UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934 |
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THERIVA BIOLOGICS, INC.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In particular, statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to, statements regarding the timing of our clinical trials, the development and commercialization of our pipeline products, the sufficiency of our cash, our ability to finance our operations and business initiatives and obtain funding for such activities and the timing of any such financing, our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans prospects, or costs and objectives of management for future research, development or operations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to our future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “goals,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” and “continue” or similar words. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified below, under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and those identified under Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed on March 30, 2023 (the “2022 Form 10-K”). Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed, projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
NOTE REGARDING COMPANY REFERENCES
Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Theriva Biologics,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Theriva Biologics, Inc. and our subsidiaries Theriva Biologics, S.L. (“VCN”, formerly known as VCN Biosciences, S.L.) Pipex Therapeutics, Inc. (“Pipex Therapeutics”), Effective Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“EPI”), Solovax, Inc. (“Solovax”), CD4 Biosciences, Inc. (“CD4”), Epitope Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Epitope”), Healthmine, Inc. (“Healthmine”), Putney Drug Corp. (“Putney”) and Synthetic Biomics, Inc. (“SYN Biomics”).
NOTE REGARDING TRADEMARKS
All trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners.
THERIVA BIOLOGICS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
PART I–FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands except share and par value amounts)
| September 30, 2023 |
| December 31, 2022 | |||
Assets |
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Current Assets |
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Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Tax credit receivable | | — | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total Current Assets |
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Non-Current Assets | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
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Restricted cash | | | ||||
Right of use assets | | | ||||
In-process research and development |
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Goodwill | | | ||||
Deposits and other assets |
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Total Assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Liabilities and Stockholders‘ Equity |
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Current Liabilities: |
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Accounts payable | $ | | $ | | ||
Accrued expenses |
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Accrued employee benefits |
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Contingent consideration, current portion | — | | ||||
Deferred research and development tax credit-current portion | | — | ||||
Loans payable-current portion | | | ||||
Operating lease liability-current portion |
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Total Current Liabilities |
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Non-current Liabilities | ||||||
Non-current contingent consideration | | | ||||
Non-current loans payable | | | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities, net | | | ||||
Non-current deferred research and development tax credit | | — | ||||
Non-current operating lease liability | | | ||||
Total Liabilities |
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Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14) |
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Temporary Equity | ||||||
Series C convertible preferred stock, $ | | | ||||
Series D convertible preferred stock, $ |
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Stockholders’ Equity: |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Treasury stock at cost, | ( | ( | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | ||||
Accumulated deficit |
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Total Stockholders’ Equity |
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Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity, and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | | $ | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| For the three months ended September 30, |
| For the nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||||
Operating Costs and Expenses: |
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General and administrative | | | | | ||||||||
Research and development |
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Total Operating Costs and Expenses |
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Loss from Operations |
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Other Expense: | ||||||||||||
Exchange gain (loss) |
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Interest income |
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Total Other Income (Expense) |
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Net Loss Before Income Taxes | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||
Income tax benefit | | | | | ||||||||
Net Loss Attributable to Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Effect of Warrant exercise price adjustment | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Net Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period - Basic and Diluted |
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Net Loss | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||
Loss on foreign currency translation | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||
Total comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share and par value amounts)
Common Stock $0.001 Par Value | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Paid-in | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| income |
| Treasury Stock |
| Equity | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2022 | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Translation gains | — | — | — | — | | — | ||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2023 | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Stock issued under “at-the-market” offering | | | | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Translation loss | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2023 | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Stock issued under “at-the-market” offering | | — | | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Translation loss | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2023 | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ |
Common Stock $0.001 Par Value | Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||
| Other | Total | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| APIC |
| Deficit |
| income |
| Equity | ||||||
Balance at December 31, 2021 | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | — | $ | | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||
Issuance of Common Stock for VCN Acquisition | | | | — | — | | |||||||||||
Translation gains (losses) | — | — | — | — | | | |||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2022 |
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| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | ( |
| $ | | $ | | |
Stock-based compensation | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||
Translation gains (losses) | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2022 | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||
Translation gains (losses) | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2022 |
| |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | ( |
| $ | ( | $ | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities: |
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Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Stock-based compensation |
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Income tax benefit | ( |
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Change in fair value of contingent consideration |
| ( |
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Non-cash lease expense | | | ||||
Depreciation |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Deposits and other assets |
| ( |
| — | ||
Accounts payable |
| ( |
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Accrued expenses |
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Accrued employee benefits |
| ( |
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Operating lease liability |
| ( |
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Net Cash Used In Operating Activities |
| ( |
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities |
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Purchase of property and equipment | ( | ( | ||||
Cash paid for business combination, net of cash acquired | — | ( | ||||
Pre-acquisition loan to VCN | — | ( | ||||
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | ( | ( | ||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities |
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Payment of loans payable | ( | ( | ||||
Proceeds from issuance under at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs | | — | ||||
Proceeds from sale of Series C Preferred Stock, net of issuance cost | — | | ||||
Proceeds from sale of Series D Preferred Stock, net of issuance cost | — | | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities | | | ||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ( | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | ( | ( | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted at the beginning of this period |
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Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of this period | $ | | $ | | ||
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported in the consolidated balance sheet | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Restricted cash included in other long-term assets | | | ||||
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows | $ | | $ | | ||
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities: |
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Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities | $ | | $ | — | ||
Fair value of contingent consideration issued in a business combination | $ | — | $ | | ||
Fair value of equity issued as consideration in a business combination | $ | — | $ | | ||
Effective settlement of pre-closing VCN financing | $ | — | $ | | ||
Goodwill measurement period adjustment | $ | — | $ | ( | ||
In-process R&D measurement period adjustment | $ | — | $ | | ||
Deferred tax liability measurement period adjustment | $ | — | $ | | ||
Effect of Warrant exercise price adjustment | $ | — | $ | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
Description of Business
Theriva Biologics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Theriva Biologics”) is a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics in areas of high unmet need. As a result of the acquisition of Theriva Biologics S.L. (“VCN”, formerly known as VCN Biosciences, S.L.) (the “Acquisition”), described in more detail below, the Company transitioned its strategic focus to oncology through the development of VCN’s new oncolytic adenovirus platform designed for intravenous and intravitreal delivery to trigger tumor cell death, to improve access of co-administered cancer therapies to the tumor, and to promote a robust and sustained anti-tumor response by the patient’s immune system. Prior to the Acquisition, the Company’s focus was on developing therapeutics designed to treat gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in areas which included its clinical development candidates: (1) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to degrade certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics within the GI tract to prevent microbiome damage thereby preventing overgrowth and infection by pathogenic organisms such as Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), and vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), and reducing the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, and (2) SYN-020, a recombinant oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) produced under cGMP conditions and intended to treat both local GI and systemic diseases. On October 12, 2022, the Company changed its name to Theriva Biologics, Inc. In connection with the name change, its common stock began trading on the NYSE American LLC under the new ticker symbol “TOVX” effective as of the opening of trading hours on October 13, 2022. Effective November 15, 2022, the Company’s acquired subsidiary VCN Biosciences, S.L. rebranded to Theriva Biologics, S.L. without other changes to its corporate structure.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, comprised of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary by management to fairly state the Company’s results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. The operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2022 Form 10-K. The interim results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities at the reporting date and the amounts of revenue and expenses in the periods presented. The Company believes that the accounting estimates employed are appropriate and the resulting balances are reasonable; however, due to the inherent uncertainties in making estimates, actual results may differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to these balances in future periods. As of September 30, 2023 the Company has
Liquidity
As of September 30, 2023, the Company has a significant accumulated deficit, the Company has experienced significant losses and incurred negative cash flows since inception. The Company expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future, with the recognition of revenue being contingent on successful phase 3 clinical trials and requisite approvals by the FDA or foreign equivalents.
7
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation – (continued)
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no new or material changes to the significant accounting policies discussed in the Company’s audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the 2022 Form 10-K, except as noted below.
Business Combination
The Company accounts for acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that all identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed be recorded at their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management makes significant estimates and assumptions. Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include but are not limited to future expected cash flows from acquired patented technology. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates.
As a result of the acquisition of VCN (see Note 4), the Company recorded
IPR&D
IPR&D assets represent the fair value assigned to technologies that the Company acquired, which at the time of acquisition have not reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use. IPR&D assets are considered to have indefinite-lives until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development projects. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs upon regulatory approval and the ability to commercialize products associated with the IPR&D assets, these assets are then deemed to have definite lives and are amortized based on their estimated useful lives at that point in time. If development is terminated or abandoned, the Company may have a full or partial impairment charge related to the IPR&D assets, calculated as the excess of carrying value of the IPR&D assets over fair value.
During the period that the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they are tested for impairment on an annual basis on October 1, or more frequently if the Company becomes aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that could indicate an impairment. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the estimated fair value of the IPR&D with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.
8
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – (continued)
Goodwill
The Company tests the carrying amounts of goodwill for recoverability on an annual basis on October 1 or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company performs a one-step test in its evaluation of the carrying value of goodwill if qualitative factors determine it is necessary to complete a goodwill impairment test. In the evaluation, the fair value of the relevant reporting unit is determined and compared to its carrying value. If the fair value is greater than the carrying value, then the carrying value is deemed to be recoverable, and no further action is required. If the fair value estimate is less than the carrying value, goodwill is considered impaired for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, and a charge is reported in impairment of goodwill in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Contingent Consideration
Consideration paid in a business combination may include potential future payments that are contingent upon the acquired business achieving certain milestones in the future (“contingent consideration”). Contingent consideration liabilities are measured at their estimated fair value as of the date of acquisition, with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company estimates the fair value of the contingent consideration as of the acquisition date using the estimated future cash outflows based on the probability of meeting future milestones. The payments include milestone payments to be made upon the achievement of clinical and commercialization milestones as well as single low digit royalty payments and payments upon receipt of sublicensing income. Subsequent to the date of acquisition, the Company reassesses the actual consideration earned and the probability-weighted future earn-out payments at each balance sheet date. Any adjustment to the contingent consideration liability will be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Contingent consideration liabilities expected to be settled within 12 months after the balance sheet date are presented in current liabilities, with the non-current portion recorded under long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets include property, equipment, and right of use assets. Management reviews the Company’s long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be fully recoverable. The Company determines the extent to which an asset may be impaired based upon its expectation of the asset’s future usability as well as whether there is reasonable assurance that the future cash flows associated with the asset will be in excess of its carrying amount. If the total of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset.
9
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
3. Research and Development Tax Credits
The Company, through its Theriva S.L. subsidiary, participates in a Research and Development program sponsored by the Spanish government. The program provides for reimbursement of certain expenses incurred in research and development efforts the Company incurs in Spain. The reimbursements can be through either tax credits or direct refunds. The program provides for certain limits on the types and amounts of expenses and requires participants to complete a certification and apply for the refund annually. Subsequent to the period in which expenses are incurred, the program requires participants to maintain certain workforce levels and research and development expenditures over a
In the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company completed the certification and applied for direct reimbursement, as opposed to a tax credit, for its qualifying research and development expenses incurred in the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company received approvals from the Spanish government in September and October 2023.
The Company evaluated the program and concluded that it qualified to be accounted for as government assistance. Accordingly, the Company, as allowed by U.S. GAAP, elected to account for the grant by analogizing to the guidance provided by International Accounting Standards (“IAS”) 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance. Accordingly, the Company recognized a tax credit receivable related to amounts that had been approved by the Spanish government prior to September 30, 2023 and a corresponding deferred research and development tax credit as it was determined that amounts became probable of being received upon the receipt of the approval. Additionally, the Company has elected to account for the tax credit as a contra-expense as this most appropriately reflects the nature of the transaction and will reduce future research and development expenditures as the Company continues to incur expenses in the upcoming 24-month period.
10
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4. BUSINESS COMBINATION
Summary
On March 10, 2022 (the “Closing”), the Company completed the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of Theriva Biologics, S.L, which at the time was known as VCN Biosciences, S.L.(the “VCN Shares”) from the shareholders of VCN. VCN is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new oncolytic adenoviruses for the treatment of cancer. The Company’s lead product candidate, VCN-01, is being studied in a Company sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial for pancreatic cancer with additional investigator sponsored trials in indications including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), retinoblastoma, brain tumors and ovarian cancers. VCN-01 is designed to be administered systemically, intratumorally or intravitreally, either as a monotherapy or in combination with standard of care chemotherapies or immunotherapies, to treat a wide variety of cancer indications. VCN-01 is designed to replicate selectively and aggressively within tumor cells, and to degrade the tumor stroma barrier that serves as a significant physical and immunosuppressive barrier to cancer treatment. Degrading the tumor stroma has been shown to improve access to the tumor by the virus and additional therapies such as chemo and immunotherapies. Importantly, degrading the stroma exposes tumor antigens, turning “cold” tumors “hot” and enabling a sustained anti-tumor immune response. VCN has the exclusive rights to four patent families for proprietary technologies, as well as technologies developed in collaboration with the Virotherapy Group of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-IDIBELL) and with Hospital Sant Joan de Deu (HSJD), with a number of additional patents pending. As consideration for the purchase of the VCN Shares and pursuant to the terms of a purchase agreement that the parties entered into (the “Purchase Agreement”), the Company paid $
In anticipation of the Acquisition, prior to the Closing, the Company loaned VCN $
Total purchase consideration including cash, shares of common stock and contingent consideration was valued at approximately $
Cash paid at Closing |
| $ | |
Receivable from VCN “effectively settled” |
| | |
Fair value of common shares issued |
| | |
Fair value of contingent consideration |
| | |
$ | |
11
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4. BUSINESS COMBINATION - (continued)
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the fair value of the contingent consideration was approximately $
The allocation of the fair value of the VCN Acquisition updated for measurement period and other adjustments is shown in the table below.
| Estimated fair value | ||
($in thousands) | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | |
Receivables |
| | |
Property and equipment |
| | |
In-process research and development intangible asset |
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Goodwill |
| | |
Deferred tax liabilities, net |
| ( | |
Accounts payable |
| ( | |
Accrued expenses |
| ( | |
Accrued employee benefits |
| ( | |
Loans payable-current |
| ( | |
Other long-term liabilities |
| ( | |
Total purchase consideration | $ | |
The net assets were recorded at their estimated fair value. In valuing acquired assets and liabilities, fair value estimates were based primarily on future expected cash flows, market rate assumptions for contractual obligations, and appropriate discount rates. In connection with the Acquisition, the Company recognized $
Goodwill is considered an indefinite-lived asset and relates primarily to intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, such as the assembled workforce and synergies between the entities. Goodwill of $
VCN operations recorded a net loss of $
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized the following measurement period adjustments:
● | estimate of acquired liabilities resulting in a $ |
● | estimate in the receivable from the prior owner resulting in a $ |
● | estimated fair value of its in-process R&D resulting in a $ |
The cumulative impact of the re-measurements during the measurement period, was a reduction in accrued liabilities of $
12
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4. BUSINESS COMBINATION - (continued)
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited)
The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information summarizes the results of operations for the periods indicated as if the VCN Acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2022 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| |||||||||||
(in thousands) |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||||
Net revenues | $ | | $ | | | $ | | ||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ( | $ | ( |
Transaction Costs
In conjunction with the Acquisition, the Company incurred approximately $
5. Goodwill and Intangibles
The following table provides the Company’s Goodwill as of September 30, 2023.
| Goodwill (in thousands) | ||
Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | | |
Effects of exchange rates | ( | ||
Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | |
The following table provides the Company’s in-process R&D as of September 30, 2023.
| In-process | ||
R&D (in thousands) | |||
Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | | |
Effects of exchange rates | ( | ||
Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | |
During the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company experienced a sustained decline in the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock and the Company deemed this to be a triggering event for impairment. The Company performed an impairment analysis and concluded that the Goodwill and IPR&D were not impaired as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
13
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is determined based upon assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Fair value measurements are classified on a three-tier hierarchy as follows:
● | Level 1 inputs: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; |
● | Level 2 inputs: Inputs, other than quoted prices, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and |
● | Level 3 inputs: Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. |
In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy described above. The lowest level of significant input determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy.
The carrying amounts of the Company’s short-term financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity for these level 1 instruments.
As a result of the acquisition of VCN the Company acquired interest-free or below-market interest rate loans extended by Spanish government. The carrying value of the loans payable approximate fair value and are classified under level 2.
In connection with the Acquisition of VCN, the Company will be required to pay up to $
The following table summarizes the change in the fair value as determined by Level 3 inputs for the contingent consideration liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023:
| (in thousands) | ||
Balance at March 10, 2022 | $ | | |
Change in fair value |
| ( | |
Balance at June 30, 2022 | $ | | |
Change in fair value |
| | |
Balance at September 30, 2022 | $ | | |
Contingent consideration, current portion | $ | | |
Contingent consideration, net of current portion |
| | |
Balance at September 30, 2022 | $ | |
14
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments – (continued)
| (in thousands) | ||
Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | | |
Change in fair value |
| | |
Balance at March 30, 2023 |
| | |
Change in fair value |
| | |
Balance at June 30, 2023 | $ | | |
Change in fair value |
| ( | |
Reclassification of amounts to accrued expenses due to milestone being achieved |
| ( | |
Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | | |
Contingent consideration, current portion | $ | — | |
Contingent consideration, net of current portion |
| | |
Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | |
The fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis is as follows:
| As of September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||
Description |
| Total |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 | ||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Contingent consideration | $ | |
| $ | — |
| $ | — | $ | | ||
Loans payable | |
| — |
| | — | ||||||
Total liabilities | $ | |
| $ | — |
| $ | | $ | |
| As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
Description |
| Total |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 | ||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Contingent consideration | $ | |
| $ | — |
| $ | — | $ | | ||
Loans payable | |
| — |
| | — | ||||||
Total liabilities | $ | |
| $ | — |
| $ | | $ | |
15
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments – (continued)
The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of contingent consideration for which a liability is recorded include the following significant unobservable inputs:
As of September 30, 2023 | ||||||
Valuation | Significant | Weighted Average | ||||
| Methodology |
| Unobservable Input |
| (range, if applicable) | |
Contingent Consideration |
| Discounted Cash Flows |
| Milestone dates |
| 2025-2028 |
| ||||||
|
|
| Discount rate |
| ||
|
|
| Weighted Average Discount rate |
| ||
|
|
| Probability of Occurrence (periodic for each Milestone) |
| ||
|
|
| Probability of occurrence (cumulative through each Milestone) |
|
| As of December 31, 2022 | |||||
Valuation | Significant | Weighted Average | ||||
| Methodology |
| Unobservable Input |
| (range, if applicable) | |
Contingent Consideration |
| Discounted Cash Flows |
| Milestone dates |
| 2023-2028 |
|
| Discount rate | ||||
Weighted Average Discount rate | ||||||
Probability of Occurrence (periodic for each Milestone) | ||||||
|
| Probability of occurrence (cumulative through each Milestone) |
7. Selected Balance Sheet Information
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (in thousands)
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Prepaid clinical research organizations | $ | | $ | | ||
Prepaid manufacturing expenses | | | ||||
Prepaid consulting, subscriptions and other expenses | | | ||||
Prepaid insurance | | | ||||
VAT receivable | | | ||||
Receivable from Grifols | | | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | |
Prepaid clinical research organizations (CROs) expense is classified as a current asset. The Company makes payments to the CROs based on agreed upon terms that include payments in advance of study services. Receivable from Grifols includes amounts due related to research and development tax rebates, VAT and corporate taxes.
16
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7. Selected Balance Sheet Information – (continued)
Property and equipment, net (in thousands)
| September 30, | December 31, | ||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Computers and office equipment | $ | | $ | | ||
Other property, plant and equipment | | | ||||
Leasehold improvements |
| |
| | ||
Software |
| |
| | ||
|
| |
| | ||
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization |
| ( |
| ( | ||
|
|
| ||||
Total | $ | | $ | |
Accrued expenses (in thousands)
| September 30, | December 31, | ||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Milestone due to Grifols | $ | | $ | — | ||
Accrued clinical consulting services | | | ||||
Accrued manufacturing costs |
| |
| | ||
Accrued vendor payments | | | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | |
Accrued employee benefits (in thousands)
| September 30, | December 31, | ||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Accrued bonus expense | $ | | $ | | ||
Accrued compensation expense | | | ||||
Accrued vacation expense |
| |
| | ||
|
|
| ||||
Total | $ | | $ | |
8. Stock-Based Compensation
Stock Incentive Plans
On March 20, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2007 Stock Plan”) for the issuance of up to
17
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Stock-Based Compensation – (continued)
On November 2, 2010, the Board of Directors and stockholders adopted the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (“2010 Stock Plan”) for the issuance of up to
On September 17, 2020, the stockholders approved and adopted the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (“2020 Stock Plan”) for the issuance of up to
The Company has applied fair value accounting for all stock-based payment awards since inception. The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. There were
Expected dividends —The Company has never declared or paid dividends on its common stock and has no plans to do so in the foreseeable future.
Expected volatility—Volatility is a measure of the amount by which a financial variable such as a share price has fluctuated (historical volatility) or is expected to fluctuate (expected volatility) during a period. The expected volatility assumption is derived from the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock over a period approximately equal to the expected term.
Risk-free interest rate—The assumed risk-free rate used is a zero coupon U.S. Treasury security with a maturity that approximates the expected term of the option.
Expected life of the option—The period of time that the options granted are expected to remain unexercised. Options granted during the prior year have a maximum term of seven years. The Company estimates the expected life of the option term based on the weighted average life between the dates that options become fully vested and the maximum life of options granted.
The Company records stock-based compensation based upon the stated vesting provisions in the related agreements. The vesting provisions for these agreements have various terms as follows:
● | immediate vesting, |
● | in full on the one-year anniversary date of the grant date, |
● | half vesting immediately and the remaining over three years, |
● | quarterly over three years, |
● | annually over three years, |
● | one-third immediate vesting and the remaining annually over two years, |
18
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Stock-Based Compensation – (continued)
● | one-half immediate vesting and the remaining over nine months, |
● | one-quarter immediate vesting and the remaining over three years, |
● | one-quarter immediate vesting and the remaining over 33 months, |
● | monthly over one year, and |
● | monthly over three years. |
A summary of stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:
|
| Weighted |
| Weighted Average |
| Aggregate | ||||
Average Exercise | Remaining | Intrinsic | ||||||||
| Options |
| Price |
| Contractual Life |
| Value | |||
Balance - December 31, 2021 |
| | $ | |
| $ | — | |||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Granted |
| | |
|
|
|
| |||
Expired |
| ( | |
|
|
|
| |||
Forfeited |
| ( | |
|
|
|
| |||
Balance - December 31, 2022 | | | — | |||||||
Expired | ( | | ||||||||
Forfeited | ( | | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Balance - September 30, 2023 - outstanding |
| | $ |
| $ | — | ||||
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
Balance - September 30, 2023 - exercisable |
| | $ |
| $ | — | ||||
|
| |||||||||
Grant date fair value of options granted – year ended December 31, 2022 | $ | |
|
|
|
| ||||
|
| |||||||||
Weighted average grant date fair value – year ended December 31, 2022 | $ | |
|
|
|
|
19
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Stock-Based Compensation – (continued)
Stock-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses relating to stock options issued to employees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $
Stock-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses relating to stock options issued to consultants for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $
As of September 30, 2023, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $
The FASB’s guidance for stock-based payments requires cash flows from excess tax benefits to be classified as a part of cash flows from operating activities. Excess tax benefits are realized tax benefits from tax deductions for exercised options in excess of the deferred tax asset attributable to stock compensation costs for such options. The Company did not record any excess tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
9. Stock Warrants
On October 15, 2018, the Company closed its underwritten public offering pursuant to which it received gross proceeds of approximately $
On November 16, 2020, the exercise price of the Warrants was reduced from $
20
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
9. Stock Warrants – (continued)
If, at the time of exercise, there is no effective registration statement registering, or no current prospectus available for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock to the holder, then the Warrants may only be exercised through a cashless exercise.
On August 3, 2022, the Company announced the exercise price of Warrants issued by the Company in October 2018 was reduced from $
A summary of all warrant activity for the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:
Weighted Average | |||||||
| Number of |
| Weighted Average |
| Remaining | ||
Warrants | Exercise Price |
| Contractual Life | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
| | | ||||
Granted |
| — |
| — | |||
Exercised |
| — |
| — | |||
Forfeited |
| ( |
| | |||
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
| | $ | | |||
Granted | — | — | |||||
Exercised | — | — | |||||
Forfeited | | | |||||
Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ |
10. Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding including the effect of common share equivalents. Diluted net loss per share assumes the issuance of potential dilutive common shares outstanding for the period and adjusts for any changes in income and the repurchase of common shares that would have occurred from the assumed issuance, unless such effect is anti-dilutive. Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $
21
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
11. Related Party
On December 15, 2022, the Company approved the retention of MaryAnn Shallcross, the wife of Steven Shallcross, as director of Clinical Operations, for compensation of $
12. Common and Preferred Stock
Series C and D Preferred Stock
On July 29, 2022, the Company closed a private placement offering pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of July 28, 2022 entered into with MSD Credit Opportunity Master Fund, L.P.(the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold
The Company included certain proposals at its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, including (i) an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to change the name of the Company to “Theriva Biologics, Inc.” (the “Name Change”), (ii) an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, as amended to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company filed certificates of designation (the “Certificates of Designation”) with the Secretary of the State of Nevada designating the rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Designation for the Series C Preferred Stock provides, in particular, that the Series C Preferred Stock will have no voting rights other than the right to vote as a class on the Stockholder Items and the right to cast votes on an as converted to Common Stock basis on the Stockholder Items. The Certificate of Designation for the Series D Preferred Stock provides, in particular, that the Series D Preferred Stock will have no voting rights other than the right to vote as a class on the Stockholder Items and the right to cast
The holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to dividends, on an as-if converted basis, equal to dividends actually paid, if any, on shares of Common Stock. The Conversion Price may be adjusted pursuant to the Certificates of Designation for stock dividends and stock splits, subsequent rights offering, pro rata distributions of dividends or the occurrence of a fundamental transaction (as defined in the applicable Certificate of Designation).
The Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock are classified as temporary equity as a result of the deemed liquidation provision. Transaction expenses paid to third parties will be charged to temporary equity and will not be accreted as deemed dividends until redemption becomes probable.
22
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
12. Common and Preferred Stock – (continued)
In order to comply with Section 122 of the NYSE American Company Guide, on August 9, 2022 the Company and the holder of the Company’s Series C preferred stock and Series D preferred stock amended the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into between them on July 28, 2022 to provide that the holder may only submit
B. Riley Securities Sales Agreement
On August 5, 2016, the Company entered into the Sales Agreement (the “Original Sales Agreement”) with FBR Capital Markets & Co. (now known as B. Riley Securities) to act as a sales agent, which agreement was amended and restated on February 9, 2021 to add Alliance Global Partners as a sale agent. The amended and restated Sales Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Sales Agreement”) enables the Company to offer and sell shares of common stock from time to time through B. Riley Securities, Inc. and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners as the Company’s sales agent. Sales of common stock under the Sales Agreement are made in sales deemed to be “at-the-market” equity offerings as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act. The sales agents are entitled to receive a commission rate of up to
13. Indebtedness
As a result of the acquisition of VCN the Company acquired interest-free or below-market interest rates loans (
| September 30, 2023 |
| September 30, 2023 |
| December 31, 2022 |
| December 31, 2022 | |||||
Current | Non-current | Current | Non-current | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
NEBT Loan | | $ | | | | |||||||
RETOS 2015 | | | | | ||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
A maturity analysis of the debt as of September 30, 2023 is as follows (amounts in thousands of dollars):
2024 |
| | |
2025 |
| | |
2026 |
| | |
2027 |
| | |
2028 |
| | |
Total |
| |
23
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
14. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company’s existing leases as of September 30, 2023 for its U.S. and Spanish facilities are classified as operating leases. During the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the Company renewed its Rockville, MD facility lease by entering into a Second Lease Amendment which extends the lease term for
The Company also leases research and office facilities in Barcelona, Spain for its
Operating lease costs are presented as part of general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 approximated $
A maturity analysis of the Company’s operating leases as of September 30, 2023 is as follows (amounts in thousands of dollars):
Future undiscounted cash flow for the years ending December 31, |
|
| |
2023 | | ||
2024 | | ||
2025 | | ||
2026 | | ||
2027 | | ||
Total | | ||
Discount factor | ( | ||
Operating lease liability | | ||
Operating lease liability – current | ( | ||
Operating lease liability – long term | $ | |
24
Theriva Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
14. Commitments and Contingencies – (continued)
Risks and Uncertainties
The uncertain financial markets, disruptions in supply chains, mobility restraints, and changing priorities as well as volatile asset values could impact the Company’s business in the future. The Company and its third-party contract manufacturers, contract research organizations, and clinical sites may also face disruptions in procuring items that are essential to the Company’s research and development activities, including, for example, medical and laboratory supplies used in its clinical trials or preclinical studies, in each case, that are sourced from abroad or for which there are shortages because of ongoing efforts to address the outbreak. Further, although the Company has not experienced any material adverse effects on its business due to increasing inflation, it has raised operating costs for many businesses and, in the future, could impact demand or pricing manufacturing of its drug candidates or services providers, foreign exchange rates or employee wages. The Company is actively monitoring the effects that these disruptions and increasing inflation could have on its operations.
Through the VCN Acquisition, the Company has operations in Spain related to conducting research and development, manufacturing, and clinical trials in Western European countries. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the war in the Middle East, and the retaliatory measures that have been taken, or could be taken in the future, by the United States, NATO, and other countries have created global security concerns that could result in a regional conflict and otherwise have a lasting impact on regional and global economies, any or all of which could disrupt the Company’s supply chain, and despite the fact that it currently does not plan any clinical trials in Eastern Europe, may adversely impact the cost and conduct of R&D, manufacturing, and international clinical trials of its product candidates.
25
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022 included in our 2022 Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to important factors and risks including, but not limited to, those set forth below under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere herein, and those identified under Part I, Item 1A of our 2022 Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics in areas of high unmet need. As a result of the Acquisition of Theriva Biologics, S.L. (“VCN”, formerly named VCN Biosciences, S.L.), described in more detail below, we began transitioning our strategic focus to oncology through the development of VCN’s new oncolytic adenovirus platform designed for intravenous and intravitreal delivery to trigger tumor cell death, to improve access of co-administered cancer therapies to the tumor, and to promote a robust and sustained anti-tumor response by the patient’s immune system. Prior to the Acquisition, our focus was on developing therapeutics designed to treat gastrointestinal (GI) diseases which included our clinical development candidates: (1) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to degrade certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics within the GI tract to prevent microbiome damage, thereby preventing overgrowth and infection by pathogenic organisms such Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), and reducing the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, and (2) SYN-020, a recombinant oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) produced under cGMP conditions and intended to treat both local GI and systemic diseases.
As part of our strategic transformation into an oncology focused company, we are exploring value creation options for our SYN-004 and SYN-020 assets. SYN-004 and SYN-020 both have significant potential opportunity in non-oncology related indications. Advancement of these products may be better achieved through out-licensing or partnering and we are exploring opportunities for both SYN-004 and SYN-020 moving forward.
Recent Financial Developments
Tax Credit Receivable
During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, we recognized a $1.4 million tax credit receivable and offsetting deferred R&D tax credit. We participate in a research and development program sponsored by the Spanish government. The program provides for reimbursement of certain expenses incurred in research and development efforts we incur in Spain. The reimbursements can be through either tax credits or direct refunds. The program provides for certain limits on the types and amounts of expenses and requires participants to complete a certification and apply for the refund annually. Subsequent to the period in which expenses are incurred, the program requires participants to maintain certain workforce levels and research and development expenditures over a 24-month period. In the quarter ended June 30, 2023, we completed the certification and applied for direct reimbursement, for our qualifying research and development expenses incurred in the year ended December 31, 2022. We received approvals from the Spanish government in September and October 2023. The credit will be amortized as a contra-expense over the two-year period 2024 and 2025.
B Riley and AGP Securities Sales Agreement
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we sold an aggregate of 1.9 million shares of our common stock and received net proceeds of approximately $2.2 million before deducting issuance expenses. During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, we sold an aggregate of 988 shares of our common stock and received net proceeds of approximately $1,000.
26
Our Current Product Pipeline
*Based on management’s current beliefs and expectations
allo-HCT allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. CPI immune checkpoint inhibitor. HNSCC head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. IV intravenous. IVit intravitreal. ODD Orphan Drug Designation. For other abbreviations see the text.
¹Additional products with preclinical proof-of-concept include SYN-006 (carbapenemase) to prevent aGVHD and infection by carbapenem resistant enterococci and SYN-007 (ribaxamase) DR to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea with oral β-lactam antibiotics.
²Depending on funding/partnership. SYN-004 may enter an FDA-agreed Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of CDI.
³We have an option-license agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital to develop SYN-020 in several potential indications related to inflammation and gut barrier dysfunction.
Recent Clinical Developments
On November 2, 2023, we issued a press release announcing that we executed an exclusive worldwide option to negotiate an exclusive license for certain Sant Joan de Déu-Barcelona Children’s Hospital (“SJD”) intellectual property rights related to the use of VCN-01 in combination with topoisomerase I inhibitor chemotherapies for the treatment of cancer. VCN-01 is Theriva’s systemic, selective, stroma-degrading oncolytic adenovirus. We will pay SJD an option fee of twenty-five thousand Euros (€25,000). Final license terms will be negotiated during a 12-month option period.
On October 23, 2023, we issued a press release announcing the presentation of new clinical data from the Phase 1 investigator-sponsored study with the Institut Catala d’Oncologia (ICO) evaluating VCN-01 in combination with durvalumab for patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M HNSCC). The poster titled “Survival Outcomes in Phase I Trial Combining VCN-01 and Durvalumab (MEDI4736) in Subjects with Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Refractory to Previous Immunotherapy Treatment” was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, being held both virtually and in Madrid, Spain from October 20-24, 2023.
27
Key Takeaways from the presentation include: VCN-01 combined with durvalumab showed encouraging overall survival (OS) in patients who previously progressed on anti-PD(L)-1 therapy.
● | Survival: VCN-01 induced upregulation of PD-L1, which correlated with enhanced patient survival. |
● | In the concomitant (CS) cohort at the 3.3×1012 viral particles (vp) dose, overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months and progression free survival (PFS) was 1.7 months. |
● | In the sequential (SS) cohort at the 3.3×1012vp dose OS was 15.5 months and PFS was 3.7, whereas in the SS cohort at the 1×1013 vp dose OS was 17.3 months and PFS was 2.1 months. |
● | VCN-01 induces changes in the immune status of tumors |
● | VCN-01 combined with durvalumab increased CD8 T cells, a marker of tumor inflammation and the expression of PD(L)-1 in tumors. An increase of PD(L)-1 CPS (8/11 at day 8; 8/10 at day 28) and CD8 T cells (7/11 at day 8; 5/10 at day 28) from baseline were found in tumor biopsies. |
● | VCN-01 alone increased the CPS score of tumor biopsies at day 8 after administration by 62.5% in the sequential arm. |
● | VCN-01 induced PD(L)-1 upregulation with enhanced patient survival. A statistical correlation was observed between CPS on day 8 and patient OS (p=0.005). |
● | Pharmacodynamics and shedding of VCN-01 |
● | PH20 expression from VCN-01 peaked on day 3-8 and remained elevated in some patients up to day 42. Quantification of VCN-01 genomes in stool demonstrated viral shedding that peaked at day 8. |
On August 2, 2023, we announced that patient dosing has initiated in our Phase 2 Trial of intravenous VCN-01 with or without nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in patients with solid tumors and PDAC (VIRAGE) in the U.S. and with four sites open in the U.S. and eight sites open in Spain, the trial remains on track to be fully-enrolled in the first half of 2024. Dosing in Spain initiated in January 2023 and the first patients have now received their second doses of intravenous VCN-01. Initiating dosing in the U.S triggered the attainment of a milestone set forth in the Purchase Agreement which requiring us to pay Grifols $3.25 million within 60 days, which payment was made in October 2023.
On June 27, 2023 we announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to our lead clinical candidate VCN-01, our systemic, selective, stroma-degrading oncolytic adenovirus for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Our Current Oncology-Focused Pipeline
Oncolytic Viruses
Our oncology platform is based on oncolytic virotherapy (“OV therapy”), which exploits the ability of certain viruses to kill tumor cells and trigger an anti-tumor immune response. This novel class of anticancer agents has unique mechanisms of action compared to other cancer drugs. Oncolytic viruses exploit the fact that cancer cells contain mutations that cause them to lose growth control and form tumors. Once inside a tumor cell, oncolytic viruses are designed to exploit the tumor cell machinery to generate thousands of additional copies of the virus, which then kill the tumor cell and spread to neighboring cells, causing a chain reaction of cell killing. This infection by OVs also alerts the immune system, which can then attack the virus infected cells and the tumor cells to help destroy the tumor in some instances.
Our OV candidates’ products are engineered to efficiently infect and selectively replicate to a high extent in tumor cells versus normal host cells, which enables intravenous delivery. By contrast, many other oncolytic viruses in clinical development today are administered by direct injection into the tumor. Intravenous delivery has the potential to expand the therapeutic effect of OVs because the virus can infect both the primary tumor and tumor metastases throughout the body.
Our first product candidate, VCN-01, is a clinical stage oncolytic human adenovirus that is modified to express an enzyme, hyaluronidase, that degrades hyaluronan in the tumor stroma, which helps the virus and other molecules to penetrate and spread throughout the tumor. VCN-01 can be used alone or in combination with other cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, for difficult to treat cancers. An expanding intellectual property portfolio supports our oncology programs, and because our products are characterized as biologics, they will be further protected by data and/or market exclusivity in major markets.
VCN-01 has been administered to 105 patients across multiple Phase 1 clinical trials and Phase 2 VIRAGE trial, including patients with pancreatic cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and retinoblastoma.
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Current clinical update
We are currently conducting a Phase 2 trial of intravenous VCN-01 with or without nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in patients with solid tumors and PDAC. Additional Phase 1 investigator sponsored studies are evaluating intravitreal VCN-01 in patients with retinoblastoma, a Phase 1 Trial of intravenous VCN-01 in combination with durvalumab in subjects with recurrent/ metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), a Phase 1 trial combining VCN-01 with huCART-meso cells in patients with pancreatic or serous epithelial ovarian cancer, and a Phase 1 trial evaluating the intravenous administration of VCN-01 in patients prior to surgical resection of high-grade brain tumors.
Phase 1 Clinical Trials in PDAC
The safety, tolerability, and potential dosing regimens for VCN-01 in patients with PDAC or colorectal cancer were evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials evaluating intratumoral (n=8; NCT02045589) and intravenous (n= 42; NCT02045602) VCN-01 either alone or in combination with gemcitabine ± nab-paclitaxel (published in J. Immunother. Cancer 2021 Nov;9(11):e003254 and J. Immunother. Cancer 2022 Mar;10(3):e003255, respectively). Intravenous VCN-01 was found to have an acceptable safety/tolerability profile in PDAC and colorectal cancer patients and demonstrated compelling biochemical and clinical outcomes that enabled the advancement of VCN-01 into Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with metastatic PDAC.
Phase 2 Trial of intravenous VCN-01 with or without nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in patients with solid tumors and PDAC (VIRAGE)
In January 2023, we dosed the first patients in VIRAGE, the Phase 2b randomized, open-label, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial of systemically administered VCN-01 in combination with standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel) as a first line therapy for patients with newly-diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The study is expected to enroll 92 patients and be conducted at approximately 25 sites in the US and EU. Two doses of VCN-01 are included in the treatment arm: the 1st dose is administered on day 1, then one week later 3 cycles of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as standard of care is administered. The second VCN-01 dose is administered 7 days before the 4th cycle of chemotherapy (approximately 90 days after the first VCN-01 dose), followed by additional cycles of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy. We expect the trial to be fully-enrolled in the first half of 2024
On August 2, 2023, we issued a press release announcing that patient dosing was initiated in the U.S. and that the first patients treated in Spain have received their second doses of intravenous VCN-01, which were well tolerated and demonstrated the expected VCN-01 safety profile.
Retinoblastoma
Phase 1 Trial of intravitreal VCN-01 in patients with retinoblastoma
During the third quarter of 2017, VCN entered into a Clinical Trial Agreement with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Barcelona, Spain) to conduct an investigator sponsored Phase 1 clinical study evaluating the safety and tolerability of two intravitreal injections of VCN-01 in patients with intraocular retinoblastoma refractory to systemic, intra-arterial or intravitreal chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, in whom enucleation was the only recommended treatment (NCT03284268). Patients received two doses of VCN-01 injected 14 days apart using a dose escalation regimen. At this time, the dose-escalation phase of the study has already been completed in 6 patients distributed in two cohorts (2 x 109 vp/eye and 2 x 1010 vp/eye). VCN-01 was well tolerated to date after intravitreal administration, although some degree of intravitreal inflammation and associated turbidity were observed. Inflammation has been managed and potential turbidity minimized with local and systemic administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. VCN-01 does not appear to change the retinal function, and selective VCN-01 replication in retinoblastoma cells has been observed by immunohistochemical analysis. Replication within retinoblastoma tumors over time was detected and VCN-01 reduced the number of vitreous seeds in 4 out of 5 patients treated at 2 x 1010 vp/eye (n=5). The investigator has reported that one patient treated with VCN-01 has had a complete regression lasting more than 43 months.
Seven (7) patients have been treated in this Phase 1 trial with VCN-01 to date. This study is ongoing and the enrollment period has been extended to include additional patients. We anticipate meeting with the FDA during the fourth quarter of 2023 to discuss the path forward for VCN-01 as an adjunct to chemotherapy in pediatric patients with advanced retinoblastoma.
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On September 30, 2022, we issued a press release announcing an oral presentation entitled “Topotecan enhances oncolytic adenovirus infection, replication and antitumor activity in retinoblastoma,” featuring Dr. Angel Montero-Carcaboso, Researcher at Fundació Sant Joan de Déu at the SIOP 2022 Congress of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, being held in Barcelona, Spain from September 28-October 1, 2022. The data from the study for which Dr. Angel Montero-Carcaboso is the lead investigator further support evaluation of VCN-01, an oncolytic adenovirus expressing hyaluronidase, and topotecan for the treatment of refractory retinoblastoma.
Phase 1 Trial of intravenous VCN-01 in Combination with Durvalumab in Subjects with Recurrent/ Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
In February 2019, VCN entered into a Clinical Trial Agreement with Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) (Spain) to conduct an investigator sponsored Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of a single intravenous injection of VCN-01 combined with durvalumab in two administration regimens: VCN-01 concomitantly with durvalumab, or sequentially with durvalumab starting two weeks after VCN-01 administration (NCT03799744). The study is also designed to evaluate whether VCN-01 treatment can re-sensitize PD-(l)-1 refractory tumors to subsequent anti-PD-L1 therapy. Durvalumab is a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) 1 kappa subclass that inhibits binding of PD-L1. It is marketed as IMFINZI® by AstraZeneca/MedImmune, who supplied the product for its use in the clinical study. This Phase I trial is a multicenter, open label, dose escalation study in patients with histologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from specific sites: oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx that is recurrent/metastatic (R/M) and not amenable to curative therapy by surgery or radiation. In addition, all patients should have undergone prior exposure to anti-PD-(L) 1 and progressed. Patients are entered at each dose level, according to a planned dose escalation schedule. The treatment is a single intravenous VCN-01 dose combined with concomitant intravenous durvalumab (MEDI4736) 1500 mg Q4W (Arm I) or durvalumab starting two weeks after VCN-01 administration (“sequential schedule”; Arm II). Patient recruitment into Arm I and Arm II was performed concurrently. Intravenous VCN-01 was administered to each patient only once during the trial at the VCN-01 dose level to which they were randomized. Durvalumab was administered Q4W until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or another discontinuation criterion. Patient recruitment into the study was completed in February 2022 with a total of 18 patients enrolled. On September 5, 2022 we announced a presentation of initial data from this study in a poster at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2022 Congress. The poster reported that treatment with VCN-01 had an acceptable safety profile when administered with durvalumab in the sequential schedule and the most common treatment-related adverse events were dose-dependent and reversible pyrexia, flu-like symptoms and increases in liver transaminases. Sustained blood levels of VCN-01 viral genomes and increased serum hyaluronidase levels were maintained for over six weeks and analysis of tumor samples showed an increase in CD8 T cells (a marker of tumor inflammation); upregulation of PD-L1; and downregulation of matrix-related pathways after VCN-01 administration. The last patients in this study are currently being followed for overall survival and patent samples are being analyzed to evaluate potential VCN-01 pharmacodynamic effects. We expect to report additional results from this study in H2 2023 as data become available.
On October 16, 2023, we announced a presentation of additional data from this study in a poster at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2023 Congress. Key data and conclusions featured in the ESMO presentation include:
● | 20 patients were enrolled with a median of 4 prior lines of therapy, from which six in the concomitant (CS) (single dose of VCN-01 in combination with durvalumab on day 1) and 12 in the sequential (SS) (single dose of VCN-01 on day -14 and durvalumab on day 1) were evaluable for response. |
● | In the CS cohort at the 3.3×1012 viral particles (vp) dose, overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months. |
● | In the SS cohort at the 3.3×1012vp dose OS was 15.5 months, whereas in the SS cohort at the 1×1013 vp dose OS was 17.3 months. |
● | 11 patients (61.1%) were alive >12 months (2 in CS; 5 in SS at 3.3×1012vp, 4 in SS at 1×1013 vp). |
● | In spite of the advanced stage of the disease, and objective response rate of 0%, most of the patients appeared to benefit from subsequent treatment. |
● | Biological activity: Patients showed VCN-01 replication and increased serum hyaluronidase levels were maintained for over six weeks. |
● | Observed an increase in CD8 T cells, a marker of tumor inflammation and an upregulation of PD-L1 in tumors. |
● | Increase of PDL1-CPS (16/21; p=0.013) and CD8 T-cells (12/21; p=0.007) from baseline were found in tumor biopsies. |
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● | CPS score of tumor biopsies was increased by administration of VCN-01 at day 8 after administration in the sequential group. |
● | A statistical correlation between OS observed in patients and CPS on day 8 (p=0.005). |
Phase 1 Trial evaluating the safety and feasibility of huCART-meso cells when given in combination with VCN-01
In July 2021, VCN entered into a Clinical Trial Agreement with the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) to conduct an investigator sponsored Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and feasibility of intravenous administration of VCN-01 in combination with lentiviral transduced huCART-meso cells (developed by the laboratory of Dr. Carl June) in patients with histologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and serous epithelial ovarian cancer (NCT05057715). This is a Phase I study evaluating the combination of VCN-01 when given in combination with huCART-meso cells in a dose-escalation design in two cohorts (N = 3-6), where patients receive VCN-01 as a single IV infusion (at 3.3x1012 or 1x1013 vp) on Day 0, followed by a single dose of 5x107 huCART-meso cells on Day 14 via IV infusion. huCART-meso cells are modified T-cells targeting the mesothelin antigen, which is frequently expressed in multiple tumor types, particularly in pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Dr. June’s previous clinical studies have shown that huCART-meso cells encounter significant challenges in the tumor microenvironment, including immunosuppressive cells and soluble factors as well as metabolic restrictions. Initial VCN-01 clinical data from the studies described above suggest that administration of VCN-01 may increase tumor immunogenicity and improve access of the huCART-meso cells to tumor cells. This Phase I study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the VCN-01 huCART-meso cell combination and test the hypothesis that administration of VCN-01 may enhance the potential antitumor effects of the co-administered huCART-meso cells.
On July 8, 2022, we were notified that the first patient to be dosed with VCN-01 had passed the safety evaluation period in this study. The study is on-going.
Phase 1 Trial evaluating the intravenous administration of VCN-01 in patients prior to surgical resection of high-grade brain tumors
In the second quarter of 2021, VCN entered into a Clinical Trial Agreement with the University of Leeds (UK) to sponsor a proof-of-concept Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate whether intravenously administered VCN-01 can cross the blood-brain barrier and infect the target brain tumor. This is an open-label, non-randomized, single center study of VCN-01 given intravenously at a dose of 1x1013 virus particles to patients prior to planned surgery for recurrent high-grade primary or metastatic brain tumors. We believe that the intravenous delivery of anti-cancer therapy to brain tumors, if effective, may enable the treatment of systemically disseminated brain metastases and may allow for reduction in the need to use neurosurgery to administer the drugs. This study aims to assess the presence of VCN-01 within the resected surgical specimen after systemic VCN-01 delivery and determine the safety of intravenous VCN-01 in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma or brain metastases. By confirming the presence of VCN-01 in high grade brain tumors following intravenous delivery, this study may pave the way for larger trials to study VCN-01 efficacy, both as a monotherapy and in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. This trial has already received approval from Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) from UK Government.
On January 9, 2023, we issued a press release announcing that the first patient was dosed in this study and recruitment is on-going.
Our Current Gastrointestinal (GI) and Microbiome-Focused Pipeline
Our SYN-004 (ribaxamase) and SYN-020 clinical programs are focused on the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and the gut microbiome, which is home to billions of microbial species and composed of a natural balance of both “good” beneficial species and potentially “bad” pathogenic species. When the natural balance or normal function of these microbial species is disrupted, a person’s health can be compromised. All our programs are supported by our growing intellectual property portfolio. We are maintaining and building our patent portfolio through filing new patent applications; prosecuting existing applications; and licensing and acquiring new patents and patent applications.
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SYN-004 (ribaxamase) — Prevention of antibiotic-mediated microbiome damage, thereby preventing overgrowth and infection by pathogenic organisms such as Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), and reducing the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic HCT recipients
SYN-004 (ribaxamase) is a proprietary oral capsule prophylactic therapy designed to degrade certain IV beta-lactam antibiotics excreted into the GI tract and thereby maintain the natural balance of the gut microbiome. Preventing beta-lactam damage to the gut microbiome has a range of potential therapeutic outcomes, including prevention of CDI, suppression of the overgrowth of pathogenic species (particularly antimicrobial-resistant organisms) and potentially reducing the incidence and/or severity of aGVHD in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. SYN-004 (ribaxamase) 75 mg capsules are intended to be administered orally while patients are administered certain IV beta-lactam antibiotics. The capsule dosage form is designed to release the SYN-004 (ribaxamase) enzyme into proximal small intestine, where it has been shown to degrade beta-lactam antibiotics in the GI tract without altering systemic antibiotic levels. Beta-lactam antibiotics are a mainstay in hospital infection management and include the commonly used penicillin and cephalosporin classes of antibiotics.
Clostridioides difficile Infection
Clostridioides difficile (formerly known as Clostridium difficile and often called C. difficile or CDI) is a leading type of hospital acquired infection and is frequently associated with IV beta-lactam antibiotic treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified C. difficile as an “urgent public health threat,” particularly given its resistance to many drugs used to treat other infections. CDI is a major unintended risk associated with the prophylactic or therapeutic use of IV antibiotics, which may adversely alter the natural balance of microflora that normally protect the GI tract, leading to C. difficile overgrowth and infection. Other risk factors for CDI include hospitalization, prolonged length of stay (estimated at 7 days), underlying illness, and immune-compromising conditions including the administration of chemotherapy and advanced age. According to a paper published in BMC Infectious Diseases (Desai K et al. BMC Infect Dis. 2016; 16: 303) the economic cost of CDI was approximately $5.4 billion in 2016 ($4.7 billion in healthcare settings; $725 million in the community) in the U.S., mostly due to hospitalizations.
Phase 1b/2a Clinical Study in Allogeneic HCT Recipients
In August 2019, we entered into a Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) with the Washington University School of Medicine (Washington University) to conduct a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients for the prevention of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD, NCT04692181). Under the terms of this agreement, we serve as the sponsor of the study and supply SYN-004 (ribaxamase). Dr. Erik R. Dubberke, Professor of Medicine and Clinical Director, Transplant Infectious Diseases at Washington University and a member of the SYN-004 (ribaxamase) steering committee serves as the principal investigator of the clinical trial in collaboration with his Washington University colleague Dr. Mark A. Schroeder, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Leukemia.
To date, we have completed the first of 3 cohorts (Cohort 1) in this study, which enrolled 19 patients who received at least 1 dose of study drug (SYN-004 or Placebo randomized 2:1). Sixteen patients received at least one dose of intravenous (IV) meropenem and 12 of these patients completed sufficient doses of IV meropenem to be evaluable towards the study endpoints. On September 27, 2022, we issued a press release announcing positive outcomes from the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (“DSMC”) review of results from the first Cohort and their recommendation that the study may proceed to enroll Cohort 2 in which study drug (SYN-004 or Placebo) is administered in combination with the IV beta-lactam antibiotic piperacillin/tazobactam. On November 3, 2022 we announced the first patient had been dosed in Cohort 2. Patient dosing is on-going and if enrollment proceeds on the current schedule, we may be positioned to announce data readouts for the second cohort during the first half of 2024 and the third cohort during the first half of 2025.
On February 16, 2023 and April 13, 2023 we announced the presentation of safety and pharmacokinetic data from Cohort 1 of the Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients at the 2023 Tandem Meetings: Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR and at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) respectively.
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SYN-020 — Oral Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (IAP)
SYN 020 is a quality-controlled, recombinant version of bovine Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (IAP) produced under cGMP conditions and formulated for oral delivery. The published literature indicates that IAP functions to diminish GI and systemic inflammation, tighten the gut barrier to diminish “leaky gut,” diminish fat absorption, and promote a healthy microbiome. Despite its broad therapeutic potential, a key hurdle to commercialization has been the high cost of IAP manufacture which is commercially available for as much as $10,000 per gram. We believe we have developed technologies to traverse this hurdle and now have the ability to produce more than 3 grams per liter of SYN-020 and anticipate a cost of for roughly a few hundred dollars per gram at commercial scale. Based on the known mechanisms as well as our own supporting animal model data, we intended to initially develop SYN-020 to mitigate the intestinal damage caused by radiation therapy that is routinely used to treat pelvic cancers. While we believe SYN-020 may play a pivotal role in addressing acute and long-term complications associated with radiation exposure to the GI tract, we have also begun planning for potential development of SYN-020 in large market indications with significant unmet medical needs. Such indications include celiac disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (“NAFLD”), and indications to treat and prevent metabolic and inflammatory disorders associated with aging which are supported by our collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (“MGH”). Across the six major markets, the total prevalent cases of celiac disease are expected to increase from 5.8 million cases in 2013 to an expected 8.1 million cases in 2023, representing an annual growth rate of approximately 4%. During the same period, prevalent cases in the U.S. are expected to increase from 2.8 million in 2013 to an expected 4.3 million in 2023, representing a significant market opportunity.
On June 30, 2020, we submitted an IND application to the FDA in support of an initial indication for the treatment of radiation enteropathy secondary to pelvic cancer therapy. On July 30, 2020, we announced that we received a study-may-proceed letter from the FDA to conduct a Phase 1a single-ascending-dose (“SAD”) study in healthy volunteers designed to evaluate SYN-020 for safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic parameters(NCT04815993). On April 1, 2021, we announced that enrollment had commenced in the Phase 1 SAD clinical trial of SYN-020. On June 29, 2021, we announced that enrollment, patient dosing and observation had been completed in the Phase 1, open-label, SAD study of SYN-020. The SAD study enrolled 6 healthy adult volunteers into each of four cohorts with SYN-020 given orally as single doses ranging from 5 mg to 150 mg. The data demonstrated that SYN-020 maintained a favorable safety profile, was well tolerated at all dose levels, and no adverse events were attributed to the study drug. No serious adverse events were reported.
During the third quarter of 2021 we initiated a Phase 1 clinical study evaluating multiple ascending doses (“MAD”) of SYN-020 (NCT05045833). On October 21, 2021 we announced that patient enrollment, dosing, and observation commenced in the Phase 1 MAD study of SYN-020. The placebo-controlled, blinded study enrolled 32 healthy adult volunteers into four cohorts with SYN-020 administered orally in doses ranging from 5 mg to 75 mg twice daily for 14 days with a follow-up evaluation at day 35. Each cohort included six subjects who received SYN-020 and two who received placebo. On May 10, 2022, we announced positive safety data from the Phase 1 MAD study demonstrating that SYN-020 maintained a favorable safety profile and was well-tolerated across all dose levels. There were a few treatment-related adverse events, and all were mild (grade 1) and resolved without medical intervention. The most common adverse event, constipation, occurred in three out of 24 subjects in the treatment arm and in one out of eight subjects in the placebo arm. No adverse event led to discontinuation of the study drug and there were no serious adverse events. Additionally, fecal SYN-020 analyses verified intestinal bioavailability while plasma levels of SYN-020 were below the limit of quantitation in all samples at all timepoints verifying that SYN-020 was not absorbed into the systemic circulation.
During the second quarter of 2020, we announced that we entered into an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital (“MGH”) granting us an option for an exclusive license to intellectual property and technology related to the use of IAP to maintain GI and microbiome health, diminish systemic inflammation, and treat age-related diseases. During the second quarter of 2021, we announced an amendment to our option for an exclusive license agreement with MGH to include intellectual property and technology related to the use of SYN-020 to inhibit liver fibrosis in select diseases, including NAFLD. Research published by a team of investigators led by Richard Hodin, MD, Chief of the Massachusetts General Hospital Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery and Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, evaluated long-term oral supplementation of IAP, including SYN-020, in mice. Dr. Hodin’s research demonstrated that IAP administration, starting at 10 months of age, slowed the microbiome changes, gut-barrier dysfunction, and gastrointestinal and systemic inflammation that normally accompany aging. Additionally, the IAP administration resulted in improved metabolic profiles in the aged mice, diminished frailty, and extended lifespan. Under the terms of the agreement, we are granted exclusive rights to negotiate a worldwide license with MGH to commercially develop SYN-020 to treat and prevent metabolic and inflammatory diseases associated with aging. If executed, we plan to use this license in the advancement of an expanded clinical development program for SYN-020.
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The Phase 1 data from our SAD and MAD studies are intended to support the development of SYN-020 in multiple clinical indications including radiation enteritis, NAFLD, celiac disease, and indications supported by our collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital. With our transition to an oncology focused Company, we are exploring strategic opportunities to enable advancement of this potentially valuable asset.
Research Programs
VCN-11 Albumin Shield™ Technology
VCN-11 is a novel virus that we believe has the potential to extend our OV platform. VCN-11 has been engineered to contain all of the features of VCN-01 as well as an additional modification to include an albumin binding domain (ABD) in the virus capsid. The virus capsid is the target for neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) that are generated by the host immune system to destroy circulating viruses. The presence of an albumin binding domain, however, blocks the binding of most neutralizing antibodies, which allows the virus to reach the tumor following intravenous administration. This “Albumin Shield” works because human blood contains a large amount of albumin to coat the VCN-11 virus. Importantly, this coating of albumin appears to be displaced after the virus reaches tumor cells to infect them. In pre-clinical mouse studies to test the functionality of the “albumin shield”, mice pre-immunized with virus are able to completely neutralize an unmodified OV because they have a large concentration of neutralizing antibodies in their blood. By contrast, viruses containing the albumin binding domain such as VCN-11 are not neutralized and retain their ability to infect and destroy tumor cells. We believe these results support the further development of VCN-11 for tumors in which rapid multi-dosing may be beneficial.
In the second quarter of 2020, VCN had several interactions with Spanish regulatory authorities (AEMPS) to agree on the design of the non-clinical GLP toxicology and biodistribution studies that are required to support a first-in-human clinical trial for VCN-11.
In March 2021, preclinical data obtained with VCN-11 was published (J Control Release. 2021 Apr 10;332:517-528), showing that VCN-11 induced 450 times more cytotoxicity in tumor cells than in normal cells. VCN confirmed VCN-11 hyaluronidase production by measuring the activity of the PH20 enzyme with a hyaluronic acid-degradation assay, and by measuring PH20 activity in VCN-11 infected tumors in vivo. VCN-11 evaded NAbs from different sources and tumor levels of VCN-11 were demonstrated in the presence of high levels of NAbs in vivo, whereas the control virus without ABD was neutralized. VCN-11 showed a low toxicity profile in athymic nude mice and Syrian hamsters, allowing treatments with high doses and fractionated administrations without major toxicities (up to 1.2x1011vp/mouse and 7.5x1011vp/hamster). VCN-11 increased ALT levels on day 3 within an acceptable range that returned to normal levels by day 9. Fractionated intravenous administration of VCN-11 (splitting the dose into two portions administered 4 h apart) appeared to improve VCN-11 circulation kinetics and increase tumor levels. VCN-11 showed antitumor efficacy in the presence of NAbs against Ad5 and itself.
In May 2022, we presented on VCN-11 at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT). The presentation included preclinical results showcasing the potential of VCN-11 to balance safety, with no major toxicities observed, and effectively target tumors after intravenous re-administration, even in the presence of high level NAbs. Our internal discovery programs are currently evaluating new oncolytic viruses derived from VCN-11 that may expand the potential efficacy of Albumin Shield viruses.
SYN-006, SYN-007, other oncolytic virus
To date, our Research programs that have been directed to the development of GI acting products have generated preclinical proof-of-concept with two potential pipeline products (SYN-006 and SYN-007) designed to expand the utility of our beta-lactamase strategy. SYN-007 is a specially formulated version of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) designed to be used with orally administered beta-lactam antibiotics to protect the gut microbiome from antibiotic-mediated dysbiosis. SYN-006 is a carbapenemase designed to degrade intravenous (IV) carbapenem antibiotics within the GI tract to maintain the natural balance of the gut microbiome for the prevention of CDI, overgrowth of pathogenic organisms and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The scope of our research is expanding to include development of new oncolytic virus products, and may include oncology applications of our existing products such as SYN-006 and SYN-007.
Intellectual Property
All of our programs are supported by growing patent estates. In total, Theriva Biologics has over 130 U.S. and foreign patents and over 65 U.S. and foreign patents pending. VCN, through assignment or exclusive licenses, controls over 40 U.S. and foreign patents and over 15 U.S. and foreign patents pending.
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The SYN-004 (ribaxamase) program is supported by IP that is assigned to Theriva Biologics, namely U.S. and foreign patents (in most major markets, e.g. Europe (including Germany, Great Britain and France), Japan, China and Canada, among others) and U.S. and foreign patents pending (in most major markets, e.g. Europe (including Germany, Great Britain and France), Japan, China and Canada, among others). For instance, U.S. Patent Nos. 8,894,994 and 9,587,234, which include claims to compositions of matter and pharmaceutical compositions of beta-lactamases, including SYN-004 (ribaxamase), have patent terms to at least 2031. Further, U.S. Patent 9,301,995 and 9,301,996, both of which will expire in at least 2031, cover various uses of beta-lactamases, including SYN-004 (ribaxamase), in protecting the microbiome, and U.S. Patent Nos. 9,290,754, 9,376,673, 9,404,103, 9,464,280, and 9,695,409 which will expire in at least 2035, covers further beta-lactamase compositions of matter related to SYN-004 (ribaxamase).
The SYN-020 (oral intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP)) program is supported by IP that is assigned to Theriva Biologics, namely U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications (in many major markets, e.g. Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Canada, and Australia). These patents and patent applications, which cover various formulations, medical uses and manufacture of SYN-020, are expected to expire in 2038-2040, without taking potential patent term extensions or patent term adjustment into account.
The VCN-01 and VCN-11 programs are supported by U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications that are assigned to VCN or exclusively licensed from Fundacio Privada Institut d’Investigacio Biomedica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Institut Catala d’Oncologia (ICO), and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona. The patents and patent applications include U.S. patents and foreign patents (in most major markets, e.g. Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Russia, and Australia) and U.S. and foreign patents pending (in most major markets, e.g. Europe, China, Korea, Canada, Mexico, and India). The patents and patent applications cover compositions of matter and pharmaceutical compositions of oncolytic adenoviruses and various medical uses of the same. For instance, U.S. Patent No. 10,316,065, which expires in 2030 without taking potential patent term extensions or patent term adjustment into account, provides composition of matter and pharmaceutical composition coverage for a genus of engineered oncolytic adenovirus suitable for the treatment of solid tumors. Other patents and patent applications, if granted, will provide protection to 2037 without taking potential patent term extensions or patent term adjustment into account.
Our goal is to (i) obtain, maintain, and enforce patent protection for our products, formulations, processes, methods, and other proprietary technologies, (ii) preserve our trade secrets, and (iii) operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of other parties worldwide. We seek, where appropriate, the broadest intellectual property protection for product candidates, proprietary information, and proprietary technology through a combination of contractual arrangements and patents.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) which requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the periods presented. We believe that the accounting estimates employed are appropriate and resulting balances are reasonable; however, due to inherent uncertainties in making estimates, actual results may differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to these balances in future periods.
There are accounting policies, each of which requires significant judgments and estimates on the part of management, that we believe are significant to the presentation of our consolidated financial statements. The most significant accounting estimates relate to research and development costs, contingent consideration, and impairment of , goodwill and In-process research and development (“IPR&D”).
Goodwill and IPR&D
The Company classifies intangible assets into two categories: (1) intangible assets with indefinite lives not subject to amortization and (2) goodwill. Intangible assets that are deemed to have indefinite lives, including goodwill, are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangibles, other than goodwill, consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with their carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as goodwill, are not amortized. The Company tests the carrying amounts of goodwill for recoverability on an annual basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate evidence a potential impairment exists, using a fair value-based test. If a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, then the Company will record a goodwill impairment charge for the excess amount.
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IPR&D assets are considered to be indefinite-lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development projects. IPR&D assets represent the fair value assigned to technologies that the Company acquires, which at the time of acquisition have not reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use. During the period that the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if the Company becomes aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that indicate that the fair value of the IPR&D assets are less than their carrying amounts. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs upon regulatory approval and the ability to commercialize products associated with the IPR&D assets, these assets are then deemed definite-lived and are amortized based on their estimated useful lives at that point in time. If development is terminated or abandoned, the Company may have a full or partial impairment charge related to the IPR&D assets, calculated as the excess of carrying value of the IPR&D assets over fair value.
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid when the Company acquired VCN in March 2022, over the fair values of the acquired tangible or intangible assets and assumed liabilities. The Company will conduct an impairment test of goodwill on an annual basis as of October 1 of each year and will also conduct tests if events occur or circumstances change that would, more likely than not, reduce the Company’s fair value below its net equity value. During the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company experienced a sustained decline in the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock and the Company deemed this to be a triggering event. The Company performed an impairment analysis at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and concluded that the Goodwill and IPR&D was not impaired at both dates.
Contingent Consideration
Consideration paid in a business combination may include potential future payments that are contingent upon the acquired business achieving certain milestones in the future (“contingent consideration”). Contingent consideration liabilities are measured at their estimated fair value as of the date of acquisition, with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company estimates the fair value of the contingent consideration as of the acquisition date using the estimated future cash outflows based on the probability of meeting future milestones. The milestone payments will be made upon the achievement of clinical and commercialization milestones as well as single low digit royalty payments and payments upon receipt of sublicensing income. Subsequent to the date of acquisition, the Company reassesses the actual consideration earned and the probability-weighted future earn-out payments at each balance sheet date. Any adjustment to the contingent consideration liability will be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Contingent consideration liabilities expected to be settled within 12 months after the balance sheet date are presented in current liabilities, with the non-current portion recorded under long term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Research and Development Costs
We expense research and development costs associated with developmental products not yet approved by the FDA to research and development expense as incurred. Research and development costs consist primarily of license fees (including upfront payments), milestone payments, manufacturing costs, salaries, stock-based compensation and related employee costs, fees paid to consultants and outside service providers for laboratory development, legal expenses resulting from intellectual property prosecution and other expenses relating to the design, development, testing and enhancement of our product candidates. Research and development expenses include external contract research organization (“CRO”) services. We make payments to the CROs based on agreed upon terms and may include payments in advance of study services. We review and accrue CRO expenses based on services performed and rely on estimates of those costs applicable to the stage of completion of study as provided by the CRO. Accrued CRO costs are subject to revisions as such studies progress to completion. At September 30, 2023, we have accrued CRO expenses of $1.4 million that are included in accrued expenses. As of September 30, 2023, we have prepaid CRO costs of $1.2 million that are included in prepaid expenses.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased to $212,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. This decrease of 91% is primarily comprised of the decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration of $1.6 million, along with lower salary and bonus costs, investor relations fees, audit fees, travel, and VCN administrative
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expenses not included in the prior year, offset by an increase in consulting fees. The charge related to stock-based compensation expense was $95,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $93,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased to $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from approximately $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. This increase of 56% is primarily the result of higher clinical trial expenses related to our VIRAGE Phase 2 clinical trial of VCN-01 in PDAC, offset by decreased expenses related to our Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic HCT recipients, Phase 1a clinical trial of SYN-020, and decreased manufacturing expenses related to our Phase 1a clinical trial of SYN-020. We anticipate research and development expense to increase as we continue enrollment in our VIRAGE Phase 2 clinical trial of VCN-01 in PDAC and our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in retinoblastoma, expand GMP manufacturing activities for VCN-01, and continue supporting our VCN-11 and other preclinical and discovery initiatives. The charge related to stock-based compensation expense was $40,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $28,000 related to stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
The following table sets forth our research and development expenses directly related to our therapeutic areas for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. These direct expenses were external costs associated with preclinical studies and clinical trials. Indirect research and development expenses related to employee costs, facilities, stock-based compensation and research and development support services that are not directly allocated to specific product candidates.
September 30, | September 30, | |||||
Therapeutic Areas |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||
VCN-01 | $ | 2,593 | $ | 980 | ||
Ribaxamase |
| 226 |
| 253 | ||
SYN-020 |
| 85 |
| 125 | ||
Other therapeutic areas |
| 190 |
| 98 | ||
Total direct costs |
| 3,094 |
| 1,456 | ||
Total indirect costs |
| 912 |
| 1,114 | ||
Total Research and Development | $ | 4,006 | $ | 2,570 |
Other Income/Expense
Other income was $388,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to other income of $161,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily comprised of interest income of $382,000 and an exchange gain of $6,000. Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 is primarily comprised of interest income of $170,000 offset by an exchange loss of $9,000.
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders
Our net loss attributable to common stockholders was approximately $3.3 million, or $0.19 per basic and diluted common share for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a net loss of approximately $4.8 million, or $0.30 per basic common share and diluted common share for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2022 includes the effect of the warrant exercise price adjustment of $340,000.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased to $5.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This decrease of 9% is primarily comprised of the decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration of $1.0 million, along with lower salary and bonus expense, investor relations, legal costs related to the VCN acquisition and director and officer insurance offset by higher audit fees, consulting fees, and VCN administrative expenses not included in the prior
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year. The charge related to stock-based compensation expense was $288,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $265,000 the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased to $10.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, from approximately $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The movement between the two periods is primarily the result of higher clinical trial expenses related to our VIRAGE Phase 2 clinical trial of VCN-01 in PDAC, offset by lower expenses related to our Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic HCT recipients, Phase 1a clinical trial of SYN-020, decreased manufacturing expenses related to our Phase 1a clinical trial of SYN-020 and lower other indirect costs. We anticipate research and development expense to increase as we continue enrollment in our VIRAGE Phase 2 clinical trial of VCN-01 in PDAC and our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in retinoblastoma, expand GMP manufacturing activities for VCN-01, and continue supporting our VCN-11 and other preclinical and discovery initiatives. The charge related to stock-based compensation expense was $119,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $83,000 related to stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
The following table sets forth our research and development expenses directly related to our therapeutic areas for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. These direct expenses were external costs associated with preclinical studies and clinical trials. Indirect research and development expenses related to employee costs, facilities, stock-based compensation and research and development support services that are not directly allocated to specific product candidates.
September 30, | September 30, | |||||
Therapeutic Areas |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||
VCN-01 | $ | 5,907 | $ | 2,509 | ||
Ribaxamase | 634 | 975 | ||||
SYN-020 | 229 | 1,010 | ||||
Other therapeutic areas |
| 347 |
| 375 | ||
|
| |||||
Total direct costs |
| 7,117 |
| 4,870 | ||
Total indirect costs |
| 2,998 |
| 3,782 | ||
|
| |||||
Total Research and Development | $ | 10,115 | $ | 8,652 |
Other Income/Expense
Other income was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to other income of $157,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily comprised of interest income of $1.1 million and an exchange gain of $7,000. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is primarily comprised of interest income of $197,000, offset by an exchange loss of $40,000.
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders
Our net loss attributable to common stockholders was approximately $12.9 million, or $0.82 per basic and diluted common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a net loss of approximately $13.6 million, or $0.87 per basic common share and diluted common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 includes the effect of the warrant exercise price adjustment of $340,000.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2023, we have a significant accumulated deficit of $303.8 million, and with the exception of the three months ended June 30, 2010 and the three months ended December 31, 2017, we have experienced significant losses and incurred negative cash flows since inception. We expect to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future, with the recognition of revenue being contingent on successful phase 3 clinical trials and requisite approvals by the FDA or foreign equivalents.
Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $31.2 million as of September 30, 2023, a decrease of $10.6 million from December 31, 2022. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the primary use of cash was for working capital requirements and operating
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activities which resulted in a net loss of $3.3 million and $12.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. With our cash position of $26.1 million in early November 2023, we believe we will be able to fund our operations through the fourth quarter and into the first quarter of 2025. Management believes its plan, which includes the advancement of VCN-01 and the additional testing of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) will allow us to meet our financial obligations, further advance key products, and maintain our planned operations for at least one year from the issuance date of these consolidated financial statements. However, the amount of additional capital needed by us will also depend upon the costs to advance our VCN-01 clinical programs and whether we continue to develop SYN-004 internally, or out-license or partner such development. If necessary, we may attempt to utilize the ATM or seek to raise additional capital on the in other financing transactions, neither of which is guaranteed. Use of the ATM is limited by certain restrictions and management’s plan does not rely on additional capital from either of these sources. If we are not able to obtain additional capital (which is not assured at this time), our long-term business plan may not be accomplished, and we may be forced to cease certain development activities. More specifically, the completion of any later stage clinical trial will require significant financing or a significant partnership.
Historically, we have financed our operations primarily through public and private sales of our securities, and we expect to continue to seek and obtain additional capital in a similar manner. During the year ended December 31, 2022, our only source of cash was from the sales of our Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, our only source of cash was from sales of our common stock through the Amended and Restated ATM Sales Agreement in which we sold 1.9 million shares of our stock for net proceeds of $2.2 million.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to raise funds through the sale of shares of common stock through the Amended and Restated ATM Sales Agreement or other equity financings. Form S-3 that currently registers the sale of the shares under the ATM Sales Agreement expires in May 2024. The ATM Sales Agreement can be amended so that shares issued would be registered under a new universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3. The Company anticipates filing the amendment prior to May 2024, but cannot guarantee filing such amendment. If we raise funds by selling additional shares of common stock or other securities convertible into common stock, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted. If we are not able to obtain funding for future clinical trials when needed, we will be unable to carry out our business plan and we will be forced to delay the initiation of future clinical trials until such time as we obtain adequate financing.
We have committed, and expect to continue to commit, substantial capital in order to implement our business strategy, including our planned product development efforts, preparation for our planned clinical trials, and performance of clinical trials and our research and discovery efforts. We believe our cash position of $26.1 million in early November 2023 is sufficient to fund our operations through at least the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 and into the first quarter 2025, including continuation of our ongoing Phase 1b/2a clinical study of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic HCT recipients for the prevention of aGVHD, our ongoing Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for VCN-01, preclinical studies of VCN-11 and related discovery initiatives, and to fund our committed obligations under the VCN Purchase Agreement for the VCN Acquisition.
Following the anticipated completion of our ongoing Phase 1b/2a clinical study of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic HCT recipients, our ongoing Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for VCN-01, and the preclinical studies of VCN-11, and related discovery initiatives, we will need to obtain additional funds for future clinical trials. We anticipate that our future clinical trials will be much larger in size and require larger cash expenditures than the aforementioned clinical programs. We do not have any committed sources of financing for future clinical trials at this time, and it is uncertain whether additional funding will be available when we need it on terms that will be acceptable to us, or at all.
Cash Flows
Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $12.5 million and $13.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which was primarily due to the use of funds in our operations related to the development of VCN-01 our product candidate. Cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased compared to the same period in 2022 due primarily to the increase in interest income, which led to a decrease in net loss.
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Cash Used In Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $146,000 for equipment purchases as compared to $4.3 million during the same period in the prior year, which were primarily related to the cash payment for the acquisition and a pre-acquisition loan to VCN.
Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 included at the market offering proceeds of $2.2 million from sales of 1.9 million shares of our common stock which was offset by $75,000 of payments of debt that we incurred when we acquired VCN. Cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 related to the proceeds received from the issuance of Series C and D preferred stock offset by the payment of $1.4 million of debt payments related to loans extended by certain Spanish institutions.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we did not have, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules.
Contractual Obligations
Leases
At the inception of a contract we determine if the arrangement is, or contains, a lease. Right of use (“ROU”) assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term.
We have made certain accounting policy elections whereby we (i) do not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short-term leases (those with original terms of 12-months or less) and (ii) combine lease and non-lease elements of our operating leases. As of September 30, 2023, we did not have any material finance leases.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital to fund operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. Our exposure to market risk is confined to our cash and cash equivalents. As of September 30, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents consisted primarily of investments in treasury securities. We do not engage in any hedging activities against changes in interest rates. Due to the short-term duration of our investment portfolio and the low risk profile of our investments, we would not expect our operating results or cash flows to be affected to any significant degree by the effect of a sudden change in market interest rates or credit conditions on our securities portfolio. We may, however, require additional financing to fund future obligations and no assurance can be given that the terms of future sources of financing will not expose us to material market risk.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer who also serves as our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We have adopted and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is collected, recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules of the SEC. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as described below, our Chief Executive Officer who also serves as our Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.
Material Weakness over Non-Routine Transactions
During the course of the preparation of our interim and annual consolidated financial statements for the quarters ending March, 31, 2022 June 30, 2022, and September 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2022, we identified material weaknesses in our controls relating to accounting and disclosure controls for non-routine transactions. Specifically, the controls related to the review of internally and externally prepared reports and analysis used in the financial reporting process and the related income tax implication of non-routine transactions.
Remediation Plan
In order to remediate these material weaknesses, we plan to implement the following steps to improve the overall processes of identifying and reviewing non-routine transactions and preparing interim financial statements:
● | Perform additional internal review processes to ensure the appropriate accounting and disclosure of non-routine transactions. |
● | Engage a third-party tax specialist to assist us in the preparation and review of interim tax provisions. |
Should additional changes to the remediation plan be warranted, management will modify the planned measures accordingly.
Material Weakness over Information Technology General Controls
During the preparation of our annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, we identified a material weakness in our controls relating to general information technology controls over logical access and program change management for certain of our key information systems used to support the financial reporting process.
Remediation Plan
Management will ensure proper segregation of duties over all IT functions ensuring IT personnel are properly trained as to the importance of and specifics over the internal controls for which they are responsible, including consistent, repeatable performance of such controls. Management will also evaluate the responsibilities of its control owners to ensure that proper segregation of duties exists within the process level controls that are dependent upon information produced by IT systems affected by segregation of duties conflicts. Further, management will ensure IT personnel do not have conflicting responsibilities with respect to program changes, administration
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and user access controls, or that additional controls are implemented to perform an effective review of program changes, administration and user access.
Material Weakness over Evidence of Control Performance
During the preparation of our annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, we identified a material weakness relating to the ineffective design and execution of management’s review of controls, particularly with regard to the precision of the review, evidence of review procedures performed, and the evaluation of the completeness and accuracy of information utilized in the performance of the control.
Remediation Plan
Management will ensure all personnel are properly trained as to the importance of properly documenting and evidencing the performance of controls.
When fully implemented, the Company believes that the measures described above will appropriately remediate the identified material weaknesses, although management may determine that taking additional measures to remediate the material weaknesses may be necessary.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Except for the continued remediation related to material weaknesses described above, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II–OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
From time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
The following information updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the information disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” contained in our 2022 Form 10-K. Except as disclosed below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our 2022 Form 10-K.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
We will need to raise additional capital to operate our business and our failure to obtain funding when needed may force us to delay, reduce or eliminate certain of our development programs or commercialization efforts.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, our operating activities used net cash of approximately $12.3 million and our cash and cash equivalents were approximately $31.2 million as of September 30, 2023. With the exception of the three months ended June 30, 2010 and the three months ended December 31, 2017, we have experienced significant losses since inception and have a significant accumulated deficit. As of September 30, 2023, our accumulated deficit totaled approximately $303.8 million on a consolidated basis. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to use reasonable efforts to commercialize VCN-01 and we agreed as a post- closing covenant to commit to fund VCN’s research and development programs, including but not limited to VCN-01 PDAC phase 2 clinical trial, VCN-01 RB trial and necessary G&A within a budgetary plan of approximately $27.8 million over the next three years. We expect to incur additional operating losses in the future and therefore expect our cumulative losses to increase. With the exception of the quarter ended June 30, 2010, and limited laboratory revenues from Adeona Clinical Laboratory, which we sold in March 2012, we have generated very minimal revenues. We do not expect to derive revenue from any source in the near future until we or our potential partners successfully commercialize our products. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our anticipated activities, particularly as we continue research and development, initiate and conduct clinical trials, and seek marketing approval for our product candidates. Until such time as we receive approval from the FDA and other regulatory authorities for our product candidates, we will not be permitted to sell our products and therefore will not have product revenues from the sale of products. For the foreseeable future we will have to fund all of our operations and capital expenditures from equity and debt offerings, cash on hand, licensing and collaboration fees and grants, if any.
We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations and meet our current timelines and we cannot be certain that funding will be available on acceptable terms on a timely basis, or at all. Based on our current plans, our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to complete our planned clinical trials of VCN-01 (in PDAC and retinoblastoma), Phase 1a/2a clinical trial of SYN-004, but may not be sufficient for additional trials of VCN-01, SYN-020 or SYN-004, which are expected to require significant cash expenditures. In addition, based on the significant anticipated cost of a Phase 3 clinical program in a broad indication for SYN-004, we expect it will not be feasible for us to initiate and complete this trial at this time without a partner given the capital constraints tied to our current market cap and share price. Further development of VCN’s product candidates will require additional funding. To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience significant dilution. Any debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants that may impact our ability to conduct our business and also have a dilutive effect on our stockholders. A failure otherwise to secure additional funds when needed in the future whether through an equity or debt financing or a sufficient amount of capital without a strategic partnership could result in us being unable to complete planned preclinical and clinical trials or obtain approval of our product candidates from the FDA and other regulatory authorities. In addition, we could be forced to delay, discontinue or curtail product development, forego sales and marketing efforts, and forego licensing in attractive business opportunities. Our ability to raise capital through the sale of securities may be limited by the rules of the SEC and NYSE American that place limits on the number and dollar amount of securities that may be sold. There can be no assurances that we will be able to raise the funds needed, especially in light of the fact that our ability to sell securities registered on our registration statement on Form S-3 will be limited until such time the market value of our voting securities held by non-affiliates is $75 million or more. We also may be required to seek collaborators for our product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable and on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available.
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We expect to seek to raise additional capital in the future, which may be dilutive to stockholders or impose operational restrictions.
We expect to seek to raise additional capital in the future to help fund development of our proposed products. If we raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or of debt securities, the percentage ownership of our current stockholders will be reduced. We may also enter into strategic transactions, issue equity as consideration for acquisitions or part of license issue fees to our licensors, compensate consultants or settle outstanding payables using equity that may be dilutive. We are authorized to issue 350,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 17,042,765 shares of common stock were outstanding as of September 30, 2023. At September 30, 2023, we had reserved 5,377,777 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of our outstanding options, preferred shares and warrants. In addition, at such date, we had 4,917,845 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans. If all of these securities were to be exercised, the total number of shares of our common stock that we would be required to issue is 10,295,622, which in addition to the 17,042,765 shares outstanding, would leave 322,661,613 authorized but unissued shares of common stock available to be issued.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share paid by existing stockholders, thereby subjecting such stockholders to dilution. Our stockholders may experience additional dilution in net book value per share and any additional equity securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the holders of our common stock.
We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by existing stockholders, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by existing stockholders.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal controls, and we cannot provide assurances that this weakness will be effectively remediated or that additional material weaknesses will not occur in the future.
If our internal control over financial reporting or our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results, prevent fraud, or file our periodic reports in a timely manner, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and may lead to a decline in our stock price.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. During the preparation of our annual tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2022, we identified a material weakness over non-routine transactions related to the review of internally and externally prepared reports and analysis used in the financial reporting process and the related income tax implication of the non-routine transactions, a material weakness over information technology general controls over logical access and program change management for certain of our key information systems used to support the financial reporting process and a material weakness relating to performance of certain controls not being adequately documented. In addition, during the course of the review for the Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, we identified a material weakness in our controls relating to accounting and disclosure controls for non-routine transactions. While we are taking and we plan to continue to take remedial action to address the material weaknesses, we cannot provide any assurance that such remedial measures, or any other remedial measures we take, will be effective. If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results, detect or prevent fraud, or file our periodic reports in a timely manner, which may, among other adverse consequences, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and lead to a decline in our stock price. In addition, a material weakness will not be considered remediated until the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are designed and operating effectively. Although management believes that the material weaknesses will be remediated by the end of the fiscal year there can be no assurance that the deficiencies will be remediated at such time or that the internal control over financial reporting, as modified, will enable us to identify or avoid material weaknesses in the future.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
We did not sell any equity securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2023 in transactions that were not registered under the Securities Act other than as previously disclosed in our filings with the SEC.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
On August 9, 2023, our Board of Directors amended and restated the Company’s amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”), effective October 3, 2023. The Bylaws include new provisions related to advance notice procedures and the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors.
Section 1.11 sets forth advance notice procedures for director nominations and other stockholder proposals. Stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors at or bring other business before an annual or special meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice thereof in writing. To be timely, stockholders who wish to directly recommend candidates for election to the Board at an annual meeting must give written notice to the Chairman of the Nominations Committee, which notice shall be delivered not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Stockholders who wish to bring other proposals before an annual meeting must give written notice to the Secretary of the Company, which notice shall be delivered not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting to be considered timely. Such stockholders’ notice must comply with the various requirements set forth in paragraphs (c) and (e) of Section 1.11, as applicable.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The exhibits filed or furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are set forth on the Exhibit Index, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.
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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.
THERIVA BIOLOGICS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steven A. Shallcross | |
Steven A. Shallcross | ||
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer | ||
(Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||
Date: November 13, 2023 |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
| Exhibit Title |
3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (Incorporated by reference to (i) Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 16, 2008, File No. 001-12584, (ii) Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2001 filed August 14, 2001, File No. 001-12584; and (iii) Exhibits 3.1, 4.1 and 4.2 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1998 filed August 14, 1998, File No. 001-12584.) | |
3.2 | ||
3.3 | ||
3.4 | ||
3.5 | ||
3.6 | ||
3.7 | ||
3.8 | ||
3.9 | ||
3.10 | ||
3.11 | ||
3.12 | ||
3.13 | ||
3.14 | ||
3.15 | ||
3.16 | ||
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31.1 | ||
32.1 | ||
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document* | |
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema* | |
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase* | |
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase* | |
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase* | |
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase* | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in XBRL in Exhibit 101) |
*Filed herewith.
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be identified pursuant to Item 15(a)(3) of this report.
†† Registrant has omitted certain portions of this exhibit in accordance with Item 601 (b)(10) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish unredacted copies of these exhibits to the SEC upon request
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