Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM
2 - MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere herein and in our consolidated financial statements, accompanying
notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our
Annual Report (as defined below).
Forward-Looking
Statements
The
statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Words such as “expects,”
“anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “planned expenditures,” “believes,” “seeks,”
“estimates,” “considers” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking
statements, but are not deemed to represent an all-inclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements as denoted in this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q. Additionally, statements concerning future matters are forward-looking statements. We remind readers
that forward-looking statements are merely predictions and therefore inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors and involve
known and unknown risks that could cause the actual results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements, or industry results,
to be materially different from any future results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements, or industry results, expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other statements, statements regarding
the following:
●
the expected development
and potential benefits from our products in treating diabetes;
●
the prospects of entering into additional license agreements,
or other partnerships or forms of cooperation with other companies or medical institutions;
●
future milestones, conditions and royalties under the
license agreement with Hefei Tianhui Incubator of Technologies Co., Ltd., or HTIT, as well as our disagreements with HTIT;
●
expected timing of a clinical study for the potential
Oravax vaccine and its potential to protect against the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic;
●
our consideration of ways in which our shareholders
could benefit more directly from Oravax, including the potential issuance of some of our shares in Oravax to our shareholders as
a dividend;
●
our research and development plans, including pre-clinical
and clinical trials plans and the timing of enrollment, obtaining results and conclusion of trials, and our expectation to file a
Biologics License Application, or BLA thereafter;
●
our belief that our technology has the potential to
deliver medications and vaccines orally that today can only be delivered via injection;
●
the competitive ability of our technology based product
efficacy, safety, patient convenience, reliability, value and patent position;
●
the potential market demand for our products;
●
our expectation that in upcoming years our research
and development expenses, net, will continue to be our major expenditure;
●
our expectations regarding
our short- and long-term capital requirements;
●
our outlook for the coming months and future periods,
including but not limited to our expectations regarding future revenue and expenses;
●
information with respect
to any other plans and strategies for our business; and
●
our expectations regarding
the impact of COVID-19, including on our clinical trials and operations.
16
Although
forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such
statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject
to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated
by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include, without
limitation, those specifically addressed under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, or our Annual Report, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on
November 24, 2021, as well as those discussed elsewhere in our Annual Report and expressed from time to time in our other filings with
the SEC. In addition, historic results of scientific research, clinical and preclinical trials do not guarantee that the conclusions
of future research or trials would not suggest different conclusions. Also, historic results referred to in this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q could be interpreted differently in light of additional research, clinical and preclinical trials results. Readers are urged
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect
any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are urged to carefully review
and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which attempt to
advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Overview
of Operations
We
are a pharmaceutical company currently engaged in the research and development of innovative pharmaceutical solutions, including an oral
insulin capsule to be used for the treatment of individuals with diabetes, and the use of orally ingestible capsules or pills for delivery
of other polypeptides. We utilize Clinical Research Organizations, or CROs, to conduct our clinical studies.
Through
our research and development efforts, we have successfully developed an oral dosage form intended to withstand the harsh environment
of the stomach and intestines and effectively deliver active insulin or other proteins, such as Glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, leptin,
and others. The excipients in the formulation are not intended to modify the proteins chemically or biologically, and the dosage form
is designed to be safe to ingest. We plan to continue to conduct clinical trials to show the effectiveness of our technology.
Oral
insulin : Our proprietary flagship product, an orally ingestible insulin capsule, or ORMD-0801, allows insulin to travel from
the gastrointestinal tract via the portal vein to the bloodstream, revolutionizing the manner in which insulin is delivered. It enables
the passage in a more physiological manner than current delivery methods of insulin.
FDA
Guidance: In August 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, instructed us that the regulatory pathway for the submission
of ORMD-0801 would be a BLA. If approved, the BLA pathway would grant us 12 years of marketing exclusivity for ORMD-0801, from the approval
date, and an additional six months of exclusivity may be granted to us if the product also receives approval for use in pediatric patients.
Phase
IIb Study: In May 2018, we initiated a three-month dose-ranging Phase IIb clinical trial of ORMD-0801 (Cohort A). This placebo controlled,
randomized, 90-day treatment clinical trial was conducted on 269 type 2 diabetic, or T2D, patients in multiple centers throughout the
United States pursuant to an Investigational New Drug application, or IND, with the FDA. The primary endpoints of the trial were to assess
the safety and evaluate the effect of ORMD-0801 on HbA1c levels over a 90-day treatment period. Secondary endpoints of the trial included
measurements of fasting plasma glucose, or FPG, post-prandial glucose, or PPG levels, during a mixed-meal tolerance test, or MMTT, and
weight. In May 2019, we initiated an extension of this protocol for approximately 75 T2D patients, who were dosed using a lower dosage
of insulin (Cohort B).
Cohort
A : In November 2019, we announced positive results from the initial cohort of the Phase IIb trial. Patients randomized in the trial
to once-daily ORMD-0801 achieved a statistically significant (p-value 0.036) reduction from baseline in HbA1c of 0.60% (0.54% with placebo
adjustment). This 0.54% reduction in HbA1c is clinically meaningful. Treatment with ORMD-0801 demonstrated an excellent safety profile,
with no serious drug-related adverse events and with no increased frequency of hypoglycemic episodes when compared to placebo. In addition,
during this 90-day trial, no weight gain was observed. In the initial cohort, 269 U.S.-based patients were enrolled and treated with
a dose-increasing approach: 16 mg initial dose, titrated to 24 mg per dose, and then titrated to 32 mg per dose. Patients were randomized
into three groups to assess dosing frequency: once-daily (32 mg per day), twice-daily (64 mg per day), thrice daily (96 mg per day).
There was a corresponding placebo for each treatment arm. Two hundred nine (209) patients completed treatment to the 12-week endpoint
and were included in the data analysis (24 subjects did not complete the full 12 weeks of treatment). The twice-daily arms achieved statistically
significant (p-value 0.042) reductions from baseline in HbA1c of 0.59% (0.53% with placebo adjustment). The thrice-daily arm did not
meet statistical significance (p-value 0.093). In addition, due to evidence of treatment-by-center interaction, two sites (36 patients
(13.4% of enrolled subjects)) were excluded from the statistical analysis as they showed results opposite from the rest of the statistically
significant results. Our internal investigation as well as an independent investigation did not find a cause for such discrepancy.
17
Cohort
B : In February 2020, we announced positive topline data from the second and final cohort of the Phase IIb trial with a different
regimen across three daily dose ranges (8 mg, 16 mg, 32 mg). Patients randomized in the trial treated with 8 mg of ORMD-0801 once-daily
achieved a statistically significant (p-value 0.028) observed mean reduction of 1.29% from baseline and a least square mean reduction
of 0.95% from baseline, or 0.81% adjusted for placebo. Patients who had HbA1c readings above 9% at baseline and received 8 mg of oral
insulin once-daily experienced a 1.26% reduction in HbA1c by week 12. Treatment with ORMD-0801 at all doses demonstrated an excellent
safety profile, with no serious drug-related adverse events and with no increased frequency of hypoglycemic episodes or weight gain compared
to placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was a reduction in HbA1c at week 12.
Phase
III Study : Based on guidance received from the FDA as part of the end-of-phase II meeting process for our oral insulin candidate,
ORMD-0801, we have submitted to the FDA the protocols for our upcoming pivotal Phase III studies. In line with the FDA’s expectations
and recommendations, we are currently conducting two Phase III studies concurrently in patients with T2D. These studies involve about
1,125 patients to provide evidence of ORMD-0801’s safety and efficacy in T2D patients over a treatment period of 6 to 12 months.
A geographically diverse patient population is being recruited from multiple sites throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel.
Our Phase III study is composed from 2 protocols:
ORA-D-013-1 :
This study will treat T2D patients with inadequate glycaemic control who are currently on 2 or 3 oral glucose-lowering agents. This U.S.
study will recruit 675 patients from over 90 clinical sites located throughout the U.S. Patients will be randomized 1:1:1 in this double-dummy
study into cohorts of: 8 mg ORMD-0801 once-daily at night and placebo 45 minutes before breakfast; 8 mg ORMD-0801 twice-daily, at night
and 45 minutes before breakfast; and placebo twice-daily, at night and 45 minutes before breakfast. The primary endpoint of the study
is to evaluate the efficacy of ORMD-0801 compared to placebo in improving glycaemic control as assessed by HbA1c, with a secondary efficacy
endpoint of assessing the change from baseline in fasting plasma glucose at 26 weeks. We initiated this trial in December 2020. In November
2021, we announced that 75% of the 675 patients were enrolled and randomized.
ORA-D-013-2 :
This study will include T2D patients with inadequate glycaemic control who are managing their condition with either diet alone or with
diet and metformin monotherapy. A total of 450 patients will be recruited through 36 sites in the U.S. and 25 sites in Western Europe
and Israel. Patients will be randomized 1:1 into two cohorts dosed with: 8 mg ORMD-0801 at night; and placebo at night. The primary endpoint
is to evaluate the efficacy of ORMD-0801 compared to placebo in improving glycaemic control as assessed by HbA1c over a 26-week treatment
period, with a secondary efficacy endpoint of assessing the change from baseline in fasting plasma glucose at 26 weeks. We initiated
this trial in the U.S. in March 2021. In August 2021, we announced that over 25% of the 450 patients were enrolled and randomized.
We
expect to receive the efficacy data from the trials after patients have completed the first 6 months of treatment. Safety will be further
monitored as patients will be exposed to the drug over an additional 6 months (total 12 months). The trial’s topline results are
expected in calendar 2022 and we anticipate filing a BLA with the FDA in calendar 2024. A BLA would grant us 12 years of marketing exclusivity
from the date of approval in the U.S.
NASH
trial: In June 2020, we presented topline data of 8 patients from an open-label trial that assessed the safety, tolerability, and
early effects of 16 mg ORMD-0801 (2x8 mg capsules) on liver fat in T2D, patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. The 12-week
dosing had no serious adverse events and it induced an observed mean 6.9±6.8% reduction in liver fat content (p-value: 0.035),
and the relative reduction of 30%, as measured by MRI-derived proton density fat fraction, or MRI-PDFF. In parallel, concentrations of
gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), a key marker of chronic hepatitis, were significantly lower after 12 weeks of treatment as compared
to baseline (-14.6±13.1 U/L; p value: 0.008).
In
September 2020, we initiated an open label clinical trial of our oral insulin capsule, ORMD-0801, for the treatment of NASH. This 10
patient multi-center trial is comprised of three clinical sites in Belgium. The trial will measure change and percent change in MRI-PDFF
from baseline to week 12.
18
In
December 2020, we initiated a double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of our oral insulin capsule, ORMD-0801, for the treatment
of NASH. This 30 patient multi-center trial is comprised of five clinical sites: three in the U.S. and two in Israel. The trial will
measure change and percent change in MRI-PDFF from baseline to week 12. In September 2021, we announced that over 50% of the patients
were enrolled and randomized.
Oral
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1: Oral GLP-1, is an incretin hormone, which stimulates the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. In
addition to our flagship product, the ORMD-0801 insulin capsule, we use our technology for an orally ingestible GLP-1 capsule, or ORMD-0901.
In
February 2019, we completed a Phase I pharmacokinetic trial to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of ORMD-0901 compared to placebo
in healthy volunteers. We initiated a follow-on trial in T2D patients, in June 2021 in the U.S. under an IND submitted to the FDA.
Oral
Vaccine
On
March 18, 2021, we entered into a license agreement, or the Oravax License Agreement, with Oravax. For more information about the Oravax
License Agreement, please see below under “Out-Licensed Technology”.
Oravax,
Oramed’s 63% owned joint venture combines our proprietary POD™ oral delivery technology and the novel vaccine technology
of Premas Biotech Pvt. Ltd., or Premas. We are considering ways in which our shareholders could benefit more directly from Oravax, including
potentially issuing some of our shares in Oravax to our shareholders as a dividend, which would make Oravax a publicly held company that
may in turn apply for listing on a stock exchange.
A
single dose of Oravax’s oral vaccine produced a significant antibody response in a preclinical in-vivo study. Oravax’s
novel vaccine technology may be a candidate for protection against COVID-19 and its variants due to triple antigen targeting, easier
distribution and ease of administration.
On
October 29, 2021, we announced Oravax’s oral COVID-19 vaccine has received clearance from the South African Health Products Regulatory
Authority to initiate a Phase I trial and subsequently to commence patient enrollment in a first in human, Phase 1 clinical trial, for
its oral COVID-19 vaccine and on December 14, 2021, Oravax screened and enrolled the first participant in a Phase 1 clinical trial of
its oral virus-like particle (VLP) COVID-19 vaccine in Johannesburg, South Africa.
On December 29, 2021, Oravax signed a cooperation and
purchase agreement for an initial pre-purchase of 10 million doses of oral COVID-19 vaccines with Tan Thanh Holdings to commercialize
the vaccine in Southeast Asia.
Other
Products
We
are developing a new drug candidate, a weight loss treatment in the form of an oral leptin capsule. During the third quarter of the 2020
calendar year, we finalized a proof of concept single-dose trial for this candidate to evaluate its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
(glucagon reduction) in 10 type 1 adult diabetic patients without any safety issues. Patients who received leptin on average had a decrease
in glucose as compared to the placebo group during the first 30-180 minutes following dosing. At different time periods, the leptin treated
patients on average had glucagon values that were either lower than or similar to, those in the placebo group. We are currently in the
middle of a second study of 15 type 1 adult diabetic patients who serve as both the active and placebo arms in this study, with anticipated
results in the first quarter of the 2022 calendar year.
19
Out-Licensed
Technology
HTIT
License
On
November 30, 2015, we, Oramed Ltd. and HTIT entered into a Technology License Agreement, or TLA, and on December 21, 2015, these parties
entered into an Amended and Restated Technology License Agreement that was further amended by the parties on June 3, 2016 and July 24,
2016, or the HTIT License Agreement. According to the HTIT License Agreement, we granted HTIT an exclusive commercialization license
in the territory of the People’s Republic of China, Macau and Hong Kong (the “Territory”), related to our oral insulin
capsule, ORMD-0801, or the Product. Pursuant to the HTIT License Agreement, HTIT will conduct, at its own expense, certain pre-commercialization
and regulatory activities with respect to our subsidiary’s technology and ORMD-0801 capsule, and will pay (i) royalties of 10%
on net sales of the related commercialized products to be sold by HTIT in the Territory, or Royalties, and (ii) an aggregate of $37.5
million, of which $3 million was payable immediately, $8 million will be paid subject to our entry into certain agreements with certain
third parties, and $26.5 million will be payable upon achievement of certain milestones and conditions. In the event that we will not
meet certain conditions, the Royalties rate may be reduced to a minimum of 8%. Following the final expiration of our patents covering
the technology in the Territory in 2033, the Royalties rate may be reduced, under certain circumstances, to 5%. The royalty payment obligation
shall apply during the period of time beginning upon the first commercial sale of the Product in the Territory, and ending upon the later
of (i) the expiration of the last-to-expire licensed patents in the Territory; and (ii) 15 years after the first commercial sale of the
Product in the Territory, or the Royalty Term. The HTIT License Agreement shall remain in effect until the expiration of the Royalty
Term. The HTIT License Agreement contains customary termination provisions. Through November 30, 2021, we received aggregate milestone
payments of $20.5 million out of the aggregate amount of $37.5 million.
On
August 21, 2020, we received a letter from HTIT, disputing certain pending payment obligations of HTIT under the TLA. We wholly dispute
said claims and we are in discussions with HTIT in an attempt to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
Oravax
License
On
March 18, 2021, we entered into the Oravax License Agreement with Oravax, pursuant to which we will grant to Oravax an exclusive, worldwide
license, or the License, under our rights in certain patents and related intellectual property in which Oravax will receive certain rights
relating to our proprietary oral delivery technology to further develop, manufacture and commercialize oral vaccines for COVID-19 and
other novel coronaviruses based on Premas’s proprietary vaccine technology involving a triple antigen virus like particle, or the
Oravax Product, which was previously owned by Cystron Biotech LLC, or Cystron, and later acquired by Akers Biosciences Inc., or Akers.
In
consideration for the grant of the License, the Oravax License Agreement provides that we will receive (i) royalties equal to 7.5% on
net sales, as defined in the Oravax License Agreement, of each product commercialized by Oravax, its affiliates and permitted sublicensees
related to the License during the term specified in the Oravax License Agreement, (ii) sublicensing fees equal to 15% of any non-sales-based
consideration received by Oravax from a permitted sublicensee and (iii) other payments ranging between $25 million to $100 million, based
on certain sales milestones being achieved by Oravax. The parties further agreed to establish a development and steering committee, which
will consist of three members, of which two members will be appointed by us, that will oversee the ongoing research, development, clinical
and regulatory activity with respect to the Oravax Product. In addition, we agreed to buy and Oravax agreed to issue to us 1,890,000
shares of common stock of Oravax, representing 63% of the common stock of Oravax for the aggregate amount of $1.5 million. Akers agreed
to contribute to Oravax $1.5 million in cash and substantially all of the assets of Cystron, including a license agreement to Premas’s
novel vaccine technology. Nadav Kidron, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, was one of the former members of Cystron.
20
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of three month periods ended November 30, 2021 and November 30, 2020
The
following table summarizes certain statements of operations data of the Company for the three month periods ended November 30, 2021 and
November 30, 2020 (in thousands of dollars except share and per share data):
Three months ended
November 30,
2021
November 30,
2020
Revenues
$ 674
$ 674
Cost of revenues
-
-
Research and development expenses
6,410
5,774
Sales and Marketing expenses
585
-
General and administrative expenses
1,739
727
Financial income (expenses), net
(38 )
257
Taxes on income
-
-
Net loss for the period
$ 8,098
$ 5,570
Loss per common share - basic and diluted
$ 0.22
$ 0.23
Weighted average common shares outstanding
36,672,551
23,754,980
Revenues
Revenues
consist of proceeds related to the HTIT License Agreement that are recognized on a cumulative basis when it is probable that a significant
reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur, through the expected product submission date of June 2023 using
the input method.
Revenues
were $674,000 for each of the three month periods ended November 30, 2021 and November 30, 2020.
Cost
of revenues
Cost of revenues consists of royalties related
to the HTIT License Agreement that will be paid over the term of the HTIT License Agreement in accordance with revenue recognition accounting
and the Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research, Development and Technological Innovation, 1984, as amended, including any regulations
or tracks promulgated thereunder.
There
was no cost of revenues for the three month periods ended November 30, 2021 and November 30, 2020.
21
Research
and development expenses
Research
and development expenses include costs directly attributable to the conduct of research and development programs, including the cost
of salaries, employee benefits, costs of materials, supplies, the cost of services provided by outside contractors, including services
related to our clinical trials, clinical trial expenses, the full cost of manufacturing drugs for use in research and preclinical development. All
costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred.
Clinical
trial costs are a significant component of research and development expenses and include costs associated with third-party contractors.
We outsource a substantial portion of our clinical trial activities, utilizing external entities such as CROs, independent clinical investigators
and other third-party service providers to assist us with the execution of our clinical studies.
Clinical
activities, which relate principally to clinical sites and other administrative functions to manage our clinical trials, are performed
primarily by CROs. CROs typically perform most of the start-up activities for our trials, including document preparation, site identification,
screening and preparation, pre-study visits, training, and program management.
Clinical
trial and pre-clinical trial expenses include regulatory and scientific consultants’ compensation and fees, research expenses,
purchase of materials, cost of capsule manufacturing, payments for patient recruitment and treatment, as well as salaries and related
expenses of research and development staff.
Research
and development expenses for the three month period ended November 30, 2021 increased by 11% to $6,410,000, from $5,774,000 for the three
month period ended November 30, 2020. The increase is primarily due to an increase in expenses related to our Phase 3 and NASH clinical
trials in addition to expenses related to the in process research and development costs related to Oravax. Stock-based compensation costs
for the three month period ended November 30, 2021 totaled $505,000, as compared to $137,000 during the three month period ended November
30, 2020. The increase is mainly attributable to awards granted to a consultant and to new award grants in fiscal 2021.
Government
grants
In
the three month periods ended November 30, 2021 and November 30, 2020, we did not recognize any research and development grants. As of
November 30, 2021, we incurred liabilities to pay royalties to the Israel Innovation Authority of the Israeli Ministry of Economy &
Industry of $207,000.
Sales
and Marketing expenses
Sales
and Marketing expenses include the salaries and related expenses of our commercial functions, consulting costs and other general costs.
We anticipate that our commercial activities will increase in the future towards and following potential approval of our planned BLA
submission for ORMD-0801.
Sales
and Marketing expenses for the three month period ended November 30, 2021 were $585,000 while we incurred no expenses for the three month
period ended November 30, 2020. The increase in costs related to sales and marketing expenses activities is primarily attributable to
stock-based compensation expenses and salary related expenses. Stock-based compensation costs for the three month period ended November
30, 2021 totaled $433,000 while there were no stock-based compensation expenses during the three month period ended November 30, 2020.
The increase is mainly attributable to awards granted to an employee during fiscal 2021.
General
and administrative expenses
General
and administrative expenses include the salaries and related expenses of our management, consulting costs, legal and professional fees,
travel expenses, business development costs, insurance expenses and other general costs.
General and administrative expenses for the three month
period ended November 30, 2021 increased by 139% to $1,739,000 from $727,000 for the three month period ended November 30, 2020. The increase
in costs related to general and administrative activities is primarily attributable to an increase in stock-based compensation expenses
and professional fees expenses as well as public relations and investor relations expenses. Stock-based compensation costs for the three
month period ended November 30, 2021 totaled $772,000, as compared to $180,000 during the three month period ended November 30, 2020.
The increase is mainly attributable to awards granted to an employee during the three month period ended November 30, 2021 and to awards
granted during fiscal 2021.
22
Financial
income (expense), net
Net
financial income decreased from net financial income of $257,000 for the three month period ended November 30, 2020 to net financial
expenses of $38,000 for the three month period ended November 30, 2021. The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in fair
value of the ordinary shares of Entera Bio Ltd.
Liquidity
and capital resources
From inception through November 30, 2021, we have
incurred losses in an aggregate amount of $122,742,000. During that period and through January 11, 2022, we have financed our operations
through several private placements of our common stock, as well as public offerings of our common stock, raising a total of $241,432,000,
net of transaction costs. During that period, we also received cash consideration of $27,922,000 from the exercise of warrants and
options. We expect to seek to obtain additional financing through similar sources in the future, as needed. As of November 30, 2021, we
had $31,880,000 of available cash, $136,156,000 of short-term and long-term bank deposits and $11,704,000 of marketable
securities.
Management
continues to evaluate various financing alternatives for funding future research and development activities and general and administrative
expenses through fundraising in the public or private equity markets. Although there is no assurance that we will be successful with
those initiatives, management believes that it will be able to secure the necessary financing as a result of future third party investments.
Based on our current cash resources and commitments, we believe we will be able to maintain our current planned development activities
and the corresponding level of expenditures for at least the next 12 months.
As of November 30, 2021, our total current assets were
$152,332,000 and our total current liabilities were $7,660,000. On November 30, 2021, we had a working capital surplus of $144,672,000
and an accumulated loss of $122,742,000. As of August 31, 2021, our total current assets were $95,337,000 and our total current liabilities
were $6,679,000. On August 31, 2021, we had a working capital surplus of $88,658,000 and an accumulated loss of $114,852,000. The increase
in working capital from August 31, 2021 to November 30, 2021 was primarily due to capital raising.
During
the three month period ended November 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents decreased to $31,880,000 from the $77,245,000 reported as of
August 31, 2021, which is due to the reasons described below.
Operating activities used cash of $6,903,000 in
the three month period ended November 30, 2021, as compared to $6,152,000 used in the three month period ended November 30, 2020. Cash
used in operating activities primarily consisted of net loss resulting from research and development, sales and marketing and general
and administrative expenses, as well as changes in deferred revenue due to the HTIT License Agreement and is partially offset by changes
in accounts payable and accrued expenses and stock-based compensation.
23
Investing
activities used cash of $99,048,000 in the three month period ended November 30, 2021, as compared to cash provided by investing activities
of $1,199,000 in the three month period ended November 30, 2020. Cash used in investing activities in the three month period ended November
30, 2021 consisted primarily of the purchase of short-term deposits. Cash provided by investing activities in the three month period
ended November 30, 2020 consisted primarily of the proceeds from the sale of short-term deposits and held to maturity securities and
mutual funds and is partially offset by the purchase of short term deposits and the purchase of held to maturity securities and corporate
bonds designated at fair value.
Financing
activities provided cash of $60,563,000 in the three month period ended November 30, 2021, as compared to $586,000 provided in the three
month period ended November 30, 2020. Cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily proceeds from the issuance of our common
stock as well as proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants.
On
September 1, 2021, we entered into a controlled equity offering agreement, or the Cantor Equity Distribution Agreement, with Cantor Fitzgerald
& Co., as agent, pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of
up to $100,000,000, through a sales agent, subject to certain terms and conditions. Any shares sold will be sold pursuant to our effective
shelf registration statement on Form S-3 including a prospectus dated July 26, 2021 and prospectus supplement dated September 1, 2021.
We paid the sales agent a cash commission of 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the sale of any shares sold through the sales agent
under the Cantor Equity Sales Agreement. As of January 11, 2022, 565,120 shares were issued under the Cantor Equity Distribution Agreement
for aggregate net proceeds of $12,298,000.
On
November 3, 2021, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with several institutional and accredited investors, or the Purchasers,
pursuant to which we agreed to sell, in a registered direct offering, or the Offering, an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our common
stock to the Purchasers for an offering price of $25.00 per share. The closing of the sale of the shares occurred on November 5, 2021.
The net proceeds to us from the Offering, after deducting the placement agent’s fees and expenses and the Company’s Offering
expenses, were approximately $46,375,000.
24
Critical
accounting policies and estimates
Our
critical accounting policies are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations” contained in our Annual Report.
Planned
Expenditures
We
invest heavily in research and development, and we expect that in the upcoming years our research and development expenses will continue
to be our major operating expense.
ITEM
3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There
has been no significant change in our exposure to market risk during the quarter ended November 30, 2021. For a discussion of our exposure
to market risk, refer to Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” contained in
our Annual Report.
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