e10vq
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
|
|
|
þ |
|
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005
or
|
|
|
o |
|
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to .
Commission file number 000-21291
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
|
74-2704230
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 1850
Austin, Texas 78701
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(512) 708-9310
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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 R No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes R No £
As
of August 8, 2005, the registrant had 33,322,798 shares of its common stock, $0.001 par
value per share, issued and outstanding.
INTROGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
INTROGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
ASSETS
|
Current Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
30,187 |
|
|
$ |
6,671 |
|
Short term investments |
|
|
7,993 |
|
|
|
20,056 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and short term investments |
|
|
38,180 |
|
|
|
26,727 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
659 |
|
|
|
482 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
38,839 |
|
|
|
27,209 |
|
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $10,983 and $11,786,
respectively |
|
|
7,277 |
|
|
|
6,671 |
|
Grant rights acquired |
|
|
1,582 |
|
|
|
1,108 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
359 |
|
|
|
344 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
48,057 |
|
|
$ |
35,332 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
|
Current Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
2,683 |
|
|
$ |
2,161 |
|
Accrued liabilities |
|
|
3,572 |
|
|
|
3,346 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
Current portion of notes payable |
|
|
573 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
6,858 |
|
|
|
6,213 |
|
Notes payable, net of current portion |
|
|
7,901 |
|
|
|
7,949 |
|
Deferred revenue, long-term |
|
|
1,132 |
|
|
|
1,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
15,891 |
|
|
|
15,430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and Contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders Equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $.001 par value per share; 5,000 shares authorized of which
4,900 shares are undesignated and 100 shares are designated as Series A
non-voting convertible shares; 100 Series A and zero shares issued
and outstanding in 2004 and 2005, respectively |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $.001 par value per share; 100,000 shares authorized; 30,622
and 33,323 shares issued and outstanding in 2004 and 2005, respectively |
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
33 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
149,652 |
|
|
|
150,517 |
|
Deferred compensation |
|
|
(161 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(117,356 |
) |
|
|
(130,648 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity |
|
|
32,166 |
|
|
|
19,902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
$ |
48,057 |
|
|
$ |
35,332 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
INTROGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Contract services, grant and other revenue |
|
$ |
273 |
|
|
$ |
336 |
|
|
$ |
382 |
|
|
$ |
845 |
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
5,948 |
|
|
|
5,700 |
|
|
|
10,243 |
|
|
|
10,939 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
2,147 |
|
|
|
2,006 |
|
|
|
3,591 |
|
|
|
3,816 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
8,095 |
|
|
|
7,706 |
|
|
|
13,834 |
|
|
|
14,755 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(7,822 |
) |
|
|
(7,370 |
) |
|
|
(13,452 |
) |
|
|
(13,910 |
) |
Interest income |
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
193 |
|
|
|
126 |
|
|
|
377 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(94 |
) |
|
|
(158 |
) |
|
|
(228 |
) |
|
|
(308 |
) |
Other income |
|
|
306 |
|
|
|
274 |
|
|
|
556 |
|
|
|
549 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(7,551 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,061 |
) |
|
$ |
(12,998 |
) |
|
$ |
(13,292 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.43 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in computing basic and
diluted net loss per share |
|
|
26,607 |
|
|
|
31,182 |
|
|
|
26,587 |
|
|
|
30,963 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
INTROGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(12,998 |
) |
|
$ |
(13,292 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
|
647 |
|
|
|
803 |
|
Share-based payments |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
Amortization of grant rights acquired |
|
|
|
|
|
|
474 |
|
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Increase) decrease in other assets |
|
|
(236 |
) |
|
|
191 |
|
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable |
|
|
406 |
|
|
|
(522 |
) |
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities |
|
|
1,234 |
|
|
|
(225 |
) |
Increase in deferred revenue |
|
|
119 |
|
|
|
211 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
(10,814 |
) |
|
|
(11,810 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(120 |
) |
|
|
(197 |
) |
Purchases of short-term investments |
|
|
(27,428 |
) |
|
|
(24,970 |
) |
Maturities of short-term investments |
|
|
16,451 |
|
|
|
12,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(11,097 |
) |
|
|
(12,260 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of common stock |
|
|
270 |
|
|
|
478 |
|
Proceeds from notes payable |
|
|
668 |
|
|
|
438 |
|
Principal payments under notes payable and capital leases |
|
|
(407 |
) |
|
|
(362 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
531 |
|
|
|
554 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash |
|
|
(21,380 |
) |
|
|
(23,516 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
|
36,397 |
|
|
|
30,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
15,017 |
|
|
$ |
6,671 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
228 |
|
|
$ |
276 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
INTROGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Formation and Business of the Company
See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
below for a discussion of our business.
We have not yet generated any significant revenues from unaffiliated third parties, nor is
there any assurance of future product revenues. Presently, we earn minimal revenue from contract
services activities, grants, interest income and rent from the lease of a portion of our facilities
to The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We do not expect to generate revenues from
the commercial sale of products in the near future. We may never generate revenues from the
commercial sale of products.
Our research and development activities involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Our
ability to successfully develop, manufacture and market our proprietary products is dependent upon
many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the need for and the ability to obtain
additional financing, the reliance on collaborative research and development arrangements with
corporate and academic affiliates, and the ability to develop manufacturing, sales and marketing
experience. Additional factors include uncertainties as to patents and proprietary technologies,
competitive technologies, technological change and risk of obsolescence, development of products,
competition, government regulations and regulatory approval, and product liability exposure. As a
result of these factors and the related uncertainties, there can be no assurance of our future
success.
2. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These
financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required under United
States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In managements
opinion, all accounting entries considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made in
preparing these financial statements, and such entries are normal in nature. Operating results for
the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results
that may be expected for the entire fiscal year. For further information, refer to the consolidated
financial statements and related footnotes as of December 31, 2004, and for the year then ended,
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2005.
3. Net Loss Per Share
Net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock
outstanding. Due to losses incurred in all periods presented, the shares associated with stock
options, warrants and non-voting convertible preferred stock are not included because they are
anti-dilutive. The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the three and
six months ended June 30, 2005, includes the effects of the common stock issued in connection with
the conversion of preferred stock to common stock discussed in Note 11.
4. Stock-Based Compensation
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation, allows companies to adopt one of two methods for accounting for stock options. We
have elected the method that requires disclosure only of stock-based compensation. Because of this
election, we continue to account for our employee stock-based compensation plans using the
intrinsic value method allowed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, as clarified by Interpretation No. 44, Accounting for Certain Transactions
Involving Stock Compensation. Accordingly, deferred compensation is recorded for stock-based
compensation grants based on the excess of the fair market value of the common stock on the
measurement date over the exercise price. The deferred compensation is amortized ratably over the
vesting period of each unit of
4
stock-based compensation grant, generally four years. If the exercise price of the stock-based
compensation grants is equal to the fair value of our stock on the date of grant, no compensation
expense is recorded.
In December 2004, SFAS 123R, Share-Based Payment, was issued. This statement establishes
standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity investments
for goods and services. It also addresses transactions in which an entity incurs liabilities in
exchange for goods or services that are based on the fair value of the entitys equity instruments
or that may be settled by the issuance of those equity instruments. The statement does not change
the accounting guidance for share-based payments with parties other than employees. The statement
requires measurement of the cost of employee service received in exchange for an award of equity
instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award, with limited exceptions. That cost is
to be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in
exchange for the award, which is usually the vesting period of the award. A public entity will
initially measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of a liability
instrument based on the instruments current fair value. The fair value of that award will be
remeasured subsequently at each reporting date through the settlement date. Changes in fair value
during the requisite service period will be recognized as compensation over that period. The grant
date fair value of employee share options and similar instruments will be estimated using option
pricing models adjusted for the unique characteristics of these instruments. We will be required to
comply with SFAS 123R beginning the quarter ending March 31, 2006. We have not yet determined which
fair-value method and transitional provision we will follow. We expect the adoption of SFAS 123R
could have a significant impact on our results of operations. We do not expect such adoption to
significantly impact our financial position or liquidity. See the table in the following paragraph
for the pro forma impact on net loss and net loss per share from calculating stock-based
compensation costs under the fair value alternative of SFAS 123. However, the calculation of
compensation cost for share-based payment transactions after the effective date of SFAS 123R may be
different from the calculation of compensation cost under SFAS 123, but such differences have not
yet been quantified.
The fair value of options granted for all periods presented was estimated on the applicable
grant dates using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Significant weighted average assumptions
used to estimate fair value for all years include: risk-free interest rates ranging from 3% to
6.25%; expected lives of ten years; no expected dividends; and volatility factors ranging from 62%
to 107%. Had compensation expense been determined consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123,
our net loss would have been increased to the following pro forma amounts (in thousands, except per
share information):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net loss, as reported |
|
$ |
(7,551 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,061 |
) |
|
$ |
(12,998 |
) |
|
$ |
(13,292 |
) |
Add: Stock-based employee
compensation expense included in
reported net loss, net of related
tax effects |
|
|
|
|
|
|
415 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
415 |
|
Deduct: Total stock-based
employee compensation expense
determined under fair value
based method for all awards |
|
|
(714 |
) |
|
|
(1,228 |
) |
|
|
(1,528 |
) |
|
|
(1,943 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net loss |
|
$ |
(8,265 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,874 |
) |
|
$ |
(14,480 |
) |
|
$ |
(14,820 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted as reported |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.43 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted pro forma |
|
$ |
(0.31 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.25 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.55 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.48 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Acquisition of Magnum Therapeutics Corporation
In October 2004, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Magnum Therapeutics
Corporation (Magnum), a company owned prior to this acquisition by one of our executive officers.
We paid approximately $1.75 million for the Magnum stock by (1) issuing approximately 252,000
shares of our common stock valued at approximately $1.48 million at the acquisition date and (2)
assuming liabilities of approximately $272,000. With respect to the common stock we issued for the
acquisition, 50% of the shares are held by an independent escrow
5
agent for a period of one year subsequent to the acquisition date to satisfy the
indemnification obligations of the selling shareholder under terms of the purchase agreement.
Magnums primary asset is the right to receive funding under a grant from the National
Institutes of Health. The grant activities and related funding will supplement research and
development programs we have in progress. During the year ended December 31, 2004, we earned $1.1
million of revenue related to funding under this grant. During the three and six months ended June
30, 2005, we earned $145,000 and $410,000, respectively, of revenue related to funding under this
grant. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, we earned no revenue under this grant.
In the event certain of Magnums technologies result in commercial products, we may be obligated to
pay royalties related to the sales of those products to certain third parties.
The results of Magnums operations have been included with those of the Company for the period
subsequent to the acquisition date. Since Magnum is a development stage company, this acquisition
was accounted for as an asset acquisition and not as a business combination. Substantially all of
the purchase consideration was allocated to acquired grant rights described further in Note 6.
6. Intangible Assets
Our intangible assets with definite lives that are subject to amortization, all of which arose
from our acquisition of Magnum in October 2004 described in Note 5, are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2004 |
|
|
June 30, 2005 |
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net |
|
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
Amount |
|
Asset Acquisition: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired Grant Rights
(22 month amortization
period) |
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
|
$ |
(159 |
) |
|
$ |
1,582 |
|
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
|
$ |
(633 |
) |
|
$ |
1,108 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ending Balance |
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
|
$ |
(159 |
) |
|
$ |
1,582 |
|
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
|
$ |
(633 |
) |
|
$ |
1,108 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development expense includes amortization of intangibles of $237,000 and $474,000
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005. Since we had no intangibles on our balance sheet
prior to October 2004, there was no amortization expense in the three or six month periods ended
June 30, 2004. Estimated annual amortization expense for 2005 and 2006 is $949,000 and $633,000,
respectively, and zero thereafter.
7. Investment in VirRx, Inc.
We have an agreement with VirRx, Inc. to purchase shares of VirRxs Series A Preferred Stock
for $150,000 on the first day of each fiscal quarter through January 1, 2006. We purchased $150,000
and $300,000 of this stock during the three and six month periods, respectively, ended June 30,
2005 and June 30, 2004. We record these purchases as research and development expense. VirRx is
required to use the proceeds from these stock sales in accordance with the terms of a collaboration
and license agreement between VirRx and us for the development of VirRxs technologies. We may
unilaterally terminate this collaboration and license agreement with 90 days prior notice, which
would also terminate the requirement for us to make any additional stock purchases. In accordance
with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation 46(R), Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, VirRx is not
consolidated in our financial statements. For additional discussion of our agreements with VirRx,
see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2005.
8. Notes Payable
In May 2004, we amended the mortgage note payable to a bank related to our facilities. The
original $6.0 million principal balance of our mortgage note payable was increased to $7.8 million.
The proceeds from this increase were used to pay in full the principal and interest outstanding on
a second mortgage note payable with an original principal balance of approximately $3.3 million,
which resulted in that second mortgage note being retired. In
6
addition to this note retirement, the proceeds from this loan amendment were used to pay the
costs related to this transaction of $96,000 and to add $668,000 to our cash and cash equivalents.
9. Common Stock Grant
Subsequent to December 31, 2004, options to purchase 95,200 shares of our common stock held by
certain of our officers reached the end of their stated contractual ten year life, resulting in the
expiration of the right to exercise those options. To provide those officers an economic equivalent
to those expired options, we granted them 90,101 shares of our common stock in May 2005, of which
57,259 shares were issued to those officers and 32,842 shares were withheld by us in consideration
for our payment on their behalf of approximately $249,000 of federal income, FICA and Medicare
taxes. During the quarter ended June 30, 2005, we recorded compensation expense of approximately
$664,000 in connection with this issuance of shares.
10. Common Stock Purchase Warrant
We have an agreement with a third party under which they will perform investor relations
services on our behalf focusing on the sophisticated, global financial community. In consideration
for these services, we will issue them a warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of our common
stock. Under this warrant, if the average closing price of our common stock as reported on the
NASDAQ National Market System, calculated over a period of 20 consecutive trading days (Average Closing Price), equals or exceeds $20.50 per share, 500,000 shares will vest. No shares
will vest if the Average Closing Price does not reach $8.00 per share. The number of shares that
may vest if the Average Closing Price reaches between $8.00 and $20.50 per share during the
agreement term remains to be negotiated. To the extent vested, the warrant may be exercised during
the period beginning two years after the date the warrant is issued and ending five years after the
date the warrant is issued. The exercise price for vested shares will be $7.63 per share, which was
the closing price of our common stock on the date of this agreement. This agreement continues until
October 2005, after which time it is subject to continuing, automatic 30 day extensions unless
terminated by either party.
This agreement and any portion of this warrant not vested will expire upon the earlier of (a)
90 days after the date of the agreement or (b) upon notice from us within that 90 day period of our
announcement of (i) a favorable action or decision by the United States Food and Drug
Administration with respect to one or more of our product candidates or (ii) a partnering or
collaboration agreement involving one or more of the our product candidates that is not arranged by
the third party pursuant to a written mandate within that 90 day period.
This agreement and warrant are not transferable without our consent. The agreement contains
provisions prohibiting the warrant holder from engaging in short selling, hedging and risk shifting
arrangements concerning our securities.
11. London Stock Exchange
In connection with our activities described in Note 10, we are evaluating the feasibility of
listing our common stock on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), which would be in addition to the
listing of our common stock on the NASDAQ National Market System in the United States. We believe
an LSE listing would allow us to better leverage our assets on a global basis and, specifically, in
Europe and Asia.
12. Conversion of Preferred Stock to Common Stock
In June 2005, the 100,000 issued and outstanding shares of our Series A, non-voting,
convertible preferred stock were converted into 2,343,721 shares of our common stock. The preferred
shares were cancelled and replaced by newly issued shares of our common stock. We received no cash
or other consideration in connection with this conversion. After this conversion, we have 5,000,000
shares of authorized and unissued preferred shares, of which 4,900,000 shares are undesignated and
100,000 shares are designated as Series A, non-voting, convertible preferred shares.
13. Investment in SR Pharma plc
7
In July 2005, we purchased approximately 8.3% of the issued share capital of SR Pharma plc for
approximately $3.0 million. SR Pharma plc is a European biotechnology company publicly traded on
the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange that is developing oncology and
other products.
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our condensed
consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q. The discussion and analysis contains 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,
as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and entail
various risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth below
under Risk Factors.
Product Development Overview
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1993. We are a biopharmaceutical
company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted molecular therapies
for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. We are developing product candidates to treat a
wide range of cancers using non-integrating tumor suppressors, cytokines and molecular gene agents.
These agents are designed to increase production of normal cancer-fighting proteins that act to
overpower cancerous cells, stimulate immune activity and enhance conventional cancer therapies.
Our primary approach to the treatment of cancers is to deliver genes that increase production
of normal cancer-fighting proteins. Rather than acting to repair or replace aberrant or missing
genes and thereby creating a long-term or permanent change to the patients genome, our products
work in a different manner by acting as templates for the transient in vivo production of proteins
that have pharmacological properties. The resultant proteins engage disease-related molecular
targets or receptors to produce a specific therapeutic effect.
We believe the use of genes that do not integrate into the patients genome and that are
cleared from the body after administration in order to induce the production of biopharmaceutical
proteins is an emerging field presenting a new approach for treating many cancers without the toxic
side effects common to traditional therapies. We have developed significant expertise in
identifying therapeutic genes, which are genes that may be used to treat disease, and in using what
we believe are safe and effective delivery systems to transport these genes to the cancer cells. We
believe we are able to treat a number of cancers in a way that kills cancer cells without harming
normal cells.
ADVEXIN® Therapy (p53)
Our lead product candidate, ADVEXIN® therapy, combines the p53 tumor suppressor
gene with a non-replicating, non-integrating adenoviral gene delivery system we have developed and
extensively tested. The p53 gene is one of the most potent members of a group of
naturally-occurring tumor suppressor genes, which act to kill cancer cells, arrest cancer cell
growth and protect cells from becoming cancerous.
We have received Fast Track designation for ADVEXIN therapy from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) under its protocol assessment program as a result of the FDAs agreement with
the design of our two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy. Under this Fast Track
designation, the FDA will take actions to expedite the evaluation and review of a Biologic License
Application (BLA) for ADVEXIN therapy. We plan to pursue with the FDA an Accelerated Approval of
ADVEXIN therapy, which is one alternative provided under a Fast Track designation.
We have conducted a series of meetings with the FDA to develop and implement the filing
strategy for the BLA for ADVEXIN therapy, which is the application for approval to market and sell
ADVEXIN therapy in the United States. As a result of these meetings, we are developing and pursuing
an initial rolling BLA filing strategy based primarily on data from our Phase 2 clinical trials of
ADVEXIN therapy for treatment of recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. The FDA has
concurred that preliminary evaluation of this data suggests a level of efficacy consistent with the
standard for the initiation of a rolling BLA (a submission process also known as
8
Submission Of a Partial Application or SOPA). The FDA has also concluded that ADVEXIN
therapy continued to show promise with respect to an unmet medical need since there are no approved
therapies in the United States for recurrent head and neck cancer. The FDA has also concluded that
the clinical development program for ADVEXIN therapy for recurrent head and neck cancer continued
to meet the criteria for Fast Track designation. In conjunction with the new data, the new
analyses, and other newly employed biological techniques, Introgen is hopeful of more specifically
targeting patients with recurrent head and neck cancer resulting in even better efficacy than has
already been demonstrated.
Accordingly, we have submitted a SOPA request to the FDA Division of Cell and Gene Therapy
proposing a rolling BLA for ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer,
based primarily on data from our Phase 2 clinical trials. We have further proposed to the FDA that,
since the basis of the proposed rolling BLA is Phase 2 clinical data utilizing surrogate endpoints,
the rolling BLA could be evaluated under the provisions of Subpart H for Accelerated Approval. In
order to fully explore all of the review and approval possibilities for ADVEXIN therapy, the FDA
has requested we submit existing new data and analyses from the Phase 2 ADVEXIN therapy clinical
trials for recurrent head and neck cancer. Given that we have two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials
in head and neck cancer as discussed further below, we and the FDA are evaluating the most
effective use of the data from these Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in the review and approval of
ADVEXIN therapy. Regulatory approval approaches may allow Accelerated Approval on the basis of
Phase 2 clinical data with subsequent confirmatory data being provided by the Phase 3 clinical
studies or, alternatively, a full approval based on data from Phase 2 and certain Phase 3 clinical
trials. We will also be exploring with the FDA whether its recently announced Critical Path
Initiative, which permits new product evaluation on the basis of specifically targeted (i.e. by
prognostic or biologic parameters) clinical trials and/or patient populations, can be used in the
ADVEXIN therapy approval process.
ADVEXIN therapy for head and neck cancer has been designated an Orphan Drug under the Orphan
Drug Act. This designation may give us up to seven years of marketing exclusivity for ADVEXIN
therapy for this indication if approved by the FDA.
Our two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy in patients with recurrent squamous
cell cancer of the head and neck are multi-national, multi-site trials. These trials involve
administration of ADVEXIN therapy, both by itself and in combination with chemotherapy, in
recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.
We have conducted multi-national, multi-site Phase 2 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy in 217
patients with recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck treated previously with surgery,
radiation or chemotherapy. In the combined analysis of these trials, the overall tumor growth
control rate was 59%. Tumor growth control rate represents the percentage of treated tumors where
there was disappearance of the tumor, shrinkage of the tumor or the absence of additional tumor
growth beyond 25% of pre-treatment measurements. In approximately 10% of the treated lesions, there
was either complete tumor regression or a reduction of tumor size greater than or equal to 50% of
the pre-treatment size. We have been evaluating subpopulations of patients participating in these
trials defined by various prognostic, medical and biological characteristics to provide refined
targeting of ADVEXIN therapy. Analyses of the data from these patient subpopulations showed that
the objective response rate (complete responses and partial responses) was 15% or greater. These
findings, along with other data, are planned for presentation at future scientific meetings and for
future publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
We performed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy combined with systemic chemotherapy
for the treatment of breast cancer prior to surgery and a Phase 1 clinical trial using ADVEXIN
therapy in patients with locally recurrent breast cancer involving the chest wall. In the breast
cancer study of 12 women with very large tumors, the combination of ADVEXIN and chemotherapy
resulted in objective clinical responses with greater than 50% tumor reduction in all patients and
the ability to remove all of the tumors surgically. These data are better than the expected results
with chemotherapy alone and were presented at the 2004 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
We completed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy administered as a complement to
radiation therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. In the 19 patients who participated in the trial,
combined ADVEXIN and radiation treatment resulted in 63% biopsy-proven complete responses at three
months, which is approximately four times the expected rate using radiotherapy alone. The results
of this study were published in Clinical Cancer Research.
9
We performed a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of
advanced, unresectable, squamous cell esophageal cancer. Results of this trial in patients with
esophageal cancer refractory to chemotherapy and radiation indicate three of the ten patients
treated, or 30%, had significant symptomatic improvement in swallowing after receiving ADVEXIN
therapy. The median survival of the patients treated with ADVEXIN therapy was approximately twelve
months, which compared favorably to historical controls in which a median survival of less than ten
months was observed for patients who did not respond to standard treatments. Six patients, or 60%,
were still alive one year after beginning therapy. This clinical trial was performed at Chiba
University in Japan.
We are currently conducting additional Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy
by itself and in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in a variety of cancers. These
additional clinical trials include:
|
|
|
A Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral
cavity, or oropharynx, that can be removed surgically, to assess the feasibility, efficacy
and safety of administering ADVEXIN therapy at the time of surgery for suppression of
remaining tumor cells, followed by a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. |
|
|
|
|
A Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial in which a mouthwash or oral rinse formulation of
ADVEXIN therapy, which has been designated as INGN 234, is administered to prevent
precancerous oral lesions from developing into cancerous lesions. |
We have completed other clinical trials of Advexin, including Phase 1 studies in prostate
cancer and bronchoalveolar carcinoma. To date, clinical investigators at sites in North America,
Europe and Japan have treated over 500 patients with ADVEXIN therapy, establishing a large safety
database. Findings from several of our clinical trials have been published in Clinical Cancer
Research, Proceedings of the American Society for Clinical Oncology as well as presented at
numerous conferences, including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference in December 2004 and
various meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer
Research and the American Society of Gene Therapy.
A growing body of data suggests ADVEXIN therapy demonstrates clinical activity in a variety of
cancer indications. Safety data from our clinical trials suggest this activity may be achieved
without the treatment-limiting side effects frequently associated with many other cancer therapies.
Our clinical trials indicate ADVEXIN therapy is well tolerated as a monotherapy. The addition
of ADVEXIN therapy to standard chemotherapy, surgery or radiation does not appear to increase the
frequency or severity of side effects normally associated with these treatment regimens.
Recent pre-clinical studies provide new insight into the molecular pathways by which the p53
gene, the active component of ADVEXIN therapy, kills tumor cells. These pre-clinical studies were
undertaken to provide additional molecular data supporting the activity observed during the
clinical development of ADVEXIN therapy and to provide additional information regarding the
specific pathways that mediate the observed clinical effects of ADVEXIN therapy. The studies were
conducted by our collaborators at Okayama University in Japan and at The University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center and were published in a 2004 issue of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. Other
pre-clinical data suggest the enhanced therapeutic effects of a combination of ADVEXIN and
Erbitux® therapies in an animal model of human non-small cell lung cancer. Other
pre-clinical studies conducted by our collaborators at Wayne State University, the Karmanos Cancer
Institute located in Detroit, Michigan and the University of California-Irvine, as published in a
2004 issue of The Laryngoscope, show that the combination of ADVEXIN therapy and docetaxel resulted
in increased levels of programmed cell death in head and neck tumor cells. Two lung cancer
patients, who were part of our ADVEXIN therapy studies program and who had recently celebrated
their five-year survival anniversary, were featured in Conquest magazine, a publication of M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center. In addition, a patient with recurrent head and neck cancer who achieved a
complete tumor remission on ADVEXIN therapy continues to be disease-free for over six years while
receiving repeated ADVEXIN treatments.
We hold the worldwide rights for pre-clinical and clinical development, manufacturing,
marketing and commercialization of ADVEXIN therapy.
10
INGN 241 (mda-7)
INGN 241 uses the mda-7 gene, a promising tumor suppressor gene that we believe, like p53, has
broad potential to induce apoptosis or cell death in many types of cancer. We have combined the
mda-7 gene product with our adenoviral gene delivery system to form INGN 241. Our pre-clinical
trials have shown that the protein produced by INGN 241 suppresses the growth of many cancer cells,
including those of the breast, lung, ovaries, colon, prostate and the central nervous system, while
not affecting the growth of normal cells. Because INGN 241 kills cancer cells even if other tumor
suppressor genes, including p53, are not functioning properly, it appears that mda-7 functions via
a novel mechanism of tumor suppression.
We have conducted pre-clinical work indicating that in addition to its known activity as a
tumor suppressor gene, the protein produced by the mda-7 gene may also stimulate the bodys immune
system to kill metastatic tumor cells and to protect the body against cancer, thereby offering the
potential of providing an added advantage in treating various cancers because it may attack cancer
using two different mechanisms. Because the mda-7 gene product may act as a cytokine, or immune
system modulator, it is also known as interleukin-24, or IL-24. The mda-7 gene and the protein it
produces may also work as a radiation sensitizer to make several types of human cancer cells more
susceptible to radiation therapy, and we have seen evidence of this effect in our pre-clinical
work.
We have identified the molecular pathways by which mda-7, the active component of INGN 241,
induces growth arrest and programmed cell death or apoptosis in cancer cells. Pre-clinical studies
using lung cancer cells have demonstrated that the mda-7 protein binds to a critical cellular
enzyme known as PKR. The binding of mda-7 to PKR is essential for the anti-cancer activity of INGN
241. The identification of this binding partner demonstrates a significant advancement in
understanding how this therapeutic can be effective against cancer. Additional studies have
identified bystander killing of pancreatic cancer cells by the mda-7 protein. Bystander killing
involves the killing of neighboring pancreatic tumor cells by the mda-7 protein released from
adjacent INGN 241 treated pancreatic cells.
In pre-clinical studies, we have observed that the expression of mda-7 in ovarian cancer cells
potently activates a cell death or apoptosic pathway regulated by the Fas signaling system. This
activation resulted in significant increases in apoptosis and inhibition of cancer cell
proliferation that were specific to cancer cells. These effects were not observed in normal ovarian
tissue, supporting previous data that showed a cancer-selective effect of INGN 241. These data are
reported in a recent issue of the medical journal Cancer Research.
We have published the results of a pre-clinical study indicating INGN 241 may suppress the
growth in vivo of non-small cell lung cancer through apoptosis in combination with
anti-angiogenesis. The data demonstrate that INGN 241 can inhibit production of the VEGF protein, a
potent inducer of angiogenesis, within lung cancer cells, which in turn inhibits tumor
angiogenesis, a key requirement for tumor growth
Pre-clinical work has demonstrated that administration of INGN 241 results in the development
of systemic immune responses against tumor cells and suggests that INGN 241 could be used as a
novel cancer vaccine. In pre-clinical studies, implantation of INGN 241-treated tumor cells into
mice resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth. Significantly, mice that were immunized
with INGN 241-treated cells showed inhibition of tumor growth after a subsequent challenge with
additional tumor cells.
We have completed enrollment of a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial using INGN 241 to
evaluate safety, mechanism of action and efficacy in approximately 25 patients with solid tumors.
This trial has indicated that in patients with solid tumors, INGN 241 was well tolerated, was
biologically active and displayed minimal toxicity associated with its use. We have initiated a
Phase 2 clinical trial using INGN 241 in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Data from our Phase 1 trial of INGN 241 in patients with solid tumors, which was recently
published in Molecular Therapy, demonstrate that direct injection of INGN 241 induced programmed
cell death in 100% of the tumors treated, even in patients who had failed prior therapy with other
anti-cancer drugs. Clinical responses were observed in 44% of the treated lesions, including
complete and partial responses (greater than or equal to 50% reduction in tumor size) in two
patients with melanoma. Patients treated with INGN 241 had increases in a subset of
11
T-cells that help to destroy cancer cells, which is consistent with the role of the mda-7
protein as a member of the interleukin family of immune stimulating proteins.
Pre-clinical studies with INGN 241 in breast cancer cell lines have shown that treatment with
a combination of INGN 241 plus Herceptin induces cell death in Her-2/neu positive breast cancer
cells at a rate greater than that seen with either agent alone. In these studies, it was also noted
that while Herceptin exhibited no activity on Her-2/neu negative cells, INGN 241 did induce cell
death in these cells.
Findings and results arising from our development of INGN 241 have been published in the
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Molecular Therapy, Oncogene, Surgery, and International
Immunopharmacolgy.
We have an exclusive license to the mda-7 gene for our therapeutic applications from Corixa
Corporation. Pre-clinical studies regarding the active component of INGN 241 have included research
at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Columbia University.
INGN 225 (p53 vaccine)
As a supplement to our gene-induced therapeutic protein programs, we are developing INGN 225
using the p53 gene to create a highly specific therapeutic cancer vaccine that stimulates a
particular type of immune system cell known as a dendritic cell. Research published in Current
Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development concluded that ADVEXIN therapy can be used with a patients
isolated dendritic cells as an antigen delivery and immune enhancing therapeutic strategy.
Pre-clinical testing has shown that the immune system can recognize and kill tumors after treatment
with dendritic cells stimulated by the p53 gene, which suggests a vaccine consisting of dendritic
cells stimulated by the p53 gene could have broad utility as a treatment for progression of solid
tumors.
We are conducting a Phase 1/Phase 2 trial in collaboration with the Moffitt Cancer Center at
the University of South Florida in patients with small-cell lung cancer. We are conducting a Phase
1/Phase 2 trial in patients with breast cancer in collaboration with the University of Nebraska. In
both trials, INGN 225 is administered after the patients have been treated with standard
chemotherapy.
Interim results from the Phase 1/Phase 2 trial in patients with small-cell lung cancer who
were previously treated with chemotherapy indicate that 67% of the evaluable patients in the study
treated with INGN 225 had objective responses (greater than 50% tumor reduction) to subsequent
chemotherapy. Historically the expected objective response rate in these patients to further
chemotherapy is between 5% and 15%. We believe the data indicate INGN 225 may sensitize tumors to
the effects of platinum and taxane chemotherapies. Of particular interest, patients with highly
aggressive disease (termed platinum resistant) showed improved response rates and increased
survival compared to historical controls. These findings are consistent with the results observed
in lung and breast cancer patients treated with ADVEXIN therapy that increased the expected effects
of cisplatin, taxane and doxorubicin chemotherapies. As platinum, taxanes and doxorubicin are among
the most common types of cancer chemotherapies, these findings may have important implications for
improving the efficacy of these widely utilized cancer treatments.
INGN 234 (p53 topical)
We are developing INGN 234 for the prevention of oral cancers and the treatment of oral
leukoplakia. We are conducting a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial in which p53 is being
administered in an oral mouthwash formulation to prevent precancerous oral lesions from developing
into cancerous lesions. We are conducting pre-clinical work on other topical administrations of
tumor suppressor genes to control or prevent oral or dermal cancers. We are investigating multiple
delivery platforms, including both viral and non-viral approaches. We are also investigating
combining gene delivery with rinses, patches, ointments and enhancing polymers. We believe the
opportunity exists to develop non-toxic treatments for pre-malignant and malignant cells that can
be easily exposed to natural biological tumor suppressor and DNA repairing genes.
12
INGN 401 (FUS-1)
INGN 401 uses a nanoparticle vector system to deliver the tumor suppressor gene FUS-1, which
we exclusively license from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Pre-clinical studies have shown that
FUS-1, delivered using an adenoviral or a non-viral delivery system through either intravenous
(systemic) administration or direct intratumoral injection, significantly inhibits the growth of
tumors and greatly reduces the metastatic spread of lung cancer in animals.
Pre-clinical data suggest that INGN 401 may have utility as a monotherapy in lung cancer. We
have observed significant inhibition of tumor growth in lung cancer animal models following INGN
401 monotherapy treatment when compared with untreated animals.
INGN 401 has demonstrated synergistic activity with Gefitinib, a novel class of anti-cancer
agents that decrease tumor growth by inhibiting growth factor receptors that promote tumor
proliferation. While Gefitinib can produce dramatic responses in a small subset of lung cancer
patients, most lung cancers are refractory to its effects. The data indicate nanoparticle delivery
of INGN 401 can synergize with Gefitinib in killing lung tumor cells resistant to Gefitinib alone.
Furthermore, in Gefitinib-sensitive tumors, INGN 401 delivery significantly enhanced anti-cancer
activity.
A Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial is ongoing at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center testing INGN
401 in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have previously been treated with
chemotherapy. Data and findings from our work to develop INGN 401 have been published in Cancer
Gene Therapy and Cancer Research.
INGN 402 and INGN 403 (nanoparticle formulations of p53 and mda-7, respectively)
We are developing two nanoparticle formulations for systemic delivery. INGN 402 contains the
p53 tumor suppressor gene and INGN 403 contains the mda-7 tumor suppressor gene, also known as
interleukin 24 (IL-24). Early studies with these new nanoparticle drug candidates have demonstrated
a good safety profile and promising anti-cancer activity in murine lung tumor models. Data from the
mda-7 nanoparticle studies was published in DNA and Cell Biology.
INGN 007 (replication-competent viral therapy)
Through our strategic collaboration with VirRx, Inc. (VirRx), we are developing INGN 007, a
replication-competent viral therapy in which viruses bind directly to cancer cells, replicate in
those cells, and cause those cancer cells to die. Pre-clinical testing in animal models indicates
INGN 007 over-expresses a gene that allows the vector to saturate the entire tumor. This testing
has demonstrated that INGN 007 has a favorable safety profile and significantly inhibits tumor
growth. Findings from this work to develop INGN 007 have been published in Cancer Research.
Other Research and Development Programs
We are conducting a number of pre-clinical and research programs involving a variety of
therapeutic genes for the treatment of cancer. These programs involve genes that act through
diverse mechanisms to inhibit the growth of or kill cancer cells.
We are evaluating additional genes, including BAK, which hold promise as therapeutic
candidates. BAK is a pro-apoptotic gene that kills cancer cells. We are working with our
collaborators at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to identify and develop both viral and non-viral
vectors containing this gene. We had exclusive rights to use the BAK gene under a license with LXR
Biotechnology, Inc., the rights of which were subsequently sold to Tanox, Inc.
We license from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center a group of genes known as the 3p21.3 family of
genes. Pre-clinical research performed on these genes by collaborators at The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center suggests that the 3p21.3 genes play a
critical role in the suppression of tumor growth in lung and other cancers. This family of genes
includes the FUS-1 gene we are testing as INGN 401.
13
We are working with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to further evaluate other 3p21.3 genes as
clinically relevant therapeutics.
As a supplement to our gene-induced protein therapy product programs, we are evaluating the
development of mebendazole, our first small molecule candidate, which we refer to as INGN 601, for
treatment of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases. The use of the mebendazole compound is
approved by the FDA for the oral treatment of parasitic diseases. Pre-clinical work suggests that
mebendazole may also be an effective treatment for cancer. The results of pre-clinical
investigations involving mebendazole and lung cancer were published in Clinical Cancer Research and
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. We are working with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to further evaluate
this molecule as a cancer treatment.
We believe our research and development expertise gained from our molecular therapies for
cancer is also applicable to other diseases that, like cancer, result from cellular dysfunction and
uncontrolled cell growth. As a result, we are conducting research in collaboration with medical
institutions to understand the safety and effectiveness of our molecular therapy product candidates
in the treatment of other diseases.
Introgen Enabling Technologies
We have a portfolio of technologies, referred to as enabling technologies, for administering
gene-based products to patients and for enhancing the effects of these products, which we plan to
exploit to develop additional gene-based products to treat cancer and other diseases which, like
cancer, result from cellular dysfunction and uncontrolled cell growth.
Viral Delivery Systems
We have demonstrated that ADVEXIN therapy and INGN 241, which use our adenoviral vector
system, enter tumor cells and express their proteins despite the bodys natural immune response to
the adenoviral vector. While the adenoviral vector system used appears to be appropriate for the
treatment of cancer by local administration, we have developed a number of additional systems that
utilize modified adenoviral vectors for gene delivery. These systems also may be applicable to
indications where activity of the gene for disease treatment is required for longer periods of time
or where systemic administration may be necessary.
Nanoparticle Systemic Delivery Platform
We have in-licensed and are developing a non-viral, nanoparticle delivery platform as a
complementary delivery technology for certain types of cancers, or clinical indications,
particularly those that require systemic administration. We are currently using this technology in
INGN 401, INGN 402 and INGN 403.
Data published in DNA and Cell Biology highlight the potential utility of combining our
nanoparticle delivery system with the mda-7 gene for the treatment of lung cancer. The data
reported in this publication demonstrate that combining this innovative delivery system with the
mda-7 gene results in potent anti-cancer effects and systemic tumor growth inhibition in an animal
model of lung cancer. We believe combining potent anti-cancer genes, such as mda-7 or p53, with our
nanoparticle delivery system could allow development of clinical strategies to attack metastatic
cancers.
Replication-Competent Viral Delivery Systems
Through our strategic collaboration with VirRx, we are developing replication-competent viral
therapies in which viruses bind directly to cancer cells, replicate in those cells, and cause those
cancer cells to die. This technology forms the basis for our INGN 007 product development. We
anticipate pursuing clinical confirmation as to whether this self-amplifying delivery system can
complement our existing adenoviral gene delivery system, which is replication disabled, in selected
therapeutic scenarios, in applications beyond INGN 007.
Additional Enabling Technologies
14
Our research and licensing activities include a number of additional technologies that expand
our capabilities. These activities include the following:
|
|
|
Multi-Gene Vector System. This technology is designed to combine multiple genes with a
vector. This approach has the potential for use with both viral and non-viral delivery
systems to allow the activity of more than one gene at a time for disease treatment. |
|
|
|
|
Pro-Apoptotic Gene Delivery System. This technology is designed to allow the activity of
pro-apoptotic, or apoptosis-inducing, genes during treatment only, while temporarily
suppressing the ability of the apoptotic gene to kill producer cells during production. This
system could facilitate higher volume production of pro-apoptotic agents. |
|
|
|
|
Tissue-Specific Targeting Systems. This technology is designed to limit the activity of
the gene for disease treatment to particular cell types. It is intended to be applied to
both viral and non-viral vectors. |
Manufacturing and Process Development
Commercialization of a molecular and gene-based product requires process methodologies,
formulations and quality release assays in order to produce high quality materials at a large
scale. We believe the expertise we have developed in the areas of manufacturing and process
development represents a competitive advantage. We have developed scale-up methodologies for both
upstream and downstream production processes, formulations that are safe and stable, and product
release assays that support product quality control.
We own and operate state-of-the-art, manufacturing facilities, including a commercial scale,
validated manufacturing facility we believe complies with the FDAs current Good Manufacturing
Practices requirements, commonly known as CGMP requirements. We have produced numerous batches of
ADVEXIN therapy clinical material for use in our Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials. The design and
processes of the facility used for ADVEXIN therapy production have been reviewed with the FDA. We
plan to use our facilities for the market launch of ADVEXIN therapy. We also use our facilities to
produce INGN 241 and other investigative materials for use in clinical trials of those product
candidates.
Patents and Intellectual Property
Our Portfolio
Our success will depend in part on our ability to develop and maintain proprietary aspects of
our technology. To this end, we have an intellectual property program directed at developing
proprietary rights in technology that we believe may be important to our success. We also rely on a
licensing program to ensure continued strong technology development and technology transfer from
companies and research institutions with whom we work. We have entered into a number of exclusive
license agreements or options with companies and institutions, including M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Corixa, Aventis Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. (Aventis),
Columbia University, VirRx, Inc. and LXR Biotechnology, Inc. (LXR), with the LXR rights being
subsequently sold to Tanox, Inc. In addition to patents, we rely on trade secrets and proprietary
know-how, which we seek to protect, in part, through confidentiality and proprietary information
agreements.
We currently own or have an exclusive license to a large number of issued and pending United
States and foreign patents and patent applications. If we do not seek a patent term extension, the
currently issued United States patents that we own or have exclusively licensed will expire between
the years 2010 and 2021. The exclusive licenses that give us rights on the patents, and
applications that such licenses cover, will expire no earlier than the life of any patent covered
under the license.
Adenoviral p53 Compositions and Therapies
In developing our patent portfolio, we have focused our efforts in part on seeking protection
for our potential products and how they will be used in the clinical trials. Arising out of our
work with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we currently have an exclusive license to a number of
United States and corresponding international patent
15
applications directed to adenoviruses that contain the p53 gene, referred to as adenoviral
p53, adenoviral p53 pharmaceutical compositions and the use of adenoviral p53 compositions in
various cancer therapies and protocols. One of these applications, directed to the clinical use of
adenoviral p53 to treat cancer, has issued as a United States patent. Additionally, various other
United States patents have issued to which we have licensed exclusive rights, which are directed to
adenoviral p53 compositions in general, adenoviral p53 pharmaceutical compositions, therapeutic
applications of adenoviral p53, as well as a patent covering the DNA core of adenoviral p53. We
have also exclusively licensed from Aventis a patent application directed to adenoviral p53 and its
clinical applications. We also have an exclusive license to a United States patent application and
corresponding international applications directed to the use of the p53 gene in the treatment of
cancer patients whose tumors express a normal p53 protein.
Combination Therapy with the p53 Gene
Our portfolio development includes seeking protection for clinical therapeutic strategies that
combine the use of the p53 gene with traditional cancer therapies. In this regard, also arising out
of our work with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we have an exclusive license to two issued United
States patents, with corresponding international applications, directed to cancer therapy using the
p53 gene in combination with DNA-damaging agents such as conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
This patent and corresponding international applications concern the therapeutic application of the
p53 gene before, during or after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. We have also exclusively licensed
from Aventis a United States patent and corresponding international applications directed to
therapy using the p53 gene together with taxanes such as Taxol® or Taxotere®.
Furthermore, we have exclusively licensed a United States patent application, and corresponding
international applications, directed to the use of the p53 gene in combination with surgical
intervention in cancer therapy.
Adenovirus Production, Purification and Formulation
Another focus of our research has involved the development of procedures for the commercial
scale production of our potential adenoviral-based products, including that of ADVEXIN therapy. In
this regard, we own three issued United States patents as well as a number of pending United States
applications, and corresponding international applications, directed to highly purified adenoviral
compositions, commercial scale processes for producing adenoviral gene-based compositions having a
high level of purity, as well as to storage-stable formulations. These applications include
procedures for preparing commercial quantities of recombinant adenoviruses for gene-based products
and include procedures applicable to the p53 gene, as well as any of the other of our potential
gene-based products. We have also licensed from Aventis a United States application and
corresponding international applications directed to processes for the production of purified
adenoviruses, which are useful for gene-based applications. With respect to storage-stable
formulations, we were recently issued a United States patent directed to compositions and methods
concerning improved, storage-stable adenovirus formulations. This patent is not limited to our
ADVEXIN product candidate and may eventually replace formulations currently in use.
Other Tumor Suppressor Genes
We either own or have exclusively licensed rights in a number of other patents and
applications directed to the clinical application of various tumor suppressor genes other than the
p53 gene, including the mda-7, BAK, the 3p21.3 gene family (FUS-1) and anti-sense K-ras genes. We
have exclusively licensed or optioned rights in a number of issued United States patents covering
the use of the mda-7, BAK and PTEN genes.
Other Therapeutic, Composition and Process Technologies
We own or have exclusively licensed a number of United States and international patent
applications on a range of additional technologies. These include various applications and patents
relating to the p53 gene, combination therapy with 2-methoxyestradiol, anti-proliferative factor
technologies, retroviral delivery systems, stimulation of anti-p53, screening and product assurance
technologies, as well as second-generation p53 gene molecules. We have exclusively licensed a
number of United States and international applications directed to various improved vectors for use
in gene-based protocols, gene-based applications employing more than one gene for disease
treatment, as well as applications directed to the delivery of genes for disease treatment without
the use of a vector, or non-viral therapy. For example, a United States patent, exclusively
licensed to us, was recently issued that is directed to
16
adenoviruses that exhibit tissue specific replication. We also have exclusive rights in an
issued United States patent and corresponding international applications directed to a low toxicity
analogue of IL-2, also called F42K.
Benzimidazole Small Molecule Cancer Therapy Program
We also have exclusively licensed a United States and a corresponding international patent
application directed to the use of a family of known anti-helminthic benzimidazole molecules, most
notably mebendazole, in the treatment of cancer. These applications are directed generally to the
use of small molecules of the benzimidazole family to induce apoptosis in cancers, as well as to
treat cancer patients, particularly those having p53-related cancers. Both of these therapeutic
actions are based on the discovery by our scientists and their collaborators that members of the
benzimidazole family will actively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, particularly in conjunction
with the action of an endogenous or exogenously added p53 gene.
Financial Overview
Since our inception in 1993, we have used our resources primarily to conduct research and
development activities for ADVEXIN therapy and, to a lesser extent, other product candidates. At
June 30, 2005, we had an accumulated deficit of $130.6 million. We anticipate we will incur losses
in the future that may be greater than losses incurred in prior periods. At June 30, 2005, we had
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $26.7 million. During the six months ended
June 30, 2005, we used $11.8 million of cash and cash equivalents for operating activities. In
addition, we used $197,000 for purchases of property and equipment and $362,000 for principal
payments on notes payable to support those activities. These uses of cash were offset by the
receipt of $438,000 under notes payable to finance equipment acquisitions and by the receipt of
$478,000 from sales of common stock resulting from stock option exercises. We expect to incur
substantial additional operating expenses and losses over the next several years as our research,
development, pre-clinical testing and clinical trial activities continue and as we evolve our
operations and systems to support commercialization of our product candidates. These losses, among
other things, have caused and may cause our total assets, stockholders equity and working capital
to decrease. Currently, we earn revenue or income from federal research grants, contract services
and process development activities, the lease of a portion of our facilities to M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center and interest income on cash placed in short-term, investment grade securities. In
order to fund our operating losses, we will need to raise additional funds through public or
private equity offerings, debt financings or additional corporate collaboration and licensing
arrangements. We do not know whether such additional financing will be available when needed, or on
terms favorable to us or our stockholders.
Mortgage Note Payable
In May 2004, we amended the mortgage note payable related to our facilities. The original $6.0
million principal balance of our note payable was increased to $7.8 million. The proceeds from this
increase were used to pay in full the principal and interest outstanding on another note payable
with an original principal balance of approximately $3.3 million, which resulted in that other note
being retired. In addition to this note retirement, the proceeds from this loan amendment were used
to pay the costs related to this transaction of $96,000 and to add $668,000 to our cash and cash
equivalents. The amended mortgage note payable bears interest at 6.25%. The note is payable in
monthly installments of $56,400 until May 2006. At that time, we may extend the note to a November
2009 maturity date. Upon such extension, the interest rate is modified to the lesser of (a) 2.5%
above the five-year U.S. Treasury Bond Note rate or (b) 8.5%, and principal and interest on the
note become payable in equal monthly installments based on a 225-month amortization period. The
principal balance outstanding on the notes extended maturity date is payable in full at that time.
Acquisition of Magnum Therapeutics Corporation
In October 2004, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Magnum Therapeutics
Corporation (Magnum), a company owned by one of our executive officers at the time of this
acquisition. We paid approximately $1.75 million for the Magnum stock by (1) issuing approximately
252,000 shares of our common stock valued at approximately $1.48 million at the acquisition date
and (2) assuming liabilities of approximately $272,000. With respect to the common stock we issued
for the acquisition, 50% of the shares are held by an
17
independent escrow agent for a period of one year subsequent to the acquisition date to
satisfy the indemnification obligations of the selling shareholder under terms of the purchase
agreement.
Magnums primary asset is the right to receive funding under a grant from the National
Institutes of Health. The grant activities and related funding will supplement research and
development programs we have in progress. During the year ended December 31, 2004, we earned $1.1
million of revenue related to funding under this grant. During the three and six months ended June
30, 2005, we earned $145,000 and $410,000, respectively, of revenue related to funding under this
grant. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, we earned no revenue under this grant.
In the event certain of Magnums technologies result in commercial products, we may be obligated to
pay royalties related to the sales of those products to certain third parties.
The results of Magnums operations are included with those of the Company for the period
subsequent to the October 2004 acquisition date. Since Magnum is a development stage company, this
acquisition is accounted for as an asset acquisition and not a business combination.
The total purchase consideration has been allocated to the assets acquired based on their
respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The following presents the fair value of the net
assets acquired (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
9 |
|
Acquired grant rights |
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
Sales of Common Stock
In December 2004, we sold approximately 3.5 million shares of our common stock in a direct
equity offering pursuant to a shelf registration for an aggregate purchase price of approximately
$24.3 million. Our net proceeds from this transaction, after related fees and expenses, were
approximately $22.9 million. The shares of common stock issued in this transaction were registered
pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3, effective August 25, 2003 (Commission File No.
333-107799) registering shares of our common stock with an aggregate offering price of $100.0
million. We may sell additional shares of our common stock pursuant to this registration statement
in the future. In connection with this transaction, we will issue warrants to the placement agents
representing us in this stock sale allowing them to purchase up to 225,238 shares of our common
stock at a price of $6.65 per share and to purchase up to 88,707 shares of our common stock at a
price of $8.00 per share. These warrants are exercisable beginning in December 2005 and expire in
December 2009.
London Stock Exchange
We are evaluating the feasibility of listing our common stock on the London Stock Exchange
(LSE), which would be in addition to the listing of our common stock on the NASDAQ National
Market System in the United States. We believe an LSE listing would allow us to better leverage our
assets on a global basis and, specifically, in Europe and Asia.
Preferred Stock Conversion
In June 2005, the 100,000 issued and outstanding shares of our Series A, non-voting,
convertible preferred stock were converted into 2,343,721 shares of our common stock. The shares of
preferred stock were cancelled and replaced by newly issued shares of our common stock. We received
no cash or other consideration in connection with this conversion. After this conversion, we have
5,000,000 shares of authorized and unissued preferred shares, of which 4,900,000 shares are
undesignated and 100,000 shares are designated as Series A, non-voting, convertible preferred
shares.
Investment in SR Pharma plc
In July 2005, we purchased approximately 8.3% of the issued share capital of SR Pharma plc for
approximately $3.0 million. SR Pharma plc is a European biotechnology company publicly traded on
the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange that is developing oncology and
other products.
18
Research Grants
We have a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the National Cancer Institute to
support our Phase 2 clinical trial of INGN 241 in patients with metastatic melanoma. Provided we
perform the work and incur the costs contemplated by this grant, it will provide up to $1.0 million
of aggregate funding in future periods during the course of this clinical trial to evaluate the
efficacy and biologic activity of INGN 241 in this indication.
Magnum, our wholly-owned subsidiary, has a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the
National Institutes of Health for the development of complementary adenoviral vectors for the
treatment of cancer. Provided we perform the work and incur the costs contemplated by this grant,
it will provide up to $768,000 of aggregate funding in future periods.
Critical Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments. Our cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments include investments in short-term, investment grade securities, which currently consist
primarily of United States federal government obligations. These investments are classified as
held-to-maturity and are carried at amortized cost. At any point in time, amortized costs may be
greater or less than fair value. If investments are sold prior to maturity, we could incur a
realized gain or loss based on the fair market value of the investments at the date of sale. We
could incur future losses on investments if the investment issuer becomes impaired or the
investment is downgraded.
Intangible Assets. Grant rights acquired, which are presented as an intangible asset on our
balance sheet, resulted from our asset acquisition related to the Magnum purchase in October 2004.
We amortize that asset to expense on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining life of
that asset.
Research and Development Costs. In conducting our clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy and
other product candidates, we procure services from numerous third-party vendors. The cost of these
services constitutes a significant portion of the cost of these trials and of our research and
development expenses in general. These vendors do not necessarily provide us billings for their
services on a regular basis and, accordingly, are often not a timely source of information to
determine the costs we have incurred relative to their services for any given accounting period. As
a result, we make significant accounting estimates as to the amount of costs we have incurred
relative to these vendors in each accounting period. These estimates are based on numerous factors,
including, among others, costs set forth in our contracts with these vendors, the period of time
over which the vendor will render the services and the rate of enrollment of patients in our
clinical trials. Using these estimates, we record expenses and accrued liabilities in each
accounting period that we believe fairly represent our obligations to these vendors. Actual results
could differ from these estimates, resulting in increases or decreases in the amount of expense
recorded and the related accrual. We have consistently applied these estimation procedures in the
past and plan to continue applying such procedures in the same manner during the foreseeable
future. Our experience has been that our estimates have reasonably reflected the expenses we
actually incur.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 4 in the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial Statements in the Financial
Statements section above for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements related to
stock-based compensation.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Quarters Ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004
19
In the following comparison of quarters ended June 30, 2005, and June 30, 2004, references to
the 2005 period refer to the three months ended June 30, 2005, and references to the 2004 period
refer to the three months ended June 30, 2004.
Revenues
Contract Services, Grant and Other Revenue. For the 2005 period, we earned revenues from (a)
research grants from U.S. Government agencies and (b) third parties under agreements to provide
manufacturing process development and product production services for them. In the 2004 period, we
earned revenue from (a) research grants from U.S. Government agencies and (b) contract research
services provided to Aventis, one of our stockholders, under an agreement through which Aventis
provided funding for the conduct of a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy in breast cancer.
Total contract services, grant and other revenue was $336,000 for the 2005 period compared to
$273,000 for the 2004 period, an increase of 23%. This increase was primarily due to (1) revenue
earned under the Small Business Innovation Research grant held by Magnum, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, as a result of our acquisition of Magnum in October 2004, which is revenue we did not
earn in the 2004 period and (2) increased contract services revenues from third parties under
agreements to provide manufacturing process development and product production services for them.
Costs and Expenses
Research and Development. Research and development expenses were $5.7 million for the 2005
period, compared to $5.9 million for the 2004 period. These expenses included share-based payments
expense of $396,000 in the 2005 period and zero in the 2004 period. This 3% decrease in research
and development expenses was a result of lower costs in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period
related to our ongoing work on the Biologics License Application (BLA) for ADVEXIN therapy for
filing with the FDA as a result of the 2004 period, including certain activities related to the
initial stages of the BLA preparation that were not repeated in the 2005 period. These lower costs
were partially offset by (1) increased manufacturing and process development costs in the 2005
period compared to the 2004 period as we continued to develop our manufacturing operations in
support of the BLA for ADVEXIN therapy and in support of the production of clinical materials for
use in clinical trials for our ADVEXIN therapy and other product candidates and (2) higher
share-based payments expense in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period which increased for the
reasons discussed below under Share-Based Payments Expense.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses were $2.0 million
for the 2005 period compared to $2.1 million for the 2004 period. These expenses included
share-based payments expense of $315 , 000 in the 2005 period and $8,000 in the 2004
period. This 5% decrease in general and administrative expenses was due to (1) an overall decrease
in the amount of general and administrative support required to operate our business, which is
consistent with the decrease in research and development expenses described above, and (2)
decreased costs related to securities offerings not pursued to completion in the 2005 period
compared to the 2004 period. These decreases were partially offset by higher share-based payments
expense, which increased for the reasons discussed below under Share-Based Payments Expense.
Share-Based Payments Expense. Share-based payments expense was $711,000 for the 2005 period
compared to $8,000 for the 2004 period. The share-based payments expense for the 2005 period
includes $415,000 of stock-based employee compensation expense, $249,000 of federal taxes related
to the common stock grants discussed in Note 9 of the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial
Statements in the Financial Statements section above and $47,000 related to non-employee stock
compensation expense. The 87% increase in this expense was primarily due to (1) the grant of shares
of our common stock to certain officers in the 2005 period (for which there was no similar
transaction during the 2004 period) as a result of the expiration of certain of their stock options
as discussed in Note 9 of the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial Statements in the Financial
Statements section above and (2) increased expense related to certain stock options granted to
non-employees in the 2004 period (for which there was no similar transaction during the 2005
period) as a result of the market price of our common stock being generally higher during the 2005
period than during the 2004 period.
See Note 4 of the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial Statements in the Financial
Statements section above for a discussion of our application of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 123,
20
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation and the expected future effects of our adoption of
SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment.
In addition to the future effects of our adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the amount of share-based
payments expense we record in future periods may increase if, for example, (1) we issue additional
options to purchase shares of our common stock at a price below the market price of common stock on
the grant date of such options, (2) the market value of our common stock increases or (3)
additional options are granted to individuals or entities other than employees or directors.
Interest Income, Interest Expense and Other Income
Interest income was $193,000 for the 2005 period compared to $59,000 for the 2004 period, an
increase of 227%. This increase was primarily due to (1) an increase in our short-term investments
versus cash and cash equivalents, (2) a higher average balance of cash and cash equivalents in the
2005 period compared to the 2004 period and (3) higher interest rates earned on our invested funds
during the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period.
Interest expense was $158,000 for the 2005 period compared to $94,000 for the 2004 period, an
increase of 68%. This increase was primarily due to additional borrowings subsequent to the 2004
period to finance equipment acquisitions.
Other income was $274,000 for the 2005 period compared to $306,000 for the 2004 period, a
decrease of 10%. This income is earned primarily from our sublease of space to M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center. This decrease was due to normal variations in the amount and timing of our billing
to this lessee of the portion of the operating expenses of our facilities they are required to pay.
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004
In the following comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2005, and June 30, 2004,
references to the 2005 period refer to the six months ended June 30, 2005 and references to the
2004 period refer to the six months ended June 30, 2004.
Revenues
Contract Services, Grant and Other Revenue. For the 2005 period, we earned revenues from (a)
research grants from U.S. Government agencies and (b) third parties under agreements to provide
manufacturing process development and product production services for them. In the 2004 period, we
earned revenue from (a) research grants from U.S. Government agencies and (b) contract research
services provided to Aventis, one of our stockholders, under an agreement through which Aventis
provided funding for the conduct of a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy in breast cancer.
Total contract services, grant and other revenue was $845,000 for the 2005 period compared to
$382,000 for the 2004 period, an increase of 121%. This increase was primarily due to (1) revenue
earned under the Small Business Innovation Research grant held by Magnum, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, as a result of our acquisition of Magnum in October 2004, which is revenue we did not
earn in the 2004 period and (2) increased contract services revenues from third parties under
agreements to provide manufacturing process development and product production services for them.
Costs and Expenses
Research and Development. Research and development expenses were $10.9 million for the 2005
period, compared to $10.2 million for the 2004 period. These expenses included share-based payments
expense of $396,000 in the 2005 period and $44,000 in the 2004 period. This 7% increase in research
and development expenses was a result of (1) increased manufacturing and process development costs
in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period as we continued to develop our manufacturing
operations in support of the BLA for ADVEXIN therapy and in support of the production of clinical
materials for use in clinical trials for our ADVEXIN therapy and other product candidates and (2)
higher share-based payments expense in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period, which increased
for the reasons discussed below under Share-Based Payments Expense.
21
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses were $3.8 million
for the 2005 period compared to $3.6 million for the 2004 period. These expenses included
share-based payments expense of $403,000 in the 2005 period and $47,000 in the 2004 period. This 6%
increase in general and administrative expenses was due to higher share-based payments expense,
which increased for the reasons discussed below under Share-Based Payments Expense, offset by
decreased costs related to securities offerings not pursued to completion in the 2005 period
compared to the 2004 period.
Share-Based Payments Expense. Share-based payments expense was $799,000 for the 2005 period
compared to $91,000 for the 2004 period. The share-based payments expense for the 2005 period
includes $415,000 of stock-based employee compensation expense, $249,000 of federal taxes related
to the common stock grants discussed in Note 9 of the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial
Statements in the Financial Statements section above and $135,000 related to non-employee stock
compensation expense. The 778% increase in this expense was primarily due to (1) the grant of
shares of our common stock to certain officers in the 2005 period (for which there was no similar
transaction during the 2004 period) as a result of the expiration of certain of their stock options
as discussed in Note 9 of the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial Statements in the Financial
Statements section above and (2) increased expense related to certain stock options granted to
non-employees in the 2004 period (for which there was no similar transaction during the 2005
period) as a result of the market price of our common stock being generally higher during the 2005
period than during the 2004 period.
See Note 4 of the Unaudited Notes to Condensed Financial Statements in the Financial
Statements section above for a discussion of our application of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation and the expected future effects
of our adoption of SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment.
In addition to the future effects of our adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the amount of share-based
payments expense we record in future periods may increase if, for example, (1) we issue additional
options to purchase shares of our common stock at a price below the market price of common stock on
the grant date of such options., (2) the market value of our common stock increases or (3)
additional options are granted to individuals or entities other than employees or directors.
Interest Income, Interest Expense and Other Income
Interest income was $377,000 for the 2005 period compared to $126,000 for the 2004 period, an
increase of 199%. This increase was primarily due to (1) an increase in our short-term investments
versus cash and cash equivalents, (2) a higher average balance of cash and cash equivalents in the
2005 period compared to the 2004 period and (3) higher interest rates earned on our invested funds
during the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period.
Interest expense was $308,000 for the 2005 period compared to $228,000 for the 2004 period, an
increase of 35%. This increase was primarily due to additional borrowings subsequent to the 2004
period to finance equipment acquisitions.
Other income was $549,000 for the 2005 period compared to $556,000 for the 2004 period, a
decrease of 1%. This income is earned primarily from our sublease of space to M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center. This decrease was due to normal variations in the amount of our billing to this lessee of
the portion of the operating expenses of our facilities they are required to pay.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In the following discussion of liquidity and capital resources, references to the 2005 period
refer to the six months ended June 30, 2005 and references to the 2004 period refer to the six
months ended June 30, 2004.
22
We have incurred annual operating losses since our inception, and at June 30, 2005 we had
an accumulated deficit of $130.6 million. From inception through June 30, 2005 we have financed our
operations primarily from the following sources:
|
|
|
$49.7 million of collaborative research and development payments from Aventis; |
|
|
|
$41.4 million of equity sales in December 2003 and December 2004 through registered
direct offerings under a shelf registration filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission; |
|
|
|
$39.4 million of private equity sales to Aventis; |
|
|
|
$32.2 million of net proceeds from our initial public offering in October 2000; |
|
|
|
$26.6 million of private equity sales, net of offering costs, to others (including $10.8
million from the private sale of our common stock in June 2003); |
|
|
|
$17.2 million from contract services, grants, interest and other income; |
|
|
|
$9.9 million in mortgage financing from banks for our facilities; |
|
|
|
$7.5 million of sales of ADVEXIN therapy product to Aventis for use in later-stage clinical trials; and |
|
|
|
$5.5 million in leases and notes payable from commercial lessors and lenders to acquire
equipment pledged as collateral for those leases and notes. |
At June 30, 2005, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $26.7million,
compared to $38.2 million at December 31, 2004. Cash and cash equivalents constituted $6.7 million
and $30.2 million of these amounts at June 30 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. This
decrease in cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2005 as compared to December 31, 2004 was due to
activity during the six months ended June 30, 2005, that included (1) $11.8 million used in
operating activities, (2) $12.3 million used by investing activities and (3) $554,000 provided by
financing activities. We expect to continue to focus our activities primarily on conducting Phase 3
and other clinical trials, conducting data analysis related to those trials, preparing regulatory
documentation submissions to the FDA, producing ADVEXIN therapy and other clinical materials for
use in our clinical trials and conducting pre-marketing activities for ADVEXIN therapy. We expect
to continue our research and development of various other gene-based technologies. If ADVEXIN
therapy or any of our other product candidates are approved for commercial sale by the FDA, we
expect to conduct activities supporting the marketing, sales, production and distribution of those
products, either ourselves or in collaboration with other parties. The majority of our expenditures
for the foreseeable future will most likely be for these activities as they relate to ADVEXIN
therapy. These activities may increase the rate at which we use cash in the future as compared to
the cash we used for operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2005. We believe our
existing working capital can fund our operations for the next 15 to 18 months, although we may have
to make adjustments to the scope of operations to achieve that objective, and unforeseen events
could shorten that time period. Our existing resources may not be sufficient to support the
commercial introduction of any of our product candidates. In order to fund our operating losses, we
will need to raise additional funds through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or
additional corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. We do not know whether such
additional financing will be available when needed or on terms favorable to us or our stockholders.
Net cash used in operating activities was $11.8 million for the 2005 period compared to $10.8
million for the 2004 period. This increase was due to:
|
|
|
A larger net loss during the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period, plus |
|
|
|
An aggregate decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities during the 2005
period compared to an aggregate increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
during the 2004 period due to variations in the timing of payments to vendors that is a
function of the nature of vendors to whom we have obligations and variations in the
terms of payment to them; |
23
With the sum of the above items offset by:
|
|
|
Depreciation that increased in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period due to
acquisitions of property and equipment subsequent to the 2004 period; |
|
|
|
Share-based payments expense that increased in the 2005 period compared to the
2004 period for the reasons discussed above under Comparison of the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004; |
|
|
|
Amortization of grant rights acquired during the 2005 period for which there was
no similar expense during the 2004 period since the rights being amortized arose in
connection with our acquisition of Magnum in October 2004; |
|
|
|
A decrease in other assets during the 2005 period compared to an increase in
other assets during the 2004 period due to (1) a prepayment of certain expenses in the
2004 period that did not occur in the 2005 period and (2) a decrease in federal grant
funding receivable during the 2005 period compared to an increase in federal grant
funding receivable during the 2004 period due to the receipt in the 2005 period of grant
funding earned during that period whereas grant funding earned during the 2004 period
was received in subsequent periods; and |
|
|
|
An increase in deferred revenue during the 2005 period that was greater than the
increase during the 2004 period due to (1) an increase in payments from third parties in
advance of us performing work under agreements to provide manufacturing process
development services for them and (2) an increase in funding received under research
grants related to prepaid expenses for which the recognition of the expense and the
related grant revenue is deferred to future periods. |
Net cash used in investing activities was $12.3 million for the 2005 period compared to $11.1
million for the 2004 period. This increase was primarily due to (1) a higher level of equipment
purchases in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period, primarily in support of the continuing
development of our manufacturing activities, and (2) a higher level of net activity in purchases
and maturities of short-term investments in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period due to a
higher concentration of investing activity in government-backed securities with longer maturities
in the 2005 period as a result of the availability for investing of the proceeds from our sale of
common stock in December 2004.
We have no obligations at this time to purchase significant amounts of additional property or
equipment, but our needs may change. It may be necessary for us to purchase larger amounts of
property and equipment to support our clinical programs and other research, development and
manufacturing activities. We may need to obtain debt or lease financing to facilitate such
purchases. If that financing is not available, we may need to use our existing resources to fund
those purchases, which could result in a reduction in the cash and cash equivalents available to
fund operating activities.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $554,000 during the 2005 period compared to
$531,000 during the 2004 period. This change was due to:
|
|
|
Higher proceeds from sales of common stock due to a higher level of stock option
exercises in the 2005 period compared to the 2004 period; |
|
|
|
A decrease in proceeds from notes payable in the 2005 period compared to the 2004
period due to the amendment of a mortgage note in the 2004 period, as discussed in the
Financial Overview section above, resulting in additional financing greater than that
obtained during the 2005 period for recent equipment acquisitions; and |
|
|
|
A decrease in principal payments under notes payable and capital leases in the 2005
period compared to the 2004 period due to several capital lease obligations outstanding at
the beginning of the 2004 period becoming fully paid during that period. |
24
We have an agreement with VirRx, which began in 2002, to purchase shares of VirRxs Series A
Preferred Stock. Key activity and provisions under this agreement include the following:
|
|
|
During the six months ended June 30, 2005, we purchased $300,000 of VirRxs Series A
Preferred Stock for cash. These purchases are recorded as research and development expense.
We have agreed to purchase an additional $150,000 of this stock for cash on the first day of
each quarter through January 1, 2006. |
|
|
|
VirRx is required to use the proceeds from these stock sales in accordance with the terms
of a collaboration and license agreement between VirRx and us for the development of VirRxs
technologies. We may unilaterally terminate this collaboration and license agreement with 90
days prior notice, which would also terminate the requirement for us to make any additional
stock purchases. |
|
|
|
Provided the collaboration and license agreement remains in place, we are required to
make additional milestone stock purchases, either for cash or through the issuance of our
common stock, upon the completion of Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials involving
technologies licensed under this agreement. We are required to make a $5.0 million cash
milestone payment to VirRx, for which we receive no VirRx stock, upon approval by the FDA of
a BLA for the first collaboration product based on these technologies. To the extent we have
already made cash milestone payments, we may receive a credit of 50% of the Phase 2 clinical
trial milestone payments and 25% of the Phase 3 clinical trial milestone payments against
this $5.0 million cash milestone payment. The additional milestone stock purchases and cash
payment are not anticipated to be required in the near future. We have an option to purchase
all outstanding shares of VirRx at any time until March 2007. |
We have fixed debt service obligations under notes payable for which the liability is
reflected on our balance sheet. We used the proceeds from these notes payable to finance facilities
and equipment. Aggregate payments due under these obligations are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt service payments for July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005: |
|
$ |
587 |
|
Total debt service due during the year ended December 31: |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
1,118 |
|
2007 |
|
|
1,018 |
|
2008 |
|
|
721 |
|
2009 |
|
|
675 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
10,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
debt service payments |
|
|
14,274 |
|
Less portion representing interest |
|
|
(5,724 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Total principal balance at June 30, 2005 |
|
$ |
8,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
Principal balance presented on the June 30, 2005 balance sheet as
liabilities in these categories: |
|
|
|
|
Current portion of notes payable |
|
$ |
601 |
|
Notes payable, net of current portion |
|
|
7,949 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total principal balance at June 30, 2005 |
|
$ |
8,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
We have a fixed rent obligation under a ground lease for the land on which we built our
facilities. Since this is an operating lease, there is no liability reflected on our balance sheet
for this item, which is in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We make total
annual rent payments of at least $144,000 under this lease which will continue until the expiration
of the initial term of this lease in September 2026. Such payments are subject to adjustment in the
future for inflation. Future minimum annual rental payments due under all operating leases,
including a lease for office space currently being negotiated that we intend to enter into, are as
follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 |
|
$ |
205 |
|
Year ending December 31, |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
337 |
|
2007 |
|
|
260 |
|
2008 |
|
|
219 |
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
144 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
2,418 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total minimum lease payments under operating leases |
|
$ |
3,583 |
|
|
|
|
|
In the normal course of business, we enter into various long-term agreements with vendors to
provide services to us. Some of these agreements require up-front payment prior to services being
rendered, some require periodic monthly payments and some provide for the vendor to bill us for
their services as they are rendered. In substantially all cases, we may cancel these agreements at
any time with minimal or no penalty and pay the vendor only for services actually rendered.
Regardless of the timing of the payments under these agreements, we record the expenses incurred in
the periods in which the services are rendered.
Pursuant to a consulting agreement, we pay consulting fees of approximately $175,000 per annum
to EJ Financial Enterprises, Inc., a company owned by the Chairman of our Board of Directors. EJ
Financial Enterprises, Inc. provides us guidance on strategic product development, business
development and marketing activities. We are obligated to continue paying this fee until we
terminate the services of that company at our option.
We have a consulting agreement with Jack A. Roth, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Thoracic
Surgery and Director of the Keck Center for Gene Therapy at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center. Dr. Roth is the primary inventor of the technology upon which our ADVEXIN therapy is
based and numerous other technologies we utilize. We licensed Dr. Roths inventions from M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Roth is our Chief Medical Advisor and chairman of our scientific
advisory board. His duties involve the regular interaction and consultation with our scientists and
others on our behalf. As compensation for his services and responsibilities, this consulting
agreement provides for payments to Dr. Roth of $200,000 per annum through the end of its term on
September 30, 2009, with such future payments subject to adjustment for inflation. We may terminate
this agreement at our option upon one years advance notice. If we had terminated this agreement as
of June 30, 2005, we would have been obligated to make final payments totaling $200,000. Dr. Roth
is one of our stockholders.
We have a consulting agreement with the placement agent and investment advisor who assisted us
with the sale of our common stock in December 2004. We will pay them a fee of $25,000 per month
through November 2005 in consideration for their ongoing assistance with business development and
financial matters.
We sublease a portion of our facilities to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center under a lease with a
non-cancelable term that expires in 2009. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is obligated to pay us rent
and facilities operating expense reimbursements of approximately $94,000 per month until February
2006 and $29,000 per month thereafter.
Risk Factors
If
we are unable to commercialize
ADVEXIN®
therapy in various markets for multiple
indications, particularly for the treatment of head and neck cancer, our business will be
harmed.
Our ability to achieve and sustain operating profitability depends on our ability to
successfully commercialize ADVEXIN therapy in various markets for multiple indications, which
depends in large part on our ability to commence, execute and complete clinical programs and obtain
regulatory approvals for ADVEXIN therapy and other drug candidates. In particular, our ability to
achieve and sustain profitability will depend in large part on our ability to commercialize ADVEXIN
therapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer in the United States. We cannot assure you we
will receive approval for ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer or other types
of cancer or indications in the United States or in other countries or if approved that we will
achieve significant level of sales. If we are unable to do so, our business will be harmed.
If we fail to comply with FDA requirements or encounter delays or difficulties in clinical
trials for our product candidates, we may not obtain regulatory approval of some or all of our
product candidates on a timely basis, if at all.
In order to commercialize our product candidates, we must obtain certain regulatory approvals.
Satisfaction of regulatory requirements typically takes many years, and involves compliance with
requirements covering research and development, testing, manufacturing, quality control, labeling
and promotion of drugs for human use. To obtain
26
regulatory approvals, we must, among other requirements, complete clinical trials
demonstrating our product candidates are safe and effective for a particular cancer type or other
disease. Regulatory approval of a new drug is never guaranteed. The FDA has substantial discretion
in the approval process. Despite the time and experience exerted, failure can occur at any stage,
and we could encounter problems causing us to abandon clinical trials.
We have completed three Phase 2 clinical trials and are conducting two Phase 3 clinical trials
of our lead product candidate, ADVEXIN therapy, for the treatment of head and neck cancer. In
addition, we have completed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of
non-small cell lung cancer and are conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy for the
treatment of breast cancer. We also are conducting or have conducted several Phase 1 and Phase 2
clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy for other types of cancer. Current or future clinical trials may
demonstrate ADVEXIN therapy is neither safe nor effective.
While we have completed enrollment of patients with metastatic melanoma in a Phase 1/early
Phase 2 clinical trial of INGN 241, a product candidate based on the mda-7 gene, and have initiated
a follow-on Phase 2 clinical trial of INGN 241 for the same indication, our most significant
clinical trial activity and experience has been with ADVEXIN therapy. We will need to continue
conducting significant research and animal testing, referred to as pre-clinical testing, to support
performing clinical trials for our other product candidates. It will take us many years to complete
pre-clinical testing and clinical trials, and failure could occur at any stage of testing. Current
or future clinical trials may demonstrate INGN 241 or our other product candidates are neither safe
nor effective.
Any delays or difficulties we encounter in our pre-clinical research and clinical trials, in
particular the Phase 3 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of head and neck
cancer, may delay or preclude regulatory approval. Our product development costs will increase if
we experience delays in testing or regulatory approvals or if we need to perform more or larger
clinical trials than planned. Any delay or preclusion could also delay or preclude the
commercialization of ADVEXIN therapy or any other product candidates. In addition, we or the FDA
might delay or halt any of our clinical trials of a product candidate at any time for various
reasons, including:
|
|
|
the product candidate is less effective and/or more toxic than current therapies; |
|
|
|
the presence of unforeseen adverse side effects of a product candidate, including its delivery system; |
|
|
|
a longer than expected time required to determine whether or not a product candidate is effective; |
|
|
|
the death of patients during a clinical trial, even if the product candidate did not cause those deaths; |
|
|
|
the failure to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials; |
|
|
|
the inability to produce sufficient quantities of a product candidate to complete the trials; or |
|
|
|
the inability to commit the necessary resources to fund the clinical trials. |
We cannot be certain the results we observed in our pre-clinical testing will be confirmed in
clinical trials or the results of any of our clinical trials will support FDA approval.
Pre-clinical and clinical data can be interpreted in many different ways, and FDA officials could
interpret differently data we consider promising, which could halt or delay our clinical trials or
prevent regulatory approval.
Despite the FDAs designation of ADVEXIN therapy as a Fast Track product, we may encounter
delays in the regulatory approval process due to additional information requirements from the FDA,
unintentional omissions in our BLA for ADVEXIN therapy, or other delays in the FDAs review
process. We may encounter delays or rejections in the regulatory approval process because of
additional government regulation from future legislation or administrative action or changes in FDA
policy during the period of product development, clinical trials and FDA regulatory review.
Despite the initiation of the BLA process for ADVEXIN therapy under the FDAs accelerated
approval regulations, the FDA could determine that accelerated approval is not warranted and that a
traditional BLA filing must be made. Such a determination could delay regulatory approval.
Additionally, accelerated approval of an
27
application could be subject to Phase 4 or post-approval studies to validate the surrogate
endpoint or confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to validate a surrogate endpoint
or confirm a clinical benefit during post-marketing studies could cause the product to be withdrawn
from the market by the FDA on an expedited basis.
Even if our products are approved by regulatory authorities, if we fail to comply with ongoing
regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated problems with our products, these
products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.
Any product for which we obtain marketing approval, along with the manufacturing processes,
post-approval clinical data and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to
continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory bodies. Even if
regulatory approval of a product is granted, the approval may be subject to limitations on the
indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or certain requirements for costly
post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the product. Later
discovery of previously unknown problems with our products, including unanticipated adverse events
of unanticipated severity or frequency, manufacturer or manufacturing processes or failure to
comply with regulatory requirements, may result in restrictions on such products or manufacturing
processes, withdrawal of the products from the market, voluntary or mandatory recall, fines,
suspension of regulatory approvals, product seizures or detention, injunctions or the imposition of
civil or criminal penalties.
Failure to comply with foreign regulatory requirements governing human clinical trials and
marketing approval for drugs could prevent us from selling our products in foreign markets,
which may adversely affect our operating results and financial conditions.
For marketing drugs and biologics outside the United States, the requirements governing the
conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from country
to country and may require additional testing. The time required to obtain approvals outside the
United States may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. We may not obtain foreign
regulatory approval on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by
regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does
not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or by the FDA. Failure to comply
with these regulatory requirements or to obtain required approvals could impair our ability to
develop these markets and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and
financial condition.
We have a history of operating losses, expect to incur significant additional operating losses
and may never become profitable.
We have generated operating losses since we began operations in June 1993. As of June 30,
2005, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $130.6 million. We expect to incur substantial
additional operating expenses and losses over the next several years as our research, development,
pre-clinical testing and clinical trial activities increase. As we expand our operations and
develop systems to support commercialization of our product candidates, these losses, among other
things, have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our total assets,
stockholders equity and working capital.
We have no products that have generated any commercial revenue. Presently, we earn minimal
revenue from contract services activities, grants, interest income and rent from the lease of a
portion of our facilities to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We do not expect to generate revenues
from the commercial sale of products in the near future, and we may never generate revenues from
the commercial sale of products.
If we continue to incur operating losses for a period longer than we anticipate and fail to
obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to advance our
development program and complete our clinical trials.
Developing a new drug and conducting clinical trials is expensive. Our product development
efforts may not lead to commercial products, either because our product candidates fail to be found
safe or effective in clinical trials or because we lack the necessary financial or other resources
or relationships to pursue our programs through commercialization. Our capital and future revenues
may not be sufficient to support the expenses of our operations, the development of commercial
infrastructure and the conduct of our clinical trials and pre-clinical research.
28
We expect we will fund our operations over approximately the next 15 to 18 months with our
current working capital, which we accumulated primarily from sale of equity securities, income from
contract services and research grants, debt financing of equipment acquisitions, the lease of a
portion of our facilities to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and interest on invested funds. We may
need to raise additional capital sooner, however, under various circumstances, including if we
experience:
|
|
|
an acceleration of the number, size or complexity of our clinical trials; |
|
|
|
slower than expected progress in developing ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or other product candidates; |
|
|
|
higher than expected costs to obtain regulatory approvals; |
|
|
|
higher than expected costs to pursue our intellectual property strategy; |
|
|
|
higher than expected costs to further develop and scale up our manufacturing capability; |
|
|
|
higher than expected costs to develop our sales and marketing capability; |
|
|
|
faster than expected rate of progress and cost of our research and development and clinical trial activities; |
|
|
|
a decrease in the amount and timing of milestone payments we receive from collaborators; |
|
|
|
higher than expected costs of preparing an application for FDA approval of ADVEXIN therapy; |
|
|
|
higher than expected costs of developing the processes and systems to support FDA
approval of ADVEXIN therapy; |
|
|
|
an increase in our timetable and costs for the development of marketing operations and
other activities related to the commercialization of ADVEXIN therapy and our other product
candidates; |
|
|
|
a change in the degree of success in our Phase 3 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy and in
the clinical trials of our other products; |
|
|
|
the emergence of competing technologies and other adverse market developments; or |
|
|
|
changes in or terminations of our existing collaboration and licensing arrangements. |
We do not know whether additional financing will be available when needed or on terms
favorable to us or our stockholders. We may need to raise any necessary funds through public or
private equity offerings, debt financings or additional corporate collaboration and licensing
arrangements. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our
stockholders will experience dilution. If we raise funds through debt financings, we may become
subject to restrictive covenants. To the extent we raise additional funds through collaboration and
licensing arrangements, we may be required to relinquish some rights to our technologies or product
candidates, or grant licenses on terms not favorable to us. If we are not able to raise additional
funds, we may have to delay, reduce or eliminate our clinical trials and our development programs.
If we cannot maintain our existing corporate and academic arrangements and enter into new
arrangements, we may be unable to develop products effectively, or at all.
Our strategy for the research, development and commercialization of our product candidates may
result in our entering into contractual arrangements with corporate collaborators, academic
institutions and others. We have entered into sponsored research, license and/or collaborative
arrangements with several entities, including M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the National Cancer
Institute, Chiba University in Japan, VirRx and Corixa Corporation, as well as numerous other
institutions that conduct clinical trials work or perform pre-clinical research for us. Our success
depends upon our collaborative partners performing their responsibilities under these arrangements
and
29
complying with the regulations and requirements governing clinical trials. We cannot control
the amount and timing of resources our collaborative partners devote to our research and testing
programs or product candidates, or their compliance with regulatory requirements which can vary
because of factors unrelated to such programs or product candidates. These relationships may in
some cases be terminated at the discretion of our collaborative partners with only limited notice
to us. We may not be able to maintain our existing arrangements, enter into new arrangements or
negotiate current or new arrangements on acceptable terms, if at all. Some of our collaborative
partners may also be researching competing technologies independently from us to treat the diseases
targeted by our collaborative programs.
If we are not able to create effective collaborative marketing relationships, we may be unable
to market ADVEXIN therapy successfully or in a cost-effective manner.
To effectively market our products, we will need to develop sales, marketing and distribution
capabilities. In order to develop or otherwise obtain these capabilities, we may have to enter into
marketing, distribution or other similar arrangements with third parties in order to sell, market
and distribute our products successfully. To the extent we enter into any such arrangements with
third parties, our product revenues are likely to be lower than if we directly marketed and sold
our products, and any revenues we receive will depend upon the efforts of such third parties. We
have no experience in marketing or selling pharmaceutical products and we currently have no sales,
marketing or distribution capability. We may be unable to develop sufficient sales, marketing and
distribution capabilities to commercialize our products successfully.
Serious and unexpected side effects attributable to gene therapy may result in governmental
authorities imposing additional regulatory requirements or a negative public perception of our
products.
ADVEXIN therapy and most of our other product candidates under development could be broadly
described as gene therapies. A number of clinical trials are being conducted by other
pharmaceutical companies involving gene therapy, including compounds similar to, or competitive
with, our product candidates. The announcement of adverse results from these clinical trials, such
as serious unwanted and unexpected side effects attributable to treatment, or any response by the
FDA to such clinical trials, may impede the timing of our clinical trials, delay or prevent us from
obtaining regulatory approval or negatively influence public perception of our product candidates,
which could harm our business and results of operations and depress the value of our stock.
The United States Senate has held hearings concerning the adequacy of regulatory oversight of
gene therapy clinical trials, as well as the adequacy of research subject education and protection
in clinical research in general, and to determine whether additional legislation is required to
protect volunteers and patients who participate in such clinical trials. The Recombinant DNA
Advisory Committee, or RAC, which acts as an advisory body to the National Institutes of Health,
has expanded its public role in evaluating important public and ethical issues in gene therapy
clinical trials. Implementation of any additional review and reporting procedures or other
additional regulatory measures could increase the costs of or prolong our product development
efforts or clinical trials.
We report to the FDA and other regulatory agencies serious adverse events, including those we
believe may be reasonably related to the treatments administered in our clinical trials. Such
serious adverse events, whether treatment-related or not, could result in negative public
perception of our treatments and require additional regulatory review or measures, which could
increase the cost of or prolong our clinical trials.
The FDA has not approved any gene therapy product or gene-induced product for sale in the
United States. The commercial success of our products will depend in part on public acceptance of
the use of gene therapy products or gene-induced products, which are a new type of disease
treatment for the prevention or treatment of human diseases. Public attitudes may be influenced by
claims that gene therapy products or gene-induced products are unsafe, and these treatment
methodologies may not gain the acceptance of the public or the medical community. Negative public
reaction to gene therapy products or gene-induced products could also result in greater government
regulation and stricter clinical trial oversight.
We cannot predict the safety profile of the use of ADVEXIN therapy when used in combination with
other therapies.
30
Many of our trials involve the use of ADVEXIN therapy in combination with other drugs or
therapies. While the data we have evaluated to date suggest ADVEXIN therapy does not increase the
adverse effects of other therapies, we cannot predict if this outcome will continue to be true or
whether possible adverse side effects not directly attributable to the other drugs will compromise
the safety profile of ADVEXIN therapy when used in certain combination therapies.
If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, our competitors may be able
to take advantage of our research and development efforts to develop competing drugs.
Our commercial success will depend in part on obtaining patent protection for our products and
other technologies and successfully defending these patents against third-party challenges. Our
patent position, like that of other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, is highly
uncertain. One uncertainty is the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or PTO, or the courts,
may deny or significantly narrow claims made under patents issued to us or patent applications we
file. This is particularly true for patent applications or patents that concern biotechnology and
pharmaceutical technologies, such as ours, since the PTO and the courts often consider these
technologies to involve unpredictable sciences. Another uncertainty is any patents that may be
issued or licensed to us may not provide any competitive advantage to us because they may not
effectively preclude others from developing and marketing products like ours. Also, our patents may
be successfully challenged, invalidated or circumvented in the future. In addition, our
competitors, many of which have substantial resources and have made significant investments in
competing technologies, may seek to apply for and obtain patents that will prevent, limit or
interfere with our ability to make, use and sell our potential products either in the United States
or in international markets.
Our ability to develop and protect a competitive position based on our biotechnological
innovations, innovations involving genes, gene-induced therapeutic protein agents, viruses for
delivering the genes to cells, formulations, gene therapy delivery systems not involving viruses,
and the like, is particularly uncertain. Due to the unpredictability of the biotechnological
sciences, the PTO, as well as patent offices in other jurisdictions, has often required patent
applications concerning biotechnology-related inventions to be limited or narrowed substantially to
cover only the specific innovations exemplified in the patent application, thereby limiting their
scope of protection against competitive challenges. Similarly, courts have invalidated or
significantly narrowed many key patents in the biotechnology industry. Thus, even if we are able to
obtain patents covering commercially significant innovations, our patents may not be upheld or our
patents may be substantially narrowed.
Through our exclusive license from The University of Texas System for technology developed at
M. D Anderson Cancer Center, we have obtained and are currently seeking further patent protection
for adenoviral p53, including ADVEXIN therapy, and its use in cancer therapy. Further, the PTO
issued us a United States patent for our adenovirus production technology as well as a related
patent for purified adenoviral compositions. We also control, through licensing arrangements, four
issued United States patents for combination therapy involving the p53 gene and conventional
chemotherapy or radiation, two issued United States patents covering the use of adenoviral p53 in
cancer therapy, one issued United States patent covering adenoviral p53 as a product, one issued
United States patent covering the core DNA of adenoviral p53, one issued patent covering
pharmaceutical compositions of adenoviral p53 and clinical applications of such pharmaceutical
compositions, as well as three patents covering our mda-7 technology. Our competitors may challenge
the validity of one or more of our patents in the courts or through an administrative procedure
known as an interference, in which the PTO determines the priority of invention where two or more
parties are claiming the same invention. The courts or the PTO may not uphold the validity of our
patents, we may not prevail in such interference proceedings regarding our patents and none of our
patents may give us a competitive advantage. In this regard, we have been notified by the PTO that
an unidentified third party is attempting to provoke an interference with one of our patents
directed to adenoviral p53 therapy. We do not at present know the identity of this party and cannot
assess the likelihood of an interference actually being declared. Should that party prevail in an
interference proceeding, a patent may issue to that party that is infringed by, and therefore
potentially preclude our commercialization of, products like ADVEXIN therapy that are used for
adenoviral p53 therapy.
Schering-Plough has filed with the European Patent Office, or EPO, an opposition against our
European patent directed to combination therapy with p53 and conventional chemotherapy and/or
radiation. An opposition is an administrative proceeding instituted by a third party and conducted
by the EPO to determine whether a patent should
31
be maintained or revoked in part or in whole, based on evidence brought forth by the party
opposing the patent. The EPO held an initial oral proceeding in October 2003 and determined our
patent should be maintained as amended. Schering-Plough has appealed this decision. Resolution of
this appeal will require we expend time, effort and money. If Schering-Plough ultimately prevails
in having our European patent revoked on appeal, then the scope of our protection for our product
in Europe will be reduced. We would not expect, however, such a result to have a significant
detrimental impact on our commercialization efforts in Europe.
Third-party claims of infringement of intellectual property could require us to spend time and
money to address the claims and could limit our intellectual property rights.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry has been characterized by extensive litigation
regarding patents and other intellectual property rights, and companies have employed intellectual
property litigation to gain a competitive advantage. We are aware of a number of issued patents and
patent applications related to gene therapy, the treatment of cancer and the use of the p53 and
other tumor suppressor genes. Schering-Plough Corporation, including its subsidiary Canji, Inc.,
controls various United States applications and a European patent and applications, some of which
are directed to therapy using the p53 gene, and others to adenoviruses containing the p53 gene, or
adenoviral p53, and to methods for carrying out therapy using adenoviral p53. Adenoviral p53
technology underlies our ADVEXIN therapy product candidate. Furthermore, we are aware of a United
States patent directed to replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vectors apparently
controlled by Transgene SA. While we believe the claims of the Transgene adenoviral vector patent
are invalid or not infringed by our products, Transgene could assert a claim against us.
One of the foregoing patent applications directed to p53 therapy, which we understand is owned
by The Johns Hopkins University and controlled by Schering-Plough, was involved in a PTO
interference proceeding with a patent owned by Canji. This Johns Hopkins application was the United
States counterpart to the European patent recently revoked in its entirety by the EPO (see below).
Priority of invention in that interference was awarded by the PTO to the Johns Hopkins inventors,
leading to the issuance of a United States patent, and the Canji patent has been found
unpatentable. While it is our belief that the claims of the Johns Hopkins patent are invalid and
not infringed by our ADVEXIN therapy, Schering-Plough or Johns Hopkins may assert that our ADVEXIN
therapy, which uses p53 therapy, infringes the claims of such patent. While we believe we would
have both an invalidity and non-infringement defense against such an assertion, in the United
States an issued patent enjoys a presumption of validity, which can be overcome only through clear
and convincing evidence. We cannot assure you such a defense would prevail.
We may also become subject to infringement claims or litigation arising out of other patents
and pending applications of our competitors, if they issue, or additional interference proceedings
declared by the PTO to determine the priority of inventions. The defense and prosecution of
intellectual property suits, PTO interference proceedings and related legal and administrative
proceedings are costly and time-consuming to pursue, and their outcome is uncertain. Litigation may
be necessary to enforce our issued patents, to protect our trade secrets and know-how or to
determine the enforceability, scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others. An adverse
determination in litigation or interference proceedings to which we may become a party could
subject us to significant liabilities, require us to obtain licenses from third parties, or
restrict or prevent us from selling our products in certain markets. Although patent and
intellectual property disputes are often settled through licensing or similar arrangements, costs
associated with such arrangements may be substantial and could include ongoing royalties.
Furthermore, the necessary licenses may not be available to us on satisfactory terms, if at all. In
particular, if we were found to infringe a valid claim of the Transgene adenoviral vector United
States patent, the Johns Hopkins patent or a patent that may issue from a currently pending
application, our business could be materially harmed.
We have recently been involved in patent opposition proceedings before the EPO, in which we
have sought to have the EPO revoke three different European patents owned or controlled by
Canji/Schering-Plough. These European patents relate to the use of a p53 gene, or the use of tumor
suppressor genes, in the preparation of therapeutic products. In one opposition involving a Canji
European patent directed to the use of a tumor suppressor gene, the EPO revoked the European patent
in its entirety in a final, non-appealable decision. In the second opposition, involving a patent
that is directed to therapeutic and other applications of the p53 gene and that is owned by Johns
Hopkins and, we understand, controlled by Schering-Plough, the EPO recently revoked the patent in
its
32
entirety. The patent owner has appealed this decision and a final hearing before the EPO
Technical Board of Appeals was held in June 2005, at which time the Technical Board of Appeals
confirmed the final revocation of all claims of this patent relevant to clinical therapeutic
applications of the p53 gene. In a third case involving the use of a p53 gene, the European patent
at issue was initially upheld, but finally revoked in a hearing held in late April 2004.
We may be subject to litigation and infringement claims that may be costly, divert managements
attention, and materially harm our business.
Extensive litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights has been common
in the biopharmaceutical industry. Litigation may be necessary to assert infringement claims,
enforce patent rights, protect trade secrets or know-how and determine the enforceability, scope
and validity of certain proprietary rights. The defense and prosecution of intellectual property
lawsuits, PTO interference proceedings, and related legal and administrative proceedings in the
United States and internationally involve complex legal and factual questions. As a result, such
proceedings are costly and time-consuming to pursue and their outcome is uncertain.
Regardless of merit or outcome, our involvement in any litigation, interference or other
administrative proceedings could cause us to incur substantial expense and could significantly
divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel. An adverse determination may subject
us to the loss of our proprietary position or to significant liabilities, or require us to seek
licenses that may include substantial cost and ongoing royalties. Licenses may not be available
from third parties, or may not be obtainable on satisfactory terms. An adverse determination or a
failure to obtain necessary licenses may restrict or prevent us from manufacturing and selling our
products, if any. These outcomes could materially harm our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
If we fail to meet our obligations under license agreements, we may lose our rights to key
technologies on which our business depends.
Our business depends in part on patents licensed from third parties. Those third-party license
agreements impose obligations on us, such as payment obligations and obligations to diligently
pursue development of commercial products under the licensed patents. If a licensor believes we
have failed to meet our obligations under a license agreement, the licensor could seek to limit or
terminate our license rights, which could lead to costly and time-consuming litigation and,
potentially, a loss of the licensed rights. During the period of any such litigation, our ability
to carry out the development and commercialization of product candidates could be significantly and
negatively affected. If our license rights were restricted or ultimately lost, our ability to
continue our business based on the affected technology platform would be severely adversely
affected.
Competition and technological change may make our product candidates and technologies less
attractive or obsolete.
We compete with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Canji, Inc. and Genvec,
Inc., which are pursuing forms of treatment similar to ours for the diseases ADVEXIN therapy and
our other product candidates target. We are aware Canji, with its parent Schering-Plough, has in
the past been involved in research and/or development of adenoviral p53 products and has numerous
patents and patent applications relating to adenoviral p53 therapy. We understand Schering-Plough
has stopped its adenoviral p53 clinical trials, and it is unknown whether these parties are
continuing their adenoviral p53 research and/or development efforts. We are also aware that a
Chinese pharmaceutical company, SiBioNo GeneTech, Inc., has recently announced it has received
regulatory approval from the Chinese drug regulatory agency to market an adenoviral p53 product
only in China. We control an issued Chinese patent covering adenoviral p53, and a number of pending
Chinese applications directed to p53 therapy and adenoviral production. We understand enforcement
of patents in China is unpredictable and we do not know if monetary damages could be recovered from
SiBioNo GeneTech if its product infringes our patent or patent applications. Patent enforcement and
respect of international patent standards, rules and laws have not historically been a key
characteristic of the Chinese government and patent system. Further, geopolitical developments,
including trade and tariff disputes between the government of China and the United States
Department of Commerce could add additional uncertainty to any effort to enforce patents, recover
damages, if any, or engage in the sales and marketing of patented or non-patented products in
China. We also may face competition from companies that may develop internally or acquire competing
technology from universities and other research institutions. As these
33
companies develop or acquire their technologies, they may develop competitive positions that
may prevent or limit our product commercialization efforts.
Some of our competitors are established companies with greater financial and other resources
than ours. Other companies may succeed in developing products earlier than we do, obtaining FDA
approval for products before we do or developing products that are more effective than our product
candidates. While we will seek to expand our technological capabilities to remain competitive,
research and development by others may render our technology or product candidates obsolete or
non-competitive or result in treatments or cures superior to any therapy developed by us.
Even if we receive regulatory approval to market our ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN 225 or
other product candidates, we may not be able to commercialize them profitably.
Our profitability will depend on the markets acceptance of ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN
225, if approved, and our other product candidates. The commercial success of our product
candidates will depend on whether:
|
|
|
they are more effective than alternative treatments; |
|
|
|
their side effects are acceptable to patients and doctors; |
|
|
|
insurers and other third-party healthcare payers will provide adequate reimbursement for them; |
|
|
|
we produce and sell them at a profit; and |
|
|
|
we market ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN 225 and other product candidates effectively. |
Because the target patient populations for the primary indication of ADVEXIN therapy, our
lead product candidate, are small, we must achieve significant market share and obtain high
per-patient prices for our products to achieve profitability.
ADVEXIN therapy, our lead product candidate for the treatment of recurrent squamous cell
cancer of the head and neck, targets diseases with small patient populations. As a result, our
per-patient prices must be relatively high in order to recover our development costs and achieve
profitability. We estimate the annual incidence for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck is
40,000 patients in the United States. We believe we will need to market worldwide to achieve
significant market penetration. In addition, we are developing other drug candidates to treat
cancers with small patient populations. Due to the expected costs of treatment for ADVEXIN therapy,
we may be unable to obtain sufficient market share for our drug products at a price high enough to
continue our product development efforts.
If we are unable to manufacture our products in sufficient quantities or obtain regulatory
approvals for our manufacturing facilities, or if our manufacturing process is found to infringe
a valid patented process or processes of another company, then we may be unable to meet demand
for our products and lose potential revenues.
To complete our clinical trials and commercialize our product candidates, if approved, we will
need access to, or development of, facilities to manufacture a sufficient supply of our product
candidates. We have used manufacturing facilities we constructed in Houston, Texas to manufacture
ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 and other product candidates for currently planned clinical trials. We
anticipate our facilities are suitable for the initial commercial launch of ADVEXIN therapy. We
have no experience manufacturing ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or any other product candidates in the
volumes necessary to support commercial sales. If we are unable to manufacture our product
candidates in clinical or, when necessary, commercial quantities, then we will need to rely on
third-party manufacturers to produce our products for clinical and commercial purposes. These
third-party manufacturers must receive FDA approval before they can produce clinical material or
commercial product. Our products may be in competition with other products for access to these
facilities and may be subject to delays in manufacture if third parties give other products greater
priority than ours. In addition, we may not be able to enter into any necessary
34
third-party manufacturing arrangements on acceptable terms. There are a limited number of
contract manufacturers who currently have the capability to produce ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or
our other product candidates, and the inability of any of these contract manufacturers to deliver
our required quantities of product candidates timely and at commercially reasonable prices would
negatively affect our operations.
Before we can begin commercially manufacturing ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or any other product
candidate, we must obtain regulatory approval of our manufacturing facilities and process.
Manufacturing of our product candidates for clinical and commercial purposes must comply with the
FDAs CGMP requirements, and foreign regulatory requirements. The CGMP requirements govern quality
control and documentation policies and procedures. In complying with CGMP and foreign regulatory
requirements, we will be obligated to expend time, money and effort in production, record keeping
and quality control to assure the product meets applicable specifications and other requirements.
We must also pass a FDA inspection prior to FDA approval.
Our current manufacturing facilities have not yet been subject to a Pre-Approval Inspection by
the FDA or other global regulatory authorities. Failure to pass Pre-Approval Inspections may
significantly delay approval of our products. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we
would be subject to possible regulatory action and may be limited in the jurisdictions in which we
are permitted to sell our products. Further, the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities have the
authority to perform unannounced periodic inspections of our manufacturing facilities to ensure
compliance with CGMP and foreign regulatory requirements. Our facilities in Houston, Texas are our
only manufacturing facilities. If these facilities were to incur significant damage or destruction,
then our ability to manufacture ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or any other product candidates would be
significantly hampered, and our pre-clinical testing, clinical trials and commercialization efforts
would be delayed.
In order to produce our products in the quantities we believe will be required to meet
anticipated market demand, if our products are approved, we will need to increase, or scale-up,
our production process. If we are unable to do so, or if the cost of this scale-up is not
economically viable to us, we may not be able to produce our products in a sufficient quantity to
meet the requirements of future demand.
Canji controls a United States patent and the corresponding international applications,
including a European counterpart, relating to the purification of viral or adenoviral compositions.
While we believe our manufacturing process does not infringe this patent, Canji could still assert
a claim against us. We may also become subject to infringement claims or litigation if our
manufacturing process infringes upon other patents. The defense and prosecution of intellectual
property suits and related legal and administrative proceedings are costly and time-consuming to
pursue, and their outcome is uncertain.
We rely on a limited number of suppliers for some of our manufacturing materials. Any problems
experienced by such suppliers could negatively affect our operations.
We rely on third-party suppliers for most of the equipment, materials and supplies used in the
manufacturing of ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 and our other product candidates. Some items critical to
the manufacture of these product candidates are available from only a limited number of suppliers
or vendors. We do not have supply agreements with these key suppliers. To mitigate the related
supply risk, we maintain inventories of these items. Any significant problem experienced by one or
more of this limited number of suppliers could result in a delay or interruption in the supply of
materials to us until the supplier cures the problem or until we locate an alternative source of
supply. Such problems would likely lead to a delay or interruption in our manufacturing operations
or could require a significant modification to our manufacturing process, which could impair our
ability to manufacture our product candidates in a timely manner and negatively affect our
operations.
If product liability lawsuits are successfully brought against us, we may incur substantial
damages and demand for our product candidates may be reduced.
The testing and marketing of medical products is subject to an inherent risk of product
liability claims. Regardless of their merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may
result in:
|
|
|
decreased demand for our product candidates; |
35
|
|
|
injury to our reputation and significant media attention; |
|
|
|
withdrawal of clinical trial volunteers; |
|
|
|
substantial delay in FDA approval; |
|
|
|
costs of litigation; and |
|
|
|
substantial monetary awards to plaintiffs. |
We currently maintain product liability insurance with coverage of $5.0 million per occurrence
with a $15.0 million annual aggregate limit. This coverage may not be sufficient to protect us
fully against product liability claims. We intend to expand our product liability insurance
coverage beyond clinical trials to include the sale of commercial products if we obtain marketing
approval for any of our product candidates. Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability
insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against product liability claims could prevent or limit
the commercialization of our products.
We use hazardous materials in our business, and any claims relating to improper handling,
storage or disposal of these materials could harm our business.
Our business involves the use of a broad range of hazardous chemicals and materials.
Environmental laws impose stringent civil and criminal penalties for improper handling, disposal
and storage of these materials. In addition, in the event of an improper or unauthorized release
of, or exposure of individuals to, hazardous materials, we could be subject to civil damages due to
personal injury or property damage caused by the release or exposure. A failure to comply with
environmental laws could result in fines and the revocation of environmental permits, which could
prevent us from conducting our business.
Our stock price may fluctuate substantially.
The market price for our common stock will be affected by a number of factors, including:
|
|
|
progress and results of our pre-clinical and clinical trials; |
|
|
|
announcement of technological innovations by us or our competitors; |
|
|
|
developments concerning proprietary rights, including patent and litigation matters; |
|
|
|
publicity regarding actual or potential results with respect to products under
development by us or by our competitors; |
|
|
|
regulatory developments; |
|
|
|
the announcement of new products by us or our competitors; |
|
|
|
quarterly variations in our or our competitors results of operations; |
|
|
|
failure to achieve operating results projected by securities analysts; |
|
|
|
changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; |
|
|
|
developments in our industry; and |
|
|
|
general market conditions and other factors. |
In addition, stock prices for many companies in the technology and emerging growth sectors
have experienced wide fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of
such companies.
36
If we do not progress in our programs as anticipated, our stock price could decrease.
For planning purposes, we estimate the timing of a variety of clinical, regulatory and other
milestones, such as when a certain product candidate will enter clinical development, when a
clinical trial will be completed or when an application for regulatory approval will be filed. Some
of our estimates are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our estimates are based on
present facts and a variety of assumptions. Many of the underlying assumptions are outside of our
control. If milestones are not achieved when we expect them to be, investors could be disappointed,
and our stock price may decrease.
Any acquisition we might make may be costly and difficult to integrate, may divert management
resources or dilute stockholder value.
As part of our business strategy, we may acquire assets or businesses principally relating to
or complementary to our current operations, and we have in the past evaluated and discussed such
opportunities with interested parties. Any acquisitions we undertake will be accompanied by the
risks commonly encountered in business acquisitions. These risks include, among other things:
|
|
|
potential exposure to unknown liabilities of acquired companies; |
|
|
|
the difficulty and expense of assimilating the operations and personnel of acquired businesses; |
|
|
|
diversion of management time and attention and other resources; |
|
|
|
loss of key employees and customers as a result of changes in management; |
|
|
|
the incurrence of amortization expenses; and |
|
|
|
possible dilution to our stockholders. |
In addition, geographic distances may make the integration of businesses more difficult. We
may not be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection
with any acquisitions.
If we lose key personnel or are unable to attract and retain additional, highly skilled
personnel required to develop our products or obtain new collaborations, our business will
suffer.
We depend, to a significant extent, on the efforts of our key employees, including senior
management and senior scientific, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and other personnel. The
development of new therapeutic products requires expertise from a number of different disciplines,
some of which is not widely available. We depend upon our scientific staff to discover new product
candidates and to develop and conduct pre-clinical studies of those new potential products. Our
clinical and regulatory staff is responsible for the design and execution of clinical trials in
accordance with FDA requirements and for the advancement of our product candidates toward FDA
approval. Our manufacturing staff is responsible for designing and conducting our manufacturing
processes in accordance with the FDAs CGMP requirements. The quality and reputation of our
scientific, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing staff, especially the senior staff, and their
success in performing their responsibilities, are a basis on which we attract potential funding
sources and collaborators. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers
are involved in a broad range of critical activities, including providing strategic and operational
guidance. The loss of these individuals, or our inability to retain or recruit other key management
and scientific, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and other personnel, may delay or prevent us
from achieving our business objectives. We face intense competition for personnel from other
companies, universities, public and private research institutions, government entities and other
organizations.
Future changes in financial accounting standards or practices or existing taxation rules or
practices may cause adverse unexpected financial reporting fluctuations and affect our reported
results of operations.
37
A change in accounting standards or practices or a change in existing taxation rules or
practices can have a significant effect on our reported results and may even affect our reporting
of transactions completed before the change is effective. New accounting pronouncements and
taxation rules and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements and taxation practice have
occurred and may occur in the future. Changes to existing rules or the questioning of current
practices may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.
For example, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based
Payment, (SFAS No. 123R) is effective for us beginning the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. This
statement requires that employee stock-based compensation be measured based on its fair-value on
the grant date and treated as an expense that is reflected in the financial statements over the
related service period. While we are currently evaluating the impact on our consolidated financial
statements of the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, we anticipate that our adoption of SFAS No. 123R will
have a significant impact on our results of operations for 2005 and subsequent periods.
Some of our insiders are parties to transactions with us that may cause conflicting
obligations.
Dr. John N. Kapoor, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, is also associated with EJ
Financial Enterprises, Inc., a health care investment firm that is wholly owned by him, and
therefore may have conflicts of interest in allocating his time among us and his other business
activities, and he may have legal obligations to multiple entities. We have entered into a
consulting agreement with EJ Financial. The consulting agreement provides we will pay EJ Financial
$175,000 per year for certain management consulting services, which is based on anticipated time
spent by EJ Financial personnel on our affairs. EJ Financial is also involved in the management of
health care companies in various fields, and Dr. Kapoor is involved in various capacities with the
management and operation of these companies. In addition, EJ Financial is involved with other
companies in the cancer field. Although these companies are pursuing different therapeutic
approaches for the treatment of cancer, discoveries made by one or more of these companies could
render our products less competitive or obsolete.
David Parker, Ph.D., J.D., our Vice President, Intellectual Property, is a partner with the
law firm Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, which provides legal services to us as our primary outside
counsel for intellectual property matters.
In October 2004, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Magnum Therapeutics
Corporation (Magnum), a company owned by one of our executive officers. We paid approximately $1.75
million for the Magnum stock by (1) issuing approximately 252,000 shares of our common stock valued
at approximately $1.48 million at the acquisition date and (2) assuming liabilities of
approximately $272,000. With respect to the common stock we issued for the acquisition, 50% of the
shares are held by an independent escrow agent for a period of one year subsequent to the
acquisition date to satisfy the indemnification obligations of the selling shareholder under terms
of the purchase agreement. Magnums primary asset is the right to receive funding under a research
grant from the National Institutes of Health. Such grant activities and related funding will
supplement research and development programs we have in progress. During the year ended December
31, 2004, we earned $1.1 million of revenue under this grant. In the event certain of Magnums
technologies result in commercial products, we may be obligated to pay royalties related to the
sales of those products to certain third parties.
We have relationships with Jack A. Roth, M.D., and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, both of whom
are affiliated with The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, one of our
stockholders. For more information concerning these relationships, see the notes to our
consolidated financial statements and the footnotes thereto as of December 31, 2004, and for the
year then ended, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 15,
2005.
We believe the foregoing transactions with insiders were and are in our best interests and the
best interests of our stockholders. However, the transactions may cause conflicts of interest with
respect to those insiders.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our fixed rate
long-term debt and short-term investments in investment grade securities, which consist primarily
of federal government obligations. Investments are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried
at amortized cost. We do not hedge interest rate exposure or invest in derivative securities. A
hypothetical 100-basis point decrease in the interest rates of our
38
investments at the investment balances as of June 30, 2005 would decrease our interest income
by approximately $267,000 per year and approximately $67,000 per quarter.
At June 30, 2005, the fair value of our fixed-rate debt approximated its carrying value based
upon discounted future cash flows using current market prices.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Our management evaluated, with the
participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of
our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer
have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information
we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There was no change in our internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
39
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are involved from time to time in legal proceedings relating to claims arising out of our
operation in the ordinary course of business, including actions relating to intellectual property
rights.
We do not believe that the outcome of any present, or all litigation in the aggregate, other
than our opposition of a European patent controlled by Canji discussed under Risk Factors, will
have a material effect on our business. You can read the discussion of our opposition of the
patents under Risk Factors.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item 5. Other Information
Pursuant to Section 10A(i)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as added by Section 202
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are responsible for disclosing the non-audit services
approved by the Audit Committee to be performed by Ernst & Young LLP, our independent auditors.
Non-audit services are defined as services other than those provided in connection with an audit or
a review of our financial statements. Except as set forth below, the services approved by the Audit
Committee are each considered by the Audit Committee to be audit-related services closely related
to the financial audit process. Each of the services was pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee has also pre-approved additional engagements of Ernst & Young LLP for the
non-audit services of preparation of state and federal tax returns.
Item 6. Exhibits.
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
Description of Document |
|
|
|
|
|
10.50
|
|
|
|
Letter Agreement dated April 20, 2005 by and between
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. and Suiter Limited |
|
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule
15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended |
|
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 |
40
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 the
Registrant has duly caused this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ James W. Albrecht, Jr.
|
|
|
|
James W. Albrecht, Jr. |
|
|
|
On behalf of the Registrant and
as Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
|
August 9, 2005
41
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
Description of Document |
|
|
|
|
|
10.50
|
|
|
|
Letter Agreement dated April 20, 2005 by and between
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. and Suiter Limited
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
42