10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 000-50344

 

 

LPATH, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Nevada   16-1630142
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

6335 Ferris Square, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92121

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(858) 678-0800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares of issuer’s outstanding Class A common stock as of November 12, 2009 was 53,004,263.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

LPATH, INC.

FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION    3

ITEM 1:

   Financial Statements    3

ITEM 2:

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    10

ITEM 4:

   Controls and Procedures    13

PART II

   OTHER INFORMATION    14

ITEM 1:

   Legal Proceedings    14

ITEM 2:

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    14

ITEM 3:

   Defaults upon Senior Securities    14

ITEM 4:

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    14

ITEM 5:

   Other Information    14

ITEM 6:

   Exhibits    14

SIGNATURES

   16

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LPATH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

     September 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,453,278      $ 7,775,593   

Accounts receivable

     551,034        656,221   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     147,457        204,863   
                

Total current assets

     7,151,769        8,636,677   

Equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     270,516        285,218   

Patents, net

     832,543        462,785   

Deposits and other assets

     38,181        37,272   
                

Total assets

   $ 8,293,009      $ 9,421,952   
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 487,715      $ 1,123,836   

Accrued compensation

     268,889        459,831   

Accrued expenses

     585,962        391,836   

Deferred contract revenue

     489,362        3,333,333   

Deferred rent, current portion

     55,530        51,130   

Leasehold improvement debt, current portion

     16,220        15,278   
                

Total current liabilities

     1,903,678        5,375,244   

Deferred rent, long-term portion

     7,976        49,990   

Leasehold improvement debt, long-term portion

     2,831        15,116   

Long-term accrued liabilities

     —          411,802   

Warrants

     4,400,000        —     
                

Total liabilities

     6,314,485        5,852,152   
                

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common stock - $.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 52,966,138 and 52,657,911 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

     52,966        52,657   

Additional paid-in capital

     34,327,845        43,144,945   

Accumulated deficit

     (32,402,287     (39,627,802
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,978,524        3,569,800   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 8,293,009      $ 9,421,952   
                

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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LPATH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009    2008  

Revenues:

         

Grant and royalty revenue

   $ 998,367      $ 905,198      $ 551,034    $ 430,484   

Research and development revenue under collaborative agreement

     9,343,971        —          4,343,971      —     
                               

Total revenues

     10,342,338        905,198        4,895,005      430,484   

Expenses:

         

Research and development

     5,382,133        7,390,689        1,699,145      1,747,300   

General and administrative

     2,822,309        3,343,870        734,322      923,594   
                               

Total expenses

     8,204,442        10,734,559        2,433,467      2,670,894   
                               

Income (loss) from operations

     2,137,896        (9,829,361     2,461,538      (2,240,410
                               

Other income (expense), net

     (12,381     154,576        24,870      76,788   

Change in fair value of warrants

     1,900,000        —          4,900,000      —     
                               

Total other income (expense)

     1,887,619        154,576        4,924,870      76,788   
                               

Net income (loss)

   $ 4,025,515      $ (9,674,785   $ 7,386,408    $ (2,163,622
                               

Earnings (loss) per share

         

Basic

   $ 0.07      $ (0.21   $ 0.14    $ (0.04

Diluted

   $ 0.07      $ (0.21   $ 0.13    $ (0.04

Weighted average shares outstanding used in the calculation

         

Basic

     54,350,549        46,537,324        54,348,769      49,137,774   

Diluted

     56,638,516        46,537,324        57,269,169      49,137,774   

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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LPATH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 4,025,515      $ (9,674,785

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Stock-based compensation expense

     648,066        1,996,657   

Change in fair value of warrants

     (1,900,000     —     

Depreciation and amortization

     121,611        175,984   

Deferred rent expense

     (37,614     (33,343

Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss

     43,370        (66,942

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     105,187        (370,107

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     57,406        74,118   

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (1,088,109     (227,568

Deferred contract revenue

     (2,843,971     —     

Deposits and other assets

     (909     2,425   
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (869,448     (8,123,561
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Equipment and leasehold improvement expenditures

     (99,409     (3,112

Patent expenditures

     (377,258     (60,683
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (476,667     (63,795
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants, net

     —          6,369,070   

Proceeds from options and warrants exercised

     35,143        211,478   

Repayments of leasehold improvement debt

     (11,343     (10,474
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     23,800        6,570,074   
                

Net decrease in cash

     (1,322,315     (1,617,282

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     7,775,593        7,521,071   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 6,453,278      $ 5,903,789   
                

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Income taxes

   $ 1,600      $ 1,600   
                

Supplemental Schedule of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:

    

Change in fair value of warrant liability

   $ (1,900,000   $ —     
                

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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LPATH, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009

Note 1 – BASIS FOR PRESENTATION

The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of Lpath, Inc. (“Lpath” or “the company”) as of December 31, 2008 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not contain all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and certain information and disclosures normally included have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Except as otherwise disclosed, all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain reclassifications of 2008 amounts have been made to conform to 2009 presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On July 1, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 , The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This statement establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP in the United States (“the GAAP hierarchy”). Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending on or after September 15, 2009. All then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards are superseded and all non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification is deemed non-authoritative. There was no impact of Lpath’s compliance with the Codification on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2009, the FASB issued Update 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements – a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13 amends Subtopic 605-25 to provide new guidance concerning (1) the determination of whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting, and (2) the manner in which arrangement consideration should be allocated to such deliverables. This update is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010.

Note 2 – GOING CONCERN UNCERTAINTY

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the company will continue as a going concern. As of September 30, 2009, management believes that Lpath’s existing cash and expected funding under its collaborative research and development agreement with Merck KgaA (“Merck”) will be sufficient to meet its planned operating requirements at least through September 2010. There can be no assurance that Merck will not cancel the agreement before the conclusion of the initial development period. In the event that Merck cancels its agreement with Lpath, it would need to seek additional sources of capital. The company expects to continue to incur cash losses from operations throughout 2009 and 2010. The cost of Lpath’s ongoing drug discovery and development efforts, including general and administrative expenses are expected to consume between $10 and $15 million in 2010. Additional capital may be required to continue to fund the company’s research and development projects in 2010 and beyond. In the event Lpath needs to raise additional capital, it would:

 

  1. Pursue additional fund raising activities from both existing and potential new investors.

 

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  2. Explore cash generating opportunities from strategic alliances, including licensing portions of its technology or entering into corporate partnerships or collaborations. In such transactions, Lpath could transfer certain rights to one or more of its drug discovery or development programs, or to specific indications within those programs and receive infusions of cash in the short-term, and potentially in the long-term as well.

 

  3. Continue to seek additional research grants from the National Institutes of Health or other sources.

Note 3 – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT

In connection with its ASONEP license agreement with Merck, Lpath announced on August 24, 2009 that it had achieved one of four Phase 1 objectives established by Merck. As a result, Lpath received a non-refundable substantive milestone payment and recognized revenue of $2 million for having demonstrated commercially acceptable yields in its optimized fermentation process.

Lpath determined that the milestone is substantive because:

 

  1. The consideration earned from the achievement of the milestone was commensurate with Lpath’s efforts to achieve the milestone and with the enhancement of the value of ASONEP, which resulted from the specific outcome of the milestone.

 

  2. The consideration for the milestone relates solely to Lpath’s past performance and is reasonable relative to other deliverables and payment terms in the Merck agreement.

 

  3. At the inception of the collaborative agreement, there was substantial uncertainty regarding whether the specific manufacturing optimization goal of the milestone would be met.

On September 18, 2009, Lpath, Inc. and Merck entered into an amendment to the ASONEP license agreement. In the amendment, Merck formally notified Lpath that Merck had exercised its right to extend the decision deadline to take responsibility for the Phase 2 clinical trials. The parties agreed that such deadline is now June 27, 2010, two months later than previously allowed under the license agreement. Lpath will continue to receive the previously agreed upon monthly research and development funding from Merck until April 28, 2010.

The company accounts for the license agreement as a single unit of accounting. Revenue is recognized over the anticipated performance period using the straight-line method. The license agreement provides that under certain circumstances, Lpath will be obligated to partially reimburse Merck for a portion of its research and development costs related to ASONEP. If such costs are incurred in the future, they will be reflected in Lpath’s financial statements as research and development costs. As of September 30, 2009, Lpath had incurred no such costs. Because of the September 18, 2009 amendment, the anticipated performance period has been extended to June 27, 2010. As of September 30, 2009, Lpath had deferred revenue of $489,362 related principally to the upfront licensing fee received in October 2008.

Note 4 – SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The company recognized share-based compensation expense as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   Three Months Ended
September 30,
     2009    2008    2009     2008

Research and development

   $ 81,468    $ 624,042    $ (10,004   $ 6,153

General and administrative

     566,598      1,372,615      29,584        136,031
                            

Total share-based compensation expense

   $ 648,066    $ 1,996,657    $ 19,580      $ 142,184
                            

As of September 30, 2009 there was a total of $1.6 million unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based compensation under the plan. That expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years. Because of its net operating loss carryforwards, the company did not realize any tax benefits for the tax deductions from share-based payment arrangements during the periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

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Note 5 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The company measures fair value in accordance with the applicable accounting standards in the FASB Codification. Fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, there exists a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 

   

Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

 

   

Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data.

 

   

Level 3 — unobservable inputs for the asset or liability only used when there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

This hierarchy requires the company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value.

Recurring Fair Value Estimates

The company’s recurring fair value measurements at September 30, 2009 were as follows:

 

     Fair Value as of
September 30, 2009
   In Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
   Unrealized Gains
during the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2009

Liabilities:

              

Warrants expiring April - June 2012

   $ 3,500,000    $ —      $ —      $ 3,500,000    $ 1,400,000

Warrants expiring August 2013

     900,000      —        —        900,000      500,000
                                  
   $ 4,400,000    $ —      $ —      $ 4,400,000    $ 1,900,000
                                  

The unrealized gains for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2009 are included on the income statement as change in fair value of warrants.

Recurring Level 3 Activity, Reconciliation, and Basis for Valuation

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The table reflects net gains and losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 for all financial assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 as of September 30, 2009.

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3):

 

Liabilities:

  

Warrant liability as of January 1, 2009

   $ 6,300,000   

Decrease in fair value of warrants

     (1,900,000
        

Warrant liability as of September 30, 2009

   $ 4,400,000   
        

The company determined the fair value of the warrants using a Black-Scholes model with consideration given to their “down-round” protection provisions that reduce the exercise price if the company issues new warrants or equity at a price lower than the stated exercise price. The model considered amounts and timing of future possible equity and warrant issuances and historical volatility of the company’s stock price.

 

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Note 6 – EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share were calculated as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009    2008     2009    2008  

Net income (loss)

   $ 4,025,515    $ (9,674,785   $ 3,459,521    $ (2,163,622
                              

Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share

     54,350,549      46,537,324        54,348,769      49,137,774   

Additional dilutive shares from the assumed exercise of outstanding:

          

Options

     1,456,156      —          1,623,305      —     

Restricted stock units

     214,909      —          306,159      —     

Warrants

     616,902      —          990,936      —     
                              

Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per share

     56,638,516      46,537,324        57,269,169      49,137,774   
                              

Options to purchase 414,700 shares of common stock, warrants to purchase 15,339,138 shares of common stock, and 645,748 restricted stock units were outstanding during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because they were anti-dilutive. Options to purchase 3,830,009 shares of common stock, warrants to purchase 16,433,466 shares of common stock, and 2,233,425 restricted stock units were outstanding during the quarter ended September 30, 2008 but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because they were anti-dilutive.

Note 7 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Lpath has completed an evaluation of subsequent events through November 12, 2009, which is the issuance date of these condensed consolidated financial statements, and concluded no subsequent events have occurred that require recognition or disclosure.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) and the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “2008 Annual Report”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors including but not limited to those identified in the 2008 Annual Report in the section entitled “Market Risks.”

Overview

Lpath, Inc. (“Lpath” or “the company”) is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of lipidomic-based therapeutics. Lipidomics is an emerging field of medical science whereby bioactive signaling lipids are targeted to treat important human diseases. Our lead product candidate, ASONEP™, is a monoclonal antibody against sphingosine-1-phosphate (“S1P”). ASONEP is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials and holds promise for the treatment of cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases. A second product candidate, iSONEP™ (another formulation of the same S1P-targeted antibody), has recently completed Phase 1 clinical trials, in which it was well tolerated and no drug-related serious adverse events were reported. In preclinical studies iSONEP demonstrated positive results in various models of human ocular disease, including age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy, and glaucoma. Our third product candidate, Lpathomab™, is an antibody against lysophosphatidic acid (“LPA”), a key bioactive lipid that has been long recognized as a valid disease target. Lpath’s unique ability to generate novel antibodies against bioactive lipids is based on its ImmuneY2™ technology, a series of proprietary processes developed by the company. We are currently applying the Immune Y2 process to other lipid-signaling agents that are validated targets for disease treatment, thereby potentially creating a pipeline of monoclonal antibody-based drug candidates.

Lpath has incurred significant net losses since its inception. As of September 30, 2009, Lpath had an accumulated deficit of approximately $32.4 million. Lpath expects its operating losses to increase for the next several years as it pursues the clinical development of its product candidates. Such losses would be mitigated or offset if, (i) after the initial development period, Merck KgaA, (“Merck”) elects to accept responsibility and related expenses for further development of ASONEP, (ii) we enter into additional licensing agreements, or (iii) obtain significant other sources of income,

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008

Grant and Royalty Revenue. Grant and royalty revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 was $998,000 compared to $905,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008. The increase of $93,000 reflects work on three new grants awarded to Lpath by the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) in 2009.

Research and Development Revenue Under Collaborative Agreement. During the three quarters ended September 30, 2009, work continued under the terms of the collaborative research and development agreement with Merck. We received research and development funding of $4,500,000 and a milestone payment of $2,000,000. We recognized revenue related to the Merck agreement totaling $9,344,000, including $2,000,000 related to the milestone achievement and $7,344,000 from monthly research and development funding and a portion of the deferred revenue associated with the upfront payment received in November 2008. As described in Note 2 to the financial statements, Lpath and Merck amended the agreement on September 18, 2009 to extend the initial development period to June 27, 2010, two months later than previously allowed under the license agreement.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses decreased from $7,391,000 for the first three quarters of 2008 to $5,382,000 for the comparable period of 2009, a decrease of $2,009,000. Outside services, consulting, and lab supplies expenses decreased by $1,937,000 in 2009 due to significant costs incurred in 2008 to manufacture drug supplies and other expenses associated with the initiation of Phase 1 clinical trials for ASONEP and iSONEP. Employee compensation and benefits expense increased by $494,000 in 2009 compared to 2008. The increase is due principally to severance costs related to the departure of a senior research and development executive incurred in the first quarter of 2009, additions to our research and development staff in the fourth quarter of 2008, and merit pay increases implemented in 2009. Stock-based compensation charges decreased by $543,000 due principally to two factors: (1) the average market value of Lpath’s common stock was relatively low during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 2008 (Lpath’s stock price is a key factor in the calculation of stock-based compensation expense for outside consultants), and (2) adjustments for forfeited restricted stock units.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $2,822,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 compared to $3,344,000 for the same period in 2008, a decrease of $522,000. Stock compensation expense decreased by $806,000 in 2009. This decrease is due principally to the decline in Lpath’s stock price compared to 2008 and cliff vesting of restricted stock units that occurred in 2008. Employee compensation and benefits expenses increased in 2009 compared to 2008 by $256,000 due to increased staffing and merit increases.

 

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Other Income (Expense), net. Other income (expense) netted to $12,000 of expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $155,000 of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, a decrease of $167,000. This net change is principally comprised of two elements: (1) interest income decreased by $59,000 in 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008 as a result of lower prevailing interest rates; and (2) Lpath recognized a foreign currency loss of $43,000 in 2009 compared to a gain of $67,000 in 2008 due to fluctuations in the exchange rate used to translate the carrying amount of the company’s accrued liability related to a license agreement obligating the company to make payments in Pounds Sterling.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants. Various factors are considered in the Black-Scholes model we use to value the warrants, including the company’s current stock price, the remaining life of the warrants, the volatility of the company’s stock price, and the risk free interest rate. Future changes in these factors will have a significant impact on the computed fair value of the warrant liability. The most significant factor in the valuation model is the company’s stock price. Lpath’s stock is very thinly traded and relatively small transactions can impact the company’s quoted stock price significantly. As a result, the company’s stock price volatility factor is approximately 90%. As such, we expect future changes in the fair value of the warrants to continue to vary significantly from quarter to quarter. Management cautions that the $1,900,000 decrease in fair value of the warrants, and corresponding credit to the results of operations, recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and all future such changes, should not be given undue importance when considering the financial condition of Lpath and the results of its operations. Management does not believe that these adjustments, which are required by current generally accepted accounting principles, reflect economic activities or financial obligations undertaken by the company.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008

Grant and Royalty Revenue. Grant and royalty revenue for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 was $551,000 compared to $430,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008. The increase of $121,000 reflects work on three new grants awarded to Lpath by the NIH in 2009.

Research and Development Revenue Under Collaborative Agreement. During the third quarter of 2009, work continued under the terms of the collaborative research and development agreement with Merck. We received research and development funding of $1,500,000 and a milestone payment of $2,000,000. We recognized $2,000,000 of revenue related to the milestone payment and $2,344,000 related to monthly research and development funding and amortization of the upfront licensing fee received in November 2008.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses decreased from $1,747,000 for the third quarter of 2008 to $1,699,000 for the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of $48,000. Outside services, consulting, and lab supplies expenses decreased by $174,000 in 2009 due to significant costs incurred in the third quarter of 2008 to support two Phase 1 clinical trials. Employee compensation and benefits expense increased by $157,000 in 2009 compared to 2008. The increase is due principally to staffing and merit pay increases implemented in 2009. Stock-based compensation charges decreased by $16,000 in 2009 due principally to Lpath’s lower stock price at September 30, 2009 ($0.84) compared to the price at September 30, 2008 ($0.96).

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $734,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 compared to $924,000 for the same period in 2008, a decrease of $190,000. Employee compensation and benefits expenses increased in 2009 compared to 2008 by $42,000 due to increased staffing and merit increases in pay rates. Outside services, including legal, accounting, consulting, and fees to non-management directors, decreased in aggregate by $124,000 in 2009 due principally to the fact that unusually high legal fees were incurred in 2008 to support the negotiation of the collaboration with Merck.

Other Income (Expense), net. Other income was $25,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $77,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008, a decrease of $52,000. Interest income decreased by $13,000 in 2009 as a result of lower interest rates that prevailed in 2009. Lpath recognized foreign currency gains of $17,000 and $65,000 during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, due to decreases during the quarter in the exchange rate used to translate the carrying amount of the company’s accrued liability related to a license agreement obligating the company to make payments in Pounds Sterling.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants. The company recorded other income of $4,900,000 for the three month period ended September 30, 2009 to record the decrease in fair value of outstanding warrants. This decrease in fair value was driven principally by the decrease in Lpath’s stock price from $1.42 at June 30, 2009 to $0.84 at September 30, 2009.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since Lpath’s inception, its operations have been financed primarily through the private placement of equity and debt securities. Through September 30, 2009, Lpath had received net proceeds of approximately $36,400,000 from the sale of equity securities and from the issuance of convertible promissory notes. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Lpath began to receive substantial funding from a research and development arrangement with Merck. Through September 30, 2009, Lpath had received $11,500,000 from this collaborative research and development agreement. As of September 30, 2009, Lpath had cash and cash equivalents totaling $6,453,000.

 

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During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we used net cash of $869,000 for operating activities compared to $8,124,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The $7,237,000 decrease in net cash used in operating activities in 2009 was driven primarily by the receipt of $6,500,000 from Merck in connection with our collaborative research and development agreement and lower levels of research and development spending. Net cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $477,000 compared to $64,000 during the same period in 2008. Of the amount used for investing activities in 2009, $377,000 was invested in the prosecution of additional patents compared to $61,000 in 2008. In addition, 2009 acquisitions of equipment and leasehold improvements totaled $99,000 in 2009 compared to $3,000 in 2008.

Net cash provided from financing activities during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 totaled approximately $24,000 compared to $6,570,000 in the first nine months of 2008. In 2008, we realized $6,370,000 from the sale of common stock and warrants.

We believe that our existing cash and expected funding under Lpath’s collaborative research and development agreement with Merck will be sufficient to meet Lpath’s planned operating requirements at least through September 2010. There can be no assurance that Merck will not cancel the agreement before the conclusion of the initial development period. In the event that Merck cancels its agreement with us, we would need to seek additional sources of capital. We expect to continue to incur cash losses from operations throughout 2009 and 2010. The cost of our ongoing drug discovery and development efforts, including general and administrative expenses, are expected to consume between $10 and $15 million in 2010. Additional capital may be required to continue to fund the company’s research and development projects in 2010 and beyond. In the event we need to raise additional capital, we would:

 

  1. Pursue additional fund raising activities from both existing and potential new investors.

 

  2. Explore cash generating opportunities from strategic alliances, including licensing portions of our technology or entering into corporate partnerships or collaborations. In such transactions, Lpath could transfer certain rights to one or more of its drug discovery or development programs, or to specific indications within those programs, and receive infusions of cash in the short-term, and potentially in the long-term as well.

 

  3. Continue to seek additional research grants from the NIH or other sources.

Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates, and Judgments

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We continually evaluate our estimates and judgments, the most critical of which are those related to revenue recognition, valuation of long-lived assets and warrant liability, share-based compensation, the timing of the achievement of drug development milestones, and income taxes. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Materially different results can occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known.

Besides the estimates identified above that are considered critical, we make many other accounting estimates in preparing our financial statements and related disclosures. All estimates, whether or not deemed critical, affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and judgments are also based on historical experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Materially different results can occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known, even for estimates and judgments that are not deemed critical.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On July 1, 2009, the Financial Standards Accounting Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 , The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This statement establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP in the United States (“the GAAP hierarchy”). Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending on or after September 15, 2009. All then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards are superseded and all non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification is deemed non-authoritative. There was no impact of the Codification on Lpath’s financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2009, The FASB issued Update 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements – a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13 amends Subtopic 605-25 to provide new guidance concerning (1) the determination of whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting, and (2) the manner in which arrangement consideration should be allocated to such deliverables. This update is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and with the participation of all members of management, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were designed and operating effectively as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, cannot be certain that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all instances of errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibit index shows those exhibits filed with this report and those incorporated herein by reference:

 

2.1*

   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, by and between Neighborhood Connections, Inc., Neighborhood Connections Acquisition Corporation, and Lpath Therapeutics Inc. dated July 15, 2005.

2.2

   Acquisition Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 19, 2004, between Neighborhood Connections, Inc. and JCG, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 22, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.1*

   Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed December 1, 2005.

3.2

   Articles of Incorporation filed on September 18, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended December 31, 2003 (the “2003 Amended 10-KSB”) (filed on March 25, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.3

   Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed on December 27, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on January 9, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.4

   Amended and Restated By-laws (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed on November 13, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.5

   Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended on April 3, 2007 (conformed) (filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2, SEC File No. 144199 (the “June 2007 SB-2”) and incorporated herein by reference).

3.6

   Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed on June 8, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.6 to the June 2007 SB-2 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.1*

   Form of Warrant issued to Western States Investment Corporation for lease guaranty.

4.2*

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated June 30, 2005.

4.3*

   Form of Warrant issued to purchasers of Convertible Secured Promissory Notes as amended by the Omnibus Amendment to Convertible Secured Promissory Notes and Warrants dated November 30, 2005.

4.4*

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated November 30, 2005.

4.5#

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated January 31, 2006.

 

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4.6

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated March 28, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on March 30, 2006, SEC File No. 333-132850, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.7

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 6, 2007 (April 2007 Warrants) (filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the June 2007 SB-2 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.8

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 13, 2007 (June 2007 Warrants) (filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the June 2007 SB-2 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.9

   Form of Warrant issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated August 12, 2008 (August 2008 Warrants) (filed as Exhibit 4.10 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on September 11, 2008, SEC File No. 333-153423 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.1*

   Lease Agreement dated August 12, 2005 between Lpath Therapeutics Inc. and Pointe Camino Windell, LLC.

10.2*

   Research Agreement dated January 28, 2004 between Medlyte, Inc. and San Diego State University, together with Amendments No.1 and No.2.

10.3*

   Assignment Agreement dated June 9, 2005 between Lpath Therapeutics Inc. and LPL Technologies, Inc.

10.4

   Research Collaboration Agreement dated August 2, 2005 between Lpath Therapeutics Inc. and AERES Biomedical Limited (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on January 9, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference) (portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).

10.5*

   Lpath, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (filed as Appendix A to the Company’s Schedule 14-A Proxy Statement filed on August 28, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.6#

   Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated December 1, 2005 by and between Lpath, Inc. and Lpath Therapeutics, Inc.

10.7**

   Form of Employment Agreement between Lpath, Inc. and Scott R. Pancoast dated as of January 1, 2006.

10.8**

   Form of Employment Agreement between Lpath, Inc. and Gary Atkinson dated as of February 6, 2006.

10.9**

   Form of Consultant Agreement between Lpath, Inc. and William Garland dated as of January 1, 2006.

10.10**

   Form of Consultant Agreement between Lpath, Inc. and Roger Sabbadini dated as of February 1, 2006.

10.11

   Development and Manufacturing Services Agreement dated August 16, 2006 between Lpath Inc. and Laureate Pharma, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 filed on November 13, 2006 and incorporated by reference) (portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).

10.12

   Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2007, by and among Lpath, Inc. and each investor identified therein (filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the June 2007 SB-2 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.13

  

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2007, by and among Lpath, Inc. and each investor identified

therein (filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the June 2007 SB-2 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.14##

   License Agreement dated August 8, 2006 between Lonza Biologics PLC and Lpath, Inc. (portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).

10.15

   Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 12, 2008, by and among Lpath, Inc. and each of the investors identified therein (filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the 2008 S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

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10.16

   Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 12, 2008, by and among Lpath, Inc. and each of the investors identified therein (filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the 2008 S-1 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.17***

   License Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2008, by and between Lpath, Inc. and Merck KgaA (portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).

10.18

   Amendment No. 1 dated September 18, 2009 to the License Agreement dated October 28, 2008, by and between Lpath, Inc. and Merck KgaA (portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).

31.1

   Section 302 Certification by Chief Executive Officer of Lpath, Inc.

31.2

   Section 302 Certification by Chief Financial Officer of Lpath, Inc.

32.1

   Section 906 Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Lpath, Inc.

 

* Filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 6, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference
# Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference
** Filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference
## Filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 filed with the SEC on November 13, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference
*** Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC on March 25, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

    Lpath, Inc.
Date: November 12, 2009     /s/    Scott R. Pancoast
    Scott R. Pancoast
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal executive officer)
      /s/    Gary J.G. Atkinson,
    Gary J.G. Atkinson,
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal financial and accounting officer)

 

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