UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
April 7, 2015
AMARANTUS BIOSCIENCE HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
Nevada |
000-55016 |
26-0690857 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
655 Montgomery Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA |
94111 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(408) 737-2734
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
| Item 2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
On April
7, 2015, Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for
the year ended December 31, 2014 and other matters described in the press release. A copy of the Company’s press release
is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information disclosed under this Item 2.02,
including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or
other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth in such filing.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
99.1
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Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. Press Release, dated April
7, 2015. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
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AMARANTUS BIOSCIENCE HOLDINGS, INC. |
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Date: April 7, 2015 |
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By: |
/s/ Gerald E. Commissiong |
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Name: Gerald E. Commissiong |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 99.1
Amarantus Reports 2014 Financial Results
and Business Overview
-Management to Host Conference Call and
Webcast on April 9, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. EDT-
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, and GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
– April 7, 2015 - Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: AMBS), a biotechnology
company focused on developing diagnostics in neurology, and therapeutic products in the areas of neurology, psychiatry, ophthalmology
and orphan diseases, announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company also highlighted recent corporate
and clinical development achievements, as well as upcoming milestones for its Diagnostics division and Therapeutics division.
"The advancements made throughout
the course of 2014 and early 2015 in executing our strategy of assembling clinically de-risked and significantly undervalued diagnostic
and therapeutic opportunities for the Company’s two divisions has yielded a tremendous platform for growth going forward,”
said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus.
RECENT CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS
| · | Appointed
renowned drug development expert and co-founder of Amgen, Joseph Rubinfeld, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors; |
| · | Appointed Elise Brownell, Ph.D., to the
newly created position of Senior Vice President of Operations and Program Management; |
| · | Completed
two non-convertible debenture transactions which raised a total of $2.85 million; |
| · | Completed
multiple closings of a Series E preferred stock financing to raise $7.25 million; and |
| · | Modified
the terms of the Series E preferred stock to adjust the conversion price to $0.05 (representing a ~2% discount to market as of
the date of adjustment), delay any further potential downward adjustment in the conversion price to October 1, 2015, and inserted
a provision for a Mandatory Conversion of the Series E preferred stock into common shares upon a Qualified Public Offering of
the Company’s stock. |
DIAGNOSTICS DIVISION OVERVIEW
“We crystalized our corporate development
strategy in our Diagnostics division with the synergistic acquisition of multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnostics company, Diogenix,
Inc. The lead asset acquired, MSPrecise®, recently completed a clinical validation study with strong results, paving the way
for its potential introduction into the commercial marketplace in the fourth quarter of this year. LymPro Test®,
our Investigational Use Only (IUO) Alzheimer’s diagnostic blood test that was commercialized in late 2014, garnered its first
pharmaceutical customer in the first quarter of 2015, as the interest in trials of experimental Alzheimer’s therapies is
beginning to increase with high-profile successes renewing hope for the field. We have established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Amarantus
Diagnostics, Inc., to house MSPrecise and LymPro and are now evaluating CEO candidates to drive this division forward. We are also
currently evaluating strategic options for Amarantus Diagnostics that will allow it to exercise the exclusive option agreement
with Georgetown University, and strengthen its position as a leading Alzheimer’s diagnostic blood test company, in addition
to its emerging leading position in the area of MS diagnostics,” stated Robert Farrell, CFO of Amarantus.
Recent Highlights
| · | Retained
an executive search firm to identify a Chief Executive Officer for the Diagnostics division; |
| · | Retained Ravi Kiron, Ph.D., a co-founder
in C2N and the former Chief Business Officer at Kinemed, Inc., to serve as Senior Vice President of Business Development; |
| · | Promoted
Colin Bier, Ph.D., to Chief Development Officer to oversee the commercialization of the Company’s assays under CLIA; |
| · | Retained
a consulting firm specialized in the sale of tax credits, to market the $7.5 million of New Jersey tax credits obtained in the
Diogenix acquisition; and |
| · | Established
an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Diagnostics Scientific Advisory Board with three internationally-renowned AD and neurological
disorder specialists, Paula T. Trzepacz, M.D., Jeffrey L. Cummings, M.D., Sc.D., and Robert A. Stern, Ph.D. |
| · | LymPro
Test® for the diagnosis of AD |
| - | Presented positive LymPro data at the 12th International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders; |
| - | Established the Company’s
first Investigational Use Only (IUO) Alzheimer's biomarker services collaboration for
LymPro Test with Anavex Life Sciences Corp. to evaluate blood samples from AD patients; |
| - | Entered into a Letter of Intent with Anavex to plan additional scope of further biomarker services
for its potential Phase 3 AD clinical trial; and |
| - | Announced the availability of LymPro Test biomarker services for use by the pharmaceutical industry
for IUO. |
| · | MSPrecise®
for the diagnosis of MS |
| - | Acquired MS diagnostics company Diogenix, Inc.; and |
| - | Completed integration of Diogenix into Amarantus Diagnostics corporate infrastructure. |
| · | Georgetown Assays for the diagnosis
of AD |
| - | Entered
into a one-year, exclusive option agreement with Georgetown University to license patent
rights for blood based biomarkers for AD and memory loss. |
THERAPEUTICS DIVISION OVERVIEW
David A. Lowe, Ph.D., member of the Amarantus
Board Directors, commented, “The Therapeutics division is now positioned for significant growth. We spent considerable time
and resources revitalizing the eltoprazine development program following our in-licensing of this product candidate in early 2014.
Today, we are poised to initiate a mid-stage clinical development program of eltoprazine after the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recently allowed the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application to proceed into a Phase 2b
program for Parkinson’s disease levodopa induced dyskinesia (PD LID). Eltoprazine has a strong safety profile, having been
dosed in over 680 human subjects for periods of more than two years, at doses several fold higher than our anticipated dosing regimens
going forward. In addition, eltoprazine already has positive Phase 2a data in PD LID, which was recently published, positive Phase
2 data in an adult attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (adult ADHD) clinical study, as well as significant proof-of-concept
clinical data generated by its original owner, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, in the area of aggression associated with AD. We also succeeded
in our orphan regulatory strategy for MANF by receiving an orphan drug designation for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP),
which now allows the Company to shepherd MANF’s development towards first-in-man studies.”
Recent Highlights
| · | Eltoprazine:
PD-LID, adult ADHD, and Alzheimer’s aggression |
| - | Published Phase 2a clinical
study results in BRAIN for the treatment of PD-LID; and |
| - | Opened an IND application with the neurology division of the FDA to advance eltoprazine into Phase
2b clinical studies. |
| · | MANF:
Mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor |
| - | Received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the FDA for the treatment of RP; |
| - | Submitted an application to the FDA for ODD for the treatment of retinal artery occlusion (RAO);
and |
| - | Announced positive preclinical data on the effects of MANF for the protection from vision loss
in animal models of RP and RAO. |
| · | ESS:
Engineered Skin Substitute |
| - | Entered into exclusive option agreement with Lonza Walkersville to acquire subsidiary Cutanogen Corporation, holder of licensing
rights to intellectual property related to ESS for the potential treatment of severe burns; |
| - | Dismissed with prejudice the litigation that had previously encumbered ESS; and |
| - | Amended the Lonza exclusive option agreement allowing for the extension of the option period through
August 31, 2015. |
“In November of 2014, the Company
extended its orphan drug strategy beyond MANF by entering into an exclusive option agreement to acquire Cutanogen Corporation from
Lonza Walkersville. Cutanogen is the licensee of certain intellectual property rights related to ESS. ESS represents a unique opportunity
in the orphan area of severe burns. The potential acquisition of Cutanogen initially presented several risks through which the
Company successfully navigated, including the dismissal of the litigation previously encumbering the asset. We have now effectively
paved the way for the acquisition to take place and, once acquired, expect to be in a position to initiate a Phase 2 study shortly
after the initiation of the eltoprazine PD LID study,” added Joseph Rubinfeld, Ph.D., member of the Amarantus Board of Directors.
FULL YEAR 2014 FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Research and development costs for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2014 increased $11,673,000 to $13,762,000 from $2,089,000 for the twelve months ended December
31, 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2014, research and development costs consisted primarily of start-up clinical expenses,
and $7,200,000 of in-process research and development associated with intellectual property, litigation and technology relating
to the potential Lonza transaction. $3,000,000 of the $7,200,000 was a non-cash expense paid for with shares of the Company's common
stock. The increase in research and development expense in 2014, as compared to 2013, was primarily due to in-process research
and development cost, and to a lesser extent, LymPro clinical study costs, increases in consulting and stock based compensation.
G&A expenses for the twelve months
ended December 31, 2014 increased $3,970,000 to $7,592,000 from $3,622,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 primarily
due to increased key hires the company made to advance its programs, patent related legal costs, development program-related outside
services and stock based compensation.
Other income (expense) for the twelve
months ended December 31, 2014 decreased $3,498,000, to $5,923,000 from $9,421,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013.
Primary reasons for this decrease include: (1) interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 decreased $1,818,000,
to $813,000 from $2,631,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 due to conversion of debt to common stock, primarily
during the first half of 2014, (2) loss on the issuance of common stock improved $92,000 from $260,000 in 2014 compared to $352,000
in 2013; (3) in 2014 the Company incurred no loss on issuance of debt , as compared with a lose of $6,709,000 in 2013; (4) in
2014 the Company incurred $1,250,000 loss on the extinguishment of convertible debt compared to none in 2013; (5) in 2014 the
Company incurred $3,867,000 loss on the issuance of warrants and none in 2013; and (6) income from the change in fair value of
warrants and derivatives liabilities increased $46,000 from $317,000 for 2014, , as compared with $271,000 in 2013. Net loss for
the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 was $28,152,000 compared to a net loss of $15,170,000 for the twelve months ended December
31, 2013.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had
total current assets of $412,000 consisting of $214,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $198,000 in prepaid expenses and other
current assets. Also, from the second closing of the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (Series E) offering the Company had $1,450,000
of outstanding Series E stock subscriptions as of December 31, 2014. Additionally, the Company continues to have access to over
$14 million in additional funding available from an equity financing facility with Lincoln Park Capital.
The Company is preparing to list its common
shares on a national stock exchange in 2015.
2015 EXPECTED NEAR-TERM MILESTONES
“In a few short months from today,
pending the acquisition of Cutanogen, the Company’s Therapeutics division expects to have two ongoing mid-stage clinical
studies in the areas of PD LID and severe burns, as well as a preclinical orphan ophthalmology program maturing towards the clinic.
Management and the Board of Directors believes this scenario has the potential to be truly transformative for the Company and its
shareholders. Moreover, during that same timeframe, we expect to make progress in executing on one of the strategic alternatives
for the Diagnostics Division in order to generate further value for our shareholders,” said Gerald. E. Commissiong, President
and CEO of Amarantus. “While we have focused primarily on executing on our strategic initiatives to assemble and incubate
undervalued, clinical assets towards feasibility milestones in each of these distinct divisions, going forward, we will be focused
on executing on clinical, regulatory, commercial and corporate milestones to maximize their value.”
| · | Initiate
a Phase 2b clinical study of eltoprazine in PD-LID in 2Q 2015; |
| · | Complete the acquisition of Cutanogen
and then initiate a Phase 2 study mid-year 2015; and |
| · | Receive
responses on our ODD applications for MANF in RAO from the FDA, and from the European Commissiong for MANF for the treatment of
RP and RAO; |
| · | Continue
to explore strategic options for our Diagnostics division, including a potential spin-off, to derive the full value of the Company’s
premier neuro-diagnostics business; and |
| · | Pursue
an up-listing to a national stock exchange listing to position the Company for an appreciation in value. |
“We have laid the groundwork for
numerous opportunities to propel the Company forward with the goals of addressing unmet medical needs for patients that are so
deserving of viable treatment options, and ultimately unlocking significant value for our loyal shareholders,” concluded
Mr. Commissiong. “Moving forward, our management team and board are committed to delivering on meaningful milestones on the
clinical, regulatory and operational fronts by successfully executing on our business plan. Given this, we believe we have positioned
Amarantus for an exciting 2015.”
CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST DETAILS
Amarantus Management will host a quarterly
business update call on April 9, 2015. The business update may be accessed by telephone by dialing Toll-Free (US & Canada):
877-705-2969 or International: 201-689-8868; or by webcast on the News and Events page of the Investor Relations section of the
Amarantus corporate web site under the IR Calendar at www.amarantus.com.
Webcast participants are encouraged to go to the web site 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and
install any necessary software.
Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. |
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
(in thousands, except share and per share data) |
| |
December 31, 2014 | | |
December 31, 2013 | |
Assets | |
| | | |
| | |
Current assets: | |
| | | |
| | |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
$ | 214 | | |
$ | 1,033 | |
Deferred Funding fees, net | |
| — | | |
| 109 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 198 | | |
| 106 | |
Total current assets | |
| 412 | | |
| 1,248 | |
Restricted cash | |
| 204 | | |
| — | |
Property and equipment, net | |
| 145 | | |
| — | |
Intangible assets, net | |
| 1,497 | | |
| 611 | |
Total assets | |
$ | 2,258 | | |
$ | 1,859 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Current liabilities: | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts payable | |
$ | 3,353 | | |
$ | 972 | |
Accounts payable - Regenicin | |
| 2,550 | | |
| — | |
Related party liabilities and accrued interest | |
| 252 | | |
| 248 | |
Accrued expenses | |
| 149 | | |
| 292 | |
Accrued interest | |
| 25 | | |
| 112 | |
8% senior convertible debentures, net of discount | |
| — | | |
| 932 | |
Convertible promissory notes | |
| — | | |
| 124 | |
Derivative liability | |
| — | | |
| 5,859 | |
Total current liabilities | |
| 6,329 | | |
| 8,539 | |
Total liabilities | |
| 6,329 | | |
| 8,539 | |
Commitments and contingencies | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Series D convertible preferred stock ($1,000 stated value; 1,300 shares designated; 1,299.327 and -0- shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2013 | |
| — | | |
| 839 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Stockholders' equity (deficit): | |
| | | |
| | |
Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized: | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Series A, $0.001 par value, 250,000 shares designated, -0- shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Series B, $0.001 par value, 3,000,000 shares designated, -0- shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Series C, $0.001 par value, 750,000 shares designated, 750,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 | |
| 1 | | |
| 1 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Series D, $1,000 stated value; 1,300 shares designated; 1,299.327 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014; aggregate liquidation preference of $1,299 as of December 31, 2014 | |
| 1,169 | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Series E, $1,000 stated value; 6,000 shares designated, 4,500 issued and outstanding as of December 31 2014; aggregate liquidation preference of $4,500 as of December 31, 2014 | |
| 4,050 | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Common stock, $0.001 par value — 2,000,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; 842,190,750 and 574,171,945 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively | |
| 842 | | |
| 574 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| 45,050 | | |
| 18,938 | |
Accumulated deficit | |
| (55,183 | ) | |
| (27,032 | ) |
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) | |
| (4,071 | ) | |
| (7,519 | ) |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) | |
$ | 2,258 | | |
$ | 1,859 | |
Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. |
Consolidated Statements of Operations |
(in thousands, except share and per share data) |
| |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 | | |
Year Ended December 31, 2013 | |
Net Sales | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Operating Expense: | |
| | | |
| | |
Research and development | |
| 13,762 | | |
| 2,089 | |
General and administrative | |
| 7,592 | | |
| 3,622 | |
Total operating expenses | |
| 21,354 | | |
| 5,711 | |
Loss from operations | |
| (21,354 | ) | |
| (5,711 | ) |
Other income (expense): | |
| | | |
| | |
Interest expense | |
| (813 | ) | |
| (2,631 | ) |
Loss on issuance of common stock | |
| (260 | ) | |
| (352 | ) |
Loss on issuance of debt | |
| — | | |
| (6,709 | ) |
Loss on extinguishment of convertible debt | |
| (1,250 | ) | |
| — | |
Loss on issuance of warrants | |
| (3,867 | ) | |
| — | |
Other expense | |
| (50 | ) | |
| — | |
Change in fair value of warrants and derivative liabilities | |
| 317 | | |
| 271 | |
Total other expense | |
| (5,923 | ) | |
| (9,421 | ) |
Net loss | |
$ | (27,277 | ) | |
$ | (15,132 | ) |
Preferred stock dividend | |
| 875 | | |
| 38 | |
Net loss attributable to common stockholders | |
$ | (28,152 | ) | |
$ | (15,170 | ) |
Basic and diluted net loss per common share | |
$ | (0.04 | ) | |
$ | (0.03 | ) |
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | |
| 788,933,978 | | |
| 450,931,510 | |
About Amarantus BioScience Holdings,
Inc.
Amarantus BioScience Holdings (AMBS) is
a biotechnology company developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases in the areas of neurology, psychiatry, ophthalmology
and regenerative medicine. AMBS’ Therapeutics division has development rights to Eltoprazine, a Phase 2b ready small molecule
indicated for Parkinson's disease Levodopa-induced dyskinesia, adult ADHD and Alzheimer’s Aggression, and owns the intellectual
property rights to a therapeutic protein known as mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor ("MANF") and is
developing MANF-based products as treatments for brain and ophthalmic disorders.. AMBS’ Diagnostics division owns the rights
to MSPrecise®, a proprietary next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) assay for the identification of patients with
relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at first clinical presentation, has an exclusive worldwide license to the Lymphocyte
Proliferation test, (LymPro Test®), which was developed by Prof. Thomas Arendt, Ph.D., from the University of Leipzig,
for Alzheimer's disease and owns intellectual property for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (NuroPro). AMBS alsoowns the discovery
of neurotrophic factors (PhenoGuard™) that led to MANF’s discovery.
In November 2014, AMBS entered into an
exclusive option agreement that now runs through August 2015 with Lonza Walkersville, Inc., a subsidiary of Lonza Group Ltd., to
acquire Cutanogen Corporation, a subsidiary of Lonza Walkersville, to develop Engineered Skin Substitute, an autologous skin replacement
product for the treatment of Stage 3 and Stage 4 intractable severe burns. In January 2015, AMBS executed a one-year exclusive
option agreement with Georgetown University to enter into a license for the patent rights related to certain blood based biomarkers
for memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease jointly owned by Georgetown University and University of Rochester.
For further information please visit www.Amarantus.com,
or connect with the Company on Facebook, LinkedIn,
Twitter and Google+.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements, other than purely historical
information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results,
and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally
are identified by the words "believes," "project," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates,"
"intends," "strategy," "plan," "may," "will," "would," "will be,"
"will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently
uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis include,
but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest rates,
competition, and generally accepted accounting principles. These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in evaluating
forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.
Investor and Media Contact:
Jenene Thomas
Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Advisor
T: (US) 908.938.1475
E: jenene@jenenethomascommunications.com
Source: Amarantus Bioscience Holdings,
Inc.
###
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