As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
BioCardia, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
2836 |
47-0892881 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
125 Shoreway Road, Suite B
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 226-0120
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Peter Altman, Ph.D.
125 Shoreway Road, Suite B
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 226-0120
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Michael Danaher Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. 650 Page Mill Road Palo Alto, CA 94304-1050 (650) 493-9300 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box: ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
☐ |
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Accelerated filer |
☐ |
Non-accelerated filer |
☒ |
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Smaller reporting company |
☒ |
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Emerging growth company |
☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities |
Proposed Maximum Offering |
Amount of |
Shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share |
$10,000,000 |
$1,298.00 |
Total: (4) |
$10,000,000 |
$1,298.00 |
(1) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. |
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|
(2) |
Includes shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any. |
|
|
(3) |
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the securities registered hereunder. |
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(4) |
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of additional securities as may be issuable to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 12, 2020 |
BioCardia, Inc.
Shares of Common Stock
We are offering shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of BioCardia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in a firm commitment underwritten public offering at a public offering price of $ per share (this “Offering”). Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BCDA.” On February 11, 2020, the last reported price for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.52 per share. The actual public offering price per share of common stock will be determined between us and the underwriters at the time of pricing, and may be at a discount to the current market price. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final offering price.
Investing in our securities involves significant risks. You should review carefully the “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per Share |
Total |
|||||||
Public offering price |
$ | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) |
$ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
$ | $ |
(1) |
We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses. See “Underwriting” for additional information regarding total underwriter compensation. |
We have granted a -day option to the underwriter to purchase up to additional shares of common stock (up to % of the number of shares of common stock sold in the primary offering) solely to cover overallotments, if any. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us will be and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $ .
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of common stock against payment in on , 2020.
Book-Running Manager
Co-Managers
The date of this prospectus is , 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
About this Prospectus |
ii |
Prospectus Summary |
3 |
The Offering | 5 |
Risk Factors |
6 |
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements |
36 |
Use of Proceeds |
37 |
Dividend Policy |
38 |
Capitalization |
39 |
Dilution |
40 |
Business |
41 |
Properties |
60 |
Legal Proceedings |
60 |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
61 |
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance |
70 |
Executive Compensation |
77 |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
81 |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
83 |
Description of Capital Stock |
85 |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations For Holders of Our Common Stock and Warrants |
90 |
Underwriting |
88 |
Legal Matters |
94 |
Experts |
94 |
Where You Can Find More Information |
94 |
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements |
F-1 |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
We are not offering to sell or seeking offers to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. We have not done anything that would permit this Offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus and any free writing prospectus related to this Offering in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this Offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “BioCardia,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to BioCardia, Inc. We have registered our name, logo and the trademarks “BioCardia,” “CardiAMP,” “CardiALLO,” and “Morph” in the United States. We have registered the trademarks “CardiAMP” and “CardiALLO” for use in connection with a biologic product, namely, a cell-based therapy product composed of bone marrow derived cells for medical use. We also have rights to use the “Helix” trademark in the United States. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Except as set forth above and solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus are referred to without the ®, © and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus and is a brief overview of key aspects of the offering. This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this prospectus.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases with large unmet medical needs. We are committed to applying our expertise in the fields of autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies to improve the lives of patients with cardiovascular conditions. Our therapeutic portfolio consists of the CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapies, which utilize our enabling therapeutic delivery products and product candidates.
CardiAMP Cell Therapy System
Our lead therapeutic candidate is the investigational CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, which provides an autologous bone marrow derived cell therapy (using a patient’s own cells) for the treatment of two clinical indications: heart failure that develops after a heart attack and chronic myocardial ischemia. The CardiAMP Cell Therapy System is being developed to provide a comprehensive biotherapeutic solution, incorporating a proprietary molecular diagnostic to characterize the potency of a patient’s own bone marrow cells and determine if they are an optimal candidate for therapy, proprietary point of care processing to prepare cells at the patient’s bedside, an optimized therapeutic formulation that builds on the total experience in the cardiac cell therapy field to-date, and a proprietary interventional delivery system that navigates a patient’s vasculature to securely deliver cells in a routine cardiac catheterization procedure.
Phase I and II clinical studies of the CardiAMP therapy in heart failure have been successfully completed, showing no treatment emergent major adverse cardiac events and signals of patient benefit, including improvements in functional capacity and heart function. The ongoing Phase III CardiAMP Heart Failure pivotal trial has been designed to provide the primary support for the safety and effectiveness of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for marketing approval clearance and is expected to enroll 260 patients at up to 40 centers in the United States.
In the separate clinical indication, chronic myocardial ischemia, a second Phase III trial of CardiAMP cell therapy has been approved by the FDA. The CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial is intended to provide the primary support of safety and effectiveness for marketing approval in this indication and is anticipated to begin enrolling patients in 2020.
CardiALLO Cell Therapy System
Our second therapeutic candidate is the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, an investigational culture expanded bone marrow derived allogenic “off the shelf” mesenchymal stem cell therapy. CardiALLO therapy cells are expanded from Neurokinin-1 receptor positive bone marrow cells. These cells are anticipated to be the reparative mesenchymal cells that respond to the release of the neuropeptide Substance P. Substance P (“SP”) is released from sensory nerves and is associated with the inflammatory processes and pain. We are working to obtain FDA acceptance of an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for the Phase I/II trial for CardiALLO Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure. CardiALLO is currently on clinical hold while the Company addresses outstanding questions from the FDA.
Helix™ Biotherapeutic Delivery System
BioCardia’s Helix Biotherapeutic Delivery System or “Helix” delivers therapeutics into the heart muscle with a penetrating helical needle from within the heart. It enables local delivery of cell and gene-based therapies, including CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapies, to treat cardiovascular indications. The Helix catheter is CE marked in Europe and is under investigational use in the United States as part of our CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System development programs.
BioCardia selectively partners with firms developing other cell, gene, and protein therapies utilizing the Helix biotherapeutic delivery system. These partnered programs provide additional data, intellectual property rights, and opportunities to participate in the development of combination products for the treatment of cardiac diseases.
Morph Deflectable Guide and Sheaths Products
BioCardia’s Morph catheter is designed to enable physicians to navigate through tortuous anatomy, customize the shape of the catheter to the patient's anatomy and their clinical needs during the procedure, and to have stellar back up support once positioned. Morph catheters enable all Helix procedures and have been commercially available to treat more than ten thousand patients. A number of Morph guides and sheaths are cleared for commercial sale in the United States.
Business Strategy
We are committed to applying our expertise in the fields of autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies to improve the lives of patients with cardiovascular conditions. We are pursuing the following business strategies:
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Complete the ongoing 260 patient, 40 center Phase III pivotal IDE trial of CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for patients with ischemic systolic heart failure. |
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Complete the FDA approved, 343 patient, 40 center Phase III pivotal IDE trial of CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for patients with chronic myocardial ischemia. |
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Obtain FDA approval and commercialize CardiAMP Cell Therapy System using a highly-targeted cardiology sales force in the United States. |
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Advance our CardiALLO Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure, initially targeting patients for whom the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System is not optimal due to the lower potency of their bone marrow cells. |
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Continue to develop and selectively partner our Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system for use with other biotherapeutics. |
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Continue to develop and commercialize Morph catheter products. |
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in Delaware in March 2002 as BioCardia DeviceCo, Inc. and changed our name to BioCardia, Inc. in August 2002. Our principal executive offices are located at 125 Shoreway Road, Suite B, San Carlos, CA 94070. Our telephone number is (650) 226-0120. Our website address is www.biocardia.com. Information contained in our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered to be a part of this prospectus. You should not rely on our website or any such information in making your decision whether or not to purchase our common stock.
THE OFFERING
Issuer |
BioCardia, Inc. |
Securities offered by us |
We are offering shares of our common stock. |
Offering price per share |
$ |
Over-allotment option |
We have granted a -day option to the underwriter to purchase up to additional shares of common stock (up to % of the number of shares of common stock sold in the primary offering) solely to cover overallotments, if any. |
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this Offering |
shares. |
Use of proceeds |
We estimate the net proceeds to us from this Offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $ , based upon an assumed public offering price of $ per share (the last reported price for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2020).
We intend to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, which include, but are not limited to, completing enrollment in the ongoing CardiAMP Cell Therapy pivotal trial for the treatment of heart failure, the funding of clinical development and pursuing regulatory approval for our product candidates. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 37 for more information. |
Current Market for the common stock |
Our common stock is currently quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BCDA.” |
Risk factors |
You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of certain factors to consider carefully before deciding to purchase any of our securities. |
Outstanding Shares
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately following this Offering is based on 6,825,183 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019. The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately following this Offering does not take into account:
● |
848,148 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of September 30, 2019, with a weighted-average exercise price of $18.90 per share (or $11.60 per share if the Repricing (defined below) had occurred as of September 30, 2019); |
● |
62,135 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2019; |
● |
2,435,808 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2019 with a weighted-average exercise price of $6.36 per share; and |
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145,761 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the outstanding options or warrants.
On November 26, 2019, at our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders approved a one-time repricing of certain outstanding stock options granted to our service providers (covering a total of 515,036 shares of our common stock with per share exercise prices between $10.05 and $97.21) under our 2002 Stock Plan and our 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. Pursuant to such approval, as of January 29, 2020 the exercise price of such options was automatically repriced to $5.32 per share (the “Repricing”).
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information included in this prospectus, including the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” you should carefully consider the risks described below, before making an investment decision with respect to the securities. We expect to update these Risk Factors from time to time in the periodic and current reports that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. Please refer to these subsequent reports for additional information relating to the risks associated with investing in our common stock and the accompanying warrant. If any of such risks and uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be severely harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common stock and our warrants to decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business
We will require additional financing in 2020 in order to continue our Phase III pivotal trials of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia and to continue operations at the current level.
Our current cash resources are not sufficient to fund operations at the expected level of activity through the third quarter of 2020. We will need additional capital to continue operations at the current level and to continue our Phase III pivotal trials. While we plan to raise additional capital to fund operations, including the trials, there can be no assurances as to the availability of capital or the terms on which capital will be available.
We have a history of operating losses, and we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability. In addition, we may be unable to continue as a going concern.
We are a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company and we have not yet generated a profit. We have incurred net losses during each of our fiscal years since our inception. Our net losses were approximately $3.8 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We do not know whether or when we will become profitable, if ever. We currently expect operating losses and negative cash flows to continue for at least the next several years.
To date, our only approved or cleared products are our Morph universal deflectable guide catheters and Morph AccessPro sheaths, or Morph, in the United States and Europe and our HelixTM biotherapeutic delivery system, or Helix, in Europe. Our limited commercialization experience and number of approved products makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future prospects. Our short commercialization experience and limited number of approved products also makes it difficult for us to forecast our future financial performance and growth and such forecasts are limited and subject to a number of uncertainties, including our ability to successfully complete our Phase III pivotal trials in heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia and obtain FDA approval for, and then successfully commercialize, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System.
Our ability to generate sufficient revenue to achieve profitability depends on our ability, either alone or with strategic collaboration partners, to successfully complete the development of, and obtain the regulatory approvals necessary to commercialize our therapeutic candidates. We do not anticipate generating revenues from sales of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System or any other biotherapeutic candidates within the next few years, and we may never generate sales of these products.
Our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018 have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. We have incurred significant losses since our inception and we expect that we will continue to incur losses as we aim to successfully execute our business plan and will be dependent on additional public or private financings, collaborations or licensing arrangements with strategic partners, or additional credit lines or other debt financing sources to fund continuing operations. Based on our cash balances, recurring losses since inception and our existing capital resources to fund our planned operations for a twelve-month period, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As noted below, we will need to obtain additional funding from equity or debt financings, which may require us to agree to burdensome covenants, grant security interests in our assets, enter into collaboration and licensing arrangements that require us to relinquish commercial rights, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable. No assurance can be given at this time as to whether we will be able to achieve our fundraising objectives, regardless of the terms. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to reduce operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of its product development programs, obtain funds through arrangements with others that may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or products that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize itself, or cease operations.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain approval for, and successfully commercialize, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System.
The long-term viability of our company is largely dependent on the successful development and commercialization of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System. We are currently enrolling patients in a Phase III pivotal trial that will be used to support regulatory approval, and we do not have significant long-term data on the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System’s safety and efficacy in either heart failure or chronic myocardial ischemia. While we expect to successfully complete our ongoing Phase III pivotal trial of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System in heart failure, there can be no guarantee that the study will be completed, that the primary endpoints will be achieved, or that we will receive regulatory approval for the sale and marketing in the United States. A number of companies in similar fields have suffered significant setbacks during clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding promising preliminary results. Because we are depending heavily on sales of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System to achieve our revenue goals, failure to successfully complete the study and receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approval, in a timely manner or at all, will harm our financial results and ability to become profitable. Even if we obtain regulatory approval, our ability to successfully market this product will be limited due to a number of factors, including regulatory restrictions in our labeling or requirements to obtain additional post-approval data, if any. In addition, there can be no guarantee that the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System will be accepted by the medical community as a valid alternative to currently available products. If we cannot sell the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System as planned, our financial results will be harmed.
FDA acceptance of a Phase III pivotal trial is not a guarantee of an approval of a product candidate or any permissible claims about the product candidate. Failure to successfully complete our ongoing Phase III trial of CardiAMP in heart failure would significantly impair our financial results. Such a failure could (i) delay or prevent the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System from obtaining regulatory approval, (ii) require us to perform another clinical trial, which will be expensive, may not be successful and will significantly delay our ability to commercialize the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and (iii) impair our ability to convince hospitals and physicians of the benefits of our CardiAMP Cell Therapy System product. Furthermore, even if we are granted regulatory clearances or approvals, they may include significant limitations on the indicated uses for CardiAMP, which may limit the market for this product.
Because the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System is, to our knowledge, the first cardiac cell-based therapy with an accepted pivotal trial that is to be regulated by the FDA via the premarket approval pathway, the approval process for the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System is uncertain.
Although we have obtained FDA acceptance of Phase III pivotal trials of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia, this does not guarantee any particular outcome from regulatory review. To the best of our knowledge, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure is the first cardiac cell-based therapy with an accepted pivotal trial that is to be regulated by the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or CBER, via the premarket approval, or PMA, pathway requiring a single trial. The CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia is also to be regulated under the same IDE/PMA pathway. All other cardiac cell-based therapies in clinical trials are believed to be regulated by the same agency, but as biologics which generally require two separate pivotal trials. There is no guarantee that the FDA will grant us regulatory clearance or approval to market the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System on the basis of a single pivotal trial, or that the FDA will continue to allow us to develop the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System via the PMA pathway. Two well-controlled pivotal studies could be necessary to provide FDA assurance of safety or effectiveness. If the FDA approval process does not occur as we anticipate or we are required to conduct more than one pivotal study to obtain approval, we may incur substantial additional costs and delays to obtain approval, if at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects.
Our CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapy system therapeutic candidates are based on novel technology, which makes it difficult to accurately and reliably predict the time and cost of product development and subsequently obtaining regulatory approval. At the moment, no cell-based therapies have been approved in the United States for a cardiac indication.
The success of our business depends on our ability to develop and commercialize our therapeutic candidates, including CardiAMP. We have concentrated our product research and development efforts on our CardiAMP therapeutic candidate, a novel type of cell-based therapy. Our future success depends on the successful development of this therapeutic approach. There can be no assurance that any development problems we experience in the future related to our therapeutic candidates and products will not cause significant delays or unanticipated costs, or that such development problems can be solved. We may be unable to maintain and further develop sustainable, reproducible and scalable manufacturing processes, or transfer these processes to collaborators, which may prevent us from completing our clinical studies or commercializing our products on a timely or profitable basis, if at all.
In addition, the clinical study requirements of the FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, and other regulatory agencies and the criteria these regulators use to determine the safety and efficacy of a product candidate vary substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty, intended use and market of the potential product candidates. The regulatory approval process for novel product candidates such as our CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems may be more expensive and take longer than other, better known or extensively studied pharmaceutical or other product candidates to develop. In addition, adverse developments in clinical trials of cell-based products or therapies conducted by others may cause the FDA or other regulatory bodies to change the requirements for approval of any of our therapeutic candidates. At the moment, no other cell-based therapies have been approved in the United States for a cardiac indication, which makes it difficult to determine how long it will take or how much it will cost to obtain regulatory approvals for our therapeutic candidates in either the United States or elsewhere.
Regulatory requirements governing cell-based therapy products have changed frequently and may continue to change in the future. For example, the FDA established the Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies within CBER to consolidate the review of gene therapy and related products, and the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee to advise CBER on its review. These regulatory authorities and advisory groups and the new requirements or guidelines they promulgate may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies, increase our development costs, lead to changes in regulatory positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of our product candidates or lead to significant post-approval limitations or restrictions. As we advance our product candidates, we will be required to consult with the FDA and other regulatory authorities, and our products could be reviewed by the FDA’s advisory committee. We also must comply with applicable requirements, and if we fail to do so, we may be required to delay or discontinue development of our product candidates.
We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and our failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or commercialization efforts.
Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future in connection with our planned research, development and product commercialization efforts, including our planned clinical trials for our CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidates. In addition, we will require additional financing to achieve our goals and our failure to do so could adversely affect our commercialization efforts. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
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continue the research and clinical development of our CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidates; |
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initiate and advance our CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidates in expensive clinical studies, including the ongoing Phase III pivotal trial for our CardiAMP Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidate in heart failure and our recently approved Phase III pivotal trial for our CardiAMP Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidate in chronic myocardial ischemia; |
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seek to identify, assess, acquire, and/or develop other product candidates and technologies; |
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seek regulatory and marketing approvals in multiple jurisdictions for our therapeutic candidates that successfully complete clinical studies; |
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build and maintain a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval, or otherwise establish collaborations with third parties for the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates; |
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further develop and implement our manufacturing processes and expand our manufacturing capabilities and resources for commercial production; |
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seek coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors, including government and private payors for future products; |
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seek to maintain, protect and expand our intellectual property portfolio; and |
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seek to attract and retain skilled personnel. |
If we were to experience any delays or encounter issues with any of the above, including clinical holds, failed studies, inconclusive or complex results, safety or efficacy issues, or other regulatory challenges that require longer follow-up of existing studies, additional major studies, or additional supportive studies in order to pursue marketing approval, it could further increase the costs associated with the above. Further, the net operating losses we incur may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year, such that a period-to-period comparison of our results of operations may not be a good indication of our future performance.
We have encountered, and may in the future encounter, substantial delays in our clinical studies.
We have encountered, and may in the future encounter, substantial delays in our clinical studies. We cannot guarantee that any preclinical testing or clinical trials will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. As a result, we may not achieve our expected clinical milestones. A failure can occur at any stage of testing. Events that may prevent successful or timely commencement, enrollment or completion of clinical development include:
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delays in raising, or inability to raise, sufficient capital to fund the planned trials; |
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delays in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on trial design; |
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changes in trial design; |
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inability to identify, recruit and train suitable clinical investigators; |
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inability to add new clinical trial sites; |
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delays in reaching agreement on acceptable terms for the performance of the trials with prospective clinical research organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites; |
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delays in obtaining required Institutional Review Board, or IRB, approval at each clinical trial site; |
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delays in recruiting suitable clinical sites and patients (i.e., subjects) to participate in clinical trials; |
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imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory agencies for any reason, including negative clinical results, safety concerns or as a result of an inspection of manufacturing or clinical operations or trial sites; |
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failure by us, CROs or other third parties to adhere to clinical trial requirements; |
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failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s current Good Clinical Practices, or GCP, or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries; |
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delays in the testing, validation, manufacturing and delivery to the clinical sites; |
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delays caused by patients not completing participation in a trial or not returning for post-treatment follow-up; |
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delays caused by clinical trial sites not completing a trial; |
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failure to demonstrate adequate efficacy; |
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occurrence of serious adverse events in clinical trials that are associated with the therapeutic candidates or products that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits; |
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changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols; or |
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disagreements between us and the FDA or other regulatory agencies interpreting the data from our clinical trials. |
Delays, including those caused by the above factors, can be costly and could negatively affect our ability to complete clinical trials for our therapeutic candidates. If we are not able to successfully complete clinical trials or are not able to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner, we will not be able to obtain regulatory approval and/or will not be able to commercialize our therapeutic candidates or products, which would have an adverse effect on our business. Clinical trial delays could also shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our therapeutic candidates or products or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do, which could impair our ability to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates or products and may harm our business and results of operations.
We may find it difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials, which could delay or prevent development of our therapeutic candidates.
Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates is critical to our success. The timing of our clinical trials depends on the speed at which we can recruit patients to participate in testing our therapeutic candidates as well as completion of required follow-up periods. In general, if patients are unwilling to participate in our cell-based therapy trials because of negative publicity from adverse events in the biotechnology or cell-based industries or for other reasons, including competitive clinical trials for similar patient populations, the timeline for recruiting patients, conducting trials and obtaining regulatory approval for our therapeutic candidates may be delayed. These delays could result in increased costs, delays in advancing our product development, delays in testing the effectiveness of our therapeutic candidates or termination of the clinical trials altogether.
Patient enrollment and completion of clinical trials are affected by factors including:
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size of the patient population; |
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severity of the disease under investigation; |
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design of the trial protocol; |
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eligibility criteria for the particular trial; |
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perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate being tested; |
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proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients; |
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availability of competing therapies and clinical trials; |
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efforts to facilitate timely enrollment in clinical trials; |
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patient referral practices of physicians; |
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ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment; and |
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the degree of treatment effect in event-driven trials. |
Once enrolled, patients may choose to discontinue their participation at any time during the trial, for any reason. Participants also may be terminated from the study at the initiative of the investigator, for example if they experience serious adverse clinical events or do not follow the study directions. If we are unable to maintain an adequate number of patients in our clinical trials, we may be required to delay or terminate an ongoing clinical trial, which would have an adverse effect on our business.
We depend on our license and distribution agreement with Biomet Biologics, LLC, and if we fail to comply with our obligations under this agreement, or if our rights under this agreement are otherwise reduced or terminated, we could lose intellectual property rights that are important to our business.
In October 2012, we entered into a license and distribution agreement with Biomet Biologics, LLC under which we obtained an exclusive, nontransferable, worldwide distribution right, patent license and trademark license to Biomet Biologic, LLC’s point of care cell processing platform. Under the terms of the agreement, we are obligated to pay Biomet Biologics, LLC a royalty based on the price of the disposables in the CardiAMP cell processing platform. A breach or termination of this agreement would materially adversely affect the clinical development or commercialization strategy of our CardiAMP therapeutic candidate as currently planned. A reduction or elimination of our rights under this agreement may result in our having to negotiate new or reinstated arrangements on less favorable terms, or our not having sufficient intellectual property rights to operate our business as currently planned. The occurrence of such events could materially harm our business and financial condition.
We rely on third parties to conduct some or all aspects of our product manufacturing, diagnostic protocol development, research, and preclinical and clinical testing, and these third parties may not perform satisfactorily.
We do not currently, and do not expect to in the future, independently conduct all aspects of our product manufacturing, anticipated companion diagnostic testing, protocol development, research and monitoring and management of our ongoing preclinical and clinical programs. We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties with respect to these items, and control only certain aspects of their activities.
Any of these third parties may terminate their engagements with us at any time. If we need to enter into alternative arrangements, our commercialization activities or our therapeutic candidate or companion diagnostic development activities may be delayed or suspended. Our reliance on these third parties for research and development activities, including the conduct of any IDE and IND-enabling studies, reduces our control over these activities but does not relieve us of our responsibility to ensure compliance with all required legal, regulatory and scientific standards and any applicable trial protocols. For example, for therapeutic candidates that we develop and commercialize on our own, we will remain responsible for ensuring that each of our IDE and IND-enabling studies and clinical trials are conducted in accordance with the trial plan and protocols.
If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or conduct our studies in accordance with regulatory requirements or our stated study plans and protocols, we may be delayed in completing, or unable to complete, the preclinical studies and clinical trials required to support future IDE and IND submissions and approval of our therapeutic candidates.
Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails exposure to risks to which we would not be subject if we manufactured the therapeutic candidates or companion diagnostic ourselves, including:
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we may be unable to negotiate manufacturing agreements with third parties under commercially reasonable terms; |
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reduced control over the manufacturing process for our therapeutic candidates and companion diagnostic as a result of using third-party manufacturers for many aspects of manufacturing activities; |
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termination or nonrenewal of manufacturing agreements with third parties in a manner or at a time that may be costly or damaging to us or result in delays in the development or commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or companion diagnostic; and |
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disruptions to the operations of our third-party manufacturers or suppliers caused by conditions unrelated to our business or operations, including the bankruptcy of the manufacturer or supplier. |
Any of these events could lead to delays in the development of our therapeutic candidates, including delays in our clinical trials, or failure to obtain regulatory approval for our therapeutic candidates, or it could impact our ability to successfully commercialize our current therapeutic candidates, companion diagnostic or any future products. Some of these events could be the basis for FDA or other regulatory action, including injunction, recall, seizure or total or partial suspension of production.
We rely on third parties to conduct, supervise and monitor our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates and our business could be substantially harmed.
We rely on CROs and clinical trial sites to ensure our clinical trials are conducted properly and on time. While we will have agreements governing their activities, we will have limited influence over their actual performance. We will control only certain aspects of our CROs’ activities. Nevertheless, we will be responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and our reliance on the CROs does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities.
We and our CROs are required to comply with the FDA’s GCPs for conducting, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that the data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of clinical trial participants are protected. The FDA, the Competent Authorities of the Member States of the EEA, and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, enforce these GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and clinical trial sites. If we or our CROs fail to comply with applicable GCPs, the clinical data generated in our future clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, the EMA, or other foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving any marketing applications. Upon inspection, the FDA may determine that our clinical trials did not comply with GCPs. In addition, our future clinical trials will require a sufficient number of test subjects to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of our therapeutic candidates. Accordingly, if our CROs fail to comply with these regulations or fail to recruit a sufficient number of patients, we may be required to repeat such clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
Our CROs are not our employees, and we are therefore unable to directly monitor whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our clinical and nonclinical programs. These CROs may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials or other product development activities that could harm our competitive position. If our CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations, fail to meet expected deadlines, or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements, or for any other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize, our therapeutic candidates. If any such event were to occur, our financial results and the commercial prospects for our therapeutic candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase, and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed.
If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or to do so on commercially reasonable terms. Further, switching or adding additional CROs involves additional costs and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO commences work. As a result, delays occur, which could materially impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development timelines. Though we carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects.
We may also rely on other third parties to store and distribute our products for the clinical trials that we conduct. Any performance failure on the part of our distributors could delay clinical development or marketing approval of our therapeutic candidates or commercialization of our products, if approved, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential product revenue.
We depend on third party vendors to manufacture some of our components and sub-assemblies, which could make us vulnerable to supply shortages and price fluctuations that could harm our business.
We currently manufacture some of our components and sub-assemblies internally and rely on third party vendors for other components and sub-assemblies used in our products and therapeutic candidates. Our reliance on third party vendors subjects us to a number of risks that could impact our ability to manufacture our products and therapeutic candidates and harm our business, including:
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interruption of supply resulting from modifications to, or discontinuation of, a supplier’s operations; |
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delays in product shipments resulting from uncorrected defects, reliability issues or a supplier’s failure to consistently produce quality components; |
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price fluctuations due to a lack of long-term supply arrangements with our suppliers for key components; |
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inability to obtain adequate supply in a timely manner or on commercially reasonable terms; |
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difficulty identifying and qualifying alternative suppliers for components in a timely manner; |
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inability of the manufacturer or supplier to comply with Quality System Regulations, or QSRs, enforced by the FDA and state regulatory authorities; |
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inability to control the quality of products manufactured by third parties; |
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production delays related to the evaluation and testing of products from alternative suppliers and corresponding regulatory qualifications; and |
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delays in delivery by our suppliers due to changes in demand from us or their other customers. |
Any significant delay or interruption in the supply of components or sub-assemblies, or our inability to obtain substitute components, sub-assemblies or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand of our customers and harm our business.
Our future commercial success depends upon attaining significant market acceptance of our therapeutic candidates, if approved, among physicians, patients and healthcare payors.
Even when product development is successful and regulatory approval has been obtained, our ability to generate significant revenue depends on the acceptance of our products by physicians, payors and patients. Many potential market participants have limited knowledge of, or experience with, cell-based products and therapies, so gaining market acceptance and overcoming any safety or efficacy concerns may be more challenging than for more traditional therapies. Our efforts to educate the medical community and third-party payors on the benefits of our therapeutic candidates may require significant resources and may never be successful. Such efforts to educate the marketplace may require more resources than are required by conventional therapies marketed by our competitors. We cannot assure you that our products will achieve the expected market acceptance and revenue if and when they obtain the requisite regulatory approvals. Alternatively, even if we obtain regulatory approval, that approval may be for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired or may require labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings. The market acceptance of each of our therapeutic candidates will depend on a number of factors, including:
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the efficacy and safety of the therapeutic candidate, as demonstrated in clinical trials; |
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the clinical indications for which the product is approved and the label approved by regulatory authorities for use with the product, including any warnings that may be required on the label; |
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acceptance by physicians and patients of the product as a safe and effective treatment; |
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the cost, safety and efficacy of treatment in relation to alternative treatments; |
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the continued projected growth of markets for our various indications; |
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relative convenience and ease of administration; |
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the prevalence and severity of adverse side effects; and |
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the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts. |
Market acceptance is critical to our ability to generate significant revenue. Any therapeutic candidate, if approved and commercialized, may be accepted in only limited capacities or not at all. If any approved products are not accepted by the market to the extent that we expect, we may not be able to generate significant revenue and our business would suffer.
If we fail to attract and keep senior management and key scientific personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop our therapeutic candidates, conduct our clinical trials and commercialize our therapeutic candidates.
We are highly dependent on the members of our executive team, the loss of whose services may adversely impact the achievement of our objectives. Any of our executive officers could leave our employment at any time, as all of our employees are “at will” employees. Recruiting and retaining other qualified employees, consultants and advisors for our business, including scientific and technical personnel, will also be critical to our success.
Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, manufacturing, sales and marketing personnel will also be critical to our success. We may not be able to attract and retain these personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. We also experience competition for the hiring of scientific and clinical personnel from universities and research institutions. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us.
We will need to expand our organization and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth, which could disrupt our operations.
As we mature and expand our research and development and other pre-commercialization activities, we expect to expand our existing full-time employee base and to hire more consultants and contractors. In addition, we currently plan to commercialize the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, if approved, using an internal sales force to selected cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and third-party payors in the United States. Our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from our day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. We may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations, which may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. Our expected growth could require significant capital expenditures and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of additional product candidates. If our management is unable to effectively manage our growth, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate and/or grow revenues could be reduced, and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize product candidates and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth.
We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before, or more successfully, than we do.
Our industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid change. The industry continues to expand and evolve as an increasing number of competitors and potential competitors enter the market. Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Blue Rock Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Caladrius Biosciences, Capricor Therapeutics, Celixr, Cesca Therapeutics, Celyad, Daichii Sankyo, Fuji Film, Mesoblast, Moderna, Sana Biotechnology, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Tenaya Therapeutics, Terumo, Vericel Corp, and Uniqure, among others. Many of our competitors, potentially including the aforementioned, have significantly greater development, financial, manufacturing, marketing, technical and human resources than we do. Large pharmaceutical and medical device companies, in particular, have extensive experience in clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approvals, recruiting patients and in manufacturing pharmaceutical and medical device products. Recent and potential future merger and acquisition activity in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Established companies may also invest heavily to accelerate discovery and development of novel products that could make our therapeutic candidates obsolete. As a result of all of these factors, our competitors may succeed in obtaining patent protection and/or FDA approval or discovering, developing and commercializing our therapeutic candidates or competitors to our therapeutic candidates before we do. Specialized, smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly those with a focus and expertise in the stem cell industry and/or those with collaboration arrangements and other third-party payors. In addition, any new product that competes with an approved product must demonstrate compelling advantages in efficacy, convenience, tolerability and safety in order to overcome price competition and to be commercially successful. If we are not able to compete effectively against potential competitors, our business will not grow, and our financial condition and results of operations will suffer.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, including our CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidates, these products or therapies, along with our other regulated products, will be subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval or clearance in a jurisdiction, regulatory authorities may still impose significant restrictions on the indicated uses or marketing of our therapeutic candidates or impose ongoing requirements for potentially costly post-approval studies or post-market surveillance. For example, once a product receives regulatory approval or clearance for sale, we are obligated to monitor and report adverse events and any failure of a product to meet the specifications in the applicable regulatory approval or clearance. We must also submit new or supplemental applications and obtain FDA approval or clearance for certain changes to the approved or cleared product, product labeling or manufacturing process. Advertising and promotional materials must comply with FDA rules and are subject to FDA review, in addition to other potentially applicable federal and state laws.
In addition, product manufacturers and their facilities are subject to payment of user fees and continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory authorities for compliance with good manufacturing practices or QSRs and adherence to commitments made in the applicable regulatory approval. If we or a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, a regulatory agency may impose restrictions relative to that product or the manufacturing facility, including requiring recall or withdrawal of the product from the market or suspension of manufacturing.
If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements following approval of any of our therapeutic candidates, a regulatory agency may impose the following:
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restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of our products, withdrawal of our products from the market, or voluntary or mandatory product recalls; |
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costly regulatory inspections; |
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fines, warning letters, or holds on clinical trials; |
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refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or our collaborators, or suspension or revocation of applicable regulatory approvals; |
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product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; and |
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injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties by FDA or other regulatory bodies. |
Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit our ability to commercialize our therapeutic candidates and generate revenues.
Our ability to compete is highly dependent on demonstrating the benefits of CardiAMP to physicians, hospitals and patients.
In order to generate sales, we must be able to clearly demonstrate that CardiAMP is both a more effective treatment system and less costly than alternative products and treatments offered by our competitors. If we are unable to convince physicians that CardiAMP leads to significant improvement in functional capacity, improved quality of life and reduced hospitalization, our business will suffer.
We may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory agencies.
We have not obtained regulatory approval for either our CardiAMP or CardiALLO Cell Therapy System therapeutic candidates. We must conduct extensive testing of our therapeutic candidates to demonstrate their safety and efficacy, including human clinical trials and, if applicable, preclinical animal testing, before we can obtain regulatory approval to market and sell them. Conducting such testing is a lengthy, time-consuming, and expensive process and there is a high rate of failure. Our current and completed preclinical and clinical results for our therapeutic candidates are not necessarily predictive of the results of our ongoing or future clinical trials. Promising results in preclinical studies of a therapeutic candidate may not be predictive of similar results in humans during clinical trials, and successful results from early human clinical trials of a therapeutic candidate may not be replicated in later and larger human clinical trials or in clinical trials for different indications. If the results of our ongoing or future clinical trials are negative or inconclusive with respect to the efficacy of our therapeutic candidates or if we or they do not meet the clinical endpoints with statistical significance or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with our therapeutic candidates, we may be prevented or delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our therapeutic candidates.
If we fail to obtain and maintain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals for our therapeutic candidates or products, or if clearances or approvals for our therapeutic candidates or products in additional indications are delayed or not issued, our commercial operations would be harmed.
We are required to timely file various reports with the FDA, require that we report to the regulatory authorities if our therapeutic candidates or products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. If these reports are not filed timely, regulators may impose sanctions and sales may suffer, and we may be subject to product liability or regulatory enforcement actions, all of which could harm our business.
If we initiate a correction or removal to reduce a risk to health posed, we would be required to submit a publicly available Correction and Removal report to the FDA and in many cases, similar reports to other regulatory agencies. This report could be classified by the FDA as a product recall which could lead to increased scrutiny by the FDA, other international regulatory agencies and our customers regarding the quality and safety of our therapeutic candidates or products. Furthermore, the submission of these reports has been and could be used by competitors against us in competitive situations and cause customers to delay purchase decisions or cancel orders and would harm our reputation.
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, also regulate the advertising and promotion of our therapeutic candidates or products to ensure that the claims we make are consistent with our regulatory approvals, that there are adequate and reasonable data to substantiate the claims and that our promotional labeling and advertising is neither false nor misleading in any respect. If the FDA or FTC determines that any of our advertising or promotional claims are misleading, not substantiated or not permissible, we may be subject to enforcement actions, including warning letters, and we may be required to revise our promotional claims and make other corrections or restitutions.
FDA and state authorities have broad enforcement powers. Our failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by FDA or state agencies, which may include any of the following sanctions:
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adverse publicity, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties; |
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repair, replacement, refunds, recall or seizure of our products; |
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operating restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production; |
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refusing our requests for premarket approval of new products, new intended uses or modifications to existing products; |
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withdrawing premarket approvals that have already been granted; and |
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criminal prosecution. |
If any of these events were to occur, our business and financial condition would be harmed.
Serious adverse events or other safety risks could require us to abandon development and preclude, delay or limit approval of our therapeutic candidates or products or limit the scope of any approved indication or market acceptance.
Participants in clinical trials of our investigational cell-based therapies and products may experience adverse reactions or other undesirable side effects. While some of these can be anticipated, others may be unexpected. We cannot predict the frequency, duration, or severity of adverse reactions or undesirable side effects that may occur during clinical investigation. If any of our therapeutic candidates or products, prior to or after any approval for commercial sale, cause adverse events or are associated with other safety risks, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:
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regulatory authorities may suspend (e.g., through a clinical hold) or terminate clinical trials; |
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regulatory authorities may deny regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates or products; |
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regulatory authorities may restrict the indications or patient populations for which a therapeutic candidate or products is approved; |
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regulatory authorities may require certain labeling statements, such as warnings or contraindications or limitations on the indications for use, and/or impose restrictions on distribution in the form of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, in connection with approval, if any; |
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regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval, require more onerous labeling statements or impose a more restrictive REMS than any therapeutic candidate or product that is approved; |
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we may be required to change the way the therapy or therapeutic candidate or product is administered or conduct additional clinical trials; |
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patient recruitment into our clinical trials may suffer; |
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we could be required to provide compensation to subjects for their injuries, e.g., if we are sued and found to be liable or if required by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction or by the policies of the clinical site; or |
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our reputation may suffer. |
There can be no assurance that adverse events associated with our therapeutic candidates or products will not be observed, even where no prior adverse events have occurred. We may voluntarily suspend or terminate our clinical trials if at any time we believe that they present an unacceptable risk to participants or if preliminary data demonstrate that our therapeutic candidates or products are unlikely to receive regulatory approval or are unlikely to be successfully commercialized. Regulatory agencies, IRBs or data safety monitoring boards may at any time recommend the temporary or permanent discontinuation of our clinical trials or request that we cease using investigators in the clinical trials if they believe that the clinical trials are not being conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, or that they present an unacceptable safety risk to participants. If we elect or are forced to suspend or terminate a clinical trial for any reason this would have an adverse effect on our business.
Our therapeutic candidates are intended to treat patients who are extremely ill, and patient deaths that occur in our clinical trials could negatively impact our business even if they are not shown to be related to our therapeutic candidates.
Generally, patients remain at high risk following their treatment with our CardiAMP and CardiALLO therapeutic candidates. As a result, it is likely that we will observe severe adverse outcomes during our clinical trials for these therapeutic candidates, including patient death. If a significant number of study subject deaths were to occur, regardless of whether such deaths are attributable to our therapeutic candidates, our ability to obtain regulatory approval for the applicable therapeutic candidate may be adversely impacted and our business could be materially harmed.
If we or our suppliers fail to comply with the FDA’s QSRs, our manufacturing operations could be delayed or shut down and product sales could suffer.
Our manufacturing processes and those of our third-party suppliers are required to comply with the FDA’s QSRs, which covers the procedures and documentation of the design, testing, production, control, quality assurance, labeling, packaging, storage and shipping. We are also subject to similar state requirements and licenses. In addition, we must engage in extensive record keeping and reporting and must make available our manufacturing facilities and records for periodic unannounced inspections by governmental agencies, including the FDA, state authorities and comparable agencies in other countries. If we fail a Quality System inspection, our operations could be disrupted and our manufacturing interrupted. Failure to take adequate corrective action in response to an adverse Quality System inspection could result in, among other things, a shut-down of our manufacturing operations, significant fines, suspension of marketing clearances and approvals, seizures or recalls, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which would cause our business to suffer. Furthermore, our key component suppliers may not currently be or may not continue to be in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, which may result in manufacturing delays and cause our revenues to decline.
We have registered with the FDA as a medical device manufacturer and have obtained a manufacturing license from the California Department of Health Services, or CDHS. The FDA has broad post-market and regulatory enforcement powers. We are subject to unannounced inspections by the FDA and the Food and Drug Branch of CDHS to determine our compliance with the QSR and other regulations, and these inspections may include the manufacturing facilities of our suppliers. If the FDA or CDHS inspect our facility and discover compliance problems, we may have to shut down our facility and cease manufacturing until we can take the appropriate remedial steps to correct the audit findings. Taking corrective action may be expensive, time consuming and a distraction for management and if we experience a shutdown or delay at our manufacturing facility we may be unable to produce our products, which may have an adverse impact on our business.
The requirements to obtain regulatory approval of the FDA and regulators in other jurisdictions can be costly, time-consuming, and unpredictable. If we are unable to obtain timely regulatory approval for our therapeutic candidates, our business may be substantially harmed.
The regulatory approval process is expensive, and the time and resources required to obtain approval from the FDA or other regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions to sell any therapeutic candidate or product is uncertain and approval may take years. Whether regulatory approval will be granted is unpredictable and depends upon numerous factors, including the discretion of the regulatory authorities. For example, governing legislation, approval policies, regulations, regulatory policies, or the type and amount of preclinical and clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a therapeutic candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions. It is possible that none of our existing or future therapeutic candidates will ever obtain regulatory approval, even if we expend substantial time and resources seeking such approval.
Further, regulatory requirements governing cell-based therapy products in particular have changed frequently and may continue to change in the future. For example, in November 2014, Japan’s parliament enacted new legislation to promote the safe and accelerated development of treatments using stem cells. The new Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and Other Therapeutic Products Act, or PMD Act, establishes a framework for expedited approval in Japan for regenerative medical products. As this is a new regulation, it is not clear yet what impact it will have on the operation of our business. Any regulatory review committees and advisory groups and any contemplated new guidelines may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies, increase our development costs, lead to changes in regulatory positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or products or lead to significant post-approval limitations or restrictions. As we advance our therapeutic candidates or products, we will be required to consult with these regulatory and advisory groups and comply with applicable guidelines. If we fail to do so, we may be required to delay or discontinue development of our therapeutic candidates or products. Delay or failure to obtain, or unexpected costs in obtaining, the regulatory approval necessary to bring a therapeutic candidate or product to market could decrease our ability to generate sufficient revenue to maintain our business.
Our therapeutic candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:
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we may be unable to successfully complete our ongoing and future clinical trials of therapeutic candidates; |
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we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or other regulatory authorities that a therapeutic candidate is safe, pure, and potent for any or all of a therapeutic candidate’s proposed indications; |
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we may be unable to demonstrate that a therapeutic candidate’s benefits outweigh the risk associated with the therapeutic candidate; |
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the FDA or other regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials; |
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the results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or other regulatory authorities for approval; |
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the FDA or other regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials; |
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a decision by the FDA, other regulatory authorities or us to suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time; |
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the data collected from clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates may be inconclusive or may not be sufficient to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere; |
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the inability to obtain sufficient quantities of the therapeutic candidates for use in clinical trials; |
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our third-party manufacturers of supplies needed for manufacturing therapeutic candidates may fail to satisfy FDA or other regulatory requirements and may not pass inspections that may be required by FDA or other regulatory authorities; |
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the failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements following approval of any of our therapeutic candidates may result in the refusal by the FDA or similar foreign regulatory agency to approve a pending PMA or a biologics license application, or BLA, or supplement to a PMA or BLA submitted by us for other indications or new therapeutic candidates or products; and |
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the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or other regulatory authorities outside of the United States may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval. |
We may gain regulatory approval for any of our therapeutic candidates in some but not all of the territories available and any future approvals may be for some but not all of the target indications, limiting their commercial potential. Regulatory requirements and timing of product approvals vary from country to country and some jurisdictions may require additional testing beyond what is required to obtain FDA approval. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or by the FDA. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. In addition, regulatory approval does not specify pricing or reimbursement which may not match our expectations based on the results of our clinical data.
Even if we obtain and maintain approval for our therapeutic candidates or products from the FDA, we may never obtain approval for our therapeutic candidates or products outside of the United States, which would limit our market opportunities and adversely affect our business.
Approval in the United States by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. Sales of our therapeutic candidates or products, if approved, outside of the United States will be subject to foreign regulatory requirements governing clinical trials and marketing approval.
Even if the FDA grants marketing approval, comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries must also approve the manufacturing and marketing in those countries. Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional preclinical studies or clinical trials. In many countries outside the United States, a therapeutic candidate or product must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that country. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge, if approved, is also subject to approval. While we may decide to submit a request to the EMA for approval of our therapeutic candidates, including CardiAMP, as Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products, or ATMPs, in Europe, obtaining such approval is a lengthy and expensive process and the EMA has its own procedures for approval. Even if a therapeutic candidate or product is approved, the FDA or the EMA, as the case may be, may limit the indications for which it may be marketed, require extensive warnings on the product labeling or require expensive and time-consuming clinical trials or reporting as conditions of approval. Regulatory authorities in countries outside of the United States and Europe also have requirements for approval of therapeutic candidates or products with which we must comply prior to marketing in those countries. Obtaining foreign regulatory approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties and costs for us and could delay or prevent the introduction in certain countries. Further, clinical trials conducted in one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries and regulatory approval in one country does not ensure approval in any other country, while a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. Also, regulatory approval may be withdrawn. If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets and/or receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our therapeutic candidates or products will be harmed and our business will be adversely affected.
We may face competition from biosimilars due to changes in the regulatory environment.
We may face competition for the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System from biosimilars due to the changing regulatory environment. In the United States, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are demonstrated to be “highly similar,” or biosimilar to, or “interchangeable” with an FDA-approved innovator (original) biological product. This new pathway could allow competitors to reference data from innovator biological products already approved after 12 years from the time of approval. In Europe, a competitor may reference data from biological products already approved but will not be able to get on the market until 10 years after the time of approval. This 10-year period will be extended to 11 years if, during the first eight of those 10 years, the marketing authorization holder obtains an approval for one or more new therapeutic indications that bring significant clinical benefits compared with existing therapies. In addition, companies may be developing biosimilars in other countries that could compete with CardiALLO, if approved. Additionally, the FDA may approve our competitors’ products through a PMA pathway, similar to CardiAMP. If competitors are able to obtain marketing approval for biosimilars referencing CardiALLO, if approved, it may become subject to competition from such biosimilars with the attendant competitive pressure and consequences.
If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.
We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Our operations may involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological materials. Our operations may also produce hazardous waste products. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials, which could cause an interruption of our commercialization efforts, research and development efforts and business operations, environmental damage resulting in costly clean-up and liabilities under applicable laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products. Although we believe that the safety procedures utilized by our third-party manufacturers for handling and disposing of these materials generally comply with the standards prescribed by these laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee that this is the case or eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In such an event, we may be held liable for any resulting damages and such liability could exceed our resources and state or federal or other applicable authorities may curtail our use of certain materials and/or interrupt our business operations. Furthermore, environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent. We cannot predict the impact of such changes and cannot be certain of our future compliance. In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions. We do not currently carry biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage.
Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials or other work-related injuries, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities.
We are subject to various federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the federal False Claims Act.
Even though we do not and will not control referrals of healthcare services or bill directly to Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payors, certain federal and state healthcare laws and regulations pertaining to fraud and abuse will be applicable to our business. Healthcare fraud and abuse regulations are complex and can be subject to varying interpretations as to whether or not a statute has been violated. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:
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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute which prohibits, among other things, the knowing and willful payment of remuneration to induce or reward patient referrals or the generation of business involving any item or service which may be payable by the federal health care programs (e.g., drugs, supplies, or health care services for Medicare or Medicaid patients); |
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the federal False Claims Act which prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment for government funds (e.g., payment from Medicare or Medicaid) or knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim for government funds; |
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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and its implementing regulations, imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. Among other things, HIPAA imposes civil and criminal liability for the wrongful access or disclosure of protected health information; |
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the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, created under Section 6002 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, the ACA, requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report information related to certain payments or other transfers of value made or distributed to physicians and teaching hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, those physicians and teaching hospitals and to report annually certain ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members; |
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the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which prohibits, among other things, the adulteration or misbranding of drugs and devices; |
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the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits corrupt payments, gifts or transfers of value to non-U.S. officials; and |
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non-U.S. and U.S. state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers. |
The federal fraud and abuse laws have been interpreted to apply to arrangements between medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers and a variety of health care professional. Although the federal Anti-Kickback Statute has several statutory exemptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting certain common activities from prosecution, all elements of the potentially applicable exemption or safe harbor must be met in order for the arrangement to be protected, and prosecutors have interpreted the federal healthcare fraud statutes to attack a wide range of conduct by medical device and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, most states have statutes or regulations similar to the federal anti-kickback and federal false claims laws, which apply to items and services covered by Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor. Administrative, civil and criminal sanctions may be imposed under these federal and state laws.
Further, the ACA, among other things, amended the intent standard under the Anti-Kickback Statute such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. In addition, the ACA makes clear that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim under the federal False Claims Act. Any violations of these laws, or any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could result in a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements will comply with applicable healthcare laws may involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices do not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, disgorgement, monetary fines, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of our operations, any of which could harm our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. In addition, the clearance or approval and commercialization of any of our products outside the United States will also likely subject us to foreign equivalents of the healthcare laws mentioned above, among other foreign laws.
A failure to adequately protect private health information could result in severe harm to our reputation and subject us to significant liabilities, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Throughout the clinical trial process, we may obtain the private health information of our trial subjects. There are a number of state, federal and international laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA, Congress amended the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA. HIPAA imposes limitations on the use and disclosure of an individual’s healthcare information by healthcare providers conducting certain electronic transactions, healthcare clearinghouses, and health insurance plans, collectively referred to as covered entities. The HIPAA amendments also impose compliance obligations and corresponding penalties for non-compliance on certain individuals and entities that provide services to or perform certain functions on behalf of healthcare providers and other covered entities involving the use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information, collectively referred to as business associates. ARRA also made significant increases in the penalties for improper use or disclosure of an individual’s health information under HIPAA and extended enforcement authority to state attorneys general. The amendments also create notification requirements to federal regulators, and in some cases local and national media, for individuals whose health information has been inappropriately accessed or disclosed. Notification is not required under HIPAA if the health information that is improperly used or disclosed is deemed secured in accordance with certain encryption or other standards developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS. Most states have laws requiring notification of affected individuals and state regulators in the event of a breach of personal information, which is a broader class of information than the health information protected by HIPAA. Many state laws impose significant data security requirements, such as encryption or mandatory contractual terms to ensure ongoing protection of personal information. Activities outside of the United States implicate local and national data protection standards, impose additional compliance requirements and generate additional risks of enforcement for noncompliance. The European Union’s Data Protection Directive, Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and other data protection, privacy and similar national, state/provincial and local laws may also restrict the access, use and disclosure of patient health information abroad. We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws, to protect against security breaches and hackers or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches.
A recall of any of our commercialized products, or the discovery of serious safety issues, could have a significant negative impact on us.
The FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies have the authority to require or request the recall in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture or in the event an unacceptable risk to health. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, also initiate a recall. A government-mandated or voluntary recall could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues. Recalls would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on our reputation, financial condition and operating results.
Further, under the FDA’s reporting regulations, we are required to report to the FDA any event that reasonably suggests that our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or in which our product malfunctioned and, if the malfunction of the same or similar product marketed by us were to recur, would likely cause or contribute to death or serious injury. The FDA also requires reporting of serious, life-threatening, unexpected and other adverse experiences and the submission of periodic safety reports and other information. Malfunctions or other adverse event reports may result in a voluntary or involuntary recall and other adverse actions, which could divert managerial and financial resources, impair our ability to manufacture in a cost-effective and timely manner and have an adverse effect on our reputation, financial condition and operating results. Similar reporting requirements exist in Europe and other jurisdictions.
Any adverse event involving our products could result in future voluntary corrective actions, such as recalls or customer notifications, or regulatory agency action, which could include inspection, mandatory recall or other enforcement action. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, will require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business and may harm our reputation and financial results. For example, in 2014 we notified the FDA that we were going to initiate a voluntary recall of our Morph AccessPro product based on a manufacturing observation, which was completed to the FDA’s satisfaction in the same year, and in 2017 we updated our instructions for use for the Helix™ and Morph catheter products to provide guidance on known potential risks. There can be no guarantee that we will not experience similar product recalls or changes in the future with these products or our other products or therapeutic candidates, if approved.
Modifications to our products may require reclassifications, new regulatory approvals or clearances, or may require us to cease marketing or recall the modified products until new CE marking is obtained.
Currently there are six Morph product family model numbers that have been approved for commercial use in the United States via a 510(k) clearance. A modification to these products could lead to a reclassification and could result in further requirements (including additional clinical trials) to maintain each respective clearance or approval. If we fail to comply with such further requirements, we may be required to cease marketing or to recall the modified product until we obtain clearance or approval, and we may be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties. In addition, CE Mark certification for three Morph product family model numbers expired in April 2019. While the Company is working to renew CE Mark certification for such products, there can be no assurance that renewal will be granted or that the business will not be materially adversely affected as a result of the loss of such certification or the failure to obtain such renewal.
We work with outside scientists and their institutions in developing therapeutic candidates and products. These scientists may have other commitments or conflicts of interest, which could limit our access to their expertise.
We work with scientific advisors and collaborators at academic research institutions in connection with our development programs. These scientific advisors serve as our link to the specific pools of trial participants we are targeting in that these advisors may:
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identify individuals as potential candidates for study; |
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obtain their consent to participate in our research; |
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perform medical examinations and gather medical histories; |
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conduct the initial analysis of suitability of the individuals to participate in our research based on the foregoing; and |
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collect data and biological samples from trial participants periodically in accordance with our study protocols. |
These scientists and collaborators are not our employees, rather they serve as either independent contractors or the primary investigators under research collaboration agreements that we have with their sponsoring academic or research institution. Such scientists and collaborators may have other commitments that would limit their availability to us. Although our scientific advisors generally agree not to do competing work, if an actual or potential conflict of interest between their work for us and their work for another entity arises, we may lose their services. It is also possible that some of our valuable proprietary knowledge may become publicly known through these scientific advisors if they breach their confidentiality agreements with us, which would cause competitive harm to our business.
The use, misuse or off-label use of our products or therapies, if approved, may result in injuries that lead to product liability suits, which could be costly to our business.
We are not permitted to make claims about the use of our marketed products and will not be permitted to make claims about the use of our therapeutic candidates, if approved, outside of their approved indications. Further, we are not and will not be able to proactively discuss or provide information on off-label uses of such products, with very specific and limited exceptions. However, we cannot prevent a physician from using our products or therapeutic candidates, if approved, for off-label applications. Off-label use of our products or therapies, if approved, is more likely to result in complications that have serious consequences. Product liability claims are especially prevalent in our industry and could harm our reputation, divert management’s attention from our core business, be expensive to defend and may result in sizable damage awards against us. Although we maintain product liability insurance, the amount or breadth of our coverage may not be adequate for the claims that may be made against us. In addition, failure to follow FDA rules and guidelines relating to promotion and advertising can result in, among other things, the FDA’s refusal to approve a product or therapeutic candidate, the suspension or withdrawal of an approved product or therapy from the market, product recalls, fines, disgorgement of money, operating restrictions, injunctions or criminal prosecutions.
Our employees, principal investigators, consultants and collaboration partners may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with laws and regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading.
We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other misconduct. Misconduct by employees could include failures to comply with FDA regulations, to provide accurate information to the FDA, to comply with manufacturing standards we have established, to comply with federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, to report financial information or data accurately or to disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations restrict or prohibit a wide range of activity relating to pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commissions, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation, or a breach of insider trading laws. It is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions.
If we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our therapeutic candidates, if approved, we may be unable to generate any revenues.
We currently have a limited organization for the sales, marketing and distribution of products and the cost of establishing and maintaining such an organization may exceed the cost-effectiveness of doing so. In order to market any products that may be approved, including CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems, we must build our sales, distribution, marketing, managerial and other non-technical capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services. We have limited prior experience in the marketing, sale or distribution of approved products and there are significant risks involved in building and managing a sales organization, including our ability to hire, retain, and incentivize qualified individuals, generate sufficient sales leads, provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel, and effectively manage a geographically dispersed sales and marketing team. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of our therapeutic candidates.
Our strategy is to obtain FDA approval and market the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for potential heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia indications using a dedicated direct sales model focused on selected cardiologists and interventional cardiologists. We may in the future, choose to align ourselves with collaborators as part of our commercialization strategy, particularly outside of the United States, and our future collaboration partners, if any, may not dedicate sufficient resources to the commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or companion diagnostic or may otherwise fail in their commercialization due to factors beyond our control. If we are unable to establish effective collaborations to enable the sale of our therapeutic candidates and companion diagnostic to healthcare professionals and in geographical regions, including the United States, that will not be covered by our own marketing and sales force, or if our potential future collaboration partners do not successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates or companion diagnostic, our ability to generate revenues from product sales, including sales of CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems, will be adversely affected.
Building an internal sales force involves many challenges, including:
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recruiting and retaining talented people; |
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training employees that we recruit; |
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setting the appropriate system of incentives; |
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managing additional headcount; and |
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integrating a new business unit into an existing corporate architecture. |
If we are unable to build our own sales force or negotiate a strategic partnership for the commercialization of CardiAMP or CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems in the United States, we may be forced to delay the potential commercialization of these therapies or reduce the scope of our sales and marketing activities for CardiAMP or CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems. To fund commercialization activities, we will need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we will not be able to bring CardiAMP or CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems to market or generate product revenue.
If we are unable to establish adequate sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, whether independently or with third parties, we may not be able to generate sufficient product revenue and may not become profitable. We will be competing with many companies that currently have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. Without an internal team or the support of a third party to perform marketing and sales functions, we may be unable to compete successfully against these more established companies.
In addition, there are risks involved with both establishing our own sales and marketing capabilities and entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. For example, recruiting and training a sales force is expensive and time-consuming and could delay any launch. If the commercial launch of a therapeutic candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. This may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our sales and marketing personnel.
We have limited experience manufacturing our therapeutic candidates or products in commercial quantities, which could harm our business.
Because we have only limited experience in manufacturing therapeutic candidates or products in commercial quantities, we may encounter production delays or shortfalls. Such production delays or shortfalls may be caused by many factors, including the following:
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we intend to significantly expand our manufacturing capacity, and our production processes may have to change to accommodate this growth; |
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key components and sub-assemblies of our products and therapeutic candidates are currently provided by a single supplier or limited number of suppliers, and we do not maintain large inventory levels of these components and sub-assemblies; if we experience a shortage in any of these components or sub-assemblies, we would need to identify and qualify new supply sources, which could increase our expenses and result in manufacturing delays; |
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we may experience a delay in completing validation and verification testing for new controlled-environment rooms at our manufacturing facilities; |
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we have limited experience in complying with FDA’s QSRs, which applies to the manufacture of our products and therapeutic candidates; and |
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to increase our manufacturing output significantly, we will have to attract and retain qualified employees, who are in short supply, for our manufacturing operations. |
If we are unable to keep up with demand for our products, our revenues could be impaired, market acceptance for our products could be harmed and our customers might instead purchase our competitors’ products. Our inability to successfully manufacture our products would materially harm our business.
If we fail to obtain and sustain an adequate level of reimbursement for our products by third-party payors, sales and profitability would be adversely affected.
Our ability to commercialize any therapeutic candidates or products successfully will depend, in part, on the extent to which coverage and reimbursement for our therapeutic candidates or products and related treatments will be available from government healthcare programs, private health insurers, managed care plans, and other organizations. Additionally, even if there is a commercially viable market, if the level of third-party reimbursement is below our expectations, our revenue and profitability could be materially and adversely affected.
Third-party payors, such as government programs, including Medicare in the United States, or private healthcare insurers, carefully review and increasingly question the coverage of, and challenge the prices charged for medical products and services, and many third-party payors limit coverage of or reimbursement for newly approved therapies or products. Reimbursement rates and coverage from private health insurance companies vary depending on the company, the insurance plan and other factors. As a result, the coverage determination process will require us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our therapeutic candidates to each private health insurance company separately, with no assurance that adequate coverage and reimbursement will be obtained.
A current trend in the U.S. healthcare industry as well as in other countries around the world is toward cost containment, including a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the health care system that could impact our ability to sell our approved therapies or products profitably. In particular, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 revised the payment methodology for many products under Medicare in the United States, which has resulted in lower rates of reimbursement. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was enacted. This expansion in the government’s role in the U.S. healthcare industry may further lower rates of reimbursement.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. President Donald Trump has made statements that suggest he plans to seek repeal of all or portions of the Affordable Care Act, and has stated that he will ask Congress to replace the current legislation with new legislation. There is uncertainty with respect to the impact President Trump’s Administration may have, if any, and any changes likely will take time to unfold, and could have an impact on coverage and reimbursement for healthcare items and services covered by plans that were authorized by the Affordable Care Act. However, we cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare reform legislation or the impact of potential legislation on us. In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. These changes included aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, effective April 1, 2013, which, due to subsequent legislative amendments, will stay in effect through 2027 unless additional Congressional action is taken. In January 2013, President Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several providers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These new laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, which could have a material adverse effect on customers for our products, if approved, and accordingly, on our financial operations.
In 2017, the European Union released new regulations to ensure patient safety with the use of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics that will go into effect over a three-year period from 2020 to 2022. The new regulations replace predecessor directives and emphasize a global convergence of regulations. Marketing authorization timelines will become more protracted and the costs of operating in Europe will increase. A significantly more costly path to regulatory compliance is anticipated. Adjusting to the new Medical Device Regulation may prove to be costly and disruptive to our business.
Large public and private payors, managed care organizations, group purchasing organizations and similar organizations are exerting increasing influence on decisions regarding the use of, and reimbursement levels for, particular treatments. In particular, third-party payors may limit the covered indications. Cost-control initiatives could decrease the price we might establish, which could result in revenue and profitability being lower than anticipated.
There may be significant delays in obtaining coverage and reimbursement for newly approved therapies or products, and coverage may be more limited than the purposes for which the therapy or product is approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Moreover, eligibility for coverage and reimbursement does not imply that a therapy or product will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution expenses. Interim reimbursement levels, if applicable, may also be insufficient to cover our and any partner’s costs and may not be made permanent. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and profitable payment rates from both government-funded and private payors for any approved therapies or products that we develop could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to commercialize therapies or products and our overall financial condition.
Furthermore, reimbursement systems in international markets vary significantly by country and by region, and reimbursement approvals must be obtained on a country-by-country basis. In many countries, therapies or products cannot be commercially launched until reimbursement is approved and the negotiation process in some countries can exceed 12 months. In addition, pricing and reimbursement decisions in certain countries can be affected by decisions taken in other countries, which can lead to mandatory price reductions and/or additional reimbursement restrictions across a number of other countries, which may thereby adversely affect our sales and profitability. In the event that countries impose prices which are not sufficient to allow us to generate a profit, this would adversely affect sales and profitability.
Price controls may be imposed in foreign markets, which may adversely affect our future profitability.
In some countries, particularly European Union member states, Japan, Australia and Canada, the pricing of therapies and products is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after receipt of marketing approval for a therapy or product. In addition, there can be considerable pressure by governments and other stakeholders on prices and reimbursement levels, including as part of cost containment measures. Political, economic and regulatory developments may further complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used by various European Union member states and parallel distribution, or arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states, can further reduce prices. In some countries, we or our partners may be required to conduct a clinical trial or other studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of our therapeutic candidates to other available therapies in order to obtain or maintain reimbursement or pricing approval. Publication of discounts by third-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels within the country of publication and other countries. If reimbursement of our therapies or products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our business, revenues or profitability could be adversely affected.
If the market opportunities for our therapeutic candidates or products are smaller than we believe they are, our revenues may be adversely affected and our business may suffer.
It is very difficult to estimate the future commercial potential of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, and our commercialized products due to factors such as safety and efficacy compared to other available treatments, changing standards of care, third-party payor reimbursement standards, patient and physician preferences, and the availability of competitive alternatives that may emerge. We believe that approximately 70% of the NYHA Class II and Class III ischemic systolic heart failure patients in the United States will be eligible for CardiAMP due to a sufficient CardiAMP potency assay score. However, if considerably less than approximately 70% of NYHA Class II and Class III ischemic heart failure patients are eligible for CardiAMP due to an insufficient CardiAMP potency assay score, it would significantly and negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or products.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the human clinical use of our therapeutic candidates and products and will face an even greater risk if we continue to commercialize our therapeutic candidates and products. For example, we may be sued if any therapy or product we develop allegedly causes injury or is found to be otherwise unsuitable during product testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of inherent dangers, negligence, strict liability, and a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization. Even a successful defense would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
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decreased demand, even if such products or therapies are approved; |
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injury to our reputation; |
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withdrawal of clinical trial participants; |
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costs to defend the related litigations; |
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a diversion of management’s time and our resources; |
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substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients; |
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recalls, withdrawals, or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions; |
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increased cost of liability insurance; |
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loss of revenue; |
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the inability to receive regulatory approvals or commercialize our approved products or therapies; and |
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a decline in our share price. |
Although we maintain product liability insurance with coverage that we believe is consistent with industry norms for companies at our stage of development, the amount or breadth of our coverage may not be adequate for the claims that may be made against us. Failure to obtain and retain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of products or therapies we develop. Additionally, our insurance policies have various exclusions, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage or reduced coverage. Any claim that may be brought against us could result in a court judgment or settlement in an amount that is not covered, in whole or in part, by our insurance or that is in excess of the limits of our insurance coverage. We will have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts.
Our business and operations would suffer in the event of system failures.
Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our current and any future CROs and other contractors, consultants and potential collaborators are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. For example, our systems have been impacted by computer viruses in the past, and while we have not experienced any material system failure, accident or security breach that has resulted in lasting impacts to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. Likewise, we rely on third parties for manufacturing our therapeutic candidates and conducting clinical trials, and similar events relating to their computer systems could also have a material adverse effect on our business. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates could be delayed.
Interruptions in supply or inventory loss may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our therapeutic candidates and products are manufactured and distributed using technically complex processes requiring specialized facilities, highly specific raw materials and other production constraints. The complexity of these processes, as well as strict company and government standards for manufacture and storage, subjects us to production risks. While batches released for use in clinical trials or for commercialization undergo sample testing, some defects may only be identified following release. In addition, process deviations or unanticipated effects of approved process changes may result in these intermediate products not complying with stability requirements or specifications. The investigation and remediation of any identified problems can cause production delays, substantial expense, lost sales and delays of new product or therapy launches. Any supply interruption or the loss thereof could hinder our ability to timely distribute our approved products and satisfy demand. Any unforeseen storage failure or loss in supply could delay our clinical trials and, if our therapeutic candidates are approved, result in a loss of our market share and negatively affect our revenues and operations.
We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by earthquakes or other natural disasters and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.
Earthquakes or other natural disasters could severely disrupt our operations, and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. A majority of our management operates in our principal executive offices located in San Carlos, California and we currently manufacture our Helix™ and Morph products at this facility and use it for storage of our clinical trial materials and biobanking. If our San Carlos offices were affected by a natural or man-made disaster, particularly those that are characteristic of the region, such as wildfires and earthquakes, or other business interruption, our ability to manage our domestic and foreign operations could be impaired, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure, such as the manufacturing facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place currently are limited and are unlikely to prove adequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which, particularly when taken together with our lack of earthquake insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our business. The ultimate impact of any such events on us, our significant suppliers and our general infrastructure is unknown.
Risks Relating to Our Intellectual Property
We may not be able to protect our proprietary technology in the marketplace.
Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to obtain patents, protect our trade secrets and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others. We rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection, and confidentiality agreements to protect the intellectual property of our therapeutic candidates and products. Patents might not be issued or granted with respect to our patent applications that are currently pending, and issued or granted patents might later be found to be invalid or unenforceable, be interpreted in a manner that does not adequately protect our current therapeutic candidates or products or any future therapeutic candidates or products, or fail to otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. As such, we do not know the degree of future protection that we will have on our therapeutic candidates or products and technology, if any, and a failure to obtain adequate intellectual property protection with respect to our therapeutic candidates or products could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Filing, prosecuting and defending patents throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, so our policy is to patent technology in jurisdictions with significant or otherwise relevant commercial opportunities or activities. However, patent protection may not be available for some of the therapeutic candidates or products we are developing. If we must spend significant time and money protecting or enforcing our patents, designing around patents held by others or licensing, potentially for large fees, patents or other proprietary rights held by others, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be harmed.
The patent protection of biotherapeutics is complex and uncertain.
The scope and extent of patent protection for our therapeutic candidates and products are particularly uncertain. To date, our principal therapeutic candidates have been based on specific subpopulations of known and naturally occurring adult stem cells. We anticipate that the therapeutic candidates or products we develop in the future will continue to include or be based on the same or other naturally occurring stem cells or derivatives or products thereof. Although we have sought and expect to continue to seek patent protection for our therapeutic candidates and products, their methods of use, methods of manufacture, and methods of delivery, any or all of them may not be subject to effective patent protection. Publication of information related to our therapeutic candidates and products by us or others may prevent us from obtaining or enforcing patents relating to these products and therapeutic candidates. Furthermore, others may independently develop similar therapeutic candidates or products, may duplicate our therapeutic candidates or products, or may design around our patent rights. In addition, any of our issued patents may be declared invalid. If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property, we may face competition from companies who attempt to create a generic therapeutic candidate or product to compete with our therapeutic candidates or products.
Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on therapeutic candidates or products in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own therapeutic candidates or products and further, may export otherwise infringing therapeutic candidates or products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These therapeutic candidates or products may compete with our current or future therapeutic candidates or products, if any, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology products, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing therapeutic candidates or products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
We may be unable to adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.
We maintain certain of our proprietary know-how and technological advances as trade secrets, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable, including, but not exclusively, with respect to certain aspects of the manufacturing of our therapeutic candidates or products. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We take a number of measures to protect our trade secrets including, limiting disclosure, physical security and confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. We enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, contract manufacturing partners, sponsored researchers and other advisors and third parties to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights. Failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection, or failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could enable competitors to develop generic products or use our proprietary information to develop other therapeutic candidates or products that compete with our therapeutic candidates or products or cause additional, material adverse effects upon our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may be forced to litigate to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights, and/or the intellectual property rights of our licensors.
We may be forced to litigate to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights against infringement by competitors, and to protect our trade secrets against unauthorized use. In so doing, we may place our intellectual property at risk of being invalidated, unenforceable, or limited or narrowed in scope and may no longer be used to prevent the manufacture and sale of competitive product. Further, an adverse result in any litigation or other proceedings before government agencies such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or the USPTO, may place pending applications at risk of non-issuance. Further, interference proceedings, derivation proceedings, entitlement proceedings, ex parte reexamination, inter partes reexamination, inter partes review, post-grant review, and opposition proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by the USPTO or any foreign patent authority may be used to challenge inventorship, ownership, claim scope, or validity of our patent applications. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential and proprietary information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation.
Intellectual property disputes could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.
Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our technical and/or management personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the market price of our shares. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of litigation proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources and personnel. In addition, the uncertainties associated with litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to conduct our clinical trials, continue our internal research programs, in-license needed technology or enter into strategic collaborations that would help us bring our therapeutic candidates to market. As a result, uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.
Patent reform legislation and recent court decisions could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents.
On September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, was signed into law. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law, including provisions that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and may also affect patent litigation. The USPTO has and continues to develop and implement regulations and procedures to govern administration of the Leahy-Smith Act, and many of the substantive changes to patent law associated with the Leahy-Smith Act. The full effect of these changes is currently unclear as the USPTO has not yet adopted all pertinent final rules and regulations, the courts have yet to address these provisions and the applicability of the Leahy-Smith Act and new regulations on specific patents, including our patents discussed herein, have not been determined and would need to be reviewed. Accordingly, it is not yet clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. As a result, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
On June 13, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., held that isolated DNA sequences are not patentable because they constitute a product of nature. The Supreme Court did not address stem cells in particular, and as a result, it is not yet clear what, if any, impact this Supreme Court decision or future decisions will have on the operation of our business.
If third parties claim that our therapeutic candidates or other products infringe upon their intellectual property, commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or products and our operating profits could be adversely affected.
There is a substantial amount of litigation, both within and outside the United States, involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the biopharmaceutical industry. We may, from time to time, be notified of claims that we are infringing upon patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights owned by third parties, and we cannot provide assurances that other companies will not, in the future, pursue such infringement claims against us or any third-party proprietary technologies we have licensed. Any such claims could also be expensive and time consuming to defend and divert management’s attention and resources and could delay or prevent us from commercializing our therapeutic candidates or products. Our competitive position could suffer as a result. Although we have reviewed certain third-party patents and patent filings that we believe may be relevant to our therapeutic candidates or products, we have not conducted a freedom-to-operate search or analysis for our therapeutic candidates or products, and we may not be aware of patents or pending or future patent applications that, if issued, would block us from commercializing our therapeutic candidates or products. Thus, we cannot guarantee that our therapeutic candidates or products, or our commercialization thereof, do not and will not infringe any third party’s intellectual property.
From time to time, we have reviewed the claims of specific patents owned by third parties. While we have concluded that no claims of any of these patents would be infringed by our products, that all relevant claims would expire before our products would be commercialized, or both, we cannot guarantee that the patent owners would not disagree and conclude that our products would infringe these claims.
If we do not obtain patent term extension in the United States under the Hatch-Waxman Act and in foreign countries under similar legislation, thereby potentially extending the term of our marketing exclusivity of our therapeutic candidates or products, our business may be materially harmed.
Depending on the timing, duration and specifics of FDA marketing approval of our therapeutic candidates or products, if any, one of the U.S. patents covering each of such approved therapeutic candidate or product or the use thereof may be eligible for up to five years of patent term restoration under the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act allows a maximum of one patent to be extended per FDA approved product. Patent term extension also may be available in certain foreign countries upon regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, including by the EMA in the European Union or the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency in Japan. Nevertheless, we may not be granted patent term extension either in the United States or in any foreign country because of, for example, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the term of extension, as well as the scope of patent protection during any such extension, afforded by the governmental authority could be less than we request. In addition, if a patent we wish to extend is owned by another party and licensed to us, we may need to obtain approval and cooperation from our licensor to request the extension.
If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or restoration, or the term of any such extension is less than we request, the period during which we will have the right to exclusively market our therapeutic candidates or products will be shortened and our competitors may obtain approval of competing products following our patent expiration, and our revenue could be reduced, possibly materially.
Our reliance on third parties requires us to share our trade secrets, which increases the possibility that a competitor will discover them or that our trade secrets will be misappropriated or disclosed.
Because we rely on third parties for manufacturing, and because we collaborate with various organizations and academic institutions on the advancement of our clinical trials, we must, at times, share trade secrets with them. We seek to protect our proprietary technology in part by entering into confidentiality agreements and, if applicable, material transfer agreements, consulting agreements or other similar agreements with our advisors, employees, third-party contractors and consultants prior to beginning research or disclosing proprietary information. These agreements typically limit the rights of the third parties to use or disclose our confidential information, including our trade secrets. Despite the contractual provisions employed when working with third parties, the need to share trade secrets and other confidential information increases the risk that such trade secrets become known by our competitors, are inadvertently incorporated into the technology of others, or are disclosed or used in violation of these agreements. Given that our proprietary position is based, in part, on our know-how and trade secrets, a competitor’s discovery of our trade secrets or other unauthorized use or disclosure would impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, these agreements typically restrict the ability of our advisors, employees, third-party contractors and consultants to publish data potentially relating to our trade secrets, although our agreements may contain certain limited publication rights. For example, any academic institution that we may collaborate with in the future will usually expect to be granted rights to publish data arising out of such collaboration, provided that we are notified in advance and given the opportunity to delay publication for a limited time period in order for us to secure patent protection of intellectual property rights arising from the collaboration, in addition to the opportunity to remove confidential or trade secret information from any such publication. In the future we may also conduct joint research and development programs that may require us to share trade secrets under the terms of our research and development partnerships or similar agreements. Despite our efforts to protect our trade secrets, our competitors may discover our trade secrets, either through breach of our agreements with third parties, independent development or publication of information by any of our third-party collaborators. A competitor’s discovery of our trade secrets would impair our competitive position and have an adverse impact on our business.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
An active trading market may not develop for our securities or what the market price of our securities will be and as a result it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of our securities.
Although our common stock and warrants to purchase common stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “BCDA” and “BCDAW,” respectively, an active trading market for our common stock or warrants may never develop or be sustained. You may not be able to sell your shares quickly or at the market price if trading in shares of our securities is not active. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling shares of our securities and may impair our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using shares of our securities as consideration, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The market price and trading volume of our securities may be volatile and may be affected by economic conditions beyond our control.
The market price of our securities is likely to be volatile. Some specific factors that could negatively affect the price of our securities or result in fluctuations in its price and trading volume include:
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results of clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates; |
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results of clinical trials of our competitors’ products; |
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regulatory actions with respect to our therapeutic candidates or products or our competitors’ products; |
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actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results or those of our competitors; |
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publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors in the industry; |
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our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give to the market; |
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issuances by us of debt or equity securities; |
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litigation involving our company, including stockholder litigation; investigations or audits by regulators into the operations of our company; or proceedings initiated by our competitors or clients; |
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strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy; |
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the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments affecting us or our industry; fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us; |
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trading volume of our common stock and warrants; |
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sales or perceived potential sales of our common stock and/or warrants by us, our directors, senior management or our stockholders in the future; |
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short selling or other market manipulation activities; |
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announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts; |
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terrorist acts, acts of war or periods of widespread civil unrest; |
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natural disasters and other calamities; |
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changes in market conditions for biopharmaceutical stocks; and |
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conditions in the U.S. financial markets or changes in general economic conditions. |
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, the price and trading volume of our securities could decline.
The trading market for our securities will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no or few securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our securities would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our clinical trials and operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, the price of our securities would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the price or trading volume of our securities to decline.
Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.
As of October 1, 2019, our executive officers, directors, 5% stockholders and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 69.8% of our voting stock. Therefore, these stockholders will have the ability to influence us through this ownership position. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, these stockholders, acting together, may be able to control elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our Common stock that you may believe are in your best interest as one of our stockholders.
Our financial controls and procedures may not be sufficient to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and, as a result, the value of our common stock.
As a public company, we are required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in such internal controls. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and provide a management report on internal control over financial reporting.
The effectiveness of our controls and procedures may in the future be limited by a variety of factors, including:
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faulty human judgements and simple errors, omissions or mistakes; |
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fraudulent actions of an individual or collusion of two or more people; |
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inappropriate management override of procedures; and |
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the possibility that any enhancements to controls and procedures may still not be adequate to assure timely and accurate financial information. |
In connection with the preparation of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, we identified the following material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019:
We lacked consistent processes to appropriately perform effective and timely review of the accounting for and disclosure of non-routine transactions. Therefore, there was a risk that a potential material misstatement of the financial statements would occur without being prevented or detected on a timely basis.
We have taken certain steps to remediate this material weakness, including increasing the utilization of external technical accounting resources and designing and implementing improved processes and internal controls. However, our efforts to remediate this material weakness may not be effective or prevent any future material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting.
If our efforts are not successful, if we identify other material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the future, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, we may be unable to report our financial results accurately on a timely basis, which could cause our reported financial results to be materially misstated, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Common Stock could be adversely affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
As a smaller reporting company, we are subject to scaled disclosure requirements that may make it more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.
Currently, we are a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. As a “smaller reporting company,” we are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosures in our filings and have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in our filings with the SEC, including being required to provide only two years of audited financial statements in annual reports. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.
Furthermore, we are a non-accelerated filer as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and, as such, are not required to provide an auditor attestation of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, which is generally required for SEC reporting companies under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Because we are not required to, and have not, had our auditor’s provide an attestation of our management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, a material weakness in internal controls may remain undetected for a longer period.
We may be exposed to additional risks as a result of our reverse merger transaction.
We may be exposed to additional risks as a result of our “reverse merger” transaction and rules and regulations relating to shell companies or former shell companies. There has been increased focus in recent years by government agencies on transactions such as the reverse merger transaction, and we may be subject to increased scrutiny and/or restrictions by the SEC and other government agencies and holders of our securities as a result of the completion of that transaction. This may make it more difficult for us to obtain coverage from securities analysts of major brokerage firms. The occurrence of any such event could cause our business or stock price to suffer.
Our annual and quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly or may fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, each of which may cause our stock price to fluctuate or decline.
We expect our operating results to be subject to annual and quarterly fluctuations. Our net loss and other operating results will be affected by numerous factors, including:
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variations in the level of expenses related to our therapeutic candidates, products or future development programs; |
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if any of our therapeutic candidates receives regulatory approval, the level of underlying demand for these therapeutic candidates and wholesalers’ buying patterns; |
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addition or termination of clinical trials or funding support; |
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our execution of any collaborative, licensing or similar arrangements, and the timing of payments we may make or receive under these arrangements; |
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any intellectual property infringement lawsuit in which we may become involved; |
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regulatory developments affecting our therapeutic candidates or products or those of our competitors; |
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the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research and development activities relating to our therapeutic candidates, which may change from time to time; |
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our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel; |
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expenditures that we will or may incur to acquire or develop additional therapeutic candidates and technologies; |
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future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies; |
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the timing and success or failure of clinical studies for our therapeutic candidates or competing product candidates, or any other change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or partners; |
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the risk/benefit profile, cost and reimbursement policies with respect to our therapeutic candidates, if approved, and existing and potential future therapies or biologics that compete with our products or therapeutic candidates; and |
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the changing and volatile U.S., European and global economic environments. |
If our annual or quarterly operating results fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our securities could decline substantially. Furthermore, any annual or quarterly fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our stock to fluctuate substantially. We believe that annual and quarterly comparisons of our financial results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance.
Raising additional funds through debt or equity financing could be dilutive and may cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline.
To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest may be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a stockholder. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take certain actions, such as incurring debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic collaborations or partnerships, or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may be required to limit valuable rights to our intellectual property, technologies, therapeutic candidates or future revenue streams, or grant licenses or other rights on terms that are not favorable to us. Furthermore, any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our therapeutic candidates.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that sales may have on the prevailing market price of our common stock.
Future sales and issuances of our common stock or rights to purchase our common stock, including pursuant to our equity incentive plans, could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our stock price to fall.
We expect that significant additional capital will be needed in the future to continue our planned operations. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution. We may sell our common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. If we sell our common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in more than one transaction, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. These sales may also result in material dilution to our existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights superior to our existing stockholders.
We are at risk of securities class action litigation.
In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because biotechnology companies have experienced significant stock price volatility in recent years. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
We have incurred substantial losses during our history and do not expect to become profitable in the near future and we may never achieve profitability. None of our pre-Merger tax attributes remain available after the Merger as a result of limitations Section 382 due to lack of business continuity. To the extent that we continue to generate taxable losses, unused losses will carry forward to offset future taxable income, if any, until such unused losses expire. Losses generated after 2017 do not have an expiration date. Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. Our prior equity offerings and other changes in our stock ownership may have resulted in ownership changes. We have not performed an analysis to assess whether an ownership change has occurred. If we have experienced an ownership change at any time since our formation, utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 of the Code. In addition, we may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which are outside of our control. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards to offset U.S. federal taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us. In addition, at the state level, there may be periods during which the use of NOLs is suspended or otherwise limited, which could accelerate or permanently increase state taxes owed.
Recent U.S. tax legislation and future changes to applicable U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to income and other taxes in the U.S. Changes in laws and policy relating to taxes or trade may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, the U.S. government recently enacted significant tax reform, and certain provisions of the new law may adversely affect us. Changes include, but are not limited to, a federal corporate tax rate decrease from 34% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a more generally territorial system, and a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings. The legislation is unclear in many respects and could be subject to potential amendments and technical corrections and will be subject to interpretations and implementing regulations by the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, any of which could mitigate or increase certain adverse effects of the legislation. In addition, it is unclear how these U.S. federal income tax changes will affect state and local taxation. Generally, future changes in applicable U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application could have an adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations. Changes with respect to the transition to a territorial tax system are generally expected to have little impact given our lack of foreign operations.
We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock so any returns will be limited to the value of our stock.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any return to stockholders will therefore be limited to the appreciation of their stock.
Risks Related to this Offering
Resales of our common stock in the public market by our stockholders as a result of this Offering may cause the market price of our common stock to fall.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock and exercises of warrants to purchase a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. The issuance of new shares of our common stock could result in resales of our common stock by our current stockholders concerned about the potential ownership dilution of their holdings. In turn, these resales could have the effect of depressing the market price for our common stock.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
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 that could result in further dilution to investors purchasing our common stock in this Offering or result in downward pressure on the price of our common stock. We may sell shares of our common stock or other securities in any other offering at prices that are higher or lower than the prices paid by investors in this Offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders.
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this Offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.
We have not designated any portion of the net proceeds from this Offering to be used for any particular purpose. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from this Offering and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of commencement of this Offering. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for our company.
Even if this Offering is successful, we may need to raise additional funding to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates. Additional financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain additional capital may force us to delay, limit, or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.
We estimate that our current cash and cash equivalents, along with the net proceeds from this Offering, will be sufficient for us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the first half of 2021. Without giving effect to the anticipated net proceeds from this Offering, our existing capital resources are not sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements through the third quarter of 2020. This raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern beyond one year from the date of our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The net proceeds from this Offering may remove such doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, the expected net proceeds of this Offering may not be sufficient for us to fund any of our product candidates through regulatory approval, and we may need to raise substantial additional capital to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates. We may continue to seek funds through equity or debt financings, collaborative or other arrangements with corporate sources, or through other sources of financing. Additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Any failure to raise capital as and when needed, as a result of insufficient authorized shares or otherwise, could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies.
You may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value per share of the common stock you purchase.
The public offering price per share is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Therefore, if you purchase securities in this Offering, you will pay an effective price per share of common stock you acquire that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per share after this Offering. Following this Offering, you will experience immediate dilution of $ per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this Offering and the public offering price per share. In addition, if previously issued options to acquire common stock are exercised at prices below the offering price, you will experience further dilution. See “Dilution” for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you may incur in connection with this Offering.
This Offering may cause the trading price of our common stock to decrease.
The price per share, together with the number of shares of common stock we propose to issue and ultimately will issue if this Offering is completed, may result in an immediate decrease in the market price of our common stock. This decrease may continue after the completion of this Offering.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law may discourage or prevent a change in control, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, which could adversely affect our stock price and prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or changes in our Board of Directors that our stockholders might consider favorable. Some of these provisions:
• |
impose limitations on our stockholders to call special stockholder meetings; and |
• |
authorize the issuance of preferred stock which can be created and issued by the Board of Directors without prior stockholder approval, with rights senior to those of the common stock. |
In addition, we are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which may prohibit certain business combinations with stockholders owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. These and other provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation, our Bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirers to obtain control of our Board of Directors or initiate actions that are opposed by our then-current Board of Directors, including to delay or impede a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving our Company. Any delay or prevention of a change in control transaction or changes in our Board of Directors could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Any and all statements contained in this prospectus that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “pro-forma,” “predict,” “potential,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “plan,” “help,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future” and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may be intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements may contain one or more of these identifying terms. Those statements appear in this prospectus in this prospectus, and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the company and management that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” set forth above.
Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, without limitation, statements regarding:
(i) |
the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the development of our cell therapy systems, |
(ii) |
the timing and conduct of the clinical trials for our products, including statements regarding the timing, progress and results of current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials as well as our research and development programs; |
(iii) |
the timing or likelihood of regulatory filing, approvals and required licenses for our cell therapy systems; |
(iv) |
our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property rights and enforce such rights to avoid violation of the intellectual property rights of others; |
(v) |
the timing, costs and other aspects of the commercial launch of our products; |
(vi) |
our estimates regarding the market opportunity, clinical utility, potential advantages and market acceptance of our products; |
(vii) |
the impact of government laws and regulations; |
(viii) |
our ability to recruit and retain qualified clinical, regulatory and research and development personnel; |
(ix) |
the availability of reimbursement or other forms of funding for our products from government and commercial payors; |
(x) |
difficulties in maintaining commercial scale manufacturing capacity and capability and our ability to generate growth; |
(xi) |
uncertainty in industry demand; |
(xii) |
general economic conditions and market conditions in our industry; |
(xiii) |
future sales of large blocks of our securities, which may adversely impact our share price; |
(xiv) |
the depth of the trading market in our securities; |
(xv) |
a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, |
(xvi) |
our future financial performance, including any such statement contained in a discussion and analysis of financial condition by management or in the results of operations included pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, and |
(xvii) |
the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii) or (iii) above. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. |
Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that our net proceeds from this Offering will be approximately $ , based on an assumed public offering price of $ per share (the last reported price for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2020), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Each $ increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per share (the last reported price for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2020) would change our net proceeds by $ , assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of in the number of shares we are offering would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, by approximately $ , assuming the assumed public offering price stays the same.
We intend to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, completing enrollment in the ongoing CardiAMP Cell Therapy pivotal trial for the treatment of heart failure, the funding of clinical development and pursuing regulatory approval for our product candidates.
We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for such purposes. Pending the use of any net proceeds from this Offering, we expect to invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing, marketable securities.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table presents a summary of our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2019:
• |
on an actual basis; and |
• |
on an as adjusted basis, to give further effect to this Offering of shares of common stock, at an assumed public offering price of $ per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us. The as adjusted basis assumes no exercise of the overallotment option by the underwriters. |
You should read the following table in conjunction with our historical financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.
As of September 30, 2019 |
||||||||
(in thousands except for share and per share data)(unaudited) |
||||||||
Actual |
As Adjusted1 |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 8,910 | $ | |||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Total liabilities |
5,487 | |||||||
Stockholders’ Equity |
||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized; actual, no shares issued and outstanding; as adjusted, no shares issued and outstanding |
— | |||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; actual 6,825,183 shares issued and outstanding; as adjusted, shares issued and outstanding |
46 | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
102,716 | |||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(97,568 | ) | ||||||
Total Stockholders’ Equity |
5,194 | |||||||
Total Capitalization |
10,681 |
(1) Each $ increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per share, would increase (decrease) as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity (deficit) and total capitalization by approximately $ , assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each increase (decrease) of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity (deficit) and total capitalization by approximately $ , assuming that the assumed public offering price remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The foregoing as adjusted information is illustrative only, and our capitalization following the completion of this Offering will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this Offering determined at pricing.
The table and discussion set forth in the table above excludes, as of September 30, 2019:
• |
848,148 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of September 30, 2019, with a weighted-average exercise price of $18.90 per share (or $11.60 per share if the Repricing had occurred as of September 30, 2019); |
• |
62,135 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2019; |
• |
2,435,808 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2019 with a weighted-average exercise price of $6.36 per share; and |
• |
145,761 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans. |
DILUTION
If you invest in the securities being offered by this prospectus, your interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this Offering.
The net tangible book value of our common stock as of September 30, 2019, was approximately $4.0 million, or approximately $0.59 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets, less total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding. Dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the effective amount per share paid by purchasers for each share of common stock in this Offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately following the completion of this Offering.
Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers in this Offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this Offering. After giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock in this Offering at an assumed public offering price of $ per share, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2019 would have been approximately $ per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $ per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $ per share to investors purchasing shares of common stock in this Offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
Assumed public offering price per share |
$ | |||
Net tangible book value per share at September 30, 2019 |
$ | 0.59 | ||
Increase to net tangible book value per share attributable to investors purchasing our common stock in this Offering |
||||
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2019, after giving effect to this Offering |
||||
Dilution of as adjusted net tangible book value per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this Offering |
$ |
Each $ increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per share, would increase (decrease) our as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share to new investors by $ , and would increase (decrease) dilution per share to new investors in this Offering by $ , assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. In addition, to the extent any outstanding options to purchase common stock are exercised or any outstanding restricted stock units vest, new investors would experience further dilution. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this Offering would be approximately $ per share, and the dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share to investors in this Offering would be approximately $ per share of common stock.
The table and discussion set forth in the table above excludes, as of September 30, 2019:
• |
848,148 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of September 30, 2019, with a weighted-average exercise price of $18.90 per share (or $11.60 per share if the Repricing had occurred as of September 30, 2019); |
• |
62,135 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2019; |
• |
2,435,808 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2019 with a weighted-average exercise price of $6.36 per share; and |
• |
145,761 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans. |
To the extent that any of these outstanding options or warrants are exercised or we issue additional shares under our equity incentive plans, there may be further dilution to new investors. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
BUSINESS
Description of Business
We are a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases with large unmet medical needs. Our lead therapeutic candidate is the investigational CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, which provides an autologous bone marrow derived cell therapy (using a patient’s own cells) for the treatment of two clinical indications: heart failure that develops after a heart attack and chronic myocardial ischemia. Chronic myocardial ischemia involves sustained poor blood perfusion to the heart muscle often at the microvascular level. The CardiAMP Cell Therapy System is being developed to provide a comprehensive biotherapeutic solution, incorporating a proprietary molecular diagnostic to characterize the potency of a patient’s own bone marrow cells and determine if they are an optimal candidate for therapy, a proprietary point of care processing platform to prepare cells at the patient’s bedside, an optimized therapeutic formulation that builds on the total experience in the cardiac stem cell field to-date, and a proprietary interventional delivery system that easily navigates a patient’s vasculature to securely deliver cells in a routine cardiac catheterization procedure. Our second therapeutic candidate is the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, an investigational culture expanded bone marrow derived allogenic “off the shelf” cell therapy from a donor that meets specified criteria, which has potential to be advanced for many clinical indications including heart failure.
We are committed to applying our expertise in the fields of autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies to improve the lives of patients with cardiovascular conditions.
Market Overview and Opportunity
Adult bone marrow contains a large reservoir of stem and progenitor cells capable of differentiating into blood cells, blood vessel cells, and connective tissue cells. In addition, numerous pre-clinical cardiac studies have shown that cell-to-cell communication in which bone marrow-derived stem cells promotes microcirculatory adaptation, immune modulation and cell protection, facilitating cardiac recovery, in part via recruitment of other reparative cell types.
Bone marrow cell homing to the heart is believed to be part of the body’s natural repair process. After a heart attack or an acute injury to the heart, cells from bone marrow are known to home to the heart. For example, a population of bone marrow cells that express the surface marker CD34+ has certain receptors, including CXC-4 and CXC-7 receptors, that home to the SDF-1 ligand in injured heart tissue. In heart failure, the heart may have fewer of these homing signals and a decreased ability to stimulate or recreate this signaling process, leading to a lower likelihood of heart tissue repair. A number of other bone marrow derived cells with unique cell surface markers have also been shown to have beneficial effects in animal models of heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia disease when delivered directly to the heart.
Bone marrow derived cell-based therapy has been shown to have the potential to provide therapeutic benefit for patients with heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia. In the past decade, intramyocardial delivery of bone marrow derived cell-based therapies in preclinical and clinical studies of heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia has predominantly resulted in benefits, such as improvement in ventricular function, reduction in the area of dead heart tissue and increase in heart muscle blood flow, reduction in pain symptoms, reduced major adverse event rates, and reduced mortality.
Heart Failure
Heart failure is a clinical condition in which the output of blood from the heart is insufficient to meet the metabolic demands of the body. In 2019, the American Heart Association, or AHA, report on heart disease statistics estimated that 6.5 million American adults have heart failure and that heart failure cost the nation an estimated $30.7 billion in 2012, including the cost of health care services, medicines for treatment and missed days of work. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that heart failure was a contributing cause of 1 in 8 deaths in 2017. Heart failure is increasingly prevalent due to the aging population and the increase in major cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity and diabetes. The AHA also estimates that one in five adults will develop heart failure after the age of 40.
During heart failure progression, the heart steadily loses its ability to respond to increased metabolic demand, and mild exercise soon exceeds the heart’s ability to maintain adequate output. Towards the end stage of the disease, the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs at rest. At this stage, fluids accumulate in the extremities or in the lungs making the patient bedridden and unable to perform the activities of daily living. The long-term prognosis associated with heart failure is approximately 50% mortality at five years following the initial diagnosis.
Heart failure is classified in relation to the severity of the symptoms experienced by the patient. The most commonly used classification system, established by the New York Heart Association, or NYHA, is as follows:
• |
Class I (mild): patients experience no or very mild symptoms with ordinary physical activity; |
• |
Class II (mild): patients experience fatigue and shortness of breath during moderate physical activity; |
• |
Class III (moderate): patients experience shortness of breath during even light physical activity; and |
• |
Class IV (severe): patients are exhausted even at rest. |
Despite guideline-directed therapies employing a wide range of pharmacologic, device, and surgical options, many patients deteriorate over time and develop advanced heart failure symptoms that cannot be effectively managed by existing medical therapies. At the end stage of heart failure, current treatment options include heart transplant surgery or implantation of a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, a battery operated mechanical circulatory device used to partially or completely replace the function of the left ventricle of the heart. LVADs are used for patients awaiting a heart transplant or as a destination therapy for patients with NYHA Class IV heart failure who may never receive a heart transplant. Both of these end-stage treatment options require invasive open-chest surgery and can cost in excess of $150,000 per procedure, as reported by the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
There are approximately 2.9 million NYHA Class II and Class III heart failure patients, of which we estimate approximately 60% are patients with ischemic systolic heart failure. Of this subset of 1.7 million patients, we estimate that approximately 70%, or over 1.2 million patients, will have a cell potency score sufficient to qualify for treatment with the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System.
Chronic Myocardial Ischemia
Refractory angina is a condition characterized by severe pain in the chest, often also spreading to the shoulders, arms, and neck, caused by an inadequate blood supply to the heart. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that between 600,000 and 1.8 million patients suffer this condition, with approximately 75,000 new cases diagnosed each year. There is a growing population of patients with chronic angina that suffer with severely limiting symptoms and are not amenable to current therapies. These patients have significant impairments in quality of life, suffer from poor perceived health status and represent a significant burden to the health care system due to high use of health care resources. We believe the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System has the potential to provide a treatment for these patients not met by current therapeutic alternatives.
Our Product Candidates
CardiAMP Cell Therapy System
The CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, or CardiAMP, is our lead therapeutic program being advanced for two clinical indications. This investigational cell therapy system is comprised of (i) a cell potency screening test, (ii) a point of care cell processing platform, and (iii) a biotherapeutic delivery system. In the screening process, the physician extracts a small sample of the patient's bone marrow in an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. The clinic sends the sample to a centralized diagnostic lab, which tests for identified biomarkers from which we generate a potency assay score for the patient. During the treatment for patients who are assessed as meeting the indication specific CardiAMP cell potency assay score, a doctor harvests and then prepares the patient's own bone marrow mononuclear cells, or autologous cells, using our point of care cell processing platform, which a cardiologist then delivers into the heart using our proprietary biotherapeutic delivery system. We designed the entire procedure to be performed in approximately 60 to 90 minutes, which we believe is substantially faster than alternative cell-based therapies in development. The patient then leaves the hospital the same or next day.
CardiAMP Cells Phase I Heart Failure Study: Transendocardial Autologous Marrow Cells in Myocardial Infarction
The CardiAMP Phase I Transendocardial Autologous Marrow Cells in Myocardial Infarction or TABMMI trial enrolled 20 patients with ischemic systolic heart failure in an open label safety trial of bone marrow cells delivered with the Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system at a dosage of 100 million cells. Results showed improvement in cardiac function as measured by left ventricular ejection fraction, improved exercise tolerance, and superior survival as compared to historical controls. The complete results of the 20 patients at two-year follow-up have been published in the journal Eurointervention in 2011.
CardiAMP Cells Phase II Heart Failure Trial: Transendocardial Autologous Cells in Heart Failure Trial (TAC-HFT)
The CardiAMP Phase II Transendocardial Autologous Cells in Heart Failure Trial (TAC-HFT), patients with ischemic systolic heart failure were randomized on a one to one basis into two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials: TACHFT-BMC and TACHFT-MSC.
TACHFT-BMC met its primary safety endpoint at both dosages (100 million and 200 million cells) and treated patients had increased functional capacity, improved quality of life, symptoms and key markers of cardiac function predictive of survival, such as end systolic volume, or ESV. The TACHFT-BMC trial included a single dose of CardiAMP cells with a follow up observation period of 12 months. The Phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled study met its primary safety endpoint and demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in secondary efficacy endpoints of functional capacity, as measured by the six minute walk distance (6MW), and in quality of life, as measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score. Phase II results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2014 and were presented at the World Congress of Regenerative Medicine in 2015.
CardiAMP Cell Phase III Heart Failure Trial
The CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial is a Phase III, multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study of up to 260 patients at 40 centers nationwide, which includes a 10-patient roll-in cohort. The Phase III pivotal trial is designed to provide the primary support for the safety and efficacy of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System. The primary endpoint is a clinical composite of six minute walk distance and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Based on the results achieved in the Phase II trial, our Phase III pivotal trial is designed to have more than 95% probability of achieving a positive result with statistical significance. Statistical significance denotes the mathematical likelihood that the results observed are real and not due to chance.
Particularly novel aspects of this trial include a cell potency assay to screen subjects who are most likely to respond favorably to treatment, a point of care treatment method, use of a high target dose of 200 million cells and an efficient transcatheter delivery method that is associated with high cell retention. Success in the primary endpoint of the trial may lead to a new treatment for those suffering from heart failure in the aftermath of a heart attack. The trial design was published in the peer reviewed American Heart Journal in 2018.
The Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, has designated the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial as a qualifying trial for Medicare national coverage determination that routine costs of care will be covered for Medicare beneficiaries. Private insurance plans covering 50 million insured Americans follow this CMS reimbursement policy and are also anticipated to pay for these costs in the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial. Covered costs today for both the treatment and control arms of the trial include patient screening, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and procedure, and clinical follow-up at one and two years after the procedure.
The Phase III CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial was initiated in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the first patient treated in Q1 2017. The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) safety review of the 10-patient roll-in cohort treated at three clinical sites was completed successfully in the third quarter of 2017. Efficacy data from the primary endpoint in the open label roll-in cohort showing improvements in exercise capacity, quality of life and functional improvements as measured by the echocardiography core lab were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in 2018.
The independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) completed a prespecified data review of the trial in September 2019, which included follow-up results on 50 patients randomized in the trial as of August 31, 2019. The DSMB indicated there were no safety concerns with the study results and recommended that the trial continue as planned.
The ongoing CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial was enrolling at 24 clinical sites and had enrolled 58 patients as of the filing date for our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter, filed on November 19, 2019. We anticipate DSMB interim readouts from the trial in the first quarter of 2020, for safety, and in the fourth quarter of 2020, which will include a non-futility analysis with 60 patients having reached one-year follow-up. This fourth quarter of 2020 event is anticipated to be the first randomized efficacy data set including the primary endpoint reviewed by the DSMB.
Enrollment remains our primary focus and challenge. The FDA recently approved an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) supplement to the FDA with changes to enable patients in the control arm to “Cross Over” to therapy after certain follow-up visits in the trial have been completed, which assures the trial control arm patients early access to therapy if the trial meets its primary endpoint and is deemed appropriate for the patients by their physicians, and to enable BioCardia to cover the costs of all patient co-pays so that participation in the investigational trial is free for insured patients. These changes, coupled with site specific plans intended to further accelerate enrollment, are being actively rolled out.
We believe the remaining clinical efficacy risk is modest in light of the Phase I, II, and III data available, and broader literature which supports CardiAMP Cell Therapy System as a therapeutic candidate for heart failure secondary to having had a heart attack. Because the CardiAMP cells do not become heart cells, we believe they have a low likelihood of becoming ectopic foci that could cause life threatening arrhythmias. Because CardiAMP cells are autologous, patients will not require chronic immunosuppression to prevent their immune system from attacking the donor cells. Unlike other investigational autologous cell therapies, the CardiAMP autologous cell therapies are expected to have low manufacturing costs and utilize established distribution channels, significantly enhancing prospects for commercial success. The CardiAMP Cell Therapy System has the potential to significantly benefit patients who have limited options and provide a cost-effective therapy to help reduce the substantial heart failure hospitalization and care costs.
CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Phase III Pivotal Trial
In January 2018, the FDA approved the investigational device exemption for the CardiAMP Cell Therapy system in a second related clinical indication, chronic myocardial ischemia, based on the strength of our Phase I and II heart failure trial data and clinical data showing support for the efficacy of one component of our cell therapy (the CD34+ cells) in this indication. The trial is approved to enroll up to 343 patients at up to 40 clinical sites in the United States. An update to the statistical analysis plan to enable an adaptive trial design is anticipated. Success in the primary endpoint of the trial, which is exercise tolerance, may lead to a new treatment for those suffering from chronic myocardial ischemia and having sustained debilitating heart pain, referred to as refractory angina.
In 2018, CMS approved BioCardia’s request for the designation of the CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial as a qualifying trial for Medicare national coverage determination similar to the designation received for the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial. It is anticipated that this second pivotal trial will build on and benefit from the experience and infrastructure from the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial. The Company anticipates activating this trial and treating the first clinical patient for this indication in the second quarter of 2020.
CardiALLO Cell Therapy System
Our second therapeutic candidate is the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, an investigational culture expanded bone marrow derived “off the shelf” mesenchymal stem cell therapy. CardiALLO cell therapy cells are expanded from Neurokinin-1 receptor positive bone marrow cells. These cells are being advanced to treat heart failure, but have potential for numerous therapeutic applications as these are anticipated to be the cells that respond to the release of Substance P. Substance P (“SP”) is a neuropeptide released from sensory nerves and is associated with the inflammatory processes and pain. Our CardiALLO NK1R positive derived cells are believed to be an important subset of the cells that we have delivered in our previous preclinical and clinical mesenchymal stem cell studies. We believe this therapy presents the advantages of an "off the shelf" therapy that does not require tissue harvesting or cell processing. We have completed manufacturing validation runs of these cells at BioCardia to support future clinical studies. We are working to obtain FDA acceptance of an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for a Phase I/II trial for CardiALLO Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure in the second quarter of 2020.
The subset of patients we are targeting initially for the CardiALLO Heart Failure Trial are those that have been excluded from the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial due to their lower cell potency assay scores. CardiALLO trial activation would likely enhance enrollment in the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial. And if the CardiAMP trial is successful, as anticipated, there is the potential for the CardiALLO therapy indication to be designated as an orphan indication.
CardiALLO related Phase I /II Studies: POSEIDON, TAC-HFT-MSC, and TRIDENT
We have co-sponsored three clinical trials for MSCs for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure. In substantially similar trial designs, the POSEIDON Phase I/II trial compared autologous MSCs to allogeneic MSCs, the TACHFT-MSC Phase II trial compared autologous MSCs to placebo, and the TRIDENT Phase II compared allogenic MSCs at different doses. The first two trials shared common arms of autologous MSCs, enabling a bridge to placebo, leading us to conclude that allogeneic MSC therapy has potential to be superior to placebo. The IND for the TACHFT trial was filed with the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in 2008 by the University of Miami, our co-sponsor for the trial. The POSEIDON trial and the TRIDENT trials were submitted by amendment under the same IND filed for the TACHFT study, and was co-sponsored by the University of Miami, the National Institutes of Health and us. The results from all three of these studies can be submitted to the FDA in support of an IND for the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System.
Helix™ Biotherapeutic Delivery System
BioCardia’s Helix Biotherapeutic Delivery System or “Helix” delivers therapeutics into the heart muscle with a penetrating helical needle from within the heart. It enables local delivery of cell and gene-based therapies, including CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapies, to treat cardiovascular indications. The Helix catheter is CE marked in Europe and is under investigational use in the United States as part of our CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System development programs.
BioCardia selectively partners with firms developing other cell, gene, and protein therapeutic programs utilizing the Helix biotherapeutic delivery system. These partnered programs provide additional data, intellectual property rights, and opportunities to participate in the development of combination products for the treatment of cardiac diseases.
Morph Deflectable Guide and Sheaths Products
BioCardia’s Morph catheter is designed to enable physicians to navigate through tortuous anatomy, customize the shape of the catheter to the patient's anatomy and their clinical needs during the procedure, and to have stellar back up support once positioned. Morph catheters enable all Helix procedures and have been commercially available to treat more than ten thousand patients. A number of Morph guides and sheaths are cleared for commercial sale in the United States.
Business Strategy
We are committed to applying our expertise in the fields of autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies to improve the lives of patients with cardiovascular conditions. We are pursuing the following business strategies:
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Complete the ongoing 260 patient, 40 center Phase III pivotal IDE trial of CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for patients with ischemic systolic heart failure. |
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Complete the FDA approved, 343 patient, 40 center Phase III pivotal IDE trial of CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for patients with chronic myocardial ischemia. |
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Obtain FDA approval and commercialize CardiAMP Cell Therapy System using a highly-targeted cardiology sales force in the United States. |
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Advance our CardiALLO Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure, initially targeting patients for whom the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System is not optimal due to the lower potency of their bone marrow cells. |
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Continue to develop and selectively partner our Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system for use with other biotherapeutics. |
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Continue to develop and commercialize Morph catheter products. |
Intellectual Property
We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technologies that we believe are important to our business and seek to obtain and maintain patents for any patentable aspects of our therapeutic candidates or products, including our anticipated companion diagnostic, their methods of use and any other inventions that are important to the development of our business. Our success will depend significantly on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other proprietary protection for commercially important technology, inventions and know-how related to our business, defend and enforce our patents, maintain our licenses to use intellectual property owned by third parties, preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets and operate without infringing the valid and enforceable patents and other proprietary rights of third parties. We also rely on know-how, continuing technological innovation and in-licensing opportunities to develop, strengthen, and maintain our proprietary position in the fields targeted by our therapeutic candidates.
We have a large patent portfolio of issued and pending claims covering the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, the Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system product and the Morph vascular access catheter products. As of December 31, 2018, we had developed or secured rights to over 70 issued or pending U.S. and international patents or patent pending applications. We have sole ownership of the patents that we consider to be material, other than the patents that we license exclusively from Biomet Biologics, LLC. Our issued U.S. patents expire between 2019 and 2034, without taking into consideration patent term extension. Among these are five issued material US patents related to the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, which expire between 2027 and 2029 without taking into consideration patent term extension. We maintain trade secrets covering a significant body of know-how and proprietary information related to our core therapeutic candidates, biotherapeutic delivery systems and technologies. As a result, we believe our intellectual property position provides us with substantial competitive advantages for the commercial development of novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.
Our most recently issued United States Patents are listed below,
US Patent No. |
Patent Title |
Expiration on or after |
10,520,505 |
Methods of measuring therapeutic potency and defining dosages for autologous cell therapy |
2034 |
10,071,226 |
Radial and trans-endocardial delivery catheter |
2034 |
10,035,982 |
Method of preparing autologous cells and methods of use for therapy |
2029 |
9,945,854 |
Methods of measuring therapeutic potency potential and defining dosages for autologous cell therapy |
2034 |
9,752,123 |
Method of Preparing Autologous Cells and Methods of Use for Therapy |
2029 |
9,517,199 |
Treatment for chronic myocardial infarct |
2027 |
9,504,642 |
Treatment for chronic myocardial infarct |
2027 |
9,301,975 |
Method of preparing autologous cells and method of use for therapy |
2029 |
8,496,926 |
Treatment for chronic myocardial infarction |
2027 |
U.S. Regulatory Protection for CardiAMP and CardiALLO
In addition to patent and trade secret protection, we may receive a 12-year period of regulatory exclusivity from the FDA upon approval of CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and CardiALLO Cell Therapy System pursuant to the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act. The exclusivity period, if granted, will run from the time of FDA approval. This exclusivity period, if granted, will supplement the intellectual property protection discussed above, providing an additional barrier to entry for any competitor seeking approval for a bio-similar version of the CardiAMP or CardiALLO cell therapy systems.
In addition, it is possible to extend the patent term of at least one patent covering CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems following FDA approval. This patent term extension, or PTE, is intended to compensate a patent owner for the loss of patent term during the FDA approval process. If eligible, we may use a PTE to extend the term of one or more of the patents discussed above beyond the expected expiration date. Because CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapy systems may involve multiple simultaneous approvals under the IDE and IND applications, each pre-market approval, or PMA or biologics license application, or BLA, associated with the system approval is anticipated to have the ability to have an extended patent term.
Trademarks
We have registered or applied for registration of our name, logo and the trademarks "BioCardia," "CardiAMP," "CardiALLO," and "Morph" in the United States. We have registered or applied for registration of the trademarks "CardiAMP" and "CardiALLO" for use in connection with a biological product, namely, a cell-based therapy product composed of bone marrow derived cells for medical use. We also have rights to use the “Helix” trademark in the United States. We have registered Morph for use in connection with steerable vascular access technology. We intend to pursue additional registrations in markets outside the United States where we plan to sell our therapies and products.
Patent Term
The term of individual patents and patent applications will depend upon the legal term of the patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries, the patent term is 20 years from the date of filing of the patent application (or parent application, if applicable). For example, if an international Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, application is filed, any patent issuing from the PCT application in a specific country expires 20 years from the filing date of the PCT application. In the United States, however, if a patent was in force on June 8, 1995, or issued on an application that was filed before June 8, 1995, that patent will have a term that is the greater of 20 years from the filing date, or 17 years from the date of issue.
Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, the term of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug, biological product may also be eligible for PTE. PTE permits restoration of a portion of the patent term of a U.S. patent as compensation for the patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process if approval of the application for the product is the first permitted commercial marketing of a drug or biological product containing the active ingredient. The patent term restoration period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of a BLA plus the time between the submission date of a BLA and the approval of that application. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a PTE for only one patent applicable to an approved drug, and the maximum period of restoration is five years beyond the expiration of the patent. A PTE cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, and a patent can only be extended once, and thus, even if a single patent is applicable to multiple products, it can only be extended based on one product. Similar provisions may be available in Europe and certain other foreign jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent that covers an approved drug. When possible, depending upon the length of clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of a BLA, we expect to apply for PTEs for patents covering our therapeutic candidates and products and their methods of use. For additional information on PTE, see "Government Regulation."
Proprietary Rights and Processes
We may rely, in some circumstances, on proprietary technology and processes (including trade secrets) to protect our technology. However, these can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with those who have access to our confidential information, including our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and contractors. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our proprietary technology and processes by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. While we have confidence in these individuals, organizations and systems, agreements or security measures may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our proprietary technology and processes may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. To the extent that our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, contractors, or any future collaborators use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions. For this and more comprehensive risks related to our proprietary technology and processes, please see "Risk Factors-Risks Related to our Intellectual Property."
Manufacturing
The CardiAMP cell processing platform is manufactured for us by our partner Biomet Biologics, LLC. We currently produce CardiALLO cells for preclinical development in our preclinical development tissue culture facility and anticipate manufacturing for clinical development in a newly installed clinical cell manufacturing facility, both in San Carlos, California. We currently manufacture our Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system and Morph vascular access products in our San Carlos, California device manufacturing facility using components we source from third party suppliers.
Sales and Marketing
Our sales and marketing strategy is to market the CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapy systems, if approved by the FDA, for heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia indications using a dedicated direct sales model focused on selected cardiologists. These physicians are typically affiliated with leading hospitals and medical centers and we believe that they tend to have well-established referral networks of interventional cardiologists and cardiac catheterization laboratories. We believe they represent a concentrated customer base suitable to a specialist care sales model. We believe that the CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapy systems will be adopted first by leading cardiologists at high-volume U.S. hospitals and medical centers, and progressively by a broader segment of the market. Cardiologists and interventional cardiologists have a history of early adoption of innovative products and technologies, in part because the rate of innovation in this sector has been sustained, and in part because of the large unmet medical needs of heart failure patients.
Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries in which we operate are subject to rapid change and are characterized by intense competition to develop new technologies and proprietary products. We face potential competition from many different sources, including larger and better-funded companies. While we believe that the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System’s unique benefits provide us with competitive advantages, particularly given that CardiAMP is designed to be administered in a safe and short procedure, we have identified several companies which are active in the advancement of cell-based and gene-based therapeutic products in the heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia indications. Not only must we compete with other companies that are focused on cell-based therapy treatments, any products that we may commercialize will have to compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.
However, competitors may require delivery platforms for their own therapeutic programs. Because the clinical need is so large and our biotherapeutic delivery products have potential to enable multiple biotherapeutics, we view these companies also as potential collaborators and partners. None of these relationships are believed to be material to our business at this time.
License Agreement with Biomet Biologics, LLC
In October 2012, we entered into a license and distribution agreement with Biomet Biologics, LLC under which we obtained an exclusive, nontransferable, worldwide distribution right, patent license and trademark license to a point of care cell processing platform. Under the terms of the agreement, we are obligated to pay a royalty based on the price of the disposables in the CardiAMP cell processing platform for the duration of the agreement. We expect the royalty payments to Biomet Biologics, LLC for the licensed product to amount to a low or mid-single digit percentage of the expected price that we will charge for the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System. The agreement has a term of 10 years or the time the last patent pursuant to the agreement expires, whichever is later. The agreement may be terminated by Biomet Biologics, LLC for a failure by us to meet any milestone requirements, including minimum purchase requirements, as well as by either party upon 30 days prior written notice in the event of a breach of any material term by the other party. We have the right to terminate the agreement upon 90 days prior written notice in the event the safety, efficacy or comparative effectiveness of the product is insufficient to meet our commercial needs.
Technology Access Program for Biotherapeutic Delivery Systems
Our preclinical work with partners and collaborators generally takes place under arrangements where we secure access to data, reports, and a non-exclusive license to delivery technology improvement inventions.
Clinical Research Agreements for Biotherapeutic Delivery Systems
Our clinical work with partners generally takes place under arrangements where we secure access to data, reports, and a non-exclusive license to technology improvement inventions. Financial terms of each agreement are anticipated to cover our costs and provide milestone payments. We hope to generate sales if any of our partners are successful with commercializing their products with our delivery platform.
Government Regulation
Biological products, including cell-based therapy products, and medical devices are subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FD&C Act, and the Public Health Service Act, or PHS Act, and other federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations. Both the FD&C Act and the PHS Act and their corresponding regulations govern, among other things, the testing, manufacturing, safety, identity, potency and purity, efficacy, labeling, packaging, storage, record keeping, distribution, reporting, advertising and other promotional practices involving biological products. FDA acceptance must be obtained before clinical testing of an investigational biological and medical device begins, and each clinical trial protocol for a cell-based therapy product is submitted to and reviewed by the FDA. FDA approval must be obtained before marketing of a biological product. Unless an exception applies, FDA approval or clearance is required for medical devices. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources and we may not be able to obtain the required regulatory approvals on a timely basis, or at all. To date, the FDA has never approved for commercial sale a cell-based therapy product intended to treat the heart.
Within the FDA, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or CBER, regulates cell-based therapy products. For products that use medical devices, including diagnostics, to deliver cell therapies, CBER works closely with the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, or CDRH.
U.S. Biological Product Development and Regulatory Approval Process
Our CardiALLO therapeutic candidate will be regulated in the United States as a biological product. The process required by the FDA before a biological product may be tested and marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
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completion of nonclinical laboratory tests and animal studies according to good laboratory practices, or GLP, regulations and applicable requirements for the humane use of laboratory animals or other applicable regulations; |
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submission to the FDA of an IND application, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin and must be updated annually or when significant changes are made; |
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approval by an independent Institutional Review Board, or IRB, or ethics committee at each clinical site before the trial begins; |
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performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials according to the FDA’s regulations, commonly referred to as good clinical practices, or GCPs, and any additional requirements for the protection of human research subjects and their health information, to establish the safety, purity and potency of the proposed biological product for its intended use; |
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preparation of and submission to the FDA of a BLA for marketing approval, after completion of all pivotal clinical trials; |
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satisfactory completion of an FDA Advisory Committee review, if applicable; |
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a determination by the FDA within 60 days of its receipt of a BLA to file the application for review; |
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satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the biological product is produced to assess compliance with GMP, to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the biological product’s identity, strength, quality and purity and, if applicable, the FDA’s current good tissue practices, or GTPs, for the use of human cellular and tissue products; |
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potential FDA audit of the nonclinical study and clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the BLA; and |
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FDA review and approval, or licensure, of the BLA for particular indications for use in the United States, which must be updated annually when significant changes are made. |
The testing and approval process require substantial time, effort and financial resources, and we cannot be certain that any approvals for our therapeutic candidates or product candidates will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. Before testing any biological product candidate, including a cell-based therapy product, in humans, the product candidate enters the preclinical testing stage. Preclinical tests, also referred to as nonclinical studies, include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity and formulation, as well as animal studies to assess the potential safety and activity of the product candidate. The conduct of the preclinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements including GLPs.
The clinical trial sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol, to the FDA as part of the IND. Some preclinical testing may continue even after the IND is submitted. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA places the trial on a clinical hold within that 30-day time period. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. The FDA may also impose clinical holds on a biological product candidate at any time before or during clinical trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance. If the FDA imposes a clinical hold, trials may not recommence without FDA authorization and then only under terms authorized by the FDA. Accordingly, we cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that suspend or terminate such trials.
Clinical trials involve the administration of the biological product candidate to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of qualified investigators, generally physicians not employed by or under the trial sponsor’s control. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters to be used to monitor subject safety, including stopping rules that assure a clinical trial will be stopped if certain adverse events should occur. Each protocol and any amendments to the protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Clinical trials must be conducted and monitored in accordance with the FDA’s regulations comprising the GCP requirements, including the requirement that all research subjects provide informed consent. Further, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, at or servicing each institution at which the clinical trial will be conducted. An IRB is charged with protecting the welfare and rights of trial participants and considers such items as whether the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trials are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The IRB also approves the form and content of the informed consent that must be signed by each clinical trial subject or his or her legal representative and must monitor the clinical trial until completed. Clinical trials also must be reviewed by an institutional biosafety committee, or IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees basic and clinical research conducted at that institution. The IBC assesses the safety of the research and identifies any potential risk to public health or the environment.
For purposes of BLA approval, human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined:
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Phase I. The biological product is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety. In the case of some products for severe or life-threatening diseases, especially when the product may be too inherently toxic to ethically administer to healthy volunteers, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients with the disease or condition. These studies are designed to test the safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism and distribution of the investigational product in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses and, if possible, to gain early evidence on effectiveness. |
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Phase II. The biological product is evaluated in a limited patient population with a specified disease or condition to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance, optimal dosage and dosing schedule. Multiple Phase II clinical trials may be conducted to obtain information prior to beginning larger and more expensive Phase III clinical trials. |
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Phase III. Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy, potency, and safety in an expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites, to provide statistically significant evidence of clinical efficacy and to further test for safety. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk/benefit ratio of the product and provide an adequate basis for product approval and labeling. |
Post-approval clinical trials, sometimes referred to as Phase IV clinical trials, may be required by the FDA or voluntarily conducted after initial marketing approval to gain more information about the product, including long-term safety follow-up.
During all phases of clinical development, regulatory agencies require extensive monitoring and auditing of all clinical activities, clinical data, and clinical trial investigators. Annual progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA. Written IND safety reports must be promptly submitted to the FDA, the NIH and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events, any findings from other studies, tests in laboratory animals or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk for human subjects, or any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. The sponsor must submit an IND safety report within 15 calendar days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies for reporting. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven calendar days after the sponsor’s initial receipt of the information. Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the sponsor or its data safety monitoring board may suspend a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk, including risks inferred from other unrelated trials. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the biological product has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
Human cell-based therapy products administered directly into heart tissue are a relatively new category of therapeutics. Because this is a relatively new and expanding area of novel therapeutic interventions, there can be no assurance as to the length of the trial period, the number of patients the FDA will require to be enrolled in the trials in order to establish the safety, efficacy, purity and potency of human cell-based therapy products, or that the data generated in these trials will be acceptable to the FDA to support marketing approval.
Concurrently with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the physical characteristics of the biological product as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with GMP requirements. To help reduce the risk of the introduction of adventitious agents with use of biological products, the PHS Act emphasizes the importance of manufacturing control for products whose attributes cannot be precisely defined. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the sponsor must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, potency and purity of the final biological product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the biological product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
After the successful completion of clinical trials of a biological product, FDA approval of a BLA must be obtained before commercial marketing of the biological product. The BLA must include results of product development, laboratory and animal studies, human trials, information on the manufacture and composition of the product, proposed labeling and other relevant information. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers. The testing and approval processes require substantial time and effort and there can be no assurance that the FDA will accept the BLA for filing and, even if filed, that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.
Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, as amended, each BLA must be accompanied by a significant user fee. The FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual product fee for biological products and an annual establishment fee on facilities used to manufacture prescription biological products. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, including a waiver of the application fee for the first application filed by a small business. Additionally, no user fees are assessed on BLAs for products designated as orphan drugs, unless the product also includes a non-orphan indication.
Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews a BLA submitted to determine if it is substantially complete before the agency accepts it for filing. The FDA may refuse to file any BLA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of submission and may request additional information. In this event, the BLA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth substantive review of the BLA. The FDA reviews the BLA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe, pure and potent, for its intended use, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with GMP to assure and preserve the product’s identity, safety, strength, quality, potency and purity. The FDA may refer applications for novel biological products or biological products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions. During the biological product approval process, the FDA also will determine whether a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, is necessary to assure the safe use of the biological product. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the BLA must submit a proposed REMS. The FDA will not approve a BLA without a REMS, if required.
Before approving a BLA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with GMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before approving a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in compliance with IND trial requirements and GCP requirements. To assure GMP and GCP compliance, an applicant must incur significant expenditure of time, money and effort in the areas of training, record keeping, production, and quality control.
Notwithstanding the submission of relevant data and information, the FDA may ultimately decide that the BLA does not satisfy its regulatory criteria for approval and deny approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret the same data. If the agency decides not to approve the BLA in its present form, the FDA will issue a complete response letter that describes all of the specific deficiencies in the BLA identified by the FDA. The deficiencies identified may be minor, for example, requiring labeling changes, or major, for example, requiring additional clinical trials. Additionally, the complete response letter may include recommended actions that the applicant might take to place the application in a condition for approval. If a complete response letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the BLA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application.
If a product receives regulatory approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific diseases and dosages or the indications for use may otherwise be limited, which could restrict the commercial value of the product. Further, the FDA may require that certain contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling. The FDA may impose restrictions and conditions on product distribution, prescribing, or dispensing in the form of a risk management plan, or otherwise limit the scope of any approval. In addition, the FDA may require post-marketing clinical trials, sometimes referred to as Phase IV clinical trials, designed to further assess a biological product’s safety and effectiveness, and testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved therapies and products that have been commercialized.
The FDA has agreed to certain review goals under PDUFA and aims to complete its review of 90% of standard BLAs within ten months from filing and 90% of priority BLAs within six months from filing. The FDA does not always meet its PDUFA goal dates for standard and priority BLAs and its review goals are subject to change from time to time. The review process and the PDUFA goal date may be extended by three months if the FDA requests, or the BLA sponsor otherwise provides, additional information or clarification regarding information already provided in the submission within the last three months before the PDUFA goal date.
Fast Track Designation, Accelerated Approval, Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Programs
The FDA has a Fast Track program that is intended to expedite or facilitate the process for reviewing new drugs and biological products that meet certain criteria. Specifically, new drugs and biological products are eligible for Fast Track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the condition. Fast Track designation applies to the combination of the product and the specific indication for which it is being studied. The sponsor of a new drug or biological product may request the FDA to designate the drug or biological product as a Fast Track product at any time during the clinical development of the product. Unique to a Fast Track product, the FDA may consider for review sections of the marketing application on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the application, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the application and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the application.
Other types of FDA programs intended to expedite development and review, such as priority review, accelerated approval and Breakthrough Therapy designation, also exist. A product is eligible for priority review if it has the potential to provide safe and effective therapy where no satisfactory alternative therapy exists or a significant improvement in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a disease compared to marketed products. The FDA will attempt to direct additional resources to the evaluation of an application for a new drug or biological product designated for priority review in an effort to facilitate the review. Additionally, a product may be eligible for accelerated approval. Drug or biological products studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or life-threatening illnesses and that provide meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments may receive accelerated approval, which means that they may be approved on the basis of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials establishing that the product has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit, or on the basis of an effect on a clinical endpoint other than survival or irreversible morbidity. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug or biological product receiving accelerated approval perform adequate and well-controlled post-marketing clinical trials. In addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval pre-approval of promotional materials, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product.
A product may also be eligible for receipt of a Breakthrough Therapy designation. The Breakthrough Therapy designation is intended to expedite the FDA’s review of a potential new drug for serious or life-threatening diseases where “preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development.” The designation of a drug as a Breakthrough Therapy provides the same benefits as are available under the Fast Track program, as well as intensive FDA guidance on the product’s development program. Where appropriate, we intend to utilize regulatory programs that can help expedite our product development and commercialization efforts. However, Fast Track designation, priority review, accelerated approval and Breakthrough Therapy designation do not change the standards for approval, but may expedite the development or approval process.
Post-Approval Requirements
Maintaining substantial compliance with applicable federal, state and local statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Rigorous and extensive FDA regulation of biological products continues after approval, particularly with respect to GMP. We will rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties for the production of clinical and commercial quantities of any products that we may commercialize. Manufacturers of our products are required to comply with applicable requirements in the GMP regulations, including quality control and quality assurance and maintenance of records and documentation. Other post-approval requirements applicable to biological products include reporting of GMP deviations that may affect the identity, potency, purity and overall safety of a distributed product, record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse effects, reporting updated safety and efficacy information, and complying with electronic record and signature requirements. After a BLA is approved, the product also may be subject to official lot release. As part of the manufacturing process, the manufacturer is required to perform certain tests on each lot of the product before it is released for distribution. If the product is subject to official release by the FDA, the manufacturer submits samples of each lot of product to the FDA together with a release protocol showing a summary of the history of manufacture of the lot and the results of all of the manufacturer’s tests performed on the lot. In addition, the FDA conducts laboratory research related to the regulatory standards on the safety, purity and potency of biological products.
We also must comply with the FDA’s advertising and promotion requirements, such as those related to direct-to-consumer advertising, the prohibition on promoting products for uses or in-patient populations that are not described in the product’s approved labeling (known as “off-label use”), industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities, and promotional activities involving the internet. Discovery of previously unknown problems or the failure to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements may result in restrictions on the marketing of a product or withdrawal of the product from the market as well as possible civil or criminal sanctions. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval may subject an applicant or manufacturer to administrative or judicial civil or criminal sanctions and adverse publicity. FDA sanctions could include refusal to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, clinical hold, warning or untitled letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, mandated corrective advertising or communications with doctors, debarment, restitution, disgorgement of profits, or civil or criminal penalties. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us.
Biological product manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved biological products are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with GMPs and other laws. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain GMP compliance. Discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer or holder of an approved BLA, including withdrawal of the product from the market. In addition, changes to the manufacturing process or facility generally require prior FDA approval before being implemented and other types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications and additional labeling claims, are also subject to further FDA review and approval.
Abbreviated Licensure Pathway of Biological Products as Biosimilar or Interchangeable
The Affordable Care Act includes a subtitle called the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (“BPCIA”), which created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products shown to be highly similar to an FDA-licensed reference biological product. The BPCIA attempts to minimize duplicative testing, and thereby lower development costs and increase patient access to affordable treatments. If our CardiALLO product is approved by the FDA, we could face competition from products regulated by the FDA as biosimilar products.
Biosimilarity means that the biological product is highly similar to the reference product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components; and that there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity and potency of the product. In addition, the law provides for a designation of “interchangeability” between the reference and biosimilar products, whereby the biosimilar may be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of the health care provider who prescribed the reference product. The higher standard of interchangeability must be demonstrated by information sufficient to show that:
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the proposed product is biosimilar to the reference product; |
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the proposed product is expected to produce the same clinical result as the reference product in any given patient; and |
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for a product that is administered more than once to an individual, the risk to the patient in terms of safety or diminished efficacy of alternating or switching between the biosimilar and the reference product is no greater than the risk of using the reference product without such alternation or switch. |
FDA approval is required before a biosimilar may be marketed in the United States. However, complexities associated with the large and intricate structures of biological products and the process by which such products are manufactured pose significant hurdles to the FDA’s implementation of the law that are still being worked out by the FDA. For example, the FDA has discretion over the kind and amount of scientific evidence—laboratory, preclinical and/or clinical—required to demonstrate biosimilarity to a licensed biological product.
The FDA intends to consider the totality of the evidence, provided by a sponsor to support a demonstration of biosimilarity, and recommends that sponsors use a stepwise approach in the development of their biosimilar products. Biosimilar product applications thus may not be required to duplicate the entirety of preclinical and clinical testing used to establish the underlying safety and effectiveness of the reference product. However, the FDA may refuse to approve a biosimilar application if there is insufficient information to show that the active ingredients are the same or to demonstrate that any impurities or differences in active ingredients do not affect the safety, purity or potency of the biosimilar product. In addition, as with BLAs, biosimilar product applications will not be approved unless the product is manufactured in facilities designed to assure and preserve the biological product’s safety, purity and potency.
The submission of a biosimilar application does not guarantee that the FDA will accept the application for filing and review, as the FDA may refuse to accept applications that it finds are insufficiently complete. The FDA will treat a biosimilar application or supplement as incomplete if, among other reasons, any applicable user fees assessed under the Biosimilar User Fee Act of 2012 have not been paid. In addition, the FDA may accept an application for filing but deny approval on the basis that the sponsor has not demonstrated biosimilarity, in which case the sponsor may choose to conduct further analytical, preclinical or clinical studies and submit a BLA for licensure as a new biological product.
The timing of final FDA approval of a biosimilar for commercial distribution depends on a variety of factors, including whether the manufacturer of the branded product is entitled to one or more statutory exclusivity periods, during which time the FDA is prohibited from approving any products that are biosimilar to the branded product. The FDA cannot approve a biosimilar application for twelve years from the date of first licensure of the reference product. Additionally, a biosimilar product sponsor may not submit an application for four years from the date of first licensure of the reference product. A reference product may also be entitled to exclusivity under other statutory provisions. For example, a reference product designated for a rare disease or condition (an “orphan drug”) may be entitled to seven years of exclusivity, in which case no product that is biosimilar to the reference product may be approved until either the end of the twelve-year period provided under the biosimilarity statute or the end of the seven-year orphan drug exclusivity period, whichever occurs later. In certain circumstances, a regulatory exclusivity period can extend beyond the life of a patent, and thus block biosimilarity applications from being approved on or after the patent expiration date. In addition, the FDA may under certain circumstances extend the exclusivity period for the reference product by an additional six months if the FDA requests, and the manufacturer undertakes, studies on the effect of its product in children, a so-called pediatric extension.
The first biological product determined to be interchangeable with a branded product for any condition of use is also entitled to a period of exclusivity, during which time the FDA may not determine that another product is interchangeable with the reference product for any condition of use. This exclusivity period extends until the earlier of: (1) one year after the first commercial marketing of the first interchangeable product; (2) 18 months after resolution of a patent infringement against the applicant that submitted the application for the first interchangeable product, based on a final court decision regarding all of the patents in the litigation or dismissal of the litigation with or without prejudice; (3) 42 months after approval of the first interchangeable product, if a patent infringement suit against the applicant that submitted the application for the first interchangeable product is still ongoing; or (4) 18 months after approval of the first interchangeable product if the applicant that submitted the application for the first interchangeable product has not been sued.
U.S. Premarket Clearance and Approval Requirements for Medical Devices
Unless an exemption applies, each medical device we wish to distribute commercially in the United States will require either prior premarket notification, or 510(k) clearance, or prior approval of a PMA application from the FDA. The FDA classifies medical devices into one of three classes. Devices deemed to pose low to moderate risk are placed in either class I or II, which, absent an exemption, requires the manufacturer to file with the FDA a 510(k) submission requesting permission for commercial distribution. This process is known as 510(k) clearance. Some low-risk devices are exempt from this requirement. Devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting or certain implantable devices, or devices deemed not substantially equivalent to a previously cleared 510(k) device, are placed in class III, requiring approval of a PMA application.
Regulation of CardiAMP through the PMA Pathway
Combination products are therapeutic and diagnostic products that combine drugs, devices, and/or biological products. Because combination products involve components that would normally be regulated under different types of regulatory authorities, and frequently by different centers of the FDA, they raise regulatory, policy, and review management challenges. Differences in regulatory pathways for each component of the product can impact the regulatory processes for all aspects of product development and management, including preclinical testing, clinical investigation, marketing applications, manufacturing and quality control, adverse event reporting, promotion and advertising, and post-approval modifications.
A combination product is assigned to an FDA Agency Center or alternative organizational component that will have primary jurisdiction for its premarket review and regulation. For cell-based therapy and related products, the FDA established the Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies within CBER to consolidate the review of such products, and the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee to advise CBER on its review. In our case, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System involves minimal manipulation of cells within the procedure room, enabling it to be the first cardiac cell-based therapy we are aware of that CBER has indicated it will regulate through the PMA pathway.
PMA applications must be supported by valid scientific evidence, which typically requires extensive data, including technical, preclinical, clinical and manufacturing data, to demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction reasonable safety and effectiveness of the cell-based therapy. After a PMA application is deemed complete, the FDA will accept the application for filing and begin an in-depth review of the submitted information. During this review period, the FDA may request additional information or clarification of information already provided. Also during the review period, an advisory panel of experts from outside the FDA may be convened to review and evaluate the application and provide recommendations to the FDA as to the approvability of the device. As part of its review of the PMA, the FDA will conduct a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities to ensure compliance with the Quality System Regulation, or QSR, which requires manufacturers to follow design, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures. FDA review of an initial PMA application is required by statute to take between six to ten months, although the process typically takes longer, and may require several years to complete. If the FDA evaluations of both the PMA application and the manufacturing facilities are favorable, the FDA will either issue an approval letter or an approvable letter, which usually contains a number of conditions that must be met in order to secure the final approval of the PMA. If the FDA’s evaluation of the PMA or manufacturing facilities is not favorable, the FDA will deny approval of the PMA or issue a not approvable letter. A not approvable letter will outline the deficiencies in the application and, where practical, will identify what is necessary to make the PMA approvable. The FDA may also determine that additional clinical trials are necessary, in which case the PMA approval may be delayed for several months or years while the trials are conducted and then the data submitted in an amendment to the PMA. Once granted, PMA approval may be withdrawn by the FDA if compliance with post-approval requirements, conditions of approval or other regulatory standards is not maintained, or problems are identified following initial marketing.
The FDA may approve a PMA application with post-approval conditions intended to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale and distribution, collection of long-term follow-up data from patients in the clinical trial that supported approval, or new post-approval studies. Failure to comply with the conditions of approval can result in materially adverse enforcement action, including the loss or withdrawal of the approval. PMA supplements are required for modifications that could affect device safety or effectiveness, including, for example, certain types of modifications to the device’s indication for use, manufacturing process, labeling and design. PMA supplements often require submission of the same type of information as an original PMA application, except that the supplement is limited to information needed to support any changes to the device covered by the original PMA application, and may not require as extensive clinical data or the convening of an advisory panel.
A clinical trial is almost always required to support a PMA application. We expect that the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System will require a single pivotal trial for PMA approval in the CardiAMP Heart Failure and CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia trials. However, there is no guarantee that the FDA will grant us regulatory approval to market the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System on the basis of a single pivotal trial. Two well-controlled pivotal studies could be necessary to provide the FDA assurance of safety or effectiveness. In the United States, absent certain limited exceptions, human clinical trials intended to support product clearance or approval require an IDE application, which the FDA reviews. Some types of trials deemed to present “non-significant risk” are deemed to have an approved IDE once certain requirements are addressed, and IRB approval is obtained. If the device presents a “significant risk” to human health, as defined by FDA regulations, the sponsor must submit an IDE application to the FDA and obtain IDE approval prior to commencing the human clinical trials. The IDE application must be supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory trial results, showing that it is safe to evaluate the device in humans and that the trial protocol is scientifically sound. The IDE application must be approved in advance by the FDA for a specified number of subjects, unless the product is deemed a non-significant risk device and eligible for more abbreviated IDE requirements. Clinical trials for a significant risk device may begin once the IDE application is approved by the FDA and the responsible institutional review boards at the clinical trial sites. There can be no assurance that submission of an IDE will result in the ability to commence clinical trials. Additionally, after a trial begins, the FDA may place it on hold or terminate it if, among other reasons, it concludes that the clinical subjects are exposed to unacceptable health risks that outweigh the benefits of participation in the trial. During a trial, we are required to comply with the FDA’s IDE requirements for investigator selection, trial monitoring, reporting, record keeping and prohibitions on the promotion or commercialization of investigational devices or making safety or efficacy claims for them, among other things. We are also responsible for the appropriate labeling and distribution of investigational devices. Our clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with FDA regulations and federal and state regulations concerning human subject protection, including informed consent and healthcare privacy, and the clinical trials must be conducted pursuant to GCPs. The investigators must also obtain patient informed consent, rigorously follow the investigational plan and trial protocol, control the disposition of investigational devices and comply with all reporting and record keeping requirements, among other things. The FDA’s grant of permission to proceed with clinical trials does not constitute a binding commitment that the FDA will consider the trial design adequate to support marketing clearance or approval. In addition, there can be no assurance that the data generated during a clinical trial will meet the chosen study endpoints or otherwise produce results that will lead the FDA to grant marketing clearance or approval. Similarly, in Europe, the clinical trial must be approved by the local ethics committee and in some cases, including trials of high-risk devices, by the Ministry of Health in the applicable country.
After a device is placed on the market, it remains subject to significant regulatory requirements. Medical devices may be marketed only for the uses and indications for which they are cleared or approved. Device manufacturers must also establish registration and device listings with the FDA. A medical device manufacturer’s manufacturing processes and those of its suppliers are required to comply with the applicable portions of the QSR, which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, processes, controls, quality assurance, labeling, packaging and shipping of medical devices. Domestic facility records and manufacturing processes are subject to periodic unscheduled inspections by the FDA. The FDA also may inspect foreign facilities that export products to the United States.
Failure by us or our suppliers to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in enforcement action by the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which may result in sanctions and related consequences including, but not limited to:
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adverse publicity, untitled letters or warning letters; |
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fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties; |
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recall, detention or seizure of our products; |
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operating restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production; |
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refusal of or delay in granting our requests for 510(k) clearance or premarket approval of new products or modified products; |
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withdrawing 510(k) clearance or premarket approvals that are already granted; |
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refusal to grant export approval for our products; |
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criminal prosecution; and |
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unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions. |
Because elements of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System are already approved or cleared and manufactured for commercial use, we believe regulatory approval risks are primarily those of clinical safety and efficacy in each of the two indications being assessed under separate IDEs.
Regulation of Companion Diagnostics
Companion diagnostics are subject to regulation by the FDA, the EMA and other foreign regulatory authorities as medical devices and require separate regulatory clearance or approval prior to commercial use. We anticipate that the CardiAMP potency assay for each indication will require approval under a PMA submitted to the CDRH prior to commercialization. We and our third-party collaborators who may develop our companion diagnostics will work cooperatively to generate the data required for submission with the PMA application, and will remain in close contact with the CDRH to ensure that any changes in requirements are incorporated into the development plans. We further anticipate that regulatory approval of the CardiAMP potency assay for each indication will be a prerequisite to our ability to market the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System. Representatives of CDRH have participated in our meetings with CBER regarding CardiAMP Cell Therapy System to discuss the potential use of the CardiAMP potency assay, and we anticipate that future meetings will include representatives from both CBER and CDRH to ensure that the PMA submissions (for CardiAMP and the CardiAMP potency assay) are coordinated and subject to parallel review by these respective FDA centers. Accordingly, our objective is to align the development programs such that the CardiAMP potency assay will be developed and approved contemporaneously with CardiAMP.
On July 31, 2014 the FDA issued "Guidance for Industry: In Vitro Companion Diagnostic Devices," to help companies identify the need for companion diagnostics at an earlier stage in the drug development process and to plan for co-development of the drug and companion diagnostic test. The ultimate goal of the guidance is to stimulate early collaborations that will result in faster access to promising new treatments for patients living with serious and life-threatening diseases. According to the draft guidance, for novel products such as CardiAMP, the PMA for a companion diagnostic device should be developed and approved contemporaneously with the biological product. We believe our programs for the development of the CardiAMP potency assay are consistent with the draft guidance as proposed.
Coverage and Reimbursement
Sales of our products will depend, in part, on the extent to which our products will be covered by third-party payors, such as government healthcare programs, commercial insurance and managed healthcare organizations. These third-party payors are increasingly reducing reimbursements for medical products and services. In addition, the U.S. government, state legislatures and foreign governments have continued implementing cost containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit our net revenue and results. Decreases in third-party reimbursement for our therapeutic candidates or a decision by a third-party payor to not cover our therapeutic candidates could reduce physician usage of our products once approved and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations and financial condition.
Affordable Care Act
In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively, the Affordable Care Act, was enacted, which includes measures that have or will significantly change the way health care is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among the provisions of the Affordable Care Act of greatest importance to the pharmaceutical industry are the following:
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The Medicaid Drug Rebate Program requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to enter into and have in effect a national rebate agreement with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services as a condition for states to receive federal matching funds for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs furnished to Medicaid patients. Effective in 2010, the Affordable Care Act made several changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, including increasing pharmaceutical manufacturers’ rebate liability by raising the minimum basic Medicaid rebate on most branded prescription drugs and biologic agents from 15.1% of average manufacturer price (AMP) to 23.1% of AMP and adding a new rebate calculation for “line extensions” (i.e., new formulations, such as extended release formulations) of solid oral dosage forms of branded products, as well as potentially impacting their rebate liability by modifying the statutory definition of AMP. The Affordable Care Act also expanded the universe of Medicaid utilization subject to drug rebates by requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay rebates on Medicaid managed care utilization as of 2010. Per a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, states have the option to expand their Medicaid programs which in turn expands the population eligible for Medicaid drug benefits. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, has proposed to expand Medicaid rebate liability to the territories of the United States as well. In addition, the Affordable Care Act provides for the public availability of retail survey prices and certain weighted average AMPs under the Medicaid program. The implementation of this requirement by the CMS may also provide for the public availability of pharmacy acquisition of cost data, which could negatively impact our sales. |
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In order for a pharmaceutical product to receive federal reimbursement under the Medicare Part B and Medicaid programs or to be sold directly to U.S. government agencies, the manufacturer must extend discounts to entities eligible to participate in the 340B drug pricing program. The required 340B discount on a given product is calculated based on the AMP and Medicaid rebate amounts reported by the manufacturer. Effective in 2010, the Affordable Care Act expanded the types of entities eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing, although, under the current state of the law, with the exception of children’s hospitals, these newly eligible entities will not be eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing on orphan drugs when used for the orphan indication. In July 2013, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued a final rule allowing the newly eligible entities to access discounted orphan drugs if used for non-orphan indications. While the final rule was vacated by a federal court ruling, HRSA has stated it will continue to allow discounts for orphan drugs when used for any indication other than for orphan indications. In addition, as 340B drug pricing is determined based on AMP and Medicaid rebate data, the revisions to the Medicaid rebate formula and AMP definition described above could cause the required 340B discount to increase. |
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Effective in 2011, the Affordable Care Act imposed a requirement on manufacturers of branded drugs and biologic agents to provide a 50% discount off the negotiated price of branded drugs dispensed to Medicare Part D patients in the coverage gap (i.e., “donut hole”). |
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Effective in 2011, the Affordable Care Act imposed an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs and biologic agents, apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs, although this fee would not apply to sales of certain products approved exclusively for orphan indications. |
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The Affordable Care Act required pharmaceutical manufacturers to track certain financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals, including any “transfer of value” made or distributed to such entities, as well as any ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Manufacturers were required to begin tracking this information in 2013 and to report this information to CMS by March 2014. |
As of 2010, a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute was established pursuant to the Affordable Care Act to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research. The research conducted by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute may affect the market for certain pharmaceutical products.
There have been judicial and Congressional challenges and amendments to certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act, and with recent legislative activity we expect there could be additional challenges, amendments and attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. New state and federal healthcare reform measures could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for our product candidates if we obtain regulatory approval for them and could have other impacts on consequences which cannot be reasonably predicted at this time.
Other Healthcare Laws and Compliance Requirements
If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we may be subject to various federal and state laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry. These laws may impact, among other things, our proposed sale, marketing and education programs. In addition, we may be subject to patient privacy regulations by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. The laws may affect our ability to operate include:
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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce, or in return for, the purchase or recommendation of an item or service reimbursable under a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare and Medicaid programs; |
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federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent; |
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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and making false statements relating to healthcare matters; |
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the federal transparency laws, including the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act, that requires drug manufacturers to disclose payments and other transfers of value provided to physicians and teaching hospitals and ownership and investment interest held by such physicians and their immediate family members; |
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HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and its implementing regulations, which imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information; and |
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State law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers; state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. |
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our future business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. In addition, the Affordable Care Act broadened the reach of the fraud and abuse laws by, among other things, amending the intent requirement of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and certain criminal healthcare fraud statutes. Pursuant to the statutory amendment, a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. In addition, the Affordable Care Act provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the false claims laws or the civil monetary penalties statute.
We are also subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, which prohibits improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business.
Safeguards we implement to discourage improper payments or offers of payments by our employees, consultants, and others may be ineffective, and violations of the FCPA and similar state laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, or other liabilities or proceedings against us, any of which would likely harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other government regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid and imprisonment, damages, fines and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operation.
In addition to the foregoing, state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Resource Conservancy and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, affect our business. These and other laws govern our use, handling and disposal of various biological, chemical and radioactive substances used in, and wastes generated by, our operations. If our operations result in contamination of the environment or expose individuals to hazardous substances, we could be liable for damages and governmental fines. We believe that we are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and that continued compliance therewith will not have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot predict, however, how changes in these laws may affect our future operations.
Government Regulation outside the United States
In addition to regulations in the United States, we will be subject to a variety of regulations in other jurisdictions governing, among other things, clinical trials and any commercial sales and distribution of our products. Because biologically sourced raw materials are subject to unique contamination risks, their use may be restricted in some countries.
Whether or not we obtain FDA approval or clearance for a product, we must obtain the requisite approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities in foreign countries prior to the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of the product in those countries. Certain countries outside of the United States have a similar process that requires the submission of a clinical trial application much like the PMA or IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In Europe, for example, a Clinical Trial Authorization, or CTA, must be submitted to each country’s national health authority and an independent ethics committee, much like the FDA and the IRB, respectively. Once the CTA is approved in accordance with a country’s requirements, clinical trial development may proceed.
The requirements and process governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, the clinical trials are conducted in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki.
To obtain regulatory approval of an investigational biological product under European regulatory systems, we must submit a marketing authorization application. The application used to file the PMAs for CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and BLA for CardiALLO Cell Therapy System in the United States are similar to that required in Europe, with the exception of, among other things, country-specific document requirements. Europe also provides opportunities for market exclusivity. For example, in Europe, upon receiving marketing authorization, new chemical entities generally receive eight years of data exclusivity and an additional two years of market exclusivity. If granted, data exclusivity prevents regulatory authorities in Europe from referencing the innovator’s data to assess a generic application. During the additional two-year period of market exclusivity, a generic marketing authorization can be submitted, and the innovator’s data may be referenced, but no generic product can be marketed until the expiration of the market exclusivity. However, there is no guarantee that a product will be considered by Europe’s regulatory authorities to be a new chemical entity, and products may not qualify for data exclusivity.
The 10-year market exclusivity may be reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the product no longer meets the criteria for orphan designation, for example, if the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity. Additionally, marketing authorization may be granted to a similar product for the same indication at any time if:
• |
the second applicant can establish that its product, although similar, is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior; |
• |
the applicant consents to a second orphan medicinal product application; or |
• |
the applicant cannot supply enough orphan medicinal product. |
For other countries outside of Europe, such as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America or Asia, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, again, the clinical trials are conducted in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki.
In Europe, we expect both CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems to be regulated as advanced therapy medicinal products, or ATMPs. To provide for a common framework for the marketing of ATMPs, Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on advanced therapy medicinal products, or ATMP Regulation, was adopted in 2007. The ATMP Regulation was designed to ensure a high level of human health protection as well as the free movement of ATMPs in Europe. The cornerstone of the ATMP Regulation is that a marketing authorization must be obtained prior to the marketing of ATMPs. In turn, the marketing authorization can only be granted if, after a scientific assessment of the quality, efficacy and safety profile, it is demonstrated that the benefits outweigh the risks. The application for a marketing authorization must be submitted to the EMA and the final decision is taken by the European Commission. This procedure ensures that these products are assessed by a specialized body (the Committee for Advanced Therapies, or CAT) and that the marketing authorization is valid in all the European Union Member States.
The ATMP Regulation empowered the EMA to make scientific recommendations as to whether a given product should be considered an ATMP (hereinafter “classifications”). Additionally, it provided for a new instrument, the so-called certification procedure, designed as an incentive for small and medium sized enterprises, or SMEs, that were involved in the first stages of the development of ATMPs but lacked the resources to conduct clinical trials. Specifically, the certification that the quality and preclinical aspects of the development are in conformity with the relevant regulatory requirements was expected to help SMEs attract capital and to facilitate the transfer of research activities to entities with the capacity to market medicinal products.
The ATMP Regulation builds on the procedures, concepts, and requirements designed for chemical-based medicinal products. However, ATMPs present very different characteristics. Additionally, in contrast to chemical-based medicinal products, research in advanced therapies is –for the most part- conducted by academia, non-for-profit organizations, and SMEs, which only have limited financial resources and often lack exposure to the regulatory system that governs medicines.
If we fail to comply with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals, product recalls, seizure of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.
The advertising and promotion of our products in the EEA is subject to the provisions of the Medical Devices Directive, Directive 2006/114/EC concerning misleading and comparative advertising, and Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices, as well as other national legislation in the EEA countries governing the advertising and promotion of medical devices. The European Commission has submitted a Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, to replace, inter alia, Directive 93/42/EEC and to amend regulations regarding medical devices in the European Union, which could result in changes in the regulatory requirements for medical devices in Europe. In Germany, the advertising and promotion of our products can also be subject to restrictions provided by the German Act Against Unfair Competition (Gesetzgegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb) and the law on the advertising of medicines (Heilmittelwerbegesetz), criminal law, and some codices of conduct with regard to medical products and medical devices among others. These laws may limit or restrict the advertising and promotion of our products to the general public and may impose limitations on our promotional activities with healthcare professionals.
Sales of medical devices are subject to foreign government regulations, which vary substantially from country to country. In order to market our products outside the United States, we must obtain regulatory approvals or CE Certificates of Conformity and comply with extensive safety and quality regulations. The time required to obtain approval by a foreign country or to obtain a CE Certificate of Conformity may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA clearance or approval, and the requirements may differ. In the EEA, we are required to obtain Certificates of Conformity before drawing up an EC Declaration of Conformity and affixing the CE Mark of conformity to our medical devices. Many other countries accept CE Certificates of Conformity or FDA clearance or approval although others, such as Brazil, Canada and Japan require separate regulatory filings.
Employees
As of September 30, 2019, we had 20 full-time employees, consisting of clinical development, product development, regulatory, manufacturing, quality, finance, administration, sales, and marketing. We also regularly use independent contractors across the organization to augment our regular staff. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and we consider relations with our employees to be good. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our continued ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel.
Corporate Information
We were originally incorporated as NAM Corporation in Delaware on January 12, 1994. We changed our name to BioCardia, Inc. on October 26, 2016 in connection with a reverse merger transaction in which our wholly-owned subsidiary, Icicle Acquisition Corp., merged with and into BioCardia Lifesciences, Inc. (which was named BioCardia, Inc. prior to the merger), with BioCardia Lifesciences continuing as the surviving company. Following the completion of the reverse merger transaction, we assumed the business and operations of BioCardia Lifesciences and changed our name to BioCardia, Inc.
We operate in only one business segment, which is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases with large unmet medical needs. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 included in this prospectus. Our principal executive offices are located at 125 Shoreway Road, Suite B, San Carlos, CA 94070. Our telephone number is (650) 226-0120.
Our website address is www.biocardia.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.
PROPERTIES
Our principal executive office is located at 125 Shoreway Road, Suite B, San Carlos, CA 94070 in a facility we lease encompassing 13,718 square feet of office, lab, and manufacturing space. The lease for this facility expires in 2021. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current needs. If we determine that additional or new facilities are needed in the future, we believe that sufficient options would be available to us on commercially reasonable terms.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We may be subject to various claims, complaints, and legal actions that arise from time to time in the normal course of business. Management does not believe that we are a party to any material legal proceedings, except as described below. We currently do not expect the proceedings described below to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows at this time. Regardless of the outcome, proceedings such as these can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors. There can be no assurance that existing or future legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise will not become material or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
On April 9, 2019, BioCardia sent a letter to Ms. Surbhi Sarna, nVision Medical and Boston Scientific based on BioCardia’s discovery in January 2019 that Ms. Sarna had assigned to a company she founded, nVision Medical, a patent and patent applications she had filed while a BioCardia employee. nVision subsequently was acquired by Boston Scientific. BioCardia made various claims, including that the patent and patent application rightfully belonged to BioCardia pursuant to Ms. Sarna’s invention assignment agreement, that the proceeds from the sale of nVision to Boston Scientific rightfully belonged to BioCardia because they were the direct result of Ms. Sarna’s breach of her obligation to assign to BioCardia the patent and patent applications, and correction of inventorship on the patents and patent applications.
Correspondence was exchanged and possible ways to resolve BioCardia’s claims were discussed among the parties over the next few months. When it appeared that negotiations had been unsuccessful, BioCardia filed a request for arbitration against Ms. Sarna on August 6, 2019, as required by Ms. Sarna’s invention assignment agreement. On September 6, 2019, Boston Scientific Corporation, Boston Scientific Scimed Inc, and Fortis Advisors LL (the “Boston Scientific Parties”) filed a complaint against BioCardia in the United States District Court Northern District of California, Case no. 3:19-05645-VC, seeking declarations that the claims made in BioCardia’s correspondence were without basis (the “Federal Action”). Ms. Sarna filed an action in San Mateo Superior Court later that month seeking to enjoin the arbitration BioCardia initiated, and instead to require litigation of BioCardia’s claims against Ms. Sarna in state court. All parties subsequently agreed that BioCardia would withdraw its demand for arbitration, Ms. Sarna would withdraw her complaint seeking to enjoin that arbitration, and the parties would litigate all of their disputes in the Federal Action.
Pursuant to that agreement, on October 31, 2019, BioCardia filed a counterclaim in the Federal Action against the Boston Scientific Parties and Ms. Sarna for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets and correction of inventorship on the patents naming Ms. Sarna as an inventor. BioCardia seeks imposition of constructive trusts both on the patents naming Ms. Sarna as an inventor and the proceeds received from the sale of nVision to Boston Scientific, as well as damages, including unjust enrichment damages measured by the proceeds received from the sale of nVision to Boston Scientific.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors,” and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results.
Special Note Regarding Smaller Reporting Company Status
As a result of having been a “smaller reporting company” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), we are allowed and have elected to omit certain information, including three years of year-to-year comparisons and tabular disclosure of contractual obligations, from this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; however, we have provided all information for the periods presented that we believe to be appropriate and necessary.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases with large unmet medical needs. Our lead therapeutic candidate is the investigational CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, which provides an autologous bone marrow derived cell therapy (using a patient’s own cells) for the treatment of two clinical indications: heart failure that develops after a heart attack and chronic myocardial ischemia.
To date, we have devoted substantially all our resources to research and development efforts relating to our therapeutic candidates and biotherapeutic delivery systems, including conducting clinical trials, developing manufacturing and sales capabilities, in-licensing related intellectual property, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting our intellectual property. We have also generated modest revenues from sales of our approved products. We have funded our operations primarily through the sales of equity and convertible debt securities, and certain government and private grants.
We have incurred net losses in each year since our inception. Our net losses were approximately $14.0 million, $12.3 million and $10.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our net losses were approximately $3.8 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $97.6 million. Substantially all our net losses have resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research and development programs, clinical trials, intellectual property matters, building our manufacturing and sales capabilities, and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. As discussed in more detail under “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” we have determined that there is substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, and we plan to raise additional capital, potentially including debt and equity arrangements, to finance our future operations. There can be no assurances as to the availability of capital or the terms on which capital will be available, if at all.
CardiAMP Cell Therapy System
The CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial is a Phase III, multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study of up to 260 patients at 40 centers nationwide, which includes a 10-patient roll-in cohort. The Phase III pivotal trial is designed to provide the primary support for the safety and efficacy of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System. The trial’s primary endpoint is a clinical composite of six minute walk distance and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Based on the results achieved in the Phase II trial, our Phase III pivotal trial is designed to have more than 95% probability of achieving a positive result with statistical significance.
The ongoing CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial was enrolling at 24 clinical sites as of the filing date for our Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the third quarter, filed on November 19, 2019. The independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) completed a prespecified data review in September 2019, which included the safety follow-up results on 35 patients at and all additional data available on the 50 patients randomized in the trial as of August 31, 2019. The DSMB indicated there were no safety concerns with the study results and recommended that the trial continue as planned.
Because there have been no safety concerns in the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial, enrollment remains our primary focus and challenge. The trial investigators have enrolled 58 patients through November 19, 2019. We anticipate a DSMB interim readout from the trial in the fourth quarter of 2020 on 60 patients at one year follow-up that will include all patients enrolled at that time point. This fourth quarter of 2020 event is anticipated to be the first randomized efficacy data set including the primary endpoint reviewed by the DSMB.
We have recently addressed two barriers for patients to participate in the trial. First, patients enrolling in the trial are more interested in receiving therapy than being in a control arm that does not have a path to receive treatment. Second, the requirement for patient out of pocket copays in our Medicare reimbursed trial presents a financial disincentive for patients. To address these barriers to patient participation, we submitted an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) supplement to the FDA with changes to enable patients in the control arm to “Cross Over” to therapy after certain follow-up visits in the trial have been completed, which assures the trial control arm patients early access to therapy if the trial meets its primary endpoint and is deemed appropriate for the patients by their physicians, and to enable BioCardia to cover the costs of all patient co-pays so that participation in the investigational trial is free for insured patients. The FDA has recently approved this IDE supplement. These changes, coupled with site specific plans intended to further accelerate enrollment, are being actively rolled out. We need a significant uptick in the rate of enrollment to complete this phase of the trial in 2020. We expect to have more clarity on target trial completion once these initiatives are in place.
The FDA has approved a second IDE for the randomized controlled pivotal trial of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System in patients with refractory chronic myocardial ischemia for up to 343 patients at up to 40 clinical sites in the United States. This therapeutic approach uses many of the same novel aspects as the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial and is expected to leverage our experience and investment in the heart failure trial. We anticipate that many of the investigators and sites will be the same for both the heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia indications. It is expected this second pivotal trial will benefit significantly from all of the experience we have gained from the heart failure program.
The Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, has designated that both the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial and the CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial qualify for Medicare national coverage. Covered costs include patient screening, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and procedure, and clinical follow-up at one and two years after the procedure. Private insurance plans covering 50 million insured Americans follow this CMS reimbursement policy and are similarly anticipated to cover these costs. This coverage significantly reduces the Company’s cost of conducting these pivotal trials.
CardiALLO Cell Therapy System
Our second therapeutic candidate is the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, an investigational culture expanded bone marrow derived “off the shelf” mesenchymal stem cell therapy. CardiALLO cell therapy cells are expanded from Neurokinin-1 receptor positive bone marrow cells. While these cells are being advanced to treat heart failure, they have potential for numerous therapeutic applications as these are anticipated to be the cells that respond to the release of Substance P. Substance P (“SP”) is a neuropeptide released from sensory nerves and is associated with the inflammatory processes and pain. SP is believed to be a key first responder to most noxious/extreme stimuli (stressors), i.e., those with a potential to compromise biological integrity. SP is thus regarded as an immediate defense, stress, repair survival system. The endogenous receptor for SP is the Neurokinin-1 receptor, which is distributed over cytoplasmic membranes of many cell types (for example neurons, glia, endothelia of capillaries and lymphatics, fibroblasts, stem cells, and white blood cells) in many tissues and organs. SP amplifies or excites most cellular processes. Elevation of serum, plasma, or tissue SP and/or its receptor Neurokinin-1 has been associated with many diseases: sickle cell crisis, inflammatory bowel disease, major depression and related disorders, fibromyalgia rheumatological, and infections such as HIV/AIDS and respiratory syncytial virus, as well as in cancer.
Our CardiALLO Neurokinin-1 positive derived cells are believed to be an important subset of the cells that we have delivered in our previous preclinical and clinical mesenchymal stem cell studies. We believe this therapy presents the advantages of an “off the shelf” therapy that does not require tissue harvesting or cell processing. We have completed manufacturing validation runs of these cells at BioCardia to support future clinical studies. We are working to obtain FDA acceptance of an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for the Phase I/II trial for CardiALLO Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic systolic heart failure in the second quarter of 2020.
The subset of patients we are targeting initially for the CardiALLO Heart Failure Trial are those that have been excluded from our ongoing CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial due to their lower cell potency assay scores. If the CardiAMP trial is successful there is the potential for the CardiALLO therapy indication to be designated as an orphan indication.
Helix™ Biotherapeutic Delivery System
BioCardia’s Helix Biotherapeutic Delivery System or “Helix” is believed to be the leading percutaneous catheter delivery system for cardiovascular regenerative medicine. It enables investigational studies of local delivery of cell and gene-based therapies, including CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapies to treat cardiovascular indications. Helix is in use or has potential to be used to treat many cardiac diseases including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic myocardial ischemia, and cardiac conduction disorders. The Helix’s small hollow, distal helical needle is advanced, similar to an angioplasty catheter, and is passed over the aortic arch and across the aortic valve through the Company’s Morph guide catheter or “Morph”. The Helix is then advanced from within the Morph, and its helical needle is rotated into the heart tissue to provide active fixation during therapeutic delivery, similar to the active fixation electrodes used in cardiac pacing. This fixation to the beating heart wall provides for stability and control during the delivery procedure. It uses simplified fluoroscopic imaging, crosses the aortic arch and valve over a guide wire, and provides the operator with three degrees of freedom to maximize operator control. The Helix is approved in Europe with CE Mark and is under investigational use in the United States and is being used in pre-clinical and clinical investigations of cell, gene, and protein therapies.
Morph Deflectable Guide and Sheaths Product
BioCardia’s Morph catheter is designed to enable physicians to navigate through tortuous anatomy, customize the shape of the catheter to the patient’s anatomy and their clinical needs during the procedure, and to have stellar back up support once positioned. Morph catheters enable all Helix procedures and have been commercially available to treat more than ten thousand patients. A number of Morph guides and sheaths are approved for commercial sale in the United States, including the Morph AVANCE™ which received FDA clearance in May 2019 and was first used commercially in September 2019. Certain Morph catheter systems are approved in Europe with CE Mark.
Financial Overview
Revenue
We currently have a portfolio of enabling and delivery products, from which we have generated modest revenue. These revenues include commercial sales of our Morph vascular access system in the US and EU and revenue from partnering agreements with corporate and academic institutions. Under these partnering agreements, we provide our Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system and customer training and support for use in preclinical and clinical studies.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold includes the costs of raw materials and components, manufacturing personnel and facility costs and other indirect and overhead costs associated with manufacturing our enabling and delivery products.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:
• |
salaries and related overhead expenses, which include share-based compensation and benefits for personnel in research and development functions; |
• |
fees paid to consultants and contract research organizations, or CROs, including in connection with our preclinical studies and clinical trials and other related clinical trial fees, such as for investigator grants, patient screening, laboratory work, clinical trial management and statistical compilation and analysis; |
• |
costs related to acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; |
• |
costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and |
• |
payments related to licensed products and technologies. |
We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Costs for certain development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress of completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors and clinical sites. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in future periods for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are then expensed as the related goods are delivered and the services are received.
We plan to increase our research and development expenses for the foreseeable future as we continue the Pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial, advance the pivotal CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial, further develop the CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems, and subject to the availability of additional funding, develop other therapeutic candidates for additional indications. We typically use our employee and infrastructure resources across multiple research and development programs, and accordingly, we have not historically allocated resources specifically to our individual programs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs for employees in executive, finance and administration, sales, corporate development and administrative support functions, including share-based compensation expenses and benefits. Other selling, general and administrative expenses include sales commissions, rent, accounting and legal services, obtaining and maintaining patents, the cost of consultants, occupancy costs, insurance premiums and information systems costs.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income and expense consist primarily of interest income we earn on our cash, cash equivalents and investments, interest charges we incurred in periods when we have convertible debt outstanding, and changes in the fair value of our warrant and convertible shareholder note derivative liabilities in periods when we have warrants or convertible debt outstanding. We had no interest charges in 2017 or 2018 related to the convertible debt and changes in the fair value of our warrant and convertible shareholder note derivative liabilities as we had no such instruments during 2017 or 2018.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various judgements that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not clear from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We define our critical accounting policies as those that require us to make subjective estimates and judgments about matters that are uncertain and are likely to have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations as well as the specific manner in which we apply those principles. The following discussion addresses what we believe to be the critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our financial statements that require significant estimates and judgments.
Research and Development—Clinical Trial Accruals
As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our expenses resulting from our obligations under contracts with vendors and consultants and clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided to us under such contracts. Our clinical trial accrual is dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of expenses of our CROs and other third-party vendors.
Our objective is to reflect the appropriate clinical trial expenses in our financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services and efforts are expended. We account for these expenses according to the progress of the trial as measured by patient progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. We determine accrual estimates through discussion with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of completion of clinical trials, or the services completed. During the course of a clinical trial, we adjust the rate of clinical trial expense recognition if actual results differ from the estimates. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known at that time. Although we do not expect that our estimates will be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in our reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any particular period. Through September 30, 2019, there had been no material adjustments to our prior period estimates of accrued expenses for clinical trials. However, due to the nature of estimates, we cannot provide assurance that we will not make changes to our estimates in the future as we become aware of additional information about the status or conduct of our clinical trials.
Share-Based Compensation
We measure and recognize share-based compensation expense for equity awards to employees, directors and consultants based on fair value at the grant date. We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, or BSM, to calculate the fair value of stock options, which includes subjective assumptions such as the risk free interest rate, the expected volatility in the value of the Company's common stock, and the expected term of the option. Restricted stock units (RSUs) are measured based on the fair market values of the underlying stock on the dates of grant. Share-based compensation expense recognized in the statements of operations is based on awards at the time of grant and is reduced for actual forfeitures at the time that the forfeitures occur. Compensation cost for employee share-based awards will be recognized over the vesting period of the applicable award on a straight-line basis.
For options granted to nonemployees, we revalue the unearned portion of the share-based compensation and the resulting change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations over the period the related services are rendered. On January 1, 2019 we adopted ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting, which led to an amended stock-based compensation policy with respect to the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards. Equity classified nonemployee awards is fixed at the grant date, and we may use the expected term to measure nonemployee options or elect to use the contractual term as the expected term, on an award-by-award basis. This differs from the guidance in ASC 505-50 that requires the use of the contractual term. Forfeitures of nonemployee awards will be recognized as they occur.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2019 |
2018 |
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||||||||||
Net product revenue |
$ | 1 | $ | 52 | $ | 139 | $ | 223 | ||||||||
Collaboration agreement revenue |
193 | 32 | 356 | 299 | ||||||||||||
Total revenue |
194 | 84 | 495 | 522 | ||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
24 | 109 | 321 | 401 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
2,007 | 2,262 | 6,392 | 6,248 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
1,390 | 1,283 | 4,460 | 4,315 | ||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses |
3,421 | 3,654 | 11,173 | 10,964 | ||||||||||||
Operating loss |
(3,227 |
) |
(3,570 |
) |
(10,678 |
) |
(10,442 |
) |
||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
17 | 29 | 53 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Gain on change in fair value of redemption feature embedded in convertible notes |
52 | - | 52 | - | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(112 |
) |
- | (112 |
) |
- | ||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of convertible notes |
(521 |
) |
- | (521 |
) |
- | ||||||||||
Other expense |
(1 |
) |
(3 |
) |
(2 |
) |
(3 |
) |
||||||||
Total other income (expense) |
(565 |
) |
26 | (530 |
) |
97 | ||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (3,792 |
) |
$ | (3,544 |
) |
$ | (11,208 |
) |
$ | (10,345 |
) |
Revenue. Revenue increased to $194,000 in the third quarter of 2019 as compared to $84,000 in the third quarter of 2018. These changes are primarily due to growing partnering activities under programs with our collaborative partners. Revenues decreased to $495,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $522,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. This decrease was caused by reduced volumes of commercial catheter sales, partially offset by growth in in partnering activities under programs with our collaborative partners. We expect revenues to continue to increase in the fourth quarter of 2019 and modestly year over year.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold decreased by approximately $85,000 and $80,000, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily due to the decrease in net product sales volumes partially offset by an increase in inventory reserves in 2019 for raw materials related to the planned transition to the new Morph AVANCE™ product family. We expect cost of goods sold to continue to decrease in the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 and decrease moderately year over year.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses decreased by approximately $255,000 and increased by $144,000, respectively, during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Discretionary research and development expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2019 were reduced, where this could be done without adversely impacting the projects, until the successful financing event occurred in the quarter. Clinical trial activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were overall higher than those in the same period of 2018 because the number of sites and patients treated increased year over year. We expect research and development expenses to increase modestly as we advance the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial and we further develop the CardiAMP and CardiALLO platforms.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 increased by approximately $107,000 and $145,000, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily due to expenses associated with the reverse stock split, the up listing to the Nasdaq Capital Market and additional staffing and consultants for finance and administrative operations. We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to be relatively consistent in the fourth quarter of 2019 with the fourth quarter of 2018 and increase modestly year over year.
Other income and expense. Other income and expense consists primarily of interest income we earn on our cash, cash equivalents and investments as well as net expenses incurred accounting for the derivative liabilities. We recorded a gain on the change in fair value of the derivative liabilities of approximately $52,000, a loss on extinguishment of convertible notes for approximately $521,000 and recognized interest expense of approximately $112,000 on the convertible notes, which included accretion of the debt discount of approximately $104,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
Years ended December 31, |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||
Net product revenue |
$ | 282 | $ | 389 | ||||
Collaboration agreement revenue |
343 | 90 | ||||||
Total revenue |
625 | 479 | ||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
517 | 690 | ||||||
Research and development |
8,453 | 5,799 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
5,757 | 6,395 | ||||||
Total costs and expenses |
14,727 | 12,884 | ||||||
Operating loss |
(14,102 |
) |
(12,405 |
) |
||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||
Interest income |
118 | 95 | ||||||
Other income (expense) |
(3 |
) |
2 | |||||
Total other income, net |
115 | 97 | ||||||
Net loss |
$ | (13,987 |
) |
$ | (12,308 |
) |
Revenue. Revenue increased by approximately $146,000 in 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to an increase in collaboration agreement revenues, which offset decreases in net product revenues. We expect collaboration agreement revenues to continue to increase modestly. Net product revenue will be subject to customer demand for our new Morph product family members.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold decreased by approximately $173,000 in 2018 compared to 2017, primarily due to the decrease in net product revenue. We expect cost of goods sold to decrease in 2019 as manufacturing resources are focused on supporting clinical partners, development activities and the ongoing pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses increased by approximately $2.7 million in 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to expenses incurred in the execution of the pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial, development of the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System and our other therapeutic programs, including fees paid to consultants and contract research organizations (CRO), additional personnel costs and increased stock compensation expense. We expect research and development expenses to increase as we continue enrolling and treating patients in the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial and further develop the CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell processing and delivery platforms.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $0.6 million in 2018 compared to 2017, primarily due to lower costs for consulting expense and personnel costs and other corporate expenses. We expect selling, general and administrative expenses for 2019 to remain relatively consistent with 2018.
Interest Income. Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted primarily of interest income earned on cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have incurred net losses each year since our inception and as of September 30, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $97.6 million. We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the next several years.
We have funded our operations principally through the sales of equity and convertible debt securities as well as the cash acquired through our reverse merger transaction that was completed on October 24, 2016, $3.8 million raised from the sale of unregistered securities on December 24, 2018, the $625,000 raised from convertible notes that converted in July 2019 and the $9.27 million in net proceeds raised from the sale of common stock and warrants in August and September 2019. As of September 30, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $8.9 million.
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Nine Months Ending September 30, 2019 |
||||||||
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||
Net cash provided by (used in): |
||||||||
Operating activities |
$ | (6,189 |
) |
$ | (7,823 |
) |
||
Investing activities |
(144 |
) |
(51 |
) |
||||
Financing activities |
9,885 | 5 | ||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | (3,552 |
) |
$ | (7,869 |
) |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. The decrease in overall spending for operating activities of $1.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2018 related primarily to increases in noncurrent customer deposits and deferred revenue, and board cash compensation that was deferred during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 coupled with 2018 management bonuses settled in equity in 2019 instead of cash. We expect spending to increase modestly as we advance the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial, further develop the CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapy systems and continue to strengthen and enhance the supporting organization.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities of $144,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 consisted primarily of purchases of lab equipment and clean room environmental systems. Net cash used in investing activities of $51,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 consisted primarily of purchases of lab equipment.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 consisted of proceeds from the sales of stock and warrants in August and September 2019 and proceeds from convertible notes received in July 2019 that converted in August 2019. Net cash provided by financing activities of $5,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 consisted of the proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Future Funding Requirements
To date, we have generated modest revenue from sales of our approved products. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenue from our development stage biotherapeutic programs. We do not expect to generate any revenue from sales of our CardiAMP or CardiALLO therapeutic candidates unless and until we obtain regulatory approval. At the same time, we expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing development activities, particularly as we continue the research, development and clinical trials of, and seek regulatory approval for, our therapeutic candidates. In addition, subject to obtaining regulatory approval for any of our therapeutic candidates and companion diagnostic, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses for product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. We anticipate that we will need additional funding in connection with our continuing operations.
Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the cash and cash equivalents of $8.9 million as of September 30, 2019 is not sufficient to fund our operations through the third quarter of 2020. In order to continue to further the development of our lead therapeutic candidates, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System, and our second therapeutic candidate, the CardiALLO Cell Therapy System, beyond the third quarter of 2020, we will need to raise additional capital. We plan to raise additional capital, potentially including debt and equity arrangements as well as selling off rights to certain non-core assets, to finance our future operations, but there can be no assurances as to the availability of capital or the terms on which capital will be available, if at all. We have based our estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures necessary to complete the development of our therapeutic candidates.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
• |
the progress, costs, results and timing of our CardiAMP and CardiALLO clinical trials and related development programs; |
• |
FDA acceptance of our CardiAMP and CardiALLO therapies for heart failure and for other potential indications; |
• |
the outcome, costs and timing of seeking and obtaining FDA and any other regulatory approvals; |
• |
the costs associated with securing, establishing and maintaining commercialization and manufacturing capabilities; |
• |
the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue, including our product candidates in preclinical development; |
• |
the ability of our product candidates to progress through clinical development successfully; |
• |
our need to expand our research and development activities; |
• |
the costs of acquiring, licensing or investing in businesses, products, product candidates and technologies; |
• |
our ability to maintain, expand and defend the scope of our intellectual property portfolio, including the amount and timing of any payments we may be required to make, or that we may receive, in connection with the licensing, filing, prosecution, defense and enforcement of any patents or other intellectual property rights; |
• |
the general and administrative expenses related to being a public company; |
• |
our need and ability to hire additional management and scientific, medical and sales personnel; |
• |
the effect of competing technological and market developments; and |
• |
our need to implement additional internal systems and infrastructure, including financial and reporting systems. |
Until such time that we can generate meaningful revenue from the sales of approved therapies and products, if ever, we expect to finance our operating activities through public or private equity or debt financings, government or other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements, and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or a combination of these approaches. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our common stock holders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stock holders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include conversion discounts or covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through government or other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements or other collaborations, or strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs, products or therapeutic candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.
Our condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Due to the factors described above, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern through the third quarter of 2020. Our ability to continue as a going concern will depend in a large part, on our ability to raise additional capital. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to reduce operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of our product development programs, obtain funds through arrangements with others that may require us to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies or products that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves, or cease operations. While we believe we have a viable strategy to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms and in the amounts necessary to fully fund our operating needs.
The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may be forced to liquidate assets. In such a scenario, the values received for assets in liquidation or dissolution could be significantly lower than the values reflected in our financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
During the periods presented, we did not have, nor do we currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 of our notes to each of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018 for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements that are of significance or potential significance to us.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
Our business affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which is currently composed of eight members. All of our directors other than Peter Altman are independent within the meaning of the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. Our board of directors is divided into three staggered classes of directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the same class whose term is then expiring.
The following table sets forth the names, ages as of December 31, 2019, and certain other information for each of the directors with terms expiring at the 2020 Annual Meeting (who are also nominees for election as a director at the 2020 Annual Meeting) and for each of the continuing members of our board of directors:
Directors with Terms expiring at the Annual Meeting |
Class |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
Director |
|
Current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
I |
|
53 |
|
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
|
2002 |
|
2020 |
|
Fernando L. Fernandez(1) |
I |
|
58 |
|
Director |
|
2016 |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Allen(3) |
II |
|
64 |
|
Director |
|
2019 |
|
2021 |
|
Andrew Blank(1)(2) |
II |
|
63 |
|
Director |
|
2019 |
|
2021 |
|
Richard Pfenniger, Jr.(2) |
II |
|
64 |
|
Director |
|
2016 |
|
2021 |
|
Richard Krasno, Ph.D.(3) |
III |
|
77 |
|
Director |
|
2016 |
|
2022 |
|
Jay M. Moyes(1)(2) |
III |
|
65 |
|
Director |
|
2011 |
|
2022 |
|
Simon H. Stertzer, M.D.(3) |
III |
|
83 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
|
2002 |
|
2022 |
|
(1) |
Member of the audit committee |
(2) |
Member of the compensation committee |
(3) |
Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee |
(4) |
Service on our board of directors prior to 2016 noted in the narrative below includes service with BioCardia Lifesciences, Inc., the company we merged with in our reverse merger transaction in October 2016. |
Business Experience of Directors
Peter Altman, Ph.D. has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since 2002, where he has global responsibility for the development, manufacture and marketing of our therapeutic candidates and products. He was founding Chief Executive Officer from 1999 to 2003 and board member of CareDx from 1999 to 2014, a developer of a diagnostics to be used in chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiac transplantation. He was also founding Chief Executive Officer for Lumen Therapeutics from 2004 to 2005, an early-stage pharmaceutical company. He has 33 years of experience in life science research and product development, is named inventor in more than 50 U.S. patents, and has authored 40 scientific publications. Dr. Altman currently serves as a director on the board of directors of Oncocyclist Biotech, since 2018. He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering/Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, his Management of Technology certificate from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and both his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Dr. Altman has been elected Fellow of the American Heart Association.
We believe that Dr. Altman possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his extensive experience in the biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic industries and the operational insight and expertise he has accumulated as our President and Chief Executive Officer.
Fernando L. Fernandez was appointed to our board of directors in October 2016. Mr. Fernandez has served as the Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of United Data Technologies, an information technology company, since November 2016. Mr. Fernandez served as the Market Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Care Delivery segment of Humana, Inc., a health and well-being company, from December 2012 to October 2016. From June 2004 to December 2012, Mr. Fernandez served as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Continucare Corporation, a medical care service company. He currently serves as a director for South Florida Business Forum since January 2018. Mr. Fernandez spent his early career in public accounting and finance functions at other companies, including Whitman Education Group, Inc., Frost-Nevada LP, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Fernandez holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Miami, and is a CPA.
We believe that Mr. Fernandez possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his expertise in accounting and finance.
Jim Allen was appointed to our board of directors effective October 1, 2019. Mr. Allen is Chief Executive Officer and President of Sea Star, Inc., a real estate development company, and has served in that capacity since he founded the company in February 1989. Mr. Allen has founded multiple companies from concept to full operation involving the development of various technologies, patents, manufacturing processes, and sales, distribution and maintenance programs. Six of his ventures have resulted in sales to publicly-traded companies. He is a named inventor on 29 issued and pending patents. Mr. Allen has studied business at Troy University and Auburn University at Montgomery.
We believe that Mr. Allen possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his operational expertise and extensive track record of successful business ventures.
Andrew Scott Blank was appointed to our board of directors effective October 1, 2019. Mr. Blank is President of National Brands, Inc., an investment group that was one of the largest Anheuser-Bush beer distributors prior to divesture of those operations, and has served in that capacity since March 2, 1993. Mr. Blank also currently serves as President of WareITis Technologies, developer of one of the foremost enterprise level content management software suites called Records Studio, President of Archive America, one of the country’s largest family-owned document storage firms, and President of Seaboard Warehouse Terminals, a provider of nationwide third-party logistics services. Mr. Blank holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Miami.
We believe that Mr. Blank possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his operational expertise and extensive track record in the management of fast-growth companies.
Richard C. Pfenniger, Jr. was appointed to our board of directors in October 2016. From May 2014 to February 2015, Mr. Pfenniger served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Vein Clinics of America, Inc., a medical group specializing in the treatment of vein disease. From January 2013 to May 2013, Mr. Pfenniger served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of IntegraMed America, Inc., an operator of the largest U.S. network of fertility centers. From October 2003 until October 2011, when it was acquired by Metropolitan Health, Inc., he served as Chairman of the board of directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of Continucare Corporation, a provider of primary care physician and practice management services. Prior thereto, Mr. Pfenniger served as Chief Executive Officer of Whitman Education, Inc. from 1997 to 2003 and as Chief Operating Officer of IVAX Corporation from 1994 to 1997 after having served as the Senior Vice President – Legal Affairs from 1989 to 1994. Mr. Pfenniger currently serves as a director on the board of directors of OPKO Health, Inc., a pharmaceutical and medical diagnostic company, since 2008; on TransEnterix, Inc., a medical device company, since 2005; on GP Strategies, Inc., a corporate training and performance improvement company, since 2005; and on IntegraMed America, Inc. since 2012. Mr. Pfenniger holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University.
We believe that Mr. Pfenniger possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his expertise with public companies and the healthcare industry.
Richard Krasno, Ph.D. was appointed to our board of directors in October 2016. Dr. Krasno has served as a director of Ladenburg Thalmann since March 2015, Castle Brands, Inc. since 2014, and OPKO Health, Inc. since 2017. Dr. Krasno served as the executive director of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust from 1999 to 2014 and, from 1999 to 2010, as president of the four affiliated funds. Prior to that, Dr. Krasno was the president of the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. From 2004 to 2012, Dr. Krasno also served as a director of the University of North Carolina Health Care System and served as chairman of the board of directors from 2009 to 2012. From 1981 to 1998, he served as president and chief executive officer of the Institute of International Education in New York. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education in Washington, D.C. from 1979 to 1980. Mr. Krasno holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. from Stanford.
We believe that Mr. Krasno possesses specific attributes including his qualifications and skills, including financial literacy and expertise, his managerial experience and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director of publicly-traded corporations, which qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Jay M. Moyes has served on our board of directors since 2011. He has served on the board of directors of Puma Biotechnologies since April 2012, on the board of directors of Achieve Life Sciences from 2018 to the present, on the board of directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee and Compliance Committee of Predictive Technology Group, Inc. since February 2019 and on the board of directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Osiris Therapeutics, a biosurgical company, from May 2006 until December 2017. He also served as a member of the board of directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Integrated Diagnostics, a privately held molecular diagnostics company, from 2011 to 2016. From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Moyes served as a member of the board of directors of Amedica Corporation, a publicly traded orthopaedics company, and as Chief Financial Officer from 2013 to 2014. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Moyes served as Chief Financial Officer of CareDx, a publicly traded molecular diagnostics company. Prior to that, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Myriad Genetics, Inc., a publicly held healthcare diagnostics company, from June 1996 until his retirement in November 2007, and as Vice President of Finance from July 1993 until July 2005. From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Moyes served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Genmark, a privately held genetics company. Mr. Moyes held various positions with the accounting firm of KPMG from 1979 to 1991. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Utah Life Science Association from 1999 to 2006. Mr. Moyes holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Utah, a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Weber State University, and was formerly a Certified Public Accountant.
We believe that Mr. Moyes possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his extensive background in finance and accounting in the life sciences industry.
Simon H. Stertzer, M.D. is Chairman of our board of directors and has served on our board of directors since 2002. Dr. Stertzer is a Professor of Medicine, Emeritus at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and a Professor at the Stanford University Biodesign Program. He served as Assistant Resident in Medicine at New York University and later as Chief Medical Resident at New York University Division of Bellevue Hospital. Dr. Stertzer was a founder and board member of Arterial Vascular Engineering, an angioplasty balloon and stent company that went public in 1996 and was subsequently acquired by Medtronic. Dr. Stertzer served as Director of the Catheterization Laboratory at Lenox Hill Hospital from 1971 to 1983. He also served as Director of AVIA App LLC and Frontiere Algorithmic Design LLC, each since 2015. He was the Director of Medical Research and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the San Francisco Heart Institute from 1983 until 1993. He was appointed Professor of Medicine at Stanford University in 1998, and became Professor Emeritus at Stanford University in 2011. Dr. Stertzer received his Doctor of Medicine degree from New York University. He also earned a Certificat de Physiologie from University of Paris (Sorbonne) and had a fellowship at New York University Hospital in Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Stertzer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from Union College.
We believe that Dr. Stertzer possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as Chairman of our board of directors, including his historical association with our company and his expertise in interventional cardiology and the operational experience he has accumulated in the life sciences industry.
Director Independence
In accordance with the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a majority of our Board must be composed of independent directors. Our Board has determined that all of our directors, other than Dr. Altman, qualify as “independent” directors in accordance with listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, or NASDAQ, and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” Dr. Altman is not considered independent because he is an employee of BioCardia.
Board Leadership Structure
Board Structure. Our board of directors has eight authorized seats divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) with staggered three-year terms. Two Class II directors are to be elected at the 2020 Annual Meeting to serve a three-year term expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Class II and Class III directors will continue to serve their respective terms until the respective 2021 and 2022 Annual Meetings of stockholders.
Board Leadership Structure. Our board of directors does not have a policy on whether or not the role of the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman should be separate or, if it is to be separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. Currently, we operate with Dr. Altman serving as a director and our President and Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Stertzer serving as our Chairman. We believe that the separation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions suit the talents, expertise and experience that each of Drs. Altman and Stertzer bring to the Company.
Board Committees. Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each of the committees of our board of directors is described below. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until as otherwise determined by our board of directors.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Board Committees
Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each of the committees of our board of directors is described below. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until as otherwise determined by our board of directors.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee currently consists of Jay Moyes, who is the chair of the committee, Fernando Fernandez and Andrew Blank, each of whom are independent for Audit Committee purposes under the requirements of NASDAQ and the SEC rules and regulations. Each of Mr. Moyes and Mr. Fernandez is an “audit committee financial expert” as the term is defined under SEC regulations. The audit committee operates under a written charter. The functions of the audit committee include:
• |
overseeing the engagement of our independent registered accounting firm; |
• |
reviewing our audited financial statements and discussing them with the independent registered accounting firm and our management; |
• |
meeting with the independent registered accounting firm and our management to consider the adequacy of our internal controls; and |
• |
reviewing our financial plans, reporting recommendations to our full board of directors for approval and authorizing actions. |
Both our independent registered accounting firm and internal financial personnel regularly meet with our audit committee and have unrestricted access to the audit committee.
Our audit committee operates under a written charter adopted by our board of directors, a current copy of which is available on the Corporate Governance portion of our website at investors.biocardia.com.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee currently consists of Richard Pfenniger, who is the chair of the committee, Jay Moyes and Andrew Blank, each of whom are independent in accordance with the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC standards. Each member of our compensation committee is also a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The compensation committee operates under a written charter. The functions of the compensation committee include:
• |
reviewing and, if deemed appropriate, recommending to our board of directors policies, practices and procedures relating to the compensation of our directors, officers and other managerial employees and the establishment and administration of our employee benefit plans; |
• |
determining or recommending to the board of directors the compensation of our executive officers; and |
• |
advising and consulting with our officers regarding managerial personnel and development. |
Our compensation committee operates under a written charter adopted by our board of directors, a current copy of which is available on the Corporate Governance portion of our website at investors.biocardia.com.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Simon Stertzer, who is the chair of the committee, Richard Krasno and Jim Allen, each of whom are independent in accordance with the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC standards. The nomination committee operates under a written charter. The functions of the nominating and corporate governance include:
• |
establishing standards for service on our board of directors; |
• |
identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors and recommending director candidates for election or re-election to our board; |
• |
considering and making recommendations to our board of directors regarding the size and composition of the board of directors, committee composition and structure and procedures affecting directors; |
• |
reviewing compliance with relevant corporate government guidelines; |
• |
reviewing governance-related stockholder proposals and recommending Board responses; and |
• |
reviewing actual and potential conflicts of interest of Board members and corporate officer, other than related-party transactions reviewed by the Audit Committee, and approving or prohibiting any involvement of such persons in matters that may involve a conflict of interest or taking of a corporate opportunity. |
Our nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a written charter adopted by our Board of Directors, a current copy of which is available on the Corporate Governance portion of our website at investors.biocardia.com.
Non-Employee Director Compensation
Cash and Equity Compensation
We compensate non-employee members of the board of directors. Directors who are also employees do not receive cash or equity compensation for service on the board of directors in addition to compensation payable for their service as our employees. The non-employee members of our board of directors are reimbursed for travel, lodging and other reasonable expenses incurred in attending board of directors or committee meetings. Our directors received equity grants annually at the fair market value of our common stock at the time of grant under our 2016 Plan.
In January 2017 our compensation policy for non-employee directors was established. The cash and equity components of our compensation policy for non-employee directors are set forth below:
Position |
Annual Cash |
Equity Grant |
||||||
Base Fee |
$ | 40,000 | $ | 44,000 | ||||
Chairperson Fee |
||||||||
Chairman of the Board |
25,000 | |||||||
Audit Committee |
15,000 | |||||||
Compensation Committee |
10,000 | |||||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
7,500 | |||||||
Committee Member Fee |
||||||||
Audit Committee |
7,500 | |||||||
Compensation Committee |
5,000 | |||||||
Nominating and Corporate governance |
3,750 |
Under our non-employee director compensation program, each non-employee director received an initial equity award in January of 2017 of either an option to purchase 2,472 shares of common stock or receive 1,703 restricted stock units which, in either case, vest over three years upon the anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service through the vesting date. We expect additional annual equity grants may be made to our non-employee directors and that compensation for our non-employee directors will be competitive at the 50th percentile of our peer group. In July 2018, the board elected to defer quarterly payment of the cash portion of director compensation until the Company has raised sufficient financing.
Compensation for 2019
The following table sets forth summary information concerning the compensation awarded to, paid to, or earned by the non-employee members of our board of directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019:
Director |
Fees Earned or Cash($)(1) |
Stock Awards |
Option Awards |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||
Fernando L. Fernandez |
$ | 47,500.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 47,500.00 | |||||||||
Richard Krasno, Ph.D. |
$ | 43,750.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 43,750.00 | |||||||||
Jay M. Moyes |
$ | 58,125.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 58,125.00 | |||||||||
Richard C. Pfenniger, Jr. |
$ | 46,250.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 46,250.00 | |||||||||
Thomas Quertermous, M.D.(3) |
$ | 32,812.50 | $ | — | — | $ | 32,812.50 | |||||||||
Simon H. Stertzer, M.D. |
$ | 76,250.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 76,250.00 | |||||||||
Allan R. Tessler(3) |
$ | 41,250.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 41,250.00 | |||||||||
Jim Allen |
$ | 10,937.50 | $ | — | — | $ | 10,937.50 | |||||||||
Andrew Blank |
$ | 13,125.00 | $ | — | — | $ | 13,125.00 |
(1) |
This amount reflects the amount of cash earned pursuant to our non-employee director compensation policy described above. No cash was paid to any director in 2019 due to the board’s election to defer payment of any cash portion of director compensation until we have raised sufficient funding. |
(2) |
Directors did not receive equity grants in 2019 under our policy described above. |
(3) |
On September 25, 2019, pursuant to shareholder requests for appointments to the board of directors, the board of directors accepted offers to resign from each of Thomas Quertermous, M.D. and Allan R. Tessler and appointed Jim Allen and Andrew Blank to fill these vacancies, effective October 1, 2019. |
The following table lists all outstanding equity awards held by our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2019.
Name |
Aggregate Options |
Aggregate Awards |
|||||||
Fernando L. Fernandez |
— | 567 |
(1) |
||||||
Richard Krasno, Ph.D. |
— | 567 |
(1) |
||||||
Jay M. Moyes |
5,931 |
(2) |
— | ||||||
Richard C. Pfenniger, Jr. |
— | 567 |
(1) |
||||||
Thomas Quertermous, M.D.(6) |
3,921 |
(3) |
— | ||||||
Simon H. Stertzer, M.D. |
12,218 |
(4) |
— | ||||||
Allan R. Tessler(6) |
1,508 |
(5) |
567 |
(1) |
|||||
Jim Allen |
— | — | |||||||
Andrew Blank |
— | — |
(1) |
Includes 567 shares subject to a restricted stock award that vested on January 13, 2020. |
(2) |
Includes (i) 4,283 shares subject to an option, which are fully vested and immediately exercisable, (ii) 824 shares subject to an option that vested January 13, 2019, and (iii) 824 shares subject to an option that vested on January 13, 2020. |
(3) |
Includes (i) 2,273 shares subject to an option, which are fully vested and immediately exercisable, (ii) 824 shares subject to an option that vested January 13, 2019, and (iii) 824 shares subject to an option that vested on January 13, 2020. |
(4) |
Includes (i) 10,570 shares subject to an option which are fully vested and immediately exercisable, (ii) 824 shares subject to an option that vested January 13, 2019, and (iii) 824 shares subject to an option that vested on January 13, 2020. |
(5) |
Includes 1,508 shares subject to an option, which are fully vested and immediately exercisable. |
(6) |
On September 25, 2019, pursuant to shareholder requests for appointments to the board of directors, the board of directors accepted offers to resign from each of Thomas Quertermous, M.D. and Allan R. Tessler and appointed Jim Allen and Andrew Blank to fill these vacancies, effective October 1, 2019. |
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our (1) officers, (2) employees (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and other employees who perform financial or accounting functions), and (3) agents and representatives, including our independent directors and consultants, who are not employees of ours, with regard to their BioCardia-related activities. Our code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website at www.biocardia.com under the heading “Corporate Governance” under the section titled “Investors”. We will post on this section of our website any amendment to our code of business conduct and ethics, as well as any waivers of our code of business conduct and ethics, that are required to be disclosed by the rules of the SEC.
Executive Officers
The following table identifies certain information about our executive officers as of December 31, 2019. Officers are elected by our board of directors to hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
|
53 |
|
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director |
Henricus Duckers, M.D., Ph.D., FESC |
|
52 |
|
Chief Medical Officer |
David McClung |
|
56 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Phil Pesta |
|
53 |
|
Vice President of Operations |
The service of our executive officers prior to 2016 noted in the narrative below includes service with BioCardia Lifesciences, Inc., the company we merged with in the reverse merger transaction in October 2016. For a brief biography of Dr. Altman, please see “Board of Directors and Corporate Governance−Nominees for Director.”
Henricus Duckers has served as our Chief Medical Officer since 2016. From 2013 to 2016, Dr. Duckers was the Chair of Regenerative Medicine and the Head of R&D in the Department of Cardiology and Pulmonology at the University Medical Center Utrecht. He has over 20 years of experience in cardiovascular research, is named inventor in ten U.S. patents, and has authored 140 scientific publications in cardiology, neurology and cell biology. Dr. Duckers studied Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Utecht, as well as Management in Health Care (Univ. Rotterdam). From 1992 to 1993 he completed his Ph.D. at the Rudolf Magnus Institute for NeuroScience, Cum Laude, and obtained a registration as clinical pharmacologist. He was trained as an interventional cardiologist at the Thoraxcenter Rotterdam, where, he, among other notable achievements, also supervised the molecular cardiology program.
David McClung has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2017 and has been with the Company since September 2013, also serving as Vice President of Finance from March 2016 to August 2017 and as Senior Director of Finance & Controller from September 2013 to February 2016. Mr. McClung has more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience in publicly and privately financed organizations, including startup enterprises, large public companies and middle-market businesses. Before joining our company, Mr. McClung served as Director of Finance and Controller at Sonitus Medical, Inc., a privately-held manufacturer of an FDA cleared prosthetic hearing device for the treatment of single-sided deafness and conductive hearing loss, from June 2011 to August 2013. Prior to that, Mr. McClung served as Controller at NextWave Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a specialty pharmaceutical company acquired by Pfizer, Inc., from April 2010 to June 2011. Mr. McClung spent his early career in public accounting and finance functions at other companies, including Matson Navigation, Inc., The Clorox Company and KPMG LLP. Mr. McClung earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Georgia State University, graduating with honors. He is an actively licensed CPA and member of the AICPA and the California Society of CPAs.
Phil Pesta has served as our Vice President of Operations since July 2011. Mr. Pesta has more than 20 years of experience in the medical device industry, primarily in manufacturing and operations roles. Before joining our company, Mr. Pesta was with Boston Scientific. He was most recently responsible for developing the operations transfer plan for the divestiture of their neurovascular division to Stryker Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Pesta held simultaneous roles as Director of Engineering at Boston Scientific’s electrophysiology division and Plant Manager at the embolic protection division. Earlier in his career, Mr. Pesta held positions in project management and manufacturing engineering at other companies, including Conceptus, Novare Surgical Systems, Medtronic Anneurx and Modified Polymer Components. He has facilitated the commercial launch of multiple products and is listed as an inventor on three U.S. patents. Mr. Pesta earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Design Studies from San Jose State University.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information relating to director compensation is provided under the section titled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Fiscal 2019 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth total compensation paid to our named executive officers, who are comprised of (1) our principal executive officer and (2) our two highest compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer.
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock ($)(1) |
Option ($)(1) |
All Other ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
2019 |
362,700.00 | — | 57,600.00 |
(2) |
257,200.98 |
(4) |
677,500.98 | ||||||||||||||||||||
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director |
2018 |
360,000.00 | — | — | 742,000.00 |
(3) |
— | 1,102,000.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
David McClung |
2019 |
302,250.00 | — | 30,000.00 |
(2) |
102,244.76 |
(4) |
434,494.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
2018 |
300,000.00 | — | — | 294,982.10 |
(3) |
— | 594,982.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Henricus Duckers |
2019 |
350,000.00 | — | 14,000.00 |
(3) |
107,945.94 |
(4) |
471,945.94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Medical Officer |
2018 |
350,000.00 | — | — | 311,417.40 |
(3) |
— | 661,417.40 |
(1) |
This amount reflects the aggregate grant fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The assumptions that we used to calculate these amounts are discussed in Notes 2 and 11 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. The fair value of certain options outstanding as of December 31, 2019 does not give effect to the Repricing, which occurred as of January 29, 2020 and modified the exercise price of each such option to $5.32 per share. |
(2) |
This amount was earned as a bonus in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 but was not paid out as RSUs until 2019. Such RSUs vested on January 29, 2020. |
(3) |
The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments over forty-eight months on each monthly anniversary of February 1, 2018. |
(4) |
The option vests and becomes exercisable in equal installments over forty-eight months on each monthly anniversary of September 1, 2019. |
Employment Agreements
Peter Altman
We have not entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Altman. Accordingly, he is employed on an at-will basis. Dr. Altman’s current annual base salary is $370,800.00 and he is eligible for an annual bonus equal to 40% of his base salary.
Dr. Altman is also eligible for equity compensation under our equity compensation plans, as determined from time to time by the compensation committee of our board of directors.
David McClung
We have not entered into an employment agreement with Mr. McClung. Accordingly, he is employed on an at-will basis. Mr. McClung’s current annual base salary is $309,000.00 and he is eligible for an annual bonus equal to 25% of his base salary.
Mr. McClung is also eligible for equity compensation under our equity compensation plans, as determined from time to time by the compensation committee of our board of directors.
Henricus Duckers
We have not entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Duckers. Accordingly, he is employed on an at-will basis. Dr. Duckers’ current annual base salary is $350,000.00 and he is eligible for an annual bonus equal to 25% of his base salary.
Dr. Duckers is also eligible for equity compensation under our equity compensation plans, as determined from time to time by the compensation committee of our board of directors.
Potential Payments on Termination or Change of Control
We have entered into change of control and severance agreements with each of our named executive officers. Under each of these agreements, if, within the period three months prior to and 12 months following a “change of control” (such period, the “change in control period”), we terminate the employment of the applicable employee other than for “cause,” death or disability, or the employee resigns for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the employee’s change of control and severance agreement) and, within 60 days following the employee’s termination, the employee executes an irrevocable separation agreement and release of claims, the employee is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to the following percentage of the employee’s annual base salary: 150% for Dr. Altman, 100% for Mr. McClung and 100% for Dr. Duckers, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to the following percentage of the employee’s target annual bonus: 150% for Dr. Altman, 100% for Mr. McClung and 100% for Dr. Duckers, (iii) reimbursement of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to “COBRA” for employee and employee’s dependents for 18 months for Dr. Altman, 12 months for Mr. McClung and 12 months for Dr. Duckers, and (iv) accelerated vesting as to 100% of the employee’s outstanding unvested equity awards.
Additionally, under each of these agreements, if, outside of the change in control period, we terminate the employment of the applicable employee other than for cause, death or disability, or the employee resigns for good reason and, within 60 days following the employee’s termination, the employee executes an irrevocable separation agreement and release of claims, the employee is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to the following percentage of the employee’s annual base salary: 100% for Dr. Altman, 50% for Mr. McClung and 50% for Dr. Duckers, (ii) reimbursement of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to “COBRA” for employee and employee’s dependents for 12 months for Dr. Altman, 6 months for Mr. McClung and 6 months for Dr. Duckers, and (iii) the employee’s outstanding unvested equity awards will vest as to an additional 24 months for Dr. Altman, 12 months for Mr. McClung and 12 months for Dr. Duckers.
Pursuant to the change of control and severance agreements, in the event any payment or benefit provided to our named executive officers would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, or the Code (as a result of a payment being classified as a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code), the applicable employee will receive such payment as would entitle him to receive the greatest after-tax benefit, even if it means that we pay him a lower aggregate payment so as to minimize or eliminate the potential excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2019 Year-End
The following table sets forth summary information regarding the outstanding equity awards for each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2019:
|
|
|
|
Option Awards(1)(2) |
|
|
|
Stock Awards(2) |
|
||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
Number of |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Option |
|
Option Expiration |
|
Number of Stock (#) |
|
Market Value Stock |
|
||||||
Peter Altman |
|
4/10/2010 |
|
|
754 |
(4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
4/10/2020 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7/5/2014 |
|
|
35,290 |
(4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
7/5/2024 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8/19/2016 |
|
|
112,038 |
(5) |
|
|
22,407 |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
8/19/2026 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2/1/2018 |
|
|
22,222 |
(5) |
|
|
22,222 |
|
|
|
23.40 |
|
2/1/2028 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
8/27/2019 |
7,401 |
(9) |
63,653 |
5.00 |
8/27/2029 |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|||||||||||||
8/27/2019 |
— |
— |
|
|
|
— |
— |
12,126 |
(10) |
44,623.68 |
|||||||||||||
David McClung |
|
6/23/2014 |
|
|
2,514 |
(4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
6/23/2024 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8/9/2016 |
|
|
7,024 |
(6) |
|
|
149 |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
8/9/2026 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8/19/2016 |
|
|
6,168 |
(7) |
|
|
1,233 |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
8/19/2026 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2/1/2018 |
|
|
8,834 |
(5) |
|
|
8,834 |
|
|
|
23.40 |
|
2/1/2028 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
8/27/2019 |
2,942 |
(9) |
25,304 |
5.00 |
8/27/2029 |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|||||||||||||
8/27/2019 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6,315 |
(10) |
23,239.20 |
||||||||||||||||
Henricus Duckers |
|
8/9/2016 |
|
|
15,732 |
(8) |
|
|
2,247 |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
8/9/2026 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8/19/2016 |
|
|
11,754 |
(7) |
|
|
2,351 |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
8/19/2026 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2/1/2018 |
|
|
9,327 |
(5) |
|
|
9,326 |
|
|
|
23.40 |
|
2/1/2028 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
8/27/2019 |
3,106 |
(9) |
26,715 |
5.00 |
8/27/2029 |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|||||||||||||
8/27/2019 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2,947 |
(10) |
10,844.96 |
(1) |
Information for this table is depicted on an award-by-award basis unless the exercise price and expiration date are identical. |
(2) |
Where applicable, share numbers have been adjusted to reflect each of the Company’s reverse stock splits, which became effective pursuant to amendments to our certificate of incorporation effective on November 2, 2017 and May 7, 2019, respectively. |
(3) |
This column represents the fair value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant, as determined by our board of directors. The weighted average exercise price of outstanding options as of December 31, 2019 does not give effect to the Repricing, which occurred as of January 29, 2020 and modified the exercise price of each such option to $5.32 per share. |
(4) |
This option is fully vested and immediately exercisable. |
(5) |
This option vests and becomes exercisable in equal monthly installments over four years from the grant date. |
(6) |
This option vests and becomes exercisable in equal monthly installments over four years beginning April 28, 2016. |
(7) |
This option vests and becomes exercisable in equal monthly installments over four years beginning November 24, 2016. |
(8) |
This option vests and becomes exercisable in equal monthly installments over four years from the grant date, subject to a one-year cliff. |
(9) |
Amounts shown are valued at the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2019 of $3.68 per share. |
(10) |
Restricted stock unit awards vested on January 29, 2020. |
401(k) Savings Plan
We maintain a tax-qualified retirement plan, or our 401(k) plan, that provides eligible employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. Eligible employees are able to participate in our 401(k) plan as of the first day of the month following the date they meet our 401(k) plan’s eligibility requirements, and participants are able to defer up to 100% of their eligible compensation subject to applicable annual Internal Revenue Code limits. All participants’ interests in their deferrals are 100% vested when contributed. Our 401(k) plan permits us to make matching contributions and discretionary contributions to eligible participants.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes our equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2019. Information is included for equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders and equity compensation plans not approved by our stockholders. We will not grant equity awards in the future under any of the equity compensation plans not approved by our stockholders included in the table below.
Plan Category |
|
(a) Number of |
|
|
(b) Weighted |
|
|
(c) Number of |
|
|||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(1) |
|
|
811,892 |
|
|
$ |
19.11 |
|
|
|
461,605 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders(3) |
|
|
46,553 |
|
|
$ |
16.20 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
|
858,445 |
|
|
$ |
18.95 |
|
|
|
461,605 |
|
(1) |
Where applicable, share numbers have been adjusted to reflect each of the Company’s reverse stock splits, which became effective on November 2, 2017 and May 7, 2019, respectively. |
|
|
(2) |
The weighted average exercise price is calculated based solely on outstanding stock options. It does not take into account the shares of our common stock underlying RSUs, which have no exercise price. The weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights as of December 31, 2019 does not give effect to the Repricing, which occurred as of January 29, 2020 and modified the exercise price of certain options to $5.32 per share. |
|
|
(3) |
In August 2016, the Company granted an option to purchase common stock outside of the Company’s stock option plans to a consultant. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. In accordance with SEC rules, shares of our common stock which may be acquired upon exercise of stock options which are currently exercisable or which become exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019 are deemed beneficially owned by the holders of such options and are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of such person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of any other person.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock, by (i) each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock (our only class of voting securities), (ii) each of our directors and executive officers, and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group. To the best of our knowledge, except as otherwise indicated, each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by such person, except to the extent such power may be shared with a spouse. To our knowledge, none of the shares listed below are held under a voting trust or similar agreement, except as noted. Other than the Merger, to our knowledge, there is no arrangement, including any pledge by any person of our securities or any of our parents, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.
The percentage of beneficial ownership information shown in the table prior to this Offering is based on 6,825,183 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2019, and assumes no participation in this Offering by the parties below. The percentage of beneficial ownership shown in the table after this Offering is based upon shares of common stock outstanding after the close of this Offering, assuming the sale of shares of common stock by us in the Offering and no exercise of the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional shares of our common stock.
Unless otherwise noted below, the address of each person listed on the table is c/o BioCardia, Inc., 125 Shoreway Road, Suite B, San Carlos, CA 94070.
Beneficial Ownership Prior to the Offering(1) |
Beneficial Ownership After the Offering(1) |
|||||||||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Shares(1) |
(%) |
Shares (1) |
(%) | ||||||||||||
5% Stockholders: |
||||||||||||||||
Entities affiliated with Stertzer Family Trust(2) |
1,521,563 | 17.4 | ||||||||||||||
Frost Gamma Investments Trust(3) |
1,541,700 | 17.6 | ||||||||||||||
Jim Allen(4) |
1,016,513 | 11.6 | ||||||||||||||
Entities affiliated with Gerald P. Peters(5) |
592,473 | 6.8 | ||||||||||||||
Sabiah Ltd.(6) |
583,937 | 6.7 | ||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors: |
||||||||||||||||
Jim Allen(4) |
1,016,513 | 11.6 | ||||||||||||||
Andrew Blank(7) |
233,334 | 2.7 | ||||||||||||||
Peter Altman, Ph.D.(8) |
420,726 | 4.8 | ||||||||||||||
Henricus Duckers(9) |
59,736 | * | ||||||||||||||
Fernando L. Fernandez(10) |
6,315 | * | ||||||||||||||
Richard Krasno(11) |
6,315 | * | ||||||||||||||
David McClung(12) |
68,227 | * | ||||||||||||||
Jay M. Moyes(13) |
9,892 | * | ||||||||||||||
Richard C. Pfenniger, Jr.(14) |
11,870 | * | ||||||||||||||
Simon H. Stertzer, M.D.(2) |
1,521,563 | 17.4 | ||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 people) |
3,384,419 | 38.7 |
* |
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%. |
(1) |
Where applicable, share numbers have been adjusted to reflect the Company’s reverse stock split, which became effective on May 7, 2019. |
(2) |
Consists of (i) 709,513 shares of common stock held by the Stertzer Family Trust, (ii) 230,704 shares of our common stock held by Windrock Enterprises L.L.C., (iii) 11,656 shares of our common stock held by the Stertzer Gamma Trust, (iv) 91,544 shares our common stock held by Stertzer Holdings LLC, , (v) 3,594 shares of our common stock held by Dr. Stertzer (vi) 1,333 shares of our common stock held by Dr. Stertzer and his spouse Kimberly Stertzer, (vii) 12,218 shares subject to options that are vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019, held by Dr. Stertzer, (viii) 326,742 shares subject to warrants held by the Stertzer Family Trust, (ix) 41,667 shares subject to warrants held by Stertzer Holdings LLC and (x) 92,592 shares subject to warrants held by Windrock Enterprises L.L.C. Dr. Stertzer and his spouse are co-trustees of the Stertzer Family Trust, and sole members and managers of Windrock Enterprises L.L.C., and share voting and dispositive control over the shares held by the Stertzer Family Trust and Windrock Enterprises L.L.C. Dr. Stertzer is the grantor of the Stertzer Gamma Trust and may be deemed to have voting and dispositive control over the shares held by the Stertzer Gamma Trust. Dr. Stertzer may be deemed to have voting and dispositive control over the shares held by Stertzer Holdings LLC. |
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(3) |
Dr. Phillip Frost is the trustee and Frost Gamma Limited Partnership is the sole and exclusive beneficiary of Frost Gamma Investments Trust. Dr. Frost is one of two limited partners of Frost Gamma Limited Partnership. The general partner of Frost Gamma Limited Partnership is Frost Gamma, Inc. and the sole shareholder of Frost Gamma, Inc. is Frost-Nevada Corporation. Dr. Frost is also the sole shareholder of Frost-Nevada Corporation. The address for these entities is 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 1500, Miami, Florida 33137. |
(4) |
Consists of (i) 515,931 shares of our common stock held by Mr. Allen, (ii) 398 shares of our common stock held by Mr. Allen and Kyle Johnson and over which Mr. Allen shares voting and dispositive power, (iii) 92 shares of our common stock, held by Wesley Upchurch and over which Mr. Allen shares voting and dispositive power, (iv) 92 shares of our common stock, held by Judson Upchurch and over which Mr. Allen shares voting and dispositive power, and (v) 500,000 shares subject to warrants held by Mr. Allen. |
(5) |
Consists of (i) 166,086 shares of our Common Stock held by Gerald P. Peters, (ii) 89,487 shares of our Common Stock held by The Peters Corporation, (iii) 33,456 shares of our common stock held by the Peters Family Art Foundation, (iv) 53,500 shares of our common stock held in the Kathleen K. Peters & Gerald P. Peters III Revocable Trust UTA dtd. Sept. 29, 2008, (v) 76,759 shares of our common stock held in an account for the benefit of Mr. Peters, (vi) 7,185 shares of our common stock held in an account for the benefit of his spouse, and (vii) 166,000 shares subject to warrants held by Mr. Peters. Gerald P. Peters, President, Chief Executive Officer and Financial & Fiscal Officer of the Peters Family Art Foundation may be deemed to have voting and dispositive control over the shares held by the Peters Family Art Foundation. The address for the Peters Family Art Foundation is P.O. Box 2437, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Mr. Peters may be deemed to have voting and dispositive control over the shares held by The Peters Corporation. |
(6) |
Consists of (i) 417,270 shares of our common stock held by Sabiah Ltd. and (ii) 116,667 shares subject to warrants held by Sabiah Ltd. Luis M de la Fuente, his wife and child are the stockholders of Sabiah Ltd. and share voting and dispositive control over the shares held by Sabiah Ltd. The address for this entity is P.O. Box 438, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. |
(7) |
Consists of (i) 116,667 shares of our common stock held by Mr. Blank and (ii) 116,667 shares subject to warrants held by Mr. Blank. |
(8) |
Consists of (i) 163,411 shares of our common stock held by Dr. Altman, (ii) 189,831 shares subject to options vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019, and (iii) 67,484 shares subject to warrants held by Dr. Altman. |
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(9) |
Consists of (i) 8,435 shares of our common stock held by Dr. Duckers, (ii) 42,866 shares subject to options vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019, and (iii) 8,435 shares subject to warrants held by Dr. Duckers. |
(10) |
Consists of 6,315 shares subject to options held by Mr. Moyes that are vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019. |
(11) |
Consists of 6,315 shares subject to options held by Mr. Krasno that are vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019. |
(12) |
Consists of (i) 17,559 shares of our common stock held by Mr. McClung, (ii) 33,797 shares subject to options vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019, and (iii) 16,871 shares subject to warrants held by Mr. McClung. |
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(13) |
Consists of 3,961 shares of our common stock and 5,931 shares subject to options held by Mr. Moyes that are vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019. |
(14) |
Consists of 11,870 shares subject to options held by Mr. Pfenniger that are vested and exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2019. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions
We have adopted a formal policy that our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, and any member of the immediate family of and any entity affiliated with any of the foregoing persons, are not permitted to enter into a related party transaction with us without the prior consent of our audit committee, or other independent members of our board of directors if it is inappropriate for our audit committee to review such transaction due to a conflict of interest. Any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, principal stockholder, or any of their immediate family members or affiliates, in which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years must first be presented to our audit committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our audit committee is to consider the relevant facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant to the audit committee, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. All of the transactions described above were entered into prior to the adoption of this policy.
Related Party Transactions
We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions, since January 1, 2017, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which:
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the amounts involved exceeded or will exceed the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years; and |
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any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals or entities, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
Other than as described below, there has not been, nor is there any currently proposed, transactions or series of similar transactions to which we have been or will be a party.
Other Transactions
We have granted stock options to our named executive officers and certain of our directors. See the section titled “Executive Compensation−Outstanding Equity Awards at 2019 Year-End” for a description of these stock options. We have entered into change of control and severance agreements with certain of our executive officers that provides for certain severance and change in control benefits. See the section titled “Executive Compensation−Potential Payments on Termination or Change of Control.”
On December 24, 2018, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with entities affiliated with Dr. Simon H. Stertzer, the Chairman of our Board of Directors and a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, and Frost Gamma Investments Trust, a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Investors”), relating to an offering and sale (the “2018 Offering”) of an aggregate of 592,592 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $6.75 per share, and warrants to purchase up to one-half of the number of shares of common stock sold to an Investor, up to an aggregate for all Investors of 296,295 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $6.75 per share, for aggregate net proceeds of $3.8 million. The warrants will expire on December 24, 2023. The warrants contain customary adjustments and are exercisable immediately for cash and after six months will also be exercisable on a cashless basis if there is no effective registration statement registering the resale of the Warrant Shares. The Investors do not have registration rights in connection with any securities purchased in the 2018 Offering. The closing of the 2018 Offering took place on December 24, 2018.
On July 5, 2019, the Company entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued on such date $0.625 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes, a portion of which was issued to certain of our officers and directors and a principal stockholder (or their respective affiliates). Interest on the convertible notes accrued at the rate of 14.0% per year. The unpaid principal amount of the convertible notes, together with all interest accrued but unpaid thereon, automatically converted into units upon the closing of our public offering on August 6, 2019, at a conversion price equal to 50% of the price to the public in the offering. Based on the public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, the $0.625 million principal amount of the outstanding convertible notes and interest thereon converted into approximately 146,616 units, consisting of 210,887 shares of our common stock and 210,887 warrants to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $6.30 per share. The aggregate principal amount invested by each related party and the number of units issued to such related party upon conversion of the convertible notes is set forth below:
Name of Related Party |
Relationship |
Principal Amount |
Units |
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Simon H. Stertzer, MD |
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Chairman of the Board and greater than 5% beneficial owner |
$ | 200,000 | 67,484 | |||||
Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
$ | 200,000 | 67,484 | ||||||
Allan R. Tessler(1) |
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Director |
$ | 50,000 | 16,871 | |||||
Ian McNiece, Ph.D. |
Chief Scientific Officer |
$ | 50,000 | 16,871 | ||||||
David McClung |
Chief Financial Officer |
$ | 50,000 | 16,871 | ||||||
Henricus Duckers, MD |
Chief Medical Officer |
$ | 25,000 | 8,435 |
(1) On September 25, 2019, pursuant to shareholder requests for appointments to the board of directors, the board of directors accepted offers to resign from each of Thomas Quertermous, M.D. and Allan R. Tessler and appointed Jim Allen and Andrew Blank to fill these vacancies, effective October 1, 2019.
Effective August 29, 2019, we and OPKO Health, Inc. (“OPKO”) mutually agreed to terminate that certain consulting agreement dated August 19, 2016, between us and OPKO (the “Consulting Agreement”) without penalty or payment of any kind as the services under the Consulting Agreement were no longer necessary. The chairman and chief executive officer of OPKO, Dr. Phillip Frost, is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. In August 2016, connection with entering into the Consulting Agreement and as payment thereunder, OPKO was granted a ten-year option to purchase 46,553 shares of common stock, with a 4-year vesting period and an exercise price of $16.20 per share. At the time the Consulting Agreement was terminated, OPKO’s option grant was amended such that it is unaffected by such termination and will continue to vest and remain outstanding for the remainder of its ten-year term unless earlier exercised.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws require us to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
Information related to the independence of our directors is provided under the section titled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
In this Offering, we are offering shares of our common stock. These securities are being issued pursuant to an underwriting agreement between us and the underwriters. You should review the underwriting agreement filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the applicable terms and conditions.
Capital Stock
The Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 125,000,000 shares of capital stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which 100,000,000 shares are common stock, par value $0.001 per share and 25,000,000 of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of September 30, 2019, the Company has 6,825,183 shares of common stock outstanding held by approximately 207 stockholders of record, and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the common stock and preferred stock provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. For additional detail about our capital stock, please refer to our certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each as amended.
Common Stock
Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval, to issue additional shares of our capital stock.
Voting
Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting rights. Because of this absence of cumulative voting, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock with respect to the election of directors, a director may be removed from office by our stockholders only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote thereon.
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote thereon shall be required for our stockholders to amend, alter or repeal our amended and restated bylaws.
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive equally on a per share basis those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds. We have never declared or paid cash dividends on any of our capital stock and currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends after this Offering or in the foreseeable future.
Rights to Receive Liquidation Distributions
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preferences that may be granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock, which we may designate and issue in the future.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable
All of our outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to this Offering, when paid for, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
Shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of which will have such distinctive designation or title as shall be determined by our board of directors prior to the issuance of any shares thereof. Our board of directors may designate the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of restricting dividends on our common stock, diluting the voting power of our common stock, impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock, or delaying, deterring, or preventing a change in control. Such issuance could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock. No shares of preferred stock are outstanding, and we currently have no plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Effect of Certain Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions and certain provisions of Delaware law, which are summarized below, could discourage takeovers, coercive or otherwise. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide for the following:
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Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of our company. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company. |
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Limits on Ability of Stockholders to Act by Written Consent or Call a Special Meeting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our stockholders may not act by written consent except in limited circumstances. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires that special meetings of the stockholders be called only by our board of directors, our chief executive officer or our president (in the absence of a chief executive officer). This limit on the ability of stockholders to act by written consent or call a special meeting may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder proposed actions. |
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of the board, the chief executive officer, the president (in the absence of a chief executive officer), or our board of directors. A stockholder may not call a special meeting, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for holders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.
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Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of the board of directors. |
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Board Classification. Our board of directors is divided into three classes. The directors in each class are elected to serve for a three-year term, one class being elected each year by our stockholders. This system of electing and removing directors may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors. |
Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law
Certain provisions of Delaware law contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed in part to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the advantages gained by protecting our ability to negotiate with any unsolicited and potentially unfriendly acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, including those priced above the then-current market value of our common stock, because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could improve their terms.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless:
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prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
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upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, but not for determining the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder, (1) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
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at or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock. We expect the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions our board of directors does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may discourage business combinations or other attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock held by our stockholders.
The provisions of Delaware law could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that our stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust. The address of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust is 1 State Street 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004-1561. Shares of our common stock will be issued in uncertificated form only, subject to limited circumstances.
Market Listing
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BCDA.”
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters named below, through their representative, , referred to herein as , have severally agreed to purchase from us on a firm commitment basis the following respective number of shares at a public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:
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Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BCDA.”
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligation of the underwriters to purchase all of the shares being offered to the public is subject to specific conditions, including the absence of any material adverse change in our business or in the financial markets and the receipt of certain legal opinions, certificates and letters from us, our counsel and the independent auditors. Subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters will purchase all of the shares being offered to the public, other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below, if any of such shares are purchased.
Over-Allotment Option
We have granted a -day option to the underwriter to purchase up to additional shares of common stock (up to % of the number of shares of common stock sold in the primary offering) solely to cover overallotments, if any.
Commissions and Expenses
The underwriting discounts and commissions are .
We have been advised by the representative of the underwriters that the underwriters propose to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus and to dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $ per share under the assumed public offering price of $ per share. The underwriters may allow, and these dealers may re-allow, a concession of not more than $ per share to other dealers. After the public offering, the representative of the underwriters may change the offering price and other selling terms.
The following table shows the per-share and total public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions, and proceeds before expenses to us. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Total |
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Per Share |
Without Over- Allotment |
With Full Over- Allotment |
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Public offering price |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by us |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
$ | $ | $ |
The estimated offering expenses payable by us, exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions, are approximately $ .
Lock-Up Agreements
Prior to the completion of this Offering, we and each of our officers, directors, and stockholders who own 5% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (and all holders of securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of common stock) as of the effective date of the registration statement will agree not to offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company without ’s prior written consent, subject to customary exceptions, for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the effective date of the registration statement relating to this Offering.
Pricing of this Offering
The public offering price for the shares of common stock in this Offering will be determined through negotiations between us and the underwriter. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations will be prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the underwriter believe to be comparable to us, estimates of our business potential, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant.
We offer no assurances that the public offering price of the shares in this Offering will correspond to the price at which our common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to this Offering.
Indemnification
The underwriting agreement provides that we will indemnify the underwriter against certain liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this Offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute payments that the underwriter may be required to make in respect thereof.
Electronic Distribution
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriter of this Offering, or by its affiliates. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriter’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
In connection with this Offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act:
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Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase securities so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
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Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of securities in excess of the number of securities the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of securities over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of securities that it may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of securities involved is greater than the number of securities in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising the over-allotment option and/or purchasing securities in the open market. |
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Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of securities to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which it may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more securities than could be covered by the over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this Offering. |
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Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. |
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our securities. As a result, the price of our securities may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our securities. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representations that the underwriters will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Affiliations
The underwriters and their respective affiliates may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us for which services they may in the future receive, customary fees. Except for services provided in connection with this Offering, none of the underwriters have provided any investment banking or other financial services to us and we do not expect to retain the underwriter to perform any investment banking or other financial services to us for at least 90 days after the date of this prospectus.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock acquired in this Offering. This discussion is based on the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, existing and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative rulings and court decisions in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been or will be sought from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, with respect to the matters discussed below, and there can be no assurance the IRS will not take a contrary position regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common stock, or that any such contrary position would not be sustained by a court.
We assume in this discussion that the shares of our common stock will be held as capital assets (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxes, does not discuss the potential application of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or the alternative minimum tax and does not deal with state or local taxes, U.S. federal gift and estate tax laws, except as specifically provided below with respect to non-U.S. holders, or any non-U.S. tax consequences that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular circumstances. This discussion also does not address the special tax rules applicable to particular holders, such as
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financial institutions; |
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brokers or dealers in securities or currencies, or traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; |
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tax-exempt organizations; |
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pension plans; |
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regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts; |
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owners that hold our common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or other integrated investment; |
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insurance companies; |
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persons that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below); |
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entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and other pass-through entities (and partners or other investors therein); |
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• |
controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, or corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
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• |
persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to our common stock being taken into account in an applicable financial statement; |
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• |
persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; and |
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certain U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States. |
In addition, this discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our common stock through partnerships or other entities that are pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity that will hold our common stock should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock through a partnership or other pass-through entity, as applicable.
This discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations is for general information purposes only and is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax considerations of acquiring, holding and disposing of our common stock.
For the purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (d) a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. A “Non-U.S. Holder” is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a beneficial owner of common stock that is neither a U.S. Holder nor an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders
Distributions
As discussed above, we currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business and do not intend to pay cash dividends in respect of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In the event that we do make distributions on our common stock to a U.S. Holder, those distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. tax purposes to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that is applied against and reduces, but not below zero, a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or exchange of our common stock as described below under the section titled “– Disposition of Our Common Stock.” Under current law, if certain requirements are met, a preferential U.S. federal income tax rate will apply to any dividends paid to the beneficial owner of our common stock who is an individual U.S. Holder and meets certain holding period requirements.
Distributions constituting dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes that are made to U.S. Holders that are corporate shareholders may qualify for the dividends received deduction, or DRD, which is generally available to corporate shareholders. No assurance can be given that we will have sufficient earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) to cause any distributions to be eligible for a DRD. In addition, a DRD is available only if certain holding periods and other taxable income requirements are satisfied.
Disposition of Our Common Stock
Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock. Capital gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock exceeds one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. U.S. Holders who recognize losses with respect to a disposition of our common stock should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of such losses.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements generally will apply to payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) on the common stock and to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of common stock paid by us to a U.S. Holder unless such U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient, such as a corporation. Backup withholding will apply to those payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide the holder's taxpayer identification number, or certification of exempt status, or if the holder otherwise fails to comply with applicable requirements to establish an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their qualification for exemption from information reporting and backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption.
Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders
Distributions
As discussed above, we currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business and do not intend to pay cash dividends in respect of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In the event that we do make distributions on our common stock to a Non-U.S. Holder, those distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as described in “—U.S. Holders – Distributions.”
Any distribution (including constructive distributions) on our common stock that is treated as a dividend paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that is not effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States will generally be subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the Non-U.S. Holder’s country of residence. To obtain a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be required to provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other appropriate form, certifying the Non-U.S. Holder’s entitlement to benefits under that treaty. Such form must be provided prior to the payment of dividends and must be updated periodically. If a Non-U.S. Holder holds stock through a financial institution or other agent acting on the holder's behalf, the holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to such agent. The holder’s agent may then be required to provide certification to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under an income tax treaty, you should consult with your own tax advisor to determine if you are able to obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS.
We generally are not required to withhold tax on dividends paid (or constructive dividends deemed paid) to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that the holder maintains in the United States) if a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI, stating that the dividends are so connected, is furnished to us (or, if stock is held through a financial institution or other agent, to the applicable withholding agent). In general, such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons. A corporate Non-U.S. Holder receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax,” which is imposed, under certain circumstances, at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty) on the corporate Non-U.S. Holder’s effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to certain adjustments.
See also the sections below titled “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Accounts” for additional withholding rules that may apply to dividends paid to certain foreign financial institutions or non-financial foreign entities.
Disposition of our Common Stock
Subject to the discussions below under the sections titled “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Accounts” a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax with respect to gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our common stock unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States; in these cases, the Non-U.S. Holder will be taxed on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates and in the manner applicable to U.S. persons, and if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, may also apply; |
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the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder's country of residence) on the net gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder, if any; or |
• |
our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest because we are, or have been at any time during the five-year period preceding such disposition (or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock, if shorter), a “U.S. real property holding corporation,” unless our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and the Non-U.S. Holder held no more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, directly or indirectly, during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. Holder held our common stock. Generally, a corporation is a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its “U.S. real property interests” (as defined in the Code and applicable regulations) equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Although there can be no assurance, we believe that we are not currently, and we do not anticipate becoming, a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No assurance can be provided that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the rules described above. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations that could result if we are, or become, a “U.S. real property holding corporation.” |
Federal Estate Tax
Common stock owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) at the time of death will be included in the individual's gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes and, therefore, may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax, unless an applicable estate tax or other treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder should consult his, her, or its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of shares of our common stock.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
We must report annually to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder the gross amount of the distributions (including constructive distributions) on our common stock paid to such holder and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to such distributions. Non-U.S. Holders may have to comply with specific certification procedures to establish that the holder is not a U.S. person (as defined in the Code) in order to avoid backup withholding at the applicable rate, currently 24%, with respect to dividends (or constructive dividends) on our common stock. Generally, a holder will comply with such procedures if it provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable IRS Form W-8) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. Holder, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Dividends paid to Non-U.S. Holders subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, as described above under the heading “—Dividends,” will generally be exempt from U.S. backup withholding.
Information reporting and backup withholding generally will apply to the proceeds of a disposition of our common stock by a Non-U.S. Holder effected by or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, unless the holder certifies its status as a Non-U.S. Holder and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds to a Non-U.S. Holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a broker. However, for information reporting purposes, dispositions effected through a non-U.S. office of a broker with substantial U.S. ownership or operations generally will be treated in a manner similar to dispositions effected through a U.S. office of a broker. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.
Copies of information returns may be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is incorporated under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder can be refunded or credited against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that an appropriate claim is timely filed with the IRS.
Foreign Accounts
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends (including constructive dividends) on, and (unless otherwise provided by the Treasury Secretary) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock if paid to a non-U.S. entity unless (i) if the non-U.S. entity is a “foreign financial institution,” the non-U.S. entity undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (ii) if the non-U.S. entity is a “non-financial foreign entity,” the entity provides the withholding agent with either a certification that it does not have any substantial direct or indirect U.S. owners or provides information regarding direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity, or (iii) the non-U.S. entity is otherwise exempt under FATCA.
Withholding under FATCA generally (1) applies to payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) on our common stock and (2) unless otherwise provided by the Treasury Secretary, will apply to payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our common stock. The Treasury Secretary has issued proposed Treasury Regulations, which, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate withholding under FATCA with respect to payment of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our common stock. In its preamble to such proposed Treasury Regulations, the U.S. Treasury stated that taxpayers may generally rely on the proposed Treasury Regulations until final regulations are issued. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this section. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of the tax. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our common stock.
The preceding discussion of material U.S. federal tax considerations is for information only. It is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our common stock, including the consequences of any proposed changes in applicable laws.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., Palo Alto, California. Certain members of, and investment partnerships comprised of members of, and persons associated with, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., own an interest representing less than one percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Certain legal matters in connection with this Offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by .
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of BioCardia, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, have been included in this prospectus and registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2018 consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Company’s recurring losses from operations and net capital deficiency raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that uncertainty.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information respecting our company and the shares offered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto.
We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can be accessed free of charge through the Internet. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. You may access the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at the SEC’s Internet site.
We make available through our website, free of charge, copies of our SEC filings as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish them to the SEC on our Internet site, www.biocardia.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
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Page |
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Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 |
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|
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
F-2 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
F-3 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations |
F-4 |
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
F-5 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
F-6 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
F-7 |
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 |
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
F-23 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations |
F-24 |
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
F-25 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
F-26 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
F-27 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
BioCardia, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of BioCardia, Inc. and its subsidiary (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
(signed) KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2012.
San Francisco, California
April 1, 2019
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, |
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|
2018 |
2017 |
||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 5,358 | $ | 12,689 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $9 and $6 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively |
274 | 95 | ||||||
Inventory |
141 | 191 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses |
445 | 340 | ||||||
Total current assets |
6,218 | 13,315 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
145 | 169 | ||||||
Other assets |
54 | 54 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 6,417 | $ | 13,538 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
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Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,020 | $ | 902 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
1,528 | 1,263 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
— | 167 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
2,548 | 2,332 | ||||||
Deferred rent |
77 | 81 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
2,625 | 2,413 | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity: |
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Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2018 and 2017; no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 |
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Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2018 and 2017; 43,611,240 and 38,218,660 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively |
43 | 38 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
90,110 | 83,537 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(86,361 | ) | (72,450 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity |
3,792 | 11,125 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ | 6,417 | $ | 13,538 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Years ended December 31, |
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2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
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Revenue: |
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Net product revenue |
$ | 282 | $ | 389 | $ | 517 | ||||||
Collaboration agreement revenue |
343 | 90 | 59 | |||||||||
Total revenue |
625 | 479 | 576 | |||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
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Cost of goods sold |
517 | 690 | 746 | |||||||||
Research and development |
8,453 | 5,799 | 3,330 | |||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
5,757 | 6,395 | 4,108 | |||||||||
Total costs and expenses |
14,727 | 12,884 | 8,184 | |||||||||
Operating loss |
(14,102 | ) | (12,405 | ) | (7,608 | ) | ||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||
Interest income |
118 | 95 | — | |||||||||
Interest expense |
— | — | (1,736 | ) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of convertible preferred stock warrant liability |
— | — | 250 | |||||||||
Change in fair value of maturity date preferred stock warrant liability |
— | — | 10 | |||||||||
Change in fair value of convertible shareholder notes derivative liability |
— | — | (1,224 | ) | ||||||||
Other expense |
(3 | ) | 2 | (2 | ) | |||||||
Other income (expense), net | 115 | 97 | (2,702 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (13,987 | ) | $ | (12,308 | ) | $ | (10,310 | ) | |||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | (1.23 | ) | |||
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
38,377,606 | 38,160,543 | 8,368,284 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(In thousands, except share data)
Convertible preferred stock |
Common stock |
Additional |
Accumulated |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Cost |
Shares |
Cost |
paid in capital |
deficit |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2015 |
110,500,514 | 46,030 | 1,578,962 | 2 | 358 | (49,832 | ) | (3,442 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Exchange of convertible preferred stock warrants to common stock |
— | — | 10,807 | — | 25 | — | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of convertible shareholder notes derivative liability |
— | — | — | — | 2,268 | — | 2,268 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion of convertible notes into common stock |
— | — | 8,091,103 | 8 | 12,148 | — | 12,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion of preferred stock into common stock |
(110,500,514 | ) | (46,030 | ) | 9,208,376 | 9 | 46,021 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock upon reverse merger |
— | — | 19,228,595 | 19 | 18,902 | — | 18,921 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options |
— | — | 13,460 | — | 22 | — | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | — | — | 942 | — | 942 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | — | — | (10,310 | ) | (10,310 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2016 |
— | $ | — | 38,131,303 | $ | 38 | $ | 80,686 | $ | (60,142 | ) | $ | 20,582 | |||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options |
— | — | 87,357 | — | 144 | — | 144 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | — | — | 2,707 | — | 2,707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | — | — | (12,308 | ) | (12,308 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 |
— | $ | — | 38,218,660 | $ | 38 | $ | 83,537 | $ | (72,450 | ) | $ | 11,125 | |||||||||||||||
Adjustments to opening balance for change in accounting principle |
— | — | — | — | — | 76 | 76 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs of $200 |
— | — | 5,333,332 | 5 | 3,795 | — | 3,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted stock units vested and issued |
57,108 | 0 | — | — | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options |
— | — | 2,140 | 0 | 4 | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | — | — | 2,774 | — | 2,774 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | — | — | (13,987 | ) | (13,987 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
— | $ | — | 43,611,240 | $ | 43 | $ | 90,110 | $ | (86,361 | ) | $ | 3,792 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Years ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
||||||||||
Operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (13,987 | ) | $ | (12,308 | ) | $ | (10,310 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Write-off of inventory |
— | — | 597 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
88 | 78 | 39 | |||||||||
Change in fair value of convertible preferred stock warrant liability |
— | — | (250 | ) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of maturity date preferred stock warrant liability |
— | — | (10 | ) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of convertible shareholder notes derivative liability |
— | — | 1,224 | |||||||||
Share-based compensation |
2,774 | 2,707 | 942 | |||||||||
Non-cash interest expense on convertible shareholder notes |
— | — | 1,736 | |||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(179 | ) | (21 | ) | 33 | |||||||
Inventory |
49 | (56 | ) | 27 | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(104 | ) | 16 | (110 | ) | |||||||
Other assets |
— | — | (11 | ) | ||||||||
Accounts payable |
119 | 377 | (17 | ) | ||||||||
Accrued liabilities excluding accrued interest on convertible note |
240 | 415 | 530 | |||||||||
Deferred revenue |
(65 | ) | 96 | 32 | ||||||||
Deferred rent |
(4 | ) | 25 | 26 | ||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(11,069 | ) | (8,671 | ) | (5,522 | ) | ||||||
Investing activities: |
||||||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment |
(66 | ) | (136 | ) | — | |||||||
Cash acquired in reverse merger |
— | — | 19,017 | |||||||||
Payment of transaction costs of reverse merger |
— | — | (96 | ) | ||||||||
Purchase of short-term investments |
— | (1,800 | ) | — | ||||||||
Maturity of short-term investments |
— | 1,800 | — | |||||||||
Net cash (used) provided by investing activities | (66 | ) | (136 | ) | 18,921 | |||||||
Financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from sales of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs of $200 |
3,800 | — | — | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes and warrants | — | — | 4,374 | |||||||||
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options |
4 | 144 | 22 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
3,804 | 144 | 4,396 | |||||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (7,331 | ) | (8,663 | ) | 17,795 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
12,689 | 21,352 | 3,557 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 5,358 | $ | 12,689 | $ | 21,352 | ||||||
Supplemental disclosure for noncash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||||||
Exchange of convertible preferred stock warrants for common stock |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 25 | ||||||
Conversion of convertible shareholder notes and related interest payable |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 12,156 | ||||||
Reclassification of convertible shareholder notes derivative liability |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,268 | ||||||
Conversion of preferred stock |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 46,030 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
(1) |
Summary of Business |
(a) |
Description of Business |
BioCardia, Inc., or the Company, is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases with large unmet medical needs. Its lead therapeutic candidate is the CardiAMP cell therapy system and its second therapeutic candidate is the CardiALLO cell therapy system. To date, the Company has devoted substantially all of its resources to research and development efforts relating to its therapeutic candidates and biotherapeutic delivery systems including conducting clinical trials, developing manufacturing and sales capabilities, in-licensing related intellectual property, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting its intellectual property.
The Company has three enabling device product lines: (1) the CardiAMP cell processing system; (2) the Helix biotherapeutic delivery system, or Helix; and (3) the Morph vascular access product line, or Morph. The Company manages its operations as a single segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions.
(2) |
Significant Accounting Policies |
(a) |
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation |
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated during the consolidation process. The Company manages its operations as a single segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions.
(b) |
Liquidity - Going Concern |
The Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and had an accumulated deficit of $86.4 million as of December 31, 2018. Management expects operating losses and negative cash flows to continue through at least the next several years. The Company expects to incur increasing costs as the pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure trial is advanced and development of the CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems continue. Therefore, absent additional funding, management believes cash and cash equivalents of $5.4 million as of December 31, 2018 are not sufficient to fund the Company beyond the second quarter of 2019. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern beyond one year from the date these financial statements are issued. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to continue further development of its therapeutic candidates through and beyond the second quarter of 2019, will require the Company to raise additional capital. The Company plans to raise additional capital, potentially including debt and equity arrangements, to finance its future operations. While management believes this plan to raise additional funds will alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt, these plans are not entirely within its control and cannot be assessed as being probable of occurring. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to reduce operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of its product development programs, obtain funds through arrangements with others that may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or products that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize itself, or cease operations.
(c) |
Use of Estimates |
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires Company management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property and equipment; allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns; inventory valuation; and share-based compensation.
(d) |
Cash Equivalents |
The Company classifies all highly liquid investments with an original maturity date of 90 days or less at the date of purchase as cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with reputable financial institutions.
(e) |
Concentration of Credit Risk |
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash at financial institutions, which at times, exceed federally insured limits. At December 31, 2018, the Company’s cash was held by one financial institution and the amount on deposit was in excess of FDIC insurance limits. The Company has not recognized any losses from credit risks on such accounts since inception. The Company believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk on cash.
(f) |
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts |
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company considers the creditworthiness of its customers but does not require collateral in advance of a sale. The Company evaluates collectability and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio when necessary. The estimate is based on the Company’s historical write-off experience, customer creditworthiness, facts and circumstances specific to outstanding balances and payment terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $9,000 and $6,000 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(g) |
Inventory |
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average-cost method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The Company analyzes its inventory levels quarterly and writes down inventory that has become obsolete or has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value or inventory quantities in excess of expected requirements. Excess requirements are determined based on comparison of existing inventories to forecasted sales, with consideration given to inventory shelf life. Expired inventory is disposed of and the related costs are recognized in cost of goods sold.
(h) |
Property and Equipment, Net |
Property and equipment, net, are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, as described in the table below. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Asset |
Estimated useful lives (in years) |
|||
Computer equipment and software |
3 | |||
Laboratory and manufacturing equipment |
3 | |||
Furniture and fixtures |
3 | |||
Leasehold improvements |
5 years or lease term, if shorter |
(i) |
Long-Lived Assets |
The carrying value of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the total of estimated future undiscounted cash flows, expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition, are less than its carrying amount. Impairment, if any, would be assessed using discounted cash flows or other appropriate measures of fair value. Through December 31, 2018, there have been no such impairment losses.
(j) |
Clinical Trial Accruals |
As part of the process of preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its expenses resulting from its obligations under contracts with vendors and consultants and clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiation and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided by the vendor under the contracts. The Company’s objective is to reflect the clinical trial expenses in its consolidated financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which the services and efforts are expended. The Company accounts for these expenses according to the progress of the trial as measured by patient progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in its consolidated financial statements based on the facts and circumstances known at that time. Although, the Company does not expect its estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, its understanding of the status and timing of services relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reported amounts that differ from the actual amounts incurred.
(k) |
Derivatives |
The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and measures them at fair value. Derivatives are adjusted to fair value through other (expense) income, net in the consolidated statements of operations.
(l) |
Deferred Rent |
The Company’s lease for its facility provides for fixed increases in minimum annual rental payments. The total amount of rental payments due over the lease term is charged to rent expense ratably over the life of the lease. Deferred rent consists of the difference between cash payments and the recognition of rent expense on a straight-line basis.
(m) |
Revenue Recognition |
Net product revenue – We currently have a portfolio of enabling and delivery products. Revenue from product sales is recognized generally upon shipment to the end customer, which is when control of the product is deemed to be transferred. Product sale transactions are evidenced by customer purchase orders, customer contracts, invoices and/or related shipping documents.
Collaboration agreement revenue – Collaboration agreement revenue is income from agreements under partnering programs with corporate and academic institutions, wherein we provide biotherapeutic delivery systems and customer training and support for their use in clinical trials and studies. These programs provide additional clinical data, intellectual property rights and opportunities to participate in the development of combination products for the treatment of cardiac disease.
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as it fulfills its obligations under each of its agreements, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company uses key assumptions to determine the stand-alone selling price, which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.
Amounts received from customers in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets.
(n) |
Shipping Costs |
Costs incurred for the shipping of products to customers totaled approximately $6,000, $5,000 and $7,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
(o) |
Product Warranties |
The Company provides a standard warranty of serviceability on all its products for the duration of the product’s shelf life, which is two years for Helix and Morph products currently. Estimated future warranty costs, if any, are accrued and charged to costs of goods sold in the period that the related revenue is recognized. Historical data and trends of product reliability and costs of repairing or replacing defective products are considered. Due to the low historical warranty claims experience, a general warranty accrual has not been required or recorded as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
(p) |
Research and Development |
The Company’s research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense include the costs of basic research activities as well as other research, engineering, and technical effort required to develop new products or services or make significant improvement to an existing product or manufacturing process. Research and development costs also include pre-approval regulatory and clinical trial expenses and support costs for collaborative partnering programs wherein the Company provides biotherapeutic delivery systems and customer training and support for their use in clinical trials and studies. The Company’s research and development costs consist primarily of:
• |
Salaries, benefits and other personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation |
• |
Fees paid for services provided by clinical research organizations, research institutions, consultants and other outside service providers |
• |
Costs to acquire and manufacture materials used in research and development activities and clinical trials |
• |
Laboratory consumables and supplies |
• |
Facility-related expenses allocated to research and development activities |
• |
Fees to collaborators to license technology |
• |
Depreciation expense for equipment used for research and development and clinical purposes. |
(q) |
Share-Based Compensation |
The Company measures and recognizes share-based compensation expense for equity awards to employees, directors and consultants based on fair value at the grant date. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate fair value. Share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on the period the services are performed. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The compensation cost for restricted stock awards is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
For options granted to nonemployees, the Company revalues the unearned portion of the share-based compensation and the resulting change in fair value is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the period the related services are rendered.
The Black-Scholes option pricing model (BSM) requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility in the value of the Company’s common stock, and the expected term of the option. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. If factors change and different assumptions are used, our share-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. These assumptions are estimated as follows:
Risk-free Interest Rate
The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury instruments appropriate for the expected term of the stock option grants.
Expected Volatility
The Company has limited historical data of its own to utilize in determining expected volatility. As such we based our volatility assumption on a combined weighted average of our own historical data and that of a selected peer group. The peer group was developed based on companies in the biotechnology and medical device industries whose shares are publicly-traded.
Expected Term
The expected term represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding. As the Company does not have sufficient historical experience for determining the expected term of the stock options awards granted, the expected life is determined using the simplified method, which is an average of the contractual terms of the option and its ordinary vesting period.
(r) |
Income Taxes |
The Company accounts for income taxes based on the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets, liabilities, operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
In evaluating the ability to recover its deferred income tax assets, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including its operating results, forecasts of future taxable income, and ongoing tax planning. In the event the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, it would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. Conversely, in the event that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made.
The Company recognizes and measures benefits for uncertain tax positions using a two-step approach. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. For tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, the second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement. Significant judgment is required to evaluate uncertain tax positions. The Company evaluates its uncertain tax positions quarterly. Evaluations are based upon a number of factors, including the technical merits of the tax position, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, interactions with tax authorities during the course of audits, and effective settlement of audit issues. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations and accrued interest and penalties within accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. No such interest and penalties have been recorded to date.
(s) |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are required to be recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments complexity.
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. The fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents is determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The recorded values of the Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their current fair values due to the relatively short-term nature of these accounts.
(t) |
Net Loss per Share |
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. Common stock equivalents are comprised of restricted stock units, warrants to purchase common stock and options outstanding under our stock option plans. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive due to our net loss position.
(u) |
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements |
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014-09, which amends the guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and creates a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In 2015 and 2016, the FASB issued additional ASUs related to Topic 606 that delayed the effective date of the guidance and clarified various aspects of the new revenue guidance, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, and licensing, and they include other improvements and practical expedients. The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2018 using the cumulative-effect method. The impact of adoption was immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09 Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.
(v) |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02—Leases, (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02), as amended, which generally requires lessees to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet and to provide enhanced disclosures surrounding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leasing arrangements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, or ASU No. 2018-11. In issuing ASU No. 2018-11, the FASB is permitting another transition method for ASU 2016-02, which allows the transition to the new lease standard by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption. We will elect this transition method and package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allows us to carryforward our historical lease classification, our assessment on whether a contract is or contains a lease, and our initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the new standard. We will also elect to combine lease and non-lease components and to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet and recognize the associated lease payments in the statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We will adopt the ASU on January 1, 2019 using the cumulative-effect method and are finalizing our assessment of the impact of the adoption of the ASU and expect to record a right-of-use asset of approximately $1.5 million and a corresponding lease liability of approximately $1.6 million to account for our facility lease.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2018-07 is intended to reduce the cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for nonemployee share-based payments. ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (which currently only includes share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. ASU 2018-07 supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 considers cost and benefits, and removes, modifies and adds disclosure requirements in Topic 820. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty is to be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments are to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. ASU 2018-13 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808): Clarifying the Interaction Between Topic 808 and Topic 606 (“ASU 2018-18”). ASU 2018-18 clarifies when certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for under Topic 606 and incorporates unit-of-account guidance consistent with Topic 606 to aid in this determination. ASU 2018-18 is effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2018-18 should generally be applied retrospectively to the date of initial application of Topic 606. Management is currently assessing the impact ASU 2018-18 will have on the Company’s financial statements.
Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.
(3) |
Reverse Merger |
On October 24, 2016, we completed the Merger as discussed in Note 1. For financial reporting purposes, the Merger is accounted for as an asset acquisition by BioCardia Lifesciences rather than a business combination because we did not meet the definition of a business as defined by US GAAP as of immediately prior to the Merger. The fair value of the purchase consideration, consisting of Company common stock, was determined based on the fair value of the cash acquired by BioCardia Lifesciences of $19 million, which is considered the best indicator for the fair value of the purchase consideration. No other assets or liabilities were acquired by BioCardia Lifesciences. Transaction costs of $96,000 were recorded as a reduction to additional paid in capital. Additionally, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, upon consummation of the Merger, the Company assumed all of BioCardia Lifesciences, Inc. options outstanding immediately prior to the Merger at the same Exchange Ratio.
The Merger is considered a tax free reverse triangular merger for tax purposes pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Sections 368(a) and 368(a)(2)(E) in which the Company continues as the parent and BioCardia Lifesciences as the wholly owned subsidiary and is therefore treated as an acquisition of stock of BioCardia Lifesciences by the Company. Despite the stock acquisition treatment, none of our pre-Merger tax attributes remain available after the Merger as a result of limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 due to lack of business continuity.
(4) |
Fair Value Measurements |
The fair value of financial instruments reflects the amounts that the Company estimates to receive in connection with the sale of an asset or paid in connection with the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company follows a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the use of inputs used in valuation techniques into the following three levels:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities
Level 2 – observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities
Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The following table sets forth the fair value of our financial assets measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and indicates the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands).
As of December 31, 2018 |
||||||||||||||||
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
|||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market funds |
$ | 5,358 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,358 |
As of December 31, 2017 |
||||||||||||||||
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
|||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market funds |
$ | 12,689 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 12,689 |
(5) |
Inventories |
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the average cost method. Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Raw materials |
$ | 79 | $ | 70 | ||||
Work in process |
39 | 92 | ||||||
Finished goods |
23 | 29 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 141 | $ | 191 |
Write downs for excess or expired inventory are based on management’s estimates of forecasted usage of inventories and are included in cost of goods sold. A significant change in the timing or level of demand for certain products as compared to forecasted amounts may result in recording additional write downs for excess or expired inventory in the future. Charges to cost of goods sold for inventory write-downs, reserve adjustments, scrap, shrinkage and expired inventories totaled approximately $12,000, $33,000 and $52,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(6) |
Property and Equipment, Net |
Property and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Computer equipment and software |
$ | 119 | 106 | |||||
Laboratory and manufacturing equipment |
481 | 447 | ||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
55 | 48 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
332 | 326 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
3 | — | ||||||
Property and equipment, gross |
990 | 927 | ||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(845 | ) | (758 | ) | ||||
Property and equipment, net |
$ | 145 | 169 |
Depreciation expense totaled approximately $88,000, $78,000 and $39,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. All of the Company’s property and equipment is located in the United States.
(7) |
Commitments |
In November 2016, the Company entered into an amendment to its lease with respect to its office and laboratory space. The extended term of this lease is 60 months and commenced on January 1, 2017 and will expire on December 31, 2021. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. Rental expense was approximately $601,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and $321,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Future minimum lease payments under the lease as of December 31, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):
Years ending December 31: |
||||
2019 |
$ | 612 | ||
2020 |
630 | |||
2021 |
649 | |||
Total |
$ | 1,891 |
(8) |
Collaborative Agreements |
The Company has entered into various collaborations related to clinical development. These agreements allow partners to utilize the Company’s enabling biotherapeutic delivery systems, including training and support during clinical and pre-clinical delivery of biotherapeutics. Under the terms of these agreements, the Company typically receives a use fee and payments for the systems and services provided. The Company gains access to certain data generated by its partners for use in its own product development efforts and also receives nonexclusive patent rights to any BioCardia technology improvement inventions.
(9) |
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31, |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Accrued expenses |
$ | 495 | $ | 465 | ||||
Accrued clinical trial costs |
276 | 74 | ||||||
Grant liability |
645 | 663 | ||||||
Customer deposits |
112 | 61 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 1,528 | $ | 1,263 |
(10) |
Sales of Unregistered Securities |
On December 24, 2018, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with entities affiliated with its existing investors (the “Investors”), relating to an offering and sale (the “Offering”) of an aggregate of 5,333,332 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.75 per share, and warrants to purchase up to one-half of the number of shares of common stock sold to an Investor, up to an aggregate for all Investors of 2,666,666 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $0.75 per share, for aggregate net proceeds of $3.8 million net of $200,000 expenses. Both the common stock and the common stock warrants are classified as equity and recorded on a relative fair value basis. The warrants will expire on December 24, 2023. The warrants contain customary adjustments and are exercisable immediately for cash and after six months will also be exercisable on a cashless basis if there is no effective registration statement registering the resale of the Warrant Shares. The Investors do not have registration rights in connection with any securities purchased in the Offering. The closing of the Offering took place on December 24, 2018.
(11) |
Share-Based Compensation |
BioCardia Lifesciences adopted, and the BioCardia Lifesciences shareholders approved, the 2002 Stock Plan in 2002 (the “2002 Plan”), and the Company assumed the 2002 Plan in the Merger. We have not granted or do not intend to grant any additional awards under the 2002 Plan following the Merger. In 2016, BioCardia Lifesciences adopted, and the BioCardia Lifesciences shareholders approved, the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), and the Company assumed the 2016 Plan in the Merger. We have granted awards, including incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options, under the 2016 Plan following the Merger. Under the 2002 Plan and the 2016 Plan, the number of shares, terms, and vesting periods are determined by the Company’s board of directors or a committee thereof on an option-by-option basis. Options generally vest ratably over service periods of four years and expire ten years from the date of grant. The per share exercise price shall be no less than the fair market value on the date of grant. Compensation cost for employee share-based awards is based on the grant-date fair value and is recognized over the vesting period of the applicable award on a straight-line basis. As of December 31, 2018, 7,932,494 shares have been authorized for awards under the 2016 Plan.
The Company recognizes in the consolidated statements of operations the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation. Share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was recorded as follows (in thousands):
Years ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
$ | 143 | $ | 140 | $ | 14 | ||||||
Research and development |
953 | 678 | 127 | |||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
1,678 | 1,889 | 801 | |||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
$ | 2,774 | $ | 2,707 | $ | 942 |
The following table summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plans, including the 2002 Plan and the 2016 Plan and related information (in thousands, except share and per share amounts and term):
Options outstanding |
||||||||||||||||
Number of shares |
Weighted average exercise price |
Weighted average remaining contractual term (years) |
Aggregate intrisinsic value |
|||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 |
4,213,100 | $ | 2.96 | 8.1 | $ | 1,890 | ||||||||||
Stock options granted |
1,698,452 | 2.41 | ||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
(2,488 | ) | 1.80 | |||||||||||||
Stock options canceled |
(431,700 | ) | 2.92 | |||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2018 |
5,477,364 | $ | 2.80 | 7.8 | $ | - | ||||||||||
Exercisable and vested, December 31, 2018 |
2,346,990 | $ | 2.72 | 6.9 | $ | - |
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $3,000, $400,000 and $144,000, respectively. The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $1.72, $5.80 and $1.33 per share, respectively.
Employee Share-Based Compensation
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company granted stock options to certain non-employee directors and employees to purchase 1,698,452 and 796,399 shares of common stock, respectively. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
Years ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
|||||||||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
2.66 | - | 2.89% | 1.76 | - | 2.25% | 1.28 | - | 1.58% | ||||||
Volatility |
81 | - | 83% | 81 | - | 89% | 88% | ||||||||
Dividend yield |
None |
None |
None |
||||||||||||
Expected term (in years) |
6.25 | 5.00 | - | 6.25 | 6.25 |
Unrecognized share-based compensation for non-employee directors and employee options granted through December 31, 2018 is approximately $5.0 million to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 2.4 years.
Non-Employee Director Share-Based Compensation (RSUs)
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted to certain non-employee directors 226,471 restricted stock units, or RSUs. The fair value of each RSU is estimated on the closing market price on the grant date.
The following summarizes the activity of non-vested RSUs:
Weighted |
||||||||
average |
||||||||
grant date |
||||||||
Number of |
fair value |
|||||||
shares |
per share |
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 |
97,996 | $ | 8.71 | |||||
RSUs granted |
226,471 | $ | 1.36 | |||||
RSUs vested |
(57,108 | ) | $ | 7.03 | ||||
RSUs forfeited |
- | — | ||||||
Balance, December 31, 2018 |
267,359 | $ | 2.84 |
Unrecognized share-based compensation for employee RSUs granted through December 31, 2018 was approximately $235,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 1.0 years.
Nonemployee Share-Based Compensation
During the year ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company granted options to purchase, zero, 46,254 and 490,849 shares of common stock to consultants. These options were granted in exchange for consulting services to be rendered and vest over the term specified in the grant, which correlates to the period the services are rendered. The Company recorded nonemployee share-based compensation expense of $176,000, $768,000 and $545,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 respectively. Unrecognized share-based compensation expense for nonemployee options granted through December 31, 2018 is approximately $204,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 1.8 years.
The Company accounts for share-based compensation arrangements with nonemployees, using the Black Scholes option pricing model, based on the fair value as these instruments vest. Accordingly, at each reporting date, the Company revalues the unearned portion of the share-based compensation and the resulting change in fair value is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the period the related services are rendered. The following assumptions were used to value the awards.
Years ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
|||||||||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
2.80 | - | 2.95% | 2.25 | - | 2.40% | 1.60 | - | 2.42% | ||||||
Volatility |
78 | - | 85% | 81 | - | 87% | 89 | - | 91% | ||||||
Dividend yield |
None |
None |
None |
||||||||||||
Expected term (in years) |
7.6 | - | 8.8 | 8.6 | - | 9.8 | 9.6 | - | 9.9 |
(12) |
Concentrations |
Most of the Company’s customers are located in the United States. One customer accounted for approximately 29% of revenue in 2018 and no single customer accounted for more than 10% of revenue in 2017 or 2016. One customer accounted for 23% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2018, 20% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 and another customer accounted for 29% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2016.
(13) |
Net Loss per Share |
The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands, except share and per share data):
Years ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (13,987 | ) | $ | (12,308 | ) | $ | (10,310 | ) | |||
Denominator: |
||||||||||||
Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted |
38,377,606 | 38,160,543 | 8,368,284 | |||||||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | (1.23 | ) |
The following weighted-average outstanding common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:
December 31, |
||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
||||||||||
Stock options to purchase common stock |
5,477,364 | 4,213,100 | 3,491,937 | |||||||||
Unvested restricted stock units |
267,359 | 97,996 | - | |||||||||
Common stock warrants | 2,666,666 | - | - | |||||||||
Total |
8,411,389 | 4,311,096 | 3,491,937 |
(14) |
Income Taxes |
The Company’s provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $0 for all years.
The provision for income taxes differs from the amount which would result by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to pre-tax loss for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. The reconciliation of the provision computed at the federal statutory rate to the Company’s provision (benefit) for income taxes was as follows (in thousands):
Years ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
||||||||||
Tax at federal statutory rate |
$ | (2,937 | ) | $ | (4,185 | ) | $ | (3,505 | ) | |||
State, net of federal benefit |
(455 | ) | (1,238 | ) | (315 | ) | ||||||
Research and development credit |
(236 | ) | (135 | ) | (89 | ) | ||||||
Stock-based compensation |
440 | 344 | 136 | |||||||||
Nondeductible interest |
— | — | 590 | |||||||||
Warrant and derivative revaluation |
— | — | 328 | |||||||||
Change in Federal tax rate |
— | 8,172 | — | |||||||||
Other |
22 | 7 | 94 | |||||||||
Change in valuation allowance |
3,166 | (2,965 | ) | 2,761 | ||||||||
Total provision for income taxes |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes as well as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, net of any adjustment for unrecognized tax benefits. The components of the net deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):
December 31, |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Accrued compensation |
$ | 84 | $ | 110 | ||||
Inventory adjustments |
276 | 449 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization - noncurrent |
113 | 146 | ||||||
Share-based compensation |
648 | 558 | ||||||
Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards - noncurrent |
20,698 | 17,368 | ||||||
Other |
12 | 34 | ||||||
Gross deferred tax asset |
21,831 | 18,665 | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
(21,831 | ) | (18,665 | ) | ||||
Net deferred tax asset |
$ | — | $ | — |
The Company has approximately $69.2 million and $54.4 million of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, respectively, as of December 31, 2018. For tax reporting purposes, operating loss carryforwards are available to offset future taxable income; such carryforwards expire in varying amounts beginning in 2022 and 2028 for federal and state purposes, respectively, with 2018 federal NOLs having no expiration date. Under current federal and California law, the amounts of and benefits from net operating losses carried forward may be impaired or limited in certain circumstances. Events which may cause limitations in the amount of net operating losses that the company may utilize in any one year include, but are not limited to, a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three-year period.
Generally, utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards and credits may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by section 382, which discusses limitations on NOL carryforwards and certain built-in losses following ownership changes, and section 383, which discusses, special limitations on certain excess credits, etc., of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986, as amended and similar state provisions. Accordingly, our ability to utilize net operating losses carryforwards may be limited, potentially significantly, as the result of such an “ownership change”. The Company has not yet performed a comprehensive study to determine if it has undergone any ownership changes. If the Company is able to potentially utilize its net operating loss carryforwards, it will perform a comprehensive section 382 study to determine what, if any, limitation on its ability to utilize its NOLs exists.
At December 31, 2018, the Company has federal and state research and development credits of approximately $2.0 million and $1.5 million available to offset future federal and state income taxes, respectively. The federal tax credit carryforward expires beginning in 2028. The state credit carryforwards have no expiration.
The Company does not believe that these assets are realizable on a more-likely than not basis; therefore, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance. The Company did not have deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2018 or 2017. The net increase in the total valuation allowance for the year ending December 31, 2018 is $3.2 million, primarily from the net operating losses generated. The net decrease in the total valuation allowance for the year ending December 31, 2017 was $3.0 million, primarily from the decrease in Federal Tax Rate applied to deferred tax assets, with an offsetting increase from net operating losses generated.
No liability related to uncertain tax positions is reported in the financial statements.
The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits were as follows (in thousands):
December 31, |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 725 | $ | 608 | ||||
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year |
166 | 117 | ||||||
Additions (reductions) for tax positions related to prior years |
— | — | ||||||
Balance, end of year |
$ | 891 | $ | 725 |
Recognition of approximately $636,000 and $511,000 of unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective rate at December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively, if recognized. Contributing to the increase in amount impacting the rate in 2017 was the consideration of the federal tax rate change as a result of the Tax Act. Increases in 2018 relate to increased research and development activity.
The Company is subject to U.S. federal, California, Colorado, Florida and Minnesota income taxes. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. The Company was incorporated in 2002 and is subject to U.S. federal, state, and local tax examinations by tax authorities for all prior years.
US Tax Reform - Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law. The Tax Act contains significant changes to corporate taxation, including; (i) the reduction of the corporate income tax rate from a maximum rate of 35% to 21%, (ii) the acceleration of expensing for certain business assets, (iii) the one-time transition tax related to the transition of U.S. international tax from a worldwide tax system to a territorial tax system, (iv) the repeal of the domestic production deduction, (v) additional limitations on the deductibility of interest expense, (vi) expanded limitations on executive compensation, (vii) acceleration of tax revenue recognition, (viii) capitalization of research and development expenditures and (ix) creation of new minimum taxes such as the base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”) and Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax.
After the enactment of the Tax Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when an entity does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable details to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act. The Company has made adjustments to reduce its deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017, based on the reduction of the U.S. federal corporate rate from 34% to 21% and assessed the reliability of its deferred tax assets based on its understanding of the provisions of the new law. As of December 31, 2018, the Company completed its assessment of the impact of the Tax Act and determined no additional adjustments are required.
The Company has considered required policy elections with respect to its treatment of potential base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”) and Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”). Companies can either account for taxes on BEAT and GILTI as incurred or recognize deferred taxes when basis differences exist that are expected to affect the amount of the BEAT and GILTI inclusion upon reversal. The Company has considered the provisions of the Act associated with BEAT and GILTI and noted that these are not applicable as of December 31, 2018. The Company expects to account for any taxes on BEAT and GILTI as incurred if applicable.
(15) |
Contingencies |
The Company may be subject to various claims, complaints, and legal actions that arise from time to time in the normal course of business. Management is not aware of any current legal or administrative proceedings that are likely to have a material effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
(16) |
Grant Funding |
In June 2016, the Company entered into a grant agreement with Maryland Technology Development Corporation (“TEDCO”). TEDCO was created by the Maryland State Legislature in 1998 to facilitate the transfer and commercialization of technology from Maryland’s research universities and federal labs into the marketplace. TEDCO administers the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund to promote State funded stem cell research and cures through financial assistance to public and private entities operating within the State. Under the agreement, TEDCO has agreed to provide the Company an amount not to exceed $750,000 to be used solely to finance the costs to conduct the research project entitled “Heart Failure Trial” over a period of three years.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company has received approximately $750,000 under the grant which is accounted for as a reduction to research and development expenses as the related qualifying costs are incurred. Approximately $105,000 of the qualifying costs had been incurred as of December 31, 2018. The remaining $645,000 was recorded as grant liability on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2018. The amount is recorded as a liability as the amounts are refundable, should a default by the Company, as defined in the agreement, occur prior to incurring the qualifying costs.
(17) |
Related Party Transactions |
In August 2016, the Company granted an option to purchase 418,977 shares of common stock, with 4-year vesting period and an exercise price of $1.80 per share, to OPKO Health, Inc. (“OPKO”) as consideration for consulting services to be provided by OPKO. The Company recorded $142,000 and $480,000 as share-based compensation expense related to the OPKO stock option during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The estimated grant-date fair value of the option was $5.3 million. The term of the consulting agreement is 4 years and will be automatically renewed for successive one year periods. The chairman and chief executive officer of OPKO is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.
(18) |
Employee Benefit Plans |
The Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in a retirement and savings plan that qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participating employees may contribute up to 75% of their pretax salary, but not more than statutory limits. The Company did not make any matching contributions during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, but did make a $26,000 matching contribution in the year ending December 31, 2018.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||
(unaudited) |
||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 8,910 | $ | 5,358 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $14 and $9 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 |
103 | 274 | ||||||
Inventory |
45 | 141 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
179 | 445 | ||||||
Total current assets |
9,237 | 6,218 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
210 | 145 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net |
1,180 | — | ||||||
Other assets |
54 | 54 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 10,681 | $ | 6,417 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,112 | $ | 743 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
2,424 | 1,805 | ||||||
Operating lease liability - current |
508 | — | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
4,044 | 2,548 | ||||||
Operating lease liability - noncurrent |
752 | — | ||||||
Deferred revenue - noncurrent |
691 | — | ||||||
Deferred rent |
— | 77 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
5,487 | 2,625 | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity: |
||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 |
— | — | ||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; 6,825,183 and 4,845,697 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 |
46 | 43 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
102,716 | 90,110 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(97,568 |
) |
(86,361 |
) |
||||
Total stockholders’ equity |
5,194 | 3,792 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ | 10,681 | $ | 6,417 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2019 |
2018 |
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||||||||||
Net product revenue |
$ | 1 | $ | 52 | $ | 139 | $ | 223 | ||||||||
Collaboration agreement revenue |
193 | 32 | 356 | 299 | ||||||||||||
Total revenue |
194 | 84 | 495 | 522 | ||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
24 | 109 | 321 | 401 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
2,007 | 2,262 | 6,392 | 6,248 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
1,390 | 1,283 | 4,460 | 4,315 | ||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses |
3,421 | 3,654 | 11,173 | 10,964 | ||||||||||||
Operating loss |
(3,227 |
) |
(3,570 |
) |
(10,678 |
) |
(10,442 |
) |
||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
17 | 29 | 53 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Gain on change in fair value of redemption feature embedded in convertible notes |
52 | — | 52 | — | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(112 | ) | — | (112 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of convertible notes |
(521 | ) | — | (521 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Other expense |
(1 |
) |
(3 | ) | (2 |
) |
(3 | ) | ||||||||
Total other income (expense) |
(565 | ) | 26 | (530 |
) |
97 | ||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (3,792 |
) |
$ | (3,544 |
) |
$ | (11,208 |
) |
$ | (10,345 |
) |
||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.63 |
) |
$ | (0.83 |
) |
$ | (2.13 |
) |
$ | (2.43 |
) |
||||
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
6,030,662 | 4,253,100 | 5,263,058 | 4,250,509 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
Common stock |
Additional |
Accumulated |
||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Cost |
paid in capital |
deficit |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
4,845,697 | $ | 43 | $ | 90,110 | $ | (86,361 | ) | $ | 3,792 | ||||||||||
Restricted stock units vested and issued |
2,268 | 1 | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | 690 | — | 690 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (3,665 | ) | (3,665 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2019 |
4,847,965 | $ | 44 | $ | 90,800 | $ | (90,026 | ) | $ | 818 | ||||||||||
Reverse stock split fractional share true up |
(494 | ) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | 696 | — | 696 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (3,750 | ) | (3,750 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2019 |
4,847,471 | $ | 44 | $ | 91,496 | $ | (93,776 | ) | $ | (2,236 | ) | |||||||||
Restricted stock units vested and issued |
25,158 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock and warrants, net of issuance costs |
1,741,667 | 2 | 9,258 | — | 9,260 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock and warrants from conversion of convertible notes |
210,887 | — | 1,206 | — | 1,206 | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | 756 | — | 756 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (3,792 | ) | (3,792 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2019 |
6,825,183 | $ | 46 | $ | 102,716 | $ | (97,568 | ) | $ | 5,194 |
Balance at December 31, 2017 |
4,246,519 | $ | 38 | $ | 83,537 | $ | (72,450 | ) | $ | 11,125 | ||||||||||
Adjustments to opening balance for change in accounting principle |
— | — | — | 46 | 46 | |||||||||||||||
Restricted stock units vested and issued |
2,271 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options |
237 | — | 5 | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | 615 | — | 615 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (3,584 | ) | (3,584 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2018 |
4,249,027 | $ | 38 | $ | 84,157 | $ | (75,988 | ) | $ | 8,207 | ||||||||||
Adjustments to opening balance for change in accounting principle |
— | — | — | 30 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Restricted stock units vested and issued |
4,073 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | 738 | — | 738 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (3,217 | ) | (3,217 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2018 |
4,253,100 | $ | 38 | $ | 84,895 | $ | (79,175 | ) | $ | 5,758 | ||||||||||
Adjustments to opening balance for change in accounting principle |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Restricted stock units vested and issued |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
— | — | 730 | — | 730 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
— | — | — | (3,544 | ) | (3,544 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2018 |
4,253,100 | $ | 38 | $ | 85,625 | $ | (82,719 | ) | $ | 2,944 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
BIOCARDIA, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
Nine months ended September 30, |
||||||||
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||
Operating activities: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (11,208 |
) |
$ | (10,345 |
) |
||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
Write-off of inventory |
54 | — | ||||||
Depreciation |
78 | 66 | ||||||
Amortization of right-of-use asset |
325 | — | ||||||
Share-based compensation |
2,142 | 2,083 | ||||||
Amortization of debt discount on convertible shareholder notes |
112 | — | ||||||
Change in fair value of redemption feature embedded in convertible notes |
(52 |
) |
— | |||||
Loss on extinguishment of convertible notes |
521 | — | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
171 | (75 |
) |
|||||
Inventory |
43 | 57 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
265 | 116 | ||||||
Accounts payable |
372 | 200 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
687 | 141 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
691 | (65 |
) |
|||||
Deferred rent |
— | (1 |
) |
|||||
Operating lease liability - noncurrent |
(390 |
) |
— | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(6,189 |
) |
(7,823 |
) |
||||
Investing activities: |
||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment |
(144 |
) |
(51 |
) |
||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(144 |
) |
(51 |
) |
||||
Financing activities: |
||||||||
Proceeds from sale of stock and warrants, net of issuance costs |
9,260 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible loan payable |
625 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options |
— | 5 | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
9,885 | 5 | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
3,552 | (7,869 |
) |
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
5,358 | 12,689 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 8,910 | $ | 4,820 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure for noncash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||
Conversion of interest payable to stock and warrants |
$ | 8 | — |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
(1) |
Summary of Business and Basis of Presentation |
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(a) |
Description of Business |
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BioCardia, Inc., (BioCardia or the Company), is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases with large unmet medical needs. The Company’s lead therapeutic candidate is the CardiAMP® cell therapy system and its second therapeutic candidate is the CardiALLO™ cell therapy system. To date, the Company has devoted substantially all its resources to research and development efforts relating to its therapeutic candidates and biotherapeutic delivery systems including conducting clinical trials, developing manufacturing and sales capabilities, in-licensing related intellectual property, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting its intellectual property. |
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BioCardia also has three enabling device product lines: (1) the CardiAMP cell processing system; (2) the Helix™ biotherapeutic delivery system, or Helix; and (3) the Morph® steerable guide and sheath catheter portfolio, including the new AVANCE™ steerable introducer family. The Company manages its operations as a single segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions. |
(2) |
Significant Accounting Policies |
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(a) |
Basis of Preparation |
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The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, shareholders equity, and cash flows as of September 30, 2019 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim financial information and on a basis consistent with the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly its financial position as of September 30, 2019, results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 or for any other interim period or for any other future year. Certain changes in the prior period consolidated balance sheet have been made to conform to the current period presentation. Changes to reduce the December 31, 2018 accounts payable and increase the accrued expenses and other current liabilities accounts were made in the amount of $277,000. These changes had no effect on the Consolidated Statement of Operations or cash flow. |
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These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2019. |
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(b) |
Liquidity |
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The Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and had an accumulated deficit of $97.6 million as of September 30, 2019. Management expects operating losses and negative cash flows to continue through the next several years. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern beyond one year from the date these financial statements are issued. Based on management’s current plans, management believes cash and cash equivalents of $8,910,000 as of September 30, 2019, will not be sufficient to fund the Company for one year from the date these financial statements are issued. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. |
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If adequate funds are not available, BioCardia may be required to reduce operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of its product development programs, obtain funds through arrangements with others that may require it to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or products that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize itself, or cease operations. While the Company believes it has a viable strategy to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances that it will be able to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms and in the amounts necessary to fully fund its operating needs. |
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(c) |
Use of Estimates |
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The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include share-based compensation, the useful lives of property and equipment, allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns, incremental borrowing rate, and inventory valuation. |
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(d) |
Principles of Consolidation |
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The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated during the consolidation process. |
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(e) |
Changes to Significant Accounting Policies |
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The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2018. Apart from the adoption of ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting on January 1, 2019, which led to an amended stock-based compensation policy, and the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which led to an amended lease policy as described in the following paragraphs, there have been no changes to those policies.
Measurement of nonemployee awards - The measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards is fixed at the grant date, and the Company may use the expected term to measure nonemployee options or elect to use the contractual term as the expected term, on an award-by-award basis. This differs from the guidance in ASC 505-50 that requires the use of the contractual term. Forfeitures of nonemployee awards will be recognized as they occur.
Operating lease right-of-use asset and liabilities - The Company will determine if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement. All leases are assessed for classification as an operating lease or finance lease. The Company will recognize a lease liability and a ROU asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
The Company’s lease liabilities are recognized at the applicable lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments required to be paid over the lease term. Variable lease payments are expensed as incurred and are not included the computation of the lease liability. The lease liability discount rate is generally the Company’s incremental borrowing rate unless the lessor’s rate implicit in the lease is readily determinable, in which case the lessor’s implicit rate is used.
The Company's ROU assets are also recognized at the applicable lease commencement date. The ROU asset equals the carrying amount of the related lease liability, adjusted for any lease payments made prior to lease commencement and lease incentives provided by the lessor, if any. The Company amortizes a right-of-use (ROU) asset, and the periodic amortization is the difference between the straight-line total lease cost for the period (including amortization of initial direct costs) and the periodic accretion of the lease liability using the effective interest method.
The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise any such options. Operating lease cost for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company’s lease contracts often include lease and non-lease components. The Company has elected the practical expedient offered by the standard to not separate lease from non-lease components and accounts for them as a single lease component.
The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term of twelve months or less. Lease cost for short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. |
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(f) |
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncement
In February 2016, the FASB amended its guidance related to lease accounting. The amended guidance required lessees to recognize a majority of their leases on the balance sheet as a ROU asset and a lease liability. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, or ASU No. 2018-11. In issuing ASU No. 2018-11, the FASB is permitting another transition method for ASU 2016-02, which allows the transition to the new lease standard by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company elected this available transition method. |
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The Company adopted the new standard using the cumulative-effect method on January 1, 2019. The Company's adoption included lease codification improvements that were issued by the FASB through March 2019.
The FASB made available several practical expedients in adopting the amended lease accounting guidance. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which among other things, allowed registrants to carry forward historical lease classification, its assessment on whether a contract is or contains a lease, and its initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the new standard. BioCardia also elected to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the consolidated balance sheet, and to recognize the associated lease payments in the statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and related lease liabilities for operating leases on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company recognized ROU assets and related lease liabilities of $1,505,000 and $1,593,000 respectively, related to operating lease commitments, as of January 1, 2019. The operating lease ROU asset represents the lease liability, plus any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, less any lease incentives received. The amended guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's cash flows or results of operations. See Note 6 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2018-07 is intended to reduce the cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for nonemployee share-based payments. ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (which currently only includes share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. No longer will nonemployee awards be marked-to-market every reporting period, nor will the expected term be required to be the contractual term. However, forfeitures will continue to be recognized when incurred. ASU 2018-07 supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 effective January 1, 2019 using the cumulative-effect method for equity-classified nonemployee awards which have not been settled as of the adoption date. The cumulative effect did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, statement of operations or statement of cash flows. |
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(g) |
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements |
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Recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures. |
(3) Fair Value Measurement
The fair value of financial instruments reflects the amounts that the Company estimates to receive in connection with the sale of an asset or paid in connection with the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company follows a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the use of inputs used in valuation techniques into the following three levels:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities
Level 2 – observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities
Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The following table sets forth the fair value of its financial assets measured on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and indicates the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):
As of September 30, 2019 |
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Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
|||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market funds |
$ | 8,910 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 8,910 |
As of December 31, 2018 |
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Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
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Assets: |
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Money market funds |
$ | 5,358 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,358 |
(4) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the average cost method. Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2019 |
2018 |
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Raw materials |
$ | — | $ | 79 | ||||
Work in process |
45 | 39 | ||||||
Finished goods |
— | 23 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 45 | $ | 141 |
Write downs for excess or expired inventory are based on management’s estimates of forecasted usage of inventories and are included in cost of goods sold. A significant change in the timing or level of demand for certain products as compared to forecasted amounts may result in recording additional write downs for excess or expired inventory in the future. Charges to cost of goods sold for inventory write-downs, reserve adjustments, scrap, shrinkage and expired inventories totaled approximately $0, and $80,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. Charges to cost of goods sold for inventory write-downs, reserve adjustments, scrap, shrinkage and expired inventories totaled approximately $13,000, and $15,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
(5) Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||
Computer equipment and software |
$ | 127 | 119 | |||||
Laboratory and manufacturing equipment |
550 | 481 | ||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
55 | 55 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
332 | 332 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
69 | 3 | ||||||
Property and equipment, gross |
1,133 | 990 | ||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(923 |
) |
(845 |
) |
||||
Property and equipment, net |
$ | 210 | 145 |
Depreciation expense totaled approximately $29,000 and $78,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. Depreciation expense totaled approximately $22,000 and $66,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
(6) Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset, Net
The Company adopted the new lease standard on January 1, 2019 using the cumulative-effect method. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception by assessing whether it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company’s operating lease is primarily related to a property lease for its laboratory and corporate offices. BioCardia’s lease agreement does not contain any material residual guarantees or material restrictive covenants, nor does it contain an additional lease extension.
ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company’s lease does not provide an implicit rate. The Company used an adjusted historical incremental borrowing rate, based on the information available at the approximate lease commencement date, to determine the present value of lease payments. The net lease asset was adjusted for deferred rent, lease incentives, and prepaid rent. Variable rent expense is made up of expenses for common area maintenance and shared utilities and were not included in the determination of the present value of lease payments. The Company has no finance leases. The new lease standard did not materially impact its condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The components of lease expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was as follows (in thousands, except years and percentages):
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
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2019 |
2019 |
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Straight-line rent expense recognized for operating lease |
$ | 150 | $ | 450 | ||||
Variable rent expense recognized for operating lease |
63 | 202 | ||||||
Total rent expense | $ | 213 | $ | 652 | ||||
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) |
2.25 | |||||||
Weighted average discount rate |
12.05 |
% |
Supplemental cash flow information related to the operating lease was as follows (in thousands):
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
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2019 |
2019 |
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Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities |
$ | 153 | $ | 459 | ||||
Cash Lease Expense (imputed interest expense component of net income) |
39 | 126 |
Future minimum lease payments under the operating lease as of September 30, 2019 are as follows (in thousands):
Operating Lease |
||||
September 30, 2019 |
||||
Remainder of 2019 |
$ | 153 | ||
Years ending December 31, |
||||
2020 |
630 | |||
2021 |
649 | |||
Total undiscounted lease payments |
1,432 | |||
Less imputed interest |
172 | |||
Total operating lease liabilities |
$ | 1,260 |
Prior to the Company’s adoption of the new lease standard, future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2018, which were undiscounted, were as follows (in thousands):
Years ending December 31, |
||||
2019 |
$ | 612 | ||
2020 |
630 | |||
2021 |
649 | |||
Total |
$ | 1,891 |
(7) Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||
Accrued expenses |
$ | 102 | $ | 127 | ||||
Accrued salaries and employee benefits |
496 | 368 | ||||||
Accrued director compensation |
555 | 277 | ||||||
Accrued clinical trial costs |
382 | 276 | ||||||
Grant liability |
637 | 645 | ||||||
Customer deposits |
252 | 112 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 2,424 | $ | 1,805 |
(8) Stockholders’ Equity
Public Offering on Form S-1 Registration Statement - In April 2019, the Company submitted a Form S-1 Registration Statement (S-1) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which was subsequently amended. On August 2, 2019, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Maxim Group LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein, relating to a firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to the S-1, of 1,666,667 units consisting of one share of common stock, par value of $0.001 per share, and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The offering price to the public was $6.00 per unit. The warrants, which are equity classified, are immediately exercisable for shares of common stock at a price of $6.30 per share and expire five years from the date of issuance. In addition, the underwriters were granted 11,958 warrants exercisable at a per warrant exercise price of $6.60 as part of their compensation. The underwriters were granted a 45-day option to purchase up to 250,000 additional shares of common stock, and/or 250,000 additional warrants to cover over-allotments, if any. The closing of the offering occurred on August 6, 2019. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company, BioCardia realized net proceeds of approximately $8.84 million. On September 4, 2019, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment and purchased 75,000 shares of common stock and 250,000 warrants for net proceeds of approximately $420,000, after deducting underwriting discounts of approximately $32,000.
Up List to Nasdaq - On August 2, 2019 the Company’s common stock and warrants to purchase common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Previously the common stock was quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB) under the symbol, “BCDA”. “BCDA” and “BCDAW” are the trading symbols for the Company’s common stock and warrants to purchase common stock, respectively, on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Convertible Note Financing - On July 5, 2019, BioCardia entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company issued on such date $625,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes to accredited investors, a portion of which were certain of the Company’s officers and directors and a principal stockholder (or their respective affiliates). The notes accrued 14.0% simple interest and mature six months from the issue date, on January 5, 2020. If at any time prior to the maturity date, the Company closes a public stock offering for the purpose of raising capital in which the Company’s common stock is listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market, the outstanding principle and interest would automatically convert into the securities offered in the financing at a unit price equal to a 50% discount to the qualified financing price. The convertible notes conversion features were determined to be an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and separate accounting at estimated fair value. The fair value of the derivative was treated as a discount on the notes, which is subject to accretion over the term of the note. The change in fair value of the derivative liability was approximately $52,000. The loss on extinguishment of the convertible notes approximated $521,000. Interest expense on the notes for the three and nine months ended September 31, 2019, totaled $112,000 and included $104,000 of accretion of the discount.
Upon the closing of the Company’s public offering of units on August 6, 2019 the unpaid principal and interest on the convertible notes totaling approximately $633,000, converted into 210,887 units, each unit consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock, at a conversion price of $3.00 per unit. Holders of the convertible notes had the option of converting the notes into units of one share of common stock and a warrant at a unit price of $8.00 prior to the automatic conversion in the Company’s public offering. The warrants have the same terms, including exercise price and expiration date, as the warrants issued in the public offering.
Reverse Stock Split - On June 6, 2019 the Company effected a 1-for-9 reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock. Neither the par value nor the authorized number of shares was adjusted as a result of the reverse stock split. All issued and outstanding common stock, warrants, stock options, restricted stock units and per share amounts contained in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented.
Warrants for Common Stock - On December 24, 2018, the Company issued 296,296 warrants (as adjusted for the reverse stock split described above) to purchase the Company’s common stock in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 592,592 shares (as adjusted) of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $6.75 per share (as adjusted) for aggregate proceeds of $3.8 million, net of $200,000 in expenses. The warrants are exercisable immediately for cash and, since six months have passed, are also exercisable on a cashless basis until an effective registration statement has been filed registering the resale of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. Warrants can be settled in unregistered shares. The warrants have an exercise price of $6.75 per share and will expire on December 24, 2023. The issued warrants are standalone financial instruments and were equity classified in accordance with US GAAP. Set forth below is a table of activity of warrants for common stock and the related weighted average exercise price per warrant.
Number of Common Stock Warrants |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2018 |
296,296 | $ | 6.75 | |||||
Warrants for common stock sold |
2,139,512 | $ | 6.30 | |||||
Warrants for common stock exercised |
- | |||||||
Balance, September 30,2018 |
2,435,808 | $ | 6.36 |
(9) Share-Based Compensation
The share-based compensation expense is recorded in cost of goods sold, research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses based on the employee's or non-employee’s respective function. No share-based compensation was capitalized during the periods presented. Share-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was recorded as follows (in thousands):
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2019 |
2018 |
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
$ | 38 | $ | 39 | $ | 130 | $ | 105 | ||||||||
Research and development |
293 | 250 | 787 | 711 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
425 | 441 | 1,224 | 1,267 | ||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
$ | 756 | $ | 730 | $ | 2,142 | $ | 2,083 |
The following table summarizes the activity of stock options and related information:
Options outstanding |
||||||||
Number of shares |
Weighted average exercise price |
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2018 |
608,485 | $ | 25.16 | |||||
Stock options granted |
254,785 | 5.28 | ||||||
Stock options exercised |
— | - | ||||||
Stock options canceled |
(15,122 |
) |
14.16 | |||||
Balance, September 30, 2019 |
848,148 | $ | 18.90 | |||||
Exercisable and vested, September 30, 2019 |
390,199 | $ | 24.17 |
Unrecognized share-based compensation for employee and nonemployee options granted through September 30, 2019 is approximately $4.0 million to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 2.3 years.
Share-Based Compensation (RSUs)
The following summarizes the activity of non-vested RSUs:
Weighted |
||||||||
average |
||||||||
grant date |
||||||||
Number of |
fair value |
|||||||
Shares |
per share |
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2018 |
29,694 | $ | 25.56 | |||||
RSUs granted |
34,713 | $ | 4.75 | |||||
RSUs vested |
(2,272 |
) |
$ | 99.36 | ||||
RSUs forfeited |
- | - | ||||||
Balance, September 30, 2019 |
62,135 | $ | 10.55 |
Unrecognized share-based compensation for RSUs granted through September 30, 2019 is approximately $230,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 0.3 years.
(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 for the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive due to its net loss position.
The following outstanding common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:
September 30, |
||||||||
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||
Stock options to purchase common stock |
848,148 | 616,567 | ||||||
Unvested restricted stock units |
62,135 | 29,706 | ||||||
Common stock warrants |
2,435,808 | - | ||||||
Total |
3,346,091 | 646,273 |
(11) Income Taxes
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, there was no income tax expense or benefit for federal or state income taxes in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations due to the Company’s net loss and a full valuation allowance on the resulting deferred tax assets.
As of September 30, 2019, the Company retains a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets in all jurisdictions. The realization of its deferred tax assets depends primarily on its ability to generate future taxable income which is uncertain. The Company does not believe that its deferred tax assets are realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis; therefore, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.
(12) Related Party Transactions
BioCardia, Inc. (the “Company”) and OPKO Health, Inc. (“OPKO”) previously entered into a consulting agreement dated August 19, 2016, between the Company and OPKO (the “Consulting Agreement”). The chairman and chief executive officer of OPKO is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.
Pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement, OPKO was to provide advisory services to the Company in support of strategic transactions, financings and other matters as agreed between the parties from time to time. Also, in August 2016, the Company granted OPKO a ten-year option to purchase 46,553 shares of common stock, with a 4-year vesting period and an exercise price of $16.20 per share, to OPKO as consideration for consulting services to be provided under the Consulting Agreement. The term of the Consulting Agreement was initially for 4 years and was to have been automatically renewed for successive one-year periods.
Effective August 29, 2019, the Company and OPKO mutually agreed to terminate the Consulting Agreement without penalty or payment of any kind as the services under the Consulting Agreement were no longer necessary. In connection with the termination of the Consulting Agreement, OPKO’s option grant was amended such that it is unaffected by the termination of the Consulting Agreement and will continue to vest and remain outstanding for the remainder of its ten-year term unless earlier exercised. As a result of this modification of the option grant, all future unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was accelerated and recognized in August 2019. BioCardia recorded approximately $116,000 and $160,000 as share-based compensation expense related to the OPKO stock option in selling, general and administrative expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. BioCardia recorded approximately $59,000 and $121,000 as share-based compensation expense related to the OPKO stock option in selling, general and administrative expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
Shares of Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
Book-Running Manager
Co-Managers
, 2020
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by the Registrant, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, upon the completion of this Offering. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.
SEC registration fee |
$ | 1,298 | ||
FINRA filing fee |
2,000 | |||
Legal fees and expenses |
* | |||
Accounting fees and expenses |
* | |||
Miscellaneous expenses |
* | |||
Total |
$ | * |
* |
To be filed by amendment. |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for breaches of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of a law, authorizations of the payments of a dividend or approval of a stock repurchase or redemption in violation of Delaware corporate law or for any transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with a threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding to which he or she is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with defense or settlement of such action or suit and no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. In addition, to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding described above (or claim, issue, or matter therein), such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit, or proceeding may be advanced by the corporation upon receipt of an undertaking by such person to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification by the corporation under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for the indemnification of our directors to the fullest extent permissible under Delaware General Corporation Law. Our amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers, and we maintain insurance policies insuring our directors and officers against certain liabilities that they may incur in their capacity as officers and directors of our company.
See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
The following is a summary of all securities that we have sold since January 1, 2017 without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). On November 2, 2017, we executed a one-for-twelve reverse stock split of our common stock and pursuant to an amendment to our certificate of incorporation effective May 7, 2019, we executed a one-for-nine reverse stock split. Unless otherwise indicated, all per share amounts included in the summary below for transactions that occurred prior to such respective reverse stock splits are presented without giving effect to such respective reverse stock splits.
• |
On July 5, 2019, the Company issued $625,000 in convertible notes with an interest rate of 14.0% per year, a portion of which were issued to certain of our officers and directors and a principal stockholder (or their respective affiliates). At the closing of the Company’s public offering of units on August 6, 2019, the unpaid principal and interest converted into 210,887 units, each unit consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a conversion price of $3.00 per unit. The warrants have the same terms, including exercise price and expiration date, as the warrants issued in that public offering. |
• |
On December 24, 2018, pursuant to the terms of a securities purchase agreement with entities affiliated with a director and a principle stockholder, BioCardia issued an aggregate of 5,333,332 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $0.75 per share (approximately $6.75 per share giving effect to the May 7, 2019 reverse stock split), and warrants to purchase up to one-half of the number of shares of common stock sold to such investors, up to an aggregate for all investors of 2,666,666 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.75 per share (approximately $6.75 per share giving effect to the May 7, 2019 reverse stock split), for aggregate gross proceeds of $4 million. |
None of the foregoing transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. We believe the offers, sales and issuances of the above securities were exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act because the issuance of securities to the recipients did not involve a public offering, or in reliance on Rule 701 because the transactions were pursuant to compensatory benefit plans or contracts relating to compensation as provided under such rule. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends were placed upon the stock certificates issued in these transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about us. The sales of these securities were made without any general solicitation or advertising. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends were placed upon the stock certificates issued in these transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about BioCardia.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) See the Exhibit Index on the page immediately preceding the signature page hereto for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-1, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) No financial statement schedules are provided because the information called for is not required or is shown either in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
Item 17. Undertakings.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to any charter provision, by law or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
EXHIBIT INDEX
† |
Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this Exhibit. |
* |
To be filed by amendment. |
# |
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
(1) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on August 25, 2016. |
(2) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(3) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by us on August 14, 2019. |
(4) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on April 11, 2017. |
(5) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(6) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(7) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the registration statement on Form S-8 filed by us on February 8, 2017. |
(8) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the registration statement on Form S-8 filed by us on February 8, 2017. |
(9) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the registration statement on Form S-8 filed by us on February 8, 2017. |
(10) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the registration statement on Form S-8 filed by us on February 8, 2017. |
(11) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on December 27, 2018. |
(12) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on August 7, 2019. |
(13) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.10 to Amendment No. 3 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by us on July 23, 2019. |
(14) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(15) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by us on March 30, 2017. |
(16) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(17) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(18) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(19) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by us on March 30, 2017. |
(20) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on October 27, 2016. |
(21) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on August 7, 2019. |
(22) |
Previously filed as Exhibit 21.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by us on April 2, 2019. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Carlos, State of California, on February 12, 2020.
BIOCARDIA, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
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Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Peter Altman, Ph.D. and David McClung, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments or any abbreviated registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 increasing the number of securities for which registration is sought), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact, proxy, and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, proxy and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below:
Signature |
Title |
Date |
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/s/ Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
|
February 12, 2020 |
Peter Altman, Ph.D. |
President and Chief Executive |
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Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ David McClung |
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David McClung |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal |
February 12, 2020 |
|
Accounting and Financial Officer) |
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/s/ Simon H. Stertzer |
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Simon H. Stertzer |
Chairman of the Board |
February 12, 2020 |
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/s/ Fernando Fernandez |
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Fernando Fernandez |
Director |
February 12, 2020 |
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/s/ Richard Krasno |
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Richard Krasno |
Director |
February 12, 2020 |
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/s/ Jay M. Moyes |
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Jay M. Moyes |
Director |
February 12, 2020 |
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/s/ Richard P. Pfenniger, Jr. |
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Richard P. Pfenniger, Jr. |
Director |
February 12, 2020 |
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/s/ Jim Allen |
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Jim Allen |
Director |
February 12, 2020 |
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/s/ Andrew Blank |
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Andrew Blank |
Director |
February 12, 2020 |
100
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
BioCardia, Inc.:
We consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
Our report dated April 1, 2019 contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that uncertainty.
San Francisco, California
February 12, 2020
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Note 8 - Collaborative Agreements |
12 Months Ended | ||
---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2018 | |||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||
Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] |
The Company has entered into various collaborations related to clinical development. These agreements allow partners to utilize the Company’s enabling biotherapeutic delivery systems, including training and support during clinical and pre-clinical delivery of biotherapeutics. Under the terms of these agreements, the Company typically receives a use fee and payments for the systems and services provided. The Company gains access to certain data generated by its partners for use in its own product development efforts and also receives nonexclusive patent rights to any BioCardia technology improvement inventions. |
Document And Entity Information |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2019 | |
Document Information [Line Items] | |
Entity Registrant Name | BioCardia, Inc. |
Entity Central Index Key | 0000925741 |
Entity Filer Category | Non-accelerated Filer |
Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
Entity Small Business | true |
Document Type | S-1 |
Document Fiscal Year Focus | 2019 |
Document Fiscal Period Focus | Q3 |
Amendment Flag | false |
Note 12 - Concentrations |
12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2018 | |||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] |
Most of the Company’s customers are located in the United States. One customer accounted for approximately 29% of revenue in 2018 and no single customer accounted for more than 10% of revenue in 2017 or 2016. One customer accounted for 23% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2018, 20% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 and another customer accounted for 29% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2016. |
Note 16 - Grant Funding |
12 Months Ended | ||
---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2018 | |||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||
Grant Funding [Text Block] |
In June 2016, the Company entered into a grant agreement with Maryland Technology Development Corporation (“TEDCO”). TEDCO was created by the Maryland State Legislature in 1998 to facilitate the transfer and commercialization of technology from Maryland’s research universities and federal labs into the marketplace. TEDCO administers the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund to promote State funded stem cell research and cures through financial assistance to public and private entities operating within the State. Under the agreement, TEDCO has agreed to provide the Company an amount not to exceed $750,000 to be used solely to finance the costs to conduct the research project entitled “Heart Failure Trial” over a period of three years. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has received approximately $750,000 under the grant which is accounted for as a reduction to research and development expenses as the related qualifying costs are incurred. Approximately $105,000 of the qualifying costs had been incurred as of December 31, 2018. The remaining $645,000 was recorded as grant liability on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2018. The amount is recorded as a liability as the amounts are refundable, should a default by the Company, as defined in the agreement, occur prior to incurring the qualifying costs. |
Note 8 - Stockholders' Equity - Warrants (Details) |
9 Months Ended |
---|---|
Sep. 30, 2019
$ / shares
shares
| |
Balance, December 31, 2018 (in shares) | shares | 296,296 |
Balance, December 31, 2018 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 6.75 |
Warrants for common stock sold (in shares) | shares | 2,139,512 |
Warrants for common stock sold (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 6.30 |
Balance, September 30,2018 (in shares) | shares | 2,435,808 |
Balance, September 30,2018 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 6.36 |
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment (Details) |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2018 | |
Computer Equipment and Software [Member] | |
Estimated useful lives (Year) | 3 years |
Laboratory and Manufacturing Equipment [Member] | |
Estimated useful lives (Year) | 3 years |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | |
Estimated useful lives (Year) | 3 years |
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | |
Estimated useful lives | 5 years or lease term, if shorter |
Note 4 - Inventories - Summary of Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Sep. 30, 2019 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
---|---|---|---|
Raw materials | $ 79 | $ 70 | |
Work in process | 45 | 39 | 92 |
Finished goods | 23 | 29 | |
Total | $ 45 | $ 141 | $ 191 |
Note 6 - Operating Lease Right-of-use Asset, Net - Supplement Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2019 |
Sep. 30, 2019 |
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Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | $ 153 | $ 459 |
Cash Lease Expense (imputed interest expense component of net income) | $ 39 | $ 126 |
Note 9 - Share-based Compensation - Summary of Non-vested RSUs (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] - $ / shares |
9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2019 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
|
Balance, shares (in shares) | 267,359 | 97,996 |
Balance, weighted average grant date fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ 2.84 | $ 8.71 |
RSUs granted, shares (in shares) | 34,713 | 226,471 |
RSUs granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ 4.75 | $ 1.36 |
RSUs vested, shares (in shares) | (2,272) | (57,108) |
RSUs vested, weighted average grant date fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ 99.36 | $ 7.03 |
RSUs forfeited, shares (in shares) | ||
RSUs forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value per share (in dollars per share) | ||
Balance, shares (in shares) | 62,135 | 267,359 |
Balance, weighted average grant date fair value per share (in dollars per share) | $ 10.55 | $ 2.84 |
Note 5 - Inventories - Summary of Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Sep. 30, 2019 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
---|---|---|---|
Raw materials | $ 79 | $ 70 | |
Work in process | 45 | 39 | 92 |
Finished goods | 23 | 29 | |
Total | $ 45 | $ 141 | $ 191 |
Note 6 - Property and Equipment, Net (Tables) |
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Sep. 30, 2019 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] |
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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2019 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
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Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
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These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated during the consolidation process. The Company manages its operations as a single segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions. |
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Going Concern and Liquidity [Policy Text Block] |
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The Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and had an accumulated deficit of $86.4 million as of December 31, 2018. Management expects operating losses and negative cash flows to continue through at least the next several years. The Company expects to incur increasing costs as the pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure trial is advanced and development of the CardiAMP and CardiALLO Cell Therapy Systems continue. Therefore, absent additional funding, management believes cash and cash equivalents of $5.4 million as of December 31, 2018 are not sufficient to fund the Company beyond the second quarter of 2019. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern beyond one year from the date these financial statements are issued. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to continue further development of its therapeutic candidates through and beyond the second quarter of 2019, will require the Company to raise additional capital. The Company plans to raise additional capital, potentially including debt and equity arrangements, to finance its future operations. While management believes this plan to raise additional funds will alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt, these plans are not entirely within its control and cannot be assessed as being probable of occurring. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to reduce operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of its product development programs, obtain funds through arrangements with others that may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or products that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize itself, or cease operations. |
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Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
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The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires Company management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property and equipment; allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns; inventory valuation; and share-based compensation. |
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Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company classifies all highly liquid investments with an original maturity date of 90 days or less at the date of purchase as cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with reputable financial institutions. |
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Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash at financial institutions, which at times, exceed federally insured limits. At December 31, 2018, the Company’s cash was held by one financial institution and the amount on deposit was in excess of FDIC insurance limits. The Company has not recognized any losses from credit risks on such accounts since inception. The Company believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk on cash. |
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Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block] |
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company considers the creditworthiness of its customers but does not require collateral in advance of a sale. The Company evaluates collectability and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio when necessary. The estimate is based on the Company’s historical write-off experience, customer creditworthiness, facts and circumstances specific to outstanding balances and payment terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $9,000 and $6,000 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
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Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average-cost method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The Company analyzes its inventory levels quarterly and writes down inventory that has become obsolete or has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value or inventory quantities in excess of expected requirements. Excess requirements are determined based on comparison of existing inventories to forecasted sales, with consideration given to inventory shelf life. Expired inventory is disposed of and the related costs are recognized in cost of goods sold. |
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Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
Property and equipment, net, are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, as described in the table below. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
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Property, Plant and Equipment, Impairment [Policy Text Block] |
The carrying value of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the total of estimated future undiscounted cash flows, expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition, are less than its carrying amount. Impairment, if any, would be assessed using discounted cash flows or other appropriate measures of fair value. Through December 31, 2018, there have been no such impairment losses. |
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Clinical Trial Accruals, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
As part of the process of preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its expenses resulting from its obligations under contracts with vendors and consultants and clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiation and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided by the vendor under the contracts. The Company’s objective is to reflect the clinical trial expenses in its consolidated financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which the services and efforts are expended. The Company accounts for these expenses according to the progress of the trial as measured by patient progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in its consolidated financial statements based on the facts and circumstances known at that time. Although, the Company does not expect its estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, its understanding of the status and timing of services relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reported amounts that differ from the actual amounts incurred. |
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Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and measures them at fair value. Derivatives are adjusted to fair value through other (expense) income, net in the consolidated statements of operations. |
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Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block] |
The Company’s lease for its facility provides for fixed increases in minimum annual rental payments. The total amount of rental payments due over the lease term is charged to rent expense ratably over the life of the lease. Deferred rent consists of the difference between cash payments and the recognition of rent expense on a straight-line basis. |
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Revenue [Policy Text Block] |
Net product revenue – We currently have a portfolio of enabling and delivery products. Revenue from product sales is recognized generally upon shipment to the end customer, which is when control of the product is deemed to be transferred. Product sale transactions are evidenced by customer purchase orders, customer contracts, invoices and/or related shipping documents.Collaboration agreement revenue – Collaboration agreement revenue is income from agreements under partnering programs with corporate and academic institutions, wherein we provide biotherapeutic delivery systems and customer training and support for their use in clinical trials and studies. These programs provide additional clinical data, intellectual property rights and opportunities to participate in the development of combination products for the treatment of cardiac disease.In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as it fulfills its obligations under each of its agreements, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company uses key assumptions to determine the stand-alone selling price, which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.Amounts received from customers in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets. |
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Shipping and Handling, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
Costs incurred for the shipping of products to customers totaled approximately $6,000, $5,000 and $7,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. |
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Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company provides a standard warranty of serviceability on all its products for the duration of the product’s shelf life, which is two years for Helix and Morph products currently. Estimated future warranty costs, if any, are accrued and charged to costs of goods sold in the period that the related revenue is recognized. Historical data and trends of product reliability and costs of repairing or replacing defective products are considered. Due to the low historical warranty claims experience, a general warranty accrual has not been required or recorded as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. |
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Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company’s research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense include the costs of basic research activities as well as other research, engineering, and technical effort required to develop new products or services or make significant improvement to an existing product or manufacturing process. Research and development costs also include pre-approval regulatory and clinical trial expenses and support costs for collaborative partnering programs wherein the Company provides biotherapeutic delivery systems and customer training and support for their use in clinical trials and studies. The Company’s research and development costs consist primarily of:
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Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company measures and recognizes share-based compensation expense for equity awards to employees, directors and consultants based on fair value at the grant date. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate fair value. Share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on the period the services are performed. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The compensation cost for restricted stock awards is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For options granted to nonemployees, the Company revalues the unearned portion of the share-based compensation and the resulting change in fair value is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the period the related services are rendered. The Black-Scholes option pricing model (BSM) requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility in the value of the Company’s common stock, and the expected term of the option. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. If factors change and different assumptions are used, our share-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. These assumptions are estimated as follows: Risk-free Interest Rate The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the zero -coupon U.S. Treasury instruments appropriate for the expected term of the stock option grants.Expected Volatility The Company has limited historical data of its own to utilize in determining expected volatility. As such we based our volatility assumption on a combined weighted average of our own historical data and that of a selected peer group. The peer group was developed based on companies in the biotechnology and medical device industries whose shares are publicly-traded. Expected Term The expected term represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding. As the Company does not have sufficient historical experience for determining the expected term of the stock options awards granted, the expected life is determined using the simplified method, which is an average of the contractual terms of the option and its ordinary vesting period. |
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Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company accounts for income taxes based on the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets, liabilities, operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.In evaluating the ability to recover its deferred income tax assets, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including its operating results, forecasts of future taxable income, and ongoing tax planning. In the event the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, it would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. Conversely, in the event that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. The Company recognizes and measures benefits for uncertain tax positions using a two -step approach. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. For tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, the second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement. Significant judgment is required to evaluate uncertain tax positions. The Company evaluates its uncertain tax positions quarterly. Evaluations are based upon a number of factors, including the technical merits of the tax position, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, interactions with tax authorities during the course of audits, and effective settlement of audit issues. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations and accrued interest and penalties within accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. No such interest and penalties have been recorded to date. |
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are required to be recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments complexity.The Company’s financial assets and liabilities consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. The fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents is determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The recorded values of the Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their current fair values due to the relatively short-term nature of these accounts. |
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Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. Common stock equivalents are comprised of restricted stock units, warrants to purchase common stock and options outstanding under our stock option plans. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive due to our net loss position. |
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New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
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In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014 -09, which amends the guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and creates a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In 2015 and 2016, the FASB issued additional ASUs related to Topic 606 that delayed the effective date of the guidance and clarified various aspects of the new revenue guidance, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, and licensing, and they include other improvements and practical expedients. The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2018 using the cumulative-effect method. The impact of adoption was immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017 -09 Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718 ) Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendments in ASU 2017 -09 provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company adopted ASU 2016 -01 on January 1, 2018, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 -02—Leases, (Topic 842 ) (ASU 2016 -02 ), as amended, which generally requires lessees to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet and to provide enhanced disclosures surrounding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leasing arrangements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018 -11, Leases (Topic 842 ): Targeted Improvements, or ASU No. 2018 -11. In issuing ASU No. 2018 -11, the FASB is permitting another transition method for ASU 2016 -02, which allows the transition to the new lease standard by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption. We will elect this transition method and package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allows us to carryforward our historical lease classification, our assessment on whether a contract is or contains a lease, and our initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the new standard. We will also elect to combine lease and non-lease components and to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet and recognize the associated lease payments in the statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We will adopt the ASU on January 1, 2019 using the cumulative-effect method and are finalizing our assessment of the impact of the adoption of the ASU and expect to record a right-of-use asset of approximately $1.5 million and a corresponding lease liability of approximately $1.6 million to account for our facility lease.In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018 -07, Stock Compensation (Topic . ASU 718 ): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting2018 -07 is intended to reduce the cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for nonemployee share-based payments. ASU 2018 -07 expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (which currently only includes share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. ASU 2018 -07 supersedes Subtopic 505 -50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. ASU 2018 -07 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018 -13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic . ASU 820 ): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement2018 -13 considers cost and benefits, and removes, modifies and adds disclosure requirements in Topic 820. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty is to be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments are to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. ASU 2018 -13 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018 -18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic (“ASU 808 ): Clarifying the Interaction Between Topic 808 and Topic 606 2018 -18” ). ASU 2018 -18 clarifies when certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for under Topic 606 and incorporates unit-of-account guidance consistent with Topic 606 to aid in this determination. ASU 2018 -18 is effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2018 -18 should generally be applied retrospectively to the date of initial application of Topic 606. Management is currently assessing the impact ASU 2018 -18 will have on the Company’s financial statements.Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures. |
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Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
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Change to Significant Accounting Policies [Policy Text Block] |
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Note 9 - Share-based Compensation |
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Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block] | ( 9 ) Share-Based Compensation The share-based compensation expense is recorded in cost of goods sold, research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses based on the employee's or non-employee’s respective function. No three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was recorded as follows (in thousands):
The following table summarizes the activity of stock options and related information:
Unrecognized share-based compensation for employee and nonemployee options granted through September 30, 2019 is approximately $4.0 million to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 2.3 years.Share-Based Compensation (RSUs) The following summarizes the activity of non-vested RSUs:
Unrecognized share-based compensation for RSUs granted through September 30, 2019 is approximately $230,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 0.3 years. |
BioCardia Lifesciences adopted, and the BioCardia Lifesciences shareholders approved, the 2002 Stock Plan in 2002 (the “2002 Plan”), and the Company assumed the 2002 Plan in the Merger. We have not granted or do not intend to grant any additional awards under the 2002 Plan following the Merger. In 2016, BioCardia Lifesciences adopted, and the BioCardia Lifesciences shareholders approved, the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), and the Company assumed the 2016 Plan in the Merger. We have granted awards, including incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options, under the 2016 Plan following the Merger. Under the 2002 Plan and the 2016 Plan, the number of shares, terms, and vesting periods are determined by the Company’s board of directors or a committee thereof on an option-by-option basis. Options generally vest ratably over service periods of four years and expire ten years from the date of grant. The per share exercise price shall be no less than the fair market value on the date of grant. Compensation cost for employee share-based awards is based on the grant-date fair value and is recognized over the vesting period of the applicable award on a straight-line basis. As of December 31, 2018, 7,932,494 shares have been authorized for awards under the 2016 Plan.The Company recognizes in the consolidated statements of operations the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation. Share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was recorded as follows (in thousands):
The following table summarizes activity under the Company’s stock option plans, including the 2002 Plan and the 2016 Plan and related information (in thousands, except share and per share amounts and term):
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $3,000, $400,000 and $144,000, respectively. The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $1.72, $5.80 and $1.33 per share, respectively.Employee Share-Based Compensation During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company granted stock options to certain non-employee directors and employees to purchase 1,698,452 and 796,399 shares of common stock, respectively. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
Unrecognized share-based compensation for non-employee directors and employee options granted through December 31, 2018 is approximately $5.0 million to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 2.4 years.Non-Employee Director Share-Based Compensation (RSUs) During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted to certain non-employee directors 226,471 restricted stock units, or RSUs. The fair value of each RSU is estimated on the closing market price on the grant date. The following summarizes the activity of non-vested RSUs:
Unrecognized share-based compensation for employee RSUs granted through December 31, 2018 was approximately $235,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 1.0 years.Nonemployee Share-Based Compensation During the year ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company granted options to purchase, zero, 46,254 and 490,849 shares of common stock to consultants. These options were granted in exchange for consulting services to be rendered and vest over the term specified in the grant, which correlates to the period the services are rendered. The Company recorded nonemployee share-based compensation expense of $176,000, $768,000 and $545,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 respectively. Unrecognized share-based compensation expense for nonemployee options granted through December 31, 2018 is approximately $204,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 1.8 years.The Company accounts for share-based compensation arrangements with nonemployees, using the Black Scholes option pricing model, based on the fair value as these instruments vest. Accordingly, at each reporting date, the Company revalues the unearned portion of the share-based compensation and the resulting change in fair value is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the period the related services are rendered. The following assumptions were used to value the awards.
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Note 14 - Income Taxes - Aggregate Changes in the Balance of Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | |
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Dec. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
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Balance, beginning of year | $ 725 | $ 608 |
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | 166 | 117 |
Additions (reductions) for tax positions related to prior years | ||
Balance, end of year | $ 891 | $ 725 |
Note 13 - Net Loss Per Share - Anti-dilutive Securities (Details) - shares |
9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||
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Sep. 30, 2019 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
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Antidilutive securities (in shares) | 3,346,091 | 646,273 | 8,411,389 | 4,311,096 | 3,491,937 |
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] | |||||
Antidilutive securities (in shares) | 848,148 | 616,567 | 5,477,364 | 4,213,100 | 3,491,937 |
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | |||||
Antidilutive securities (in shares) | 62,135 | 29,706 | 267,359 | 97,996 | |
Warrant [Member] | |||||
Antidilutive securities (in shares) | 2,435,808 | 2,666,666 |
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