UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
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
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ⌧
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |
Smaller reporting company | |||
Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of May 8, 2023, was:
MARINUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2023
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the “Company,” “Marinus,” “we,” “us,” and “our” include Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marinus Pharmaceuticals Emerald Limited, an Ireland company.
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PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
MARINUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
ASSETS |
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| |||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | |||
Short-term investments | | — | |||||
Accounts receivable, net | | | |||||
Inventory | | | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Other assets |
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Total assets | $ | | $ | | |||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | | $ | | |||
Current portion of revenue interest financing payable | | | |||||
Accrued expenses | | | |||||
Total current liabilities |
| |
| | |||
Notes payable, net of deferred financing costs | | | |||||
Revenue interest financing payable, net of deferred financing costs | | | |||||
Contract liabilities, net | | | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | | | |||||
Total liabilities | | | |||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
Series A convertible preferred stock, $ | | | |||||
Common stock, $ |
| |
| | |||
Additional paid-in capital |
| |
| | |||
Treasury stock at cost, |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income | | — | |||||
Accumulated deficit |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Total stockholders’ equity |
| |
| | |||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | | $ | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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MARINUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| |||
Revenue: |
| ||||||
Product revenue, net |
| $ | |
| $ | — | |
Federal contract revenue | | | |||||
Collaboration revenue |
| — |
| | |||
Total revenue | | | |||||
Expenses: | |||||||
Research and development | | | |||||
Selling, general and administrative |
| |
| | |||
Cost of product revenue | | — | |||||
Cost of IP license fee |
| — |
| | |||
Total expenses |
| |
| | |||
Loss from operations |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Interest income |
| |
| | |||
Interest expense |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Other income (expense), net |
| |
| ( | |||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Per share information: | |||||||
Net loss per share of common stock—basic and diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
| |
| | |||
Other comprehensive income: | |||||||
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities | | — | |||||
Total comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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MARINUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, |
| ||||||
2023 | 2022 |
| |||||
| |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities |
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Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| |
| | |||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | | | |||||
Accretion of revenue interest financing debt | | — | |||||
Amortization of discount on short-term investments | ( | — | |||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| | |||
Amortization of net contract asset/liability | ( | ( | |||||
Noncash lease expense |
| |
| | |||
Noncash lease liability | | | |||||
Write off of fixed assets | | | |||||
Issuance of common stock for cost of license agreement | — | | |||||
Unrealized loss on foreign currency transactions | — | | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Refund liability | — | ( | |||||
Net contract asset/liability |
| |
| | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, non-current assets, inventory and accounts receivable |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Net cash used in operating activities |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||
Purchases of short-term investments | ( | — | |||||
Purchases of property and equipment |
| — |
| ( | |||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
| — |
| | |||
Proceeds from notes payable, net of fees | — | | |||||
Payments of revenue interesting financing debt | ( | — | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
| ( |
| | |||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
| ( |
| | |||
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period |
| |
| | |||
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period | $ | | $ | | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | |||||||
Unrealized gain on short-term investments | $ | | $ | — | |||
Debt issuance costs included in accrued expenses | $ | — | $ | | |||
Property and equipment in accrued expenses | $ | — | $ | | |||
Cash paid for interest during the period | $ | | $ | — | |||
Property and equipment in deposits placed in service | $ | — | $ | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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MARINUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series A | Additional | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Convertible Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Treasury Stock | Comprehensive | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Income |
| Deficit |
| Equity | |||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2021 | | $ | |
| | $ | | $ | | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||||
Stock‑based compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock related to IP license agreement with Ovid | — | — | | — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | | $ | |
| | $ | | $ | | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2022 | | $ | | | $ | | $ | | | $ | — | — | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net issuance of common stock in connection with the vesting of restricted stock | — | — | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized gain on short-term investments | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ( | ( | ||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | | $ | | | $ | | $ | | | $ | — | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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MARINUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of the Business and Liquidity
We are a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of seizure disorders, including rare genetic epilepsies and status epilepticus. On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved our new drug application (NDA) for the use of ZTALMY (ganaxolone) oral suspension for the treatment of seizures associated with Cyclin-dependent Kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) Deficiency Disorder (CDD) in patients 2 years of age and older. In June 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register placing ganaxolone and its salts in schedule V (CV) of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which rule became final on December 9, 2022. ZTALMY, our first FDA approved product, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. We are developing ganaxolone for the treatment of other rare genetic epilepsies, including Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), and for the treatment of status epilepticus (SE). We are developing ganaxolone in formulations for two different routes of administration: intravenous (IV) and oral. The different formulations are intended to maximize potential therapeutic applications of ganaxolone for adult and pediatric patient populations, in both acute and chronic care, and for both acute in-hospital care and chronic at home-administration settings. While the precise mechanism by which ganaxolone exerts its therapeutic effects in the treatment of seizures is unknown, its anticonvulsant effects are thought to result from positive allosteric modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor in the central nervous system (CNS). Ganaxolone is a synthetic analog of allopregnanolone, an endogenous neurosteroid. Ganaxolone acts at both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors, a target known for its anti-seizure, antidepressant and anxiolytic potential.
COVID-19 affected our clinical operations and timelines. For example, our RAISE trial for refractory SE (RSE) is conducted in hospitals, primarily intensive care units in academic medical centers, which experienced high rates of COVID-19 admissions. Several of these sites participating in the RAISE trial experienced COVID-related difficulties, including staff turnover and the need to devote significant resources to patients with COVID-19, which resulted in site initiation and enrollment delays for the RAISE trial. Given these COVID-19-related challenges and the interruption in drug supply in mid-2022, we previously adjusted our expectation for our top-line data readout for the RAISE trial. In May 2022, we resumed screening and recruitment for the RAISE trial. We now expect our interim analysis with top-line data readout for the RAISE trial to be available by the end of 2023.
Liquidity
Since inception, other than for the three months ended September 30, 2022 due to a one-time net gain from the sale of our Priority Review Voucher (PRV), we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We incurred a net loss of $
Management’s operating plan, which underlies the analysis of our ability to continue as a going concern, involves the estimation of the amount and timing of future cash inflows and outflows. Actual results could vary from the operating plan. We follow the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern, which requires management to assess our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2023, will be sufficient to
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fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, as well as maintain the minimum cash balance required under our debt facility, into the second half of 2024. However, we will need to secure additional funding in the future, from one or more equity or debt financings, government funding, collaborations, licensing transactions, other commercial transactions or other sources in order to carry out all of our commercialization and planned research and development activities with respect to ganaxolone.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) as well as the accounts of Marinus Pharmaceuticals Emerald Limited (an Ireland company incorporated in February 2021), a wholly owned subsidiary requiring consolidation. Marinus Pharmaceuticals Emerald Limited serves as a corporate presence in the European Union for regulatory purposes. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all information and disclosures necessary for a presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP) for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and accompanying notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Product Revenue, net
We recognize ZTALMY revenue in accordance with ASC 606 – Revenue from contracts with customers. Our revenue recognition analysis consists of the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue as we satisfy each performance obligation.
Our first FDA approved product, ZTALMY, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. We have
Trade Discounts and Allowances. We provide an incentive prompt payment discount to Orsini as explicitly stated in the contract with Orsini. This discount is recorded as a reduction of ZTALMY revenue and accounts receivable
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in the period in which the related ZTALMY revenue is recognized. We estimate the amount of variable consideration for all discounts and allowances using the expected value method.
Product Returns and Recall. We provide for ZTALMY returns in accordance with our Return Good Policy. We estimate the amount of ZTALMY that may be returned using the expected value method, and we present this amount as a reduction of ZTALMY revenue in the period the related ZTALMY revenue is recognized. In the event of a recall, we will promptly notify Orsini and will reimburse Orsini for direct administrative expenses incurred in connection with the recall as well as the cost of replacement product.
Government Rebates. We are subject to discount obligations under state Medicaid programs, Medicare, and the Tricare Retail Refund Program. We estimate reserves related to these discount programs and record these obligations in the same period the related revenue is recognized, resulting in a reduction of product revenue.
Patient Assistance. We offer a voluntary co-pay patient assistance program intended to provide financial assistance to eligible patients with a prescription drug co-payment required by payors and coupon programs for cash payors. The calculation of the current liability for this assistance is based on an estimate of claims and the cost per claim that we expect to receive associated with ZTALMY that has been recognized as revenue but remains in the distribution channel inventories at the end of each reporting period.
Federal Contract Revenue
We recognize federal contract revenue from the BARDA Contract in the period in which the allowable research and development expenses are incurred, and receivables associated with this revenue are included within accounts receivable on our interim consolidated balance sheets. This revenue is not within the scope of ASC 606 – Revenue from contracts with customers.
Short-term Investments
We classify our short-term investments as available-for-sale securities, which include U.S. government agency debt securities and U.S. treasury debt securities with original maturities of greater than three months. These securities are carried at fair market value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in comprehensive loss and accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. All of our investments were short-term in nature as of March 31, 2023.
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Accounts Receivable, net
Net trade receivables related to ZTALMY sales, which are recorded in net accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets, were approximately $
Excluding net trade receivables, accounts receivable represents amounts due to us under the BARDA contract for valid expenditures expected to be reimbursed to us under the terms of the BARDA contract and current amounts due to us from Orion Corporation (Orion) under the collaboration agreement (Note 12).
Inventory
Inventories are recorded using actual costs and may consist of raw materials (ganaxolone API), work in process and finished goods. We began capitalizing inventory related to ZTALMY subsequent to the March 2022 FDA approval of ZTALMY, as the related costs were expected to be recoverable through the commercialization and subsequent sale of ZTALMY. Prior to FDA approval of ZTALMY, costs estimated at approximately $
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with Note payable (Note 10) and revenue interest financing payable (Note 11) are amortized to interest expense over the term of the respective financing arrangement using the effective-interest method. Debt issuance costs, net of related amortization, are deducted from the carrying value of the related debt.
Contract Liabilities, net
When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to completing our performance obligation to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded. Contract liabilities expected to be recognized as revenue or a reduction of expense within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current liabilities. Contract liabilities not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as long-term liabilities. In accordance with ASC 210-20, our contract liabilities are partially offset by our contract assets as further discussed in Note 12.
Liability Related to Revenue Interest Financing and Non-Cash Interest Expense
In October 2022, we recognized a liability related to the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with Sagard Healthcare Royalty Partners, LP (Sagard) under ASC 470-10 Debt and ASC 835-30 Interest - Imputation of Interest. The initial funds we received from Sagard pursuant to the terms of the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement were recorded as a liability and will be accreted under the effective interest method upon the estimated amount of future royalty payments to be made pursuant to the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement. The issuance costs were recorded as a direct deduction to the carrying amount of the liability and will be amortized under the effective interest method over the estimated period the liability will be repaid. We estimated the total amount of future product revenue to be generated over the life of the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, and a significant increase or decrease in these estimates could materially impact the liability balance and the related interest expense. If the timing or amounts of any estimated future revenue and related payments change, we will prospectively adjust the effective interest and the related amortization of the liability and related issuance costs.
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Collaboration and Licensing Revenue
We may enter into collaboration and licensing arrangements for research and development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities with counterparties for the development and commercialization of our product candidates. These arrangements may contain multiple components, such as (i) licenses, (ii) research and development activities, and (iii) the manufacturing of certain material. Payments pursuant to these arrangements may include non-refundable and refundable payments, payments upon the achievement of significant regulatory, development and commercial milestones, sales of product at certain agreed-upon amounts, and royalties on product sales. The amount of variable consideration is constrained until it is probable that the revenue is not at a significant risk of reversal in a future period.
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under a collaboration agreement, we perform the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue as we satisfy each performance obligation.
We must develop estimates and assumptions that require judgment to determine the underlying stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation, which determines how the transaction price is allocated among the performance obligations. The estimation of the stand-alone selling price may include such estimates as forecasted revenues and costs, development timelines, discount rates and probabilities of regulatory and commercial success. We also apply significant judgment when evaluating whether contractual obligations represent distinct performance obligations, allocating transaction price to performance obligations within a contract, determining when performance obligations have been met, assessing the recognition and future reversal of variable consideration and determining and applying appropriate methods of measuring progress for performance obligations satisfied over time.
3. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
As of March 31, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents included $
The following table provides details regarding our portfolio of short-term investments (in thousands):
| Amortized Cost |
| Unrealized Gains |
| Unrealized Losses |
| Fair Value | |||||
March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury securities | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | ||||
U.S. Government Agency securities | | | — | | ||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | |
We did not have any short-term investments as of December 31, 2022.
4. Fair Value Measurements
FASB accounting guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The accounting guidance outlines a valuation framework and creates a fair value hierarchy in order to increase the consistency and comparability of fair value measurements and the related disclosures. In determining fair value, we use quoted prices and observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources.
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The fair value hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows:
● | Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
● | Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs and quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities. |
● | Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and models that are significant to the overall fair value measurement. |
If the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the category level is based on the lowest priority level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument. As of March 31, 2022, all of our financial assets and liabilities were classified as Level 1 or Level 2 valuations. As of December 31, 2022, all of our financial assets and liabilities were classified as Level 1 valuations.
We estimate the fair values of our financial instruments categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, including U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government Agency securities, by taking into consideration valuations obtained from third-party pricing services. The pricing services use industry standard valuation models, including both income- and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, to estimate fair value. These inputs include reported trades of and broker/dealer quotes on the same or similar securities, benchmark yields, issuer credit spreads, benchmark securities, and other observable inputs. We obtain a single price for each financial instrument and do not adjust the prices obtained from the pricing service.
The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about each major category of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Total |
| |||||
March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||
Cash | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||
Money market funds (cash equivalents) | | — | — | | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury securities | — | | — | | |||||||||
U.S. Government Agency securities | — | | — | | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||
December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||
Cash | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||
Money market funds (cash equivalents) | | — | — | | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | |
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5. Inventory
Inventories are stated at actual costs and consisted of the following (in thousands):
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Raw materials | $ | — | $ | — |
| ||
Work in process | — | — | |||||
Finished goods | | | |||||
Total Inventories | $ | | $ | |
6. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Payroll and related costs | $ | | $ | |
| ||
Clinical trials and drug development | | | |||||
Professional fees | | | |||||
Accrued tax provision | | | |||||
Third-party commercial expenses | | | |||||
Short-term lease liabilities | | | |||||
Other | | | |||||
Total accrued expenses | $ | | $ | |
7. Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock
Basic net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted net loss per share of common stock includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible preferred stock, stock options, and unvested restricted stock, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. In computing the basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, the weighted average number of shares remains the same for both calculations due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive shares are not included in the calculation.
The pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock issued in connection with the November 2022 offering are included in the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share as the exercise price of $
The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding as they would be anti-dilutive:
Three Months Ended | |||||
March 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||
Convertible preferred stock | |
| |
| |
Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units | |
| |
| |
Stock options | |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
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8. Stockholders’ Equity
In 2005, we adopted the 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (2005 Plan) that authorizes us to grant stock options, restricted stock and other equity-based awards. As of March 31, 2023,
Effective August 2014, we adopted our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (2014 Plan), that authorizes us to grant stock options, restricted stock, and other equity-based awards, subject to adjustment in accordance with the 2014 Plan. As of March 31, 2023,
Stock Options
There were
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
All issued and outstanding restricted shares of common stock are time-based, and become vested within
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we granted
Total compensation cost recognized for all stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units in the statements of operations is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended |
| |||||||
March 31, |
| |||||||
2023 | 2022 |
| ||||||
Research and development |
|
| $ | |
| $ | | |
Selling, general and administrative |
| |
| | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | |
Preferred Stock
As of March 31, 2023,
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Stock Issued in Connection with Ovid License Agreement
On March 29, 2022, pursuant to an exclusive patent license agreement with Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (Ovid), we issued
Underwritten Public Offering
In connection with an underwritten public offering in November 2022 and the closing of the related exercise of the underwriters’ option in December 2022, we issued a total of
9. Leases
We have entered into one operating lease for real estate. This lease has a term of
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, ROU assets were $
Because the rate implicit in each lease is not readily determinable, we use our incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of the lease payments. The weighted average incremental borrowing rate used to determine the initial value of ROU assets and lease liabilities was
ROU assets for operating leases are periodically reduced by impairment losses. We use the long-lived assets impairment guidance in ASC Subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment – Overall, to determine whether an ROU
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asset is impaired, and if so, the amount of the impairment loss to recognize. As of both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we have
Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of March 31, 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
|
| |||
Remaining nine months of 2023 | $ | | ||
2024 |
| | ||
2025 |
| | ||
Thereafter |
| — | ||
| ||||
Less: imputed interest | ( | |||
Total lease liabilities | $ | | ||
$ | | |||
| ||||
Total lease liabilities | $ | |
10. Notes Payable
On May 11, 2021 (Closing Date) and as amended on May 17, 2021, May 23, 2022 and October 28, 2022 (Credit Agreement) we entered into the Credit Agreement with Oaktree Fund Administration, LLC as administrative agent (Oaktree) and the lenders party thereto (collectively, the Lenders) that provides for a
Upon entering into the Credit Agreement in May 2021, we borrowed $
● | Through December 31, 2023, $ |
We satisfied the Qualified Financing Condition in connection with our November 2022 underwritten public offering; however, if we are unable to satisfy the remaining condition, we will not be able to draw down the remaining
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tranche of loans and may not be able to obtain alternative financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains a minimum liquidity covenant that requires us to maintain cash and cash equivalents of at least $
The Term Loans will be guaranteed by certain of our future subsidiaries (Guarantors). Our obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of our assets and will be secured by a pledge of substantially all of the assets of the Guarantors.
The Term Loans mature on May 11, 2026 (Maturity Date). The Term Loans bear interest at a fixed per annum rate (subject to increase during an event of default) of
At the time of borrowing any tranche of the Term Loans, we are required to pay an upfront fee of
We may prepay all or any portion of the Term Loans, and are required to make mandatory prepayments of the Term Loans from the proceeds of asset sales, casualty and condemnation events, and prohibited debt issuances, subject to certain exceptions. All mandatory and voluntary prepayments of the Term Loans are subject to prepayment premiums equal to (i)
We are also required to make mandatory prepayments of the Term Loans upon an event of default under the Credit Agreement resulting from the occurrence of a change of control.
In addition, we are required to pay an exit fee in an amount equal to
In addition to the minimum liquidity covenant, we are subject to a number of affirmative and restrictive covenants under the Credit Agreement, including limitations on our ability and our subsidiaries’ abilities, among other things, to incur additional debt, grant or permit additional liens, make investments and acquisitions, merge or consolidate with others, dispose of assets, pay dividends and distributions, and enter into affiliate transactions, subject to certain exceptions. As of March 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants.
Upon the occurrence of certain events, including but not limited to our failure to satisfy our payment obligations under the Credit Agreement, the breach of certain of our other covenants under the Credit Agreement, the occurrence of cross defaults to other indebtedness, or defaults related to enforcement action by the FDA or other Regulatory Authority or recall of ganaxolone, Oaktree and the Lenders will have the right, among other remedies, to accelerate all amounts outstanding under the Term Loans and declare all principal, interest, and outstanding fees immediately due and payable.
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In March 2022, we borrowed $
In September 2021, we borrowed $
In May 2021, we borrowed $
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we recognized interest expense of $
The following table summarizes the composition of Notes payable as reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Gross proceeds | $ | | |
Contractual exit fee |
| | |
Unamortized debt discount and issuance costs |
| ( | |
Total | $ | |
The aggregate maturities of Notes payable as of March 31, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):
Remainder of 2023 | $ | ||
2024 | | ||
2025 | | ||
2026 | | ||
Total | $ | |
11. Revenue Interest Financing Agreement
On October 28, 2022 (Closing Date), we entered into the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with Sagard pursuant to which we received $
In exchange for the Investment Amount, we have agreed to make quarterly payments to Sagard (Payments) as follows: (i) for each calendar quarter from and after the Closing Date through and including the quarter ended June 30, 2026, an amount equal to
The Payments are subject to a hard cap equal to
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including any additional payments described below, equal to the Hard Cap. Further, we have the right to make voluntary prepayments to Sagard, and such payments will be credited against the Hard Cap.
If Sagard has not received aggregate payments equaling at least
The obligations under the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, including the Payments, will be guaranteed by certain of our future subsidiaries that are required to become a party thereto as guarantors (Guarantors). Our obligations under the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement and the guarantee of such obligations are secured, subject to customary permitted liens and other agreed upon exceptions and subject to an intercreditor agreement with Oaktree as administrative agent for the lenders under our credit agreement (as described below, the Credit Agreement), by a pledge of substantially all of our and the Guarantors’ assets that relate to, or are used or held for use for, the development, manufacture, use and/or commercialization of ZTALMY and all other pharmaceutical products that contain ganaxolone in the U.S., including the Product Revenue, pursuant to the terms of the Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and among us, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, and Sagard (Security Agreement).
At any time, we have the right, but not the obligation (Call Option), to repurchase all, but not less than all, of Sagard’s interest in the Payments at a repurchase price (Put/Call Price) equal to: (a) on or before the third anniversary of the Closing Date,
The Revenue Interest Financing Agreement contains certain restrictions on our and our subsidiaries’ abilities, among other things, to incur additional debt, grant or permit additional liens, make investments and acquisitions, dispose of assets, pay dividends and distributions and enter into affiliate transactions, in each case, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement contains a financial covenant that requires us to maintain at all times cash and cash equivalents in certain deposit accounts in an amount at least equal to (i) from the Closing Date until the repayment of the loans under the Credit Agreement, $
In connection with the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, on the Closing Date, we entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement with Oaktree, which is fully described in Note 10.
Issuance costs pursuant to the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement consisted primarily of advisory and
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The following table summarizes the activity of the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Revenue Interest Financing Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | | ||
Non-cash interest expense in the three months ended March 31, 2023 | | |||
Amortization of debt discount in the three months ended March 31, 2023 | | |||
Payments made in the three months ended March 31, 2023 | ( | |||
Revenue Interest Financing Balance at March 31, 2023 | $ | | ||
Current portion of revenue interest financing liability | $ | | ||
Long-term portion of revenue interest financing liability | $ | |
12. Collaboration Revenue
Orion Collaboration Agreement
In July 2021, we entered into a collaboration agreement (Orion Collaboration Agreement) with Orion. The Orion Collaboration Agreement falls under the scope of ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements (ASC 808) as both parties are active participants in the arrangement that are exposed to significant risks and rewards. While this arrangement is in the scope of ASC 808, we analogize to ASC 606 for some aspects of this arrangement, including for the delivery of a good or service (i.e., a unit of account). Revenue recognized by analogizing to ASC 606 is recorded as collaboration revenue on the consolidated statements of operations.
Under the terms of the Orion Collaboration Agreement, we granted Orion an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to certain of our intellectual property rights with respect to commercializing biopharmaceutical products incorporating our product candidate ganaxolone (Licensed Products) in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland (collectively, the Territory) for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of certain human diseases, disorders or conditions (Field), initially in the indications of CDD, TSC and RSE. We will be responsible for the continued development of Licensed Products and regulatory interactions related thereto, including conducting and sponsoring all clinical trials, provided that Orion may conduct certain post-approval studies in the Territory. Orion will be responsible, at Orion’s sole cost and expense, for the commercialization of any Licensed Product in the Field in the Territory.
Under the terms of the Orion Collaboration Agreement, we received a €
The Orion Collaboration Agreement shall remain effective until the date of expiration of the last to expire Royalty Term, which is defined as the period beginning on the date of the first commercial sale Licensed Product in such country and ending on the latest to occur of (a) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the first commercial sale of Licensed Product in such country, (b) the expiration of the last-to-expire licensed patent covering the manufacture, use or sale of such Licensed Product in such country, and (c) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity period, if any, for such Licensed Product in such country. The Orion Collaboration Agreement has a term of at least ten (
) years since a commercial20
sale has yet to occur. The Orion Collaboration Agreement allows for termination in certain specific events, such as material breach, in the event Orion challenges the validity, enforceability or scope of the licensed patent rights, termination for forecast failure, insolvency and force majeure, none of which are probable at contract inception.
In accordance with the guidance, we identified the following commitments under the arrangement: (i) exclusive rights to develop, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale and import any product comprised of Licensed Product (License), (ii) development and regulatory activities (Development and Regulatory Activities), and (iii) requirement to supply Orion with the Licensed Product at an agreed upon price (Supply of Licensed Product). We determined that these three commitments represent distinct performance obligations for purposes of recognizing revenue or reducing expense, which we will recognize such revenue or expense, as applicable, as we fulfill these performance obligations.
At contract inception, we determined that the non-refundable portion of the upfront payment plus the research and development reimbursement constitutes the transaction price as of the outset of the Orion Collaboration Agreement. The refundable portion of the upfront payment and the future potential regulatory and development milestone payments were fully constrained at contract inception as the risk of significant revenue reversal related to these amounts had not yet been resolved. During 2022, the refundable portion of the upfront payment was determined to be included in the transaction price as the final genotoxicity study on the M2 metabolite of ganaxolone was received as described above, and the remaining $
The transaction price was allocated to the
As of December 31, 2022, we allocated the transaction price to the performance obligations as described below and recorded the remaining $
Transaction Price and Net Contract Liability as of December 31, 2022:
Cumulative Collaboration | ||||||||
Transaction | Revenue Recognized | Contract | ||||||
Price |
| as of December 31, 2022 |
| Liability | ||||
License | $ | | $ | | $ | - | ||
Development and Regulatory Services | | | | |||||
Supply of Licensed Product | | - | | |||||
$ | | $ | | | ||||
Less Total Contract Asset | | |||||||
Net Contract Liability | $ | |
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we amortized $
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transaction price resulted in a total contract liability of $
Transaction Price and Net Contract Liability as of March 31, 2023:
Cumulative Collaboration | ||||||||
Transaction | Revenue Recognized | Contract | ||||||
Price |
| as of March 31, 2023 |
| Liability | ||||
License | $ | | $ | | $ | - | ||
Development and Regulatory Services | | | | |||||
Supply of Licensed Product | | - | | |||||
$ | | $ | | | ||||
Less Total Contract Asset | | |||||||
Net Contract Liability | $ | |
We incurred $
We reevaluate the transaction price and the total estimated costs expected to be incurred to satisfy the performance obligations and adjust the deferred revenue at the end of each reporting period. Such changes will result in a change to the amount of collaboration revenue recognized and deferred revenue.
Tenacia Collaboration Agreement
On November 16, 2022 (Effective Date), we entered into a Collaboration and Supply Agreement (Tenacia Collaboration Agreement) with Tenacia Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Tenacia). The Tenacia Collaboration Agreement falls under the scope of ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements (ASC 808) as both parties are active participants in the arrangement that are exposed to significant risks and rewards. While this arrangement is in the scope of ASC 808, we analogize to ASC 606 for some aspects of this arrangement, including for the delivery of a good or service (i.e., a unit of account). Revenue recognized by analogizing to ASC 606 is recorded as collaboration revenue on the consolidated statements of operations.
Under the terms of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, we granted Tenacia an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to certain of our intellectual property rights to develop, commercialize and otherwise exploit certain products incorporating certain oral and intravenous formulations of our product candidate ganaxolone (Licensed Products) in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (collectively, Territory) for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of certain human diseases, disorders or conditions (Field), initially for the treatment of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 deficiency disorder, tuberous sclerosis complex and SE (including refractory and established SE) (collectively, the Initial Indications). The collaboration can be expanded to include additional indications and formulations of ganaxolone pursuant to a right of first negotiation.
Under the terms of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, Tenacia agreed to pay us an upfront cash payment of $
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and for which there is no other Licensed Product approved in China (for clarity, the milestone payments under this clause (ii) will only apply to
Tenacia will be primarily responsible for the development of Licensed Products in the Territory and regulatory interactions related thereto, including conducting and sponsoring clinical studies in the Field in the Territory to support regulatory filings in the Territory. All regulatory approvals filed by Tenacia in the Territory will be in the name of and owned by us unless otherwise required by applicable law, in which case such regulatory approvals would be in the name of and owned by Tenacia for the benefit of us. We and Tenacia agreed to enter into clinical and commercial supply agreements pursuant to which we will supply Tenacia with its requirements of Licensed Products necessary for Tenacia to develop and commercialize Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory. The parties entered into the clinical and commercial supply agreement in May 2023. The agreement contains pricing, delivery, acceptance, payment, termination, forecasting, and other terms consistent with the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, as well as certain quality assurance, indemnification, liability and other standard industry terms. Tenacia will be responsible for, at Tenacia’s sole cost and expense, obtaining regulatory approval and commercializing the Licensed Product in the Field in Mainland China.
The term of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement extends for so long as royalties are payable anywhere in the Territory. Subject to the terms of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, (i) for a specified period of time after the Effective Date, Tenacia may terminate the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement in its entirety for any or no reason upon written notice to us, and (ii) either party may terminate the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement for the other party’s material breach following a cure period or insolvency.
In accordance with the guidance, we identified the following commitments under the arrangement: (i) grant to Tenacia the exclusive rights to develop, commercialize and otherwise exploit Licensed Product in the Field in the Territory (License) and (ii) requirement to supply Tenacia with the Licensed Product at an agreed upon price (Supply of Licensed Product). We determined that these
The transaction price was allocated to the
As of December 31, 2022, we allocated the transaction price to the performance obligations as described below. There was no activity in the three months ended March 31, 2023. The cumulative collaboration revenue recognized as of March 31, 2023 is $
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Transaction Price and Net Contract Liability as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
Cumulative Collaboration | ||||||||
Transaction | Revenue Recognized | Contract | ||||||
Price |
| as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 |
| Liability | ||||
License | $ | | $ | | $ | - | ||
Supply of Licensed Product | | - | | |||||
$ | | $ | | | ||||
Less Total Contract Asset | | |||||||
Net Contract Liability | $ | |
In December 2022, we incurred $
We reevaluate the transaction price and the total estimated costs expected to be incurred to satisfy the performance obligations and adjust the deferred revenue at the end of each reporting period. Such changes will result in a change to the amount of collaboration revenue recognized and deferred revenue.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” or “would,” and or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our expectations of the future, about which we cannot be certain.
The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, among other things, statements about:
● | our plans to successfully commercialize ganaxolone in Cyclin-dependent Kinase-like 5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) in the U.S.; |
● | our plans to meet our post-approval commitments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ganaxolone; |
● | our plans to achieve regulatory approval for ganaxolone in the European Union (EU), and the expected timing thereof; |
● | our ability to develop ganaxolone for additional indications, including Refractory Status Epilepticus (RSE), Established Status Epilepticus (ESE), Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS); |
● | the status, timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
● | the design of and enrollment in clinical trials, availability of data from ongoing clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, or the attainment of clinical trial results that will be supportive of regulatory approvals; |
● | the potential benefits of ganaxolone, including in indications other than CDD; |
● | the timing of seeking marketing approval of ganaxolone in specific additional indications; |
● | our ability to maintain marketing approval for ganaxolone in CDD and obtain regulatory approval for ganaxolone in other indications; |
● | the possibility that we expand the targeted indication footprint and explore new potential formulations of ganaxolone; |
● | our estimates of expenses and future revenue and profitability; |
● | our estimates regarding our capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; |
● | our estimates of the size of the potential markets for ganaxolone; |
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● | our expectations regarding our collaborations with Orion Corporation (Orion) and Tenacia Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Tenacia), including the expected amounts and timings of milestone, royalty and other payments, including research and development reimbursement if applicable, pursuant thereto; |
● | our ability to attract collaborators with acceptable development, regulatory and commercial expertise; |
● | the benefits and contractual requirements derived from corporate collaborations, license agreements, and other collaborative or acquisition efforts, including those relating to the development and commercialization of ganaxolone; |
● | sources of revenue, including expected future sales of ganaxolone in CDD, revenue contributions from our contract (BARDA Contract) with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), corporate collaborations, license agreements, and other collaborative efforts for the development and commercialization of ganaxolone for CDD and in other indications being developed for ganaxolone; |
● | our eligibility to receive funding under the remaining debt tranche available under the Credit Agreement with Oaktree; |
● | our ability to create an effective sales and marketing infrastructure where we elect to market and sell ganaxolone directly; |
● | the timing and amount of reimbursement for ganaxolone; |
● | the success of other competing therapies that may become available; |
● | the manufacturing capacity and supply for ganaxolone; |
● | the possibility that third parties, such as Ovid Therapeutics, Inc. (Ovid), may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could harm our business; |
● | the possibility that we expand and diversify our product pipeline through acquisitions of additional drug candidates that fit our business strategy; |
● | our belief that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, as well as maintain the minimum cash balance required under our debt facility, into the second half of 2024; |
● | our ability to maintain and protect our intellectual property rights; |
● | our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, and growth strategies; |
● | our ability to, among other actions, secure additional financing or strategic transactions and continue as a going concern; |
● | the extent to which our business may have been adversely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic or by other pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks; |
● | the enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions in our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation; and |
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● | the industry in which we operate and trends which may affect the industry or us. |
You should refer to Part II Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Part I Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 9, 2023 for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with: (i) the interim consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto which are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; and (ii) our annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023.
Overview
We are a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of seizure disorders, including rare genetic epilepsies and status epilepticus. On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved our new drug application (NDA) for the use of ZTALMY (ganaxolone) oral suspension CV for the treatment of seizures associated with Cyclin-dependent Kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) Deficiency Disorder (CDD) in patients 2 years of age and older. ZTALMY, our first FDA approved product, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. We are developing ganaxolone for the treatment of other rare genetic epilepsies, including Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), and for the treatment of status epilepticus (SE). We are developing ganaxolone in formulations for two different routes of administration: intravenous (IV) and oral. The different formulations are intended to maximize potential therapeutic applications of ganaxolone for adult and pediatric patient populations, in both acute and chronic care, and for both acute in-hospital care and chronic at home-administration settings. While the precise mechanism by which ganaxolone exerts its therapeutic effects in the treatment of seizures is unknown, its anticonvulsant effects are thought to result from positive allosteric modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor in the central nervous system (CNS). Ganaxolone is a synthetic analog of allopregnanolone, an endogenous neurosteroid. Ganaxolone acts at both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors, a target known for its anti-seizure, antidepressant and anxiolytic potential.
COVID-19
COVID-19 affected our clinical operations and timelines. For example, our RAISE trial for refractory SE (RSE) is conducted in hospitals, primarily intensive care units in academic medical centers, which experienced high rates of COVID-19 admissions. Several of these sites participating in the RAISE trial experienced COVID-related difficulties, including staff turnover and the need to devote significant resources to patients with COVID-19, which resulted in site initiation and enrollment delays for the RAISE trial. Given these COVID-19-related challenges and the interruption in drug supply in mid-2022, we previously adjusted our expectation for our top-line data readout for the RAISE trial. In May 2022, we resumed screening and recruitment for the RAISE trial. We now expect our interim analysis with top-line data readout for the RAISE trial to be available by the end of 2023.
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Our Products and Product Candidates
ZTALMY® (ganaxolone) oral suspension CV
ZTALMY is an oral suspension given three times per day that we have developed for the treatment of CDD-associated seizures. ZTALMY was approved by the FDA in March 2022 for the treatment of seizures associated with CDD in patients 2 years of age and older. ZTALMY, our first FDA approved product, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. We recorded net U.S. product revenue related to ZTALMY of $3.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
CDD is a serious and rare genetic disorder that is caused by a mutation of the CDKL5 gene, located on the X chromosome. CDD is a severely debilitating and potentially fatal genetic condition, which occurs with an estimated frequency of 1:40,000 live births in the U.S. It predominantly affects females and is characterized by early onset, difficult to control seizures and severe neurodevelopmental impairment. The CDKL5 gene encodes proteins essential for normal brain structure and function. Most children affected by CDD have neurodevelopmental deficits such as difficulty walking, talking and taking care of themselves. Many also suffer from scoliosis, gastrointestinal dysfunction or sleep disorders. Genetic testing is available to determine if a patient has a mutation in the CDKL5 gene.
In June 2017, we were granted FDA orphan drug designation for ganaxolone for the treatment of CDD. The designation provides the drug developer with a seven-year period of U.S. marketing exclusivity, as well as tax credits for clinical research costs, the ability to apply for annual grant funding, clinical research trial design assistance and waiver of Prescription Drug User Fee Act filing fees. Additionally, in November 2019, the European Medical Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) granted orphan drug designation for ganaxolone for the treatment of CDD. In July 2020, the FDA granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPD Designation) for ganaxolone for the treatment of CDD. The FDA grants RPD Designation for diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. and in which the serious or life-threatening manifestations occur primarily in individuals 18 years of age and younger. The approval of ZTALMY in CDD is based on data from a Phase 3 double-blind placebo-controlled trial (Marigold study), in which 101 patients were randomized and treated with ZTALMY. Study participants receiving ZTALMY showed a median 30.7% reduction in 28-day major motor seizure frequency, compared to a median 6.9% reduction for those receiving placebo, achieving the trial’s primary endpoint (p=0.0036). At 2 years in the open level extension phase of the Marigold study, patients (n=50) treated with ZTALMY experienced a median 48.2% reduction in major motor seizure frequency. These data suggest that patients who remain on treatment long-term may demonstrate continued reductions in seizure frequency. The most common adverse events in the Marigold study were somnolence (36.0% in the ganaxolone group compared to 15.7% in the placebo group), pyrexia (18.0% and 76.8%, respectively) and salivary hypersecretion (6.0% and 2.0%, respectively).
We own families of patents and pending patent applications that claim certain formulations of ganaxolone and cover certain therapeutic uses of ganaxolone, including for treating CDD. The 20-year terms for patents, and applications that issue as patents, in these families run from 2026 through 2042, absent any available patent term adjustments or extensions. We have also licensed from Ovid certain patents that claim certain therapeutic uses of ganaxolone for the treatment of CDD. The licensed patents include a granted U.S. patent, and pending applications in the U.S. and Europe. The 20-year term for these licensed patents and applications that issue as patents will run through 2037, absent any available patent term adjustments.
Commercial Strategy. Since ZTALMY was approved by the FDA, we have been focused on the implementation and execution of an integrated launch plan to make ZTALMY available to CDD patients through a specialty pharmacy. Key launch strategies have included and continue to include: (1) establishing our supply chain network and quality management system to assure product is available to patients; (2) driving clinical awareness of ZTALMY as the first and only FDA approved product indicated specifically for seizures associated with CDD; (3) deploying our field sales force to target physicians who treat this rare pediatric patient population; (4) engaging commercial and government payers with the objective of obtaining insurance coverage; and (5) developing our internal capabilities (such as Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Data Analytics and Compliance) to support our first launch as a commercial company.
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Marketing Strategy. Our marketing strategy is to reinforce that seizures are central to the constellation of CDD symptoms, establish ZTALMY as central to the comprehensive management of seizures associated with CDD, and ensure that patients have seamless access to ZTALMY from prescription through fulfillment. Our marketing campaign for ZTALMY is active, and our integrated commercial launch activities initiated in the third quarter of 2022.
Sales Strategy. Our commercial sales force includes 16 regional account managers experienced in rare disease. Our field force is targeting identified key accounts and centers of excellence for CDD. Based on our market research, we estimate the addressable patient population for ZTALMY in CDD in the U.S. is approximately 2,000 patients. As of March 31, 2023, we had received over 120 CDD prescription enrollment forms, of which more than 100 were for new commercial patients not previously treated with ZTALMY. As this is the first product approved by the FDA specifically for seizures associated with CDD and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD10) code for CDD was established in 2021, there is limited data available for this specific market. We have strengthened both our market access and field force teams, and both payer and customer engagement are underway.
Market Access. We have established a cross-functional payer and reimbursement account team with the objective of obtaining and maintaining reimbursement (coverage) of ZTALMY. We are focusing our efforts on reimbursement from commercial payers where pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) control the majority of commercial pharmacy-benefit lives and government payers, primarily Medicaid for the target population for CDD. We expect approximately 50% of the CDD patient population will access primary coverage through both Fee-for-Service and Managed Medicaid, with the remaining approximately 50% accessing primary coverage through commercial payers, with the top PBMs having significant influence. Of the CDD patient enrollment forms received through March 31, 2023, over 89% received favorable reimbursement coverage and therapy. The prescribing and fulfillment process for ZTALMY is managed through ZTALMY One™, a comprehensive patient support program. Enrollment in the program offers various support and information to help caregivers and patients prescribed ZTALMY access their ZTALMY prescription and assist in determining eligibility for and access to co-pay support or free drug programs.
Specialty Pharmacy. We are utilizing Orsini Pharmaceutical Services, LLC (Orsini), a specialty pharmacy, to provide services for patients, including patient enrollment, benefit verification and investigation, prior authorization support, patient education and drug counseling, dispensing of product and shipment coordination. We recorded our first sales of ZTALMY to Orsini in the third quarter of 2022.
Specialty Distributor. We are utilizing ASD Specialty Healthcare, LLC (ASD), a specialty distributor, to provide distribution services in connection with ZTALMY to institutional inpatient pharmacies, U.S. governmental customers, including any Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense sites, and Kaiser Permanente facilities. We have not yet recorded any sales of ZTAMLY to ASD.
Infrastructure. We continue to enhance our internal capabilities and processes to support a commercial stage company. We have implemented a healthcare compliance program to guide our compliance with rules and regulations regarding pharmaceutical sales.
Manufacture of Commercial Supply. We have executed commercial supply agreements for ganaxolone active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with our current manufacturer and also with our current supplier for finished bulk drug product. Additionally, we have executed a master supply agreement with a second API supplier to undertake certain process development activities and subsequently to provide commercial supplies of API and/or API intermediates.
Regulated as a Controlled Substance. On June 1, 2022, the DEA published an interim final rule in the Federal Register placing ganaxolone and its salts in schedule V of the CSA, which rule became final December 9, 2022. Under the CSA, drugs are classified into five (5) distinct categories or schedules depending upon the drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential. Schedule V is defined by the DEA as drugs with lower potential for abuse than schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. ZTALMY became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. As a controlled substance, ganaxolone is subject to the applicable CSA requirements such as registration, security, recordkeeping and reporting, storage manufacturing, distribution, importation and other requirements.
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Post-Marketing Requirements. In connection with FDA approval of ZTALMY for CDD, we have several post-marketing commitments. The Phase 1 renal impairment study commitment was completed and submitted to the FDA in May 2022. The Phase 1 hepatic impairment study and the thorough QTc study were completed and submitted to the FDA in December 2022. The remaining post-marketing requirements include: 2-year carcinogenicity studies of ganaxolone and the major human unconjugated plasma metabolite, M2, in rats; a 26-week carcinogenicity of ganaxolone in transgenic mice; a juvenile animal toxicity study of the major human unconjugated plasma metabolite, M2, in rats; extractable/leachable study results on the container closure system; a CNS distribution study of the M47 metabolite in rats; and in vitro studies to assess the drug interaction potential of M47 metabolite. We expect to be able to complete these remaining required FDA studies within the requested FDA timeframe.
Marketing Authorization Application
In August 2021, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA granted our request for accelerated assessment of ganaxolone for the treatment of seizures associated with CDD. The marketing authorization application (MAA) for ganaxolone was submitted to the EMA on October 11, 2021 and on October 28, 2021 we received formal notification from the EMA that the CDD MAA was validated. With this validation, the EMA began its formal review of the MAA under the centralized procedure. In February 2022, the MAA was converted to a standard review timeline. We received the Day 180 report, including a List of Outstanding Issues (LoOI), from the EMA on January 26, 2023. The LoOI contained a number of outstanding major objections and other concerns, including a major objection related to the choice of our regulatory starting material. Our Day 180 responses were submitted on March 27, 2023. We received the Day 195 report on April 17, 2023. According to the Day 195 report, the major objection relating to the starting material was resolved. We responded to the issues that remained outstanding in the Day 195 report on May 2, 2023. The CHMP is expected to present its opinion on the MAA at the May 2023 plenary meeting. If we are not able to adequately respond to the CHMP’s remaining issues in our Day 195 response, we may ultimately receive a negative opinion on the MAA. If we receive a negative opinion, we would have the opportunity to request a re-examination by the CHMP.
Our Pipeline
We are developing ganaxolone in indications where there is a mechanistic rationale for ganaxolone to provide a benefit, including the following indications:
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Status Epilepticus (SE)
SE is a life-threatening condition characterized by continuous, prolonged seizures or rapidly recurring seizures without intervening recovery of consciousness. If SE is not treated urgently, permanent neuronal damage may occur, which contributes to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Patients with SE who do not respond to first-line benzodiazepine treatment are classified as having ESE and those who then progress to and subsequently fail at least one second-line antiepileptic drug (AED) are classified as having RSE. In RSE, synaptic GABAA receptors are internalized into the neuron, resulting in decreased responsiveness to drugs such as benzodiazepines. RSE unresponsiveness to one or more second-line AEDs requires treatment with IV anesthesia to terminate seizures and prevent neuronal injury and other complications. The IV anesthetic is increased to a level that induces deep coma and is maintained at that rate for 24 hours or more. SE that recurs following an attempted wean of IV anesthesia is classified as super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE). In April 2016, we were granted FDA orphan drug designation for the IV formulation of ganaxolone for the treatment of SE, which includes RSE.
In January 2021, we enrolled the first patient in the Phase 3 pivotal RAISE trial. The RAISE trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with RSE. We expect approximately 80 trial sites in hospitals, primarily across the U.S. and Canada, to participate. The RAISE trial is designed to enroll approximately 124 patients, to be randomized to receive ganaxolone or placebo added to standard of care. With this number of patients, the trial is designed to provide over 90% power to detect a 30% efficacy difference between ganaxolone and placebo.
The co-primary endpoints for the RAISE trial are (1) proportion of patients with RSE who experience seizure cessation within 30 minutes of treatment initiation without other medications for SE treatment, and (2) proportion of patients with no progression to IV anesthesia for 36 hours following initiation of the study drug. In June 2022, we announced that we amended the protocol for the RAISE trial to expand eligibility criteria to support recruitment. We broadened the inclusion criteria to permit patients previously treated with up to 18 hours of high-dose IV anesthesia to qualify for the trial, rather than excluding patients treated with anesthetics at high doses for any duration. We believe this will facilitate the enrollment of patients transferred to the ICU from other hospitals or the emergency room, who may already have received high doses of anesthetic medication for less than 18 hours. We reached alignment with the FDA on the protocol amendment, including a proposal for a potential interim analysis when two-thirds of the patients (approximately 82) have completed the trial. We anticipate reaching the enrollment target for the interim analysis by the end of 2023. We believe positive interim RAISE trial results could be adequate for regulatory filing purposes in RSE.
Several academic medical centers and intensive care units participating in the RAISE trial experienced COVID-related difficulties, including staff turnover and the need to devote significant resources to patients with COVID-19, which resulted in site initiation and enrollment delays. Additionally, in February 2022, we temporarily paused the RAISE trial after routine monitoring of stability batches of clinical supply material indicated that it became necessary to reduce the shelf life to less than the anticipated 24 months to meet product stability testing specifications. We notified the FDA of this issue and our plans to proactively pause the trial, and we subsequently provided additional information to the FDA to support resuming trial activities. In May 2022, we announced that the trial had resumed utilizing new batches of the current IV formulation of ganaxolone, and we implemented a reduced shelf life of 12 months. In agreement with the FDA, ganaxolone clinical supplies will be stored under refrigerated conditions for the entire duration of clinical use. Based on ongoing stability data, the shelf life of the current IV formulation has been updated to 15 months under refrigerated conditions, which was submitted in the subsequent IND amendment in February 2023. We manufactured the IV ganaxolone formulation with a new buffer and are targeting a shelf life of 24 months. The FDA agreed that in principle a buffer change in the ganaxolone IV formulation is acceptable.
We are working closely with key investigators and site coordinators to support enrollment efficiencies at existing RAISE trial sites and are also increasing the number of U.S. centers participating in the trial. Additionally, we expanded the trial to sites in Canada and Australia.
Planning continues for a separate Phase 3 RSE trial to support an MAA in Europe (RAISE II trial). We gained alignment on the trial design at a meeting with the EMA in the first quarter of 2021. Due to the delay in clinical trial supply mentioned for the RAISE trial, the RAISE II trial initiation is planned for the second half of 2023. The RAISE II trial will be a double blind, placebo-controlled pivotal registration trial expected to enroll 70 patients who have failed
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first-line benzodiazepine treatment and at least one second-line AED. Patients will receive either ganaxolone or placebo, administered in combination with a standard-of-care second-line AED. The simultaneous administration of a standard-of-care AED with the trial medication is expected to provide data complementary to that from the RAISE trial. There are two additional key differences between the RAISE and RAISE II trials. First, rather than specifying progression to IV anesthesia as a treatment failure, under the RAISE II protocol any escalation of care will constitute a treatment failure. This could be IV anesthesia or another second-line IV AED. Second, the primary analysis for the RAISE II trial will be a responder analysis, with response defined as SE cessation within 30 minutes and no escalation of care within 36 hours, rather than the co-primary endpoints in the RAISE trial, which require statistical significance to be achieved independently on both the 30-minute and 36-hour outcomes.
The FDA has indicated alignment on the overall trial design for a third SE trial, the RESET trial, a Phase 2 trial evaluating ganaxolone in the treatment of ESE, for which enrollment in the U.S. is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2023. The RESET trial will enroll patients with convulsive SE presenting to emergency departments and will be conducted under Exception from Informed Consent (EFIC) guidelines. The RESET trial will consist of two phases: an initial open-label, dose optimization phase and a subsequent double-blind placebo-controlled phase. In the open-label portion of the trial, sequential cohorts will receive IV ganaxolone for varying durations and at different doses. The dosing for each cohort will depend on the treatment effect and tolerability seen in the previous one, with the expected optimal dose and duration of ganaxolone incorporated in the double-blind phase of the trial to follow. We expect that the double-blind placebo-controlled phase will enroll approximately 80 ESE patients randomized equally to IV ganaxolone or placebo added to a standard-of-care AED. The primary efficacy endpoint will be the absence of electrographic (rapid EEG) evidence of SE or recurrence of generalized convulsions at 1 hour after the initiation of treatment.
In September 2021, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted us a patent on a method of treating SE, including dosing regimens. This issued patent expires in 2040. That patent is a member of a patent family we own that includes pending patent applications that claim certain therapeutic regimens for the treatment of SE, including RSE, using intravenous ganaxolone. We received a Notice of Allowance from the USPTO for an additional patent from this family on March 1, 2023 for claims related to our clinical therapeutic regimen for the treatment of SE using IV ganaxolone. The allowed claims cover therapeutic regiments in which high doses of ganaxolone are administered, which we believe is relevant for some patients, and strengthens our intellectual property portfolio in our SE treatment using ganaxolone.
In July 2022, the USPTO issued a patent to Ovid with claims that encompass our product candidate for the treatment of SE. On March 15, 2023, we filed a petition seeking post-grant review (PGR) of Ovid’s U.S. Patent No. 11,395,817 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board (the PTAB). Our petition for PGR argues that the claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,395,817 are unpatentable on multiple grounds as lacking novelty under 35 USC § 102 and being obvious under 35 USC § 103 and, if not invalid under § 102 or § 103, as lacking enablement under 35 USC § 112. Ovid may file a preliminary response to our petition no later than June 20, 2023, the PTAB will then have up to three months to decide whether to grant our petition and institute the PGR. If the PGR is instituted and we do not prevail, the decision can be appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. If an appeal is not successful, our ability to challenge the Ovid patent in court will be limited in certain respects.
Ovid may file a lawsuit against us alleging infringement of its patents. Any such proceedings, in the PTAB or courts, regardless of their outcome, would likely result in the expenditure of significant financial resources and the diversion of management’s time and resources. In addition, any such proceeding may cause negative publicity, adversely impact patients, and we may be prohibited from marketing or selling ganaxolone for SE, RSE and ESE during such proceedings or if we are not successful in such proceedings. If Ovid does decide to bring an infringement lawsuit, we do not expect that it will be filed before a commercial launch of ganaxolone for SE, RSE or ESE based upon the “safe harbor” provisions of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Hatch-Waxman Act). We may need to acquire or obtain a license to the Ovid patents to market or sell ganaxolone for SE, RSE and ESE, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all. If we are not able to acquire the Ovid patents or negotiate a license on acceptable terms, and if our product is determined to infringe Ovid’s patents and the patents are determined to be valid, then we may be forced to pay Ovid royalties, damages and costs, or we may be prevented from commercializing ganaxolone for SE, RSE and ESE altogether, which would have a material adverse impact on our business.
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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)
TSC is a rare genetic disorder that causes non-malignant tumors in the brain, skin, kidney, heart, eyes, and lungs. Rarely, patients may develop malignant tumors of the kidney, breast or thyroid gland. The condition is caused by inherited mutations in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. It occurs with a frequency of approximately 1:6,000 live births, with a mutation being found in 85% of patients. While the disease phenotype can be extremely variable, epilepsy occurs with a frequency of up to 85%. TSC is a leading cause of genetic epilepsy, often manifesting in the first year of life as either focal seizures or infantile spasms. There are currently few disease-specific treatments approved for seizures in TSC. Orphan drug designation for ganaxolone for the treatment in TSC was granted by the FDA in August 2021 and by the EMA in October 2021.
In August 2021, we announced top-line data from our open-label Phase 2 trial (the CALM trial) evaluating the safety and efficacy of adjunctive oral ganaxolone in 23 patients with seizures associated with TSC. The CALM trial enrolled 23 patients ages 2 to 32 who entered a four-week baseline period followed by a 12-week treatment period, during which they received up to 600 mg of ganaxolone (oral liquid suspension) three times a day. Patients who met eligibility criteria were able to continue ganaxolone treatment during a 24-week extension. The primary endpoint was the percent change in 28-day TSC-associated seizure frequency during the 12-week treatment period relative to the four-week baseline period. Secondary outcome measures included the percentage of patients experiencing a greater than or equal to 50% reduction in 28-day TSC-associated seizure frequency through the end of the 12-week treatment period compared to the 4-week baseline period.
The primary endpoint showed a median 16.6% reduction in 28-day frequency of TSC-associated seizures relative to the four-week baseline period. A secondary endpoint showed that the proportion of patients that achieved at least a 50% seizure reduction was 30.4%. During the trial, patients with focal seizures (n=19) showed a median 25.2% reduction in focal seizure frequency. Ganaxolone was generally well-tolerated with somnolence reported as the most common AE. In addition, one serious adverse event (SAE) of worsening seizures occurred, which was assessed by the investigator as treatment related. Four patients discontinued the trial due to AEs. Additionally, the data from the trial suggested that in patients on concomitant Epidiolex, early elevation of ganaxolone blood levels occurred and appeared to be linked to greater somnolence. The interpretation of these findings is limited by the small sample size and open-label design of the trial. A formal Phase 1 drug-drug interaction trial was completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, demonstrating a lack of significant interaction between ganaxolone and Epidiolex. Additionally, the titration schedule for all subjects in the Phase 3 TSC trial has been adjusted to maximize tolerability.
In response to our request for an End of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA regarding a proposed Phase 3 TSC trial, the FDA provided written responses to our questions in lieu of a meeting. We believe the written responses show overall alignment on the clinical development plan in TSC. We believe that, based on the FDA’s written responses, and with the FDA approval of CDD, a single trial could serve as necessary support for regulatory approval for TSC in the U.S. In response to our request for Protocol Assistance, which is a special form of scientific advice available for developers of designated orphan medicines for rare diseases, the EMA provided written feedback in December 2021 in lieu of a meeting. We believe the written responses from the EMA, like those from the FDA, show overall alignment on the clinical development plan in TSC. After commencing site initiations in the first quarter of 2022 and dosing the first patient in the second quarter of 2022, we are actively enrolling patients in the U.S. and Western Europe for this global Phase 3 randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial (TrustTSC trial) of adjunctive ganaxolone in approximately 160 TSC patients. We expect to expand the trial to include up to 90 sites, including several TSC centers of excellence, predominantly in the U.S., Western Europe, Canada, Australia, China and Israel. The primary endpoint for the TrustTSC trial is percent change in 28-day frequency of TSC-associated seizures. We plan to announce top-line data from the TrustTSC trial by mid-2024.
On April 18, 2023, we received a Notice of Allowance from the USPTO for a patent related to our clinical therapeutic regimen for the treatment of TSC using IV ganaxolone.
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Second-Generation Formulation, Prodrug Development and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)
Top-line data from a single ascending dose (SAD) Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers utilizing the first candidate for a second-generation formulation of ganaxolone demonstrated linear pharmacokinetic (PK) properties at doses of up to 1200 mg and PK characteristics that may allow for twice-daily dosing, as shown in the chart below. We believe that the data support further clinical development of this formulation of ganaxolone. We received preliminary feedback from the FDA on the design of the multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial. FDA is requesting additional data, including the SAD clinical trial report, prior to initiating the MAD trial. Pending FDA feedback and agreement, we plan to initiate the MAD trial in the third quarter of 2023 with preliminary data expected by the end of 2023.
The development of ganaxolone prodrug compounds continues to advance, with lead oral and IV candidates selected, and Phase 1 data targeted for 2024.
We plan to pursue the development of the second-generation formulation of ganaxolone for LGS, a severe form of epilepsy that typically begins between one and eight years of age. Affected children have neurodevelopmental impairments and intractable seizures, including focal, atonic, tonic and atypical absence seizures. In March 2023, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to ganaxolone for the treatment of LGS. This designation applies to the active moiety of ganaxolone and is not dependent on the formulation. Given the overlap in seizure types and etiologies with other disorders where ganaxolone has potential to reduce seizures, such as CDD and TSC, we believe that LGS represents a promising opportunity for ganaxolone development. We expect to finalize the clinical program for LGS in the first quarter of 2024, pending results of the MAD trial that we plan to initiate in the third quarter of 2023 subject to the FDA’s feedback and agreement as discussed above.
Operations
Our operations to date have consisted primarily of organizing and staffing our company, developing ganaxolone, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, and raising capital. We have funded our operations primarily through sales of equity and debt securities. ZTALMY, our first FDA approved product, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. We recorded $3.3 million of net ZTALMY sales in the three months ended March 31, 2023. Since inception, other than for the three months ended September 30, 2022 due to a one-time net gain from the sale of our Priority Review Voucher (PRV), we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We have generated limited product revenues, and there is no assurance that profitable operations will be achieved in the future, and if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. We incurred a net loss of $34.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. We incurred a net loss of $19.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Our accumulated deficit as of March 31, 2023 was $465.3 million, and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses in future periods. We anticipate that our
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operating expenses will increase substantially as we carry out all of our planned commercialization and continued research and development activities with respect to ganaxolone.
We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially as we:
● | conduct multiple later stage clinical trials in targeted indications; |
● | continue the research, development and scale-up manufacturing capabilities to optimize ganaxolone and dose forms for which we may obtain regulatory approval; |
● | establish and implement sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize ganaxolone; |
● | conduct other preclinical studies and clinical trials to support the filing of NDAs with the FDA, MAAs with the EMA and other marketing authorization filings with regulatory agencies in other countries; |
● | acquire the rights to other product candidates and fund their development; |
● | maintain, expand and protect our global intellectual property portfolio; |
● | hire additional clinical, manufacturing, scientific and commercial personnel; and |
● | add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our drug development efforts. |
We had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $199.2 million as of March 31, 2023. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2023 will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, as well as maintain the minimum cash balance required under our debt facility, into the second half of 2024. However, we will need to secure additional funding in the future, from one or more equity or debt financings, government funding, collaborations, licensing transactions, other commercial transactions or other sources in order to carry out all of our commercialization and planned research and development activities with respect to ganaxolone.
Financial Overview
Product Revenue, net
Our first FDA approved product, ZTALMY, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. We have two customers, one of which, Orsini Pharmaceutical Services, LLC (Orsini), a specialty pharmacy that dispenses ZTALMY directly to patients, represents over 99% of our ZTALMY revenue to date. Our contract with Orsini has a single performance obligation to deliver ZTALMY upon receipt of a purchase order, which is satisfied when Orsini receives ZTALMY. We recognize ZTALMY revenue at the point in time when control of ZTALMY is transferred to Orsini, which is upon delivery to Orsini. The transaction price that we recognize for ZTALMY revenue includes an estimate of variable consideration. Shipping and handling costs to Orsini are recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses. The components of variable consideration include:
Trade Discounts and Allowances. We provide an incentive prompt payment discount to Orsini as explicitly stated in the contract with Orsini. This discount is recorded as a reduction of ZTALMY revenue and accounts receivable in the period in which the related ZTALMY revenue is recognized. We estimate the amount of variable consideration for all discounts and allowances using the expected value method.
Product Returns and Recall. We provide for ZTALMY returns in accordance with our Return Good Policy. We estimate the amount of ZTALMY that may be returned using the expected value method, and we present this amount as a reduction of ZTALMY revenue in the period the related ZTALMY revenue is recognized. In the event of a recall, we
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will promptly notify Orsini and will reimburse Orsini for direct administrative expenses incurred in connection with the recall as well as the cost of replacement product.
Government Rebates. We are subject to discount obligations under state Medicaid programs, Medicare, the Tricare Retail Refund Program. We estimate reserves related to these discount programs and record these obligations in the same period the related revenue is recognized, resulting in a reduction of product revenue.
Patient Assistance. We offer a voluntary co-pay patient assistance program intended to provide financial assistance to eligible patients with a prescription drug co-payment required by payors and coupon programs for cash payors. The calculation of the current liability for this assistance is based on an estimate of claims and the cost per claim that we expect to receive associated with ZTALMY that has been recognized as revenue but remains in the distribution channel inventories at the end of each reporting period.
Federal Contract Revenue
In September 2020, we entered into a contract (BARDA Contract) with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Under the BARDA Contract, we received an award of up to an estimated $51 million for development of IV-administered ganaxolone for the treatment of RSE. The BARDA Contract provides for funding to support, on a cost-sharing basis, the completion of a Phase 3 clinical trial of IV-administered ganaxolone in patients with RSE, which covers the RAISE trial, funding of pre-clinical studies to evaluate IV-administered ganaxolone as an effective treatment for RSE due to chemical nerve gas agent exposure, and funding of certain ganaxolone manufacturing scale-up and regulatory activities. In March 2022, we entered into an amendment with BARDA to extend the end date of our base performance period for funding under the BARDA Contract from September 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. In September 2022, we entered into an amendment with BARDA that, among other things, (i) provides for the exercise of BARDA’s option under the BARDA Contract to support U.S. onshoring of the manufacturing capabilities for ganaxolone API (Option 2), (ii) changes the end date of our performance period under Option 2 from December 31, 2026 to July 31, 2025, (iii) increases the government cost share amount under Option 2 from approximately $11.5 million to approximately $12.3 million, and (iv) increases our cost share amount under Option 2 from approximately $4.9 million to approximately $5.3 million.
The BARDA Contract consists of an approximately two-year base period, which was extended through December 31, 2023, during which BARDA will provide up to approximately $21 million of funding for the RAISE trial on a cost share basis and funding of additional preclinical studies of ganaxolone in nerve agent exposure models. Following successful completion of the RAISE trial and preclinical studies in the contract period the BARDA Contract provides for approximately $31 million of additional BARDA funding for three options in support of ganaxolone manufacturing, supply chain, clinical, regulatory and toxicology activities, including the $12.3 million exercise of Option 2 as described above. Under the BARDA Contract, we will be responsible for cost sharing in the amount of approximately $33 million and BARDA will be responsible for approximately $52 million, if all development options are completed. The contract period-of-performance (base period plus option exercises) is up to approximately five years.
We recognize federal contract revenue from the BARDA Contract in the period in which the allowable research and development expenses are incurred. We expect federal contract revenue to increase as the costs associated with our RAISE trial increase.
Collaboration Revenue
In July 2021, we entered into a collaboration agreement (Orion Collaboration Agreement) with Orion Corporation (Orion). Under the terms of the Orion Collaboration Agreement, we granted Orion an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to certain of our intellectual property rights with respect to commercializing biopharmaceutical products incorporating ganaxolone (Licensed Products) in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland (collectively, the Territory) for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of certain human diseases, disorders or conditions (Field), initially in the indications of CDD, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and RSE.
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Under the terms of the Orion Collaboration Agreement, we received a €25.0 million ($29.6 million) upfront payment from Orion in July 2021. We are eligible to receive up to an additional €97 million in R&D reimbursement and cash milestone payments based on specific clinical and commercial achievements. Also, as part of the overall arrangement, we have agreed to supply the Licensed Products to Orion at an agreed upon price.
We identified the following commitments under the arrangement: (i) exclusive rights to develop, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale and import any product comprised of Licensed Product (License); (ii) development and regulatory activities (Development and Regulatory Activities); and (iii) requirement to supply Orion with the Licensed Product at an agreed upon price (Supply of Licensed Product). We determined that these three commitments represent distinct performance obligations for purposes of recognizing revenue and will recognize license and collaboration revenue or a reduction of expense as we fulfill each performance obligation.
On November 16, 2022, we entered into a Collaboration and Supply Agreement (Tenacia Collaboration Agreement) with Tenacia Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Tenacia). Under the terms of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, we granted Tenacia an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to certain of our intellectual property rights to develop, commercialize and otherwise exploit certain products incorporating certain oral and intravenous formulations of the our product candidate ganaxolone (Licensed Products) in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (collectively, Territory) for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of certain human diseases, disorders or conditions (Field), initially for the treatment of CDD, TSC and SE (including refractory and established SE) (collectively, Initial Indications). The collaboration can be expanded to include additional indications and formulations of ganaxolone pursuant to a right of first negotiation.
Under the terms of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, Tenacia agreed to pay us an upfront cash payment of $10 million (Upfront Fee) within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date, which was received in December 2022. In addition to the Upfront Fee, Tenacia has agreed to make cash payments to us upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and sales-based milestones related to (i) the Initial Indications and (ii) the first new formulation or pro-drug of ganaxolone or any back-up compound of ganaxolone in a new indication (Selected Product) for which the parties amend the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement in connection with Tenacia’s exercise of its right of first negotiation and for which there is no other Licensed Product approved in China (for clarity, the milestone payments under this clause (ii) will only apply to one Selected Product), up to an aggregate amount of $256 million. Of the milestones, $15 million relates to regulatory approvals with separate milestones related to each of oral and intravenous formulations and the Selected Product, and an aggregate of $241 million of sales-based milestones are connected to annual revenue thresholds specific to each of the oral, intravenous and Selected Product formulations of ganaxolone. Tenacia has further agreed to pay us tiered royalty payments based on annual net sales of Licensed Products ranging from the low double digits to the mid-teens for each of the oral formulation, intravenous formulation and Selected Product formulation of Licensed Products. Tenacia’s obligations to pay royalties to us with respect to sales of a Licensed Product in each particular jurisdiction of the Territory will commence on the date of first commercial sale in such jurisdiction and expire upon the latest of (i) ten years following the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in such jurisdiction, (ii) the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim of any licensed patent rights that covers such Licensed Product in such jurisdiction and (iii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivities for such Licensed Product in such jurisdiction. Royalty payments are subject to reduction in specified circumstances as set forth in the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, including if net sales decrease by a certain percentage after the introduction of a generic product.
Tenacia will be primarily responsible for the development of Licensed Products in the Territory and regulatory interactions related thereto, including conducting and sponsoring clinical studies in the Field in the Territory to support regulatory filings in the Territory. All regulatory approvals filed by Tenacia in the Territory will be in the name of and owned by us unless otherwise required by applicable law, in which case such regulatory approvals would be in the name of and owned by Tenacia for the benefit of us. We and Tenacia agreed to enter into clinical and commercial supply agreements pursuant to which we will supply Tenacia with its requirements of Licensed Products necessary for Tenacia to develop and commercialize Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory. The parties entered into the clinical and commercial supply agreement in May 2023. The agreement contains pricing, delivery, acceptance, payment, termination, forecasting, and other terms consistent with the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, as well as certain quality assurance, indemnification, liability and other standard industry terms. Tenacia will be responsible for, at Tenacia’s sole cost and expense, obtaining regulatory approval and commercializing the Licensed Product in the Field in Mainland China.
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The term of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement extends for so long as royalties are payable anywhere in the Territory. Subject to the terms of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, (i) for a specified period of time after the Effective Date, Tenacia may terminate the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement in its entirety for any or no reason upon written notice to us, and (ii) either party may terminate the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement for the other party’s material breach following a cure period or insolvency.
In accordance with the guidance, we identified the following commitments under the arrangement: (i) grant to Tenacia the exclusive rights to develop, commercialize and otherwise exploit Licensed Product in the Field in the Territory (License) and (ii) requirement to supply Tenacia with the Licensed Product at an agreed upon price (Supply of Licensed Product). We determined that these two commitments represent distinct performance obligations for purposes of recognizing revenue or reducing expense, which it will recognize such revenue or expense, as applicable, as it fulfills these performance obligations.
We have also entered into agreements for commercialization of ganaxolone in other territories with (i) NovaMedica LLC (NovaMedica), whereby NovaMedica has the right to market and sell ganaxolone in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, and (ii) Biologix FZCo (Biologix), whereby Biologix has the right to distribute and sell ganaxolone in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates. In exchange for distribution rights, we will be the exclusive supplier of our products to NovaMedica and Biologix on terms set forth in the respective agreements in exchange for a negotiated purchase price for the products. We continue to assess opportunities in other markets to further expand the distribution and commercialization of ganaxolone globally.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the development of ganaxolone, which include:
● | employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense; |
● | expenses incurred under agreements with clinical research organizations (CROs) and investigative sites that conduct our clinical trials and preclinical studies; |
● | the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical trial materials; |
● | facilities, depreciation and other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, insurance and other supplies; |
● | costs associated with preclinical activities and regulatory operations; and |
● | costs associated with developing new formulations and prodrugs of ganaxolone. |
We expense research and development costs when we incur them. We record costs for some development activities, such as clinical trials, based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations and information our vendors provide to us.
We have and will incur substantial costs beyond our present and planned clinical trials in order to file an NDA and Supplemental NDAs, or MAAs outside the U.S., for ganaxolone for various clinical indications, and in each case, the nature, design, size and cost of further clinical trials and other studies will depend in large part on the outcome of preceding studies and trials and discussions with regulators. It is difficult to determine with certainty the costs and duration of our current or future clinical trials and preclinical studies, or if, when or to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of ganaxolone if we obtain regulatory approval. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for ganaxolone. The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of
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ganaxolone will depend on a variety of factors, including the uncertainties of future clinical trials and preclinical studies, uncertainties in clinical trial enrollment rate and significant and changing government regulation.
In addition, the probability of success for our clinical programs will depend on numerous factors, including competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability. See the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 9, 2023 for more information with respect to such factors. Our commercial success depends upon attaining significant market acceptance, if approved, among physicians, patients, healthcare payers and the medical community. We will determine which programs to pursue and how much to fund each program in response to the scientific and clinical success, as well as an assessment of commercial potential.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist principally of salaries and related costs for executive, commercial and other administrative personnel and consultants, including stock-based compensation and travel expenses. Other selling, general and administrative expenses include professional fees for commercial, legal, patent review, consulting and accounting services. Selling, general and administrative expenses are expensed when incurred.
Cost of Product Revenue
Cost of product revenue includes the cost of inventory sold, which includes direct manufacturing and supply chain costs. Also included in cost of product revenue are royalty payments owed to Purdue Neuroscience Company (Purdue) and Ovid in accordance with the respective license agreements. We began capitalizing inventory related to ZTALMY subsequent to the March 2022 FDA approval of ZTALMY, as the related costs were expected to be recoverable through the commercialization and subsequent sale of ZTALMY. Prior to FDA approval of ZTALMY, costs estimated at approximately $2 million for commercially saleable product and materials were incurred and included in research and development expenses. As a result, cost of product revenues related to ZTALMY will initially reflect a lower average per unit cost of materials into approximately the first half of 2024, as previously expensed inventory is utilized for commercial production and sold to customers.
Cost of IP License Fee
In March 2022, we entered into an exclusive patent license agreement (License Agreement) with Ovid. Under the License Agreement, we have an exclusive, non-transferable (except as provided in the License Agreement), royalty-bearing, sublicensable license under certain of Ovid’s patent(s) and patent applications to develop, make, have made, commercialize, promote, distribute, sell, offer for sale and import, ganaxolone, including any analogues or derivatives, including its salts, and pharmaceutical formulations of the foregoing (Licensed Products), in the U.S., the member states of the EU, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland (Territory) for the treatment of CDD in humans (Field). Under the License Agreement, we have the sole right and responsibility for, and control over, all development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities, including all regulatory activities, with respect to the Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory. In addition, all regulatory approvals and related filings with respect to the Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory will be in the name of, and be owned solely by, us. We were required, at Ovid’s option exercisable in accordance with the License Agreement, to (i) pay to Ovid the sum of $1.5 million in cash; or (ii) issue to Ovid 123,255 shares of our common stock, which option to obtain shares of our common stock was exercisable within the five-business day period following the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 on March 24, 2022. On March 29, 2022, we issued 123,255 shares of our common stock to Ovid, per Ovid’s option in accordance with the License Agreement. As such, we recorded $1.2 million of IP license fee expenses related to the Ovid License Agreement in the three months ended March 31, 2022.
The License Agreement also provides for payment of royalties by us to Ovid in the low single digits on net sales by us, our affiliates and sublicensees, of Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory. Such royalties are subject to reduction in the event of generic competition in accordance with the License Agreement. We may terminate the License Agreement at any time without cause on thirty days’ prior written notice. Either party may terminate the License Agreement for the other party’s material breach or insolvency subject to certain cure periods. Also, Ovid has the right to terminate the License Agreement if there has not been a first commercial sale of any Licensed Products in the Field in
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the Territory on or before June 30, 2025. In the event of termination, all licenses granted under the License Agreement will terminate.
Interest Income
Interest income consists principally of interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents and investment balances.
Interest Expense
Interest expense consists of interest expense and amortization of debt discount related to our Notes Payable and our Revenue Interest Financing Payable.
Other Income (Expense), net
Other expense and income consists principally of gains or losses on disposal of fixed assets held for sale, foreign currency transactions, and fair value adjustments.
Results of Operations
Product Revenue, net
We recognized $3.3 million of net product revenue related to ZTALMY sales for the three months ended March 31, 2023. As ZTALMY, our first FDA approved product, became available for commercial sale and shipment to patients with a prescription in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022, we did not recognize any product revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Federal Contract Revenue
We recognized $7.0 million and $1.5 million of federal contract revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, as a result of the BARDA Contract. The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period primarily relates to expenses incurred in connection with on-going validation of a new third-party supplier of ganaxolone API.
Collaboration Revenue
We did not recognize any collaboration revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Collaboration revenue was $12.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as a result of revenue recognition related to the previously refundable upfront payment pursuant to the Orion Collaboration Agreement. In connection with the upfront fee related to the Orion Collaboration Agreement, we agreed to provide Orion with the results of an ongoing genotoxicity study. In May 2022, the final study report showed that no genotoxicity was found, as measured by formation of micronuclei in the bone marrow or comet morphology in the liver. As a result of the study’s findings, we are not required to refund Orion any of the upfront fee and Orion does not have the right to terminate the Orion Collaboration Agreement based on the study outcome. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we allocated the previously refundable portion of the upfront payment to the transaction price and recognized the related revenue.
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Research and Development Expenses
We record direct research and development expenses, consisting principally of external costs, such as fees paid to investigators, consultants, central laboratories and CROs in connection with our clinical trials, and costs related to manufacturing, to specific product development programs. We do not allocate costs related to purchasing clinical trial materials, employee and contractor-related costs, costs associated with our facility expenses, including depreciation or other indirect costs, to specific product programs because these costs are deployed across multiple product programs under research and development and, as such, are not separately classified. The table below shows our research and development expenses incurred with respect to each active program, in thousands. The primary drivers of our research and development expenditures are currently in our product development programs in CDD, RSE, TSC and ESE. We did not allocate research and development expenses to any other specific product development programs during the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended |
| ||||||
March 31, |
| ||||||
2023 | 2022 |
| |||||
CDKL5 deficiency disorder (1) |
| $ | 1,240 |
| $ | 855 | |
PCDH19-related epilepsy (2) | 94 | 580 | |||||
Tuberous Sclerosis (3) | 3,788 | 1,593 | |||||
Drug Development – Suspension (4) | 270 | 1,348 | |||||
Oral Indications Subtotal | 5,392 | 4,376 | |||||
Status epilepticus (5) | 3,002 | 1,869 | |||||
Drug Development – IV (6) | 8,489 | 1,708 | |||||
IV Indications Subtotal | 11,491 | 3,577 | |||||
Other research and development (7) | 1,196 | 1,447 | |||||
Indirect research and development (8) | 9,854 | 8,591 | |||||
Total | $ | 27,933 | $ | 17,991 |
(1) | The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due primarily to increased clinical site close-out activities related to the Marigold study and increased activity associated with our ongoing MAA application and review. |
(2) | The decrease in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due to reduced clinical activity, specifically completion of the open label extension portion of the PCDH-19 trial. |
(3) | The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due primarily to increased Phase 3 TSC trial activity, including global sites, as compared to more limited Phase 3 activity in the relevant 2022 period. |
(4) | The decrease in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due primarily to higher manufacturing development activity related to pre-validation and registration batches in the prior 2022 period. |
(5) | The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due primarily to increased RAISE Phase 3 and RESET Phase 2 trial activity. |
(6) | The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due primarily to start-up costs associated with validation of a new third-party supplier of ganaxolone API with no comparable costs in the prior 2022 period. |
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(7) | Other research and development expenses include external expenses associated with preclinical development of ganaxolone, including safety studies, stability studies, preclinical studies, including animal toxicology and pharmacology studies, and other professional fees. The decrease in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was due primarily to a lower volume of activities associated with the Phase 1 clinical trials, partially offset by an increase in toxicology and other safety study activities. |
(8) | The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the 2022 period was related to increased personnel costs in support of our increased activity in preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing activities. |
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $15.2 million and $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The primary drivers of the increase for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were $2.2 million in increased personnel costs including costs associated with our commercial salesforce hired in the second quarter of 2022, $1.0 million in increased consulting costs, $0.5 million in increased software related expenses, $0.4 million in increased other administrative costs, including legal fees and other professional fees, $0.3 million in increased non-cash stock-based compensation costs and $0.2 million in increased travel and meeting costs primarily related to the commercial salesforce. These increases were partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in commercial-launch preparedness activities.
Interest Income
Interest income was $2.3 million compared to less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase is due to the increase in cash, cash equivalent and short-term investments and increased yield.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $4.1 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 included $2.1 million of interest paid and $0.5 million of debt amortization in connection with our Notes Payable (Note 10 in accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements), and $1.5 million of non-cash interest expense related to our revenue interest financing payable (Note 11 in accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements). Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 included $1.3 million of interest paid, $0.3 million of debt amortization and less than $0.1 million related to commitment fees incurred in connection with our Notes Payable.
Other Income (Expense), net
Other income was not material for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Other expense was $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which consisted principally of foreign currency transaction losses, losses on fixed assets held for sale, and fair value adjustments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since inception, other than for the three months ended September 30, 2022 due to a one-time net gain from the sale of our PRV, we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We incurred a net loss of $34.7 million and $19.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our cash used in operating activities was $41.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $27.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Historically, we have financed our operations principally through the sale of common stock, notes payable, preferred stock and convertible debt.
In July 2022, we entered into the PRV Asset Purchase Agreement to sell our PRV, pursuant to which Novo Nordisk, Inc. paid us $110.0 million upon the closing of the transaction. In August 2022, we received a letter from Purdue in which Purdue claimed that it was owed $5.5 million by us from the sale of the PRV pursuant to the Purdue
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License Agreement. Our position communicated to Purdue is that we do not owe Purdue any of the proceeds from the sale of the PRV. No associated payment by us has been made, and Purdue has not filed a specific claim to date.
In November 2022, in connection with an underwritten public offering of 10,526,316 shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 2,105,264 shares of common stock and the exercise of an option of 1,894,737 shares of common stock, we received approximately $64.5 million in total net proceeds after taking into account the exercise of the underwriters’ option, in each case deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and after deducting offering expenses paid or payable by us. Additionally, in November 2022, we received an upfront payment of $32.5 million pursuant to the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with Sagard, and in December 2022, we received an upfront payment of $10.0 million in connection with the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $199.2 million. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2023 will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, as well as maintain the minimum cash balance required under our debt facility, into the second half of 2024. However, we will need to secure additional funding in the future, from one or more equity or debt financings, government funding, collaborations, licensing transactions, other commercial transactions or other sources in order to carry out all of our commercialization and planned research and development activities with respect to ganaxolone.
Orion Commercialization Agreement
On July 30, 2021, we entered into the Orion Collaboration Agreement, whereby Orion received exclusive rights to commercialize the oral and IV dose formulations of ganaxolone in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom and Switzerland in multiple seizure disorders, including CDD, TSC and RSE. Under the agreement, we received a €25 million ($29.6 million) upfront fee. We are eligible to receive up to an additional €97 million in research and development reimbursement and cash milestone payments based on specific clinical and commercial achievements, as well as tiered royalty payments based on net sales ranging from the low double-digits to high teens for the oral programs and the low double-digits to low 20s for the IV program. Also, as part of the overall arrangement, we have agreed to supply the Licensed Products to Orion at an agreed upon price.
Tenacia Commercialization Agreement
On November 16, 2022, we entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Tenacia Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Tenacia), pursuant to which we granted Tenacia an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to certain of our intellectual property rights to develop, commercialize and otherwise exploit certain products incorporating certain oral and intravenous formulations of our product candidate ganaxolone (Licensed Products) in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (collectively, Territory) for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of certain human diseases, disorders or conditions (Field), initially for the treatment of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 deficiency disorder, tuberous sclerosis complex and SE (including refractory and established SE) (collectively, Initial Indications). The collaboration can be expanded to include additional indications and formulations of ganaxolone pursuant to a right of first negotiation.
In connection with the execution of the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, Tenacia agreed to pay us an upfront cash payment of $10 million (Upfront Fee) within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date and payment was received in December 2022. In addition to the Upfront Fee, Tenacia has agreed to make cash payments to us upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and sales-based milestones related to (i) the Initial Indications and (ii) the first new formulation or pro-drug of ganaxolone or any back-up compound of ganaxolone in a new indication (Selected Product) for which the parties amend the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement in connection with Tenacia’s exercise of its right of first negotiation and for which there is no other Licensed Product approved in China (for clarity, the milestone payments under this clause (ii) will only apply to one Selected Product), up to an aggregate amount of $256 million. Of the milestones, $15 million relates to regulatory approvals with separate milestones related to each of oral and intravenous formulations and the Selected Product, and an aggregate of $241 million of sales-based milestones are connected to annual revenue thresholds specific to each of the oral, intravenous and Selected Product formulations of ganaxolone.
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Tenacia has further agreed to pay us tiered royalty payments based on annual net sales of Licensed Products ranging from the low double digits to the mid-teens for each of the oral formulation, intravenous formulation and Selected Product formulation of Licensed Products. Tenacia’s obligations to pay royalties to us with respect to sales of a Licensed Product in each particular jurisdiction of the Territory will commence on the date of first commercial sale in such jurisdiction and expire upon the latest of (i) ten years following the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in such jurisdiction, (ii) the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim of any licensed patent rights that covers such Licensed Product in such jurisdiction and (iii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivities for such Licensed Product in such jurisdiction. Royalty payments are subject to reduction in specified circumstances as set forth in the Tenacia Collaboration Agreement, including if net sales decrease by a certain percentage after the introduction of a generic product.
Oaktree Credit Agreement
On May 11, 2021 (Closing Date) and as amended on May 17, 2021, May 23, 2022 and October 28, 2022 (Credit Agreement), we entered into the Credit Agreement with Oaktree Fund Administration, LLC as administrative agent (Oaktree) and the lenders party thereto (collectively, Lenders) that provides for a five-year senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate original principal amount of up to $100.0 million, available to us in four tranches (collectively, Term Loans). As of March 31, 2023, we had drawn on three tranches, and the following tranche remained available to us:
● | Through December 31, 2023, $25.0 million of Tranche C Term Loans will be available for draw if we complete one or more financings (including through the issuance of common stock, convertible debt, subordinated debt, a synthetic royalty or a sublicense) resulting in gross proceeds to us of at least $40.0 million and net proceeds to us of at least $36.0 million (Qualified Financing Condition). However, the availability of this tranche is also subject to either our current Phase 3 trial in RSE or a Phase 3 trial in TSC achieving statistical significance (p value < 0.05) across all primary endpoints and ganaxolone must be generally well tolerated, with a safety profile generally consistent with previous clinical trials. |
We received $15.0 million of Tranche A-1 Term Loans on the Closing Date, $30.0 million of Tranche A-2 Term Loans in September 2021 after formal acceptance by the FDA of an NDA filing relating to the use of ganaxolone in the treatment of CDD, and $30.0 million of Tranche B Term Loans in March 2022 after FDA approval of ZTALMY for CDD. We satisfied the Qualified Financing Condition in connection with our November 2022 underwritten public offering, however, if we are unable to satisfy the remaining condition, we would not be able to draw down the remaining tranche of loans and may not be able to obtain alternative financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
The Term Loans mature on May 11, 2026 (Maturity Date). The Term Loans bear interest at a fixed per annum rate (subject to increase during an event of default) of 11.50%, and we are required to make quarterly interest payments until the Maturity Date. We are also required to make quarterly principal payments beginning on June 30, 2024 in an amount equal to 5.0% of the aggregate amount of the Term Loans outstanding on June 30, 2024, and continuing until the Maturity Date. On the Maturity Date, we are required to pay in full all outstanding Term Loans and other amounts owed under the Credit Agreement.
At the time of borrowing any tranche of the Term Loans, we are required to pay an upfront fee of 2.0% of the aggregate principal amount borrowed at that time.
In connection with the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, on October 28, 2022, we entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to, among other things, allow for the consummation of the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement and the transactions thereunder, and paid $0.3 million in administrative fees in connection with the execution of the amendment. In addition, the amendment increased the exit fee due by us upon any repayment, whether as a prepayment or a scheduled repayment, of the principal of the loans under the Credit Agreement from 2.00% to 2.67%.
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Sagard Financing Agreement
In October 2022, we entered into a revenue interest financing agreement (the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement) with Sagard Healthcare Royalty Partners, LP (Sagard) pursuant to which we received $32.5 million.
In exchange for the Investment Amount, we have agreed to make quarterly payments to Sagard (Payments) as follows: (i) for each calendar quarter from and after the closing date of such financing through and including the quarter ended June 30, 2026, an amount equal to 7.5% of (a) our U.S. net sales of ZTALMY and all other pharmaceutical products that contain ganaxolone (Net Sales), in each case with any dosage form, dosing regimen, or strength, or any improvements related thereto (collectively, Included Products) and (b) certain other payments received by us in connection with the manufacture, development and sale of the Included Products in the U.S. (Other Included Payments, and, together with Net Sales, Product Revenue); and (ii) for each calendar quarter following the calendar quarter ended June 30, 2026, an amount equal to (x) 15.0% of the first $100 million in annual Product Revenue of the Included Products and (y) 7.5% of annual Product Revenue of the Included Products in excess of $100 million.
The Payments are subject to a hard cap equal to 190% ($61.8 million) of the Investment Amount (Hard Cap). Sagard’s right to receive payments will terminate when Sagard has received payments in respect of the Included Products, including any additional payments described below, equal to the Hard Cap. Further, we have the right to make voluntary prepayments to Sagard, and such payments will be credited against the Hard Cap.
If Sagard has not received aggregate payments equaling at least 100% of the Investment Amount by December 31, 2027 or at least 190% of the Investment Amount by December 31, 2032 (each, Minimum Amount), then we will be obligated to make a cash payment to Sagard in an amount sufficient to gross up Sagard up to the applicable Minimum Amount within a specified period of time after each reference date.
BARDA Contract
In September 2020, we and BARDA entered into the BARDA Contract, under which we received an award of up to an estimated $51 million for development of IV-administered ganaxolone for the treatment of RSE. The BARDA Contract provides for funding to support, on a cost-sharing basis, the completion of a Phase 3 clinical trial of IV-administered ganaxolone in patients with RSE, which covers the RAISE trial, funding of pre-clinical studies to evaluate IV-administered ganaxolone as an effective treatment for RSE due to chemical nerve gas agent exposure, and funding of certain ganaxolone manufacturing scale-up and regulatory activities. In March 2022, we entered into an amendment with BARDA to extend the end date of our base performance period for funding under the BARDA Contract from September 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. In September 2022, we entered into an amendment with BARDA that, among other things, (i) provides for the exercise of BARDA’s option under the BARDA Contract to support U.S. onshoring of the manufacturing capabilities for ganaxolone API (Option 2), (ii) changes the end of date of our performance period under Option 2 from December 31, 2026 to July 31, 2025, (iii) increases the government cost share amount under Option 2 from approximately $11.5 million to approximately $12.3 million, and (iv) increases our cost share amount under Option 2 from approximately $4.9 million to approximately $5.3 million.
The BARDA Contract consists of an approximately two-year base period, and an extension period through December 31, 2023, during which BARDA will provide up to approximately $21 million of funding for the RAISE trial on a cost share basis and funding of additional preclinical studies of ganaxolone in nerve agent exposure models. Following successful completion of the RAISE trial and preclinical studies in the base period and extension period, the BARDA Contract provides for approximately $31 million of additional BARDA funding for three options in support of ganaxolone manufacturing, supply chain, clinical, regulatory and toxicology activities, including the $12.3 million exercise of Option 2 as described above. Under the BARDA Contract, we will be responsible for cost sharing in the amount of approximately $33 million and BARDA will be responsible for approximately $52 million if all development options are completed. The contract period-of-performance (base period plus option exercises) is up to approximately five years.
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Equity Financings
In connection with the closing of an equity financing in November 2022 and the December 2022 exercise of the related underwriters’ option, we issued a total of 12,421,053 shares of common stock and 2,105,264 pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock in an underwritten public offering resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $64.5 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid or payable by us.
Equity Distribution Agreement
On July 9, 2020, we entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (as subsequently amended on March 31, 2023, the EDA) with JMP Securities LLC (JMP) to create an at the market equity program under which we from time to time may offer and sell shares of our common stock without a maximum aggregate offering price through JMP, acting as agent and/or principal. Subject to the terms and conditions of the EDA, JMP will be entitled to a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of shares of our common stock. We did not sell any shares of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 under the EDA.
IP License Agreement
In March 2022, we entered into the License Agreement with Ovid. Under the License Agreement, we have an exclusive, non-transferable (except as provided in the License Agreement), royalty-bearing, sublicensable license under certain of Ovid’s patent(s) and patent applications to develop, make, have made, commercialize, promote, distribute, sell, offer for sale and import, ganaxolone, including any analogues or derivatives, including its salts, and pharmaceutical formulations of the foregoing (Licensed Products), in the U.S., the member states of the EU, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland (Territory) for the treatment of CDD in humans (Field). Under the License Agreement, we have the sole right and responsibility for, and control over, all development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities, including all regulatory activities, with respect to the Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory. In addition, all regulatory approvals and related filings with respect to the Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory will be in the name of, and be owned solely by, us. We were required, at Ovid’s option exercisable in accordance with the License Agreement, to (i) pay to Ovid the sum of $1.5 million in cash; or (ii) issue to Ovid 123,255 shares of our common stock, which option to obtain shares of our common stock was exercisable within the five-business day period following the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 on March 24, 2022. On March 29, 2022, we issued 123,255 shares of our common stock to Ovid, per Ovid’s option in accordance with the License Agreement. As such, we recorded $1.2 million of IP license fee expenses related to the Ovid License Agreement in the three months ended March 31, 2022.
The License Agreement also provides for payment of royalties by us to Ovid in the low single digits on net sales by us, our affiliates and sublicensees, of Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory. Such royalties are subject to reduction in the event of generic competition in accordance with the License Agreement. We may terminate the License Agreement at any time without cause on thirty days’ prior written notice. Either party may terminate the License Agreement for the other party’s material breach or insolvency subject to certain cure periods. Also, Ovid has the right to terminate the License Agreement if there has not been a first commercial sale of any Licensed Products in the Field in the Territory on or before June 30, 2025. In the event of termination, all licenses granted under the License Agreement will terminate.
Cash Flows
Operating Activities. Cash used in operating activities increased to $41.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $27.7 million for the same period in 2022. Excluding the noncash impacts primarily related to depreciation and amortization, debt issuance costs, accretion of revenue interest financing and amortization of discounts on short-term investments, stock-based compensation, cost of license agreement and changes in the net contract assets/liabilities related to the Orion and Tenacia collaboration agreements, the change in cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, was primarily the result of decreases in the changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses, other long term-liabilities, prepaid expenses, other current assets, inventory and accounts receivable and an increase in operating expenses.
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Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 represents $52.0 million in purchase of short-term investments. Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 represents less than $0.1 million in purchases of property and equipment.
Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 represents $0.2 million of payments in connection with the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with Sagard. Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 includes $29.4 million in proceeds from notes payable, net of issuance costs, and $1.7 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Funding Requirements
Since inception, other than for the three months ended September 30, 2022 due to a one-time net gain from the sale of our PRV, we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We incurred a net loss of $34.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. We have generated limited product revenues, and there is no assurance that profitable operations will be achieved in the future, and if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis.
We had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $199.2 as of March 31, 2023. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2023 will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, as well as maintain the minimum cash balance required under our debt facility, into the second half of 2024. However, we will need to secure additional funding in the future, from one or more equity or debt financings, government funding, collaborations, licensing transactions, other commercial transactions or other sources in order to carry out all of our commercialization and planned research and development activities with respect to ganaxolone. In order to meet these additional cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or convertible debt securities that may result in dilution to our stockholders, or engage in federal contracts or other partnerships. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of convertible debt securities, these securities could have rights senior to those of our common stock and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional equity or debt financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Further, the continued spread of COVID-19 has also led to severe disruption and volatility in the global capital markets, which could increase our cost of capital and adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets in the future. Our failure to obtain sufficient funds on acceptable terms when needed could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
● | the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, the medical community and the global economy; |
● | the results of our preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
● | the development, formulation and commercialization activities related to ganaxolone, including ZTALMY; |
● | the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing ganaxolone, including ZTALMY, or any other future product candidates, and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
● | the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for ganaxolone, including ZTALMY, or any other future product candidates; |
● | the cost of commercialization activities for ZTALMY in CDD in the U.S., including marketing, sales and distribution costs; |
● | the cost of commercialization activities for ZTALMY, ganaxolone in any other indications, or any other future product candidates, are approved for sale, including marketing, sales and distribution costs; |
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● | the cost of manufacturing and formulating ganaxolone, or any other future product candidates, to internal and regulatory standards for use in preclinical studies, clinical trials and, if approved, commercial sale; |
● | our ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such agreements; |
● | our ability to receive funding under the BARDA Contract; |
● | our expectations regarding the amount and timing of milestone and royalty payments pursuant to our exclusive license agreements with Orion and Tenacia. |
● | any product liability, infringement or other lawsuits related to ZTALMY or other indications being developed for ganaxolone and, if approved, products; |
● | capital needed to attract and retain skilled personnel; |
● | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims, including litigation costs and the outcome of such litigation; and |
● | the timing, receipt and amount of sales of, or royalties on, ZTALMY in CDD and on future approved products, if any. |
Please see the Risk Factors section included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023 for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to use judgment in making certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in our financial statements and accompanying notes. Critical accounting policies are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require difficult, subjective and complex judgments by management in order to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, there were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those described in our annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, which we included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and was filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act) and are not required to provide the information under this item.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2023.
(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 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
From time to time, we may become subject to litigation and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings, and we are not aware of any pending or threatened legal proceedings against us that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Third parties, such as Ovid Therapeutics, Inc., may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could harm our business.
Our commercial success depends upon our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell our products, all of which contain ganaxolone, if approved, and to use our related technologies. We may become party to, or threatened with, adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to one or more of our products, including interference or derivation proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue commercializing one or more of our products. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Under certain circumstances, we could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing one or more of our products. In addition, in any such proceeding or litigation, we could be found liable for monetary damages. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing one or more of our products or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially harm our business. Any claims by third parties that we have misappropriated their confidential information or trade secrets could have a similar negative impact on our business.
While our product candidates are in preclinical studies and clinical trials, we believe that the use of our product candidates in these preclinical studies and clinical trials falls within the scope of the exemptions provided by 35 U.S.C. Section 271(e) in the U.S., which exempts from patent infringement liability activities reasonably related to the development and submission of information to the FDA (Federal Development Patent Infringement Exemption). As our product candidates progress toward commercialization, the possibility of a patent infringement claim against us increases. While ganaxolone itself is off patent, we attempt to ensure that our product candidates and the methods we employ to manufacture ganaxolone do not infringe other parties’ patents and other proprietary rights. There can be no assurance they do not, however, and competitors or other parties may assert that we infringe their proprietary rights in any event.
On July 26, 2022, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 11,395,817 to Ovid Therapeutics, Inc. (Ovid) with claims that encompass our product candidate for the treatment of SE. On March 15, 2023, we filed a petition seeking post-grant review (PGR) of Ovid’s U.S. Patent No. 11,395,817 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board (the PTAB). Our petition for PGR argues that the claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,395,817 are unpatentable on multiple grounds. Ovid may file a preliminary response to our petition no later than June 20, 2023, the PTAB will then have up to three months to decide whether to grant our petition and institute the PGR. If the PGR is instituted and we do not prevail, the decision can be appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. If an appeal is not successful, our ability to challenge the validity of Ovid’s U.S. Patent No. 11,395,817 in court would be limited, or we may not be able challenge the validity of the patent in court at all.
Ovid may file a lawsuit against us alleging infringement of its patents. Any such proceeding, in the PTAB or courts, regardless of their outcome, would likely result in the expenditure of significant financial resources and the
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diversion of management’s time and resources. In addition, any such proceeding may cause negative publicity, adversely impact patients, and we may be prohibited from marketing or selling ganaxolone for SE, RSE and ESE during such proceedings or if we are not successful in such proceedings. If Ovid does decide to bring an infringement lawsuit, we do not expect that it will be filed before a commercial launch of ganaxolone for SE, RSE or ESE based upon the “safe harbor” provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Act. We may need to acquire or obtain a license to the Ovid patents to market or sell ganaxolone for SE, RSE or ESE, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all. If we are not able to acquire the Ovid patents or negotiate a license on acceptable terms, and if our product is determined to infringe Ovid’s patents and the patents are determined to be valid, then we may be forced to pay Ovid royalties, damages and costs, or we may be prevented from commercializing ganaxolone for SE, RSE and ESE altogether, which would have a material adverse impact on our business.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit |
| Exhibit Description |
3.1 | ||
3.2 | ||
3.3 | ||
3.4 | ||
3.5 | ||
3.6 | ||
3.7 | ||
3.8 | ||
4.1 | ||
4.2 | ||
10.1 | ||
31.1 | ||
31.2 | ||
32.1 | ||
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | |
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase | |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase | |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Signature |
| Title |
| Date |
/s/ SCOTT BRAUNSTEIN, M.D. | President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer), Chairman of the Board and Director | May 11, 2023 | ||
Scott Braunstein, M.D. | ||||
/s/ STEVEN PFANSTIEL | Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | May 11, 2023 | ||
Steven Pfanstiel |
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