Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Business Overview

Adhera Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly known as Marina Biotech, Inc.) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, MDRNA Research, Inc. (“MDRNA”), Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Cequent”), Atossa Healthcare, Inc. (“Atossa”), and IThenaPharma, Inc. (“IThena”) (collectively “Adhera,” the “Company,) is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company that leverages innovative distribution models and technologies to improve the quality of care for patients in the United States suffering from chronic diseases. The Company is focused on fixed dose combination (“FDC”) therapies in hypertension, with plans to expand the portfolio of drugs we commercialize to include other therapeutic areas.

The Company’s mission is to provide effective and patient centric treatment for hypertension while actively seeking additional assets that can be commercialized through our proprietary Total Care System (“TCS”). At the core of our TCS system is DyrctAxess, our patented technology platform. DyrctAxess is designed to offer enhanced efficiency, control and access to the information necessary to empower patients, physicians and manufacturers to achieve optimal care.

The Company is focused on demonstrating the therapeutic and commercial value of TCS through the commercialization of Prestalia^®, a single-pill FDC of perindopril arginine (“perindopril”) and amlodipine besylate (“amlodipine”) which is used as a first-line treatment for hypertension. Prestalia was developed in coordination with Les Laboratories, Servier, a French pharmaceutical conglomerate, that sells the formulation outside the United States under the brand names Coveram^® and/or Viacoram^®. Prestalia^® was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in January 2015 and was licensed by the Company from Symplmed in June 2017. By combining Prestalia^®, DyrctAxess and an independent pharmacy network, the Company has created a proprietary system for drug adherence including patient counseling and prescription reminder services, as well as improving the distribution of blood pressure monitors for therapeutic drug monitoring (“TDM”).

In 2018, the Company discontinued all significant clinical development activities and is evaluating disposition options for its development assets, including but not limited to: (i) a next generation celecoxib program of drug candidates for the treatment of acute and chronic pain; (ii) an FDC used to suppress polyps in the precancerous syndrome and orphan indication Familial Adenomatous Polyposis; (iii) an FDC to treat Colorectal Cancer; and (iv) an FDC for irritable bowel disease (IBD). The Company plans to license or divest these development assets since they no longer align with the Company’s focus on the commercialization of Prestalia.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete audited financial statements. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. The information furnished in this report reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for each period presented. The results of operations for the three or six months ended June 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2019 or for any future period.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Adhera Therapeutics, Inc. and the wholly-owned subsidiaries, Ithena, Cequent, MDRNA, and Atossa, and eliminate any inter-company balances and transactions.

Going Concern and Management’s Liquidity Plans

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.6 million and has negative working capital of approximately $3.0 million.

The Company has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and has funded its operating losses through the sale of common stock, preferred stock, warrants to purchase common stock, convertible notes and promissory notes. The Company incurred a net operating loss of approximately $2.8 million and $5.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. The Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $31.9 million as of June 30, 2019.

The Company expects to continue to incur operating losses as it executes the commercialization plans for Prestalia^®, as well as other strategic and business development initiatives. If the Company is unable to obtain additional financing in the future, there may be a negative impact on the financial viability of the Company. The Company plans to increase working capital by managing its cash flows and expenses, divesting development assets and raising additional capital through private or public equity or debt financing. There can be no assurance that such financing or partnerships will be available or on terms which are favorable to the Company. While management of the Company believes that it has a plan to fund ongoing operations, there is no assurance that its plan will be successfully implemented. Failure to raise additional capital through one or more financings, divesting development assets or reducing discretionary spending could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to achieve its intended business objectives. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not contain any adjustments that might result from the resolution of any of the above uncertainties.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates include revenue and related discounts and allowances and accruals related to our operating activity including legal and other consulting expenses. Actual results could differ materially from such estimates under different assumptions or circumstances.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company considers the fair value of cash, accounts payable, accounts receivable and accrued expenses not to be materially different from their carrying value. These financial instruments have short-term maturities. We follow authoritative guidance with respect to fair value reporting issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) for financial assets and liabilities, which defines fair value, provides guidance for measuring fair value and requires certain disclosures. The guidance does not apply to measurements related to share-based payments. The guidance discusses valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:	Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3:	Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore developed using estimates and assumptions developed by us, which reflect those that a market participant would use.

There were no liabilities measured at fair value as of June 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts receivable consists of amounts due from wholesale distributors and specialty pharmacy providers. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts at the time potential collection risk is identified. The Company estimates its allowance based on historical experience, assessment of specific risks and discussions with individual customers.  The Company believes the reserve is adequate to mitigate current collection risks. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded an additional allowance of approximately $41,000 and $0, respectively.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of intangible assets, including goodwill, to determine whether impairment may exist. Goodwill and certain intangible assets are assessed annually, or when certain triggering events occur, for impairment using fair value measurement techniques. These events could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, a decline in operating performance, competition, sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business, or other factors. Specifically, goodwill impairment is determined using a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test is used to identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company uses level 3 inputs and a discounted cash flow methodology to estimate the fair value of a reporting unit. A discounted cash flow analysis requires one to make various judgmental assumptions including assumptions about future cash flows, growth rates, and discount rates. The assumptions about future cash flows and growth rates are based on the Company’s budget and long-term plans. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the respective reporting units. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. That is, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company determined that goodwill was impaired and recognized a loss on impairment of approximately $3.5 million. The impairment determination was primarily a result of the decision to divest assets that no longer aligned with the Company’s strategic objectives. No impairment charges were recognized for the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2019 or 2018.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment indicators throughout the year and performs detailed testing whenever impairment indicators are present. In addition, we perform detailed impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets, at least annually, at December 31. When necessary, the Company records charges for impairments. Specifically:

● For finite-lived intangible assets, such as developed technology rights, and for other long-lived assets, we compare the undiscounted amount of the projected cash flows associated with the asset, or asset group, to the carrying amount. If the carrying amount is found to be greater, we record an impairment loss for the excess of book value over fair value. In addition, in all cases of an impairment review, we re-evaluate the remaining useful lives of the assets and modify them, as appropriate; and

● For indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as acquired in-process R&D assets, each year and whenever impairment indicators are present, we determine the fair value of the asset and record an impairment loss for the excess of book value over fair value, if any.

The Company did not recognize any loss on impairment for the three or six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 or 2018.

Revenue Recognition

Customers Concentration

The Company sells its prescription drug (Prestalia^®) directly to specialty contracted retail pharmacies and indirectly through wholesalers. For the three months ended June 30, 2019, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for 46%, 31% and 23% of the Company’s total gross sales. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for 39%, 37%, and 24% of the Company’s total gross sales. The Company works with a third-party pharmacy network manager to attract, retain, and manage the Company’s pharmacy customers and distribution channels. The Company had no sales for the three or six-month periods ending June 30, 2018.

Revenue, Net

The Company adopted the new revenue recognition guidelines in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), effective with the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

The Company sells its medicines primarily to wholesale distributors and specialty pharmacy providers under agreements with payment terms typically less than 90 days. These customers subsequently resell the Company’s medicines to health care patients. Revenue is recognized when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. The majority of the Company’s contracts have a single performance obligation to transfer medicines. Accordingly, revenues from medicine sales are recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s medicines, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon delivery to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring medicines and is generally based upon a list or fixed price less allowances for medicine returns, rebates and discounts. Company records an estimate of unrealized revenue reductions, and the related liability, for bottles sold to pharmacies but not yet prescribed.

Medicine Sales Discounts and Allowances

The nature of the Company’s contracts gives rise to variable consideration because of allowances for medicine returns, rebates and discounts. Allowances for medicine returns, rebates and discounts are recorded at the time of sale to wholesale pharmaceutical distributors and pharmacies. The Company applies significant judgments and estimates in determining some of these allowances. If actual results differ from its estimates, the Company will be required to make adjustments to these allowances in the future. The Company’s adjustments to gross sales are discussed further below.

Patient Access Programs

The Company offers discounts to patients under which the patient receives a discount on his or her prescription. In circumstances when a patient’s prescription is rejected by a third-party payer, the Company will pay for the full cost of the prescription. The Company reimburses pharmacies for this discount directly or through third-party vendors. The Company reduces gross sales by the amount of actual co-pay and other patient assistance in the period based on the invoices received. The Company also records an accrual to reduce gross sales for estimated co-pay and other patient assistance on units sold to distributors or pharmacies that have not yet been prescribed/dispensed to a patient. The Company calculates accrued co-pay and other patient assistance fee estimates using the expected value method. The estimate is based on contract prices, estimated percentages of medicine that will be prescribed to qualified patients, average assistance paid based on reporting from the third-party vendors and estimated levels of inventory in the distribution channel. Accrued co-pay and other patient assistance fees are included in “accrued expenses” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Patient assistance programs include both co-pay assistance and fully bought down prescriptions.

Sales Returns

Consistent with industry practice, the Company maintains a return policy that allows customers to return medicines within a specified period prior to and subsequent to the medicine expiration date. Generally, medicines may be returned for a period beginning six months prior to its expiration date and up to one year after its expiration date. The right of return expires on the earlier of one year after the medicine expiration date or the time that the medicine is dispensed to the patient. The majority of medicine returns result from medicine dating, which falls within the range set by the Company’s policy and are settled through the issuance of a credit to the customer. The Company calculates sales returns using the expected value method. The estimate of the provision for returns is based upon industry experience. This period is known to the Company based on the shelf life of medicines at the time of shipment. The Company records sales returns in “accrued expenses” and as a reduction of revenue.

Cost of Goods Sold

Distribution Service Fees

The Company includes distribution service fees paid for inventory management services as cost of goods sold. The Company calculates accrued distribution service fee estimates using the most likely amount method. The Company accrues estimated distribution fees based on contractually determined amounts. Accrued distribution service fees are included in “accrued expenses” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Shipping Fees

The Company includes fees incurred by pharmacies for shipping medicines to patients as cost of goods sold. The Company calculates accrued shipping fee estimates using the expected value method. The Company records accrued shipping fees in “accrued expenses” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Non-Commercial Product

The Company records the cost of non-commercial product distributed to patients as a cost of goods sold.

Royalties on Product Sales

The Company records royalty fees on the sale of commercial product as a cost of goods sold.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU No. 2016-02”). Under ASU No. 2016-02, an entity is required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. For leases with a term of twelve months or less, the lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities by class of underlying assets. ASU No. 2016-02 became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2019. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach at the adoption date through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. The adoption did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company elected to not recognize lease assets and liabilities for leases with an initial term of twelve months or less.

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. Common stock equivalents are only included when their effect is dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities which include outstanding warrants, stock options and preferred stock have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive. For all periods presented, basic and diluted net loss were the same.

The following table presents the computation of net loss per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):

	Three Months ended June 30,						Six Months ended June 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Numerator
Net loss	$	(2,780	)	$	(4,648	)	$	(5,338	)	$	(6,009	)
Preferred stock dividends	$	(357	)	$	(271	)	$	(739	)	$	(271	)
Net Loss allocable to common stock holders	$	(3,137	)	$	(4,919	)	$	(6,077	)	$	(6,280	)
Denominator
Weighted average common shares outstanding used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted		10,860,049			10,821,230			10,811,138			10,672,082
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted
Net loss per share	$	(0.29	)	$	(0.45	)	$	(0.56	)	$	(0.59	)

Potentially dilutive securities not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share because to do so would be anti-dilutive are as follows:

	Three and Six Months Ended June 30,
	2019		2018
Stock options outstanding		4,992,807		1,122,457
Warrants		36,267,329		33,028,829
Series C Preferred Stock		68,000		68,000
Series D Preferred Stock		3,000		3,000
Series E Preferred Stock		34,780,000		34,990,000
Series F Preferred Stock		3,810,000		-
Total		79,921,136		69,212,286