UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission
file number: 001-39717
LIXTE BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
20-2903526
(State
or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S.
Employer
incorporation
or organization)
Identification
Number)
680 East Colorado Boulevard , Suite 180
Pasadena ,
California 91101
(Address
of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(631)
830-7092
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
248 Route 25A , No. 2
East Setauket , New York 11733
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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, par value $0.0001 per share
LIXT
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants
to Purchase Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
LIXTW
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”,
“smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated
filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller
reporting company ☒
Emerging
growth company ☐
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
☐ No ☒
As
of August 1, 2021, the Company had 13,746,593 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value, issued and outstanding.
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
Number
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
3
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2020
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) – Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) – Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
7
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
8
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
28
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
43
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
43
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
44
Item 1A. Risk Factors
44
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
44
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
44
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
44
Item 5. Other Information
44
Item 6. Exhibits
45
SIGNATURES
46
2
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
June
30,
2021
December
31,
2020
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current
assets:
Cash
$ 6,798,477
$ 5,069,266
Advances
on research and development contract services
323,333
76,898
Prepaid
insurance
75,983
67,311
Other
prepaid expenses and current assets
44,871
15,000
Total
current assets
7,242,664
5,228,475
Total
assets
$ 7,242,664
$ 5,228,475
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current
liabilities:
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses, including $ 27,833 and $ 0 to related parties at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
$ 162,447
$ 190,292
Accrued
offering costs
—
10,467
Research
and development contract liabilities
213,879
15,765
Total
current liabilities
376,326
216,524
Commitments
and contingencies
-
-
Stockholders’
equity:
Preferred
Stock, $ 0.0001 par value; authorized – 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 350,000 shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, $ 10.00 per share stated value, liquidation preference based on assumed conversion into common shares – 729,167
shares
3,500,000
3,500,000
Common
stock, $ 0.0001 par value; authorized – 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 13,663,260 shares and 12,402,157
shares at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
1,366
1,240
Additional
paid-in capital
37,179,050
31,864,479
Accumulated
deficit
( 33,814,078 )
( 30,353,768 )
Total
stockholders’ equity
6,866,338
5,011,951
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 7,242,664
$ 5,228,475
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
2021
2020
2021
2020
Three
Months Ended
Six
Months Ended
June
30,
June
30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Revenues
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
Costs
and expenses:
General
and administrative costs, including compensation to officers, directors and affiliates of $ 1,033,304 and $ 27,000 for the three months
ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $ 1,849,336 and $ 54,000 to related parties for the six months ended June 30, 2021
and 2020, respectively
1,470,180
255,443
2,751,834
547,928
Research
and development costs
262,415
117,946
705,941
212,618
Total
costs and expenses
1,732,595
373,389
3,457,775
760,546
Loss
from operations
( 1,732,595
)
( 373,389
)
( 3,457,775
)
( 760,546
)
Interest
income
180
264
326
4,246
Interest
expense
( 751
)
—
( 2,861
)
—
Net
loss
$
( 1,733,166
)
$
( 373,125
)
$
( 3,460,310
)
$
( 756,300
)
Net
loss per common share – basic and diluted
$
( 0.13
)
$
( 0.03
)
$
( 0.26
)
$
( 0.07
)
Weighted
average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
13,633,040
11,174,302
13,203,010
11,174,302
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
Three
Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Shares
Amount
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Series
A
Convertible
Additional
Total
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Paid-in
Accumulated
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Three
months ended June 30, 2021:
Balance,
March 31, 2021
350,000
$ 3,500,000
13,538,259
$ 1,354
$ 36,227,258
$ ( 32,080,912 )
$ 7,647,700
Exercise
of options
—
—
125,001
12
100,988
—
101,000
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs, shares
Exercise
of warrants
Exercise
of warrants, shares
Stock-based
compensation expense
—
—
—
—
850,804
—
850,804
Net
loss for the period
—
—
—
—
—
( 1,733,166 )
( 1,733,166 )
Balance,
June 30, 2021
350,000
$ 3,500,000
13,663,260
$ 1,366
$ 37,179,050
$ ( 33,814,078 )
$ 6,866,338
Six
months ended June 30, 2021:
Balance,
December 31, 2020
350,000
$ 3,500,000
12,402,157
$ 1,240
$ 31,864,479
$ ( 30,353,768 )
$ 5,011,951
Balance
350,000
$ 3,500,000
12,402,157
$ 1,240
$ 31,864,479
$ ( 30,353,768 )
$ 5,011,951
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs
—
—
1,133,102
113
3,689,648
—
3,689,761
Exercise
of warrants
—
—
3,000
1
17,099
—
17,100
Exercise
of options
—
—
125,001
12
100,988
—
101,000
Stock-based
compensation expense
—
—
—
—
1,506,836
—
1,506,836
Net
loss for the period
—
—
—
—
—
( 3,460,310 )
( 3,460,310 )
Balance,
June 30, 2021
350,000
$ 3,500,000
13,663,260
$ 1,366
$ 37,179,050
$ ( 33,814,078 )
$ 6,866,338
Balance
350,000
$ 3,500,000
13,663,260
$ 1,366
$ 37,179,050
$ ( 33,814,078 )
$ 6,866,338
(Continued)
5
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Three
Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Series
A
Convertible
Additional
Total
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Paid-in
Accumulated
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Three
months ended June 30, 2020:
Balance,
March 31, 2020
350,000
$ 3,500,000
11,174,302
$ 1,117
$ 26,021,904
$ ( 27,472,061 )
$ 2,050,960
Net
loss for the period
—
—
—
—
—
( 373,125 )
( 373,125 )
Balance,
June 30, 2020
350,000
$ 3,500,000
11,174,302
$ 1,117
$ 26,021,904
$ ( 27,845,186 )
$ 1,677,835
Six
months ended June 30, 2020:
Balance,
December 31, 2019
350,000
$ 3,500,000
11,174,302
$ 1,117
$ 26,021,904
$ ( 27,088,886 )
$ 2,434,135
Net
loss for the period
—
—
—
—
—
( 756,300 )
( 756,300 )
Balance,
June 30, 2020
350,000
$ 3,500,000
11,174,302
$ 1,117
$ 26,021,904
$ ( 27,845,186 )
$ 1,677,835
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
2021
2020
Six
Months Ended
June
30,
2021
2020
Cash
flows from operating activities:
Net
loss
$ ( 3,460,310 )
$ ( 756,300 )
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based
compensation expense included in -
General
and administrative costs
1,506,836
—
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase)
decrease in -
Advances
on research and development contract services
( 246,435 )
—
Accrued
interest receivable
—
14,367
Prepaid
insurance
( 8,672 )
19,889
Other
prepaid expenses and current assets
( 29,871 )
8,295
Increase
(decrease) in -
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
( 27,845 )
15,319
Research
and development contract liabilities
198,114
( 70,252 )
Net
cash used in operating activities
( 2,068,183 )
( 768,682 )
Cash
flows from financing activities:
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs
3,689,761
—
Payment
of deferred offering costs
—
( 55,850 )
Exercise
of common stock warrants
17,100
—
Exercise
of common stock options
101,000
—
Payment
of public offering costs
( 10,467 )
—
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
3,797,394
( 55,850 )
Cash:
Net
increase (decrease)
1,729,211
( 824,532 )
Balance
at beginning of period
5,069,266
2,598,864
Balance
at end of period
$ 6,798,477
$ 1,774,332
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash
paid for -
Interest
$ 2,944
$ —
Income
taxes
$ —
$ —
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Three
Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
1.
Organization and Basis of Presentation
The
condensed consolidated financial statements of Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), including
its wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary, Lixte Biotechnology, Inc. (“Lixte”) (collectively, the “Company”), at June
30, 2021, and for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, are unaudited. In the opinion of management of the Company,
all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals, have been made that are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the
Company as of June 30, 2021, and the results of its operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and
its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year. The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2020 has been derived
from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements at such date.
The
condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.
These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and other information included
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC.
2.
Business
The
Company is a drug discovery company that uses biomarker technology to identify enzyme targets associated with serious common diseases
and then designs novel compounds to attack those targets. The Company’s product pipeline is primarily focused on inhibitors of
protein phosphatases, used alone and in combination with cytotoxic agents and/or x-ray and immune checkpoint blockers, and encompasses
two major categories of compounds at various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development that the Company believes have broad therapeutic
potential not only for cancer but also for other debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
The
Company’s activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the need for additional capital. The Company
has not yet commenced any revenue-generating operations, does not have positive cash flows from operations, and is dependent on periodic
infusions of equity capital to fund its operating requirements.
Going
Concern
At
June 30, 2021, the Company had cash of $ 6,798,477 available to fund its operations. Because the Company is currently engaged in Phase
2 clinical trials, it is expected that it will take a significant amount of time and resources to develop any product or intellectual
property capable of generating sustainable revenues. Accordingly, the Company’s business is unlikely to generate any sustainable
operating revenues in the next several years and may never do so. Even if the Company is able to generate revenues through licensing
its technologies or through product sales, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve positive earnings and operating
cash flows.
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements have been presented on the basis that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates
the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has no recurring source of revenue
and has experienced negative operating cash flows since inception. The Company has financed its working capital requirements primarily
through the recurring sale of its equity securities.
8
As
a result, management has concluded that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, in its report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2020, has also expressed substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional equity capital to fund its research
and development activities and to ultimately achieve sustainable operating revenues and profitability. The amount and timing of future
cash requirements depends on the pace and design of the Company’s clinical trial program, which, in turn, depends on the availability
of operating capital to fund such activities.
Effective
November 30, 2020, the Company listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market in conjunction with the completion of its public offering of units
of common stock and warrants that generated net cash proceeds of $ 4,591,349 . Subsequently, on January 18, 2021, the Company entered into
a clinical trial agreement to carry out a Phase 1b clinical trial of LB-100, combined with a standard regimen for untreated, extensive
stage-disease small cell lung cancer. This new clinical trial is being conducted through City of Hope and is estimated to cost from $ 2,500,000
to $ 2,900,000 and take approximately 24 to 30 months. Combined with the Company’s existing clinical trial commitments, this new
clinical trial commitment represents an additional demand on the Company’s working capital resources. Although the Company completed
a sale of common stock under a registered direct equity offering on March 2, 2021 that generated net proceeds of $ 3,689,761 , the Company
estimates that it will need to raise additional capital to fund its operations, including its various clinical trial commitments, by
mid-2022. In addition, the Company’s operating plan may change as a result of many factors which are currently unknown to the Company,
including possible additional clinical trials, and the Company may need additional funds sooner than currently planned.
As
market conditions present uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to secure additional funds, there can be no assurances that the
Company will be able to secure additional financing on acceptable terms, as and when necessary, to continue to conduct operations. There
is also significant uncertainty as to the effect that the coronavirus pandemic may have on the Company’s clinical trial schedule
and the amount and type of financing available to the Company in the future.
If
cash resources are insufficient to satisfy the Company’s ongoing cash requirements, the Company would be required to scale back
or discontinue its clinical trial program, as well as its licensing and patent prosecution efforts and its technology and product development
efforts, or obtain funds, if available, through strategic alliances or joint ventures that could require the Company to relinquish rights
to and/or control of LB-100, or to discontinue operations entirely.
Reverse
Stock Split
On
November 18, 2020, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse split of its outstanding shares of common stock. No fractional shares were
issued in connection with the reverse split, with any fractional shares resulting from the reverse split being rounded up to the nearest
whole share.
All
share and per share amounts and information presented herein has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split for all
periods presented.
3.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles
of Consolidation
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the financial statements of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary,
Lixte. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
9
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
Some of those judgments can be subjective and complex, and therefore, actual results could differ materially from those estimates under
different assumptions or conditions. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed
to be reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis
for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Management
regularly evaluates the key factors and assumptions used to develop the estimates utilizing currently available information, changes
in facts and circumstances, historical experience and reasonable assumptions. After such evaluations, if deemed appropriate, those estimates
are adjusted accordingly. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include those related to assumptions
used in accruals for potential liabilities, valuing equity instruments issued for services, and the realization of deferred tax assets.
Cash
Cash,
including accrued interest, is primarily held in a cash bank deposit program maintained by a major financial institution. The Company’s
policy is to maintain its cash balances with financial institutions with high credit ratings and in accounts insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and/or by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (the “SIPC”). The
Company may periodically have cash balances in financial institutions in excess of FDIC and SIPC insurance limits of $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 ,
respectively. The financial institution that currently holds the Company’s cash balances also maintains supplemental insurance
coverage for its customers’ cash balances. The Company has not experienced any losses to date resulting from this practice.
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs consist primarily of fees paid to consultants and contractors, and other expenses relating to the acquisition,
design, development and clinical trials with respect to the Company’s compounds and product candidates. Research and development
costs also include the costs to produce the compounds used in research and clinical trials, which are charged to operations as incurred.
Research
and development costs are generally charged to operations ratably over the life of the underlying contracts, unless the achievement of
milestones, the completion of contracted work, or other information indicates that a different expensing schedule is more appropriate.
However, payments for research and development costs that are contractually defined as non-refundable are charged to operations as incurred.
Obligations
incurred with respect to mandatory scheduled payments under research agreements with milestone provisions are recognized as charges to
research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations based on the achievement of such milestones,
as specified in the agreement. Obligations incurred with respect to mandatory scheduled payments under research agreements without milestone
provisions are accounted for when due, are recognized ratably over the appropriate period, as specified in the agreement, and are recorded
as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the
Company’s consolidated statement of operations.
Payments
made pursuant to research and development contracts are initially recorded as advances on research and development contract services
in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and are then charged to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated
statement of operations as those contract services are performed. Expenses incurred under research and development contracts in excess
of amounts advanced are recorded as research and development contract liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet,
with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company
reviews the status of its research and development contracts on a quarterly basis.
Prepaid
Insurance
Prepaid
insurance represents the premiums paid for directors and officers insurance coverage and for general liability insurance coverage in
excess of the amortization of the total policy premium charged to operations to date. Such amortization is determined by amortizing the
total policy premium charged on a straight-line basis over the respective policy periods. As the policy premiums incurred are amortizable
in the ensuing twelve-month period, they are recorded as a current asset in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at each reporting
date and amortized to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for each reporting period.
10
Patent
and Licensing Related Legal and Filing Costs
Due
to the significant uncertainty associated with the successful development of one or more commercially viable products based on the Company’s
research efforts and related patent applications, all patent-related legal and filing fees and licensing-related legal fees are charged
to operations as incurred. Patent and licensing-related legal and filing costs were $ 108,193 and $ 143,444 for the three months ended
June 30, 2021 and 2020, and $ 228,352 and $ 276,912 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Patent and licensing
related legal and filing costs are included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Concentration
of Risk
The
Company periodically contracts with vendors and consultants to provide services related to the Company’s operations. Charges incurred
for these services can be for a specific time period (typically one year) or for a specific project or task. Costs and expenses incurred
that represented 10 % or more of general and administrative costs or research and development costs for the three months and six months
ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 are described as follows.
General
and administrative costs for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 include charges from a legal firm for general licensing and
patent prosecution costs relating to the Company’s intellectual properties representing 7.5 % and 56.3 %, respectively, of total
general and administrative costs.
General
and administrative costs for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 include charges from a legal firm for general licensing and
patent prosecution costs relating to the Company’s intellectual properties representing 8.4 % and 50.7 %, respectively, of total
general and administrative costs. .
Research
and development costs for the three months ended June 30, 2021 include charges from three vendors and consultants representing 26.3 %,
26.0 %, and 11.4 %, respectively, of total research and development costs for that period. Research and development costs for the three
months ended June 30, 2020 include charges from three vendors and consultants representing 36.8 %, 25.6 %, and 10.5 %, respectively, of
total research and development costs for that period.
Research
and development costs for the six months ended June 30, 2021 include charges from two vendors and consultants representing 43.8 %, and
19.7 %, respectively, of total research and development costs for that period. Research and development costs for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 include charges from four vendors and consultants representing 28.3 %, 20.4 %, 15.1 %, and 11.9 %, respectively, of total research
and development costs for that period.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Accordingly,
the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and
the tax basis of assets and liabilities.
The
Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In
the event the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its recorded
amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be credited to operations in the period such determination was made. Should the
Company determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred
tax assets would be charged to operations in the period such determination was made.
11
The
Company is subject to U.S. federal income taxes and income taxes of various state tax jurisdictions. As the Company’s net operating
losses have yet to be utilized, all previous tax years remain open to examination by Federal authorities and other jurisdictions in which
the Company currently operates or has operated in the past. The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2021 or December
31, 2020 and does not anticipate any material amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the 12 months subsequent to June 30, 2021.
The
Company accounts for uncertainties in income tax law under a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement,
presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns as prescribed by GAAP. The
tax effects of a position are recognized only if it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the taxing authority as
of the reporting date. If the tax position is not considered “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained, then no benefits of
the position are recognized. The Company had not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2021 or December 31,
2020. Subsequent to June 30, 2021, any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions will be recognized as a component of
income tax expense.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company periodically issues common stock and stock options to officers, directors, employees, Scientific Advisory Committee members,
contractors and consultants for services rendered. Options vest and expire according to terms established at the issuance date of each
grant. Stock grants, which are generally time vested, are measured at the grant date fair value and charged to operations ratably over
the vesting period.
The
Company accounts for stock-based payments to officers, directors, employees, Scientific Advisory Committee members contractors and consultants
by measuring the cost of services received in exchange for equity awards utilizing the grant date fair value of the awards, with the
cost recognized as compensation expense on the straight-line basis in the Company’s financial statements over the vesting period
of the awards.
The
fair value of stock options granted as stock-based compensation is determined utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is
affected by several variables, the most significant of which are the expected life of the stock option, the exercise price of the stock
option as compared to the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date, and the estimated volatility of the common stock.
Unless sufficient historical exercise data is available, the expected life of the stock option is calculated as the mid-point between
the vesting period and the contractual term (the “simplified method”). Estimated volatility is based on the historical volatility
of the Company’s common stock, calculated utilizing a look-back period approximately equal to the contractual life of the stock
option being granted. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The fair
market value of the common stock is determined by reference to the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant
date.
The
Company recognizes the fair value of stock-based compensation awards in general and administrative costs and in research and development
costs, as appropriate, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company issues new shares of common stock to
satisfy stock option exercises.
Earnings
(Loss) Per Share
The
Company’s computation of earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) includes basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as
the income (loss) attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted
EPS is similar to basic EPS but presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares (e.g., preferred shares,
warrants and stock options) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential
common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded
from the calculation of diluted EPS.
Loss
per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the respective
periods. Basic and diluted loss per common share was the same for all periods presented because all preferred shares, warrants and stock
options outstanding were anti-dilutive.
12
At
June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company excluded the outstanding securities summarized below, which entitle the holders thereof to acquire
shares of common stock, from its calculation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
Schedule of Anti-dilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
June
30,
2021
2020
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
729,167
729,167
Common
stock warrants
3,110,310
1,500,000
Common
stock options, including options issued in the form of warrants
2,550,000
1,308,333
Total
6,389,477
3,537,500
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
authoritative guidance with respect to fair value established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques
used to measure fair value into three levels and requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed
in one of three categories, as presented below. Disclosure as to transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2, and activity in Level 3 fair
value measurements, is also required.
Level
1. Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability that the Company has the ability to
access as of the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include active-exchange traded securities
and exchange-based derivatives.
Level
2. Inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable
through corroboration with observable market data. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs include fixed income securities,
non-exchange-based derivatives, mutual funds, and fair-value hedges.
Level
3. Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data for the asset or liability which requires the reporting entity to develop
its own assumptions. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include infrequently traded non-exchange-based derivatives
and commingled investment funds and are measured using present value pricing models.
The
Company determines the level in the fair value hierarchy within which each fair value measurement falls in its entirety, based on the
lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. In determining the appropriate levels, the Company
performs an analysis of the assets and liabilities at each reporting period end.
The
carrying value of financial instruments (consisting of accounts payable and accrued expenses) is considered to be representative of their
respective fair values due to the short-term nature of those instruments.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the
accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance
in ASC 740. ASU 2019-12 was effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In
August 2020, the FASB issued 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
(“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for convertible debt by eliminating the beneficial conversion and
cash conversion accounting models. Upon adoption of ASU 2020-06, convertible debt proceeds, unless issued with a substantial premium
or an embedded conversion feature that is not clearly and closely related to the host contract, will no longer be allocated between debt
and equity components. This modification will reduce the issue discount and result in less non-cash interest expense in financial statements.
ASU 2020-06 also updates the earnings per share calculation and requires entities to assume share settlement when the convertible debt
can be settled in cash or shares. For contracts in an entity’s own equity, the type of contracts primarily affected by ASU 2020-06
are freestanding and embedded features that are accounted for as derivatives under the current guidance due to a failure to meet the
settlement assessment by removing the requirements to (i) consider whether the contract would be settled in registered shares, (ii) consider
whether collateral is required to be posted, and (iii) assess shareholder rights. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and only if
adopted as of the beginning of such fiscal year. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06
did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.
13
In
May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt — Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50),
Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic
815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (“ASU
2021-04”). ASU 2021-04 provides guidance as to how an issuer should account for a modification of the terms or conditions or an
exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option (i.e., a warrant) that remains classified after modification or exchange
as an exchange of the original instrument for a new instrument. An issuer should measure the effect of a modification or exchange as
the difference between the fair value of the modified or exchanged warrant and the fair value of that warrant immediately before modification
or exchange and then apply a recognition model that comprises four categories of transactions and the corresponding accounting treatment
for each category (equity issuance, debt origination, debt modification, and modifications unrelated to equity issuance and debt origination
or modification). ASU 2021-04 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods
within those fiscal years. An entity should apply the guidance provided in ASU 2021-04 prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring
on or after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity elects
to early adopt ASU 2021-04 in an interim period, the guidance should be applied as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes
that interim period. The adoption of ASU 2021-04 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement
presentation or disclosures.
Management
does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, authoritative guidance, if currently adopted, would have a material
impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.
4.
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue a total of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share. On March 17, 2015, the Company
filed a Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock with the Delaware
Secretary of State to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation. The Company has designated a total of 350,000 shares as
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which are non-voting and are not subject to increase without the written consent of a majority
of the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock or as otherwise set forth in the Preferences, Rights and Limitations. The
holders of each tranche of 175,000 shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a per share dividend equal
to 1 % of the annual net revenue of the Company divided by 175,000 , until converted or redeemed. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31,
2020, 9,650,000 shares of preferred stock were undesignated and may be issued with such rights and powers as the Board of Directors may
designate.
Each
share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted, at the option of the holder, into 2.0833 shares of common stock (subject
to customary anti-dilution provisions) and the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is subject to mandatory conversion at the conversion
rate in the event of a merger or sale transaction resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of at least $ 21,875,000 . The Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference based on its assumed conversion into shares of common stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock does not have a cash liquidation preference.
14
If
fully converted, the 350,000 outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock would convert into 729,167 shares of common stock
at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The Company had the right to redeem the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock up to the fifth
anniversary of their respective closing dates (March 17, 2015 and January 21, 2016) at a price per share equal to $ 50.00 . Accordingly,
as of December 31, 2020, the Company had the right to redeem the 175,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that were issued
on January 21, 2016; however, that right expired on January 21, 2021. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has no right to cash,
except with respect to the payment of the aforementioned dividend based on the generation of revenues by the Company. The shares of Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock do not have any registration rights.
Based
on the attributes of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as previously described, the Company has accounted for the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock as a permanent component of stockholders’ equity.
Common
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue a total of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share. As of June 30, 2021 and December
31, 2020, the Company had 13,663,260 shares and 12,402,157 shares, respectively, of common stock issued, issuable and outstanding.
On
November 30, 2020, the Company raised gross proceeds $ 5,700,000 through a public offering of 1,200,000 units at a sale price of $ 4.75
per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock exercisable for five
years at an exercise price of $ 5.70 per share. Additionally, on December 7, 2020, the Company received an additional $ 1,800 from the
sale of 180,000 warrants as part of the overallotment option granted to the underwriters in the public offering. The warrants sold are
exercisable for five years and represent the right to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $ 5.70 per share. The
total cash costs of the public offering were $ 1,110,451 , resulting in net cash proceeds of $ 4,591,349 . Pursuant to the underwriting agreement,
the Company also granted to the underwriters warrants to purchase up to 120,000 shares of common stock commencing on May 24, 2021 and
expiring on November 24, 2025, at an exercise price of $ 5.70 per share.
During
February and March 2021, the Company issued 3,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of 3,000 warrants at $5.70 per share and received
cash proceeds of $ 17,100 .
Effective
March 2, 2021, the Company completed the sale of 1,133,102 shares of common stock at a price of $ 3.70 per share in a registered direct
equity offering, generating gross proceeds of $ 4,192,478 . The total cash costs of this offering were $ 502,717 , resulting in net proceeds
of $ 3,689,761 . Pursuant to the placement agents’ agreement, the Company granted to the placement agents warrants to purchase up
to 113,310 shares of common stock commencing on March 2, 2021 and expiring on March 2, 2026 , at an exercise price of $ 3.70 per share.
On
April 22, 2021, the Company issued 125,001 shares of its common stock upon the exercise of options held by an officer and two of the
Company’s Directors as follows: 75,000 options at $ 0.72 per share, 16,66 7 options at $ 0.90 per share, and 33,334 options at $ 0.96
per share, for total cash proceeds of $ 101,100 .
Common
Stock Warrants
A
summary of common stock warrant activity during the six months ended June 30, 2021 is presented below.
Schedule of Warrants Outstanding
Number
of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in Years)
Warrants
outstanding at December 31, 2020
3,000,000
$ 5.850
Issued
113,310
3.700
Exercised
( 3,000 )
5.700
Expired
—
—
Warrants
outstanding at June 30, 2021
3,110,310
$ 5.772
2.98
15
At
June 30, 2021, all outstanding warrants are exercisable at the following prices per common share:
Schedule of Warrants Outstanding and Exercisable
Exercise
Prices
Warrants
Outstanding
(Shares)
$ 3.700
113,310
$ 5.700
1,497,000
$ 6.000
1,500,000
3,110,310
Based
on a fair market value of $ 3.03 per share on June 30, 2021, there was no intrinsic value attributed to exercisable but unexercised common
stock warrants at June 30, 2021.
Information
with respect to the issuance of common stock in connection with various stock-based compensation arrangements is provided at Note 6.
5.
Related Party Transactions
Gil
N Schwartzberg
In
September 2007, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Gil N Schwartzberg for Mr. Schwartzberg to provide financial advisory
and consulting services to the Company with respect to financing matters, capital structure and strategic development, and to assist
management in communications with investors and stockholders. In January 2014 and August 2018, the Company entered into respective amendments
to this consulting agreement, which have extended the consulting agreement through January 28, 2024. Consideration under this consulting
agreement, including amendments, has been paid exclusively in the form of stock options. Effective April 9, 2021, Mr. Schwartzberg was
appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Schwartzberg is currently a significant stockholder of the Company and continues
to be a consultant to the Company.
Employment
Agreements with Officers
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Kovach dated July 15, 2020, effective October 1, 2020, for Dr. Kovach to continue
to act as the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer with an annual salary of $ 250,000 . During
the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 (periods prior to the above-described employment agreement), the Company paid Dr.
Kovach a salary of $ 15,000 and $ 30,000 , respectively, which amount is included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s
consolidated statements of operations.
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. James S. Miser, M.D., effective August 1, 2020 to act as the Company’s Chief
Medical Officer with an annual salary of $ 150,000 . Effective May 1, 2021, Dr. Miser’s annual salary was increased to $ 175,000 .
Dr. Miser is required to devote at least 50% of his business time to the Company’s activities.
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Eric J. Forman effective July 15, 2020, as amended on August 12, 2020, to act as the
Company’s Chief Administrative Officer with an annual salary of $ 120,000 . Eric Forman is the son-in-law of Gil Schwartzberg, a
member of the Company’s Board of Directors, and a significant stockholder of and consultant to the Company, and is the son of Dr.
Stephen Forman, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Julie Forman, the wife of Eric Forman and the daughter of Gil Schwartzberg,
is Vice President of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where the Company’s cash is on deposit and the Company maintains a continuing
banking relationship. Effective May 1, 2021, Mr. Forman’s annual salary was increased to $ 175,000 . During the three months and
six months ended June 30, 2020 (periods prior to his appointment as Chief Administrative Officer), the Company paid legal and consulting
fees to the Eric Forman Law Office of $ 12,000 and $ 24,000 , respectively, which amount is included in general and administrative costs
in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
16
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Robert N. Weingarten effective August 12, 2020 to act as the Company’s Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer with an annual salary of $ 120,000 . Effective May 1, 2021, Mr. Weingarten’s annual salary was increased
to $ 175,000 . During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 (periods prior to his appointment as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer), the Company paid Mr. Weingarten a total of $ 14,980 and $ 47,375 , respectively, for accounting and financial consulting
services rendered with respect to the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and certain other financial
and compliance matters.
On
April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors increased the annual compensation of Eric J. Forman, the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer,
Dr. James S. Miser, the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, and Robert N. Weingarten, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer,
under the employment agreements such that the total aggregate annual compensation of all officers increased to $ 775,000 , effective May
1, 2021.
Compensatory
Arrangements for Board of Directors
On
April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors approved a comprehensive cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors
and committee members, effective immediately.
The
Board of Directors approved the following cash compensation for non-officer directors, payable quarterly:
Base
director compensation - $ 20,000 per year
Chairman
of audit committee - additional $ 10,000 per year
Chairman
of any other committees - additional $ 5,000 per year
Member
of audit committee - additional $ 5,000 per year
Member
of any other committees - additional $ 2,500 per year
Stock-based
compensation arrangements involving members of the Company’s Board of Directors. officers and affiliates are described at Note
6.
A
summary of related party costs, including compensation under employment and consulting agreements and fees paid to non-officer directors
for their service on the Board of Directors, for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is presented below. This
summary includes the above-described payments to Mr. Forman in 2020 prior to his appointment as Chief Administrative Officer, but excludes
the payments to Mr. Weingarten in 2020 prior to his appointment as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Summary of Related Party Costs
Three
Months Ended
June
30,
Six
Months Ended
June
30,
2021
2020
2021
2019
Related
party costs:
Cash-based
$ 182,500
$ 27,000
$ 342,500
$ 54,000
Stock-based
850,804
—
1,506,836
—
Total
$ 1,033,304
$ 27,000
$ 1,849,336
$ 54,000
6.
Stock-Based Compensation
The
Company issues common stock and stock options as incentive compensation to directors and as compensation for the services of employees,
contractors and consultants of the Company.
On
June 20, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the 2007 Stock Compensation Plan (the “2007 Plan”), which provided
for the granting of awards, consisting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, and restricted shares of common
stock, to employees and consultants, for up to 416,667 shares of the Company’s common stock, under terms and conditions as determined
by the Company’s Board of Directors. The 2007 Plan terminated on June 19, 2017. As of June 30, 2021, unexpired stock options for
83,333 shares were issued and outstanding under the 2007 Plan, which were exercised effective July 14, 2021.
17
On
July 14, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), which provides
for the granting of equity-based awards, consisting of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights,
and other stock-based awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates for up to 2,333,333
shares of the Company’s common stock, under terms and conditions as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. Stockholders
holding a majority of the voting power of the common stock of the Company approved the 2020 Plan pursuant to an action by written consent
dated July 31, 2020. Stockholders of the Company were notified of such action by written consent pursuant to an Information Statement
dated August 31, 2020 and mailed to stockholders on or about September 3, 2020. As of June 30, 2021, unexpired stock options for 400,000
shares were issued and outstanding under the 2020 Plan.
On
April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors approved a comprehensive cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors
and committee members, effective immediately.
Stock-based
features of the compensation package consisted of the annual granting of stock options to each non-officer director to purchase 100,000
shares of common stock at the closing market price on the earlier of the date of the annual meeting of shareholders or the last business
day of the month ending June 30, vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested, and the granting
of stock options to a new director to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at the closing market price on the date of
grant for a period of five years, vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar
quarter-end until fully vested.
Cash-based
features of the compensation package are described at Note 8.
The
fair value of a stock option award is calculated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk-free interest
rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect as of the grant date. The expected dividend yield assumption is based on the
Company’s expectation of dividend payouts and is assumed to be zero. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility
of the Company’s common stock, calculated utilizing a look-back period approximately equal to the contractual life of the stock
option being granted. Unless sufficient historical exercise data is available, the expected life of the stock option is calculated as
the mid-point between the vesting period and the contractual term (the “simplified method”). The fair market value of the
common stock is determined by reference to the quoted market price of the common stock on the grant date.
For
stock options requiring an assessment of value during the six months ended June 30, 2021, the fair value of each stock option award was
estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Schedule of Fair Value of Each Option Award Estimated Assumption
Risk-free
interest rate
0.89 %
Expected
dividend yield
0 %
Expected
volatility
198.79 %
Expected
life
3.5
to 3.6 years
There
were no stock options requiring an assessment of value during the six months ended June 30, 2020.
On
July 15, 2020, as amended on August 12, 2020, in connection with the employment agreement entered into with Eric J. Forman, Mr. Forman
was granted options for 58,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. The options can be exercised on a cashless basis. The options
have a term of five years and an exercise price of $ 7.14 per share, which was equal to the closing price of the Company’s common
stock on the grant date. The options vested as to 25% on August 12, 2020, and will vest 25% on each of the first, second and third anniversaries
of the grant date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined
to be $ 400,855 ($ 6.8718 per share), of which $ 100,214 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on August 12, 2020 and was therefore
charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options will be charged to operations
ratably from August 12, 2020 through August 12, 2023. During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded
charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 24,985 and $ 49,695 , respectively, with respect
to these stock options.
18
On
August 1, 2020, in connection with an employment agreement entered into with Dr. James S. Miser, M.D., Dr. Miser was granted options
for 83,334 shares of the Company’s common stock. The options can be exercised on a cashless basis. The options have a term of five
years and an exercise price of $ 7.14 per share, which was equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the effective
date of the employment agreement. The options vested as to 25% on the effective date, and will vest 25% on each of the first, second
and third anniversaries of the effective date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model, was determined to be $ 572,650 ($ 6.8718 per share), of which $ 143,163 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on August
1, 2020 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options will
be charged to operations ratably from August 1, 2020 through August 1, 2023. During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021,
the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 35,693 and $ 70,993 ,
respectively, with respect to these stock options.
On
August 12, 2020, in connection with the employment agreement entered into with Robert N. Weingarten, Mr. Weingarten was granted options
for 58,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. The options can be exercised on a cashless basis. The options have a term of five
years and an exercise price of $ 7.14 per share, which was equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant
date. The options vested as to 25% on August 12, 2020, and will vest 25% on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the
grant date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to
be $ 400,855 ($ 6.8718 per share), of which $ 100,214 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on August 12, 2020 and was therefore
charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options will be charged to operations
ratably from August 12, 2020 through August 12, 2023. During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded
charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 24,985 and $ 49,695 , respectively, with respect
to these stock options.
Effective
January 6, 2021, in recognition with their service as directors of the Company over the past year, the Company granted to each of Dr.
Winson Sze Chun Ho, Dr. Yun Yen, Dr. Stephen Forman, and Dr. Philip Palmedo, fully-vested stock options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000
shares ( 50,000 shares to each director) of the Company’s common stock, exercisable for a period of five years from the grant date
at $ 3.21 per share, which was the approximate fair market value of the Company’s common stock on such date. The fair value of these
stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $ 571,312 ($ 2.8566 per share) and
was recorded as a charge to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations on the grant date.
On
April 9, 2021, Winson Sze Chun Ho resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors to focus on clinical and pre-clinical cancer research
in academic medicine. Concurrent with his resignation, the Board of Directors appointed Gil Schwartzberg to fill the vacancy created
by Dr. Ho’s resignation. In connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors, and in accordance with the recently adopted
cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors, Mr. Schwartzberg was granted options exercisable for
a period of five years to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 3.20 per share (the closing
market price on the date of grant), vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent
calendar quarter-end until fully vested. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model, was determined to be $ 753,611 ($ 3.0144 per share), of which $ 376,800 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on April
9, 2021 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options will
be charged to operations ratably from April 9, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021,
the Company recorded a charge to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations with respect to these stock
options of $ 414,851 .
On
May 11, 2021, the Board of Directors appointed Regina Brown to the Board of Directors. In connection with her appointment to the Board
of Directors, and in accordance with the recently adopted cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors,
Ms. Brown was granted options exercisable for a period of five years to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at
an exercise price of $ 2.80 per share (the closing market price on the date of grant), vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder
vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated
pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $ 658,363 ($ 2.6335 per share), of which $ 329,188 was attributable
to the stock options fully-vested on May 11, 2021 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion
of the fair value of the stock options will be charged to operations ratably from May 11, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the three
months and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded a charge to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement
of operations with respect to these stock options of $ 350,290 .
19
On
June 30, 2021, the Board of Directors, in accordance with the recently adopted cash and equity compensation package for the members of
the Board of Directors, granted to each of the five non-officer directors of the Company stock options exercisable for a period of five
years to purchase 100,000 shares (a total of 500,000 shares) of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 3.03 per share
(the closing market price on the date of grant), vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested.
The total fair value of the 500,000 stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to
be $ 1,421,095 ($ 2.84225 per share), which will be charged to operations ratably from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.
A
summary of stock-based compensation costs for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
Summary of Stock-based Compensation Costs
Three
Months Ended
Six
Months Ended
June
30,
June
30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Related
parties
$ 850,804
$ —
$ 1,506,836
$ —
Non-related
parties
—
—
—
—
Total
stock-based compensation costs
$ 850,804
$ —
$ 1,506,836
$ —
A
summary of stock option activity, including options issued in the form of warrants, during the six months ended June 30, 2021 is presented
below.
Summary of Stock Option Activity Including Options Form of Warrants
Number
of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining Contractual
Life
(in Years)
Stock
options outstanding at December 31, 2020
1,475,000
$ 4.136
Granted
1,200,000
3.048
Exercised
( 125,001 )
0.808
Expired
—
—
Adjustment
attributable to reverse stock split
1
—
Stock
options outstanding at June 30, 2021
2,550,000
$ 3.787
3.79
Stock
options exercisable at June 30, 2021
1,650,000
$ 3.831
3.24
Total
deferred compensation expense for the outstanding value of unvested stock options was approximately $ 2,791,000 at June 30, 2021, which
will be recognized subsequent to June 30, 2021 over a weighted-average period of approximately 24 months.
20
The
exercise prices of common stock options outstanding and exercisable, including options issued in the form of warrants, at June 30, 2021
are as follows:
Schedule of Exercise Prices of Common Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable Including Options Form of Warrants
Exercise
Prices
Options
Outstanding
(Shares)
Options
Exercisable
(Shares)
$ 0.900
33,333
33,333
$ 1.200
83,333
83,333
$ 1.680
66,667
66,667
$ 2.800
250,000
125,000
$ 3.000
666,667
666,667
$ 3.030
500,000
—
$ 3.200
250,000
125,000
$ 3.210
200,000
200,000
$ 6.000
166,667
166,667
$ 6.600
50,000
50,000
$ 7.140
200,000
50,000
$ 12.000
83,333
83,333
2,550,000
1,650,000
The
intrinsic value of exercisable but unexercised in-the-money stock options at June 30, 2021 was approximately $ 362,251 , based on a fair
market value of $ 3.03 per share on June 30, 2021.
Outstanding
stock options to acquire 900,000 shares of the Company’s common stock had not vested at June 30, 2021.
The
Company expects to satisfy such stock obligations through the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.
7.
Income Taxes
During
the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there was no provision for income taxes as the Company incurred losses
during those periods. Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount
of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company recorded a full
valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as the Company believes it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not
be realized.
8.
Commitments and Contingencies
Legal
Claims
The
Company may be subject to legal claims and actions from time to time as part of its business activities. As of June 30, 2021, the Company
was not subject to any pending or threatened legal claims or actions.
Clinical
Trial Agreements
Moffitt.
Effective August 20, 2018, the Company entered into a Clinical Trial Research Agreement with the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute Hospital Inc., Tampa, Florida, effective for a term of five years, unless terminated earlier by the Company pursuant to 30
days written notice. Pursuant to the Clinical Trial Research Agreement, Moffitt agreed to conduct and manage a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial
to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of the Company’s lead anti-cancer clinical compound LB-100 to be administered intravenously
in patients with low or intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
In
November 2018, the Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Investigational New Drug Application
(“IND”) to conduct a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of LB-100 in patients with low and intermediate-1
risk MDS who have failed or are intolerant of standard treatment. Patients with MDS, although usually older, are generally well except
for severe anemia requiring frequent blood transfusions. This Phase 1b/2 clinical trial utilizes LB-100 as a single agent in the treatment
of patients with low and intermediate-1 risk MDS, including patients with del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome (del5qMDS) failing first line
therapy. The bone marrow cells of patients with del5qMDS are deficient in PP2A by virtue of an acquired mutation and are especially vulnerable
to further inhibition of PP2A by LB-100. The clinical trial began at a single site in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into
the clinical trial in July 2019. A total enrollment of 41 patients is planned. An interim analysis will be done after the first 21 patients
are entered. If there are 3 or more responders but fewer than 7, an additional 20 patients will be entered. If at any point there are
7 or more responders, this will be sufficient evidence to support continued development of LB-100 for the treatment of low and intermediate-1
risk MDS. Recruitment has been slow and the Covid-19 pandemic has further reduced recruitment of patients into the protocol. At the current
rate of accrual, the clinical trial is expected to be completed over a period of approximately four years from its initiation. However,
with additional funds, the Company’s objective would be to add two additional MDS centers to the Phase 2 portion of the study to
accelerate patient accrual.
21
During
the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 10,309 and $ 11,698 , respectively, pursuant to this agreement.
During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 17,693 and $ 25,364 , respectively, pursuant to this
agreement. As of June 30, 2021, total costs of $ 103,927 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement.
GEIS.
Effective July 31, 2019, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement for an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial with the
Spanish Sarcoma Group (Grupo Español de Investigación en Sarcomas or “GEIS”), Madrid, Spain, to carry out a
study entitled “Randomized phase I/II trial of LB-100 plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin alone in first line of advanced soft tissue
sarcoma”. The purpose of this clinical trial is to obtain information about the efficacy and safety of LB-100 combined with doxorubicin
in soft tissue sarcomas. Doxorubicin is the global standard for initial treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas (“ASTS”).
Doxorubicin alone has been the mainstay of first line treatment of ASTS for over 40 years, with little therapeutic gain from adding cytotoxic
compounds to or substituting other cytotoxic compounds for doxorubicin. In animal models, LB-100 consistently enhances the anti-tumor
activity of doxorubicin without apparent increases in toxicity.
GEIS
has a network of referral centers in Spain and across Europe that have an impressive track record of efficiently conducting innovative
studies in ASTS. The Company agreed to provide GEIS with a supply of LB-100 to be utilized in the conduct of this clinical trial, as
well as to provide funding for the clinical trial. The goal was to enter the first patient during the quarter ended December 31, 2020,
with approximately 150 patients to be enrolled over two years. As advanced sarcoma is a very aggressive disease, the design of the study
assumes a median progression free survival (PFS, no evidence of disease progression or death from any cause) of 4.5 months in the doxorubicin
arm and an alternative median PFS of 7.5 months in the doxorubicin plus LB-100 arm to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease
in relative risk of progression or death by adding LB-100. There is a planned interim analysis of the primary endpoint when about half
of the 102 events required for final analysis is reached.
The
Company had previously expected that this clinical trial would commence during the quarter ended June 30, 2020. However, during July
2020, the Spanish regulatory authority advised the Company that although it had approved the scientific and ethical basis of the protocol,
it required that the Company manufacture new inventory of LB-100 under current Spanish pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. These
regulations were adopted subsequent to the production of the Company’s existing LB-100 inventory.
A
new batch of LB 100 has been prepared and is now undergoing the multitude of analytical studies of the formulated product necessary to
gain approval for use in the European Union. Regulatory reviews by the European Union have been delayed until October 2021 as a result
of which the final review of the clinical product by Spanish regulatory authorities will also be delayed. Accordingly, the clinical trial
is now estimated to begin during the quarter ending June 30, 2022 and take approximately three years to conduct.
The
interim analysis of this clinical trial could indicate either inferiority or superiority of LB-100 plus doxorubicin as compared to doxorubicin
alone. A positive study would have the potential to change the standard therapy for this disease after four decades of failure to improve
the marginal benefit of doxorubicin alone.
22
The
Company’s agreement with GEIS provides for various payments based on achieving specific milestones over the term of the agreement.
On February 18, 2020, the Company advanced $ 43,411 to GEIS towards a second milestone payment obligation of $ 87,471 , which was expected
to become due and payable during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 based on the anticipated achievement of the second milestone, and which
was therefore recorded as an advance on the Company’s balance sheet at March 31, 2020. However, as a result of the substantial
delay in commencing the clinical trial as described above, the achievement of the second milestone had been delayed until mid-2021 and
the Company therefore determined to charge such advance to research and development costs in the Company’s statement of operations
at June 30, 2020. Subsequently, on February 26, 2021, the Company paid an additional $ 24,171 to GEIS towards the second milestone payment
for current work being done under this agreement.
Accordingly,
during the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 0 and $ 43,411 , respectively, pursuant to this agreement.
During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 24,171 and $ 43,411 respectively, pursuant to this
agreement. As of June 30, 2021, total costs of $ 155,053 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement.
The
Company’s aggregate commitments pursuant to the aforementioned clinical trial agreements, less amounts previously paid to date
under these agreements, totaled approximately $ 5,798,000 as of June 30, 2021, consisting of approximately $ 5,193,000 relating to the
GEIS clinical trial and approximately $ 605,000 relating to the Moffit clinical trial, which are expected to be incurred over approximately
the next five years through December 31, 2025.
In
order to manufacture a new inventory supply of LB-100 for the GEIS clinical trial, the Company has engaged a number of vendors to carry
out the multiple tasks needed to make and gain approval of a new clinical product for investigational study in Spain. These tasks include
the synthesis under good manufacturing practices (GMP) of the active pharmacologic ingredient (API), with documentation of each of the
steps involved by an independent auditor. The API is then transferred to a vendor that prepares the clinical drug product (DP), also
under GMP conditions documented by an independent auditor. The DP is then sent to a vendor to test for purity and sterility, provide
appropriate labels, store the drug, and distribute the drug to the clinical centers for use in the clinical trials. A formal application
documenting all steps taken to prepare the DP for clinical use must be submitted to the appropriate regulatory authorities for review
and approval before being used in a clinical trial.
As
of June 30, 2021, the Company estimates that this program to provide new inventory of the DP for the Spanish sarcoma study, and potentially
for subsequent multiple trials within the European Union, will cost approximately $ 737,000 . The Company’s remaining aggregate commitments
under this program, less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 371,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be
incurred through the quarter ending March 31, 2022. As the production of the new inventory is being conducted in Europe and is paid for
in Euros, final costs are subject to foreign currency fluctuations between the United States Dollar and the Euro.
City
of Hope. Effective January 18, 2021, the Company executed a Clinical Research Support Agreement with the City of Hope National Medical
Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, and City of Hope Medical Foundation (collectively, “City of Hope”),
to carry out a Phase 1b clinical trial of LB-100, the Company’s first-in-class protein phosphatase inhibitor, combined with a standard
regimen for treatment of untreated extensive- stage disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). LB-100 will be given in combination with
carboplatin, etoposide and atezolizumab, an FDA-approved but marginally effective regimen, to previously untreated ED-SCLC patients.
The dose of LB-100 will be escalated with the standard fixed doses of the 3-drug regimen to reach a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).
Patient entry will be expanded so that a total of 12 patients will be evaluable at the RP2D to confirm the safety of the LB-100 combination
and to look for potential therapeutic activity as assessed by objective response rate, duration of overall response, progression-free-survival
and overall survival.
The
clinical trial was initiated on March 9, 2021, with patient accrual expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months to complete. If LB-100
does potentiate the benefit of the standard regimen, some evidence could be noted at 12 months into the clinical trial, but an assessment
of potential increased activity is likely to require at least 24 months.
23
The
Company is seeking two additional centers to increase the rate of accrual. As described below, a recent publication may heighten the
interest of institutions with large populations of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. LB-100 was reported to enhance the effectiveness
of elements of standard therapy in models of SCLC (Mirzapoiazova el al., Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, online July 12, 2021). Dr. Ravi
Salgia, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at the City of Hope National Medical
Center, is the corresponding author of the paper and also the principal investigator for the Company’s SCLC clinical trial. Dr.
Salgia and collaborators found multiple metabolic changes associated with cell death in SCLC cells when exposed to LB-100 alone and when
combined with the drugs in a standard clinical regimen for this notoriously aggressive disease.
LB-100
has been reported to increase the effectiveness of a number of anti-cancer drugs against several different types of human cancers without
increasing toxicity in animal models. The recent pre-clinical study of SCLC cells observed that (1) LB-100 increases the amount of carboplatin
that enters the tumor cells without increasing toxicity, and (2) LB-100 potentiates the action of the immune-blocker, atezolizumab. These
observations are important because, taken together, they not only constitute a strong rationale for the clinical trial of LB-100 plus
chemo-immunotherapy in SCLC, but they also complement earlier pre-clinical observations that LB-100 can (1) reverse resistance of cancer
cells (ovarian) to cisplatin, another widely used chemotherapy drug (Chang et al., Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, November 5, 2014),
(2) increase the entry of another important anti-cancer agent, doxorubicin, into liver cancer cells associated with increased anti-tumor
activity (Bai et al, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, August 14, 2014), and (3) enhance the effectiveness of immune-blockers against several
types of cancers (Ho et al. Nature Comm., May 29, 2018). These observations raise the possibility that the addition of LB-100 may be
a general way to enhance standard therapies for cancers for which better treatments are urgently needed. The present clinical trial in
SCLC is an initial step in testing that hypothesis, as is the planned clinical trial in advanced soft tissue sarcoma in which LB-100
is combined with doxorubicin.
During
the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $ 69,001 and $ 309,509 , respectively, pursuant to this
agreement. As of June 30, 2021, total costs of $ 309,509 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement.
The
Company’s aggregate commitments pursuant to this clinical trial agreement, less amounts previously paid to date under this agreement,
totaled approximately $ 2,433,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred over the next two years based upon a target of
42 enrollees. If a significant number of patients fail during the dose-escalation process, an increase of up to 12 patients would likely
be necessary, at an estimated additional cost of approximately $ 800,000 . Alternatively, should fewer than 42 enrollees be required, the
Company has agreed to compensate the City of Hope on a per enrollee basis. The Company currently expects that enrollment in this clinical
trial will range from approximately 18 to 30 enrollees, with 24 enrollees as the most likely number.
Clinical
Trial Monitoring Agreements
Moffitt.
On September 12, 2018, the Company finalized a work order agreement with Theradex Systems, Inc. (“Theradex”), an international
contract research organization (“CRO”), to monitor the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial being managed and conducted by Moffitt.
The clinical trial began in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into the clinical trial in July 2019. At the current rate of
accrual, the trial is expected to be completed over a period of four years from its initiation.
Costs
under this work order agreement are estimated to be approximately $ 954,000 , with such payments expected to be divided approximately 94%
to Theradex for services and approximately 6% for payments for pass-through costs. The costs of the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial being paid
to or through Theradex are being recorded and charged to operations based on the periodic documentation provided by the CRO. During the
three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 7,540 and $ 5,790 , respectively, pursuant to this work order.
During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 8,481 and $ 11,476 , respectively, pursuant to this
work order. As of June 30, 2021, total costs of $ 90,636 have been incurred pursuant to this work order agreement.
The
Company’s aggregate commitment pursuant to this clinical trial monitoring agreement, less amounts previously paid to date under
this agreement, totaled approximately $ 873,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred over approximately the next five
years through June 30, 2025.
24
City
of Hope. On February 5, 2021, the Company signed a new work order agreement with Theradex to monitor the City of Hope investigator-initiated
clinical trial in small cell lung cancer in accordance with FDA requirements for oversight by the sponsoring party. During the three
months and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $ 10,773 and $ 14,313 , respectively, pursuant to this work order.
As of June 30, 2021, total costs of $ 14,313 have been incurred pursuant to this work order agreement.
The
Company’s aggregate commitment pursuant to this clinical trial monitoring agreement, less amounts previously paid to date under
this agreement, totaled approximately $ 324,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred through September 30, 2023.
Patent
and License Agreements
On
March 22, 2018, the Company entered into a Patent Assignment and Exploitation Agreement with INSERM TRANSFERT SA, acting as delegatee
of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, for the assignment to the Company of INSERM’S interest in United
States Patent No. 9,833,450 entitled “Oxabicyloheptanes and Oxabicycloheptenes for the Treatment of Depressive and Stress Disorders”,
which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the name of INSERM and the Company as co-owners on February 19,
2015 and granted on May 12, 2017, and related patent applications and filings. INSERM is a French public institution dedicated to research
in the field of health and medicine that had previously entered into a Material Transfer Agreement with the Company to allow INSERM to
conduct research on the Company’s proprietary compound LB-100 and/or its analogs for the treatment of depressive or stress disorders
in humans. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to make certain milestone payments to INSERM aggregating up to $ 1,750,000
upon achievement of development milestones and up to $ 6,500,000 upon achievement of commercial milestones. The Company also agreed to
pay INSERM certain commercial royalties on net sales of products attributed to the Agreement. The Company’s current plan is to
complete the validation process to evaluate LB-100 for the treatment of depressive or stress disorders in humans within three years;
however, the exploitation of this patent for the treatment of depressive and stress disorders in humans will require substantial additional
capital and/or a joint venture or other type of business arrangement with a pharmaceutical company with substantially greater capital
and business resources than those available to the Company. As there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to obtain the
capital or business resources necessary to focus on the exploitation of this patent, it is uncertain as to when, if at all, the Company
may reach any of the development or commercialization milestones under the Agreement. As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, no amounts were due
under this agreement.
Effective
August 20, 2018, the Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with Moffitt. Pursuant to the License Agreement, Moffitt granted
the Company an exclusive license under certain patents owned by Moffitt (the “Licensed Patents”) relating to the treatment
of MDS and a non-exclusive license under inventions, concepts, processes, information, data, know-how, research results, clinical data,
and the like (other than the Licensed Patents) necessary or useful for the practice of any claim under the Licensed Patents or the use,
development, manufacture or sale of any product for the treatment of MDS which would otherwise infringe a valid claim under the Licensed
Patents. The Company was obligated to pay Moffitt a non-refundable license issue fee of $ 25,000 after the first patient is entered into
a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to be managed and conducted by Moffitt. The clinical trial began at a single site in April 2019 and the first
patient was entered into the clinical trial in July 2019. The Company is also obligated to pay Moffitt an annual license maintenance
fee of $ 25,000 commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and every anniversary thereafter until the Company commences
payment of minimum royalty payments. The Company has also agreed to pay non-refundable milestone payments to Moffitt, which cannot be
credited against earned royalties payable by the Company, based on reaching various clinical and commercial milestones aggregating $ 1,897,000 ,
subject to reduction by 40 % under certain circumstances relating to the status of Valid Claims, as such term is defined in the License
Agreement. During the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded charges to operations of $ 6,233 and $ 6,233 , respectively,
in connection with its obligations under the License Agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded
charges to operations of $ 12,397 and $ 12,398 , respectively, in connection with its obligations under the License Agreement. As of June
30, 2021, no milestones had yet been attained.
The
Company will be obligated to pay Moffitt earned royalties of 4% on worldwide cumulative net sales of royalty-bearing products, subject
to reduction to 2% under certain circumstances, on a quarterly basis, with a minimum royalty payment of $ 50,000 in the first four years
after sales commence, and $ 100,000 in year five and each year thereafter, subject to reduction by 40% under certain circumstances relating
to the status of Valid Claims, as such term is defined in the License Agreement. The Company’s obligation to pay earned royalties
under the License Agreement commences on the date of the first sale of a royalty-bearing product, and shall automatically expire on a
country-by-country basis on the date on which the last valid claim of the Licensed Patents expires, lapses or is declared invalid, and
the obligation to pay any earned royalties under the License Agreement shall terminate on the date on which the last valid claim of the
Licensed Patents expires, lapses, or is declared to be invalid in all countries.
25
Employment
Agreements with Officers
During
July and August 2020, the Company entered into one-year employment agreements with its executive officers, consisting of Dr. John S.
Kovach, Eric J. Forman, Dr. James S. Miser, and Robert N. Weingarten, which provided for aggregate annual compensation of $ 640,000 , payable
monthly (see Note 5). The employment agreements are automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either
party upon 60 days written notice prior to the end of the applicable one-year period, or by death, or by termination for cause. On April
9, 2021, the Board of Directors increased the annual compensation of Eric J. Forman, the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer,
Dr. James S. Miser, the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, and Robert N. Weingarten, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer,
under the employment agreements such that the total aggregate annual compensation of all officers increased to $ 775,000 , effective May
1, 2021.
Other
Significant Agreements and Contracts
On
December 24, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with NDA Consulting Corp. for consultation and advice in the field of oncology
research and drug development. As part of the agreement, NDA also agreed to cause its president, Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., to become
a member of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Committee. The term of the agreement was for one year and provided for a quarterly
cash fee of $ 4,000 . The agreement has been automatically renewed for additional one-year terms on its anniversary date since 2014. Consulting
and advisory fees charged to operations pursuant to this agreement were $ 4,000 and $ 4,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and
2020, respectively, and $ 8,000 and $ 8,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which were included in research
and development costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
Effective
September 14, 2015, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement with BioPharmaWorks, pursuant to which the Company engaged BioPharmaWorks
to perform certain services for the Company. Those services included, among other things: (a) assisting the Company to (i) commercialize
its products and strengthen its patent portfolio, (ii) identify large pharmaceutical companies with potential interest in the Company’s
product pipeline, and (iii) prepare and deliver presentations concerning the Company’s products; (b) at the request of the Board
of Directors, serving as backup management for up to three months should the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and scientific leader
be temporarily unable to carry out his duties; (c) being available for consultation in drug discovery and development; and (d) identifying
providers and overseeing tasks relating to clinical use and commercialization of new compounds.
BioPharmaWorks
was founded in 2015 by former Pfizer scientists with extensive multi-disciplinary research and development and drug development experience.
The Collaboration Agreement was for an initial term of two years and automatically renews for subsequent annual periods unless terminated
by a party not less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the applicable period. In connection with the Collaboration Agreement, the
Company agreed to pay BioPharmaWorks a monthly fee of $ 10,000 , subject to the right of the Company to pay a negotiated hourly rate in
lieu of the monthly payment and agreed to issue to BioPharmaWorks certain equity-based compensation. In April 2018, it was mutually agreed
to suspend services and payments under the Collaboration Agreement, without extending its term, for the period from February 1, 2018
through the September 13, 2019 anniversary date. In February 2019, the Company and BioPharmaWorks subsequently agreed to resume the Collaboration
Agreement effective March 1, 2019, and the Collaboration Agreement is currently in effect. The Company recorded charges to operations
pursuant to this Collaboration Agreement of $ 30,000 and $ 30,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and
$ 60,000 and $ 60,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which were included in research and development costs
in the consolidated statements of operations.
26
Effective
August 12, 2020, the Company entered into a Master Service Agreement with the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapy (FAST) to collaborate
in supporting pre-clinical studies of the potential benefit of LB-100 in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome (AS) as reported in The Proceedings
of The National Academy of Science (Wang et al, June 3, 2019). The pre-clinical studies will be conducted at The University of California
- Davis under the direction of Dr. David Segal, an internationally recognized leader in AS research. If the pre-clinical studies confirm
that LB-100 reduces AS signs in rodent models, the Company has agreed to enter into discussions with FAST with respect to possible collaborations
to most efficiently assess the benefit of LB-100 in patients with AS, which is a rare disease affecting an estimated one out of 12,000
to one out of 20,000 persons in the United States. The genetic cause of AS, reduced function of a specific maternal gene called Ube3,
has been understood for some time, but the molecular abnormality resulting from the genetic lesion has now been shown to be increased
concentrations of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a molecular target of the Company’s investigational compound, LB-100. The Company
has agreed to provide FAST with a supply of LB-100 to be utilized in the conduct of this study, which is initially expected to be completed
within three years. Conditioned on FAST’s completion of this study, the Company has agreed to pay FAST five percent ( 5 %) of all
proceeds, as defined in the Master Service Agreement, received by the Company, up to a maximum of $ 250,000 from the exploitation of the
study results.
The
research team at the University of California, Davis recently completed their pre-clinical study of the potential benefit of LB-100 in
a mouse model of AS, and the results are currently under review by FAST. The preliminary analysis indicates that the positive results
previously reported by Chinese investigators were not confirmed in the US model. The Company is awaiting input from FAST as to whether
it intends to continue to pursue pre-clinical studies of LB 100.
Effective
December 21, 2020, the Company entered into a services agreement with IRTH Communications, LLC for investor/public relations, financial
communications, and strategic consulting services, effective for an initial term of twelve months and renewable annually thereafter.
The Company agreed to pay a monthly fee of $ 7,500 , including any renewal term, and also agreed to issue restricted shares of common stock,
fully vested upon issuance, with a grant date fair value of $ 100,000 (see Note 4). Upon the commencement of any renewal term, the Company
will be obligated to issue additional restricted shares of common stock, fully vested upon issuance, with a grant date fair value of
$ 100,000 . During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred charges in the amount of $ 22,500 and $ 45,000 ,
respectively, with respect to this agreement, which amount is included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated
statements of operations.
Impact
of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) on the Company’s Business Activities
The
global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has led to disruptions in general economic activities worldwide, as businesses and
governments have taken broad actions to mitigate this public health crisis. In
light of the uncertain and continually evolving situation relating to the spread of Covid-19, this pandemic could pose a risk to the
Company. The extent to which the coronavirus may impact the Company’s business activities will depend on future developments, which
are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. The Company intends to continue to monitor the situation and may adjust its
current business plans as more information and guidance become available.
The
coronavirus pandemic presents a challenge to medical facilities worldwide. As the Company’s clinical trials are conducted on an
outpatient basis, it is not currently possible to predict the full impact of this developing health crisis on such clinical trials, which
could include delays in and increased costs of such clinical trials. Current indications from the clinical research organizations conducting
the clinical trials for the Company are that such clinical trials are being delayed or extended for several months as a result of the
coronavirus pandemic.
The
most problematic issue directly related to Covid-19 for the Company is the delay in completing the glioblastoma (GBM) pharmacology clinical
trial at NCI. This clinical trial is being conducted by the NCI without charge to the Company. The neurosurgical unit at the NCI is closed
due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Patient entry remains at two, with the goal to enter eight patients before analyzing results. There is
an urgent need to improve therapy for this type of aggressive brain tumor. If the NCI study shows that LB-100 does penetrate the brain,
a clinical study of LB-100 in combination with standard therapy for GBM, the drug temozolomide and radiation, both of which have been
well documented in pre-clinical studies to be significantly enhanced by LB-100, would be of significant interest to neuro-oncologists
frustrated by decades of limited advances in therapy for this common brain tumor in adults.
There
is also significant uncertainty as to the effect that the coronavirus may have on the amount and type of financing available to the Company
in the future.
The
Company intends to continue to monitor the situation and may adjust its current business plans as more information and guidance become
available.
9.
Subsequent Events
The
Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date of filing of these consolidated financial statements with the SEC.
Other than those matters described below, there were no material subsequent events which affected, or could affect, the amounts or disclosures
in the consolidated financial statements.
Exercise
of Stock Options
Effective
July 14, 2021, stock options for 83,333 shares of common stock were exercised by a consultant of the Company at $ 1.20 per share, generating
total cash proceeds of $ 100,000 .
27
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q of Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These might include statements regarding
the Company’s financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, and assumptions and predictions
about future clinical trials and their timing and costs, product demand, supply, manufacturing costs, marketing and pricing factors are
all forward-looking statements. These statements are generally accompanied by words such as “intend”, “anticipate”,
“believe”, “estimate”, “potential(ly)”, “continue”, “forecast”, “predict”,
“plan”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”
or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements are reasonable, based on information available to it on the date hereof, but the Company cannot provide
assurances that these assumptions and expectations will prove to have been correct or that the Company will take any action that the Company
may presently be planning. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual
results or experience may differ materially from those expected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, regulatory policies or changes thereto, available cash,
research and development results, competition from other similar businesses, and market and general economic factors. This discussion
should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, including the section
entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors”. The Company does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
The Company is a drug discovery
company that uses biomarker technology to identify enzyme targets associated with serious common diseases and then designs novel compounds
to attack those targets. The Company’s product pipeline is primarily focused on inhibitors of protein phosphatases, used alone and
in combination with cytotoxic agents and/or x-ray and immune checkpoint blockers, and encompasses two major categories of compounds at
various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development that the Company believes have broad therapeutic potential not only for cancer
but also for other debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
The Company’s activities
are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the need for additional capital. The Company has not yet commenced any revenue-generating
operations, does not have positive cash flows from operations, and is dependent on periodic infusions of equity capital to fund its operating
requirements.
Recent Developments
Phosphatase inhibition by LB-100 enhances BMN-111 stimulation of bone growth:
On July 22, 2021, the Company
issued a press release commenting on outside pre-clinical research demonstrating that inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) with
LB-100, combined with the experimental drug vosoritide (BioMarin), was more effective than vosoritide alone in stimulating bone and cartilage
growth in a mouse model of the most common form of dwarfism, achondroplasia (ACH). Although the BioMarin compound alone was beneficial
in clinical trials, the addition of LB-100 enhanced the activity of vosoritide in the animal models of ACH and led the authors to conclude
that their study provides a proof of concept that a phosphatase inhibitor may be a beneficial addition to therapy with vosoritide (Shuhaibar
et al., JCI Insight 2021).
The Company’s development
of LB-100 as the only presently available PP2A inhibitor in clinical trials has opened a variety of possibilities for adding inhibition
of PP2A to therapeutic regimens for a range of serious diseases. LB-100 has been shown to enhance anti-cancer activity of standard chemotherapy
and immunotherapy regimens against a broad spectrum of human cancers in animal models. The Company’s focus is to demonstrate the
clinical therapeutic benefit of LB-100 in one or more cancers for which more effective treatments are urgently needed. Many investigators,
of which Shuhaibar and colleagues are among the most recent, have used LB-100 in pre-clinical studies that have revealed that targeting
of the PP2A function appears to have a multitude of potential applications to serious human diseases in addition to cancer.
28
Going Concern
At June 30, 2021, the Company
had cash of $6,798,477 available to fund its operations. Because the Company is currently engaged in Phase 2 clinical trials, it is expected
that it will take a significant amount of time and resources to develop any product or intellectual property capable of generating sustainable
revenues. Accordingly, the Company’s business is unlikely to generate any sustainable operating revenues in the next several years
and may never do so. Even if the Company is able to generate revenues through licensing its technologies or through product sales, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve positive earnings and operating cash flows.
The Company’s consolidated
financial statements have been presented on the basis that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of
assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has no recurring source of revenue and has experienced
negative operating cash flows since inception. The Company has financed its working capital requirements primarily through the recurring
sale of its equity securities.
As a result, management has concluded
that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm, in its report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, has
also expressed substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Information with respect to recent
accounting pronouncements is provided at Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months and six months
ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 included elsewhere in this document.
Concentration of Risk
Information with respect to concentration
of risk is provided at Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021
and 2020 included elsewhere in this document.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of the Company’s
consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”)
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Some of those judgments can be subjective and complex, and
therefore, actual results could differ materially from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management bases its
estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable in relation to the financial statements
taken as a whole under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets
and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Management regularly evaluates the key factors and assumptions used
to develop the estimates utilizing currently available information, changes in facts and circumstances, historical experience and reasonable
assumptions. After such evaluations, if deemed appropriate, those estimates are adjusted accordingly. Actual results could differ from
those estimates. Significant estimates include those related to assumptions used in accruals for potential liabilities, valuing equity
instruments issued for services, and the realization of deferred tax assets.
The following critical accounting
policies affect the more significant judgements and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
29
Research and Development
Research and development costs
consist primarily of fees paid to consultants and contractors, and other expenses relating to the acquisition, design, development and
clinical trials with respect to the Company’s compounds and product candidates. Research and development costs also include the
costs to produce the compounds used in research and clinical trials, which are charged to operations as incurred.
Research and development costs
are charged to operations ratably over the life of the underlying contracts, unless the achievement of milestones, the completion of contracted
work, or other information indicates that a different expensing schedule is more appropriate.
Obligations incurred with respect
to mandatory scheduled payments under research agreements with milestone provisions are recognized as charges to research and development
costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations based on the achievement of such milestones, as specified in the agreement.
Obligations incurred with respect to mandatory scheduled payments under research agreements without milestone provisions are recognized
ratably over the appropriate period, as specified in the agreement, and are recorded as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated
balance sheet, with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.
Payments made pursuant to research
and development contracts are initially recorded as advances on research and development contract services in the Company’s consolidated
balance sheet and are then charged to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations as those
contract services are performed. Expenses incurred under research and development contracts in excess of amounts advanced are recorded
as research and development contract liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding charge to research
and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company reviews the status of its research and
development contracts on a quarterly basis.
Patent and Licensing Related Legal and Filing Costs
Due to the significant uncertainty
associated with the successful development of one or more commercially viable products based on the Company’s research efforts and
related patent applications, all patent-related legal and filing fees and licensing-related legal fees are charged to operations as incurred.
Patent and licensing related legal and filing costs are included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated
statements of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company periodically issues
common stock and stock options to officers, directors, employees, Scientific Advisory Committee members, contractors and consultants for
services rendered. Options vest and expire according to terms established at the issuance date of each grant. Stock grants, which are
generally time vested, are measured at the grant date fair value and charged to operations ratably over the vesting period.
The Company accounts for stock-based
payments to officers, directors, employees, Scientific Advisory Committee members contractors and consultants by measuring the cost of
services received in exchange for equity awards utilizing the grant date fair value of the awards, with the cost recognized as compensation
expense on the straight-line basis in the Company’s financial statements over the vesting period of the awards.
The fair value of stock options
granted as stock-based compensation is determined utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is affected by several variables,
the most significant of which are the expected life of the stock option, the exercise price of the stock option as compared to the fair
market value of the common stock on the grant date, and the estimated volatility of the common stock. Unless sufficient historical exercise
data is available, the expected life of the stock option is calculated as the mid-point between the vesting period and the contractual
term (the “simplified method”). Estimated volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock,
calculated utilizing a look-back period approximately equal to the contractual life of the stock option being granted. The risk-free interest
rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The fair market value of the common stock is determined
by reference to the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date.
30
The Company recognizes the fair
value of stock-based compensation awards in general and administrative costs and in research and development costs, as appropriate, in
the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company issues new shares of common stock to satisfy stock option exercises.
Summary of Business Activities and Plans
Company Overview
The Company is a drug discovery
company that uses biomarker technology to identify enzyme targets associated with serious common diseases and then designs novel compounds
to attack those targets. The Company’s product pipeline is primarily focused on inhibitors of protein phosphatases, used alone and
in combination with cytotoxic agents and/or x-ray and immune checkpoint blockers, and encompasses two major categories of compounds at
various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development that the Company believes have broad therapeutic potential not only for cancer
but also for other debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
The Company has developed two
series of pharmacologically active drugs, the LB-100 series and the LB-200 series. The Company believes that the mechanism by which compounds
of the LB-100 series affect cancer cell growth is different from cancer agents currently approved for clinical use. Lead compounds from
each series have activity against a broad spectrum of common and rarer human cancers in cell culture systems. In addition, compounds from
both series have anti-cancer activity in animal models of glioblastoma multiforme, neuroblastoma, and medulloblastoma, all cancers of
neural tissue. Lead compounds of the LB-100 series also have activity against melanoma, breast cancer and sarcoma in animal models and
enhance the effectiveness of commonly used anti-cancer drugs in these model systems. The enhancement of anti-cancer activity of these
anti-cancer drugs occurs at doses of LB-100 that do not significantly increase toxicity in animals. It is therefore hoped that, when combined
with standard anti-cancer regimens against many tumor types, the Company’s compounds will improve therapeutic benefit without enhancing
toxicity in humans.
Product Candidates
The LB-100 series consists of
novel structures which have the potential to be first in their class and may be useful in the treatment of not only several types of cancer
but also vascular and metabolic diseases. The LB-200 series contains compounds which may be useful for the treatment of chronic hereditary
diseases, such as Gaucher’s disease, in addition to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
The Company has demonstrated that
lead compounds of both the LB-100 series and the LB-200 are active against a broad spectrum of human cancers in cell culture and against
several types of human cancers in animal models. The research on these compounds was initiated in 2006 under a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement, or CRADA, with the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, of the National Institutes
of Health, or NIH, dated March 22, 2006 that was subsequently extended through a series of amendments until it terminated on April 1,
2013. As discussed below, the Company’s primary focus is on the clinical development of LB-100.
The LB-200 series consists of
histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). Many pharmaceutical companies are also developing drugs of this type, and at least two companies
have HDACi approved for clinical use, in both cases for the treatment of a type of lymphoma. Despite this significant competition, the
Company has demonstrated that its HDACi have broad activity against many cancer types, have neuroprotective activity, and have anti-fungal
activity. In addition, these compounds have low toxicity. LB-200 has not yet advanced to the clinical stage and would require additional
capital to fund further development. Accordingly, because of the Company’s focus on the clinical development of LB-100 and analogs
for cancer therapy as described below in more detail, the Company have decided not to actively pursue the pre-clinical development of
our LB-200 series of compounds at this time. At this time, the Company intend to only maintain composition of matter patents for LB-200.
Collaborations with leading academic
research centers in the United States, Europe and Asia have established the breadth of activity of LB-100 in pre-clinical models of several
major cancers. There is considerable scientific interest in LB-100 because it exerts its activity by a novel mechanism and is the first
of its type to be evaluated so broadly in multiple animal models of cancer and now in human beings. LB-100 is one of a series of serine/threonine
phosphatase (s/t ptase) inhibitors designed by the Company. The s/t ptases are ubiquitous enzymes that regulate many cell-signaling networks
important to cell growth, division and death. The s/t ptases have long been appreciated as potentially important targets for anti-cancer
drugs. However, because of the multi- functionality of these enzymes, it had been widely held that pharmacologic inhibitors of s/t ptases
would be too toxic to allow their development as anti-cancer treatments, but the Company has shown that this is not the case. LB-100 was
well tolerated at doses associated with objective regression (significant tumor shrinkage) and/or the arresting of tumor progression in
patients with progressive cancers.
31
Pre-clinical studies showed that
LB-100 itself inhibits a spectrum of human cancers and that combined with standard cytotoxic drugs and/or radiation, LB-100 potentiates
their effectiveness against hematologic and solid tumor cancers without enhancing toxicity. Given at very low doses in animal models of
cancer, LB-100 markedly increased the effectiveness of a PD-1 blocker, one of the widely used new immunotherapy drugs. This finding raises
the possibility that LB-100 may further expand the value of the expanding field of cancer immunotherapy.
The Company completed a Phase
1 clinical trial of LB-100 to evaluate its safety that showed it is associated with anti-tumor activity in humans at doses that are readily
tolerable. Responses included objective regression (tumor shrinkage) lasting for 11 months of a pancreatic cancer and cessation of growth
(stabilization of disease) for 4 months or more of 9 other progressive solid tumors out of 20 patients who had measurable disease. As
Phase 1 clinical trials are fundamentally designed to determine safety of a new compound in humans, the Company was encouraged by these
results. The next step is to demonstrate in Phase 2 clinical trials the efficacy of LB-100 in one or more specific tumor types, against
which the compound has well documented activity in pre-clinical models.
As a compound moves through the
FDA-approval process, it becomes an increasingly valuable property, but at a cost of additional investment at each stage. As the potential
effectiveness of LB-100 has been documented at the clinical trial level, the Company has allocated resources to expand the breadth and
depth of its patent portfolio. The Company’s approach has been to operate with a minimum of overhead, moving compounds forward as
efficiently and inexpensively as possible, and to raise funds to support each of these stages as certain milestones are reached. The Company’s
longer-term objective is to secure one or more strategic partnerships or licensing agreements with pharmaceutical companies with major
programs in cancer.
Impact of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) on
the Company’s Business Activities
The global outbreak of the novel
coronavirus (Covid-19) has led to disruptions in general economic activities worldwide, as businesses and governments have taken broad
actions to mitigate this public health crisis. In light of the uncertain and continually evolving situation relating to the spread of
Covid-19, this pandemic could pose a risk to the Company. The extent to which the coronavirus may impact the Company’s business
activities will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. The Company intends to
continue to monitor the situation and may adjust its current business plans as more information and guidance become available.
The coronavirus pandemic presents
a challenge to medical facilities worldwide. As the Company’s clinical trials are conducted on an outpatient basis, it is not currently
possible to predict the full impact of this developing health crisis on such clinical trials, which could include delays in and increased
costs of such clinical trials. Current indications from the clinical research organizations conducting the clinical trials for the Company
are that such clinical trials are being delayed or extended for several months as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The most problematic issue directly
related to Covid-19 for the Company is the delay in completing the glioblastoma (GBM) pharmacology clinical trial at NCI. This clinical
trial is being conducted by the NCI without charge to the Company. The neurosurgical unit at the NCI is closed due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Patient entry remains at two, with the goal to enter eight patients before analyzing results. There is an urgent need to improve therapy
for this type of aggressive brain tumor. If the NCI study shows that LB-100 does penetrate the brain, a clinical study of LB-100 in combination
with standard therapy for GBM, the drug temozolomide and radiation, both of which have been well documented in pre-clinical studies to
be significantly enhanced by LB-100, would be of significant interest to neuro-oncologists frustrated by decades of limited advances in
therapy for this common brain tumor in adults.
32
There is also significant uncertainty
as to the effect that the coronavirus may have on the amount and type of financing available to the Company in the future.
The Company
intends to continue to monitor the situation and may adjust its current business plans as more information and guidance become available.
Results of Operations
At June 30, 2021, the Company
had not yet commenced any revenue-generating operations, does not have any positive cash flows from operations, and is dependent on its
ability to raise equity capital to fund its operating requirements.
The Company’s consolidated
statements of operations as discussed herein are presented below.
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Revenues
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative costs
1,470,180
255,443
2,751,834
547,928
Research and development costs
262,415
117,946
705,941
212,618
Total costs and expenses
1,732,595
373,389
3,457,775
760,546
Loss from operations
(1,732,595
)
(373,389
)
(3,457,775
)
(760,546
)
Interest income
180
264
326
4,246
Interest expense
(751
)
—
(2,861
)
—
Net loss
$
(1,733,166
)
$
(373,125
)
$
(3,460,310
)
$
(756,300
)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted
$
(0.13
)
$
(0.03
)
$
(0.26
)
$
(0.07
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
13,633,040
11,174,302
13,203,010
11,174,302
Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Revenues . The Company did
not have any revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.
General and Administrative
Costs . For the three months ended June 30, 2021, general and administrative costs were $1,470,180, which consisted of the fair value
of vested stock options issued to directors of $850,804, patent and licensing legal fees and costs of $108,193, other consulting and professional
fees of $154,495, insurance expense of $87,757, officer’s salary and related costs of $197,689, cash-based director and committee
fees of $27,833, licensing fees of $6,233, shareholder reporting costs of $9,373, listing fees of $14,500, filing fees of $2,990, taxes
and licenses of $2,444, and other operating costs of $7,869.
For the three months ended June
30, 2020, general and administrative costs were $255,443, which consisted of patent and licensing legal fees and costs of $143,444, other
consulting and professional fees of $64,177, insurance expense of $14,132, officer’s salary and related costs of $16,871, licensing
fees of $6,233, shareholder reporting costs of $2,795, listing fees of $3,000, filing fees of $1,294, taxes and licenses of $580, and
other operating costs of $2,917.
General and administrative costs
increased by $1,214,737, or 475.5%, in 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of an increase in the fair value of vested stock
options issued to directors of $850,804, an increase in other consulting and professional fees of $90,318, an increase in insurance expense
of $73,625, and an increase in officer’s salary and related costs of $180,818.
33
Research and Development Costs .
For the three months ended June 30, 2021, research and development costs were $262,415, which consisted of contractor costs, primarily
in connection with the Company’s pre-clinical research focused on the development of additional novel anti-cancer compounds to add
to its clinical pipeline, including $69,001 to the City of Hope, $10,309 to Moffitt, $18,553 to Theradex for oversight of the City of
Hope and Moffitt studies, $30,000 to BioPharmaWorks, $130,461 to three contract research and development firms for the synthesis work
to develop a new supply of LB-100 for the GEIS clinical trial, and $33,883 to various other contractors, offset by a refund of $29,792
from a cancelled contract.
For the three months ended June
30, 2020, research and development costs were $117,946, which consisted of contractor costs, primarily in connection with the Company’s
pre-clinical research focused on the development of additional novel anti-cancer compounds to add to its clinical pipeline, including
$43,411 to GEIS, $11,698 to Moffitt, $9,620 to Theradex for regulatory costs and oversight of the Moffitt study, $30,201 to BioPharmaWorks,
and $23,016 to various other contractors.
Research and development costs
increased by $144,469, or 122.5% in 2021 as compared to 2020, as a result of an increase in contractor costs, primarily in connection
with the Company’s pre-clinical research focused on the development of additional novel anti-cancer compounds to add to its clinical
pipeline.
Interest Income . For the
three months ended June 30, 2021, the Company had interest income of $180, as compared to interest income of $264 for the three months
ended June 30, 2020, as a result of a reduction in the Company’s cash resources previously invested in short-term federally insured
certificates of deposit.
Interest Expense . For the
three months ended June 30, 2021, the Company had interest expense of $751 related to the financing of its directors and officers liability
insurance premium. The Company had no interest expense during the three months ended June 30, 2020.
Net Loss . For the three
months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred a net loss of $1,733,166, as compared to a net loss of $373,125 for the three months
ended June 30, 2020.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Revenues . The Company did
not have any revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.
General and Administrative
Costs . For the six months ended June 30, 2021, general and administrative costs were $2,751,834, which consisted of the fair value
of vested stock options issued to directors of $1,506,836, patent and licensing legal fees and costs of $228,352, other consulting and
professional fees of $349,376, insurance expense of $175,513, officer’s salary and related costs of $371,271, cash-based director
and committee fees of $27,833, licensing fees of $12,397, shareholder reporting costs of $19,760, listing fees of $29,000, filing fees
of $12,564, taxes and licenses of $7,113, and other operating costs of $11,819.
For the six months ended June
30, 2020, general and administrative costs were $547,928, which consisted of patent and licensing legal fees and costs of $276,912, other
consulting and professional fees of $171,919, insurance expense of $28,416, officer’s salary and related costs of $33,892, licensing
fees of $12,398, shareholder reporting costs of $6,386, listing fees of $6,000, filing fees of $6,294, taxes and licenses of $1,160, and
other operating costs of $4,551.
General and administrative costs
increased by $2,203,906, or 402.2%, in 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of an increase in the fair value of vested stock
options issued to directors of $1,506,836, an increase in other consulting and professional fees of $177,457, an increase in insurance
expense of $147,097, and an increase in officer’s salary and related costs of $337,379.
Research and Development Costs .
For the six months ended June 30, 2021, research and development costs were $705,941, which consisted of contractor costs, primarily in
connection with the Company’s pre-clinical research focused on the development of additional novel anti-cancer compounds to add
to its clinical pipeline, including $24,171 to GEIS, $309,509 to the City of Hope, $17,693 to Moffitt, $23,034 to Theradex for oversight
of the City of Hope and Moffitt studies, $60,000 to BioPharmaWorks, $262,748 to three contract research and development firms for the
synthesis work to develop a new supply of LB-100 for the GEIS clinical trial, and $38,578 to various other contractors, offset by a refund
of $29,792 from a cancelled contract.
34
For the six months ended June
30, 2020, research and development costs were $212,618, which consisted of contractor costs, primarily in connection with the Company’s
pre-clinical research focused on the development of additional novel anti-cancer compounds to add to its clinical pipeline, including
$43,411 to GEIS, $25,364 to Moffitt, $20,076 to Theradex for regulatory costs and oversight of the and Moffitt study, $60,201 to BioPharmaWorks,
and $63,566 to various other contractors.
Research and development costs
increased by $493,323, or 232.0% in 2021 as compared to 2020, as a result of an increase in contractor costs, primarily in connection
with the Company’s pre-clinical research focused on the development of additional novel anti-cancer compounds to add to its clinical
pipeline.
Interest Income . For the
six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company had interest income of $326, as compared to interest income of $4,246 for the six months ended
June 30, 2020, as a result of a reduction in the Company’s cash resources previously invested in short-term federally insured certificates
of deposit.
Interest Expense . For the
six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company had interest expense of $2,861 related to the financing of its directors and officers liability
insurance premium. The Company had no interest expense during the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Net Loss . For the six months
ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred a net loss of $3,460,310, as compared to a net loss of $756,300 for the six months ended June
30, 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources – June 30,
2021
At June 30, 2021, the Company
had working capital of $6,866,338, as compared to working capital of $5,011,951 at December 31, 2020, reflecting an increase in working
capital of $1,854,387 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in working capital during the six months ended June 30, 2021
was the result of the net cash proceeds of $3,689,761 from the Company’s March 2021 direct equity offering, proceeds of $17,100
from the exercise of warrants, and proceeds of $101,000 from the exercise of stock options, utilized to pay public offering costs of $10,467
and to fund the Company’s research and development activities and ongoing operating expenses, including the Company’s clinical
trial program and maintaining and developing the patent portfolio. At June 30, 2021, the Company had cash of $6,798,477 available to fund
its operations.
The Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional equity capital to fund its research and development activities
and to ultimately achieve sustainable operating revenues and profitability. The amount and timing of future cash requirements depends
on the pace and design of the Company’s clinical trial program, which, in turn, depends on the availability of operating capital
to fund such activities.
Effective November 30, 2020, the
Company listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market in conjunction with the completion of its public offering of units of common stock and warrants
that generated net cash proceeds of $4,591,349. Subsequently, on January 18, 2021, the Company entered into a clinical trial agreement
to carry out a Phase 1b clinical trial of LB-100, combined with a standard regimen for untreated, extensive stage-disease small cell lung
cancer. This new clinical trial is being conducted through City of Hope and is estimated to cost approximately $2,900,000 and take approximately
24 to 30 months. Combined with the Company’s existing clinical trial commitments, this new clinical trial commitment represents
an additional demand on the Company’s working capital resources. Although the Company completed a sale of common stock under a registered
direct equity offering on March 2, 2021 that generated net proceeds of $3,689,761, the Company estimates that it will need to raise additional
capital to fund its operations, including its various clinical trial commitments, by mid-2022. In addition, the Company’s operating
plan may change as a result of many factors which are currently unknown to the Company, including possible additional clinical trials,
and the Company may need additional funds sooner than currently planned.
35
As market conditions present uncertainty
as to the Company’s ability to secure additional funds, there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to secure additional
financing on acceptable terms, as and when necessary, to continue to conduct operations. There is also significant uncertainty as to the
effect that the coronavirus pandemic may have on the Company’s clinical trial schedule and the amount and type of financing available
to the Company in the future.
If cash resources are insufficient
to satisfy the Company’s ongoing cash requirements, the Company would be required to scale back or discontinue its clinical trial
program, as well as its licensing and patent prosecution efforts and its technology and product development efforts, or obtain funds,
if available, through strategic alliances or joint ventures that could require the Company to relinquish rights to and/or control of LB-100,
or to discontinue operations entirely.
Operating Activities . For
the six months ended June 30, 2021, operating activities utilized cash of $2,068,183, as compared to utilizing cash of $768,682 for the
six months ended June 30, 2020, to fund the Company’s ongoing research and development activities and to fund its other ongoing
operating expenses, including maintaining and developing its patent portfolio.
Investing Activities . For
the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no investing activities.
Financing Activities . For
the six months ended June 30, 2021, financing activities consisted of the gross proceeds from the sales of common stock in the Company’s
direct equity offering of $4,192,478, reduced by offering costs of $502,717, $17,100 from the exercise of common stock warrants, and $101,000
from the exercise of common stock options. The Company also paid public offering costs of $10,467 during the six months ended June 30,
2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, financing activities consisted of the payment of deferred offering costs of $55,850.
Principal Commitments
Clinical Trial Agreements
Moffitt.
Effective August 20, 2018, the Company entered into a Clinical Trial Research Agreement with the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute Hospital Inc., Tampa, Florida, effective for a term of five years, unless terminated earlier by the Company pursuant to 30 days
written notice. Pursuant to the Clinical Trial Research Agreement, Moffitt agreed to conduct and manage a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to
evaluate the therapeutic benefit of the Company’s lead anti-cancer clinical compound LB-100 to be administered intravenously in
patients with low or intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
In November
2018, the Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”)
to conduct a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of LB-100 in patients with low and intermediate-1 risk MDS
who have failed or are intolerant of standard treatment. Patients with MDS, although usually older, are generally well except for severe
anemia requiring frequent blood transfusions. This Phase 1b/2 clinical trial utilizes LB-100 as a single agent in the treatment of patients
with low and intermediate-1 risk MDS, including patients with del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome (del5qMDS) failing first line therapy.
The bone marrow cells of patients with del5qMDS are deficient in PP2A by virtue of an acquired mutation and are especially vulnerable
to further inhibition of PP2A by LB-100. The clinical trial began at a single site in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into
the clinical trial in July 2019. A total enrollment of 41 patients is planned. An interim analysis will be done after the first 21 patients
are entered. If there are 3 or more responders but fewer than 7, an additional 20 patients will be entered. If at any point there are
7 or more responders, this will be sufficient evidence to support continued development of LB-100 for the treatment of low and intermediate-1
risk MDS. Recruitment has been slow and the Covid-19 pandemic has further reduced recruitment of patients into the protocol. At the current
rate of accrual, the clinical trial is expected to be completed over a period of approximately four years from its initiation. However,
with additional funds, the Company’s objective would be to add two additional MDS centers to the Phase 2 portion of the study to
accelerate patient accrual.
36
During
the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $10,309 and $11,698, respectively, pursuant to this agreement.
During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $17,693 and $25,364, respectively, pursuant to this
agreement. As of June 30, 2021, total costs of $103,927 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement.
GEIS. Effective July 31,
2019, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement for an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial with the Spanish Sarcoma Group (Grupo
Español de Investigación en Sarcomas or “GEIS”), Madrid, Spain, to carry out a study entitled “Randomized
phase I/II trial of LB-100 plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin alone in first line of advanced soft tissue sarcoma”. The purpose of
this clinical trial is to obtain information about the efficacy and safety of LB-100 combined with doxorubicin in soft tissue sarcomas.
Doxorubicin is the global standard for initial treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas (“ASTS”). Doxorubicin alone has
been the mainstay of first line treatment of ASTS for over 40 years, with little therapeutic gain from adding cytotoxic compounds to or
substituting other cytotoxic compounds for doxorubicin. In animal models, LB-100 consistently enhances the anti-tumor activity of doxorubicin
without apparent increases in toxicity.
GEIS has a network of referral
centers in Spain and across Europe that have an impressive track record of efficiently conducting innovative studies in ASTS. The Company
agreed to provide GEIS with a supply of LB-100 to be utilized in the conduct of this clinical trial, as well as to provide funding for
the clinical trial. The goal was to enter the first patient during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, with approximately 150 patients
to be enrolled over two years. As advanced sarcoma is a very aggressive disease, the design of the study assumes a median progression
free survival (PFS, no evidence of disease progression or death from any cause) of 4.5 months in the doxorubicin arm and an alternative
median PFS of 7.5 months in the doxorubicin plus LB-100 arm to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in relative risk of progression
or death by adding LB-100. There is a planned interim analysis of the primary endpoint when about half of the 102 events required for
final analysis is reached.
The Company had previously expected
that this clinical trial would commence during the quarter ended June 30, 2020. However, during July 2020, the Spanish regulatory authority
advised the Company that although it had approved the scientific and ethical basis of the protocol, it required that the Company manufacture
new inventory of LB-100 under current Spanish pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. These regulations were adopted subsequent to the
production of the Company’s existing LB-100 inventory.
A new batch of LB 100 has been
prepared and is now undergoing the multitude of analytical studies of the formulated product necessary to gain approval for use in the
European Union. Regulatory reviews by the European Union have been delayed until October 2021 as a result of which the final review of
the clinical product by Spanish regulatory authorities will also be delayed. Accordingly, the clinical trial is now estimated to begin
during the quarter ending June 30, 2022 and take approximately three years to conduct.
The interim analysis of this clinical
trial could indicate either inferiority or superiority of LB-100 plus doxorubicin as compared to doxorubicin alone. A positive study would
have the potential to change the standard therapy for this disease after four decades of failure to improve the marginal benefit of doxorubicin
alone.
The Company’s agreement
with GEIS provides for various payments based on achieving specific milestones over the term of the agreement. On February 18, 2020, the
Company advanced $43,411 to GEIS towards a second milestone payment obligation of $87,471, which was expected to become due and payable
during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 based on the anticipated achievement of the second milestone, and which was therefore recorded
as an advance on the Company’s balance sheet at March 31, 2020. However, as a result of the substantial delay in commencing the
clinical trial as described above, the achievement of the second milestone had been delayed until mid-2021 and the Company therefore determined
to charge such advance to research and development costs in the Company’s statement of operations at June 30, 2020. Subsequently,
on February 26, 2021, the Company paid an additional $24,171 to GEIS towards the second milestone payment for current work being done
under this agreement.
Accordingly, during the three
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $0 and $43,411, respectively, pursuant to this agreement. During the
six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $24,171 and $43,411 respectively, pursuant to this agreement. As
of June 30, 2021, total costs of $155,053 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement.
37
The Company’s
aggregate commitments pursuant to the aforementioned clinical trial agreements, less amounts previously paid to date under these agreements,
totaled approximately $5,798,000 as of June 30, 2021, consisting of approximately $5,193,000 relating to the GEIS clinical trial and
approximately $605,000 relating to the Moffit clinical trial, which are expected to be incurred over approximately the next five years
through December 31, 2025.
In order to manufacture a new
inventory supply of LB-100 for the GEIS clinical trial, the Company has engaged a number of vendors to carry out the multiple tasks needed
to make and gain approval of a new clinical product for investigational study in Spain. These tasks include the synthesis under good manufacturing
practices (GMP) of the active pharmacologic ingredient (API), with documentation of each of the steps involved by an independent auditor.
The API is then transferred to a vendor that prepares the clinical drug product (DP), also under GMP conditions documented by an independent
auditor. The DP is then sent to a vendor to test for purity and sterility, provide appropriate labels, store the drug, and distribute
the drug to the clinical centers for use in the clinical trials. A formal application documenting all steps taken to prepare the DP for
clinical use must be submitted to the appropriate regulatory authorities for review and approval before being used in a clinical trial.
As of June 30, 2021, the Company
estimates that this program to provide new inventory of the DP for the Spanish sarcoma study, and potentially for subsequent multiple
trials within the European Union, will cost approximately $737,000. The Company’s remaining aggregate commitments under this program,
less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $371,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred through the
quarter ending March 31, 2022. As the production of the new inventory is being conducted in Europe and is paid for in Euros, final costs
are subject to foreign currency fluctuations between the United States Dollar and the Euro.
City of Hope. Effective
January 18, 2021, the Company executed a Clinical Research Support Agreement with City of Hope National Medical Center, an NCI-designated
comprehensive cancer center, and City of Hope Medical Foundation (collectively, “City of Hope”), to carry out a Phase 1b clinical
trial of LB-100, the Company’s first-in-class protein phosphatase inhibitor, combined with a standard regimen for treatment of untreated
extensive- stage disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). LB-100 will be given in combination with carboplatin, etoposide and atezolizumab,
an FDA-approved but marginally effective regimen, to previously untreated ED-SCLC patients. The dose of LB-100 will be escalated with
the standard fixed doses of the 3-drug regimen to reach a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). Patient entry will be expanded so that a total
of 12 patients will be evaluable at the RP2D to confirm the safety of the LB-100 combination and to look for potential therapeutic activity
as assessed by objective response rate, duration of overall response, progression-free-survival and overall survival.
The clinical trial was initiated
on March 9, 2021, with patient accrual expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months to complete. If LB-100 does potentiate the benefit
of the standard regimen, some evidence could be noted at 12 months into the clinical trial, but an assessment of potential increased activity
is likely to require at least 24 months.
The Company is seeking two additional
centers to increase the rate of accrual. As described below, a recent publication may heighten the interest of institutions with large
populations of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. LB-100 was reported to enhance the effectiveness of elements of standard therapy
in models of SCLC (Mirzapoiazova el al., Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, online July 12, 2021). Dr. Ravi Salgia, MD, PhD, Professor and
Chair of the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at the City of Hope National Medical Center, is the corresponding
author of the paper and also the principal investigator for the Company’s SCLC clinical trial. Dr. Salgia and collaborators found
multiple metabolic changes associated with cell death in SCLC cells when exposed to LB-100 alone and when combined with the drugs in a
standard clinical regimen for this notoriously aggressive disease.
LB-100 has been reported to increase
the effectiveness of a number of anti-cancer drugs against several different types of human cancers without increasing toxicity in animal
models. The recent pre-clinical study of SCLC cells observed that (1) LB-100 increases the amount of carboplatin that enters the tumor
cells without increasing toxicity, and (2) LB-100 potentiates the action of the immune-blocker, atezolizumab. These observations are important
because, taken together, they not only constitute a strong rationale for the clinical trial of LB-100 plus chemo-immunotherapy in SCLC,
but they also complement earlier pre-clinical observations that LB-100 can (1) reverse resistance of cancer cells (ovarian) to cisplatin,
another widely used chemotherapy drug (Chang et al., Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, November 5, 2014), (2) increase the entry of another
important anti-cancer agent, doxorubicin, into liver cancer cells associated with increased anti-tumor activity (Bai et al, Molecular
Cancer Therapeutics, August 14, 2014), and (3) enhance the effectiveness of immune-blockers against several types of cancers (Ho et al.
Nature Comm., May 29, 2018). These observations raise the possibility that the addition of LB-100 may be a general way to enhance standard
therapies for cancers for which better treatments are urgently needed. The present clinical trial in SCLC is an initial step in testing
that hypothesis, as is the planned clinical trial in advanced soft tissue sarcoma in which LB-100 is combined with doxorubicin.
38
During the three months and six
months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $69,001 and $309,509, respectively, pursuant to this agreement. As of June 30,
2021, total costs of $309,509 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement.
The Company’s aggregate
commitments pursuant to this clinical trial agreement, less amounts previously paid to date under this agreement, totaled approximately
$2,433,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred over the next two years based upon a target of 42 enrollees. If a significant
number of patients fail during the dose-escalation process, an increase of up to 12 patients would likely be necessary, at an estimated
additional cost of approximately $800,000. Alternatively, should fewer than 42 enrollees be required, the Company has agreed to compensate
the City of Hope on a per enrollee basis. The Company currently expects that enrollment in this clinical trial will range from approximately
18 to 30 enrollees, with 24 enrollees as the most likely number.
Clinical Trial Monitoring Agreements
Moffitt. On September 12,
2018, the Company finalized a work order agreement with Theradex Systems, Inc. (“Theradex”), an international contract research
organization (“CRO”), to monitor the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial being managed and conducted by Moffitt. The clinical trial
began in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into the clinical trial in July 2019. At the current rate of accrual, the trial
is expected to be completed over a period of four years from its initiation.
Costs under this work order agreement
are estimated to be approximately $954,000, with such payments expected to be divided approximately 94% to Theradex for services and approximately
6% for payments for pass-through costs. The costs of the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial being paid to or through Theradex are being recorded
and charged to operations based on the periodic documentation provided by the CRO. During the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020,
the Company incurred costs of $7,540 and $5,790, respectively, pursuant to this work order. During the six months ended June 30, 2021
and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $8,481 and $11,476, respectively, pursuant to this work order. As of June 30, 2021, total costs
of $90,636 have been incurred pursuant to this work order agreement.
The Company’s
aggregate commitment pursuant to this clinical trial monitoring agreement, less amounts previously paid to date under this agreement,
totaled approximately $873,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred over approximately the next five years through June
30, 2025.
City of Hope. On February
5, 2021, the Company signed a new work order agreement with Theradex to monitor the City of Hope investigator-initiated clinical trial
in small cell lung cancer in accordance with FDA requirements for oversight by the sponsoring party. During the three months and six months
ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $10,773 and $14,313, respectively, pursuant to this work order. As of June 30, 2021,
total costs of $14,313 have been incurred pursuant to this work order agreement.
The Company’s
aggregate commitment pursuant to this clinical trial monitoring agreement, less amounts previously paid to date under this agreement,
totaled approximately $324,000 as of June 30, 2021, which are expected to be incurred through September 30, 2023.
39
Patent and License Agreements
On March 22, 2018, the Company
entered into a Patent Assignment and Exploitation Agreement with INSERM TRANSFERT SA, acting as delegatee of the French National Institute
of Health and Medical Research, for the assignment to the Company of INSERM’S interest in United States Patent No. 9,833,450 entitled
“Oxabicyloheptanes and Oxabicycloheptenes for the Treatment of Depressive and Stress Disorders”, which was filed with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office in the name of INSERM and the Company as co-owners on February 19, 2015 and granted on May
12, 2017, and related patent applications and filings. INSERM is a French public institution dedicated to research in the field of health
and medicine that had previously entered into a Material Transfer Agreement with the Company to allow INSERM to conduct research on the
Company’s proprietary compound LB-100 and/or its analogs for the treatment of depressive or stress disorders in humans. Pursuant
to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to make certain milestone payments to INSERM aggregating up to $1,750,000 upon achievement of
development milestones and up to $6,500,000 upon achievement of commercial milestones. The Company also agreed to pay INSERM certain
commercial royalties on net sales of products attributed to the Agreement. The Company’s current plan is to complete the validation
process to evaluate LB-100 for the treatment of depressive or stress disorders in humans within three years; however, the exploitation
of this patent for the treatment of depressive and stress disorders in humans will require substantial additional capital and/or a joint
venture or other type of business arrangement with a pharmaceutical company with substantially greater capital and business resources
than those available to the Company. As there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to obtain the capital or business resources
necessary to focus on the exploitation of this patent, it is uncertain as to when, if at all, the Company may reach any of the development
or commercialization milestones under the Agreement. As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, no amounts were due under this agreement.
Effective August 20, 2018, the
Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with Moffitt. Pursuant to the License Agreement, Moffitt granted the Company an exclusive
license under certain patents owned by Moffitt (the “Licensed Patents”) relating to the treatment of MDS and a non-exclusive
license under inventions, concepts, processes, information, data, know-how, research results, clinical data, and the like (other than
the Licensed Patents) necessary or useful for the practice of any claim under the Licensed Patents or the use, development, manufacture
or sale of any product for the treatment of MDS which would otherwise infringe a valid claim under the Licensed Patents. The Company was
obligated to pay Moffitt a non-refundable license issue fee of $25,000 after the first patient is entered into a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial
to be managed and conducted by Moffitt. The clinical trial began at a single site in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into
the clinical trial in July 2019. The Company is also obligated to pay Moffitt an annual license maintenance fee of $25,000 commencing
on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and every anniversary thereafter until the Company commences payment of minimum royalty
payments. The Company has also agreed to pay non-refundable milestone payments to Moffitt, which cannot be credited against earned royalties
payable by the Company, based on reaching various clinical and commercial milestones aggregating $1,897,000, subject to reduction by 40%
under certain circumstances relating to the status of Valid Claims, as such term is defined in the License Agreement. During the three
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded charges to operations of $6,233 and $6,233, respectively, in connection with
its obligations under the License Agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded charges to operations
of $12,397 and $12,398, respectively, in connection with its obligations under the License Agreement. As of June 30, 2021, no milestones
had yet been attained.
The Company will be obligated
to pay Moffitt earned royalties of 4% on worldwide cumulative net sales of royalty-bearing products, subject to reduction to 2% under
certain circumstances, on a quarterly basis, with a minimum royalty payment of $50,000 in the first four years after sales commence, and
$100,000 in year five and each year thereafter, subject to reduction by 40% under certain circumstances relating to the status of Valid
Claims, as such term is defined in the License Agreement. The Company’s obligation to pay earned royalties under the License Agreement
commences on the date of the first sale of a royalty-bearing product, and shall automatically expire on a country-by-country basis on
the date on which the last valid claim of the Licensed Patents expires, lapses or is declared invalid, and the obligation to pay any earned
royalties under the License Agreement shall terminate on the date on which the last valid claim of the Licensed Patents expires, lapses,
or is declared to be invalid in all countries.
Employment Agreements with Officers
During July and August 2020, the
Company entered into one-year employment agreements with its executive officers, consisting of Dr. John S. Kovach, Eric J. Forman, Dr.
James S. Miser, and Robert N. Weingarten, which provided for aggregate annual compensation of $640,000, payable monthly. The employment
agreements are automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice prior
to the end of the applicable one-year period, or by death, or by termination for cause. On April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors increased
the annual compensation of Eric J. Forman, the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer, Dr. James S. Miser, the Company’s Chief
Medical Officer, and Robert N. Weingarten, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, under the employment agreements such that the
total aggregate annual compensation of all officers increased to $775,000, effective May 1, 2021.
40
Other Significant Agreements and Contracts
On December 24, 2013, the Company
entered into an agreement with NDA Consulting Corp. for consultation and advice in the field of oncology research and drug development.
As part of the agreement, NDA also agreed to cause its president, Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., to become a member of the Company’s
Scientific Advisory Committee. The term of the agreement was for one year and provided for a quarterly cash fee of $4,000. The agreement
has been automatically renewed for additional one-year terms on its anniversary date since 2014. Consulting and advisory fees charged
to operations pursuant to this agreement were $4,000 and $4,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $8,000
and $8,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which were included in research and development costs in the
consolidated statements of operations.
Effective September 14, 2015,
the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement with BioPharmaWorks, pursuant to which the Company engaged BioPharmaWorks to perform
certain services for the Company. Those services included, among other things: (a) assisting the Company to (i) commercialize its products
and strengthen its patent portfolio, (ii) identify large pharmaceutical companies with potential interest in the Company’s product
pipeline, and (iii) prepare and deliver presentations concerning the Company’s products; (b) at the request of the Board of Directors,
serving as backup management for up to three months should the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and scientific leader be temporarily
unable to carry out his duties; (c) being available for consultation in drug discovery and development; and (d) identifying providers
and overseeing tasks relating to clinical use and commercialization of new compounds.
BioPharmaWorks was founded in
2015 by former Pfizer scientists with extensive multi-disciplinary research and development and drug development experience. The Collaboration
Agreement was for an initial term of two years and automatically renews for subsequent annual periods unless terminated by a party not
less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the applicable period. In connection with the Collaboration Agreement, the Company agreed
to pay BioPharmaWorks a monthly fee of $10,000, subject to the right of the Company to pay a negotiated hourly rate in lieu of the monthly
payment and agreed to issue to BioPharmaWorks certain equity-based compensation. In April 2018, it was mutually agreed to suspend services
and payments under the Collaboration Agreement, without extending its term, for the period from February 1, 2018 through the September
13, 2019 anniversary date. In February 2019, the Company and BioPharmaWorks subsequently agreed to resume the Collaboration Agreement
effective March 1, 2019, and the Collaboration Agreement is currently in effect. The Company recorded charges to operations pursuant to
this Collaboration Agreement of $30,000 and $30,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $60,000 and $60,000
for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which were included in research and development costs in the consolidated
statements of operations.
Effective
August 12, 2020, the Company entered into a Master Service Agreement with the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapy (FAST) to collaborate
in supporting pre-clinical studies of the potential benefit of LB-100 in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome (AS) as reported in The Proceedings
of The National Academy of Science (Wang et al, June 3, 2019). The pre-clinical studies will be conducted at The University of California
- Davis under the direction of Dr. David Segal, an internationally recognized leader in AS research. If the pre-clinical studies confirm
that LB-100 reduces AS signs in rodent models, the Company has agreed to enter into discussions with FAST with respect to possible collaborations
to most efficiently assess the benefit of LB-100 in patients with AS, which is a rare disease affecting an estimated one out of 12,000
to one out of 20,000 persons in the United States. The genetic cause of AS, reduced function of a specific maternal gene called Ube3,
has been understood for some time, but the molecular abnormality resulting from the genetic lesion has now been shown to be increased
concentrations of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a molecular target of the Company’s investigational compound, LB-100. The Company
has agreed to provide FAST with a supply of LB-100 to be utilized in the conduct of this study, which is initially expected to be completed
within three years. Conditioned on FAST’s completion of this study, the Company has agreed to pay FAST five percent (5%) of all
proceeds, as defined in the Master Service Agreement, received by the Company, up to a maximum of $250,000 from the exploitation of the
study results.
41
The research
team at the University of California, Davis recently completed their pre-clinical study of the potential benefit of LB-100 in a mouse
model of AS, and the results are currently under review by FAST. The preliminary analysis indicates that the positive results previously
reported by Chinese investigators were not confirmed in the US model. The Company is awaiting input from FAST as to whether it intends
to continue to pursue pre-clinical studies of LB 100.
Effective December 21, 2020, the
Company entered into a services agreement with IRTH Communications, LLC for investor/public relations, financial communications, and strategic
consulting services, effective for an initial term of twelve months and renewable annually thereafter. The Company agreed to pay a monthly
fee of $7,500, including any renewal term, and also agreed to issue restricted shares of common stock, fully vested upon issuance, with
a grant date fair value of $100,000. Upon the commencement of any renewal term, the Company will be obligated to issue additional restricted
shares of common stock, fully vested upon issuance, with a grant date fair value of $100,000. During the three months and six months ended
June 30, 2021, the Company incurred charges in the amount of $22,500 and $45,000, respectively, with respect to this agreement, which
amount is included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
At June 30, 2021, the Company
did not have any transactions, obligations or relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.
42
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE
ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 15d-15(b)
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with
the participation of its management, consisting of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of
the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2021, the end of
the most recent period covered by this report.
The term
“disclosure controls and procedures”, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required
to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported,
within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation,
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits
under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal
financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There are limitations inherent
in any internal control, such as the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. As a result, even effective
internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. As conditions change over time
so too may the effectiveness of internal controls. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide
only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit
relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting
The Company’s management,
consisting of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial
reporting is designed to ensure that material information regarding the Company’s operations is made available to management and
the Board of Directors to provide them reasonable assurance that the published financial statements are fairly presented.
Based on the Company’s assessment,
management has concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2021 to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles.
However, if in future periods
the Company develops material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting, the Company may not detect errors on a timely
basis and its consolidated financial statements may be materially misstated. In addition, the Company may also engage in business activities
or transactions in future periods that could negatively affect its internal control over financial reporting and result in additional
material weaknesses.
Management believes that
the consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the period ended June 30, 2021.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management,
consisting of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, has determined that no change in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
occurred during or subsequent to the period ended June 30, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
43
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is not currently subject to any pending
or threatened legal actions or claims.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Company’s business, financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows may be impacted by a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including
those set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2021 (the “2020 Form 10-K”).
The Risk Factors set forth in the 2020 Form 10-K should
be read carefully in connection with evaluating the Company’s business and in connection with the forward-looking statements contained
in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of the risks described in the 2020 Form 10-K could materially adversely affect the Company’s
business, financial condition or future results and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made. These
are not the only risks that the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that the Company
currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and/or operating
results.
As of the date of this filing, there have been no
material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
44
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following documents are filed as part of this
report:
Exhibit Number
Description of Document
10.1
Clinical Research Support Agreement with City of Hope. 1
31.1*
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS**
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
* Filed herewith.
** In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL related
information on Exhibit No. 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall be deemed “furnished” herewith but not “filed”.
1 Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
45
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements
of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
LIXTE BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: August 10, 2021
By:
/s/ JOHN S. KOVACH
John S. Kovach
Chief Executive Officer
Date: August 10, 2021
By:
/s/ ROBERT N. WEINGARTEN
Robert N. Weingarten
Chief Financial Officer
46
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.