Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

6. Stockholders’ Equity

Year Ended December 31, 2016

On November 18, 2016, the Company completed a public offering of 25 million shares of common stock in combination with accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of 50,000,000 shares of the common stock. The stock and warrants were sold in combination, with two warrants for each share of common stock sold, a Series A warrant and a Series B warrant, each representing the right to purchase one share of common stock. The purchase price for each share of common stock and accompanying warrants was $1.00. The shares of common stock are immediately separable from the warrants and were issued separately. The initial per share exercise price of the Series A warrants was $1.43 and the per share exercise price of the Series B warrants was $1.72, each subject to adjustment as specified in the warrants. The Series A and Series B warrants may be exercised at any time on or after the date of issuance. The Series A warrants are exercisable until the four year anniversary of the issuance date. The Series B warrants are exercisable until December 31, 2017. Net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated expenses were approximately $23.3 million.

On August 5, 2016, the Company entered into the FBR Sales Agreement with FBR Capital Markets & Co., which enables the Company to offer and sell shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate sales price of up to $40.0 million, from time to time through FBR Capital Markets & Co. as the Company’s sales agent. Sales of common stock under the FBR Sales Agreement are made in sales deemed to be “at-the-market” equity offerings as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended. FBR Capital Markets & Co. is entitled to receive a commission rate of up 3.0% of gross sales in connection with the sale of the Company’s common stock sold on the Company’s behalf. From August 11, 2016 through December 31, 2016, the Company had sold through the FBR Sales Agreement an aggregate of 900,628 shares of the Company's common stock, and received gross proceeds of approximately $1,550,197, before deducting issuance expenses.

Also, during the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company issued 445,334 shares of common stock, in connection with the exercise of stock options and warrants, for proceeds of approximately $814,000.

Year Ended December 31, 2015

On August 29, 2015, the Company, SYN Biomics, a majority-owned subsidiary, and Mark Pimentel, M.D. entered into an amendment to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 3, 2013, which accelerated the date upon which Dr. Pimentel could exchange his shares of common stock in SYN Biomics for shares of the Company’s common stock. On August 29, 2015, Dr. Pimentel notified the Company of his intent to exchange all of the shares of common stock in SYN Biomics owned by him for 1,350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, as amended. On August 31, 2015, the Company issued 1,350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Dr. Pimentel in exchange for all of the shares of common stock of SYN Biomics held by Dr. Pimentel.

On August 10, 2015, the Company expanded its relationship with Intrexon Corporation (“Intrexon”) and entered into an Exclusive Channel Collaboration Agreement with Intrexon that governs a “channel collaboration” arrangement in which the Company will use Intrexon’s technology relating to the development and commercialization of novel biotherapeutics for the treatment of patients with PKU. The Company paid Intrexon a technology access fee by the issuance of 937,500 shares of common stock, having a value equal to $3.0 million, which has been recorded as research and development expense.

In July 2015, the Company completed a public offering of 15,333,333 shares of common stock, including the fully exercised over-allotment option by the underwriters covering 2.0 million shares, at an offering price of $3.00 per share. The total gross proceeds of the offering, including the exercise in full of the over-allotment option, were approximately $46.0 million. Net proceeds to the Company, after deducting the underwriters’ discount and other estimated expenses, were approximately $42.6 million. The Company paid direct offering costs of $3.4 million.

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued 655,321 shares of common stock to Prev ABR LLC, with a fair value of $1,350,000, that was recorded as research and development expense, in consideration for achieving the first three milestones as set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement dated November 28, 2012. In lieu of receiving any cash payment for achieving the first three milestones, Prev ABR LLC exercised its option to receive the milestone payments in shares of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares of common stock issued upon achievement of each milestone was based upon the average of the opening and closing prices of the Company’s stock on the date each milestone was achieved as specified in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

Also, during the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued 35,006 shares of common stock, in connection with the exercise of stock options and warrants, for proceeds of approximately $41,000.

Year Ended December 31, 2014

On October 10, 2014, the Company completed a registered direct offering of 14,059,616 units, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock at a closing price of $1.47 for gross proceeds of $20.7 million and net proceeds of $19.1 million. The Company paid direct offering costs of $1.6 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company issued 6,583 shares of common stock, in connection with the exercise of stock options, for proceeds of approximately $4,000. The Company also issued 232,619 shares of common stock, in connection with cashless warrant exercises for the year ended December 31, 2014.