candidates and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The value of our warrants outstanding
from the November 2019 Offering is subject to potentially material increases and decreases based on fluctuations in the price of
our common stock.
In November 2019,
we completed a public offering of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock (the “November 2019 Offering”).
Gross proceeds from the November 2019 Offering were approximately $6.0 million. In the November 2019 Offering, the Company sold
(i) 10,450,000 Class A Units, with each Class A Unit consisting of one share of common stock and a common stock warrant
to purchase one share of common stock, and (ii) 1,550,000 Class B Units, with each Class B Unit consisting of one pre-funded
warrant to purchase one share of a common stock and one common stock warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $0.50
per Class A Unit and $0.4999 per Class B Unit. The pre-funded warrants were issued in lieu of common stock in order to ensure
the purchaser did not exceed certain beneficial ownership limitations. The pre-funded warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise
price of $.0001 per share, subject to adjustment. Additionally, the common stock warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise
price of $0.50 per share and expire on November 17, 2024.
We account for the common
stock warrants as a derivative instrument, and changes in the fair value of the warrants are included under other income (expense) in
the Company’s statements of operations for each reporting period. At March 31, 2021, the aggregate fair value of the warrant
liability included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was $1.3 million. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to
determine the fair value of the warrants. As a result, the option-pricing model requires the input of several assumptions, including the
stock price volatility, share price and risk-free interest rate. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.
While the liability may only result from a change of control at that point in time, we ultimately may incur amounts significantly different
than the carrying value.
Our management and directors will be able to exert influence
over our affairs.
As of March 31, 2021, our executive officers
and directors beneficially owned approximately 4.9% of our common stock. These stockholders, if they act together, may be able to influence
our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including significant corporate transactions. This concentration
of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might affect the market price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock has been volatile over the
past year and may continue to be volatile.
The
market price and trading volume of our common stock has been volatile over the past year and it may continue to be volatile. Over the
past year, our common stock has traded as low as $ 1.38 and as high as $2.28 per share. We cannot predict the price at which our
common stock will trade in the future and it may decline. The price at which our common stock trades may fluctuate significantly and may
be influenced by many factors, including our financial results; developments generally affecting our industry; general economic, industry
and market conditions; the depth and liquidity of the market for our common stock; investor perceptions of our business; reports by industry
analysts; announcements by other market participants, including, among others, investors, our competitors, and our customers; regulatory
action affecting our business; and the impact of other “Risk Factors” discussed in our Annual Report. In addition, changes
in the trading price of our common stock may be inconsistent with our operating results and outlook. The volatility of the market price
of our common stock may adversely affect investors’ ability to purchase or sell shares of our common stock.
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Risks Relating to Our Financial
Position and Capital Requirements
We have incurred significant operating losses in most years since
our inception and anticipate that we will incur continued losses for the foreseeable future.
We have focused a significant portion of our efforts
on developing TLANDO and more recently on LPCN 1144. We have funded our operations to date through sales of our equity securities, debt
and payments received under our license and collaboration arrangements. We have incurred losses in most years since our inception. As
of March 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $175.4 million. Substantially all of our operating losses resulted from costs
incurred in connection with our research and development programs and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations.
These losses, combined with expected future losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity
and working capital. We expect our research and development expenses to significantly increase in connection with clinical trials associated
with LPCN 1144, TLANDO XR, LPCN 1148 and LPCN 1107, if initiated. In addition, if we eventually obtain final marketing approval for TLANDO,
we may incur significant sales, marketing and commercialization expenses. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant operating
losses for the foreseeable future as we evaluate our options with TLANDO and further clinical development of LPCN 1144, TLANDO XR, LPCN
1148, LPCN 1107 and our other programs and continued research efforts. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with
developing pharmaceutical products, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at
all.
We have limited shares available for issuance to raise capital
to fund our operations and grant stock-based incentive awards to employees, directors, and consultants. If we are unable to increase the
number of shares of common stock available for issuance, our business will be adversely affected.
Currently,
we have 100,000,000 authorized shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2021, we had 88,290,650 shares of common stock outstanding.
After taking into account the 3,849,790 shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options as of March 31, 2021,
and exercise of outstanding warrants, we have a limited number of shares available for issuance. If we are not able to increase the number
of shares of common stock available for issuance, including, for example, through an amendment to our certificate of incorporation or
a reverse stock split, we will have limited shares available for issuance to raise capital to fund our operations, make grants of stock-based
incentive awards, or take such other actions requiring available capital stock needed to operate our business. Further delays in securing,
or the failure to secure, shareholder approval such actions, if needed, may prevent us from executing a capital raising transaction, which
may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
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