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Description of Business
9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2023
Description of Business [Abstract]  
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Description of Business

 

Rafael Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RFL), (“Rafael Holdings”, “we” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a holding company with interests in clinical and early-stage pharmaceutical companies (the “Pharmaceutical Companies”), including an investment in Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly known as Rafael Pharmaceuticals Inc., a cancer metabolism-based therapeutics company, a majority equity interest in LipoMedix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (“LipoMedix”), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company, the activities of the Barer Institute Inc. (“Barer”), a wholly-owned preclinical cancer metabolism research operation, and Rafael Medical Devices, Inc., a wholly-owned orthopedic-focused medical device company developing instruments to advance minimally invasive surgeries (“Rafael Medical Devices” and together with the Pharmaceutical Companies, the “Healthcare Companies”). In November 2022, the Company resolved to curtail its early-stage development efforts, including pre-clinical research at Barer. The decision was taken to reduce spending as the Company focuses on exploring strategic opportunities. The Company’s primary focus is to invest in, fund, and develop novel cancer therapies. We further seek to expand our portfolio through opportunistic investments in therapeutics which address high unmet medical needs including through acquisitions and strategic investments. Furthermore, in light of current market, macroeconomic, and industry conditions, the Company has determined to seek out, evaluate, and potentially invest in areas within and beyond biopharma.

 

Historically, the Company owned multiple real estate assets. In 2020, the Company sold an office building located in Piscataway, New Jersey and, on August 22, 2022, the Company sold the building at 520 Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey that serves as headquarters for the Company and several tenants and an associated public garage (the “520 Property”). See Note 3 for further details on the sale transaction. Currently, the Company holds a portion of a commercial building in Jerusalem, Israel as its remaining real estate asset.

 

The Company holds debt and equity investments in Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals that includes preferred and common equity interests and a warrant to purchase additional equity. On June 17, 2021, the Company entered into a merger agreement to acquire full ownership of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals in exchange for issuing Company Class B common stock to the other stockholders of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals. On October 28, 2021, the Company announced that the AVENGER 500 Phase 3 clinical trial for CPI-613® (devimistat), Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals’ lead product candidate, did not meet its primary endpoint of significant improvement in overall survival in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. In addition, following a pre-specified interim analysis, the independent data monitoring committee for the ARMADA 2000 Phase 3 study for devimistat recommended the trial to be stopped due to a determination that it was unlikely to achieve the primary endpoint (the “Data Events”). In connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for the first quarter ended October 31, 2021, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) required that the Company assess the impact of the Data Events and determine whether the carrying values of the Company’s assets were impaired based upon the Company’s expectations to realize future value. In light of the Data Events, the Company concluded that the likelihood of further development of and prospects for CPI-613 is uncertain and fully impaired in the first quarter ended October 31, 2021 the value of its loans, receivables, and investment in Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals based upon its valuation of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals. On February 2, 2022, the Company terminated the Merger Agreement with Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, effective immediately, in accordance with its terms. Subsequently, on February 2, 2022, the Company withdrew its Registration Statement on Form S-4 related to the proposed Merger.

 

In 2019, the Company established Barer, a preclinical cancer metabolism research operation, to focus on developing a pipeline of novel therapeutic compounds, including compounds to regulate cancer metabolism with potentially broader application in other indications beyond cancer. Barer has been comprised of scientists and academic advisors that are experts in cancer metabolism, chemistry, and drug development. In addition to its own internal discovery efforts, Barer pursued collaborative research agreements and in-licensing opportunities with leading scientists from top academic institutions. Barer’s subsidiary, Farber Partners, LLC (“Farber”), was formed around one such agreement with Princeton University’s Office of Technology Licensing for technology from the laboratory of Professor Joshua Rabinowitz, in the Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, for an exclusive worldwide license to its SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase) inhibitor program. In November 2022, the Company resolved to curtail its early-stage development efforts, including pre-clinical research at the Barer Institute.

 

The Company also holds a 95% investment in LipoMedix, a development-stage, privately held Israeli company focused on the development of an innovative, safe and effective cancer therapy based on liposome delivery.

 

The “Company” in these consolidated financial statements refers to Rafael Holdings and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the activity related to the 520 Property as discontinued operations.

 

All majority-owned subsidiaries are consolidated with all intercompany transactions and balances eliminated in consolidation. In addition to Rafael Holdings, Inc., the subsidiaries included in these consolidated financial statements are as follows:

 

Company  Country of Incorporation  Percentage
Owned
 
Rafael Holdings, Inc.  United States – Delaware   100%
Broad Atlantic Associates, LLC  United States – Delaware   100%
IDT R.E. Holdings Ltd.  Israel   100%
Rafael Holdings Realty, Inc.  United States – Delaware   100%
Barer Institute, Inc.  United States – Delaware   100%*
The Barer Institute, LLC  United States – Delaware   100%*
Hillview Avenue Realty, JV  United States – Delaware   100%
Hillview Avenue Realty, LLC  United States – Delaware   100%
Rafael Medical Devices, Inc.  United States – Delaware   100%
Levco Pharmaceuticals Ltd.  Israel   95%***
Farber Partners, LLC  United States – Delaware   93%
Pharma Holdings, LLC  United States – Delaware   90%
LipoMedix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.  Israel   95%****
Altira Capital & Consulting, LLC  United States – Delaware   67%
CS Pharma Holdings, LLC  United States – Delaware   45%**

 

*In November 2022, the Company resolved to curtail its early-stage development efforts, including pre-clinical research at Barer. The decision was taken to reduce spending as the Company focuses on exploring strategic opportunities.

 

**50% of CS Pharma Holdings, LLC is owned by Pharma Holdings, LLC. We have a 90% ownership in Pharma Holdings, LLC and, therefore, an effective 45% interest in CS Pharma Holdings, LLC. The Company, along with CS Pharma and Pharma Holdings, collectively own securities representing 51% of the outstanding capital stock of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals and 42% of the capital stock on a fully diluted basis (excluding the remainder of the Warrant). Refer to Note 4 for further details.

 

***During Fiscal 2022, the Company discontinued further material investment in Levco.

 

****On February 9, 2023, the Company increased its ownership interest in LipoMedix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. an additional 11% from 84% to 95%.

 

On March 15, 2022, the Company dissolved IDT 225 Old NB Road, LLC.