AS FILED WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 18, 2008
REGISTRATION NO. 333-139354
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM SB-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
2834 (primary standard industrial classification code number) |
13-3808303 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
3930 Varsity Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 332-7800
(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices and principal place of business)
Steve H. Kanzer
Chief Executive Officer
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
3930 Varsity Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734)332-7800
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Hank Gracin, Esq.
Lehman & Eilen LLP
Mission Bay Office Plaza
Suite 300
20283 State Road 7
Boca Raton, FL 33498
(561) 237-0804
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effective date of this registration statement.
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier registration statement for the same offering. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If the delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. o
Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered(1) |
Proposed maximum offering price per share(2) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
Amount of registration fee(3) | |||
Common stock, par value $.001 per share |
10,317,137(4) |
$5.15 |
53,133,255 |
$2,088.14 | |||
Total |
10,317,137 |
$5.15 |
53,133,255 |
$2,088.14 | |||
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(1) |
In accordance with Rule 416(a), the registrant is also registering hereunder an indeterminate number of shares that may be issued and resold resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
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(2) |
Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices reported on the American Stock Exchange on January 14, 2008. |
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(3) |
Calculated under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 as .0000393 of the aggregate offering price. This registration fee was already paid in connection with Registration No. 333-139354. No new shares are being registered on this amendment. |
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(4) |
Represents shares of the registrants common stock being registered for resale that have been issued to the selling stockholders named in this registration statement. |
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The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 18, 2008
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
10,317,137 shares of common stock
This prospectus is being filed to amend and keep current a previously filed prospectus declared effective on Febuary 14, 2007 that relates to the resale or other disposition of up to 10,317,137 shares of our common stock, $.001 par value per share, by certain persons who are our stockholders. These persons, together with their transferees, are referred to throughout this prospectus as selling stockholders.
All of the shares described above were previously issued in private placement transactions completed prior to the filing of this registration statement.
We are not selling any shares of our common stock in this offering and therefore will not receive any proceeds from this offering. We will bear all costs associated with this registration. The selling stockholders may offer the shares covered by this prospectus at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices or negotiated prices, in negotiated transactions, or in trading markets for our common stock.
Our common stock trades on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol PP The closing price of our common stock on the American Stock Exchange on January 14, 2008, was $5.20 per share.
You should consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page 4 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved these securities or determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is January ___, 2008
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY |
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3 |
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RISK FACTORS |
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4 |
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RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS |
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4 |
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RISKS RELATING TO OUR STOCK |
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RISKS RELATING TO OUR INDUSTRY |
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION |
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23 |
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USE OF PROCEEDS |
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MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
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24 |
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DIVIDEND POLICY |
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PLAN OF OPERATION |
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BUSINESS |
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
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42 |
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DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY |
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42 |
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
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42 |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
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46 |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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47 |
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE |
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47 |
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OPTIONS/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR |
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48 |
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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51 |
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DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE |
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52 |
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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS |
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52 |
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DILUTION |
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55 |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
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55 |
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES |
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57 |
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INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS |
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59 |
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LEGAL MATTERS |
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59 |
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INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
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59 |
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CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS |
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59 |
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
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F-1 |
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand this offering fully, you should read the entire prospectus carefully. Investors should carefully consider the information set forth under the heading Risk Factors. In this prospectus, the terms Pipex Pharmaceuticals, we, us, and our refer to Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Our Company
We are a development-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company that is developing proprietary, late-stage drug candidates for the treatment of neurologic and fibrotic diseases. On November 28, 2007, we filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA seeking authority to market "COPREXA (oral tetrathiomolybate) for initially presenting neurologic Wilson's disease. Our drug candidates address the following pharmaceutical market opportunities: Neurologically presenting Wilsons Disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Alzheimers Disease (AD), Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia.
A key component of our strategy encompasses the efficient and timely development of our clinical-stage drug candidates through the selection of initial indications representing high unmet medical needs and which may therefore benefit from both a fast-track and priority review regulatory review process as well as premium pricing for such indications. If approved for marketing, we may pursue additional indications for our investigational agents via Supplemental New Drug Applications (NDAs) while benefiting from the expedited and lower clinical trial costs associated with the clinical testing of already approved agents as compared to investigational agents not yet approved. We filed an NDA with the FDA on November 28, 2007 for our lead drug candidate, COPREXA. COPREXA is a novel, oral, anticopper therapeutic that during the last 9 years has completed two clinical trials in neurologically-presenting
Wilsons disease that we believe have demonstrated sufficient safety and efficacy to support the NDA filing with the FDA. During the first half of 2008, we plan to file for marketing approval with the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.
In order to expand the therapeutic utility of our oral anti-copper agent, COPREXA, beyond initially presenting neurological Wilsons disease our scientific and clinical investigators have recently completed an initial 12 month, 20 patient, open-label phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of refractory Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a progressive fibrotic lung disease associated with high rates of mortality and for which there is no currently approved therapy. IPF is estimated to affect 128,000 patients in the U.S., resulting in 30,000 deaths annually in the U.S., which exceeds the annual number of deaths attributable to breast and prostate cancer.
During November 2007, COPREXA has demonstrated a 40% reduction in insoluble amyloid-beta, a hallmark Alzheimers Disease protein in preclinical animal models. During January 2008 we initiated a 150 patient phase II clinical trial at four centers in Italy of COPREXA for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
In October 2007 we filed a pre-investigational device exemption (pre-IDE) package with the FDA for our proprietary diagnostic device FreeBound that is capable of directly measuring free copper levels in human serum. We are currently conducting the necessary testing of FreeBound and if successful intend to file a 510(K) application with the FDA seeking approval to market FreeBound during the first half of 2008.
During July 2007, a 150 patient seven U.S. center phase II/III clinical trial was initiated of our oral drug candidate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, Trimesta (oral estriol).
The Offering
Common stock outstanding |
20,428,365 shares as of January 14, 2008 |
Common stock that may be offered by selling stockholders |
Up to 10,317,137 shares that were issued to the selling stockholders |
Total proceeds raised by offering |
We will not receive any proceeds from the resale or other disposition of the shares covered by this prospectus by any selling stockholder. |
Risk factors |
There are significant risks involved in investing in our company. For a discussion of risk factors you should consider before buying our common stock, see Risk Factors set forth below. |
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Therefore, in evaluating us and our business you should carefully consider the risks set forth below, which are only a few of the risks associated with investing in our common stock. You should be in a position to risk the loss of your entire investment.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
We are a development stage company. We currently have no product revenues and will need to raise additional capital to operate our business.
We are a development stage company that has experienced significant losses since inception and has a significant accumulated deficit. We expect to incur additional operating losses in the future and expect our cumulative losses to increase. To date, we have generated no product revenues. As of September 30, 2007, we have expended approximately $14.2 million on a consolidated basis acquiring and developing our current product candidates. Until such time as we receive approval from the FDA and other regulatory authorities for our product candidates, we will not be permitted to sell our drugs and will not have product revenues. Therefore, for the foreseeable future we will have to fund all of our operations and capital expenditures from equity and debt offerings, cash on hand, licensing fees, and grants. We will need to seek additional sources of financing and such additional financing may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. If we do not succeed in raising additional funds on acceptable terms, we may be unable to complete planned pre-clinical and clinical trials or obtain approval of our product candidates from the FDA and other regulatory authorities. In addition, we could be forced to discontinue product development, reduce or forego sales and marketing efforts, and forego attractive business opportunities. Any additional sources of financing will likely involve the issuance of our equity or debt securities, which will have a dilutive effect on our stockholders.
We are not currently profitable and may never become profitable.
We have a history of losses and expect to incur substantial losses and negative operating cash flow for the foreseeable future. Even if we succeed in developing and commercializing one or more of our product candidates, we expect to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future and may never become profitable. We also expect to continue to incur significant operating and capital expenditures and anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as we do the following:
continue to undertake pre-clinical development and clinical trials for our product candidates;
seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates;
implement additional internal systems and infrastructure;
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lease additional or alternative office facilities; and
hire additional personnel, including members of our management team.
We also expect to experience negative cash flow for the foreseeable future as we fund our technology development with capital expenditures. As a result, we will need to generate significant revenues in order to achieve and maintain profitability. We may not be able to generate these revenues or achieve profitability in the future. Our failure to achieve or maintain profitability could negatively impact the value of our common stock and underlying securities.
We have a limited operating history on which investors can base an investment decision.
We are a development-stage company and have not demonstrated our ability to perform the functions necessary for the successful commercialization of any of our product candidates. The successful commercialization of our product candidates will require us to perform a variety of functions, including:
continuing to undertake pre-clinical development and clinical trials;
participating in regulatory approval processes;
formulating and manufacturing products; and
conducting sales and marketing activities.
Our operations have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, acquiring, developing, and securing our proprietary technology, and undertaking pre-clinical trials and Phase I/II, and Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of our principal product candidates. These operations provide a limited basis for you to assess our ability to commercialize our product candidates and the advisability of investing in our securities.
Our NDA for COPREXA may not be accepted for filing and/or we may not obtain the necessary U.S. or worldwide regulatory approvals to commercialize our product(s).
On November 28, 2007, we filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market our lead drug candidate COPREXA (oral tetrathiomolybate) for initially presenting neurologic Wilson's disease. On or before January 28, 2008 representing sixty (60) days from the date of NDA filing we expect to receive notification from the FDA as to whether our NDA has been accepted for review. If the FDA does not accept our filing for review we may face substantial delays in our ability to refile a new NDA and potential approval to market COPREXA, we will need FDA approval to commercialize our product candidates in the U.S. and approvals from equivalent regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions to commercialize our product candidates in those jurisdictions. In order to obtain FDA approval for any of our product candidates, we must submit to the FDA an NDA, demonstrating that the product candidate is safe for humans and effective for its intended use and that the product candidate can be consistently manufactured and is stable. This demonstration requires significant research and animal tests, which are referred to as pre-clinical studies, human tests, which are referred to as clinical trials as well as the ability to manufacture the product candidate, referred to as chemistry manufacturing control or CMC. We will also need to file additional investigative new drug applications and protocols in order to initiate clinical testing of our drug candidates in new therapeutic indications and delays in obtaining required FDA and institutional review board approvals to commence such studies may delay our initiation of such planned additional studies.
Satisfying the FDAs regulatory requirements typically takes many years, depending on the type, complexity, and novelty of the product candidate, and requires substantial resources for research,
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development, and testing. We cannot predict whether our research and clinical approaches will result in drugs that the FDA considers safe for humans and effective for indicated uses. The FDA has substantial discretion in the drug approval process and may require us to conduct additional pre-clinical and clinical testing or to perform post-marketing studies. For example, while we have filed an NDA for COPREXA, we cannot give any assurances that such NDA will be accepted for filing by the FDA and/or that the FDA will agree with our analysis of data supporting the safety, clinical efficacy, manufacturing, stability, therapeutic utility and other regulatory requirements necessary for COPREXA to be approved for use in neurologically presenting Wilsons disease or that even if approved for initial indication, that we will be able to conduct and complete necessary initial and registration clinical trials required to support and receive FDA approval for a Supplemental New Drug Application to market COPREXA for the treatment of Alzheimers disease or other disease indications, such as, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for example.
The approval process may also be delayed by changes in government regulation, future legislation or administrative action, or changes in FDA policy that occur prior to or during our regulatory review. Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals may do the following:
delay commercialization of, and our ability to derive product revenues from, our product candidates;
impose costly procedures on us; and
diminish any competitive advantages that we may otherwise enjoy.
Even if we comply with all FDA requests, the FDA may ultimately reject one or more of our NDAs. We cannot be sure that we will ever obtain regulatory clearance for our product candidates. Failure to obtain FDA approval of any of our product candidates will severely undermine our business by reducing our number of salable products and, therefore, corresponding product revenues.
In foreign jurisdictions, we must receive approval from the appropriate regulatory authorities before we can commercialize our drugs. Foreign regulatory approval processes generally include all of the risks associated with the FDA approval procedures described above. We cannot assure you that we will receive the approvals necessary to commercialize our product candidate for sale outside the United States.
We may not be able to retain rights licensed to us by others to commercialize key products and may not be able to establish or maintain the relationships we need to develop, manufacture, and market our products.
In addition to our own patent applications, we also currently rely on an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the University of Michigan relating to various uses of COPREXA. We also have an exclusive license agreement with the McLean Hospital relating to the use of EFFIRMA to treat fibromyalgia syndrome; an exclusive license agreement with Thomas Jefferson University relating to our anti-CD4 inhibitors; an exclusive license agreement with the Regents of the University of California relating to our TRIMESTA technology; an exclusive license agreement with the Childrens Hospital-Boston relating to our CORRECTA technology and an exclusive option agreement to license our T-cell vaccine program from the University of Southern California (USC) which expires on December 31, 2007. We plan to exercise this option with the University of Southern California. Each of these agreements requires us to use our best efforts to commercialize each of the technologies as well as meet certain diligence requirements and timelines in order to keep the license agreement in effect. In the event we are not able to meet our diligence
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requirements, we may not be able to retain the rights granted under our agreements or renegotiate our arrangement with these institutions on reasonable terms, or at all.
Furthermore, we currently have very limited product development capabilities, and limited marketing or sales capabilities. For us to research, develop, and test our product candidates, we would need to contract with outside researchers, in most cases those parties that did the original research and from whom we have licensed the technologies.
We can give no assurances that any of our issued patents licensed to us or any of our other patent applications will provide us with significant proprietary protection or be of commercial benefit to us. Furthermore, the issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its validity or enforceability, nor does the issuance of a patent provide the patent holder with freedom to operate without infringing the patent rights of others.
Developments by competitors may render our products or technologies obsolete or non-competitive.
Companies that currently sell or are developing both generic and proprietary pharmaceutical compounds to treat central-nervous-system, inflammatory, autoimmune and fibrotic diseases include: Pfizer, Inc., Aton Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Plc., Merck & Co., Eli Lilly & Co., Serono, SA, Biogen Idec, Inc., Achillion, Ltd., Active Biotech, Inc., Panteri Biosciences, Meda, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Schering AG, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Attenuon, LLC, Cypress Biosciences, Inc., Axcan Pharma, Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Intermune, Inc. Fibrogen, Inc., Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc., Prana Biotechnology, Inc., Merz & Co., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chiesi Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Targacept, Inc., and Johnson & Johnson, Inc. Alternative technologies or alternative delivery or dosages of already approved therapies are being developed to treat autoimmune inflammatory, fibrotic, Alzheimers and Wilsons diseases, several of which may be approved or are in early and advanced clinical trials, such as pirfenidone, milnacipram, Actimmune and other interferon preparations. Unlike us, many of our competitors have significant financial and human resources. In addition, academic research centers may develop technologies that compete with our CORRECTA, TRIMESTA, zinc-monocysteine, anti-CD4 inhibitors, EFFIRMA and COPREXA technologies. We are aware that other companies are developing competitive anti-copper therapies that are in various stages of clinical trials or have been approved by regulatory authorities. For example, trientine, d-pennicillamine and zinc based therapies, all FDA approved anti-copper agents have been or are being tested in various treatment regiments for the treatment of Wilsons disease. Should clinicians or regulatory authorities view these therapeutic regiments as or more effective than COPREXA in the treatment of neurologic Wilsons disease, this might delay or prevent us from obtaining regulatory approval for COPREXA, or it might prevent us from obtaining favorable reimbursement rates from payors, such as Medicare, Medicaid and private insurors.
We may not succeed in enforcing our orphan drug designations.
COPREXA has been designated by the FDA as an orphan drug for the treatment of Wilsons disease patients presenting with neurologic complications. CORRECTA has also been designated by the FDA as an orphan drug for the treatment of pouchitis patients. We intend to file for orphan drug designations in the EMEA (the European equivalent of the FDA) for both COPREXA and CORRECTA for similar uses. Pursuant to our agreements with our scientific inventors and universities, we have acquired these designations. Orphan drug designation is an important element of our competitive strategy because there are no composition of matter patents for COPREXA a designated orphan drug for a rare disease generally receives marketing exclusivity for use of that drug for the designated condition for a period of seven years in the United States and ten years in the European Union.
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To be successful in enforcing this designation, our new drug application would need to be the first NDA approved to use COPREXA to treat Wilsons disease. While we are not aware of any other companies that have sought orphan drug designation for COPREXA or its active ingredient, tetrathiomolybdate, for this indication, other companies may in the future seek it and may obtain FDA marketing approval before we do. In addition, the FDA may permit other companies to market a form of tetrathiomolybdate to treat Wilsons disease patients with neurologic complication if their product demonstrates clinical superiority. This could create a more competitive market for us.
Competitors could develop and gain FDA approval of our products for a different indication.
A competitor could develop our products in a similar format, but for a different indication. For example, other companies could manufacture and develop COPREXA and its active ingredient, tetrathiomolybdate, and secure approvals for different indications. We are aware that a potential competitor has an exclusive license from the University of Michigan (UM) to an issued U.S. patent that relates to the use of tetrathiomolybdate to treat angiogenic diseases (the Angiogenic Patent) and is currently in phase I and phase II clinical trials for the treatment of various forms of cancer. To our knowledge, this competitor and UM have filed additional patent applications claiming various analog structures and formulations of tetrathiomolybdate to treat various diseases. While our use of COPREXA and its active ingredient, tetrathiomolybdate, is in a more advanced state of clinical development, having completed two pivotal clinical trials and having filed an NDA for COPREXA, we cannot predict whether or not one or more patent applications corresponding to the Angiogenic Patent will be filed or if any U.S. patents will be issued which might prevent us from expanding the commercial applications of COPREXA. Further, we cannot predict whether our competitor might seek to develop their version of tetrathiomolybdate for Wilsons disease and file for FDA or EMEA approval and saturate the market. We also cannot predict whether, if issued, any patent corresponding to the Angiogenic Patent may prevent us from conducting our business or result in lengthy and costly litigation or the need for a license. Furthermore, if we need to obtain a license to these or other patents in order to conduct our business, we may find that it is not available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or is not available to us at all.
If the FDA approves other tetrathiomolybdate products to treat indications other than those covered by our issued or pending patent applications, physicians may elect to prescribe a competitors tetrathiomolybdate to treat Wilsons diseasethis is commonly referred to as off-label use. While under FDA regulations a competitor is not allowed to promote off-label uses of its product, the FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine and, as a result, cannot direct physicians as to which source it should use for the tetrathiomolybdate they prescribe to their patients. Consequently, we might be limited in our ability to prevent off-label use of a competitors tetrathiomolybdate to treat Wilsons disease or inflammatory or fibrotic disease, even if we have orphan drug exclusivity. Our competitor might seek FDA or EMEA approval to market tetrathiomolybdate for any therapeutic indication, including Wilsons disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). If we are not able to obtain and enforce these patents, a competitor could use tetrathiomolybdate for a treatment or use not covered by any of our patents.
We rely primarily on method patents and patent applications and various regulatory exclusivities to protect the development of our technologies, and our ability to compete may decrease or be eliminated if we are not able to protect our proprietary technology.
Our competitiveness may be adversely affected if we are unable to protect our proprietary technologies. Other than anti-CD4 802-2 and zinc-monocysteine, there are no composition of matter patents for TRIMESTA, EFFIRMA, CORRECTA, Solovax, COPREXA or their respective active ingredients estriol, flupirtine, clotrimazole and tetrathiomolybdate. Additionally, we do not have an issued
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patent for COPREXA s use to treat Wilsons disease, although we do have Orphan Drug Designation for this indication. Orphan Drug Designation provides protection for seven years of marketing exclusivity for that product in that disease indication in the U.S. We also expect to rely on patent protection from an issued U.S. Patent for the use of COPREXA and related compounds to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases (U.S. Patent No 6,855,340) and we have received a notice of allowance for the use of COPREXA and related compounds to treat Alzheimers disease. Both of these patents have been exclusively licensed to us. We have also filed various pending patent applications which cover various formulations, packaging, distribution & monitoring methods for COPREXA. We rely on issued patent and pending patent applications for use of TRIMESTA to treat MS (issued U.S. Patent No. 6,936,599) and various other therapeutic indications which have been exclusively licensed to us. We have also exclusively licensed an issued patent for the treatment of fibromyalgia with EFFIRMA and have pending patent applications for our uses of CORRECTA.
We also expect to rely on regulatory exclusivities, such as the Orphan Drug Designation with the FDA and EMEA (Orphan Drug) to protect COPREXA, CORRECTA and our other future products for certain therapeutic indications. Orphan Drug protection provides for seven years of marketing exclusivity for that disease indication in the U.S. and ten years of marketing exclusivity for that disease indication in Europe. We have received an Orphan Drug Designation for the use of CORRECTA to treat pouchitis as well as an Orphan Drug Designation for the use of COPREXA to treat neurologically presenting Wilsons disease and are in the process of filing similar designations in Europe. Orphan Drug Designation is an important element of our competitive strategy for COPREXA and CORRECTA. To be successful in enforcing this designation, our NDA would need to be the first NDA approved to use COPREXA and CORRECTA for that indication. While we are not aware of any other companies that have sought orphan drug designation for COPREXA and CORRECTA for any indication, other companies may in the future seek it and may obtain FDA marketing approval before we do.
After the Orphan Drug exclusivity period expires, assuming our patents are validly issued, we still expect to rely on our issued and pending method of use patent applications to protect our proprietary technology with respect to the development of COPREXA, TRIMESTA and CORRECTA. The patent positions of pharmaceutical companies are uncertain and may involve complex legal and factual questions. We may incur significant expense in protecting our intellectual property and defending or assessing claims with respect to intellectual property owned by others. Any patent or other infringement litigation by or against us could cause us to incur significant expense and divert the attention of our management.
We may also rely on the United States Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act, commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments, to protect some of our current product candidates, specifically COPREXA, TRIMESTA, Anti-CD4 802-2, EFFIRMA and other future product candidates we may develop. Once a drug containing a new molecule is approved by the FDA, the FDA cannot accept an abbreviated NDA for a generic drug containing that molecule for five years, although the FDA may accept and approve a drug containing the molecule pursuant to an NDA supported by independent clinical data. Recent amendments have been proposed that would narrow the scope of Hatch-Waxman exclusivity and permit generic drugs to compete with our drug.
Others may file patent applications or obtain patents on similar technologies or compounds that compete with our products. We cannot predict how broad the claims in any such patents or applications will be, and whether they will be allowed. Once claims have been issued, we cannot predict how they will be construed or enforced. We may infringe intellectual property rights of others without being aware of it. If another party claims we are infringing their technology, we could have to defend an expensive and time
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consuming lawsuit, pay a large sum if we are found to be infringing, or be prohibited from selling or licensing our products unless we obtain a license or redesign our product, which may not be possible.
We also rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how to develop and maintain our competitive position. Some of our current or former employees, consultants, or scientific advisors, or current or prospective corporate collaborators, may unintentionally or willfully disclose our confidential information to competitors or use our proprietary technology for their own benefit. Furthermore, enforcing a claim alleging the infringement of our trade secrets would be expensive and difficult to prove, making the outcome uncertain. Our competitors may also independently develop similar knowledge, methods, and know-how or gain access to our proprietary information through some other means.
We may fail to retain or recruit necessary personnel, and we may be unable to secure the services of consultants.
As of December 10, 2007, we have 25 full-time employees. We have also engaged regulatory consultants to advise us on our dealings with the FDA and other foreign regulatory authorities. We intend to recruit certain key executive officers, including a Chief Financial Officer. Our future performance will depend in part on our ability to successfully integrate newly hired executive officers into our management team and our ability to develop an effective working relationship among senior management.
Certain of our officers, directors, (including Mr. Stergis, our Vice Chairman of the Board and former Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Rudick, a director and former Chief Medical Officer, Jeffrey Kraws, a director and former VP of Business Development, Jeffrey Wolf, a director, and Dr. Kuo, a director) scientific advisors, and consultants serve as officers, directors, scientific advisors, or consultants of other biopharmaceutical or biotechnology companies which might be developing competitive products to ours. None of our directors or officers, are obligated under any agreement or understanding with us to make any additional products or technologies available to us. Similarly, we can give no assurances, and we do not expect and stockholders should not expect, that any biomedical or pharmaceutical product or technology identified by any of our directors or affiliates in the future would be made available to us.
We can expect this to also be the case with personnel that we engage in the future. We can give no assurances that any such other companies will not have interests that are in conflict with our interests.
Losing key personnel or failing to recruit necessary additional personnel would impede our ability to attain our development objectives. There is intense competition for qualified personnel in the drug-development field, and we may not be able to attract and retain the qualified personnel we would need to develop our business.
We rely on independent organizations, advisors, and consultants to perform certain services for us, including handling substantially all aspects of regulatory approval, clinical management, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. We expect that this will continue to be the case. Such services may not always be available to us on a timely basis when we need them.
We may experience difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities of our products or other compounds.
In order to successfully commercialize our product candidates, we must be able to manufacture our products in commercial quantities, in compliance with regulatory requirements, at acceptable costs, and in a timely manner. Manufacture of the types of biopharmaceutical products that we propose to develop present various risks. For example, manufacture of the active ingredient in COPREXA is a complex process that can be difficult to scale up for purposes of producing large quantities. This process can also be subject to delays, inefficiencies, and poor or low yields of quality products. Furthermore, the active
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ingredient of COPREXA is known to be subject to a loss of potency as a result of prolonged exposure to moisture and other normal atmospheric conditions. We are developing proprietary formulations and specialty packaging solutions to overcome this stability issue, but we can give no assurances that we will be successful in meeting the stability requirements required for approval by regulatory authorities such as the FDA or the requirements that our new proprietary formulations and drug product will demonstrate satisfactory comparability to less stable formulations utilized in prior clinical trials. We may experience delays in demonstrating satisfactory stability requirements and drug product comparability requirements that could delay filing, acceptance or approval of our planned NDA for COPREXA.
Additionally, our SOLOVAX T-cell vaccine technology is complex to manufacture. The vaccine is manufactured through the procurement of a patients own T-cells derived from the patients plasma. This manufacturing process involves incubation of T-cells, irradiation and refrigeration of the cells. We plan to develop a revised manufacturing procedure which will streamline quality control of the vaccine.
Historically, our manufacturing has been handled by contract manufacturers and compounding pharmacies. We can give no assurances that we will be able to continue to use our current manufacturer or be able to establish another relationship with a manufacturer quickly enough so as not to disrupt commercialization of any of our products, or that commercial quantities of any of our products, if approved for marketing, will be available from contract manufacturers at acceptable costs.
In addition, any contract manufacturer that we select to manufacture our product candidates might fail to maintain a current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) manufacturing facility. During January 2007, we established a commercial manufacturing facility for our product candidates in Ann Arbor, MI and we have hired and trained our employees to comply with the extensive regulations applicable to such a facility. Upon FDA inspection our facility and/or cGMP procedures may require changes that could delay our intended product launch of COPREXA and other products that might develop.
The cost of manufacturing certain product candidates may make them prohibitively expensive. In order to successfully commercialize our product candidates we may be required to reduce the costs of production, and we may find that we are unable to do so. We may be unable to obtain, or may be required to pay high prices for compounds manufactured or sold by others that we need for comparison purposes in clinical trials and studies for our product candidates.
Clinical trials are very expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to design and implement.
Human clinical trials are very expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements. The clinical trial process is also time-consuming. We estimate that clinical trials of our product candidates would take at least several years to complete. Furthermore, failure can occur at any stage of the trials, and we could encounter problems that cause us to abandon or repeat clinical trials. Commencement and completion of clinical trials may be delayed by several factors, including:
unforeseen safety issues;
determination of dosing;
lack of effectiveness during clinical trials;
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slower than expected rates of patient recruitment;
inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; and
inability or unwillingness of medical investigators to follow our clinical protocols.
In addition, we or the FDA may suspend our clinical trials at any time if it appears that we are exposing participants to unacceptable health risks or if the FDA finds deficiencies in our submissions or conduct of our trials.
The results of our clinical trials may not support our product candidate claims.
Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, we cannot be certain that the results will support our product-candidate claims. Success in pre-clinical testing and phase II clinical trials does not ensure that later phase II or phase III clinical trials will be successful. We cannot be sure that the results of later clinical trials would replicate the results of prior clinical trials and pre-clinical testing. Clinical trials may fail to demonstrate that our product candidates are safe for humans and effective for indicated uses. Any such failure could cause us to abandon a product candidate and might delay development of other product candidates. Any delay in, or termination of, our clinical trials would delay our obtaining FDA approval for the affected product candidate and, ultimately, our ability to commercialize that product candidate.
Physicians and patients may not accept and use our technologies.
Even if the FDA approves our product candidates, physicians and patients may not accept and use them. Acceptance and use of our product will depend upon a number of factors, including the following:
the perception of members of the health care community, including physicians, regarding the safety and effectiveness of our drugs;
the cost-effectiveness of our product relative to competing products;
availability of reimbursement for our products from government or other healthcare payers; and
the effectiveness of marketing and distribution efforts by us and our licensees and distributors, if any.
Because we expect sales of our current product candidates, if approved, to generate substantially all of our product revenues for the foreseeable future, the failure of any of these drugs to find market acceptance would harm our business and could require us to seek additional financing.
We depend on researchers who are not under our control.
We depend upon independent investigators and scientific collaborators, such as universities and medical institutions, to conduct our pre-clinical and clinical trials under agreements with us. These collaborators are not our employees and we cannot control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our programs or the timing of their procurement of clinical-trial data. They may not assign as great a priority to our programs or pursue them as diligently as we would if we were undertaking those programs ourselves. Failing to devote sufficient time and resources to our drug-development programs, or
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substandard performance, could result in delay of any FDA applications and our commercialization of the drug candidate involved.
These collaborators may also have relationships with other commercial entities, some of which may compete with us. Our collaborators assisting our competitors at our expense, could harm our competitive position. For example, we depend on scientific collaborators for our TRIMESTA, SOLOVAX, CORRECTA, anti-CD4 802-2, EFFIRMA and COPREXA development programs. Specifically, all of the clinical trials have been conducted under physician-sponsored investigational new drug applications (INDs), not corporate-sponsored INDs. We are also dependent on government and private grants to fund certain of our clinical trials for our product candidates. If we are unable to maintain these grants, we might be forced to scale back development of these product candidates. We have experienced difficulty in collecting the data or transferring these programs to corporate-sponsored INDs. Additionally, we are aware that all of our scientific collaborators also act as advisors to our competitors.
We have no experience selling, marketing, or distributing products and do not have the capability to do so.
We currently have no sales, marketing, or distribution capabilities. We do not anticipate having resources in the foreseeable future to allocate to selling and marketing our proposed products. Our success will depend, in part, on whether we are able to enter into and maintain collaborative relationships with a pharmaceutical or a biotechnology company charged with marketing one or more of our products. We may not be able to establish or maintain such collaborative arrangements or to commercialize our products in foreign territories, and even if we do, our collaborators may not have effective sales forces.
If we do not, or are unable to, enter into collaborative arrangements to sell and market our proposed products, we will need to devote significant capital, management resources, and time to establishing and developing an in-house marketing and sales force with technical expertise. We may be unsuccessful in doing so.
If we fail to maintain positive relationships with particular individuals, we may be unable to successfully develop our product candidates, conduct clinical trials, and obtain financing.
If we fail to maintain positive relationships with members of our management team or if these individuals decrease their contributions to our company, our business could be adversely impacted. We do not carry key employee insurance policies for any of our key employees.
We also rely greatly on employing and retaining other highly trained and experienced senior management and scientific personnel. The competition for these and other qualified personnel in the biotechnology field is intense. If we are not able to attract and retain qualified scientific, technical, and managerial personnel, we probably will be unable to achieve our business objectives.
We may not be able to compete successfully for market share against other drug companies.
The markets for our product candidates are characterized by intense competition and rapid technological advances. If our product candidates receive FDA approval, they will compete with existing and future drugs and therapies developed, manufactured, and marketed by others. Competing products may provide greater therapeutic convenience or clinical or other benefits for a specific indication than our products, or may offer comparable performance at a lower cost. If our products fail to capture and maintain market share, we may not achieve sufficient product revenues and our business will suffer.
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We will compete against fully integrated pharmaceutical companies and smaller companies that are collaborating with larger pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, government agencies, or other public and private research organizations. Many of these competitors have therapies to treat autoimmune fibrotic and central nervous system diseases already approved or in development. In addition, many of these competitors, either alone or together with their collaborative partners, operate larger research-and-development programs than we do, have substantially greater financial resources than we do, and have significantly greater experience in the following areas:
developing drugs;
undertaking pre-clinical testing and human clinical trials;
obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of drugs;
formulating and manufacturing drugs; and
launching, marketing and selling drugs.
We may incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patent and other intellectual property rights, as well as costs associated with frivolous lawsuits.
If any other person files patent applications, or is issued patents, claiming technology also claimed by us in pending applications, we may be required to participate in interference proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of invention. We, or our licensors, may also need to participate in interference proceedings involving our issued patents and pending applications of another entity.
We cannot guarantee that the practice of our technologies will not conflict with the rights of others. In some foreign jurisdictions, we could become involved in opposition proceedings, either by opposing the validity of anothers foreign patent or by persons opposing the validity of our foreign patents.
We may also face frivolous litigation or lawsuits from various competitors or from litigious securities attorneys. The cost to us of any litigation or other proceeding relating to these areas, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial and could distract management from our business. Uncertainties resulting from initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue our operations.
If we infringe the rights of others we could be prevented from selling products or forced to pay damages.
If our products, methods, processes, and other technologies are found to infringe the proprietary rights of other parties, we could be required to pay damages, or we may be required to cease using the technology or to license rights from the prevailing party. Any prevailing party may be unwilling to offer us a license on commercially acceptable terms.
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Our ability to generate product revenues will be diminished if our drugs sell for inadequate prices or patients are unable to obtain adequate levels of reimbursement.
Our ability to commercialize our drugs, alone or with collaborators, will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement is available from government and health administration authorities, private health maintenance organizations, health insurers, and other healthcare payers.
Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved healthcare products. Healthcare payers, including Medicare, are challenging the prices charged for medical products and services. Government and other healthcare payers increasingly attempt to contain healthcare costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement for drugs. Even if our product candidates are approved by the FDA, insurance coverage may not be available, or may be inadequate, to cover the cost of our drugs. This could affect our ability to commercialize our products.
We may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage against product liability claims.
Our business exposes us to the product liability risks inherent in the testing, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of human therapeutic technologies and products. Even if it is available, product liability insurance for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry generally is expensive. Adequate insurance coverage may not be available at a reasonable cost.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR STOCK
We will seek to raise additional funds in the future, which may be dilutive to stockholders or impose operational restrictions.
We expect to seek to raise additional capital in the future to help fund development of our proposed products. If we raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or debt securities, the percentage ownership of our current stockholders will be reduced. We may also enter into strategic transactions that may be dilutive. Our stockholders may experience additional dilution in net book value per share and any additional equity securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the holders of our common stock. If we cannot raise additional funds, we will have to delay development activities of our products candidates.
We are controlled by our current officers, directors, and principal stockholders.
Currently, our directors, executive officers, and principal stockholders beneficially own a majority of our common stock. As a result, they will be able to exert substantial influence over the election of our board of directors and the vote on issues submitted to our stockholders.
Our shares of common stock are from time to time thinly traded, so stockholders may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if they need to sell shares to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate their shares.
Our common stock has from time to time been thinly-traded, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became
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more seasoned and viable. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot give stockholders any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained, or that current trading levels will be sustained.
Our compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and SEC rules concerning internal controls may be time consuming, difficult and costly.
Although individual members of our management team have experience as officers of publicly traded companies, much of that experience came prior to the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. It may be time consuming, difficult and costly for us to develop and implement the internal controls and reporting procedures required by Sarbanes-Oxley. We may need to hire additional financial reporting, internal controls and other finance staff in order to develop and implement appropriate internal controls and reporting procedures. If we are unable to comply with Sarbanes-Oxleys internal controls requirements, we may not be able to obtain the independent accountant certifications that Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires publicly-traded companies to obtain.
We cannot assure you that the common stock will be liquid or that it will remain listed on a securities exchange.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain the listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The American Stock Exchange requires companies to meet certain listing criteria including certain minimum stockholders and equity prices per share. We may not be able to maintain such minimum prices or may be required to effect a reverse stock split to maintain such minimum prices.
There may be issuances of shares of preferred stock in the future.
Although we currently do not have preferred shares outstanding, the board of directors could authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock that would grant holders preferred rights to our assets upon liquidation, the right to receive dividends before dividends would be declared to common stockholders, and the right to the redemption of such shares, possibly together with a premium, prior to the redemption of the common stock. To the extent that we do issue preferred stock, the rights of holders of common stock could be impaired thereby, including without limitation, with respect to liquidation.
We have never paid dividends.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any for the foreseeable future.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRY
Government Regulation
The FDA, comparable foreign regulators and state and local pharmacy regulators impose substantial requirements upon clinical development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical products. These and other entities regulate research and development and the testing, manufacture, quality control, safety, effectiveness, labeling, storage, record keeping, approval, advertising, and promotion of our products. The drug approval process required by the FDA under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act generally involves:
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Preclinical laboratory and animal tests;
Submission of an IND, prior to commencing human clinical trials;
Adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy for intended use;
Submission to the FDA of a NDA; and
FDA review and approval of a NDA.
The testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort, and financial resources, and we cannot be certain that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.
Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of the product candidate, its chemistry, formulation and stability, and animal studies to assess potential safety and efficacy. Certain preclinical tests must be conducted in compliance with good laboratory practice regulations. Violations of these regulations can, in some cases, lead to invalidation of the studies, requiring them to be replicated. In some cases, long-term preclinical studies are conducted concurrently with clinical studies.
We will submit the preclinical test results, together with manufacturing information and analytical data, to the FDA as part of an IND, which must become effective before we begin human clinical trials. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after filing, unless the FDA raises questions about conduct of the trials outlined in the IND and imposes a clinical hold, in which case, the IND sponsor and FDA must resolve the matters before clinical trials can begin. It is possible that our submission may not result in FDA authorization to commence clinical trials.
Clinical trials must be supervised by a qualified investigator in accordance with good clinical practice regulations, which include informed consent requirements. An independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) at each medical center reviews and approves and monitors the study, and is periodically informed of the studys progress, adverse events and changes in research. Progress reports are submitted annually to the FDA and more frequently if adverse events occur.
Human clinical trials typically have three sequential phases that may overlap: |
Phase I: The drug is initially tested in healthy human subjects or patients for safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion.
Phase II: The drug is studied in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, determine efficacy for specific diseases and establish dosage tolerance and optimal dosage.
Phase III: When phase II evaluations demonstrate that a dosage range is effective with an acceptable safety profile, phase III trials to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy and safety, are undertaken in an expanded patient population, often at geographically dispersed sites.
We cannot be certain that we will successfully complete phase I, phase II, or phase III testing of our product candidates within any specific time period, if at all. Furthermore, the FDA, an IRB or the IND sponsor may suspend clinical trials at any time on various grounds, including a finding that subjects or patients are exposed to unacceptable health risk.
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Concurrent with these trials and studies, we also develop chemistry and physical characteristics data and finalize a manufacturing process in accordance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements. The manufacturing process must conform to consistency and quality standards, and we must develop methods for testing the quality, purity, and potency of the final products. Appropriate packaging is selected and tested, and chemistry stability studies are conducted to demonstrate that the product does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf-life. Results of the foregoing are submitted to the FDA as part of a NDA for marketing and commercial shipment approval. The FDA reviews each NDA submitted and may request additional information.
Once the FDA accepts the NDA for filing, it begins its in-depth review. The FDA has substantial discretion in the approval process and may disagree with our interpretation of the data submitted. The process may be significantly extended by requests for additional information or clarification regarding information already provided. As part of this review, the FDA may refer the application to an appropriate advisory committee, typically a panel of clinicians. Manufacturing establishments often are inspected prior to NDA approval to assure compliance with GMPs and with manufacturing commitments made in the application.
Submission of a NDA with clinical data requires payment of a fee (for fiscal year 2008, $1,178,500). In return, the FDA assigns a goal of ten months for issuing its complete response, in which the FDA may approve or deny the NDA, or require additional clinical data. Even if these data are submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide the NDA does not satisfy approval criteria. If the FDA approves the NDA, the product becomes available for physicians prescription. Product approval may be withdrawn if regulatory compliance is not maintained or safety problems occur. The FDA may require post-marketing studies, also known as phase IV studies, as a condition of approval, and requires surveillance programs to monitor approved products that have been commercialized. The agency has the power to require changes in labeling or prohibit further marketing based on the results of post-marketing surveillance.
Satisfaction of these and other regulatory requirements typically takes several years, and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures on our activities. We cannot be certain that the FDA or other regulatory agencies will approve any of our products on a timely basis, if at all. Success in preclinical or early-stage clinical trials does not assure success in later-stage clinical trials. Data obtained from pre-clinical and clinical activities are not always conclusive and may be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Even if a product receives regulatory approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific indications or uses.
Even after regulatory approval is obtained, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market. Delays in obtaining, or failures to obtain regulatory approvals would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Any products manufactured or distributed by us pursuant to FDA approvals are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulation, including record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse experiences, submitting periodic reports, drug sampling and distribution requirements, manufacturing or labeling changes, record-keeping requirements, and compliance with FDA promotion and advertising requirements. Drug manufacturers and their subcontractors are required to register their facilities with the FDA and state agencies, and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections for GMP compliance, imposing procedural and documentation requirements upon us and third-party manufacturers. Failure to comply with these regulations could result, among other things, in suspension of regulatory approval,
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recalls, suspension of production or injunctions, seizures, or civil or criminal sanctions. We cannot be certain that we or our present or future subcontractors will be able to comply with these regulations.
The FDA regulates drug labeling and promotion activities. The FDA has actively enforced regulations prohibiting the marketing of products for unapproved uses. The FDA permits the promotion of drugs for unapproved uses in certain circumstances, subject to stringent requirements. We and our product candidates are subject to a variety of state laws and regulations which may hinder our ability to market our products. Whether or not FDA approval has been obtained, approval by foreign regulatory authorities must be obtained prior to commencing clinical trials, and sales and marketing efforts in those countries. These approval procedures vary in complexity from country to country, and the processes may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval. We may incur significant costs to comply with these laws and regulations now or in the future.
The FDAs policies may change, and additional government regulations may be enacted which could prevent or delay regulatory approval of our potential products. Increased attention to the containment of health care costs worldwide could result in new government regulations materially adverse to our business. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of adverse governmental regulation that might arise from future legislative or administrative action, either in the U.S. or abroad.
Other Regulatory Requirements
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also regulate certain pharmaceutical marketing practices. Government reimbursement practices and policies with respect to our products are important to our success.
We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws relating to safe working conditions, manufacturing practices, environmental protection, fire hazard control, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances. We may incur significant costs to comply with these laws and regulations. The regulatory framework under which we operate will inevitably change in light of scientific, economic, demographic and policy developments, and such changes may have a material adverse effect on our business.
European Product Approval
Prior regulatory approval for human healthy volunteer studies (phase I studies) is required in member states of the European Union (E.U.). Summary data from successful phase I studies are submitted to regulatory authorities in member states to support applications for phase II studies. E.U. authorities typically have one to three months (which often may be extended in their discretion) to raise objections to the proposed study. One or more independent ethics committees (similar to U.S. IRBs) review relevant ethical issues.
For E.U. marketing approval, we submit to the relevant authority for review a dossier, or MAA (Market Authorization Application), providing information on the quality of the chemistry, manufacturing and pharmaceutical aspects of the product as well as non-clinical and clinical data.
Approval can take several months to several years, and can be denied, depending on whether additional studies or clinical trials are requested (which may delay marketing approval and involve unbudgeted costs) or regulatory authorities conduct facilities (including clinical investigation site) inspections and review manufacturing procedures, operating systems and personnel qualifications. In many cases, each drug manufacturing facility must be approved, and further inspections may occur over the products life.
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The regulatory agency may require post-marketing surveillance to monitor for adverse effects or other studies. Further clinical studies are usually necessary for approval of additional indications. The terms of any approval, including labeling content, may be more restrictive than expected and could affect the marketability of a product.
Failure to comply with these ongoing requirements can result in suspension of regulatory approval and civil and criminal sanctions. European renewals may require additional data, resulting in a license being withdrawn. E.U. regulators have the authority to revoke, suspend or withdraw approvals, prevent companies and individuals from participating in the drug approval process, request recalls, seize violative products, obtain injunctions to close non-compliant manufacturing plants and stop shipments of violative products.
Pricing Controls
Pricing for products under approval applications is also subject to regulation. Requirements vary widely between countries and can be implemented disparately intra-nationally. The E.U. generally provides options for member states to control pricing of medicinal products for human use, ranging from specific price-setting to systems of direct or indirect controls on the producers profitability. U.K. regulation, for example, generally provides controls on overall profits derived from sales to the U.K. National Health Service that are based on profitability targets or a function of capital employed in servicing the National Health Service market. Italy generally utilizes a price monitoring system based on the European average price over the reference markets of France, Spain, Germany and the U.K. Italy typically establishes price within a therapeutic class based on the lowest price for a medicine belonging to that category. Spain generally establishes selling price based on prime cost plus a profit margin within a range established yearly by the Spanish Commission for Economic Affairs.
There can be no assurance that price controls or reimbursement limitations will result in favorable arrangements for our products.
Third-Party Reimbursements
In the U.S., the E.U. and elsewhere, pharmaceutical sales are dependent in part on the availability and adequacy of reimbursement from third party payers such as governments and private insurance plans. Third party payers are increasingly challenging established prices, and new products that are more expensive than existing treatments may have difficulty finding ready acceptance unless there is a clear therapeutic benefit.
In the U.S., consumer willingness to choose a self-administered outpatient prescription drug over a different drug or other form of treatment often depends on the manufacturers success in placing the product on a health plan formulary or drug list, which results in lower out-of-pocket costs. Favorable formulary placement typically requires the product to be less expensive than what the health plan determines to be therapeutically equivalent products, and often requires manufacturers to offer rebates. Federal law also requires manufacturers to pay rebates to state Medicaid programs in order to have their products reimbursed by Medicaid. Medicare, which covers most Americans over age 65 and the disabled, has adopted a new insurance regime that will offer eligible beneficiaries limited coverage for outpatient prescription drugs effective January 1, 2006. The prescription drugs that will be covered under this insurance will be specified on a formulary published by Medicare. As part of these changes, Medicare is adopting new payment formulas for prescription drugs administered by providers, such as hospitals or physicians, that are generally expected to lower reimbursement.
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The E.U. generally provides options for member states to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement. Member states can opt for a positive or negative list, with the former listing all covered medicinal products and the latter designating those excluded from coverage. The E.U., the U.K. and Spain have negative lists, while France uses a positive list. Canadian provinces establish their own reimbursement measures. In some countries, products may also be subject to clinical and cost effectiveness reviews by health technology assessment bodies. Negative determinations in relation to our products could affect prescribing practices. In the U.K., the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides such guidance to the National Health Service, and doctors are expected to take it into account when choosing drugs to prescribe. Health authorities may withhold funding from drugs not given a positive recommendation by NICE. A negative determination by NICE may mean fewer prescriptions. Although NICE considers drugs with orphan status, there is a degree of tension on the application of standard cost assessment for orphan drugs, which are often priced higher to compensate for a limited market. It is unclear whether NICE will adopt a more relaxed approach toward the assessment of orphan drugs.
We cannot assure you that any of our products will be considered cost effective, or that reimbursement will be available or sufficient to allow us to sell them competitively and profitably.
Fraud and Abuse Laws
The U.S. federal Medicare/Medicaid anti-kickback law and similar state laws prohibit remuneration intended to induce physicians or others either to refer patients, or to acquire or arrange for or recommend the acquisition of health care products or services. While the federal law applies only to referrals, products or services receiving federal reimbursement, state laws often apply regardless of whether federal funds are involved. Other federal and state laws prohibit anyone from presenting or causing to be presented false or fraudulent payment claims. Recent federal and state enforcement actions under these statutes have targeted sales and marketing activities of prescription drug manufacturers. As we begin to market our products to health care providers, the relationships we form, such as compensating physicians for speaking or consulting services, providing financial support for continuing medical education or research programs, and assisting customers with third-party reimbursement claims, could be challenged under these laws and lead to civil or criminal penalties, including the exclusion of our products from federally-funded reimbursement. Even an unsuccessful challenge could cause adverse publicity and be costly to respond to, and thus could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We intend to consult counsel concerning the potential application of these and other laws to our business and to our sales, marketing and other activities to comply with them. Given their broad reach and the increasing attention given them by law enforcement authorities, however, we cannot assure you that some of our activities will not be challenged.
Patent Restoration and Marketing Exclusivity
The U.S. Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Hatch-Waxman) permits the FDA to approve Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for generic versions of innovator drugs, as well as NDAs with less original clinical data, and provides patent restoration and exclusivity protections to innovator drug manufacturers.
The ANDA process permits competitor companies to obtain marketing approval for drugs with the same active ingredient and for the same uses as innovator drugs, but does not require the conduct and submission of clinical studies demonstrating safety and efficacy. As a result, a competitor could copy any of our drugs and only need to submit data demonstrating that the copy is bioequivalent to gain marketing approval from the FDA.
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Hatch-Waxman requires a competitor that submits an ANDA, or otherwise relies on safety and efficacy data for one of our drugs, to notify us and/or our business partners of potential infringement of our patent rights. We and/or our business partners may sue the company for patent infringement, which would result in a 30-month stay of approval of the competitors application. The discovery, trial and appeals process in such suits can take several years. If the litigation is resolved in favor of the generic applicant or the challenged patent expires during the 30-month period, the stay is lifted and the FDA may approve the application. Hatch-Waxman also allows competitors to market copies of innovator products by submitting significantly less clinical data outside the ANDA context. Such applications, known as 505(b)(2) NDAs or paper NDAs, may rely on clinical investigations not conducted by or for the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference or use and are subject to the ANDA notification procedures described above.
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The law also restores a portion of a products patent term that is lost during clinical development and NDA review, and provides statutory protection, known as exclusivity, against FDA approval or acceptance of certain competitor applications. Restoration can return up to five years of patent term for a patent covering a new product or its use to compensate for time lost during product development and regulatory review. The restoration period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and submission of an NDA, plus the time between NDA submission and its approval (subject to the five-year limit), and no extension can extend total patent life beyond 14 years after the drug approval date. Applications for patent term extension are subject to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) approval, in conjunction with FDA. Approval of these applications takes at least six months, and there can be no guarantee that it will be given at all.
Hatch-Waxman also provides for differing periods of statutory protection for new drugs approved under an NDA. Among the types of exclusivity are those for a new molecular entity and those for a new formulation or indication for a previously-approved drug. If granted, marketing exclusivity for the types of products that we are developing, which include only drugs with innovative changes to previously-approved products using the same active ingredient, would prohibit the FDA from approving an ANDA or 505(b)(2) NDA relying on safety and efficacy data for three years. This three-year exclusivity, however, covers only the innovation associated with the original NDA. It does not prohibit the FDA from approving applications for drugs with the same active ingredient but without our new innovative change. These marketing exclusivity protections do not prohibit FDA from approving a full NDA, even if it contains the innovative change.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Most of the matters discussed within this registration statement include forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, should, potential, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, estimates, and similar expressions. These statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and events may vary significantly from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this prospectus, and we assume no obligation to explain the reason why actual results may differ. In light of these assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus might not occur.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
In accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, we filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form SB-2 covering the securities in this offering. As permitted by rules and regulations of the SEC, this prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. For further information regarding both our company and the securities in this offering, we refer you to the registration statement,
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including all exhibits and schedules, which you may inspect without charge at the public reference facilities of the SECs Washington, D.C. office, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies may be obtained upon request and payment of prescribed fees.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports and other information are available for inspection and copying at the regional offices, public reference facilities and the website of the SEC referred to above.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from sale of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus by the selling stockholders. We may, however, receive proceeds on exercise of outstanding warrants for shares of common stock covered by this prospectus. We intend to use for general working capital and other corporate purposes any such proceeds we receive. Furthermore, the warrants may expire without having been exercised. Even if some or all of these warrants are exercised, we cannot predict when they will be exercised and when we would receive the proceeds.
MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our common stock has traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol PP since July 2007. We were previously listed on the OTC Bulletin Board under the name PPXP beginning on December 18, 2006. The following table states the range of the high and low bid-prices per share of our common stock for each of the calendar quarters during the last two fiscal years while our common stock was quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and the high and sale price while our common stock has traded on the American Stock Exchange. These quotations represent inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown, or commission, and may not represent actual transactions. The last price of our common stock as reported on the American Stock Exchange on January 7, 2008 was $5.15 per share. As of January 7, 2008, there were approximately 467 stockholders of record of our common stock. This number does not include beneficial owners from whom shares are held by nominees in street name.
|
High |
Low |
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 |
||
Fourth quarter |
$7.10 |
$4.68 |
Third quarter |
$8.00 |
$4.30 |
Second quarter |
$8.10 |
$3.71 |
First quarter |
$30.00 |
$3.06 |
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 |
||
Fourth quarter |
$6.50 |
$0.56 |
Third quarter |
$1.10 |
$1.00 |
Second quarter |
$1.60 |
$1.25 |
First quarter |
$1.02 |
$0.01 |
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date, and we have no intention of paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Whether we declare and pay dividends is determined by our board of directors at their discretion, subject to certain limitations imposed under Delaware corporate law. The timing, amount and form of dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.
24
PLAN OF OPERATION
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this prospectus, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Overview
Since our inception during January 2001, our efforts and resources have been focused primarily on acquiring and developing our pharmaceutical technologies, raising capital and recruiting personnel. We are a development stage company and have had no product sales to date and we will not have any product sales until and unless we receive approval from the FDA or receive approval from equivalent foreign regulatory bodies to begin selling our pharmaceutical candidates. Our major sources of working capital have been proceeds from equity financings from our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and various private financings, primarily involving private sales of our common stock and other equity securities.
Our companys current corporate structure resulted from the October 2006 merger of a newly-created wholly owned subsidiary of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sheffield), a Delaware corporation incorporated in September 1993, and Pipex Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Pipex Therapeutics). In connection with that transaction, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sheffield merged with and into Pipex Therapeutics, with Pipex Therapeutics remaining as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sheffield. On December 11, 2006, Sheffield changed its name to Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pipex). In exchange for their shares of capital stock in Pipex Therapeutics, the former stockholders of Pipex Therapeutics received shares of capital stock of Sheffield representing approximately 98 percent of the outstanding equity of Sheffield on a primary diluted basis after giving effect to the transaction, with Sheffield assuming Pipexs outstanding options and warrants. In addition, the board of directors of Sheffield was reconstituted shortly following the effective time of the transaction such that the directors of Sheffield were replaced by our current directors, all of whom were previously directors of Pipex Therapeutics. Further, upon the effective time of the merger, the business of Sheffield was abandoned and the business plan of Pipex Therapeutics was adopted. The transaction was therefore accounted for as a reverse acquisition with Pipex Therapeutics as the acquiring party and Sheffield as the acquired party. Accordingly, when we refer to our business and financial information relating to periods prior to the merger, we are referring to the business and financial information of Pipex Therapeutics, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Critical Accounting Policies
In December 2001, the SEC requested that all registrants discuss their most critical accounting policies in managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations. The SEC indicated that a critical accounting policy is one which is both important to the portrayal of the companys financial condition and results and requires managements most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We believe that the following discussion regarding research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses and non-cash compensation expense involve our most critical accounting policies.
Research and development expenses consist primarily of manufacturing costs, license fees, salaries and related personnel costs, fees paid to consultants and outside service providers for laboratory development, legal expenses resulting from intellectual property prosecution and organizational affairs and other
25
expenses relating to the design, development, testing, and enhancement of our product candidates, as well as an allocation of overhead expenses incurred by the Company. We expense our research and development costs as they are incurred.
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for executive, finance and other administrative personnel, recruitment expenses, professional fees and other corporate expenses, including business development and general legal activities, as well as an allocation of overhead expenses incurred by the Company. We expense our general and administrative expenses as they are incurred.
Our results include non-cash compensation expense as a result of the issuance of stock and stock option grants. Compensation expense for options granted to employees represents the fair value of the award at the date of grant. All share-based payments to employees since inception have been recorded and expensed in the statements of operations as applicable under SFAS No. 123R Share-Based Payment.
This amount is being recorded over the respective vesting periods of the individual stock options. The expense is included in the respective categories of expense in the statement of operations. We expect to record additional non-cash compensation expense in the future, which may be significant. However, because some of the options are milestone-based, the total expense is uncertain.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Results of Operations
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
Research and Development Expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, research and development expense was $4,069,782 as compared to $1,277,722 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The increase of $2,792,060 is due primarily to an increase of approximately $1,062,000 associated with payments related to further the development of our licensed clinical drug candidates, an increase in salaries and payroll taxes of approximately $724,000 and an increase in stock based compensation charges of approximately $715,000.
General and Administrative Expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, general and administrative expense was $2,852,126 as compared to $711,567 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The increase of $2,140,559 is due primarily to an increase in stock based compensation charge of approximately $983,000, an increase to professional fees of approximately $749,000 and an increase in salaries and payroll taxes of approximately $286,000.
Other Income (Expense), net. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, other income-net was $189,028 compared to $1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, interest income was $218,298 as compared to $1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Interest income was higher for the nine month period in 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006, due to the higher levels of cash available for investment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, interest expense was $29,270 as compared to $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Interest expense for the nine month period in 2007 relates to interest paid on the note payable which did not exist for the same six month period in 2006.
26
Net Loss. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $6,732,880 as compared to $1,989,288 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. This increase in net loss is attributable primarily to an increase in research and development expenses of $2,792,060 and an increase in general and administrative expenses of $2,140,559 as discussed above.
Net Loss Applicable to Common Stockholders. The net loss applicable to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 includes a non-cash charge of $12,409,722 related to the acquisition of Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc (EPI). The net loss applicable to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes a non-cash charge of $190,250 related to Series B Preferred Stock dividends issued from EPI. The total of the non-cash charges was reflected through equal and offsetting adjustments to additional paid-in-capital with no net impact on stockholders equity. These amounts were considered in the determination of the Companys loss per common share amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to September 30, 2007.
Years Ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.
Research and development expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2006, research and development expense was $2,665,555 as compared to $946,065 for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase of $1,719,490 is due primarily to an increase of approximately $745,800 associated with payments related to further the development of our licensed clinical drug candidates, an increase in salaries of approximately $304,800, an increase of stock based compensation and stock issued for license fees of approximately $543,400 and an increase in patent expenses of approximately $42,400.
General and administrative expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2006, general and administrative expense was $1,439,022 as compared to $373,145 for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase of $1,065,877 is due primarily to an increase in stock based compensation of approximately $582,800, an increase to professional fees of approximately $233,600 and an increase in salaries of approximately $152,900.
Other income (expense), net. For the year ended December 31, 2006, interest income was $17,982 as compared to $868 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Interest income was higher in 2006 as compared to 2005, due to the higher levels of cash available for investment in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Net loss. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $4,860,095 as compared to $1,546,092 for the year ended December 31, 2005. This increase in net loss is attributable primarily to an increase in research and development expenses of $1,719,490, an increase in general and administrative expenses of $1,065,877 and an increase of $570,750 of a preferred stock dividend issued by a subsidiary.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we had a net decrease in cash of $4,840,098. Total cash resources as of September 30, 2007 was $7,352,328. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, net cash used in operating activities was $4,379,626 and $1,741,795 respectively. This cash was used to fund our operations for the periods, adjusted for non-cash expenses and changes in operating assets and liabilities. During November 2007, we received approximately $7.3 million in gross proceeds from the exercise of warrants that were previously issued in connection with our 2006 private placement.
27
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $1,743,313 and $30,633, respectively. The net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 resulted from the acquisition of property and equipment.
Net cash proceeds from financing activities were $1,282,841 and $1,080,349 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The net cash proceeds from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 resulted from $1,100,000 in proceeds from notes payable under term loans, less $100,000 of repayments under the loan, and $282,841 from the proceeds of the sale of common stock from the exercise of warrants. The net cash proceeds from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 resulted from proceeds from a related party loan of $1,100,349, less $20,000 of repayments under the loan.
Our continued operations will depend on whether we are able to raise additional funds through various potential sources, such as equity and debt financing. Such additional funds may not become available on acceptable terms and there can be no assurance that any additional funding that we do obtain will be sufficient to meet our needs in the long term. We will continue to fund operations from cash on hand and through the similar sources of capital previously described. We can give no assurances that any additional capital that we are able to obtain will be sufficient to meet our needs.
Current and Future Financing Needs
We have incurred an accumulated deficit of $27,917,163 through September 30, 2007. We have incurred negative cash flow from operations since we started our business. We have spent, and expect to continue to spend, substantial amounts in connection with implementing our business strategy, including our planned product development efforts, our clinical trials, and our research and discovery efforts. Based on our current plans, we believe that our cash will be sufficient to enable us to meet our planned operating needs at least for the next 12 months.
However, the actual amount of funds we will need to operate is subject to many factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include the following:
the progress of our research activities;
the number and scope of our research programs;
the progress of our pre-clinical and clinical development activities;
the progress of the development efforts of parties with whom we have entered into research and development agreements;
our ability to maintain current research and development programs and to establish new research and development and licensing arrangements;
our ability to achieve our milestones under licensing arrangements;
28
the costs involved in prosecuting and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and
the costs and timing of regulatory approvals.
We have based our estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong. We may need to obtain additional funds sooner or in greater amounts than we currently anticipate. Potential sources of financing include strategic relationships, public or private sales of our shares or debt and other sources. We may seek to access the public or private equity markets when conditions are favorable due to our long-term capital requirements. We do not have any committed sources of financing at this time, and it is uncertain whether additional funding will be available when we need it on terms that will be acceptable to us, or at all. If we raise funds by selling additional shares of common stock or other securities convertible into common stock, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted. If we are not able to obtain financing when needed, we may be unable to carry out our business plan. As a result, we may have to significantly limit our operations and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially harmed.
License and Contractual Agreement Obligations
Below is a table of our contractual obligations for the years 2007 through 2010 as of September 30, 2007.
|
Year | ||||||||||||||||||
Agreements |
2007 |
|
2008 |
|
2009 |
|
2010 |
|
Total | ||||||||||
Short and Long Term Debt with interest |
$ |
125,842 |
|
|
$ |
472,865 |
|
|
$ |
432,068 |
|
|
$ |
101,667 |
|
|
$ |
1,132,442 |
|
Research and Development |
$ |
140,615 |
|
|
$ |
375,688 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
516,303 |
|
Lease Agreements |
$ |
68,204 |
|
|
$ |
128,908 |
|
|
$ |
128,908 |
|
|
$ |
128,908 |
|
|
$ |
454,928 |
|
License Agreements |
$ |
55,000 |
|
|
$ |
178,830 |
|
|
$ |
110,000 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
$ |
438,830 |
|
Consulting Agreements |
$ |
74,831 |
|
|
$ |
109,661 |
|
|
$ |
3,332 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
187,824 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
464,492 |
|
|
$ |
1,265,952 |
|
|
$ |
674,308 |
|
|
$ |
325,575 |
|
|
$ |
2,730,327 |
|
Product Candidates
COPREXA(oral tetrathiomolybate)
During November 2007, we filed an NDA with the FDA for COPREXA for the treatment of initially presenting neurologic Wilsons disease. Our filing does not ensure that the Agency will agree with our analysis of the data, that the NDA will be accepted for filing or ultimately approved for marketing. During the first half of 2008, assuming a positive affirmation from the EMEA, we plan to file for marketing approval for COPREXA for the same indication in Europe.
During the quarter, we also made progress on planning our proposed multicenter phase III trial of COPREXA in refractory Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) patients for which we plan to initiate during first half of 2008. The primary purposes for this study will be to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COPREXA when administered orally to patients with IPF, a deadly lung disorder. If this phase III
29
clinical trial for IPF is positive, we will plan to file a sNDA with the FDA seeking to expand the therapeutic utility of COPREXA into IPF.
During early November 2007, a scientific collaborator of ours presented preliminary preclinical data using COPREXA for the treatment of Alzheimers disease in which COPREXA reduced insoluble Amyloid beta, a key Alzheimers protein by 40% (p < 0.05).
Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred approximately $2,276,000 of costs related to our development of COPREXA, of which approximately $150,000 and $1,061,000 was incurred in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, respectively, and approximately $1,065,000 was incurred for the nine months ending September 30, 2007.
TRIMESTA (oral estriol)
In June 2007, a two year seven U.S. center, active-controlled 150 patient phase II/III clinical trial using TRIMESTA, in combination with Copaxone, an FDA approved therapy for the treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was initiated under a $5 million grant from the Southern Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with participation from the NIH. This phase II/III clinical trial builds upon our encouraging results from an earlier phase IIa clinical trial conducted with TRIMESTA. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TRIMESTA in a larger MS patient population with a one year blinded interim analysis. The preclinical and clinical development of TRIMESTA has been primary financed by grants from the NIH and various non-profit foundations. Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred approximately $359,000 of costs related to our development of TRIMESTA of which approximately $49,500 and $185,500 was incurred in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, respectively, and approximately $124,000 was incurred in the first three quarters of 2007.
Anti-CD4 802-2
During 2007, we plan to complete our phase I/II clinical trial of anti-CD4 802-2 in the prevention of graft-vs-host disease as well as complete our preclinical animal studies of anti-CD4 802-2. The primary purpose of these preclinical studies is to evaluate the molecules potential efficacy in different disease settings. If successful, we may choose to initiate clinical studies in these diseases. The preclinical and clinical development of anti-CD4 802-2 has been primary financed by grants from the NIH and various non-profit foundations. Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred $1,358,000 of costs related to our development of anti-CD4 802-2 of which $57,800, $331,800, $303,300, $295,100, $112,500 and $160,600 was incurred in fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively and approximately $97,000 has been incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
CORRECTA (clotrimazole emema)
During 2007, we plan to continue the phase II clinical trial of CORRECTA in the treatment of acute refractory pouchitis, a gastrointestinal disease (the CAPTURE study). The primary purpose of this double blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial is to test CORRECTAs safety and efficacy in treating acute refractory pouchitis. The CAPTURE study is supported by a $750,000 orphan drug grant from the FDA.
The preclinical and clinical development of CORRECTA has been primarily financed by grants from the FDAs orphan drug products group and various non-profit foundations. Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred approximately $245,000 of costs related to our development of CORRECTA of
30
which approximately $103,000 and $107,000 was incurred in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, respectively, and $35,000 has been incurred during the first nine months of 2007.
Solovax (multivalent T-cell vaccine for MS)
During 2007, we plan to further analyze the data from our phase II clinical trial of SOLOVAX in the treatment of secondary progressive MS, as well as develop a new manufacturing procedure for SOLOVAX in Ann Arbor Michigan that more closely resembles the process utilized in the initial published clinical trial of SOLOVAX. On July 11, 2007 at an opposition hearing in Munich, Germany brought by a competitor, Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., our third auxiliary request to amend claims to our exclusively licensed issued European patent number EP1015025 was denied on the basis of time and as a result such patent was revoked. We intend to vigorously continue to prosecute, defend and protect our pending corresponding U.S. patent application and will be updating the public on our future plans to develop SOLOVAX for multiple sclerosis. On December 21, 2007 we converted our exclusive agreement with the University of Southern California (USC) to a full exclusive license agreement and issued to USC ten percent (10%) of the common stock of SOLOVAX Inc., our subsidiary that is developing our Multivalent T-cell vaccine for MS upon issuance of the written opinion of the European Patent Office associated with such opposition proceeding.
If successful, we may choose to initiate a phase IIb clinical study in this disease. The preclinical and clinical development of SOLOVAX has been primarily financed by grants from the NIH and various non-profit foundations totaling $5.5 million. Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred approximately $679,900 of costs related to our development of SOLOVAX of which $106,900, $157,700, $164,300, $162,800, $66,900 and $21,300 was incurred in fiscal 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively, and $0 has been incurred during the first nine months of 2007.
Z-monocys
In July 2007 we licensed the rights for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of products based on patented zinc-monocysteine complexes (Z-monocys). We plan to initially develop Z-monocys as an oral treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). Z-monocys has completed a six month double blind randomized placebo controlled trial in 80 dry AMD patients with statistically significant improvements in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and photorecovery times. A manuscript describing these results has been submitted to a leading peer-reviewed ophthalmic journal. David A. Newsome, M.D., the inventor of Z-monocys recently joined Pipex as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Newsome is credited with first observing zinc dyshomeostasis in macular degeneration and conducted and published the first controlled trial of high dose oral zinc for AMD while he was Head of the Retinal Disease Section of the NEI. Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred approximately $154,000 of costs related to our development of Z-monocys of which all has been incurred during the first nine months of 2007.
EFFIRMA (oral flupirtine)
Through September 30, 2007, we have incurred approximately $85,000 of costs related to our development of EFFIRMA, all of which was incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2007.
Based on our current capital expenditures, we believe we currently have sufficient capital to fund development activities of COPREXA, TRIMESTA, anti-CD4 802-2, CORRECTA, SOLOVAX, Z-monocys and EFFIRMA during 2007 and 2008. Assuming our NDA for COPREXA is filed, accepted and ultimately approved for market in 2008 by the FDA, we will generate cash flow from the sales of COPREXA. However, if our business does not generate any cash flow, we will need to raise additional capital to continue development of the product beyond 2009. To the extent additional capital is not available when we need it, we may be forced to sublicense our rights to our product candidates,
31
abandon our development efforts altogether, or lose our licenses to our product candidates, any of which would have a material adverse effect on the prospects of our business. See also the risks identified under the section entitled Risk Factors in this report.
Additional Licenses
We may enter into additional license agreements relating to new drug candidates.
BUSINESS
GENERAL
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, Pipex or the Company) is a development-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company that is developing proprietary, late-stage drug candidates for the treatment of neurologic and fibrotic diseases. Our strategy is to exclusively in-license proprietary, clinical-stage drug candidates that have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in human clinical trials and to complete the further clinical testing, manufacturing and other regulatory requirements sufficient to seek marketing authorizations via the filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA and a potential Marketing Application Authorization (MAA) with the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).
Below is a table of our product candidates, therapeutic indication(s) and their respective stage of development:
PRODUCT
|
|
THERAPEUTIC INDICATION
|
|
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
|
COPREXA |
|
Initially Presenting Neurologic Wilsons Disease |
|
NDA filed
|
COPREXA |
|
Refactory Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) |
|
Phase IIa Clinical Trial |
COPREXA |
|
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) |
|
Phase II Clinical Trial |
TRIMESTA |
|
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis |
|
Phase II Clinical Trial |
EFFIRMA |
|
Fibromyalgia |
|
Phase II Clinical Trial |
Anti-CD4 802-2 |
|
Prevention of Severe Graft Vs. Host Disease |
|
Phase I/II Clinical Trial |
Anti-CD4 802-2 |
|
Autoimmune Diseases |
|
Preclinical studies |
CORRECTA |
|
Refractory Acute Pouchitis |
|
Phase II Clinical Trial |
PRODUCT |
|
DIAGNOSTIC |
|
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT |
FreeBound |
|
Measurement of Free Copper in Serum |
|
Pre-IDE Submission |
Product Summary
The following is a summary of each of the clinical stage drug candidates that we are developing:
32
COPREXA (oral tetrathiomolybdate) |
Our lead product candidate, COPREXA, is an oral, small-molecule, anticopper agent that is highly specific for lowering the levels of free copper in serum. Free copper in serum represents the toxic form of copper, as opposed to the essential form of copper which is found tightly bound to appropriate copper proteins, such as ceruloplasmin. Free copper in serum readily crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is generally at equilibrium with free copper levels in the central nervous system (CNS). The brain is the organ most sensitive to the toxic effects of free copper. By lowering the levels of toxic free copper in serum, COPREXA demonstrated in two pivotal clinical trials the ability to reduce toxic free copper levels and substantially improve clinical outcomes in initially presenting neurologic Wilsons disease patients. We believe that COPREXAs unique mechanism of action and specificity for free copper makes it ideally suited for the treatment of other CNS diseases in which abnormal serum and CNS copper homeostasis are implicated.
COPREXA for Neurologic Wilsons Disease |
During November 2007, we filed an NDA with the FDA for COPREXA for the treatment of initially presenting neurologic Wilsons disease, a genetic disease characterized by psychiatric and neurologic disorders caused by impaired hepatic copper excretion which results in elevated levels of toxic free copper in the systemic circulation and CNS. Wilsons disease is an orphan drug indication. There are approximately 6,000 Wilsons disease patients in the U.S., of which approximately half are diagnosed with neurologic symptoms and half with hepatic symptoms. It is estimated that several hundred of them annually are newly diagnosed, neurologically-presenting patients who are suitable candidates for treatment with COPREXA. Wilsons disease is an inherited genetic disease in which affected patients have an impaired ability to properly excrete copper via the liver and stool. Due to the rarity of Wilson s disease and the fact that it is easily mistaken for psychosis, patients typically are not diagnosed until the presentation of neurodegenerative symptoms.
Psychiatric symptoms of neurologically-presenting Wilsons patients will generally precede neurologic symptoms by months or years and may include loss of emotional control, temper tantrums, emotional outbursts, bouts of crying, severe depression, suicidal ideation, loss of inhibitions, delusions, hallucinations and loss of ability to focus on tasks. Neurologic symptoms later develop as a result of neurodegeneration in the basal ganglia of the brain and include impaired speech, tremor, dystonia, incoordination and dysphasia. Crippling movement disorders may ultimately occur. Without proper treatment, Wilsons disease is usually fatal by the age of 30. However, if treatment is begun early enough, symptomatic recovery is usually complete and a life of normal length and quality can be expected.
Current Therapies for Wilsons Disease |
Therapy for Wilsons disease can be divided into two broad categories: (1) initial therapy in acutely ill patients, and (2) maintenance therapy. Initial therapy relates to the first few weeks to months of therapy, during which a newly presenting patient is still suffering from acute copper toxicity. Once the copper levels have been brought down to a subtoxic threshold, maintenance therapy is provided for the remainder of the patients life to prevent recurrence of copper accumulation and further copper toxicity. However, the currently approved therapies for Wilsons disease offer suboptimal treatment options for newly-diagnosed Wilsons patients and indeed the FDA approved chelators, penicillamine and trientine, may be contraindicated due to the high incidence of irreversible neurologic worsening attributable to the mechanism of these agents.
Three drugs are currently available for the treatment of various forms of Wilsons disease: penicillamine (Cupramine ®, trientine (Syprine ®), and zinc acetate (Galzin ®). Zinc acetates use for Wilsons disease maintenance therapy was invented and developed by our scientific founder, Dr. George Brewer, the
33
inventor of COPREXA. Penicillamine, a copper chelator in use since the 1950s, is currently the first-line therapy. As noted above, approximately 50% of Wilsons disease patients initially present with neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. According to published literature, approximately 50% of patients who receive penicillamine as first-line therapy, suffer further neurologic deterioration upon initiation of the drug. It is estimated that about half of these patients who worsen, or about 25% of the neurologically-presenting Wilsons patients treated with penicillamine, never recover to their pre-penicillamine baseline. There is also evidence that even pre-symptomatic patients can develop neurologic disease after being initiated on penicillamine. Accordingly, treatment with penicillamine may induce additional, irreversible neurological damage.
Trientine (Syprine ®), another copper chelator, is FDA approved as second-line therapy for Wilsons disease patients who have become resistant to penicillamine. The mechanism of action of trientine is similar to that of penicillamine, and it has been found to cause similar symptoms of neurological worsening when used as initial therapy. However, the incidence of neurologic deterioration in patients treated with trientine is approximately 25-30%, as compared to an estimated 50% incidence in patients treated with penicillamine. The neurologic worsening attributable to penicillamine and trientine may be explained by the fact that penicillamine and trientine are non-selective chelators that mobilize additional free copper from tissues and organs where copper is normally stored. Such uncontrolled chelation increases the levels of free copper in the serum, tissues and CNS, thereby causing further copper toxicity in the brain. The brain is very sensitive to the toxic effects of free copper and has adapted a very tightly regulated system of copper chaperones and copper transporters to deliver, utilize and clear excess copper.
Galzin ® (zinc acetate capsules) was approved by the FDA in 1997 and EMEA in 2001. Galzin ® is the standard maintenance therapy for Wilsons disease, but it is not ideal for patients who initially present with neurologic symptoms because it has a relatively slow onset of action and may take up to six months to produce effects. Furthermore, because Galzin ® acts by partially blocking the absorption of additional copper via the intestines, it neither complexes nor chelates copper and therefore has little or no effect on circulating levels of toxic free copper present in the body. Unless circulating levels of toxic free copper are brought down to a subtoxic threshold, Wilsons patients are at risk for further copper toxicity and worsening of their disease.
Pivotal Clinical Trials of COPREXA in Neurologically-Presenting Wilsons Disease |
The first pivotal clinical trial of COPREXA was conducted on an open label basis in 55 neurologically-presenting Wilsons disease patients. Galzin ® maintenance therapy followed for a period of two years. During that follow-up period, neurologic function was assessed with scored neurologic and speech tests. A highly statistically significant improvement was achieved in these patients in annual quantitative neurologic scores (p<0.002) as compared to baseline. Annual quantitative speech scores also yielded a highly statistically significant result (p <0.001) as compared to baseline. Importantly, only 2 of the 55 patients, or 3.6% of the patients treated with COPREXA showed further neurologic deterioration. This compares very favorably with historical controls of an estimated 52% incidence of neurologic deterioration in patients treated with penicillamine, the first line therapy.
In a second double-blind, randomized comparator, pivotal clinical trial, 48 newly diagnosed, neurologically-presenting Wilsons patients were treated with either trientine (Syprine ®), a copper chelator having a similar mechanism of action to that of penicillamine and approved for use as second line therapy for Wilsons disease, versus COPREXA . The primary endpoint of this comparator study was the incidence of neurological worsening between the two groups This comparator trial demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of neurologic worsening in favor of COPREXA (p<0.05). Twenty-six percent (26%) of trientine treated patients (6 of 23) experienced neurologic
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worsening compared to only four percent (4.0%) of COPREXA treated patients (1 of 25). Importantly, in addition to the high incidence of irreversible neurologic deterioration associated with trientine, this pivotal comparator trial also suggested that neurologic deterioration during the initial treatment phase with trientine is an important prognostic indicator of death in this patient group.
The clinical development of COPREXA has been supported by grants from the Orphan Products Group of the FDA.
COPREXA for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) |
In order to broaden the therapeutic utility of COPREXA, we are also developing it as a highly potent oral antifibrotic agent. This research is based upon the observation that the fibrotic disease process is dependent upon the availability of endogenous free copper. COPREXA has demonstrated the ability to inhibit fibrosis in a number of well established animal models through the sequestration of available copper and inhibition of key fibrotic cytokines, including secreted protein acid rich in cysteine (SPARC), NF-kappaB, TGF-ß, FGF-2, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen.
IPF is a fatal respiratory disease characterized by progressive loss of lung function due to extensive fibrosis of lung tissues that are essential for respiration and life. It affects an estimated 124,000 patients in the U.S., resulting in approximately 30,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. This represents more deaths annually than either breast or prostate cancer.
Phase II Clinical Trials of COPREXA in Refractory IPF Patients |
Based upon the successful animal experiments described above, a one-year, open-label, phase II clinical trial of COPREXA was completed for the treatment of refractory IPF. The prospectively defined primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of patients capable of maintaining clinically stable pulmonary function as determined by forced vital capacity (FVC), an accepted measurement of pulmonary function in IPF. These results are being prepared for publication. This phase II trial was partially supported by a grant from the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, a non-profit organization.
COPREXA for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) |
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune and fibrotic disease which targets the bile ducts of the liver. PBC is a relatively rare disease affecting approximately 20,000 patients in the U.S. Progression of PBC is somewhat variable. Some patients die or require transplant within 5 years, while others have a more protracted course of disease.
Phase II Clinical Trial of COPREXA in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis |
Based on positive animal experiments, we have initiated a 50-patient, three-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial of COPREXA for the treatment of PBC. This study is being supported by an $850,000 grant from the Orphan Products Division of the FDA. Therapies currently approved for PBC, such as ursodiol (Urso ®) offer only palliative relief of the symptoms of PBC and do not alter the course of the disease.
COPREXA for Alzheimers Disease (AD) |
An increasing body of evidence points to dysfunctional copper homeostasis in the pathogenesis of AD. Recently, a published prospective clinical study conducted in 3718 patients in the U.S. over six years, which included subjects that consumed a vitamin containing copper supplement (1.6mg of copper a day)
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when taken together with a high saturated and trans fat diet resulted in an equivalent of 19 years of mental decline.
A separate European clinical study conducted in 53 patients correlated the levels of the highly reactive free copper pool in serum to disease severity in AD patients versus aged-matched control patients. These results demonstrated that the free copper serum pool was highly increased in AD patients.
These clinical studies are complemented by preclinical studies that show that AD amyloid-a plaques when treated with copper chelating agents in-vitro loosen and reverse fibril formation as determined by spectroscopy. Other investigations have shown that reduction in intracellular neuronal copper levels down regulates the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP), a hallmark AD protein.
COPREXAs specificity and unique mechanism of action for rapidly lowering toxic free copper levels, combined with its history of success in completed pivotal clinical trials of neurologically presenting Wilsons disease, may position COPREXA as the first available therapeutic agent capable of correcting the serum and CNS fee copper dyshomeostasis that might represent an important fundamental cause of AD.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) granted COPERXA a grant in the amount of $306,172 in February 2007 in order to support the testing of its utility for the treatment of AD.
During November 2007, our scientific collaborator reported preliminary results of the use of COPREXAin Alzheimers disease animal studies. COPREXA demonstrated a 40% reduction (p ( 0.05) in insoluble amyloid-beta, a key Alzheimers disease protein.
TRIMESTA(oral estriol) |
We are developing TRIMESTA as an oral immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agent for the North American market. Estriol has been approved and marketed throughout Europe and Asia as a mild estrogenic agent for over 40 years for the treatment of post-menopausal hot flashes. Estriol is an important endogenous hormone that is produced in the placenta by women during pregnancy. Maternal levels of estriol increase in a linear fashion throughout the third trimester of pregnancy until birth, whereupon they abruptly fall to near zero. Our scientific collaborator of TRIMESTA is a leading authority on the role that estriol plays in affording immunologic privilege to the fetus so as to prevent its rejection by the mother. It is a widely observed phenomenon that pregnant women with autoimmune diseases (such as multiple sclerosis) experience high rates of spontaneous remission during pregnancy (especially in the third trimester) as well as high rates of relapse during the post-partum period (especially in the three-month post-partum period). Based upon these insights, our scientific collaborator of TRIMESTA has conducted initial clinical trials of TRIMESTA in multiple sclerosis patients and has demonstrated encouraging results.
TRIMESTA for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | |
Current Therapies for Relapsing-Remitting MS. |
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There are currently five FDA-approved therapies for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Betaseron ®, Rebif ®, Avonex ®, Copaxone ® and Tysabri ®. These therapies provide only a modest benefit for patients with relapsing-remitting MS and therefore serve to only delay progression of the disease. All of these drugs require frequent (daily, weekly & monthly) injections (or infusions) on an ongoing basis and are associated with unpleasant side effects (such as flu-like symptoms), high rates of
36
non-compliance among users, and eventual loss of efficacy due to the appearance of resistance in approximately 30% of patients. An estimated two-thirds of MS patients are women.
Phase II Clinical Trial Results of TRIMESTA in Relapsing-Remitting MS |
TRIMESTA has completed an initial 10-patient, 16-month, single-agent, crossover, phase IIA clinical trial in the U.S. for the treatment of MS. The results of this study were encouraging.
Decrease in Volume and Number of Myelin Lesions |
In relapsing-remitting MS patients treated, the total volume and number of pathogenic gadolinium enhancing myelin lesions (an established neuroimaging measurement of disease activity in MS) decreased during the treatment period as compared to a six-month pre-treatment baseline period. The median total enhancing lesion volumes decreased by 79% (p =0.02) and the number of lesions decreased by 82% (p =0.09) within the first three months of treatment with TRIMESTA. Over the next three months, lesion volumes decreased by 82% (p =0.02) and the number of lesions decreased by 82% (p =0.02) compared to baseline. During a three-month re-treatment phase of this clinical trial, relapsing-remitting MS patients again showed a decrease in enhancing lesion volumes (88%) (p =0.008) and a decrease in the number of lesions (48%) (p =0.04) compared to baseline.
Market Opportunities for TRIMESTA | |
Multiple Sclerosis |
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MS is a progressive neurological disease in which the body loses the ability to transmit messages along nerve cells, leading to a loss of muscle control, paralysis, and, in some cases, death. Currently, more than 2.5 million people worldwide (approximately 400,000 patients in the US), mainly young adults aged 18-50, are afflicted with MS and 66% of these patients are women. The most common form of MS is relapsing-remitting MS, which accounts for approximately 75% of MS patients.
MS exacts a heavy toll on our healthcare system. According to a published study, the total annual cost for all people with MS in the U.S. is estimated to be more than $9 billion. The average annual cost of MS is approximately $44,000 to $95,625 per person. These figures include lost wages and healthcare costs (care giving, hospital and physician costs, pharmaceutical therapy and nursing home care). The cost of treating patients with later-stage progressive forms of MS is approximately $65,000 per year per person. The average lifetime costs for people with MS are more than $2.2 million per person.
During 2005, sales estimates of FDA-approved MS therapies, which include Avonex ®, Betaseron ®, Copaxone ®, and Rebif ®, totaled approximately $5.0 billion, with Avonex ® accounting for $1.5 billion in worldwide sales ($935 million were in the U.S.).
EFFIRMA (oral flupirtine) |
We are developing EFFIRMA (oral flupirtine), a novel, centrally-active, oral therapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia and we plan to conduct a limited, controlled phase II pilot clinical trial in this indication. Fibromyalgia is a common, centrally-mediated pain disorder characterized by chronic diffuse pain and other symptoms. The active ingredient of EFFIRMA, flupirtine, was originally developed by Asta Medica and has been approved in Europe since 1984 for the treatment of chronic lower back pain, although it has never been introduced to the U.S. market for any indication.
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EFFIRMA for Fibromyalgia |
Our scientific collaborator has demonstrated preliminary anecdotal efficacy of EFFIRMA for the treatment of Fibromyalgia in a small number of U.S. patients suffering from Fibromyalgia that were refractive to other analgesics and therapies. EFFIRMA was well tolerated by patients with no untoward side effects. In addition, substantial improvement in signs and symptoms was demonstrated in this difficult-to-treat Fibromyalgia patient population.
ANTI-CD4 802-2 |
We are developing a series of small molecule and peptide based inhibitors of the T-cell CD4 co-receptor. The CD4 co-receptor is central to a number of autoimmune disorders such as MS.
Our lead anti-CD4 molecule, named 802-2, has demonstrated efficacy in a number of animal models of autoimmune disease models, and it is currently being evaluated in a phase I/II clinical trial for the prevention of graft-vs.-host disease. Anti-CD4 802-2 may represent the first clinical stage, non-antibody-based molecule capable of inducing immune tolerance for a variety of CD4-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Market Opportunity for Anti-CD4 802-2 and Small Molecule CD4 Inhibitors |
From a commercial perspective, anti-CD4 802-2 and our other anti-CD4 molecules address an autoimmune disease market projected to be $21 billion in 2006 with an anticipated annual growth rate of 15% thereafter. Autoimmune diseases represent the third-largest category of illness in the industrialized world, after heart disease and cancer. A partial list of such diseases includes MS, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as non-typical CD4-mediated diseases such as allergy and asthma.
CORRECTA (clotrimazole enema) |
We are developing CORRECTA, a proprietary retention enema formulation of the widely used topical antifungal agent clotrimazole, for the treatment of acute refractory pouchitis, a subset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) market. CORRECTA is currently the subject of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, one-month, phase II clinical trial for acute pouchitis. This study, called the CAPTURE study, is currently being funded by a $750,000 grant from the FDAs Orphan Drug Group.
Market Opportunity for CORRECTA | ||
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Pouchitis |
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Pouchitis is a debilitating complication that can develop following corrective surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis, wherein an ileal reservoir (or pouch) is constructed to enable normal bowel movements after removal of the diseased colon. This ileal reservoir can become inflamed, leading to debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, incontinence, bleeding, fever and urgency. Currently, there are no approved treatments for pouchitis. Published scientific data suggest that there are approximately 30,000 to 45,000 pouchitis patients and between 5,000 to 10,000 refractory pouchitis patients in the U.S.
Intellectual Property
Our goal is to (a) obtain, maintain, and enforce patent protection for our products, formulations, processes, methods, and other proprietary technologies, (b) preserve our trade secrets, and (c) operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of other parties, worldwide. We seek, where appropriate, the
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broadest intellectual property protection for product candidates, proprietary information, and proprietary technology through a combination of contractual arrangements and patents.
We have exclusively licensed from various universities more than 45 patent and patent applications, including foreign equivalents relating to our product candidates.
We have also obtained various regulatory exclusivities, such as Orphan Drug designations for two of our product candidates, COPREXA and CORRECTA. Orphan Drug designations provide 7 years of market exclusivity in the U.S. and 10 years of marketing exclusivity in Europe. Specifically, we have obtained orphan drug protection for the use of COPREXA in the treatment of neurologic Wilsons disease. We have also obtained orphan drug protection for the use of CORRECTA for the treatment of acute pouchitis. These regulatory exclusivities combined with our patents and patent applications provide for supplemental intellectual property protection for our products against competitors.
Below is a description of our license and development agreements relating to our product candidates:
University of Michigan (UM) Exclusive License Agreement |
We have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the University of Michigan (UM) for all uses of U.S. Patent No. 6,855,340, corresponding international applications, and a related corresponding patent application that relates to various uses of anticopper therapeutics, including COPREXA, to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Pursuant to this agreement, we will use our best efforts to commercialize COPREXA for the therapeutic uses embodied in the issued patent and pending patent application; reimburse UM for patent expenses; pay UM royalties equal to 2% of net sales of COPREXA for uses covered by the UM patents; issue UM 422,314 shares of our common stock; pay UM success-based milestone fees totaling $350,000 (the first of which is due when we file an NDA and the second of which is due when we receive FDA approval for COPREXA in an indication covered by the UM patents), and indemnify UM against certain liabilities.
Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with UM |
During September 2005, we entered into a three-year sponsored research agreement with UM relating to expanding the therapeutic utility of COPREXA to treat other copper mediated diseases. Pursuant to that agreement, we sponsor approximately $450,000 per annum, payable in monthly installments. This agreement can be extended for an additional two-year period. This agreement initially expires August 30,, 2008.
Consulting Agreement with Dr. George Brewer |
We have entered into a three-year consulting agreement with Dr. George Brewer, inventor of the COPREXA technology. Pursuant to this agreement, we pay Dr. Brewer a quarterly fee of $30,000. We also issued to Dr. Brewer options to acquire 216,847 shares of our common stock and agreed to pay Dr. Brewer a royalty on sales of COPREXA equal to 3% of net sales for 17 years. This agreement has a provision for a two-year extension.
McLean Hospital Exclusive License Agreement |
We have entered into an exclusive license agreement with the McLean Hospital, a Harvard University hospital, relating to U.S. Patent No. 6,610,324 and its foreign equivalents, entitled Flupirtine in the treatment of fibromyalgia and related conditions. Pursuant to this agreement, we agreed to pay McLean royalties on net sales of flupirtine equal to 3.5% of net sales of flupirtine for indications covered by the
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issued patents, reduced to 1.75% if we have a license to other intellectual property covering those indications; use our best efforts to commercialize flupirtine for the therapeutic uses embodied in the patent applications; reimburse back patent costs of approximately $41,830; and pay the following milestone payments: $150,000 upon the initiation of a pivotal phase III clinical trial of flupirtine; $300,000 upon the filing of an NDA for flupirtine; and $600,000 upon FDA approval of flupirtine.
University of Southern California Agreement |
Through our majority owned subsidiary Solovax we have an exclusive option agreement, as amended, with the University of Southern California (USC) to license U.S. Patent Application serial nos. 09/156509 and 10/773356 and its foreign equivalents entitled T-Cell Vaccination for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Under this agreement we are required to reimburse USCs patent expenses and pay USC royalties of 4% of net sales relating to the vaccine. We have until December 2007 to exercise our option and enter into an exclusive license. If we wish to enter into an exclusive license, we will have to issue to USC stock representing a 10% ownership interest of our Solovax subsidiary.
Childrens Hospital-Boston Agreement
Our majority owned subsidiary Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (EPI), has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Childrens Hospital Medical Corporation, an affiliate of Childrens Hospital-Boston, relating to a certain pending patent application covering all gastrointestinal, hepatic, and rectal uses of the clotrimazole technology, including CORRECTA. Pursuant to this agreement, we owe a $150,000 upfront payment in two equal installments, of which the first installment has been paid, as well as annual maintenance fees, milestone payments totaling $3 million that are payable on issuance of U.S. and European patents covering the clotrimazole technology, on initiation of a pivotal phase III clinical trial, on filing of a New Drug Application (NDA), and on approval of an NDA with the FDA and European Medical Agency, as well as royalties on net sales of the clotrimazole technology covered by the licensed patents. We may be permitted to partially pay milestone payments in the form of equity. We also acquired rights to valuable data generated under an investigational new drug (IND) application filing with the FDA and an orphan drug designation. These data include all preclinical and clinical data know-how relating to the clotrimazole technology. We would also be required to indemnify Childrens Hospital and its employees against certain liabilities.
Thomas Jefferson University License Agreement |
Our majority-owned subsidiary CD4 Biosciences Inc. has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) relating to certain U.S. and foreign issued patents and patent applications relating to all uses of anti-CD4 802-2 and CD4 inhibitor technology. We are obligated to pay annual maintenance fees, milestone payments upon the filing of an NDA and approval of an NDA with the FDA, as well as royalties on net sales of anti-CD4 802-2 and other anti-CD4 molecules covered by the licensed patents. We also received rights to valuable data generated under any IND application filing, which includes toxicology and manufacturing information relating to anti-CD4 802-2. As partial consideration for this license, TJU was issued shares representing 5% of the common stock of CD4 Biosciences Inc. We also agreed that TJU would receive anti-dilution protection on those CD4 shares through the first $2 million in financing to CD4. We also agree to indemnify TJU against certain liabilities.
The Regents of University of California License Agreement |
We have an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the Regents of the University of California relating to an issued US Patent No. 6,936,599 and pending patent applications covering the uses of the TRIMESTA technology. Pursuant to this agreement, we paid an upfront license fee of $20,000, reimbursed patent expenses of $41,000 and agreed to pay a license fee of $25,000 during 2006, as well as annual maintenance fees, milestone payments totaling $750,000 that are payable on filing an NDA, and on approval of an NDA with the FDA, as well as royalties on net sales of the TRIMESTA technology covered by the licensed patents. If we become public or are acquired by a public company, we may be permitted to partially pay milestone payments in the form of equity.
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Oregon Health & Sciences License Agreement
We have an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Oregon Health & Sciences University relating to various doses of estrogens in combination with immunotherapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Pursuant to this agreement, we paid an upfront license fee of $1,500 and reimbursed patent expenses of $38,160. Milestone payments totaling $575,000 may be due upon the achievement of certain milestones, as well as minimum royalty payments of $210,000 and royalties on net sales for the technology covered by the licensed patents. We have the ability to make these milestone payments in the form of equity.
Main Medical Institute License Agreement
We have an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Maine Medical Institute relating to various uses of anti-copper therapies. Pursuant to this agreement, we paid in equity, an upfront license fee of $20,000 made in two installments will reimburse patent expenses of $45,000 over a three year period. Milestone payments totaling $350,000 that are payable on filing an NDA, and on approval of an NDA with the FDA, as well as royalties on net sales for the technology covered by the licensed patents. We have the ability to make these milestone payments in the form of equity.
Agreement to Acquire EPI |
During January 2007, we merged with EPI, thus acquiring the 34.53% of EPIs outstanding common and Series B, convertible preferred stock for 795,248 shares of our common stock, assumption of 68,858 warrants, and 34,685 options to purchase common stock. EPI is now a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Manufacturing
We utilize contract manufacturing firms to produce the bulk active ingredients for COPREXA , TRIMESTA , Zincmonocysteine, CORRECTA, Anti-CD4 802-2, and EFFIRMA in accordance with current good manufacturing processes (cGMP) guidelines outlined by the FDA. During January 2007, we leased a 16,000 square foot facility in Ann Arbor, MI which will be used to produce oral capsule products for under GMP conditions. We have manufactured COPREXA at this site.
Sales and Marketing
We plan to establish our own in-house neuroscience sales and marketing effort in the United States to market our neurology products, specifically, COPREXA and TRIMESTA. As we expand the use of COPREXA and TRIMESTA into larger CNS diseases, we will be able to utilize our existing marketing infrastructure to market these products. We may choose to enter into a co-promotion or licensing agreement for specific territories with biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies to market CORRECTA, Anti-CD4 802-2, EFFIRMA, SOLOVAX, and certain uses of COPREXA.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not a party to any pending legal proceeding, nor are we aware of any proceeding contemplated by any governmental authority involving us.
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
Our primary offices are located at 3930 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. We currently rent approximately 17,675 square feet of office, laboratory and production space for monthly rent of $14,327.62. This lease expires on February 28, 2011. We believe our current offices will be adequate for the foreseeable future. Our phone number is (734) 332-7800 and our facsimile number is (734) 332-7878. Our website is located at www.pipexinc.com.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Below is certain information regarding our directors and executive officers.
Name
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Age
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Position
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Steve H. Kanzer, CPA, Esq. |
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43 |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Charles L. Bisgaier, Ph.D. |
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54 |
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President and Director |
Jeffrey J. Kraws |
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43 |
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Director |
A. Joseph Rudick, M.D. |
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50 |
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Chief Medical Officer and Director |
Nicholas Stergis, M.S. |
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33 |
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Vice Chairman of the Board and Director |
Jeff Wolf, Esq. |
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44 |
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Director |
Daniel J. Dorman |
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45 |
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Director |
James S. Kuo, M.D., M.B.A. |
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43 |
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Director |
STEVE H. KANZER, CPA, Esq. Mr. Kanzer is our co-founder and served as our President from our inception in February 2001 until May 2006. In September 2004, Mr. Kanzer assumed the additional roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and serves on a full-time basis at our corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Kanzer has also been a director and officer of our subsidiaries, including Solovax, Inc., Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Putney Drug Corp. and CD4 Biosciences, Inc. Since December 2000, he has served as co-founder and Chairman of Accredited Ventures Inc. and Accredited Equities Inc., a venture capital firm and FINRA-member investment bank, respectively, which both specialize in the biotechnology industry. Mr. Kanzer was co-founder, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Developmental Therapeutics, Inc., a cardiovascular drug development company which was developing an oral thyroid hormone analog, DITPA, for congestive heart failure. Developmental Therapeutics was acquired in October 2003 by Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company. Prior to founding Accredited Ventures and Accredited Equities in December 2000, Mr. Kanzer served as Senior Managing Director-Head of Venture Capital at Paramount Capital from 1991 until December 2000. While at Paramount Capital, Mr. Kanzer was involved in the formation and financing of a number of biotechnology companies and held various positions in these companies. From 1995 through 1999, Mr. Kanzer was founding Chairman of the Board of Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a public biotechnology company that has a pending NDA for a drug called SURFAXIN ® which Mr. Kanzer licensed in 1995. From 1997 until 2000, Mr. Kanzer was founding President of PolaRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that licensed and developed TRISENOX ® (arsenic trioxide), a leukemia drug that was approved by the FDA in 2000 and which currently holds the FDA record for fastest drug ever developed from IND filing until NDA approval (30 months). PolaRx was merged with Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:CTIC) in January 2000, and Cephalon acquired the rights to TRISENOX ® in 2005 for $165 million. In March 1998, Mr. Kanzer led the privatization of the Institute for Drug Research Kft. (IDR) in Budapest, Hungary, a 400-employee, 26
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acre pharmaceutical research and development center. Since 1950, IDR operated as the central pharmaceutical R&D center for the country of Hungary, served the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) needs of Eastern Europe, and performed original drug discovery research, resulting in the registration of over 80 API products. Mr. Kanzer served as Chief Executive Officer of IDR from March 1998 and led the sale of IDR to IVAX Corporation, a publicly traded corporation in October 1999. Mr. Kanzer has also been a co-founder and director of 23 biotechnology companies, including Avigen, Inc., XTLBio, Boston Life Sciences, Inc. and Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., all publicly traded companies. Prior to joining Paramount Capital in 1992, Mr. Kanzer was an attorney at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Kanzer received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1988 and a B.B.A. in Accounting from Baruch College in 1985, where he was a Baruch Scholar. Mr. Kanzer is active in university-based pharmaceutical technology licensing and has served as Co-Chair of the New York Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society.
CHARLES L. BISGAIER, Ph.D. Dr. Bisgaier is our President and a director. Prior to joining Pipex, Dr. Bisgaier was the Senior Director of Pharmacology at Esperion Therapeutics, a Division of Pfizer Global Research and Development in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1998, Dr. Bisgaier co-founded Esperion Therapeutics and served as the Vice President of Pharmacology, until its acquisition by Pfizer. At Esperion he played an active role in the discovery, pre-clinical or clinical development of product candidates, including ETC-216 (ApoA-IMilano), ETC-588, ETC-642 and small molecule lipid regulators, that may have utility for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. ETC-216 was the first agent every to show rapid regression of artery plaques in humans. In 2004, Esperion Therapeutics was acquired by Pfizer for $1.3 billion.
Prior to Esperion Therapeutics, Dr. Bisgaier was an Associate Research Fellow in the Department of Vascular and Cardiac Disease at Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis, where he played a role in discovery and development of pharmaceuticals that modulate lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism. There he participated in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical agents including Gemfibrozil (Lopid ® ), Atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor ® ), Avasimibe and Gemcabene. He also lead the discovery efforts for lipid regulating agents including cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors, fatty acid mimetics and cholesterol esterase inhibitors. He has carried out basic research on HDL and its associated proteins including studies on apolipoprotein synthesis, paraoxonase, oxidation, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein function.
He has published over 75 peer reviewed articles and reviews and is a named inventor on numerous patents and patent applications. He currently holds an adjunct position in Pharmacology at the University of Michigan. He also served as the Editor-in-Chief of Current Medicinal Chemistry Immunology, Endocrine and Metabolic Agents. Dr. Bisgaier serves as a board member of the Michigan Society of Medical Research.
Dr. Bisgaier received a B.A. (1974) in Biology from the State University College at Oneonta, NY, and a M.S. (1977) and Ph.D. (1981) in Biochemistry from George Washington University. Following his doctorate, he studied lipoprotein metabolism within a Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) for atherosclerosis at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons prior to joining Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis in 1990.
JEFFREY J. KRAWS. Mr. Kraws is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Crystal Research Associates. Well known and respected on Wall Street, Mr. Kraws has received some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Among other awards, he was given a 5-Star Rating in 2001 by Zacks and was ranked the number one analyst among all pharmaceutical analysts for stock performance in 2001
43
by Starmine.com. Prior to founding Crystal Research Associates, Mr. Kraws served as co-president of The Investor Relations Group (IRG), a firm representing primarily under-followed, small-capitalization companies. Previously, Mr. Kraws served as a managing director of healthcare research for Ryan Beck & Co. and as director of research/senior pharmaceutical analyst and managing director at Gruntal & Co., LLC (prior to its merger with Ryan Beck & Company). Mr. Kraws served as managing director of the healthcare research group and senior pharmaceutical analyst at First Union Securities (formerly EVEREN Securities); as senior U.S. pharmaceutical analyst for the Swedish-Swiss conglomerate Asea Brown Boveri; and as managing director and president of the Brokerage/Investment Banking operation of ABB Aros Securities, Inc. He also served as senior pharmaceutical analyst at Nationsbanc Montgomery Securities, BT Alex Brown & Sons, and Buckingham Research. Mr. Kraws also has industry experience, having been responsible for competitive analysis within the treasury group at Bristol-Myers-Squibb Company. He holds an MBA from Cornell University and a B.S. degree from State University of New York-Buffalo. During 2006 through February 2007, Mr. Kraws served as our Vice President of Business Development, on a part-time basis.
A. JOSEPH RUDICK, M.D. Dr. Rudick has been a director since 2004. Dr. Rudick was previously president and chief medical officer of our subsidiary Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Rudick was our Chief Medical Officer until November 1, 2007. Dr. Rudick was Chief Executive Officer and President of Atlantic Technology Ventures, Inc. (Atlantic), a public drug-development company, as well as a member of it board of directors from May 1999 until its merger with Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in February 2003. He was also a founder of Atlantic and two of its majority-owned subsidiaries, Optex Opthalmalogics, Inc. and Channel Therapeutics, Inc. During his tenure at Atlantic, he structured a corporate partnership with Bausch & Lomb for development of Atlantics novel cataract removal device, named Catarex , as well as a partnership with Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for development of their novel clinical-stage neuropathic pain compound, now known as IP-571. From 1994 to 2001, Dr. Rudick was a vice president of Paramount Capital, Inc., an investment bank specializing in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, where he participated in numerous private equity financings.
Since 1988, he has been a partner of Associate Ophthalmologists P.C., a private ophthalmology practice located in New York, and from 1993 to 1998 he served as a director of Healthdesk Corporation, a publicly traded medical information company of which he was a co-founder. Dr. Rudick earned a B.A. in Chemistry, with the distinction of Phi Beta Kappa, from Williams College and a Doctorate of Medicine, with the distinction of Alpha Omega Alpha, from the University of Pennsylvania.
NICHOLAS STERGIS, M.S. Mr. Stergis is our co-founder, and Vice Chairman of our board of directors. Mr. Stergis previously served as our Chief Operating Officer from our founding during 2001 until March 2007. Prior to co-founding Pipex, Mr. Stergis was a co-founder, Chief Operating Officer and director of Developmental Therapeutics, Inc., a cardiovascular drug development company, until its acquisition in October 2003 by Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: TTP), a publicly-traded pharmaceutical company. Mr. Stergis was also a founder of Encode Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a drug development company until its acquisition by Raptor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded company. Mr. Stergis is also a co-founder and Managing Director of Accredited Ventures Inc., a venture capital firm specializing in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Mr. Stergis is also Managing Director of Accredited Equities, Inc., a FINRA member firm. Prior to co-founding Accredited Ventures, Mr. Stergis was the Interim Director of Corporate Development for Corporate Technology Development, Inc. (CTD), a biopharmaceutical company based in Miami, Florida, until its merger with DOR BioPharma, Inc. (DOR), a publicly traded biotechnology company. During his tenure at CTD, he was responsible for all development tasks associated with the companys lead product, orBec ®, which has completed a pivotal Phase III clinical trial and is pending NDA and MAA approval. He was also instrumental in CTDs divestiture of important botulinum toxin intellectual property to Allergan, Inc.
44
(NYSE:AGN), a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining CTD, Mr. Stergis was a Technology Associate at Paramount Capital, a New York based private equity, venture capital, investment banking and asset management group specializing in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. There, he participated in the startup, acquisition and financing of various biotechnology companies, including CTD. Mr. Stergis received his M.S. in Biology from New York University as well as a B.S. in Biology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. Mr. Stergis is also a director and interim officer of several privately held biopharmaceutical companies such as General Fiber, Inc. which are engaged in the in-licensing of biopharmaceutical candidates. As such, Mr. Stergis devotes a portion of his time to the business of the company.
JEFF WOLF, Esq. Mr. Wolf has substantial experience in creating, financing, nurturing and growing new ventures based upon breakthrough research and technology. Mr. Wolf is the founding partner of Seed-One Ventures, LLC, a venture capital group focused on seed-stage technology-based investments. Mr. Wolf has been a founder of Elusys Therapeutics, Inc., an antibody-based therapeutic company, Tyrx Pharma, Inc., a biopolymer-based company, Sensatex, Inc., a medical device company and Generation Mobile, Inc. a telecommunications company. Prior to founding Seed-One Ventures, Mr. Wolf served as the Managing Director of The Castle Group, Ltd., a biomedical venture capital firm. At both organizations, Mr. Wolf was responsible for supervising the formation and funding of new technology, biomedical, and service oriented ventures. Mr. Wolf currently sits on the board of Elusys Therapeutics and Netli, Inc. Mr. Wolf received his MBA from Stanford Business School, his JD from New York University School of Law and his BA with honors in Economics from the University of Chicago.
DANIEL J. DORMAN Mr. Dorman is the President of D. J. Dorman & Co., Inc. and its predecessor companies since 1989. D. J. Dorman & Co., Inc. originates, structures, acquires and manages investments in private equity and buyout opportunities on behalf of several entities. Mr. Dorman is also Chairman and CEO of Dorman Industries, LLC which is a privately owned multi-industry holding company. Mr. Dorman has also been the Chief Executive Officer of Sandston Corporation, a public company, since April 2004. Additionally, Mr. Dorman is a director of Kux Manufacturing Company, Inc., an architectural engineering and manufacturing company; Chairman of Kroll International, LLC, a wholesaler of law enforcement, homeland defense and public safety equipment; Chairman of Versatile Processing Group, Inc., a holding company for various non-ferrous metal processing and utility service companies serving the industrial and electric utility industries and a director of an international private equity fund, AFA Private Equity Fund I. Mr. Dorman is a graduate of Ferris State University where he holds a Bachelor in Business Administration.
JAMES S. KUO, M.D., M.B.A. Dr. Kuo is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Duska Therapeutics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company. From 2003 to 2006, he served as founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BioMicro Systems, Inc. a private venture-backed, microfluidics company. Prior to that time, Dr. Kuo was a founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Laboratories, Inc. where he raised over $22 million in initial private funding and was instrumental in the company going public. Dr. Kuo was also a founder and board member of Monarch Labs, LLC, a private medical device company. Dr. Kuo is the former Managing Director of Venture Analysis for Healthcare Ventures, LLC, which managed $378 million in venture funds. He has also been a senior licensing and business development executive at Pfizer, Inc., where he was directly responsible for cardiovascular licensing and development. After studying molecular biology and receiving his B.A. at Haverford College, Dr. Kuo simultaneously received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business.
45
Directors Term of Office
Directors will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and the election and qualification of their successors. Officers are elected annually by our board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors.
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Audit Committee is comprised of Jeff Wolf and Dr. James Kuo. The Audit Committee is responsible for recommending the Companys independent public accounting firm and reviewing managements actions in matters relating to audit functions. The Committee reviews with the Companys independent public accountants the scope and results of its audit engagement and the Companys system of internal controls and procedures. The Committee also reviews the effectiveness of procedures intended to prevent violations of laws. The Committee also reviews, prior to publication, our reports on Form 10-KSB and Form 10-QSB. Our board has determined that all audit committee members are independent under applicable SEC regulations. Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Kuo qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as that term is used in Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
To date, we have conducted research and development operations and generated no revenue since inception. In light of the foregoing, and upon evaluating our internal controls, our board of directors determined that our internal controls are adequate to insure that financial information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
Our Compensation Committee consists of Daniel Dorman and Jeff Wolf. Our Nominating Committee consists of Jeff Wolf and Dr. James Kuo. These committees perform several functions, including reviewing all forms of compensation provided to our executive officers, directors, consultants and employees, including stock compensation, and recommending appointments to the board and appointment of executive officers.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
All references to the number of shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect a 3 for 1 reverse stock split, of all the outstanding common stock, stock options and stock warrants of the Company, which was effective on April 25, 2007.
In connection with a private placement in October and November 2006, we engaged Accredited Equities Inc. (AEI), a company controlled by Steve H. Kanzer, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Nicholas Stergis, our Vice Chairman of our Board, as our placement agent. At the closing of our private placement during October and November 2006, we paid AEI the sum of approximately $639,844 as commissions for its services and the selected dealer was paid a cash fee of $327,950. AEI also received a non-accountable expense allowance of $75,000 and a warrant to purchase 958,277 shares of common stock. Dr. Joseph Rudick, our director, former Chief Medical Officer was a registered representative of AEI. Mr. Nicholas Stergis, Vice Chairman of the Board and former Chief Operating Officer, is the managing director of AEI and AVI.
As part of the October 2006 private placement, Pipex sold 99,103 shares of its common stock and 49,552 warrants to purchase common stock for total proceeds of $200,000 to entities controlled by Dr. Charles Bisgaier, our President. As part of the same private placement, Pipex sold 49,552 shares of its common stock and 24,776 warrants to purchase common stock for total proceeds of $100,000 to the father of our Chairman and CEO. The terms on which their purchases were made were identical to the terms in which the other investors in these offerings purchased shares.
46
In connection with our acquisition of Effective Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPI), Accredited Venture Capital, LLC and Mr. Stergis, both directors of Pipex contributed their 65.47% equity ownership in EPI to Pipex for no additional consideration. During 2005, EPI paid $152,200 to AEI for placement agent services rendered in connection with the issuance of its Series B preferred stock. EPI also issued a warrant to purchase 171,225 shares of common stock to designees of AEI, including Mr. Kanzer, Dr. Rudick and Mr. Stergis, all members of our board of directors. During March 2005, EPI repaid AVI for loans totaling $200,000 and AVI agreed to defer repayment of loans totaling $513,886 until the next financing or a merger of EPI. These EPI loans were converted into Units as part of our October 2006 private placement. Mr. Stergis had been paid $6,000 per month which increased to $8,166 per month on November 1, 2006, which was increased to $12,500 per month as of March 2007. During 2005 and 2006, we paid $2,150 per month to AVI for office space and for other services. As of March 31, 2007, we no longer pay rent to AVI.
On January 5, 2007, we acquired the remaining 34.53% interest in our subsidiary EPI in exchange for 795,248 shares of our common stock and assumed a total of 34,685 options to purchase our common stock and 68,858 warrants to purchase our common stock. In connection therewith, Messrs. Kanzer and Stergis each exchanged their existing EPI warrants for 7,651 warrants to purchase our common stock, and Dr. Rudick exchanged EPI common stock for 30,161 shares of our common stock and exchanged his existing EPI options for 27,106 options to purchase our common stock, all of which is vested, and exchanged his EPI warrants for 42,845 warrants to purchase our common stock.
We have entered into an agreement with Crystal Research Associates, LLC, a firm in which Mr. Kraws one of our directors and VP of Business Development is the CEO to write an executive information overview. Pursuant to this agreement, we have paid Crystal Research Associates $35,000 for the generation of the report.
During April 2007, we entered into a letter agreement with Nicholas Stergis appointing him Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. Pursuant to this letter agreement, we pay him a monthly fee of $12,500.
We have employment agreements with Dr. Bisgaier and Mr. Kanzer, each a director and executive officer of the company. We have also entered into an employment agreement with John Althaus, MS, our vice President of Advanced Technology. See the Employment Agreements section of this prospectus for a summary of the material terms of these agreements.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table discloses the total compensation we paid to principal executive officer and two other most highly compensated executive officers in our 2006 and 2005 fiscal years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Name and Principal |
|
Year |
|
Salary ($) |
|
|
Bonus ($) |
|
Option Awards (1) |
|
|
All Other |
|
Total |
| ||||||
Steve H. Kanzer, CPA, Esq. |
|
2006 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
568,491 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
568,491 |
|
Chairman & Chief Executive |
|
2005 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Bisgaier, Ph.D. |
|
2006 |
|
$ |
170,192 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
545,804 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
715,996 |
|
President |
|
2005 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
A. Joseph Rudick, M.D. |
|
2006 |
|
$ |
175,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
175,000 |
|
Chief Medical Officer |
|
2005 |
|
$ |
116,666 |
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
141,666 |
|
47
(1) |
The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average assumptions used for the valuation of these option awards are as follows: Expected dividends 0%; Expected volatility 200%; Risk free interest rate ranging from 4.57% - 4.99%; Expected life of options ranging from 3 to 10 years. |
The following table contains information relating to grants of stock options made during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, to our senior executive officers. No stock options were exercised by our senior executive officers during the last fiscal year. All references to the number of shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect a 3 for 1 reverse stock split, of all outstanding common stock, stock options and stock warrants of the Company, which was effective on April 25, 2007.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Number of securities
|
|
Percent of total
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
Expiration date
| ||||||||
Steve H. Kanzer, CPA, Esq. |
|
|
271,058 |
|
|
|
18.68 |
% |
|
$ |
2.01 |
|
|
|
11/21/2016 |
|
Charles Bisgaier, Ph.D. |
|
|
664,252 |
( 1) |
|
|
45.77 |
% |
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
|
5/30/2016 |
|
A. Joseph Rudick, M.D. |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
John Althaus, M.S. |
|
|
54,212 |
( 1) |
|
|
3.74 |
% |
|
$ |
.18 |
|
|
|
2/6/2010 |
|
Jeffrey Kraws |
|
|
228,773 |
( 1) |
|
|
15.76 |
% |
|
$ |
.09 |
|
|
|
1/26/2010 |
|
(1) |
These options were issued by Pipex Therapeutics during the last fiscal year and exchanged on October 31, 2006 for options of Pipex Pharmaceuticals in connection with the merger of Pipex Therapeutics and a subsidiary of Pipex Pharmaceuticals. |
The following table discloses information regarding outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2006 for each of our senior executive officers. All references to the number of shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect a 3 for 1 reverse stock split, of all outstanding common stock, stock options and stock warrants of the Company, which was effective on April 25, 2007.
48
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
Option
|
|
Option
| ||||||||
Steve H. Kanzer |
|
|
90,353 |
|
|
|
180,705 |
|
|
$ |
2.01 |
|
|
|
11/21/2016 |
|
Charles Bisgaier, Ph.D. |
|
|
110,709 |
|
|
|
553,543 |
|
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
|
5/30/2016 |
|
A. Joseph Rudick, M.D. |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Althaus, M.S. |
|
|
13,553 |
|
|
|
40,659 |
|
|
$ |
.18 |
|
|
|
2/16/2010 |
|
(1) These options were issued during 2006 by Pipex Therapeutics and exchanged on October 31, 2006 for options of Pipex Pharmaceuticals in connection with the merger of Pipex Therapeutics and a subsidiary of Pipex Pharmaceuticals.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table states certain information with respect to our equity compensation plans as of December 10, 2007:
Plan category
|
|
Number of securities to
|
|
Weighted-average
|
|
Number of securities
| ||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
|
1,489,353 |
|
|
$ |
1.22 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
|
124,502 |
( 1) |
|
$ |
4.18 |
|
|
|
2,375,498 |
( 1) |
Total |
|
|
1,613,855 |
|
|
$ |
1.45 |
|
|
|
2,375,498 |
|
(1) During the fourth quarter of 2006, we granted 124,502 options exercisable into 124,502 shares of our common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $4.18 per share under the Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. Of these options, 25,000 were granted to one of our employees and 99,502 were granted to a consultant of the Company. These option grants, as well as the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under the Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, are subject to stockholder approval of the Plan.
49
Employment Agreements
Pipex entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Charles L. Bisgaier on May 24, 2006. We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Bisgaier on May 24, 2006. Pursuant to this agreement, we will pay Dr. Bisgaier an annual base salary of $295,000 and a guaranteed bonus of one-third of his base salary. We also granted Dr. Bisgaier a ten year option to purchase 664,252 shares of our common stock, of which 110,709 have already vested. The remainder of this option will vest quarterly over a three year period. In the event of a termination without just cause, we will provide Dr. Bisgaier with six months severance, payable over a six month period.
During January 2006, we entered into an employment letter agreement with our director Jeffrey Kraws to serve as Vice President of Business Development, pursuant to which we will pay him an annual base salary of $75,000 following the closing of a financing and have granted him an option to purchase 228,773 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $0.09 per share, with 114,387 vested upon execution of his employment agreement and the remainder vesting annually over three years. During March 2007, we entered into an amended agreement with Mr. Kraws whereby he forgo any cash compensation and continued as a director in exchange for 38,129 options vesting.
Pursuant to an employment letter agreement, our subsidiary EPI paid Dr. Rudick $175,000 per annum, pay life and disability insurance on behalf of Dr. Rudick and he received an option to purchase 262,500 shares of EPI common stock. Following the acquisition of EPI, Dr. Rudick agreed to reduce his annual base salary to $95,000 per annum, forgo any life or disability reimbursement from us and agree to cancel an unvested option to purchase 294,071 shares of our common stock. As a result of the acquisition of EPI, Dr. Rudicks vested stock options converted into options to purchase 27,106 of Pipex common stock at an exercise price of $0.09 per share which expire on September 13, 2014. His shares of EPI common stock converted to 30,161 shares of Pipex common stock and his EPI warrants converted into 42,845 warrants to purchase Pipex common stock at an exercise price of $3.30 per share with an expiration date of May 30, 2015. During March 2007, Dr. Rudick was appointed as President and Chief Medical Officer of Pipex Neurosciences Inc., a majority owned subsidiary in which Dr. Rudick has received five percent equity ownership. As of November 1, 2007, Dr. Rudick is no longer employed by the Company.
In January 2005, we entered into a four year employment agreement with Steve H. Kanzer to serve as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. We agreed to pay him an annual base salary of $297,000, an annual bonus equal to 30% of his base salary and issue him a ten-year option to acquire 271,0585 shares of our common stock, vesting annually over a three year period commencing at the completion of our private placement financing. On July 20, 2007 the Board of Directors approved an amended and restated employment agreement with the Chief Executive Officer. The amended employment agreement provides that the Chief Executive Officer is to be paid a base salary of $195,000 per year plus a guaranteed bonus of $100,000. The Chief Executive Officer may also be entitled to discretionary transactional bonuses. In addition, the amended agreement provides that the Chief Executive Officer has waived the receipt of any salary and bonus payable under the original agreement for no additional consideration. This waiver constituted a capital contribution of $275,254 to the Company.
During November 2005, we entered into an employment agreement as amended with John Althaus, MS, our Vice President of Advanced Technology. We currently pay Mr. Althaus $100,000 per year and we issued him 54,212 options to acquire our common stock.
50
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock as of January 15, 2008 by (i) each person (or group of affiliated persons) who is known by us to own more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each of our directors and executive officers, and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. The principal address of each of the stockholders listed below except as indicated is c/o Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 3930 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. We believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to shares beneficially owned by them. All share ownership figures include shares issuable upon exercise of options or warrants exercisable within 60 days of January 15, 2008, which are deemed outstanding and beneficially owned by such person for purposes of computing his or her percentage ownership, but not for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
All references to the number of shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect a 3 for 1 reverse stock split, of all the outstanding common stock, stock options and stock warrants of the Company, which was effective on April 25, 2007.
Principal Stockholders Table
Name of Owner
|
|
Shares Owned
|
|
Percentage of Shares
| ||||
Accredited Venture Capital, LLC |
|
|
8,300,005 |
( 1) |
|
|
38.35 |
% |
Steve H. Kanzer |
|
|
8,805,956 |
( 2) |
|
|
40.35 |
% |
Ridgeback Capital Investment Ltd. |
|
|
1,856,565 |
( 3) |
|
|
8.82 |
% |
Firebird Capital |
|
|
1,486,118 |
( 4) |
|
|
7.10 |
% |
Nicholas Stergis |
|
|
1,709,361 |
( 5) |
|
|
8.23 |
% |
Charles Bisgaier, Ph.D. |
|
|
490,782 |
( 6) |
|
|
2.36 |
% |
Jeffrey J. Kraws |
|
|
218,042 |
( 7) |
|
|
1.06 |
% |
A. Joseph Rudick, M.D. |
|
|
189,792 |
( 8) |
|
|
* |
% |
Jeffrey Wolf, Esq. |
|
|
33,333 |
( 9) |
|
|
* |
|
Daniel J. Dorman |
|
|
794,525 |
( 10) |
|
|
4.62 |
% |
James S. Kuo |
|
|
33,333 |
( 11) |
|
|
|
|
All officers and directors as a group (8 persons) |
|
|
12,275,124 |
|
|
|
57.93 |
% |
* represents less than 1% of our common stock
(1) Consists of 7,086,379 shares held in the name of Accredited Venture Capital, LLC and 1,213,626 shares issuable upon presently exercisable warrants held in the name of Accredited Venture Capital, LLC.
(2) Consists of the 7,086,379 shares of common stock and 1,213,626 warrants, registered in the name of Accredited Venture Capital, LLC, and 325,246 common shares, and 180,705 shares issuable upon stock options presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days held directly in Mr. Kanzers name. Does not include 90,353 shares issuable upon stock options held directly in Mr. Kanzers name that are not presently exercisable. Pharmainvestors, LLC is the managing member of Accredited Venture Capital, LLC, and Mr. Kanzer is the managing member of Pharmainvestors, LLC. As such, Mr. Kanzer may be considered to have control over the voting and disposition of the shares registered in the name of Accredited Venture Capital, LLC. Mr. Kanzer disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.
51
(3) Consists of 1,856,565 of shares of common stock. Ridgeback Capital Investment Ltd.s address is 430 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10022.
(4) Consists of 743,059 shares of common stock issued to Firebird Global Master Fund, Ltd and 743,059 shares of common stock issued to Firebird Global Master Fund II, Ltd. Firebirds address is 152 West 57th Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10019.
(5) Consists of 1,355,292 shares of common stock, and warrants to purchase 346,418 and 7,651 shares of common stock, issued to Mr. Stergis. Mr. Stergiss business address is 801 Brickell Avenue, 9th Floor, Miami, Florida 33131.
(6) Consists of 332,126 vested options to purchase common stock, 59,552 shares of common stock and 24,776 warrants to purchase common stock issued to Bisgaier Family LLC, a company of which Dr. Bisgaier is the managing member; 49,552 shares of common stock and 24,776 warrants to purchase common stock issued to two trusts for which Dr. Bisgaier has control of. Excludes 332,126 unvested options to purchase common stock vesting over three years.
(7) Assumes the exercise of a vested option to purchase 218,042 shares of our common stock presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Excludes an unvested option to purchase 19,064 shares of common stock which will vest on January 26, 2009. Mr. Krawss business address is 800 Third Avenue, 17th Fl., New York, NY 10022.
(8) Consists of 30,161 shares of common stock, an option to purchase 49,727 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase 109,904 shares of common stock. Dr. Rudicks business address is 150 Broadway, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10128.
(9) Assumes the exercise of an option to purchase 33,333 shares of our common stock. Mr. Wolfs business address is c/o Seed-One Ventures, LLC, 1205 Lincoln Road, Suite 216, Miami Beach, Florida 33139.
(10) Consists of 18,566 shares of common stock registered in the name of Red Metal Capital, LLC, of which Mr. Dorman is the Managing Member, 742,626 shares of common stock registered in the name of AFA Private Equity Fund I, of which Mr. Dorman is a partner, and 33,333 options to purchase common stock held directly by Mr. Dorman.
(11) Consists of 33,333 options to purchase common stock.
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The prices at which the shares of common stock covered by the prospectus may actually be sold will be determined by the prevailing public market price for shares of common stock or by negotiations in private transactions.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The table below sets forth the name of each person who is offering for resale shares of common stock covered by this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each person, the number of shares of common stock that may be sold in this offering, and the number of shares of common stock each person will own after the offering, assuming they sell all of the shares offered.
Because the selling stockholders may offer all, some, or none of their shares of our common stock, we cannot provide a definitive estimate of the number of shares that the selling stockholders will hold after this offering.
None of the selling stockholders has at any time during the past three years acted as one of our employees, officers, or directors or otherwise had a material relationship with us.
52
For purposes of the following table, beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a selling stockholder and the percentage of ownership of that selling stockholder are included. Each selling stockholders percentage of ownership in the following table is based on 20,428,365 shares of common stock outstanding as of January 14, 2008.
|
|
Shares beneficially
|
|
Number of
|
|
Shares beneficially
| ||||||||||||||
Selling Shareholder
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
| ||||||||
George S. Tsandikos |
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Arvinder S. Sooch, Trust Dated 11/20/2006 |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Firebird Global Master Fund, Ltd. |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Firebird Global Master Fund II, Ltd. |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
NITE Capital LP |
|
|
148,525 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
148,525 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
J&N Invest LLC |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Wendi V. Rodrigueza |
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Gemini Master Fund, Ltd. |
|
|
371,313 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
371,313 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Catalytix, LDC |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Catalytix, LDC Life Science Hedge AC |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Alan S. Bloom Revocable Trust |
|
|
14,853 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
14,853 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Mary Darling |
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
ICON Capital Partners LP |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Brio Capital LP |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
SDS Capital Group SPC, Ltd. |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Little Gem Life Sciences Fund LLC |
|
|
40,659 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
40,659 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Harris & Jewell Kanzer JTWOS |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Jonathan Blaustein |
|
|
185,656 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
185,656 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Chestnut Ridge Partners LP |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Mark Goldstein |
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Thomas E. Hodapp |
|
|
55,697 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
55,697 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Clarion Capital Corporation |
|
|
185,656 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
185,656 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
53
WHI Morula Fund LLC |
|
|
371,313 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
371,313 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
AFA Private Equity Fund I |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
742,627 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Prominence Capital Inc. |
|
|
7,426 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
7,426 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Red Metal Capital, LLC |
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Stephen Jones |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Stanley Friefeld IRA Rollover |
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
DeFiore Family Limited Partnership |
|
|
14,853 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
14,853 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Ades Bros, Inc. |
|
|
371,314 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
371,314 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund Ltd. |
|
|
373,134 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
373,134 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Goodman Capital Partners LP |
|
|
148,525 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
148,525 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Michael M. Ades |
|
|
185,656 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
185,656 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Ridgeback Capital Investment Ltd. |
|
|
1,856,564 |
|
|
|
9.0 |
% |
|
|
1,856,564 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Rodney and Sari Nathan |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Roland and Jacqueline Rofe |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
James Frank |
|
|
111,394 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
111,394 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Adam W. Rothkrug |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Richard S. Rofe |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Iroquois Master Fund, Ltd. |
|
|
148,525 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
148,525 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
54
|
|
Shares beneficially
|
|
Number of
|
|
Shares beneficially
| ||||||||||||||
Selling Shareholder
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
| ||||||||
Elliot Bossen |
|
|
248,780 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
% |
|
|
248,780 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Whalehaven Capital Fund, Limited |
|
|
371,313 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
371,313 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
James H. Harris & Lynn Charles Harris JTROS |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Ivy Scheinholz Revocable Trust U/A dated 1/26/05 |
|
|
13,329 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
13,329 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Michael F. Manion |
|
|
113,333 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
113,333 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Brian and Lauren Diamond JTROWS |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
John Khadem |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Arturo Constantiner |
|
|
22,279 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
22,279 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Matthew G. Roszak |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Joseph R. Nemeth |
|
|
111,394 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
111,394 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Vasilis and Elisabeth Myriathopoulos |
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
18,566 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Horizon Capital Fund LP |
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
37,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Barclay Jones |
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
74,263 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
DILUTION
The common stock to be sold by the selling stockholders is common stock that is currently issued and outstanding or is issuable on exercise of warrants that have already been issued. Accordingly, there will be no dilution to our existing stockholders from the sale of any of the shares registered by this prospectus.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling stockholders and any of their respective pledgees, donees, assignees, and other successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices.
We have agreed, subject to certain limits, to bear all costs, expenses, and fees of registration of shares of our common stock offered by the selling stockholders for resale. However, any brokerage commissions, discounts, concessions, or other fees, if any, payable to broker-dealers in connection with any sale of shares of common stock will be borne by the selling stockholders selling those shares or by the purchasers of those shares.
55
On our being notified by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution, or secondary distribution, or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing the following:
|
the name of each such selling stockholder and of any participating broker-dealer |
|
the number of securities involved |
|
the price at which such securities were sold |
|
the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to any broker-dealer, where applicable |
|
that any broker-dealer did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus |
|
other facts material to the transaction. |
| |
|
directly as principals |
|
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers |
|
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
|
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account |
|
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange |
|
privately negotiated transactions |
|
short sales that are in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations of any state or the United States |
|
broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share |
|
a combination of any such methods of sale |
|
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law |
The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Any sales of the shares may be effected through the American Stock Exchange, in private transactions or otherwise, and the shares may be sold at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
The selling stockholders may also engage in short sales against the box, puts and calls, and other transactions in our securities or derivatives of our securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection with these trades. The selling stockholders may pledge their shares to their brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a selling stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the pledged shares. We believe that the selling stockholders have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding sale of their shares other than ordinary course brokerage arrangements, nor is there an
56
underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares by the selling stockholders.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. If the selling stockholders effect sales through underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents, such firms may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or the purchasers of the shares for whom they may act as agent, principal or both in amounts to be negotiated. Those persons who act as broker-dealers or underwriters in connection with the sale of the shares may be selected by the selling stockholders and may have other business relationships with, and perform services for, us. The selling stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
Any selling stockholder or broker-dealer who participates in the sale of the shares may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any commissions received by any underwriter or broker-dealer and any profit on any sale of the shares as principal may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
The anti-manipulation provisions of Rules 101 through 104 of Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act may apply to purchases and sales of shares of common stock by the selling stockholders. In addition, there are restrictions on market-making activities by persons engaged in the distribution of the common stock. We have advised each selling stockholder that it may not use shares of common stock issuable on conversion of warrants and included in prospectus to cover short sales of common stock made prior to the date on which the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part has been declared effective.
Under the securities laws of certain states, the shares may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the shares may not be able to be sold unless our common stock has been registered or qualified for sale in that state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
We are required to pay expenses incident to the registration, offering, and sale of the shares under this offering. We estimate that our expenses will total approximately $15,000. We have agreed to indemnify certain selling stockholders and certain other persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments to which those selling stockholders or their respective pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest may be required to make in respect thereof. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore, unenforceable.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Our authorized capital consists of 100 million shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of January 7, 2008 20,426,905 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.
Common Stock
Holders of shares of common stock have the right to cast one vote for each share of common stock in their name on the books of our company, whether represented in person or by proxy, on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common stock, including election of directors. There is no right to cumulative voting in election of directors. Except where a greater requirement is provided by statute, by our articles of incorporation, or by our bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the
57
one or more holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote by the holders of a majority of outstanding shares is required to effect certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger, or amendment of our articles of incorporation.
There are no restrictions in our articles of incorporation or bylaws that prevent us from declaring dividends. The Delaware General Corporation Law does, however, prohibit us from declaring dividends where, after giving effect to the distribution of the dividend (1) we would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business or (2) our total assets would be less than the sum of our total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed to satisfy the rights of stockholders who have preferential rights superior to those receiving the distribution.
We have not declared any dividends, and we do not plan to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Holders of shares of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive or subscription or conversion rights, and no redemption or sinking fund provisions are applicable to our common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock sold in the offering will when issued be, fully paid and non-assessable.
Warrants
As of January 7, 2008 warrants to purchase 2,278,415 shares of our common stock were outstanding. Holders of our warrants have no voting rights, and therefore no right to participate in stockholder decisions, until such time as the warrants are exercised for shares of our common stock.
Preferred Stock
There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Stock Options
As of January 7, 2008, we currently have 1,489,353 options outstanding under our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, which we assumed in our merger with Pipex Therapeutics. We also have 808,011 options outstanding under our 2007 Stock Incentive Plan which was approved at our November 2, 2007 stockholders meeting.
The Pipex Pharmaceuticals 2007 Stock Incentive Plan covers 2,500,000 shares of our common stock. Under its terms, our employees, officers, and directors and our subsidiaries are currently eligible to receive incentive stock options (within the meaning of section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code), nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. In addition, advisors and consultants who perform services for us or our subsidiaries are eligible to receive non-qualified stock options under the plan. The plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee designated by our board of directors.
All stock options granted under the plan are exercisable up to ten years from the date of grant. We are not permitted to grant incentive stock options under the plan at exercise prices that are less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The term of an incentive stock option granted under the plan to a stockholder owning more than 10% of our issued and outstanding common stock may not exceed five years and the exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to any such stockholder may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The plan contains certain limitations on the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be awarded in any calendar year to any one individual for the purposes of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
58
Transfer Agent
We have retained Corporate Stock Transfer as our transfer agent. They are located at 3200 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80209.
INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS
No expert or counsel named in this registration statement as having prepared or certified any part of this statement or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the common stock was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or will receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
The audited financial statements as of December 31, 2006 included in this prospectus were prepared by Berman & Company, P.A., and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of this firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of our common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Lehman & Eilen LLP, Boca Raton, Florida.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that (1) his act or failure to act constituted a breach of his fiduciary duties as a director or officer and (2) his breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law.
This provision is intended to afford directors and officers protection against and to limit their potential liability for monetary damages resulting from suits alleging a breach of the duty of care by a director or officer. As a consequence of this provision, stockholders of our company will be unable to recover monetary damages against directors or officers for action taken by them that may constitute negligence or gross negligence in performance of their duties unless such conduct falls within one of the foregoing exceptions. The provision, however, does not alter the applicable standards governing a directors or officers fiduciary duty and does not eliminate or limit the right of our company or any stockholder to obtain an injunction or any other type of non-monetary relief in the event of a breach of fiduciary duty.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
During the two most recent fiscal years and interim period subsequent to December 31, 2006, we have had no disagreements with Berman & Company, P.A., our independent auditor, on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.
59
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PIPEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A Development Stage Company)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
|
1 |
Consolidated Balance Sheet |
|
2 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations |
|
3 |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity |
|
4 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
|
5 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
6 |
Current
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
12,192,426
|
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
25,702
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Current Assets
|
|
|
12,218,128
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment,
net of accumulated depreciation of $32,935
|
|
|
297,288
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$
|
12,515,416
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity
|
||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
$
|
540,120
|
|
Accrued
liabilities
|
|
|
188,899
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Current Liabilities
|
|
|
729,019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and Contingencies (See Note 6)
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
and
outstanding
|
|
|
—
|
|
Common
stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 48,683,912
shares
issued and outstanding
|
|
|
48,684
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
20,512,076
|
|
Deficit
accumulated during the development stage
|
|
|
(8,774,363
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
|
11,786,397
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
$
|
12,515,416
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
the years ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
For
the Period
from
January 8, 2001
(Inception)
to
December
31, 2006
|
||||||
Operating
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
2,665,555
|
|
|
|
946,065
|
|
|
|
4,833,069
|
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
1,439,022
|
|
|
|
373,145
|
|
|
|
2,982,893
|
|
Merger
costs
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
|
|
37,500
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
4,117,077
|
|
|
|
1,356,710
|
|
|
|
7,865,962
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Loss
from Operations
|
|
|
(4,117,077
|
)
|
|
|
(1,356,710
|
)
|
|
|
(7,865,962
|
)
|
Other
Income (Expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
17,982
|
|
|
|
868
|
|
|
|
44,582
|
|
Other
expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(1,733
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total
Other Income, net
|
|
|
17,982
|
|
|
|
868
|
|
|
|
42,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
Loss
|
|
$
|
(4,099,095
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,355,842
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,823,113
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Less:
Preferred stock dividend—subsidiary
|
|
|
(761,000
|
)
|
|
|
(190,250
|
)
|
|
|
(951,250
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
Loss Applicable to Common Shareholders
|
|
$
|
(4,860,095
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,546,092
|
)
|
|
$
|
(8,774,363
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
Loss Per Share—Basic and Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.76
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding during the year/period — basic and
diluted
|
|
|
9,733,629
|
|
|
|
906,253
|
|
|
|
4,989,483
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A Convertible
Preferred
Stock
$0.001
Par Value
|
Common
Stock
$0.001
Par Value
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
Defecit
accumulated
during
development
stage
|
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
January 8, 2001 (inception)
|
—
|
$ |
—
|
—
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock to founders in exchange for subscription receivables
$0.00001/share)
|
—
|
—
|
4,716,411
|
4,716
|
(4,366 | ) |
—
|
350
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of preferred stock to founder for cash ($0.01844/share)
|
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
—
|
—
|
283,735
|
—
|
300,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of preferred and common stock to founder for
cash—subsidiaries
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
850,540
|
—
|
850,540
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the period ended December 31, 2001
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(277,868 | ) | (277,868 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2001
|
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
4,716,411
|
4,716
|
1,129,909
|
(277,868 | ) |
873,022
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock for compensation and consulting—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
119
|
—
|
119
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Grant
of stock options for consulting services—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
5,890
|
—
|
5,890
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the year ended December 31, 2002
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(768,508 | ) | (768,508 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2002
|
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
4,716,411
|
4,716
|
1,135,918
|
(1,046,376 | ) |
110,523
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Grant
of stock options for compensation—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
17,984
|
—
|
17,984
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the year ended December 31, 2003
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(719,307 | ) | (719,307 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2003
|
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
4,716,411
|
4,716
|
1,153,902
|
(1,765,683 | ) | (590,800 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock for cash—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
50
|
—
|
50
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Grant
of stock options for consulting services—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
10,437
|
—
|
10,437
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the year ended December 31, 2004
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(602,493 | ) | (602,493 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2004
|
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
4,716,411
|
4,716
|
1,164,389
|
(2,368,176 | ) | (1,182,806 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Recognition
of stock based consulting in connection with stock options
grants
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
59,960
|
—
|
59,960
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Recognition
of stock based compensation in connection with stock option
grants
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
10,493
|
—
|
10,493
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Recognition
of deferred compensation—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
14,057
|
—
|
14,057
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of Series B, convertible preferred stock for
cash—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,902,500
|
—
|
1,902,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
paid as direct offering costs in connection with sale of Series B,
convertible preferred stock—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(152,200 | ) |
—
|
(152,200 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
10%
in-kind Series B, convertible preferred stock
dividend—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
190,250
|
(190,250 | ) |
—
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the year ended December 31, 2005
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(1,355,842 | ) | (1,355,842 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2005
|
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
4,716,411
|
4,716
|
3,189,449
|
(3,914,268 | ) | (703,838 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of related party loan to common stock ($0.67268/share)
|
—
|
—
|
4,995,633
|
4,996
|
3,269,732
|
—
|
3,274,728
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock for cash—private placement
($0.67340/share)
|
—
|
—
|
20,702,794
|
20,703
|
13,905,660
|
—
|
13,926,363
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
paid as direct offering costs in private placements
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(1,160,418 | ) |
—
|
(1,160,418 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock for license fees ($.30679/share)
|
—
|
—
|
1,266,941
|
1,267
|
387,424
|
—
|
388,691
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of accrued expenses to contributed capital—former related
party
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
3,017
|
—
|
3,017
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Deemed
issuance to shareholders of legal acquiror and
recapitalization
|
—
|
—
|
737,472
|
737
|
(665,737 | ) |
—
|
(665,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of Series A, convertible preferred stock to common stock
|
(16,264,661 | ) | (16,265 | ) |
16,264,661
|
16,265
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Recognition
of stock based consulting in connection wtih stock option
grants
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
411,310
|
—
|
411,310
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Recognition
of stock based compensation in connection with stock option
grants
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
410,639
|
—
|
410,639
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
10%
in-kind Series B, convertible preferred stock
dividend—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
190,250
|
(190,250 | ) |
—
|
||||||||||||||||||||
30%
in-kind Series B, convertible preferred stock
dividend—subsidiary
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
570,750
|
(570,750 | ) |
—
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the year ended December 31, 2006
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(4,099,095 | ) | (4,099,095 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
—
|
$ |
—
|
48,683,912
|
$ |
48,684
|
$ |
20,512,076
|
$ | (8,774,363 | ) | $ |
11,786,397
|
|||||||||||||||
|
For
the years ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
For
the Period
from
January 8, 2001
(Inception)
to
December
31, 2006
|
||||||||||
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (4,099,095 | ) | $ | (1,355,842 | ) | $ | (7,823,113 | ) | |||
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
410,639
|
24,550
|
453,523
|
|||||||||
Stock-based
consulting
|
411,310
|
59,960
|
487,716
|
|||||||||
Stock
issued for license fees
|
388,691
|
—
|
388,691
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
|
30,675
|
2,260
|
32,935
|
|||||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
(25,702 | ) |
—
|
(25,702 | ) | |||||||
Accounts
payable
|
325,746
|
186,963
|
540,120
|
|||||||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
191,917
|
—
|
191,917
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Net
Cash Used In Operating Activities
|
(2,365,819 | ) | (1,082,109 | ) | (5,753,913 | ) | ||||||
|
||||||||||||
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities:
|
||||||||||||
Purchases
of property and equipment
|
(45,833 | ) |
—
|
(45,833 | ) | |||||||
Cash
paid to acquire shell in reverse merger
|
(665,000 | ) |
—
|
(665,000 | ) | |||||||
|
||||||||||||
Net
Cash Used In Investing Activities
|
(710,833 | ) |
—
|
(710,833 | ) | |||||||
|
||||||||||||
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities:
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of common stock and warrants in private
placement
|
13,926,362
|
—
|
13,926,362
|
|||||||||
Cash
paid as direct offering costs in private placements
|
(1,160,418 | ) |
—
|
(1,160,418 | ) | |||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of Series B, convertible preferred stock -
subsidiary
|
—
|
1,902,500
|
1,902,500
|
|||||||||
Direct
offering costs in connection with issuance of series B, convertible
preferred stock - subsidiary
|
—
|
(152,200 | ) | (152,200 | ) | |||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of preferred and common stock
|
—
|
—
|
1,150,590
|
|||||||||
Proceeds
from loans payable - related party
|
1,365,344
|
684,553
|
3,210,338
|
|||||||||
Repayments
of loans payable - related party
|
(20,000 | ) | (200,000 | ) | (220,000 | ) | ||||||
|
||||||||||||
Net
Cash Provided By Financing Activities
|
14,111,288
|
2,234,853
|
18,657,172
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Net
increase in cash
|
11,034,636
|
1,152,744
|
12,192,426
|
|||||||||
Cash
at beginning of year/period
|
1,157,790
|
5,046
|
—
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Cash
at end of year/period
|
$ |
12,192,426
|
$ |
1,157,790
|
$ |
12,192,426
|
||||||
|
||||||||||||
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
||||||||||||
Cash
paid during the period for interest
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
||||||
|
||||||||||||
Cash
paid for taxes
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
||||||
|
||||||||||||
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities:
|
||||||||||||
Pipex
Therapeutics acquired equipment in exchange for a loan with a related
party
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
284,390
|
$ |
284,390
|
||||||
|
||||||||||||
EPI
declared a 10% and 30% in-kind dividend on its Series B, convertible
preferred stock
|
$ |
761,000
|
$ |
190,250
|
$ |
951,250
|
||||||
|
||||||||||||
The
Company issued shares and warrants in connection with the conversion
of
certain related party debt
|
$ |
3,274,728
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
3,274,728
|
||||||
|
||||||||||||
Conversion
of accrued liabilities to contributed capital - former related
party
|
$ |
3,017
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
3,017
|
||||||
|
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 Organization and Nature of Operations
(A) Description of the Business
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pipex) is a development-stage pharmaceutical company that is developing proprietary, late-stage drug candidates for the treatment of neurologic and fibrotic diseases.
(B) Corporate Structure and Basis of Presentation
The Company has four majority owned subsidiaries, Pipex Thereapeutics, Inc. (Pipex Therapeutics), Solovax, Inc. (Solovax), Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (EPI) and CD4 Biosciences, Inc. (CD4).
The Company consists of four separate entities previously under common control. As of December 31, 2006, all of the entities were majority owned subsidiaries of Pipex. The combinations of these entities were accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests.
For financial reporting purposes, the outstanding preferred stock and common stock of the Company is that of Pipex. All statements of operations, stockholders deficit and cash flows for each of the entities are presented as consolidated since inception (January 8, 2001) due to the existence of common control since that date. All of our subsidiaries were incorporated January 8, 2001 under the laws of the State of Delaware, except for EPI which was incorporated on December 12, 2000.
(C) Reverse Merger and Recapitalization
On October 31, 2006, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sheffield), a shell corporation, entered into a Merger Agreement (Merger) with Pipex Therapeutics, a privately owned Delaware company, whereby Pipex Therapeutics was the surviving corporation. This transaction was accounted for as a reverse merger since Sheffield did not have any operations and a recapitalization of Pipex Therapeutics. Since Pipex Therapeutics acquired a controlling voting interest, it was deemed the accounting acquirer, while Sheffield was deemed the legal acquirer. The historical financial statements of the Company are those of Pipex Therapeutics, EPI, Solovax and CD4 since inception, and of the consolidated entities from the date of Merger and subsequent. On December 11, 2006, Sheffield changed its name to Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Since the transaction is considered a reverse merger and recapitalization, the guidance in SFAS No. 141 does not apply for purposes of presenting pro-forma financial information.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Sheffield issued 34,000,000 shares of common stock for all of the outstanding Series A, convertible preferred and common stock of Pipex Therapeutics and Sheffield assumed all of Pipex Therapeuticss outstanding options and warrants, but did not assume the options and warrants outstanding within Pipex Therapeuticss majority owned subsidiaries. On October 31, 2006, concurrent with the Merger, Pipex Therapeutics executed a private stock purchase agreement to purchase an additional 2,426,300 shares of common stock held by Sheffields sole officer and director; these shares were immediately cancelled and retired. Aggregate consideration paid for Sheffield was $665,000. Upon the closing of the reverse merger, shareholders of Sheffield retained an aggregate 737,472 shares of common stock. As a result of these transactions, Pipex Therapeutics acquired approximately 98% ownership of the issued and outstanding common shares of Sheffield.
F-6
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(D) Contribution Agreements Consolidation of Entities under Common Control
1. EPIs Acquisition of CD4
On December 31, 2004, EPI acquired 91.61% of the issued and outstanding common stock of CD4 in exchange for 825,000 shares of common stock having a fair value of $825. EPI assumed certain outstanding accounts payable and loans of CD4 of approximately $664,000. The fair value of the exchange was equivalent to the par value of the common stock issued. CD4 shareholders retained 119,000 shares (8.39%) of the issued and outstanding common stock of CD4; these shareholders comprise the non-controlling shareholder base of CD4.
2. Pipex Therapeutics Acquisition of Solovax
On July 31, 2005, Pipex Therapeutics acquired 96.9% of the aggregate voting preferred and common stock of Solovax. Pipex Therapeutics assumed all outstanding liabilities of approximately $310,000, the transfer of 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock owned by Solovaxs president and 250,000 shares of common stock owned by Solovaxs COO. The fair value of the exchange was equivalent to the par value of the common stock received pursuant to the terms of the contribution.
3. Pipex Therapeutics Acquisition of EPI/CD4
On December 31, 2005, Pipex Therapeutics acquired 65.47% of the aggregate voting preferred and common stock of EPI and its majority owned subsidiary CD4. In addition, Pipex Therapeutics assumed $583,500 of outstanding liabilities of EPI. The fair value of the exchange was equivalent to the par value of the common stock received pursuant to the terms of the contribution.
In the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2006, each of these transactions was analogous to a recapitalization with no net change to equity since the entities were under common control at the date of the transaction.
Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(A) Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries, Pipex Therapeutics, Solovax, EPI, and CD4. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
For financial accounting purposes, the Companys inception is deemed January 8, 2001. The activity of EPI for the period from December 12, 2000 to January 7, 2001 was nominal. Therefore, there is no financial information presented for this period.
(B) Development Stage
For the period from inception (January 8, 2001) to date, the Company has been a development stage enterprise, and accordingly, the Compan's operations have been directed primarily toward the acquisition and creation of intellectual properties and certain research and development activities to improve current technological concepts. As the Company is devoting its efforts to research and development, there has been no revenue generated from sales, license fees or royalties. Additionally, the Company continually seeks sources of debt or equity based funding to further its intended research and development activities. The Company has experienced net losses since its inception, and
F-7
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
had an accumulated deficit of $8,774,363 at December 31, 2006. The Companys consolidated financial statements are presented as statements of a development stage enterprise. Additionally, the Company continually seeks sources of debt or equity based funding to further its intended research and development activities.
(C) Use of Estimates
In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Significant estimates during 2006 and 2005 include depreciable lives of property, valuation of stock options and warrants granted for services or compensation pursuant to SFAS No. 123R, existence and recording of research and development expenditures as expenses in connection with the provisions of SFAS No. 2, estimates of the probability and potential magnitude of contingent liabilities and the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.
(D) Cash
The Company minimizes its credit risk associated with cash by periodically evaluating the credit quality of its primary financial institution. The balance at times may exceed federally insured limits. At December 31, 2006, the balance exceeded the federally insured limit by $11,792,261.
(E) Equipment
Equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Costs greater than $1,000 are capitalized and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives, which is generally ten years. Equipment consists primarily of equipment used in connection with research and development. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
(F) Long Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. There were no impairment charges taken during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2006.
(G) Derivative Liabilities
In connection with the reverse merger, all outstanding convertible preferred stock of Pipex was cancelled and retired, as such, the provisions of EITF No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Index to, and Potentially Settled in, a Companys Own Stock do not apply. The Companys majority owned subsidiaries also contain issued convertible preferred stock; however, none of these instruments currently contains any provisions that require the recording of a derivative liability. In connection with the acquisition of EPI on January 5, 2007 (See Note 9(A)), all issued and outstanding shares of Series A and B, convertible preferred stock were cancelled and retired. As such, no potential derivative liabilities will exist pertaining to these instruments.
F-8
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(H) Net Loss per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) less preferred dividends for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) less preferred dividends by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding including the effect of share equivalents. Since the Company reported a net loss at December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2006, respectively, all common stock equivalents would be anti-dilutive; as such there is no separate computation for diluted earnings per share.
The Companys net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2006 was computed assuming the recapitalization associated with the reverse merger, as such all share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the weighted average shares outstanding for the legal acquirer. Additionally, the numerator for computing net loss per share was adjusted for preferred stock dividends recorded during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 in connection with certain provisions relating to the sale of EPIs Series B, convertible preferred stock. (See Note 5(C)(1))
(I) Research and Development Costs
The Company expenses all research and development costs as incurred for which there is no alternative future use. These costs also include the expensing of employee compensation and employee stock based compensation.
(J) Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. (See Note 7)
(K) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of the Companys short-term financial instruments, including accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity for these instruments.
(L) Stock Based Compensation
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, which replaces SFAS No. 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25. Under SFAS No. 123(R), companies are required to measure the compensation costs of share-based compensation arrangements based on the grant-date fair value and recognize the costs in the financial statements over the period during which employees are required to provide services. Share-based compensation arrangements include stock options, stock warrants, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and employee share purchase plans. In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, or SAB 107. SAB 107 expresses views of the staff regarding the interaction between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations and provides the staffs views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies. SFAS No. 123(R) permits public companies to adopt its requirements using one of two methods. On April 14, 2005, the SEC adopted a rule amending the compliance dates for SFAS 123R. Companies may elect to apply this statement either prospectively, or
F-9
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
on a modified version of retrospective application under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods under SFAS No. 123. The Company has elected to retroactively adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 123R.
All share-based payments to employees since inception have been recorded and expensed in the statements of operations as applicable.
(M) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2006 the FASB issued SFAS 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments (SFAS 155), which amends SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS 133) and SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities (SFAS 140). SFAS 155 amends SFAS 133 to narrow the scope exception for interest-only and principal-only strips on debt instruments to include only such strips representing rights to receive a specified portion of the contractual interest or principal cash flows. SFAS No. 155 also amends SFAS No. 140 to allow qualifying special-purpose entities to hold a passive derivative financial instrument pertaining to beneficial interests that it is a derivative financial instrument. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 155 on January 1, 2007 and does not expect it to have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, (FIN 48) Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes an interpretation of SFAS No. 109. This Interpretation provides guidance for recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions, as defined in FASB No. 109, Accounting for income taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a threshold condition that a tax position must meet for any of the benefit of an uncertain tax position to be recognized in the financial statements. Guidance is also provided regarding de-recognition, classification and disclosure of uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not expect that this Interpretation will have a material impact on their financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 (SFAS 157), Fair Value Measurements. SFAS 157 clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. Additionally, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 157 to have a material impact on their financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158 (SFAS 158), Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R). SFAS 158 requires employers to recognize the under-funded or over-funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur through accumulated other comprehensive income. Additionally, SFAS 158 requires employers to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position. The new reporting requirements and related new footnote disclosure rules of SFAS 158 are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. The new measurement date requirement applies for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 158 to have a material impact on their financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In September 2006, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB No. 108), which expresses the views of the SEC staff regarding the
F-10
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
process of quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB No. 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior year misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of a materiality assessment. The guidance of this SAB is effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2006, which is December 31, 2006 for the Company. SAB No. 108 did not have an impact on the Companys financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 3 Equipment
At December 31, 2006, equipment consisted primarily of laboratory equipment that is being depreciated on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of ten years. Depreciation expense in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and in the period from inception (January 8, 2001) to December 31, 2006, was $30,675, $2,260 and $32,935, respectively. During 2005, the Company acquired equipment in exchange for a related party note payable. (See Note 4)
Note 4 Loans Payable Related Party
An affiliate of the Companys founder, President and CEO has advanced working capital to or on behalf of the Company. Loan activity for the Company was as follows since inception:
Total
loans / (repayments) per year
|
Amount
|
|||
Year
ended December 31, 2001 — loans
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2002 — loans
|
|
|
130,520
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2003 — loans
|
|
|
244,640
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2004 — loans
|
|
|
785,281
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2005 — loans
|
|
|
968,943
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2005 — repayments
|
|
|
(200,000
|
)
|
Year
ended December 31, 2006 — loans
|
|
|
1,365,344
|
|
Year
ended December 31, 2006 — repayments
|
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
Year
ended December 31, 2006 — conversion to equity
|
|
|
(3,274,728
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
During 2005, the Company acquired $284,390 in equipment in exchange for an increase in loans payable related party. This advance is the non-cash component of the $968,943 in 2005. (See Note 3)
On October 31, 2006, the non-interest bearing loans payable to the Companys founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, which amounted to $3,274,728, were converted into 4,995,633 shares of common stock and 2,497,817 warrants to purchase common stock. (See Note 5(D))
Note 5 Stockholders Equity and Non-Controlling Interest
All issuances for Pipex Therapeutics, Inc. have been retroactively restated to reflect the recapitalization due to reverse merger.
F-11
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(A) Preferred Stock Issuances
1. For the Year Ended December 31, 2001
On January 4, 2001, EPI issued 3,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to the Founder serving as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of EPI in exchange for $250,000 ($0.08 per share).
On January 15, 2001, Pipex Therapeutics issued 16,264,661 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (pursuant to the October 31, 2006 reverse merger and recapitalization) to a founder serving as the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Pipex in exchange for $300,000 ($0.01844 per share). On October 31, 2006, pursuant to the reverse merger with Sheffield, these shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were cancelled and retired.
On January 31, 2001, Solovax issued 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to the Founder serving as the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Solovax in exchange for $300,000 ($0.30 per share).
On February 7, 2001, CD4 issued 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, to an affiliate of a founder serving as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of CD4 in exchange for $300,000 ($.30 per share).
2. For the Year Ended December 31, 2005
On March 10, 2005, EPIs board of directors and stockholders voted to authorize the designation of a Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. (See Note 5(C))
From March through June 2005, EPI issued 1,902,500 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, at $1 per share, for proceeds of $1,902,500. In connection with this offering, EPI paid $152,200 of offering costs that were charged against additional paid in capital. The Company also granted 171,225 warrants as compensation in connection with this equity raise. (See Note 5(H)(1))
See Note 9(A) regarding acquisition of remaining non-controlling interest.
4. CD4 Biosciences, Inc.
(B) Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
The Company and its majority owned subsidiaries has each authorized and issued Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. (See Note 1(C)) for conversion of Pipex Series A convertible preferred stock.
The terms of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries is summarized below. The terms are the same for each of the entities.
1. Dividends
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to receive dividends in an amount equal to dividends declared and paid with respect to that number of shares of common stock into which one share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is then convertible. For the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2006, neither the Company, nor any of its majority owned subsidiaries has declared any Series A Convertible Preferred Stock dividends.
F-12
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Liquidation Preference
Upon liquidation, holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to the greater of (1) a per share amount equal to the original purchase price plus any dividends accrued but not paid and (2) the amount that the holder would receive in respect of a share of Series A, preferred if immediately prior to dissolution and liquidation, all shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into shares of common stock.
3. Conversion
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is immediately convertible on a one for one basis at the option of the holder. The conversion ratio is determined by dividing the original issue price of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock by the conversion price for the Series A, convertible preferred stock in effect on the date the certificate is surrendered for conversion. The conversion price will initially be the original issue price, which is subject to future adjustment. Therefore, at December 31, 2006, the conversion ratio is 1.00.
4. Voting Rights
Each holder of Series A, convertible preferred stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock into which each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock could then be converted.
5. Beneficial Conversion Feature and Derivative Liability
The Company and its majority owned subsidiaries has reviewed each of the provisions of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and noted no required accounting for a beneficial conversion feature pursuant to the guidance in EITF No.s 98-5 or 00-27. Upon issuance, the original issue price, its fair value, and conversion price were equivalent.
Additionally, there is no required accounting or financial statement impact for derivative instruments. None of the Company or its majority owned subsidiaries Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has embedded features requiring such treatment.
(C) Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Only Pipex and EPI have authorized Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.
At December 31, 2006, Pipex has not issued any of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Pipex has not yet designated their Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as it pertains to dividends, liquidation preference, conversion, voting rights, and other rights and preferences.
At December 31, 2006, the only Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the consolidated group of companies, that has been issued was in EPI. The consolidated balance sheet reflects these transactions as a component of equity and the par value is eliminated in consolidation. (See Note 1(B)). EPIs Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was cancelled and retired in connection with the January 5, 2007 merger agreement to acquire the remaining portion of the non-controlling voting interest in EPI by Pipex (See Note 9(A))
The terms of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for EPI are summarized below.
1. Dividends
If the common stock of the company trades on a national securities exchange (a Trading Event) or the company completes an initial public offering of EPI common stock (an IPO), or the conversion
F-13
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
of all of the outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a dividend in additional shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at the rate of 10% of the Series B purchase price per year, with those dividends being payable only in a number of shares equal to the dollar amount of those dividends divided by the Series B original purchase price (as adjusted for any stock dividends, consolidations, splits, recapitalizations, and the like). Dividends accrue on each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, whether or not earned or declared and regardless of when any share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was issued. During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company issued 190,250 and 190,250 shares, respectively for the 10% PIK dividend having a fair value of $190,250 and $190,250, respectively.
Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is also entitled to receive an additional dividend at the rate of 30% of the Series B original purchase price if within 18 months from the final closing (this occurred effective June 30, 2005) of this offering there has occurred neither an IPO nor a Trading Event. These dividends are payable only in a number of shares equal to the dollar amount of those dividends divided by the Series B original purchase price. At December 31, 2006, since none of the conditions were met within the allotted 18-month time frame, the Company recorded a 30% paid in kind dividend for 570,750 shares having a fair value of $570,750.
At December 31, 2006 and 2005, EPI recorded preferred stock dividends aggregating 761,000 and 190,250 shares, respectively, having a fair value of $761,000 and $190,250, respectively. For the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2006, the Company recorded preferred stock dividends aggregating 951,250 shares having a fair value of $951,250.
2. Liquidation Preference
Upon liquidation, holders of the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive in preference to holders of shares of any junior stock an amount per share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock equal to the greater of (1) an amount equal to the Series B original purchase price (as adjusted for any stock dividends, consolidations, splits, recapitalizations and the like) plus any dividends accrued on a share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock but not paid and (2) the current market price of our common stock multiplied by the number of shares of common stock into which a share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock could be converted immediately prior to dissolution and liquidation. After payment of the liquidation amount to holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock the remaining assets will be distributed to holders of shares of common stock.
3. Conversion
Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder at any time into one share of common stock, subject to adjustment.
Upon consummation of an IPO or a Trading Event, all shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will be deemed automatically converted into that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock into which those shares would have then been convertible in the event of optional conversion. In the event of a merger in which our shareholders constitute a majority of the voting power of the surviving corporation, or our common stock trades at 300% of the Series B original purchase price, then all of the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock then outstanding will convert into shares of common stock.
F-14
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
4. Voting Rights
Each holder of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock into which each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock could then be converted and is entitled to vote together with our shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and common stock.
5. Beneficial Conversion Feature and Derivative Liability
EPIs Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has no required accounting for a beneficial conversion feature pursuant to the guidance in EITF No.s 98-5 or 00-27. Upon issuance, the original issue price, its fair value, and conversion price were equivalent.
Additionally, there is no required accounting or financial statement impact for derivative instruments. EPIs Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has no embedded features requiring such treatment.
6. Anti-dilution Protection
If EPI issues any shares of common stock (with certain exceptions) without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the Conversion Price (as defined in the certificate of amendment containing the terms of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock) in effect immediately prior to the issuance of those shares, holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to weighted-average anti-dilution protection. EPI has not issued or granted any common stock or common stock equivalents since the issuance of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock during 2005.
(D) Common Stock Issuances of Issuer
During October and November of 2006, the Company completed private placements of its stock, which resulted in the issuance of 20,702,794 shares of common stock and 10,351,979 warrants. The net proceeds from the private placements were approximately $12,766,000, which included cash paid as direct offering costs of approximately $1,160,000. In connection with the private placements, the Company engaged a company, which is controlled by the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, as the placement agent for the transaction. Of the total approximate $1,160,000 in direct offering costs, the Company paid the placement agent the sum of approximately $1,033,800. Additionally the placement agent was paid non-cash compensation of 2,874,831 warrants with an aggregate fair value of $4,555,457. (See Note 5 (G)).
On October 31, 2006, the loans payable to the Companys founder, President and CEO were converted into 4,995,633 shares of common stock and 2,497,817 warrants. (See Note 4). The warrants have an exercise price of $0.74 and each warrant has a life of 5 years.
During October 2006, the Company converted all of its 16,264,661 shares of Series A, convertible preferred stock in exchange for equivalent common shares. The fair value of the exchange was based upon par value with a net effect of $0 to the statement of equity.
During October 2006, the Company issued 1,266,941 shares of common stock to an unrelated third party in connection with the terms of a license agreement. The fair value was $388,691 based upon recent cash offering price and was charged to research and development expense.
(E) Common Stock Issuances of Subsidiaries
During the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2004, the Companys majority owned subsidiaries; CD4, Solovax and EPI issued an aggregate 590,000 shares of common stock for $590. Additionally, EPI issued 825,000 shares of common stock at par value to acquire a controlling
F-15
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
interest in CD4. Finally, an aggregate 119,000 shares of common stock was issued for compensation and consulting services rendered having a fair value of $119.
(F) Stock Option Plan
During 2001 (the Effective Date), Pipex Therapeutics Board and stockholders adopted the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan). This plan was assumed by Pipex in the merger, in the forth quarter of 2006. As of the date of the merger there were a total of 4,468,059 options issued and outstanding. The total number of shares of stock with respect to which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to any one employee of the Company or a subsidiary during any one-year period shall not exceed 1,250,000 (not affected for stock split). All awards pursuant to the Plan shall terminate upon the termination of the grantees employment for any reason.
Pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, in the event of termination, the Company will cease to recognize compensation expense. There is no deferred compensation recorded upon initial grant date, instead, the fair value of the share-based payment is recognized ratably over the stated vesting period.
Awards include options, restricted shares, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and cash-based awards (the Awards). The Plan contains certain anti-dilution provisions in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other capital adjustment, as defined in the Plan. The Plan provides for a Committee of the Board (the Committee) to grant awards and to determine the exercise price, vesting term, expiration date and all other terms and conditions of the awards, including acceleration of the vesting of an award at any time.
The Company has followed fair value accounting and the related provisions of SFAS No. 123R for all share based payment awards since inception. The fair value of each option or warrant granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. All option and warrant grants are expensed in the appropriate period based upon vesting terms, in each case with an offsetting credit to additional paid in capital. The Black-Scholes assumptions used in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
||||||
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
||||
Exercise
price
|
|
|
$0.03
- $4.00
|
|
|
|
$0.03
|
|
Expected
dividends
|
|
|
0%
|
|
|
|
0%
|
|
Expected
volatility
|
|
|
93.09%
- 200%
|
|
|
|
200%
|
|
Risk
fee interest rate
|
|
|
4.43%
- 4.99%
|
|
|
|
3.03%
- 4.52%
|
|
Expected
life of option
|
|
|
3-10
years
|
|
|
|
10
years
|
|
All option and grants are expensed in the appropriate period based upon vesting terms, in each case with an offsetting credit to additional paid in capital. The stock-based compensation expense recorded by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from inception to December 31, 2006 with respect to awards under the Plan is as follows:
F-16
|
|
Year
Ended
December
31,
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Inception
to
December
31,
2006
|
||||||
Research
and development:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
employees
|
|
$
|
226,909
|
|
|
$
|
12,275
|
|
|
$
|
239,184
|
|
non-employees
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
59,960
|
|
|
|
59,960
|
|
General
and administrative:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
employees
|
|
|
183,730
|
|
|
|
12,275
|
|
|
|
196,005
|
|
non-employees
|
|
$
|
411,310
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
411,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
$
|
226,909
|
|
|
$
|
84,510
|
|
|
$
|
906,459
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||
Balance
at December 31, 2004
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
764,384
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
764,384
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
4,092,182
|
|
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(15,000
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
4,841,566
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Outstanding
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Exercisable
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||
$0.03
|
|
|
764,384
|
|
|
7.29
Years
|
|
$0.03
|
|
|
764,384
|
|
|
$0.03
|
$0.06
|
|
|
211,425
|
|
|
9.35
Years
|
|
$0.06
|
|
|
40,659
|
|
|
$0.06
|
$0.61
|
|
|
1,992,756
|
|
|
9.42
Years
|
|
$0.61
|
|
|
332,126
|
|
|
$0.61
|
$0.67
|
|
|
813,175
|
|
|
9.84
Years
|
|
$0.67
|
|
|
271,058
|
|
|
$0.67
|
$0.74
|
|
|
298,507
|
|
|
9.92
Years
|
|
$0.74
|
|
|
174,129
|
|
|
$0.74
|
$1.00
|
|
|
686,319
|
|
|
4.07
Years
|
|
$1.00
|
|
|
343,160
|
|
|
$1.00
|
$4.00
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
9.97
Years
|
|
$4.00
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$4.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
4,841,566
|
|
|
7.91
Years
|
|
$0.62
|
|
|
1,925,516
|
|
|
$0.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
||
Balance
as December 31, 2005
|
|
|
—
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
15,724,627
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
as December 31, 2006
|
|
|
15,724,627
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Options/Warrants
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||
Stock
Options/Warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2004
|
|
|
292,500
|
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
171,225
|
|
|
$
|
1.10
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
463,725
|
|
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
463,725
|
|
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Options
exercisable at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
257,479
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted
average fair value of options granted during 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options/Warrants
Outstanding
|
|
Options/Warrants
Exercisable
|
||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Outstanding
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Exercisable
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
rice
|
||||
$0.03
|
|
|
262,500
|
|
|
7.71
Years
|
|
$0.03
|
|
|
56,254
|
|
|
$0.03
|
$0.10
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
7.76
Years
|
|
$0.20
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$0.20
|
$1.10
|
|
|
171,225
|
|
|
8.42
Years
|
|
$1.10
|
|
|
171,225
|
|
|
$1.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
463,725
|
|
|
8.19
Years
|
|
$0.43
|
|
|
257,479
|
|
|
$0.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Options
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||
Stock
Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2004
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Options
exercisable at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted
average fair value of options granted during 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Outstanding
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Exercisable
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
$0.20
|
|
30,000
|
|
1.48
Years
|
|
$0.20
|
|
30,000
|
|
$0.20
|
2007:
|
|
$
|
1,546,000
|
|
2008:
|
|
|
1,325,163
|
|
2009:
|
|
|
758,333
|
|
2010:
|
|
|
95,000
|
|
2011:
|
|
|
95,000
|
|
Each
Year Thereafter:
|
|
|
95,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
3,914,496
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
||||
Computed
“expected” tax expense (benefit) — Federal
|
|
$
|
(1,317,039
|
)
|
|
$
|
(435,632
|
)
|
Computed
“expected” tax expense (benefit) — State
|
|
|
(225,450
|
)
|
|
|
(74,571
|
)
|
Change
in valuation allowance
|
|
|
1,542,489
|
|
|
|
510,203
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Non-deductible
stock based compensation
|
|
$
|
(495,031
|
)
|
Net
operating loss carryforward
|
|
|
(2,448,806
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
gross deferred tax assets
|
|
|
(2,943,837
|
)
|
Less valuation allowance
|
|
|
2,943,837
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
deferred tax assets
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
During January 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with an affiliate of one of the Companys directors to write an executive information report for a fee of $35,000. As of December 31, 2006, the Company has paid $17,500 for these services.
In connection with private placements in October and November 2006, we engaged a company that is controlled by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as our placement agent. At the closing of the private placement during October and November 2006, Pipex paid the placement agent the sum of $1,033,800 as commissions for its services. The placement agent also received a warrant to purchase 2,874,831 shares of common stock. (See Note 5 (G)) Two of our directors and officers are representatives of the placement agent.
As part of the October 2006 private placement, the Company sold 297,310 shares of its common stock and 148,655 warrants to purchase common stock for total proceeds of $200,000 to entities controlled by our President. As part of the same private placement, Pipex sold 148,655 shares of its common stock and 74,327 warrants to purchase common stock for total proceeds of $100,000 to a related family member of our Chairman and CEO. The terms on which their purchases were made were identical to the terms in which the other investors in these offerings purchased shares.
Note 9 Subsequent Events
(A) Acquisition of EPI
On January 5, 2007, EPI merged with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of Pipex, Effective Acquisition Corp. In the transaction, Pipex issued 2,283,000 shares of common stock having a fair value of $15,181,950 based upon the quoted closing trading price of $6.65 per share. As consideration for the share issuance, EPI, exchanged its outstanding Series B, convertible preferred stock at 120% of total shares held prior to the exchange. Therefore, 1,902,500 shares of Series B, convertible preferred stock were equivalent to 2,283,000 shares for purposes of the exchange. The additional 951,250 shares of Series B dividends were cancelled and retired and were not contemplated in the exchange. The Company also cancelled and retired 3,000,000 shares of Series A, convertible preferred stock as well as 825,000 shares of common stock.
In connection with this exchange, and pursuant to EITF 98-3, Determining whether a Non-Monetary Transaction involves the receipt of Productive Assets or of a Business EPI was classified as a development stage company and thus was not considered a business. As a result, SFAS No. 141 purchase accounting rules did not apply. Additionally, the Company applied the provisions of EITF 86-32, Early Extinguishment of a Subsidiarys Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Stock and has determined that even though the preferred stock of EPI was not mandatorily redeemable, this transaction would be considered a capital transaction, and there would be no resulting gain or loss.
Finally, in connection with EITF Topic D-42, The Effect on the Calculation of Earnings Per Share for the Redemption or Induced Conversion of Preferred Stock, The Company has determined that the fair value of the consideration transferred to the holders of EPI Series B, convertible preferred stock over the carrying amount of the preferred stock represents a return to the preferred stockholders. The difference is $12,328,200, which is included as a component of paid in-kind dividends. At the Companys next reporting period, this difference will be treated as an additional reduction in net loss applicable to common shareholders for purposes of computing loss per share.
The Company granted an aggregate 463,725 options and warrants in a one for one exchange for the outstanding options and warrants with EPI option and warrant holders. These new options and warrants will continue to vest according to their original terms. Pursuant to SFAS No. 123R and fair value accounting, the Company treated the exchange as a modification of an award of equity
F-23
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
instruments. As such, incremental compensation cost shall be measured as the excess of the fair value of the replacement award over the fair value of the cancelled award at the cancellation date. In substance, Pipex repurchased the EPI instruments by issuing a new instrument of equal or greater value.
The Company has used the following weighted average assumptions for the fair value of the replacement award:
Expected dividends |
|
0% |
Expected volatility |
|
196.10% |
Expected life |
|
7-8 years |
Risk free interest rate |
|
4.65% |
Exercise prices ranged from |
|
$0.033 - $1.10 |
The Company has used the following weighted average assumptions for the fair value of the cancelled award at the cancellation date:
Expected dividends |
|
0% |
Expected volatility |
|
200.00% |
Expected life |
|
7-8 years |
Risk free interest rate |
|
4.65% |
Exercise prices ranged from |
|
$0.033 - $1.10 |
The fair value of the replacement award required an incremental increase in compensation expense of approximately $300.
(B) Stock Option Grants
During January and February 2007, the Company issued 610,000 stock options to new-hire employees, board directors and a consultant having a fair value of $1,287,244. The Company used the following weighted average assumptions:
Expected dividends |
|
0% |
Expected volatility |
|
103.29% - 195.16% |
Expected life |
|
5-10 years |
Risk free interest rate |
|
4.66% - 4.90% |
Exercise prices ranged from |
|
$1.29 - $7.50 |
(C) Employment Agreements
During January and February 2007, the Company entered into six separate employment agreements. Pursuant to the terms of the agreements, these employees are paid annual salaries and were issued a total of 310,000 stock options. These options have been included as a component of the aggregate 610,000 options in Note 9(B). Of the total, 150,000 options were granted to board directors.
(D) Consulting Agreement
On February 15, 2007, the Company executed an agreement with an unrelated third party to provide certain services. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company will pay $9,000 per month for a period of twelve months and grant 300,000 stock options with a cashless exercise provision. These options vest upon various milestones as well as over the life of the contract.
F-24
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(E) Option Agreement
On January 2, 2007, the Company entered into an option agreement for licensing a new drug candidate. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company paid $50,000 as a non-refundable fee that gave the Company an exclusive six-month option period in which the Company can enter into a definitive license agreement. If upon executing a definitive license agreement, the Company will be required to pay certain milestones such as cash for royalties, reimbursement for previously incurred patent expenses and stock options.
F-25
Current
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
7,352,328
|
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
16,330
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Current Assets
|
|
|
7,368,658
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and
Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of
$141,577
|
|
|
1,931,959
|
|
Deposits
and other
assets
|
|
|
17,534
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$
|
9,318,151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and
Stockholders’ Equity
|
||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
$
|
729,646
|
|
Accrued
liabilities
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
Note
payable
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Current Liabilities
|
|
|
1,159,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long
Term Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable, less current portion above
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Liabilities
|
|
|
1,759,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
(See
Note 5)
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
and
outstanding
|
|
|
—
|
|
Common
stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 17,150,893
shares
issued and outstanding
|
|
|
17,150
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
35,458,518
|
|
Deficit
accumulated during the development stage
|
|
|
(27,917,163
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
|
7,558,505
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
$
|
9,318,151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
the three months
ended
September 30,
|
|
For
the nine months
ended
September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
For
the Period
from
January
8, 2001
(Inception)
to
September
30, 2007
|
||||||||||
Operating
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
1,573,610
|
|
|
|
541,467
|
|
|
|
4,069,782
|
|
|
|
1,277,722
|
|
|
|
8,902,851
|
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
599,388
|
|
|
|
216,133
|
|
|
|
2,852,126
|
|
|
|
711,567
|
|
|
|
5,885,218
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
2,172,998
|
|
|
|
757,600
|
|
|
|
6,921,908
|
|
|
|
1,989,289
|
|
|
|
14,788,069
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Loss
from Operations
|
|
|
(2,172,998
|
)
|
|
|
(757,600
|
)
|
|
|
(6,921,908
|
)
|
|
|
(1,989,289
|
)
|
|
|
(14,788,069
|
)
|
Other
Income (Expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
66,041
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
218,298
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
262,880
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(13,985
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(29,270
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(29,270
|
)
|
Other
expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(1,733
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total
Other Income, net
|
|
|
52,056
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
189,028
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
231,877
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net
Loss
|
|
$
|
(2,120,942
|
)
|
|
$
|
(757,599
|
)
|
|
$
|
(6,732,880
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,989,288
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,556,192
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Less:
Preferred stock dividend—subsidiary
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(190,250
|
)
|
|
|
(951,250
|
)
|
Less:
Merger dividend
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(12,409,722
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(12,409,722
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net
Loss Applicable to Common Shareholders
|
|
$
|
(2,120,942
|
)
|
|
$
|
(757,599
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,142,602
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,179,538
|
)
|
|
$
|
(27,917,164
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net
Loss Per Share—Basic and Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.12
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.12
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.43
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7.75
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding during the period—basic and
diluted
|
|
|
17,110,581
|
|
|
|
1,527,137
|
|
|
|
17,042,690
|
|
|
|
1,527,137
|
|
|
|
3,600,572
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
the nine months ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
For
the Period
from
January 8, 2001
(Inception)
to
September
30, 2007
|
||||||
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(6,732,880
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,989,288
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,556,191
|
)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
|
|
703,386
|
|
|
|
254,665
|
|
|
|
1,156,909
|
|
Stock-based
consulting
|
|
|
641,926
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,129,642
|
|
Stock
issued as compensation in acquisition of subsidiary
|
|
|
601,712
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
601,712
|
|
Salary
capital contribution
|
|
|
275,124
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
275,124
|
|
Stock
issued for license fee
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
388,691
|
|
Depreciation
and Amortization
|
|
|
108,642
|
|
|
|
22,410
|
|
|
|
141,577
|
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
|
|
9,372
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(16,132
|
)
|
Deposits
and other assets
|
|
|
(17,534
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(17,534
|
)
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
189,525
|
|
|
|
(29,582
|
)
|
|
|
729,645
|
|
Accrued
liabilities
|
|
|
(158,899
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(158,899
|
)
|
Accrued
compensation
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
191,917
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
Cash Used In Operating Activities
|
|
|
(4,379,626
|
)
|
|
|
(1,741,795
|
)
|
|
|
(10,133,539
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(1,743,313
|
)
|
|
|
(30,633
|
)
|
|
|
(1,789,146
|
)
|
Cash
paid to acquire shell in reverse merger
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(665,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
Cash Used In Investing Activities
|
|
|
(1,743,313
|
)
|
|
|
(30,633
|
)
|
|
|
(2,454,146
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from loans payable—related party
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,100,349
|
|
|
|
3,210,338
|
|
Repayments
of loans payable—related party
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
|
|
(220,000
|
)
|
Proceeds
from note payable
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
Repayments
of note payable
|
|
|
(100,000
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(100,000
|
)
|
Proceeds
from issuance of preferred and common stock
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,150,590
|
|
Proceeds
from sale of common stock and warrants in private
placements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
13,926,362
|
|
Cash
paid as direct offering costs in private placements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(1,160,418
|
)
|
Proceeds
from warrant exercise
|
|
|
282,841
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
282,841
|
|
Proceeds
from issuance of Series B, convertible preferred
stock—subsidiary
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,902,500
|
|
Direct
offering costs in connection with issuance of series B, convertible
preferred stock—subsidiary
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(152,200
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
Cash Provided By Financing Activities
|
|
|
1,282,841
|
|
|
|
1,080,349
|
|
|
|
19,940,013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash
|
|
|
(4,840,098
|
)
|
|
|
(692,079
|
)
|
|
|
7,352,328
|
|
Cash
at beginning of period
|
|
|
12,192,426
|
|
|
|
1,157,790
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cash
at end of period
|
|
$
|
7,352,328
|
|
|
$
|
465,711
|
|
|
$
|
7,352,328
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest
|
|
$
|
29,270
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
29,270
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cash
paid for taxes
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPI
issued 825,000 shares of common stock to acquire a 91.61% ownershiop
in
CD4
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Solovax
transferred 96.9% of its equity to Pipex
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
EPI
transferred 65.47% of its equity to Pipex
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Exchange
of EPI perferred stock into Pipex common stock in
acquisition
|
|
$
|
12,409,722
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
12,409,722
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Pipex
acquired equipment in exchange for a loan with a related
party
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
284,390
|
|
|
$
|
284,390
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 1 Organization and Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
(A) Description of the Business
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pipex) is a development-stage pharmaceutical company that is developing proprietary, late-stage drug candidates for the treatment of neurologic and fibrotic diseases.
In January 2007 the Companys Board of Directors approved a 3 for 1 reverse stock split of all outstanding common stock, stock options and stock warrants of Pipex which was effective of April 25, 2007. All references to the number of shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect this reverse stock split.
(B) Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-QSB and Item 310(b) of Regulation S-B. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion of management of Pipex, the interim consolidated financial statements included herewith contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and adjustments) necessary for their fair presentation. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, which contains the audited financial statements and notes thereto, together with the Managements Discussion and Analysis, for the year ended December 31, 2006. The interim results for the period ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year.
(C) Reverse Merger and Recapitalization
On October 31, 2006, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sheffield), a shell corporation, entered into a Merger Agreement (Merger) with Pipex Therapeutics Inc. (Pipex Therapeutics), a privately owned Delaware company, whereby Pipex Therapeutics was the surviving corporation. This transaction was accounted for as a reverse merger since Sheffield did not have any operations and a recapitalization of Pipex Therapeutics. Since Pipex Therapeutics acquired a controlling voting interest, it was deemed the accounting acquirer, while Sheffield was deemed the legal acquirer. The historical financial statements of the Company are those of Pipex Therapeutics, Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (EPI), Solovax, Inc. (Solovax) and CD4 Biosciences, Inc (CD4) since inception, and of the consolidated entities from the date of Merger and subsequent. On December 11, 2006, Sheffield changed its name to Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Since the transaction is considered a reverse merger and recapitalization, the guidance in SFAS No. 141 does not apply for purposes of presenting pro-forma financial information.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Sheffield issued 11,333,334 shares of common stock for all of the outstanding Series A, convertible preferred and common stock of Pipex Therapeutics and Sheffield assumed all of Pipex Therapeuticss outstanding options and warrants, but did not assume the options and warrants outstanding within Pipex Therapeuticss majority owned subsidiaries. On October 31, 2006, concurrent with the Merger, Pipex Therapeutics executed a private stock purchase agreement to purchase an additional 808,767 shares of common stock held by Sheffields sole officer and director; these shares were immediately cancelled and retired. Aggregate consideration paid for Sheffield was
F-29
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
$665,000. Upon the closing of the reverse merger, shareholders of Sheffield retained an aggregate 245,824 shares of common stock. As a result of these transactions, Pipex Therapeutics acquired approximately 98% ownership of the issued and outstanding common shares of Sheffield.
(D) Contribution AgreementsConsolidation of Entities under Common Control
1. EPIs Acquisition of CD4
On December 31, 2004, EPI acquired 91.61% of the issued and outstanding common stock of CD4 in exchange for 825,000 shares of common stock having a fair value of $825. EPI assumed certain outstanding accounts payable and loans of CD4 of approximately $664,000. The fair value of the exchange was equivalent to the par value of the common stock issued. CD4 shareholders retained 119,000 shares (8.39%) of the issued and outstanding common stock of CD4; these shareholders comprise the non-controlling shareholder base of CD4.
2. Pipex Therapeutics Acquisition of Solovax
On July 31, 2005, Pipex Therapeutics acquired 96.9% of the aggregate voting preferred and common stock of Solovax.. Pipex Therapeutics assumed all outstanding liabilities of approximately $310,000, the transfer of 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock owned by Solovaxs president and 250,000 shares of common stock owned by Solovaxs COO. The fair value of the exchange was equivalent to the par value of the common stock received pursuant to the terms of the contribution.
3. Pipex Therapeutics Acquisition of EPI/CD4
On December 31, 2005, Pipex Therapeutics acquired 65.47% of the aggregate voting preferred and common stock of EPI and its majority owned subsidiary CD4. In addition, Pipex Therapeutics assumed $583,500 of outstanding liabilities of EPI. The fair value of the exchange was equivalent to the par value of the common stock received pursuant to the terms of the contribution.
In the consolidated financial statements, each of these transactions was analogous to a recapitalization with no net change to equity since the entities were under common control at the date of the transaction.
4. Pipex Pharmaceuticals Acquisition of EPI
On January 5, 2007, EPI merged with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of Pipex, Effective Acquisition Corp. In the transaction, Pipex issued 795,248 shares of common stock having a fair value of $15,865,184 based upon the quoted closing trading price of $19.95 per share. As consideration for the share issuance, EPI, exchanged 634,167 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred stock and 25,000 shares of common stock into 765,087 and 30,161 (pursuant to the reverse stock split), shares of Pipex common stock respectively. The Company took a charge of $601,712 to compensation expense for the newly issued common stock to an officer and director of the Company. The additional 951,250 shares of outstanding Series B preferred stock dividends were cancelled and retired and were not contemplated in the exchange. EPI also cancelled and retired all of the issued and outstanding 3,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred stock as well as 750,000 shares of common stock. In connection with this exchange, and pursuant to EITF 98-3, Determining whether a Non-Monetary Transaction involves the receipt of Productive Assets or of a Business EPI was classified as a development stage company and thus was not
F-30
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
considered a business. As a result, SFAS No. 141 purchase accounting rules did not apply. Additionally, the Company applied the provisions of EITF 86-32, Early Extinguishment of a Subsidiarys Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Stock and has determined that even though the preferred stock of EPI was not mandatorily redeemable, this transaction would be considered a capital transaction, and there would be no resulting gain or loss.
Finally, in connection with EITF Topic D-42, The Effect on the Calculation of Earnings Per Share for the Redemption or Induced Conversion of Preferred Stock, The Company has determined that the fair value of the consideration transferred to the holders of EPI Series B, convertible preferred stock over the carrying amount of the preferred stock represents a return to the preferred stockholders. The difference is $12,409,722, which is included as a component of paid in-kind dividends. This amount is included as an additional reduction in net loss applicable to common shareholders for purposes of computing loss per share in the accompanying financial statements for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to September 30, 2007.
As part of the acquisition of EPI, the Company granted an aggregate 68,858 warrants and 34,685 options for the outstanding warrants and options with EPI warrant and option holders. These new options and warrants will continue to vest according to their original terms. Pursuant to SFAS No. 123R and fair value accounting, the Company treated the exchange as a modification of an award of equity instruments. As such, incremental compensation cost shall be measured as the excess of the fair value of the replacement award over the fair value of the cancelled award at the cancellation date. In substance, Pipex repurchased the EPI instruments by issuing a new instrument of equal or greater value.
The Company used the following weighted average assumptions for the fair value of the replacement award: expected dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 196.10%; risk-free interest rate of 4.65%, an expected life ranging from seven to eight years and exercise prices ranging from $0.09 - $3.30.
The Company has the following weighted average assumptions for the fair value of the cancelled award at the cancellation date: expected dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 200%; risk-free interest rate of 4.65%, an expected life ranging from seven to eight years and exercise prices ranging from $0.09 - $3.30.
The fair value of the replacement award required an increase in compensation expense of approximately $352,734.
Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(A) Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries, Pipex Therapeutics, Solovax, EPI, and CD4. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
For financial accounting purposes, the Companys inception is deemed January 8, 2001. The activity of EPI for the period from December 12, 2000 to January 7, 2001 was nominal. Therefore, there is no financial information presented for this period.
F-31
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(B) Development Stage
The Companys consolidated financial statements are presented as statements of a development stage enterprise. For the period from inception (January 8, 2001) to date, the Company has been a development stage enterprise, and accordingly, the Companys operations have been directed primarily toward the acquisition and creation of intellectual properties and certain research and development activities to improve current technological concepts. As the Company is devoting its efforts to research and development, there has been no revenue generated from sales, license fees or royalties. Additionally, the Company continually seeks sources of debt or equity based funding to further its intended research and development activities. The Company has experienced net losses since its inception, and had an accumulated deficit of $27,917,163 at September 30, 2007.
(C) Use of Estimates
In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Significant estimates during 2007 and 2006 include depreciable lives of property, valuation of stock options and warrants granted for services or compensation pursuant to EITF No. 96-18 and SFAS No. 123R, existence and recording of research and development expenditures as expenses in connection with the provisions of SFAS No. 2, estimates of the probability and potential magnitude of contingent liabilities and the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.
(D) Cash
The Company minimizes its credit risk associated with cash by periodically evaluating the credit quality of its primary financial institution. The balance at times may exceed federally insured limits. At September 30, 2007, the balance exceeded the federally insured limit by $7,102,488.
(E) Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Items of property and equipment with costs greater than $1,000 are capitalized and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives, as follows:
Description
|
|
Estimated Useful Life
|
Office equipment and furniture |
|
5 years |
Laboratory equipment |
|
10 years |
Manufacturing equipment |
|
10 years |
Leasehold improvements and fixtures |
|
Lesser of estimated useful life or life of lease |
(F) Long Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to
F-32
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. There were no impairment charges taken during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to September 30, 2007.
(G) Derivative Liabilities
In connection with the reverse merger, all outstanding convertible preferred stock of Pipex was cancelled and retired, as such, the provisions of EITF No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Index to, and Potentially Settled in, a Companys Own Stock do not apply. The Companys majority owned subsidiaries also contain issued convertible preferred stock; however, none of these instruments currently contains any provisions that require the recording of a derivative liability. In connection with the acquisition of EPI on January 5, 2007 (See Notes 1(C) and 1(D)(4), all issued and outstanding shares of Series A and B, convertible preferred stock were cancelled and retired. As such, no potential derivative liabilities will exist pertaining to these instruments.
(H) Net Loss per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) less preferred dividends for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) less preferred dividends by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding including the effect of share equivalents, such as stock options and warrants. Since the Company reported a net loss for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to September 30, 2007, respectively, all common stock equivalents would be anti-dilutive; as such there is no separate computation for diluted earnings per share. All common stock equivalents are discussed in Note 4.
The Companys net loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and for the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to September 30, 2007 was computed assuming the recapitalization associated with the reverse merger in October 2006 and the reverse stock split in April 2007, as such all share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated. Additionally, the numerator for computing net loss per share was adjusted for preferred stock dividends recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to September 30, 2007, in connection with the acquisition of EPI (See Note 1(D)(4)) as well as and certain provisions relating to the sale of EPIs Series B, convertible preferred stock.
(I) Research and Development Expense
The Company expenses all research and development expense as incurred for which there is no alternative future use. Research and development expenses consist primarily of manufacturing costs, license fees, salaries and related personnel costs, fees paid to consultants and outside service providers for laboratory development, legal expenses resulting from intellectual property prosecution and other expenses relating to the design, development, testing and enhancement of the Companys product candidates, as well as an allocation of overhead expenses incurred by the Company.
F-33
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(J) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of the Companys short-term financial instruments, including accounts payable, accrued liabilities and notes payable, approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity for these instruments.
(K) Stock Based Compensation
All share-based payments to employees since inception have been recorded and expensed in the statements of operations as applicable under SFAS No. 123R Share-Based Payment.
(L) Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the year 2006 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the year 2007 presentation. The results of these reclassifications did not materially affect the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
(M) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2007, the Emerging SECs Issues Task Force (EITF) issued EITF No. 07-3, Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities , (EITF 07-3). EITF 07-3 provides guidance for upfront payments related to goods and services of research and development costs and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of EITF 07-3 on its financial statements.
In June 2007, the EITF issued EITF No. 07-01, Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements, (EITF 07-1). EITF 07-1 provides guidance for companies in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries that may enter into agreements with other companies to collaboratively develop, manufacture, and market a drug candidate (Collaboration Agreements) and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company does not expect that EITF 07-01 will have an effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 157 to significantly affect its financial condition or results of operations.
In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an amendment of SFAS 115 (FAS 159), which permits companies to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect FAS 159 will have on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.
Note 3 Note Payable
On September 27, 2007, the Company entered into a loan facility with a bank whereby the Company borrowed $500,000 for equipment purchases and leasehold improvements. This loan facility represents a 45% concentration of debt financing. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at the banks prime rate (7.75% at September 30, 2007) plus 2% and are payable in equal monthly principal payments
F-34
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
over 30 months. As of September 30, 2007, outstanding borrowings under the facility were $500,000. The loan facility subjects the Company to financial covenants, which, among other restrictions, requires the Company to maintain certain minimum levels of tangible net worth and liquidity. Management has determined that the Company is in compliance with these covenants at September 30, 2007.
On March 30, 2007, the Company entered into a loan facility with a bank whereby the Company borrowed $600,000 for equipment purchases. This loan facility represents a 55% concentration of debt financing. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at the banks prime rate (7.75% at September 30, 2007) plus 2% and are payable in equal monthly principal payments over 36 months. As of September 30, 2007, outstanding borrowings under the facility were $500,000. The bank holds the stock certificates of all the Companys subsidiaries as collateral for the loan. The loan facility subjects the Company to financial covenants, which, among other restrictions, requires the Company to maintain certain minimum levels of tangible net worth and liquidity. Management has determined that the Company is in compliance with these covenants at September 30, 2007.
Note 4 Stockholders Equity and Non-Controlling Interest
(A) Common Stock Issuances of Issuer
From May 17, 2007 through August 8, 2007, the Company issued 127,406 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of common stock warrants for $282,841 ($2.22/share).
On January 5, 2007, the Company issued 795,248 shares of common stock in the acquisition of EPI having a fair value of $15,865,184 based upon the quoted closing trading price of $19.95 per share. (See Note (1)(D)(4).
During October and November of 2006, the Company completed private placements of its stock, which resulted in the issuance of 6,900,932 shares of common stock and 3,451,519 warrants. The net proceeds from the private placements were approximately $12,766,000, which included cash paid as direct offering costs of approximately $1,160,000. In connection with the private placements, the Company engaged a company, which is controlled by the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, as the placement agent for the transaction. Of the total approximate $1,160,000 in direct offering costs, the Company paid the placement agent the sum of approximately $1,033,800. Additionally the placement agent was paid non-cash compensation of 958,277 warrants with an aggregate fair value of $4,555,457.
On October 31, 2006, the loans payable to the Companys founder, President and CEO were converted into 1,665,211 shares of common stock and 832,606 warrants.
During October 2006, the Company converted all of its 5,421,554 shares of Series A, convertible preferred stock in exchange for equivalent common shares. The fair value of the exchange was based upon par value with a net effect of $0 to the statement of equity.
During October 2006, the Company issued 422,314 shares of common stock to an unrelated third party in connection with the terms of a license agreement. The fair value was $388,691 based upon the recent cash offering price at that time and was charged to research and development expense.
(B) Preferred Stock Issuances of Subsidiaries
From March through June 2005, EPI issued 1,902,500 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, at $1 per share, for proceeds of $1,902,500. In connection with this offering, EPI paid $152,200 of
F-35
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
offering costs that were charged against additional paid in capital. The Company also granted 171,225 warrants as compensation in connection with this equity raise. On January 5, 2007, pursuant to the acquisition of EPI, these shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock were cancelled and retired. (See Note 1(D)(4))
On February 7, 2001, CD4 issued 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, to an affiliate of a founder serving as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of CD4 in exchange for $300,000 ($.30 per share).
On January 31, 2001, Solovax issued 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to the Founder serving as the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Solovax in exchange for $300,000 ($0.30 per share).
On January 15, 2001, Pipex Therapeutics issued 5,421,554 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (pursuant to the October 31, 2006 reverse merger and recapitalization and the reverse stock split on April 25, 2007) to a founder serving as the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Pipex in exchange for $300,000 ($0.055 per share). On October 31, 2006, pursuant to the reverse merger with Sheffield, these shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were cancelled and retired.
On January 4, 2001, EPI issued 3,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to the Founder serving as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of EPI in exchange for $250,000 ($0.08 per share).
(C) Common Stock Issuances of Subsidiaries
During the period from January 8, 2001 (inception) to December 31, 2004, the Companys majority owned subsidiaries; CD4 and Solovax issued an aggregate 590,000 shares of common stock for $590 and an aggregate 119,000 shares of common stock was issued for compensation and consulting services rendered having a fair value of $119.
(D) Stock Option Plan
On March 20, 2007, the Companys Board of Directors approved the Companys 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2007 Stock Plan) for the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock to be granted through incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards to officers, other employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. The exercise price of stock options under the plan is determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors, and may be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the Companys common stock on the date the option is granted. Options become exercisable over various periods from the date of grant, and generally expire ten years after the grant date. As of September 30, 2007, there are a total of 394,179 options issued and outstanding under the 2007 Stock Plan. This plan is pending stockholder approval.
During 2001, Pipex Therapeutics Board and stockholders adopted the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2001 Stock Plan). This plan was assumed by Pipex in the merger, in the fourth quarter of 2006. As of the date of the merger there were a total of 1,489,353 options issued and outstanding. The total number of shares of stock with respect to which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to any one employee of the Company or a subsidiary during any one-year period shall not exceed 1,250,000. All awards pursuant to the Plan shall terminate upon the termination of the grantees employment for any reason. Awards include options, restricted shares, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and cash-based awards (the Awards). The Plan contains certain anti-
F-36
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
dilution provisions in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other capital adjustment, as defined in the Plan. The Plan provides for a Committee of the Board to grant awards and to determine the exercise price, vesting term, expiration date and all other terms and conditions of the awards, including acceleration of the vesting of an award at any time. As of September 30, 2007, there are 1,489,353 options issued and outstanding under the 2001 Stock Plan.
Pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, in the event of termination, the Company will cease to recognize compensation expense. There is no deferred compensation recorded upon initial grant date, instead, the fair value of the share-based payment is recognized ratably over the stated vesting period.
The Company has followed fair value accounting and the related provisions of SFAS No. 123R for all share based payment awards since inception. The fair value of each option or warrant granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes assumptions used in the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and 2006 are as follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
| ||||||||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
| ||||||||
Exercise price |
|
|
$4.64 - $6.80 |
|
|
|
$0.18 |
|
|
|
$0.09 - $22.50 |
|
|
|
$0.09 - $1.83 |
|
Expected dividends |
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0% |
|
Expected volatility |
|
|
196.06% - 197.04% |
|
|
|
200% |
|
|
|
103.29% - 200% |
|
|
|
200% |
|
Risk fee interest rate |
|
|
4.79% - 5.16% |
|
|
|
4.99% |
|
|
|
4.18% - 5.16% |
|
|
|
4.44% - 4.99% |
|
Expected life of option |
|
|
5-10 years |
|
|
|
10 years |
|
|
|
5-10 years |
|
|
|
3-10 years |
|
All option grants are expensed in the appropriate period based upon vesting terms, in each case with an offsetting credit to additional paid in capital. The stock-based compensation expense recorded by the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and the period from inception to September 30, 2007 with respect to stock option awards is as follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
Inception to
| ||||||||||
Research and development: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
employees |
|
$ |
13,797 |
|
|
$ |
37,915 |
|
|
$ |
255,846 |
|
|
$ |
41,756 |
|
|
$ |
495,030 |
|
non-employees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
145,783 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
205,743 |
|
General and administrative: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
employees |
|
$ |
44,098 |
|
|
$ |
11,359 |
|
|
$ |
172,431 |
|
|
$ |
11,359 |
|
|
$ |
368,436 |
|
non-employees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
293,599 |
|
|
$ |
105,145 |
|
|
$ |
704,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
57,895 |
|
|
$ |
49,274 |
|
|
$ |
867,659 |
|
|
$ |
158,260 |
|
|
$ |
1,774,118 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to FAS 123R, the Company records stock based compensation based upon the stated vested provisions in the related agreements. The vesting provisions for these agreements have various terms as follows: immediate vesting, half vesting immediately and the remainder over three years, quarterly over three years, annually over three years, one-third immediate vesting and remaining annually over two years, and one half immediate vesting with remaining vesting over six months.
F-37
|
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||
|
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
254,794
|
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
1,364,061
|
|
|
$
|
2.19
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(5,000
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
1,613,855
|
|
|
$
|
1.45
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
286,344
|
|
|
$
|
6.21
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(16,667
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at September 30, 2007 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
1,883,532
|
|
|
$
|
2.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
||||||
|
Balance
as December 31, 2005
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
5,242,402
|
|
|
$
|
2.22
|
|
|
|
4.04
Years
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
as December 31, 2006
|
|
|
5,242,402
|
|
|
$
|
2.22
|
|
|
|
4.04
Years
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
102,191
|
|
|
$
|
3.45
|
|
|
|
7.81
Years
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(127,406
|
)
|
|
$
|
2.22
|
|
|
|
4.09
Years
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at September 30, 2007 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
5,217,187
|
|
|
$
|
2.24
|
|
|
|
4.64
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
milestones. All expenses related to these agreements have been recorded as research and development. In connection with these agreements, the Company had $2,737 outstanding as accounts payable and $30,000 outstanding as accrued liabilities, as of September 30, 2007.
In connection with these agreements, the Company may be obligated to make milestone payments up to an amount of $8,425,000. Some of these payments may be fulfilled through the issuance of the Companys common stock, at the Companys option. There have been no such milestones achieved or payments made to date. At the present time, the Company can give no assurances that any such milestones will be achieved. In addition to the milestone payments, the Company may be obligated to make royalty payments on future sales pursuant to the agreements.
(B) Research Agreement
In September 2005, the Company entered into a three-year sponsored research agreement with a University. Pursuant to that agreement, the Company sponsors approximately $460,000 per year, payable in monthly installments. This agreement can be extended for an additional two-year period. As of September 30, 2007, $85,055 is included in accounts payable in connection with this agreement.
(C) Consulting Agreement
In August 2005, Pipex entered into an agreement with an individual to provide consulting services for the Companys research and development. The consultant was paid $25,000 upon the execution of the agreement. The consultant will receive annual consulting fees of $120,000 for each of the next three years. The consultant also received 66,667 options having a fair value $59,960 and was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions: expected dividend yield of 0%, expected volatility of 200%, risk free interest rate of 1.81% and an expected life of 10 years.
Note 6 Amendment to Employment Agreement Related Party
In January 2005, the Company entered into a four-year employment agreement with the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to this agreement, the Chief Executive Officer will be paid an annual base salary of $297,000, an annual bonus equal to 30% of base salary. On July 20, 2007, the Board of Directors approved an amended and restated employment agreement with the Chief Executive Officer. The amended employment agreement provides that the Chief Executive Officer is to be paid a base salary of $195,000 per year plus a guaranteed bonus of $100,000. The Chief Executive Officer may also be entitled to discretionary transactional bonuses. In addition, the amended agreement provides that the Chief Executive Officer has waived the receipt of any salary and bonus payable under the original agreement, which amounts to $275,124, for no additional consideration. This amount was treated as a capital contribution to the Company in the third quarter of 2007.
Note 7 Subsequent Events
(A) Warrant Call
On October 15, 2007, the Company called 3,274,561 warrants issued by the Registrant during October and November 2006, the underlying shares of which are covered by an effective registration statement, pursuant to the warrant call provisions contained in these warrants. Each warrant is exercisable into one share of the Registrants common stock at $2.22 per share. These warrants will expire and no longer be exercisable if they are not exercised on or before November 9, 2007.
F-40
Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
In connection with this warrant call, the Company entered into a warrant solicitation agreement with Noble International Investments, Inc. (Noble) appointing Noble as the Companys exclusive warrant solicitation agent. As compensation for Nobles services, the Company will pay Noble a cash fee of 7% of the gross proceeds from the Holders exercise of warrants, a non-accountable cash fee allowance of 1% of the gross proceeds received from the Holders exercise of warrants and a non-refundable cash retainer fee of $35,000 for services rendered. At the end of the Warrant Solicitation Period, or upon full exercise of all outstanding warrants, whichever occurs sooner, Noble shall have the right to purchasecommon stock warrants, equal to 10.0% of the number of shares issued from warrants exercised during the Warrant Solicitation Period. The warrants will have a term of five years from the date of issuance, will contain customary anti-dilution provisions, piggy back registration rights, and will be exercisable at a purchase price of $6.36 per share. The Company may, at its option, call the warrants if the average daily trading price of the Companys common stock exceeds, for at least 20 of 30 consecutive trading days, a price per share that is equal to or greater than 250% of the warrants exercise price of $6.36 per share, and there is an effective registration statement registering the shares of the Companys common stock underlying the warrant. Noble will have the right at any time during the five-year term of the warrants to exercise the warrants at its option on a cashless basis, only if the Company fails to maintain an effective registration statement registering the shares of the Companys common stock underlying the warrants.
(B) Employment Agreement
On October 10, 2007, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with its Chief Scientific Officer. The employment agreement provides that the Company will pay the Chief Scientific Officer a $7,500 signing bonus and a base salary of $205,000 per year. The agreement also provides that the Chief Scientific Officer is eligible for cash and non-cash bonuses at the end of each of the Companys fiscal years during the term of the agreement at the discretion of the Companys compensation committee as well as additional commission-based cash and stock bonuses during each fiscal year based on significant revenue-generating, out-licensing and merger and acquisition transactions initiated and completed by the Chief Scientific Officer, again at the discretion of the compensation committee.
The employment agreement also provides that the Company shall, subject to stockholder approval of the Companys 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, grant the Chief Scientific Officer 150,000 stock options to purchase 150,000 shares of the Companys common stock, exercisable at the fair market value of the Companys common stock on the date of grant, with the options vesting quarterly over three years, in equal installments on each quarterly anniversary of the date of the employment agreement.
F-41
Part II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 24. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that (1) his act or failure to act constituted a breach of his fiduciary duties as a director or officer and (2) his breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law.
This provision is intended to afford directors and officers protection against and to limit their potential liability for monetary damages resulting from suits alleging a breach of the duty of care by a director or officer. As a consequence of this provision, stockholders of our company will be unable to recover monetary damages against directors or officers for action taken by them that may constitute negligence or gross negligence in performance of their duties unless such conduct falls within one of the foregoing exceptions. The provision, however, does not alter the applicable standards governing a directors or officers fiduciary duty and does not eliminate or limit the right of our company or any stockholder to obtain an injunction or any other type of non-monetary relief in the event of a breach of fiduciary duty.
Item 25. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
We will pay all expenses in connection with the registration and sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders. The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution are set forth below:
Registration fee |
$2,088.14 | ||
Legal fees |
$10,000 |
| |
Accounting fees |
$2,500 |
| |
Miscellaneous |
$411.86 |
| |
Total estimated costs of offering |
$15,000 |
| |
Item 26. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
From October through November 2007, the Company issued a total of 3,274,561 shares of our common stock to a total of 50 warrant holders pursuant to a warrant call. These warrants had been previously issued in connection with the Companys 2006 private placement transaction. In connection with this warrant call, the Company appointed Noble International Investments, Inc. (Noble) as the Companys exclusive warrant solicitation agent. The Company paid Noble $581,417 and issued Noble 327,456 warrants to purchase 327,456 share of common stock. The Warrants have a term of five years and are exercisable at $6.36 per share. This offering and sale of shares of common stock qualified for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 since the issuance did not involve a public offering. The offering was not a public offering as defined in Section 4(2) because the offer and sale was made to an insubstantial number of persons and because of the manner of the offering. In addition, these investors had the necessary investment intent as required by Section 4(2) since they agreed to, and received, share certificates bearing a legend stating that such shares are restricted. This restriction ensures that these shares will not be immediately redistributed into the market and therefore not be part of a public offering. This offering was done with no general solicitation or advertising by us. Each investor made
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representations regarding his or her financial sophistication and had an opportunity to ask questions of our management.
From May 17, 2007 through September 30, 2007, the Registrant issued a total of 117,406 shares of our common stock to a total of three holders of our warrants upon the exercise of those warrants. This offering and sale of shares of common stock qualified for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 since the issuance did not involve a public offering. The offering was not a public offering as defined in Section 4(2) because the offer and sale was made to an insubstantial number of persons and because of the manner of the offering. In addition, these investors had the necessary investment intent as required by Section 4(2) since they agreed to, and received, share certificates bearing a legend stating that such shares are restricted. This restriction ensures that these shares will not be immediately redistributed into the market and therefore not be part of a public offering. This offering was done with no general solicitation or advertising by us. Each investor made representations regarding his or her financial sophistication and had an opportunity to ask questions of our management.
On January 5, 2007, the Registrant issued 795,248 shares of its common stock, and assumed a total of 34,685 options to purchase its common stock and a total of 68,858 warrants to purchase its common stock in connection with its acquisition of the remaining 34.53% interest in its subsidiary EPI. This offering and sale of securities qualified for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 since the issuance did not involve a public offering. The offering was not a public offering as defined in Section 4(2) because of the manner of the offering. The investors had the necessary investment intent as required by Section 4(2) since they agreed to, and received, share certificates bearing a legend stating that such shares are restricted. This restriction ensures that these shares will not be immediately redistributed into the market and therefore not be part of a public offering. This offering was done with no general solicitation or advertising by the Registrant. Based on an analysis of the above factors, the Registrant has met the requirements to qualify this offering and sale for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
During October and November of 2006, the Company completed private placements of its stock, which resulted in the issuance of 6,900,931 shares of common stock and 3,450,660 warrants. Each unit consisted of 49,508 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase 24,754 shares of common stock. Of the total, 2,252,506 shares were part of the share exchange in the reverse merger in connection with the issuance of 11,333,333 shares by Sheffield. The remaining 4,648,813 shares of common stock reflected issuances post reverse merger. The net proceeds from the private placements were approximately $12,766,000, which was net of cash paid as direct offering costs totaling $1,160,418. In connection with the private placements, the Company engaged a company, which is controlled by the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, as the placement agent for the transaction. Of the total $1,160,418 in direct offering costs, the Company paid the placement agent the sum of approximately $1,033,800. Additionally the placement agent was paid non-cash compensation of 958,277 warrants with an aggregate fair value of $4,555,457. In December 2006, the Company filed a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register the resale of these shares by the purchasers of such shares. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2007. The proceeds are being used to fund operations, for working capital and for general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, clinical development, research, manufacturing and/or in-licensing of technology.
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Item 27. Exhibits
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation (1)
3.2 By-Laws (1)
4.1 Form of Warrant Certificate (2)
4.2 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (3)
4.3 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (3)
5.1 Opinion of Lehman & Eilen LLP Re: Legality of Shares (4)
10.1 Employment Agreement with Charles L. Bisgaier (5)
10.2 Consulting Agreement with George J. Brewer (5)
10.3 License Agreement with the Regents of the University of Michigan (5)
10.4 Research Agreement with the Regents of the University of Michigan (5)
10.5 Option and License Agreement between University of Southern California and Autoimmune Vaccines, Inc. (5)
10.6 First Amendment to Option and License Agreement between University of Southern California and Solovax, Inc. (formerly Autoimmune Vaccines, Inc.) (5)
10.7 License Agreement between Childrens Medical Center Corporation and Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (5)
10.8 License Agreement between Thomas Jefferson University and Quantas Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (5)
10.9 First Amendment to License Agreement between Thomas Jefferson University and CD4 Biosciences, Inc. (5)
10.10 Private Stock Purchase Agreement with Michael Manion (5)
10.11 Lock-up Agreement with Michael Manion (5)
10.12 Lock-up Agreement with Accredited Venture Capital, LLC (5)
10.13 Lock-up Agreement with Nicholas Stergis (5)
10.14 Lock-up Agreement with Joseph Rudick (5)
10.15 Lock-up Agreement with Jeffrey Kraws (5)
10.16 Lock-up Agreement with Jeffrey Wolf (5)
10.17 Lock-up Agreement with Charles Bisgaier (5)
10.18 Unit Purchase Agreement (2)
10.19 First Amendment to License Agreement between Children's Medical Center Corporation and Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (6)
10.20 License Agreement between Maine Medical Center and Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (7)
23.1 Consent of Berman & Company, P.A., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (8)
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23.2 Consent of Lehman & Eilen LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
_____________________
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Form 8-K filed on December 1, 2006.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Form S-8 filed on January 18, 2008.
(4) Previously filed.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2006.
(6) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Form 10QSB filed on August 14, 2007.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Form 10QSB filed on November 14, 2007.
(8) Filed herewith.
Item 28. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that it will:
(1) |
File, during any period in which it offers or sells securities, a post- effective amendment to this registration statement to: |
(i) |
Include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(ii) |
Reflect in the prospectus any facts or events which, individually or together, represent a fundamental change in the information in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§ 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and |
(iii) |
Include any additional or changed material information on the plan of distribution. |
(2) |
For determining liability under the Securities Act, treat each post-effective amendment as a new registration statement of the securities offered, and the offering of the securities at that time to be the initial bona fide offering. |
(3) |
File a post-effective amendment to remove from registration any of the securities that remain unsold at the end of the offering. |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the small business issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the small business issuer has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements of filing on Form SB-2 and authorized this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on January 15, 2008.
PIPEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By: |
/s/ Steve H. Kanzer |
Steve H. Kanzer
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer and principal financial officer)
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Steve H. Kanzer |
Steve H. Kanzer
Chairman and Chief Executive Office
(principal executive officer and principal financial Officer)
Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Jeffrey J. Kraws |
Jeffrey J. Kraws
Director
Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Nicholas Stergis |
Nicholas Stergis
Director
Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Charles Bisgaier |
Charles Bisgaier
Director
Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Jeff Wolf |
Jeff Wolf
Director
Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Daniel J. Dorman |
Daniel J. Dorman
Director
Date: |
January 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ James S. Kuo | |
|
James S. Kuo |
|
Director
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