FORM 10-K
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
(Mark
One)
(X) ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2017.
OR
( )
TRANSITION REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the transition
period from _________ to __________.
Commission file
number 1-11889
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CEL-SCI
CORPORATION
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(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)
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COLORADO
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84-0916344
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(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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8229 Boone Blvd.,
Suite 802
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Vienna,
Virginia
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22182
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(Address of
principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (703) 506-9460
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.01 par
value
Series S Warrants
(Title of
Class)
Indicate by check
mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. [ ]
Indicate by check
mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. [ ]
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
[X] No
[ ]
Indicate by check
mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted
on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File
required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of
Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit and post such
files). Yes [X]
No [ ]
Indicate by check
mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
contained, to the best of
Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy
or information statements incorporated by reference in
Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
[X]
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated
filer”, “smaller reporting company” and "emerging
growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
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Large accelerated filer
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[
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Accelerated filer
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[
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Non-accelerated
filer
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[ ]
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company
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[X]
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Emerging
growth company
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[
]
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If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined
in Rule 12b-2 of the Act):
Yes [
] No [X]
The
aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates
of the Registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the
registrant’s common stock on March 31, 2017, as quoted on the
NYSE American, was $17,625,571.
As of
December 21, 2017, the Registrant had 13,206,316 issued and
outstanding shares of common stock.
Documents
Incorporated by Reference: None
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
CEL-SCI
is focused on finding the best way to activate the immune system to
fight cancer and infectious diseases. Its lead investigational
therapy Multikine® (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection) is
currently in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial involving head and
neck cancer, for which CEL-SCI has received Orphan Drug Status from
the U.S. FDA. If the primary endpoint of this global study is
achieved, the results will be used to support applications to
regulatory agencies around the world for worldwide commercial
marketing approvals as a first line cancer therapy.
CEL-SCI’s
immune therapy, Multikine, is being used in a different way than
immune therapy is usually used. It is given before any other
therapy has been administered because that is when the immune
system is thought to be strongest. It is also administered locally to
treat tumors or infections. For example, in the Phase 3 clinical trial, Multikine is
given locally at the site of the tumor as a first line treatment
before surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. The goal is to help
the intact immune system kill the micro metastases that usually
cause recurrence of the cancer. In short, CEL-SCI believes that
local administration and administration before weakening of the
immune system by chemotherapy and radiation will result in higher
efficacy with less or no toxicity.
CEL-SCI
is also investigating a different peptide-based immunotherapy
(LEAPS-H1N1-DC) as a possible treatment for H1N1 hospitalized
patients and as a vaccine (CEL-2000 and CEL-4000) for Rheumatoid
Arthritis (currently in preclinical testing) using its LEAPS
technology platform. CEL-SCI was recently awarded a Phase 2 Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant in the amount of $1.5
million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant
will provide funding to allow CEL-SCI to advance its first LEAPS
product candidate, CEL-4000, towards an Investigational New Drug
(IND) application, by funding GMP manufacturing, IND enabling
studies, and additional mechanism of action studies.
CEL-SCI
was formed as a Colorado corporation in 1983. CEL-SCI’s
principal office is located at 8229 Boone Boulevard, Suite 802,
Vienna, VA 22182. CEL-SCI’s telephone number is 703-506-9460
and its website is www.cel-sci.com. CEL-SCI does not incorporate
the information on its website into this report, and you should not
consider it part of this report.
CEL-SCI
makes its electronic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), including its annual reports on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and
amendments to these reports available on its website free of charge
as soon as practicable after they are filed or furnished to the
SEC.
On June
25, 2017 a 1-for-25 reverse stock split of CEL-SCI’s common
stock became effective on the NYSE American. Unless otherwise
indicated, all per share amounts have been adjusted for this
reverse stock split.
2
CEL-SCI’S PRODUCTS
CEL-SCI
is dedicated to research and development directed at improving the
treatment of cancer and other diseases by using the immune system,
the body’s natural defense system. CEL-SCI is currently
focused on the development of the following product candidates and
technologies:
1)
Multikine,
an investigational immunotherapy under development for
the potential treatment of certain head and neck
cancers;
2)
L.E.A.P.S. (Ligand
Epitope Antigen Presentation System) technology, or LEAPS, with two
investigational therapies, LEAPS-H1N1-DC, a product candidate under
development for the potential treatment of pandemic influenza in
hospitalized patients, and CEL-2000 and CEL-4000, vaccine product
candidates under development for the potential treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis.
MULTIKINE
CEL-SCI’s
lead investigational therapy, Multikine, is currently being
developed as a potential therapeutic agent directed at using the
immune system to produce an anti-tumor immune response. Data from
Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials suggest that Multikine may help
the immune system “see” the tumor and then attack it,
enabling the body’s own anti-tumor immune response to fight
the tumor. Multikine is the trademark that CEL-SCI has registered
for this investigational therapy, and this proprietary name is
subject to review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA,
in connection with CEL-SCI’s future anticipated regulatory
submission for approval. Multikine has not been licensed or
approved for sale, barter or exchange by the FDA or any other
regulatory agency, such as the European Medicine Agency, or EMA.
Neither has its safety or efficacy been established for any
use.
Multikine is an
immunotherapy product candidate comprised of a patented defined
mixture of 14 human natural cytokines and is manufactured in a
proprietary manner in CEL-SCI’s manufacturing facility.
CEL-SCI spent over 10 years and more than $80 million developing
and validating the manufacturing process for Multikine. The
pro-inflammatory cytokine mixture includes interleukins,
interferons, chemokines and colony-stimulating factors, which
contain elements of the body’s natural mix of defenses
against cancer.
Multikine is
designed to be used in a different way than immune therapy is
generally being used. Generally immunotherapy is given to patients
who have already failed other treatments of such as surgery,
radiation and/or chemotherapy and most of the time it is
administered systemically. Multikine on the other hand is
administered locally to treat tumors and their microenvironment
before any other therapy has been administered because it is
believed that this is the time when the immune system is thought to
be most amenable to activation against the tumor. For
example, in the Phase 3 clinical trial, Multikine is injected
locally at the site of the tumor and near the adjacent draining
lymph nodes as a first line of treatment before surgery, radiation
and/or chemotherapy because that is when the immune system is
thought to be strongest. The goal is to help the intact immune
system recognize and kill the tumor micro metastases that usually
cause recurrence of the cancer. In short, CEL-SCI believes that the
local administration and administration of Multikine and its
administration before weakening of the immune system by
chemotherapy and radiation will result in better anti-tumor
response than if Multikine were administered as a second- or
later-line therapy. In clinical studies of Multikine,
administration of the investigational therapy to head and neck
cancer patients has demonstrated the potential for lesser or no
appreciable toxicity.
3
Source: Adapted from Timar et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology
23(15) May 20, 2005
The
first indication CEL-SCI is pursuing for its investigational drug
product candidate Multikine is an indication for the neoadjuvant
therapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and
neck, or SCCHN (hereafter also referred to as advanced primary head
and neck cancer).
SCCHN
is a type of head and neck cancer, and CEL-SCI believes that, in
the aggregate, there is a large, unmet medical need among head and
neck cancer patients. CEL-SCI believes the last FDA approval of a
therapy indicated for the treatment of advanced primary head and
neck cancer was over 50 years ago. In the aggregate, head and neck
cancer represents about 6% of the world’s cancer cases, with
approximately over 650,000 patients diagnosed worldwide each year,
and nearly 60,000 patients diagnosed annually in the United States.
Multikine investigational immunotherapy was granted Orphan Drug
designation for neoadjuvant therapy in patients with SCCHN by the
FDA in the United States.
This
trial is currently primarily under the management of two clinical
research organizations, or CROs: ICON Inc., or ICON, and Ergomed
Clinical Research Limited, or Ergomed.
The
Phase 3 study was designed with the objective that, if the study
endpoint, which is an improvement in overall survival of the
subjects treated with the Multikine treatment regimen plus the
current standard of care (SOC) as compared to subjects treated with
the current SOC only, is satisfied, the study results are expected
to be used to support applications that CEL-SCI plans to submit to
regulatory agencies in order to seek commercial marketing approvals
for Multikine in major markets around the world. This assessment
can only be made when a certain number of deaths have occurred in
these two main comparator groups of the study.
The
primary endpoint for the protocol for this Phase 3 head and neck
cancer study required that a 10% increase in overall survival be
obtained in the Multikine group which also is administered CIZ (CIZ
= low dose (non-chemotherapeutic) of cyclophosphamide, indomethacin
and Zinc-multivitamins) all of which are thought to enhance
Multikine activity), plus Standard of Care (Surgery + Radiotherapy
or Chemoradiotherapy) arm of the study over the Control comparator
(Standard of Care alone) arm. As the study was designed, the final
determination of whether this endpoint had been successfully
reached could only be determined when 298 events (deaths) had
occurred in the combined comparator arms of the study.
4
Nine
hundred twenty-eight (928) newly diagnosed head and neck cancer
patients have been enrolled in this Phase 3 cancer study and all
the patients who have completed treatment continue to be followed
for protocol-specific outcomes in accordance with the Study
Protocol. The last patient was enrolled in the study in September
2016. Approximately 135 patients were enrolled in the study from
2011 to 2013, about 195 were enrolled in 2014, about 340 in 2015,
and about 260 in 2016. The study protocol assumed an overall
survival rate of about 55% at 3 years for the SOC treatment group
alone. At this point in the study the 928 patients enrolled in the
study are being followed-up as required by the study
protocol.
Since
CEL-SCI launched its Phase 3 clinical trial for Multikine, CEL-SCI
has incurred expenses of approximately $45.9 million as of
September 30, 2017 on direct costs for the Phase 3 clinical trial.
CEL-SCI estimates it will incur additional expenses of
approximately $13.0 million for the remainder of the Phase 3
clinical trial. It should be noted that this estimate is based only
on the information currently available in CEL-SCI’s contracts
with the Clinical Research Organizations responsible for managing
the Phase 3 clinical trial and does not include other related
costs, e.g., the manufacturing of the drug. This number may be
affected by the rate of death accumulation in the study, foreign
currency exchange rates, and many other factors, some of which
cannot be foreseen today. It is therefore possible that the cost of
the Phase 3 clinical trial will be higher than currently
estimated.
Throughout the
course of the Phase 3 study, an Independent Data Monitoring
Committee, or IDMC, has met periodically to review safety data from
the Phase 3 study, and the IDMC is expected to continue doing so
throughout the remainder of the Phase 3 study. At various points in
the study at which the IDMC has completed review of the safety data
and has issued recommendations, it has recommended that the Phase 3
study may continue. However, on one occasion, in the spring of
2014, the IDMC made a recommendation that the study be closed. This
recommendation by the IDMC was reversed following review of
additional information submitted by CEL-SCI, and the IDMC
recommended that the study continue. In the spring of 2016, with
close to 800 patients enrolled, the IDMC made a recommendation that
enrollment in the Phase 3 study should stop, but that patients
already enrolled in the study should continue treatment and
follow-up. CEL-SCI responded to this letter and indicated it would
address the remaining three requests, generally relating to study
design considerations that were not part of the IDMC recommendation
in follow-up correspondence. Subsequent to this correspondence,
CEL-SCI submitted a complete response to the IDMC addressing all of
their requests, as well as providing to them a copy of the
suggested protocol amendment which was sent to the FDA for review
and comment, as was requested by the IDMC. The IDMC did not provide
any additional response following the additional submission to
them.
On
September 26, 2016, CEL-SCI received notice from the FDA that the
Phase 3 clinical trial in advanced primary head and neck cancer has
been placed on partial clinical hold. In August 2017, FDA removed
the clinical hold on the Phase 3 study and informed CEL-SCI that
all clinical trial activities under this Investigational New Drug
application (IND) may resume.
In
September 2016, the last patient was accrued to the study. A total
of 928 randomized patients were enrolled in the study as of that
date. In December 2016, and again in February 2017 the IDMC
reviewed the data from the Study, but offered no recommendation as
they awaited the outcome of discussions with the FDA regarding the
clinical hold, which was subsequently removed by the FDA on August
10, 2017.
5
On
December 7, 2017 CEL-SCI announced that the IDMC had completed its
most recent review of the Phase 3 study data. The data from all 928
enrolled patients were provided to the IDMC by the clinical
research organization (CRO) responsible for data management of this
Phase 3 study. The IDMC made the following observation and
recommendation, a) the IDMC saw no evidence of any significant
safety questions and b) the IDMC recommends continuing the
study.
On
December 11, 2017 CEL-SCI announced that the Phase 3 clinical study
is fully enrolled and will not need to enroll more
patients.
Ultimately, the
decision as to whether CEL-SCI’s drug product candidate is
safe and effective can only be made by FDA and/or by other
regulatory authorities based upon an assessment of all of the data
from an entire drug development program submitted as part of an
application for marketing approval. As detailed elsewhere in this
report the current Phase 3 clinical study for CEL-SCI’s
investigational drug may or may not be able to be used as the
pivotal study supporting a marketing application in the United
States, and, if not, at least one entirely new Phase 3 pivotal
study would need to be conducted to support a marketing application
in the United States.
Follow-Up Analysis of Overall Survival in Phase 2
Patients
Prior
to starting the Phase 3 study, CEL-SCI had tested Multikine in over
200 patients. The following is a summary of results from
CEL-SCI’s last Phase 2 study conducted with Multikine. This
study employed the same treatment protocol as is being followed in
CEL-SCI’s Phase 3 study:
●
Reported potential for improved
survival: In a follow-up analysis of the Phase 2 clinical
study population, which used the same dosage and treatment regimen
as is being used in the Phase 3 study, head and neck cancer
patients with locally advanced primary disease who received the
investigational therapy Multikine as first-line investigational
therapy, followed by surgery and radiotherapy, were reported by the
clinical investigators to have had a 63.2% overall survival, or OS,
rate at a median of 3.33 years from surgery. This percentage of OS
was arrived at as follows: of the 21 subjects enrolled in the Phase
2 study, the consent for the survival follow-up portion of the
study was received from 19 subjects. OS was calculated using the
entire treatment population that consented to the follow-up portion
of the study (19 subjects), including two subjects who, as later
determined by three pathologists blinded to the study, did not have
oral squamous cell carcinoma, or OSCC. These two subjects were thus
not evaluable per the protocol and were not included in the
pathology portion of the study for purposes of calculating complete
response rate, as described below, but were included in the OS
calculation. The overall survival rate of subjects receiving the
investigational therapy in this study was compared to the overall
survival rate that was calculated based upon a review of 55
clinical trials conducted in the same cancer population (with a
total of 7,294 patients studied), and reported in the peer reviewed
scientific literature between 1987 and 2007. Review of this
literature showed an approximate survival rate of 47.5% at 3.5
years from treatment. Therefore, the results of CEL-SCI's final
Phase 2 study were considered to be potentially favorable in terms
of overall survival, recognizing the limitations of this
early-phase study. It should be noted that an earlier
investigational therapy Multikine study appears to lend support to
the overall survival findings described above - Feinmesser et al
Arch Otolaryngol. Surg. 2003. However, no definitive conclusions
can be drawn from these data about the potential efficacy or safety
profile of this investigational therapy. Moreover, further research
is required, and these results must be confirmed in the Phase 3
clinical trial of this investigational therapy that is currently in
progress. Subject to completion of that Phase 3 clinical trial and
the FDA’s review and acceptance of CEL-SCI's entire data set
on this investigational therapy, CEL-SCI believes that these
early-stage clinical trial results indicate the potential for the
Multikine product candidate to become a treatment for advanced
primary head and neck cancer, if approved.
6
●
Reported average of 50% reduction in tumor
cells in Phase 2 trials (based on 19 patients evaluable by
pathology, having OSCC): The clinical investigators who
administered the three week Multikine treatment regimen used in the
Phase 2 study reported that, as was determined in a controlled
pathology study, Multikine administration appeared to have caused,
on average, the disappearance of about half of the cancer cells
present at surgery (as determined by histopathology assessing the
area of Stroma/Tumor (Mean+/- Standard Error of the Mean of the
number of cells counted per filed)) even before the start of
standard therapy, which normally includes surgery, radiation and
chemotherapy (Timar et al JCO 2005).
●
Reported 10.5% complete response in the final
Phase 2 trial (based on 19 patients evaluable by pathology, having
OSCC): The clinical investigators who administered the
three-week Multikine investigational treatment regimen used in the
Phase 2 study reported that, as was determined in a controlled
pathology study, the tumor apparently was no longer present (as
determined by histopathology) in approximately 10.5% of evaluable
patients with OSCC (Timar et al JCO 2005). In the original study,
21 subjects received Multikine, two of which were later excluded,
as subsequent analysis by three pathologists blinded to the study
revealed that these two patients did not have OSCC. Two subjects in
this study had a complete response, leaving a reported complete
response rate of two out of 19 assessable subjects with OSCC (or
10.5%) (Timar et al JCO 2005).
●
Adverse events reported in clinical
trials: In clinical trials conducted to date with the
Multikine investigational therapy, adverse events which have been
reported by the clinical investigators as possibly or probably
related to Multikine administration included pain at the injection
site, local minor bleeding and edema at the injection site,
diarrhea, headache, nausea, and constipation.
Subsequently, an
analysis on the 21 subjects originally treated with Multikine in
the study to evaluate overall survival was conducted, as described
above. In connection with the follow-up portion of the study for
overall survival, CEL-SCI also
conducted an unreported post-hoc analysis of complete response rate
in the study population, which included subjects who provided
consent for the follow-up and who also had OSCC. Two of the 21
subjects did not re-consent for follow-up, and two of the remaining
19 subjects were excluded from the post-hoc complete response rate
analysis as they had previously been determined by pathology
analysis to not have OSCC. The two complete responders with OSCC
both consented to the follow-up study. Therefore, the post-hoc
analysis of complete response was based on a calculation of the two
complete responders out of 17 evaluable subjects who consented to
the follow-up analysis and who also had OSCC (or
11.8%).
Furthermore,
CEL-SCI reported an overall response rate of 42.1% based on the
number of evaluable patients who experienced a favorable response
to the treatment, including those who experienced minor, major and
complete responses. Out of the 19 evaluable patients, two
experienced a complete response, two experienced a major response,
and four experienced a minor response to treatment. Thus,
CEL-SCI calculated the number
of patients experiencing a favorable response as eight patients out
of 19 (or 42.1%) (Timar et al, JCO 2005).
The
clinical significance of these and other data, to date, from the
multiple Multikine clinical trials, is not yet known. These
preliminary clinical data do suggest the potential to demonstrate a
possible improvement in the clinical outcome for patients treated
with Multikine.
7
Peri-Anal Warts and Cervical Dysplasia in HIV/HPV Co-Infected
Patients
HPV is
a very common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and
other parts of the world. It can lead to cancer of the cervix,
penis, anus, esophagus and head and neck. CEL-SCI’s focus in
HPV, however, is not on developing an antiviral for the potential
treatment or prevention of HPV in the general population. Instead,
the focus is on developing an immunotherapy product candidate
designed to be administered to patients who are immune-suppressed
by other diseases, such as HIV, and who are therefore less able or
unable to control HPV and its resultant or co-morbid diseases. Such
patients have limited treatment options available to
them.
One
condition that is commonly associated with both HIV and HPV is the
occurrence of anal intraepithelial dysplasia, or AIN, and anal and
genital warts. The incidence of AIN in HIV-infected people is
estimated to be about 25%. The incidence of anal HPV infection in
HIV-infected men who have sex with men, or MSM, is estimated to be
as high as 95%. In the aggregate, the United States and Europe have
about 875,000 HIV-infected patients with AIN (assuming AIN
prevalence of approximately 25% of the aggregate HIV-infected
population). Persistent HPV infection in the anal region is thought
to be responsible for up to 80% of anal cancers, and men and women
who are HIV positive have a 30-fold increase in their risk of anal
cancer. Persistent HPV infection can also be a precursor to
cervical cancer, as well as certain head and neck
cancers.
In
October 2013, CEL-SCI signed a
cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, with the
U.S. Naval Medical Center, San Diego, or the USNMC. Pursuant to
this agreement, the USNMC was to conduct a Phase 1 study, approved
by the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, of
CEL-SCI’s investigational immunotherapy, Multikine, in
HIV/HPV co-infected men and women with peri-anal warts. The purpose
of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical impact of
Multikine as a potential treatment of peri-anal warts and assess
its effect on AIN in HIV/HPV co-infected men and
women.
In July
2015, CEL-SCI added a clinical site at the University of
California, San Francisco, or UCSF, and Key Opinion Leader, or KOL,
to the ongoing Phase 1 study. In August 2016, the U.S. Navy
discontinued this Phase 1 study because of difficulties in
enrolling patients. UCSF is continuing with the study. The Company
will not continue with this indication because 1) the patient
enrollment is extremely slow and 2) it needs to focus its resources
on the Phase 3 study.
In
October 2013, CEL-SCI entered
into a co-development and profit sharing agreement with Ergomed for
development of Multikine as a potential treatment of HIV/HPV
co-infected men and women with peri-anal warts. This agreement is
supporting the development of Multikine with UCSF.
The
treatment regimen for this Phase 1 study of up to 15 HIV/HPV
co-infected patient volunteers with peri-anal warts is identical to
the regimen that was used in an earlier Institutional Review
Board-approved Multikine Phase 1 study in HIV/HPV co-infected
patients, which was conducted at the University of Maryland. In
that study, the Multikine investigational therapy was administered
to HIV/HPV co-infected women with cervical dysplasia, resulting in
visual and histological evidence of clearance of lesions in three
out of the eight subjects.
8
Furthermore, in
this cervical dysplasia Phase 1 study, the number of HPV viral
sub-types in three volunteer subjects tested were reduced
post-treatment with Multikine, as opposed to pre-treatment, as
determined by in situ polymerase chain reaction performed on tissue
biopsy collected before and after Multikine treatment. As reported
by the investigators in the earlier study, the study volunteers,
except one subject volunteer, all appeared to tolerate the
treatment with no reported serious adverse events.
Development Agreements for Multikine
In
August 2008, CEL-SCI signed an agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical
Industries Ltd., or Teva, that gives Teva the exclusive right and
license to market, distribute and sell Multikine in Israel and
Turkey for treatment of head and neck cancer, if approved. The
agreement terminates on a country-by-country basis 10 years after
the product launch in each country or upon a material breach or
upon bankruptcy of either party. The agreement will automatically
extend for additional two year terms unless either party gives
notice of its intent not to extend the agreement. If CEL-SCI
develops Multikine for other oncology indications and Teva
indicates a desire to participate, the parties have agreed to
negotiate in good faith with respect to Teva’s participation
and contribution in future clinical trials.
Teva
has agreed to use all reasonable efforts to obtain regulatory
approval to market and sell Multikine in its territory at its own
cost and expense. Pursuant to the agreement, it is CEL-SCI’s
responsibility to supply Multikine and Teva’s responsibility
to sell Multikine, if approved. Net sales will be divided 50/50
between the two parties. Teva also initially agreed to fund certain
activities relating to the conduct of a clinical trial in Israel as
part of the global Phase 3 trial for Multikine. In January 2012,
pursuant to an assignment and assumption agreement between CEL-SCI,
Teva and GCP Clinical Studies Ltd., or GCP, Teva transferred all of
its rights and obligations concerning the Phase III trial in Israel
to GCP. GCP is now operating the Phase 3 trial in Israel pursuant
to a service agreement with CEL-SCI.
In July
2011, Serbia and Croatia were added to Teva’s territory,
pursuant to a joinder agreement between CEL-SCI and PLIVA Hrvatska
d.o.o., or PLIVA, an affiliate of Teva’s, subject to similar
terms as described above.
In
consideration for the rights granted by CEL-SCI to PLIVA under the
joinder agreement, CEL-SCI will be paid by PLIVA (in U.S.
dollars):
●
$100,000 upon EMA
grant of Marketing Authorization for Multikine;
●
$50,000 upon
Croatia’s grant of reimbursement status for Multikine in
Croatia; and
●
$50,000 upon
Serbia’s grant of reimbursement status for Multikine in
Serbia.
In
November 2000, CEL-SCI signed an agreement with Orient Europharma
Co., Ltd., or Orient Europharma, of Taiwan, which agreement was
amended in October 2008 and again in June 2010. Pursuant to this
agreement, as amended, Orient Europharma has the exclusive
marketing and distribution rights to Multikine, if approved, for
head and neck cancer, naso-pharyngeal cancer and potentially
cervical cancer indications in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong
Kong, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
CEL-SCI has granted Orient Europharma the first right of
negotiation with respect to Thailand and China.
9
The
agreement requires Orient Europharma to fund 10% of the cost of the
clinical trials needed to obtain marketing approvals in these
countries for head and neck cancer, naso-pharyngeal cancer and
potentially cervical cancer. Orient Europharma has signed ten
centers in Taiwan, four centers in Malaysia, three centers in
Philippines and one center in Thailand to enroll patients as part
of the Phase 3 Multikine clinical trial and has made further
financial contributions towards the cost of the Phase 3 clinical
trial.
If Multikine is
approved for sale, Orient Europharma will purchase Multikine from
CEL-SCI for 35% of the gross selling price in each
country. Orient
Europharma is obligated to use the same diligent efforts to
develop, register, market, sell and distribute Multikine in the
territory as with its own products or other licensed
products.
The
agreement will terminate on a country-by-country basis 15 years
after the product approval for Multikine in each country, at which
point the agreement will be automatically extended for successive
two year periods, unless either party gives notice of its intent
not to extend the agreement. The agreement may also be terminated
upon bankruptcy of either party or material misrepresentations that
are not cured within 60 days. If the agreement ends before the 15
year term through no fault of either party, CEL-SCI will reimburse
Orient Europharma for a prorated part of Orient Europhorma’s
costs towards the clinical trials of Multikine. If Orient
Europharma fails to make certain minimum purchases of Multikine
during the term of the agreement, Orient Europhorma’s rights
to the territory will become non-exclusive.
CEL-SCI
has a licensing agreement with Byron Biopharma LLC, or Byron, under
which CEL-SCI granted Byron an exclusive license to market and
distribute Multikine in the Republic of South Africa, if approved.
This license will terminate 20 years after marketing approval in
South Africa or after bankruptcy or uncured material breach. After
the 20-year period has expired, the agreement will be automatically
extended for successive two year periods, unless either party gives
notice of its intent not to extend the agreement.
Pursuant to the
agreement, Byron will be responsible for registering Multikine in
South Africa. If Multikine is approved for sale in South Africa,
CEL-SCI will be responsible for manufacturing the product, while
Byron will be responsible for sales in South Africa. Sales revenues
will be divided between CEL-SCI and Byron. CEL-SCI will be paid
fifty (50%) percent of the net sales of Multikine.
MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Before
starting the Phase 3 clinical trial, for reasons related to
regulatory considerations, CEL-SCI needed to build a dedicated
manufacturing facility to produce Multikine. This facility has been
completed and validated, and has produced multiple clinical lots
for the Phase 3 clinical trial. The facility has also passed review
by a European Union Qualified Person on several
occasions.
10
CEL-SCI’s
lease on the manufacturing facility expires on October 31,
2028. CEL-SCI
completed validation of its new manufacturing facility in January
2010. The state-of-the-art facility is being used to manufacture
Multikine for CEL-SCI’s Phase 3 clinical trial. In addition
to using this facility to manufacture Multikine, CEL-SCI, only if
the facility is not being used for Multikine, may offer the use of
the facility as a service to pharmaceutical companies and others,
particularly those that need to “fill and finish” their
drugs in a cold environment (4 degrees Celsius, or approximately 39
degrees Fahrenheit). Fill and finish is the process of filling
injectable drugs in a sterile manner and is a key part of the
manufacturing process for many medicines. However, priority will
always be given to Multikine as management considers the Multikine
supply to the clinical studies and preparation for a final
marketing approval to be more important than offering fill and
finish services. See Item 2 of this report for more information
concerning the terms of this lease.
LEAPS
CEL-SCI’s
patented T-cell Modulation Process, referred to as LEAPS (Ligand
Epitope Antigen Presentation System), uses
“heteroconjugates” to direct the body to choose a
specific immune response. LEAPS is designed to stimulate the human
immune system to more effectively fight bacterial, viral and
parasitic infections as well as autoimmune, allergies,
transplantation rejection and cancer, when it cannot do so on its
own. Administered like a vaccine, LEAPS combines T-cell binding
ligands with small, disease associated, peptide antigens and may
provide a new method to treat and prevent certain
diseases.
The
ability to generate a specific immune response is important because
many diseases are often not combated effectively due to the
body’s selection of the “inappropriate” immune
response. The capability to specifically reprogram an immune
response may offer a more effective approach than existing vaccines
and drugs in attacking an underlying disease.
On
September 19, 2017, CEL-SCI announced that it has been awarded a
Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant in the
amount of $1.5 million from the National Institute of Arthritis
Muscoskeletal and Skin Diseases, which is part of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant will provide funding to
allow CEL-SCI to advance its first LEAPS product candidate,
CEL-4000, towards an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, by
funding GMP manufacturing, IND enabling studies, and additional
mechanism of action studies. The work is being conducted at
CEL-SCI’s research laboratory and Rush University Medical
Center in Chicago, Illinois in the laboratories of Tibor Glant, MD,
Ph.D., The Jorge O. Galante Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and
Katalin Mikecz, MD, Ph.D. Professor of Orthopedic Surgery &
Biochemistry. The grant was awarded based on published data
described below by Dr. Glant's team in collaboration with CEL-SCI
showing that the administration of a proprietary peptide using
CEL-SCI's LEAPS technology prevented the development, and lessened
the severity, including inflammation, of experimental proteoglycan
induced arthritis (PGIA or GIA) when it was administered after the
disease was induced in the animals.
11
In July
2014, CEL-SCI announced that it has been awarded a Phase 1 Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant in the amount of $225,000
from the National Institute of Arthritis Muscoskeletal and Skin
Diseases, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. The
grant funded the development of CEL-SCI’s LEAPS technology as
a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune
disease of the joints. The work was conducted at Rush University
Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois in the laboratories of Tibor
Glant, MD, Ph.D., The Jorge O. Galante Professor of Orthopedic
Surgery; Katalin Mikecz, MD, Ph.D. Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
& Biochemistry; and Allison Finnegan, Ph.D. Professor of
Medicine.
With
the support of the SBIR grant, CEL-SCI is developing two new drug
candidates, CEL-2000 and CEL-4000, as potential rheumatoid
arthritis therapeutic vaccines. The data from animal studies using
the CEL-2000 treatment vaccine demonstrated that it could be used
as an effective treatment against rheumatoid arthritis with fewer
administrations than those required by other anti-rheumatoid
arthritis treatments currently on the market for arthritic
conditions associated with the Th17 signature cytokine
TNF- . The data for
CEL-4000 indicates it could be effective against rheumatoid
arthritis cases where a Th1 signature cytokine (IFN-c) is dominant.
CEL-2000 and CEL-4000 have the potential to be a more
disease-specific therapy, significantly less expensive, act at an
earlier step in the disease process than current therapies and may
be useful in patients not responding to existing rheumatoid
arthritis therapies. CEL-SCI believes this represents a large unmet
medical need in the rheumatoid arthritis market.
In
February 2017 and November 2016, CEL-SCI announced new preclinical
data that demonstrate its investigational new drug candidate
CEL-4000 has the potential for use as a therapeutic vaccine to
treat rheumatoid arthritis. This efficacy study was supported in
part by the SBIR Phase I Grant and was conducted in collaboration
with Drs. Katalin Mikecz and Tibor Glant, and their research team
at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.
In
March 2015, CEL-SCI and its collaborators published a review
article on vaccine therapies for rheumatoid arthritis based in part
on work supported by the SBIR grant. The article is entitled
“Rheumatoid arthritis vaccine therapies: perspectives and
lessons from therapeutic Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System
vaccines for models of rheumatoid arthritis” and was
published in Expert Rev. Vaccines 1 - 18 and can be found at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/25787143.
In
August 2012, Dr. Zimmerman, CEL-SCI’s Senior Vice President
of Research, Cellular Immunology, gave a Keynote presentation at
the OMICS 2nd International Conference on Vaccines and Vaccinations
in Chicago. This presentation showed how the LEAPS peptides
administered altered only select cytokines specific for each
disease model, thereby improving the status of the test animals and
even preventing death and morbidity. These results support the
growing body of evidence that provides for its mode of action by a
common format in these unrelated conditions by regulation of Th1
(e.g., IL12 and IFN-c) and their action on reducing
TNF- and other
inflammatory cytokines as well as regulation of antibodies to these
disease associated antigens. This was also illustrated by a
schematic model showing how these pathways interact and result in
the overall effect of protection and regulation of cytokines in a
beneficial manner.
12
In
February 2010, CEL-SCI announced that its CEL-2000 vaccine
demonstrated that it was able to block the progression of
rheumatoid arthritis in a mouse model, where a Th17 signature
cytokine (TNF- ) is
dominant. The results were published in the scientific
peer-reviewed Journal of International Immunopharmacology (online
edition) in an article titled “CEL-2000: A Therapeutic
Vaccine for Rheumatoid Arthritis Arrests Disease Development and
Alters Serum Cytokine / Chemokine Patterns in the Bovine Collagen
Type II Induced Arthritis in the DBA Mouse Model” Int
Immunopharmacol. 2010 Apr; 10(4):412-21 http://www.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20074669.
Using
the LEAPS technology, CEL-SCI has created a potential peptide
treatment for H1N1 (swine flu) hospitalized patients. This
LEAPS flu treatment is designed to focus on the conserved,
non-changing epitopes of the different strains of Type A Influenza
viruses (H1N1, H5N1, H3N1, etc.), including “swine”,
“avian or bird”, and “Spanish Influenza”,
in order to minimize the chance of viral “escape by
mutations” from immune recognition. Therefore one should
think of this treatment not really as an H1N1 treatment, but as a
potential pandemic flu treatment. CEL-SCI’s LEAPS flu
treatment contains epitopes known to be associated with immune
protection against influenza in animal models.
In
September 2009, the U.S. FDA advised CEL-SCI that it could proceed
with its first clinical trial to evaluate the effect of LEAPS-H1N1
treatment on the white blood cells of hospitalized H1N1 patients.
This followed an expedited initial review of CEL-SCI's regulatory
submission for this study proposal.
In
November 2009, CEL-SCI announced that The Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine had given clearance for CEL-SCI’s first
clinical study to proceed using LEAPS-H1N1. Soon after
the start of the study, the number of hospitalized H1N1 patients
dramatically declined and the study was unable to complete the
enrollment of patients.
Additional work on
this treatment for the pandemic flu is being pursued in
collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, USA.
In May 2011 NIAID scientists presented data at the Keystone
Conference on “Pathogenesis of Influenza: Virus-Host
Interactions” in Hong Kong, China, showing the positive
results of efficacy studies in mice of LEAPS H1N1 activated
dendritic cells (DCs) to treat the H1N1 virus. Scientists at the
NIAID found that H1N1-infected mice treated with LEAPS-H1N1 DCs
showed a survival advantage over mice treated with control DCs. The
work was performed in collaboration with scientists led by Kanta
Subbarao, M.D., Chief of the Emerging Respiratory Diseases Section
in NIAID’s Division of Intramural Research, part of the
National Institutes of Health, USA.
In July
2013, CEL-SCI announced the publication of the results of influenza
studies by researchers from the NIAID in the Journal of Clinical
Investigation (www.jci.org/articles/view/67550).
The studies described in the publication show that when
CEL-SCI’s investigational J-LEAPS Influenza Virus treatments
were used “in vitro” to activate DCs, these activated
DCs, when injected into influenza infected mice, arrested the
progression of lethal influenza virus infection in these mice. The
work was performed in the laboratory of Dr. Subbarao.
13
Even
though the various LEAPS drug candidates have not yet been given to
humans, they have been tested in vitro with human cells. They have
induced similar cytokine responses that were seen in these animal
models, which may indicate that the LEAPS technology might
translate to humans. The LEAPS candidates have demonstrated
protection against lethal herpes simplex virus (HSV1) and H1N1
influenza infection, as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent in
animals. They have also shown some level of efficacy in animals in
two autoimmune conditions, curtailing and sometimes preventing
disease progression in arthritis and myocarditis animal models.
CEL-SCI’s belief is that the LEAPS technology may be a
significant alternative to the vaccines currently available on the
market for these diseases.
None of
the LEAPS investigational products have been approved for sale,
barter or exchange by the FDA or any other regulatory agency for
any use to treat disease in animals or humans. The safety or
efficacy of these products has not been established for any use.
Lastly, no definitive conclusions can be drawn from the
early-phase, preclinical-trials data involving these
investigational products. Before obtaining marketing approval from
the FDA in the United States, and by comparable agencies in most
foreign countries, these product candidates must undergo rigorous
preclinical and clinical testing which is costly and time consuming
and subject to unanticipated delays. There can be no assurance that
these approvals will be granted.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Patents
and other proprietary rights are essential to CEL-SCI’s
business. CEL-SCI files patent applications to protect its
technologies, inventions and improvements to its inventions that
CEL-SCI considers important to the development of its business.
CEL-SCI’S intellectual property portfolio covers its
proprietary technologies, including Multikine and LEAPS, by
multiple issued patents and pending patent applications in the
United States and in key foreign markets.
Multikine is
protected by a US patent, which is a composition-of-matter patent
issued in May 2005 that, in its current format, expires in 2023.
Additional composition-of-matter patents for Multikine have been
issued in Germany (issued in June 2011 and currently set to expire
in 2025), China (issued in May 2011 and currently set to expire in
2024), Japan (issued in November 2012 and currently set to expire
in 2025), and three in Europe (issued in September 2015, May 2016
and October 4, 2017, currently set to expire in 2025 and 2026). In
September 2017 CEL-SCI announced that the European Patent Office
has issued a new patent to CEL-SCI for Multikine. Patent # EP 1 879
618 B1, titled “A Method for Modulating HLA Class II Tumor
Cell Surface Expression With A Cytokine Mixture,” addresses
Multikine’s mechanism of action to make tumors more visible
to the immune system. This new patent is important because, along
with the other Multikine issued patents, it addresses how Multikine
enables the immune system to recognize and attack the tumor. One
way tumor cells evade the immune system is by expressing human
leukocyte antigens (HLA) on the tumor cell surface, thus appearing
as ‘self’ to the immune cells and therefore the tumor
cells are not attacked. It is important to note that the tumors of
the Multikine-treated responders in CEL-SCI’s prior Phase 2
studies had no HLA Class II expressed on the cell surface following
Multikine treatment as compared to controls. This points to
Multikine’s ability to modulate HLA expression on the tumor
cell surface, thereby allowing the immune system to recognize and
attack the tumor.
14
In
addition to the patents that offer certain protections for
Multikine, the method of manufacture for Multikine, a complex
biological product, is held by CEL-SCI as trade
secret.
LEAPS
is protected by patents in the United States issued in February
2006, April 2007, and August 2007. The LEAPS patents, which expire
in 2021, 2022 and 2021, respectively, include overlapping claims,
with composition of both matter (new chemical entity), process and
methods-of-use, to maximize and extend the coverage in their
current format. In October 2017, a patent was issued in Europe for
LEAPS, which expires in 2029. Additional patent applications are
pending in the United States and Europe that could offer protection
through 2034.
CEL-SCI
has six patent applications pending in the United States and one in
Europe for LEAPS, which, if issued, would extend protection through
2034, subject to any potential patent term extensions. One pending
U.S. application is a joint application with Northeast Ohio Medical
University (“Neoucom”). If granted, CEL-SCI will share
the ability to use the patent, unless CEL-SCI licenses the rights
to the patent application and any ensuing patent from
Neoucom.
As of
December 21, 2017, there were no contested proceedings and/or third
party claims with respect to CEL-SCI’s patents or patent
applications.
ITEM
1B. RISK FACTORS
The
risks described below could adversely affect the price of
CEL-SCI’s common stock.
Risks Related to CEL-SCI
CEL-SCI has identified material weaknesses in its internal control
over financial reporting which could, if not remediated, result in
material misstatements in CEL-SCI’s financial
statements.
CEL-SCI’s
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over its financial reporting, as defined in Rule
13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. CEL-SCI’s management
identified material weaknesses in the internal control over
financial reporting as of September 30, 2016. A material weakness
is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal
control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable
possibility that a material misstatement of CEL-SCI’s annual
or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected
on a timely basis.
CEL-SCI
discovered an error in the way it accounted for the lease for its
manufacturing facility. The accounting error was determined to be a
material weakness in CEL-SCI’s internal control over
financial reporting as of September 30, 2016 relating to
CEL-SCI’s financial close process for non-routine
transactions including the accounting for leases and the assessment
of impairment of long-lived assets. The errors were identified
during the course of the preparation of its financial statements
and other financial data for its fiscal year ended September 30,
2017, as well as its assessment of its disclosure controls and
procedures and internal control over financial reporting as of that
date. This resulted in CEL-SCI filing an amended 10-K/A for the
year ended September 30, 2016, that disclosed these material
weaknesses and the impact of the restatement to the previously
issued financial statements. These material weaknesses continue to
exist at September 30, 2017 and CEL-SCI is in the process of
remediating these material weaknesses.
15
If the
remedial measures CEL-SCI has begun implementing that are designed
to address these material weaknesses are insufficient to address
these material weaknesses, or if additional material weaknesses or
significant deficiencies in CEL-SCI’s internal control are
discovered or occur in the future, the financial statements may
contain material misstatements and CEL-SCI could be required to
restate its financial results.
CEL-SCI has incurred significant losses since inception, and
CEL-SCI anticipates that it will continue to incur significant
losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain
profitability.
CEL-SCI
has a history of net losses, expects to incur substantial losses
and have negative operating cash flow for the foreseeable future,
and may never achieve or maintain profitability. Since
the date of its formation and through September 30, 2017, CEL-SCI
incurred net losses of approximately $300 million. CEL-SCI has
relied principally upon the proceeds from the public and private
sales of its securities to finance its activities to date. To date,
CEL-SCI has not commercialized any products or generated any
revenue from the sale of products, and CEL-SCI does not expect to
generate any product revenue for the foreseeable future. CEL-SCI
does not know whether or when it will generate product revenue or
become profitable.
CEL-SCI
is heavily dependent on the success of Multikine which is under
clinical development. CEL-SCI cannot be certain that Multikine will
receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized even
if CEL-SCI receives regulatory approval. Multikine is the only
product candidate in late-stage clinical development, and
CEL-SCI’s business currently depends heavily on its
successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization.
CEL-SCI has no drug products for sale currently and may never be
able to develop approved and marketable drug products.
Even
if CEL-SCI succeeds in developing and commercializing one or more
of its product candidates, CEL-SCI expects to continue to incur
significant operating and capital expenditures as
CEL-SCI:
●
continues
to undertake preclinical development and clinical trials for
product candidates;
●
seeks
regulatory approvals for product candidates; and
●
implements
additional internal systems and infrastructure.
To
become and remain profitable, CEL-SCI must succeed in developing
and commercializing product candidates which must generate
significant revenue. This will require CEL-SCI to be successful in
a range of challenging activities, including completing preclinical
testing and clinical trials of its product candidates, discovering
or acquiring additional product candidates, obtaining regulatory
approval for these product candidates and manufacturing, marketing
and selling any products for which CEL-SCI may obtain regulatory
approval. CEL-SCI is only in the preliminary stages of most of
these activities. CEL-SCI may never succeed in these activities
and, even if CEL-SCI does, may never generate revenue that is
significant enough to achieve profitability.
16
Even
if CEL-SCI does achieve profitability, it may not be able to
sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
The failure to become and remain profitable could depress the value
of CEL-SCI and could impair its ability to raise capital, expand
its business, maintain research and development efforts, diversify
product offerings or even continue in operation. A decline in the
value of CEL-SCI could cause its stockholders to lose all or part
of their investment.
CEL-SCI will require substantial additional capital to remain in
operation. A failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed
could force CEL-SCI to delay, limit, reduce or terminate the
product candidates’ development or commercialization
efforts.
As
of September 30, 2017, CEL-SCI had cash and cash equivalents of
approximately $2.4 million. CEL-SCI believes that it
will continue to expend substantial resources for the foreseeable
future developing Multikine, LEAPS and any other product candidates
or technologies that it may develop or acquire. These expenditures
will include costs associated with research and development,
potentially obtaining regulatory approvals and having the products
manufactured, as well as marketing and selling products approved
for sale, if any. In addition, other unanticipated costs may arise.
Because the outcome of the current and anticipated clinical trials
is highly uncertain, CEL-SCI cannot reasonably estimate the actual
amounts necessary to successfully complete the development and
commercialization of the product candidates.
CEL-SCI’s
future capital requirements depend on many factors,
including:
●
the
rate of progress of, results of and cost of completing Phase 3
clinical development of Multikine for the treatment of certain head
and neck cancers;
●
the
results of the applications to and meetings with the FDA, the EMA
and other regulatory authorities and the consequential effect on
operating costs;
●
assuming
favorable Phase 3 clinical results, the cost, timing and outcome of
the efforts to obtain marketing approval for Multikine in the
United States, Europe and in other jurisdictions, including the
preparation and filing of regulatory submissions for Multikine with
the FDA, the EMA and other regulatory authorities;
●
the
scope, progress, results and costs of additional preclinical,
clinical, or other studies for additional indications for
Multikine, LEAPS and other product candidates and technologies that
CEL-SCI may develop or acquire;
●
the
timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory
approvals for LEAPS if clinical studies are
successful;
●
the
cost and timing of future commercialization activities for the
products, if any of the product candidates are approved for
marketing, including product manufacturing, marketing, sales and
distribution costs;
●
the
revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of the product
candidates for which CEL-SCI receives marketing
approval;
●
the
cost of having the product candidates manufactured for clinical
trials and in preparation for commercialization;
17
●
the
ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations,
licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such
agreements;
●
the
costs involved in preparing, filing and prosecuting patent
applications and maintaining, defending and enforcing its
intellectual property rights, including litigation costs, and the
outcome of such litigation; and
●
the
extent to which CEL-SCI acquires or in-licenses other products or
technologies.
Based
on the current operating plan, and absent any future financings or
strategic partnerships, CEL-SCI believes that its existing cash and
cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund its
projected operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements
into March 2018. However, CEL-SCI’s operating plan may change
as a result of many factors currently unknown to CEL-SCI, and
CEL-SCI may need additional funds sooner than planned. Additional
funds may not be available when CEL-SCI needs them on terms that
are acceptable to CEL-SCI, or at all. If adequate funds are not
available to CEL-SCI on a timely basis, CEL-SCI may be required to
delay, limit, reduce or terminate preclinical studies, clinical
trials or other development activities for Multikine, LEAPS, or any
other product candidates or technologies that CEL-SCI develops or
acquires, or delay, limit, reduce or terminate its sales and
marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to
commercialize its product candidates. Due to recurring losses from
operations and future liquidity needs, there is substantial doubt
about CEL-SCI’s ability to continue as a going concern
without additional capital becoming available. The doubt about
CEL-SCI’s ability to continue as a going concern could have
an adverse impact on CEL-SCI’s ability to execute its
business plan, result in the reluctance on the part of certain
suppliers to do business with CEL-SCI, or adversely affect
CEL-SCI’s ability to raise additional debt or equity
capital.
The costs of the product candidates development and clinical trials
are difficult to estimate and will be very high for many years,
preventing CEL-SCI from making a profit for the foreseeable future,
if ever.
Clinical
and other studies necessary to obtain approval of a new drug can be
time consuming and costly, especially in the United States, but
also in foreign countries. The estimates of the costs associated
with future clinical trials and research may be substantially lower
than what CEL-SCI actually experiences. It is impossible to predict
what CEL-SCI will face in the development of a product candidate,
such as Multikine. The purpose of clinical trials is to provide
both CEL-SCI and regulatory authorities with safety and efficacy
data in humans. It is relatively common to revise a trial or add
subjects to a trial in progress. The difficult and often complex
steps necessary to obtain regulatory approval, especially that of
the FDA and the EMA, involve significant costs and may require
several years to complete. CEL-SCI expects that it will need
substantial additional financing over an extended period of time in
order to fund the costs of future clinical trials, related
research, and general and administrative expenses.
The
extent of the clinical trials and research programs are primarily
based upon the amount of capital available to CEL-SCI and the
extent to which CEL-SCI receives regulatory approvals for clinical
trials. CEL-SCI has established estimates of the future costs of
the Phase 3 clinical trial for Multikine, but, as explained above,
the estimates may not prove correct.
18
An adverse determination in any current or future lawsuits or
arbitration proceedings to which CEL-SCI is a party could have a
material adverse effect on CEL-SCI.
CEL-SCI is currently involved in a pending
arbitration proceeding, CEL-SCI Corporation v.
inVentiv Health Clinical, LLC (f/k/a PharmaNet LLC) and PharmaNet
GmbH (f/k/a PharmaNet AG).
CEL-SCI initiated the proceedings against inVentiv Health Clinical,
LLC, or inVentiv, the former third-party CRO, and is seeking
payment for damages related to inVentiv’s prior involvement
in the Phase 3 clinical trial of Multikine. The arbitration claim,
initiated under the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration
Association, alleges (i) breach of contract, (ii) fraud in the
inducement, and (iii) common law fraud. Currently, CEL-SCI is
seeking at least $50 million in damages in its amended statement of
claim.
In
an amended statement of claim, CEL-SCI asserted the claims set
forth above as well as an additional claim for professional
malpractice. The arbitrator subsequently granted
inVentiv’s motion to dismiss the professional malpractice
claim based on the “economic loss doctrine” which,
under New Jersey law, is a legal doctrine that, under certain
circumstances, prohibits bringing a negligence-based claim
alongside a claim for breach of contract. The arbitrator
denied the remainder of inVentiv’s motion, which had sought
to dismiss certain other aspects of the amended statement of
claim. In particular, the arbitrator rejected
inVentiv’s argument that several aspects of the amended
statement of claim were beyond the arbitrator’s
jurisdiction.
In
connection with the pending arbitration proceedings, inVentiv has
asserted counterclaims against CEL-SCI for (i) breach of contract,
seeking at least $2 million in damages for services allegedly
performed by inVentiv; (ii) breach of contract, seeking at least $1
million in damages for the alleged use of inVentiv’s name in
connection with publications and promotions in violation of the
parties’ contract; (iii) opportunistic breach, restitution
and unjust enrichment, seeking at least $20 million in disgorgement
of alleged unjust profits allegedly made by CEL-SCI as a result of
the purported breaches referenced in subsection (ii); and (iv)
defamation, seeking at least $1 million in damages for allegedly
defamatory statements made about inVentiv. CEL-SCI believes
inVentiv’s counterclaims are meritless and intends to
vigorously defend against them. However, if such defense is
unsuccessful, and inVentiv successfully asserts any of its
counterclaims, such an adverse determination could have a material
adverse effect on CEL-SCI’s business, results, financial
condition and liquidity.
In
October 2015 CEL-SCI signed an arbitration funding agreement with a
company established by Lake Whillans Litigation Finance, LLC, a
firm specializing in funding litigation expenses. Pursuant to the
agreement, an affiliate of Lake Whillans provides CEL-SCI with up
to $5 million in funding for litigation expenses to support its
arbitration claims against inVentiv. The funding is available to
CEL-SCI to fund the expenses of the ongoing arbitration and will
only be repaid if CEL-SCI receives proceeds from the
arbitration.
The
hearing (the “trial”) started on September 26, 2016 and
was originally scheduled to end in November/December of 2016. On
November 13, 2017, CEL-SCI announced that the last witness in the
arbitration hearing testified on November 8, 2017, and no further
witnesses or testimony are expected. With that final witness, the
testimony phase of the arbitration concluded. All that remains at
the trial level are closing statements and post-trial
submissions.
19
Additionally,
CEL-SCI may also be the target of claims asserting violations of
securities fraud and derivative actions, or other litigation or
arbitration proceedings in the future. Any future litigation could
result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention
and resources. These lawsuits or arbitration proceedings may result
in large judgments or settlements against CEL-SCI, any of which
could have a material adverse effect on its business, operating
results, financial condition and liquidity.
Compliance with changing regulations concerning corporate
governance and public disclosure may result in additional
expenses.
Changing
laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance
and public disclosure may create uncertainty regarding compliance
matters. New or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject
to varying interpretations in many cases. As a result, their
application in practice may evolve over time. CEL-SCI is committed
to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public
disclosure. Complying with evolving interpretations of new or
changing legal requirements may cause CEL-SCI to incur higher costs
as CEL-SCI revises current practices, policies and procedures, and
may divert management time and attention from potential
revenue-generating activities to compliance matters. If the efforts
to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards
differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing
bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, CEL-SCI’s
reputation may also be harmed. Further, CEL-SCI’s board
members, chief executive officer, and other executive officers
could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection
with the performance of their duties. As a result, CEL-SCI may have
difficulty attracting and retaining qualified board members and
executive officers, which could harm its business.
CEL-SCI has not established a definite plan for the marketing of
Multikine, if approved.
CEL-SCI
has not established a definitive plan for marketing nor has CEL-SCI
established a price structure for any of its product candidates, if
approved. However, CEL-SCI intends, if it is in a position to do
so, to sell Multikine itself in certain markets where it is
approved, and or to enter into written marketing agreements with
various third parties with established sales forces in such
markets. The sales forces in turn would, CEL-SCI
believes, focus on selling Multikine to targeted cancer centers,
physicians and clinics involved in the treatment of head and neck
cancer. CEL-SCI has already licensed future sales of Multikine, if
approved, to three companies: Teva Pharmaceuticals in Israel,
Turkey, Serbia and Croatia; Orient Europharma in Taiwan, Singapore,
Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and
New Zealand; and Byron BioPharma, LLC in South
Africa. CEL-SCI believes that these companies will have
the resources to market Multikine appropriately in their respective
territories, if approved, but there is no guarantee that they
will. There is no assurance that CEL-SCI will be able to
find qualified third-party partners to market its products in other
areas, on terms that are favorable to CEL-SCI, or at
all.
CEL-SCI
may encounter problems, delays and additional expenses in
developing marketing plans with third parties. In addition, even if
Multikine, if approved, is cost-effective and demonstrated to
increase overall patient survival, CEL-SCI may experience other
limitations involving the proposed sale of Multikine, such as
uncertainty of third-party coverage and reimbursement. There is no
assurance that CEL-SCI can successfully market Multikine, if
approved, or any other product candidates it may
develop.
20
CEL-SCI hopes to expand its clinical development capabilities in
the future, and any difficulties hiring or retaining key personnel
or managing this growth could disrupt its operations.
CEL-SCI
is highly dependent on the principal members of its management and
development staff. If the Phase 3 Multikine clinical trial is
successful, CEL-SCI expects to expand its clinical development and
manufacturing capabilities, which will involve hiring additional
employees. Future growth will require CEL-SCI to continue to
implement and improve its managerial, operational and financial
systems and continue to retain, recruit and train additional
qualified personnel, which may impose a strain on its
administrative and its operational infrastructure. The competition
for qualified personnel in the biopharmaceutical field is intense.
CEL-SCI is highly dependent on its ability to attract, retain and
motivate highly qualified management and specialized personnel
required for clinical development. Due to limited resources,
CEL-SCI may not be able to manage effectively the expansion of its
operations or recruit and train additional qualified
personnel. If CEL-SCI is unable to retain key personnel
or manage its future growth effectively, CEL-SCI may not be able to
implement its business plan.
If product liability or patient injury lawsuits are brought against
CEL-SCI, CEL-SCI may incur substantial liabilities and may be
required to limit clinical testing or future commercialization of
Multikine or its other product candidates.
CEL-SCI
faces an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the
clinical testing of Multikine and other product candidates, and
will face an even greater risk if CEL-SCI commercializes any of its
product candidates. For example, CEL-SCI may be sued if its
Multikine or LEAPS product candidates, or any other future product
candidates, allegedly cause injury or are found to be otherwise
unsuitable during clinical testing, manufacturing or, if approved,
marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include
allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a
failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product candidate,
negligence, strict liability and a breach of warranties. Claims
could also be asserted under state consumer protection
acts.
Furthermore,
Multikine is made, in part, from components of human blood. There
are inherent risks associated with products that involve human
blood such as possible contamination with viruses, including
hepatitis or HIV. Any possible contamination could cause injuries
to patients who receive contaminated Multikine, or could require
CEL-SCI to destroy batches of Multikine, thereby subjecting CEL-SCI
to possible financial losses, lawsuits and harm to its
business.
If
CEL-SCI cannot successfully defend itself against product liability
claims, CEL-SCI may incur substantial liabilities or be required to
limit or cease the clinical testing or commercialization of its
product candidates, if approved. Even a successful defense would
require significant financial and management resources. Regardless
of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result
in:
●
decreased
demand for Multikine or other product candidates, if
approved;
●
injury
to CEL-SCI’s reputation;
●
withdrawal
of existing, or failure to enroll additional, clinical trial
participants;
21
●
costs
to defend any related litigation;
●
a
diversion of management’s time and resources;
●
substantial
monetary awards to trial participants or patients;
●
product
candidate recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or
promotional restrictions;
●
loss
of revenue;
●
inability
to commercialize Multikine or other product candidates;
and
●
a
decline in the price of CEL-SCI’s common stock.
Although
CEL-SCI has product liability insurance for Multikine in the amount
of $5.0 million, the successful prosecution of a product liability
case against CEL-SCI could have a materially adverse effect upon
its business if the amount of any judgment exceeds the insurance
coverage. Any claim that may be brought against CEL-SCI could
result in a court judgment or settlement in an amount that is not
covered, in whole or in part, by CEL-SCI’s insurance or that
is in excess of the limits of the insurance coverage.
CEL-SCI’s insurance policies also have various exclusions,
and CEL-SCI may be subject to a claim for which CEL-SCI has no
coverage. CEL-SCI may have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or
negotiated in a settlement that exceed the coverage limitations or
that are not covered by its insurance, and CEL-SCI may not have, or
be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such
amounts. CEL-SCI commenced the Phase 3 clinical trial
for Multikine in December 2010. Although no claims have been
brought to date, participants in the clinical trials could bring
civil actions against CEL-SCI for any unanticipated harmful effects
allegedly arising from the use of Multikine or any other product
candidate that CEL-SCI may attempt to develop.
CEL-SCI’s commercial success depends, in part, upon attaining
significant market acceptance of its product candidates, if
approved, among physicians, patients, healthcare payors and major
operators of cancer clinics.
Even
if CEL-SCI obtains regulatory approval for its product candidates,
any resulting product may not gain market acceptance among
physicians, healthcare payors, patients and the medical community,
which are critical to commercial success. Market acceptance of any
product candidate for which CEL-SCI receives approval depends on a
number of factors, including:
●
the
efficacy and safety as demonstrated in clinical
trials;
●
the
timing of market introduction of such product candidate as well as
competitive products;
●
the
clinical indications for which the drug is approved;
●
the
approval, availability, market acceptance and reimbursement for the
companion diagnostic;
●
acceptance
by physicians, major operators of cancer clinics and patients of
the drug as a safe and effective treatment;
●
the
potential and perceived advantages of such product candidate over
alternative treatments, especially with respect to patient subsets
that are targeted with such product candidate;
22
●
the
safety of such product candidate seen in a broader patient group,
including its use outside the approved indications;
●
the
cost of treatment in relation to alternative
treatments;
●
the
availability of adequate reimbursement and pricing by third-party
payors and government authorities;
●
relative
convenience and ease of administration;
●
the
prevalence and severity of adverse side effects; and
●
the
effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts.
If
CEL-SCI’s product candidates are approved but fail to achieve
an adequate level of acceptance by physicians, healthcare payors
and patients, CEL-SCI will not be able to generate significant
revenues, and CEL-SCI may not become or remain
profitable.
Our Independent Registered Public Accountants have included in
their report on our financial statements a paragraph stating that
we may be unable to continue as a going concern.
As
a result of our recurring losses from operations, our independent
registered public accounting firm, BDO USA, LLP, has issued a
report in connection with their audit of our financial statements
for the year ended September 30, 2017, that included an explanatory
paragraph referring to our recurring losses from operations and
expressing substantial doubt in our ability to continue as a going
concern without additional capital becoming available. The doubt
about our ability to continue as a going concern could have an
adverse impact on our ability to execute our business plan, result
in the reluctance on the part of certain suppliers to do business
with us, or adversely affect our ability to raise additional debt
or equity capital.
Risks Related to Government Approvals
CEL-SCI’s product candidates must undergo rigorous
preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approvals, which
could be costly and time-consuming and subject CEL-SCI to
unanticipated delays or prevent CEL-SCI from marketing any
products.
CEL-SCI’s
product candidates are subject to premarket approval from the FDA
in the United States, the EMA in the European Union, and by
comparable agencies in most foreign countries before they can be
sold. Before obtaining marketing approval, these product candidates
must undergo costly and time consuming preclinical and clinical
testing which could subject CEL-SCI to unanticipated delays and may
prevent CEL-SCI from marketing the product candidates. There can be
no assurance that such approvals will be granted on a timely basis,
if at all.
Clinical
testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its
outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time
during the clinical trial process. The results of preclinical
studies and early clinical trials of the product candidates may not
be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. A
number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered
significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of
efficacy or adverse safety profiles, notwithstanding promising
results in earlier trials. CEL-SCI’s current and future
clinical trials may not be successful.
23
Although
CEL-SCI is involved in Phase 1 and Phase 3 clinical trials for
Multikine, CEL-SCI may experience delays in the clinical trials and
CEL-SCI does not know whether the clinical trials will need to be
redesigned, enroll patients on a timely basis or be completed on
schedule, if at all. Clinical trials can be delayed for a variety
of reasons, including delays related to:
●
the
availability of financial resources needed to commence and complete
the planned trials;
●
obtaining
regulatory approval to commence a trial;
●
reaching
agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research
organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites, the terms of
which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary
significantly among different CROs and trial sites;
●
obtaining
Institutional Review Board, or IRB, approval at each clinical trial
site;
●
recruiting
suitable patients to participate in a trial;
●
having
patients complete a trial or return for post-treatment
follow-up;
●
clinical
trial sites deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a
trial;
●
adding
new clinical trial sites; or
●
manufacturing
sufficient quantities of the product candidate for use in clinical
trials.
Patient
enrollment, a significant factor in the timing of clinical trials,
is affected by many factors including the competence of the CRO
running the study, size and nature of the patient population, the
proximity of patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria
for the trial, the design of the clinical trial, competing clinical
trials and clinicians' and patients' perceptions as to the
potential advantages of the drug being studied in relation to other
available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved
for the indications CEL-SCI is investigating. Furthermore, CEL-SCI
relies on CROs and clinical trial sites to ensure the proper and
timely conduct of the clinical trials and while CEL-SCI has
agreements governing their committed activities, CEL-SCI has
limited influence over their actual performance.
On
October 31, 2013, CEL-SCI commenced arbitration proceedings against
inVentiv Health Clinical, LLC, or inVentiv, its former clinical
research organization (CRO). The arbitration claim, initiated under
the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association,
alleges (i) breach of contract, (ii) fraud in the inducement, and
(iii) common law fraud. Currently, CEL-SCI is seeking at least $50
million in damages in its amended statement of claim.
In
connection with the pending arbitration proceedings, inVentiv has
asserted counterclaims against CEL-SCI for (i) breach of contract,
seeking at least $2 million in damages for services allegedly
performed by inVentiv; (ii) breach of contract, seeking at least $1
million in damages for CEL-SCI’s alleged use of
inVentiv’s name in connection with publications and
promotions in violation of the parties’ contract; (iii)
opportunistic breach, restitution and unjust enrichment, seeking at
least $20 million in disgorgement of alleged unjust profits
allegedly made by CEL-SCI as a result of the purported breaches
referenced in subsection (ii); and (iv) defamation, seeking at
least $1 million in damages for allegedly defamatory statements
made about inVentiv.
24
It
remains possible that the regulatory authorities could determine
that the Phase 3 study is not sufficient to support a marketing
application in the United States. Under this circumstance, at least
one entirely new Phase 3 clinical trial would need to be conducted
to support a marketing application in the United States. If there
is a need to conduct an additional Phase 3 clinical trial, any such
requirement would have significant and severe material consequences
for CEL-SCI and could impact CEL-SCI’s ability to continue as
a going concern.
CEL-SCI could also encounter significant delays
and/or need to terminate a development program for a product
candidate if physicians encounter unresolved ethical issues
associated with enrolling patients in clinical trials of the
product candidates in addition to existing treatments that have
established safety and efficacy profiles. Further, a clinical trial
may be suspended or terminated by CEL-SCI, one or more of the IRBs
for the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by
CEL-SCI upon a final recommendation by the Independent Data
Monitoring Committee, or IDMC, with which CEL-SCI agrees for such
trial, or by FDA or other regulatory authorities due to a number of
factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in
accordance with regulatory requirements or the clinical protocols,
as a result of inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial
site(s) by FDA or other regulatory authorities, the imposition of a
clinical hold or
partial clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side
effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a product
candidate, changes in governmental regulations or administrative
actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.
The occurrence of any one or more of these events would have
significant and severe material consequences for CEL-SCI and could
impact CEL-SCI’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
If
CEL-SCI experiences termination of, or delays in the completion of,
any clinical trial of its product candidates, the commercial
prospects for the product candidates will be harmed, and the
ability to generate product revenues will be delayed. In addition,
any delays in completing the clinical trials will increase the
costs, slow the product development and approval process and
jeopardize the ability to commence product sales and generate
revenues. Any of these occurrences may harm CEL-SCI’s
business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations
significantly. Many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay
in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also
ultimately lead to a delay or the denial of regulatory approval for
the product candidates.
CEL-SCI
cannot be certain when or under what conditions it will undertake
future clinical trials. A variety of issues may delay
the Phase 3 clinical trial for Multikine. Early trials for the
other product candidates, or the plans for later trials, may not
satisfy the requirements of regulatory authorities, such as the
FDA. CEL-SCI may fail to find subjects willing to enroll in the
trials. CEL-SCI manufactures Multikine in its manufacturing
facility, but relies on third-party vendors to manage the trial
process and other activities, and these vendors may fail to meet
appropriate standards. Accordingly, the clinical trials
relating to the product candidates may not be completed on
schedule, the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies may order CEL-SCI
to stop or modify research, or these agencies may not ultimately
approve any of the product candidates for commercial sale. Varying
interpretations of the data obtained from pre-clinical and clinical
testing could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval of the
product candidates. The data collected from the clinical trials may
not be sufficient to support regulatory approval of the various
product candidates, including Multikine. The failure to adequately
demonstrate the safety and efficacy of any of the product
candidates would delay or prevent regulatory approval of the
product candidates in the United States, which could prevent
CEL-SCI from achieving profitability. Although CEL-SCI had positive
results in the Phase 2 trials for Multikine, those results were for
a very small sample set, and CEL-SCI will not know how Multikine
will perform in a larger set of subjects until CEL-SCI is well
into, or completes, the Phase 3 clinical trial.
25
The
development and testing of product candidates and the process of
obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with
appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and
regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and
financial resources. Failure to comply with the
applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product
development process, approval process or after approval, may
subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions. FDA
sanctions could include, among other actions, refusal to approve
pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold,
termination of the Phase 3 study, warning letters, product recalls
or withdrawals from the market, product seizures, total or partial
suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines,
refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement or
civil or criminal penalties. Any agency or judicial enforcement
action could have a material adverse effect on
CEL-SCI.
The
requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials,
manufacturing and marketing of the product candidates, including
Multikine, outside the United States vary from country to country.
Foreign approvals may take longer to obtain than FDA approvals and
can require, among other things, additional testing and different
trial designs. Foreign regulatory approval processes include all of
the risks associated with the FDA approval process. Some of those
agencies also must approve prices for products approved for
marketing. Approval of a product by the FDA or the EMA does not
ensure approval of the same product by the health authorities of
other countries. In addition, changes in regulatory requirements
for product approval in any country during the clinical trial
process and regulatory agency review of each submitted new
application may cause delays or rejections.
CEL-SCI
has only limited experience in filing and pursuing applications
necessary to gain regulatory approvals. The lack of
experience may impede its ability to obtain timely approvals from
regulatory agencies, if at all. CEL-SCI will not be able to
commercialize Multikine and other product candidates until CEL-SCI
has obtained regulatory approval. In addition,
regulatory authorities may also limit the types of patients to
which CEL-SCI or its third-party partners may market Multikine or
the other product candidates. Any failure to obtain or any delay in
obtaining required regulatory approvals may adversely affect
CEL-SCI’s or its third-party partners’ ability to
successfully market the product candidates.
Even if CEL-SCI obtains regulatory approval for its investigational
products, CEL-SCI will be subject to stringent, ongoing government
regulation.
If
CEL-SCI’s investigational products receive regulatory
approval, either in the United States or internationally, those
products will be subject to limitations on the approved indicated
uses for which the product may be marketed or to the conditions of
approval, and may contain requirements for potentially costly
post-marketing testing, including Phase 4 clinical trials, and
surveillance of the safety and efficacy of the investigational
products. CEL-SCI will continue to be subject to
extensive regulatory requirements. These regulations are
wide-ranging and govern, among other things:
●
product
design, development and manufacture;
●
product
application and use
●
adverse
drug experience;
●
product
advertising and promotion;
26
●
product
manufacturing, including good manufacturing practices
●
record
keeping requirements;
●
registration
and listing of the establishments and products with the FDA, EMA
and other state and national agencies;
●
product
storage and shipping;
●
drug
sampling and distribution requirements;
●
electronic
record and signature requirements; and
●
labeling
changes or modifications.
CEL-SCI
and any of its third-party manufacturers or suppliers must
continually adhere to federal regulations setting forth
requirements, known as current Good Manufacturing Practices, or
cGMPs, and their foreign equivalents, which are enforced by the
FDA, the EMA and other national regulatory bodies through their
facilities inspection programs. If the facilities, or the
facilities of the contract manufacturers or suppliers, cannot pass
a pre-approval plant inspection or fail such inspections in the
future, the FDA, EMA or other national regulators will not approve
the marketing applications for the product candidates, or may
withdraw any prior approval. In complying with cGMP and foreign
regulatory requirements, CEL-SCI and any of its potential
third-party manufacturers or suppliers will be obligated to expend
time, money and effort in production, record-keeping and quality
control to ensure that the product candidates meet applicable
specifications and other requirements.
If
CEL-SCI does not comply with regulatory requirements at any stage,
whether before or after marketing approval is obtained, CEL-SCI may
be subject to, among other things, license suspension or
revocation, criminal prosecution, seizure, injunction, fines, be
forced to remove a product from the market or experience other
adverse consequences, including restrictions or delays in obtaining
regulatory marketing approval for such products or for other
product candidates for which CEL-SCI seeks
approval. This could materially harm CEL-SCI’s
financial results, reputation and stock price. Additionally,
CEL-SCI may not be able to obtain the labeling claims necessary or
desirable for product promotion. If CEL-SCI or other parties
identify adverse effects after any of the products are on the
market, or if manufacturing problems occur, regulatory approval may
be suspended or withdrawn. CEL-SCI may be required to reformulate
products, conduct additional clinical trials, make changes in
product labeling or indications of use, or submit additional
marketing applications to support any changes. If
CEL-SCI encounters any of the foregoing problems, its business and
results of operations will be harmed and the market price of its
common stock may decline.
The
FDA and other governmental authorities’ policies may change
and additional government regulations may be enacted that could
prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of CEL-SCI’s
product candidates. If CEL-SCI is slow or unable to adapt to
changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new
requirements or policies, or if CEL-SCI is not able to maintain
regulatory compliance, CEL-SCI may lose any marketing approval that
it may have obtained, which would adversely affect its business,
prospects and ability to achieve or sustain
profitability. CEL-SCI cannot predict the extent of
adverse government regulations which might arise from future
legislative or administrative action. Without government approval,
CEL-SCI will be unable to sell any of its product
candidates.
27
CEL-SCI’s product candidates may cause undesirable side
effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their
regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved
label, or result in significant negative consequences following
marketing approval, if any.
Undesirable
side effects caused by its product candidates could cause CEL-SCI
or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical
trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or
denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other comparable
foreign authorities. Results of the clinical trials could reveal a
high and unacceptable severity and/or prevalence of these or other
side effects. In such an event, the trials could be suspended or
terminated and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities
could order CEL-SCI to cease further development of, or deny
approval of, the product candidates for any or all targeted
indications. The drug-related side effects could affect patient
recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the
trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these
occurrences may harm CEL-SCI’s business, financial condition
and prospects significantly.
Additionally,
if one or more of the product candidates receives marketing
approval, and CEL-SCI or others later identify undesirable side
effects caused by such products, a number of potentially
significant negative consequences could result,
including:
●
regulatory
authorities may withdraw approvals of such product;
●
regulatory
authorities may require additional warnings on the
label;
●
CEL-SCI
may be required to create a medication guide outlining the risks of
such side effects for distribution to patients;
●
CEL-SCI
could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients;
and
●
CEL-SCI’s
reputation may suffer.
Any
of these events could prevent CEL-SCI from achieving or maintaining
market acceptance of a particular product candidate, if approved,
and could significantly harm its business, results of operations
and prospects.
28
CEL-SCI relies on third parties to conduct its preclinical and
clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry
out their contractual duties and meet regulatory requirements, or
meet expected deadlines, CEL-SCI may not be able to obtain
regulatory approval for or commercialize the product candidates and
its business could be substantially harmed.
CEL-SCI
has relied upon and plans to continue to rely upon third-party CROs
to prepare for, conduct, monitor and manage data for its ongoing
preclinical and clinical programs. CEL-SCI relies on these parties
for all aspects of the execution of its preclinical studies and
clinical trials, and although CEL-SCI diligently oversees and
carefully manages the CROs, CEL-SCI directly controls only certain
aspects of their activities and relies upon them to provide timely,
complete, and accurate reports on the conduct of the studies.
Although such third parties provide support and represent CEL-SCI
for regulatory purposes in the context of the clinical trials,
ultimately CEL-SCI is responsible for ensuring that each of the
studies is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol,
legal, regulatory, and scientific standards, and the reliance on
the CROs does not relieve CEL-SCI of its regulatory
responsibilities. CEL-SCI and the CROs acting on CEL-SCI’s
behalf, as well as principal investigators and trial sites, are
required to comply with Good Clinical Practice, or GCP, and other
applicable requirements, which are implemented through regulations
and guidelines enforced by the FDA, the Competent Authorities of
the Member States of the European Economic Area, or EEA, and
comparable foreign regulatory authorities for all of the products
in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCPs
through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal
investigators, and trial sites. If CEL-SCI or any of the CROs fail
to comply with applicable GCPs or other applicable regulations, the
clinical data generated in the clinical trials may be determined to
be unreliable and CEL-SCI may therefore need to enroll additional
subjects in the clinical trials, or the FDA, EMA or comparable
foreign regulatory authorities may require CEL-SCI to perform an
additional clinical trial or trials before approving the marketing
applications. Moreover, if CEL-SCI or any of the CROs, principal
investigators, or trial sites, fail to comply with applicable
regulatory and GCP requirements, CEL-SCI, the CROs, principal
investigators, or trial sites may be subject to enforcement
actions, such as fines, warning letters, untitled letters, clinical
holds, civil or criminal penalties, and/or injunctions. CEL-SCI
cannot assure you that upon inspection by a given regulatory
authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of the
clinical trials comply with GCP regulations. In addition, the
clinical trials must be conducted with product produced under GMP
regulations. The failure to comply with these regulations may
require CEL-SCI to delay or repeat clinical trials, which would
delay the regulatory approval process.
For
example, CEL-SCI is currently involved in a dispute with the former
CRO relating to the conduct of the Phase 3 study where CEL-SCI
alleges (i) breach of contract, (ii) fraud in the inducement and
(iii) fraud. In connection with this dispute, CEL-SCI has alleged
that the CRO failed to properly select, monitor and supervise the
study sites and principal investigators, ensure proper enrollment
of subjects, and ensure strict compliance with the Phase 3 trial
protocol and GCP and other applicable regulatory
requirements.
29
If
any of the relationships with the third-party CROs terminate,
CEL-SCI may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative
CROs or to do so on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, the
CROs are not CEL-SCI’s employees, and except for remedies
available to CEL-SCI under the agreements with such CROs, CEL-SCI
cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and
resources to the on-going clinical, nonclinical and preclinical
programs. If CROs do not successfully fulfill their regulatory
obligations, carry out their contractual duties or obligations or
meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the
quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised
due to the failure to adhere to the clinical protocols, regulatory
requirements or for other reasons, the clinical trials may be
extended, delayed or terminated, and CEL-SCI may not be able to
obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize the
product candidates. As a result, CEL-SCI’s results of
operations and the commercial prospects for the product candidates
would be harmed, the costs could increase and the ability to
generate revenues could be delayed.
Switching
or adding additional CROs involves additional cost and requires
management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural
transition period when a new CRO commences work. As a result,
delays may occur, which can materially impact CEL-SCI’s
ability to meet the desired clinical development timelines. Though
CEL-SCI diligently oversees and carefully manages its relationships
with the CROs, there can be no assurance that CEL-SCI will not
encounter similar challenges or delays in clinical development in
the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a
material adverse impact on CEL-SCI’s business, financial
condition and prospects.
CEL-SCI has obtained orphan drug designation from the FDA for
Multikine for neoadjuvant, or primary, therapy in patients with
squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, but CEL-SCI may be
unable to maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug
designation, including the potential for market
exclusivity.
Under
the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan drug designation to a
drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition,
which is defined as one occurring in a patient population of fewer
than 200,000 in the United States, or a patient population greater
than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable
expectation that the cost of developing the drug or biologic will
be recovered from sales in the United States. In the United States,
orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives
such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial
costs, tax advantages and user-fee waivers. In addition, if a
product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the
first FDA approval for the disease for which it has such
designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity,
which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications,
including a full Biologics License Application, or BLA, to market
the same biologic for the same indication for seven years, except
in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority
to the product with orphan drug exclusivity or where the
manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient product
quantity.
30
Even
though CEL-SCI has received orphan drug designation for Multikine
for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck,
CEL-SCI may not be the first to obtain marketing approval of a
product for the orphan-designated indication due to the
uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products.
In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be
limited if CEL-SCI seeks approval for an indication broader than
the orphan-designated indication, or may be lost if the FDA later
determines that the request for designation was materially
defective or if CEL-SCI is unable to assure sufficient quantities
of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease
or condition. Further, even if CEL-SCI obtains orphan drug
exclusivity for a product candidate, that exclusivity may not
effectively protect the product candidate from competition because
different drugs with different active moieties can be approved for
the same condition. Even after an orphan product is approved, the
FDA can subsequently approve another drug with the same active
moiety for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later
drug is safer, more effective, or makes a major contribution to
patient care. Orphan drug designation neither shortens the
development time or regulatory review time of a drug nor gives the
drug any advantage in the regulatory review or approval
process.
The current and future relationships with healthcare professionals,
principal investigators, consultants, potential customers and
third-party payors in the United States and elsewhere may be
subject, directly or indirectly, to applicable healthcare laws and
regulations.
Healthcare
providers, physicians and third-party payors in the United States
and elsewhere will play a primary role in the recommendation and
prescription of any drug candidates for which CEL-SCI obtains
marketing approval. The current and future arrangements with
healthcare professionals, principal investigators, consultants,
potential customers and third-party payors may expose CEL-SCI to
broadly applicable healthcare laws, including, without
limitation:
●
the
federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things,
persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering,
receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in
cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the
referral of an individual for, or the purchase, lease, order or
recommendation of, any good, facility, item or service, for which
payment may be made, in whole or in part, under federal and state
healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. A person or
entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or
specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation. In
addition, the Affordable Care Act provides that the government may
assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a
violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false
or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims
Act;
●
federal
civil and criminal false claims laws, including the federal False
Claims Act, which impose criminal and civil penalties, including
civil whistleblower actions, against individuals or entities for,
among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be
presented, to the federal government, including the Medicare and
Medicaid programs, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent
or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an
obligation to pay money to the federal government;
31
●
the
civil monetary penalties statute, which imposes penalties against
any person or entity who, among other things, is determined to have
presented or caused to be presented a claim to a federal health
program that the person knows or should know is for an item or
service that was not provided as claimed or is false or
fraudulent;
●
the
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996, or HIPAA, which created new federal criminal statutes that
prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to
execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or
obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations
or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the
custody or control of, any healthcare benefit program, regardless
of the payor (e.g., public or private), knowingly and willfully
embezzling or stealing from a health care benefit program,
willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a healthcare
offense and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or
covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any
materially false statements in connection with the delivery of, or
payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services relating to
healthcare matters. A person or entity does not need to have actual
knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have
committed a violation;
●
HIPAA,
as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and
Clinical Health Act of 2009, or HITECH, and their respective
implementing regulations, which impose obligations on covered
entities, including healthcare providers, health plans, and
healthcare clearinghouses, as well as their respective business
associates that create, receive, maintain or transmit individually
identifiable health information for or on behalf of a covered
entity, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and
transmission of individually identifiable health
information;
●
the
federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act and its implementing
regulations, which imposed annual reporting requirements for
certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals and medical
supplies for payments and “transfers of value” provided
to physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and
investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family
members; and
●
analogous
state and foreign laws, such as state anti-kickback and false
claims laws, which may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and
claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by
non-governmental third-party payors, including private insurers;
state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the
pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and
the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal
government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to
healthcare providers; state and foreign laws that require drug
manufacturers to report information related to payments and other
transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or
marketing expenditures; and state and foreign laws governing the
privacy and security of health information in certain
circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant
ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating
compliance efforts.
32
Efforts
to ensure that the future business arrangements with third parties
will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations may
involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental
authorities will conclude that the business practices may not
comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law
involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws. If
CEL-SCI’s operations are found to be in violation of any of
these laws or any other governmental regulations, CEL-SCI may be
subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative
penalties, including, without limitation, damages, fines,
imprisonment, exclusion from participation in government healthcare
programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the curtailment or
restructuring of the operations, all of which could significantly
harm CEL-SCI’s business. If any of the physicians or other
healthcare providers or entities with whom CEL-SCI expects to do
business, including current and future collaborators, are found not
to be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to
criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions
from participation in government healthcare programs, which could
also adversely affect CEL-SCI’s business.
Failure to obtain or maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement
for the product candidates, if approved, could limit the ability to
market those products and decrease CEL-SCI’s ability to
generate revenue.
Sales
of CEL-SCI’s product candidates will depend substantially,
both domestically and abroad, on the extent to which the costs of
the product candidates will be paid by health maintenance, managed
care, pharmacy benefit, and similar healthcare management
organizations, or reimbursed by government authorities, private
health insurers and other third-party payors. CEL-SCI anticipates
that government authorities and other third-party payors will
continue efforts to contain healthcare costs by limiting the
coverage and reimbursement levels for new drugs. If coverage and
reimbursement are not available, or are available only to limited
levels, CEL-SCI may not be able to successfully commercialize its
product candidates. Even if coverage is provided, the approved
reimbursement amount may not be high enough to allow CEL-SCI to
establish or maintain pricing sufficient to realize a return on its
investment. It is difficult to predict at this time what
third-party payors will decide with respect to the coverage and
reimbursement for CEL-SCI’s product candidates.
Healthcare legislative reform measures may have a material adverse
effect on CEL-SCI’s business and results of
operations.
In
the United States, there have been and continue to be a number of
legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs that may result
in more limited coverage or downward pressure on the price CEL-SCI
may otherwise receive for its product candidates. For example, in
March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as
amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or
collectively, the Affordable Care Act, was passed, which
substantially changes the way health care is financed by both
governmental and private insurers, and significantly impacts the
U.S. pharmaceutical industry. The Affordable Care Act, among other
things, addressed a new methodology by which rebates owed by
manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated
for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or
injected, increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by
manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and extended
the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care
organizations, established annual fees and taxes on manufacturers
of certain branded prescription drugs, and established the Center
for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation with broad authority to test
and implement new payment models under Medicare and Medicaid, which
are designed to reduce expenditures while preserving and enhancing
quality of care.
33
In
addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted
in the United States since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. On
August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 among other things,
created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint
Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a
targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years
2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby
triggering the legislation's automatic reduction to several
government programs. This includes aggregate reductions of Medicare
payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect
in April 2013 and, due to subsequent legislative amendments to the
statute, will remain in effect through 2024 unless additional
Congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013, former President
Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012,
which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to
several providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer
treatment centers. On April 16, 2015, former President Obama signed
into law the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015,
or MACRA. Among other things, MACRA creates incentives for
physicians to participate in alternative payment models under
Medicare that emphasize quality and value in place of the
traditional, volume-based fee-for-service program. CEL-SCI expects
that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will
be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that
federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and
services, which could result in reduced demand for its product
candidates or additional pricing pressures.
Foreign governments often impose strict price controls, which may
adversely affect CEL-SCI’s future profitability.
CEL-SCI
intends to seek approval to market Multikine in both the United
States and foreign jurisdictions. If CEL-SCI obtains approval in
one or more foreign jurisdictions, CEL-SCI will be subject to rules
and regulations in those jurisdictions relating to Multikine. In
some foreign countries, particularly in the European Union,
prescription drug pricing is subject to governmental control. In
these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities
can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval
for a drug candidate. Coverage and reimbursement decisions in one
foreign jurisdiction may impact decisions in other countries. To
obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, CEL-SCI
may be required to conduct clinical trials that demonstrate the
product candidate is more effective than current treatments and
that compare the cost-effectiveness of Multikine to other available
therapies. If reimbursement of Multikine is unavailable or limited
in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels,
CEL-SCI may be unable to achieve or sustain
profitability.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
CEL-SCI may not be able to achieve or maintain a competitive
position, and other technological developments may result in its
proprietary technologies becoming uneconomical or
obsolete.
CEL-SCI
is involved in a biomedical field that is undergoing rapid and
significant technological change. The pace of change continues to
accelerate. The successful development of product
candidates from the compounds, compositions and processes, through
research financed by CEL-SCI, or as a result of possible
third-party licensing arrangements with pharmaceutical or other
companies, is not assured. CEL-SCI may fail to apply for
patents on important technologies or product candidates in a timely
fashion, or at all.
34
Many
companies are working on drugs designed to cure or treat cancer or
cure and treat viruses, such as HPV or H1N1. Many of
these companies have financial, research and development, and
marketing resources, which are much greater than CEL-SCI’s,
and are capable of providing significant long-term competition
either by establishing in-house research groups or by forming
collaborative ventures with other entities. In addition, smaller
companies and non-profit institutions are active in research
relating to cancer and infectious diseases. The future
market share of Multikine or the other product candidates, if
approved, will be reduced or eliminated if the competitors develop
and obtain approval for products that are safer or more effective
than CEL-SCI’S product candidates. Moreover, the
patent positions of pharmaceutical companies are highly uncertain
and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important
legal principles are often evolving and remain unresolved. As a
result, the validity and enforceability of patents cannot be
predicted with certainty. In addition, CEL-SCI does not know
whether:
●
CEL-SCI
was the first to make the inventions covered by each of its issued
patents and pending patent applications;
●
CEL-SCI
was the first to file patent applications for these
inventions;
●
others
will independently develop similar or alternative technologies or
duplicate any of the technologies;
●
any
of the pending patent applications will result in issued
patents;
●
any
of the patents will be valid or enforceable;
●
any
patents issued to CEL-SCI or the collaboration partners will
provide CEL-SCI with any competitive advantages, or will be
challenged by third parties;
●
CEL-SCI
will be able to develop additional proprietary technologies that
are patentable;
●
the
U.S. government will exercise any of its statutory rights to
CEL-SCI’s intellectual property that was developed with
government funding; or
●
its
business may infringe the patents or other proprietary rights of
others.
CEL-SCI’s patents might not protect its technology from
competitors, in which case CEL-SCI may not have any advantage over
competitors in selling any products that CEL-SCI may
develop.
CEL-SCI’s
commercial success will depend in part on its ability to obtain
additional patents and protect its existing patent position, as
well as its ability to maintain adequate intellectual property
protection for the technologies, product candidates, and any future
products in the United States and other countries. If CEL-SCI does
not adequately protect its technology, product candidates and
future products, competitors may be able to use or practice them
and erode or negate any competitive advantage CEL-SCI may have,
which could harm CEL-SCI’s business and its ability to
achieve profitability. The laws of some foreign countries do not
protect the proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same
manner as U.S. laws, and CEL-SCI may encounter significant problems
in protecting and defending its proprietary rights in these
countries. CEL-SCI will be able to protect its proprietary rights
from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that its
proprietary technologies, product candidates and any future
products are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are
effectively maintained as trade secrets.
35
Certain
aspects of CEL-SCI’s technologies are covered by U.S. and
foreign patents. In addition, CEL-SCI has a number of new patent
applications pending. There is no assurance that the applications
still pending or which may be filed in the future will result in
the issuance of any patents. Furthermore, there is no assurance as
to the breadth and degree of protection any issued patents might
afford CEL-SCI. Disputes may arise between CEL-SCI and others as to
the scope and validity of these or other patents. Any defense of
the patents could prove costly and time consuming and there can be
no assurance that CEL-SCI will be in a position, or will deem it
advisable, to carry on such a defense. A suit for patent
infringement could result in increasing costs, delaying or halting
development, or even forcing CEL-SCI to abandon a product
candidate. Other private and public concerns, including
universities, may have filed applications for, may have been
issued, or may obtain additional patents and other proprietary
rights to technology potentially useful or necessary to CEL-SCI.
CEL-SCI is not currently aware of any such patents, but the scope
and validity of such patents, if any, and the cost and availability
of such rights are impossible to predict.
Much of CEL-SCI’s intellectual property is protected as trade
secrets or confidential know-how, not as a patent.
CEL-SCI
considers proprietary trade secrets and/or confidential know-how
and unpatented know-how to be important to its
business. Much of the intellectual property pertains to
CEL-SCI’S manufacturing system, certain aspects of which may
not be suitable for patent filings and must be protected as trade
secrets and/or confidential know-how. This type of
information must be protected diligently by CEL-SCI to protect its
disclosure to competitors, since legal protections after disclosure
may be minimal or non-existent. Accordingly, much of the
value of this intellectual property is dependent upon the ability
of CEL-SCI to keep its trade secrets and know-how
confidential.
To
protect this type of information against disclosure or
appropriation by competitors, CEL-SCI’s policy is to require
its employees, consultants, contractors and advisors to enter into
confidentiality agreements with CEL-SCI. However, current or former
employees, consultants, contractors and advisers may
unintentionally or willfully disclose the confidential information
to competitors, and confidentiality agreements may not provide an
adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of
confidential information. Enforcing a claim that a third party
obtained illegally, and is using, trade secrets and/or confidential
know-how is expensive, time consuming and unpredictable. The
enforceability of confidentiality agreements may vary from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
In
addition, in some cases a regulator considering the application for
product candidate approval may require the disclosure of some or
all of the proprietary information. In such a case,
CEL-SCI must decide whether to disclose the information or forego
approval in a particular country. If CEL-SCI is unable
to market its product candidates in key countries, CEL-SCI’s
opportunities and value may suffer.
Failure
to obtain or maintain trade secrets and/or confidential know-how
trade protection could adversely affect CEL-SCI’S competitive
position. Moreover, competitors may independently develop
substantially equivalent proprietary information and may even apply
for patent protection in respect of the same. If successful in
obtaining such patent protection, competitors could limit the use
of such trade secrets and/or confidential know-how.
36
CEL-SCI may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship or
ownership of its patents and other intellectual
property.
CEL-SCI
may also be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators
or other third parties have an ownership interest in its patents or
other intellectual property. CEL-SCI may be subject to ownership
disputes in the future arising, for example, from conflicting
obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing
the product candidates. Litigation may be necessary to defend
against these and other claims challenging inventorship or
ownership. If CEL-SCI fails in defending any such claims, in
addition to paying monetary damages, CEL-SCI may lose valuable
intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or
right to use, valuable intellectual property. Such an outcome could
have a material adverse effect on its business. Even if CEL-SCI is
successful in defending against such claims, litigation could
result in substantial costs and be a distraction to CEL-SCI’s
management and employees.
Risks Related to CEL-SCI’s common stock
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity
offerings or other equity issuances.
CEL-SCI
expects that significant additional capital will be needed in the
future to continue its planned operations. To raise additional
capital, CEL-SCI may in the future offer additional shares of its
common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable
for its common stock. To the extent CEL-SCI
raises additional capital by issuing equity securities,
CEL-SCI’s stockholders may experience substantial dilution.
These sales may result in material dilution to CEL-SCI’s
existing stockholders and new investors could gain rights superior
to existing stockholders.
CEL-SCI’s outstanding options, warrants and convertible notes
may adversely affect the trading price of its common
stock.
As
of September 30, 2017, there were outstanding warrants, convertible
notes and options which allow the holders to purchase 11,558,444
shares of common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of
outstanding warrants, with a weighted average exercise price of
$8.40 per share, 1,166,106 shares that may be issued upon the
conversion of outstanding notes, with a weighted average conversion
price of $1.97 per share and 1,239,844 shares that may be issued
upon the exercise of outstanding options, with a weighted average
exercise price of $16.44 per share. The outstanding options, notes
and warrants could adversely affect the ability of CEL-SCI to
obtain future financing or engage in certain mergers or other
transactions, since the holders of options and warrants can be
expected to exercise them at a time when CEL-SCI may be able to
obtain additional capital through a new offering of securities on
terms more favorable to CEL-SCI than the terms of the outstanding
options and warrants. For the life of the options, notes and
warrants, the holders have the opportunity to profit from a rise in
the market price of its common stock without assuming the risk of
ownership. The issuance of shares upon the exercise or
conversion of outstanding options, notes and warrants will also
dilute the ownership interests of CEL-SCI’s existing
stockholders.
37
CEL-SCI’s ability to utilize its net operating loss
carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be
limited.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership
change” (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by
value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period), the
corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating
loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset
its post-change income may be limited. As a result of public
offerings and other transactions, CEL-SCI may experience ownership
changes in the future based on subsequent shifts in CEL-SCI’s
stock ownership, some of which are outside its control. As a
result, the ability to use the pre-change net operating loss
carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset U.S.
federal taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could
result in increased tax liability to CEL-SCI.
Since CEL-SCI does not intend to pay dividends on its common stock,
any potential return to investors will result only from any
increases in the price of its common stock.
At
the present time, CEL-SCI intends to use available funds to finance
its operations. Accordingly, while payment of dividends rests
within the discretion of its board of directors, no common stock
dividends have been declared or paid by CEL-SCI and CEL-SCI has no
intention of paying any common stock dividends in the foreseeable
future. Additionally, any future debt financing arrangement may
contain terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that
may be declared or paid on CEL-SCI’s common
stock. Any return to CEL-SCI’s shareholders will
therefore be limited to appreciation in the price of its common
stock, which may never occur. If CEL-SCI’s stock
price does not increase, CEL-SCI’S shareholders are unlikely
to receive any return on their investments in CEL-SCI’s
common stock.
The price of CEL-SCI’s common stock has been volatile and is
likely to continue to be volatile, which could result in
substantial losses for CEL-SCI’s shareholders.
CEL-SCI’s
stock price has been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile. As
a result of this volatility, CEL-SCI’s shareholders may not
be able to sell their shares at or above its current market price.
The market price for CEL-SCI’s common stock may be influenced
by many factors, including:
●
actual
or anticipated fluctuations in CEL-SCI’s financial condition
and operating results;
●
actual
or anticipated changes in CEL-SCI’s growth rate relative to
competitors;
●
competition
from existing products or new products or product candidates that
may emerge;
●
development
of new technologies that may make CEL-SCI’s technology less
attractive;
●
changes
in physician, hospital or healthcare provider practices that may
make CEL-SCI’s product candidates less useful;
●
announcements
by CEL-SCI, its partners or competitors of significant
acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures,
collaborations or capital commitments;
●
developments
or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents or other
proprietary rights;
38
●
the
recruitment or departure of key personnel;
●
failure
to meet or exceed financial estimates and projections of the
investment community or that CEL-SCI provides to the
public;
●
actual
or anticipated changes in estimates as to financial results,
development timelines or recommendations by securities
analysts;
●
variations
in its financial results or those of companies that are perceived
to be similar to CEL-SCI;
●
changes
to coverage and reimbursement levels by commercial third-party
payors and government payors, including Medicare, and any
announcements relating to reimbursement levels;
●
general
economic, industry and market conditions; and
●
the
other factors described in this “Risk Factors”
section.
CEL-SCI has been advised that it is not in compliance with certain
continued listing standards of the NYSE American.
On
December 9, 2016, CEL-SCI received a letter from the NYSE American,
its current listing exchange, which advised CEL-SCI that, based
upon its quarterly report for the quarter ended June 30, 2016,
CEL-SCI was noncompliant with certain continued listing standards
of the NYSE American. CEL-SCI can maintain its listing by
submitting a plan of compliance by January 9, 2017. This plan must
advise of actions CEL-SCI has taken or will take to regain
compliance with the continued listing standards by June 11, 2018.
CEL-SCI submitted such a plan on January 9, 2017. On February 24,
2017, the NYSE American accepted CEL-SCI’s plan of compliance
and granted CEL-SCI until June 11, 2018 to regain compliance with
the continued listing standards. Although, the NYSE American will
not normally remove the securities if an issuer has a market
capitalization of at least $50 million if CEL-SCI does not make
sufficient progress under the plan to reestablish compliance by
June 11, 2018, the staff of the exchange may initiate proceedings
to delist CEL-SCI’s securities from the NYSE American.
CEL-SCI may appeal a delisting determination in accordance with the
rules of the exchange.
The
letter from the NYSE American has no immediate effect on the
listing of CEL-SCI’s securities on the exchange.
39
Under its amended bylaws, stockholders that initiate certain
proceedings may be obligated to reimburse CEL-SCI and its officers
and directors for all fees, costs and expenses incurred in
connection with such proceedings if the claim proves
unsuccessful.
On
February 18, 2015, CEL-SCI adopted new bylaws which include a
fee-shifting provision in Article X for stockholder claims. Article
X provides that in the event any stockholder initiates or asserts a
claim against CEL-SCI, or any of its officers or directors,
including any derivative claim or claim purportedly filed on
CEL-SCI’s behalf, and the stockholder does not obtain a
judgment on the merits that substantially achieves, in substance
and amount, the full remedy sought, then the stockholder will be
obligated to reimburse CEL-SCI and any of its officers or directors
named in the action, for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind
and description that CEL-SCI or its officers or directors may incur
in connection with the claim. In adopting Article X, it
is the intent that:
●
all
actions, including federal securities law claims, would be subject
to Article X;
●
the
phrase “a judgment on the merits” means the
determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on the matters
submitted to the court;
●
the
phrase “substantially achieves, in both substance and
amount” means the plaintiffs in the action would be awarded
at least 90% of the relief sought;
●
only
persons who were stockholders at the time an action was brought
would be subject to Article X; and
●
only
the directors or officers named in the action would be allowed to
recover.
The
fee-shifting provision contained in Article X of the bylaws is not
limited to specific types of actions, but is rather potentially
applicable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Fee-shifting
bylaws are relatively new and untested. The case law and potential
legislative action on fee-shifting bylaws are evolving and there
exists considerable uncertainty regarding the validity of, and
potential judicial and legislative responses to, such bylaws. For
example, it is unclear whether the ability to invoke the
fee-shifting bylaw in connection with claims under the federal
securities laws would be pre-empted by federal law. Similarly, it
is unclear how courts might apply the standard that a claiming
stockholder must obtain a judgment that substantially achieves, in
substance and amount, the full remedy sought. The application of
the fee-shifting bylaw in connection with such claims, if any, will
depend in part on future developments of the law. CEL-SCI cannot
assure its shareholders that CEL-SCI will or will not invoke the
fee-shifting bylaw in any particular dispute In addition, given the
unsettled state of the law related to fee-shifting bylaws, such as
CEL-SCI’s, CEL-SCI may incur significant additional costs
associated with resolving disputes with respect to such bylaw,
which could adversely affect its business and financial
condition.
If
a stockholder that brings any such claim, suit, action or
proceeding is unable to obtain the required judgment, the
attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses that might be
shifted to a claiming stockholder are potentially significant. This
fee-shifting bylaw, therefore, may dissuade or discourage
stockholders (and their attorneys) from initiating lawsuits or
claims against CEL-SCI or its directors and officers. In
addition, it may impact the fees, contingency or otherwise,
required by potential plaintiffs’ attorneys to represent the
stockholders or otherwise discourage plaintiffs’ attorneys
from representing the stockholders at all. As a result, this bylaw
may limit the ability of stockholders to affect the management and
direction of CEL-SCI, particularly through litigation or the threat
of litigation.
40
The provision of the amended bylaws requiring exclusive venue in
the U.S. District Court for Delaware for certain types of lawsuits
may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against CEL-SCI and
its directors and officers.
Article
X of CEL-SCI’s amended bylaws provides that stockholder
claims brought against CEL-SCI, or its officers or directors,
including any derivative claim or claim purportedly filed on
CEL-SCI’s behalf, must be brought in the U.S. District Court
for the district of Delaware and that with respect to any such
claim, the laws of Delaware will apply.
The
exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability
to bring a claim in a judicial forum the stockholder finds
favorable for disputes with CEL-SCI or its directors or officers,
and may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits with respect to
claims that may benefit CEL-SCI or the stockholders.
ITEM
1B.
UNRESOLVED SEC COMMENTS
None
ITEM
2.
PROPERTIES
CEL-SCI
leases office space at 8229 Boone Blvd., Suite 802, Vienna,
Virginia at a monthly rental of approximately $8,000. The lease on
the office space expires on June 30, 2020. CEL-SCI believes this
arrangement is adequate for the conduct of its present
business.
CEL-SCI
has a 17,900 square foot laboratory located in Baltimore, Maryland.
The laboratory is leased by CEL-SCI at a cost of approximately
$13,000 per month. The laboratory lease expires on February 28,
2022.
In
August 2007, CEL-SCI leased a building near Baltimore, Maryland
(the San Tomas lease). The building, which consists of
approximately 73,000 square feet, has been remodeled in accordance
with CEL-SCI’s specifications so that it can be used by
CEL-SCI to manufacture Multikine for CEL-SCI’s Phase 3
clinical trial and sales of the drug if approved by the FDA. The
lease expires on October 31, 2028 and required annual base rent
payments of approximately $1.7 million during the twelve months
ended September 30, 2017. The annual base rent escalates each year
at 3% beginning on November 1st. CEL-SCI is also required to pay
all real and personal property taxes, insurance premiums,
maintenance expenses, repair costs and utilities, which were
approximately $46,000 per month as of September 30, 2017. The lease
allows CEL-SCI, at its election, to extend the lease for two
ten-year periods or to purchase the building at the end of the
20-year lease. The Company is not the legal owner of the
manufacturing building, but is deemed to be the owner for the
accounting purposes based on the accounting guidance for
build-to-suit leases under ASC 840-40-55.The lease required CEL-SCI
to pay $3,150,000 towards the remodeling costs, which is being
recouped by reductions in the annual base rent of $303,228
beginning in fiscal year 2014. In August 2011, CEL-SCI was required
to deposit $1,670,917, the equivalent of one year of base rent. The
$1,670,917 was required to be deposited when the amount of
CEL-SCI’s cash had dropped below the amount stipulated in the
lease and is included in non-current assets at September 30,
2017.
41
ITEM
3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
CEL-SCI is
currently involved in a pending arbitration proceeding, CEL-SCI
Corporation v. inVentiv Health Clinical, LLC (f/k/a PharmaNet LLC)
and PharmaNet GmbH (f/k/a PharmaNet AG). CEL-SCI initiated the
proceedings against inVentiv Health Clinical LLC, or inVentiv,
CEL-SCI’s former third-party CRO, and is seeking payment for
damages related to inVentiv’s prior involvement in the Phase
3 clinical trial of Multikine. The arbitration claim, initiated
under the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association,
alleges (i) breach of contract, (ii) fraud in the inducement, and
(iii) common law fraud. Currently,
CEL-SCI seeks at least $50 million in damages in its amended
statement of claim.
In an
amended statement of claim, CEL-SCI asserted the claims set forth
above as well as an additional claim for professional
malpractice. The arbitrator subsequently granted
inVentiv’s motion to dismiss the professional malpractice
claim based on the “economic loss doctrine” which,
under New Jersey law, is a legal doctrine that, under certain
circumstances, prohibits bringing a negligence-based claim
alongside a claim for breach of contract. The arbitrator
denied the remainder of inVentiv’s motion, which had sought
to dismiss certain other aspects of the amended statement of
claim. In particular, the arbitrator rejected
inVentiv’s argument that several aspects of the amended
statement of claim were beyond the arbitrator’s
jurisdiction.
In
connection with the pending arbitration proceedings, inVentiv has
asserted counterclaims against CEL-SCI for (i) breach of contract,
seeking at least $2 million in damages for services allegedly
performed by inVentiv; (ii) breach of contract, seeking at least $1
million in damages for CEL-SCI’s alleged use of
inVentiv’s name in connection with publications and
promotions in violation of the parties’ contract; (iii)
opportunistic breach, restitution and unjust enrichment, seeking at
least $20 million in disgorgement of alleged unjust profits
allegedly made by CEL-SCI as a result of the purported breaches
referenced in subsection (ii); and (iv) defamation, seeking at
least $1 million in damages for allegedly defamatory statements
made about inVentiv. CEL-SCI believes inVentiv’s
counterclaims are meritless. However, if inVentiv successfully
asserts any of its counterclaims, such an adverse determination
could have a material adverse effect on CEL-SCI’s business,
results, financial condition and liquidity.
In
October 2015, CEL-SCI signed an arbitration funding agreement with
a company established by Lake Whillans Litigation Finance, LLC, a
firm specializing in funding litigation expenses. Pursuant to the
agreement, an affiliate of Lake Whillans provides CEL-SCI with
funding for litigation expenses to support its arbitration claims
against inVentiv. The funding is available to CEL-SCI to fund the
expenses of the ongoing arbitration and will only be repaid when
CEL-SCI receives proceeds from the arbitration.
The
arbitration hearing on the merits (the “trial”) started
on September 26, 2016 and was originally scheduled to end in
November/December of 2016. On November
13, 2017, CEL-SCI announced that the last witness in the
arbitration hearing testified on November 8, 2017, and no further
witnesses or testimony are expected. With that final witness, the
testimony phase of the arbitration concluded. All that remains at
the trial level are closing statements and post-trial
submissions.
42
ITEM 4. MINE
SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5.
MARKET FOR CEL-SCI'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.
As of
September 30, 2017, there were approximately 800 record holders of
CEL-SCI’s common stock. CEL-SCI’s common stock is
traded on the NYSE American under the symbol
“CVM”.
On June
12, 2017, CEL-SCI’s shareholders approved a reverse split of
CEL-SCI’s common stock. The reverse split became effective on
the NYSE American on June 15, 2017. On that date, every twenty-five
issued and outstanding shares of CEL-SCI’s common stock
automatically converted into one outstanding share.
As a
result of the reverse stock split, the number of CEL-SCI’s
outstanding shares of common stock decreased from 230,127,331
(pre-split) shares to 9,214,645 (post-split) shares.
Shown
below are the post-split range of high and low quotations for
CEL-SCI’s common stock for the periods indicated as reported
on the NYSE American. The market quotations reflect inter-dealer
prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commissions and may
not necessarily represent actual transactions.
|
Quarter
Ending
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/2015
|
$18.75
|
$9.00
|
|
3/31/2016
|
$16.50
|
$9.00
|
|
6/30/2016
|
$15.00
|
$11.00
|
|
9/30/2016
|
$13.50
|
$6.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/16
|
$7.75
|
$1.50
|
|
3/31/2017
|
$4.50
|
$1.75
|
|
6/30/2017
|
$4.00
|
$1.46
|
|
9/30/2017
|
$3.69
|
$1.57
|
Holders
of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be
declared by CEL-SCI’s Board of Directors out of legally
available funds and, in the event of liquidation, to share pro rata
in any distribution of CEL-SCI’s assets after payment of
liabilities. CEL-SCI’s Board of Directors is not obligated to
declare a dividend. CEL-SCI has not paid any dividends on its
common stock and CEL-SCI does not have any current plans to pay any
common stock dividends.
43
The
provisions in CEL-SCI’s Articles of Incorporation relating to
CEL-SCI’s preferred stock allow CEL-SCI’s directors to
issue preferred stock with rights to multiple votes per share and
dividend rights which would have priority over any dividends paid
with respect to CEL-SCI’s common stock. The issuance of
preferred stock with such rights may make more difficult the
removal of management even if such removal would be considered
beneficial to shareholders generally, and will have the effect of
limiting shareholder participation in certain transactions such as
mergers or tender offers if such transactions are not favored by
incumbent management.
The
market price of CEL-SCI’s common stock, as well as the
securities of other biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies,
have historically been highly volatile, and the market has from
time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations
that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular
companies. Factors such as fluctuations in CEL-SCI’s
operating results, announcements of technological innovations or
new therapeutic products by CEL-SCI or its competitors,
governmental regulation, developments in patent or other
proprietary rights, public concern as to the safety of products
which may be developed by CEL-SCI or other biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies, and general market conditions may have a
significant effect on the market price of CEL-SCI’s common
stock.
The
graph below matches the cumulative 5-year total return of holders
of CEL-SCI’s common stock with the cumulative total returns
of the NYSE American Composite index and the RDG MicroCap
Biotechnology index. The graph assumes that the value of an
investment in CEL-SCI's common stock and in each of the indexes
(including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on September 30,
2012 and tracks it through September 30, 2017.
44
The
stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily
indicative of future stock price performance.
|
|
9/12
|
9/13
|
9/14
|
9/15
|
9/16
|
9/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEL-SCI Corporation
|
100.00
|
49.28
|
26.43
|
17.39
|
8.84
|
1.92
|
|
NYSE American
|
100.00
|
92.32
|
105.61
|
75.60
|
83.69
|
87.12
|
|
RDG MicroCap Biotechnology
|
100.00
|
91.20
|
74.12
|
58.64
|
30.77
|
21.86
|
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
We are
a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the
information required under this item.
45
ITEM
7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing
elsewhere in this report.
CEL-SCI’s
lead investigational therapy, Multikine, is cleared for a Phase 3
clinical trial in advanced primary head and neck cancer. It has
received a go-ahead by the U.S. FDA as well as twenty-three other
countries.
On
September 26, 2016, CEL-SCI received verbal notice from the FDA
that the Phase 3 clinical trial in advanced primary head and neck
cancer has been placed on clinical hold. Pursuant to this
communication from FDA, patients currently receiving study
treatments could continue to receive treatment, and patients
already enrolled in the study continued to be
followed.
On
August 10, 2017, CEL-SCI received a letter from the FDA stating
that the clinical hold that had been imposed on the Phase 3 cancer
study with Multikine has been removed and that all clinical trial
activities under this IND may resume.
CEL-SCI
also owns and is developing a pre-clinical technology called
LEAPS.
All of
CEL-SCI’s projects are under development. As a result,
CEL-SCI cannot predict when it will be able to generate any revenue
from the sale of any of its products.
Since
inception, CEL-SCI has financed its operations through the issuance
of equity securities, convertible notes, loans and certain research
grants. CEL-SCI’s expenses will likely exceed its revenues as
it continues the development of Multikine and brings other drug
candidates into clinical trials. Until such time as CEL-SCI becomes
profitable, any or all of these financing vehicles or others may be
utilized to assist CEL-SCI’s capital
requirements.
Results of Operations
Fiscal 2017
During
the year ended September 30, 2017, grant and other income decreased
by approximately $216,000 compared to the year ended September 30,
2016. The decrease is primarily due to the timing of drug shipments
to supply the Company’s partner in Taiwan during fiscal year
2017 compared to fiscal year 2016.
During
the year ended September 30, 2017, research and development
expenses decreased by approximately $1.8 million compared to the
year ended September 30, 2016. The Company is continuing the Phase
3 clinical trial and research and development fluctuates based on
the activity level of the clinical trial.
46
During
the year ended September 30, 2017, general and administrative
expenses decreased by approximately $686,000, compared to the year
ended September 30, 2016. Major components of the decrease are an
approximate $839,000 decrease in compensation costs, of which
approximately $733,000 relates to stock compensation, and an
approximate decrease of $915,000 related to non-employee
compensation costs for consultants, of which approximately $519,000
relates to stock compensation, and a net decrease of other general
and administrative expenses of approximately $32,000. These
decreases are offset by an approximate $1.1 million gain on
de-recognition of legal fees recorded during the year ended
September 30, 2016 due to the transfer of the liability that
existed prior to the execution of the Lake Whillians financing
agreement from the Company to Lake Whillans. The gain on
de-recognition of legal fees is recorded as a reduction of general
and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30,
2016.
During
the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded a
derivative gain of approximately $11.0 million and $14.0 million,
respectively. This variation was the result of the change in fair
value of the derivative liabilities during the period which was
caused by fluctuations in the share price of CEL-SCI’s common
stock.
Net
interest expense increased approximately $2.2 million during the
year ended September 30, 2017 compared to the year ended September
30, 2016, primarily due to an approximate $1.34 million in interest
expense recorded on a stock financing transaction with Ergomed and
$0.9 million interest expense relating to the amortization of debt
discounts and accrued interest on convertible notes payable issued
during fiscal 2017.
Research and Development Expenses
During
the five years ended September 30, 2017, CEL-SCI’s research
and development efforts involved Multikine and LEAPS. The table
below shows the research and development expenses associated with
each project during this five-year period.
|
|
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MULTIKINE
|
$15,253,190
|
$17,054,474
|
$18,697,940
|
$14,891,411
|
$10,650,239
|
|
LEAPS
|
353,795
|
390,908
|
493,810
|
374,778
|
377,485
|
|
TOTAL
|
$15,606,985
|
$17,445,382
|
$19,191,750
|
$15,266,189
|
$11,027,724
|
In
January 2007, CEL-SCI received a “no objection” letter
from the FDA indicating that it could proceed with Phase 3 trials
with Multikine in head and neck cancer patients. CEL-SCI
had previously received a “no objection” letter from
the Canadian Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate which
enabled CEL-SCI to begin its Phase 3 clinical trial in
Canada. Subsequently, CEL-SCI received similar
authorizations from twenty-three other
regulators.
CEL-SCI’s
Phase 3 clinical trial began in December 2010 after the completion
and validation of CEL-SCI’s dedicated manufacturing
facility.
47
As
explained in Item 1 of this report, as of November 30, 2017,
CEL-SCI was involved in pre-clinical studies with respect to its
LEAPS technology. As with Multikine, CEL-SCI does not know what
obstacles it will encounter in future pre-clinical and clinical
studies involving its LEAPS technology. Consequently, CEL-SCI
cannot predict with any certainty the funds required for future
research and clinical trials and the timing of future research and
development projects.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
CEL-SCI
has had only limited revenues from operations since its inception
in March 1983. CEL-SCI has relied upon capital generated
from the public and private offerings of its common stock and
convertible notes. In addition, CEL-SCI has utilized
short-term loans to meet its capital
requirements. Capital raised by CEL-SCI has been used to
acquire an exclusive worldwide license to use, and later purchase,
certain patented and unpatented proprietary technology and know-how
relating to the human immunological defense system and for clinical
trials. Capital has also been used for patent
applications, debt repayment, research and development,
administrative costs, and the construction of CEL-SCI’s
laboratory facilities. CEL-SCI does not anticipate
realizing significant revenues until it enters into licensing
arrangements regarding its technology and know-how or until it
receives regulatory approval to sell its products (which could take
a number of years). As a result, CEL-SCI has been dependent upon
the proceeds from the sale of its securities to meet all of its
liquidity and capital requirements and anticipates having to do so
in the future. During fiscal year 2017 and 2016, CEL-SCI raised net
proceeds of approximately $13.3 million and $21.4 million,
respectively, through the sale of stock and the issuance of
convertible notes.
In
August 2007, CEL-SCI leased a building near Baltimore, Maryland.
The building, which consists of approximately 73,000 square feet,
has been remodeled in accordance with CEL-SCI’s
specifications so that it can be used by CEL-SCI to manufacture
Multikine for CEL-SCI’s Phase III clinical trials and sales
of the drug if approved by the FDA. The lease expires on October
31, 2028, and required annual base rent payments of approximately
$1.7 million during the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. See
Item 2 of this report for more information concerning the terms of
this lease.
On
October 28, 2015, CEL-SCI closed an underwritten public offering of
688,930 shares of common stock and 688,930 Series W warrants to
purchase shares of common stock. The common stock and warrants were
sold at a combined per unit price of $16.75 for net proceeds of
approximately $10.5 million, net of underwriting discounts and
commissions and offering expenses. The Series W warrants are
immediately exercisable at a price of $16.75 and expire on October
28, 2020. As of September 30, 2017, none of the Series W warrants
had been exercised.
In
January 2016, CEL-SCI repaid the note payable to the de Clara
Trust, the balance of which was approximately $1.1 million,
including principal and interest At the same time, the Company sold
120,000 shares of its common stock and 120,000 Series X warrants to
the de Clara Trust for approximately $1.1 million, as noted above.
Geert Kersten, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and a
director, is a beneficiary of the de Clara Trust. Each Series X
warrant allows the de Clara Trust to purchase one share of the
CEL-SCI’s common stock at a price of $9.25 per share at any
time on or before January 13, 2021. As of September 30, 2017, none
of the Series X warrants had been exercised.
48
In
February 2016, CEL-SCI sold 52,000 shares of its common stock and
26,000 Series Y warrants to a private investor for $624,000. Each
Series Y warrant allows the holder to purchase one share of
CEL-SCI’s common stock at a price of $12.00 per share at any
time on or before February 15, 2021. As of September 30, 2017, none
of the Series Y warrants had been exercised.
On May
23, 2016, CEL-SCI closed a registered direct offering of 400,000
shares of common stock and 264,000 Series Z warrants to purchase
shares of common stock. The common stock and warrants were sold at
a combined per unit price of $12.50 for net proceeds of
approximately $4.6 million, net of placement agent’s
commissions and offering expenses. The Series Z warrants may be
exercised at any time on or before November 23, 2021 at a price of
$13.75 per share. CEL-SCI also issued 20,000 Series ZZ warrants to
the placement agent as part of its compensation. The Series ZZ
warrants may be exercised at any time on or before May 18, 2021 at
a price of $13.75 per share. As of September 30, 2017, none of the
Series Z and ZZ warrants had been exercised.
On August 26, 2016, CEL-SCI closed a registered
direct offering of 400,000 shares of common stock and Series
AA warrants to purchase up to 200,000 shares of common stock. Each
share of common stock was sold together with a Series AA warrant to
purchase one-half of a share of common stock for the combined
purchase price of $12.50. Each warrant can be exercised at any time
on or before February 22, 2022 at a price of $13.75 per
share. CEL-SCI also issued 16,000 Series BB warrants to the
placement agent as part of its compensation. The Series BB warrants
may be exercised at any time on or before August 22, 2021 at a
price of $13.75 per share. The Company received proceeds from the
sale of Series AA and Series BB shares and warrants of
approximately $4.5 million, net of placement agent’s
commissions and offering expenses. As of September 30, 2017, none
of the Series AA and BB warrants had been exercised.
On
December 8, 2016, the Company sold 1,360,960 shares of common stock
and warrants to purchase common stock at a price of $3.13 in a
public offering. The warrants consist of 680,480 Series CC warrants
to purchase 680,480 shares of common stock, 1,360,960 Series DD
warrants to purchase 1,360,960 shares of common stock and 1,360,960
Series EE warrants to purchase 1,360,960 shares of common stock.
The Series CC warrants are immediately exercisable, expire in
five-years and have an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The
Series DD warrants are immediately exercisable, expire on December
1, 2017 and have an exercise price of $4.50 per share. The Series
EE warrants are immediately exercisable, expire on December 1, 2017
and have an exercise price of $4.50 per share. In addition, the
Company issued 68,048 Series FF warrants to purchase 68,048 shares
of common stock to the placement agent. The FF warrants are
exercisable at any time on or before December 1, 2021 and have an
exercise price $3.91. The net proceeds to CEL-SCI from this
offering was approximately $3.7 million, excluding any future
proceeds that may be received from the exercise of the warrants. As
of September 30, 2017, none of the Series CC, DD and EE warrants
had been exercised.
49
On
February 23, 2017, CEL-SCI sold 400,000 registered shares of common
stock and 400,000 Series GG warrants to purchase 400,000
unregistered shares of common stock at a combined price of $2.50
per share. The Series GG warrants have an exercise price of $3.00
per share are exercisable on or before August 23, 2022. In
addition, CEL-SCI issued 20,000 Series HH warrants to purchase
20,000 shares of unregistered common stock to the placement agent.
The Series HH warrants have an exercise price $3.13 and are
exercisable on or before February 16, 2022. The net proceeds from
this offering were approximately $0.8 million. As of September 30,
2017, none of the Series GG and HH warrants had been
exercised.
On
March 14, 2017, CEL-SCI sold 600,000 registered shares of common
stock and 600,000 Series II warrants to purchase 600,000
unregistered shares of common stock at combined offering price of
$2.50 per share. The Series II warrants have an exercise price of
$3.00 per share and are exercisable on or before September 14,
2022. In addition, CEL-SCI issued 30,000 Series JJ warrants to
purchase 30,000 shares of unregistered common stock to the
placement agent. The Series JJ warrants have an exercise price
$3.13 and are exercisable on or before March 8, 2022. The net
proceeds from this offering were approximately $1.3 million. As of
September 30, 2017, none of the Series II and JJ warrants had been
exercised.
On
April 30, 2017, CEL-SCI sold 527,960 registered shares of common
stock and 395,970 Series KK warrants to purchase 395,970
unregistered shares of common stock at combined offering price of
$2.88 per share. The Series KK warrants have an exercise price of
$3.04 per share, are exercisable on November 3, 2017 and expire on
November 3, 2022. In addition, CEL-SCI issued 26,398 Series LL
warrants to purchase 26,398 shares of unregistered common stock to
the placement agent. The Series LL warrants have an exercise price
$3.59, are exercisable on October 30, 2017 and expire on April 30,
2022. The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $1.4
million. As of September 30, 2017, none of the Series KK and LL
warrants had been exercised.
On June
22, 2017, CEL-SCI issued Series MM warrants in connection with the
issuance of convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$1.5 million to six individual investors. Geert Kersten,
CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer, participated in the
offering and purchased notes in the principal amount of $250,000.
The notes bear interest at 4% per year and are due and payable on
December 22, 2017. At the option of the note holders, the notes can
be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a
fixed conversion rate of $1.69. The Series MM warrants entitle the
purchasers to acquire 893,491 shares of CEL-SCI’s common
stock. The Series MM warrants are exercisable at $1.86 per share
and expire on June 22, 2022. Shares issuable upon the exercise of
the notes and warrants were registered subsequently. As of
September 30, 2017, $450,700 of the notes had been converted into
266,686 shares of CEL-SCI’s common stock and none of the
Series MM warrants had been exercised.
On July
17, 2017, CEL-SCI extended the expiration date of the Series N
warrants to August 18, 2018, reduced the exercise price from $13.18
to $3.00 and reduced the number of warrants outstanding from
113,785 to 85,339. As of September 30, 2017, the remaining 85,339
Series N warrants entitle the holders to purchase one share of
CEL-SCI's common stock at a price of $3.00 per share at any time
prior to August 18, 2018.
50
On July
24, 2017, CEL-SCI issued Series NN warrants in connection with the
issuance of convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$1.2 million to twelve individual investors. A trust in which Geert
Kersten, CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer, holds a
beneficial interest participated in the offering and purchased
notes in the principal amount of $250,000. Patricia B. Prichep,
CEL-SCI’s Senior Vice President of Operations, purchased a
note in the principal amount of $25,000. The notes bear interest at
4% per year and are due and payable on December 22, 2017. At the
option of the note holders, the notes can be converted into shares
of the Company’s common stock at a fixed conversion rate of
$2.29. The Series NN warrants entitle the purchasers to acquire
539,300 shares of CEL-SCI’s common stock. The Series NN
warrants are exercisable at $2.52 per share and expire on July 24,
2022. Shares issuable upon the exercise of the notes and warrants
were registered subsequently. As of September 30, 2017, none of the
notes had been converted and none of the Series NN warrants had
been exercised.
On
November 2, 2017 holders of convertible notes in the principal
amount of $1,059,300 sold in June 2017 and holders of convertible
notes in the principal amount of $1,235,000 sold in July 2017
agreed to extend the maturity date of these notes to September 21,
2018.
In
consideration for the extension of the maturity date of the
convertible notes, the Company issued a total of 716,400 Series RR
warrants to the convertible note holders that agreed to the
extension. Each Series RR warrant entitles the holder to purchase
one share of the Company’s common stock. The Series RR
warrants may be exercised at any time on or before October 30, 2022
at an exercise price of $1.65 per share.
On July
26, 2017, CEL-SCI sold 100,000 registered shares of common stock
and 60,000 Series OO warrants to purchase 60,000 unregistered
shares of common stock at a combined price of $2.29 per share. The
Series OO warrants have an exercise price of $2.52 per share are
exercisable on January 31, 2018 and expire on July 31, 2022. The
net proceeds from this offering were approximately $222,000. As of
September 30, 2017, none of the Series OO warrants had been
exercised.
On
August 22, 2017, CEL-SCI sold 1,750,000 registered shares of common
stock and 1,750,000 Series PP warrants to purchase 1,750,000
unregistered shares of common stock at combined offering price of
$2.00 per share. The Series PP warrants have an exercise price of
$2.30 per share, are exercisable on February 28, 2018 and expire on
February 28, 2023. In addition, CEL-SCI issued 87,500 Series QQ
warrants to purchase 87,500 shares of unregistered common stock to
the placement agent. The Series QQ warrants have an exercise price
$2.50, are exercisable on February 22, 2018 and expire on August
22, 2022. The net proceeds from this offering were approximately
$3.2 million. As of September 30, 2017, none of the Series PP and
QQ warrants had been exercised.
Inventory decreased
by approximately $336,000 at September 30, 2017 as compared to
September 30, 2016, due to the timing of supplies purchased and
used in the manufacturing of Multikine for the Phase 3 clinical
trial. In addition, receivables decreased by approximately
$176,000, primarily due to the timing of payments reimbursed under
the litigation funding arrangement noted above and the timing of
shipments of Multikine.
51
During
the year ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s cash
decreased by approximately $549,000. Significant components of this
decrease include: net cash used in operating activities of
approximately $13.8 million and expenditures for equipment and
patents, as well as payments on capital leases, of approximately
$21,000, offset by proceeds from the sale of common stock and
warrants of approximately $10.5 million and proceeds from the
issuance of notes payable of approximately $2.7
million.
Future Capital Requirements
The
Company’s material capital commitments include funding
operating losses, funding its research and development program,
making required lease payments and repaying convertible notes. As
of September 30, 2017, material contractual obligations are as
follows:
|
|
Years Ending September 30,
|
||||||
|
|
Total
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023 & thereafter
|
|
Operating
Leases
|
$979,000
|
$251,000
|
$258,000
|
$238,000
|
$163,000
|
$69,000
|
$-
|
|
Financing Lease(1)
|
23,126,000
|
1,747,000
|
1,808,000
|
1,872,000
|
1,937,000
|
2,004,000
|
13,758,000
|
|
Convertible Notes(2)
|
2,407,019
|
2,407,019
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
Contractual Obligations
|
$26,512,019
|
$4,405,019
|
$2,066,000
|
$2,110,000
|
$2,100,000
|
$2,073,000
|
$13,758,000
|
|
(1) The amounts include future
minimum lease payments under the Company's lease of its
manufacturing facility (the San Tomas lease)
|
|||||||
|
(2) The amounts include future
interest payments at a fixed rate of 4% and payment of the notes in
full upon maturity in 2018
|
For
information on employment contracts, see Item 11 of this
report.
Further, CEL-SCI
has contingent obligations with vendors for work that will be
completed in relation to the Phase 3 trial. The timing of these
obligations cannot be determined at this time. CEL-SCI estimates it
will incur additional expenses of approximately $13.0 million for
the remainder of the Phase 3 clinical trial. It should be noted
that this estimate is based only on the information currently
available in CEL-SCI’s contracts with the Clinical Research
Organizations responsible for managing the Phase 3 clinical trial
and does not include other related costs, e.g. the manufacturing of
the drug.
CEL-SCI
will need to raise additional funds, either through the exercise of
outstanding warrants/options, through a debt or equity financing or
a partnering arrangement, to complete the Phase 3 trial and bring
Multikine to market. The ability of CEL-SCI to complete the
necessary clinical trials and obtain FDA approval for the sale of
products to be developed on a commercial basis is uncertain.
In
general, CEL-SCI believes that it will be able to raise sufficient
capital in fiscal year 2018 to continue operations into March 2018.
However, it is possible that CEL-SCI will not be able to generate
enough cash to continue operations at its current level. CEL-SCI's
registered independent public accounting firm has issued an audit
opinion that includes an explanatory paragraph that expresses
substantial doubt about CEL-SCI’s ability to continue as a
going concern mainly due to continued losses from operations and
future liquidity needs of CEL-SCI. CEL-SCI’s management has
engaged in fundraising for over 20 years and believes that the
manner in which it is proceeding will produce the best possible
outcome for the shareholders. There can be no assurances that
CEL-SCI will be successful in raising additional
funds.
52
Clinical and other
studies necessary to obtain regulatory approval of a new drug
involve significant costs and require several years to complete.
The extent of CEL-SCI’s clinical trials and research programs
are primarily based upon the amount of capital available to CEL-SCI
and the extent to which CEL-SCI has received regulatory approvals
for clinical trials. The inability of CEL-SCI to conduct clinical
trials or research, whether due to a lack of capital or regulatory
approval, will prevent CEL-SCI from completing the studies and
research required to obtain regulatory approval for any products
which CEL-SCI is developing. Without regulatory approval, CEL-SCI
will be unable to sell any of its products.
In the
absence of revenues, CEL-SCI will be required to raise additional
funds through the sale of securities, debt financing or other
arrangements in order to continue with its research efforts.
However, there can be no assurance that such financing will be
available or be available on favorable terms. Ultimately, CEL-SCI
must complete the development of its products, obtain appropriate
regulatory approvals and obtain sufficient revenues to support its
cost structure.
Since
all of CEL-SCI’s projects are under development, CEL-SCI
cannot predict with any certainty the funds required for future
research and clinical trials, the timing of future research and
development projects, or when it will be able to generate any
revenue from the sale of any of its products.
CEL-SCI's cash flow
and earnings are subject to fluctuations due to changes in interest
rates on its bank accounts, and, to an immaterial extent, foreign
currency exchange rates.
Critical Accounting Policies
CEL-SCI's
significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1
to the financial statements included as part of this report.
However, certain accounting policies are particularly important to
the portrayal of CEL-SCI’s financial position and results of
operations and require the application of significant judgments by
management. As a result, the financial statements are subject to an
inherent degree of uncertainty. In applying those policies,
management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate
assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates.
These estimates are based on CEL-SCI's historical experience, terms
of existing contracts, observance of trends in the industry and
information available from outside sources, as appropriate.
CEL-SCI’s critical accounting policies include:
Stock Options and Warrants –
Compensation cost is measured at fair value as of the grant date in
accordance with the provisions of ASC 718. The fair value of the
stock options is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing
model. The Black-Scholes model requires various judgmental
assumptions including volatility, forfeiture rates and expected
option life. The stock-based compensation cost is recognized on the
accelerated method as expense over the requisite service or vesting
period.
Options
to non-employees are accounted for in accordance with ASC 505-50,
“Equity-Based Payments to
Non-Employees.” Accordingly, compensation cost is
recognized when goods or services are received and is measured
using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Black-Scholes model
requires CEL-SCI’s management to make assumptions regarding
the fair value of the options at the date of grant and the expected
life of the options.
53
Asset Valuations and Review for Potential
Impairments - CEL-SCI reviews its fixed assets and
intangibles every fiscal quarter. This review requires that CEL-SCI
make assumptions regarding the value of these assets and the
changes in circumstances that would affect the carrying value of
these assets. If such analysis indicates that a possible impairment
may exist, CEL-SCI is then required to estimate the fair value of
the asset and, as deemed appropriate, expense all or a portion of
the asset. The determination of fair value includes numerous
uncertainties, such as the impact of competition on future value.
CEL-SCI believes that it has made reasonable estimates and
judgments in determining whether its long-lived assets have been
impaired; however, if there is a material change in the assumptions
used in its determination of fair values or if there is a material
change in economic conditions or circumstances influencing fair
value, CEL-SCI could be required to recognize certain impairment
charges in the future. As a result of the reviews, no changes in
asset values were required.
Derivative Instruments—CEL-SCI
enters into financing arrangements that consist of freestanding
derivative instruments or hybrid instruments that contain embedded
derivative features. CEL-SCI accounts for these arrangements in
accordance with ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities, as well as related interpretations of
these standards. In accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), derivative
instruments and hybrid instruments are recognized as either assets
or liabilities in the statement of financial position and are
measured at fair value with gains or losses recognized in earnings
or other comprehensive income depending on the nature of the
derivative or hybrid instruments. Embedded derivatives that are not
clearly and closely related to the host contract are bifurcated and
recognized at fair value with changes in fair value recognized as
either a gain or loss in earnings if they can be reliably measured.
When the fair value of embedded derivative features cannot be
reliably measured, CEL-SCI measures and reports the entire hybrid
instrument at fair value with changes in fair value recognized as
either a gain or loss in earnings. CEL-SCI determines the fair
value of derivative instruments and hybrid instruments based on
available market data using appropriate valuation models, giving
consideration to all of the rights and obligations of each
instrument and precluding the use of “blockage”
discounts or premiums in determining the fair value of a large
block of financial instruments. Fair value under these conditions
does not necessarily represent fair value determined using
valuation standards that give consideration to blockage discounts
and other factors that may be considered by market participants in
establishing fair value.
ITEM
7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET
RISKS
Not
applicable.
ITEM
8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See the
financial statements included with this report.
ITEM
9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not
applicable
54
ITEM
9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under
the direction and with the participation of CEL-SCI’s
management, including CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer, CEL-SCI carried out an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure
controls and procedures as of September 30, 2017. CEL-SCI maintains
disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in its periodic reports with
the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SEC’s rules and regulations, and that such information is
accumulated and communicated to CEL-SCI’s management,
including its principal executive officer and principal financial
officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. CEL-SCI’s disclosure controls and
procedures are designed to provide a reasonable level of assurance
of reaching its desired disclosure control objectives. Due to the
material weaknesses outlined below, CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive
and Principal Financial Officer has concluded that CEL-SCI’s
disclosure controls were not effective as of September 30,
2017.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
CEL-SCI’s
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting and for the assessment of
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. As
defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, internal control
over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the
supervision of CEL-SCI’s principal executive officer and
principal financial officer and implemented by CEL-SCI’s
Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of CEL-SCI’s financial
statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial
reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods
are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because
of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Geert
Kersten, CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive and Principal Financial
Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of CEL-SCI’s internal
control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017 based on
criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework
(2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission, or the COSO Framework. Management’s
assessment included an evaluation of the design of CEL-SCI’s
internal control over financial reporting and testing of the
operational effectiveness of those controls.
In
November 2017, CEL-SCI discovered an error in the way it accounted
for the lease for its manufacturing facility. CEL-SCI initially
recorded this lease as an operating lease but later identified that
it should have accounted for it as a financing lease and
capitalized an asset and related liability. Management concluded
that the correction of the error for this lease, the lack of
impairment assessment for the related asset, and the operating
effectiveness of the financial close process are control
deficiencies that constitute material weaknesses.
55
In
order to remediate these material weaknesses, the Company will
change certain control activities over financial reporting to
include the following:
●
All facility
leasing activities will be subject to a thorough review of capital
versus operating lease classification. Further, leases that include
construction activity prior to lease inception will be reviewed
against the build-to-suit lease guidance in ASC 840. In addition,
the Company will also engage outside financial reporting
specialists to assist it in the review process.
●
The Company will
enhance its policy for reviewing long-lived assets for impairments
by incorporating additional triggering event factors for
consideration as part of its control. This review will be carried
out by the Company and also be assisted by an outside financial
reporting specialist.
●
The financial
reporting process will be enhanced to include the use of monthly,
quarterly and annual closing checklists to capture routine and
non-routine transactions that require additional review. Further,
the Company will also augment its control process by expanding the
use of a financial reporting specialist to assist in the financial
close process.
Based
on this evaluation and the corrective measures CEL-SCI has taken,
Mr. Kersten concluded that CEL-SCI’s internal control over
financial reporting was not effective as of September 30,
2017.
There
was no change in CEL-SCI’s internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the fiscal year ended September 30,
2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, CEL-SCI’s internal control over financial
reporting except as disclosed above.
ITEM
9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM
10.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Officers and Directors
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geert
R. Kersten, Esq.
|
59
|
Director,
Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer
|
|
Patricia
B. Prichep
|
66
|
Senior
Vice President of Operations and Corporate Secretary
|
|
Dr.
Eyal Talor
|
61
|
Chief
Scientific Officer
|
|
Dr.
Daniel H. Zimmerman Immunology
|
76
|
Senior
Vice President of Research, Cellular
|
|
John
Cipriano
|
75
|
Senior
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
|
|
Dr.
Peter R. Young
|
72
|
Director
|
|
Bruno
Baillavoine
|
65
|
Director
|
The
directors of CEL-SCI serve in such capacity until the next annual
meeting of CEL-SCI's shareholders or until their successors have
been duly elected and qualified. The officers of CEL-SCI serve at
the discretion of CEL-SCI's directors.
56
All of
CEL-SCI’s directors have served as directors for a
significant period of time. Consequently, their long-standing
experience with CEL-SCI benefits both CEL-SCI and its
shareholders.
The
principal occupations of CEL-SCI's officers and directors, during
the past several years, are as follows:
Geert
Kersten has served in his current leadership role at CEL-SCI since
1995. Mr. Kersten has been with CEL-SCI since 1987. He has been
involved in the pioneering field of cancer immunotherapy for over
two decades and has successfully steered CEL-SCI through many
challenging cycles in the biotechnology industry. Mr. Kersten also
provides CEL-SCI with significant expertise in the fields of
finance and law and has a unique vision of how CEL-SCI's Multikine
product could potentially change the way cancer is treated.
Prior to joining CEL-SCI, Mr. Kersten worked at the law firm of
Finley & Kumble and worked at Source Capital, an investment
banking firm located in McLean, VA. He is a native of Germany,
graduated from Millfield School in England, and completed his
studies in the US. Mr. Kersten received his Undergraduate Degree in
Accounting and an M.B.A. from George Washington University, and a
law degree (J.D.) from American University in Washington,
DC.
Patricia B. Prichep
joined CEL-SCI in 1992 and has been CEL-SCI's Senior Vice President
of Operations since March 1994. Between December 1992 and March
1994, Ms. Prichep was CEL-SCI's Director of Operations. Ms. Prichep
became CEL-SCI's Corporate Secretary in May 2000. She is
responsible for all day-to-day operations of CEL-SCI, including
human resources and is the liaison with CEL-SCI’s independent
registered public accounting firm for financial reporting. From
June 1990 to December 1992, Ms. Prichep was the Manager of Quality
and Productivity for the NASD’s Management, Systems and
Support Department and was responsible for the internal auditing
and work flow analysis of operations. Between 1982 and 1990, Ms.
Prichep was Vice President and Operations Manager for Source
Capital, Ltd. She handled all operations and compliance for Source
Capital and was licensed as a securities broker. Ms. Prichep
received her B.A. from the University of Bridgeport in
Connecticut.
Eyal Talor, Ph.D. joined CEL-SCI in October 1993.
In October 2009, Dr. Talor was promoted to Chief Scientific
Officer. Between this promotion and March of 1994 he was the Senior
Vice President of Research and Manufacturing. He is a
clinical immunologist with over 19 years of hands-on management of
clinical research and drug development for immunotherapy
application; pre-clinical to Phase III, in the biopharmaceutical
industry. His expertise includes; biopharmaceutical R&D
and Biologics product development, GMP (Good Manufacturing
Practices) manufacture, Quality Control testing, and the design and
building of GMP manufacturing and testing facilities. He
served as Director of Clinical Laboratories (certified by the State
of Maryland) and has experience in the design of clinical trials
(Phase I – III) and GCP (Good Clinical Practices)
requirements. He also has broad experience in the different
aspects of biological assay development, analytical methods
validation, raw material specifications, and QC (Quality Control)
tests development under FDA/GMP, USP, and ICH guidelines. He
has extensive experience in the preparation of documentation for
IND and other regulatory submissions. His scientific area of
expertise encompasses immune response assessment. He is the
author of over 25 publications and has published a number of
reviews on immune regulations in relation to clinical immunology.
Before coming to CEL-SCI, he was Director of R&D and Clinical
Development at CBL, Inc., Principal Scientist - Project Director,
and Clinical Laboratory Director at SRA Technologies, Inc. Prior to
that he was a full time faculty member at The Johns Hopkins
University, Medical Institutions; School of Public Health. He
has invented technologies which are covered by two US patents; one on Multikine’s
composition of matter and method of use in cancer, and one on a
platform Peptide technology (‘Adapt’) for the treatment
of autoimmune diseases, asthma, allergy, and transplantation
rejection. He also is responsible for numerous product and process inventions as well as
a number of pending US and PCT patent applications. He
received his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and had
post-doctoral training in clinical and cellular immunology at The
John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He holds
an Adjunct Associate teaching position at the Johns Hopkins
University Medical Institutions.
57
Daniel H. Zimmerman, Ph.D., was CEL-SCI's Senior
Vice President of Cellular Immunology between 1996 and December
2008 and again since November 2009. He joined CEL-SCI in
January 1996 as the Vice President of Research, Cellular
Immunology. Dr. Zimmerman founded CELL-MED, Inc. and was its
president from 1987-1995. From 1973-1987, Dr. Zimmerman
served in various positions at Electronucleonics, Inc. His
positions included: Scientist, Senior Scientist, Technical Director
and Program Manager. Dr. Zimmerman held various teaching positions
at Montgomery College between 1987 and 1995. Dr. Zimmerman has
invented technologies which are covered by over a dozen US patents
as well as many foreign equivalent patents. He is the author of
over 40 scientific publications in the area of immunology and
infectious diseases. He has been awarded numerous grants from NIH
and DOD. From 1969-1973, Dr. Zimmerman was a Senior Staff
Fellow at NIH. For the following 25 years, he continued on at NIH
as a guest worker. Dr. Zimmerman received a Ph.D. in
Biochemistry in 1969, and a Masters in Zoology in 1966 from the
University of Florida as well as a B.S. in Biology from Emory and
Henry College in 1963.
John
Cipriano, was CEL-SCI’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory
Affairs between March 2004 and December 2008 and again since
October 2009. Mr. Cipriano brings to CEL-SCI over 30 years of
experience with both biotech and pharmaceutical companies. In
addition, he held positions at the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) as Deputy Director, Division of Biologics
Investigational New Drugs, Office of Biologics Research and Review
and was the Deputy Director, IND Branch, Division of Biologics
Evaluation, Office of Biologics. Mr. Cipriano completed his B.S. in
Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston,
Massachusetts and his M.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Purdue
University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Peter
R. Young, Ph.D. has been a Director of CEL-SCI since August 2002.
Dr. Young has been a senior executive within the pharmaceutical
industry in the United States and Canada for most of his career,
originally in organizations that are now part of Sanofi S.A. Over
the last 20 years he has primarily held positions of Chief
Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and has extensive
experience with acquisitions and equity financing. Since November
2001, Dr. Young has been the President of Agnus Dei, LLC, which has
acted as a partner in an organization managing immune system
clinics which treats patients with diseases such as cancer,
multiple sclerosis and hepatitis. Dr. Young was also the President
and Chief Executive Officer of SRL Technology, Inc., a company
involved in the development of pharmaceutical drug delivery
systems. Between 1998 and 2001, Dr. Young was the Chief Financial
Officer of Adams Laboratories, Inc., the developer of
Mucinex®. Dr. Young received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry
from the University of Bristol, England after obtaining his
Bachelor's degree in Honors Chemistry, Mathematics and Economics.
Subsequently,
he qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management
Accountants.
58
Bruno
Baillavoine joined CEL-SCI’s board of directors in June 2015.
Since 2010, Mr. Baillavoine has been a partner of Globomass
Holdings Limited, a London, England based developer of renewable
energy projects from concept through final operations. Since 2012
Mr. Baillavoine has been the Executive Chairman of Globomass
Holdings. Globomass Holdings has subsidiaries in Ireland, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Serbia, and has recently acquired a 20% stake in a US
based renewable energy company. Between 1978 and 1982 he was the
marketing manager of Ravenhead Ltd., a manufacturer of glass
tableware, and part of United Distillers Group (later acquired by
Grand Metropolitan). During this time Mr. Baillavoine became the UK
Business Manager where he restored market share and profit for
United Distillers. From 1982 to 1986 Mr. Baillavoine was Group
Corporate Planning and Group Marketing Director for Prontaprint
where he expanded the number of shops to 500 locations in four
years. Mr. Baillavoine joined Grand Metropolitan Plc between
1986-1988 (now Diageo Plc), an FTSE 100 beverage, food, hotel and
leisure company, as director in the Special Operations division. In
this capacity, he developed plans for Grand Met’s
trouble-shooting division for over 20,000 Grand Met retail outlets.
From 1988-1991 he was the Managing Director of Nutri Systems (UK)
Ltd., a subsidiary of the US based provider of professionally
supervised weight loss programs. Between 1991 and 1995, Mr.
Baillavoine was Director of BET Group plc, a multinational business
support services group, and in 1992, was promoted to the Managing
Director for the manufacturing businesses. The £2.3 billion
turnaround of BET during his tenure is one of the most successful
turnarounds of a top 100 FTSE company. Since 1995, Mr. Baillavoine
has held a number of CEO positions across a wide range of
industries and geographical locations. Mr. Baillavoine has European
and American educations (US high school and University of Wisconsin
Eau Claire 1972-1976).
On
August 30, 2017, Mr. Alexander Esterhazy, a former director, passed
away.
All of
CEL-SCI's officers devote substantially all of their time to
CEL-SCI's business.
CEL-SCI’s
Board of Directors does not have a “leadership
structure”, as such, since each director is entitled to
introduce resolutions to be considered by the Board and each
director is entitled to one vote on any resolution considered by
the Board. CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer is not the
Chairman of CEL-SCI’s Board of Directors.
CEL-SCI’s
Board of Directors has the ultimate responsibility to evaluate and
respond to risks facing CEL-SCI. CEL-SCI’s Board of Directors
fulfills its obligations in this regard by meeting on a regular
basis and communicating, when necessary, with CEL-SCI’s
officers.
Dr.
Peter R. Young and Bruno Baillavoine are independent directors as
that term is defined in section 803 of the listing standards of the
NYSE American.
CEL-SCI
has adopted a Code of Ethics which is applicable to CEL-SCI’S
principal executive, financial, and accounting officers and persons
performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics is available on
CEL-SCI’s website, located at www.cel-sci.com.
59
If a
violation of this code of ethics act is discovered or suspected,
any person (anonymously, if desired) may send a detailed note, with
relevant documents, to CEL-SCI’s Audit Committee, c/o Dr.
Peter Young, 208 Hewitt Drive, Suite 103-143, Waco, TX
76712.
For
purposes of electing directors at its annual meeting, CEL-SCI has a
nominating committee that is made up of CEL-SCI’s two
independent directors. The nominating committee selects the
nominees to the Board of Directors and they are approved by
CEL-SCI’s shareholders.
CEL-SCI
does not have any policy regarding the consideration of director
candidates recommended by shareholders and under Colorado law, any
shareholder can nominate a person for election as a director at the
annual shareholders’ meeting. However, CEL-SCI’s Board
of Directors will consider candidates recommended by shareholders.
To submit a candidate for the Board of Directors the shareholder
should send the name, address and telephone number of the
candidate, together with any relevant background or biographical
information, to CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer, at the
address shown on the cover page of this report. The Board has not
established any specific qualifications or skills a nominee must
meet to serve as a director. Although the Board does not have any
process for identifying and evaluating director nominees, the Board
does not believe there would be any differences in the manner in
which the Board evaluates nominees submitted by shareholders as
opposed to nominees submitted by any other person.
CEL-SCI
does not have a policy with regard to Board member’s
attendance at annual meetings. All Board members, with the
exception of Dr. Young and Mr. Esterhazy, attended the last annual
shareholder’s meeting held on June 12, 2017.
Holders
of CEL-SCI’s common stock can send written communications to
CEL-SCI’s entire Board of Directors, or to one or more Board
members, by addressing the communication to “the Board of
Directors” or to one or more directors, specifying the
director or directors by name, and sending the communication to
CEL-SCI’s offices in Vienna, Virginia. Communications
addressed to the Board of Directors as whole will be delivered to
each Board member. Communications addressed to a specific director
(or directors) will be delivered to the director (or directors)
specified.
Security holder
communications not sent to the Board of Directors as a whole are
not relayed to Board members.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This
Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) outlines
CEL-SCI’s compensation philosophy, objectives and process for
its executive officers. This CD&A
includes information on how compensation decisions are made, the
overall objectives of CEL-SCI’s compensation program, a
description of the various components of compensation that are
provided, and additional information pertinent to understanding
CEL-SCI’s executive officer compensation
program.
60
The
Compensation Committee determines the compensation of
CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer and delegates to the Chief
Executive Officer the responsibility to determine the base salaries
of all other officers, other than himself, under the constraints of
an overall limitation on the total amount of compensation to be
paid to them.
Compensation Philosophy
CEL-SCI’s
compensation philosophy extends to all employees, including
executive officers, and is designed to align employee and
shareholder interests. The philosophy’s objective is to pay
fairly based upon the employee’s position, experience and
individual performance. Employees may be rewarded through
additional compensation when CEL-SCI meets or exceeds targeted
business objectives. Generally, under CEL-SCI’s compensation
philosophy, as an employee’s level of responsibility
increases, a greater portion of his or her total potential
compensation becomes contingent upon annual
performance.
A
substantial portion of an executive's compensation incorporates
performance criteria that support and reward achievement of
CEL-SCI’s long term business goals.
The
fundamental principles of CEL-SCI’s compensation philosophy
are described below:
●
Market-driven. Compensation programs
are structured to be competitive both in their design and in the
total compensation that they offer.
●
Performance-based. Certain officers
have some portion of their incentive compensation linked to
CEL-SCI’s performance. The application of performance
measures as well as the form of the reward may vary depending on
the employee’s position and responsibilities.
Based
on a review of its compensation programs, CEL-SCI does not believe
that such programs encourage any of its employees to take risks
that would be likely to have a material adverse effect on
CEL-SCI. CEL-SCI reached this conclusion based on the
following:
●
The salaries paid
to employees are consistent with the employees’ duties and
responsibilities.
●
Employees who have
high impact relative to the expectations of their job duties and
functions are rewarded.
●
CEL-SCI retains
employees who have skills critical to its long term
success.
61
Review of Executive Officer Compensation
CEL-SCI’s
current policy is that the various elements of the compensation
package are not interrelated in that gains or losses from past
equity incentives are not factored into the determination of other
compensation. For instance, if options that are granted
in a previous year have an exercise price which is above the market
price of CEL-SCI’s common stock, the Committee does not take
that circumstance into consideration in determining the amount of
the options or restricted stock to be granted the next
year. Similarly, if the options or restricted shares
granted in a previous year become extremely valuable, the Committee
does not take that into consideration in determining the options or
restricted stock to be awarded for the next
year.
CEL-SCI
does not have a policy with regard to the adjustment or recovery of
awards or payments if relevant performance measures upon which they
are based are restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would
reduce the size of an award or payment.
Components of Compensation—Executive Officers
CEL-SCI’s
executive officers are compensated through the following three
components:
●
Base
Salary
●
Long-Term
Incentives (“LTIs”) (stock options and/or grants of
stock)
●
Benefits
These
components provide a balanced mix of base compensation and
compensation that is contingent upon each executive officer’s
individual performance. A goal of the compensation program is to
provide executive officers with a reasonable level of security
through base salary and benefits. CEL-SCI wants to ensure that the
compensation programs are appropriately designed to encourage
executive officer retention and motivation to create shareholder
value. The Compensation Committee
believes that CEL-SCI’s stockholders are best served when
CEL-SCI can attract and retain talented executives by providing
compensation packages that are competitive but
fair.
In past
years, base salaries, benefits and incentive compensation
opportunities were generally targeted near the median of general
survey market data derived from indices covering similar
biotech/pharmaceutical companies. The companies included
Advaxis, Inc., Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., Celsion Corp., CytRx
Corporation, GERON Corp, Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Northwest
Biotherapeutics, Inc., Oragenics, Inc., TG Therapeutics, Inc.,
Venaxis, Inc., Arrowhead Research Corp, CorMedix Inc., Fibrocell
Science, Inc., Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc., Mateon Therapeutics,
Inc., Catalyst Bioscience, Inc., Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., Tenax
Therapeutics, Inc., Trovagene, Inc. and ZIOPHARM Oncology,
Inc.
Base Salaries
Base
salaries generally have been targeted to be competitive when
compared to the salary levels of persons holding similar positions
in other pharmaceutical companies and other publicly traded
companies of comparable size. Each executive officer’s
respective responsibilities, experience, expertise and individual
performance are considered.
62
A
further consideration in establishing compensation for the senior
employees is their long term history with CEL-SCI. Taken into
consideration are factors that have helped CEL-SCI survive in times
when it was financially weak, such as: willingness to accept salary
cuts, willingness not to be paid at all for extended time periods,
and in general an attitude that helped CEL-SCI survive during
financially difficult times.
Long-Term Incentives
Stock
grants and option grants help to align the interests of
CEL-SCI’s employees with those of its
shareholders. Options and stock grants are made under
CEL-SCI’s Stock Option, Incentive Stock Bonus, Stock Bonus
and Stock Compensation Plans. Options are granted with
exercise prices equal to the closing price of CEL-SCI’s
common stock on the day immediately preceding the date of grant,
with pro rata vesting at the end of each of the following three
years.
CEL-SCI
believes that grants of equity-based compensation:
●
Enhance the link
between the creation of shareholder value and long-term executive
incentive compensation;
●
Provide focus,
motivation and retention incentive; and
●
Provide competitive
levels of total compensation.
CEL-SCI’s
management believes that the pricing for biotechnology stocks is
highly inefficient until the time of product sales. As such, any
long term compensation tied to progress as measured by share price
is not as efficient as it should be. The plan approved by the
shareholders in July 2014, which covers senior and mid-level
employees, seeks to address this issue by rewarding employees for
meeting major operational milestones and significantly improved
share prices.
Benefits
In
addition to cash and equity compensation programs, executive
officers participate in the health and welfare benefit programs
available to other employees. In a few limited circumstances,
CEL-SCI provides other benefits to certain executive officers, such
as car allowances.
All
executive officers are eligible to participate in CEL-SCI’s
401(k) plan on the same basis as its other employees. CEL-SCI
matches 100% of each employee’s contribution up to 6% of his
or her salary.
63
The
following table sets forth in summary form the compensation
received by (i) the Chief Executive and Financial Officer of
CEL-SCI and (ii) by each other executive officer of CEL-SCI who
received in excess of $100,000 during the three fiscal years ended
September 30, 2017.
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
Salary (1)
|
Bonus (2)
|
Restricted Stock Awards (3)
|
Option Awards (4)
|
All Other Compen-sation(5)
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geert R. Kersten,
|
|
2017
|
437,461
|
--
|
15,900
|
326,961
|
55,631
|
835,953
|
|
Chief Executive
|
|
2016
|
558,432
|
--
|
15,900
|
--
|
54,981
|
629,314
|
|
Officer and Treasurer
|
|
2015
|
514,083
|
--
|
16,050
|
--
|
54,981
|
585,114
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patricia B. Prichep,
|
|
2017
|
171,028
|
--
|
13,704
|
217,974
|
9,031
|
411,737
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
2016
|
245,804
|
--
|
14,725
|
--
|
9,031
|
269,559
|
|
of Operations and
|
|
2015
|
235,702
|
--
|
14,128
|
--
|
6,906
|
256,736
|
|
Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eyal Talor, Ph.D.,
|
|
2017
|
270,163
|
--
|
9,600
|
217,974
|
6,031
|
503,768
|
|
Chief Scientific Officer
|
|
2016
|
303,597
|
--
|
9,600
|
--
|
6,031
|
319,227
|
|
|
|
2015
|
290,983
|
--
|
9,600
|
--
|
6,031
|
306,613
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Zimmerman, Ph.D.,
|
|
2017
|
166,320
|
--
|
13,333
|
35,989
|
6,031
|
221,673
|
|
Senior Vice President of
|
|
2016
|
228,413
|
--
|
13,708
|
37,081
|
6,031
|
285,233
|
|
Research, Cellular
|
|
2015
|
219,026
|
--
|
13,148
|
52,003
|
6,031
|
290,209
|
|
Immunology
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Cipriano,
|
|
2017
|
185,592
|
--
|
--
|
163,480
|
31
|
349,103
|
|
Senior Vice President of
|
|
2016
|
211,405
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
31
|
211,437
|
|
Regulatory Affairs
|
|
2015
|
202,718
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
31
|
202,749
|
(1)
The dollar value of
base salary (cash and non-cash) earned. The officers of the Company
received stock in lieu of salary increases in FY 2016 and 2015. On
September 30, 2017, the Company had not paid and owed salaries to
the following employees:
|
Name
|
Salary
|
|
Geert
Kersten
|
$125,559
|
|
Patricia
Prichep
|
$71,648
|
|
Eyal
Talor, Ph.D.
|
$33,392
|
|
Daniel
Zimmerman, Ph.D.
|
$62,088
|
|
John
Cipriano
|
$31,828
|
(2)
The dollar value of
bonus (cash and non-cash) earned.
(3)
The fair value of
the shares of restricted stock issued during the periods covered by
the table is shown as compensation for services to the persons
listed in the table. For all persons listed in the table, the
shares were issued as CEL-SCI's contribution on behalf of the named
officer who participates in CEL-SCI's 401(k) retirement plan. The
value of all stock awarded during the periods covered by the table
is calculated according to ASC 718-10-30-3 which represented the
grant date fair value.
64
(4)
The fair value of
all stock options granted during the periods covered by the table
are calculated on the grant date in accordance with ASC 718-10-30-3
which represented the grant date fair value.
(5)
All other
compensation received that CEL-SCI could not properly report in any
other column of the table including the dollar value of any
insurance premiums paid by, or on behalf of, CEL-SCI with respect
to term life insurance for the benefit of the named executive
officer and car allowances paid by CEL-SCI. Includes board of
directors fees for Mr. Kersten.
Employee Pension, Profit Sharing or Other Retirement
Plans
CEL-SCI
has a defined contribution retirement plan, qualifying under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and covering
substantially all CEL-SCI’s employees. CEL-SCI’s
contribution to the plan is made in shares of CEL-SCI's common
stock. Each participant's contribution is matched by CEL-SCI with
shares of common stock which have a value equal to 100% of the
participant's contribution, not to exceed the lesser of $1,000 or
6% of the participant's total compensation. CEL-SCI's contribution
of common stock is valued each quarter based upon the closing price
of its common stock. The fiscal 2017 expenses for this plan were
approximately $163,000. Other than the 401(k) Plan, CEL-SCI does
not have a defined benefit, pension plan, profit sharing or other
retirement plan.
Compensation of Directors During Year Ended September 30,
2017
|
Name
|
Fees
|
Stock Awards (1)
|
Option Awards (2)
|
Total
|
|
Geert
Kersten
|
$40,000
|
-
|
326,961
|
$366,961
|
|
Alexander Esterhazy
(3)
|
$33,750
|
-
|
15,581
|
$49,331
|
|
Peter R.
Young
|
$50,000
|
-
|
51,477
|
$101,477
|
|
Bruno
Baillavoine
|
$45,000
|
-
|
51,477
|
$96,477
|
(1)
The fair value of
stock issued for services.
(2)
The fair value of
options granted computed in accordance with ASC 718-10-30-3 on the
date of grant which represents their grant date fair
value.
(3)
Mr. Esterhazy
passed away on August 30, 2017.
Directors’
fees paid to Geert Kersten are included in the Executive
Compensation table.
Employment Contracts
Geert Kersten
On
August 31, 2016, CEL-SCI entered into a three-year employment
agreement with Geert Kersten, CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive
Officer. The employment agreement with Mr. Kersten, which is
essentially the same as Mr. Kersten’s prior employment
agreement, as amended on August 30, 2013, provided that, during the
term of the agreement, CEL-SCI would pay Mr. Kersten an annual
salary of $559,052, plus any increases in proportion to salary
increases granted to other senior executive officers of CEL-SCI, as
well any increases approved by the Board of Directors during the
period of the employment agreement.
65
During
the employment term, Mr. Kersten will be entitled to receive any
other benefits which are provided to CEL-SCI's executive officers
or other full time employees in accordance with CEL-SCI's policies
and practices and subject to Mr. Kersten’s satisfaction of
any applicable condition of eligibility.
If Mr.
Kersten resigns within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of any of
the following events: (i) a reduction in Mr. Kersten’s salary
(ii) a relocation (or demand for relocation) of Mr. Kersten’s
place of employment to a location more than ten (10) miles from his
current place of employment, (iii) a significant and material
reduction in Mr. Kersten’s authority, job duties or level of
responsibility or the imposition of significant and material
limitations on the Mr. Kersten’s autonomy in his position, or
(iv) a Change in Control, then the employment agreement will be
terminated and Mr. Kersten will be entitled to receive a lump-sum
payment from CEL-SCI equal to 24 months of salary ($1,118,104) and
the unvested portion of any stock options would vest immediately
($690,418). For purposes of the employment agreement a change in
the control of CEL-SCI means: (1) the merger of CEL-SCI with
another entity if after such merger the shareholders of CEL-SCI do
not own at least 50% of voting capital stock of the surviving
corporation; (2) the sale of substantially all of the assets of
CEL-SCI; (3) the acquisition by any person of more than 50% of
CEL-SCI's common stock; or (4) a change in a majority of CEL-SCI's
directors which has not been approved by the incumbent
directors.
The
employment agreement will also terminate upon the death of Mr.
Kersten, Mr. Kersten’s physical or mental disability, willful
misconduct, an act of fraud against CEL-SCI, or a breach of the
employment agreement by Mr. Kersten. If the employment agreement is
terminated for any of these reasons, Mr. Kersten, or his legal
representatives, as the case may be, will be paid the salary
provided by the employment agreement through the date of
termination, any options or bonus shares of CEL-SCI then held by
Mr. Kersten will become fully vested and the expiration date of any
options which would expire during the four year period following
his termination of employment will be extended to the date which is
four years after his termination of employment.
Patricia B. Prichep / Eyal Talor, Ph.D.
On
August 31, 2016, CEL-SCI entered into a three-year employment
agreement with Patricia B. Prichep, CEL-SCI’s Senior Vice
President of Operations. The employment agreement with Ms. Prichep,
which is essentially the same as Ms. Prichep’s prior
employment agreement entered into on August 30, 2013 provided that,
during the term of the agreement, CEL-SCI would pay Ms. Prichep an
annual salary of $245,804 plus any increases approved by the Board
of Directors during the period of the employment
agreement.
On
August 31, 2016, CEL-SCI entered into a three-year employment
agreement with Eyal Talor, Ph.D., CEL-SCI’s Chief Scientific
Officer. The employment agreement with Dr. Talor, which is
essentially the same as Dr. Talor’s prior employment
agreement entered into on August 30, 2013, provided that, during
the term of the agreement, CEL-SCI would pay Dr. Talor an annual
salary of $303,453 plus any increases approved by the Board of
Directors during the period of the employment
agreement.
66
If Ms.
Prichep or Dr. Talor resigns within ninety (90) days of the
occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a relocation (or
demand for relocation) of employee’s place of employment to a
location more than ten (10) miles from the employee’s current
place of employment, (ii) a significant and material reduction in
the employee’s authority, job duties or level of
responsibility or (iii) the imposition of significant and material
limitations on the employee’s autonomy in her or his
position, the employment agreement will be terminated and the
employee will be paid the salary provided by the employment
agreement through the date of termination and the unvested portion
of any stock options held by the employee will vest
immediately.
In the
event there is a change in the control of CEL-SCI, the employment
agreements with Ms. Prichep and Dr. Talor allow Ms. Prichep and/or
Dr. Talor (as the case may be) to resign from her or his position
at CEL-SCI and receive a lump-sum payment from CEL-SCI equal to 18
months of salary ($368,706 and $455,180 respectively). In addition,
the unvested portion of any stock options held by the employee will
vest immediately ($222,568 and $222,568 respectively). For purposes
of the employment agreements, a change in the control of CEL-SCI
means: (1) the merger of CEL-SCI with another entity if after such
merger the shareholders of CEL-SCI do not own at least 50% of
voting capital stock of the surviving corporation; (2) the sale of
substantially all of the assets of CEL-SCI; (3) the acquisition by
any person of more than 50% of CEL-SCI's common stock; or (4) a
change in a majority of CEL-SCI's directors which has not been
approved by the incumbent directors.
The
employment agreements with Ms. Prichep and Dr. Talor will also
terminate upon the death of the employee, the employee’s
physical or mental disability, willful misconduct, an act of fraud
against CEL-SCI, or a breach of the employment agreement by the
employee. If the employment agreement is terminated for any of
these reasons the employee, or her or his legal representatives, as
the case may be, will be paid the salary provided by the employment
agreement through the date of termination.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
CEL-SCI
has a compensation committee comprised of Mr. Bruno Baillavoine and
Dr. Peter Young, both of whom are independent
directors.
During
the year ended September 30, 2017, no director of CEL-SCI was also
an executive officer of another entity, which had an executive
officer of CEL-SCI serving as a director of such entity or as a
member of the compensation committee of such entity.
Loan
from Officer and Director
Between
December 2008 and June 2009, CEL-SCI’s President, and a
director, Maximilian de Clara, loaned CEL-SCI
$1,104,057. Between July 2009 and July 2015, the loan
from Mr. de Clara bore interest at 15% per year. At Mr. de
Clara’s option, the loan was convertible into shares of
CEL-SCI’s common stock, determined by dividing the amount to
be converted by $100.00. In accordance with the loan
agreement, CEL-SCI issued Mr. de Clara warrants to purchase 6,593
shares of CEL-SCI’s common stock at a price of $100.00 per
share. These warrants expired on December 24,
2014. In consideration for an extension of the due date,
Mr. de Clara received warrants to purchase 7,397 shares of
CEL-SCI’s common stock at a price of $125.00 per
share. These warrants expired on January 6,
2015. In consideration of Mr. de Clara’s agreement
to subordinate his note to the convertible preferred shares and
convertible debt as part of a prior year settlement agreement,
CEL-SCI extended the maturity date of the note to July 6, 2015.
In August 2014, the loan was transferred to the de
Clara Trust, of which CEL-SCI’s Chief Executive Officer,
Geert Kersten, is the trustee and a beneficiary. Mr. de
Clara continued to receive the interest payments.
67
On June
29, 2015, CEL-SCI extended the maturity date of the note to July 6,
2017, lowered the interest rate to 9% per year and changed the
conversion price to $14.75, the closing stock price on the previous
trading day. The new terms were effective July 7,
2015. Concurrently, CEL-SCI extended the expiration
date of the Series N warrants to August 18,
2017.
On
October 11, 2015, at the request of Lake Whillans Vehicle I, LLC,
the note was extended for one year to July 6, 2018.
On
January 12, 2016, CEL-SCI owed the de Clara Trust $1,105,989, which
amount included accrued and unpaid interest. On January 13, 2016,
the de Clara Trust demanded payment on the note payable. At the
same time CEL-SCI sold 120,000 shares of its common stock and
120,000 Series X warrants to the de Clara Trust for approximately
$1,100,000. Each warrant allows the de Clara Trust to purchase one
share of CEL-SCI’s common stock at a price of $9.25 per share
at any time on or before January 13, 2021.
Stock Option, Bonus and Compensation Plans
CEL-SCI
has Incentive Stock Option Plans, Non-Qualified Stock Option, Stock
Bonus, Stock Compensation Plans and an Incentive Stock Bonus Plan.
All Stock Option, Bonus and Compensation Plans have been approved
by the stockholders. A summary description of these Plans follows.
In some cases these Plans are collectively referred to as the
"Plans".
Incentive Stock Option Plan.
The Incentive Stock Option Plans authorize the issuance of shares
of CEL-SCI's common stock to persons who exercise options granted
pursuant to the Plans. Only CEL-SCI’s employees may be
granted options pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option
Plans.
Options
may not be exercised until one year following the date of grant.
Options granted to an employee then owning more than 10% of the
common stock of CEL-SCI may not be exercisable by its terms after
five years from the date of grant. Any other option granted
pursuant to the Plans may not be exercisable by its terms after ten
years from the date of grant.
The
purchase price per share of common stock purchasable under an
option is determined by the CEL-SCI’s Compensation Committee
but cannot be less than the fair market value of the common stock
on the date of the grant of the option (or 110% of the fair market
value in the case of a person owning more than 10% of CEL-SCI's
outstanding shares).
Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plans. The Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans authorize the
issuance of shares of CEL-SCI's common stock to persons that
exercise options granted pursuant to the Plans. CEL-SCI's
employees, directors, officers, consultants and advisors are
eligible to be granted options pursuant to the Plans, provided
however that bona fide services must be rendered by such
consultants or advisors and such services must not be in connection
with sale a capital-raising transaction or promoting
CEL-SCI’s common stock. The option exercise price is
determined by CEL-SCI’s Compensation Committee.
Stock Bonus Plan. Under the
Stock Bonus Plans shares of CEL-SCI’s common stock may be
issued to CEL-SCI's employees, directors, officers, consultants and
advisors, provided however that bona fide services must be rendered
by consultants or advisors and such services must not be in
connection with a capital-raising transaction or promoting
CEL-SCI’s common stock.
68
Stock Compensation Plan. Under
the Stock Compensation Plan, shares of CEL-SCI’s common stock
may be issued to CEL-SCI’s employees, directors, officers,
consultants and advisors in payment of salaries, fees and other
compensation owed to these persons. However, bona fide services
must be rendered by consultants or advisors and such services must
not be in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a
capital-raising transaction or promoting CEL-SCI’s common
stock.
Incentive Stock Bonus Plan.
Under the 2014 Incentive Stock Bonus Plan, shares of
CEL-SCI’s common stock may be issued to executive officers
and other employees who contribute significantly to the success of
CEL-SCI, to participate in its future prosperity and growth and
aligns their interests with those of CEL-SCI’s shareholders.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide long term incentive for
outstanding service to CEL-SCI and its shareholders and to assist
in recruiting and retaining people of outstanding ability and
initiative in executive and management positions.
Other Information Regarding the
Plans. The Plans are administered by CEL-SCI's Compensation
Committee (“the Committee”), each member of which is a
director of CEL-SCI. The members of the Committee were selected by
CEL-SCI's Board of Directors and serve for a one-year tenure and
until their successors are elected. A member of the Committee may
be removed at any time by action of the Board of Directors. Any
vacancies which may occur on the Committee will be filled by the
Board of Directors. The Committee is vested with the authority to
interpret the provisions of the Plans and supervise the
administration of the Plans. In addition, the Committee is
empowered to select those persons to whom shares or options are to
be granted, to determine the number of shares subject to each grant
of a stock bonus or an option and to determine when, and upon what
conditions, shares or options granted under the Plans will vest or
otherwise be subject to forfeiture and cancellation.
In the
discretion of the Committee, any option granted pursuant to the
Plans may include installment exercise terms such that the option
becomes fully exercisable in a series of cumulating portions. The
Committee may also accelerate the date upon which any option (or
any part of any options) is first exercisable. Any shares issued
pursuant to the Stock Bonus Plans or Stock Compensation Plan and
any options granted pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option Plans or
the Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans will be forfeited if the
"vesting" schedule established by the Committee administering the
Plans at the time of the grant is not met. For this purpose,
vesting means the period during which the employee must remain an
employee of CEL-SCI or the period of time a non-employee must
provide services to CEL-SCI. At the time an employee ceases working
for CEL-SCI (or at the time a non-employee ceases to perform
services for CEL-SCI), any shares or options not fully vested will
be forfeited and cancelled. At the discretion of the Committee
payment for the shares of common stock underlying options may be
paid through the delivery of shares of CEL-SCI's common stock
having an aggregate fair market value equal to the option price,
provided such shares have been owned by the option holder for at
least one year prior to such exercise. A combination of cash and
shares of common stock may also be permitted at the discretion of
the Committee.
Options
are generally non-transferable except upon death of the option
holder. Shares issued pursuant to the Stock Bonus Plans will
generally not be transferable until the person receiving the shares
satisfies the vesting requirements imposed by the Committee when
the shares were issued.
69
The
Board of Directors of CEL-SCI may at any time, and from time to
time, amend, terminate, or suspend one or more of the Plans in any
manner it deems appropriate, provided that such amendment,
termination or suspension will not adversely affect rights or
obligations with respect to shares or options previously
granted.
Stock Options
The
following tables show information concerning the options granted
during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, to the persons
named below:
|
|
Options
Granted
|
|||||||
|
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Options
Granted
|
|
Price Per
Share
|
|
Expiration
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geert
Kersten
|
|
7/28/2017
|
|
180,000
|
|
$
2.18
|
|
7/27/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patricia
Prichep
|
|
7/28/2017
|
|
120,000
|
|
$
2.18
|
|
7/27/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eyal
Talor
|
|
7/28/2017
|
|
120,000
|
|
$
2.18
|
|
7/27/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Zimmerman
|
|
6/29/2017
|
|
6,000
|
|
$
1.87
|
|
6/28/2027
|
|
|
|
9/18/2017
|
|
20,000
|
|
$
1.59
|
|
9/17/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Cipriano
|
|
7/28/2017
|
|
90,000
|
|
$
2.18
|
|
7/27/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bruno
Baillavoine
|
|
7/28/2017
|
|
20,000
|
|
$
2.18
|
|
7/27/2027
|
|
Bruno
Baillavoine
|
|
6/12/2017
|
|
7,500
|
|
$
2.50
|
|
6/11/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
Young
|
|
7/28/2017
|
|
20,000
|
|
$
2.18
|
|
7/27/2027
|
|
Peter
Young
|
|
6/12/2017
|
|
7,500
|
|
$
2.50
|
|
6/11/2027
|
The
following tables show information concerning the options cancelled
and exercised during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, to
the persons named below:
|
|
Options
Cancelled
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
Weighted
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
Remaining
Contractual
|
|
Employee
|
|
Total
Options
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Term
(Years)
|
|
|
None
|
|||||
|
|
Options
Exercised
|
|||||
|
|
|
Date
of
|
|
Shares
Acquired
|
|
Value
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercise
|
|
On
Exercise
|
|
Realized
|
|
|
None
|
|||||
70
The
following lists the outstanding options held by the persons named
below:
|
|
Shares underlying unexercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option which are:
|
Exercise
|
Expiration
|
|
|
Name
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
Price
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geert
R. Kersten
|
800
|
|
155.00
|
03/04/18
|
|
|
7,354(1)
|
|
62.50
|
04/23/19
|
|
|
5,334(2)
|
|
95.00
|
07/06/19
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
95.00
|
07/20/19
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
120.00
|
07/20/20
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
172.50
|
04/14/21
|
|
|
1,800
|
|
97.50
|
05/17/22
|
|
|
7,560
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/17
|
|
|
11,080
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/22
|
|
|
1,800
|
|
52.50
|
06/30/23
|
|
|
3,600
|
|
27.25
|
02/25/24
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,928
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,666(2)
|
95.00
|
07/06/19
|
|
|
|
8,920
|
70.00
|
12/17/22
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
2.18
|
07/27/27
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
|
|
199,586
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patricia
B. Prichep
|
400
|
|
155.00
|
03/04/18
|
|
|
2,868(1)
|
|
62.50
|
04/23/19
|
|
|
4,000(2)
|
|
95.00
|
07/06/19
|
|
|
600
|
|
95.00
|
07/20/19
|
|
|
600
|
|
120.00
|
07/20/20
|
|
|
600
|
|
172.50
|
04/14/21
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
97.50
|
05/17/22
|
|
|
2,320
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/17
|
|
|
4,624
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/22
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
52.50
|
06/30/23
|
|
|
2,400
|
|
27.25
|
02/25/24
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000(2)
|
95.00
|
07/06/19
|
|
|
|
1,376
|
70.00
|
12/17/22
|
|
|
|
120,000
|
2.18
|
07/27/27
|
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
129,376
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eyal
Talor, Ph.D.
|
400
|
|
155.00
|
03/04/18
|
|
|
963(1)
|
|
62.50
|
04/23/19
|
|
|
4,000(2)
|
|
95.00
|
07/06/19
|
|
|
600
|
|
95.00
|
07/20/19
|
|
|
600
|
|
120.00
|
07/20/20
|
|
|
600
|
|
172.50
|
04/14/21
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
97.50
|
05/17/22
|
|
|
1,497
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/17
|
|
|
4,624
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/22
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
52.50
|
06/30/23
|
71
|
|
2,400
|
|
27.25
|
02/25/24
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,084
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000(2)
|
95.00
|
07/06/19
|
|
|
|
1,376
|
70.00
|
12/17/22
|
|
|
|
120,000
|
2.18
|
07/27/27
|
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
129,376
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Zimmerman, Ph.D.
|
300
|
|
155.00
|
03/04/18
|
|
|
600
|
|
120.00
|
07/20/20
|
|
|
600
|
|
172.50
|
04/14/21
|
|
|
900
|
|
97.50
|
05/17/22
|
|
|
1,568
|
|
70.00
|
12/17/17
|
|
|
900
|
|
52.50
|
06/30/23
|
|
|
1,800
|
|
27.25
|
02/25/24
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
27.50
|
08/05/24
|
|
|
2,667
|
|
15.50
|
06/25/25
|
|
|
1,334
|
|
11.75
|
07/21/26
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,669
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,333
|
15.50
|
06/25/25
|
|
|
|
2,666
|
11.75
|
07/21/26
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
1.87
|
06/28/27
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
1.59
|
09/17/27
|
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Cipriano
|
300
|
|
155.00
|
03/04/18
|
|
|
600
|
|
120.00
|
07/20/20
|
|
|
600
|
|
172.50
|
04/14/21
|
|
|
400
|
|
62.50
|
09/30/19
|
|
|
900
|
|
97.50
|
05/17/22
|
|
|
900
|
|
57.50
|
06/30/23
|
|
|
1,800
|
|
27.25
|
02/25/24
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
2.18
|
07/27/27
|
|
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
(1)
Options awarded to
employees who did not collect a salary, or reduced or deferred
their salary between September 15, 2008 and June 30, 2009. For
example, Mr. Kersten and Ms. Prichep did not collect any salary
between September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
(2)
Long-term
performance options: The Board of Directors has identified the
successful Phase III clinical trial for Multikine to be the most
important corporate event to create shareholder value. Therefore,
one third of the options can be exercised when the first 400
patients are enrolled in CEL-SCI's Phase III head and neck cancer
clinical trial. One third of the options can be exercised when all
of the patients have been enrolled in the Phase III clinical trial.
One third of the options can be exercised when the Phase III trial
is completed. The grant-date fair value of these options awarded to
the senior management of the Company amounts to $3.3 million in
total.
72
Summary. The following shows
certain information as of September 30, 2017 concerning the stock
options and stock bonuses granted by CEL-SCI. Each option
represents the right to purchase one share of CEL-SCI's common
stock.
|
Name of
Plan
|
Total Shares Reserved Under Plans
|
Shares Reserved for Outstanding
Options
|
Shares Issued
|
Remaining Options/Shares Under
Plans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Stock
Option Plans
|
138,400
|
124,758
|
N/A
|
454
|
|
Non-Qualified Stock
Option Plans
|
1,187,200
|
1,115,086
|
N/A
|
42,830
|
|
Stock Bonus
Plans
|
383,760
|
N/A
|
206,390
|
177,337
|
|
Stock Compensation
Plan
|
134,000
|
N/A
|
115,590
|
18,410
|
|
Incentive Stock
Bonus Plan
|
640,000
|
N/A
|
624,000
|
16,000
|
Of the
shares issued pursuant to CEL-SCI's Stock Bonus Plans, 124,268
shares were issued as part of CEL-SCI's contribution to its 401(k)
plan.
The
following table shows the weighted average exercise price of the
outstanding options granted pursuant to CEL-SCI’s Incentive
and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans as of September 30, 2017,
CEL-SCI’s most recent fiscal year end. CEL-SCI's Incentive
and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans have been approved by
CEL-SCI's shareholders.
|
Plan
category
|
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options (a)
|
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding
Options
|
Number of Securities Remaining Available For Future
Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans, Excluding
SecuritiesReflected in Column (a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Stock
Option Plans
|
124,758
|
$38.82
|
454
|
|
Non-Qualified Stock
Option Plans
|
1,115,086
|
$13.93
|
42,830
|
Long Term Incentive Plans - Awards in Last Fiscal Year
See
footnote 9 to the financial statements included as part of this
report.
73
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
The
following table shows, as of December 1, 2017, information with
respect to the only persons owning beneficially 5% or more of
CEL-SCI’s outstanding common stock and the number and
percentage of outstanding shares owned by each director and officer
of CEL-SCI and by the officers and directors as a group. Unless
otherwise indicated, each owner has sole voting and investment
powers over his shares of common stock.
|
Name and
Address
|
Number of Shares (1)
|
Percent of Class (2)
|
|
Geert R.
Kersten |