NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. Nature of Operations and Business Activities
Nature of Operations
Skye Bioscience, Inc. (the “Company”) was initially incorporated in Nevada on March 16, 2011 as Load Guard Logistics, Inc. On October 31, 2014, the Company closed a reverse merger transaction (the “Merger”) pursuant to which Nemus, a California corporation (“Nemus Sub”), became the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, and the Company assumed the operations of Nemus Sub. Nemus Sub was incorporated in the State of California on July 17, 2012. On November 3, 2014, the Company changed its name to Nemus Bioscience, Inc. by merging with Nemus Sub to form a Nevada company.
Effective March 25, 2019, the Company changed its name from Nemus Bioscience, Inc. to Emerald Bioscience, Inc. Effective January 19, 2021, the Company changed its name from Emerald Bioscience, Inc. to Skye Bioscience, Inc.
In August 2019, the Company formed a new subsidiary in Australia, SKYE Bioscience Pty Ltd. (formerly "EMBI Australia Pty Ltd."), an Australian proprietary limited company (“SKYE Bioscience Australia”), in order to qualify for the Australian government’s research and development tax credit for research and development dollars spent in Australia. The primary purpose of SKYE Bioscience Australia is to conduct clinical trials for the Company’s product candidates.
The Company is a biopharmaceutical company located in San Diego, California that plans to research, develop and commercialize therapeutics derived from cannabinoids through several license agreements with the University of Mississippi (“UM”). UM is an entity federally permitted and licensed to cultivate cannabis for research purposes in the United States.
As of March 31, 2021, the Company has devoted substantially all its efforts to securing product licenses, carrying out research and development, building infrastructure and raising capital. The Company has not yet realized revenue from its planned principal operations and is a number of years away from potentially being able to do so.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The Company has incurred operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and as of March 31, 2021, had an accumulated deficit of $40,894,498. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had unrestricted cash in the amount of $5,152,425. The Company expects to continue to incur significant losses in 2021 and may incur significant losses and negative cash flows from operation in the future.
The Company’s continued existence is dependent on its ability to raise sufficient additional funding to cover operating expenses and to carry out its research and development activities. As the Company approaches its first clinical trial, it expects to ramp up research and development spending and to increase cash used in operating activities. However, based on the Company’s expected cash requirements, without obtaining additional funding by December 2021, management believes that the Company will not have enough funds to continue clinical studies. These conditions may give rise to substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.
The Company’s continued existence is dependent on its ability to raise sufficient additional funding to cover operating expenses and to carry out its research and development activities. On October 5, 2018, the Company entered into a Multi-Draw Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Emerald Health Sciences (See Note 4).
On April 29, 2020, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Multi-Draw Credit Agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) with Emerald Health Sciences (See Note 4). The Amended Credit Agreement provides for a credit facility in the principal amount of up to $20,000,000. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has drawn down on $6,450,000 of the Amended Credit Agreement and may draw down up to the remaining amount. However, the Company does not consider the facility available until advance requests are approved, drawn down and funded. The Amended Credit Agreement is still in place, however, there is no guarantee of continued funding from Emerald Health Sciences.
On April 22, 2020, the Company entered into a Paycheck Protection Program Promissory Note in the principal amount of $116,700 (the “PPP Loan”) from City National Bank (the “PPP Loan Lender”). The PPP Loan was obtained pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) (Note 4).
The Company plans to continue to pursue funding through public or private equity or debt financings, licensing arrangements, asset sales, government grants or other arrangements. However, the Company cannot provide any assurances that such additional funds will be available on reasonable terms, or at all. If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to existing stockholders would result.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) emerged in Wuhan, China. Since then, it has spread to the United States and infections have been reported around the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, which continues to spread around the world and throughout the United States and Australia, where the Company has operations and conducts laboratory research and clinical studies. In response to the outbreak, federal and state authorities in the United States have introduced various recommendations and measures to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, nonessential business closures, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing. The COVID-19 outbreak and the response of governmental authorities to try to limit it are having a significant impact on the private sector and individuals, including unprecedented business, employment and significant economic disruptions to the global financial markets. These disruptions are likely to impact the Company’s ability to raise additional capital and obtain the necessary funds.
Notably, the Company relies on third party manufacturers to produce its product candidates. The manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient of THCVHS is conducted in the United States. Formulation of the eye drop for testing is also performed in the United States but can rely on regulatory-accepted excipients that can be sourced from countries outside the United States. In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, there could possibly be an impact on sourcing materials that are part of the eye drop formulation, as well as impacting volunteer and/or patient recruitment in Australia for clinical studies. The location of the proposed clinical trial are clinical sites in Australia and since the COVID-19 outbreak in that country, the multiple cities have experienced health emergency lockdowns which have had a negative impact on the conduct and timelines of clinical studies. Therefore, the Company has shifted its first-in-human studies of THCVHS from the second half of 2020 to the second half of 2021.
After considering the plans to alleviate substantial doubt, management has concluded that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a consistent basis with the Company’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, and include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the information set forth herein. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosures necessary to present the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).
The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021 or any future periods. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2020, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021. The unaudited financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which includes a broader discussion of the Company’s business and the risks inherent therein.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements include estimates as to the appropriate carrying value of certain assets
and liabilities, which are not readily apparent from other sources. Such estimates and judgments are utilized for stock-based compensation expense, equity instruments, derivative liabilities, and debt with embedded features.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company’s operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, changes in the general economy, the size and growth of the potential markets for any of the Company’s product candidates, results of research and development activities, uncertainties surrounding regulatory developments in the United States and Australia, and the Company’s ability to attract new funding.
Fair Value Measurements
Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (the “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. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. A fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable, and the last is considered unobservable, is used to measure fair value:
Level 1: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active markets from readily available pricing sources such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices) such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.
The carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments, with the exception of the Amended Credit Agreement and derivative liabilities, including, cash, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short maturities of these financial instruments. The derivative liabilities are valued on a recurring basis utilizing Level 3 inputs (Note 3).
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company estimated that the fair value of the Amended Credit Agreement was materially consistent with the fair value estimate as of December 31, 2019 of approximately $1,877,938, plus the non-convertible advances made in 2020. This determination was based on the following considerations: (i) the Company has not experienced any significant change in its credit worthiness or operations year over year, (ii) there have been no repayments or convertible draws, (iii) the facility is closer to maturity, and (iv) the embedded conversion feature on the convertible advances is out-of-the-money at the reporting date. Information pertinent to estimating the fair value of the Amended Credit Agreement includes valuing the embedded conversion feature and considering the discounted cash flows of the interest and principal payments through maturity (Note 4).
Convertible Instruments
The Company accounts for hybrid contracts with embedded conversion features in accordance with GAAP. ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging Activities (“ASC 815”) requires companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free-standing derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria includes circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument.
The Company accounts for convertible debt instruments with embedded conversion features in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (“ASC 470-20”) if it is determined that the conversion feature should not be bifurcated from their host instruments. Under ASC 470-20, the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the difference between the fair
value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date and the embedded effective conversion price. When the Company determines that the embedded conversion option should be bifurcated from its host instrument, the embedded feature is accounted for in accordance with ASC 815. Under ASC 815, a portion of the proceeds received upon the issuance of the hybrid contract is allocated to the fair value of the derivative. The derivative is subsequently recorded at fair value at each reporting date based on current fair value, with the changes in fair value reported in the results of operations.
The Company also follows ASC 480-10, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480-10”) when evaluating the accounting for its hybrid instruments. A financial instrument that embodies an unconditional obligation, or a financial instrument other than an outstanding share that embodies a conditional obligation, that the issuer must or may settle by issuing a variable number of its equity shares shall be classified as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances) if, at inception, the monetary value of the obligation is based solely or predominantly on any one of the following: (a) a fixed monetary amount known at inception (for example, a payable settled with a variable number of the issuer’s equity shares); (b) variations in something other than the fair value of the issuer’s equity shares (for example, a financial instrument indexed to the Standard and Poor’s S&P 500 Index and settled with a variable number of the issuer’s equity shares); or (c) variations inversely related to changes in the fair value of the issuer’s equity shares (for example, a written put option that could be net share settled). Hybrid instruments meeting these criteria are not further evaluated for any embedded derivatives and are carried as a liability at fair value at each balance sheet date with a re-measurement reported in other expense (income), net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
When determining the short-term vs. long-term classification of derivative liabilities, the Company first evaluates the instruments’ exercise provisions. Generally, if a derivative is a liability and exercisable within one year, it will be classified as short-term. However, because of the unique provisions and circumstances that may impact the accounting for derivative instruments, the Company carefully evaluates all factors that could potentially restrict the instrument from being exercised or create a situation where exercise would be considered remote. The Company re-evaluates its derivative liabilities at each reporting period end and makes updates for any changes in facts and circumstances that may impact classification.
Warrants Issued in Connection with Financings
The Company generally accounts for warrants issued in connection with debt and equity financings as a component of equity, unless the warrants include a conditional obligation to issue a variable number of shares or there is a deemed possibility that the Company may need to settle the warrants in cash. For warrants issued with a conditional obligation to issue a variable number of shares or the deemed possibility of a cash settlement, the Company records the fair value of the warrants as a liability at each balance sheet date and records changes in fair value in other expense (income), net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
Debt Issuance Costs and Interest
Discounts related to bifurcated derivatives, freestanding instruments issued in bundled transactions, and issuance costs are recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of the debt and amortized over the life of the debt using the effective interest method. The Company makes changes to the effective interest rate, as necessary, on a prospective basis. For debt facilities that provide for multiple advances, the Company initially defers any issuance costs until the first advance is made and then amortizes the costs over the life of the facility.
Research and Development Expenses and Licensed Technology
Research and development costs are expensed when incurred. These costs may consist of external research and development expenses incurred under agreements with third party contract research organizations and investigative sites, third party manufacturing organizations and consultants; license fees; employee-related expenses, which include salaries and benefits for the personnel involved in the Company’s preclinical and clinical drug development activities; facilities expense, and other expenses; and equipment and laboratory supplies.
Costs incurred for the rights to use licensed technologies in the research and development process, including licensing fees and milestone payments, are charged to research and development expense as incurred in situations where the Company has not identified an alternative future use for the acquired rights, and are capitalized in situations where there is an identified alternative future use. No cost associated with the use of licensed technologies has been capitalized to date.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, and the cost is recognized as expense ratably over the vesting period with forfeitures accounted for as they occur. The Company uses the Black-Scholes Merton option pricing model for estimating the grant date fair value of stock options using the following assumptions:
•Volatility - Expected volatility is estimated using the historical stock price performance over the expected term of the award.
•Expected term - The expected term is based on a simplified method which defines the life as the weighted average of the contractual term of the options and the vesting period for each award.
•Risk-free rate - The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the average market rate on U.S. Treasury securities in effect during the period in which the awards were granted.
•Dividends - The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of paying no dividends in the foreseeable future.
Loss Per Common Share
The Company applies FASB ASC No. 260, Earnings per Share in calculating its basic and diluted net loss per common share. Basic loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. The diluted loss per share of common stock is computed by giving effect to all potential common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method. For purposes of this calculation, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock subject to vesting, warrants to purchase common stock and common shares underlying convertible debt instruments are considered to be common stock equivalents. The following outstanding shares of common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share of common stock for the periods presented because including them would have been anti-dilutive:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31, (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options
|
21,560,000
|
|
|
4,512,715
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested restricted stock
|
—
|
|
|
643,501
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shares underlying convertible debt
|
5,124,384
|
|
|
5,125,363
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants
|
78,546,668
|
|
|
23,593,356
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and improves and amends the related EPS guidance for both Subtopics. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within those annual periods and early adoption is permitted in fiscal periods ending after December 15, 2020. Upon implementation, the Company may use either a modified retrospective or full retrospective method of adoption. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 will impact the way the Company calculates its (loss) earnings per share, result in expanded disclosures around convertible instruments and remove the requirement to assess and record beneficial conversion features. The impact from adoption will depend on whether the Company elects to early adopt this ASU. The Company currently plans to adopt the provisions of this ASU on the effective date. However, it reserves the right to early adopt these provisions.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The Board issued this update as part of its Simplification Initiative to improve areas of GAAP and reduce cost and complexity while maintaining usefulness of the financial statements. The main provisions remove certain exceptions, including the exception to the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. In addition, the amendments simplify income tax accounting in the areas such as income-based franchise taxes, eliminating the requirements to allocate consolidated current and deferred tax expense in certain instances and a requirement that an entity reflects the effect of enacted changes in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation
in the interim period that includes the enactment date. The Company adopted this ASU on the effective date of January 1, 2021. The amendments in the update related to foreign subsidiaries have been applied on a modified retrospective basis, the amendments to franchise taxes were applied on a modified retrospective basis and all other amendments have been applied on a prospective basis. Because the Company’s deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities are fully reserved, the impact from the adoption of this standard was not material.
3. Warrants and Derivative Liabilities
Warrants
There are significant judgments and estimates inherent in the determination of the fair value of the Company’s warrants. These judgments and estimates include assumptions regarding the Company’s future operating performance, the time to completing a liquidity event and the determination of the appropriate valuation methods. If the Company had made different assumptions, the fair value of the warrants could have been significantly different (See Note 2).
Warrants vested and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 are summarized as follows:
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|
Source
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Term
(Years)
|
|
Number of
Warrants
Vested and
Outstanding
|
Pre 2015 Common Stock Warrants
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
6-10
|
|
1,110,000
|
|
2015 Common Stock Warrants
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
10
|
|
100,000
|
|
2016 Common Stock Warrants to Service Providers
|
|
$
|
1.15
|
|
|
10
|
|
40,000
|
|
2016 Series C Common Stock Warrants to Placement Agent
|
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
|
5
|
|
125,000
|
|
2017 Series D Common Stock Warrants to Placement Agent
|
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
|
5
|
|
480,000
|
|
2017 Common Stock Warrants to Service Provider
|
|
$
|
0.41
|
|
|
5
|
|
125,000
|
|
2018 Emerald Financing Warrants
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
5
|
|
3,400,000
|
|
Emerald Multi-Draw Credit Agreement Warrants
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
5
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
2019 Common Stock Warrants
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
5
|
|
8,000,000
|
|
2020 Common Stock Warrants
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
5
|
|
49,500,001
|
|
2020 Common Stock Warrants to Placement Agent
|
|
$
|
0.075
|
|
|
4.99
|
|
8,166,667
|
|
Total warrants vested and outstanding as of March 31, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
78,546,668
|
|
Derivative Liabilities
The following tables summarize the activity of derivative liabilities for the periods indicated:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
|
|
December 31, 2020
Fair
Value of Derivative Liabilities
|
|
Fair
Value of
Derivative
Liabilities
Issued
|
|
Change in
Fair value of
Liabilities
|
|
Reclassification
of Derivatives
to Equity
|
|
March 31, 2021
Fair
Value of Derivative Liabilities
|
Emerald Financing - warrant liability (1)
|
$
|
38,567
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
238,350
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
276,917
|
|
Current balance of derivative liabilities
|
$
|
38,567
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
238,350
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
276,917
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
|
|
December 31, 2019
Fair
Value of Derivative Liabilities
|
|
Fair
Value of
Derivative
Liabilities
Issued
|
|
Change in
Fair
value of
Derivative
Liabilities
|
|
Reclassification
of Derivatives
to Equity
|
|
March 31, 2020
Fair
Value of Derivative Liabilities
|
Emerald Multi Draw Credit Agreement - compound derivative liability
|
$
|
90,797
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
100,085
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
190,882
|
|
Emerald Financing - warrant liability (1)
|
276,024
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(81,879)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
194,145
|
|
Series B - warrant liability
|
134,579
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(54,109)
|
|
|
(26,563)
|
|
|
53,907
|
|
Total derivative liabilities
|
$
|
501,400
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(35,903)
|
|
|
$
|
(26,563)
|
|
|
$
|
438,934
|
|
Less, noncurrent portion of derivative liabilities
|
(90,797)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(190,882)
|
|
Current balance of derivative liabilities
|
$
|
410,603
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
248,052
|
|
Emerald Financing Warrant Liability (1)
In connection with the August 2020 Financing, the exercise price of the warrants was permanently set to $0.10. The warrants contain a contingent put option if the Company undergoes a subsequent financing that results in a change in control. The warrant holders also have the right to participate in subsequent financing transactions on an as-if converted basis.
The Company reviewed the warrants for liability or equity classification under the guidance of ASC 480-10, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and concluded that the warrants should be classified as a liability and re-measured to fair value at the end of each reporting period. The Company also reviewed the warrants under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging/Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, and determined that the warrants also meet the definition of a derivative. With the assistance of a third party valuation specialist, the Company valued the warrant liabilities utilizing the Monte Carlo valuation method pursuant to the accounting guidance of ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements. As of March 31, 2021, the Company changed its valuation approach for the Emerald Financing Warrant Liability to a Black Scholes valuation method, as it was determined that a more simplistic model such as the Black Scholes valuation method yields a substantially similar result as a Monte Carlo simulation due to the Company's current assumptions.
The warrant liability is valued at the balance sheet dates using the following assumptions:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2021
|
|
December 31,
2020
|
Dividend yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Volatility factor
|
137.5
|
%
|
|
90.9
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
0.15
|
%
|
|
0.14
|
%
|
Expected term (years)
|
1.88
|
|
2.13
|
Underlying common stock price
|
$
|
0.12
|
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
4. Debt
Multi-Draw Credit Agreement- Related Party
The Company’s Debt with Emerald Health Sciences consists of the following:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion
Price
|
|
As of March 31,
2021
|
|
As of December 31,
2020
|
Total principal value of convertible debt—related party
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
|
$
|
2,014,500
|
|
|
$
|
2,014,500
|
|
Unamortized debt discount
|
|
|
(938,724)
|
|
|
(1,079,821)
|
|
Unamortized debt issuance costs
|
|
|
(3,183)
|
|
|
(3,576)
|
|
Carrying value of total convertible debt - related party
|
|
|
1,072,593
|
|
|
931,103
|
|
Total principal value of non-convertible debt—related party
|
n/a
|
|
450,000
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
Total carrying value of advances under the multi-draw credit agreement
|
|
|
$
|
1,522,593
|
|
|
$
|
1,381,103
|
|
On October 5, 2018, the Company entered into the Credit Agreement with Emerald Health Sciences, a related party (See Note 8). On April 29, 2020, the Company entered into the Amended Credit Agreement with Emerald Health Sciences, which amends and restates the Credit Agreement. For all pre-existing and new advances, the Amended Credit Agreement removed the change in control as an event of default. The amendments to the pre-existing advances were accounted for as a modification. For all advances made after the Credit Agreement was amended, advances will be convertible at a reduced conversion price of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, unless Emerald Health Sciences provides notice that the advance will not be convertible.
On March 29, 2021, the Company amended the Amended Credit Agreement with Emerald Health Sciences which defers interest payments through the earlier of maturity or prepayment of the principal balance. The amendment was considered a modification for accounting purposes.
For all outstanding advances, the Amended Credit Agreement provides for a credit facility to the Company of up to $20,000,000 and is unsecured. Advances under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at an annual rate of 7% and mature on October 5, 2022. At Emerald Health Sciences’ election, convertible advances and unpaid interest may be converted into common stock at the applicable fixed conversion price of the underlying advance, subject to customary adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, etc. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has drawn down on $6,450,000 of the Amended Credit Agreement and may draw down up to the remaining amount. However, the Company does not consider the facility available until advance requests are approved, drawn down and funded by Emerald Health Sciences. The Amended Credit Agreement is still in place; however, there is no guarantee of continued funding by Emerald Health Sciences under the Amended Credit Agreement.
The Amended Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default which may result in the acceleration of the maturity of the advances in addition to, but not limited to, cross acceleration to certain other indebtedness of the Company. In the case of an event of default arising from specified events of bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization, all outstanding advances will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other event of default under the Amended Credit Agreement occurs or is continuing, Emerald Health Sciences may, by written notice, terminate its commitment to make any advances and/or declare all the advances, including accrued interest, payable due immediately. If any amount under the Amended Credit Agreement is not paid when due, such overdue amount shall bear interest at an annual default interest rate of the applicable rate plus 10%, until such amount is paid in full.
In connection with each advance under the Amended Credit Agreement, the Company has agreed to issue to Emerald Health Sciences warrants to purchase shares of common stock in an amount equal to 50% of the number of shares of common stock that each advance may be converted into. The warrants have a term of five years and are immediately exercisable upon issuance. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, Emerald Health Sciences may issue notice that no warrants will be granted at the time of the advance request. The warrants issued under the Credit Agreement have an exercise price of $0.50 per share and any future warrants issued under the Amended Credit Agreement will have a reduced exercise price of $0.35 per share. The exercise prices are subject to adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events or upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to the Company’s stockholders (See Note 3).
As of March 31, 2021, the unamortized debt discount on the convertible advances will be amortized over a remaining period of approximately 1.52 years. As of March 31, 2021, the fair value of the shares underlying the convertible advances under the Amended Credit agreement was $599,314. As of March 31, 2021, the if-converted value did not exceed the principal balance.
PPP Loan
On April 24, 2020, the Company received funding from the PPP Loan Lender pursuant to the PPP of the CARES Act administered by the SBA for a principal amount of $116,700. The PPP Loan matures on April 24, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 1.00% per year. Interest and principal are payable monthly commencing on the date the amount of forgiveness determined under section 1106 of the CARES Act is remitted to the Company, but in no event ten months after the last day of the covered period if the Company fails to apply for loan forgiveness. The PPP Loan may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. Funds from the PPP Loan may only be used by the Company for payroll costs, costs for continuing group healthcare benefits, mortgage interest payments, rent, utility and interest on any other debt obligations that were incurred before October 9, 2020.
All or a portion of the principal from the PPP Loan may be forgiven by the SBA and the PPP Loan Lender upon application by the Company within 60 days but not later than 120 days after loan approval and upon documentation of expenditures in accordance with the SBA requirements. Under the CARES Act, loan forgiveness is available for the sum of documented payroll costs, covered rent payments, and covered utilities during an eight-week period, or a longer period if elected by the Company, commencing on the date of loan approval. For purposes of the CARES Act, payroll costs exclude compensation of an individual employee in excess of $100,000, prorated annually. Not more than 40% of the forgiveness amount may be for non-payroll costs. Forgiveness is reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages of employees with salaries of $100,000 or less annually are reduced by more than 25%. On April 5, 2021, the Company submitted an application for the full forgiveness of the PPP Loan to the PPP Loan Lender for the full amount of the loan. The application is currently under review and if approval of the forgiveness amount and deferral period occurs, the PPP Loan Lender will provide the Company with written notification of re-amortization of the PPP Loan and the remaining balance, if any.
Interest Expense
The Company’s interest expense consists of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest expense – stated rate
|
$
|
43,129
|
|
|
$
|
35,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
PPP loan interest expense – stated rate
|
286
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash interest expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of debt discount
|
141,097
|
|
|
130,347
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of transaction costs
|
393
|
|
|
363
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
184,905
|
|
|
$
|
166,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Stockholders’ Equity and Capitalization
Increase to Authorized Shares of Capital Stock
On February 5, 2021, the Company increased its authorized shares of common and preferred stock to 5,000,000,000 and 50,000,000, respectively.
Warrant Exercises
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, 11,800,000 pre-funded warrants were exercised in exchange for 11,800,000 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $11,800. As of March 31, 2021 all of the pre-funded warrants have been exercised.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, 67,166,667 2020 common stock warrants were exercised in exchange for 67,166,667 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $4,030,000.
6. Stock-Based Compensation
Stock Incentive Plan
On October 31, 2014, after the closing of the Merger, the Board approved the Company’s 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”). The share reserve under the 2014 Plan equals 10% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. In August 2020, the Company approved Amendment No. 2 to the 2014 Plan, which increased the share reserve by an additional 7,876,835 shares over the 10% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock, and removed certain restrictions on the number of shares of common stock and the amount of cash-based awards up to which participants of the 2014 Plan can receive in a calendar year. The 2014 Plan authorizes the issuance of awards including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units and performance units to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had 21,147,442 shares available for future grant under the 2014 Plan.
Stock Options
The following is a summary of option activities under the Company’s 2014 Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
|
Outstanding, December 31, 2020
|
22,050,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
9.52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Cancelled
|
(360,000)
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
(40,000)
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, March 31, 2021
|
21,650,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
9.27
|
Exercisable, March 31, 2021
|
5,705,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
|
8.92
|
Vested and expected to vest, March 31, 2021
|
21,650,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
9.27
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, no stock options were exercised.
Awards Granted Outside the 2014 Plan
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,200,000 restricted shares of common stock to a non-employee consultant for investor relations services. Upon entering the service contract, half of the shares were issued, the remaining 50% will be issued upon the completion of the six month service contract.
The following is a summary of restricted stock activity outside of the Company’s 2014 Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date Fair
Value
|
Unvested, December 31, 2020
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
1,200,000
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
Released
|
(600,000)
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
Unvested, March 31, 2021
|
600,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line method over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss in general and administrative or
research and development, depending upon the nature of services provided. Stock-based compensation expense (including compensation expense for restricted stock awards discussed above) was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
$
|
74,429
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative
|
72,151
|
|
|
64,142
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
146,580
|
|
|
$
|
64,142
|
|
|
|
|
|
The total amount of unrecognized compensation cost was $750,469 as of March 31, 2021. This amount will be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.01 years.
7. Significant Contracts - University of Mississippi
UM 5050 Prodrug and UM 8930 Analog Agreements
In July 2018, the Company renewed its ocular licenses for UM 5050, a prodrug of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), and UM 8930, an analog of cannabidiol (“CBD”). On May 24, 2019, the ocular delivery licenses were replaced by “all fields of use” licenses for both UM 5050 and UM 8930 (collectively, the “License Agreements”). Pursuant to the License Agreements, UM granted the Company an exclusive, perpetual license, including, with the prior written consent of UM, the right to sublicense, the intellectual property related to UM 5050 and UM 8930 for all fields of use.
The License Agreements contain certain milestone payments, royalty and sublicensing fees payable by the Company, as defined therein. Each License Agreement provides for an annual maintenance fee of $75,000 payable on the anniversary of the effective date. The Company made upfront payments for UM 5050 and UM 8930 of $100,000 and $200,000, respectively. In addition, in March 2020, the Company was notified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, that a notice of allowance was issued for the proprietary analog of cannabidiol, CBDVHS, under the UM 8930 License Agreement. As a result, the Company paid UM a fee of $200,000. The milestone payments payable for each license are as follows:
i)$100,000 paid within 30 days following the submission of the first Investigational New Drug Application (“NDA”) to the Food and Drug Administration or an equivalent application to a regulatory agency anywhere in the world, for a product;
ii)$200,000 paid within 30 days following the first submission of an NDA, or an equivalent application to a regulatory agency anywhere in the world, for each product that is administered in a different route of administration from that of the early submitted product(s); and
iii)$400,000 paid within 30 days following the approval of an NDA, or an equivalent application to a regulatory agency anywhere in the world, for each product that is administered in a different route of administration from that of the early approved product(s).
The royalty percentage due on net sales under each License Agreement is in the mid-single digits. The Company must also pay to UM a portion of all licensing fees received from any sublicensees, subject to a minimum royalty on net sales, and the Company is required to reimburse patent costs incurred by UM related to the licensed products. The royalty obligations apply by country and by licensed product, and end upon the later of the date that no valid claim of a licensed patent covers a licensed product in a given country, or ten years after the first commercial sale of such licensed product in such country.
Each License Agreement continues, unless terminated, until the later of the expiration of the last to expire of the patents or patent applications within the licensed technology, and the expiration of the Company’s payment obligations under such License Agreement. UM may terminate each License Agreement, by giving written notice of termination, upon the Company’s material breach of such License Agreement, including failure to make payments or satisfy covenants, representations or warranties without cure, noncompliance, a bankruptcy event, the Company’s dissolution or cessation of operations, the Company’s failure to make reasonable efforts to commercialize at least one product or failure to keep at least one product on the market after the first commercial sale for a continuous period of one year, other than for reasons outside the Company’s control, or the Company’s failure to meet certain pre-established development milestones. The Company may terminate each License Agreement upon 60 days’ written notice to UM.
As of March 31, 2021, with the exception of the fee due for the notice of patent allowance for CBDVHS, none of the other milestones under these license agreements have been met.
UM 5070 License Agreement
In January 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement with UM pursuant to which UM granted the Company an exclusive, perpetual license, including the right to sublicense, to intellectual property related to a platform of cannabinoid-based molecules (“UM 5070”), to research, develop and commercialize products for the treatment of infectious diseases.
The Company paid UM an upfront license fee of $65,000 under the license agreement. Under the license agreement, the Company is also responsible for annual maintenance fees of $25,000 that will be credited against any royalties incurred, contingent milestone payments upon achievement of development and regulatory milestones, and royalties on net sales of licensed products sold for commercial use. The aggregate milestone payments due under the license agreement if all the milestones are achieved is $700,000 and the royalty percentage due on net sales is in the mid-single digits. The Company must also pay to UM a percentage of all licensing fees it receives from any sublicensees, subject to a minimum royalty on net sales by such sublicensees. The Company’s royalty obligations apply on a country by country and licensed product by licensed product basis, and end upon the later of the date that no valid claim of a licensed patent covers a licensed product in a given country, and ten years after first commercial sale of such licensed product in such country.
The license agreement continues, unless terminated, until the later of the expiration of the last to expire of the patents or patent applications within the licensed technology, and expiration of the Company’s payment obligations under the license. UM may terminate the license agreement, effective with the giving of notice, if: (a) the Company fails to pay any material amount payable to UM under the license agreement and does not cure such failure within 60 days after UM notifies the Company of such failure, (b) the Company materially breaches any covenant, representation or warranty in the license agreement and does not cure such breach within 60 days after UM notifies us of such failure, (b) the Company materially breaches any covenant, representation or warranty in the license agreement and does not cure such breach within 60 days after UM notifies the Company of such breach, (c) the Company fails to comply in any material respect with the terms of the license and do not cure such noncompliance within 60 days after UM notifies the Company of such failure, (d) the Company is subject to a bankruptcy event, (e) the Company dissolves or ceases operations or (f) if after the first commercial sale of a product during the term of the license agreement, the Company materially fails to make reasonable efforts to commercialize at least one product or fails to keep at least one product on the market after the first commercial sale for a continuous period of one year, other than for reasons outside of the Company’s control. The Company may terminate the license agreement upon 60 days’ written notice to UM.
As of March 31, 2021, none of the milestones under this license agreement have been met.
8. Related Party Matters
Emerald Health Sciences
On December 19, 2019, the Company entered into an Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Dr. Avtar Dhillon, pursuant to which Dr. Dhillon will provide ongoing corporate finance and strategic business advisory services to the Company. In exchange for his services, Dr. Dhillon initially received a monthly fee of $10,000, with (i) $5,000 paid each month and (ii) $5,000 accruing from the effective date of the agreement and payable upon the Company’s completion of a material financing. On March 30, 2020, the Company and Dr. Dhillon amended the Independent Contractor Services Agreement by agreeing to defer payment of 100% of Dr. Dhillon’s consulting fees until the Board of Directors determines that the Company has been sufficiently financed to make such payments at which point the Company agrees to pay Dr. Dhillon all of his accrued consulting fees, and a bonus of 10% of his accrued consulting fees, less applicable tax and other withholdings. The deferral was paid concurrent with the August 2020 Financing. After the August 2020 Financing, Dr. Dhillon continues to receive a monthly cash fee of $10,000 per month for his services. The Board reviews the monthly rate paid to Dr. Dhillon within 90 days of the end of each year. The Independent Contractor Services Agreement has an initial term of one year and automatically renews thereafter unless terminated earlier by either party. The Independent Contractor Services Agreement may be terminated by either party for cause upon written notice to the other party if the other party defaults in the performance of the agreement in any material respect or materially breaches the terms of the agreement, or without cause upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the other party. Under this agreement, for the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company incurred fees of $30,000. No expenses were incurred under this agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has accrued $10,000 in expense related to the Independent Contractor Services Agreement.
In addition, there is a Board Observer Agreement in place with Emerald Health Sciences to allow Dr. Dhillon to act as a representative of Emerald Health Sciences as a non-voting observer in future meetings of the Board.
Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
As of March 31, 2021, Jim Heppell and Punit Dhillon are board members of the Company and Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Emerald Health Sciences. As of March 31, 2021, Jim Heppell is also a board member of Emerald Health Sciences. The Company’s CEO, Punit Dhillon also served as a board member of Emerald Health Sciences. until he tendered his resignation from such board on August 10, 2020.
The Company shares the same office location as Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals. However, the Company’s workforce is currently remote. As of March 31, 2021, there is no written rental agreement with Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, and no rent is being charged.
Emerald Health Biotechnology España, S.L.U.
In January 2021, the Company entered into a Collaborative Research Agreement pursuant to a Master Services Agreement with Emerald Health Biotechnology España, S.L.U, a research and development entity with substantial expertise in cannabinoid science and a subsidiary of Emerald Health Research, Inc. which is 100% owned by Emerald Health Sciences. Under the agreement, Emerald Health Biotechnology España, S.L.U. will provide research and development services pursuant to an agreed upon project plan for the research and development of CBDVHS and additional scope based on different work orders. The term of the agreement is initially for a one-year period. The agreement will terminate upon delivery and acceptance of the final deliverable under the project plan or if either party is in breach of the terms of the contract and such breach remains uncured for 45 days. Payment for services are based on the negotiated amounts for the completion of agreed upon objectives as provided in the Collaborative Research Agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company incurred $69,600 in expenses under the Collaborative Research Agreement.
9. Subsequent Events
Warrant Exercises
From April 1, 2021 through the date of this filing, 4,333,334 common stock warrants were exercised in exchange for 4,333,334 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $260,000.