UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
For
Quarterly Period ended
For the transition period from _________ to _______ .
Commission
File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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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
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Indicate
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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 (Check one):
| 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. ☐
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Outstanding Shares
As of May 9, 2023, the registrant had shares of common stock outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
| PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |||
| Item 1. | Financial Statements | 3 | |
| Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 22 | |
| Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks | 38 | |
| Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 39 | |
| PART II—OTHER INFORMATION | |||
| Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 39 | |
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 39 | |
| Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 41 | |
| Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 41 | |
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 41 | |
| Item 5. | Other Information | 41 | |
| Item 6. | Exhibits | 42 | |
| 2 |
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Marketable investment securities | ||||||||
| Accrued interest income | ||||||||
| Contract asset - current portion | ||||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Contract asset - non-current portion | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $ | ||||||||
| Other assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Warrant liability | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (notes 6, 8, 9 and 11) | ||||||||
| Mezzanine equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, par value $ per share ($ per share redemption value), shares authorized; and issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, par value $ per share, shares authorized; issued and outstanding | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Treasury stock at cost, shares | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
| 3 |
LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Revenues: | $ | $ | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||
| Interest and investment income | ||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ) | ||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on warrant liability | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | ( | ) | ||||||
| Loss before income tax expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Issuance of Series B preferred stock dividend | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholders | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Basic loss per share attributable to common stock | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | ||||||||
| Diluted loss per share attributable to common stock | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | ||||||||
| Comprehensive loss: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
| 4 |
LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
(Unaudited)
| Mezzanine Equity | Stockholder’s Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series B Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares | Amount | Number of Shares | Amount | Number of Shares | Amount | Additional Paid-In Capital | Other Comprehensive Loss | Accumulated Deficit | Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances at December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized net loss on marketable investment securities | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Option exercises | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances at March 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series B Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares | Amount | Number of Shares | Amount | Number of Shares | Amount | Additional Paid-In Capital | Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) | Accumulated Deficit | Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances at December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized net gain on marketable investment | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Series B referred stock dividend | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costs associated with ATM offering | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances at March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
| 5 |
LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation expense | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | ||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | ||||||||
| Non-cash (gain) loss on change in fair value of warrant liability | ( | ) | ||||||
| Amortization of premium (discounts) on marketable investment securities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accrued interest income | ||||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Purchases of marketable investment securities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Maturities of marketable investment securities | ||||||||
| Cash provided by investing activities | ||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Debt repayments | ( | ) | ||||||
| Costs associated with At the Market Offering | ( | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from stock option exercises | ||||||||
| Cash provided used in financing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | $ | ||||||
| Income taxes paid | $ | |||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity: | ||||||||
| Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Accrued final payment charge on debt | $ | $ | ||||||
| Issuance of Series B preferred stock dividend | $ | $ | ||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
| 6 |
LIPOCINE INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(1) Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Lipocine Inc. (“Lipocine” or the “Company”) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are comprised of the financial statements of Lipocine and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to as the Company. In management’s opinion, the interim financial data presented includes all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring items) necessary for fair presentation. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain information required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) has been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the SEC. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period or for the year ending December 31, 2023.
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions relating to reporting of the assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The Company believes that its existing capital resources, together with interest thereon, will be sufficient to meet its projected operating requirements through at least May 11, 2024 which includes an on-going clinical study for LPCN 1148 in the management of decompensated cirrhosis, a pilot pharmacokinetic (“PK”) bridge study for LPCN 1154 in Postpartum Depression (“PPD”), and compliance with regulatory requirements. The Company has based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and the Company could utilize its available capital resources sooner than it currently expects if additional activities are performed by the Company including clinical studies for LPCN 1148, LPCN 1154, LPCN 1144 for non-cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”), LPCN 1111 an oral TRT product with the potential for once daily dosing, LPCN 1107 for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth, and LPCN 2101 for epilepsy. While the Company believes it has sufficient liquidity and capital resources to fund our projected operating requirements through at least May 11, 2024, the Company will need to raise additional capital at some point through the equity or debt markets or via out-licensing activities to support its operations. If the Company is unsuccessful in raising additional capital, its ability to continue as a going concern will become a risk. Further, the Company’s operating plan may change, and the Company may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for product development, regulatory compliance and clinical trial activities sooner than planned. In addition, the Company’s capital resources may be consumed more rapidly if it pursues additional clinical studies for LPCN 1148, LPCN 1144, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107, LPCN 1154 and LPCN 2101. Conversely, the Company’s capital resources could last longer if the Company reduces expenses, reduces the number of activities currently contemplated under its operating plan, or terminates, modifies the design or suspends on-going clinical studies.
(2) Revenue
The Company generates most of its revenue from license and royalty arrangements. At inception of each contract, the Company identifies the goods and services that have been promised to the customer and each of those that represent a distinct performance obligation, determines the transaction price including any variable consideration, allocates the transaction price to the distinct performance obligations and determines whether control transfers to the customer at a point in time or over time. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. The Company reassesses its reserves for variable consideration at each reporting date and makes adjustments, if necessary, which may affect revenue and earnings in periods in which any such changes become known.
See Note 8 for a description of the license agreement with Antares Pharma, Inc. (“Antares”). See Note 12 for a description of the agreement with Spriaso, a related party.
| 7 |
License Fees. For distinct license performance obligations, upfront license fees are recognized when the Company satisfies the underlying performance obligation. Performance obligations under these licenses, which consist of the right to use the Company’s proprietary technology, are satisfied at a point in time corresponding with delivery of the underlying technology rights to the licensee, which is generally upon transfer of the licensed technology/product to the customer. In addition, license arrangements may include contingent milestone payments, which are due following achievement by our licensee of specified sales or regulatory milestones and the licensee and/or Company will fulfill its performance obligation prior to achievement of these milestones. Because of the uncertainty of the milestone achievement, and/or the dependence on sales of our licensee, variable consideration for contingent milestones is fully constrained and is not recognized as revenue until the milestone is achieved by our licensee, to the extent collectability is reasonably certain.
Royalties. Royalties revenue consists of sales-based and minimum royalties earned under license agreements for our products. Sales-based royalties revenue represents variable consideration under the license agreements and is recognized in the period a customer sells products incorporating the Company’s licensed technologies/products. The Company estimates sales-based royalties revenue earned but unpaid at each reporting period using information provided by the licensee. The Company’s license arrangements may also provide for minimum royalties, which the Company recognizes upon the satisfaction of the underlying performance obligation, which generally occurs with delivery of the underlying technology rights to the licensee. Sales-based and minimum royalties are generally due within 45 days after the end of each quarter in which they are earned.
Contract Assets
Contract
assets consist of minimum royalty revenue earned in relation to the license agreement but not yet due based on the terms of the contract.
The contract asset as of March 31, 2023 is related to the Antares License Agreement. The contract asset was reduced by approximately
$
Revenue Concentration
A
major partner is considered to be one that comprises more than
Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus, where applicable, the additional potential common shares that would have been outstanding related to dilutive options, warrants and, unvested restricted stock units to the extent such shares are dilutive.
| 8 |
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Basic loss per share attributable to common stock: | ||||||||
| Numerator | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Denominator | ||||||||
| Weighted avg. common shares outstanding | ||||||||
| Basic loss per share attributable to common stock | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Diluted loss per share attributable to common stock: | ||||||||
| Numerator | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Effect of dilutive securities on net loss: | ||||||||
| Common stock warrants | ||||||||
| Total net loss for purpose of calculating diluted net loss per common share | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Denominator | ||||||||
| Weighted avg. common shares outstanding | ||||||||
| Weighted average effect of dilutive securities: | ||||||||
| Common stock warrants | ||||||||
| Total shares for purpose of calculating diluted net loss per common share | ||||||||
| Diluted loss per share attributable to common stock | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Stock options | ||||||||
| Warrants | ||||||||
(4) Marketable Investment Securities
The Company has classified its marketable investment securities as available-for-sale securities, all of which are debt securities. These securities are carried at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity until realized. Gains and losses on investment security transactions are reported on the specific-identification method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses, and fair value for available-for-sale securities by major security type and class of security as of March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, were as follows:
| March 31, 2023 | Amortized Cost | Gross unrealized holding gains | Gross unrealized holding losses | Aggregate fair value | ||||||||||||
| Government treasury bills | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
| Corporate bonds, notes and commercial paper | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. government agency securities | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||
| 9 |
| December 31, 2022 | Amortized Cost | Gross unrealized holding gains | Gross unrealized holding losses | Aggregate fair value | ||||||||||||
| Government treasury bills | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
| Commercial paper | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. government agency securities | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||
Maturities of debt securities classified as available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2023, are as follows:
| March 31, 2023 | Amortized Cost | Aggregate fair value | ||||||
| Due within one year | $ | $ | ||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
There
were
(5) Fair Value
The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:
| ● | Level 1 Inputs: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. | |
| ● | Level 2 Inputs: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuation in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. | |
| ● | Level 3 Inputs: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
| 10 |
All of the Company’s financial instruments are valued using quoted prices in active markets or based on other observable inputs. For accrued interest income, prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The following table presents the placement in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
| Fair value measurements at reporting date using | ||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2023 | Level 1 inputs | Level 2 inputs | Level 3 inputs | |||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents - money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Government treasury bills | ||||||||||||||||
| Commercial paper | ||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds and notes | ||||||||||||||||
| US. Government agency securities | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Warrant liability | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Fair value measurements at reporting date using | ||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | Level 1 inputs | Level 2 inputs | Level 3 inputs | |||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents - money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Government treasury bills | ||||||||||||||||
| Commercial paper | ||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds and notes | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government agency securities | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Warrant liability | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
The following methods and assumptions were used to determine the fair value of each class of assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the balance sheets:
Cash equivalents: Cash equivalents primarily consist of highly-rated money market funds and treasury bills with original maturities to the Company of three months or less and are purchased daily at par value with specified yield rates. Cash equivalents related to money market funds and treasury bills are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices or broker or dealer quotations for similar assets.
| 11 |
Government treasury bills: The Company uses a third-party pricing service to value these investments. United States treasury bills are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and reportable trades.
Corporate bonds, notes, commercial paper and U.S. government agency securities: The Company uses a third-party pricing service to value these investments. Corporate bonds, notes commercial paper and U.S. government agency securities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using broker/dealer quotes, bids and offers, benchmark yields and credit spreads and other observable inputs.
Warrant
liability: The warrant liability (which relates to warrants to purchase shares of common stock)
is marked-to-market each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to other income (expense) in the accompanying statements
of operations until the warrants are exercised, expire or other facts and circumstances lead the warrant liability to be reclassified
to stockholders’ equity. The fair value of the warrant liability is estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The significant
assumptions used in preparing the option pricing model for valuing the warrant liability as of March 31, 2023, include (i) volatility
of
The Company’s accounting policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy on the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. There were no transfers into or out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
(6) Loan and Security Agreements
Silicon Valley Bank Loan
On
January 5, 2018, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) with Silicon
Valley Bank (“SVB”) pursuant to which SVB agreed to lend the Company $
(7) Income Taxes
The tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the Company’s effective tax rate for the full year adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter the Company updates its estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if the estimated tax rate changes, the Company makes a cumulative adjustment.
At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets, net of expected reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities, as it believes it is more likely than not that these benefits will not be realized.
(8) Contractual Agreements
(a) Abbott Products, Inc.
On
March 29, 2012, the Company terminated its collaborative agreement with Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (later acquired by Abbott Products,
Inc.) for TLANDO. As part of the termination, the Company reacquired the rights to the intellectual property from Abbott. All obligations
under the prior license agreement have been completed except that Lipocine will owe Abbott a perpetual
| 12 |
(b) Antares Pharma, Inc.
On October 14, 2021, the Company entered into a license agreement (“License Agreement”) with Antares Pharma, Inc. (“Antares”) pursuant to which the Company granted to Antares an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable right and license to develop and commercialize, upon final approval of TLANDO® from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), the Company’s TLANDO product with respect to testosterone replacement therapy in males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone, as indicated in New Drug Application (“NDA”) No. 208088, treatment of Klinefelter syndrome, and pediatric indications relating to testosterone replacement therapy in males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone (the “Field”), in each case within the United States. TLANDO received FDA approval on March 29, 2022.
Upon
execution of the Antares License Agreement, Antares paid the Company an initial payment of $
The
Company retains development and commercialization rights in the rest of the world, and with respect to applications outside of the Field
inside or outside the United States. Antares also purchased certain existing inventory of licensed products from the Company. Finally,
pursuant to the terms of the Antares License Agreement, Antares is generally responsible for expenses relating to the development (including
the conduct of any clinical trials) and commercialization of TLANDO in the Field in the United States, while the Company is generally
responsible for expenses relating to development activities outside of the Field and/or the United States. The Antares License Agreement
also provided Antares with an option, exercisable on or before March 31, 2022, to license TLANDO XR (LPCN 1111), the Company’s
potential once-daily oral product candidate for testosterone replacement therapy. On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into the First
Amendment to the License Agreement (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which the License Agreement was amended to extend the deadline
by which Antares was to exercise its option to license TLANDO XR to June 30, 2022. As consideration for the Company agreeing to enter
into the Amendment, in April 2022 Antares paid the Company a non-refundable cash fee of $
On May 24, 2022, Halozyme Therapeutics completed an acquisition of Antares Pharma Inc. through the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of Halozyme with and into Antares, with Antares continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Halozyme.
The Company did not recognize any revenue under the Antares Licensing Agreement during either the three months ended March 31, 2023, or March 31, 2022.
(c) Contract Research and Development
The
Company has entered into agreements with various contract organizations that conduct pre-clinical, clinical, analytical and manufacturing
development work on behalf of the Company as well as a number of independent contractors and primarily clinical researchers who serve
as advisors to the Company. The Company incurred expenses of $
(9) Leases
The Company has a non-cancelable operating lease for office space and laboratory facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah. The term of the lease has been extended through February 28, 2024.
| 13 |
Future minimum lease payments under the non-cancelable operating lease as of March 31, 2023 are:
| Operating | ||||
| leases | ||||
| Year ending December 31: | ||||
| 2023 | $ | |||
| 2024 | ||||
| Total minimum lease payments | $ | |||
The
Company’s rent expense was $
(10) Stockholders’ Equity
On June 8, 2022, at the 2022 annual meeting of the stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $, from shares to shares. The Company filed the amendment to the Restated Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 28, 2022. The amendment to the Restated Certificate became effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(a) Issuance of Common Stock
On
March 6, 2017, the Company entered into the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”) pursuant to which
the Company may issue and sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to the amount
the Company registered on an effective registration statement pursuant to which the offering is being made. The Company currently has
registered up to $
The shares of the Company’s common stock sold under the Sales Agreement are sold and issued pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-250072) (the “Form S-3”), which was previously declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the related prospectus and one or more prospectus supplements.
The Company is not obligated to make any sales of its common stock under the Sales Agreement. The offering of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. The Company and Cantor may each terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
As
of March 31, 2023, the Company had sold an aggregate of shares at a weighted-average sales price of $ per share under
the ATM for aggregate gross proceeds of $
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(b) Series B Preferred Stock
On March 7, 2023, the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company declared a dividend of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Series B Preferred Stock, par value $ per share (“Series B Preferred Stock”), for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company, to stockholders of record on March 24, 2023. The Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) was filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and became effective on March 10, 2023.
The
dividend was based on the number of shares of outstanding common stock on March 24, 2023, and resulted in Series B Preferred shares
being issued.
All shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are not present in person or by proxy at the Meeting as of immediately prior to the opening of the polls (the “Initial Redemption Time”) will automatically be redeemed in whole, but not in part, by the Company without further action on the part of the Company or the holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Initial Redemption”). Any outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock that have not been redeemed pursuant to an Initial Redemption will be redeemed in whole, but not in part, (i) if such redemption is ordered by the Board in its sole discretion, automatically and effective on such time and date specified by the Board in its sole discretion or (ii) automatically upon the effectiveness of the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation implementing the Reverse Stock Split (the “Subsequent Redemption”).
The Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series of stock or other securities of the Company. The Series B Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund. The Series B Preferred Stock is not subject to any restriction on the redemption or repurchase of shares by the Company while there is any arrearage in the payment of dividends or sinking fund installments.
The Company is not solely in control of the redemption of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock since the holders have the option of deciding whether to vote in respect of the above described Reverse Stock Split, which determines whether a given holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock are redeemed in the Initial Redemption or the Subsequent Redemption. Since the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock is not solely in the control of the Company, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock are classified within the mezzanine equity in the Company’s audited consolidated statement of stockholder’s equity. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock will be measured at redemption value. See Note 14. Subsequent Events, Redemption and Elimination of Series B Preferred Stock.
The foregoing description of the Series B Preferred Stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate of Designation, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023.
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(c) Rights Agreement
On
November 13, 2015, the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent, entered into a Rights Agreement.
Also on November 12, 2015, the Board of the Company authorized and the Company declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right
(each a “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company. The
dividend was payable to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 30, 2015 and entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of
the Company at a price of $
In general, in the event a person becomes an Acquiring Person, then each Right not owned by such Acquiring Person will entitle its holder to purchase from the Company, at the Right’s then current exercise price, in lieu of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, common stock of the Company with a market value of twice the Purchase Price. In addition, if after any person has become an Acquiring Person, (a) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination, or (b) 50% or more of the Company’s assets, or assets accounting for 50% or more of its earning power, are sold, leased, exchanged or otherwise transferred (in one or more transactions), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person, its affiliates and associates and certain transferees thereof, whose Rights became void) shall thereafter have the right to purchase from the acquiring corporation, for the Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring corporation which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of twice the Purchase Price.
The
Company will be entitled to redeem the Rights at $
(d) Share-Based Payments
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for grants of stock option awards, restricted stock units and restricted stock under the Company’s Incentive Plan to employees, nonemployees and nonemployee members of the Company’s Board based on the grant-date fair value of those awards. The grant-date fair value of an award is generally recognized as compensation expense over the award’s requisite service period. In addition, the Company has granted performance-based stock option awards and restricted stock units, which vest based upon the Company satisfying certain performance conditions. Potential compensation cost, measured on the grant date, related to these performance options will be recognized only if, and when, the Company estimates that these options or units will vest, which is based on whether the Company considers the performance conditions to be probable of attainment. The Company’s estimates of the number of performance-based options or units that will vest will be revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods.
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The Company uses the Black-Scholes model to compute the estimated fair value of stock option awards. Using this model, fair value is calculated based on assumptions with respect to (i) expected volatility of the Company’s common stock price, (ii) the periods of time over which employees and members of the board of directors are expected to hold their options prior to exercise (expected term), (iii) expected dividend yield on the Common Stock, and (iv) risk-free interest rates. Stock-based compensation expense also includes an estimate, which is made at the time of grant, of the number of awards that are expected to be forfeited. This estimate is revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Stock-based compensation cost that has been expensed in the statements of operations amounted to approximately $ and $, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 and is allocated as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Research and development | $ | $ | ||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
The Company issued and stock options, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Key assumptions used in the determination of the fair value of stock options granted are as follows:
Expected Term: The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term was estimated using the simplified method in accordance with the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107, Share-Based Payment for awards with stated or implied service periods. The simplified method defines the expected term as the average of the contractual term and the vesting period of the stock option. For awards with performance conditions, and that have the contractual term to satisfy the performance condition, the contractual term was used.
Risk-Free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate used was based on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury issues with an equivalent remaining term.
Expected Dividend: The expected dividend assumption is based on management’s current expectation about the Company’s anticipated dividend policy. The Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the foreseeable future.
Expected Volatility: The volatility factor is based solely on the Company’s trading history.
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Expected term | years | years | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | % | ||||||
| Expected dividend yield | ||||||||
| Expected volatility | % | % | ||||||
FASB ASC 718, Stock Compensation, requires the Company to recognize compensation expense for the portion of options that are expected to vest. Therefore, the Company applied estimated forfeiture rates that were derived from historical employee termination behavior. If the actual number of forfeitures differs from those estimated by management, additional adjustments to compensation expense may be required in future periods.
As of March 31, 2023, there was $ of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s stock option plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of years and will be adjusted for subsequent changes in estimated forfeitures.
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(e) Stock Option Plan
In April 2014, the Board adopted the 2014 Stock and Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”) subject to shareholder approval which was received in June 2014. The 2014 Plan provides for the granting of nonqualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, restricted stock and dividend equivalents. An aggregate of shares were authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Additionally, remaining authorized shares under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (“2011 Plan”) were issuable under the 2014 Plan at the time of the 2014 Plan adoption. Upon receiving shareholder approval in June 2016, the 2014 Plan was amended and restated to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock of the Company issuable under all awards granted under the 2014 Plan from to . Additionally, upon receiving shareholder approval in June 2018, the 2014 Plan was further amended and restated to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock of the Company issuable under all awards granted under the 2014 Plan from to . Finally, upon receiving shareholder approval in June 2020, the 2014 Plan was further amended and restated to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock of the Company issuable under all awards granted under the 2014 Plan from to . The Board, on an option-by-option basis, determines the number of shares, exercise price, term, and vesting period for options granted. Options granted generally have a -year contractual life. The Company issues shares of common stock upon the exercise of options with the source of those shares of common stock being either newly issued shares or shares held in treasury. An aggregate of shares of common stock are authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan, with shares remaining available for grant as of March 31, 2023.
| Outstanding stock options | ||||||||
| Number of shares | Weighted average exercise price | |||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | |||||||
| Options granted | ||||||||
| Options exercised | ||||||||
| Options forfeited | ( | ) | ||||||
| Options cancelled | ||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Options exercisable at March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Options outstanding | Options exercisable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number outstanding | Weighted average remaining contractual life (Years) | Weighted average exercise price | Aggregate intrinsic value | Number exerciseable | Weighted average remaining contractual life (Years) | Weighted average exercise price | Aggregate intrinsic value | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The intrinsic value for stock options is defined as the difference between the current market value and the exercise price. There were and stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022, respectively.
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(f) Common Stock Warrants
The Company accounts for its common stock warrants under ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, which requires any financial instrument, other than an outstanding share, that, at inception, embodies an obligation to repurchase the issuer’s equity shares, or is indexed to such an obligation, and requires or may require the issuer to settle the obligation by transferring assets, to be classified as a liability. In accordance with ASC 480, the Company’s outstanding warrants from the November 2019 Offering are classified as a liability. The liability is adjusted to fair value at each reporting period, with the changes in fair value recognized as gain (loss) on change in fair value of warrant liability in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The warrants issued in the November 2019 Offering allow the warrant holder, if certain change in control events occur, the option to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the warrants as determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes option pricing model with certain defined assumptions upon a fundamental transaction.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had common stock warrants outstanding from the November 2019 Offering to purchase an equal number of shares of common stock. The fair value of these warrants on March 31, 2023 and on March 31, 2022 was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following Level 3 inputs (as defined in the November 2019 Offering):
| March 31, 2023 | March 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Expected life in years | ||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | % | ||||||
| Dividend yield | ||||||||
| Volatility | % | % | ||||||
| Stock price | $ | $ | ||||||
During
the three months ended March 31, 2023, and March 31, 2022, the Company recorded a non-cash gain of approximately $
| Warrant Liability | ||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | |||
| Settlement of liability on warrant exercise | ||||
| Change in fair value of common stock warrants | ( | ) | ||
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | $ | |||
Additionally, in the February 2020 Offering, the Company issued common stock warrants, however, because these warrants do not provide the warrant holder the option to put the warrant back to the Company, the warrants are classified as equity. As of March 31, 2023, and March 31, 2022, there were warrants outstanding that were issued in conjunction with the February 2020 Offering.
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The following table summarizes the number of common stock warrants outstanding and the weighted average exercise price:
| Warrants | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2022 | $ | |||||||
| Issued | ||||||||
| Exercised | ||||||||
| Expired | ||||||||
| Cancelled | ||||||||
| Forfeited | ||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | $ | |||||||
There were common stock warrants exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2023, or the three months ended March 31, 2022.
The following table summarizes information about common stock warrants outstanding at March 31, 2023:
| Warrants outstanding | ||||||||||||||
| Number exercisable | Weighted average remaining contractual life (Years) | Weighted average exercise price | Aggregate intrinsic value | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||||||||
(11) Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Company is involved in various lawsuits, claims and other legal matters from time to time that arise in the ordinary course of conducting business. The Company records a liability when a particular contingency is probable and estimable.
On
April 2, 2019, the Company filed a lawsuit against Clarus in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that
Clarus’s JATENZO® product infringes six of Lipocine’s issued U.S. patents: 9,034,858; 9,205,057; 9,480,690; 9,757,390;
6,569,463; and 6,923,988. However, on February 11, 2020, the Company voluntarily dismissed allegations of patent infringement for expired
U.S. Patent Nos. 6,569,463 and 6,923,988 in an effort to streamline the issues and associated costs for dispute. Clarus answered the
complaint and asserted counterclaims of non-infringement and invalidity. The Company answered Clarus’s counterclaims on April 29,
2019. The Court held a scheduling conference on August 15, 2019, a claim construction hearing on February 11, 2020, and a summary judgment
hearing on January 15, 2021. In May 2021, the Court granted Clarus’ motion for Summary Judgment, finding the asserted claims of
Lipocine’s U.S. patents 9,034,858; 9,205,057; 9,480,690; and 9,757,390 invalid for failure to satisfy the written description requirement
of 35 U.S.C. § 112. Clarus still had remaining claims before the Court. On July 13, 2021, the Company entered into the Global Agreement
with Clarus which resolved all outstanding claims of this litigation as well as the on-going United States Patent and Trademark Office
(“USPTO”) Interference No. 106,128 between the parties. Under the terms of the Global Agreement, the Company agreed to pay
Clarus $
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On
November 14, 2019, the Company and certain of its officers were named as defendants in a purported shareholder class action lawsuit,
Solomon Abady v. Lipocine Inc. et al., 2:19-cv-00906-PMW, filed in the United District Court for the District of Utah. The complaint
alleges that the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that the Company’s filing of the
NDA for TLANDO to the FDA contained deficiencies and as a result the defendants’ statements about our business and operations were
false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis in violation of federal securities laws. The lawsuit sought certification as a
class action (for a purported class of purchasers of the Company’s securities from March 27, 2019 through November 8, 2019), compensatory
damages in an unspecified amount, and unspecified equitable or injunctive relief. The Company has insurance that covers claims of this
nature. The retention amount payable by the Company under its policy is $
Management does not currently believe that any other matter, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Guarantees and Indemnifications
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into agreements, such as lease agreements, licensing agreements, clinical trial agreements, and certain services agreements, containing standard guarantee and / or indemnification provisions. Additionally, the Company has indemnified its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(12) Agreement with Spriaso, LLC
The
Company has a license and a services agreement with Spriaso, a related-party that is majority-owned by certain current and former directors
of Lipocine Inc. and their affiliates. Under the license agreement, the Company assigned and transferred to Spriaso all of the Company’s
rights, title and interest in its intellectual property to develop products for the cough and cold field. In addition, Spriaso received
all rights and obligations under the Company’s product development agreement with a third-party. In exchange, the Company will
receive a royalty of
(13) Subsequent Events
Initial Redemption of Series B Preferred Stock
All shares of Series B Preferred Stock that were not present in person or by proxy at the Annual Shareholder Meeting as of immediately prior to the opening of the polls on May 10, 2023 were automatically redeemed in whole, but not in part, by the Company at the Initial Redemption Time. Any outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock that have not been redeemed pursuant to the Initial Redemption will be redeemed in whole, but not in part, (i) if such redemption is ordered by the Board in its sole discretion, automatically and effective on such time and date specified by the Board in its sole discretion or (ii) automatically upon the effectiveness of the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation implementing the Reverse Stock Split.
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| ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this report. For additional context with which to understand our financial condition and results of operations, see the management’s discussion and analysis included in our Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023 as well as the financial statements and related notes contained therein.
As used in the discussion below, “we,” “our,” and “us” refers to Lipocine.
Forward-Looking Statements
This section and other parts of this report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements may refer to such matters as products, product benefits, pre-clinical and clinical development timelines, clinical and regulatory expectations and plans, expected responses to regulatory actions, anticipated financial performance, future revenues or earnings, business prospects, projected ventures, new products and services, anticipated market performance, expected research and development and other expenses, future expectations for liquidity and capital resources needs and similar matters. Such words as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “continue”, “estimate”, “project”, and “intend” and similar terms and expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of this Form 10-Q, or in Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Overview of Our Business
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on leveraging our proprietary Lip’ral platform to develop differentiated products through the oral delivery of previously difficult to deliver molecules, focused on treating Central Nervous System (“CNS”) disorders. Our proprietary delivery technologies are designed to improve patient compliance and safety through orally available treatment options. Our primary development programs are based on oral delivery solutions for poorly bioavailable drugs. We have a portfolio of differentiated innovative product candidates that target high unmet needs for neurological and psychiatric CNS disorders, liver diseases, and hormone supplementation for men and women.
On October 14, 2021, we entered into a license agreement (the “Antares License Agreement”) with Antares Pharma, Inc. (“Antares” or our “Licensee”) for the development and commercialization of our product candidate, TLANDO®, an oral testosterone replacement therapy (“TRT”) comprised of testosterone undecanoate (“TU”), pursuant to which we granted to Antares an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable right and license to develop and commercialize the TLANDO product for TRT in the U.S. TLANDO is a registered trademark assigned to Antares. Any FDA required post-marketing studies will also be the responsibility of our licensee, Antares. On March 28, 2022, Antares received approval from the FDA for TLANDO as a TRT in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency of endogenous testosterone, also known as hypogonadism. On May 24, 2022, Halozyme Therapeutics completed an acquisition of Antares Pharma Inc. through a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of Halozyme with and into Antares, with Antares continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Halozyme. On June 7, 2022, Halozyme announced the commercial launch of TLANDO, an oral treatment indicated for testosterone replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone (primary or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism).
Additional clinical development pipeline candidates include: LPCN 1154 for postpartum depression (“PPD”); LPCN 2101 for epilepsy; and LPCN 1148 comprising a novel prodrug of testosterone, testosterone laurate (“TL”), for the management of decompensated cirrhosis. In addition to our CNS product candidates, we have assets for which we expect to seek partnerships to enable further development including LPCN 1144, an oral prodrug of androgen receptor modulator for the treatment of non-cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”) which has completed Phase 2 testing; LPCN 1111, a next generation oral TRT product comprised of testosterone tridecanoate (“TT”) with the potential for once daily dosing which has completed Phase 2 testing; and LPCN 1107, potentially the first oral hydroxy progesterone caproate (“HPC”) product indicated for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth (“PTB”), which has completed a dose finding clinical study in pregnant women and has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA.
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The following charts summarize the status of our product candidate development and partnering programs:
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Corporate Strategy
Our goal is to become a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on leveraging our proprietary Lip’ral drug delivery technology platform to develop differentiated products through oral delivery of previously difficult to deliver molecules for CNS disorders. The key components of our strategy are to:
Advance LPCN 1154 and other CNS product candidates. We intend to focus on the development of endogenous neuroactive steroids (“NAS”) which have broad applicability in treating various CNS conditions where we can leverage our technology platform to develop highly differentiated oral therapeutics. Our priority is on the development of LPCN 1154, a fast-acting oral antidepressant for postpartum depression (“PPD”) with potential for outpatient use.
Support our licensee in commercialization of our licensed oral TRT option. We believe the TRT market needs a differentiated, convenient oral option. We have exclusively licensed rights to TLANDO to Antares for commercialization of TLANDO in the US. We plan to support our licensee’s efforts to effectively enable the availability of TLANDO to patients in a timely manner, in addition to receiving milestone and royalty payments associated with TLANDO commercialization as agreed to in the Antares License Agreement.
Develop partnership(s) to continue the advancement of non-core pipeline assets. We continuously strive to prioritize our resources in seeking partnerships of our pipeline assets. We are currently exploring partnering (i) LPCN 1144, our candidate for treatment of non-cirrhotic NASH, (ii) LPCN 1148, for the management of decompensated cirrhosis, (iii) LPCN 1111, a once-a-day therapy candidate for TRT, and (iv) LPCN 1107, our candidate for prevention of pre-term birth. We are also exploring the possibility of licensing LPCN 1021 (known as TLANDO in the United States) to third parties outside the United States, although no licensing agreement has been entered into by the Company.
Our Development Pipeline Product Candidates
Our pipeline of clinical development candidates includes LPCN 1154 for PPD, LPCN 2101 for epilepsy, and LPCN 1148, an androgen therapy for the management of cirrhosis. We will continue to explore other product development candidates targeting CNS indications with a significant unmet need. We will also continue efforts to enter into partnership arrangements for the continued development and/or marketing of LPCN 1144, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and TLANDO outside of the United States.
Our products are based on our proprietary Lip’ral drug delivery technology platform. Lip’ral-based TLANDO was approved in March 2022. Lip’ral technology is a patented technology based on lipidic compositions which form an optimal dispersed phase in the gastrointestinal environment for improved absorption of insoluble drugs. The drug loaded dispersed phase presents the solubilized drug efficiently at the absorption site (gastrointestinal tract membrane) thus improving the absorption process and making the drug less dependent on physiological variables such as dilution, gastro-intestinal pH and food effects for absorption. Lip’ral-based formulation enables improved solubilization and higher drug-loading capacity, which can lead to improved bioavailability, reduced dose, faster and more consistent absorption, reduced variability, reduced sensitivity to food effects, improved patient compliance, and targeted lymphatic delivery where appropriate.
Oral Programs for CNS Disorders
Some preferred endogenous or naturally occurring NAS present in central nervous system act as positive allosteric modulators (“PAM”) of the GABAA receptor, the major biological target of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (“GABAA”). To improve oral delivery of these modulators, several synthetic NAS derivatives of endogenous GABAA receptor PAMs have been developed for therapeutic use in the past few decades.
We believe through utilization of our proprietary technology we may have the ability to enable effective oral delivery of endogenous GABAA receptor PAMs which historically had been deemed to be not orally bioavailable. As a novel drug class, NAS have received considerable attention because of their potential to treat various neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, movement disorders, epilepsy, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. We have conducted Phase 1 pharmacokinetic (“PK”) studies for each of our two lead NAS candidates which have demonstrated promising PK results, safety, and tolerability and we are evaluating additional undisclosed CNS-focused candidates.
LPCN 1154: Product Candidate for PPD
Our most advanced NAS candidate is LPCN 1154, a rapid onset, oral formulation of the neuroactive steroid brexanolone which we are developing for the treatment of PPD. The FDA recently agreed with our proposal for establishing the efficacy of LPCN 1154 through a pivotal PK bridge to an approved IV infusion brexanolone via a 505(b)(2) NDA filing. Based on feedback from the FDA, the company has initiated a pilot PK bridge study of LPCN 1154, a prelude to a pivotal study required for NDA filing, and results from the pilot PK bridge study are expected in the second quarter of 2023. We have previously completed an oral PK study and a food effect study with LPCN 1154.
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PPD
PPD, a type of major depressive disorder with onset either during pregnancy or within four weeks of delivery, refers to depression persisting up to 12 months after childbirth. PPD can be clinically segmented by the severity of symptoms and presence of a comorbidity, including epilepsy. Approximately 1 in 8 mothers suffers from PPD in the United States alone; this equates to approximately 500,000 women being affected by PPD annually.
Disease Overview - PPD
| ● | PPD is distinct from the “baby blues,” a condition that up to 70% of all new mother’s experience; “baby blues” tend to be short-lived emotional conditions that do not interfere with daily activities. | |
| ● | Symptoms of PPD include hallmarks of major depression, including, but not limited to, sadness, depressed mood, loss of interest, change in appetite, insomnia, sleeping too much, fatigue, difficulty thinking/concentrating, excessive crying, fear of harming the baby/oneself, and/or thoughts of death or suicide. | |
| ● | During pregnancy, levels of endogenous NAS increase considerably along with levels of progesterone; however, they drop sharply postpartum. It has been hypothesized that the rapid perinatal decrease in circulating levels of endogenous NASs may be involved in the development of PPD. The first and only approved treatment option for PPD is an injectable containing endogenous NAS. | |
| ● | Depression may persist long after child delivery. Additionally, approximately 40% of women relapse in subsequent pregnancies or on other occasions. | |
| ● | Psychiatric comorbidities are common in patients with epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy are at high risk for major depressive disorders and PPD. Reported PPD rates are higher among women with epilepsy than the general population. |
Associated Risk Factors
| ● | Genetic: family history and/or previous experience of depression or other mood disorders | |
| ● | Physiological: rapid changes in sex hormones, stress hormones, and thyroid hormone levels during and after delivery | |
| ● | Environmental: stressful life events, changes in relationships at home and at work, and/or lack of familial support |
Unmet Medical Need
We believe there is considerable unmet need within women with PPD due to lack of convenient and fast-acting oral therapies. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (“SSRIs”) have been the traditional first-line choice for women with severe PPD requiring weeks for onset of efficacy; therefore, a need for an oral treatment option with a faster onset of action remains a significant unmet need in treating PPD, especially in women with epilepsy risk wherein psychiatric comorbidity is common and PPD rates are higher than the general population.
Injectable brexanolone (Zulresso™, Sage Therapeutics) became the first FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression. However, numerous factors limit the utilization of injectable brexanolone such as method of administration, cost, and safety concerns. Administration of injectable brexanolone requires a 60-hour continuous infusion in a supervised medical setting, a demanding ask for a mother with a newborn. Besides associated privacy concerns and social stigma, inpatient treatment may also require separation of the mother and child for a few days, which may be difficult to the already strained mother-infant bond and may present breast feeding challenges. Moreover, the pharmacotherapy costs coupled with inpatient treatment/childcare costs limits its accessibility and affordability to women most in need of the therapy. Finally, due to concerns about the safety of injectable Zulresso including excessive sedation or loss of consciousness, Zulresso has a Black Box Warning in its label and is only available through a restricted distribution program (“REMS”), and sites need significant time to become treatment ready.
We believe LPCN 1154 targets the unmet need for a convenient oral treatment candidate with faster onset of action or rapid relief.
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LPCN 2101: NAS for Epilepsy
We are currently evaluating an additional NAS candidate, LPCN 2101, for women with epilepsy (“WWE”). We have completed pre-clinical and Phase 1 studies for LPCN 2101 which demonstrated promising PK results, safety and tolerability. In July 2022 our IND was accepted by the FDA for LPCN 2101 for adults with epilepsy and we plan to initiate a Phase 2 IND opening proof-of-concept study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of LPCN 2101, subject to the availability of additional resources.
Disease Overview – Epilepsy
Epilepsy is defined by the 1) occurrence of at least two unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart, 2) occurrence of one unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures occurring over the next 10 years, and/or 3) diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome. Patients with epilepsy are more likely to be comorbid with other conditions, including depression and anxiety. Patients with epilepsy have increased risk of mortality due to direct effects of seizures (e.g., status epilepticus, car accidents) and indirect effects of seizures (e.g., suicide, cardiovascular effects.)
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes seizures, affecting the physical, mental, and social well-being of persons, and is associated with a 2 to 3 times greater mortality rate compared with the general population. About 60-65% of epilepsy is idiopathic and about 30% of patients are refractory (i.e., epilepsy not well managed with currently available Anti-Seizure Medications (“ASMs”). Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder during pregnancy.
It is estimated that approximately 900,000 child-bearing (“CB”) age women suffer from active epilepsy in the U.S. Women of CB age with epilepsy face many additional challenges due to hormonal influences on seizure activity and endocrine function throughout the different phases of their reproductive cycles. Elevated estrogen or decreased progesterone levels can exacerbate seizure frequency. Often, these women experience hormonal and endogenous NAS imbalances, coupled with fluctuations in the blood levels of ASMs that impact control of seizures, efficacy of oral contraceptives, any coexisting anxiety and/or depression and any associated sleep impairment. Epileptic patients are 5-20 times more likely to develop depression.
Clinical segmentation can be categorized by epilepsy type, comorbidities and patient subgroups. Categorization of focal epilepsy, generalized epilepsy, combined focal and generalized epilepsy, and unknown epilepsy can guide the choice of ASM. Special patient subgroups, including WWE of CB age and elderly patients, require special care and management of epilepsy. Comorbidities such as depression and anxiety may be co-treated with therapies that do not aggravate seizures and have no drug interaction with the ASM used for epilepsy. While lowest effective dose and monotherapy are preferred, management of patients with epilepsy is focused on controlling seizures, avoiding adverse events, and maintaining quality of life. Despite a wide range of ASMs available, about 30 % of all people with epilepsy still fail to respond to treatment effectively. Women with epilepsy face specific challenges throughout their lifespan because of seizures, ASMs, and hormonal fluctuations.
Women with epilepsy were once counseled to avoid pregnancy, but epilepsy is no longer considered a contraindication to pregnancy. Caregivers for WWE in the preconception phase either intending to start a family (planning pregnancy) or using contraception to prevent an unplanned pregnancy face significant challenges to balance seizure control efficacy with the selection and dosage of ASMs and ASM-related risks such as, among other risks, fetal-neonatal toxicity, contraception failure, and psychiatric side effects.
Several ASMs are known to have teratogenic effects on the developing fetus (converging evidence from registry studies indicates that teratogenic risks are highest with valproate, followed by carbamazepine and topiramate). Other commonly prescribed ASMs, including older generation agents, such as phenobarbital and phenytoin, have been associated with higher risks as compared with lamotrigine, levetiracetam, clonazepam and gabapentin (Vajda et al., 2014; Voinescu and Pennell, 2015). Moreover, risks associated with ASMs are considerable early in pregnancy; therefore, it is necessary that WWE of CB age undergo counseling, monitoring, and adjustment to the most appropriate ASM prior to becoming pregnant. It is preferable that WWE of CB age discuss seizure control with their doctor for at least 6 months before conception and, if possible, cease ASM therapy or use the lowest effective dose of a single anticonvulsant according to the type of epilepsy and the fetal toxicity of the ASM. Anxiety, depression, lack of adherence to ASM, and/or contraception failure may be experienced by women who are worried about unplanned pregnancy or are late in confirming pregnancy, planned or unplanned. ASMs can reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptives, compounding this problem.
Complex, multidirectional interactions between female hormones, seizures, and ASMs exist. Most hormones act as NAS and can thus modulate brain excitability. Any changes in endogenous or exogenous hormone levels can affect the occurrence of seizures, either directly or via PK interactions that modify the plasma levels of ASMs (Harden, 2008). The PK interactions between oral contraceptives and ASMs are bidirectional (Johnston and Crawford, 2014). The efficacy of hormonal contraception may be diminished for women taking CYP-P450 enzyme inducing ASMs. Epilepsy is not a medical condition in which contraceptives are contraindicated. Contraceptive failure, possibly related to ASMs, may be responsible for up to 1 in 4 unplanned pregnancies in WWE (~12.5% of all WWE pregnancies), versus a rate of 1% in healthy women.
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Unmet need to treat WWE in CB age
It is estimated that approximately 900,000 CB age women suffer from active epilepsy in the U.S. Women of CB age with epilepsy face many additional challenges such as hormonal influences on seizure activity and endocrine function throughout the different phases of their reproductive cycles, and approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy cannot be efficiently controlled with available ASMs making consideration of newer pharmacological treatment development options important.
Managing uncontrolled seizures in WWE of CB age is the primary aim during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum phases. Therefore, uncompromised ASM efficacy with acceptable variability and less or no drug-drug interactions achieved with lowest possible monotherapy dose to address fetal toxicity concerns remain highly unmet needs. Moreover, control of seizures including prevention of breakthrough seizures is critical when planning for pregnancy and also during pregnancy, as it can also lead to undesired falls or auto-accidents and compromise freedom to drive.
Select ASMs have the potential to induce contraception failures, reproductive hormone imbalance, anxiety, and depression. There remains an unmet need for an ASM without the aforementioned downsides, with no to low fetal-neonatal toxicity and without any breast-feeding concerns as well as potential to treat associated comorbidities.
While over 30 molecules have been approved for the treatment of epilepsy in the U.S., no epilepsy drug has been specifically approved for WWE of CB age. We believe our endogenous NASs as GABAA PAMs, while targeting the goal of seizure control, also have the potential for additional benefits in psychiatric disorders comorbidities (e.g., anxiety and/or depression) and sleep impairment. Moreover, these oral endogenous NAS could potentially address some of the fetal toxicity concerns related to unplanned or planned pregnancy in WWE. (1)
| (1) | Ref: S.Bangar et al. Functional Neurology 2016; 31(3): 127-134; Reimers et al. Seizure. 2015 May; 28: 66-70. |
LPCN 1148: Oral Product Candidate for the Management of Decompensated Cirrhosis
We are currently evaluating LPCN 1148 comprising testosterone laurate (“TL”) for the management of decompensated cirrhosis. We believe LPCN 1148 targets unmet needs for cirrhosis subjects including improvement in the quality of life of patients while on the liver transplant waiting list, prevention or reduction in the occurrence of new decompensation events such as hepatic encephalopathy (“HE”), and improvement in post liver transplant survival, including outcomes and costs.
We are currently conducting a Phase 2 proof of concept (“POC”) study (NCT04874350) in male subjects with cirrhosis to evaluate the therapeutic potential of LPCN 1148 for the management of sarcopenia. The ongoing Phase 2 POC study is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled study in male sarcopenic patients with cirrhosis. Subjects will be randomized 1:1 to one of two arms. The treatment arm is an oral dose of LPCN 1148, and the second arm is a matching placebo. The primary endpoint is change in skeletal muscle index at week 24 with key secondary endpoints including change in liver frailty index, rates of breakthrough HE, and number of waitlist events, including all-cause mortality. Total treatment is expected to be 52 weeks. Enrollment in the Phase 2 study was completed in the fourth quarter of 2022 and top-line 24-week results are expected in mid-2023.
Possible outcomes of interest from the Phase 2 study include clinical outcomes such as overall survival and new decompensation events (including HE and/or ascites occurrences), rates of survival to transplant, rates of hospitalizations, infections, etc., muscle changes such as muscle mass, body composition, myosteatosis (muscle fat), functional capacity changes such as liver frailty index (“LFI”), patient reported outcomes (“PROs”), and biochemical markers including hematocrit for anemia status, albumin, creatinine/kidney function, etc.
Disease Overview – Cirrhosis
There are over 2 million cases of cirrhosis worldwide, with over 500,000 people living with decompensated cirrhosis in the U.S. and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most rapidly increasing indication for liver transplant. 62% of those on the liver transplant (“LT”) waitlist are male and the economic burden (approximately $812,500/transplant) is high and continues to increase. Each year about half of the approximately 17,000 people in U.S. on the LT waitlist undergo transplant, while nearly 3,000 patients either die or are removed from the list because they were “too sick to transplant.”
Liver cirrhosis is defined as the histological development of regenerative nodules surrounded by fibrous bands. Cirrhotic patients typically have a years-long silent, asymptomatic phase (compensated cirrhosis) until decreasing liver function and increasing portal pressure move the patient into the symptomatic phase (decompensated cirrhosis). Transition to decompensated cirrhosis is marked by clinical events including ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice, and/or variceal hemorrhage. Decompensated subjects survive on average less than 2 years. Common causes of liver cirrhosis include alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (“NAFLD”), chronic hepatitis B and C, primary biliary cirrhosis (“PBC”), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (“PSC”) and some patients have liver disease of unknown cause (cryptogenic).
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Common complications in cirrhotic patients may include: compromised liver function, portal hypertension, varices in GI tract with internal bleeding, edema, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, compromised immunity with post-transplant acute rejection risk, high sodium levels, increased bilirubin, low albumin level, insulin resistance with impaired peripheral uptake of glucose, depression, accelerated muscle disorder in the form of sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and frailty with compromised energetics, bone diseases (e.g., osteoporosis), high alkaline phosphatase (“ALP”), cachexia, malnutrition, weight loss (>5%), symptoms of hypogonadism such as abnormal hair distribution, anemia, sexual dysfunction, testicular atrophy, muscle wasting, fatigue, osteoporosis, gynecomastia, inflammation with elevated cytokines, and infection risk leading to hospital admissions and possibly death.
HE, a significant decompensation event in patients with cirrhosis, is a brain dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency and/or portal systemic shunting. Because the damaged liver cannot function normally (as in cirrhosis), neurotoxins such as ammonia are inadequately removed from systemic circulation and travel to the brain, where they affect neurotransmission. This can cause episodes of HE, which may present as alterations in consciousness, cognition, and behavior that range from minimal to severe. Overt HE occurs in 30% to 40% of patients with cirrhosis at some point during the clinical course of their disease. As the burden of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is increasing, the frequency of HE is also increasing.
Our Partnership Pipeline Product Candidates
We continue to pursue opportunities for partnering arrangements for the continued development and/or marketing of LPCN 1144, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and TLANDO outside of the U.S. We do not currently anticipate conducting any further significant development activities with respect to these products and product candidates without the participation of a partner. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to identify or enter into partnering arrangements on terms that are beneficial to us or at all. Even if we do enter into partnering arrangements, such arrangements may not be sufficient to successfully develop and commercialize these products.
TLANDO: An Oral Product for Testosterone Replacement Therapy
As previously described, under the Antares License Agreement, we granted to Antares an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable right and license to develop and commercialize TLANDO, our product for TRT in the U.S. TLANDO received FDA approval on March 28, 2022. Any FDA requirement to conduct certain post-marketing studies will be the responsibility of our licensee, Antares. On May 24, 2022, Halozyme Therapeutics completed an acquisition of Antares Pharma Inc. through a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of Halozyme with and into Antares, with Antares continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Halozyme.
Proof-of-concept for TLANDO was initially established in 2006, and subsequently TLANDO was licensed in 2009 to Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was then acquired by Abbott Products, Inc. (“Abbott”). Following a portfolio review associated with the spin-off of AbbVie Inc. by Abbott in 2011, the rights to TLANDO were reacquired by us. All obligations under the prior license agreement have been completed except that Lipocine will owe Abbott a perpetual 1% royalty on net sales of TLANDO. Such royalties are limited to $1 million in the first 2 calendar years following product launch, after which period there is no cap on royalties and no maximum aggregate amount. If generic versions of any such product are introduced, then royalties are reduced by 50%. TLANDO was commercially launched on June 7, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred royalty expense of approximately $12,000 resulting from the commercial launch of TLANDO in 2022 and during the three months ended March 31, 2023, we incurred royalty expense of $4,000.
Under the Pediatric Research Equity Act (“PREA”), since TLANDO received full FDA approval, under the Antares Licensing Agreement, Antares will need to address the PREA requirement to assess the safety and effectiveness of TLANDO in pediatric patients. The FDA may also require certain post-marketing studies to be conducted which will also be the responsibility of our licensee, Antares.
Upon execution of the Antares License Agreement, Antares paid us an initial payment of $11.0 million. Antares will also make additional payments of $5.0 million to us on each of January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. We are also eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $160.0 million in the aggregate, depending on the achievement of certain sales milestones in a single calendar year with respect to products licensed by Antares under the Antares License Agreement. In addition, we will receive tiered royalty payments at rates ranging from percentages in the mid-teens to up to 20% of net sales of TLANDO in the United States, subject to certain minimum royalty obligations. Further, on October 14, 2021, we assigned our Manufacturing Agreement, dated August 27, 2013, by and between the Company and Encap Drug Delivery (the “Manufacturing Agreement”) to Antares as part of the Antares License Agreement.
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We are exploring the possibility of licensing LPCN 1021 (known as TLANDO in the United States) to third parties outside the United States, although no licensing agreement has been entered into by the Company. If and when an agreement is made with a partner, such arrangement would likely be contingent upon obtaining acceptable cost of goods in addition to obtaining local regulatory approval. No assurance can be given that any license agreement will be completed, or, if an agreement is completed, that such an agreement would be on terms favorable to us.
LPCN 1144: An Oral Prodrug of Bioidentical Testosterone Product Candidate for the Treatment of NASH
We are exploring the possibility of partnering LPCN 1144 to a third party, although no partnering agreement has been entered into by the Company. No assurance can be given that any license agreement will be completed, or, if an agreement is completed, that such an agreement would be on terms favorable to us.
Disease Overview – NASH
NASH is a more advanced state of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (“NAFLD”) and can progress to a cirrhotic liver or liver failure, require liver transplant, and can result in hepatocellular carcinoma/ liver cancer, and death. Progression of NASH to end stage liver disease will soon surpass all other causes of liver failure requiring liver transplantation. Importantly, beyond these critical conditions, NASH and NAFLD patients additionally suffer heightened cardiovascular risk and, in fact, die more frequently from cardiovascular events than from liver disease. NAFLD/NASH is becoming more common due to its strong correlation with obesity and metabolic syndrome, including components of metabolic syndrome such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. In the U.S., 20% to 30% of the population is estimated to suffer from NAFLD and 15% to 20% of this group progress to NASH, which is a substantially large population that lacks an effective therapy. NASH is a silent killer that affects millions in the U.S. Diagnoses have been on the rise and are expected to increase dramatically in the next decade. Approximately 50% of NASH patients are adult males. In men, especially with comorbidities associated with NAFLD/NASH, testosterone deficiency has been associated with an increased accumulation of visceral adipose tissue and insulin resistance, which could be factors contributing to NAFLD/NASH. There is currently no approved therapy for the treatment of NASH although there are several drug candidates currently under development with many having clinical failures to date.
The critical pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the development and progression of NASH include reduced ability to handle lipids, increased insulin resistance, injury to hepatocytes and liver fibrosis in response to hepatocyte injury. NASH patients have an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver resulting primarily from a caloric intake above and beyond energy needs. A healthy liver contains less than 5% fat, but a liver in someone with NASH can contain more than 20% fat. This abnormal liver fat contributes to the progression to NASH, a liver necro-inflammatory state that can lead to scarring, also known as fibrosis, and, for some, can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.
Current Status
We have recently completed the LiFT Phase 2 clinical study in biopsy-confirmed non-cirrhotic NASH subjects. The LiFT clinical study was a prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multiple-arm study in biopsy-confirmed hypogonadal and eugonadal male NASH subjects with grade F1-F3 fibrosis and a target NAFLD Activity Score ≥ 4 with a 36-week treatment period. The LiFT clinical study enrolled 56 biopsy confirmed NASH male subjects. Subjects were randomized 1:1:1 to one of three arms (Treatment A is a twice daily oral dose of 142 mg testosterone equivalent, Treatment B is a twice daily oral dose of 142 mg testosterone equivalent formulated with 217 mg of d-alpha tocopherol equivalent, and the third arm is twice daily matching placebo).
The primary endpoint of the LiFT clinical study was change in hepatic fat fraction via MRI-PDFF and exploratory liver fat/marker end points post 12 weeks of treatment. Additionally, key secondary endpoints post 36 weeks of treatment included assessment of histological change for NASH resolution and/or fibrosis improvement (biopsy) as well as liver fat data (MRI-PDFF). The LiFT clinical study was not powered to assess statistical significance of any of the secondary endpoints. Other important endpoints included the following: change in liver injury markers, anthropomorphic measurements, lipids, insulin resistance and inflammatory/fibrosis markers; as well as patient reported outcomes.
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Treatments with LPCN 1144 post 12 weeks of treatment in the LiFT study resulted in robust liver fat reduction, assessed by MRI-PDFF, and showed improvement of liver injury markers with no observed tolerability issues.
Liver biopsies were performed at baseline (“BL”) and after 36 weeks of treatment (“EOS”). Prespecified biopsy analyses included NASH Clinical Research Network (“CRN”) scoring as well as a continuous paired (“Paired Technique”) and digital technique (“Digital Technique-Fibronest”). All biopsy analyses were performed on the same slides and the reads for the three techniques were done independently. Analysis sets included the NASH Resolution Set (all subjects that have BL and EOS biopsy with NASH at BL [NAS ≥4 with lobular inflammation score ≥ 1 and hepatocyte ballooning score ≥1 at BL] (n=37)), the Biopsy Set (all subjects with baseline and EOS biopsies (n=44)), and the Safety Set (all randomized subjects (n=56)).
Both LPCN 1144 treatment arms met with statistical significance the pre-specified accelerated approval regulatory endpoint of NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis based on NASH CRN scoring. Additionally, both treatment arms showed substantial improvement of the observed NASH activity in steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning.
During the 36 weeks of treatment, LPCN 1144 was well tolerated with an overall safety profile comparable to placebo. Additionally, subjects were given the option to have access to LPCN 1144 through an open label extension (“OLE”) study. The extension study enabled the collection of additional data on LPCN 1144 for up to a total of 72 weeks of therapy, as well as data for 36 weeks of therapy for those subjects on placebo in the LiFT study. Key results from the OLE study are as follows:
| ● | LPCN 1144 was well tolerated over 72-week exposure with no observed safety signals; | |
| ● | Liver injury markers were reduced and maintained with extended LPCN 1144 treatment; and | |
| ● | Observed liver histology improvements support further development. |
In November 2021, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation to LPCN 1144 as a treatment for non-cirrhotic NASH. The Fast Track program is designed to accelerate the development and expedite the review of products, such as LPCN 1144, which are intended to treat serious diseases and for which there is an unmet medical need.
We had a written only response from FDA for a LPCN 1144 Type C meeting with the FDA in January 2022 to discuss the development path forward with LPCN 1144. The FDA acknowledged that the NDA submission of LPCN 1144 would be via 505(b)2 regulatory pathway and agreed that no additional non-clinical studies are needed to support an NDA submission. The FDA acknowledged that in the LiFT study subjects achieved improvements in key components associated with NASH histopathology after 36-weeks of treatment with LPCN 1144 in adult males and agreed that the proposed multicomponent primary surrogate endpoint is acceptable for seeking approval under the accelerated approval pathway. The FDA agreed that the proposed primary multicomponent surrogate endpoint, NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, is acceptable for seeking approval under the accelerated approval pathway and the FDA recommended a Phase 3 trial with a study duration of 72 weeks. In July 2022, Lipocine held an End of Phase 2 meeting with FDA for LPCN 1144 in NASH. The FDA recommended a Phase 2 dose ranging study be conducted to identify the optimal dose prior to conducting a pivotal study. The FDA agreed to the proposed unique testosterone ester, testosterone laurate, for future clinical studies.
LPCN 1111: A Next-Generation Long-Acting Oral Product Candidate for TRT
We are in the process of scaling up the manufacturing process and generation of supplies of LPCN 1111 to enable potential partners to conduct pivotal studies for registration. We are exploring the possibility of partnering LPCN 1111 to a third party, although no partnering agreement has been entered into by the Company. No assurance can be given that any license agreement will be completed, or, if an agreement is completed, that such an agreement would be on terms favorable to us.
LPCN 1111 is a next-generation, novel ester prodrug of testosterone comprised of testosterone tridecanoate (“TT”) which uses our proprietary delivery technology to enhance solubility and improve systemic absorption. We completed a Phase 2b dose finding study in hypogonadal men in the third quarter of 2016. The primary objectives of the Phase 2b clinical study were to determine the starting Phase 3 dose of LPCN 1111 along with safety and tolerability of LPCN 1111 and its metabolites following oral administration of single and multiple doses in hypogonadal men. Good dose-response relationship was observed over the tested dose range in the Phase 2b study. Additionally, the target Phase 3 dose met primary and secondary end points. Overall, LPCN 1111 was well tolerated with no drug-related severe or serious adverse events reported in the Phase 2b study.
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In February 2018 we had a meeting with the FDA to discuss these pre-clinical results and to discuss the Phase 3 clinical study and path forward for LPCN 1111. Based on the results of the FDA meeting and additional pre-clinical studies conducted after the FDA meeting, we have proposed a Phase 3 protocol for LPCN 1111 and have solicited FDA feedback. Based on initial FDA feedback, we expect the Phase 3 clinical trial design to follow the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (“ICH”) guidelines and we expect the trial will include at least a 3-month efficacy treatment period and a 1-year safety component for approximately 100 subjects. We are currently seeking further clarification from FDA with respect to the total subject LPCN 1111 exposure information needed for an NDA filing. We continue to refine the Phase 3 protocol and plan to request FDA approval of the protocol once it is finalized. Additionally, the FDA previously requested that a food effect and a phlebotomy study be completed, and that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (“ABPM”) be included as part of the Phase 3 clinical study. We are currently transferring the manufacturing of LPCN 1111 to a third-party contract manufacturer and scaling up the formulation after which we anticipate the next steps for a partner developing LPCN 1111 may be to conduct a food effect/phlebotomy study with LPCN 1111. Under the terms of the Antares License Agreement, Antares had been granted an option to license LPCN 1111, exercisable on or before March 31, 2022, for further development and, should LPCN 1111 receive FDA approval, commercialization. On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the License Agreement (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which the License Agreement was amended to extend the deadline by which Antares was to exercise its option to license LPCN 1111 to June 30, 2022. As consideration for the Company’s agreement to the Amendment, Antares paid the Company a non-refundable cash fee of $500,000 in April 2022. On June 30, 2022, Antares’ option to license LPCN 1111 expired and was not exercised.
LPCN 1107: An Oral Product Candidate for the Prevention of Preterm Birth
We are exploring the possibility of partnering LPCN 1107 to a third party, although no partnering agreement has been entered into by the Company. No assurance can be given that any partnership agreement will be completed, or, if an agreement is completed, that such an agreement would be on terms favorable to us.
We believe LPCN 1107 has the potential to become the first oral hydroxyprogesterone caproate (“HPC”) product indicated for the reduction of risk of PTB (delivery less than 37 weeks) in women with singleton pregnancy who have a history of singleton spontaneous PTB. Prevention of PTB is a significant unmet need as approximately 11% of all U.S. pregnancies result in PTB, a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity.
Current Status
We have completed a multi-dose PK dose selection study in pregnant women. The objective of the multi-dose PK selection study was to assess HPC blood levels in order to identify the appropriate LPCN 1107 Phase 3 dose. The multi-dose PK dose selection study was an open-label, 4-period, 4-treatment, randomized, single and multiple dose PK study in pregnant women with 3 dose levels of LPCN 1107 and the IM HPC (Makena®). The study enrolled 12 healthy pregnant women (average age of 27 years) with a gestational age of approximately 16 to 19 weeks. Subjects received three dose levels of LPCN 1107 (400 mg BID, 600 mg BID, or 800 mg BID) in a randomized, crossover manner during the first 3 treatment periods and then received 5 weekly injections of HPC during the fourth treatment period. During each of the LPCN 1107 treatment periods, subjects received a single dose of LPCN 1107 on Day 1 followed by twice daily administration from Day 2 to Day 8. Following completion of the 3 LPCN 1107 treatment periods and a washout period, all subjects received 5 weekly injections of HPC. Results from this study demonstrated that average steady state HPC levels (Cavg0-24) were comparable or higher for all 3 LPCN 1107 doses than for injectable HPC. Additionally, HPC levels as a function of daily dose were linear for the 3 LPCN 1107 doses. Also, unlike the injectable HPC, steady state exposure was achieved for all 3 LPCN 1107 doses within 7 days.
A traditional PK/PD based Phase 2 clinical study in the intended patient population is not expected to be required prior to entering into Phase 3. Therefore, based on the results of our multi-dose PK study we had an End-of-Phase 2 meeting and subsequent guidance meetings with the FDA to define a pivotal Phase 2b/3 development plan for LPCN 1107. However, these discussions may be updated based on recent developments with Covis’ Makena® as described below. We have completed a food effect study to characterize the dosing regimen for the pivotal study and we have submitted a pivotal clinical study protocol to the FDA.
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The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to LPCN 1107 based on a major contribution to patient care. Orphan designation qualifies Lipocine for various development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, and a waiver of the prescription drug user fee when we file our NDA.
Recent Competition Update
On October 5, 2020, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (“CDER”) proposed that Makena be withdrawn from the market because the PROLONG trial failed to verify the clinical benefit of Makena and concluded that the available evidence does not show Makena is effective for its approved use.
The CDER issued AMAG Pharmaceuticals, the NDA holder at the time, a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing (“NOOH”) to withdraw approval of Makena, for which AMAG Pharmaceuticals responded by requesting a hearing and providing detail on the company’s position, recognizing clinicians’ decade-long use of treatment with Makena and the public health implications of withdrawing approval. The FDA Commissioner held a public hearing with Covis from October 17 through 19, 2022, which resulted in a 14-1 vote recommending removal of the product from the market. On October 31, 2022, Covis approached the CDER and outlined a plan of orderly withdrawal which would set a withdrawal timeframe sufficient for current patients to complete their courses of treatment. The CDER declined this proposal. On March 6, 2023, Covis announced its plan to voluntarily withdraw Makena from the market and submitted a request to the CDER for a minimum 21-week wind-down. On April 6, 2023, the FDA withdrew its approval of Makena and ordered the immediate withdrawal of Makena and several approved generic versions of the drug, making it unlawful for the drug to be distributed in the US. The FDA stated that in light of the unmet need for a treatment for preventing preterm birth and improving neonatal outcomes, it is imperative that the medical and scientific communities increase their efforts to find effective treatments and stated their hope that the decision to withdraw Makena will help galvanize further research. The FDA further stated their commitment to working together with patients, researchers, and drug developers to advance the development of safe and effective therapies that are urgently needed as a treatment for the prevention of preterm birth.
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenues from product sales and do not expect to generate revenue other than TLANDO royalties and licensing fees until one of our product candidates receives approval from the FDA. Revenues to date have been generated substantially from license fees, royalty and milestone payments and research support from our licensees. Since our inception through March 31, 2023, we have generated $44.8 million in revenue under our various license and collaboration arrangements and from government grants. Based on the terms of the Antares License Agreement, in the fourth quarter of 2021 we recorded $4.1 million in revenue and an associated contract asset for future contractual minimum royalties. We reduced our contract asset by $218,000 in 2022 due to a royalty payment received from Antares under the terms of our license agreement, based on net sales of TLANDO in 2022. We estimate that, in the second quarter of 2023, we will not receive a payment for royalties based on estimated first quarter 2023 net sales of TLANDO. We may never generate revenues from any of our clinical or pre-clinical development programs other than TLANDO, as we may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval or commercializing any of these product candidates.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation and related personnel costs, fees paid to external service providers such as contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations, contractual obligations for clinical development, clinical sites, manufacturing and scale-up for late stage clinical trials, formulation of clinical drug supplies, and expenses associated with regulatory submissions. Research and development expenses also include an allocation of indirect costs, such as those for facilities, office expense, and depreciation of equipment based on the ratio of direct labor hours for research and development personnel to total direct labor hours for all personnel. We expense research and development expenses as incurred. Since our inception, we have spent approximately $140.2 million in research and development expenses through March 31, 2023.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs as we develop our other product candidates, including our CNS product candidates and the ongoing Phase 2 POC study in male subjects with cirrhosis with LPCN 1148, as well as the development of any future pipeline product candidates.
In general, the cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of uncertainties in clinical development, including, among others:
| ● | the number of sites included in the trials; |
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| ● | the length of time required to enroll suitable subjects; | |
| ● | the duration of subject follow-ups; | |
| ● | the length of time required to collect, analyze and report trial results; | |
| ● | the cost, timing and outcome of regulatory review; and | |
| ● | potential changes by the FDA in clinical trial and NDA filing requirements. |
Future research and development expenditures are subject to numerous uncertainties regarding timing and cost to completion, including, among others:
| ● | the timing and outcome of regulatory filings and FDA reviews and actions for product candidates; | |
| ● | our dependence on third-party manufacturers for the production of satisfactory finished product for registration and launch should regulatory approval be obtained on any of our product candidates; | |
| ● | the potential for future license or co-promote arrangements for our product candidates, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our future plans and capital requirements; and | |
| ● | the effect on our product development activities of actions taken by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. |
A change of outcome for any of these variables with respect to the development of our product development candidates could mean a substantial change in the costs and timing associated with these efforts, could require us to raise additional capital, and may require us to reduce operations.
Given the stage of clinical development and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical development, manufacturing and regulatory approval process, we are unable to estimate with any certainty the time or cost to complete the development of LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1144, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and other product candidates. Clinical development timelines, the probability of success and development costs can differ materially from expectations and results from our clinical trials may not be favorable. If we are successful in progressing LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, or other future product candidates into later stage development, we will require additional capital. The amount and timing of our future research and development expenses for these product candidates will depend on the pre-clinical and clinical success of both our current development activities and potential development of new product candidates, as well as ongoing assessments of the commercial potential of such activities. We will continue efforts to enter into partnership arrangements for the continued development and/or marketing of LPCN 1144, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and TLANDO outside of the U.S.
We will continue to incur significant research and development expenses as we are conducting on-going clinical studies, including the studies for our CNS product candidates and the Phase 2 POC study in male subjects with cirrhosis with LPCN 1148, and as we conduct future clinical studies, including when and if we conduct Phase 2 clinical studies with our development product candidates and when and if we conduct Phase 3 clinical studies with LPCN 1144, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111 and LPCN 1107. We are exploring the possibility of licensing LPCN 1144, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111 and LPCN 1107, although we have not entered into a licensing agreement and no assurance can be given that any license agreement will be completed, or, if an agreement is completed, that such an agreement would be on terms favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional capital or obtain non-dilutive financing, we may need to reduce research and development expenses in order to extend our ability to continue as a going concern.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefits, including stock-based compensation related to our executive, finance, and administrative support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include rent and utilities, travel expenses, and professional fees for auditing, tax, legal, business development and various other services.
General and administrative expenses also include expenses for the cost of preparing, filling and prosecuting patent applications and maintaining, enforcing and defending intellectual property-related claims.
We expect that general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we continue as a public company including legal and consulting fees, accounting and audit fees, director fees, directors’ and officers’ insurance premiums, fees for investor relations services and enhanced business and accounting systems, litigation costs, professional fees and other costs. However; if we are unable to raise additional capital, we may need to reduce general and administrative expenses in order to extend our ability to continue as a going concern.
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Other Income and Expense
Other income and expense consists primarily of interest income earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities, imputed interest on minimum royalties under the Antares Licensing Agreement, interest expense incurred on our Loan and Security Agreement, losses (gains) on our warrant liability and gains on our litigation liability.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Variance | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 54,990 | $ | - | $ | 54,990 | ||||||
| Research and development expenses | 3,106,310 | 1,887,953 | 1,218,357 | |||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 1,287,313 | 1,243,687 | 43,626 | |||||||||
| Interest and investment income | 370,469 | 41,576 | 328,893 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | - | 19,529 | (19,529 | ) | ||||||||
| (Gain) loss on warrant liability | (98,134 | ) | 377,988 | (476,122 | ) | |||||||
| Income tax expense | 200 | 200 | - | |||||||||
Revenue
We recognized license revenue for payments receivable from Spriaso, a related party. under a licensing agreement in the cough and cold field of approximately $55,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. We did not recognize any revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Research and Development Expenses
The increase in research and development expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022 consisted of a $680,000 increase in contract research organization expense related to the Phase 2 POC study in male subjects with cirrhosis with LPCN 1148, a $513,000 increase in costs related to our LPCN 1154 clinical studies, a $158,000 increase in personnel costs resulting from the recruiting and hiring of additional personnel, and $154,000 increase in lab supplies, small equipment and other research and development costs. These increases were offset by a $171,000 decrease in LPCN 1111 scale up costs, a $71,000 decrease in contract research organization expense and outside consulting costs related to the completion of our LPCN 1144 LiFT Phase 2 clinical study in NASH subjects in 2022, and a $44,000 decrease as we completed our PK and food effect studies for LPCN 1107 and LPCN 1154 in 2022.
General and Administrative Expenses
The increase in general and administrative expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily due to a $63,000 increase in corporate legal fees partially due to strategic advice and planning, a $52,000 increase in business development consulting fees, a $32,000 increase in director fees, and a $13,000 increase in other various professional fees, offset by $57,000 decrease in professional fees related to the recruitment of additional directors to our Board in 2022, a $36,000 decrease in corporate insurance expense, and a $23,000 decrease other general and administrative expenses.
Interest and Investment Income
The increase in interest and investment income during the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to interest and investment income during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was due to higher interest rates despite declining cash and marketable investment securities balances, in addition to interest earned on the Antares licensing contract asset in 2023.
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Interest Expense
Our Loan and Security Agreement with SVB was paid in full in June of 2022, thus the Company did not recognize any interest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was entirely related to that Loan Agreement.
(Gain) Loss on Warrant Liability
We recorded a gain of $98,000 and a loss $378,000, respectively, on warrant liability during the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, related to the change in the fair value of outstanding common stock warrants issued in the November 2019 Offering. The gain in 2023 was mainly attributable to a decrease in the value of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2023 as compared to December 31, 2022, primarily due to the lower stock price, despite higher interest rates. The loss in 2022 was mainly attributable to an increase in the value of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2022, due to significantly higher stock price on March 31, 2022 compared to the stock price on December 31, 2021. There were zero common stock warrants from the November 2019 Offering exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2023, or March 31, 2022, respectively. The warrants are classified as a liability due to a provision contained within the warrant agreement which allows the warrant holder the option to elect to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the warrants as determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes option pricing model with certain defined assumptions upon a change of control. The warrant liability will continue to fluctuate in the future based on inputs to the Black-Scholes model including our current stock price, the remaining life of the warrants, the volatility of our stock price, the risk-free interest rate and the number of common stock warrants outstanding.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception, our operations have been primarily financed through sales of our equity securities, debt and payments received under our license and collaboration arrangements. We have devoted our resources to funding research and development programs, including discovery research, pre-clinical and clinical development activities. We have incurred operating losses in most years since our inception and we expect to continue to incur operating losses into the foreseeable future as we advance the clinical development of LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148, and any other future product candidate, including continued research efforts.
As of March 31, 2023, we had $28.9 million of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities compared to $32.5 million at December 31, 2022.
On October 14, 2021, we entered into the Antares License Agreement with Antares, pursuant to which we granted to Antares an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable right and license to develop and commercialize, upon final approval of TLANDO from the FDA, our TLANDO product with respect to TRT in the U.S. Upon execution of the Antares License Agreement, Antares paid to us an initial payment of $11.0 million. Antares has also agreed to make certain minimum royalty payments in the future and, since these future minimum royalties are variable consideration deemed to be probable, $4.0 million in revenue was recognized in 2021 for the minimum royalties to be received in the future. In addition, Antares will also make additional payments of $5.0 million to us on each of January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. We are also eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $160.0 million in the aggregate, depending on the achievement of certain sales milestones in a single calendar year with respect to all products licensed by Antares under the Antares License Agreement. In addition, we receive tiered royalty payments at rates ranging from percentages in the mid-teens to up to 20% of net sales of TLANDO in the United States, subject to certain minimum royalty obligations. Our ability to realize benefits from the Antares License Agreement, including milestone and royalty payments, is subject to a number of risks. We may not realize milestone or royalty payments in anticipated amounts, or at all.
On January 5, 2018, we entered into the Loan and Security Agreement with SVB pursuant to which SVB agreed to lend us $10.0 million. The principal borrowed under the Loan and Security Agreement bore interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate, as reported in money rates section of The Wall Street Journal or any successor publication representing the rate of interest per annum then in effect, plus one percent per annum, which interest was payable monthly. Additionally on April 1, 2020, we entered into a Deferral Agreement with SVB. Under the Deferral Agreement, principal repayments were deferred by six months and we were only required to make monthly interest payments during the deferral period. The Loan matured and was paid in full on June 1, 2022. Additionally, we made a final payment at maturity equal to $650,000 (the “Final Payment Charge”). The expense of the Final Payment Charge had been recognized over the term of the facility using the effective interest method.
On March 6, 2017, we entered into a sales agreement (“Sales Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”) pursuant to which we may issue and sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to the amount we have registered on an effective registration statement pursuant to which the offering is being made. We currently have registered up to $50.0 million for sale under the Sales Agreement, pursuant to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-250072) (the “Form S-3”), through Cantor as our sales agent. Cantor may sell our common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including sales made directly on or through the NASDAQ Capital Market or any other existing trade market for our common stock, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices, or any other method permitted by law. Cantor uses its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell these shares. We pay Cantor 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from each sale of shares under the Sales Agreement. We have also provided Cantor with customary indemnification rights.
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The shares of our common stock sold under the Sales Agreement are sold and issued pursuant to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, which was previously declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the related prospectus and one or more prospectus supplements.
We are not obligated to make any sales of our common stock under the Sales Agreement. The offering of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and Cantor may each terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, we did not sell any shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement. As of March 31, 2023, we had sold $8,802,419 of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement, and had approximately $41.2 million available for sale under the Sales Agreement. However, as of April 3, 2023, we are now subject to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 which limits the amounts that we may sell under the registration statement. As a result of such limitations, we have currently registered the offer and sale of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement having an aggregate offering price of up to $15.7 million.
We believe that our existing capital resources, together with interest thereon, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements through at least the next twelve months which include on-going clinical studies for LPCN 1154, an on-going study for LPCN 1148, and research and development activities and compliance with regulatory requirements. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect if additional activities are performed by us including new clinical studies for LPCN 1144, LPCN 1111, and LPCN 1107. While we believe we have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to fund our projected operating requirements through at least the next twelve months, we will need to raise additional capital at some point through the equity or debt markets or through additional out-licensing activities to support our operations. If we are unsuccessful in raising additional capital as necessary, our ability to continue as a going concern will be limited. Further, our operating plan may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for product development, regulatory compliance and clinical trial activities sooner than planned. In addition, our capital resources may be consumed more rapidly if we pursue additional clinical studies for LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1144, LPCN 1111, and/or LPCN 1107. Conversely, our capital resources could last longer if we reduce expenses, reduce the number of activities currently contemplated under our operating plan or if we terminate, modify or suspend on-going clinical studies. We can raise capital pursuant to the Sales Agreement but may choose not to issue common stock if our market price is too low to justify such sales in our discretion. There are numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and, subject to approval by the FDA, commercialization of our product candidates. There are numerous risks and uncertainties impacting our ability to enter into collaborations with third parties to participate in the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates. We are unable to precisely estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our anticipated or unanticipated clinical studies and ongoing development efforts. All of these factors affect our need for additional capital resources. To fund future operations, we will need to ultimately raise additional capital and our requirements will depend on many factors, including the following:
| ● | the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our clinical studies, pre-clinical testing and other related activities for all of our product candidates, including LPCN 1154 and LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1144, LPCN 1107 and; | |
| ● | the cost of manufacturing clinical supplies and establishing commercial supplies of our product candidates and any products that we may develop; | |
| ● | the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, if any; | |
| ● | the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing, settlement and other arrangements that we may establish; | |
| ● | the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue; | |
| ● | the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory approvals; | |
| ● | the timing, receipt and amount of sales, profit sharing, milestones or royalties, if any, from our potential products; | |
| ● | the cost of preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; | |
| ● | the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products or technologies, although we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions; and | |
| ● | the extent to which we grow significantly in the number of employees or the scope of our operations. |
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Funding may not be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. Also, market conditions may prevent us from accessing the debt and equity capital markets, including sales of our common stock through the Sales Agreement. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or suspend one or more of our clinical studies, research and development programs or, if any of our product candidates receive approval from the FDA, commercialization efforts. We may seek to raise any necessary additional capital through a combination of public or private equity offerings, including the Sales Agreement, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements and other marketing and distribution arrangements. These arrangements may not be available to us or available on terms favorable to us. To the extent that we raise additional capital through marketing and distribution arrangements, other collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we do raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences, warrants or other terms that adversely affect our stockholders’ rights or further complicate raising additional capital in the future. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we are unable, for any reason, to raise needed capital, we will have to reduce costs, delay research and development programs, liquidate assets, dispose of rights, commercialize products or product candidates earlier than planned or on less favorable terms than desired or reduce or cease operations.
Sources and Uses of Cash
The following table provides a summary of our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Cash used in operating activities | $ | (3,928,057 | ) | $ | (3,885,402 | ) | ||
| Cash provided by investing activities | 5,554,757 | 7,295,427 | ||||||
| Cash used in financing activities | (6,016 | ) | (627,346 | ) | ||||
Net Cash from Operating Activities
During each of the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 net cash used in operating activities was $3.9 million.
Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022 was primarily attributable to cash outlays to support ongoing operations, including research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses. During 2023, we performed activities primarily related to our Phase 2 POC study in male subjects with cirrhosis with LPCN 1148 and clinical studies related to LPCN 1154. During 2022, we performed activities related mainly to the Phase 2 POC study in male subjects with cirrhosis with LPCN 1148, PK and food effect studies with LPCN 1154 and LPCN 1107, and manufacturing scale up with LPCN 1111.
Net Cash from Investing Activities
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $5.6 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $7.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Net cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily the result of the maturity of marketable investment securities of $12.0 million offset by purchase of marketable securities of $6.4 million. Net cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022, was primarily the result of the net maturities of marketable investment securities of $7.3 million. There were $4,000 and $27,000 in capital expenditures during the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Net Cash from Financing Activities
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in financing activities was approximately $6,000 and during the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $627,000.
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Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022, was due to $833,000 in debt principal repayments under the SVB Loan and Security Agreement, offset by $206,000 cash provided by proceeds from stock option exercises.
Contractual Commitments and Contingencies
Long-Term Debt Obligations and Interest on Debt
On January 5, 2018, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with SVB pursuant to which SVB agreed to lend us $10.0 million. The principal borrowed under the Loan and Security Agreement bore interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus one percent per annum, which interest was payable monthly. The loan matured on June 1, 2022 and the outstanding principal, interest and Final Payment Charge were paid in full.
Purchase Obligations
We enter into contracts and issue purchase orders in the normal course of business with clinical research organizations for clinical trials and clinical and commercial supply manufacturing and with vendors for pre-clinical research studies, research supplies and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice and are cancellable obligations.
Operating Leases
In August 2004, we entered into an agreement to lease our facility in Salt Lake City, Utah consisting of office and laboratory space which serves as our corporate headquarters. On January 16, 2023, we modified and extended the lease through February 28, 2024.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements which we have prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In preparing our financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. There have been no significant and material changes in our critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to those disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates” in our Form 10-K filed March 10, 2023.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
| ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
We are exposed to various market risks, which include potential losses arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates. We do not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
There have been no material changes to the Company’s market risk during the first three months of 2023. For a discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risk, refer to the Company’s market risk disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of the 2022 Form 10-K.
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| ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” within the meaning of Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures, or Disclosure Controls, are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Our Disclosure Controls include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our Disclosure Controls, which was done under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Prinicipal Financial Officer. Based on the controls evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that our Disclosure Controls were effective as of March 31, 2023.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter covered by this report, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
| ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
The Company is from time to time involved in various claims, legal proceedings and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. Please refer to Note 11 – Commitments and Contingences to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report for certain information regarding our legal proceedings.
| ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
In addition to the other information set forth in this Report, consider the risk factors discussed in Part 1, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023, and the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the aforementioned report are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be not material also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and or operating results.
The following are the risk factors that have materially changed from our risk factors included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023:
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The value of our warrants outstanding from the November 2019 Offering is subject to potentially material increases and decreases based on fluctuations in the price of our common stock, among other factors.
In November 2019, we completed a public offering of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock (the “November 2019 Offering”). Gross proceeds from the November 2019 Offering were approximately $6.0 million. In the November 2019 Offering, the Company sold (i) 10,450,000 Class A Units, with each Class A Unit consisting of one share of common stock and a common stock warrant to purchase one share of common stock, and (ii) 1,550,000 Class B Units, with each Class B Unit consisting of one pre-funded warrant to purchase one share of a common stock and one common stock warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $0.50 per Class A Unit and $0.4999 per Class B Unit. The pre-funded warrants were issued in lieu of common stock in order to ensure the purchaser did not exceed certain beneficial ownership limitations. The pre-funded warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $.0001 per share, subject to adjustment. Additionally, the common stock warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $0.50 per share and expire on November 17, 2024.
We account for the common stock warrants as a derivative instrument, and changes in the fair value of the warrants are included under other income (expense) in the Company’s statements of operations for each reporting period. On March 31, 2023, the aggregate fair value of the warrant liability included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $132,000. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of the warrants. As a result, the option-pricing model requires the input of several assumptions, including the stock price volatility, share price and risk-free interest rate. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate. While the liability may only result from a change of control at that point in time, we ultimately may incur amounts significantly different than the carrying value.
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Our management and directors will be able to exert influence over our affairs.
As of March 31, 2023, our executive officers and directors beneficially owned approximately 5.3% of our common stock. These stockholders, if they act together, may be able to influence our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might affect the market price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock has been volatile over the past year and may continue to be volatile.
The market price and trading volume of our common stock has been volatile over the past year and it may continue to be volatile. Over the past year, our common stock has traded as low as $0.30 and as high as $1.34 per share. We cannot predict the price at which our common stock will trade in the future and it may decline. The price at which our common stock trades may fluctuate significantly and may be influenced by many factors, including our financial results; developments generally affecting our industry; general economic, industry and market conditions; the depth and liquidity of the market for our common stock; investor perceptions of our business; reports by industry analysts; announcements by other market participants, including, among others, investors, our competitors, and our customers; regulatory action affecting our business; and the impact of other “Risk Factors” discussed herein and in our Annual Report. In addition, changes in the trading price of our common stock may be inconsistent with our operating results and outlook. The volatility of the market price of our common stock may adversely affect investors’ ability to purchase or sell shares of our common stock.
Risks Relating to Our Financial Position and Capital Requirements
We have incurred significant operating losses in most years since our inception and anticipate that we will incur continued losses for the foreseeable future.
We have focused a significant portion of our efforts on developing TLANDO and more recently on LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148 and LPCN 1144. We have funded our operations to date through sales of our equity securities, debt and payments received under our license and collaboration arrangements. We have incurred losses in most years since our inception. As of March 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $187.3 million. Substantially all of our operating losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research and development programs and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. These losses, combined with expected future losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital. We expect our research and development expenses to continue to be significant in connection with clinical trials associated with LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1144, and LPCN 1107, and possibly increased research and development costs if further clinical trials are initiated. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future as we evaluate further clinical development of LPCN 1154, LPCN 2101, LPCN 1148, LPCN 1111, LPCN 1144, and LPCN 1107, and our other programs and continued research efforts. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all.
We may not be able to maintain our listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, which would adversely affect the price and liquidity of our common stock.
As a small capitalization pharmaceutical company, the price of our common shares has been, and is likely to continue to be, highly volatile. Any announcements concerning us or our competitors, clinical trial results, quarterly variations in operating results, introduction of new products, delays in the introduction of new products or changes in product pricing policies by us or our competitors, acquisition or loss of significant customers, partners and suppliers, changes in earnings estimates or our ratings by analysts, regulatory developments, or fluctuations in the economy or general market conditions, among other factors, could cause the market price of our common shares to fluctuate substantially. There can be no assurance that the market price of our common shares will not decline below its current price or that it will not experience significant fluctuations in the future, including fluctuations that are unrelated to our performance.
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Currently our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “LPCN”. We must satisfy certain minimum listing maintenance requirements to maintain the NASDAQ Capital Market quotation, including certain governance requirements and a series of financial tests relating to stockholders’ equity or net income or market value, public float, number of market makers and stockholders, market capitalization, and maintaining a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share.
On June 7, 2022, we received a notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market stating that the bid price of our common stock for the previous 30 consecutive trading days had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share required for continued listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). We had a period of 180 calendar days, or until December 5, 2022, to regain compliance with the rule. In accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we provided written notice to NASDAQ of our intent to cure the deficiency, including, if necessary, by effecting a reverse stock split and, on December 6, 2022, we received notification from NASDAQ providing an additional 180-day grace period, until June 5, 2023, to regain compliance with the NASDAQ Marketplace Rule’s $1.00 minimum bid price requirement.
In the event that we do not regain compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules prior to the expiration of the compliance period, including as a result of the reverse stock split, we will receive written notification that our securities are subject to delisting. At that time, we may appeal the delisting determination to a hearings panel pursuant to the procedures set forth in the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules.
If Nasdaq delists our common stock from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; | |
| ● | reduced liquidity for our securities; | |
| ● | a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities; | |
| ● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and | |
| ● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” If our common stock continues to be listed on NASDAQ, our common stock will be a covered security. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case.
| ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
None.
| ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES |
None.
| ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
None.
| ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION |
None.
| 41 |
| ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| Exhibit | Incorporation By Reference | |||||||||
Number |
Exhibit Description |
Form |
SEC File No. |
Exhibit |
Filing Date | |||||
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Bylaws | 8-K | 333-178230 | 3.3 | 7/25/2013 | |||||
| 3.2 | Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Lipocine Inc. | 8-K | 001-36357 | 3.1 | 3/10/2023 | |||||
| 3.3 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | 8-K | 333-178230 | 3.2 | 7/25/2013 | |||||
| 3.4 | Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. | 8-K | 001-36357 | 3.1 | 12/1/2015 | |||||
| 3.5 | Certificate of Increase of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock | 8-K | 001-36357 | 3.1 | 11/1/2021 | |||||
| 3.6 | Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Lipocine Inc. |
8-K | 001-36357 | 3.4 | 6/28/2022 | |||||
| 3.7 | Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock | 8-K | 001-36357 | 3.2 | 3/10/2023 | |||||
31.1* |
||||||||||
31.2* |
||||||||||
| 32.1* | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350 (1) | |||||||||
| 32.2* | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350 (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* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
|||||||||
101.CAL* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
|||||||||
101.DEF* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
|||||||||
101.LAB* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document |
|||||||||
101.PRE* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
|||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | |||||||||
* |
Filed herewith |
|||||||||
| ** | Management contract or compensation plan or arrangement | |||||||||
| + | Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been submitted separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission | |||||||||
| (1) | This certification accompanies the Form 10-Q to which it relates, is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act (whether made before or after the date of the Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing. | |||||||||
| 42 |
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.
| Lipocine Inc. | |
| (Registrant) | |
| Dated: May 11, 2023 | /s/ Mahesh V. Patel |
Mahesh V. Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer) | |
| Dated: May 11, 2023 | /s/ Krista Fogarty |
Krista Fogarty, Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
| 43 |