Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) contains “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which represent our projections, estimates, expectations, or beliefs concerning, among other things, financial items that relate to management’s future plans or objectives or to our future economic and financial performance. In some cases, you can identify these statements by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “plans”, “believe”, “will”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect” “project”, or “intend”, including their opposites or similar phrases or expressions. You should be aware that these statements are projections or estimates as to future events and are subject to a number of factors that may tend to influence the accuracy of the statements. These forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our events or plans will be achieved. You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Except as may be required under applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
You should review the factors and risks we describe under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2022, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. Actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statement.
Background
Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new cancer therapies. On August 19, 2020, the Company completed its merger with Adgero Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Adgero") in which Adgero continued its existence under Delaware law and became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Following the completion of the merger, we changed our name from DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. and began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market LLC ("Nasdaq") under the symbol “KTRA”.
We are the parent company of Del Mar (BC), a British Columbia, Canada corporation, and Adgero. We are also the parent company to Callco and Exchangeco which are British Columbia, Canada corporations. Callco and Exchangeco were formed to facilitate the Reverse Acquisition that occurred in 2013.
References to “we”, “us”, and “our”, refer to Kintara and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Del Mar (BC), Adgero, Adgero Bio, Callco, and Exchangeco.
We are dedicated to the development of novel cancer therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. Our mission is to benefit patients by developing and commercializing anti-cancer therapies for patients whose solid tumors exhibit features that make them resistant to, or unlikely to respond to, currently available therapies, with particular focus on orphan cancer indications.
Our two lead candidates are VAL-083, a novel, validated, DNA-targeting agent, for the treatment of drug-resistant solid tumors such as glioblastoma (“GBM”) and potentially other solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”), and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (“DIPG”), and REM-001, a late-stage photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) for the treatment of cutaneous metastatic breast cancer (“CMBC”). PDT is a treatment that uses light sensitive compounds, or photosensitizers, that, when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, act as a catalyst to produce a form of reactive oxygen that induces local tumor cell death. We have paused the REM-001 program in order to conserve cash resources.
Recent Events
•On April 17, 2023, at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, case study data from the VAL-083 expanded access program was presented.
Targeted Clinical Milestones
We expect topline results 12 months after the last patient is randomized for our Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (“GCAR”) GBM Adaptive Global Innovative Learning Environment (“AGILE”) international registrational Phase 2/3 clinical study for VAL-083 (the “GBM AGILE Study”). We estimate these results to be available around the end of the fourth quarter of calendar 2023.
Product Pipeline
17
VAL-083
Background
VAL-083 is a first-in-class, small-molecule, DNA-targeting chemotherapeutic that has demonstrated activity against a range of tumor types in prior human Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute (“NCI”). “First-in-class” means that VAL-083 embodies a unique molecular structure which is not an analogue, or derivative, of any approved product, or product under development, for the treatment of cancer. As part of our business strategy, we leverage and build upon these prior NCI investments and data from more than 40 NCI Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies, which includes an estimated 1,200 patient safety database.
In GBM, we are part of the GBM AGILE Study which is an international registrational Phase 2/3 clinical study for GBM. The study is a patient centered, adaptive platform study for registration evaluating multiple therapies for patients with newly-diagnosed and recurrent GBM. Patients in the GBM AGILE Study are tested for their O6-methyl guanine methyltransferase (“MGMT”) methylation status prior to enrollment. VAL-083 is being evaluated in all three GBM patient subtypes in this study: newly-diagnosed methylated MGMT; newly-diagnosed unmethylated MGMT; and recurrent.
We have also completed two open-label, biomarker-driven, Phase 2 studies in MGMT-unmethylated GBM. MGMT is a DNA-repair enzyme that is associated with resistance to temozolomide (“TMZ” or Temodar®), the current standard-of-care chemotherapy used in the treatment of GBM. More than 60% of GBM patients have MGMT-unmethylated tumors and exhibit a high expression of MGMT which is correlated with TMZ resistance, treatment failure, and poor patient outcomes as indicated in the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (“NCCN”) guidelines for GBM treatment. Our research demonstrates that VAL-083’s anti-tumor activity is independent of MGMT expression. In our completed Phase 2 studies we used MGMT as a biomarker to identify patients for treatment with VAL-083 in three distinct GBM unmethylated MGMT patient populations: newly-diagnosed first line, newly-diagnosed adjuvant, and recurrent.
In addition, we have undertaken research in ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women and is the leading cause of death among women diagnosed with gynecological malignancies. We are in the process of evaluating the best path forward in ovarian cancer including the potential combination of VAL-083 with PARP inhibitors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) granted orphan drug designation for the use of VAL-083 in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
We have a broad patent portfolio to protect our intellectual property. Our patents and patent applications claim methods of use of VAL-083 and related compounds, synthetic methods, and quality controls for the manufacturing process of VAL-083. We believe
18
that our portfolio of intellectual property rights provides a defensible market position for the commercialization of VAL-083 in the United States and other international markets. In addition, VAL-083 has been designated by the FDA as an orphan drug under the Orphan Drug Act and the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) for the treatment of gliomas, including GBM. The FDA has also granted Orphan Drug description to VAL-083 for the treatment of medulloblastoma and ovarian cancer.
Our corporate strategy is to advance VAL-083 on an indication-by-indication basis, and then to consider out-licensing when a corporate development program has matured enough to warrant proper licensing valuations. In addition to VAL-083’s applicability to multiple solid tumor indications, we are also constantly evaluating licensing or acquiring additional product candidates, in order to establish a product pipeline and to position us for long-term sustainability and growth of shareholder value. We believe the experience of our clinical development team will position us to efficiently develop possible drug candidates that we may acquire, or license, in the future.
We intend to continue to evaluate options for our strategic direction. These options may include raising additional capital, the acquisition of another company and/or complementary assets, our sale, or another type of strategic partnership.
VAL-083 Clinical Studies
GBM AGILE Study
On October 21, 2020, we announced we had entered into a definitive agreement with GCAR and on January 13, 2021, we announced the initiation of patient recruitment for the VAL-083 study arm of the GBM AGILE Study. VAL-083 is currently being evaluated in all three GBM patient subtypes in the GBM AGILE Study: newly-diagnosed methylated MGMT; newly-diagnosed unmethylated MGMT; and recurrent.
The GBM AGILE Study employs a cost-efficient, adaptive study design with a stage 1 learning and adapting phase and a stage 2 expansion and confirmation phase. The Kintara arm of the GBM AGILE Study is ongoing at 39 clinical sites in the United States, four in Canada, and two in Europe. GCAR has previously announced that the GBM AGILE Study has screened over 1,300 patients and that enrollment rates for the study are 3 to 4 times greater than traditional GBM studies, with active sites averaging 0.75 to 1 patient per site per month. The GBM AGILE Study, which was designed by GCAR with input from the FDA, restricts companies participating in the study from disclosing data and other information before the end of the study in order to protect the integrity of the individual trial arm data, as well as the overall study. We expect to announce topline data from the GBM AGILE Study around the end of calendar 2023.
The GBM AGILE Study is an international, innovative platform study designed to more rapidly identify and confirm effective therapies for patients with glioblastoma through response adaptive randomization and a seamless Phase 2/3 design. The study, conceived by over 130 key opinion leaders, is conducted under a master protocol, allowing multiple therapies or combinations of therapies from different pharmaceutical partners to be evaluated simultaneously. With its innovative design and efficient operational infrastructure, we believe data from the GBM AGILE Study can be used as the foundation for a New Drug Application (“NDA”) and biologics license application submissions and registrations to the FDA and other health authorities. As with any clinical trial, there is a high likelihood of failure, and this is particularly the case with a study for a difficult to treat indication such as GBM.
GCAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization uniting physicians, clinical researchers, advocacy and philanthropic organizations, biopharma, health authorities, and other key stakeholders in healthcare to expedite the discovery and development of treatments for patients with rare and deadly diseases by serving as a sponsor of innovative and complex studies including master protocols and platform studies. GCAR is the sponsor of GBM AGILE. Key strategic partners for the GBM AGILE Study effort include the National Brain Tumor Society (“NBTS”), National Foundation for Cancer Research, and Asian Fund for Cancer Research.
Safety Across Studies
Consistent with prior studies, myelosuppression was the most common adverse event with VAL-083 in all three patient cohorts in our completed Phase 2 studies. In the 30 mg/m2/day starting dose cohort (the dose being studied in the GBM AGILE Study) five subjects experienced a serious adverse event (“SAE”) possibly related to VAL-083 in the recurrent group and one patient experienced a possible drug-related SAE in the newly-diagnosed adjuvant group.
In the newly-diagnosed first-line Phase 2 study three subjects experienced an SAE possibly related to VAL-083. Multiple treatment cycles of VAL-083 at the 30 mg/m2/day dose in combination with standard radiation treatment (2 Gray/day, 5 days/week) were shown to be generally safe and well-tolerated.
Current Treatments for Gliomas and Glioblastoma
19
Gliomas are a type of Central Nervous System (“CNS”) tumor that arises from glial cells in the brain or spine. Glial cells are the cells surrounding nerves. Their primary function is to provide support and protection for neurons in the CNS.
Common symptoms of GBM include headaches, seizures, nausea, weakness, paralysis and personality or cognitive changes such as loss of speech or difficulty in thinking clearly. GBM progresses quickly and patients’ conditions deteriorate rapidly progressing to death. The outlook for GBM patients is generally poor. The overall median survival in newly diagnosed GBM patients with best available treatments is less than 15 months, and two-year and five-year survival rates are approximately 30% and 10%, respectively. Median overall survival in newly-diagnosed, unmethylated GBM patients is 12.2 months.
The recommended treatment regimen for GBM includes surgical resection to remove as much of the tumor as possible (“debulking”) followed by radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with TMZ with or without tumor treating fields (“TTF”). GBM patients whose tumors exhibit an unmethylated promoter for the gene encoding the DNA repair enzyme MGMT, a biomarker correlated with resistance to TMZ, may be treated with radiation alone following surgery.
Patients with an unmethylated MGMT promoter have high levels of MGMT, a naturally-occurring DNA repair enzyme that repairs tumor-fighting lesions induced by TMZ thus allowing a patient’s tumor to continue to grow despite treatment, which leads to poor outcomes. Measurement of MGMT methylation status has become routine in clinical practice as biomarker that correlates with response to TMZ and patient outcomes in GBM.
Probability of GBM Patient Survival Correlated to Expression of MGMT Enzyme (Unmethylated promoter = High MGMT Expression and Significantly Shorter Survival)
TTF (Optune®) is a non-invasive technique for adults with GBM. TTF uses alternating electrical fields to disrupt tumor cell division, or cause cell death, thereby preventing the tumor from growing or spreading as quickly. A clinical study reported that GBM patients treated with TTF combined with TMZ experienced longer survival than those treated with TMZ alone.
The majority of GBM patients’ tumors recur within 6 – 12 months of initial treatment. Experimental therapy through clinical studies is recommended under NCCN guidelines for eligible patients. NCCN guidelines also recommend treatment with systemic chemotherapy, such as lomustine (“CCNU”). For patients who are eligible for additional surgical debulking, local chemotherapy with carmustine (“BCNU”) wafers may be employed. CCNU and BCNU target the same DNA-site as TMZ and are also subject to MGMT-related resistance.
Avastin (Avastin®, an anti-VEGF antibody) recently received full approval in the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan as a single agent for patients with recurrent GBM following prior therapy. Avastin carries an FDA “black-box warning” related to severe, sometimes fatal, side effects such as gastrointestinal perforations, wound healing complications and hemorrhage. There are no data demonstrating an improvement in disease-related symptoms or increased survival for GBM patients treated with Avastin.
Recurrent GBM patients, especially those whose tumors progress following treatment with Avastin, have limited or no treatment options and a very poor prognosis. According to published literature, the median survival for GBM patients whose tumors progress following Avastin is less than five months.
20
VAL-083 Mechanism of Action
Chemotherapy forms the basis of treatment in nearly all cancers. We believe that VAL-083 may be effective in treating tumors exhibiting biological features that cause resistance to currently available chemotherapy, particularly for patients who have failed, or become resistant to, other treatment regimens.
Based on published research and our own data, the cytotoxic functional groups, and the mechanism of action of VAL-083 are functionally different from alkylating agents commonly used in the treatment of cancer. VAL-083 has previously demonstrated activity in cell lines that are resistant to other types of chemotherapy. No evidence of cross-resistance has been reported in published clinical studies.
Our research suggests that VAL-083 attacks cancer cells via a unique mechanism of action that is distinct from other chemotherapies used in the treatment of cancer. Our data indicate that VAL-083 forms inter-strand crosslinks at the N7 position of guanine on the DNA of cancer cells. Our data also indicate that this crosslink forms rapidly and is not easily repaired by the cancer cell, resulting in cell-cycle arrest and lethal double-strand DNA breaks in cancer cells. VAL-083 readily crosses the blood brain barrier. Published preclinical and clinical research demonstrate that VAL-083 is absorbed more readily in tumor cells than in normal cells.
In vitro, our data also demonstrate that VAL-083’s distinct mechanism may be able to overcome drug resistance against a range of cancers. For example, VAL-083 is active against MGMT-unmethylated GBM cells which are resistant to treatment with TMZ and nitrosoureas. VAL-083 also retains a high level of activity in p53 mutated non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”), ovarian cancer and medulloblastoma cell lines that are resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Importantly, clinical activity against each of the tumors mentioned above was established in prior NCI-sponsored Phase 2 clinical studies. We believe that these historical clinical data and our own research support the development of VAL-083 as a potential new treatment for multiple types of cancer.
The main dose-limiting toxicity (“DLT”) related to the administration of VAL-083 in previous NCI-sponsored clinical studies and our own clinical studies is myelosuppression, particularly thrombocytopenia. Myelosuppression, including thrombocytopenia, is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Myelosuppression is the decrease in cells responsible for providing immunity, carrying oxygen, and causing normal blood clotting. Thrombocytopenia is a reduction in platelet counts which assist in blood clotting. Modern medicine allows for better management of myelosuppressive side effects. We believe this offers the potential opportunity to improve upon the drug’s already established efficacy profile by substantially increasing the dose of VAL-083 that can be safely administered to cancer patients.
REM-001
Background
Through REM-001, we are developing our photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) for the treatment of rare, unmet medical needs. PDT is a treatment that uses light sensitive compounds, or photosensitizers, that, when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, act as catalysts to produce a form of oxygen that induces local tumor cell death. REM-001 consists of three parts: the laser light source, the light delivery device, and the REM-001 drug product (collectively, the “REM-001 Therapy”). REM-001 consists of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) in a lipid formulation. The REM-001 API is SnET2 (“tin ethyl etiopurpurin”) which is a second-generation PDT photosensitizer agent. We believe REM-001 possesses multiple advantages over earlier generation PDT compounds.
Our lead indication for REM-001 is CMBC which is a disease that may strike individuals with advanced breast cancer and for which effective treatment options are limited. In four Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 clinical studies in CMBC patients, primarily targeting patients who had previously received chemotherapy and failed radiation therapy, REM-001 Therapy was able to reduce, or eliminate, a substantial number of the treated CMBC tumors. Specifically, our analysis of the data collected from these studies indicates that in approximately 80% of evaluable tumor sites treated with REM-001 Therapy, there was a complete response; meaning that follow-up clinical assessments indicated no visible evidence of the tumor remaining. We believe clinical data indicates that REM-001 Therapy holds promise as a treatment to locally eliminate, or slow the growth of, treated cutaneous cancerous tumors in this difficult-to-treat patient population.
21
Numerous approaches have been utilized to treat CMBC patients, including various forms of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical excision, hyperthermia, cryotherapy, electro-chemotherapy, topical drugs, and intra-lesional chemotherapy injections. However, for the most part, we believe that these therapies are often inadequate given the limited efficacy, toxicities and/or side effects of each. We believe our REM-001 Therapy has several advantages for this indication: it can be highly directed to the tumor site, has minimal systemic effects or normal tissue toxicities, can be used in conjunction with other therapies, and can be periodically repeated.
Our REM-001 Therapy product consists of three parts: the DD series laser light source (or equivalent), the ML2-0400 light delivery device (or equivalent) and the drug REM-001. In use, REM-001 is first administered by intravenous infusion and allowed to distribute within the body and be taken up by the tumors. Tumors are then illuminated with light using the light delivery device, which is attached to the laser light source, so that the accumulated REM-001 can be activated for the desired clinical effect.
As a result of our review of the historical data, we submitted questions to the FDA under a Type C format to review the technology and results and determine the anticipated requirements for regulatory approval. On March 3, 2017, we received the FDA’s written response to these questions. Based on that response, we have successfully manufactured REM-001 and developed light delivery devices for our planned 15-patient Phase 2 study. We received a Study May Proceed letter from the FDA for our 15-patient study on August 9, 2022.
On October 19, 2022, we announced that the REM-001 program in CMBC was paused to conserve cash which will be used to support the funding of the GBM AGILE Study. By pausing the REM-001 program, we expect to save approximately $3.0 million through calendar 2023.
VAL-083 and REM-001 Fast Track Designations
The FDA has granted us Fast Track Designation (“FTD”) for VAL-083 in recurrent and newly-diagnosed unmethylated GBM and for REM-001 in CMBC.
The FTD is designed to expedite the review of drugs that show promise in treating life-threatening diseases and address unmet medical needs, with the goal of getting new treatments to patients earlier. FTD provides sponsors with an opportunity for increased frequency for communication with the FDA to ensure an optimal development plan and to collect appropriate data needed to support drug approval. Additional benefits of the FTD may include an Accelerated Approval, a Priority Review, and a Rolling Review. Accelerated Approval is granted to drugs that demonstrate an effect on a surrogate, or intermediate endpoints, reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. Priority Review shortens the FDA review process for a new drug from ten months to six months and is appropriate for drugs that demonstrate significant improvements in both safety and efficacy of an existing therapy. Rolling Review provides a drug company the opportunity to submit completed sections of its NDA for review by the FDA. Typically, NDA reviews do not commence until the drug company has submitted the entire application to the FDA. Through the FTD, the FDA attempts to ensure that questions raised during the drug development process are resolved quickly, often leading to earlier approval and increased access for patients.
Impact of COVID-19
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic and a public health emergency of international concern. The global spread of COVID-19, including new and emerging variants, has created significant volatility and uncertainty since March 2020 and may continue into the future.
Regarding the VAL-083 study arm of the GBM AGILE Study that is ongoing at multiple sites in the United States, Canada and Europe, we have not experienced any significant COVID-19 impacts on patient enrollment or treatment. With respect to the REM-001 drug supply, we have previously experienced some delays in contract manufacturing schedules and supplies which we attribute to COVID-19. As a result of our decision to pause the REM-001 program in order to conserve cash resources, the previous delays should not have an impact on our REM-001 program timeline.
We are unable to accurately predict the full impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, results of operations, and financial conditions due to numerous uncertainties, including the full scope of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, the number and intensity of subsequent waves of infections, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities, the impact to the businesses of third parties we rely on, the development of treatments and vaccines, and other factors identified under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2022. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent of the impact to our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Corporate History
We are a Nevada corporation formed on June 24, 2009, under the name Berry Only Inc. On January 25, 2013, we entered into and closed an exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), with Del Mar Pharmaceuticals (BC) Ltd. (“Del Mar (BC)”), 0959454 B.C. Ltd. (“Callco”), and 0959456 B.C. Ltd. (“Exchangeco”) and the security holders of Del Mar (BC). Upon completion of the Exchange Agreement, Del Mar (BC) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours (the “Reverse Acquisition”).
22
On August 19, 2020, we acquired Adgero and changed our name from DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. We are the parent company to the following entities:
Del Mar (BC), a British Columbia, Canada corporation incorporated on April 6, 2010, which is a clinical stage company with a focus on the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer;
Adgero, a Delaware corporation incorporated on October 26, 2015, which is a clinical stage company with a focus on the development of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of rare, unmet medical needs, specifically orphan cancer indications;
Adgero Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. a Delaware corporation incorporated on November 16, 2007; and
Callco and Exchangeco which are British Columbia, Canada corporations. Callco and Exchangeco were formed to facilitate the Reverse Acquisition.
Outstanding Securities
As of May 10, 2023, we had 1,692 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, outstanding warrants to purchase 713 shares of common stock, warrants to purchase 2,444 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock that upon exercise are convertible into 42 shares of common stock, outstanding stock options to purchase 198 shares of common stock, 18 restricted stock units, 14,208 outstanding shares Series C Preferred Stock that are convertible into 245 shares of common stock. All common stock warrants, stock options, and restricted stock units are convertible, or exercisable into, one share of common stock. The Series C Preferred Stock (issued in three series) is convertible into shares of common stock at $58 per share (Series C-1), $60.70 per share (Series C-2) or $57.50 per share (Series C-3), respectively. The Series C Preferred stock purchase warrants are convertible into Series C Preferred Stock at $1,000 per share for either Series C-1, Series C-2, or Series C-3 Preferred Stock, as applicable.
Selected Quarterly Information
The financial information reported herein has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our functional currency at March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2022, is the US$. The following tables represent selected financial information for us for the periods presented. All amounts in the remainder of this MD&A are expressed in thousands, except par value and per share amounts, unless otherwise noted.
Selected Balance Sheet Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2023
$ |
|
|
June 30,
2022
$ |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
3,045 |
|
|
|
11,780 |
|
Working capital |
|
|
3,226 |
|
|
|
9,268 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
6,740 |
|
|
|
15,948 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
3,786 |
|
|
|
11,795 |
|
23
Selected Statement of Operations Data
For the three months ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2023 |
|
|
March 31,
2022 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except per share data) |
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
2,005 |
|
|
|
3,474 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
1,297 |
|
|
|
1,884 |
|
|
|
|
(3,302 |
) |
|
|
(5,358 |
) |
Other income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
Interest, net |
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Net loss for the period |
|
|
(3,264 |
) |
|
|
(5,356 |
) |
Series A Preferred cash dividend |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
Net loss for the period attributable to common stockholders |
|
|
(3,266 |
) |
|
|
(5,358 |
) |
Basic and fully diluted weighted average number of shares |
|
|
1,681 |
|
|
|
983 |
|
Basic and fully diluted loss per share |
|
|
(1.94 |
) |
|
|
(5.45 |
) |
For the nine months ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2023 |
|
|
March 31,
2022 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except per share data) |
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
7,235 |
|
|
|
11,169 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
4,212 |
|
|
|
6,055 |
|
|
|
|
(11,447 |
) |
|
|
(17,224 |
) |
Other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Interest, net |
|
|
123 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Net loss for the period |
|
|
(11,314 |
) |
|
|
(17,215 |
) |
Series A Preferred cash dividend |
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
Series C Preferred stock dividend |
|
|
(362 |
) |
|
|
(2,462 |
) |
Net loss for the period attributable to common stockholders |
|
|
(11,682 |
) |
|
|
(19,683 |
) |
Basic and fully diluted weighted average number of shares |
|
|
1,596 |
|
|
|
879 |
|
Basic and fully diluted loss per share |
|
|
(7.32 |
) |
|
|
(22.39 |
) |
Expenses, net of non-cash, share-based compensation expense – non-GAAP
The following table discloses research and development, and general and administrative expenses net of non-cash, share-based compensation payment expense. The disclosure has been provided to reconcile the total operational expenses on a GAAP basis and the non-GAAP operational expenses net of non-cash stock-based compensation in order to provide an estimate of cash used in research and development, and general and administrative expense. Management uses the cash basis of expenses for forecasting and budget purposes to determine the allocation of resources and to plan for future financing opportunities.
24
For the three months ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2023
$ |
|
|
March 31,
2022
$ |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
Research and development - GAAP |
|
|
2,005 |
|
|
|
3,474 |
|
Less: non-cash, share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(115 |
) |
|
|
29 |
|
Research and development net of non-cash, share-based, compensation expense – Non-GAAP |
|
|
1,890 |
|
|
|
3,503 |
|
General and administrative - GAAP |
|
|
1,297 |
|
|
|
1,884 |
|
Less: non-cash, share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(339 |
) |
|
|
(671 |
) |
General and administrative net of non-cash, share-based, compensation expense – Non-GAAP |
|
|
958 |
|
|
|
1,213 |
|
For the nine months ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2023
$ |
|
|
March 31,
2022
$ |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
Research and development - GAAP |
|
|
7,235 |
|
|
|
11,169 |
|
Less: non-cash, share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(389 |
) |
|
|
(464 |
) |
Research and development net of non-cash, share-based, compensation expense – Non-GAAP |
|
|
6,846 |
|
|
|
10,705 |
|
General and administrative - GAAP |
|
|
4,212 |
|
|
|
6,055 |
|
Less: non-cash, share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(1,019 |
) |
|
|
(1,854 |
) |
General and administrative net of non-cash, share-based, compensation expense – Non-GAAP |
|
|
3,193 |
|
|
|
4,201 |
|
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2023, and March 31, 2022
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|
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Three months ended |
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March 31,
2023
$ |
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March 31,
2022
$ |
|
|
Change $ |
|
|
Change % |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
2,005 |
|
|
|
3,474 |
|
|
|
(1,469 |
) |
|
|
(42 |
) |
General and administrative |
|
|
1,297 |
|
|
|
1,884 |
|
|
|
(587 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
|
(3,302 |
) |
|
|
(5,358 |
) |
|
|
2,056 |
|
|
|
|
Other income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(200 |
) |
Interest, net |
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
3,800 |
|
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
(3,264 |
) |
|
|
(5,356 |
) |
|
|
2,092 |
|
|
|
|
Research and Development
Research and development expenses decreased to $2,005 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $3,474 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease was largely attributable to lower clinical development costs, partially offset by higher non-cash, share-based compensation expenses incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Clinical development costs have decreased in the current quarter compared to the same quarter in the prior fiscal year in part due to costs related to the GBM AGILE Study being lower in the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022. In addition, on October 19, 2022, we announced that we had paused the REM-001 program in order to preserve cash for the development of VAL-083. As a result, costs for REM-001 were lower in the current quarter compared to the same quarter in the prior fiscal year. Non-cash, share-based compensation expense increased to $115 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from a reversal of $29 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, there was a staff reduction resulting in the forfeiture of stock options.
25
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses were $1,297 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $1,884 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. A significant portion of the decrease was a result of lower non-cash, share-based compensation expenses and a reduction in personnel costs in the current three months compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. Non-cash, share-based compensation expense decreased to $339 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $671 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, due to the recognition of higher compensation expense recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2022, for stock options granted in September 2021. Personnel costs have decreased in the current quarter compared to the same quarter in the prior fiscal year largely due to a reduction in staff.
Preferred Share Dividends
For each of the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, we recorded $2 related to the cash dividend payable to Valent on the Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend has been recorded as a direct increase in accumulated deficit for both periods.
Comparison of the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and March 31, 2022
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Nine months ended |
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March 31,
2023
$ |
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March 31,
2022
$ |
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Change $ |
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Change % |
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(in thousands) |
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|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
7,235 |
|
|
|
11,169 |
|
|
|
(3,934 |
) |
|
|
(35 |
) |
General and administrative |
|
|
4,212 |
|
|
|
6,055 |
|
|
|
(1,843 |
) |
|
|
(30 |
) |
|
|
|
(11,447 |
) |
|
|
(17,224 |
) |
|
|
5,777 |
|
|
|
|
Other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Interest, net |
|
|
123 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
120 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
(11,314 |
) |
|
|
(17,215 |
) |
|
|
5,901 |
|
|
|
|
Research and Development
Research and development expenses decreased to $7,235 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, from $11,169 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease was largely attributable to lower clinical development costs, non-cash, share-based compensation expenses, and personnel costs incurred during the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2022.
Clinical development costs have decreased in the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2022, partially due to lower costs recognized for the GBM AGILE Study. In addition, on October 19, 2022, we announced we had paused the REM-001 program in order to preserve cash for the development of VAL-083. As a result, costs for REM-001 were lower in the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. Non-cash, share-based compensation expense decreased to $389 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, from $464 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, due to the higher compensation expense recognized during the nine months ended March 31, 2022, for stock options granted in September 2021. Personnel costs have decreased in the current period compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year largely due to a reduction in staff.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses were $4,212 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $6,055 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. A significant portion of the decrease was a result of lower non-cash, share-based compensation expenses, personnel costs, and a reduction in professional fees in the current nine months compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. Non-cash, share-based compensation expense decreased to $1,019 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, from $1,854 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, due to the recognition of higher compensation expense recognized during the nine months ended March 31, 2022, for stock options granted in September 2021. Personnel costs have decreased in the current period compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year largely due to a reduction in staff. Professional fees were lower during the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2022, due to reduced investor relations expenses.
Preferred Share Dividends
During the nine months ended March 31, 2023, we issued 43 (2022 – 34) shares of common stock as a stock dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock and recognized $362 (2022 - $2,462) as a direct increase in accumulated deficit.
26
For each of the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, we recorded $6 related to the cash dividend payable to Valent on the Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend has been recorded as a direct increase in accumulated deficit for both periods.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2022
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|
March 31,
2023
$ |
|
|
March 31,
2022
$ |
|
|
Change
$ |
|
|
Change
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
(10,357 |
) |
|
|
(15,400 |
) |
|
|
5,043 |
|
|
|
(33 |
) |
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
(232 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(232 |
) |
|
|
100 |
|
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
1,854 |
|
|
|
13,702 |
|
|
|
(11,848 |
) |
|
|
(86 |
) |
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities decreased to $10,357 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, from $15,400 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. During the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, we reported net losses of $11,314 and $17,215, respectively. Changes in adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, included stock option expense of $1,244 being recognized during the current period compared to $2,283 in the same period in the prior fiscal year. In addition, during the nine months ended March 31, 2023, non-cash expenses of $164 were incurred for shares issued for services and restricted stock unit expense while no such items were incurred in the nine months ended March 31, 2022. The most significant changes in working capital for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, were related to an increase in clinical trial deposits of $1,700, a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $616, and a decrease in related party payables of $541. The most significant change in working capital for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, was due to a decrease in prepaid expenses and deposits of $998 and an increase in accounts and accrued liabilities of $563.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $232 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, for the purchase of equipment, compared to $nil for the nine months ended March 31, 2022.
Financing Activities
During the nine months ended March 31, 2023, we received $1,860 in net proceeds from the sale of shares under the stock purchase agreement, dated as of August 2, 2022, (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”), pursuant to which Lincoln Park committed to purchase up to a maximum of $20,000 of shares of the Company’s common stock.
During the nine months ended March 31, 2022, we received $13,634 in net proceeds from the completion of a registered direct financing that closed on September 28, 2021, and $74 from the cash exercise of stock purchase warrants.
Going Concern and Capital Expenditure Requirements
Going Concern and Management Plans
(See note 1 to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements)
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that we will continue our operations for the foreseeable future and contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business.
For the nine months ended March 31, 2023, we reported a loss of $11,314 and a negative cash flow from operations of $10,357. We had an accumulated deficit of $148,038 and had cash and cash equivalents of $3,045 as of March 31, 2023. We are in the clinical stage and have not generated any revenues to date. We do not have the prospect of achieving revenues until such time that our product candidates are commercialized, or partnered, which may not ever occur. On August 2, 2022, we entered into a Purchase Agreement under which we received approximately $1,860 in net proceeds as of March 31, 2023, which is the current maximum amount available under the Purchase Agreement due to ownership limitations under Nasdaq rules. Even with the proceeds from this financing, we will require additional funding to maintain our clinical trials, research and development projects, and for general operations. These circumstances indicate substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date of filing of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
27
Consequently, management is pursuing various financing alternatives to fund our operations so we can continue as a going concern. In addition, we have paused the REM-001 program in order to conserve cash resources for the VAL-083 clinical study. Management plans to continue to pursue opportunities to secure the necessary financing through the issue of new equity, debt, and/or entering into strategic partnership arrangements. However, our ability to raise additional capital could be affected by various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and global unrest. We may not be able to raise sufficient additional capital and may tailor our drug candidate development programs based on the amount of funding we are able to raise in the future. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that these initiatives will be successful.
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not give effect to any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern. Such adjustments could be material.
Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
the rate of progress and cost of our clinical studies, preclinical studies and other discovery and research and development activities;
the costs associated with establishing manufacturing and commercialization capabilities;
the costs of acquiring or investing in businesses, product candidates and technologies;
the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;
the costs and timing of seeking and obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals;
the effect of competing technological and market developments;
the economic and other terms and timing of any collaboration, licensing or other arrangements into which we may enter; and
the impact of us being a public entity.
Until we can generate a sufficient amount of product revenue to finance our cash requirements, which we may never do, we expect to finance future cash needs primarily through public or private equity and debt offerings, and/or strategic collaborations. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our stockholders and certain of those securities may have rights senior to those of our shares of capital stock. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of preferred stock, convertible debt securities or other debt financing, these securities or other debt could contain covenants that would restrict our operations. Any other third-party funding arrangement could require us to relinquish valuable rights. Economic conditions may affect the availability of funds and activity in equity markets. We do not know whether additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are not able to secure additional funding when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our clinical trials or research and development programs or make changes to our operating plan. In addition, we may have to seek a partner for one or more of our product candidates at an earlier stage of development, which would lower the economic value of those programs to us.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, requires companies to establish accounting policies and to make estimates that affect both the amount and timing of the recording of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Some of these estimates require judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and therefore actual results may differ from those estimates.
A detailed presentation of all of our significant accounting policies and the estimates derived therefrom is included in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022, contained in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2022. While all of the significant accounting policies are important to our consolidated financial statements, the following accounting policies and the estimates derived therefrom are critical:
Fair value of financial instruments
Accruals for research and development expenses and clinical trials
28
Fair value of financial instruments
We recognize compensation costs resulting from the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, non-employees and directors as an expense in the statement of operations over the service period based on a measurement of fair value for each stock-based award. Prior to our adoption of ASU 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”), stock options granted to non-employee consultants were revalued at the end of each reporting period until vested using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the changes in their fair value were recorded as adjustments to expense over the related vesting period. For the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, the determination of grant-date fair value for stock option awards was estimated using the Black-Scholes model which includes variables such as the expected volatility of our share price, the anticipated exercise behavior of its grantee, interest rates, and dividend yields. For the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, we utilized the plain vanilla method to determine the expected life of stock options. These variables are projected based on our historical data, experience, and other factors. Changes in any of these variables could result in material adjustments to the expense recognized for share-based payments. Such value is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, net of actual forfeitures, using the accelerated attribution method. We recognize forfeitures as they occur. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results, or updated estimates, differ from current estimates, such amounts are recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised.
We have issued warrants for services provided by non-employees. The warrants issued for services have been valued at the fair value of the warrants issued. For the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, the determination of grant-date fair value for warrants issued for services was estimated using the Black-Scholes model which includes variables such as the expected volatility of our share price, interest rates, dividend yields, and the term of the warrant. We have also issued shares for services to non-employees which have been valued using the share price of our common stock.
Accruals for research and development expenses and clinical trials
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, clinical research organizations and consultants, and under 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 terms that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided under such contracts. Our objective is to reflect the appropriate expenses in our financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services are performed and efforts are expended. We account for these expenses according to the timing of various aspects of the expenses. We determine accrual estimates by taking into account discussion with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress of clinical trials, or the services completed. During the course of a clinical trial, we adjust our clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from our estimates. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on the facts and circumstances known to us at that time. Our clinical trial accruals are dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of contract research organizations and other third-party vendors. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any particular period. For nine months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, there were no material adjustments to our prior period estimates of accrued expenses for clinical trials.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
29
