UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
|
x |
Quarterly report pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020
|
¨ |
Transition report pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission
file number 001-35853
BIOSTAGE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware |
|
45-5210462 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
|
|
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
|
84 October Hill Road, Suite 11, Holliston, MA |
|
01746 |
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) |
|
(Zip
Code) |
(774) 233-7300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Title
of each class |
Trading
Symbol(s) |
Name
of each exchange on which registered |
|
|
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90
days.
x
YES
¨ NO
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted
pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit such files).
x
YES
¨ NO
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller
reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the
definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”
“smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ¨ |
Accelerated
filer ¨ |
|
|
Non-accelerated
filer x |
Smaller
reporting company x |
|
|
|
Emerging
growth company x |
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the
registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period
for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). ¨
YES x NO
As
of August 7, 2020, there were 8,747,055 shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.
Biostage Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2020
INDEX
PART I. FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. |
Consolidated
Financial Statements. |
BIOSTAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value and share data)
|
|
June 30,
2020 |
|
|
December 31,
2019 |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
$ |
618 |
|
|
$ |
913 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
273 |
|
|
|
444 |
|
Total
current assets |
|
|
941 |
|
|
|
1,407 |
|
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
394 |
|
Right-of-use assets |
|
|
141 |
|
|
|
191 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
|
441 |
|
|
|
585 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
1,382 |
|
|
$ |
1,992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
141 |
|
|
$ |
241 |
|
Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
|
411 |
|
|
|
438 |
|
Current portion of notes payable |
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Warrant liability |
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
33 |
|
Current portion of operating lease liability |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
Total
current liabilities |
|
|
864 |
|
|
|
814 |
|
Notes payable, net of current portion |
|
|
247 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Operating lease liability, net of current portion |
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
89 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
1,152 |
|
|
$ |
903 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Undesignated preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 984,000 shares
authorized and
none issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31,
2019 |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 60,000,000 shares
authorized at
June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 8,688,083 and 8,155,555 issued
and outstanding at
June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively |
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
82 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
67,419 |
|
|
|
65,102 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(67,276 |
) |
|
|
(64,095 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
230 |
|
|
|
1,089 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
1,382 |
|
|
$ |
1,992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
BIOSTAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
536 |
|
|
|
1,376 |
|
|
|
1,179 |
|
|
|
2,410 |
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
725 |
|
|
|
1,292 |
|
|
|
1,978 |
|
|
|
2,292 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
1,261 |
|
|
|
2,668 |
|
|
|
3,157 |
|
|
|
4,702 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss |
|
|
(1,261 |
) |
|
|
(2,668 |
) |
|
|
(3,157 |
) |
|
|
(4,702 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant income |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
337 |
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
(22 |
) |
|
|
9 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
346 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(1,185 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,429 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,181 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,356 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
|
$ |
(0.14 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.37 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.38) |
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
Weighted-average common shares, basic and diluted |
|
|
8,636 |
|
|
|
6,592 |
|
|
|
8,462 |
|
|
|
6,299 |
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial
statements.
BIOSTAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 |
|
|
|
Number of Common
Shares
Outstanding
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2020 |
|
|
8,533 |
|
|
$ |
85 |
|
|
$ |
66,650 |
|
|
$ |
(66,091 |
) |
|
$ |
644 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,185 |
) |
|
|
(1,185 |
) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
265 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
265 |
|
Issuance of fully vested common shares |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(18 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(18) |
|
Issuance of common stock from exercise of warrants |
|
|
141 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
522 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
524 |
|
Balance at June 30, 2020 |
|
|
8,688 |
|
|
$ |
87 |
|
|
$ |
67,419 |
|
|
$ |
(67,276 |
) |
|
$ |
230 |
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 |
|
|
Number of Common
Shares
Outstanding
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2019 |
|
|
6,170 |
|
|
$ |
62 |
|
|
$ |
58,965 |
|
|
$ |
(57,690 |
) |
|
$ |
1,337 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2,429 |
) |
|
|
(2,429 |
) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
531 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
531 |
|
Issuance of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock |
|
|
348 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
1,274 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,277 |
|
Issuance of common stock from exercise of warrants |
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
995 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
Balance at June 30, 2019 |
|
|
7,018 |
|
|
$ |
70 |
|
|
$ |
61,765 |
|
|
$ |
(60,119 |
) |
|
$ |
1,716 |
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial
statements.
BIOSTAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 |
|
|
|
Number of Common
Shares
Outstanding
|
|
|
Common
Stock |
|
|
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
|
8,156 |
|
|
$ |
82 |
|
|
$ |
65,102 |
|
|
$ |
(64,095 |
) |
|
$ |
1,089 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(3,181 |
) |
|
|
(3,181 |
) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
853 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
853 |
|
Issuance of fully vested common shares |
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(42 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(42 |
) |
Issuance of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock |
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
558 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
559 |
|
Issuance of common stock from exercise of warrants |
|
|
355 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
948 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
952 |
|
Balance at June 30, 2020 |
|
|
8,688 |
|
|
$ |
87 |
|
|
$ |
67,419 |
|
|
$ |
(67,276 |
) |
|
$ |
230 |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 |
|
|
|
Number of Common
Shares
Outstanding
|
|
|
Common
Stock |
|
|
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
|
|
5,670 |
|
|
$ |
57 |
|
|
$ |
57,677 |
|
|
$ |
(55,763 |
) |
|
$ |
1,971 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4,356 |
) |
|
|
(4,356 |
) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
824 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
824 |
|
Issuance of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock |
|
|
348 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
1,274 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,277 |
|
Issuance of common stock from exercise of warrants |
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
1,990 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
Balance at June 30, 2019 |
|
|
7,018 |
|
|
$ |
70 |
|
|
$ |
61,765 |
|
|
$ |
(60,119 |
) |
|
$ |
1,716 |
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial
statements.
BIOSTAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(3,181 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,356 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
853 |
|
|
|
824 |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
94 |
|
|
|
115 |
|
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant receivable |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(47 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
171 |
|
|
|
107 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
56 |
|
Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
57 |
|
Lease liabilities |
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
|
(46 |
) |
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
(2,164 |
) |
|
|
(3,253 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(78 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(78 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants |
|
|
559 |
|
|
|
1,277 |
|
Proceeds from
exercise of warrants |
|
|
952 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
Proceeds from notes payable |
|
|
404 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Acquisition of common stock for tax withholding obligations |
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
1,869 |
|
|
|
3,277 |
|
Net
decrease in cash and restricted cash |
|
|
(295 |
) |
|
|
(54 |
) |
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period |
|
|
963 |
|
|
|
1,355 |
|
Cash and restricted cash at end of period |
|
$ |
668 |
|
|
$ |
1,301 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment purchases included in accounts payable |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
35 |
|
Issuance of vested stock |
|
$ |
42 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
BIOSTAGE, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
Overview
and Basis of Presentation
Overview
Biostage,
Inc. (Biostage or the Company) is a clinical-stage
biotechnology company developing bioengineered organ implants based
on the Company’s novel CellspanTM technology. The
Company’s Cellspan technology is comprised of a biocompatible
scaffold that is seeded with the recipient’s own stem cells. The
Company believes that this technology may prove to be effective for
treating patients across a number of life-threatening medical
indications who currently have unmet medical needs. The Company is
currently developing its Cellspan technology to treat
life-threatening conditions of the esophagus, bronchus and trachea
with the objective of dramatically improving the treatment paradigm
for those patients. Since inception, the Company has devoted
substantially all of its efforts to business planning, research and
development, recruiting management and technical staff, and
acquiring operating assets. The Company has one business segment
and does not have significant costs or assets outside the United
States.
On
October 31, 2013, Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (Harvard Bioscience)
contributed its regenerative medicine business assets, plus $15
million of cash, into Biostage (formerly “Harvard Apparatus
Regenerative Technologies”) in a spin-off transaction. On November
1, 2013, the spin-off of the Company from Harvard Bioscience was
completed. On that date, the Company became an independent company
that operates the regenerative medicine business previously owned
by Harvard Bioscience. The spin-off was completed through the
distribution of all the shares of common stock of Biostage to
stockholders of Harvard Bioscience (the “HBIO Distribution”).
The
Company’s common stock is currently traded on the OTCQB Venture
Market under the symbol “BSTG”.
Basis of Presentation
The
consolidated financial statements reflect the Company’s
financial position, results of operations and cash flows in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (GAAP).
Use of Estimates
The
preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements
requires the Company to make estimates, judgments and assumptions
that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
equity, expenses and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis the
Company evaluates its estimates, judgments and methodologies. The
Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various
other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, the
results of which form the basis for making judgments about the
carrying values of assets, liabilities and equity and the amount of
expenses. Actual results may differ from these
estimates.
Going Concern
The
Company has incurred substantial operating losses since its
inception, and future losses are anticipated. As of June 30, 2020,
the Company has an accumulated deficit of approximately $67.3
million and will require additional financing to fund future
operations. The Company expects that its operating cash on-hand at
June 30, 2020 of $0.6 million, along with net proceeds received
subsequent to the end of the quarter of approximately $0.2 million
from the issuance of 58,932 shares of its common stock from the
exercise of 58,932 previously issued warrants at $3.70 per share
will enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital
expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2020. In
addition, on January 30, 2020 the World Health Organization
declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of
International Concern” and on March 11, 2020, declared it a
pandemic. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may
directly or indirectly impact our business, results of operations
and financial condition, expenses, clinical trial, research and
development costs and employee-related amounts, will depend on
future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a
result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and
the actions taken to contain it or treat COVID-19, as well as the
economic impact that may impact the Company. Therefore, these
conditions have caused management to determine there is substantial
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
The
Company will need to raise additional funds to fund its operations.
In the event the Company does not raise additional capital from
outside sources before the fourth quarter of 2020, it may be forced
to curtail or cease its operations. Cash requirements and cash
resource needs will vary significantly depending upon the timing of
the financial and other resource needs that will be required to
complete ongoing pre-clinical and clinical testing of products,
research and development, and regulatory efforts and collaborative
arrangements necessary for the Company’s products that are
currently under development. In addition, the Company received
$404,221 of loan proceeds in May 2020 as part of the Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP), established as part of the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Based on the
current loan terms, payments begin in November 2020 subject to the
Company meeting the partial or full loan forgiveness requirements.
See Note 4. The Company is currently seeking and will continue to
seek financings from other existing and/or new investors to raise
necessary funds through a combination of public or private equity
offerings. The Company may also pursue debt financings, other
financing mechanisms, research grants, or strategic collaborations
and licensing arrangements. The Company may not be able to obtain
additional financing on favorable terms, if at all.
The
Company’s operations will be adversely affected if it is unable to
raise or obtain needed funding and such circumstance may materially
affect the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and
therefore, the consolidated financial statements do not include any
adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the
recoverability and classification of assets or the amount and
classifications of liabilities that may result from the outcome of
this uncertainty.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net
loss per share is computed using the sum of the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period and, if
dilutive, the weighted average number of potential shares of common
stock, including the assumed exercise of stock options, warrants,
and the impact of unvested restricted stock.
The
Company applies the two-class method to calculate basic and diluted
net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as its
warrants to purchase common stock are participating securities.
The
two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats a
participating security as having rights to earnings that otherwise
would have been available to common stockholders. However, the
two-class method does not impact the net loss per share of common
stock as the Company has been in a net loss position and the
warrant holders do not participate in losses.
Basic and diluted shares outstanding are the same for each period
presented as all common stock equivalents would be antidilutive due
to the net losses incurred.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The
accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of June
30, 2020, consolidated interim statements of operations and
stockholders’ equity for the three and six months ended June 30,
2020 and 2019, and consolidated statements of cash flows for the
six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 are unaudited. The interim
unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP on the same basis as the annual audited
consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of
management, reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement
of the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2020, its
consolidated results of operations and consolidated stockholders’
equity for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 and
2019 and consolidated statements of cash flows for the six month
periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. The financial data and other
information disclosed in these notes related to the three and
six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 are unaudited. The
results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 are not
necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year
ending December 31, 2020, any other interim periods or any future
year or period.
2.
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies and Recently Issued Accounting
Pronouncements
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The
accounting policies underlying the accompanying unaudited
consolidated financial statements are those set forth in Note 2 to
the consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2019 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K.
SBIR
Award
On
March 28, 2018, the Company was awarded a Fast-Track Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the Eunice Kennedy National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the
National Institutes of Health to support testing of pediatric
Cellspan Esophageal Implants. The award for Phase I, which was
earned over the nine months ended September 30, 2018, provided for
the reimbursement for up to approximately $0.2 million of qualified
research and development costs.
On
October 26, 2018, the Company was awarded Phase II of the SBIR
grant totaling $1.1 million to support expenses for development,
testing, and translation to the clinic through September 2019. As
of September 30, 2019, the Company had expended $0.6 million of the
$1.1 million awarded, and in December 2019 submitted a modified
Phase II grant development plan totaling $1.0 million, including
$0.5 million unspent from the Phase 2 grant awarded and an
additional $0.5 million for the next year of the project, subject
to the NICHD approval. This modified development plan was approved
by the NICHD on August 3, 2020. See Note 11. The SBIR grant has the
potential to provide a total award of approximately $1.8 million,
of which approximately $0.8 million has been recognized to date.
The Company did not recognize grant income from Phase II of the
SBIR grant for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.
Grant
income is recognized when qualified research and development costs
are incurred and recorded in other income (expense), net in the
consolidated statements of operations. When evaluating grant
revenue from the SBIR grant, the Company considered
accounting requirements under the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC)
606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers. The Company
concluded that ASC 606 did not apply as there is no exchange of
goods or services or an exchange of intellectual property between
the parties; therefore, the Company presents grant income in other
income.
Restricted Cash
Restricted
cash consists of $50,000 held as collateral for the
Company’s credit card program as of June 30, 2020 and December 31,
2019. The Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows include
restricted cash with cash when reconciling the beginning-of-period
and end-of-period total amounts shown on such statements.
A reconciliation of the cash and restricted cash reported within
the balance sheet that sum to the total of the same amounts shown
in the consolidated statements of cash flows is as follows:
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Cash |
|
$ |
618 |
|
|
$ |
913 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
Total cash and restricted cash as shown in the consolidated
statements of cash flows |
|
$ |
668 |
|
|
$ |
963 |
|
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In
August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement
(Topic 820), Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure
Requirement for Fair Value Measurement. This ASU removes,
modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements of ASC Topic 820.
The Company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2020 as required
and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements for the reporting period.
Other
accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB
or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption
until a future date are not expected to have a material impact
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon
adoption.
3.
Capital Stock
During
the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company issued a
total of 151,027 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of
$3.70 per share and warrants to purchase 151,027 shares of common
stock at an exercise price of $3.70 per share to a group of
investors for aggregate gross and net proceeds of approximately
$0.6 million, of which $0.5 million and $0.1 million was allocated
to the common stock and warrants, respectively. The Company
classified these warrants on its consolidated balance sheets as
equity as the warrants do not have any redemption features nor a
right to put for cash that is outside the control of the Company,
and valued using the Black-Scholes model based on the following
weighted average assumptions:
Risk-free
interest rate |
|
|
0.88 |
% |
Expected
volatility |
|
|
106.7 |
% |
Expected
term |
|
|
2 |
months |
Expected
dividend yield |
|
|
- |
|
Exercise
price |
|
$ |
3.70 |
|
Market
value of common stock |
|
$ |
3.11 |
|
During
the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company issued
141,533 shares of its common stock to a group of investors in
connection with the exercise of 141,533 previously issued warrants
at $3.70 per share for aggregate gross and net proceeds of
approximately $0.5 million.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company issued
214,000 shares of its common stock to a group of investors in
connection with the exercise of 214,000 previously issued warrants
at $2.00 per share for aggregate gross and net proceeds of
approximately $0.4 million.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company issued a
total of 25,948 shares of its common stock to employees due to the
vesting of restricted stock units and issuance of a common stock
award.
Warrant
to purchase common stock activity for the six months ended June 30,
2020 was as follows:
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2019 |
|
|
2,673,051 |
|
|
$ |
5.38 |
|
Issued |
|
|
151,027 |
|
|
|
3.70 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
(355,553 |
) |
|
|
2.68 |
|
Outstanding at June 30, 2020 |
|
|
2,468,525 |
|
|
$ |
5.66 |
|
4.Notes
Payable
On May 4, 2020, the Company obtained a loan (Loan) from the Bank of
America (Lender) in the aggregate amount of $404,221, pursuant to
the PPP, established as part of the CARES Act. The Loan is
evidenced by a promissory note dated May 4, 2020 issued by the
Company and will accrue interest at a fixed interest rate of 1% per
annum from the funding date of May 4, 2020. Payments of
principal and interest are deferred for the first six months
following funding under the original terms of the promissory
note.
Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the Loan may be
forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses as described in
the CARES Act. The terms of the promissory note, including
eligibility and forgiveness, may be subject to additional
requirements adopted by the SBA. Any unforgiven portion of the PPP
loan, including principal and interest, will mature on May 4, 2022
and will be payable monthly commencing on November 4, 2020. The
Note may be prepaid by the Company at any time prior to maturity
with no prepayment penalties.
On June 5, 2020, the PPP Flexibility Act was signed into law,
providing companies with the option to extend the loan forgiveness
period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks after loan origination, a reduction
of the required amount of payroll expenditures from 75% to 60%, and
the removal of payroll tax deferrals upon loan forgiveness. The PPP
Flexibility Act also provides the lender the right to extend the
maturity date of the promissory note from two years to five
years.
The Company has recorded the borrowings under the Loan in the
accompanying balance sheet based on the terms of the Loan, using a
two-year repayment schedule, commencing November 4, 2020. In the
event the Loan is amended to provide for a five year repayment
schedule or certain of the amounts are forgiven, each of which are
at the sole discretion of the Lender, the Company will account for
the change in terms in the period in which the events occur. There
is no assurance that the term of the Loan will be extended or any
portion of the Loan will be forgiven.
The Company has accounted for the loan under FASB ASC 470,
Debt. Repayment amounts due within 1 year have been recorded as
current liabilities, and the remaining amounts due in more than 1
year as long-term liabilities. If the Company is successful in
receiving forgiveness for any portion of the loan used for
qualifying expenses, those amounts will be recorded as a gain upon
extinguishment.
5.Fair
Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received
for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the
principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in
an orderly transaction between market participants on the
measurement date.
The
Company utilizes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs
to the valuations used to measure fair value that prioritizes the
inputs into three broad levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices
(unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities
in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or
liability, either directly or indirectly through market
corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial
instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the
Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at
fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within
the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is
significant to the fair value measurement.
The
Company had no assets or liabilities classified as Level 2 as
of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Company’s restricted
cash that serves as collateral for the Company’s credit card
program is held in a demand money market account and is measured at
fair value based on quoted prices, which are Level 1 inputs. The
Company classifies warrants to purchase common stock that are
accounted for as liabilities as Level 3 liabilities, as
discussed below.
The Company's notes payable carrying value at June 30, 2020
approximates fair value due to the relatively small amount of
principal and the short duration of the note payable. The Company
had no notes payable at December 31, 2019. See Note 4.
The
following fair value hierarchy table presents information
about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at
fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2020:
|
|
Fair Value Measurement as of June
30, 2020 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash |
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrant liability |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
The
following fair value hierarchy table presents information
about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at
fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019:
|
|
Fair Value Measurement as of December
31, 2019 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash |
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrant liability |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
The
following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s
liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using
significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the six months
ended June 30, 2020:
|
|
Warrant Liability |
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands) |
|
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
33 |
|
Change
in fair value upon re-measurement |
|
|
22 |
|
Balance at
June 30, 2020 |
|
$ |
55 |
|
The
Company has re-measured the warrant liability to estimated fair
value at inception, prior to modification and at each reporting
date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the
following weighted average assumptions:
|
|
June 30,
2020
|
|
|
December 31,
2019 |
|
Risk-free interest rate |
|
|
0.16 |
% |
|
|
1.58 |
% |
Expected volatility |
|
|
108.31 |
% |
|
|
90.53 |
% |
Expected term (in years) |
|
|
1.6 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
Expected dividend yield |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercise
price |
|
$ |
8.00 |
|
|
$ |
8.00 |
|
Market value
of common stock |
|
$ |
2.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.01 |
|
Warrants to purchase shares of common stock |
|
|
92,212 |
|
|
|
92,212 |
|
6.
Share-Based
Compensation
Biostage
Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan
The
Company maintains the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan
(the Plan) for the benefit of certain officers, employees,
non-employee directors, and other key persons (including
consultants and advisory board members). All options and awards
granted under the Plan consist of the Company’s shares of common
stock. The Company’s policy is to issue stock available from its
registered but unissued stock pool through its transfer agent to
satisfy stock option exercises and vesting of the restricted stock
units. The vesting period for awards is generally four years and
the contractual life is ten years. Canceled and forfeited options
and awards are available to be reissued under the Plan.
In June 2020, the Company’s shareholders approved the Amended and
Restated Equity Incentive Plan, to among other things, increase of
the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for
issuance pursuant to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan by 3,000,000
shares, which increased the total shares authorized to be issued
under the Plan to 5,098,000. There are 3,329,430 shares available
for issuance as of June 30, 2020.
The
Company has granted options to purchase common stock and restricted
stock units (RSUs) under the Plan. Stock option and restricted
stock unit activity during the six months ended June 30, 2020 was
as follows:
|
|
Stock Options |
|
|
Restricted Stock Units |
|
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Weighted –
Average
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Weighted –
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2019 |
|
|
1,772,761 |
|
|
$ |
6.04 |
|
|
|
3,300 |
|
|
$ |
7.68 |
|
Granted |
|
|
275,337 |
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Vested (RSUs) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(3,300 |
) |
|
|
7.68 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
(343,377 |
) |
|
|
2.70 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding at June 30, 2020 |
|
|
1,704,721 |
|
|
$ |
6.20 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
The
Company’s outstanding stock options include 338,663
performance-based awards that have vesting provisions subject to
the achievement of certain business milestones. In September 2019,
the Company deemed the achievement of one of the performance-based
milestones totaling 95,131 shares probable for accounting purposes,
are now exercisable, and recognized approximately $0.3 million of
expense associated with this milestone during the year ended
December 31, 2019. Total unrecognized compensation expense for the
remaining 243,532 performance-based awards is approximately $0.8
million. No expense has been recognized for these unvested awards
as of June 30, 2020 given that the milestone achievements for these
awards have not yet been deemed probable for accounting
purposes.
Aggregate
intrinsic value for outstanding options and exercisable options for
the year ended June 30, 2020 was approximately $43,000 based
on the Company’s closing stock price of $2.51 per share as of June
30, 2020. As of June 30, 2020, unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested nonperformance-based awards amounted to $0.8
million, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of
0.8 years.
The
Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value its
stock options. The weighted average assumptions for valuing options
granted during the six months ended June 30, 2020 were as
follows:
Risk-free
interest rate |
|
|
0.71 |
% |
Expected
volatility |
|
|
109.7 |
% |
Expected
term |
|
|
4.2 |
years |
Expected
dividend yield |
|
|
n/a |
|
In
February 2020, as part of the termination arrangement with the
Company’s former chief executive officer, the Company modified
certain options to purchase 236,970 shares of common stock, issued
an 80,000 fully vested stock option grant, and accelerated the
vesting of 3,300 restricted stock units resulting in recording
$153,000, $70,000, and $4,000, respectively, of share-based
compensation.
In March 2020, the Company issued 35,000 common stock awards to an
employee to be earned upon the achievement of certain milestones.
Such milestones were achieved as of June 30, 2020 and the Company
issued 23,793 fully vested share of common stock to the employee
with 11,207 common shares withheld to cover taxes. The Company
recognized share-based compensation of $65,200 and $140,000 for the
three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.
The
Company recorded share-based compensation expense in the following
expense categories of its consolidated statements of
operations:
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Research and development |
|
$ |
69 |
|
|
$ |
81 |
|
|
$ |
161 |
|
|
$ |
153 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
196 |
|
|
|
450 |
|
|
|
692 |
|
|
|
671 |
|
Total share-based compensation |
|
$ |
265 |
|
|
$ |
531 |
|
|
$ |
853 |
|
|
$ |
824 |
|
The
Company estimates the fair value of non-employee share options
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model reflecting the same
assumptions as applied to employee and director options in each of
the reporting periods, other than the expected life, which is
assumed to be the remaining contractual life of the options.
7.
Commitments and
Contingencies
First Pecos Breach Notice
In
June 2017, the Company entered into a binding Memorandum of
Understanding with First Pecos, LLC (First Pecos), pursuant to
which the Company agreed to issue to First Pecos in a private
placement 485,000 shares of its common stock on a post-reverse
split basis at a purchase price of $6.30 per share or, to the
extent First Pecos, following the transaction, would own more than
19.9% of the Company’s common stock, shares of a new class of
preferred stock of the Company with a per-share purchase price of
$1,000.
In
October 2017, as a result of the First Pecos failure to deliver the
Purchase Price to the Company following satisfaction of all closing
conditions in the Purchase Agreement, the Company delivered a
notice to First Pecos and its manager, Leon “Chip” Greenblatt III,
stating that First Pecos was in breach of the Purchase Agreement.
None of the shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or
warrants were issued to First Pecos. Also in October 2017, First
Pecos delivered a notice to the Company stating that, as a result
of alleged breaches by the Company of its obligations pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement, First Pecos terminated the Purchase
Agreement and demanded that the Company pay a $500,000 termination
fee pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
The
Company believes that it was not in breach of the Purchase
Agreement at any time, and that the First Pecos notice was
unjustified and without any legal merit or factual basis.
Accordingly, the Company believes that First Pecos was not entitled
to terminate the Purchase Agreement, and was not entitled to any
termination fee thereunder, as the failure to consummate the Pecos
Placement resulted from the First Pecos breach of the Purchase
Agreement. The Company has not accrued for this liability as the
Company believes the claim to be without merit.
Other
On April 14, 2017, representatives for the estate of a deceased
individual filed a civil lawsuit in the Suffolk Superior Court, in
Boston, Massachusetts, against the Company and Harvard Bioscience.
The complaint alleges that the decedent’s injury and death were
caused by two tracheal implants that incorporated synthetic trachea
scaffolds and a biologic component combined by the implanting
surgeon with a bioreactor, and surgically implanted in the decedent
in two surgeries performed in 2012 and 2013. The civil complaint
seeks a non-specific sum of money to compensate the plaintiffs.
This civil lawsuit relates to the Company’s first-generation
trachea scaffold technology for which the Company discontinued
development in 2014, and not to the Company’s current Cellspan
technology nor to its lead development product candidate, the
Cellspan Esophageal Implant. The Company intends to vigorously
defend this case. While the Company believes that such claim lacks
merit, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of
such litigation. In accordance with a separation and distribution
agreement between Harvard Bioscience and the Company relating to
the spin-off, the Company would be required to indemnify Harvard
Bioscience against losses that Harvard Bioscience may suffer as a
result of this litigation. The Company has been informed by its
insurance provider that the case has been accepted as an insurable
claim under the Company’s product liability insurance policy. The
Company does not believe a loss is probable at this time and
therefore has not accrued any amounts for this contingent
liability.
From
time to time, the Company may be involved in various claims
and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
Other than the above matter, there are no such matters pending that
the Company expects to be material in relation to its business,
financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
8. Leases
The
Company leases laboratory and office space and certain equipment
with remaining terms ranging approximately from 1 year to 4.5
years.
The
laboratory and office space arrangement is under a sublease that
was renewed in December of 2019 and currently extends
through May 31, 2021. This lease automatically renews
annually for a one-year period unless the Company or the
counterparty provides a notice of termination within one hundred
and eighty days prior to May 31 of each year.
All
of the Company’s leases qualify as operating leases. The
following table summarizes the presentation of the Company’s
operating leases in its consolidated balance sheets:
(In thousands) |
|
Balance Sheet Classification |
|
At
June 30, 2020 |
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating lease assets |
|
Right-of-use asset |
|
$ |
141 |
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current operating lease liabilities |
|
Current portion of
operating lease liabilities |
|
$ |
100 |
|
Non-current operating lease liabilities |
|
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
|
|
41 |
|
Total operating lease liabilities |
|
|
|
$ |
141 |
|
The
Company recorded operating lease
expense in the following categories in its consolidated statements
of operations:
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Research and development |
|
$ |
19 |
|
|
$ |
18 |
|
|
$ |
22 |
|
|
$ |
36 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
Total operating lease expense |
|
$ |
30 |
|
|
$ |
28 |
|
|
$ |
61 |
|
|
$ |
56 |
|
The minimum lease payments for the next five years are expected to
be as follows:
(In thousands) |
|
As Of
June 30, 2020 |
|
2020 |
|
$ |
61 |
|
2021 |
|
|
62 |
|
2022 |
|
|
19 |
|
2023 |
|
|
12 |
|
2024 |
|
|
7 |
|
Total lease payments |
|
$ |
161 |
|
Less: imputed interest |
|
|
20 |
|
Present value of operating lease liabilities |
|
$ |
141 |
|
Cash
paid included in the computation of the right of use asset and
lease liability during the six months ended June 30, 2020
and 2019 amounted to approximately $61,000 and $56,000,
respectively.
The
weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount
rate of the Company’s operating leases are as follows:
|
|
As Of
June 30, 2020 |
|
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) |
|
|
2.07 |
|
Weighted average discount rate |
|
|
13.13 |
% |
9. Net Loss Per Share
The
following potential common shares were excluded from the
calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common
stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Warrants to purchase common stock |
|
|
2,468,525 |
|
|
|
3,523,821 |
|
Options to purchase common stock |
|
|
1,704,721 |
|
|
|
1,627,811 |
|
Unvested restricted common stock units |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,300 |
|
Total |
|
|
4,173,246 |
|
|
|
5,154,932 |
|
10. Income Taxes
The
Company did not provide for any income taxes in its consolidated
statements of operations for the three and six months ended June
30, 2020 and 2019. The Company has provided a valuation allowance
for the full amount of its net deferred tax assets because, at June
30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, it was more likely than not
that any future benefit from deductible temporary differences and
net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards would not be
realized.
The
Company has not recorded any amounts for unrecognized tax benefits
as of June 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019. As of June 30, 2020
and December 31, 2019, the Company had no accrued interest or
tax penalties recorded related to income taxes. The Company is
subject to U.S. federal income tax and Massachusetts state income
tax. The statute of limitations for assessment by the IRS and state
tax authorities is open for all periods from inception through
December 31, 2018; currently, no federal or state income tax
returns are under examination by the respective taxing
authorities.
Under
the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the net
operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are subject to review
and possible adjustment by the IRS and state tax authorities. Net
operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may become subject to
an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative changes in
the ownership interest of significant shareholders over a
three-year period in excess of 50 percent, as defined under
Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, respectively, as
well as similar state provisions. This could limit the amount of
tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future
taxable income or tax liabilities. The amount of the annual
limitation is determined based on the value of the Company
immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership
changes may further affect the limitation in future years. The
Company has recently completed several equity financing
transactions which have either individually or cumulatively
resulted in a change in control as defined by Sections 382 and 383
of the Internal Revenue Code, or could result in a change in
control in the future. The Company does not believe the impact of
any limitation on the use of its net operating loss or credit
carryforwards will have a material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements since the Company has a full
valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets due to the
uncertainty regarding future taxable income for the foreseeable
future.
For
all periods through June 30, 2020, the Company generated
research credits but has not conducted a study to document the
qualified activities. This study may result in an adjustment to the
Company’s research and development credit carryforwards; however,
until a study is completed and any adjustment is known, no amounts
are being presented as an uncertain tax position. A full valuation
allowance has been provided against the Company’s research and
development credits and, if an adjustment is required, this
adjustment would be offset by an adjustment to the deferred tax
asset established for the research and development credit
carryforwards and the valuation allowance.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act
In
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into
law in March 2020. The CARES Act lifts certain deduction
limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
(2017 Tax Act). Corporate taxpayers may carryback federal and state
net operating losses (NOLs) originating during 2018 through 2020
for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the
2017 Tax Act. The CARES Act also eliminates the 80% of taxable
income limitations by allowing corporate entities to fully utilize
NOL carryforwards to offset taxable income in 2018, 2019 or 2020.
Taxpayers may generally deduct interest up to the sum of 50% of
adjusted taxable income plus business interest income (30% limit
under the 2017 Tax Act) for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and
2020. The CARES Act allows taxpayers with alternative minimum tax
credits to claim a refund in 2020 for the entire amount of the
credits instead of recovering the credits through refunds over a
period of years, as originally enacted by the 2017 Tax Act.
In
addition, the CARES Act raises the corporate charitable deduction
limit to 25% of taxable income and makes qualified improvement
property generally eligible for 15-year cost-recovery and 100%
bonus depreciation. The enactment of the CARES Act did not result
in any material adjustments to the Company’s income tax
provision for the three and six months ended June
30, 2020, or to the Company’s net deferred tax assets as
of June 30, 2020.
11. Subsequent Events
Equity Transactions
Subsequent
to end of the quarter ended June 30, 2020, the Company issued
58,932 shares of its common stock to a group of investors in
connection with the exercise of 58,932 previously issued
warrants at $3.70 per share for aggregate gross and net proceeds of
approximately $0.2 million. See Note 1.
SBIR Award
On
August 3, 2020, the Company was awarded the second year of a Phase
II Fast-Track SBIR grant from the Eunice Kennedy NICHD
totaling $0.5 million for support of development, testing, and
translation to the clinic covering qualified expenses incurred from
October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. The Company is
evaluating the impact of this grant award. See Note 2.
The
Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through
the time of filing this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the
Securities Exchange Commission and has determined that there are no
such events to report other than those disclosed above.
Item
2. |
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations. |
Forward Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements that are not
statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”). The forward-looking statements are principally, but not
exclusively, contained in “Item 2: Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements about management’s confidence or expectations and our
plans, objectives, expectations and intentions that are not
historical facts and the potential impact of COVID-19 on our
business and operations. In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,”
“should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,”
“believes,” “goals,” “sees,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,”
“intends,” “think,” “potential,” “objectives,” “optimistic,”
“strategy,” and similar expressions intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current
views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions
and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties,
you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements include our
ability to access debt and equity markets and raise additional
funds when needed; the success of our collaborations, clinical
trials and pre-clinical development efforts and programs, which
success may not be achieved on a timely basis or at all; our
ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our implant
products, bioreactors, scaffolds and other devices we pursue,
including for the esophagus or airway, which approvals may not be
obtained on a timely basis or at all; the number of patients who
can be treated with our products; the amount and timing of costs
associated with our development of implant products, bioreactors,
scaffolds and other devices; our failure to comply with regulations
and any changes in regulations; unpredictable difficulties or
delays in the development of new technology; our collaborators or
other third parties we contract with, including with respect to
conducting any clinical trial or pre-clinical development efforts,
not devoting sufficient time and resources to successfully carry
out their duties or meet expected deadlines; our ability to attract
and retain qualified personnel and key employees and retain senior
management; potential liability exposure with respect to our
products; the availability and price of acceptable raw materials
and components from third-party suppliers; difficulties in
obtaining or retaining the management and other human resource
competencies that we need to achieve our business objectives;
increased competition in the field of regenerative medicine and
bioengineering, and the financial resources of our competitors; our
ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for
our device and product candidates; our inability to implement our
growth strategy; the control our principal stockholders can exert
based on holding a majority of voting power; plus factors described
under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 27, 2020 or
described in our other public filings. Our results may also be
affected by factors of which we are not currently aware. We may not
update these forward-looking statements, even though our situation
may change in the future, unless we have obligations under the
federal securities laws to update and disclose material
developments related to previously disclosed information.
Biostage,
Inc. is referred to herein as “we,” “our,” “us,” and “the
Company”.
Business Overview
We
are a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing
bioengineered organ implants based on our novel technology. The
foundation of our CellframeTM technology is a proprietary
biocompatible scaffold that is seeded with the recipient’s own
mesenchymal stromal cells to form our CellspanTM implant. Our technology
combines the clinically proven principles of tissue engineering,
cell biology and materials science. This technology is being
developed to treat life-threatening conditions of the esophagus,
trachea and bronchus with the objective of dramatically improving
the treatment paradigm for those patients.
We
believe our technology will provide surgeons with new ways
to address damage to the esophagus, bronchus, and trachea due to
congenital abnormalities, diseases, infections and traumas.
Products being developed based on our technology for those
indications are called Cellspan products.
The
Cellspan Esophageal Implant (CEI) product candidate is our
lead development product candidate. We are pursuing two development
programs that address conditions of the esophagus: esophageal
atresia (EA) in pediatric patients and esophageal disease in adult
patients. Our Cellspan esophageal product candidates are each
intended to provide a surgical solution to stimulate regeneration
of a segment of the esophagus missing due to a congenital
abnormality or following surgical removal to establish or
reestablish the organ’s continuity and integrity.
We
believe that a pediatric CEI may provide pediatric surgeons
with a better procedure to treat EA that would result in a
connected esophagus with higher success rates, lower complications
and lower overall costs to the healthcare system. Approximately one
in 4,000 infants in the U.S. is born with esophageal atresia, a
congenital condition where the child’s esophagus is underdeveloped
and does not extend completely from the mouth to the stomach. When
a long segment of the esophagus is lacking, the current standard of
care is a series of surgical procedures where surgical sutures are
applied to both ends of the esophagus in an attempt to stretch them
together so they can be connected at a later date. This process can
take weeks and the procedure can result in serious complications
and may carry high rates of failure. Such approach also requires,
in time, at least two separate surgical interventions. Other
options include the use of the child’s stomach that would be pulled
up, or a piece of the patient’s intestine that would be moved to
the gap, to allow a connection to the mouth. We are working to
develop a CEI product candidate to address newborns’ EA, which we
expect to provide a simpler, more effective and potentially
organ-sparing solution.
A
portion of all patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer are
treated via a surgical procedure known as an esophagectomy. The
current standard of care for an esophagectomy requires a complex
surgical procedure that involves moving the patient’s stomach or a
portion of their colon into the chest to replace the portion of
esophagus resected by the removal of the tumor. These current
procedures have high rates of complications, can lead to a severely
diminished quality of life, and require costly ongoing care.
Our CEIs aim to simplify the procedure, reduce
complications, result in a better quality of life and reduce the
overall cost of these patients to the healthcare system.
In
October 2019, we filed an Investigational New Drug (IND)
application with the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
treat patients with esophageal disease, absent of cancer, in adults
that would require a short segment esophageal implant following
clinically indicated short segment resection of the thoracic
esophagus with our CEI product candidate. In November 2019, we
received notice from the FDA placing our IND on clinical hold and
providing a preliminary list of clinical hold and non-clinical hold
questions. In December 2019, we received the formal letter with
clinical hold and non-clinical hold questions and submitted our
response to the clinical hold questions on February 18, 2020. On
March 19, 2020, the FDA notified us that the IND for our CEI
product candidate has been removed from clinical hold and that we
can proceed with our study. This FDA approval enables us to start
clinical planning, engaging with a clinical research organization
and site readiness in advance of starting the clinical trial for
our CEI product candidate. On May 7, 2020, we submitted responses
to certain non-clinical hold questions and expect to submit
remaining non-clinical hold responses in Q3 2020, except for our
clinical trial details once a clinical research organization is
selected. The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact our
business, including planned clinical trials, as discussed below in
this Item.
We
believe that receiving regulatory approval to treat pediatric EA
with our CEI may provide a shorter time to a commercial
product and the greater overall potential value in the U.S. market.
In addition to providing a novel solution for what we believe is a
great medical need, approval of our pediatric EA product candidate
may result in receipt of a priority review voucher, which if
achieved, in our opinion, could potentially provide significant
value and non-dilutive funding to Biostage in the future. We have
continued to advance our CEI pediatric esophagus program and plan
to file a protocol amendment with the FDA to update our CEI
esophageal disease clinical program after the initial adult
patients are treated in the esophageal disease trial, subject to
FDA approval.
Our products are currently in development and have not yet received
regulatory approval for sale anywhere in the world.
Business Overview Update regarding COVID-19
On
January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the
COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International
Concern” and on March 11, 2020, declared it a pandemic. The full
extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or indirectly
impact our business, results of operations and financial condition,
expenses, clinical trial, research and development costs and
employee-related amounts, will depend on future developments that
are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that
may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain it
or treat COVID-19, as well as the economic impact that may impact
us. Our employees have been working remotely since early March
2020, and we continue to conduct limited operations including
administration functions and planning for our future Cellspan
Esophageal Implant (CEI) clinical trial that was removed from
clinical hold on March 19, 2020. While we are currently planning
the clinical trial, we expect that COVID-19 precautions may
directly or indirectly impact the timeline of the clinical trial.
The global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to
rapidly evolve. The extent to which the COVID-19 coronavirus may
impact our business and clinical trials will depend on
future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be
predicted with confidence, such as the duration of the outbreak,
travel restrictions and social distancing in the U.S. and other
countries, business closures or business disruptions and the
effectiveness of actions taken in the U.S. and other countries to
contain and treat the disease.
Financial Condition and Need for Additional Funds
We expect to continue to incur operating losses and negative cash
flows from operations for 2020 and in future years.
Operating Losses and Cash Requirements
We
have incurred substantial operating losses since our
inception, and as of June 30, 2020 had an accumulated deficit of
approximately $67.3 million, which will require us to seek
additional financing to fund future operations. We expect that our
operating cash on-hand at June 30, 2020 of $0.6 million, along with
net proceeds received subsequent to the end of the quarter of
approximately $0.2 million from the issuance of 58,932 shares of
our common stock from the exercise of 58,932 previously issued
warrants at $3.70 per share will enable it to fund its operating
expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth
quarter of 2020. In addition, in May 2020 we received $404,221 of
loan proceeds as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP),
established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act. Based on the current loan terms, payments
begin in November 2020 subject to us meeting the partial or full
loan forgiveness requirements (See Note 4 in the Consolidated
Financial Statements included in Part I “Financial Information”,
Item 1 of this report for further discussion). As discussed in Note
1 to the consolidated financial statements, these conditions raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern.
We
are currently investing significant resources in development of
products for use by clinicians in the field of regenerative
medicine. We will need to raise additional funds in future periods
to fund our operations. In the event that we do not raise
additional capital from outside sources, we may be forced to
further curtail or cease our operations. Cash requirements and cash
resource needs will vary significantly depending upon the timing of
clinical and animal studies and other resource needs that will be
required to complete ongoing development and pre-clinical and
clinical testing of products, as well as related regulatory efforts
and collaborative arrangements necessary for our product candidates
that are currently under development. We are currently seeking and
continue to seek financings from existing and/or new investors to
raise necessary funds through a combination of public or private
equity offerings. We may also pursue debt financings, other
financing mechanisms, or strategic collaborations and licensing
arrangements. We may not be able to obtain additional financing on
terms favorable to us, if at all.
Capital Transactions
During
2019 we had the following capital transactions:
|
· |
On January 31, 2019, we issued 500,000
shares of our common stock to an investor in connection with the
exercise of 500,000 warrants, which were previously issued on
December 27, 2017, at $2.00 per share for total gross proceeds in
the amount of $1.0 million. |
|
· |
On April 24, 2019 and May 3, 2019, we
issued a total of 500,000 shares of our common stock to an investor
in connection with the exercise of 500,000 warrants, which were
previously issued on December 27, 2017, at $2.00 per share for
total gross proceeds in the amount of $1.0 million. |
|
· |
On June 12, 2019, we issued a total of
345,174 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 345,174
shares of common stock to a group of investors at an exercise price
of $3.70 per share, in exchange for aggregate gross proceeds of
approximately $1.3 million. |
|
· |
On August 30, 2019 and September 4,
2019, we issued a total of 595,000 shares of our common stock to a
group of investors in connection with the exercise of 595,000
warrants, which were previously issued on December 27, 2017, at
$2.00 per share in exchange for total gross proceeds in the amount
of approximately $1.2 million. |
|
· |
On September 30, 2019, we issued a
total of 30,000 shares of our common stock to a group of investors
in connection with the exercise of 30,000 warrants, which were
previously issued on December 27, 2017, at $2.00 per share in
exchange for total gross proceeds in the amount of $60,000. |
|
· |
During the nine months ended September
30, 2019, we issued a total of 3,506 shares of our common stock to
employees due to the vesting of restricted stock units. |
|
· |
On November 11, 2019, we issued a
total of 75,000 shares of our common stock to Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center in connection with the exercise of a
total of 75,000 warrants, which were previously issued on January
3, 2018, at $2.00 per share for total gross proceeds in the amount
of $150,000. |
During
2020 we had the following capital transactions:
|
· |
During the six months ended June 30,
2020, we issued a total of 151,027 shares of our common stock at a
purchase price of $3.70 per share and warrants to purchase 151,027
shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.70 per share to a
group of investors for aggregate gross and net proceeds of
approximately $0.6 million. |
|
· |
During the six months ended June 30,
2020, we issued 214,000 shares of our common stock to a group of
investors in connection with the exercise of 214,000 previously
issued warrants at $2.00 per share for aggregate gross and net
proceeds of approximately $0.4 million. |
|
· |
During the six months ended June 30,
2020, we issued 141,553 shares of our common stock to a group of
investors in connection with the exercise of 141,553 previously
issued warrants at $3.70 per share for aggregate gross and net
proceeds of approximately $0.5 million. |
|
· |
On May 4, 2020, we were granted a loan
from the Bank of America in the aggregate amount of $404,221,
pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), established as
part of the CARES Act (See Note 4 in the Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Part I “Financial Information”, Item 1 of
this report for further discussion). |
|
· |
During the six months ended June 30,
2020, we issued a total of 25,948 shares of our common stock to
former chief executive officer and an employee due to the vesting
of restricted stock units and issuance of a common stock
award. |
|
· |
Subsequent to quarter end, we issued a
total of 58,932 shares of our common stock to a group of investors
in connection with the exercise of 58,932 previously issued
warrants at $3.70 per share for aggregate gross and net proceeds of
approximately $0.2 million (See Note 11 in the Consolidated
Financial Statements included in Part I “Financial Information”,
Item 1 of this report for further discussion). |
Small Business Innovation Research Grant
On
March 28, 2018, we were awarded a Fast-Track Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the Eunice Kennedy National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to support
testing of pediatric Cellspan™ Esophageal Implants (CEIs). The
award for Phase I, which was earned over the nine months ended
September 30, 2018, provided for the reimbursement for up to
approximately $0.2 million of qualified research and development
costs.
On
October 26, 2018, we were awarded Phase II of the SBIR grant
totaling $1.1 million to support activities for development,
testing, and translation to the clinic through September 2019. As
of September 30, 2019, we had expended $0.6 million of the $1.1
million awarded, and in December 2019 submitted a modified Phase II
grant development plan totaling $1.0 million, including $0.5
million of the unspent Phase 2 grant awarded and an additional $0.5
million for the next year of the project, subject to the NICHD
approval. This modified development plan was approved by the NICHD
on August 3, 2020. (See Note 11 in the Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Part I “Financial Information”, Item 1 of
this report for further discussion). The SBIR grant has the
potential to provide a total award of approximately $1.8 million,
of which approximately $0.8 million has been expended through June
30, 2020.
Grant
income is recognized based on timing of when qualified research and
development costs are incurred and recorded and classified as grant
income in other income (expense), net in the consolidated
statements of operations. We recognized $473,000 from Phase
II during 2019 and $225,000 from Phase I and $176,000 from Phase II
in 2018. There was no activity under the SBIR grant for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2020.
Management and Employees
We
disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 17,
2019 that Thomas McNaughton, our former Chief Financial Officer,
resigned from his role effective June 14, 2019. We also disclosed
in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 7, 2020 that James
McGorry, our former Chief Executive Officer, resigned from his role
effective February 7, 2020. We are currently in the process of
evaluating our options to fill these positions. At June 30, 2020,
we had 9 employees, of whom eight were full-time and one was
part-time.
Results of Operations
Components of Operating Loss
Research
and development expense. Research and development
expense consists of salaries and related expenses, including
share-based compensation, for personnel and contracted consultants
and various materials and other costs to develop our new products,
primarily: synthetic scaffolds, including investigation and
development of materials and investigation and optimization of
cellularization, autoseeders, and 3D bioreactors, as well as
studies of cells and cell behavior. Other research and development
expenses include the costs of outside service providers and
material costs for prototype and test units and outside
laboratories and testing facilities performing cell growth and
materials experiments, as well as the costs of all other
preclinical research and testing including animal studies and
expenses related to potential patents. We expense research and
development costs as incurred.
Selling,
general and administrative expense. Selling, general and
administrative expense consists primarily of salaries and other
related expenses, including share-based compensation, for personnel
in executive, accounting, information technology and human
resources roles. Other costs include professional fees for legal
and accounting services, insurance, investor relations and facility
costs.
Other Income (Expense)
Grant
income. Grant income reflects income earned under the
SBIR grant. Grant income is recognized based on timing of when
qualified research and development costs are incurred.
Changes
in fair value of warrant liability. Changes in
fair value of warrant liability represent the change in the fair
value of common stock warrants classified as liability awards
during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. We
use the Black-Scholes pricing model to value the related warrant
liability. The costs associated with the issuance of the warrants
have been recorded as an expense upon issuance.
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for
the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 ($ in
thousands):
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
Change |
|
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
$ |
536 |
|
|
$ |
1,376 |
|
|
|
(61 |
)% |
|
$ |
1,179 |
|
|
$ |
2,410 |
|
|
|
(51 |
)% |
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
725 |
|
|
|
1,292 |
|
|
|
(44 |
)% |
|
|
1,978 |
|
|
|
2,292 |
|
|
|
(14 |
)% |
Total Operating Expenses |
|
|
1,261 |
|
|
|
2,668 |
|
|
|
(53 |
)% |
|
|
3,157 |
|
|
|
4,702 |
|
|
|
(33 |
)% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Income (Expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant income |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
nm |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
337 |
|
|
|
nm |
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
(388 |
)% |
|
|
(22 |
) |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
nm |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
nm |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
nm |
|
Other Income (Expense), Net |
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
(68 |
)% |
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
346 |
|
|
|
nm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss |
|
$ |
(1,185 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,429 |
) |
|
|
(51 |
)% |
|
$ |
(3,181 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,356 |
) |
|
|
(27 |
)% |
nm = not meaningful
Comparison
of the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to
the three months ended June 30, 2019
Research and Development Expense
Research
and development expense decreased approximately 61% to $0.5 million
for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $1.4
million for the three months ended June 30, 2019. This decrease was
due primarily to $0.5 million of lower outsourced study costs and
lab operating supplies, a $0.2 million decrease in regulatory
consulting expenses, $0.1 million of lower employee expenses, and a
$0.1 decrease in all other expenses.
Based
on the removal of our IND from clinical hold by the FDA on
March 19, 2020, we expect our research and development costs will
increase significantly when we start clinical trial activities to
the extent that we have funds available. Due to the impact of
COVID-19 on operations, the start of our clinical trial is
dependent on planning activities in addition to site availability
to commence a clinical trial for our product.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Selling,
general and administrative expense decreased approximately 44% to
$0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020
compared to $1.3 million the same period in 2019. This decrease was
due primarily to $0.4 million of lower employee based expenses due
to reduced staff, and $0.2 million of lower share-based
compensation due primarily to costs in the prior year period
associated with the separation arrangement with our former chief
financial officer.
Grant income
There
was no grant income for qualified expenditures from an SBIR
grant for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020 as the
modified Phase II grant development plan we submitted to the NICHD
has not yet been approved as of June 30, 2020. For the three months
ended June 30, 2019 we recorded grant income of $223,000 for
qualified expenditures under the SBIR grant.
Change in fair value of warrant liability
During
the three months ended June 30, 2020, the change in fair
value of our warrant liability resulted in other income of $78,000
due primarily to a lower stock price of the underlying common
shares. This compared to $16,000 of other income for three months
ended June 30, 2019 due to a decrease in the price of the
underlying common shares. The other income in both periods was
partly offset by an increase in the volatility of the underlying
common shares.
Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2020 to the six
months ended June 30, 2019
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense decreased approximately 51% to
$1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to
$2.4 million for the comparable six-month period in 2019. This
decrease was due primarily to $0.6 million of lower outsourced
study costs and lab operating supplies, a $0.3 million decrease in
regulatory consulting expenses, $0.2 million of lower employee
expenses, and a $0.1 decrease in all other expenses.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased approximately
14% to $2.0 million compared to $2.3 million for the same period in
2019. This decrease was due primarily to $0.4 million of lower
employee-based expenses due to the separation of our former chief
executive officer and chief financial officer, offset in part by a
$0.1 million increase in all other expenses.
Grant income
There
was no grant income for qualified expenditures from an SBIR
grant for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020 as the modified
Phase II grant development plan we submitted to the NICHD has not
yet been approved as of June 30, 2020. For the six months ended
June 30, 2019 we recorded grant income of $337,000 for qualified
expenditures under the SBIR grant.
Change in fair value of warrant liability
During
the six months ended June 30, 2020, the change in fair value
of our warrant liability resulted in other expense of $22,000 due
primarily to a higher stock price and volatility of the underlying
common shares. This compared to other income of $9,000 for six
months ended June 30, 2019 due primarily to a decrease in the
remaining expected term of the underlying common shares during the
six months ended June 30, 2019, offset in part by an increase in
the price and volatility of the underlying common shares.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources
of liquidity. We
have incurred operating losses since inception, and as of June 30,
2020 we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $67.3 million.
We are currently investing significant resources in the development
and commercialization of our products for use by clinicians and
researchers in the fields of regenerative medicine and
bioengineering. As a result, we expect to incur operating losses
and negative operating cash flows for the foreseeable
future.
The following table sets forth the primary uses of cash for the six
months ended June 30, 2020 (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities |
|
$ |
(2,165 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,253 |
) |
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
(78 |
) |
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities |
|
$ |
1,870 |
|
|
$ |
3,277 |
|
Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and
2019
Operating
activities. Net cash used in operating activities
of $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was due
primarily to our net loss of $3.2 million, partially offset by $1.0
million add-back for non-cash expenses including share-based
compensation, depreciation, change in fair value of warrant
liability, and amortization of right-of-use assets. The cash impact
of working capital due to the timing of prepaid expenses and
accounts payable was negligible during the period.
Net
cash used in operating activities of $3.3 million for the six
months ended June 30, 2019 was primarily due primarily to our net
loss of $4.4 million, partially offset by $0.9 million non-cash
expenses related to share-based compensation, depreciation, change
in fair value of warrant liability, and amortization of
right-of-use assets, and $0.2 million of cash provided from working
capital due to the timing of accounts payable and prepaid
expenses.
Investing
activities. There were no investing activities for
the six months ended June 30, 2020. Net cash used for investing
activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 reflected $78,000
of equipment purchases.
Financing
activities. Net cash generated from financing activities
during the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $1.9 million consisted
of $0.6 million of net proceeds received from private placement
transactions that resulted in the issuance of 151,027 shares of our
common stock and warrants to purchase 151,027 shares of common
stock to a group of investors at an exercise price of $3.70 per
share, $1.0 million received from the issuance of 355,553 shares of
our common stock to a group of investors in connection with
previously issued warrants, and $0.4 million from a loan granted to
us in May 2020 pursuant to the PPP established as part of the CARES
Act. These proceeds were offset slightly by $46,000 of payments for
employee tax withholdings for common shares repurchased for vested
stock awards.
Net
cash generated from financing activities of $3.3 million during the
six months ended June 30, 2019 consisted of $1.3 million of net
proceeds received from private placement transactions that resulted
in the issuance of 345,174 shares of our common stock and warrants
to purchase 345,174 shares of common stock to a group of
investors at an exercise price of $3.70 per share, and $2.0 million
received from the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of our common stock
to a group of investors in connection with previously issued
warrants.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial
statements, which we have prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States, or. GAAP. The
preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial
statements, as well as the expenses during the reporting periods.
We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We
base our estimates on historical experience and on various other
factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the
results of which form the basis for making judgments about the
carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily
apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ
materially from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are discussed in more
detail in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing
elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we believe that
the following accounting policies are the most critical for fully
understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of
operations.
Share-based Compensation
We account for our share-based compensation in accordance with the
fair value recognition provisions of current authoritative
guidance. Share-based awards, including stock options, are measured
at fair value as of the grant date and recognized as expense over
the requisite service period (generally the vesting period), which
we have elected to amortize on a straight-line basis. Expense on
share-based awards for which vesting is performance or milestone
based is recognized on a straight-line basis from the date when we
determine the achievement of the milestone is probable to the
vesting/milestone achievement date. Since share-based compensation
expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been
reduced by an estimate for future forfeitures. We estimate
forfeitures at the time of grant and revise our estimate, if
necessary, in subsequent periods. We estimate the fair value of
options granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.
Significant judgment is required in determining the proper
assumptions used in these models. The assumptions used include the
risk-free interest rate, expected term, expected volatility and
expected dividend yield. We base our assumptions on historical data
when available or, when not available, on a peer group of
companies. However, these assumptions consist of estimates of
future market conditions, which are inherently uncertain and
subject to our judgment, and therefore any changes in assumptions
could significantly impact the future grant date fair value of
share-based awards.
Warrant Liability
Most of the warrants to purchase shares of our common stock have
been classified on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as
equity. We classify warrants as a liability in our condensed
consolidated balance sheets if the warrant is a free-standing
financial instrument that may require us to transfer cash
consideration upon exercise and that cash transfer event would be
out of our control. Such a “liability warrant” is initially
recorded at fair value on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
model, net of issuance costs, and it is subsequently re-measured to
fair value at each subsequent balance sheet date. Changes in fair
value of the warrant are recognized as a component of other income
(expense) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
We will continue to adjust the liability for changes in fair value
until the earlier of the exercise or expiration of the warrant.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements as of
June 30, 2020.
Other Information
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012,
or the JOBS Act, was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides
that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the
extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the
Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting
standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay
the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards
would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably
elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period
and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards
on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is
required for other public companies.
We have evaluated the benefits of relying on other exemptions and
reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to
certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, as an “emerging
growth company,” we rely on certain of these exemptions, including
without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report
on our system of internal controls over financial reporting
pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii)
complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) regarding mandatory
audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report
providing additional information about the audit and the
consolidated financial statements, known as the auditor discussion
and analysis. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the
earliest of (a) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have
total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or more, (b) the last day
of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of
the completion of our initial public offering, or December 31,
2020, (c) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in
nonconvertible debt during the previous three years or (d) the date
on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the
rules of the SEC.
Item
3. |
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. |
The
Company is a smaller reporting company and is not required to
provide this information pursuant to Item 305(e), Regulation
S-K.
Item
4. |
Controls
and Procedures. |
This
report includes the certifications of our President (who is
our principal executive officer) and our Vice President of Finance
(who is our principal financial and accounting officer) required by
Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act. See Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2. This
Item 4 includes information concerning the controls and control
evaluations referred to in those certifications
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are designed to ensure
that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or
submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC
rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and
communicated to management, including the President and Vice
President of Finance, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosures.
In
connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, our management, under the supervision and with the
participation of our President and Vice President of Finance,
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and
operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30,
2020. Based upon the evaluation described above, our President and
Vice President of Finance have concluded that they believe our
disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of
the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our
management, with the participation of the President and Vice
President of Finance, has evaluated whether any change in
our internal control over financial accounting and reporting
occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2020. During the period
covered by this report, we have concluded that there were no
changes during the fiscal quarter in our internal control over
financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)
under the Exchange Act, which have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial accounting and reporting.
PART II. OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
1. |
Legal
Proceedings |
From
time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal
proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than
the ongoing civil lawsuit described in Item 3 of Part I of our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2020,
there are no such matters pending that we expect to be material in
relation to our business, financial condition, and results of
operations or cash flows.
To our knowledge and except to the extent additional factual
information disclosed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q relates
to such risk factors, and the additional risk factor noted below,
there have been no material changes in the risk factors described
in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on March
27, 2020.
Financial Position,
Need for Capital and Operating Risks - All or a
portion of the PPP Loan may not be forgivable and our application
for the PPP Loan could in the future be determined to have been
impermissible which could adversely impact our business and
reputation.
On
May 4, 2020, we obtained a loan (Loan) from the Bank of America
(Lender) in the aggregate amount of $404,221, pursuant to the
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), established as part of the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES
Act). Our application for the PPP Loan could in the future
be determined to have been impermissible which could adversely
impact our business and reputation. Under the CARES Act, we may be
eligible to apply for forgiveness of all loan proceeds used to pay
payroll costs, rent, utilities and other qualifying expenses,
provided that we retain a certain number of employees and maintain
compensation within certain regulatory parameters of the PPP.
However, we cannot provide any assurance that we will be eligible
for loan forgiveness or that any amount of the PPP Loan will
ultimately be forgiven.
In applying for the PPP Loan, we were required to certify, among
other things, that the then current economic uncertainty made the
PPP Loan necessary to support our ongoing operations. We made these
certifications in good faith after analyzing, among other things,
the requirements of the PPP loan, our current business activity and
our ability to access other sources of liquidity sufficient to
support our ongoing operations in a manner that would not be
significantly detrimental to our business. We believe that we
satisfied all eligibility criteria for the PPP Loan, and that our
receipt of the PPP Loan was consistent with the broad objectives of
the PPP of the CARES Act. The certification regarding necessity
described above did not at the time contain any objective criteria
and continues to be subject to interpretation. If, despite our
good-faith belief that we satisfied all eligibility requirements
for the PPP Loan, we are later determined to have violated any of
the laws or governmental regulations that apply to us in connection
with the PPP Loan, or it is otherwise determined that we were
ineligible to receive the PPP Loan, we may be subject to civil,
criminal and administrative penalties. Any violations or alleged
violations may result in adverse publicity and damage to our
reputation, a review or audit by the SBA or other government
entity, or claims under the False Claims Act. These events could
consume significant financial and management resources and could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition.
Exhibit
Index |
|
|
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
Promissory Note, dated as of May 1,
2020, by Biostage Inc. in favor of Bank of America, NA (previously
filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K, filed on May 5, 2020, and
incorporated herein by reference thereto.) |
|
|
|
10.2# |
|
Amended and Restated
Equity Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of June 18, 2020
(previously filed as Appendix A to Definitive Schedule 14A
(Proxy Statement), filed on April 28, 2020, and incorporated herein
by reference thereto). |
|
|
|
31.1+ |
|
Certification of Vice
President of Finance of Biostage, Inc., pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a)
and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002. |
|
|
|
31.2+ |
|
Certification of
President of Biostage, Inc., pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and
15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, as adopted
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002. |
|
|
|
32.1* |
|
Certification of Vice
President of Finance of Biostage, Inc., pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
* |
This
certification shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise
subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed to
be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
# |
Management contract or
compensatory plan or arrangement. |
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 undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date:
August 13, 2020
|
BIOSTAGE,
INC. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Hong Yu |
|
|
Name:
Hong Yu |
|
|
Title:
President |
|
|
(principal
executive officer) |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Peter Chakoutis |
|
|
Name:
Peter Chakoutis |
|
|
Title:
Vice President of Finance |
|
|
(principal
financial officer) |