10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2006

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                      TO                     

Commission file number 1-16467

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   33-0303583

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

15241 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, California 92618

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(949) 727-3157

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,

if changed since last report)

Indicate by mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES   x    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  ¨            Accelerated filer  x            Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    YES  ¨    NO  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

34,954,521 shares of Common Stock as of November 3, 2006

 



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CORTEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

INDEX

 

         Page Number

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  Financial Statements and Notes (Unaudited)   
  Condensed Balance Sheets — September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005    3
 

Condensed Statements of Operations — Three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

   4
  Condensed Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005    5
  Notes to Condensed Financial Statements    6

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    12

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    20

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures    21

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors    22

Item 6.

  Exhibits    23

SIGNATURES

   23

Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Part II have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the current reporting period.

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

     (Unaudited)     (Note)  
     September 30, 2006     December 31, 2005  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,471,532     $ 2,062,531  

Marketable securities

     10,135,857       15,198,384  

Accounts receivable

     159,970       14,926  

Other current assets

     152,516       240,535  
                

Total current assets

     12,919,875       17,516,376  

Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     448,362       438,841  

Other

     33,407       33,407  
                
   $ 13,401,644     $ 17,988,624  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,330,633     $ 1,851,906  

Accrued wages, salaries and related expenses

     561,887       543,243  

Unearned revenue

     22,880       125,841  

Advance for MCI project

     292,918       285,630  
                

Total current liabilities

     2,208,318       2,806,620  

Deferred rent

     58,050       49,988  
                

Total liabilities

     2,266,368       2,856,608  
                

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Series B convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; $0.6667 per share liquidation preference; shares authorized: 3,200,000; shares issued and outstanding: 37,500; common shares issuable upon conversion: 3,679

     21,703       21,703  

Common stock, $0.001 par value; shares authorized: 75,000,000; shares issued and outstanding: 34,954,521 (September 30, 2006) and 32,794,958 (December 31, 2005)

     34,954       32,795  

Additional paid-in capital

     89,515,817       81,000,213  

Deferred compensation

     (101,977 )     (142,000 )

Unrealized loss, available for sale marketable securities

     (7,901 )     (45,735 )

Accumulated deficit

     (78,327,320 )     (65,734,960 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     11,135,276       15,132,016  
                
   $ 13,401,644     $ 17,988,624  
                

See accompanying notes.

Note: The balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

 

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Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three months ended

September 30,

    Nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Revenues:

        

Research and license revenue

   $ 399,226     $ 589,836     $ 837,335     $ 1,883,910  

Grant revenue

     2,344       35,286       26,851       87,393  
                                

Total revenues

     401,570       625,122       864,186       1,971,303  
                                

Operating expenses (A):

        

Research and development

     3,191,846       2,501,455       10,362,914       7,951,852  

General and administrative

     1,014,028       815,717       3,603,883       2,279,486  
                                

Total operating expenses

     4,205,874       3,317,172       13,966,797       10,231,338  
                                

Loss from operations

     (3,804,304 )     (2,692,050 )     (13,102,611 )     (8,260,035 )

Interest income, net

     169,581       161,998       510,251       476,296  

Increase in fair value of common stock warrants

     —         —         —         (63,500 )

Amortization of capitalized financing costs

     —         —         —         (19,491 )
                                

Net loss

   $ (3,634,723 )   $ (2,530,052 )   $ (12,592,360 )   $ (7,866,730 )
                                

Net loss per share:

        

Basic and diluted

   $ (0.10 )   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.24 )
                                

Shares used in calculating per share amounts:

        

Basic and diluted

     34,829,676       32,671,278       34,158,277       32,652,601  
                                

(A)   Operating expenses include the following non-cash stock compensation charges:

        

Research and development

   $ 487,571     $ 57,641     $ 1,573,255     $ 133,808  

General and administrative

     242,987       —         1,033,290       (14,950 )
                                
   $ 730,558     $ 57,641     $ 2,606,545     $ 118,858  
                                

See accompanying notes.

 

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Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

    

Nine months ended

September 30,

 
     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (12,592,360 )   $ (7,866,730 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     82,921       80,386  

Stock option compensation expense

     2,606,545       118,858  

Amortization of capitalized financing costs

     —         19,491  

Increase in fair value of common stock warrants

     —         63,500  

Changes in operating assets/liabilities:

    

Accrued interest on marketable securities

     16,168       129,493  

Accounts receivable

     (145,044 )     19,012  

Other current assets

     88,019       105,820  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (502,629 )     (64,863 )

Unearned revenue

     (102,961 )     (194,788 )

Advance for MCI project and other

     1,450       23,977  
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (10,547,891 )     (7,565,844 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of marketable securities

     (7,925,875 )     (17,313,151 )

Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities

     13,023,968       18,823,284  

Purchase of fixed assets

     (92,442 )     (166,172 )
                

Net cash provided by investing activities

     5,005,651       1,343,961  
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Adjustment to net proceeds from issuance of common stock in December 2004 private placement

     —         (24,211 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants and stock options

     5,951,241       27,932  
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     5,951,241       3,721  
                

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     409,001       (6,218,162 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     2,062,531       9,157,315  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 2,471,532     $ 2,939,153  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year. For further information, refer to the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

In January 1999, Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Cortex” or the “Company”) entered into a research collaboration and exclusive worldwide license agreement with NV Organon (“Organon”). The agreement will enable Organon to develop and commercialize the Company’s AMPAKINE® technology for the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. In October 2000, the Company entered into a research collaboration agreement and a license agreement with Les Laboratoires Servier (“Servier”), covering defined territories. The agreement, as amended to date, will enable Servier to develop and commercialize select AMPAKINE compounds for the treatment of memory impairment associated with aging, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and anxiety disorders. In March 2006, Cortex notified Servier of its intention to terminate the research collaboration effective December 7, 2006 (Note 2). The license agreement with Servier, as amended to date, will continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

The Company is seeking collaborative arrangements with other pharmaceutical companies for other applications of the AMPAKINE compounds, under which such companies would provide additional capital to the Company in exchange for exclusive or non-exclusive license or other rights to the technologies and products that the Company is developing. Competition for corporate partnering with major pharmaceutical companies is intense, with a large number of biopharmaceutical companies attempting to arrive at such arrangements. Accordingly, although the Company is in discussions with candidate companies, there is no assurance that an agreement will arise from these discussions in a timely manner, or at all, or that an agreement that may arise from these discussions will successfully reduce the Company’s short or longer-term funding requirements.

To supplement its existing resources, in addition to seeking licensing arrangements with other pharmaceutical companies, the Company may seek to raise additional capital through the sale of debt or equity. There can be no assurance that such capital will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If additional funds are raised by issuing equity securities, dilution to existing stockholders is likely to result.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when all four of the following criteria are met: (i) pervasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery of the products and/or services has occurred; (iii) the fees earned can be readily determined; and (iv) collectibility of the fees is reasonably assured.

The Company recognizes research revenue from its collaboration with Servier (Note 2) as services are performed under the agreement. The Company records grant revenues as the expenses related to the grant projects are incurred. All amounts received under collaborative research agreements or research grants are nonrefundable, regardless of the success of the underlying research.

 

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Revenues from milestone payments are recognized when earned, as evidenced by written acknowledgement from the collaborator, provided that (i) the milestone event is substantive and its achievement was not reasonably assured at the inception of the agreement, and (ii) the Company’s performance obligations after the milestone achievement will continue to be funded by the collaborator at a comparable level to that before the milestone achievement. If both of these criteria are not met, the milestone payment is recognized over the remaining period of the Company’s performance obligations under the arrangement.

If a collaborator develops and markets a product that utilizes the Company’s technology, the Company will be eligible to receive royalties on net sales of the product, as defined by the relative agreement. The Company will recognize such royalties, if any, at the time that the royalties become payable to the Company from the collaborator.

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board reached consensus on Issue 00-21. EITF Issue 00-21 addresses the accounting for arrangements that may involve the delivery or performance of multiple products, services and/or rights to use assets. As required, the Company applies the principles of Issue 00-21 to multiple element research and licensing agreements that it enters into after July 1, 2003.

In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104 (“SAB 104”), amounts received for upfront technology license fees under multiple-element arrangements are deferred and recognized over the period of committed services or performance, if such arrangements require the Company’s on-going services or performance.

Employee Stock Options and Stock-based Compensation

The Company’s 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1996 Plan”), which terminated pursuant to its terms on October 25, 2006, provided for the granting of options and rights to purchase shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued common stock to qualified employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers. Options previously granted under the 1996 Plan generally vest over a three-year period, although some options granted to officers included more accelerated vesting. Options previously granted under the 1996 Plan generally expire ten years from the date of grant, but some options granted to consultants expire five years from the date of grant.

On March 30, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”), which subsequently was approved by the Company’s stockholders on May 10, 2006. Since the approval of the 2006 Plan, no further options have been or will be granted under the 1996 Plan.

The 2006 Plan provides for a variety of equity vehicles to provide flexibility in implementing equity awards, including incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock grants, stock appreciation rights, stock payment awards, restricted stock units and dividend equivalents. The exercise price of stock options offered under the 2006 Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. If the person to whom an incentive stock option is granted is a 10% stockholder of the Company on the date of grant, the exercise price per share shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value on the date of grant. Vesting and expiration provisions for options granted under the 2006 Plan are similar to those under the 1996 Plan.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment,” using a modified prospective application. Earlier periods were not restated. SFAS No. 123(R) is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”

 

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and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). SFAS No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values.

Prior to adopting SFAS No. 123(R), as permitted, the Company elected to follow APB 25 in accounting for its employee stock options. According to APB 25, no compensation expense is recognized since the exercise price of the Company’s stock options generally equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant. The Company transitioned to SFAS No. 123 by utilizing SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure” (“SFAS No. 148”). In accordance with SFAS No. 148, the Company disclosed the effects of stock-based employee compensation on reported net income or loss and earnings or loss per share in the footnotes to its annual and interim financial statements.

Given that the Company previously followed APB 25 and SFAS No. 148 in accounting for its employee stock options, the impact of adopting the expense recognition requirements of SFAS 123(R) was significant to the Company’s results of operations, but not its financial position. The Company’s net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 includes approximately $674,000 and $13,000 of non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company’s net loss includes approximately $2,372,000 of non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company’s net loss includes a credit of approximately $100 for non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs.

For options granted during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the fair value of each option award was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following assumptions:

 

     Three
Months ended
September 30, 2006
   

Nine

Months ended
September 30, 2006

 

Weighted average risk-free interest rate

   4.5 %   4.8 %

Dividend yield

   0 %   0 %

Volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s common stock

   86 %   82 %

Weighted average life

   4.5 years     3.8 years  

Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company also uses historical data to estimate the expected term of options granted and employee termination rates. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

A summary of option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is as follows:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average
Per Share
Exercise Price
   Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

Balance, December 31, 2005

   7,544,721     $ 2.05      

Granted

   1,025,267     $ 2.98      

Exercised

   (13,000 )   $ 0.69      

Forfeited

   —         —        

Expired

   (5,000 )   $ 0.38      
                  

Balance, September 30, 2006

   8,551,988     $ 2.17    7.1 years    $ 7,499,866

Exercisable, September 30, 2006

   5,174,074     $ 1.91    6.0 years    $ 5,893,204

 

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For the three months ended September 30, 2005, there were no options granted. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the following pro forma information regarding net loss and net loss per share has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock plans under the fair value method. The fair value was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following assumptions: weighted average risk-free interest rate of 4.2%; dividend yield of 0%; volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s common stock of 92% and weighted average life of 5.0 years.

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized as expense over the vesting period of the options, resulting in the following pro forma information for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005:

 

     Three
Months Ended
September 30, 2005
    Nine
Months ended
September 30, 2005
 

Net loss, as reported

   $ (2,530,052 )   $ (7,866,730 )

Stock-based employee compensation included in net loss

     —         14,386  

Fair value of stock-based employee compensation

     (426,695 )     (1,308,657 )
                

Pro forma net loss

   $ (2,956,747 )   $ (9,161,001 )

Net loss per share:

    

Basic and diluted — as reported

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.24 )

Basic and diluted — pro forma

   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.28 )

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $1.87. As stated above, there were no options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2005. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $1.80 and $1.99, respectively.

In connection with an employment agreement with an executive officer, in August 2004 the Company issued 100,000 restricted shares of its common stock (“Restricted Shares”). The Restricted Shares shall vest in equal installments over a four-year period from the date of issuance and are subject to forfeiture in the event that employment of the executive officer terminates before the applicable vesting dates. As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, 50,000 and 75,000 Restricted Shares remained unvested, respectively. No additional Restricted Shares were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and no Restricted Shares were forfeited.

As of September 30, 2006, there was approximately $2,007,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based employee compensation arrangements. That non-cash cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of one year.

The Company continues to follow EITF Issue 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling Goods and Services,” for stock options and warrants issued to consultants and other non-employees. In accordance with EITF Issue 96-18, these stock options and warrants issued as compensation for services to be provided to the Company are accounted for based upon the fair value of the services provided or the estimated fair market value of the option or warrant, whichever can be more clearly determined. The Company recognizes this expense over the period in which the services are provided. The Company’s net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 includes expenses of approximately $57,000 and $45,000, respectively, for non-cash stock-based compensation for options issued to consultants and other non-employees. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company’s net loss includes approximately $235,000 and $119,000, respectively, of non-cash stock-based compensation charges for options and warrants issued to consultants and other non-employees.

 

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Cash received from stock option exercises for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was approximately $9,000 and $28,000, respectively. Cash received from warrant exercises for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was approximately $5,942,000. There were no warrant exercises during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The Company issues new shares to satisfy stock option and warrant exercises.

A summary of option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is as follows:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average Per Share
Exercise Price

Balance, December 31, 2005

   10,457,972     $ 2.97

Granted

   —         —  

Exercised

   (2,146,563 )   $ 2.77

Expired

   —         —  
            

Balance, September 30, 2006

   8,311,409     $ 3.02

The effect of potentially issuable shares of common stock was not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share given that the effect would be anti-dilutive.

Comprehensive Loss

The Company presents unrealized gains and losses on its marketable securities, classified as “available for sale,” in its statement of stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income or loss on an annual basis and in a footnote in its quarterly reports. During the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, total comprehensive loss was $3,606,413 and $2,530,612, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, total comprehensive loss was $12,554,526 and $7,870,625, respectively. Other comprehensive income or loss consists of unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s marketable securities, which are comprised of securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, preferred securities and other asset and mortgage backed securities. Unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s marketable securities for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 amounted to an unrealized gain of $28,310 and an unrealized loss of $560, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s marketable securities amounted to an unrealized gain of $37,834 and an unrealized loss of $3,895, respectively.

 

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Note 2 — Research and License Agreement with Les Laboratoires Servier

In October 2000, the Company entered into a research collaboration agreement and a license agreement with Servier. The agreements, as amended to date, will enable Servier to develop and commercialize Cortex’s proprietary AMPAKINE technology for the treatment of indications including, but not limited to, anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, sexual dysfunction, and the dementia associated with multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The territory covered by the exclusive license excludes North America, allowing Cortex to retain commercialization rights in its domestic market, South America (except Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela), Australia and New Zealand. The research collaboration agreement, as amended to date, includes an up-front payment by Servier of $5,000,000 and research support payments of up to approximately $2,298,000 per year through early December 2006 (subject to Cortex providing agreed-upon levels of research personnel). Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, Cortex is eligible to receive milestone payments, based upon successful clinical development, plus royalty payments on sales in licensed territories.

As reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2006, Cortex has notified Servier of its intent to terminate the research collaboration effective December 7, 2006. The license agreement with Servier, as amended to date, will continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

Cortex had been recording revenue from Servier’s earlier $5,000,000 up-front payment over the three-year collaborative research phase included in the October 2000 agreement. With the subsequent amendments to the agreement, Cortex adjusted the period that the Company records the Servier licensing revenue to include the extended research term that ends in early December 2006.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Notes relating thereto appearing elsewhere in this report and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

Introductory Note

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain 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, and we intend that such forward looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, (i) future research plans, expenditures and results, (ii) potential collaborative arrangements, (iii) the potential utility of our proposed products and (iv) the need for, and availability of, additional financing.

The forward-looking statements included herein are based on current expectations, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties and assumptions regarding our business and technology. These assumptions involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future scientific, economic and competitive conditions, and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized and actual results may differ materially. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives or plans will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in this and other documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K.

About Cortex Pharmaceuticals

We are engaged in the discovery and development of innovative pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Since 1993, our primary efforts have been to develop products that affect the AMPA-type glutamate receptor, a complex of proteins that is involved in communication between nerve cells in the human brain. We are developing a family of chemical compounds, known as AMPAKINE® compounds, which enhance the activity of this receptor. We believe that AMPAKINE compounds hold promise for correcting deficits brought on by a variety of diseases and disorders that are known, or thought, to involve depressed functioning of pathways in the brain that use glutamate as a neurotransmitter.

 

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The AMPAKINE program addresses large potential markets. Our commercial development plan involves partnering with larger pharmaceutical companies for research, development, clinical testing, manufacturing and global marketing of AMPAKINE products for those indications that require sizable, expensive clinical trials and very large sales forces to achieve significant market penetration. At the same time, we plan to develop internally a selected set of indications, eligible for orphan drug status. These indications typically require more modest investment in the development stages, and involve a more concentrated sales force to reach selected medical centers and a limited number of medical specialists in the United States. If we are successful in the pursuit of this operating strategy, we may be in a position to contain our costs over the next few years, to maintain our focus on the research and early development of novel pharmaceuticals (where we believe that we have the ability to compete) and eventually to participate more fully in the commercial development of AMPAKINE products in the United States.

Critical Accounting Policies and Management Estimates

The Securities and Exchange Commission defines critical accounting policies as those that are, in management’s view, most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and most demanding of our judgment. Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.

We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. This process forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue Recognition

Our revenue recognition policies are in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, “Revenue Recognition” (“SAB 104”). SAB 104 provides guidance in applying accounting principles generally accepted in the United States to revenue recognition issues, and specifically addresses revenue recognition for up-front, nonrefundable fees received in connection with research collaboration arrangements.

In accordance with SAB 104, revenues from up-front fees from our collaborators are deferred and recorded over the term that we provide ongoing services. Similarly, research support payments are recorded as revenue as we perform the research under the related agreements. We record grant revenues as we incur expenses related to the grant projects. All amounts received under collaborative research agreements or research grants are nonrefundable, regardless of the success of the underlying research.

Revenues from milestone payments are recognized when earned, as evidenced by written acknowledgment from our collaborator, provided that (i) the milestone event is substantive and its achievement was not reasonably assured at the inception of the agreement, and (ii) our performance obligations after the milestone achievement will continue to be funded by its collaborator at a comparable level to that before the milestone achievement. If both of these criteria are not met, the milestone payment is recognized over the remaining minimum period of our performance obligations under the agreement.

 

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In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board reached consensus on Issue 00-21. EITF Issue 00-21 addresses the accounting for arrangements that may involve the delivery or performance of multiple products, services and/or rights to use assets. As required, we apply the principles of Issue 00-21 to multiple element agreements that we enter into after July 1, 2003.

In accordance with SAB 104, amounts received for upfront technology license fees under multiple-element arrangements are deferred and recognized over the period of committed services or performance, if such arrangements require our on-going service or performance.

Employee Stock Options and Stock-Based Compensation

Prior to January 1, 2006, we accounted for stock-based employee compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). According to APB 25, no compensation expense is recognized since the exercise price of our stock options generally equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant. We transitioned to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting For Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), by utilizing Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure” (“SFAS 148”). In accordance with SFAS 148, we disclosed the effects of stock-based employee compensation on reported net income or loss and earnings or loss per share in the footnotes to our annual and interim financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”) using a modified prospective application. Earlier periods were not restated. SFAS 123(R) is a revision of SFAS 123, and supersedes APB 25. SFAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values.

Given that we previously followed APB 25 and SFAS 148 in accounting for our employee stock options, the impact of adopting the expense recognition requirements of SFAS 123(R) was significant to our results of operations, but not our financial position. Our net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 includes approximately $674,000 of non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs. For the three months ended September 30, 2005, our net loss includes approximately $13,000 for non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, our net loss includes approximately $2,372,000 of non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our net loss includes a credit of approximately $100 for non-cash stock-based employee compensation costs.

As of September 30, 2006, there was approximately $2,007,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based employee compensation arrangements. These non-cash costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of one year.

 

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Under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123(R), share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period. Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires judgment in estimating the amount of share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and our results of operations could be materially impacted.

In accordance with EITF Issue 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling Goods and Services,” stock options and warrants issued to our consultants and other non-employees as compensation for services to be provided to us are accounted for based upon the fair value of the services provided or the estimated fair market value of the option or warrant, whichever can be more clearly determined. We recognize this expense over the period the services are provided.

The above listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with no need for our judgment in their application. There are also areas in which our judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially different result.

Results of Operations

General

In January 1999, we entered into a research collaboration and exclusive worldwide license agreement with NV Organon (“Organon”). The agreement will allow Organon to develop and commercialize our proprietary AMPAKINE technology for the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. In connection with the agreement, we received approximately $8,000,000 in up-front and research support payments. The agreement with Organon also includes milestone payments based upon clinical development, plus royalty payments on worldwide sales. To date, we have received milestone payments from Organon totaling $6,000,000. For each milestone payment, we recorded the related revenue upon achievement of the milestone.

In October 2000, we entered into a research collaboration agreement and a license agreement with Les Laboratoires Servier (“Servier”). The agreements will allow Servier to develop and commercialize select AMPAKINE compounds for the treatment of (i) declines in cognitive performance associated with aging, (ii) neurodegenerative diseases and (iii) anxiety disorders. The license agreement includes milestone payments based upon successful clinical development and royalty payments on sales in licensed territories. The research collaboration agreement, as amended, includes an up-front payment by Servier of $5,000,000 and research support payments of up to approximately $2,298,000 per year through early December 2006 (subject to us providing agreed-upon levels of research personnel). For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recorded research revenues of approximately $365,000 and $734,000, respectively, from the Servier collaboration. We have notified Servier of our intent to terminate the research collaboration in early December 2006. The license agreement with Servier, as amended to date, will continue in accordance with its terms.

 

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From inception (February 10, 1987) through September 30, 2006, we have sustained losses aggregating approximately $76,295,000. Continuing losses are anticipated over the next several years. During that time, our ongoing operating expenses will only be offset, if at all, by research support payments from the collaboration with Servier through early December 2006 and by possible milestone payments from Organon and Servier. Ongoing operating expenses may also be funded by payments under planned strategic alliances that we are seeking with other pharmaceutical companies for the clinical development, manufacturing and marketing of our products. The nature and timing of payments to us under the Organon and Servier agreements or other planned strategic alliances, if and when entered into, are likely to significantly affect our operations and financing activities and to produce substantial period-to-period fluctuations in reported financial results. Over the longer term, we will be dependent upon the successful introduction of a new product into the North American market from our internal development, as well as the successful commercial development of our products by Organon, Servier or our other prospective partners to attain profitable operations from royalties or other product-based revenues.

Comparison of the Three Months and Nine Months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

For the three months ended September 30, 2006, the net loss of approximately $3,635,000 compared with a net loss of approximately $2,530,000 for the corresponding prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the net loss of approximately $12,592,000 compared to a net loss of approximately $7,867,000 for the corresponding prior year period. For both periods, the increased losses primarily resulted from increased non-cash stock compensation charges related to our required adoption of SFAS 123(R) as of January 1, 2006 and the recording of expense for all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, based on their fair values.

Increased net losses in the current year periods also reflect expenses related to addressing the clinical hold on our AMPAKINE CX717 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The FDA placed the clinical hold on CX717 on March 31, 2006 due to concerns over preclinical animal data. We submitted a response to the FDA in early September 2006 and the FDA removed the clinical hold in early October 2006. In agreeing to the removal of the hold, we committed to an FDA specified dose range for CX717. These dose limitations will delay our planned clinical trials with CX717 in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”). We anticipate completing additional toxicology studies toward the end of 2006 that will provide data that we plan to submit to the FDA to mutually determine if we may perform clinical investigations at higher doses of the compound.

Our revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 decreased from approximately $625,000 to approximately $402,000, or by 36% compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, revenues decreased from approximately $1,971,000 to approximately $864,000, or by 56% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decreases in the current year periods mostly were due to decreased research revenues from our research collaboration agreement with Servier. As discussed above, we are in the process of winding down the Servier research collaboration effective early December 2006.

Our research and development expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 increased from approximately $2,501,000 to approximately $3,192,000, or by 28% from the corresponding prior year period. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, our research and development expenses increased from approximately $7,952,000 to approximately $10,363,000, or by 30% from the corresponding prior year period. Non-cash stock compensation charges accounted for approximately $430,000, or 62% of the increase in expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, non-cash stock

 

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compensation charges accounted for approximately $1,439,000, or 60% of the increase in research and development expenses. Most of the remaining increases in the current year periods represented expenses related to addressing the FDA clinical hold on CX717, along with costs resulting from expanding our research staff.

Our general and administrative expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 increased from approximately $816,000 to approximately $1,014,000, or by 24% compared to the corresponding prior year period, with non-cash stock compensation charges producing the increase. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, our general and administrative expenses increased from approximately $2,279,000 to approximately $3,604,000, or by 58% compared to the corresponding prior year period. Non-cash stock compensation charges accounted for approximately $1,048,000 or 79% of the expense increase for the current nine-month period.

Increased general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 also include legal fees and costs resulting from the change in the timing of our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to May as compared to December in the prior year.

Other expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 include non-cash charges for the change in estimated value of warrants issued in connection with our private equity financing in December 2004. The charges represent the change in estimated value of the warrants from December 31, 2004 to January 26, 2005, when the related registration statement for the underlying shares was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

From inception (February 10, 1987) through September 30, 2006, we have funded our organizational and research and development activities primarily through the issuance of equity securities, funding related to collaborative agreements and net interest income.

Under the research collaboration agreement with Servier dated October 2000, as amended to date, we receive research support payments of up to approximately $2,298,000 per year through early December 2006, subject to the amount of research personnel that we provide. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we received research support of approximately $574,000 from the research collaboration agreement with Servier, and as of September 30, 2006 another $160,000 of research support has been recorded as a receivable from Servier. As reported on our Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 27, 2006, we have elected to terminate the research collaboration effective December 7, 2006. The license agreement with Servier dated October 2000, as amended to date, will continue in accordance with its terms and includes milestone payments based upon successful clinical development and royalties on sales in licensed territories.

In August 2003, we completed a private placement of an aggregate of 3,333,334 shares of our common stock at $1.50 per share and five-year warrants to purchase up to an additional aggregate of 3,333,334 shares at an exercise price of $2.55 per share. Our gross and net proceeds from this private placement were $5,000,000 and approximately $4,500,000, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we received approximately $2,830,000 from the exercise of warrants issued with this private placement. As of September 30, 2006, warrants to purchase up to 1,883,335

 

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shares remained outstanding. If these remaining warrants are fully exercised, of which there can be no assurance, such exercise would provide us approximately $4,803,000 of additional capital. The warrants are subject to a call right in our favor to the extent that the closing price of our common stock exceeds $6.00 per share for any 13 consecutive trading days.

In January 2004, we completed a private placement of an aggregate of 6,909,091 shares of our common stock at $2.75 per share and five-year warrants to purchase up to an additional aggregate of 4,490,910 shares at an exercise price of $3.25 per share. We received gross and net proceeds from this private placement of $19,000,000 and approximately $17,500,000, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we received approximately $1,696,000 from the exercise of warrants issued with this private placement. As of September 30, 2006, warrants to purchase up to 3,969,137 shares remained outstanding. If the remaining warrants are fully exercised, of which there can be no assurance, these warrants would provide us approximately $12,900,000 of additional capital. The warrants are subject to a call right in our favor to the extent that the closing price of our common stock exceeds $7.50 per share for any 13 consecutive trading days.

In December 2004, we completed a private placement of an aggregate of 4,233,333 shares of our common stock at $2.66 per share and five-year warrants to purchase up to an additional aggregate of 2,116,666 shares at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. We received gross and net proceeds from this private placement of approximately $11,260,000 and approximately $10,400,000, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we received approximately $1,023,000 from the exercise of warrants issued with this private placement. As of September 30, 2006, warrants to purchase up to 1,775,689 shares remained outstanding. If the remaining warrants are fully exercised, of which there can be no assurance, these warrants would provide us approximately $5,327,000 of additional capital. The warrants are subject to a call right in our favor to the extent that the closing price of our common stock exceeds $7.50 per share for any 13 consecutive trading days.

As of September 30, 2006, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling approximately $12,607,000 and working capital of approximately $10,712,000. In comparison, as of December 31, 2005, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $17,261,000 and working capital of approximately $14,710,000. The decreases in cash and working capital reflect amounts required to fund operations, partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our common stock.

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $10,548,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, and included our net loss for the period of approximately $12,592,000, adjusted for non-cash expenses for depreciation, amortization and stock compensation approximating $2,689,000, and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $7,566,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, and included our net loss for the period of approximately $7,867,000, adjusted for non-cash expenses for depreciation, amortization and stock compensation (including the change in fair value of common stock warrants) approximating $282,000, and changes in operating assets and liabilities.

Net cash provided by investing activities approximated $5,006,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, and primarily resulted from the sales and maturities of marketable securities of approximately $13,024,000, partially offset by the purchase of marketable securities of $7,926,000. Fixed asset purchases for the current year period approximated $92,000. Net cash provided by

 

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investing activities approximated $1,344,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, and primarily resulted from the sale and maturity of marketable securities of approximately $18,823,000, partially offset by the purchase of marketable securities of $17,313,000. Fixed asset purchases for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 approximated $166,000.

Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to approximately $5,951,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, and resulted primarily from the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our common stock issued to investors in connection with our prior financings as well as the exercise of other outstanding warrants and options to purchase shares of our common stock. Net cash provided by financing activities were minimal for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and resulted from the exercise of options to purchase shares of our common stock.

Commitments

We lease approximately 32,000 square feet of research laboratory, office and expansion space under an operating lease that expires May 31, 2009. The commitments under the lease agreement for the years ending December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are $129,000, $532,000, $556,000 and $298,000, respectively.

Remaining commitments for clinical studies of CX717 and other preclinical expenses amount to approximately $2,544,000, including approximately $563,000 of accrued expenses as of September 30, 2006. Separately, we are committed to approximately $536,000 for sponsored research at academic and other institutions, $485,000 of which is payable over the next twelve months.

In June 2000, we received approximately $247,000 from the Institute for the Study of Aging (the “Institute”), a non-profit foundation supported by the Estee Lauder Trust. The advance partially offset our limited costs for our testing in patients with mild cognitive impairment that we conducted with our partner, Servier. Provided that we comply with the conditions of the funding agreement, including the restricted use of the amounts received, repayment of the advance will not be required unless we enter an AMPAKINE compound into Phase III clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease. Upon such potential clinical trials, repayment would include interest computed at a rate equal to one-half of the prime lending rate. In lieu of cash, in the event of repayment the Institute may elect to receive the balance of outstanding principal and accrued interest as shares of our common stock. The conversion price for such form of repayment shall initially equal $4.50 per share, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances.

Staffing

As of September 30, 2006, we had a total of 27 full-time research and administrative employees. We do not anticipate any significant increases in staffing or investments in plant or equipment through the next twelve months.

Outlook

We anticipate that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to satisfy our capital requirements into 2007. Additional funds will be required to continue operations beyond that time. We may receive additional milestone payments from the Organon and Servier agreements. However, there is no assurance that we will receive such milestone payments from Organon or Servier. We may also receive additional research support payments from Servier prior to the termination of our research collaboration in early December 2006.

 

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In order to provide for our longer-term capital requirements, we are presently seeking additional collaborative or other arrangements with larger pharmaceutical companies. Under these agreements, it is intended that such companies would provide capital to us in exchange for an exclusive or non-exclusive license or other rights to certain of the technologies and products that we are developing. Competition for such arrangements is intense with a large number of biopharmaceutical companies attempting to secure alliances with more established pharmaceutical companies. Although we have been engaged in discussions with candidate companies, there is no assurance that an agreement or agreements will arise from these discussions in a timely manner, or at all, or that revenues that may be generated thereby will offset operating expenses sufficiently to reduce our longer-term funding requirements.

Because there is no assurance that we will secure additional corporate partnerships, we may seek to raise additional capital through the sale of debt or equity securities. There is no assurance that funds will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If equity securities are issued to raise additional funds, dilution to existing stockholders is likely to result. Such additional capital would, more importantly, enhance the ability of us to achieve significant milestones in our efforts to develop the AMPAKINE technology.

Additional Risks and Uncertainties

Our proposed products are in the preclinical or early clinical stage of development and will require significant further research, development, clinical testing and regulatory clearances. They are subject to the risks of failure inherent in the development of products based on innovative technologies. These risks include, but are not limited to, the possibilities that any or all of the proposed products will be found to be ineffective or unsafe, or otherwise fail to receive necessary regulatory clearances; that the proposed products, although effective, will be uneconomical to market; that third parties may now or in the future hold proprietary rights that preclude us from marketing them; or that third parties will market superior or equivalent products. Accordingly, we are unable to predict whether our research and development activities will result in any commercially viable products or applications. Further, due to the extended testing and regulatory review process required before marketing clearance can be obtained, we do not expect to be able to commercialize any therapeutic drug for at least five years, either directly or through our current or prospective partners or licensees. There can be no assurance that our proposed products will prove to be safe or effective or receive regulatory approvals that are required for commercial sale.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not engaged in any “off-balance sheet arrangements” within the meaning of Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to certain market risks associated with interest rate fluctuations on our marketable securities and borrowing arrangement. All investments in marketable securities are entered into for purposes other than trading. We are not subject to significant risks from currency rate fluctuations as we do not typically conduct transactions in foreign currencies. In addition, we do not utilize hedging contracts or similar instruments.

 

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Our exposure to interest rate risk arises from financial instruments entered into in the normal course of business. Certain of our financial instruments are fixed rate, short-term investments in government and corporate notes and bonds. Changes in interest rates generally affect the fair value of the investments, however, because these financial instruments are considered “available for sale,” all such changes are reflected in the financial statements in the period affected. We manage interest rate risk on our investment portfolio by matching scheduled investment maturities with our cash requirements. As of September 30, 2006, our investment portfolio had a fair value and carrying amount of approximately $10,136,000. If market interest rates were to increase immediately and uniformly by 10% from levels as of September 30, 2006, the resulting decline in the fair value of fixed rate bonds held within the portfolio would not be material to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our borrowing consists of our advance from the Institute for the Study of Aging, which is subject to potential repayment in the event that we enter an AMPAKINE compound into Phase III clinical testing as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Potential repayment would include interest accruing at a rate equal to one-half of the prime lending rate. Changes in interest rates generally affect the fair value of such debt, but, based upon historical activity, such changes are not expected to have a material impact on earnings or cash flows. As of September 30, 2006, the principal and accrued interest of the advance amounted to approximately $293,000.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We performed an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, pursuant to Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report, were effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in our periodic filings under the Exchange Act.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control.

The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. Other than the matter described below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

On March 31, 2006, the FDA notified us that it had placed a clinical hold on our lead compound, AMPAKINE CX717. The hold resulted from concerns related to preclinical animal data and not from any human clinical trials. In early September 2006, we submitted our complete response to the FDA and the hold was lifted in early October 2006. In agreeing to removal of the hold, we committed to an FDA specified dose range for CX717. The dose limitations will delay further planned clinical studies with CX717 in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

We are currently awaiting results from additional toxicology studies that we expect before the end of 2006. We anticipate submitting the data from these studies to the FDA to mutually determine if the results support clinical trials at increased dosage levels of the compound. If we are unable to pursue our clinical studies with AMPAKINE CX717 at increased doses, there may be a significant negative impact on our business operations and the market price of our common stock.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits

 

31.1    Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32       Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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.

 

     

CORTEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

November 8, 2006    

By:

 

/s/ Maria S. Messinger

       

Maria S. Messinger

       

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

       

Corporate Secretary

       

(Chief Accounting Officer)

 

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