IOVA Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc

NOTE 1. GENERAL ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and other solid cancers. ACT utilizes T-cells harvested from a patient to treat cancer in that patient. TIL, a kind of anti-tumor T-cells that are naturally present in a patient’s tumors, are collected from individual patient tumor samples. The TIL are then activated and expanded ex vivo and then infused back into the patient to fight their tumor cells.

Basis of Presentation of Unaudited Condensed Financial Information

The unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Regulation S-K. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. However, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations. Results shown for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be obtained for a full fiscal year. The balance sheet information as of December 31, 2015 was derived from the audited financial statements included in the Company's financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 11, 2016. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with that report.

Liquidity

We are currently engaged in the development of therapeutics to fight cancer, we do not have any commercial products and have not yet generated any revenues from our biopharmaceutical business. We currently do not anticipate that we will generate any revenues during 2016 from the sale or licensing of any products. As shown in the accompanying condensed financial statements, we have incurred a net loss of $18.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and used $8.3 million of cash in our operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2016. As of June 30, 2016, we had $191.6 million of cash, money market funds, and short-term investments on hand, stockholders’ equity of $188.9 million and had working capital of $187.7 million.

During 2016, we expect to further ramp up our clinical operations and research activities, which will increase the amount of cash we will use. Specifically, our budget for 2016 includes increased spending on clinical trials, research and development activities, higher payroll expenses as we increase our professional and scientific staff, as well as anticipated ongoing payments under our Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Based on the funds we had available on June 30, 2016, we believe that we have sufficient capital to fund our anticipated operating expenses for at least 12 months from the date of filing this quarterly report.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES

Short-term Investments

The Company’s short-term investments represent available for sale securities and are recorded at fair value and unrealized gains and losses are recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The estimated fair value of the available for sale securities is determined based on quoted market prices or rates for similar instruments. In addition, the cost of debt securities in this category is adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount to maturity. The Company evaluates securities with unrealized losses to determine whether such losses, if any, are other than temporary.

Loss per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Shares of restricted stock are included in the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding from the time they vest. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if all dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Shares of restricted stock are included in the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding from the date they are granted until which time they vest, unless they are antidilutive. For the six month ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, the calculations of basic and diluted loss per share are the same because inclusion of potential dilutive securities in the computation would have an anti-dilutive effect due to the net losses.

At June 30, 2016 and 2015, the dilutive impact of outstanding stock options for 4,270,989 and 2,238,877 shares, respectively; outstanding warrants for 6,953,716 and 11,427,764 shares, respectively; and preferred stock that can convert into 847,000 and 2,847,000 shares of our common stock, respectively, have been excluded because their impact on the loss per share is anti-dilutive.

Fair Value Measurements

Under FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged or a liability transferred in a transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or parameters are not available, valuation models are applied.

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in our financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets at the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

The fair valued assets we hold that are generally included under this Level 1 are money market securities where fair value is based on publicly quoted prices.

Level 2—Are inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the reporting date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life.

The fair valued assets we hold that are generally assessed under Level 2 are corporate bonds and commercial paper. We utilize third party pricing services in developing fair value measurements where fair value is based on valuation methodologies such as models using observable market inputs, including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, bids, offers and other reference data. We use quotes from external pricing service providers and other on-line quotation systems to verify the fair value of investments provided by our third party pricing service providers. We review independent auditor’s reports from our third party pricing service providers particularly regarding the controls over pricing and valuation of financial instruments and ensure that our internal controls address certain control deficiencies, if any, and complementary user entity controls are in place.

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 and which reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the reporting date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

We do not have fair valued assets classified under Level 3.

The Company believes the carrying amount of its financial instruments (consisting of cash and cash equivalents, money market fund and accounts payable and accrued expenses) approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of such instruments.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include valuation of available-for-sale investments, accounting for potential liabilities, the valuation allowance associated with the Company’s deferred tax assets, and the assumptions made in valuing stock instruments issued for services.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company periodically grants stock options and warrants to employees and non-employees in non-capital raising transactions as compensation for services rendered. The Company accounts for stock option grants to employees based on the authoritative guidance provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Board where the value of the award is measured on the date of grant and recognized over the vesting period. The Company accounts for stock option grants to non-employees in accordance with the authoritative guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board where the value of the stock compensation is determined based upon the measurement date at either a) the date at which a performance commitment is reached, or b) at the date at which the necessary performance to earn the equity instruments is complete. Non-employee stock-based compensation charges generally are amortized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis. In certain circumstances where there are no future performance requirements by the non-employee, option grants are immediately vested and the total stock-based compensation charge is recorded in the period of the measurement date.

The fair value of the Company's common stock option grants is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which uses certain assumptions related to risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, expected life of the common stock options, and future dividends. Compensation expense is recorded based upon the value derived from the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and based on actual experience. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model could materially affect compensation expense recorded in future periods.

The Company issues restricted shares of its common stock for share-based compensation programs. The Company measures the compensation cost with respect to restricted shares to employees based upon the estimated fair value of the equity instruments at the date of the grant, and is recognized as expense over the period which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award.

Total stock-based compensation expense related to all of our stock-based awards was as follows (in thousands):

Concentrations

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash.

The Company maintains cash balances at one bank. At times, the amount on deposit exceeds the federally insured limits. Management believes that the financial institution that holds the Company’s cash is financially sound and, accordingly, minimal credit risk exists. As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company’s cash balances were in excess of insured limits maintained at the bank.

Preferred Stock

The Company applies the accounting standards for distinguishing liabilities from equity when determining the classification and measurement of its preferred stock. Preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable preferred shares (including preferred shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, preferred shares are classified as stockholders’ equity.

Convertible Instruments

The Company applies the accounting standards for derivatives and hedging and for distinguishing liabilities from equity when accounting for hybrid contracts that feature conversion options. The accounting standards require companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free standing derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria includes circumstances in which (i) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (ii) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (iii) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument. The derivative is subsequently marked to market at each reporting date based on current fair value, with the changes in fair value reported in results of operations.

Conversion options that contain variable settlement features such as provisions to adjust the conversion price upon subsequent issuances of equity or equity linked securities at exercise prices more favorable than that featured in the hybrid contract generally result in their bifurcation from the host instrument.

The Company also records, when necessary, deemed dividends for the intrinsic value of the conversion options embedded in preferred stock based upon the difference between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the preferred stock.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net loss.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The new guidance will impact the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. All equity investments in unconsolidated entities (other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting) will generally be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through earnings. There will no longer be an available-for-sale classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values in which changes in fair value are currently reported in other comprehensive income. In addition, the FASB clarified the need for a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities. In general, the new guidance will require modified retrospective application to all outstanding instruments, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to opening retained earnings. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted commencing January 1, 2017. We are currently evaluating the expected impact that the standard could have on our financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to record a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. ASU 2016-02 is effective for all interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Securities and Exchange Commission did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company's present or future consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates events that have occurred after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. Based upon the evaluation, the Company did not identify any recognized or non-recognized subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed financial statements.

Money market funds and short-term investments include the following securities with gross unrealized gains and losses (in thousands):

As of June 30, 2016, the contractual maturities of our money market funds and short-term investments were (in thousands):

At June 30, 2016, the Company’s short-term investments were invested in short-term fixed income debt securities and notes of domestic and foreign high credit issuers and in money market funds.  The Company’s investment policy limits investments to certain types of instruments such as certificates of deposit, money market instruments, obligations issued by the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies as well as corporate debt securities, and places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and issuer.  At June 30, 2016, the Company’s short-term investments totaled $70.6 million, of which 53% were invested in notes of five companies, 80% were invested in notes of other domestic issuers, and 20% were invested in notes of foreign issuers.  The average maturity of these notes was 114 days. At June 30, 2016 the Company’s money-market funds totaled approximately $19.7 million and were invested in a single, no-load money market fund.

NOTE 4. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Series B Preferred Stock

In June 2016, the Company created a new class of Preferred Stock designated as Series B Preferred Stock. The rights of the Series B Preferred are set forth in the Certificate of Designation of Preferences and Rights of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Certificate of Designation”). A total of 11,500,000 shares of Series B Preferred are authorized for issuance under the Certificate of Designation. The shares of Series B Preferred have a stated value of $4.75 per share and, if stockholder approval of the conversion feature is obtained, will be convertible into shares of common stock at an initial conversion price of $4.75 per share.

Holders of the Series B Preferred are entitled to dividends on an as-if-converted basis in the same form as any dividends actually paid on shares of our Series A Preferred or other securities. So long as any Series B Preferred remains outstanding, the Company may not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any material amount of our Series A Preferred or other securities.

Private Placement

On June 2, 2016, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with various institutional and individual accredited investors to raise gross proceeds of $100 million in a private placement (the “Private Placement”). On June 7, 2016, the Company completed the Private Placement. In the Private Placement, the Company issued (i) 9,684,000 shares of its common stock and (ii) 11,368,633 shares of its new Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred”). The shares of common stock and Series B Preferred were sold for $4.75 per share. The shares of Series B Preferred are not currently convertible into common stock and, except as required by law, are non-voting. On July 7, 2016 the Company filed a proxy statement with the SEC with respect to a stockholders meeting to be held on August 16, 2016 at which the stockholders will be asked to vote on a proposal to permit the Series B Preferred to become convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock and to permit the issuance of shares of common stock upon such conversion. If the requisite stockholder approval is obtained, the Series B Preferred will be convertible into shares of common stock at an initial conversion price of $4.75 per share. The Company will account for the conversion feature associated with the Series B Preferred Stock if and when stockholder approval is received and the conversion feature is no longer contingent.

The Company received net proceeds of approximately $95.7 million from the Private Placement, after paying placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses.

On June 2, 2016, in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the investors pursuant to which the Company agreed to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, within 30 days of the closing of the private placement under the Purchase Agreement, a registration statement covering the resale by the investors of the shares of common stock purchased by them. The Company also agreed in the Registration Rights Agreement to file with the SEC within 30 days of any stockholders meeting approving the conversion feature of the Series B Preferred Stock, a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of their shares of Series B Preferred Stock by the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock. The Company also agreed to use its best efforts to have the respective registration statements declared effective as soon as practicable upon filing, but in any event within 90 days after filing. The Registration Rights Agreement provides, among other things, that in the event (i) the Company does not file either registration statement within the prescribed time period, (ii) the SEC does not declare effective either registration statement within the prescribed time period or (iii) either registration statement ceases to be effective under certain circumstances, the Company will pay to the holders on the occurrence of each such event and for each 30-day period thereafter until the applicable event is cured, an amount in cash equal to 1% of the aggregate amount invested (or outstanding, as specified in greater detail in the Registration Rights Agreement) by the holders under the Purchase Agreement for each 30-day period (prorated for any period of less than 30 days) during which such registration statement was not effective. The Company filed the registration statement under Form S-1 on July 1, 2016 to fulfill certain of its contractual obligations to the investors in the Private Placement under a registration rights agreement it entered into pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.

Common stock with vesting terms

During 2016, certain employees authorized the Company to cancel 98,381 vested shares to satisfy withholding requirements related to such vesting. The cancellation is recorded as a reduction to shares outstanding.  Additionally, shares of restricted stock granted below are subject to forfeiture to the Company or other restrictions that will lapse in accordance with a vesting schedule determined by our Board.

The following table summarizes restricted common stock activity:

Restricted Stock Units

On June 1, 2016, we entered into a restricted stock unit agreement with the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer pursuant to which we granted her 550,000 non-transferrable restricted stock units at fair market value of $5.87 per share as an inducement of employment pursuant to the exception to The NASDAQ Global Market rules that generally require stockholder approval of equity incentive plans.  The 550,000 restricted stock units will vest in installments as follows: (i) 137,500 restricted stock units will vest upon the first anniversary of the effective date of her employment agreement; (ii) 275,000 restricted stock units will vest upon the satisfaction of certain clinical trial milestones; and (iii) 137,500 restricted stock units will vest in equal monthly installments over the 36-month period following the first anniversary of the effective date of her employment, provided that Dr. Fardis has been continuously employed with the Company as of such vesting dates.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company granted options to purchase 2,264,983 shares of common stock to employees of the Company. The stock options generally vest between one and three years. The fair value of these options was determined to be $12.7 million using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions: (i) volatility rate of 199%, (ii) discount rate of 1.37%, (iii) zero expected dividend yield, and (iv) expected life of 6 years.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded compensation costs of $6.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, and for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded compensation costs of $4.5 million and $1.3 million, relating to the vesting of stock options. As of June 30, 2016, the aggregate value of unvested options was $13.7 million, which will continue to be amortized as compensation cost as the options vest over terms ranging from nine months to three years, as applicable.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company received $0.6 million in cash from the exercise of 248,500 warrants for the purchase of an equal number of shares of its common stock.

NOTE 6. LICENSE AND COMMITMENTS

National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement

Effective August 5, 2011, the Company signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Under the terms of the five-year cooperative research and development agreement, the Company will work with Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., chief of NCI’s Surgery Branch, to develop adoptive cell immunotherapies that are designed to destroy metastatic melanoma cells using a patient’s tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.

On January 22, 2015, the Company executed an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the CRADA to include four new indications. As amended, in addition to metastatic melanoma, the CRADA now also includes the development of TIL therapy for the treatment of patients with bladder, lung, triple-negative breast, and HPV-associated cancers. Under the Amendment, the NCI also has agreed to provide the Company with samples of all tumors covered by the Amendment for performing studies related to improving TIL selection and/or TIL scale-out production and process development. The CRADA expired on August 5, 2016 and the NCI and the Company are finalizing the terms of an amendment to extend the term of the CRADA for another five year period .

Development and Manufacture TIL

Effective October 5, 2011, the Company entered into a Patent License Agreement with the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Public Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services (“NIH”), which License Agreement was subsequently amended on February 9, 2015 and October 2, 2015. Pursuant to the License Agreement as amended, NIH granted to the Company an exclusive worldwide right and license to develop and manufacture certain proprietary autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocyte adoptive cell therapy products for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The License Agreement requires the Company to pay royalties based on a percentage of net sales (which percentage is in the mid-single digits and subject to certain annual minimum royalty payments), a percentage of revenues from sublicensing arrangements, and lump sum benchmark royalty payments on the achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones for each of the various indications and other direct costs incurred by NIH pursuant to the agreement.

Exclusive Patent License Agreement

On February 10, 2015, the Company entered into an exclusive Patent License Agreement with the NIH under which the Company received an exclusive, world-wide license to the NIH’s rights in and to two patent-pending technologies related to methods for improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for adoptive cell therapy. The licensed technologies relate to the more potent and efficient production of TIL from melanoma tumors by selecting for T-cell populations that express various inhibitory receptors. Unless terminated sooner, the license shall remain in effect until the last licensed patent right expires.

In consideration for the exclusive rights granted under the exclusive Patent License Agreement, the Company agreed to pay the NIH a non-refundable upfront licensing fee which was recognized as research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company also agreed to pay customary royalties based on a percentage of net sales (which percentage is in the mid-single digits), a percentage of revenues from sublicensing arrangements, and lump sum benchmark payments upon the successful completion of the Company’s first Phase 2 clinical study, the successful completion of the Company’s first Phase 3 clinical study, the receipt of the first FDA approval or foreign equivalent for a licensed product or process resulting from the licensed technologies, the first commercial sale of a licensed product or process in the United States, and the first commercial sale of a licensed product or process in any foreign country. The Company will also be responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, filing, maintenance and prosecution of the patent applications and patents covered by the License.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

Research Collaboration Agreement

In September, 2014, the Company entered into a research collaboration agreement with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. to jointly engage in transitional research and development of adoptive tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy with improved anti-tumor properties and process.

Exclusive License Agreement

The Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement (the “Moffitt License Agreement”), effective as of June 28, 2014, with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”) under which the Company received an exclusive, world-wide license to Moffitt’s rights in and to two patent-pending technologies related to methods for improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for adoptive cell therapy. Unless earlier terminated, the term of the license extends until the earlier of the expiration of the last patent related to the licensed technology or 20 years after the effective date of the license agreement.

Pursuant to the Moffitt License Agreement, the Company paid an upfront licensing fee which was recognized as research and development expense during 2014. A patent issuance fee will also be payable under the Moffitt License Agreement, upon the issuance of the first U.S. patent covering the subject technology. In addition, the Company agreed to pay milestone license fees upon completion of specified milestones, customary royalties based on a specified percentage of net sales (which percentage is in the low single digits) and sublicensing payments, as applicable, and annual minimum royalties beginning with the first sale of products based on the licensed technologies, which minimum royalties will be credited against the percentage royalty payments otherwise payable in that year. The Company will also be responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, filing, maintenance and prosecution of the patent applications and patents covered by the Moffitt License Agreement related to the treatment of any cancers in the United States, Europe and Japan and in other countries selected that the Company and Moffitt agreed to.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $0.9 million and $1.4 million respectively, of expenses related to its license agreements. The amounts were recorded as part of research and development expenses in the statements of operations. Additionally, during the six months ended June 30, 2016, there were no net sales subject to certain annual minimum royalty payments or sales that would require us to pay a percentage of revenues from sublicensing arrangements. In addition, there were no benchmarks or milestones achieved that would require payment under the lump sum benchmark royalty payments on the achievement of certain clinical regulatory milestones for each of the various indications.

Aggregate guaranteed commitments for the remainder of 2016, under all of the Company’s license and research agreements, are approximately $1.7 million.

Lease Obligations

In December 2014, the Company commenced a five-year non-cancellable operating lease with the University of South Florida Research Foundation for an approximately 5,200 square foot facility located in Tampa, Florida. The facility is part of the University of South Florida research park and is used as the Company’s research and development facilities. The monthly base rent for this facility during the first year of the lease was $10,443 and will increase by 3% annually. The Company has the option to extend the lease term of this facility for an additional five-year period on the same terms and conditions, except that the base rent for the renewal term will be increased in accordance with the applicable consumer price index.

On August 4, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to lease 8,733 square feet in San Carlos, California. The term of the lease is 54 months subsequent to the commencement date, and total expected rental payments under the lease are expected to be $2.1 million.

The minimum lease payments are as follows (in thousands):

NOTE 7. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

SEC Settlement. As previously disclosed, on April 23, 2014 the Company received a subpoena from the SEC that stated that the staff of the SEC was conducting an investigation then designated as In the Matter of Galena Biopharma, Inc. File No. HO 12346 (now known as In the Matter of Certain Stock Promotions) and that the subpoena was issued to the Company as part of the foregoing investigation. The SEC’s subpoena and accompanying letter did not indicate whether the Company was, or was not, under investigation. The Company produced documents in response to the subpoena and have since fully cooperated with the SEC’s investigation.

The Company has recently been informed by the Staff of the SEC that the SEC’s investigation, in part, involves the conduct of The Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, Manish Singh, during the period between September 2013 and April 2014. As the Company understands, as it pertains to the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, the investigation has focused on the failure by authors of certain articles about the Company to disclose that they were compensated by one of our former investor relations firms. The Company understands that it is the position of the SEC Staff that the conduct of the former Chief Executive Officer with respect to these articles may be imputed to the Company.

In order to resolve this matter, the Company has agreed with the Staff of the SEC to a proposed settlement framework under which it would consent to the entry of an order requiring that it cease and desist from any future violations of certain provisions of the federal securities laws, without admitting or denying any allegations, and agree to a financial penalty. The Company is currently discussing with the Staff of the SEC the amount of the financial penalty that it would pay as part of this settlement. The Company does not anticipate that the amount of this penalty will have a material impact on its cash position. The proposed settlement is contingent upon reaching agreement with the Staff of the SEC on a complete set of settlement terms and approval by the Commissioners of the SEC, neither of which can be assured.

Solomon Capital, LLC. On April 8, 2016, a lawsuit titled Solomon Capital, LLC, Solomon Capital 401(K) Trust, Solomon Sharbat and Shelhav Raff against Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. was filed by Solomon Capital, LLC, Solomon Capital 401(k) Trust, Solomon Sharbat and Shelhav Raff against the Company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York County of New York (index no. 651881/2016). The plaintiffs allege that, between June and November 2012 they provided to the Company $52,850 and that they advanced and paid on our behalf an additional $170,000. The complaint further alleges that the Company agreed to (i) provide them with promissory notes totaling $222,850, plus interest, (ii) issue a total of 111,425 shares to the plaintiffs (before the 1-for-100 reverse split of our common stock effected in September 2013), and (iii) allow the plaintiffs to convert the foregoing funds into our securities in the next transaction. The plaintiffs allege that they should have been able to convert their advances and payments into shares of the Company’s common stock in the Restructuring that it effected in May 2013. Based on the foregoing, the plaintiffs allege causes for breach of contract and unjust enrichment and demand judgment against the Company in an unspecified amount exceeding $1,500,000, plus interest and attorneys’ fees.

On June 3, 2016, the Company filed an answer and counterclaims in the lawsuit.  In its counterclaims, the Company alleges that the plaintiffs misrepresented their qualifications to assist it in fundraising and that they failed to disclose that they were under investigation for securities laws violations.  The Company is seeking damages in an amount exceeding $500,000 and an order rescinding any and all agreements that the plaintiffs contend entitled them to obtain stock in the Company.  The Company’s investigation of the allegations made by the plaintiffs is ongoing and it intends to vigorously defend the complaint and pursue its counterclaims.

NOTE 8. CONTINENGIES

During the second quarter of 2016, 128,500 warrants were exercised into shares of common stock that were previously sold under an ineffective Form S-3. The Company believes that any claims brought against it would not result in a material impact to the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company has not accrued a loss for a potential claim associated with this matter as it is unable to estimate any at this time. In January 2014, the SEC declared effective a registration statement that we filed to cover the resale of shares issued and sold (or to be issued and sold) by certain selling stockholders. On March 11, 2016, that registration statement (and the prospectus contained therein) became ineligible for future use, and selling stockholders could no longer sell any shares of our common stock in open market transactions by means of that prospectus. We believe that certain stockholders did sell up to 128,500 shares of our common stock in open market transactions in May 2016 by means of the ineffective registration statement/prospectus. Accordingly, those sales were not made in accordance with Sections 5 and 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, and the purchasers of those shares may have rescission rights (if they still own the shares) or claims for damages (if they no longer own the shares). The amount of any such liability is uncertain and as such, an accrual for any potential loss has not been made.