Liquidity and Capital Resources
Financial Condition
On March 31, 2023, we had $192.3 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $209.2 million of cash and cash equivalents on December 31, 2022. Based on its current operations, plans and assumptions, the Company expects that its balance of cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least the next 12 months. We have incurred operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception. Net cash used for operating activities was $20.8 and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we recorded a net loss of $20.6 million. Our net cash flows provided by financing activities was nil during the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $(0.1) million during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Our financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis assuming that we will be successful in our financing objectives. As such, no adjustments have been made to the financial statements relating to the recoverability and classification of the asset carrying amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we not be able to continue as a going concern.
Sources of Liquidity and Material Cash Requirements
We have incurred net losses each year since our inception. Substantially all of our net losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with our development programs and from general and administrative expenses associated with our operations. We have not incurred any bank debt.
We fund short-term cash requirements primarily from payments associated with research tax credits (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche).
In May 2022, we established an At-The-Market (“ATM”) program to offer and sell, including with unsolicited investors who have expressed an interest, a total gross amount of up to $100 million of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each ADS representing one-half of one ordinary share of the Company The ATM program is intended to be effective through the expiration of the Company’s existing registration statement registering the ADSs to be issued under the ATM program, i.e. until July 16, 2024, unless terminated prior to such date in accordance with the sales agreement or the maximum amount of the program has been reached. The Company intent is to use the net proceeds, if any, of sales of ADSs issued under the program, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, primarily for activities associated with potential approval and launch of Viaskin Peanut, as well as to advance the development of the Company’s product candidates using its Viaskin Platform and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
We intend to seek additional capital as we prepare for the launch of Viaskin Peanut, if approved, and continue other research and development efforts. We may seek to finance our future cash needs through a combination of public or private equity or debt financings, collaborations, license and development agreements and other forms of non-dilutive financings.
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing to meet our needs or to obtain funds at attractive terms and conditions, including as a result of disruptions to the global financial markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to us, including reduced ability to raise additional capital when needed or on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are not successful in our financing objectives, we could have to scale back our operations, notably by delaying or reducing the scope of our research and development efforts or obtain financing through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish rights to our product candidates that we might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently.
Operating leases
Our corporate headquarters are located in Montrouge, France. Our principal offices occupy a 4,470 square meter facility, pursuant to a lease agreement dated March 3, 2015 and represents a $3.4 million cash requirement as of December 31, 2022 which expires March 8, 2024.
Our primary U.S. office is located in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. In March 2022, we entered into a lease agreement, commencing on April 1, 2022 and effective for 38 months, for an office of 5,799 square feet in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The Basking Ridge office represent a $0.4 million cash requirement as of December 31, 2022 which expires June 1, 2025.
There have been no material changes in our operating leases from those disclosed in the Annual Report.
Purchase obligations - Obligations Under the Terms of CRO Agreements
In connection with the launch of our clinical trials for Viaskin Peanut and Viaskin Milk, we signed agreements with several contract research organizations.
There have been no material changes in our purchase obligations from those disclosed in the Annual Report.
Summary Statement of Cash Flows
The table below summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
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Three months ended arch 31, |
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(Amounts in thousands of U.S. Dollars) |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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$ change |
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% of change |
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Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities |
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(20,841 |
) |
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(1,483 |
) |
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(19,359 |
) |
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1,306 |
% |
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities |
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42 |
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11 |
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31 |
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273 |
% |
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities |
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(14 |
) |
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(129 |
) |
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114 |
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(89 |
%) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
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3,909 |
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(1,594 |
) |
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5,503 |
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(345 |
%) |
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Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
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(16,905 |
) |
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(3,194 |
) |
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(13,711 |
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429 |
% |
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Operating Activities
Our net cash flows used in operating activities were $20.8 million and $1.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The variance of $19.4 million is mainly driven by the reimbursement of $20.9 million of research tax credits for the 2019 and 2020 fiscal year.
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