Description of Company and Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Company and Basis of Presentation	1. Description of Company and Basis of Presentation CytRx Corporation (“CytRx”) is a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. The Company’s focus has been on the discovery, research and clinical development of novel anti-cancer drug candidates that employ novel linker technologies to enhance the accumulation and release of cytotoxic anti-cancer agents at the tumor. During 2017, CytRx’s discovery laboratory, located in Freiburg, Germany, synthesized and tested over 75 rationally designed drug conjugates with highly potent payloads, culminating in the creation of two distinct classes of compounds. Four lead candidates (LADR-7 through LADR-10) were selected based on in vitro and animal preclinical studies, stability, and manufacturing feasibility. In 2018, additional animal efficacy and toxicology testing of these lead candidates was conducted. In addition, a novel albumin companion diagnostic, ACDx™, was developed to identify patients with cancer who are most likely to benefit from treatment with these drug candidates. On June 1, 2018, CytRx launched Centurion BioPharma Corporation (“Centurion”), a private subsidiary, and transferred all of its assets, liabilities and personnel associated with the laboratory operations in Freiburg, Germany. In connection with said transfer, the Company and Centurion entered into a Management Services Agreement whereby the Company agreed to render advisory, consulting, financial and administrative services to Centurion, for which Centurion shall reimburse the Company for the cost of such services plus a 5% service charge. The Management Services Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time. Centurion is focused on the development of personalized medicine for solid tumor treatment. On December 21, 2018, CytRx announced that Centurion had concluded the pre-clinical phase of development for its four LADR drug candidates, and for its albumin companion diagnostic (ACDx™). As a result of completing this work, operations taking place at the pre-clinical laboratory in Freiburg, Germany would no longer be needed and, accordingly, the lab was closed at the end of January 2019. *LADR Drug Discovery Platform and Centurion* Centurion’s LADR™ (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology platform is a discovery engine combining our expertise in linker chemistry and albumin biology to create a pipeline of anti-cancer molecules that will avoid unacceptable systemic toxicity while delivering highly potent agents directly to the tumor. Centurion has created a “toolbox” of linker technologies that are designed to significantly increase the therapeutic index of ultra-high potency drugs (10-1,000 times more potent than traditional cytotoxins) by controlling the release of the drug payloads and improving drug-like properties. Centurion’s efforts were focused on two classes of ultra-high potency albumin-binding drug conjugates. These drug conjugates combine the proprietary LADR™ linkers with novel derivatives of the auristatin and maytansinoid drug classes. These payloads historically have required a targeting antibody for successful administration to humans. These drug conjugates eliminate the need for a targeting antibody and provide a small molecule therapeutic option with potential broader applicability. Centurion’s postulated mechanism of action for the albumin-binding drug conjugates is as follows: after administration, the linker portion of the drug conjugate forms a rapid and specific covalent bond to the cysteine-34 position of circulating albumin; circulating albumin preferentially accumulates at the tumors, bypassing concentration in other non-tumor sites, including the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract due to a mechanism called “Enhanced Permeability and Retention”; once localized at the tumor, the acid-sensitive linker is cleaved due to the specific conditions within the tumor and in the tumor microenvironment; and free active drug is then released. Centurion’s novel companion diagnostic, ACDx™ (albumin companion diagnostic), was developed to identify patients with cancer who are most likely to benefit from treatment with the four LADR lead assets. CytRx and Centurion have been working on identifying partnership opportunities for LADR™ ultra-high potency drug conjugates and its albumin companion diagnostic. However no partnership or any source of financing has become available after over two years of effort. Management continues to seek out potential partnerships or sources of capital for Centurion. *Aldoxorubicin* Until July 2017, the Company was focused on the research and clinical development of aldoxorubicin, its modified version of the widely-used cytotoxin agent, doxorubicin. Aldoxorubicin combines the agent doxorubicin with a novel linker-molecule that binds specifically to albumin in the blood to allow for delivery of higher amounts of doxorubicin (3½ to 4 times) without several of the major dose-limiting toxicities seen with administration of doxorubicin alone. On July 27, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide license with ImmunityBio, Inc. (formerly known as NantCell, Inc. (“ImmunityBio”)), granting to ImmunityBio the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize aldoxorubicin in all indications, and our company is no longer directly working on development of aldoxorubicin. As part of the license, ImmunityBio made a strategic investment of $13 million in CytRx common stock at $6.60 per share (adjusted to reflect our 2017 reverse stock split), a premium of 92% to the market price on that date. The Company also issued ImmunityBio a warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock at $6.60, which expired on January 26, 2019. The Company is entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $343 million in potential milestone payments, contingent upon achievement of certain regulatory approvals and commercial milestones. The Company is also entitled to receive ascending double-digit royalties for net sales for soft tissue sarcomas and mid to high single digit royalties for other indications. There can be no assurance that ImmunityBio will achieve such milestones, approvals or sales with respect to aldoxorubicin. ImmunityBio has initiated a Phase 2, randomized, two-cohort, open-label registrational-intent study for first-line and second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, which includes aldoxorubicin. Molecular Chaperone Assets In 2011, CytRx sold the rights to arimoclomol and iroxanadine, based on molecular chaperone regulation technology, to Orphazyme A/S (formerly Orphazyme ApS) in exchange for a one-time, upfront payment and the right to receive up to a total of $120 million (USD) in milestone payments upon the achievement of certain pre-specified regulatory and business milestones, as well as royalty payments based on a specified percentage of any net sales of products derived from arimoclomol. Orphazyme is testing arimoclomol in three additional indications beyond ALS, including Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC), Gaucher disease and sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis (sIBM). Orphazyme has highlighted positive Phase2/3 clinical trial data in patients with NPC and have submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and plans on submitting a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the second half of 2020. Orphazyme has also received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for arimoclomol for NPC and their Early Access Program is now operational. CytRx will be entitled to a milestone payment of $6 million upon FDA approval, $4 million upon EMA approval and $2 million upon approval in Japan, along with royalties and potential additional milestone payments. There can be no assurance that Orphazyme will achieve such approvals. Current Business Strategy Currently, the Company and Centurion are working on identifying partnership opportunities for LADR™ ultra-high potency drug conjugates and their albumin companion diagnostic, although no partnerships or other sources of financing have become available after over two years of effort We have concluded all research and development on LADR and its companion diagnostic and continue to focus on identifying these partnership and financing opportunities. In addition, the Company is investigating new lines of business. Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2020 and for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, that management believes to be necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2019 have been derived from our audited financial statements as of that date. The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Liquidity and Capital Resources At June 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $14.6 million. Management believes that our current cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund its operations for the foreseeable future. This estimate is based, in part, upon our currently projected expenditures for the remainder of 2020 and the first seven months of 2021 of approximately $5.9 million (unaudited) to fund operating activities. These projected expenditures and payments are also based upon numerous other assumptions and subject to many uncertainties, and our actual expenditures may be significantly different from these projections. While these projections represent the Company’s current expected expenditures, the Company has the ability to reduce the amounts as needed to manage its liquidity needs while still advancing its corporate objectives. The Company will ultimately be required to obtain additional funding in order to execute its long-term business plans, although it does not currently have commitments from any third parties to provide it with long term debt, capital or non-dilutive up-front payments from a potential strategic partner. The Company cannot assure that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If the Company fails to obtain additional funding when needed, it may not be able to execute its business plans and its business may suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Description of Company and Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of Company and Basis of Presentation

1. Description of Company and Basis of Presentation

CytRx Corporation (“CytRx”) is a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. The Company’s focus has been on the discovery, research and clinical development of novel anti-cancer drug candidates that employ novel linker technologies to enhance the accumulation and release of cytotoxic anti-cancer agents at the tumor. During 2017, CytRx’s discovery laboratory, located in Freiburg, Germany, synthesized and tested over 75 rationally designed drug conjugates with highly potent payloads, culminating in the creation of two distinct classes of compounds. Four lead candidates (LADR-7 through LADR-10) were selected based on in vitro and animal preclinical studies, stability, and manufacturing feasibility. In 2018, additional animal efficacy and toxicology testing of these lead candidates was conducted. In addition, a novel albumin companion diagnostic, ACDx™, was developed to identify patients with cancer who are most likely to benefit from treatment with these drug candidates.

On June 1, 2018, CytRx launched Centurion BioPharma Corporation (“Centurion”), a private subsidiary, and transferred all of its assets, liabilities and personnel associated with the laboratory operations in Freiburg, Germany. In connection with said transfer, the Company and Centurion entered into a Management Services Agreement whereby the Company agreed to render advisory, consulting, financial and administrative services to Centurion, for which Centurion shall reimburse the Company for the cost of such services plus a 5% service charge. The Management Services Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time. Centurion is focused on the development of personalized medicine for solid tumor treatment. On December 21, 2018, CytRx announced that Centurion had concluded the pre-clinical phase of development for its four LADR drug candidates, and for its albumin companion diagnostic (ACDx™). As a result of completing this work, operations taking place at the pre-clinical laboratory in Freiburg, Germany would no longer be needed and, accordingly, the lab was closed at the end of January 2019.

LADR Drug Discovery Platform and Centurion

Centurion’s LADR™ (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology platform is a discovery engine combining our expertise in linker chemistry and albumin biology to create a pipeline of anti-cancer molecules that will avoid unacceptable systemic toxicity while delivering highly potent agents directly to the tumor. Centurion has created a “toolbox” of linker technologies that are designed to significantly increase the therapeutic index of ultra-high potency drugs (10-1,000 times more potent than traditional cytotoxins) by controlling the release of the drug payloads and improving drug-like properties.

Centurion’s efforts were focused on two classes of ultra-high potency albumin-binding drug conjugates. These drug conjugates combine the proprietary LADR™ linkers with novel derivatives of the auristatin and maytansinoid drug classes. These payloads historically have required a targeting antibody for successful administration to humans. These drug conjugates eliminate the need for a targeting antibody and provide a small molecule therapeutic option with potential broader applicability.

Centurion’s postulated mechanism of action for the albumin-binding drug conjugates is as follows:

after administration, the linker portion of the drug conjugate forms a rapid and specific covalent bond to the cysteine-34 position of circulating albumin;

circulating albumin preferentially accumulates at the tumors, bypassing concentration in other non-tumor sites, including the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract due to a mechanism called “Enhanced Permeability and Retention”;

once localized at the tumor, the acid-sensitive linker is cleaved due to the specific conditions within the tumor and in the tumor microenvironment; and

free active drug is then released.

Centurion’s novel companion diagnostic, ACDx™ (albumin companion diagnostic), was developed to identify patients with cancer who are most likely to benefit from treatment with the four LADR lead assets.

CytRx and Centurion have been working on identifying partnership opportunities for LADR™ ultra-high potency drug conjugates and its albumin companion diagnostic. However no partnership or any source of financing has become available after over two years of effort. Management continues to seek out potential partnerships or sources of capital for Centurion.

Aldoxorubicin

Until July 2017, the Company was focused on the research and clinical development of aldoxorubicin, its modified version of the widely-used cytotoxin agent, doxorubicin. Aldoxorubicin combines the agent doxorubicin with a novel linker-molecule that binds specifically to albumin in the blood to allow for delivery of higher amounts of doxorubicin (3½ to 4 times) without several of the major dose-limiting toxicities seen with administration of doxorubicin alone.

On July 27, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide license with ImmunityBio, Inc. (formerly known as NantCell, Inc. (“ImmunityBio”)), granting to ImmunityBio the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize aldoxorubicin in all indications, and our company is no longer directly working on development of aldoxorubicin. As part of the license, ImmunityBio made a strategic investment of $13 million in CytRx common stock at $6.60 per share (adjusted to reflect our 2017 reverse stock split), a premium of 92% to the market price on that date. The Company also issued ImmunityBio a warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock at $6.60, which expired on January 26, 2019. The Company is entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $343 million in potential milestone payments, contingent upon achievement of certain regulatory approvals and commercial milestones. The Company is also entitled to receive ascending double-digit royalties for net sales for soft tissue sarcomas and mid to high single digit royalties for other indications. There can be no assurance that ImmunityBio will achieve such milestones, approvals or sales with respect to aldoxorubicin. ImmunityBio has initiated a Phase 2, randomized, two-cohort, open-label registrational-intent study for first-line and second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, which includes aldoxorubicin.

Molecular Chaperone Assets

In 2011, CytRx sold the rights to arimoclomol and iroxanadine, based on molecular chaperone regulation technology, to Orphazyme A/S (formerly Orphazyme ApS) in exchange for a one-time, upfront payment and the right to receive up to a total of $120 million (USD) in milestone payments upon the achievement of certain pre-specified regulatory and business milestones, as well as royalty payments based on a specified percentage of any net sales of products derived from arimoclomol. Orphazyme is testing arimoclomol in three additional indications beyond ALS, including Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC), Gaucher disease and sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis (sIBM). Orphazyme has highlighted positive Phase2/3 clinical trial data in patients with NPC and have submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and plans on submitting a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the second half of 2020. Orphazyme has also received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for arimoclomol for NPC and their Early Access Program is now operational. CytRx will be entitled to a milestone payment of $6 million upon FDA approval, $4 million upon EMA approval and $2 million upon approval in Japan, along with royalties and potential additional milestone payments. There can be no assurance that Orphazyme will achieve such approvals.

Current Business Strategy

Currently, the Company and Centurion are working on identifying partnership opportunities for LADR™ ultra-high potency drug conjugates and their albumin companion diagnostic, although no partnerships or other sources of financing have become available after over two years of effort We have concluded all research and development on LADR and its companion diagnostic and continue to focus on identifying these partnership and financing opportunities. In addition, the Company is investigating new lines of business.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2020 and for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, that management believes to be necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2019 have been derived from our audited financial statements as of that date.

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $14.6 million. Management believes that our current cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund its operations for the foreseeable future. This estimate is based, in part, upon our currently projected expenditures for the remainder of 2020 and the first seven months of 2021 of approximately $5.9 million (unaudited) to fund operating activities. These projected expenditures and payments are also based upon numerous other assumptions and subject to many uncertainties, and our actual expenditures may be significantly different from these projections.

While these projections represent the Company’s current expected expenditures, the Company has the ability to reduce the amounts as needed to manage its liquidity needs while still advancing its corporate objectives. The Company will ultimately be required to obtain additional funding in order to execute its long-term business plans, although it does not currently have commitments from any third parties to provide it with long term debt, capital or non-dilutive up-front payments from a potential strategic partner. The Company cannot assure that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If the Company fails to obtain additional funding when needed, it may not be able to execute its business plans and its business may suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.