e424b3
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-129687
PROSPECTUS
4,341,569 Shares of Common Stock
The selling stockholders named on page 30 of this prospectus will use this prospectus to
resell all or a portion of up to 4,341,569 shares of our common stock.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common stock sold by the selling
stockholders.
Our
common stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
INGN. On November 28, 2005, the last reported sale price for the common stock on The
Nasdaq National Market was $6.19 per share.
Before you invest, you are urged to carefully read this prospectus and all of the information incorporated by reference
herein. Our business, and an investment in our common stock, involves significant risks. These risks and certain other information associated with an
investment in our common stock are discussed in the Risk Factors section beginning on page 14 of this
prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The
date of this prospectus is November 29, 2005.
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SUMMARY
This summary presents a brief overview of Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. and the key aspects of
the offering and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you or that you
should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus
carefully, especially the risks of investing in our common stock discussed under Risk Factors.
You should also review our consolidated financial statements, the notes to those financial
statements and the other financial information incorporated by reference into this prospectus. All
references to Introgen, the Company, the Registrant, we, us or our mean Introgen
Therapeutics, Inc.
Product Development Overview
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1993. We are a biopharmaceutical
company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted molecular therapies
for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. We are developing product candidates to treat a
wide range of cancers using non-integrating tumor suppressors, cytokines and molecular gene agents.
These agents are designed to increase production of normal cancer-fighting proteins that act to
overpower cancerous cells, stimulate immune activity and enhance conventional cancer therapies.
Our primary approach to the treatment of cancers is to deliver genes that increase production
of normal cancer-fighting proteins. Rather than acting to repair or replace aberrant or missing
genes and thereby creating a long-term or permanent change to the patients genome, our products
work in a different manner by acting as templates for the transient in vivo production of proteins
that have pharmacological properties. The resultant proteins engage disease-related molecular
targets or receptors to produce a specific therapeutic effect.
We believe the use of genes that do not integrate into the patients genome and that are
cleared from the body after administration in order to induce the production of biopharmaceutical
proteins is an emerging field presenting a new approach for treating many cancers without the toxic
side effects common to traditional therapies. We have developed significant expertise in
identifying therapeutic genes, which are genes that may be used to treat disease, and in using what
we believe are safe and effective delivery systems to transport these genes to the cancer cells.
We believe we are able to treat a number of cancers in a way that kills cancer cells without
harming normal cells.
We have entered into an alliance agreement with Colgate-Palmolive Company (Colgate-Palmolive)
to develop and potentially market oral healthcare products. See the Alliance with
Colgate-Palmolive Company section below for further discussion of this alliance agreement.
ADVEXIN® Therapy (p53)
Our lead product candidate, ADVEXIN® therapy, combines the p53 tumor suppressor
gene with a non-replicating, non-integrating adenoviral gene delivery system we have developed and
extensively tested. The p53 gene is one of the most potent members of a group of
naturally-occurring tumor suppressor genes, which act to kill cancer cells, arrest cancer cell
growth and protect cells from becoming cancerous.
We have received Fast Track designation for ADVEXIN therapy from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) under its protocol assessment program as a result of the FDAs agreement with
the design of our two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy. Under this Fast Track
designation,
the FDA will take actions to expedite the evaluation and review of a Biologics License
Application (BLA) for ADVEXIN therapy. We plan to pursue with the FDA an Accelerated Approval of
ADVEXIN therapy, which is one alternative provided under a Fast Track designation.
We have conducted a series of meetings with the FDA to develop and implement the filing
strategy for the BLA for ADVEXIN therapy, which is the application for approval to market and sell
ADVEXIN therapy in the United States. As a result of these meetings, we are developing and
pursuing an initial rolling BLA filing strategy based primarily on data from our Phase 2 clinical
trials of ADVEXIN therapy for treatment of recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.
The FDA has concurred that preliminary evaluation of this data suggests a level of efficacy
consistent with the standard for the initiation of a rolling BLA (a submission process also known
as Submission Of a Partial Application or SOPA). The FDA has also concluded that ADVEXIN therapy
continues to show promise with respect to an unmet medical need since there are no approved
biological therapies in the United States for recurrent head and neck cancer. The FDA has also
concluded that the clinical development program for ADVEXIN therapy for recurrent head and neck
cancer continues to meet the criteria for Fast Track designation. In conjunction with the new
data, the new analyses, and other newly employed biological techniques, we are hopeful of more
specifically targeting recurrent head and neck cancer in patients resulting in even better efficacy
than has already been demonstrated.
Accordingly, we have submitted a SOPA request to the FDA Division of Cell and Gene Therapy
proposing a rolling BLA for ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer,
based primarily on data from our Phase 2 clinical trials. We have further proposed to the FDA
that, since the basis of the proposed rolling BLA is Phase 2 clinical data utilizing surrogate
endpoints, the rolling BLA could be evaluated under the provisions of Subpart H for Accelerated
Approval. In order to fully explore all of the review and approval possibilities for ADVEXIN
therapy, the FDA has requested we submit existing new data and analyses from the Phase 2 ADVEXIN
therapy clinical trials for recurrent head and neck cancer. Given that we have two ongoing Phase 3
clinical trials in head and neck cancer as discussed further below, we and the FDA are evaluating
the most effective use of the data from these Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in the review and
approval of ADVEXIN therapy. Regulatory approval approaches may allow Accelerated Approval on the
basis of Phase 2 clinical data with subsequent confirmatory data being provided by the Phase 3
clinical studies or, alternatively, a full approval based on data from Phase 2 and certain Phase 3
clinical trials. We will also be exploring with the FDA whether its recently announced Critical
Path Initiative, which permits new product evaluation on the basis of specifically targeted (i.e.,
by prognostic or biologic parameters) clinical trials and/or patient populations, can be used in
the ADVEXIN therapy approval process.
ADVEXIN therapy for head and neck cancer has been designated an Orphan Drug under the Orphan
Drug Act. This designation may give us up to seven years of marketing exclusivity for ADVEXIN
therapy for this indication if approved by the FDA.
Our two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy in patients with recurrent squamous
cell cancer of the head and neck are multi-national, multi-site trials. These trials involve
administration of ADVEXIN therapy, both independently and in combination with chemotherapy, in
recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.
We have conducted multi-national, multi-site Phase 2 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy in 217
patients with recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck treated previously with surgery,
radiation or chemotherapy. In the combined analysis of these trials, the overall tumor growth
control rate was 59%. Tumor growth control rate represents the percentage of treated tumors where
there was disappearance of the tumor, shrinkage of the tumor or the absence of additional tumor
growth beyond 25% of pre-treatment measurements. In approximately 10% of the treated lesions,
there was either complete tumor regression or a
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reduction of tumor size greater than or equal to 50% of the pre-treatment size. We have been
evaluating subpopulations of patients participating in these trials defined by various prognostic,
medical and biological characteristics to provide refined targeting of ADVEXIN therapy. Analyses
of the data from these patient subpopulations showed that the objective response rate (complete
responses and partial responses) was 15% or greater. These findings, along with other data, are
planned for presentation at future scientific meetings and for future publication in a
peer-reviewed medical journal.
We performed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy combined with systemic chemotherapy
for the treatment of breast cancer prior to surgery and a Phase 1 clinical trial using ADVEXIN
therapy in patients with locally recurrent breast cancer involving the chest wall. In the breast
cancer study of 12 women with very large tumors, the combination of ADVEXIN and chemotherapy
resulted in objective clinical responses with greater than 50% tumor reduction in all patients and
the ability to remove all of the tumors surgically. These data are better than the expected
results with chemotherapy alone and were presented at the 2004 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
We completed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy administered as a complement to
radiation therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. In the 19 patients who participated in the trial,
combined ADVEXIN and radiation treatment resulted in 63% biopsy-proven complete responses at three
months, which is approximately four times the expected rate using radiotherapy alone. The results
of this study were published in Clinical Cancer Research.
We performed a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of
advanced, unresectable, squamous cell esophageal cancer. Results of this trial in patients with
esophageal cancer refractory to chemotherapy and radiation indicate three of the ten patients
treated, or 30%, had significant symptomatic improvement in swallowing after receiving ADVEXIN
therapy. The median survival of the patients treated with ADVEXIN therapy was approximately twelve
months, which compared favorably to historical controls in which a median survival of less than ten
months was observed for patients who did not respond to standard treatments. Six patients, or 60%,
were still alive one year after beginning therapy. This clinical trial was performed at Chiba
University in Japan.
We are currently conducting additional Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy
by itself and in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in a variety of cancers. These
additional clinical trials include:
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A Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy in squamous cell carcinoma of
the oral cavity, or oropharynx, that can be removed surgically, to assess the
feasibility, efficacy and safety of administering ADVEXIN therapy at the time of
surgery for suppression of remaining tumor cells, followed by a combination of
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. |
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A Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial in which a mouthwash or oral rinse
formulation of ADVEXIN therapy, which has been designated as INGN 234, is administered
to prevent precancerous oral lesions from developing into cancerous lesions. |
We have completed other clinical trials of Advexin, including Phase 1 studies in prostate
cancer and bronchoalveolar carcinoma. To date, clinical investigators at sites in North America,
Europe and Japan have treated over 500 patients with ADVEXIN therapy, establishing a large safety
database. Findings from several of our clinical trials have been published in Clinical Cancer
Research and Proceedings of the American Society for Clinical Oncology as well as presented at
numerous conferences, including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference in December 2004 and
various meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer
Research and the American Society of Gene Therapy.
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A growing body of data suggests ADVEXIN therapy demonstrates clinical activity in a variety of
cancer indications. Safety data from our clinical trials suggest this activity may be achieved
without the treatment-limiting side effects frequently associated with many other cancer therapies.
Our clinical trials indicate ADVEXIN therapy is well tolerated as a monotherapy. The addition
of ADVEXIN therapy to standard chemotherapy, surgery or radiation does not appear to increase the
frequency or severity of side effects normally associated with these treatment regimens.
Recent pre-clinical studies provide new insight into the molecular pathways by which the p53
gene, the active component of ADVEXIN therapy, kills tumor cells. These pre-clinical studies were
undertaken to provide additional molecular data supporting the activity observed during the
clinical development of ADVEXIN therapy and to provide additional information regarding the
specific pathways that mediate the observed clinical effects of ADVEXIN therapy. The studies were
conducted by our collaborators at Okayama University in Japan and at The University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center and were published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. Other pre-clinical
data suggest the enhanced therapeutic effects of a combination of ADVEXIN and Erbitux®
therapies in an animal model of human non-small cell lung cancer. Other pre-clinical studies
conducted by our collaborators at Wayne State University, the Karmanos Cancer Institute located in
Detroit, Michigan and the University of California-Irvine, as published in The Laryngoscope, show
that the combination of ADVEXIN therapy and docetaxel resulted in increased levels of programmed
cell death in head and neck tumor cells. Two lung cancer patients, who were part of our ADVEXIN
therapy studies program and who had recently celebrated their five-year survival anniversary, were
featured in Conquest magazine, a publication of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. In addition, a
patient with recurrent head and neck cancer who achieved a complete tumor remission on ADVEXIN
therapy continues to be disease-free over six years later while receiving repeated ADVEXIN
treatments.
We hold the worldwide rights for pre-clinical and clinical development, manufacturing,
marketing and commercialization of ADVEXIN therapy.
INGN 241 (mda-7)
INGN 241 uses the mda-7 gene, a promising tumor suppressor gene that we believe, like p53, has
broad potential to induce apoptosis or cell death in many types of cancer. We have combined the
mda-7 gene product with our adenoviral gene delivery system to form INGN 241. Our pre-clinical
trials have shown that the protein produced by INGN 241 suppresses the growth of many cancer cells,
including those of the breast, lung, ovaries, colon, prostate and the central nervous system, while
not affecting the growth of normal cells. Because INGN 241 kills cancer cells even if other tumor
suppressor genes, including p53, are not functioning properly, it appears that mda-7 functions via
a novel mechanism of tumor suppression.
We have conducted pre-clinical work indicating that in addition to its known activity as a
tumor suppressor gene, the protein produced by the mda-7 gene may also stimulate the bodys immune
system to kill metastatic tumor cells and to protect the body against cancer, thereby offering the
potential of providing an added advantage in treating various cancers because it may attack cancer
using two different mechanisms. Because the mda-7 gene product may act as a cytokine, or immune
system modulator, it is also known as interleukin-24, or IL-24. The mda-7 gene and the protein it
produces may also work as a radiation sensitizer to make several types of human cancer cells more
susceptible to radiation therapy, and we have seen evidence of this effect in our pre-clinical
work.
We have identified the molecular pathways by which mda-7, the active component of INGN 241,
induces growth arrest and programmed cell death or apoptosis in cancer cells. Pre-clinical studies
using lung cancer cells have demonstrated that the mda-7 protein binds to a critical cellular
enzyme known as PKR.
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The
binding of mda-7 to PKR is essential for the anti-cancer activity of INGN 241. The
identification of this binding partner demonstrates a significant advancement in understanding how
this therapeutic can be effective against cancer. Additional studies have identified bystander
killing of pancreatic cancer cells by the mda-7 protein. Bystander killing involves the killing of
neighboring pancreatic tumor cells by the mda-7 protein released from adjacent INGN 241-treated
pancreatic cells.
Pre-clinical data indicate that INGN 241 works synergistically with celecoxib, marketed by
Pfizer as Celebrex®, to inhibit the growth and increase apoptosis of breast cancer cells. These
data demonstrate the potential utility of INGN 241 in combination with celecoxib, a drug approved
for treatment of precancerous lesions of the colon as well as arthritis. The combination of
celecoxib and INGN 241 showed greater than additive increases in cell death compared with either
therapy alone and also resulted in the suppression of tumor cell growth. The data appear in a
recent issue of the medical journal Surgery.
In pre-clinical studies, we have observed that the expression of mda-7 in ovarian cancer cells
potently activates a cell death or apoptotic pathway regulated by the Fas signaling system. This
activation resulted in significant increases in apoptosis and inhibition of cancer cell
proliferation that were specific to cancer cells. These effects were not observed in normal
ovarian tissue, supporting previous data that showed a cancer-selective effect of INGN 241. These
data were reported in the medical journal Cancer Research.
We have published the results of a pre-clinical study indicating INGN 241 may suppress the
growth in vivo of non-small cell lung cancer through apoptosis in combination with
anti-angiogenesis. The data demonstrate that INGN 241 can inhibit production of the VEGF protein,
a potent inducer of angiogenesis, within lung cancer cells, which in turn inhibits tumor
angiogenesis, a key requirement for tumor growth.
Pre-clinical work has demonstrated that administration of INGN 241 results in the development
of systemic immune responses against tumor cells and suggests that INGN 241 could be used as a
novel cancer vaccine. In pre-clinical studies, implantation of INGN 241-treated tumor cells into
mice resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth. Significantly, mice that were immunized
with INGN 241-treated cells showed inhibition of tumor growth after a subsequent challenge with
additional tumor cells.
Pre-clinical studies with INGN 241 in breast cancer cell lines have shown that treatment with
a combination of INGN 241 plus Herceptin induces cell death in Her-2/neu positive breast cancer
cells at a rate greater than that seen with either agent alone. In these studies, it was also noted
that while Herceptin exhibited no activity on Her-2/neu negative cells, INGN 241 did induce cell
death in these cells.
Pre-clinical studies indicate that the mda-7 protein released from cells treated with INGN 241
can kill nearby, untreated breast cancer cells resulting in additional therapeutic effect. This
bystander effect occurs when the therapeutic protein binds to certain receptors on nearby cancer
cells. We believe this bystander effect is significant because it could indicate that the number
of cancer cells that can be killed by INGN 241 is greater than the number of cells that take up
this novel investigational cancer therapy.
Findings and results arising from our development of INGN 241 have been published in the
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Molecular Therapy, Oncogene, Surgery, and International
Immunopharmacolgy.
We have completed enrollment of a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial using INGN 241 to
evaluate safety, mechanism of action and efficacy in approximately 25 patients with solid tumors.
This trial has indicated that in patients with solid tumors, INGN 241 was well tolerated, was
biologically active and displayed minimal toxicity associated with its use. We have initiated a
Phase 2 clinical trial using INGN 241 in patients with metastatic melanoma.
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Data from our Phase 1 trial of INGN 241 in patients with solid tumors, which was published in
Molecular Therapy, demonstrate that direct injection of INGN 241 induced programmed cell death in
100% of the tumors treated, even in patients who had failed prior therapy with other anti-cancer
drugs. Clinical responses were observed in 44% of the treated lesions, including complete and
partial responses (greater than or equal to 50% reduction in tumor size) in two patients with
melanoma. Patients treated with INGN 241 had increases in a subset of T-cells that help to destroy
cancer cells, which is consistent with the role of the mda-7 protein as a member of the interleukin
family of immune stimulating proteins.
We have an exclusive license to the mda-7 gene for our therapeutic applications from Corixa
Corporation (Corixa), which was acquired by GlaxoSmithKlein. Pre-clinical studies regarding the
active component of INGN 241 have included research at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center and Columbia University.
INGN 225 (p53 vaccine)
As a supplement to our gene-induced therapeutic protein programs, we are developing INGN 225
using the p53 gene to create a highly specific therapeutic cancer vaccine that stimulates a
particular type of immune system cell known as a dendritic cell. Research published in Current
Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development concluded that ADVEXIN therapy can be used with a patients
isolated dendritic cells as an antigen delivery and immune enhancing therapeutic strategy.
Pre-clinical testing has shown that the immune system can recognize and kill tumors after treatment
with dendritic cells stimulated by the p53 gene, which suggests a vaccine consisting of dendritic
cells stimulated by the p53 gene could have broad utility as a treatment for progression of solid
tumors.
We are conducting a Phase 1/Phase 2 trial in collaboration with the Moffitt Cancer Center at
the University of South Florida in patients with small-cell lung cancer. We are also conducting a
Phase 1/Phase 2 trial in patients with breast cancer in collaboration with the University of
Nebraska. In both trials, INGN 225 is administered after the patients have been treated with
standard chemotherapy.
Interim results from the Phase 1/Phase 2 trial in patients with small-cell lung cancer who
were previously treated with chemotherapy indicate that greater than 60% of the evaluable patients
in the study treated with INGN 225 had objective responses to subsequent chemotherapy.
Historically the expected objective response rate in these patients to further chemotherapy is
between 5% and 15%. We believe the data indicate INGN 225 may sensitize tumors to the effects of
platinum and taxane chemotherapies. Of particular interest, patients with highly aggressive
disease (termed platinum resistant) showed improved response rates and increased survival compared
to historical controls. These findings are consistent with the results observed in lung and breast
cancer patients treated with ADVEXIN therapy that increased the expected effects of cisplatin,
taxane and doxorubicin chemotherapies. As platinum, taxanes and doxorubicin are among the most
common types of cancer chemotherapies, these findings may have important implications for improving
the efficacy of these widely utilized cancer treatments.
INGN 234 (p53 topical)
We are developing INGN 234 for the prevention of oral cancers and the treatment of oral
leukoplakia. We are conducting a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial in which p53 is being
administered in an oral mouthwash formulation to prevent precancerous oral lesions from developing
into cancerous lesions. We are conducting pre-clinical work on other topical administrations of
tumor suppressor genes to control or prevent oral or dermal cancers. We are investigating multiple
delivery platforms, including both viral and non-viral approaches. We are also investigating
combining gene delivery with rinses, patches, ointments and enhancing
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polymers. We believe the opportunity exists to develop non-toxic treatments for pre-malignant
and malignant cells that can be easily exposed to natural biological tumor suppressor and DNA
repairing genes.
We have entered into an alliance agreement with Colgate-Palmolive to develop and potentially
market oral healthcare products. See the Alliance with Colgate-Palmolive Company section below
for further discussion of this alliance agreement.
INGN 401 (FUS-1)
INGN 401 uses a nanoparticle vector system to deliver the tumor suppressor gene FUS-1, which
we exclusively license from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Pre-clinical studies have shown that
FUS-1, delivered using an adenoviral or a non-viral delivery system through either intravenous
(systemic) administration or direct intratumoral injection, significantly inhibits the growth of
tumors and greatly reduces the metastatic spread of lung cancer in animals.
Pre-clinical data suggest that INGN 401 may have utility as a monotherapy in lung cancer. We
have observed significant inhibition of tumor growth in lung cancer animal models following INGN
401 monotherapy treatment when compared with untreated animals.
INGN 401 has demonstrated synergistic activity with Gefitinib, a novel class of anti-cancer
agents that decrease tumor growth by inhibiting growth factor receptors that promote tumor
proliferation. While Gefitinib can produce dramatic responses in a small subset of lung cancer
patients, most lung cancers are refractory to its effects. The data indicate nanoparticle delivery
of INGN 401 can synergize with Gefitinib in killing lung tumor cells resistant to Gefitinib alone.
Furthermore, in Gefitinib-sensitive tumors, INGN 401 delivery significantly enhanced anti-cancer
activity.
A Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial is ongoing at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center testing INGN
401 in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have previously been treated with
chemotherapy. Data and findings from our work to develop INGN 401 have been published in Cancer
Gene Therapy and Cancer Research.
INGN 402 and INGN 403 (nanoparticle formulations of p53 and mda-7, respectively)
We are developing two nanoparticle formulations for systemic delivery. INGN 402 contains the
p53 tumor suppressor gene and INGN 403 contains the mda-7 tumor suppressor gene, also known as
interleukin 24 (IL-24). Early studies with these new nanoparticle drug candidates have
demonstrated a good safety profile and promising anti-cancer activity in murine lung tumor models.
Data from the mda-7 nanoparticle studies was published in DNA and Cell Biology.
INGN 007 (replication-competent viral therapy)
Through our strategic collaboration with VirRx, Inc. (VirRx), we are developing INGN 007, a
replication-competent viral therapy in which viruses bind directly to cancer cells, replicate in
those cells, and cause those cancer cells to die. Pre-clinical testing in animal models indicates
INGN 007 over-expresses a gene that allows the vector to saturate the entire tumor. This testing
has demonstrated that INGN 007 has a favorable safety profile and significantly inhibits tumor
growth. Findings from this work to develop INGN 007 have been published in Cancer Research and
were presented at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
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Other Research and Development Programs
We are conducting a number of pre-clinical and research programs involving a variety of
therapeutic genes for the treatment of cancer. These programs involve genes that act through
diverse mechanisms to inhibit the growth of or kill cancer cells.
We license from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center a group of genes known as the 3p21.3 family of
genes. Pre-clinical research performed on these genes by collaborators at The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center suggests that the 3p21.3 genes play a
critical role in the suppression of tumor growth in lung and other cancers. This family of genes
includes the FUS-1 gene we are testing as INGN 401. We are working with M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center to further evaluate other 3p21.3 genes as clinically relevant therapeutics.
We are evaluating additional genes, including BAK, which hold promise as therapeutic
candidates. BAK is a pro-apoptotic gene that kills cancer cells. We are working with our
collaborators at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to identify and develop both viral and non-viral
vectors containing this gene. We had exclusive rights to use the BAK gene under a license with LXR
Biotechnology, Inc. (LXR), the rights of which were subsequently sold to Tanox, Inc.
As a supplement to our gene-induced protein therapy product programs, we are evaluating the
development of mebendazole, our first small molecule candidate, which we refer to as INGN 601, for
treatment of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases. The use of the mebendazole compound is
approved by the FDA for the oral treatment of parasitic diseases. Pre-clinical work suggests that
mebendazole may also be an effective treatment for cancer. The results of pre-clinical
investigations involving mebendazole and lung cancer were published in Clinical Cancer Research and
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. We are working with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to further
evaluate this molecule as a cancer treatment.
We believe our research and development expertise gained from our molecular therapies for
cancer is also applicable to other diseases that, like cancer, result from cellular dysfunction and
uncontrolled cell growth. As a result, we are conducting research in collaboration with medical
institutions to understand the safety and effectiveness of our molecular therapy product candidates
in the treatment of other diseases.
Alliance with Colgate-Palmolive Company
In November 2005, we entered into an alliance agreement with Colgate-Palmolive to develop and
potentially market oral healthcare products. In connection with the alliance agreement and
pursuant to a common stock purchase agreement, Colgate-Palmolive purchased 3,610,760 shares of our
common stock at a purchase price of $5.539 per share for a total of approximately $20.0 million.
These shares are subject to trading and transfer restrictions for one year from the date of
purchase. Under the common stock purchase agreement, Colgate-Palmolive also agreed to vote these
shares and any other shares of our capital stock owned by it in favor of corporate actions approved
by our Board of Directors. This voting agreement is subject to suspension or termination upon
certain events specified in the common stock purchase agreement.
Pursuant to the alliance agreement, we will conduct research and development activities
involving specialized formulations of our molecular therapies (such as p53, mda-7 and FUS-1)
targeted at precancerous conditions of the oral cavity and at oral cancer. The objective is to
market these formulations as oral healthcare products. Excluded from the alliance agreement is our
current portfolio of cancer product candidates, including ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN 225 and
INGN 401.
Under the alliance agreement, Colgate-Palmolive has a first right to negotiate development,
manufacturing, marketing and distribution rights with us for specifically designed oral healthcare
products for use in the human oral cavity that may result from these research and development
activities.
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In addition, we
agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop one or more specialized oral
formulations through completion of Phase II clinical trials within the seven-year term of the
alliance agreement. We can terminate our development efforts earlier under certain circumstances,
including if the prospects for these products do not warrant further investment, or if we expend
$15.0 million in this effort. In calculating the amount of our expenditures on these efforts, we
may include grant funding received by us or our collaborators for work performed by third parties
(e.g., universities and other institutions) that is directly related to program activities, as
specified in the alliance agreement. The term of the alliance agreement continues to November
2012, unless earlier terminated by the parties as provided in the alliance agreement.
Introgen Enabling Technologies
We have a portfolio of technologies, referred to as enabling technologies, for administering
gene-based products to patients and for enhancing the effects of these products, which we plan to
exploit to develop additional gene-based products to treat cancer and other diseases which, like
cancer, result from cellular dysfunction and uncontrolled cell growth.
Viral Delivery Systems
We have demonstrated that ADVEXIN therapy and INGN 241, which use our adenoviral vector
system, enter tumor cells and express their proteins despite the bodys natural immune response to
the adenoviral vector. While the adenoviral vector system used appears to be appropriate for the
treatment of cancer by local administration, we have developed a number of additional systems that
utilize modified adenoviral vectors for gene delivery. These systems also may be applicable to
indications where activity of the gene for disease treatment is required for longer periods of time
or where systemic administration may be necessary.
Nanoparticle Systemic Delivery Platform
We have in-licensed and are developing a non-viral, nanoparticle delivery platform as a
complementary delivery technology for certain types of cancers, or clinical indications,
particularly those that require systemic administration. We are currently using this technology in
INGN 401, INGN 402 and INGN 403.
Data published in DNA and Cell Biology highlight the potential utility of combining our
nanoparticle delivery system with the mda-7 gene for the treatment of lung cancer. The data
reported in this publication demonstrate that combining this innovative delivery system with the
mda-7 gene results in potent anti-cancer effects and systemic tumor growth inhibition in an animal
model of lung cancer. We believe combining potent anti-cancer genes, such as mda-7 or p53, with
our nanoparticle delivery system could allow development of clinical strategies to attack
metastatic cancers.
Replication-Competent Viral Delivery Systems
Through our strategic collaboration with VirRx, we are developing replication-competent viral
therapies in which viruses bind directly to cancer cells, replicate in those cells, and cause those
cancer cells to die. This technology forms the basis for our INGN 007 product development. We
anticipate pursuing clinical confirmation as to whether this self-amplifying delivery system can
complement our existing adenoviral gene delivery system, which is replication disabled, in selected
therapeutic scenarios, in applications beyond INGN 007.
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Additional Enabling Technologies
Our research and licensing activities include a number of additional technologies that expand
our capabilities. These activities include the following:
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Multi-Gene Vector System. This technology is designed to combine multiple
genes with a vector. This approach has the potential for use with both viral and
non-viral delivery systems to allow the activity of more than one gene at a time for
disease treatment. |
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Pro-Apoptotic Gene Delivery System. This technology is designed to allow
the activity of pro-apoptotic, or apoptosis-inducing, genes during treatment only,
while temporarily suppressing the ability of the apoptotic gene to kill producer cells
during production. This system could facilitate higher volume production of
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Tissue-Specific Targeting Systems. This technology is designed to limit
the activity of the gene for disease treatment to particular cell types. It is
intended to be applied to both viral and non-viral vectors. |
Manufacturing and Process Development
Commercialization of a molecular and gene-based product requires process methodologies,
formulations and quality release assays in order to produce high quality materials at a large
scale. We believe the expertise we have developed in the areas of manufacturing and process
development represents a competitive advantage. We have developed scale-up methodologies for both
upstream and downstream production processes, formulations that are safe and stable, and product
release assays that support product quality control.
We own and operate state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including a commercial-scale,
validated manufacturing facility designed to comply with the FDAs current Good Manufacturing
Practices requirements, commonly known as CGMP requirements. We have produced numerous batches of
ADVEXIN therapy clinical material for use in our Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials. The design and
processes of the facility used for ADVEXIN therapy production have been reviewed with the FDA. We
plan to use our facilities for the market launch of ADVEXIN therapy. We also use our facilities to
produce INGN 241 and other investigative materials for use in clinical trials of those product
candidates. From time to time, as requirements for our own products allow, we also manufacture
pre-clinical and clinical materials for outside parties for a fee under contract services
arrangements.
Patents and Intellectual Property
Our Portfolio
Our success will depend in part on our ability to develop and maintain proprietary aspects of
our technology. To this end, we have an intellectual property program directed at developing
proprietary rights in technology that we believe may be important to our success. We also rely on
a licensing program to ensure continued strong technology development and technology transfer from
companies and research institutions with whom we work. We have entered into a number of exclusive
license agreements or options with companies and institutions, including M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Corixa (which was acquired by GlaxoSmithKlein), Aventis
Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. (Aventis), Columbia University, VirRx and LXR, with the LXR rights
being subsequently sold to Tanox, Inc.
-10-
In addition to
patents, we rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how, which we seek to protect, in part,
through confidentiality and proprietary information agreements.
We currently own or have an exclusive license to a large number of issued and pending United
States and foreign patents and patent applications. If we do not seek a patent term extension, the
currently issued United States patents that we own or have exclusively licensed will expire between
the years 2010 and 2017. The exclusive licenses that give us rights on the patents, and
applications that such licenses cover, will expire no earlier than the life of any patent covered
under the license.
Adenoviral p53 Compositions and Therapies
In developing our patent portfolio, we have focused our efforts in part on seeking protection
for our potential products and how they will be used in the clinical trials. Arising out of our
work with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we currently have an exclusive license to a number of
United States and corresponding international patent applications directed to adenoviruses that
contain the p53 gene, referred to as adenoviral p53, adenoviral p53 pharmaceutical compositions and
the use of adenoviral p53 compositions in various cancer therapies and protocols. One of these
applications, directed to the clinical use of adenoviral p53 to treat cancer, has issued as a
United States patent. Additionally, various other United States patents have issued to which we
have licensed exclusive rights, which are directed to adenoviral p53 compositions in general,
adenoviral p53 pharmaceutical compositions, therapeutic applications of adenoviral p53, as well as
a patent covering the DNA core of adenoviral p53. We have also exclusively licensed from Aventis a
patent application directed to adenoviral p53 and its clinical applications. We also have an
exclusive license to a United States patent application and corresponding international
applications directed to the use of the p53 gene in the treatment of cancer patients whose tumors
express a normal p53 protein.
Combination Therapy with the p53 Gene
Our portfolio development includes seeking protection for clinical therapeutic strategies that
combine the use of the p53 gene with traditional cancer therapies. In this regard, also arising
out of our work with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we have an exclusive license to two issued
United States patents with corresponding international applications directed to cancer therapy
using the p53 gene in combination with DNA-damaging agents such as conventional chemotherapy or
radiotherapy. This patent and corresponding international applications concern the therapeutic
application of the p53 gene before, during or after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. We have also
exclusively licensed from Aventis a United States patent and corresponding international
applications directed to therapy using the p53 gene together with taxanes such as Taxol®
or Taxotere®. Furthermore, we have exclusively licensed a United States patent
application and corresponding international applications directed to the use of the p53 gene in
combination with surgical intervention in cancer therapy.
Adenovirus Production, Purification and Formulation
Another focus of our research has involved the development of procedures for the
commercial-scale production of our potential adenoviral-based products, including that of ADVEXIN
therapy. In this regard, we own three issued United States patents as well as a number of pending
United States applications and corresponding international applications directed to highly purified
adenoviral compositions, commercial-scale processes for producing adenoviral gene-based
compositions having a high level of purity, as well as to storage-stable formulations. These
applications include procedures for preparing commercial quantities of recombinant adenoviruses for
gene-based products and include procedures applicable to the p53 gene, as well as any of the other
of our potential gene-based products. We have also licensed from Aventis a United States
application and corresponding international applications directed to processes for the production
of purified
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adenoviruses, which are useful for gene-based applications. With respect to storage-stable
formulations, we were issued a United States patent directed to compositions and methods concerning
improved, storage-stable adenovirus formulations. This patent is not limited to our ADVEXIN
product candidate and may eventually replace formulations currently in use.
Other Tumor Suppressor Genes
We either own or have exclusively licensed rights in a number of other patents and
applications directed to the clinical application of various tumor suppressor genes other than the
p53 gene, including the mda-7, BAK, the 3p21.3 gene family (FUS-1) and anti-sense K-ras genes. We
have exclusively licensed or optioned rights in a number of issued United States patents covering
the use of the mda-7, BAK and PTEN genes.
Other Therapeutic, Composition and Process Technologies
We own or have exclusively licensed a number of United States and international patent
applications on a range of additional technologies. These include various applications and patents
relating to the p53 gene, combination therapy with 2-methoxyestradiol, anti-proliferative factor
technologies, retroviral delivery systems, stimulation of anti-p53, screening and product assurance
technologies, as well as second-generation p53 gene molecules. We have exclusively licensed a
number of United States and international applications directed to various improved vectors for use
in gene-based protocols, gene-based applications employing more than one gene for disease
treatment, as well as applications directed to the delivery of genes for disease treatment without
the use of a vector, or non-viral therapy. For example, a United States patent, exclusively
licensed to us, was recently issued that is directed to adenoviruses that exhibit tissue specific
replication. We also have exclusive rights in an issued United States patent and corresponding
international applications directed to a low toxicity analogue of IL-2, also called F42K.
Benzimidazole Small Molecule Cancer Therapy Program
We also have exclusively licensed a United States and a corresponding international patent
application directed to the use of a family of known anti-helminthic benzimidazole molecules, most
notably mebendazole, in the treatment of cancer. These applications are directed generally to the
use of small molecules of the benzimidazole family to induce apoptosis in cancers, as well as to
treat cancer patients, particularly those having p53-related cancers. Both of these therapeutic
actions are based on the discovery by our scientists and their collaborators that members of the
benzimidazole family will actively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, particularly in conjunction
with the action of an endogenous or exogenously added p53 gene.
Our principal executive offices are located at 301 Congress Avenue, Suite 1850, Austin, Texas
78701 and our telephone number is (512) 708-9310. Our website is located at www.introgen.com. The
information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus.
-12-
The Offering
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Common stock offered by Introgen Therapeutics,
Inc.:
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None
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Common stock offered by selling stockholders:
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4,341,569 |
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Use of proceeds:
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We will not receive any
proceeds from the sale
of our common stock
sold by the selling
stockholders.
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Registration rights:
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Under the registration
rights agreement that
we entered into with
certain of the selling
stockholders, we are obligated to
use our best efforts to
cause the registration
statement, of which this
prospectus is a part, to
become effective and to
keep the registration
statement effective for
a period of up to 90
days, subject to
certain exceptions.
However, we may elect
to keep the
registration statement
effective for a longer
period of time.
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Risk factors:
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See Risk Factors for
a discussion of the
factors you should
carefully consider
before deciding to
invest in shares of our
common stock.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other
information contained in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the following risks and
uncertainties before purchasing our common stock. Our business, financial condition and operating
results could be materially adversely affected by these risks and uncertainties. In that case, the
trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.
The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and
uncertainties may also impair our business operations.
If we are unable to commercialize ADVEXIN® therapy in various markets for
multiple indications, particularly for the treatment of head and neck cancer, our business
will be harmed.
Our ability to achieve and sustain operating profitability depends on our ability to
successfully commercialize ADVEXIN therapy in various markets for multiple indications, which
depends in large part on our ability to commence, execute and complete clinical programs and obtain
regulatory approvals for ADVEXIN therapy and other drug candidates. In particular, our ability to
achieve and sustain profitability will depend in large part on our ability to commercialize ADVEXIN
therapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer in the United States. We cannot assure you we
will receive approval for ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer or other types
of cancer or indications in the United States or in other countries or if approved that we will
achieve significant level of sales. If we are unable to do so, our business will be harmed.
If we fail to comply with FDA requirements or encounter delays or difficulties in clinical
trials for our product candidates, we may not obtain regulatory approval of some or all of
our product candidates on a timely basis, if at all.
In order to commercialize our product candidates, we must obtain certain regulatory approvals.
Satisfaction of regulatory requirements typically takes many years, and involves compliance with
requirements covering research and development, testing, manufacturing, quality control, labeling
and promotion of drugs for human use. To obtain regulatory approvals, we must, among other
requirements, complete clinical trials demonstrating our product candidates are safe and effective
for a particular cancer type or other disease. Regulatory approval of a new drug is never
guaranteed. The FDA has substantial discretion in the approval process. Despite the time and
experience exerted, failure can occur at any stage, and we could encounter problems causing us to
abandon clinical trials.
We have completed three Phase 2 clinical trials and are conducting two Phase 3 clinical trials
of our lead product candidate, ADVEXIN therapy, for the treatment of head and neck cancer. In
addition, we have completed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of
non-small cell lung cancer and are conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADVEXIN therapy for the
treatment of breast cancer. We also are conducting or have conducted several Phase 1 and Phase 2
clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy for other types of cancer. Current or future clinical trials
may demonstrate ADVEXIN therapy is neither safe nor effective.
While we have completed enrollment of patients in a Phase 1/early Phase 2 clinical trial of
INGN 241, a product candidate based on the mda-7 gene, and have initiated a follow-on Phase 2
clinical trial of INGN 241 for patients with metastatic melanoma, our most significant clinical
trial activity and experience has been with ADVEXIN therapy. We will need to continue conducting
significant research and animal
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testing, referred to as pre-clinical testing, to support performing clinical trials for our
other product candidates. It will take us many years to complete pre-clinical testing and clinical
trials, and failure could occur at any stage of testing. Current or future clinical trials may
demonstrate INGN 241 or our other product candidates are neither safe nor effective.
Any delays or difficulties we encounter in our pre-clinical research and clinical trials, in
particular the Phase 3 clinical trials of ADVEXIN therapy for the treatment of head and neck
cancer, may delay or preclude regulatory approval. Our product development costs will increase if
we experience delays in testing or regulatory approvals or if we need to perform more or larger
clinical trials than planned. Any delay or preclusion could also delay or preclude the
commercialization of ADVEXIN therapy or any other product candidates. In addition, we or the FDA
might delay or halt any of our clinical trials of a product candidate at any time for various
reasons, including:
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the product candidate is less effective and/or more toxic than current
therapies; |
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the presence of unforeseen adverse side effects of a product candidate,
including its delivery system; |
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a longer than expected time required to determine whether or not a product
candidate is effective; |
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the death of patients during a clinical trial, even if the product
candidate did not cause those deaths; |
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the failure to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials; |
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the inability to produce sufficient quantities of a product candidate to complete the trials; or |
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the inability to commit the necessary resources to fund the clinical trials. |
We cannot be certain the results we observed in our pre-clinical testing will be confirmed in
clinical trials or the results of any of our clinical trials will support FDA approval.
Pre-clinical and clinical data can be interpreted in many different ways, and FDA officials could
interpret differently data we consider promising, which could halt or delay our clinical trials or
prevent regulatory approval.
Despite the FDAs designation of ADVEXIN therapy as a Fast Track product, we may encounter
delays in the regulatory approval process due to additional information requirements from the FDA,
unintentional omissions in our BLA for ADVEXIN therapy, or other delays in the FDAs review
process. We may encounter delays or rejections in the regulatory approval process because of
additional government regulation from future legislation or administrative action or changes in FDA
policy during the period of product development, clinical trials and FDA regulatory review.
Despite the initiation of the BLA process for ADVEXIN therapy under the FDAs accelerated
approval regulations, the FDA could determine that accelerated approval is not warranted and that a
traditional BLA filing must be made. Such a determination could delay regulatory approval.
Additionally, accelerated approval of an application could be subject to Phase 4 or post-approval
studies to validate the surrogate endpoint or confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure
to validate a surrogate endpoint or confirm a clinical benefit during post-marketing studies could
cause the product to be withdrawn from the market by the FDA on an expedited basis.
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Even if our products are approved by regulatory authorities, if we fail to comply with
ongoing regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated problems with our
products, these products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.
Any product for which we obtain marketing approval, along with the manufacturing processes,
post-approval clinical data and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to
continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory bodies. Even if
regulatory approval of a product is granted, the approval may be subject to limitations on the
indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or certain requirements for costly
post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the product. Later
discovery of previously unknown problems with our products, including unanticipated adverse events
of unanticipated severity or frequency, manufacturer or manufacturing processes or failure to
comply with regulatory requirements, may result in restrictions on such products or manufacturing
processes, withdrawal of the products from the market, voluntary or mandatory recall, fines,
suspension of regulatory approvals, product seizures or detention, injunctions or the imposition of
civil or criminal penalties.
Failure to comply with foreign regulatory requirements governing human clinical trials and
marketing approval for drugs could prevent us from selling our products in foreign markets,
which may adversely affect our operating results and financial conditions.
For marketing drugs and biologics outside the United States, the requirements governing the
conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from country
to country and may require additional testing. The time required to obtain approvals outside the
United States may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. We may not obtain foreign
regulatory approval on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by
regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does
not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or by the FDA. Failure to comply
with these regulatory requirements or to obtain required approvals could impair our ability to
develop these markets and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and
financial condition.
We have a history of operating losses, expect to incur significant additional operating
losses and may never become profitable.
We have generated operating losses since we began operations in June 1993. As of September
30, 2005, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $136.7 million. We expect to incur
substantial additional operating expenses and losses over the next several years as our research,
development, pre-clinical testing and clinical trial activities increase. As we expand our
operations and develop systems to support commercialization of our product candidates, these
losses, among other things, have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on
our total assets, stockholders equity and working capital.
We have no products that have generated any commercial revenue. Presently, we earn minimal
revenue from contract services activities, grants, interest income and rent from the lease of a
portion of our facilities to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We do not expect to generate revenues
from the commercial sale of products in the near future, and we may never generate revenues from
the commercial sale of products.
If we continue to incur operating losses for a period longer than we anticipate and fail to
obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to advance our
development program and complete our clinical trials.
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Developing a new drug and conducting clinical trials is expensive. Our product development
efforts may not lead to commercial products, either because our product candidates fail to be found
safe or effective in clinical trials or because we lack the necessary financial or other resources
or relationships to pursue our programs through commercialization. Our capital and future revenues
may not be sufficient to support the expenses of our operations, the development of commercial
infrastructure and the conduct of our clinical trials and pre-clinical research.
We expect we will fund our operations over approximately the next 12 to 15 months with our
current working capital, which we accumulated primarily from sale of equity securities, income from
contract services and research grants, debt financing of equipment acquisitions, the lease of a
portion of our facilities to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and interest on invested funds. We may
need to raise additional capital sooner, however, under various circumstances, including if we
experience:
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an acceleration of the number, size or complexity of our clinical trials; |
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slower than expected progress in developing ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or
other product candidates; |
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higher than expected costs to obtain regulatory approvals; |
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higher than expected costs to pursue our intellectual property strategy; |
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higher than expected costs to further develop and scale up our manufacturing capability; |
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higher than expected costs to develop our sales and marketing capability; |
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faster than expected rate of progress and cost of our research and
development and clinical trial activities; |
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a decrease in the amount and timing of milestone payments we receive from collaborators; |
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higher than expected costs of preparing an application for FDA approval of ADVEXIN therapy; |
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higher than expected costs of developing the processes and systems to
support FDA approval of ADVEXIN therapy; |
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an increase in our timetable and costs for the development of marketing
operations and other activities related to the commercialization of ADVEXIN therapy and
our other product candidates; |
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a change in the degree of success in our Phase 3 clinical trial of ADVEXIN
therapy and in the clinical trials of our other products; |
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the emergence of competing technologies and other adverse market developments; or
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changes in or terminations of our existing collaboration and licensing arrangements. |
We do not know whether additional financing will be available when needed or on terms
favorable to us or our stockholders. We may need to raise any necessary funds through public or
private equity offerings, debt financings or additional corporate collaboration and licensing
arrangements. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our
stockholders will experience dilution.
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If we raise funds
through debt financings, we may become subject to restrictive covenants. To the extent we
raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements, we may be required to
relinquish some rights to our technologies or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms not
favorable to us. If we are not able to raise additional funds, we may have to delay, reduce or
eliminate our clinical trials and our development programs.
If we cannot maintain our existing corporate and academic arrangements and enter into new
arrangements, we may be unable to develop products effectively, or at all.
Our strategy for the research, development and commercialization of our product candidates may
result in our entering into contractual arrangements with corporate collaborators, academic
institutions and others. We have entered into sponsored research, license and/or collaborative
arrangements with several entities, including M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the National Cancer
Institute, Chiba University in Japan, VirRx and Corixa (which was acquired by GlaxoSmithKlein), as
well as numerous other institutions that conduct clinical trials work or perform pre-clinical
research for us. Our success depends upon our collaborative partners performing their
responsibilities under these arrangements and complying with the regulations and requirements
governing clinical trials. We cannot control the amount and timing of resources our collaborative
partners devote to our research and testing programs or product candidates, or their compliance
with regulatory requirements which can vary because of factors unrelated to such programs or
product candidates. These relationships may in some cases be terminated at the discretion of our
collaborative partners with only limited notice to us. We may not be able to maintain our existing
arrangements, enter into new arrangements or negotiate current or new arrangements on acceptable
terms, if at all. Some of our collaborative partners may also be researching competing
technologies independently from us to treat the diseases targeted by our collaborative programs.
If we are not able to create effective collaborative marketing relationships, we may be
unable to market ADVEXIN therapy successfully or in a cost-effective manner.
To effectively market our products, we will need to develop sales, marketing and distribution
capabilities. In order to develop or otherwise obtain these capabilities, we may have to enter
into marketing, distribution or other similar arrangements with third parties in order to sell,
market and distribute our products successfully. To the extent we enter into any such arrangements
with third parties, our product revenues are likely to be lower than if we directly marketed and
sold our products, and any revenues we receive will depend upon the efforts of such third parties.
We have no experience in marketing or selling pharmaceutical products and we currently have no
sales, marketing or distribution capability. We may be unable to develop sufficient sales,
marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products successfully.
Serious and unexpected side effects attributable to gene therapy may result in governmental
authorities imposing additional regulatory requirements or a negative public perception of
our products.
ADVEXIN therapy and most of our other product candidates under development could be broadly
described as gene therapies. A number of clinical trials are being conducted by other
pharmaceutical companies involving gene therapy, including compounds similar to, or competitive
with, our product candidates. The announcement of adverse results from these clinical trials, such
as serious unwanted and unexpected side effects attributable to treatment, or any response by the
FDA to such clinical trials, may impede the timing of our clinical trials, delay or prevent us from
obtaining regulatory approval or negatively influence public perception of our product candidates,
which could harm our business and results of operations and depress the value of our stock.
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The United States Senate has held hearings concerning the adequacy of regulatory oversight of
gene therapy clinical trials, as well as the adequacy of research subject education and protection
in clinical research in general, and to determine whether additional legislation is required to
protect volunteers and patients who participate in such clinical trials. The Recombinant DNA
Advisory Committee, or RAC, which acts as an advisory body to the National Institutes of Health,
has expanded its public role in evaluating important public and ethical issues in gene therapy
clinical trials. Implementation of any additional review and reporting procedures or other
additional regulatory measures could increase the costs of or prolong our product development
efforts or clinical trials.
We report to the FDA and other regulatory agencies serious adverse events, including those we
believe may be reasonably related to the treatments administered in our clinical trials. Such
serious adverse events, whether treatment-related or not, could result in negative public
perception of our treatments and require additional regulatory review or measures, which could
increase the cost of or prolong our clinical trials.
The FDA has not approved any gene therapy product or gene-induced product for sale in the
United States. The commercial success of our products will depend in part on public acceptance of
the use of gene therapy products or gene-induced products, which are a new type of disease
treatment for the prevention or treatment of human diseases. Public attitudes may be influenced by
claims that gene therapy products or gene-induced products are unsafe, and these treatment
methodologies may not gain the acceptance of the public or the medical community. Negative public
reaction to gene therapy products or gene-induced products could also result in greater government
regulation and stricter clinical trial oversight.
We cannot predict the safety profile of the use of ADVEXIN therapy when used in combination
with other therapies.
Many of our trials involve the use of ADVEXIN therapy in combination with other drugs or
therapies. While the data we have evaluated to date suggest ADVEXIN therapy does not increase the
adverse effects of other therapies, we cannot predict if this outcome will continue to be true or
whether possible adverse side effects not directly attributable to the other drugs will compromise
the safety profile of ADVEXIN therapy when used in certain combination therapies.
If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, our competitors may be
able to take advantage of our research and development efforts to develop competing drugs.
Our commercial success will depend in part on obtaining patent protection for our products and
other technologies and successfully defending these patents against third-party challenges. Our
patent position, like that of other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, is highly
uncertain. One uncertainty is the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or PTO, or the
courts, may deny or significantly narrow claims made under patents issued to us or patent
applications we file. This is particularly true for patent applications or patents that concern
biotechnology and pharmaceutical technologies, such as ours, since the PTO and the courts often
consider these technologies to involve unpredictable sciences. Another uncertainty is any patents
that may be issued or licensed to us may not provide any competitive advantage to us because they
may not effectively preclude others from developing and marketing products like ours. Also, our
patents may be successfully challenged, invalidated or circumvented in the future. In addition,
our competitors, many of which have substantial resources and have made significant investments in
competing technologies, may seek to apply for and obtain patents that will prevent, limit or
interfere with our ability to make, use and sell our potential products either in the United States
or in international markets.
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Our ability to develop and protect a competitive position based on our biotechnological
innovations, innovations involving genes, gene-induced therapeutic protein agents, viruses for
delivering the genes to cells, formulations, gene therapy delivery systems not involving viruses,
and the like, is particularly uncertain. Due to the unpredictability of the biotechnological
sciences, the PTO, as well as patent offices in other jurisdictions, has often required patent
applications concerning biotechnology-related inventions to be limited or narrowed substantially to
cover only the specific innovations exemplified in the patent application, thereby limiting their
scope of protection against competitive challenges. Similarly, courts have invalidated or
significantly narrowed many key patents in the biotechnology industry. Thus, even if we are able
to obtain patents covering commercially significant innovations, our patents may not be upheld or
our patents may be substantially narrowed.
Through our exclusive license from The University of Texas System for technology developed at
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we have obtained and are currently seeking further patent protection
for adenoviral p53, including ADVEXIN therapy, and its use in cancer therapy. Further, the PTO
issued us a United States patent for our adenovirus production technology as well as a related
patent for purified adenoviral compositions. We also control, through licensing arrangements, five
issued United States patents for combination therapy involving the p53 gene and conventional
chemotherapy or radiation, two issued United States patents covering the use of adenoviral p53 in
cancer therapy, one issued United States patent covering adenoviral p53 as a product, one issued
United States patent covering the core DNA of adenoviral p53, one issued patent covering
pharmaceutical compositions of adenoviral p53 and clinical applications of such pharmaceutical
compositions, as well as three patents covering our mda-7 technology. Our competitors may
challenge the validity of one or more of our patents in the courts or through an administrative
procedure known as an interference, in which the PTO determines the priority of invention where two
or more parties are claiming the same invention. The courts or the PTO may not uphold the validity
of our patents, we may not prevail in such interference proceedings regarding our patents and none
of our patents may give us a competitive advantage. In this regard, we have been notified by the
PTO that an unidentified third party is attempting to provoke an interference with one of our
patents directed to adenoviral p53 therapy. We do not at present know the identity of this party
and cannot assess the likelihood of an interference actually being declared. Should that party
prevail in an interference proceeding, a patent may issue to that party that is infringed by, and
therefore potentially preclude our commercialization of, products like ADVEXIN therapy that are
used for adenoviral p53 therapy.
Schering-Plough has filed with the European Patent Office, or EPO, an opposition against our
European patent directed to combination therapy with p53 and conventional chemotherapy and/or
radiation. An opposition is an administrative proceeding instituted by a third party and conducted
by the EPO to determine whether a patent should be maintained or revoked in part or in whole, based
on evidence brought forth by the party opposing the patent. The EPO held an initial oral
proceeding in October 2003 and determined our patent should be maintained as amended.
Schering-Plough has appealed this decision, which is set to be heard and decided in February 2006.
Resolution of this appeal will require we expend time, effort and money. If Schering-Plough
ultimately prevails in having our European patent revoked on appeal, then the scope of our
protection for our product in Europe will be reduced. We would not expect, however, such a result
to have a significant detrimental impact on our commercialization efforts in Europe.
Third-party claims of infringement of intellectual property could require us to spend time
and money to address the claims and could limit our intellectual property rights.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry has been characterized by extensive litigation
regarding patents and other intellectual property rights, and companies have employed intellectual
property litigation to gain a competitive advantage. We are aware of a number of issued patents
and patent applications related to gene therapy, the treatment of cancer and the use of the p53 and
other tumor suppressor
genes.
-20-
Schering-Plough Corporation, including its subsidiary Canji, Inc., controls various
United States applications and a European patent and applications, some of which are directed to
therapy using the p53 gene, and others to adenoviruses containing the p53 gene, or adenoviral p53,
and to methods for carrying out therapy using adenoviral p53. Adenoviral p53 technology underlies
our ADVEXIN therapy product candidate. Furthermore, we are aware of a United States patent
directed to replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vectors apparently controlled by Transgene
SA. While we believe the claims of the Transgene adenoviral vector patent are invalid or not
infringed by our products, Transgene could assert a claim against us.
One of the foregoing patent applications directed to p53 therapy, which we understand is owned
by The Johns Hopkins University and controlled by Schering-Plough, was involved in a PTO
interference proceeding with a patent owned by Canji. This Johns Hopkins application was the
United States counterpart to the European patent recently revoked in its entirety by the EPO (see
below). Priority of invention in that interference was awarded by the PTO to the Johns Hopkins
inventors, leading to the issuance of a United States patent, and the Canji patent has been found
unpatentable. While it is our belief that the claims of the Johns Hopkins patent are invalid and
not infringed by our ADVEXIN therapy, Schering-Plough or Johns Hopkins may assert that our ADVEXIN
therapy, which uses p53 therapy, infringes the claims of such patent. While we believe we would
have both an invalidity and non-infringement defense against such an assertion, in the United
States an issued patent enjoys a presumption of validity, which can be overcome only through clear
and convincing evidence. We cannot assure you such a defense would prevail.
We may also become subject to infringement claims or litigation arising out of other patents
and pending applications of our competitors, if they issue, or additional interference proceedings
declared by the PTO to determine the priority of inventions. The defense and prosecution of
intellectual property suits, PTO interference proceedings and related legal and administrative
proceedings are costly and time-consuming to pursue, and their outcome is uncertain. Litigation
may be necessary to enforce our issued patents, to protect our trade secrets and know-how or to
determine the enforceability, scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others. An adverse
determination in litigation or interference proceedings to which we may become a party could
subject us to significant liabilities, require us to obtain licenses from third parties, or
restrict or prevent us from selling our products in certain markets. Although patent and
intellectual property disputes are often settled through licensing or similar arrangements, costs
associated with such arrangements may be substantial and could include ongoing royalties.
Furthermore, the necessary licenses may not be available to us on satisfactory terms, if at all.
In particular, if we were found to infringe a valid claim of the Transgene adenoviral vector United
States patent, the Johns Hopkins patent or a patent that may issue from a currently pending
application, our business could be materially harmed.
We have recently been involved in patent opposition proceedings before the EPO, in which we
have sought to have the EPO revoke three different European patents owned or controlled by
Canji/Schering-Plough. These European patents relate to the use of a p53 gene, or the use of tumor
suppressor genes, in the preparation of therapeutic products. In one opposition involving a Canji
European patent directed to the use of a tumor suppressor gene, the EPO revoked the European patent
in its entirety in a final, non-appealable decision. In the second opposition, involving a patent
that is directed to therapeutic and other applications of the p53 gene and that is owned by Johns
Hopkins and, we understand, controlled by Schering-Plough, the EPO recently revoked the patent in
its entirety. The patent owner has appealed this decision and a final hearing before the EPO
Technical Board of Appeals was held in June 2005, at which time the Technical Board of Appeals
confirmed the final revocation of all claims of this patent relevant to clinical therapeutic
applications of the p53 gene. In a third case involving the use of a p53 gene, the European patent
at issue was initially upheld, but finally revoked in a hearing held in late April 2004.
-21-
We may be subject to litigation and infringement claims that may be costly, divert
managements attention, and materially harm our business.
Extensive litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights has been common
in the biopharmaceutical industry. Litigation may be necessary to assert infringement claims,
enforce patent rights, protect trade secrets or know-how and determine the enforceability, scope
and validity of certain proprietary rights. The defense and prosecution of intellectual property
lawsuits, PTO interference proceedings, and related legal and administrative proceedings in the
United States and internationally involve complex legal and factual questions. As a result, such
proceedings are costly and time-consuming to pursue and their outcome is uncertain.
Regardless of merit or outcome, our involvement in any litigation, interference or other
administrative proceedings could cause us to incur substantial expense and could significantly
divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel. An adverse determination may subject
us to the loss of our proprietary position or to significant liabilities, or require us to seek
licenses that may include substantial cost and ongoing royalties. Licenses may not be available
from third parties, or may not be obtainable on satisfactory terms. An adverse determination or a
failure to obtain necessary licenses may restrict or prevent us from manufacturing and selling our
products, if any. These outcomes could materially harm our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
If we fail to meet our obligations under license agreements, we may lose our rights to key
technologies on which our business depends.
Our business depends in part on patents licensed from third parties. Those third-party
license agreements impose obligations on us, such as payment obligations and obligations to
diligently pursue development of commercial products under the licensed patents. If a licensor
believes we have failed to meet our obligations under a license agreement, the licensor could seek
to limit or terminate our license rights, which could lead to costly and time-consuming litigation
and, potentially, a loss of the licensed rights. During the period of any such litigation, our
ability to carry out the development and commercialization of product candidates could be
significantly and negatively affected. If our license rights were restricted or ultimately lost,
our ability to continue our business based on the affected technology platform would be severely
adversely affected.
Competition and technological change may make our product candidates and technologies less
attractive or obsolete.
We compete with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Canji, Inc. and Genvec,
Inc., which are pursuing forms of treatment similar to ours for the diseases ADVEXIN therapy and
our other product candidates target. We are aware Canji, with its parent Schering-Plough, has in
the past been involved in research and/or development of adenoviral p53 products and has numerous
patents and patent applications relating to adenoviral p53 therapy. We understand Schering-Plough
has stopped its adenoviral p53 clinical trials, and it is unknown whether these parties are
continuing their adenoviral p53 research and/or development efforts. We are also aware that a
Chinese pharmaceutical company, SiBioNo GeneTech, Inc., has recently announced it has received
regulatory approval from the Chinese drug regulatory agency to market an adenoviral p53 product
only in China. We control an issued Chinese patent covering adenoviral p53, and a number of
pending Chinese applications directed to p53 therapy and adenoviral production. We understand
enforcement of patents in China is unpredictable and we do not know if monetary damages could be
recovered from SiBioNo GeneTech if its product infringes our patent or patent applications. Patent
enforcement and respect of international patent standards, rules and laws have not historically
been a key characteristic of the Chinese government and patent system. Further, geopolitical
developments, including
-22-
trade and tariff disputes between the government of China and the United States Department of
Commerce could add additional uncertainty to any effort to enforce patents, recover damages, if
any, or engage in the sales and marketing of patented or non-patented products in China. We also
may face competition from companies that may develop internally or acquire competing technology
from universities and other research institutions. As these companies develop or acquire their
technologies, they may develop competitive positions that may prevent or limit our product
commercialization efforts.
Some of our competitors are established companies with greater financial and other resources
than ours. Other companies may succeed in developing products earlier than we do, obtaining FDA
approval for products before we do or developing products that are more effective than our product
candidates. While we will seek to expand our technological capabilities to remain competitive,
research and development by others may render our technology or product candidates obsolete or
non-competitive or result in treatments or cures superior to any therapy developed by us.
Even if we receive regulatory approval to market our ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN 225 or
other product candidates, we may not be able to commercialize them profitably.
Our profitability will depend on the markets acceptance of ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN
225, if approved, and our other product candidates. The commercial success of our product
candidates will depend on whether:
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they are more effective than alternative treatments; |
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their side effects are acceptable to patients and doctors; |
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insurers and other third-party healthcare payers will provide adequate reimbursement for them; |
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we produce and sell them at a profit; and |
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we market ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241, INGN 225 and other product candidates effectively. |
We must achieve significant market share and obtain high per-patient prices for our products
to achieve profitability.
ADVEXIN therapy, our lead product candidate will, if approved, initially be targeted for the
treatment of recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, a disease with an annual
incidence of approximately 40,000 patients in the United States. As a result, our per-patient
prices must be sufficiently high in order to recover our development costs and achieve
profitability. Until additional disease targets with larger potential markets are approved, we
believe we will need to market worldwide to achieve significant market penetration. If we are
unable to obtain sufficient market share for our drug products at a high enough price, or obtain
expanded approvals for larger markets, we may not achieve profitability or be able to independently
continue our product development efforts.
If we are unable to manufacture our products in sufficient quantities or obtain regulatory
approvals for our manufacturing facilities, or if our manufacturing process is found to
infringe a valid patented process or processes of another company, then we may be unable to
meet demand for our products and lose potential revenues.
To complete our clinical trials and commercialize our product candidates, if approved, we will
need access to, or development of, facilities to manufacture a sufficient supply of our product
candidates.
-23-
We have
used manufacturing facilities we constructed in Houston, Texas to manufacture ADVEXIN therapy,
INGN 241 and other product candidates for currently planned clinical trials. We anticipate our
facilities are suitable for the initial commercial launch of ADVEXIN therapy. We have no
experience manufacturing ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or any other product candidates in the volumes
necessary to support commercial sales. If we are unable to manufacture our product candidates in
clinical or, when necessary, commercial quantities, then we will need to rely on third-party
manufacturers to produce our products for clinical and commercial purposes. These third-party
manufacturers must receive FDA approval before they can produce clinical material or commercial
product. Our products may be in competition with other products for access to these facilities and
may be subject to delays in manufacture if third parties give other products greater priority than
ours. In addition, we may not be able to enter into any necessary third-party manufacturing
arrangements on acceptable terms. There are a limited number of contract manufacturers who
currently have the capability to produce ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or our other product candidates,
and the inability of any of these contract manufacturers to deliver our required quantities of
product candidates timely and at commercially reasonable prices would negatively affect our
operations.
Before we can begin commercially manufacturing ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or any other product
candidate, we must obtain regulatory approval of our manufacturing facilities and process.
Manufacturing of our product candidates for clinical and commercial purposes must comply with the
FDAs CGMP requirements, and foreign regulatory requirements. The CGMP requirements govern quality
control and documentation policies and procedures. In complying with CGMP and foreign regulatory
requirements, we will be obligated to expend time, money and effort in production, record keeping
and quality control to assure the product meets applicable specifications and other requirements.
We must also pass a FDA inspection prior to FDA approval.
Our current manufacturing facilities have not yet been subject to a Pre-Approval Inspection by
the FDA or other global regulatory authorities. Failure to pass Pre-Approval Inspections may
significantly delay approval of our products. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we
would be subject to possible regulatory action and may be limited in the jurisdictions in which we
are permitted to sell our products. Further, the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities have the
authority to perform unannounced periodic inspections of our manufacturing facilities to ensure
compliance with CGMP and foreign regulatory requirements. Our facilities in Houston, Texas are our
only manufacturing facilities. If these facilities were to incur significant damage or
destruction, then our ability to manufacture ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 or any other product
candidates would be significantly hampered, and our pre-clinical testing, clinical trials and
commercialization efforts would be delayed.
In order to produce our products in the quantities we believe will be required to meet
anticipated market demand, if our products are approved, we will need to increase, or scale-up,
our production process. If we are unable to do so, or if the cost of this scale-up is not
economically viable to us, we may not be able to produce our products in a sufficient quantity to
meet the requirements of future demand.
Canji controls a United States patent and the corresponding international applications,
including a European counterpart, relating to the purification of viral or adenoviral compositions.
While we believe our manufacturing process does not infringe this patent, Canji could still assert
a claim against us. We may also become subject to infringement claims or litigation if our
manufacturing process infringes upon other patents. The defense and prosecution of intellectual
property suits and related legal and administrative proceedings are costly and time-consuming to
pursue, and their outcome is uncertain.
We rely on a limited number of suppliers for some of our manufacturing materials. Any
problems experienced by such suppliers could negatively affect our operations.
-24-
We rely on third-party suppliers for most of the equipment, materials and supplies used in the
manufacturing of ADVEXIN therapy, INGN 241 and our other product candidates. Some items critical
to the manufacture of these product candidates are available from only a limited number of
suppliers or vendors. We do not have supply agreements with these key suppliers. To mitigate the
related supply risk, we maintain inventories of these items. Any significant problem experienced
by one or more of this limited number of suppliers could result in a delay or interruption in the
supply of materials to us until the supplier cures the problem or until we locate an alternative
source of supply. Such problems would likely lead to a delay or interruption in our manufacturing
operations or could require a significant modification to our manufacturing process, which could
impair our ability to manufacture our product candidates in a timely manner and negatively affect
our operations.
If product liability lawsuits are successfully brought against us, we may incur substantial
damages and demand for our product candidates may be reduced.
The testing and marketing of medical products is subject to an inherent risk of product
liability claims. Regardless of their merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may
result in:
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decreased demand for our product candidates; |
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injury to our reputation and significant media attention; |
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withdrawal of clinical trial volunteers; |
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substantial delay in FDA approval; |
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costs of litigation; and |
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substantial monetary awards to plaintiffs. |
We currently maintain product liability insurance with coverage of $5.0 million per occurrence
with a $10.0 million annual aggregate limit. This coverage may not be sufficient to protect us
fully against product liability claims. We intend to expand our product liability insurance
coverage beyond clinical trials to include the sale of commercial products if we obtain marketing
approval for any of our product candidates. Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability
insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against product liability claims could prevent or limit
the commercialization of our products.
We use hazardous materials in our business, and any claims relating to improper handling,
storage or disposal of these materials could harm our business.
Our business involves the use of a broad range of hazardous chemicals and materials.
Environmental laws impose stringent civil and criminal penalties for improper handling, disposal
and storage of these materials. In addition, in the event of an improper or unauthorized release
of, or exposure of individuals to, hazardous materials, we could be subject to civil damages due to
personal injury or property damage caused by the release or exposure. A failure to comply with
environmental laws could result in fines and the revocation of environmental permits, which could
prevent us from conducting our business.
-25-
Our stock price may fluctuate substantially.
The market price for our common stock will be affected by a number of factors, including:
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progress and results of our pre-clinical and clinical trials; |
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announcement of technological innovations by us or our competitors; |
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developments concerning proprietary rights, including patent and litigation matters; |
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publicity regarding actual or potential results with respect to products
under development by us or by our competitors; |
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regulatory developments; |
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the announcement of new products by us or our competitors; |
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quarterly variations in our or our competitors results of operations; |
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failure to achieve operating results projected by securities analysts; |
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changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; |
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developments in our industry; and |
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general market conditions and other factors. |
In addition, stock prices for many companies in the technology and emerging growth sectors
have experienced wide fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of
such companies.
If we do not progress in our programs as anticipated, our stock price could decrease.
For planning purposes, we estimate the timing of a variety of clinical, regulatory and other
milestones, such as when a certain product candidate will enter clinical development, when a
clinical trial will be completed or when an application for regulatory approval will be filed.
Some of our estimates are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our estimates are based
on present facts and a variety of assumptions. Many of the underlying assumptions are outside of
our control. If milestones are not achieved when we expect them to be, investors could be
disappointed, and our stock price may decrease.
Any acquisition we might make may be costly and difficult to integrate, may divert
management resources or dilute stockholder value.
As part of our business strategy, we may acquire assets or businesses principally relating to
or complementary to our current operations, and we have in the past evaluated and discussed such
opportunities with interested parties. Any acquisitions we undertake will be accompanied by the
risks commonly encountered in business acquisitions. These risks include, among other things:
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potential exposure to unknown liabilities of acquired companies; |
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the difficulty and expense of assimilating the operations and personnel of acquired businesses; |
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diversion of management time and attention and other resources; |
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loss of key employees and customers as a result of changes in management; |
-26-
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the incurrence of amortization expenses; and |
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possible dilution to our stockholders. |
In addition, geographic distances may make the integration of businesses more difficult. We
may not be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection
with any acquisitions.
If we lose key personnel or are unable to attract and retain additional, highly skilled
personnel required to develop our products or obtain new collaborations, our business will
suffer.
We depend, to a significant extent, on the efforts of our key employees, including senior
management and senior scientific, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and other personnel. The
development of new therapeutic products requires expertise from a number of different disciplines,
some of which is not widely available. We depend upon our scientific staff to discover new product
candidates and to develop and conduct pre-clinical studies of those new potential products. Our
clinical and regulatory staff is responsible for the design and execution of clinical trials in
accordance with FDA requirements and for the advancement of our product candidates toward FDA
approval. Our manufacturing staff is responsible for designing and conducting our manufacturing
processes in accordance with the FDAs CGMP requirements. The quality and reputation of our
scientific, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing staff, especially the senior staff, and their
success in performing their responsibilities, are a basis on which we attract potential funding
sources and collaborators. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers
are involved in a broad range of critical activities, including providing strategic and operational
guidance. The loss of these individuals, or our inability to retain or recruit other key
management and scientific, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and other personnel, may delay or
prevent us from achieving our business objectives. We face intense competition for personnel from
other companies, universities, public and private research institutions, government entities and
other organizations.
Future changes in financial accounting standards or practices or existing taxation rules or
practices may cause adverse unexpected financial reporting fluctuations and affect our
reported results of operations.
A change in accounting standards or practices or a change in existing taxation rules or
practices can have a significant effect on our reported results and may even affect our reporting
of transactions completed before the change is effective. New accounting pronouncements and
taxation rules and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements and taxation practice have
occurred and may occur in the future. Changes to existing rules or the questioning of current
practices may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.
For example, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based
Payment (SFAS No. 123R), is effective for us beginning the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. This
statement requires that employee stock-based compensation be measured based on its fair-value on
the grant date and treated as an expense that is reflected in the financial statements over the
related service period. While we are currently evaluating the impact on our consolidated financial
statements of the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, we anticipate that our adoption of SFAS No. 123R will
have a significant impact on our results of operations for 2005 and subsequent periods.
Some of our insiders are parties to transactions with us that may cause conflicting
obligations.
Dr. John N. Kapoor, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, is also associated with EJ
Financial Enterprises, Inc., a healthcare investment firm that is wholly owned by him, and
therefore may have conflicts
-27-
of interest in allocating his time among us and his other business activities, and he may have
legal obligations to multiple entities. We have entered into a consulting agreement with EJ
Financial. The consulting agreement provides we will pay EJ Financial $175,000 per year for
certain management consulting services, which is based on anticipated time spent by EJ Financial
personnel on our affairs. EJ Financial is also involved in the management of healthcare companies
in various fields, and Dr. Kapoor is involved in various capacities with the management and
operation of these companies. In addition, EJ Financial is involved with other companies in the
cancer field. Although these companies are pursuing different therapeutic approaches for the
treatment of cancer, discoveries made by one or more of these companies could render our products
less competitive or obsolete.
David Parker, Ph.D., J.D., our Vice President, Intellectual Property, is a partner with the
law firm Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, which provides legal services to us as our primary outside
counsel for intellectual property matters.
In October 2004, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Magnum Therapeutics
Corporation (Magnum), a company owned by one of our executive officers. We paid approximately
$1.75 million for the Magnum stock by (1) issuing approximately 252,000 shares of our common stock
valued at approximately $1.48 million at the acquisition date and (2) assuming liabilities of
approximately $272,000. With respect to the common stock we issued for the acquisition, 50% of the
shares are held by an independent escrow agent for a period of approximately one year subsequent to
the acquisition date to satisfy the indemnification obligations of the selling shareholder under
terms of the purchase agreement. Magnums primary asset is the right to receive funding under a
research grant from the National Institutes of Health. Such grant activities and related funding
will supplement research and development programs we have in progress. During the year ended
December 31, 2004, we earned $1.1 million of revenue under this grant. In the event certain of
Magnums technologies result in commercial products, we may be obligated to pay royalties related
to the sales of those products to certain third parties.
We have relationships with Jack A. Roth, M.D., and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, both of whom
are affiliated with The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, one of our
stockholders. For more information concerning these relationships, see the notes to our
consolidated financial statements and the footnotes thereto as of December 31, 2004, and for the
year then ended, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 15,
2005.
We believe the foregoing transactions with insiders were and are in our best interests and the
best interests of our stockholders. However, the transactions may cause conflicts of interest with
respect to those insiders.
-28-
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained
herein (including without limitation statements to the effect that we estimate, expect,
anticipate, plan, believe, project, continue, may, or will or statements concerning
potential or opportunity or variations thereof or comparable terminology or the negative
thereof) that are not statements of historical fact should be construed as forward-looking
statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain
risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual results could differ
materially and adversely from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of
certain factors, including those described in the prospectus under Risk Factors. Because of these
and other factors that may affect our operating results, past performance should not be considered
an indicator of future performance and investors should not use historical results to anticipate
results or trends in future periods. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the
results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the
risk factors described in other documents we file from time to time with the SEC including our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
We have not authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other
than those contained in this prospectus in connection with this offering. You should not rely on
such information or representation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made
pursuant to this prospectus shall create any implication that the information contained in this
prospectus is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof. This prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the common
stock covered by this prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All proceeds from the sale of common stock in this offering will go to the stockholders
selling common stock under this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of
common stock sold by the selling stockholders.
-29-
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The
following table provides certain information as of
November 22, 2005 regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common stock by the stockholders selling common stock under this
prospectus prior to and after the offering. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of
the SEC and generally includes voting and investment power with respect to securities.
Our registration of the common stock does not necessarily mean that the selling stockholders
will sell all or any of these securities. We have assumed for purposes of the table below that the
selling stockholders will sell all of the shares offered for sale.
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Shares Owned Prior to |
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Shared Being |
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Shares Owned After |
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Percentage Owned |
Name |
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Offering (1) |
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Offered Hereby |
|
Offering (1), (2) |
|
After Offering (1) |
Aventis
Pharmaceuticals Inc. (3) |
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4,322,369 |
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4,322,369 |
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Ann Lurie Revocable Trust |
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19,200 |
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19,200 |
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Total |
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4,341,569 |
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4,341,569 |
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(1) |
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The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined in accordance with
Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, and the information is not necessarily indicative of
beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rule, beneficial ownership includes
any shares as to which an individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power and
also any shares as to which an individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of the date of
this prospectus through the exercise of any stock option or other right. |
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(2) |
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Assumes that each selling stockholder sells all shares registered under this Registration
Statement. |
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(3) |
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Aventis Inc. (AI) is the beneficial owner of the 4,322,369 shares of common stock. Aventis
Holdings Inc. (AHI), a subsidiary of AI, beneficially
owns the 4,322,369 shares of common
stock, which includes direct ownership of 1,978,648 shares. Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., a
subsidiary of AHI, directly owns 2,343,721 of the shares beneficially owned by AI and AHI.
The shares directly owned by API are being registered under this Registration Statement. |
Relationship with Introgen
Aventis
Inc. currently beneficially owns an aggregate of 4,322,369 shares of
our common stock. Pursuant to a purchase agreement executed on June 30, 2001, we sold and issued 100,000 shares
of a new class of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock, $.001 par value per share,
convertible into 2,343,721 shares of our common stock, to Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. for
$25,000,000. We received the cash payment and issued the shares on July 2, 2001. Aventis
Pharmaceuticals Inc., formerly known as Aventis Pharmaceuticals Products Inc., is a subsidiary of
Aventis Inc. and sanofi-aventis SA. Aventis Inc. beneficially holds greater than five
percent of our outstanding common stock. Effective as of June 21, 2005, we issued 2,343,721 shares
of our common stock to Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. upon conversion of the shares of our Series A
Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock held by Aventis Inc.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees and
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 varying prices, at or related to prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following
methods when selling shares:
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits
purchasers; |
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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; |
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purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account pursuant to their prospectus; |
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an over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules
of the Nasdaq National Market; |
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privately negotiated transactions; |
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short sales (including, where permitted, transfers to cover short sales); |
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broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of
such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
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a combination of any such methods of sale; and |
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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.
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.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to
participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling
stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the
purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling stockholders do not expect these commissions
and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The selling stockholders may negotiate and pay broker-dealers commissions, discounts or
concessions for their services. Broker-dealers engaged by a selling stockholder may allow other
broker-dealers to participate in resales. However, the selling stockholders and any broker-dealers
involved in the sale or resale of shares may qualify as underwriters within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. In addition, the broker-dealers commissions, discounts or
concessions may qualify as underwriters compensation under the Securities Act. If a selling
stockholder qualifies as an underwriter, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act.
We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M
under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the
selling stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus
available to the selling stockholders, and we have informed them of the need for delivery of copies
of this prospectus to purchasers at or prior to the time of any sale of shares offered hereby. The
selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving
the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the
Securities Act.
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Under the registration rights agreement that we entered into with Aventis, we are obligated to
use our best efforts to cause the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, to
become effective and to keep the registration statement effective for a period of up to 90 days,
subject to certain exceptions. However, we may elect to keep the registration statement effective
for a longer period of time. We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain
losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the common stock being offered hereby is being passed upon for us by Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Austin, Texas.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004, and managements assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2004, as set forth in its reports, which are incorporated by reference
in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and
managements assessment are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLPs reports,
given on its authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents that we have
previously filed with the SEC or documents that we will file with the SEC in the future. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later
information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference into this prospectus any filings made by us with the SEC under Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus until the
termination of this offering, as well as the following documents:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed
with the SEC on March 15, 2005; |
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those portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on April 28,
2005, that are deemed filed with the SEC; |
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, filed with
the SEC on May 10, 2005; |
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, filed with
the SEC on August 9, 2005; |
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, filed
with the SEC on November 9, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 4, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 10, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 25, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 1, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 26, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 1, 2005; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 8, 2005; and |
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the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form
8-A, filed with the SEC on September 8, 2000, and any further amendment or report filed
hereafter for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a copy of any of these filings, at no cost to you, by writing or telephoning
us at the following address and telephone number: Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., 301 Congress Avenue,
Suite 1850, Austin, Texas 78701; telephone number (512) 708-9310.
Additionally, we make these filings available, free of charge, on www.introgen.com as soon as
reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the
SEC. The information on the website listed above, other than these filings, is not, and should not
be, considered part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference to this document.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with
the SEC. You may inspect these documents without charge at the principal office of the SEC located
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and you may obtain copies of these documents
from the SECs Public Reference Room at its principal office. Information regarding the operation
of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a web
site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SECs web site is
www.sec.gov.
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DISCLOSURE OF SEC POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION
FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
We are organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended, and bylaws, as amended, eliminate the personal liability of our directors to the
fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, our Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as amended, provide indemnity for our current or former
officers and directors against all liabilities and costs of defending an action or suit in which
they were involved by reason of their positions with us. However, we cannot indemnify any person
if a court finds that the person did not act in good faith. Our bylaws, as amended, also provide
that we may purchase insurance to protect any director, officer, employee or agent against any
liability. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and
executive officers, whereby we have agreed, among other things, to indemnify them to the fullest
extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to specified limitations, against
certain liabilities actually incurred by them in any proceeding in which they are a party that may
arise by reason of their status as directors, officers, employees or agents or may arise by reason
of their serving as such at our request for another entity and to advance their expenses incurred
as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We intend to
enter into similar separate indemnification agreements with any directors or officers who may join
us in the future. There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors,
officers, employees or other agents as to which indemnification is being sought nor are we aware of
any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted
to directors, officers or controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been
informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act, and is therefore unenforceable.
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