10KSB/A: Optional form for annual and transition reports of small business issuers [Section 13 or 15(d), not S-B Item 405]
Published on May 17, 2007
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB/A
Amendment
No. 2
x |
ANNUAL
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 |
o
|
TRANSITION
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For
the transition period from ______ to
______
|
Commission
file number: 000-51476
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(Name
of
small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware
|
20-2903526
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number)
|
|
248
Route 25A, No. 2
East
Setauket, New York
|
11733
|
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Issuer’s
telephone number: (631)
942-7959
Securities
registered under Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities
registered under Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.000 par value
per share.
Check
whether the issuer is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Check
whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for
such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports), and
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No o
Check
if
there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of
Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained,
to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any
amendment to this Form 10-KSB. o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes o No x
Issuer’s
revenues for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2006: $0
Aggregate
market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Issuer as of
March 15, 2007 was approximately $0.
There
were 26,582,183 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on March 15,
2007.
Documents
incorporated by reference: None.
Transitional
Small Business Disclosure Format: Yes o No x
Introductory
Comment
Throughout
this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,”
“Company” and “the Registrant” refer to Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.., a
Delaware corporation formerly known as SRKP 7, Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
Annual Report on Form 10KSB (the “Report”) contains certain forward-looking
statements. For example, statements regarding our financial position, business
strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, and assumptions
and predictions about future product demand, supply, manufacturing, costs,
marketing and pricing factors are all forward-looking statements. These
statements are generally accompanied by words such as “intend,” “anticipate,”
“believe,” “estimate,” “potential(ly),” “continue,” “forecast,” “predict,”
“plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect” or the negative of
such terms or other comparable terminology. We believe that the assumptions
and
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, based
on information available to us on the date hereof, but we cannot assure you
that
these assumptions and expectations will prove to have been correct or that
we
will take any action that we may presently be planning. However, these
forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks
and
uncertainties. Actual results or experience may differ materially from those
expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to,
regulatory policies, competition from other similar businesses, and market
and
general policies, competition from other similar businesses, and market and
general economic factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with
the
condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this
Report.
If
one or
more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying
assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from
what
we project. Any forward-looking statement you read in this Report reflects
our
current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other
risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of
operations, growth strategy, and liquidity. All subsequent forward-looking
statements attributable to us or individuals acting on our behalf are expressly
qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. You should specifically consider
the factors identified in this prospectus, which would cause actual results
to
differ before making an investment decision. We are under no duty to update
any
of these forward-looking statements after the date of this Report or to conform
these statements to actual results.
PART
I
ITEM
1. DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS
Company
Overview
We
were
organized as a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a
business combination with an operating business. On June 30, 2006, pursuant
to a
Share Exchange Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006 among us, Dr. John S. Kovach
and Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., we issued 19,021,786 shares of our common stock
to Dr. Kovach in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Lixte
Biotechnology, Inc. As a result of this transaction, Lixte is now our
wholly-owned subsidiary, though from an historical perspective it was deemed
to
have been the acquirer in the reverse merger and the survivor of the
reorganization. On December 7, 2006, we changed our name from SRKP 7, Inc.
to
Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. Throughout this Report, when we refer to
Lixte, we are referring to Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., our operating
subsidiary.
Lixte
was
created to capitalize on opportunities for the company to develop low cost,
specific, and sensitive tests for the early detection of cancers to better
estimate prognosis, to monitor treatment response, and to reveal targets for
development of more effective treatments.
Lixte
is
concentrating on discovering biomarkers for common cancers for which better
diagnostic and therapeutic measures are needed. For each of these diseases
a
biomarker that would enable identification of the presence of cancer at a stage
curable by surgery could possibly save thousands of lives annually. In addition,
biomarkers specific to these diseases may also provide clues as to processes
(biological pathways) that characterize specific cancer types and that may
be
vulnerable to drug treatment targeted to the activity of the
biomarker.
Lixte’s
initial focus is on developing new treatments for the most common and most
aggressive type of primary brain cancer, gliobastoma multiforme (which we refer
to as GBM). On March 22, 2006, Lixte entered into a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (which we refer to as the CRADA) with the National
Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (which we refer to as NINDS)
of
the National Institutes of Health (which we refer to as NIH) to identify and
evaluate drugs that target a specific biochemical pathway for GBM cell
differentiation. The CRADA also covers research to determine whether expression
of a component of this pathway correlates with prognosis in glioma
patients.
The
lead
scientist at NINDS collaborating with Lixte under the CRADA is Dr. Zhengping
Zhuang. Dr. Zhuang is internationally recognized for his research in molecular
pathology. Dr. Zhuang has four issued and two pending patents related to
molecular pathology of human cancers. He has recently discovered a biomarker
of
relevance to the growth of GBMs that Lixte believes can be used as a tool for
identifying drugs that affect the growth of GBM cells. Under the CRADA, Lixte
will support two persons at NIH to work under the direction of Dr. Zhuang.
The
goal is to identify drugs that inhibit GBM cell growth and to determine if
the
identified biomarker may be useful for estimation of prognosis. Lixte’s annual
contribution to the collaborative research done by Lixte and NIH is $200,000
for
each of two years for two research assistants expected to be at the
post-doctoral level and supplies.
On
February 6, 2006, we filed a provisional patent application naming as
co-inventors Dr. Zhuang and several other NIH investigators, and
Dr. Kovach covering certain methods and classes of molecules that are
expected to be the foundation of product development and commercialization
efforts with respect to human brain tumors. On February 6, 2007, we filed
on behalf of the NIH co-inventors and Dr. Kovach a PCT international patent
including all countries participating in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (except
the USA) and an identical non-provisional patent in the USA. These two patent
applications contain all claims in the provisional patent of February 6,
2006 plus additional claims.
Both
February 6, 2007 patent filings fall under the CRADA agreement with NINDS,
NIH. Patents resulting from these applications are jointly owned by Lixte
Biotechnology, Inc. and the U.S. Government. All NIH co-inventors are required
to assign their rights to NIH. As specified in the CRADA agreement between
us
and NINDS, NIH, we are entitled to obtain an exclusive license from NIH to
all
claims in these patents.
Also
on
February 6, 2007, we filed a new US provisional application in our sole
name. This application identifies a method of synthesis and documents activity
against glioblastoma multiforme cell lines in vitro of a proprietary lead
compound synthesized by the company. This provisional patent also describes
a
series of homologs of this lead compound.
Lixte’s
products will derive directly from its intellectual property consisting of
its
Provisional Patent Application and other patents it anticipates will arise
out
of its research activities. Those patents are expected to cover biomarkers
uniquely associated with specific types of cancer, patents on methods to
identify drugs that inhibit growth of specific tumor types and combinations
of
drugs and potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of specific
cancers.
We
face
several potential challenges in our drive for commercial success, including
raising sufficient capital to fund our business plan, achieving commercially
applicable results of our research program, continued access to tissue and
blood
samples from cancer patients, competition from established, well funded
companies with competitive technologies, and future competition from companies
that are developing competitive technologies, some of whom are larger companies
with greater capital resources than us.
3
GLOSSARY
The
following technical terms are used in this Report:
Assay
An
assay
is a
method to determine the presence, absence, or the amount of a particular
substance in a sample. Assays
of body
fluids such as blood and urine can be used to detect specific products
(biomarkers)
that
indicate the presence of a specific type of cancer.
Biomarker
A
biomarker
is a
component of a cell that is uniquely or strongly associated with a particular
feature of that cell. The detection of the biomarker in body fluid by an
assay
indicates that a particular cell is very likely to be present in the body.
In
this memorandum, “biomarkers”
refer
primarily to proteins
that are
uniquely produced by specific types of cancer cells or that are produced in
excess by the cancer cells compared to non—cancer cells of the same tissue or
organ.
Cancer
A
disease
characterized by loss or enhancement of one or more mechanisms that regulate
the
growth of cells of a specific tissue. Loss of these control mechanisms or gain
of abnormal mechanisms in a single cell that put cell
growth
into
overdrive allows that cell to grow, invade local tissue, and to spread to other
regions of the body. This spreading of altered cells to distant sites is the
process called metastasis.
Cell
Growth
Cell
growth
is the
ability of an individual cell to reproduce by dividing into two cells. During
normal development and subsequently during the life of the adult, this process
is highly controlled. Loss of this control is the distinguishing feature of
cancer cells. Although all cancer cells gain the capacity for uncontrolled
growth, in most instances they retain many of the highly specialized features
(and associated specific molecular components) that were characteristic of
the
normal tissue before loss of growth control. For example, breast cancer cells
and brain cancer cells have lost control of growth and may be unrecognizable
by
their appearance under the microscope but
identifiable by the presence of biomarkers specific to breast or brain
cells.
CRADA
A
CRADA
(Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) is a formal contractual
mechanism by which a variety of federal government agencies may agree to work
collaboratively with a non-governmental entity to study and advance a particular
idea, observation, or process under a defined plan of work.
Gene
A
gene
is a
unit of information that specifies the structure of one or more gene
products.
Collectively, genes determine the precise composition of all molecules needed
for maintenance of the functions of life: reproduction, development,
organization, growth and metabolism. Genes
are
often referred to as units of heredity because they pass on the information
necessary for all characteristics of an individual. For mammals like ourselves,
one set of genes is received from each parent.
4
Gene
Products
The
products of genes are the thousands of different chemical structures, called
molecules, needed for development of all cells. Most gene products are proteins.
Most proteins are enzymes, molecules that can carry out work such as digesting
and utilizing food for energy, signaling the cell to produce other gene products
in response to changing conditions in the body, and controlling cell
growth.
When
proteins controlling cell growth are altered, as occurs in all cancers, they
become prime candidates for biomarkers
that
reveal the presence of cancer.
Glioblastoma
Multiforme (GBM)
GBM
is the
most common and most aggressive type of primary human brain cancer. The name
derives from the fact that the brain cell that loses growth control and becomes
a brain cancer cell is a glial cell (glioblastoma); as the altered glial cells
grow without restraint, they take on many different shapes (multiforme). Recent
studies suggest, however, that GBMs may arise from primitive brain stem cells
rather than from glial cells. GBM
is the
initial target of Lixte Biotechnology, Inc.
Metastasis
Metastasis
is the
process by which cancers acquire the ability to spread to other parts of the
body by entry and dissemination through the blood and/or lymph systems. The
devastating aspect of metastasis is the ability of the cancer cells to grow
in a
new environment (new tissue) Examples are the metastasis of breast cancer cells
to the brain and liver and prostate cancer cells to bone.
Cure
of
cancers is much more difficult to achieve after metastasis
has
occurred. A major goal of our biomarker research is to develop assays
for
detection of cancers before they have invaded extensively or metastasized,
allowing complete removal by surgery.
Mutation
A
mutation
is a
change in one or more building blocks of a gene. Some changes can be tolerated
without altering the integrity (function) of the product of the gene but other
changes can result in cancer.
For
the
purposes of the cancer projects described in this memorandum, it is important
to
distinguish between inherited mutations (inborn mutations) and acquired
(environmentally caused) mutations.
Some
inborn mutations predispose an individual to development of one or more kinds
of
cancer. Because these mutations are inherited, they are present in every cell
in
the body. Such mutations are responsible for the higher frequency of certain
cancers in particular families and ethnic groups. Examples are the breast cancer
predisposing genes known as BRCA I and BRCA II.
Research
on biomarkers,
however, is directed at finding the gene products (proteins) of acquired
mutations. Acquired mutations that change a single cell to a cancer cell are
present ONLY in that cell and cells arising from its uncontrolled cell growth.
If the products of the altered genes in these cancer cells are detectable in
the
body, they may reveal the presence of the cancer at a stage when it is curable
by surgery.
Prognosis
Prognosis
refers
to the likely course of a disease at specific stage of development. For example,
a breast or prostate cancer that is not confined to the tissue of origin, e.g.
is also present in a lymph node when first detected, has a greater likelihood
of
recurrence, a worse prognosis, than if it were confined to the tissue of
origin.
5
Thus,
the
presence of lymph node metastases is an indicator of poor
prognosis.
It
is
hoped that specific biomarkers
for
cancers will be found that have prognostic value. With assays for such markers,
patients with poor prognoses could consider more aggressive treatments before
obvious spread of disease and patients with good prognoses could be spared
unnecessary treatment.
Proteins
Proteins
are
molecules that have many functions important to the nature and behavior of
the
cell. Many proteins are enzymes that regulate and integrate a myriad of
biochemical processes essential to life.
Certain
enzymes are critical to an integrated system of cellular signaling that
regulates cell behavior in response to a constantly changing environment and
maintains the specialized nature of different types of cells. It is likely
that
some biomarkers of cancers have perverted signaling functions that perpetuate
the abnormal behavior of the cancer.
Thus,
discovery of biomarkers of known function that are unique or overly abundant
in
specific types of cancers may provide clues as to the biochemical
vulnerabilities of these cancers, weaknesses that can be attacked selectively
by
specific classes of drugs.
Research
Objectives
In
the
first year of operation, we will concentrate on exploiting the biomarker pathway
associated with the growth of GBMs to identify drugs with potential selective
activity against this type of tumor. In the first year, we will also collect
the
clinical samples needed for the identification of biomarkers for ovarian and
stomach cancer. Subsequently, we will include cancers of the breast, prostate,
colon, bladder, and kidney. For each of these diseases, a biomarker that would
enable identification of the presence of cancer at a stage curable by surgery
would save thousands of lives annually. Biomarkers specific to these diseases
may also provide clues as to processes (biological pathways) that may be
important to the growth of the cancer and therefore be vulnerable to drug
treatments targeted to the biomarker pathway.
We
will
seek to identify new treatments for the most common and most aggressive type
of
primary brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”) under a Cooperative
Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”) with the National Institute of
Neurological Diseases and Stroke (“NINDS”) of the National Institutes of Health
(“NIH”). A second goal of the CRADA is to determine whether expression of a
component of the biomarker pathway correlates with prognosis in glioma
patients.
The
collaborating NIH laboratory is directed by Dr. Zhengping Zhuang, who is an
internationally recognized molecular pathologist. He has four issued and two
pending patents related to molecular pathology of human cancers. Dr. Zhuang
and
colleagues at NIH recently discovered a biomarker that we believe can be used
as
a tool for identifying drugs that affect the growth of GBM cells. Under the
CRADA, we will support studies in Dr. Zhuang’s laboratory with $200,000 annually
for two years for two research assistants expected to be at the post-doctoral
level and supplies. Dr. Zhuang will make the selection of the research
personnel.
Intellectual
Property
In
February 2006, a provisional patent application was filed covering certain
methods and classes of molecules that we expect to be the foundation of our
product development and commercialization efforts with respect to human brain
tumors that are subject to the CRADA. In February 2007, a PCT international
patent covering all countries participating in the Patent Cooperation Treaty
except the USA was filed containing all claims in the provisional patent plus
additional claims. A non-provisional patent application with the same claims
was
filed in the USA. The PCT application and the non-provisional application
include data supporting the original claims in the provisional patent and a
number of new claims, including evidence that several drugs mentioned in the
provisional patent may mimic the activity of the lead drugs named in the
provisional patent, and do, in fact, have anti-tumor activity against human
glioblastoma cell lines.
6
Both
February patent 2007 filings, the PCT application and the non-provisional
application, fall under the CRADA agreement with NINDS, NIH. As such, we are
entitled to obtain an exclusive license to such claims as specified in the
standard NIH CRADA agreement. In addition, patents resulting from these
applications will be jointly owned by Lixte and the U.S. Government. The terms
of the license (including term and royalty) will be subject to negotiations
between us and NINDS, NIH in the future.
In
February 2007, a new US provisional application was filed on behalf of Lixte
Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. This provisional patent application identifies
a
new lead compound that has activity against glioblastoma multiform cell lines
in
vitro. This provisional patent application also describes a series of homologs
of the lead compound.
Access
to Clinical Materials
To
detect
and to assess the clinical relevance of biomarkers, we need access to human
tissue, blood and perhaps other body fluids of patients with and without the
specific types of cancer under study. On January 5, 2007 we entered into a
two-year agreement with the Institute of Pathology at the University of
Regensburg in Germany to receive a supply of high quality, accurately annotated
tissue and blood samples for cancers other than brain cancers. This arrangement
provides us with appropriate clinical samples for which permission has been
obtained to study any molecular feature of the tissue for commercial purposes.
This is an absolute requirement for success of a for-profit company in this
field. Pursuant to the Agreement, the University will provide us with certain
samples of primary cancer tissue and related biological fluids to be obtained
from patients affiliated with specified types of cancer. The University will
also provide certain information relating to such patients. The University
is to
be paid 72,000 Euros (approximately $99,702) in two installments of 36,000
Euros. The first installment was paid on March 7, 2007, and the second
installment will be paid within 60 days of the earlier of (i) January
5, 2008 or (ii) the University's fulfillment of certain obligations relating
to
the delivery of materials.
Clinical
samples will be obtained from patients who have given their signed informed
consent by persons identified by the University of Regensburg, Germany. These
are employees of the University who have approval by the University to seek
such
permission under a consent form approved by the University. The scope of use
has
been narrowed to the study of human cancers for the purposes of developing
improved methods of diagnosis, estimation of prognosis, treatment and
understanding causation of human cancers.
The
collection, selection, histological characterization, and processing of tissue
samples and collection of blood samples will be managed by Arndt Hartmann,
M.D.,
a Professor in the Institute of Pathology at the University of Regensburg.
Dr.
Hartmann is an expert clinical and molecular pathologist and is keenly
interested in the project. His research is focused on the molecular genetics
of
breast, bladder, prostate and kidney cancer. He was a research fellow for three
years in Dr. Kovach’s laboratory at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota,
before completing his residency in pathology and joining the faculty at
Regensburg University. Dr. Hartmann is a member of the Scientific Advisory
Committee of Lixte.
To
date,
the cancers studied by us are those of brain cancers and, to a lesser extent,
breast and kidney cancers, and all such studies have been done at the NIH under
the CRADA. All brain cancer cell lines and human tumor cells were provided
by
NIH.
Access
to Chemical Compounds
On
February 5, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Chem-Master International,
Inc. pursuant to which we engaged Chem-Master to synthesize the compound
designated LB-1 and any other compound synthesized by Chem-Master pursuant
to
our request, which has potential use in treating a disease, including, without
limitation, cancers such as glioblastomas. Pursuant to the Agreement, we agreed
to grant to Chem-Master a five-year option to purchase 100,000 shares of our
common stock with an exercise price of $0.333 per share. Additionally, provided
that the Agreement is not terminated by us without cause or by any party for
cause prior to the second anniversary of the Agreement, we agreed to grant
to
Chem-Master a five-year option to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of
the
Company’s common stock at $0.333 share. We have agreed to reimburse Chem-Master
for the cost of materials, labor and expenses in providing the
synthesis.
7
The
Market
We
believe that a sensitive, specific, reasonably priced assay for the detection
of
any common human cancer at an early stage could save thousands of lives
annually, reduce health care costs, and generate significant
income.
Brain
Cancer
The
most
malignant type of brain cancer, GBM, although less common than stomach, breast
and prostate cancers, is almost invariably fatal. Typically, survival after
surgery and radiation is only 12 to 18 months. A biomarker reflecting disease
progression and, most importantly, providing a method to develop more specific
and effective treatments of GBM would be an important discovery.
Stomach
Cancer
We
believe that stomach cancer (gastric cancer) is a target for biomarker
identification because of its high prevalence in certain of the world’s
population, particularly in Asia. Since gastric cancer is uncommon in the West,
development of new diagnostics and treatments is not a priority for many
pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies, providing a special opportunity for
us.
Current
screening for gastric cancer entails passing a tube into the stomach
(gastroscopy) and sampling of suspicious areas. The invasive nature and cost
of
gastroscopy with sedation limits systematic screening of large numbers of
individuals at risk. We believe that a blood test for the early detection of
stomach cancer could save many lives and significantly reduce health care costs
in countries with a high prevalence of the disease.
Ovarian
Cancer
Although
ovarian cancer is much less common than breast cancer, cancer of the ovary
is
responsible for the death of almost half as many women who die from breast
cancer. Less than 50% of women are cured of ovarian cancer because the disease
is almost always in an advanced stage before it produces symptoms. Yet, if
ovarian cancer is found early, the cure rate is 90% or better. A blood test
for
screening women at risk (all women who are 50 or older) is urgently
needed.
Marketing
Plan
Once
a
biomarker has been identified, depending on the projected cost for evaluation,
we expect to either conduct the initial assessment using our resources or seek
partners in industry for clinical development. If we have the resources, we
prefer to generate evidence of clinical value on our own to maximize financial
value of the product.
If
we do
not have the resources needed to develop the clinical potential of a given
biomarker ourselves, we intend to try to find partners in large diagnostic
and/or pharmaceutical companies. These companies are increasingly dependent
upon
new biomarkers discovered by academic groups and small biotechnology companies
to maintain a pipeline of promising drugs and new diagnostic tools.
8
We
are
confident that the molecular approaches that led to the discovery of the
biomarker for GBMs (and the subject of the Provisional Patent Application)
could
lead to the discovery of equally promising new biomarkers for other cancers.
If
discovered and developed, the challenge will be to decide which products to
license early and which to carry into clinical evaluation without a
pharmaceutical company partner.
Research
and Development
Our
primary objective is to develop sensitive and specific assays for identification
of potential therapeutic targets and for the early detection for several common
cancers. Most cancers produce abnormal proteins or abnormal amounts of normal
proteins. How many of these potential biomarkers are present at detectable
concentrations in the blood is not known.
There
are
four steps in our biomarker detection and validation process:
1. Tissue
Acquisition
The
acquisition of well-characterized cancer tissue and blood samples from cancer
patients and control individuals is the most critical step to success. We
believe that we should have access to the clinical samples needed for our
program from the Institute of Pathology at University of Regensburg in Germany.
We expect that the samples we will obtain will be or have been collected under
the regulatory requirements of the European Union and of the Office of
Protection of Research Subjects in the United States. Those regulations require
that each patient be fully informed about the process, the use of the samples,
and any attendant risks. Though there is a negligible medical risk related
to
the collection of the samples for Lixte’s purposes, the consent form points out
that the tissue is not needed for clinical purposes and that the research done
will not affect the patient’s care in any way.
The
consent specifies further that the samples will be used to develop diagnostic
tests and/or treatments for cancer that may have commercial value and that
the
participants will not be entitled to any of the financial benefits from the
product’s development. All samples are coded and the privacy of all participants
is assured because personal identifiers are never shared with us by the
University of Regensburg. Obtaining consent is the responsibility of the
collaborating institution, but all consent processes and forms will be jointly
approved by the collaborating institution and by us.
Under
the
CRADA agreement, any tissue that might be studied at NIH must meet the
requirements of the Office of Protection of Research Subjects in the United
States. Before any samples collected by us would be used under the CRADA, the
informed consent process pertaining to the samples, including determination
that
anonymization of the samples was carried out, would be reviewed with NIH and
deemed acceptable with respect to the requirements of NIH.
2. Tissue
Processing
For
maximum efficiency in detecting biomarkers, cancer cells must be isolated from
a
complex matrix of normal cells and other structural elements of tissue in which
the cancer has arisen under conditions that do not alter potential biomarkers.
The procedures used minimize destruction and alteration of cell components.
Once
processed, preparations can be transported without compromising their
integrity.
3. Detection
and
Identification of Biomarkers
The
search for molecular elements with features unique to a specific cancer type
is
accomplished using highly reproducible physical techniques. These techniques
are
not proprietary but involve technologies used in sequences that are not obvious.
The most prominent biomarkers for each tumor type are identified by mass
spectrometric sequencing. We will select for patenting and clinical evaluation
biomarkers present at high frequency in all cancers of the same
type.
9
4. Development
of Assays for
Biomarkers in the Blood
Whether
to develop an assay for selected biomarkers is an important decision point.
Assay development is an expensive component of the discovery process but also
an
essential step in establishing commercial value. For each cancer type, we expect
to screen sera of affected and unaffected persons for the five most promising
biomarkers of known sequence for which patent protection seems achievable.
Maximum value of the product for diagnostics is achieved by demonstrating the
presence of specific biomarkers in the serum of patients harboring the cancer
of
interest and their absence in the sera of patients without the
cancer.
Biomarkers
not useful for diagnostic assays may still have significant value as markers
of
prognosis and/or as drug targets. For example, although it is not yet clear
whether the new biomarker discovered by Dr. Zhuang will serve as a useful
diagnostic assay for GBMs, that biomarker is nevertheless valuable because
it
was demonstrated to provide a tool for identification of new drug combinations
active against GBMs in vitro.
Using
stringent criteria for biomarker selection, analysis of small numbers of a
given
type of cancer is sufficient for detection of relevant biomarkers. If potential
biomarkers for early diagnosis are discovered for several types of cancer,
such
as the one already identified for GBMs, we will prioritize their development
in
the following order: stomach, ovary, prostate, colon, bladder, and kidney.
If a
particularly compelling opportunity arises, we have the flexibility to quickly
direct resources to maximize chances of developing a clinically useful
product.
Product
Overview
Our
products will derive directly from our intellectual property consisting of
our
Provisional Patent Application and other patents we anticipate will arise from
our research activities. Those patents are expected to cover biomarkers uniquely
associated with specific types of cancer that may provide the bases for assays
suitable for cancer detection and patents on methods to identify drugs that
inhibit growth of specific tumor types and combinations of drugs as potential
therapeutic agents for the treatment of specific cancers.
We
believe that there are four main markets for potential products that may be
developed by Lixte.
1. Improved
Cancer Treatments. Improved
chemotherapy regimens for cancers not curable by surgery or
radiation;
2. Diagnostic
Assays.
Improved
assays of body fluids, primarily blood, for the diagnosis of cancers at stages
when cure is possible through surgery and/or radiotherapy;
3. Estimation
of Prognosis. Improved
methods for estimation of prognosis by molecular sub-classification of
histologically indistinguishable tumor subtypes; and
4. Assessment
of Therapeutic Effectiveness. Improved
methods to assess therapeutic effectiveness by monitoring with biomarker assays
persistence or reappearance of cancer during and after treatment and during
drug
development.
Each
market is discussed below.
1. Improved
Cancer Treatments
We
will
seek to develop improved therapeutic regimens when biomarkers provide insight
into pathways vulnerable to chemical and/or immunological attack. Some tumor
biomarkers have specific (enzymatic) functions and are “drugable,” that is,
their function can be altered pharmacologically. For example, the identification
of the biomarker specific to regulation of GBMs has led to development of an
assay for screening compounds for anti-GBM activity.
10
2. Diagnostic
Assays
We
intend
to work under the CRADA with NINDS to assess the clinical potential of the
new
biomarker for GBM. Using the approach developed by Dr. Zhuang to identify
markers for GBM and for other rare tumors, we also intend to initiate searches
for biomarkers in other common cancers for which there is no highly specific
and
sensitive blood test for early detection. The focus for the first two years,
in
addition to GBMs, will be ovarian and gastric cancer. For these diseases, a
reliable blood test for their detection at an early surgically curable stage
would save many lives. If our resources increase as anticipated, research will
likely be extended to the identification of biomarkers for stomach and ovarian
cancer and subsequently to biomarkers for breast, prostate, colon, bladder,
and
kidney cancers.
3. Estimation
of
Prognosis
There
is
a wide spectrum of aggressiveness and responsiveness to drug treatments for
many
cancers that are clinically indistinguishable with present methods of
classification. Judgment of the aggressiveness of most cancers is currently
based on their morphologic appearance under the microscope and, for some tumors,
on a few molecular features such as hormone receptors associated with breast
cancers. There are few biomarkers sufficiently reliable to predict the prognosis
of a given cancer patient so that treatment intensity can be adjusted with
confidence toward less or more toxic regimens.
4. Assessment
of Therapeutic
Effectiveness
We
believe that specific and sensitive biomarkers for any human cancer are in
great
demand by pharmaceutical companies and by the National Cancer Institute as
aids
to drug development and to the development of targeted drug treatment. In
addition, we believe that biomarkers that reflect disease progression and
regression during initial clinical evaluation of new therapeutic agents could
greatly reduce the cost of new drug development. To assess the effectiveness
of
a specific treatment, it would be less expensive and more efficient to monitor
the appearance and disappearance of a biomarker in the blood than to monitor
the
course of disease by radiological imaging.
Product
Development
We
will
become subject to FDA regulations at such time as we pursue development of
clinical trials. Additionally, any product for which we obtain marketing
approval, along with the manufacturing processes, post-approval clinical data
and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to continual review
and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory bodies. Even if
regulatory approval of a product is granted, the approval may be subject to
limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or
contain requirements for costly post-marketing testing and surveillance to
monitor the safety or efficacy of the product. Later discovery of previously
unknown problems with our products, including unanticipated adverse events
or
adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, manufacturer or
manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements,
may
result in restrictions on such products or manufacturing processes, withdrawal
of the products from the market, voluntary or mandatory recall, fines,
suspension of regulatory approvals, product seizures, injunctions or the
imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
Competition
The
life
sciences industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid and profound
technological change. We believe that several companies are investigating
biomarkers for every human cancer. These companies include firms seeking a
better understanding of molecular variability in human brain tumors with the
objective to be able to use such information to design better treatments. Our
present and potential competitors include major pharmaceutical companies, as
well as specialized biotechnology and life sciences firms in the United States
and in other countries. Most of these companies have considerably greater
financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. Additional mergers
and
acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result
in
even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. Our existing or
prospective competitors may develop processes or products that are more
effective than ours or be more effective at implementing their technologies
to
develop commercial products faster. Our competitors may succeed in obtaining
patent protection and/or receiving regulatory approval for commercializing
products before us. Developments by our competitors may render our product
candidates obsolete or non-competitive.
11
We
also
experience competition from universities and other research institutions, and
we
are likely to compete with others in acquiring technology from those sources.
There can be no assurance that others will not develop technologies with
significant advantages over those that we are seeking to develop. Any such
development could harm our business.
We
face
competition from other companies seeking to identify and commercialize cancer
biomarkers. We also compete with universities and other research institutions
engaged in research in these areas. Many of our competitors have greater
technical and financial resources than we do.
Our
ability to compete successfully is based on numerous factors,
including:
·
|
the
cost-effectiveness of any product we ultimately commercialize relative
to
competing products;
|
·
|
the
ease of use and ready availability of any product we bring to
market;
|
·
|
the
accuracy of a diagnostic test designed by us in detecting cancers,
including overcoming the propensity for “false positive” results;
and
|
·
|
the
relative speed with which we are able to bring any product resulting
from
our research to market in our target
markets.
|
If
we are
unable to distinguish our products from competing products, or if competing
products reach the market first, we may be unable to compete successfully with
current or future competitors. This would cause our revenues to decline and
affect our ability to achieve profitability.
Employees
As
of
December 31, 2006, we had no full-time employees. Dr. Kovach is Chair of the
Department of Preventive Medicine at SUNY, in Stony Brook. He received approvals
from the School of Medicine of Stony Brook University and from the New York
State Ethics Commission to operate the company (or to serve as CEO of the
company) and to hold greater than 5% of our outstanding shares.
Our
investment commitments in the research efforts pursuant to the CRADA fund two
technical assistants who will work under the supervision of Dr. Zhuang on the
aims of the CRADA. Dr. Kovach will devote 20% of his efforts per year to
research planning and design and will monitor the research progress under the
CRADA. Dr. Kovach’s contributions will be made outside of his academic
responsibilities.
Properties
At
present, we conduct all laboratory activities at NIH under the CRADA agreement.
We will also collect and store samples of human tumors other than brain cancers
under a service agreement with the University of Regensburg, Germany. The
Company maintains a single office in a designated area of Dr. Kovach's residence
and receives mail at the post office depot, 248 Route 25A, No. 2, East Setauket,
New York 11733. No additional facilities are needed until the Company develops
its independent laboratory.
12
Government
Regulation
At
its
present stage of development, our business is not subject to any specific
government regulation with respect to its ongoing research and plan service
agreement. Our only collaborator at present is National Institute of
Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health. This
collaboration is defined in CRADA 2165 under which NINDS evaluates compounds
for
their ability to inhibit the growth of brain tumor cells. The NINDS laboratory
that is carrying out this activity is a research laboratory that operates in
compliance with various federal and state's statutes and regulations including
the OSHA. All activities of this laboratory are monitored by the compliance
office of NINDS.
We
have entered into a service agreement with Regensburg University,
Germany for access to “ waste ” samples of various human cancers and serum and
urine from individuals with cancers. The collection, preparation, storage,
and
transfer of these materials are subject to the investigational review board
of
the University, which operates under the requirements of the Free State of
Bavaria. The materials are anonymized by the personnel by the University so
that
the business has no way to link clinical samples to any individuals. This
process is in compliance with the requirements of the CRADA and with FDA
regulations concerning the study of clinical material.
There
are
no other regulations affecting the pursuit of the goals of the business. In
the
future, if and when we develop an independent laboratory, that laboratory would
be subject to the same regulations that apply to any laboratory carrying out
research on biological samples. Should we develop an independent laboratory,
it
will engage a compliance expert to formally assess the status of the laboratory
with respect to federal occupational and environmental regulations and also
those regulations of the state in which the laboratory is located as these
regulations pertain to the operation of the laboratory.
In
the
future, we anticipate that as part of the CRADA agreement with NINDS lead
compounds identified as active in vitro by the NINDS laboratory will be assessed
for activity in animal models (mouse/rat) of human brain tumors. Such activities
by NINDS and the business would be carried out in compliance with all applicable
Statutes, Executive Capital Orders, HHS regulations and all FDA, CDC, and NIH
policies as specified in Article 13, 13.1 and 13.2, of the PHS CRADA agreement
.
Our
business will become subject to the regulations of the FDA when we begin to
pursue development of clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies
to
answer specific questions about new therapies or new ways of using known
treatments. Clinical trials are use to determine whether new drugs or treatments
are both safe and effective and the FDA has determined that carefully conducted
clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatment that work
in
people.
The
ultimate objective of our CRADA is to identify, characterize, and bring to
clinical trial regimens for the treatment of human brain tumors (GBMs). We
estimate that we are at least one year from being in a position to begin
discussing development of a clinical trial. Such a clinical trial would most
likely be conducted by us in association with a pharmaceutical company in
association with NIH under the existing CRADA or under a new CRADA or with
a
pharmaceutical company without association with NIH. In either case, we would
be
primarily responsible for filing and obtaining approval from the FDA of an
Investigational New Drug Application (IND). In the event that we seek to raise
sufficient capital to conduct a phase I clinical trial without a partner in
the
pharmaceutical industry in collaboration with NIH or independently, we would
become subject to FDA regulation as we sought to obtain an IND for clinical
evaluation of a therapeutic regimen with the long-range goal of receiving FDA
approval of the drug for commercial use. Acquisition of an IND from the FDA
is
the process that triggers FDA review and oversight as federal law requires
that
a drug be the subject of an approved marketing application before it is
transported to clinical investigations, unless exempted. The IND is the means
through which we would obtain such exemption. During a new drug's early
preclinical development, our primary goal is to determine if the product is
reasonably safe for initial use in humans, and if the compound exhibits
pharmacological activity that justifies commercial development. When a product
is identified as a viable candidate for further development, we would then
focus
on collecting the data and information necessary to establish that the product
will not expose humans to unreasonable risks when used in limited, early-stage
clinical studies. FDA's role in the development of a new drug begins when we,
having screened the new molecule for pharmacological activity and acute toxicity
potential in animals, want to test its diagnostic or therapeutic potential
in
humans. At that point, the molecule changes in legal status under the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and becomes a new drug subject to specific
requirements of the drug regulatory system. Once the IND is submitted, we must
wait 30 calendar days before initiating any clinical trials. During this time,
FDA has an opportunity to review the IND for safety to assure that research
subjects will not be subjected to unreasonable risk.
13
The
first
phase of clinical trials, Phase I trials, are the initial studies to determine
the metabolism and pharmacologic action of drugs in humans, the side effects
associated with increasing doses, and to gain early evidence of effectiveness.
If we were to conduct clinical trials on our own, it is likely that only a
Phase
I type trial would be done. In such a trial a new investigational drug or
combination of drugs is first introduced into humans. For the evaluation of
anticancer drugs, patients entering such trials are those for whom no means
of
therapy is known to be associated with benefit. Such studies are closely
monitored and require approval from the FDA including a proposal for the conduct
of the clinical trial.
The
FDA
also requires that an independent review body consider the benefits and risks
of
a clinical trial and grant approval for the proposed study including selecting
of initial doses, plans for escalation of dose, plans for modification of dose
if toxicity is encountered, plans for monitoring the well being of individuals
participating in the study and for defining and measuring to the extent possible
any untoward effects related to drug administration. Serious adverse effects
such as life-threatening toxicities and death are immediately reportable to
the
review body and to the FDA. To minimize risk when studying a new drug, the
initial dose is well below that expected on the basis of animal studies to
cause
any toxicity. No more than three patients are entered at a given dose and in
general dose is not escalated within patients. Once safety is established by
the
absence of toxicity or low toxicity in a group of three patients, a planned
higher dose is then evaluated in a subsequent group of three individuals and
so
on until dose limiting toxicity is encountered. The dose level producing
definite but acceptable toxicity is then selected as the dose level to be
evaluated in Phase II trials. Thus, the goal of Phase I studies is to determine
the appropriate dose level for evaluation of drug efficacy in patients with
the
same type of tumor at comparable stages of progression for whom no beneficial
treatment is established. The
duration of a Phase I trial is generally from 4 to 9 months.
We
expect
to participate in clinical trials of new therapies only in partnership with
an
organization experienced in such undertakings. The partnering organization
may
be either a clinical branch of NIH or a pharmaceutical company with expertise
in
the conduct of clinical trials. Our present position is to take one or more
of
our new therapies for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme through
pre-clinical evaluation as part of our CRADA agreement with NINDS, NIH. After
completing pre-clinical evaluation, we will consider partnering with NIH to
conduct a phase I trial or jointly with NIH seek a third party, most
probably a large pharmaceutical company to carry the new therapies into
phase I trials.
After
completion of phase I trials, we, potentially in partnership with NIH or on
our own, would collaborate with the third party to carry new therapies found
to
be safe for administration to humans in the phase I trials into
phase II trials.
Phase II
trials test the safety and effectiveness, as well as the best estimate of
the
proper dose of the new therapies in a group of patients with the same type
of
cancer at the same stage. For our initial studies the focus will be brain
tumors. The duration of phase II trials may run from 6 to 24 months. New
regimens showing beneficial activity in phase II trials may then be
considered for evaluation in phase III trials. Phase III trials for
the evaluation of new cancer treatments are comparative trials in which the
therapeutic benefit of a new regimen is compared to the therapeutic benefit
of
the best standard regimen in a randomized study.
Whether
we will participate or be in a position to participate in any clinical trials
will depend upon partnerships and specific licensing agreements. In all cases
of
clinical trial participation, however, we will be subject to FDA regulation.
These regulations are specific and form the basis for assessing the potential
clinical benefit of new therapeutic regimens while safeguarding the health
of
patients participating in investigational studies. Even after a drug receives
approval from the FDA for sale as a new treatment for a specific disease
indication, the sponsors of the drug are subject to reporting potentially
adverse effects of a new regimen to the FDA.
In
addition to regulations imposed by the FDA, depending on our future activities,
we may become subject to regulation under various federal and state statutes
and
regulations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental
Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Research Conservation
and
Recovery Act, national restrictions on technology transfer, and import, export
and customs regulations. From time to time, other federal agencies and
congressional committees have indicated an interest in implementing further
regulation of biotechnology applications. We are not able to predict whether
any
such regulations will be adopted or whether, if adopted, such regulations will
apply to our business, or whether we or our collaborators would be able to
comply with any applicable regulations.
In
addition, as we intend to market our products in international markets, we
may
be required to obtain separate regulatory approvals from the European Union
and
many other foreign jurisdictions. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval
by regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one foreign
regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in
other
foreign countries or by the FDA. We may not be able to file for regulatory
approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products
in any market. As we are currently in the development stage, we can predict
the
impact on us from any such regulations.
14
RISK
FACTORS
Please
consider the following risk factors together with the other information
presented in this Report, including the financial statements and the notes
thereto.
RISKS
RELATED TO BUSINESS
We
are engaged in early stage research and as such may not be successful in our
efforts to develop a portfolio of commercially viable
products.
A
key
element of our strategy is to discover, develop and commercialize a portfolio
of
new drugs and diagnostic tests. We are seeking to do so through our internal
research programs. A significant portion of the research that we are conducting
involves new and unproven technologies. Research programs to identify new
disease targets and product candidates require substantial technical, financial
and human resources whether or not any candidates or technologies are ultimately
identified. Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying
potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidates for clinical
development for any of the following reasons:
·
|
the
research methodology used may not be successful in identifying potential
product candidates;
|
·
|
product
candidates for diagnostic tests may on further study be shown to
not
obtain an acceptable level of accuracy;
or
|
·
|
product
candidates for drugs may on further study be shown to have harmful
side
effects or other characteristics that indicate they are unlikely
to be
effective drugs.
|
Although
we have identified one potential product candidate in the area of brain tumors,
the work needed to demonstrate its commercial viability is at a very early
stage. The follow-up research needed to demonstrate the viability of the product
is costly and time-consuming and may reveal that the product does not function
as expected or that it is otherwise not commercially viable.
If
we are
unable to discover suitable potential product candidates, develop additional
delivery technologies through internal research programs or in-license suitable
products or delivery technologies on acceptable business terms, our business
prospects will suffer.
We
do not expect to obtain any revenues for several years and there is no assurance
that we will ever generate revenue or be profitable. If we do not generate
revenues and achieve profitability, we will be forced to cease or substantially
curtail our operations and you may lose your entire
investment.
Because
we are currently engaged in research at a very early stage, significant time
may
be required to develop any product or intellectual property capable of
generating revenues. As such, our business is unlikely to generate any revenue
in the next several years and may never do so. Even if we are able to generate
revenues in the future through licensing our technologies or through product
sales, there is no assurance that our revenues will exceed our expenses. Should
we fail to achieve profitability, you may lose your entire
investment.
We
will
need to raise additional funds in the future and these funds may not be
available on acceptable terms or at all.
The
funds
we raised in the private placement will not be sufficient to fully develop
and
commercialize any products that may arise from our research. We will also
need
to raise additional funds in order to satisfy our future liquidity requirements.
Most immediately, in addition to the $969,372 from the Private Placement,
we
expect to require up to $2.3 million in the near term to enable us to obtain
a
wet lab to further advance our research projects. Additionally, the amount
and
timing of future cash requirements will depend on market acceptance of our
products, if any, and the resources we devote to developing and supporting
our
products. We will need to fund these cash requirements from either one or
a
combination of additional financings, mergers or acquisitions, or via the
sale
or license of certain of our assets. Current market conditions present
uncertainty as to our ability to secure additional funds, as well as our
ability
to reach profitability. There can be no assurances that we will be able to
secure additional financing, or obtain favorable terms on such financing
if it
is available, or as to our ability to achieve positive cash flow from
operations. Continued negative cash flows and lack of liquidity create
significant uncertainty about our ability to fully implement our operating
plan
and we may have to reduce the scope of our planned operations. If cash and
cash
equivalents are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we would
be
required to scale back or discontinue our product development program, or
obtain
funds if available through strategic alliances that may require us to relinquish
rights to certain of our technologies or discontinue our
operations.
15
Our
auditors have included a going concern assumption in their
opinion.
Our
auditors opinion regarding our financial statements include concerns about
our
ability to continue as a going concern in view of the fact that we are in the
development stage and have not commenced operations. All activity through
December 31, 2006 related to our formation, capital raising efforts and initial
research and development activities. As such, we have yet to generate any cash
flows from operations, and are essentially dependent on debt and equity funding
from both related and unrelated parties to finance our operations. Prior to
June
30 2006, cash requirements for Lixte, our operating subsidiary, were funded
by
advances from Dr. John Kovach, Lixte’s founder, our current Chief Executive
Officer. On June 30, 2006, we completed an initial closing of a private
placement, selling 1,973,869 shares of common stock at a price of $0.333 per
share and receiving net proceeds of $522,939. On July 27, 2006, we completed
a
second closing of a private placement, selling 1,581,351 shares of common stock
at a price of $0.333 per share and receiving net proceeds of
$446,433.
Because
we are currently engaged in research at a very early stage, it will likely
take
a significant amount of time to develop any product or intellectual property
capable of generating revenues. As such, our business is unlikely to generate
any revenue in the next several years and may never do so. Even if we are able
to generate revenues in the future through licensing our technologies or through
product sales, there can be no assurance that such revenues will exceed our
expenses.
Based
on
the proceeds received from the private placement, we may not have sufficient
resources to completely fund our planned operations for the next twelve months.
We do not have sufficient resources to fully develop and commercialize any
products that may arise from our research. Accordingly, we will need to raise
additional funds in order to satisfy our future working capital requirements.
In
the short-term, in addition to the net proceeds from the private placement,
we
estimate that it will approximately require additional funding of approximately
$2,300,000. Additionally, the amount and timing of future cash requirements
will
depend on market acceptance of our products, if any, and the resources that
we
devote to developing and supporting our products. We will need to fund these
cash requirements from either one or a combination of additional financings,
mergers or acquisitions, or via the sale or license of certain of our
assets.
Current
market conditions present uncertainty as to our ability to secure additional
funds, as well as our ability to reach profitability. There can be no assurances
that we will be able to secure additional financing, or obtain favorable terms
on such financing if it is available, or as to our ability to reach
profitability. There can be no assurances that we will be able to secure
additional financing, or obtain favorable terms on such financing if it is
available, or as to our ability to achieve positive cash flow from operations.
Continued negative cash flows and lack of liquidity create significant
uncertainty about our ability to fully implement our operating plan and we
may
have to reduce the scope of our planned operations. If cash and cash equivalents
are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we would be required
to
scale back or discontinue our product development program, or obtain funds
if
available through strategic alliances that may require us to relinquish rights
to certain of our technologies or discontinue our operations.
16
If
we are unable to secure licenses to technologies or materials vital to our
business, or if the rights to technologies that we have licensed terminate,
our
commercialization efforts could be delayed or fail.
On
February 6, 2006, we filed a provisional patent application naming as
co-inventors Dr. Zhuang and several other NIH investigators, and
Dr. Kovach covering certain methods and classes of molecules that are
expected to be the foundation of product development and commercialization
efforts with respect to human brain tumors. On February 6, 2007, we filed
on behalf of the NIH co-inventors and Dr. Kovach a PCT international
patent including all countries participating in the Patent Cooperation Treaty
(except the USA) and an identical non-provisional patent in the USA. These
two
patent applications contain all claims in the provisional patent of
February 6, 2006 plus additional claims.
Both
February 6, 2007 patent filings fall under the CRADA agreement with NINDS,
NIH. Patents resulting from these applications are jointly owned by Lixte
Biotechnology, Inc. and the U.S. Government. All NIH co-inventors are required
to assign their rights to NIH. As specified in the CRADA agreement between
us
and NINDS, NIH, we are entitled to obtain an exclusive license from NIH to
all
claims in these patents.
Also
on
February 6, 2007, we filed a new US provisional application in our sole
name. This application identifies a method of synthesis and documents activity
against glioblastoma multiforme cell lines in vitro of a proprietary lead
compound synthesized by the company. This provisional patent also describes
a
series of homologs of this lead compound.
Should
we
be unable to reach an agreement on patents shared with NIH, or should we be
unable to reach such an agreement in the future pertaining to other technologies
owned by the government or third parties, this could harm our businesses.
Additionally, if those licenses terminate and we are unable to renew them,
or
must renew them only on unfavorable terms, such events could require us to
cease
providing products or services using such licensed technology and, therefore,
would likely result in loss of revenue for our business.
If
we were to materially breach our present collaboration agreement or any future
license or collaboration agreements, we could lose our ability to commercialize
the related technologies, and our business could be materially and adversely
affected.
We
are
party to a research collaboration agreement and intend to enter into
intellectual property licenses and agreements, all of which will be integral
to
our business. These licenses and agreements impose various research,
development, commercialization, sublicensing, royalty, indemnification,
insurance and other obligations on us. If we or our collaborators fail to
perform under these agreements or otherwise breach obligations imposed by them,
we could lose intellectual property rights that are important to our
business.
We
may not be successful in establishing additional strategic collaborations,
which
could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize
products.
In
the
future, we may seek opportunities to establish new collaborations, joint
ventures and strategic collaborations for the development and commercialization
of products we discover. We face significant competition in seeking appropriate
collaborators and the negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. We
may
not be successful in our efforts to establish additional strategic
collaborations or other alternative arrangements. Even if we are successful
in
our efforts to establish a collaboration or agreement, the terms that we
establish may not be favorable to us. Finally, such strategic alliances or
other
arrangements may not result in successful products and associated
revenue.
The
life sciences industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid technological
change.
The
life
sciences industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid and profound
technological change. Our present and potential competitors include major
pharmaceutical companies, as well as specialized biotechnology and life sciences
firms in the United States and in other countries. Most of these companies
have
considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do.
Additional mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries may result in even more resources being concentrated in our
competitors. Our existing or prospective competitors may develop processes
or
products that are more effective than ours or be more effective at implementing
their technologies to develop commercial products faster. Our competitors may
succeed in obtaining patent protection and/or receiving regulatory approval
for
commercializing products before us. Developments by our competitors may render
our product candidates obsolete or non-competitive.
17
We
also
experience competition from universities and other research institutions, and
we
are likely to compete with others in acquiring technology from those sources.
There can be no assurance that others will not develop technologies with
significant advantages over those that we are seeking to develop. Any such
development could harm our business.
We
may be unable to compete successfully with our
competitors.
We
face
competition from other companies seeking to identify and commercialize cancer
biomarkers. We also compete with universities and other research institutions
engaged in research in these areas. Many of our competitors have greater
technical and financial resources than we do.
Our
ability to compete successfully is based on numerous factors,
including:
·
|
the
cost-effectiveness of any product we ultimately commercialize relative
to
competing products;
|
·
|
the
ease of use and ready availability of any product we bring to
market;
|
·
|
the
accuracy of a diagnostic test designed by us in detecting cancers,
including overcoming the propensity for “false positive” results;
and
|
·
|
the
relative speed with which we are able to bring any product resulting
from
our research to market in our target
markets.
|
If
we are
unable to distinguish our products from competing products, or if competing
products reach the market first, we may be unable to compete successfully with
current or future competitors. This would cause our revenues to decline and
affect our ability to achieve profitability.
We
depend on certain key scientific personnel for our success who do not work
full
time for us. The loss of any such personnel could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
Our
success depends on the continued availability and contributions of our Chief
Executive Officer and founder, Dr. John S. Kovach, as well as the continued
availability and contributions of Dr. Zhengping Zhuang and other collaborators
at the NIH. In particular, Dr. Kovach is 70 years old, and, because of his
arrangement with the State University of New York, does not devote his full
time
to us although Dr. Kovach generally devotes a minimum of twenty hours a week
to
our business. The loss of services of any of these persons could delay or reduce
our product development and commercialization efforts. Furthermore, recruiting
and retaining qualified scientific personnel to perform future research and
development work will be critical to our success. The loss of members of our
scientific personnel, or our inability to attract or retain other qualified
personnel or advisors, could significant weaken our management, harm our ability
to compete effectively and harm our business.
Our
key personnel are involved in other business activities and may face a conflict
in selecting between their other business interests and our
business.
Dr.
John
Kovach, our Chief Executive Officer, also is Chair of the Department of
Preventive Medicine at Stony Brook University. He may also become involved
in
the future with other business opportunities, which may become available.
Accordingly, our key personnel may face a conflict in selecting between us
and
their other business interests. We have not formulated a policy for the
resolution of such conflicts. Dr. Zhengping Zhuang is a full-time employee
of
NIH. He participates with the company under a formal agreement with NIH, a
CRADA, that defines the scope of his collaboration, and he does not face a
conflict of interest.
18
We
expect to rely heavily on third parties for the conduct of clinical trials
of
our product candidates. If these clinical trials are not successful, or if
we or
our collaborators are not able to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals,
we
will not be able to commercialize our product
candidates.
In
order
to obtain regulatory approval for the commercial sale of our product candidates,
we and our collaborators will be required to complete extensive preclinical
studies as well as clinical trials in humans to demonstrate to the FDA and
foreign regulatory authorities that our product candidates are safe and
effective.
Dr.
Kovach is experienced in the design and conduct of early clinical cancer trials,
having been the lead investigator for a National Cancer Institute Phase I
contract for ten years at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Lixte, however, has
no
experience in conducting clinical trials and expects to rely heavily on
collaborative partners and contract research organizations for their performance
and management of clinical trials of our product candidates.
Clinical
development, including preclinical testing, is a long, expensive and uncertain
process. Prior to conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials in humans,
we anticipate that the following steps will be taken: Identification of lead
compounds in vitro studies, followed by documentation of activity in an animal
model of a particular disease entity, and determination of toxicity of the
new
therapy(s) in an animal system usually consisting of the mouse and often the
dog. For new diagnostic tests, pre-clinical studies involve demonstration of
recognition of specific endpoints associated with the presence or progression
of
disease in a manner that suggest relevance to clinical diagnosis and/or
assessment of prognosis. It is expected that for us to carry its new treatments
to clinical trials-an agreement will be negotiated with (1) NIH to conduct
the
trial as part of a new CRADA or (2) a pharmaceutical company, most probably
in
conjunction with NIH as co-inventor of the new therapies. Accordingly,
preclinical testing and clinical trials, if any, of our product candidates
under
development may not be successful. We and our collaborators could experience
delays in preclinical or clinical trials of any of our product candidates,
obtain unfavorable results in a development program, or fail to obtain
regulatory approval for the commercialization of a product. Preclinical studies
or clinical trials may produce negative, inconsistent or inconclusive results,
and we or our collaborators may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct
additional preclinical studies or clinical trials. The results from early
clinical trials may not be statistically significant or predictive of results
that will be obtained from expanded, advanced clinical trials.
Furthermore,
the timing and completion of clinical trials, if any, of our product candidates
depend on, among other factors, the number of patients we will be required
to
enroll in the clinical trials and the rate at which those patients are enrolled.
Any increase in the required number of patients, decrease in recruitment rates
or difficulties retaining study participants may result in increased costs,
program delays or both.
Also,
our
products under development may not be effective in treating any of our targeted
disorders or may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects,
toxicities or other characteristics that may prevent or limit their commercial
use. Institutional review boards or regulators, including the FDA, may hold,
suspend or terminate our clinical research or the clinical trials of our product
candidates for various reasons, including non-compliance with regulatory
requirements or if, in their opinion, the participating subjects are being
exposed to unacceptable health risks. Additionally, the failure of third parties
conducting or overseeing the operation of the clinical trials to perform their
contractual or regulatory obligations in a timely fashion could delay the
clinical trials. Failure of clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing.
Any of these events would adversely affect our ability to market a product
candidate.
The
development process necessary to obtain regulatory approval is lengthy, complex
and expensive. If we and our collaborative partners do not obtain necessary
regulatory approvals, then our business will be unsuccessful and the market
price of our common stock will substantially decline.
19
To
the
extent that we, or our collaborative partners, are able to successfully advance
a product candidate through the clinic, we, or such partner, will be required
to
obtain regulatory approval prior to marketing and selling such
product.
The
process of obtaining FDA and other required regulatory approvals is expensive.
The time required for FDA and other approvals is uncertain and typically takes
a
number of years, depending on the complexity and novelty of the
product.
Any
regulatory approval to market a product may be subject to limitations on the
indicated uses for which we, or our collaborative partners, may market the
product. These limitations may restrict the size of the market for the product
and affect reimbursement by third-party payors. In addition, regulatory agencies
may not grant approvals on a timely basis or may revoke or significantly modify
previously granted approvals.
We,
or
our collaborative partners, also are subject to numerous foreign regulatory
requirements governing the manufacturing and marketing of our potential future
products outside of the United States. The approval procedure varies among
countries, additional testing may be required in some jurisdictions, and the
time required to obtain foreign approvals often differs from that required
to
obtain FDA approvals. Moreover, approval by the FDA does not ensure approval
by
regulatory authorities in other countries, and vice versa.
As
a
result of these factors, we or our collaborators may not successfully begin
or
complete clinical trials in the time periods estimated, if at all. Moreover,
if
we or our collaborators incur costs and delays in development programs or fail
to successfully develop and commercialize products based upon our technologies,
we may not become profitable and our stock price could decline.
Even
if our products are approved by regulatory authorities, if we fail to comply
with ongoing regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated problems
with our products, these products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal
from the market.
Any
product for which we obtain marketing approval, along with the manufacturing
processes, post-approval clinical data and promotional activities for such
product, will be subject to continual review and periodic inspections by the
FDA
and other regulatory bodies. Even if regulatory approval of a product is
granted, the approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for
which the product may be marketed or contain requirements for costly
post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of
the
product. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our products,
including unanticipated adverse events or adverse events of unanticipated
severity or frequency, manufacturer or manufacturing processes, or failure
to
comply with regulatory requirements, may result in restrictions on such products
or manufacturing processes, withdrawal of the products from the market,
voluntary or mandatory recall, fines, suspension of regulatory approvals,
product seizures, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal
penalties.
Failure
to obtain regulatory approval in foreign jurisdictions will prevent us from
marketing our products abroad.
We
intend
to market our products in international markets. In order to market our products
in the European Union and many other foreign jurisdictions, we must obtain
separate regulatory approvals. The approval procedure varies among countries
and
can involve additional testing, and the time required to obtain approval may
differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. The foreign regulatory
approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA
approval. We may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis,
if
at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities
in other countries, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not
ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by
the
FDA. We may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and may not receive
necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market.
20
We
are subject to uncertainty relating to health care reform measures and
reimbursement policies which, if not favorable to our product candidates, could
hinder or prevent our product candidates’ commercial
success.
The
continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care
organizations and other payors of health care costs to contain or reduce costs
of health care may adversely affect:
·
|
our
ability to generate revenues and achieve
profitability;
|
·
|
the
future revenues and profitability of our potential customers, suppliers
and collaborators; and
|
·
|
the
availability of capital.
|
In
certain foreign markets, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject
to government control. In the United States, given recent federal and state
government initiatives directed at lowering the total cost of health care,
the
U.S. Congress and state legislatures will likely continue to focus on health
care reform, the cost of prescription pharmaceuticals and on the reform of
the
Medicare and Medicaid systems. For example, legislation was enacted on December
8, 2003, which provides a new Medicare prescription drug benefit beginning
in
2006 and mandates other reforms. While we cannot predict the full effects of
the
implementation of this new legislation or whether any legislative or regulatory
proposals affecting our business will be adopted, the implementation of this
legislation or announcement or adoption of these proposals could have a material
and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Our
ability to commercialize our product candidates successfully will depend in
part
on the extent to which governmental authorities, private health insurers and
other organizations establish appropriate reimbursement levels for the cost
of
our products and related treatments. Third-party payors are increasingly
challenging the prices charged for medical products and services. Also, the
trend toward managed health care in the United States, which could significantly
influence the purchase of health care services and products, as well as
legislative proposals to reform health care or reduce government insurance
programs, may result in lower prices for our product candidates or exclusion
of
our product candidates from reimbursement programs. The cost containment
measures that health care payors and providers are instituting and the effect
of
any health care reform could materially and adversely affect our results of
operations.
If
physicians and patients do not accept the products that we may develop, our
ability to generate product revenue in the future will be adversely
affected.
The
product candidates that we may develop may not gain market acceptance among
physicians, healthcare payors, patients and the medical community. This will
adversely affect our ability to generate revenue. Market acceptance of and
demand for any product that we may develop will depend on many factors,
including:
·
|
our
ability to provide acceptable evidence of safety and
efficacy;
|
·
|
convenience
and ease of administration;
|
·
|
prevalence
and severity of adverse side
effects;
|
·
|
availability
of alternative treatments or diagnostic
tests;
|
·
|
cost
effectiveness;
|
·
|
effectiveness
of our marketing strategy and the pricing of any product that we
may
develop;
|
21
·
|
publicity
concerning our products or competitive products;
and
|
·
|
our
ability to obtain third-party coverage or
reimbursement.
|
We
face the risk of product liability claims and may not be able to obtain
insurance.
Our
business exposes us to the risk of product liability claims that is inherent
in
the testing, manufacturing, and marketing of drugs and related devices. Although
we will obtain product liability and clinical trial liability insurance when
appropriate, this insurance is subject to deductibles and coverage limitations.
We may not be able to obtain or maintain adequate protection against potential
liabilities. In addition, if any of our product candidates are approved for
marketing, we may seek additional insurance coverage. If we are unable to obtain
insurance at acceptable cost or on acceptable terms with adequate coverage
or
otherwise protect against potential product liability claims, we will be exposed
to significant liabilities, which may harm our business. These liabilities
could
prevent or interfere with our product commercialization efforts. Defending
a
suit, regardless of merit, could be costly, could divert management attention
and might result in adverse publicity or reduced acceptance of our products
in
the market.
We
cannot be certain we will be able to obtain patent protection to protect our
product candidates and technology.
We
cannot
be certain that any patent or patents will be issued based on the pending
provisional patent application we recently filed. If a third party has also
filed a patent application relating to an invention claimed by us or our
licensors, we may be required to participate in an interference proceeding
declared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of
invention, which could result in substantial uncertainties and cost for us,
even
if the eventual outcome is favorable to us. The degree of future protection
for
our proprietary rights is uncertain. For example:
·
|
we
or our licensors might not have been the first to make the inventions
covered by our pending or future patent
applications;
|
·
|
we
or our licensors might not have been the first to file patent applications
for these inventions;
|
·
|
others
may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or
duplicate
any of our technologies;
|
·
|
it
is possible that our patent applications will not result in an issued
patent or patents, or that the scope of protection granted by any
patents
arising from our patent applications will be significantly narrower
than
expected;
|
·
|
any
patents under which we hold ultimate rights may not provide us with
a
basis for commercially-viable products, may not provide us with any
competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties as not
infringed, invalid, or unenforceable under United States or foreign
laws;
|
·
|
any
patent issued to us in the future or under which we hold rights may
not be
valid or enforceable; or
|
·
|
we
may develop additional proprietary technologies that are not patentable
and which may not be adequately protected through trade secrets;
for
example if a competitor independently develops duplicative, similar,
or
alternative technologies.
|
22
If
we are not able to protect and control our unpatented trade secrets, know-how
and other technological innovation, we may suffer competitive
harm.
We
also
rely on proprietary trade secrets and unpatented know-how to protect our
research and development activities, particularly when we do not believe that
patent protection is appropriate or available. However, trade secrets are
difficult to protect. We will attempt to protect our trade secrets and
unpatented know-how by requiring our employees, consultants and advisors to
execute a confidentiality and non-use agreement. We cannot guarantee that these
agreements will provide meaningful protection, that these agreements will not
be
breached, that we will have an adequate remedy for any such breach, or that
our
trade secrets will not otherwise become known or independently developed by
a
third party. Our trade secrets, and those of our present or future collaborators
that we utilize by agreement, may become known or may be independently
discovered by others, which could adversely affect the competitive position
of
our product candidates.
We
may incur substantial costs enforcing our patents, defending against third-party
patents, invalidating third-party patents or licensing third-party intellectual
property, as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patent
and
other intellectual property rights.
We
may
not have rights under some patents or patent applications that may cover
technologies that we use in our research, drug targets that we select, or
product candidates that we seek to develop and commercialize. Third parties
may
own or control these patents and patent applications in the United States and
abroad. These third parties could bring claims against us or our collaborators
that would cause us to incur substantial expenses and, if successful against
us,
could cause us to pay substantial damages. Further, if a patent infringement
suit were brought against us or our collaborators, we or they could be forced
to
stop or delay research, development, manufacturing or sales of the product
or
product candidate that is the subject of the suit. We or our collaborators
therefore may choose to seek, or be required to seek, a license from the
third-party and would most likely be required to pay license fees or royalties
or both. These licenses may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.
Even if we or our collaborators were able to obtain a license, the rights may
be
nonexclusive, which would give our competitors access to the same intellectual
property. Ultimately, we could be prevented from commercializing a product,
or
forced to cease some aspect of our business operations, as a result of patent
infringement claims, which could harm our business.
There
has
been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other
intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Although we are not currently a party to any patent litigation or any other
adversarial proceeding, including any interference proceeding declared before
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, regarding intellectual property
rights with respect to our products and technology, we may become so in the
future. We are not currently aware of any actual or potential third party
infringement claim involving our products. The cost to us of any patent
litigation or other proceeding, even if resolved in our favor, could be
substantial. The outcome of patent litigation is subject to uncertainties that
cannot be adequately quantified in advance, including the demeanor and
credibility of witnesses and the identity of the adverse party, especially
in
biotechnology related patent cases that may turn on the testimony of experts
as
to technical facts upon which experts may reasonably disagree. Some of our
competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings
more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial
resources. If a patent or other proceeding is resolved against us, we may be
enjoined from researching, developing, manufacturing or commercializing our
products without a license from the other party and we may be held liable for
significant damages. We may not be able to obtain any required license on
commercially acceptable terms or at all.
Uncertainties
resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other
proceedings could harm our ability to compete in the marketplace. Patent
litigation and other proceedings may also absorb significant management
time.
23
If
our products were derived from tissue or other samples from a patient without
the patient’s consent, we could be forced to pay royalties or cease selling our
products.
An
essential component of our business is our ability to obtain well-characterized
tissue and other samples from patients. To that end, on January 5, 2007, we
entered into an agreement with the Institute of Pathology at the University
of
Regensburg in Germany to collect samples of colon, kidney, bladder, stomach,
breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers for biomarker discovery programs focused
on these cancers. Although we believe that all necessary consents will be
obtained from any patient who donates samples for our research purposes, there
is a risk that, without our knowledge and through inadvertence or neglect,
proper consents will not be obtained from all patients. The responsibility
for
obtaining the consents is vested in the physicians at the University. If a
patient does not give a proper consent and we develop a product using a sample
obtained from him or her, we could be forced to pay royalties or to cease
selling that product. All tissue samples are de-identified when they are sent
to
us. We have no way to link any of our studies to an individual
patient. Therefore, the risk of an individual patient objecting to
development of any product is extremely remote.
If
we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, our competitors
may
develop and market products with similar features that may reduce demand for
our
potential products.
The
following factors are important to our success:
·
|
receiving
patent protection for our product
candidates;
|
·
|
preventing
others from infringing our intellectual property rights;
and
|
·
|
maintaining
our patent rights and trade
secrets.
|
We
will
be able to protect our intellectual property rights in patents and trade secrets
from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that such intellectual
property rights are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively
maintained as trade secrets.
To
date,
we have sought to protect our proprietary position by filing for a Patent
Cooperation Treaty patent and a non-provisional patent in the U.S. related
to
inventions that form the basis of our research arrangements with the NIH and
potential pipeline of future products. We also filed a new provisional
application in the U.S. in February 2007 relating to a lead compound that has
activity against glioblastoma multiform cell lines in vitro. We anticipate
that
we will apply for further patents based on our ongoing research. Because issues
of patentability involve complex legal and factual questions, the issuance,
scope and enforceability of patents cannot be predicted with certainty. Patents,
if issued, may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented. U.S. patents and
patent applications may also be subject to interference proceedings, and U.S.
patents may be subject to reexamination proceedings in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office and foreign patents may be subject to opposition or comparable
proceedings in corresponding foreign patent offices, which proceedings could
result in either loss of the patent or denial of the patent application or
loss
or reduction in the scope of one or more of the claims of the patent or patent
application. In addition, such interference, reexamination and opposition
proceedings may be costly. Thus, any patents that we own or license from others
may not provide any protection against competitors. Furthermore, an adverse
decision in an interference proceeding can result in a third-party receiving
the
patent rights sought by us, which in turn could affect our ability to market
a
potential product to which that patent filing was directed. Our pending patent
applications, those that we may file in the future, or those that we may license
from third parties may not result in patents being issued. If issued, they
may
not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages against
competitors with similar technology. Furthermore, others may independently
develop similar technologies or duplicate any technology that we have developed.
Many countries, including certain countries in Europe, have compulsory licensing
laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third
parties. For example, compulsory licenses may be required in cases where the
patent owner has failed to “work” the invention in that country, or the
third-party has patented improvements. In addition, many countries limit the
enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors.
In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could
materially diminish the value of the patent. Moreover, the legal systems of
certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor
the
aggressive enforcement of patent and other intellectual property protection,
which makes it difficult to stop infringement.
24
In
addition, our ability to enforce our patent rights depends on our ability to
detect infringement. It is difficult to detect infringers who do not advertise
the compounds that are used in their products. Any litigation to enforce or
defend our patent rights, even if we prevail, could be costly and time-consuming
and would divert the attention of management and key personnel from business
operations.
We
will
also rely on trade secrets, know-how and technology, which are not protected
by
patents, to maintain our competitive position. We will seek to protect this
information by entering into confidentiality agreements with parties that have
access to it, such as strategic partners, collaborators, employees and
consultants. Any of these parties may breach these agreements and disclose
our
confidential information or our competitors might learn of the information
in
some other way. If any trade secret, know-how or other technology not protected
by a patent were disclosed to, or independently developed by, a competitor,
our
business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially
adversely affected.
If
our third-party manufacturers’ facilities do not follow current good
manufacturing practices, our product development and commercialization efforts
may be harmed.
There
are
a limited number of manufacturers that operate under the FDA’s and European
Union’s good manufacturing practices regulations and are capable of
manufacturing products. Third-party manufacturers may encounter difficulties
in
achieving quality control and quality assurance and may experience shortages
of
qualified personnel. A failure of third-party manufacturers to follow current
good manufacturing practices or other regulatory requirements and to document
their adherence to such practices may lead to significant delays in the
availability of products for commercial use or clinical study, the termination
of, or hold on, a clinical study, or may delay or prevent filing or approval
of
marketing applications for our products. In addition we could be subject to
sanctions being imposed on us, including fines, injunctions and civil penalties.
Changing manufacturers may require additional clinical trials and the
revalidation of the manufacturing process and procedures in accordance with
FDA
mandated current good manufacturing practices and will require FDA approval.
This revalidation may be costly and time consuming. If we are unable to arrange
for third-party manufacturing of our products, or to do so on commercially
reasonable terms, we may not be able to complete development or marketing of
our
products.
If
we fail to obtain an adequate level of reimbursement for our products by
third-party payors, there may be no commercially viable markets for our products
or the markets may be much smaller than expected.
The
availability and levels of reimbursement by governmental and other third-party
payors affect the market for our products. The efficacy, safety and
cost-effectiveness of our products as well as the efficacy, safety and
cost-effectiveness of any competing products will determine the availability
and
level of reimbursement. These third-party payors continually attempt to contain
or reduce the costs of healthcare by challenging the prices charged for
healthcare products and services. In certain countries, particularly the
countries of the European Union, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals
is
subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with
governmental authorities can take six to twelve months or longer after the
receipt of regulatory marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement
or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct clinical
trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of our products to other available
therapies. If reimbursement for our products is unavailable, limited in scope
or
amount or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our revenues would be
reduced.
Another
development that may affect the pricing of drugs is regulatory action regarding
drug reimportation into the United States. The Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, which became law in December 2003,
requires the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
to
promulgate regulations allowing drug reimportation from Canada into the United
States under certain circumstances. These provisions will become effective
only
if the Secretary certifies that such imports will pose no additional risk to
the
public’s health and safety and result in significant cost savings to consumers.
To date, the Secretary has made no such finding, but he could do so in the
future. Proponents of drug reimportation may also attempt to pass legislation
that would remove the requirement for the Secretary’s certification or allow
reimportation under circumstances beyond those anticipated under current law.
If
legislation is enacted, or regulations issued, allowing the reimportation of
drugs, it could decrease the reimbursement we would receive for any products
that we may commercialize, negatively affecting our anticipated revenues and
prospects for profitability.
25
RISKS
RELATED TO CAPITAL STRUCTURE
There
is no assurance of an established public trading market, which would adversely
affect the ability of our investors to sell their securities in the public
market.
Although
our common stock is registered under the Exchange Act, our common stock is
not
and has never been publicly traded. As such, a regular trading market for the
securities does not yet exist and may not exist or be sustained in the future.
We intend to seek a listing on the OTC Bulletin Board. No assurance can be
given
that such listing will be obtained or the timing of the listing. Even if such
listing is obtained, the NASD has enacted recent changes that limit quotations
on the OTC Bulletin Board to securities of issuers that are current in their
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The effect on the
OTC
Bulletin Board of these rule changes and other proposed changes cannot be
determined at this time. The OTC Bulletin Board is an inter-dealer,
over-the-counter market that provides significantly less liquidity than the
NASD’s automated quotation system (the “NASDAQ Stock Market”). Quotes for stocks
included on the OTC Bulletin Board are not listed in the financial sections
of
newspapers as are those for the NASDAQ Stock Market. Therefore, prices for
securities traded solely on the OTC Bulletin Board may be difficult to obtain
and holders of common stock may be unable to resell their securities at or
near
their original offering price or at any price. Market prices for our common
stock will be influenced by a number of factors, including:
·
|
the
issuance of new equity securities pursuant to a future offering or
acquisition;
|
·
|
changes
in interest rates;
|
·
|
competitive
developments, including announcements by competitors of new products
or
services or significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships,
joint ventures or capital
commitments;
|
·
|
variations
in quarterly operating results;
|
·
|
changes
in financial estimates by securities
analysts;
|
·
|
the
depth and liquidity of the market for our common
stock;
|
·
|
investor
perceptions of our company and the medical device industry generally;
and
|
·
|
general
economic and other national
conditions.
|
26
Shares
eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market price of our common
stock, as the future sale of a substantial amount of outstanding stock in the
public marketplace could reduce the price of our common
stock.
Dr.
John
Kovach, our current Chief Executive Officer, was the former stockholder of
Lixte, our operating subsidiary, and received shares of our stock in the Reverse
Merger. He will be eligible to sell all or some of his shares of common stock
by
means of ordinary brokerage transactions in the open market pursuant to Rule
144
promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), commencing one year after the
Reverse Merger, subject to certain limitations. In general, pursuant to Rule
144, a stockholder (or stockholders whose shares are aggregated) who has
satisfied a one-year holding period may, under certain circumstances, sell
within any three-month period a number of securities which does not exceed
the
greater of 1% of the then outstanding shares of common stock or the average
weekly trading volume of the class during the four calendar weeks prior to
such
sale if the shares are listed on a national exchange or on NASDAQ. Rule 144
also
permits, under certain circumstances, the sale of securities, without any
limitations, by a non-affiliate that has satisfied a two-year holding period.
Additionally, this prospectus covers the resale of shares issued in the private
placement and the shares owed by certain of our stockholders immediately prior
to the Reverse Merger. Any substantial sale of common stock pursuant to this
prospectus or Rule 144 may have an adverse effect on the market price of our
common stock by creating an excessive supply.
Our
common stock is considered a “penny stock” and may be difficult to
sell.
Our
common stock is considered to be a “penny stock” since it meets one or more of
the definitions in Rules 15g-2 through 15g-6 promulgated under Section 15(g)
of
the Exchange Act. These include but are not limited to the following: (i) the
stock trades at a price less than $5.00 per share; (ii) it is NOT traded on
a
“recognized” national exchange; (iii) it is NOT quoted on the NASDAQ Stock
Market, or even if so, has a price less than $5.00 per share; or (iv) it is
issued by a company with net tangible assets less than $2.0 million, if in
business more than a continuous three years, or with average revenues of less
than $6.0 million for the past three years. The principal result or effect
of
being designated a “penny stock” is that securities broker-dealers cannot
recommend the stock but must trade in it on an unsolicited basis.
Additionally,
Section 15(g) of the Exchange Act and Rule 15g-2 promulgated thereunder by
the
SEC require broker-dealers dealing in penny stocks to provide potential
investors with a document disclosing the risks of penny stocks and to obtain
a
manually signed and dated written receipt of the document before effecting
any
transaction in a penny stock for the investor’s account.
Potential
investors in our common stock are urged to obtain and read such disclosure
carefully before purchasing any shares that are deemed to be “penny stock.”
Moreover, Rule 15g-9 requires broker-dealers in penny stocks to approve the
account of any investor for transactions in such stocks before selling any
penny
stock to that investor. This procedure requires the broker-dealer to (i) obtain
from the investor information concerning his or her financial situation,
investment experience and investment objectives; (ii) reasonably determine,
based on that information, that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for
the investor and that the investor has sufficient knowledge and experience
as to
be reasonably capable of evaluating the risks of penny stock transactions;
(iii)
provide the investor with a written statement setting forth the basis on which
the broker-dealer made the determination in (ii) above; and (iv) receive a
signed and dated copy of such statement from the investor, confirming that
it
accurately reflects the investor’s financial situation, investment experience
and investment objectives. Compliance with these requirements may make it more
difficult for holders of our common stock to resell their shares to third
parties or to otherwise dispose of them in the market or otherwise.
Our
principal stockholder has significant influence over our
company.
As
a
result of the Reverse Merger, Dr. John Kovach, our principal stockholder and
our
Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owns approximately 64% of our outstanding
voting stock after giving effect to the private placement. As a result, Dr.
Kovach possesses significant influence, giving him the ability, among other
things, to elect all of the members of the Board of Directors and to approve
significant corporate transactions. Such stock ownership and control may also
have the effect of delaying or preventing a future change in control, impeding
a
merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination or discourage
a
potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain
control of us.
27
Standards
for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are uncertain,
and if we fail to comply in a timely manner, our business could be harmed and
our stock price could decline.
Rules
adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
require annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting,
and
attestation of our assessment by our independent registered public accountants.
On September 22, 2005, the SEC extended the compliance dates for non-accelerated
filers, as defined by the SEC, by one year. Accordingly, we believe that this
requirement will first apply to our annual report for fiscal 2007. The SEC
has
recently proposed new rules on compliance with Section 404. In any event, the
standards that must be met for management to assess the internal control over
financial reporting as effective are new and complex, and require significant
documentation, testing and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards.
We may encounter problems or delays in completing activities necessary to make
an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition,
the
attestation process by our independent registered public accountants is new
and
we may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any
requested improvements and receiving an attestation of our assessment by our
independent registered public accountants. If we cannot assess our internal
control over financial reporting as effective, or our independent registered
public accountants are unable to provide an unqualified attestation report
on
such assessment, investor confidence and share value may be negatively
impacted.
We
do not foresee paying cash dividends in the foreseeable
future.
We
have
not paid cash dividends on our stock and do not plan to pay cash dividends
on
our common stock in the foreseeable future.
ITEM
2. DESCRIPTION
OF PROPERTY
At
present, we conduct all laboratory activities at NIH under the CRADA agreement.
We will also collect and store samples of human tumors other than brain cancers
under a service agreement with the University of Regensburg, Germany. The
Company maintains a single office in a designated area of Dr. Kovach's residence
and receives mail at the post office depot, 248 Route 25A, No. 2, East Setauket,
New York 11733. No additional facilities are needed until the Company develops
its independent laboratory.
ITEM
3. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
We
are
not a party to any legal proceedings.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There
were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s security holders during the
quarterly period ended December 31, 2006.
ITEM
5. MARKET
FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
There
is
no trading of our capital stock on any publicly traded market. Even if such
stock becomes publicly tradable, the price of our common stock will likely
fluctuate in the future. The stock market in general has experienced extreme
stock price fluctuations in the past few years. In some cases, these
fluctuations have been unrelated to the operating performance of the affected
companies. Many companies have experienced dramatic volatility in the market
prices of their common stock. We believe that a number of factors, both within
and outside our control, could cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate,
perhaps substantially. Factors such as the following could have a significant
adverse impact on the market price of our common stock:
28
·
|
Our
ability to obtain additional financing and, if available, the terms
and
conditions of the financing;
|
·
|
Our
financial position and results of
operations;
|
·
|
Concern
as to, or other evidence of, the safety or efficacy of any future
proposed
products and services or our competitors’ products and
services;
|
·
|
Announcements
of technological innovations or new products or services by us or
our
competitors;
|
·
|
U.S.
and foreign governmental regulatory
actions;
|
·
|
The
development of litigation against
us;
|
·
|
Period-to-period
fluctuations in our operating
results;
|
·
|
Changes
in estimates of our performance by any securities
analysts;
|
·
|
Possible
regulatory requirements on our
business;
|
·
|
The
issuance of new equity securities pursuant to a future
offering;
|
·
|
Changes
in interest rates;
|
·
|
Competitive
developments, including announcements by competitors of new products
or
services or significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships,
joint ventures or capital
commitments;
|
·
|
Variations
in quarterly operating results;
|
·
|
Change
in financial estimates by securities
analysts;
|
·
|
The
depth and liquidity of the market for our common
stock;
|
·
|
Investor
perceptions of us; and
|
·
|
General
economic and other national
conditions.
|
Holders
As
of
December 31, 2006, we currently have 26,582,183 shares of our common stock
outstanding. As of December 31, 2006, our shares of common stock are held by
approximately 66 stockholders of record. This does not include an indeterminate
number of beneficial owners of securities whose shares are held in the names
of
various dealers and clearing agencies.
29
Dividends
Our
dividend policy will be determined by our Board of Directors and will depend
upon a number of factors, including our financial condition and performance,
our
cash needs and expansion plans, income tax consequences, and the restrictions
that applicable laws and our credit arrangements then impose.
Sales
of Unregistered Securities
On
May
26, 2005, we sold 2,700,000 shares of common stock to five accredited investors
(two of whom were officers and directors) for aggregate cost consideration
of
$25,000. Such shares were issued after we issued a stock dividend of 11% to
stockholders or record on May 8, 2006. The securities were issued pursuant
to
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The issuees also
represented that they were acquiring the securities for their own account and
a
legend was placed on the stock certificates.
On
May
17, 2006, we issued 905,000 shares of our common stock to TMC Ulster Holdings,
Inc. for $100,000. The shares were issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The purchaser represented that it was
acquiring the securities for its own account, and a legend was placed on the
securities.
On
June
30, 2006, we issued 19,021,786 shares of common stock in connection with the
acquisition of Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., and sold an aggregate of 1,973,871
shares of common stock to 26 accredited investors in a private placement at
a
per share price of $0.333. On July 27, 2006, we sold an aggregate of 1,581,351
shares of common stock to 57 accredited investors in a private placement at
a
per share price of $0.333. We paid to WestPark Capital, Inc., as placement
agent, a commission of 10% and a non-accountable fee of 4% of the gross proceeds
and issued five year warrants to purchase 426,626 shares of common stock in
connection with the private placements. All of the issuees were accredited
investors and the securities were issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
The
issuees also represented that they were acquiring the securities for their
own
account and a legend was placed on the stock certificates.
On
February 5, 2007, in connection with an agreement with Chem-Master
International, Inc., we agreed to issue to Chem-Master a five-year option
to
purchase 100,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.333
per
share and an additional 5-year option to purchase 100,000 shares at the same
exercise price subject to certain conditions. The options will be issued
pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
SECURITIES
AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS
Set
forth
in the table below is information regarding awards made through compensation
plans or arrangements through December 31, 2006, the most recently completed
fiscal year.
Plan
Category
|
Number
of
Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Weighted
average price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Number
of
securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column 2) |
|||||||
Equity
Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|||||||
Equity
Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders
|
490,000
|
$
|
3.33
|
N/A
|
30
ITEM
6. MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION
Recent
Events
On
June
30, 2006, Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., a privately-held Delaware corporation,
completed a reverse merger transaction with our company, a public “shell”
company, whereby Lixte became our wholly-owned subsidiary. For financial
reporting purposes, Lixte was considered the accounting acquirer in the
merger
and the merger was accounted for as a reverse merger. Accordingly, the
historical financial statements presented herein are those of Lixte and
do not
include our historical financial results. All costs associated with the
reverse
merger transaction were expensed as incurred. On December 7, 2006, we
changed our name to Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. Lixte Biotechnology
Holdings, Inc. is a holding company for Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., the
company
acquired in the reverse merger and our operating company. When we refer
to
"Lixte," we are referring to Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., our operating
subsidiary.
Overview
Lixte
Biotechnology, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on August 9, 2005 to capitalize
on opportunities to develop low cost, specific and sensitive tests for
the early
detection of cancers to better estimate prognosis, to monitor treatment
response, and to reveal targets for development of more effective treatments.
As
a
result of the reverse merger, we are now concentrating on discovering biomarkers
for common cancers for which better diagnostic and therapeutic measures
are
needed. For each of these diseases, a biomarker that would enable identification
of the presence of cancer at a stage curable by surgery could possibly
save
thousands of lives annually. In addition, biomarkers specific to these
diseases
may also provide clues as to processes (biological pathways) that characterize
specific cancer types and that may be vulnerable to drug treatment targeted
to
the activity of the biomarker.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
We
prepared the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation
of these financial statements requires the use of 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 financial statements
and
the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Management periodically evaluates the estimates and judgments made. Management
bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various
factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual
results may differ from these estimates as a result of different assumptions
or
conditions.
The
following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments
and
estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
31
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs are expensed as incurred. Amounts due on research
and
development contracts with third parties are recorded as a liability, with
the
related amount of such contracts recorded as advances on research and
development contract services on the Company’s balance sheet. Such advances on
research and development contract services are expensed over their life
on the
straight-line basis, unless the achievement of milestones, the completion
of
contracted work, or other information indicates that a different expensing
schedule is more appropriate.
Stock-Based
Compensation
In
December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”).
SFAS 123R requires all share-based payments, including grants of employee
stock
options to employees, to be recognized in the financial statements based
on
their grant date fair values. Effective January 1, 2006, SFAS No. 123R
requires
that the Company measure the cost of employee services received in exchange
for
equity awards based on the grant date fair value of the awards, with the
cost to
be recognized as compensation expense in the Company’s financial statements over
the vesting period of the awards.
Income
Taxes
We
account for income taxes under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.
109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which requires the recognition of deferred
tax assets and liabilities for the expected impact of differences between
the
financial statements and the tax basis of assets and
liabilities.
For
federal income tax purposes, substantially all expenses must be deferred
until
we commence business operations and then they may be written off over a
60-month
period. These expenses will not be deducted for tax purposes and will represent
a deferred tax asset. We will provide a valuation allowance for the full
amount
of the deferred tax asset since there is no assurance of future taxable
income.
Tax deductible losses can be carried forward for 20 years until
utilized.
Plan
of Operation
Our
initial focus is on developing new treatments for the most common and most
aggressive type of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”). We
entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the
National
Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke of the National Institutes
of
Health to identify and evaluate drugs that target a specific biochemical
pathway for GBM cell differentiation. The CRADA also covers research to
determine whether expression of a component of this pathway correlates
with
prognosis in glioma patients.
The
lead
scientist at NINDS collaborating with us under the CRADA is Dr. Zhengping
Zhuang. Dr. Zhuang is internationally recognized for his research in molecular
pathology. Dr. Zhuang has four issued and two pending patents related to
molecular pathology of human cancers. Dr. Zhuang recently discovered a
biomarker
of relevance to the growth of GBMs that we believe can be used as a tool
for
identifying drugs that affect the growth of GBM cells. Under the CRADA,
we will
support two persons at NIH to work under the direction of Dr. Zhuang. The
goal
is to identify drugs that inhibit GBM cell growth and to determine if the
identified biomarker may be useful for estimation of prognosis. Our contribution
to the collaborative research done by us and NIH is $200,000 annually for
two
years to fund two research assistants expected to be at the post-doctoral
level,
as well as supplies and travel expenses.
On
February 6, 2006, we filed a provisional patent application naming as
co-inventors Dr. Zhuang and several other NIH investigators, and
Dr. Kovach covering certain methods and classes of molecules that are
expected to be the foundation of product development and commercialization
efforts with respect to human brain tumors. On February 6, 2007, we filed
on behalf of NIH co-inventors and Dr. Kovach a PCT international patent
including all countries participating in the Patent Cooperation Treaty
(except
the USA) and an identical non-provisional patent in the USA. These two
patent
applications contain all claims in the provisional patent of February 6,
2006 plus additional claims. We have received a draft of the proposed exclusive
patent license agreement with NIH. Under the proposed agreement, we will
pay a
non-creditable, nonrefundable upfront fee of $150,000 within thirty days
from
the effective date of the agreement, a royalty of 6% on net sales with
a minimum
annual royalty of $30,000 and royalties upon achieving the following benchmarks:
(a) $50,000 upon starting Phase I Clinical Trials; (b) $100,000 upon starting
Phase II Clinical Trials; (c) $200,000 upon starting Phase III Clinical
Trials;
(d) $300,000 upon filing an IND submission; and (e) $500,000 upon the first
commercial sale. Additionally, we are required to pay royalties of 15%
of the
consideration received for the guaranty of sublicensing rights. We intend
to
negotiate these economic terms in order to attempt to obtain economic terms
more
advantageous to us. We believe that the other terms of the proposed agreement
are customary for agreements of this type.
32
Both
February 6, 2007 patent filings fall under the CRADA agreement with NINDS,
NIH. Patents resulting from these applications are jointly owned by Lixte
Biotechnology, Inc. and the U.S. Government. All NIH co-inventors are required
to assign their rights to NIH. As specified in the CRADA agreement between
us
and NINDS, NIH, we are entitled to obtain an exclusive license from NIH
to all
claims in these patents. We have received a draft of the proposed exclusive
patent license agreement with NIH. Under the proposed agreement, we will
pay a
non-creditable, nonrefundable upfront fee of $150,000 within thirty days
from
the effective date of the agreement, a royalty of 6% on net sales with
a minimum
annual royalty of $30,000 and royalties upon achieving the following benchmarks:
(a) $50,000 upon starting Phase I Clinical Trials; (b) $100,000 upon starting
Phase II Clinical Trials; (c) $200,000 upon starting Phase III Clinical
Trials;
(d) $300,000 upon filing an IND submission; and (e) $500,000 upon the first
commercial sale.Additionally, we are required to pay royalties of 15% of
the
consideration received for the guaranty of sublicensing rights. We intend
to
negotiate these economic terms in order to attempt to obtain economic terms
more
advantageous to us. We believe that the other terms of the proposed agreement
are customary for agreements of this type.
We
expect
that the products will derive directly from our intellectual property,
which
will consist of patents that we anticipate will arise out of our research
activities. These patents are expected to cover biomarkers uniquely associated
with the specific types of cancer, patents on methods to identify drugs
that
inhibit growth of specific tumor types, and combinations of drugs and potential
drugs and potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of specific cancers.
We
face
several potential challenges in our efforts to achieve commercial success,
including raising sufficient capital to fund our business plan, achieving
commercially applicable results of our research program, continued access
to
tissue and blood samples from cancer patients, competition from more
established, well-funded companies with competitive technologies, and future
competition from companies that are developing competitive technologies,
some of
whom are larger companies with greater capital resources than
us.
There
is
substantial uncertainty as to our ability to fund our operations and continue
as
a going concern (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources - December 31, 2006 -
Going Concern” below).
We
have
two major goals to achieve over the next 12 months. The prime objective,
in
collaboration with the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and
Stroke
(NINDS) under CRADA # 02165, is to extend the characterization of potentially
more effective drugs and drug combinations (identified by us and jointly
with
NINDS) for the treatment of the incurable human brain tumor, glioblastoma
multiforme (GBM). The second goal is to obtain well characterized samples
of
common human cancers other than GBM under conditions needed to identify
new
biomarkers for the earlier detection and identification of biochemical
pathways
as potential targets for new treatments.
Goal
I: Development of more effective regimens for the treatment of
GBM
Over
the
next 12 months, we will continue to develop preclinical data supporting
the
potential effectiveness of several drugs for the treatment of GBM when
used
alone or in combination. The drugs that have been identified as active
in vitro
have never been used for the treatment of GBM in humans. Some of these
compounds
were included in claims of a provisional patent filed jointly by the company
and
NINDS in February, 2006. Over the past 6 months, the activity of these
drugs has
been documented and several new lead compounds were identified. This work
was
done under the CRADA. The combinations of several pairs of lead drugs appear
to
have some specificity for GBM in that at equimolar doses these drugs are
more
active against GBMs than against other human cancer cell types tested.
Some of
the drug combinations are synergistic in their ability to inhibit the growth
of
GBMs, e.g. the combination of two drugs inhibits GBMs to a greater extent
than
would be expected from the sum of their inhibitory effects when used alone.
33
For
several of the lead compounds, toxicity in mice was determined previously
by
others and for two lead compounds, doses that are tolerable in man and
the
specific toxicities induced by those doses are known. None of the lead
compounds, however, have been evaluated as potential treatments for GBM.
Over
the
next 6-12 months, we will evaluate two or more lead compounds alone and
in
combination for activity against human GBMs in an animal (mouse) model.
These
evaluations will be done at NIH under protocols developed by NINDS and
us. The
protocols will be approved by NIH committees responsible for approving
the
conduct of animal research at NIH and will be carried out by NIH personnel
as a
joint activity under the CRADA. The CRADA agreement specifies evaluation
of drug
regimens in animal models as one of the activities to be pursued by the
company
and NINDS. It is anticipated that the animal studies will include 3 regimens
identified under the CRADA that have never been investigated as treatment
for
human GBMs. We expect these animal studies to be completed in September,
2007.
As
the
effectiveness of lead regimens against GBMs in the animal model is determined,
a
decision will be made as to which regimens are most promising for development
for human studies. This decision will be made jointly by the company with
the
advice of its scientific advisory board and its CRADA partner, NINDS. At
this
point, NINDS and the company will consider whether development of specific
regimens for evaluation in humans should proceed via an extension of the
existing CRADA, under a new CRADA with NINDS, or possibly with another
institute
at NIH and/or with a partner in the pharmaceutical industry interested
in and
capable of taking the drug though the IND process and conducting clinical
evaluations.
We
expect
to participate in clinical trials of new therapies only in partnership
with an
organization experienced in such undertakings. The partnering organization
may
be either a clinical branch of NIH or a pharmaceutical company with expertise
in
the conduct of clinical trials. Our present position is to take one or
more of
our new therapies for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme through
pre-clinical evaluation as part of our CRADA agreement with NINDS, NIH.
After
completing pre-clinical evaluation, we will consider partnering with NIH
to
conduct a phase I trial or jointly with NIH seek a third party, most
probably a large pharmaceutical company to carry the new therapies into
phase I trials.
After
completion of phase I trials, we, potentially in partnership with NIH or on
our own, would collaborate with the third party to carry new therapies
found to
be safe for administration to humans in the phase I trials into
phase II trials.
Phase II
trials test the safety and effectiveness, as well as the best estimate
of the
proper dose of the new therapies in a group of patients with the same type
of
cancer at the same stage. For our initial studies the focus will be brain
tumors. The duration of phase II trials may run from 6 to 24 months. New
regimens showing beneficial activity in phase II trials may then be
considered for evaluation in phase III trials. Phase III trials for
the evaluation of new cancer treatments are comparative trials in which
the
therapeutic benefit of a new regimen is compared to the therapeutic benefit
of
the best standard regimen in a randomized study.
Whether
we will participate or be in a position to participate in any clinical
trials
will depend upon partnerships and specific licensing agreements. In all
cases of
clinical trial participation, however, we will be subject to FDA regulation.
These regulations are specific and form the basis for assessing the potential
clinical benefit of new therapeutic regimens while safeguarding the health
of
patients participating in investigational studies. Even after a drug receives
approval from the FDA for sale as a new treatment for a specific disease
indication, the sponsors of the drug are subject to reporting potentially
adverse effects of a new regimen to the FDA.
Goal
II: Collection of Human Tumor Samples
Over
the
next 12 months, samples of human tumors and associated blood and urine
samples
will be collected by the University of Regensburg under our January 5,
2007
agreement with the Free State of Bavaria, Germany. Technology comparable
to that
used to detect the biomarker for GBM will be applied to these tumors to
identify
new biomarkers for cancers of the breast, colon, stomach, kidney, bladder,
prostate, and ovary. The present CRADA with NINDS is limited to the study
of
GBM.
Plans
Beyond the Next 12 Months
In
early
2008, we expect to be in a position to begin analyses of tumor types other
than
GBM. The Company plans to establish a laboratory to proceed with biomarker
discovery independent of NIH. To do this we will need approximately $2.3
million
to establish and operate the laboratory for 2 years i.e., to January 2010.
The
creation and operation of the laboratory for two years until December 2009
will
cost about $1.7 million. During this period, patent, auditing and office
management expenses are estimated at $500,000. Thus, the company will need
to
raise about $2.3 million at the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 to
take
the next step to biomarker discovery in cancers other than GBM. Funds are
expected to come from either payments as part of licensing rights to
compounds for the treatment of GBMs or though the sale
of stock.
34
The
laboratory (rented space) is expected to be located in a biotechnology
incubator of the State of Maryland in close proximity to NIH or comparable
incubator near an academic biomedical research center. This incubator offers
low-cost, high-quality space and shared resources necessary for a molecular
biology research. Because of proximity to NIH or other academic biomedical
research center, we will have access to many highly trained scientists and
technical personnel to staff the laboratory.
Projected
major expenses for the wet laboratory are:
Year
1:
|
|
|
|
$
48,000
|
for
rental of 800 sq, ft. wet lab in MD incubator ($4000/month plus
utilities/phone/internet)
|
$300,000
|
for
staff salaries plus fringe (1 scientist & 2
technicians)
|
$100,000
|
for
disposable equipment and reagents (~33K/lab person)
|
$300,000
|
for
equipment (one time expense)
|
$100,000
|
for
outsourced technical services (LC/MS/MS, immunoassay
development)
|
Total
Year 1:
|
$848,000
|
|
|
Year
2:
|
|
|
|
$
50,400
|
for
rental of wet lab
|
$315,000
|
for
staff salaries
|
$105,000
|
for
supplies
|
$300,000
|
for
outsource technology services (LC/MS/MS, immunoassay
development)
|
Total
Year 2:
|
$770,400
|
Total
costs for Laboratory Start Up and 2 Years of Operation =
$1,618,400
Results
of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2006
Comparative
financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2005 reflect the
results
of operations of Lixte, our operating subsidiary, for the period August
9, 2005
(inception) to December 31, 2005 as Lixte, the accounting acquirer in the
reverse merger transaction, was not formed until August 9, 2005. As such,
the
operations of the Company during this period were nominal.
We
are a
development stage company and have not yet commenced revenue-generating
operations.
General
and Administrative. For the year ended December 31, 2006, general and
administrative expenses were $299,420, which included $97,400 for the vested
portion of the fair value of stock options issued to a director and certain
members of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Committee on June 30, 2006.
Significant components of general and administrative expenses to date consist
of
board compensation and legal and accounting fees.
Depreciation.
For the year ended December 31, 2006, depreciation expense was
$462.
Research
and Development Costs. Effective March 22, 2006, Lixte entered into a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (the “CRADA”) with the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, as represented by National Institute
of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (“NINDS”) of the National Institutes of
Health. The CRADA is for a term of two years from the effective date and
may be
unilaterally terminated by either party by providing written notice within
sixty
days. Pursuant to the CRADA, Lixte agreed to provide total payments of
$400,000
over the term of the CRADA.
35
The
current amount due pursuant to the CRADA was recorded as a liability (and
was
subsequently reduced by any applicable payments), with the related amount
of
such contract recorded as advances on research and development contract
services
on the Company’s balance sheet. Such advances on research and development
contract services are expensed over their life on the straight-line basis,
unless the achievement of milestones, the completion of contracted work,
or
other information indicates that a different expensing schedule is more
appropriate. For the year ended December 31, 2006, research and development
costs aggregating $150,100 were charged to operations.
Reverse
Merger Costs. On June 30, 2006, pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement
dated as
of June 8, 2006 by and among us, Dr. John S. Kovach and Lixte, we issued
19,021,786 shares of our common stock in exchange for all of the issued
and
outstanding shares of Lixte, and Lixte became a wholly owned subsidiary
of SRKP.
In connection with this transaction, we paid WestPark Capital, Inc. a cash
fee
of $50,000, which was charged to operations during the year ended December
31,
2006.
Estimated
Liquidated Damages Under Registration Rights Agreement. As part of the
Company’s
private placement of its securities completed on July 27, 2006, the Company
entered into a registration rights agreement with the purchasers, whereby
the
Company agreed to register the shares of common stock sold in the private
placement. The agreement required the Company to file a registration statement
within 45 days of the closing of the private placement and to have the
registration statement declared effective within 120 days of the closing
of the
private placement. Since the registration statement was not declared effective
by the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the closing
of the
private placement, the Company is required to pay each investor prorated
liquidated damages equal to 1.0% of the amount raised. The liquidated damages
are payable monthly in cash. On September 8, 2006, the Company filed a
registration statement on Form SB-2 to register 3,555,220 shares of the
common
stock sold in the private placement.
In
accordance with EITF 00-19-2, on the date of the closing of the private
placement, the Company believed it would meet the deadlines under the Agreement
with respect to filing a registration statement and having it declared
effective
by the SEC. As a result, the Company did not record any liabilities associated
with the registration rights agreement at June 30, 2006 or at September
30,
2006. At December 31, 2006, the Company has determined that the registration
statement covering the shares sold in the private placement would not be
declared effective within the requisite timeframe; management currently
estimates that the registration statement will be declared effective during
May
2007. As a result, the Company has recorded six months liquidated damages
under
the registration rights agreement aggregating approximately $74,000 as
a charge
to operations and a current liability at December 31, 2006. The Company
will
continue to review the status of the registration statement and adjust
the
accrued liquidated damages under the registration rights agreement at each
quarter end as appropriate.
Net
Loss.
For the year ended December 31, 2006, we incurred a net loss of
$562,084.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources - December 31, 2006
Going
Concern
At
December 31, 2006, we had not yet commenced any revenue-generating operations
and were therefore considered a “development stage company”. All activity
through December 31, 2006 related to our formation, capital raising efforts
and
initial research and development activities. As such, we have yet to generate
any cash flows from operations, and is essentially dependent on debt and
equity
funding from both related and unrelated parties to finance its operations.
Prior
to June 30 2006, Lixte’s cash requirements were funded by advances from Lixte’s
founder, Dr. John Kovach, our Chief Executive Officer. On June 30, 2006,
we
completed an initial closing of our private placement, selling 1,973,869
shares
of common stock at a price of $0.333 per share and receiving net proceeds
of
$522,939. On July 27, 2006, we completed a second closing of our private
placement, selling 1,581,351 shares of common stock at a price of $0.333
per
share and receiving net proceeds of $446,433.
Because
we are currently engaged in research at a very early stage, it will likely
take
a significant amount of time to develop any product or intellectual property
capable of generating revenues. As such, our business is unlikely to generate
any revenue in the next several years and may never do so. Even if the
Company
is able to generate revenues in the future through licensing its technologies
or
through product sales, there can be no assurance that such revenues will
exceed
its expenses.
Based
on
the proceeds received from the private placement, we may not have sufficient
resources to completely fund our planned operations for the next twelve
months. The strain on our limited cash resources has been further exacerbated
by
the accrual of a registration penalty obligation under EITF 00-19-2 at
December
31, 2006 of $74,000 (reflecting the cash amount payable for the registration
penalty through mid-May 2007, as described above at “Results of Operations—Year
Ended December 31, 2006—Estimated Liquidated Damages Under Registration Right
Agreement”). If our registration statement has not been declared effective by
mid-May 2007 (or we do not maintain its effectiveness after it has been
declared
effective), we would be subject to a registration penalty at the rate of
approximately $12,000 per 30-day period thereafter, continuing through
July
2008, for a total potential maximum liability of approximately $300,000.
Since
we only have cash of $679,640 and working capital of $551,502 (net of the
$74,000 registration penalty obligation referred to above) at December
31, 2006,
this short-term cash obligation and the uncertainty as to how long it may
continue to accrue could have a material adverse impact on our ability
to fund
our business plan and conduct operations.
The
Company does not have sufficient resources to fully develop and commercialize
any products that may arise from its research. Accordingly, we will need
to
raise additional funds in order to satisfy its future working capital
requirements. In the short-term, in addition to the net proceeds from the
private placement, we estimate that it will require additional funding
of
approximately $2,300,000. Additionally, the amount and timing of future
cash
requirements will depend on market acceptance of our products, if any,
and the
resources that we devote to developing and supporting its products. We
will need
to fund these cash requirements from either one or a combination of additional
debt and/or equity financings, mergers or acquisitions, or via the sale
or
license of certain of its assets.
36
Current
market conditions present uncertainty as to our ability to secure additional
funds, as well as its ability to reach profitability. There can be no assurances
that we will be able to secure additional financing, or obtain favorable
terms
on such financing if it is available, or as to its ability to achieve positive
cash flow from operations. Continued negative cash flows and lack of liquidity
create significant uncertainty about our ability to fully implement its
operating plan and the Company may have to reduce the scope of its planned
operations. If cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to satisfy the
Company’s liquidity requirements, we would be required to scale back or
discontinue its product development program, or obtain funds if available
through strategic alliances that may require the Company to relinquish
rights to
certain of its technologies or discontinue its operations.
Operating
Activities. For the year ended December 31, 2006, operating activities
utilized
cash of $443,451.
The
Company had working capital of $551,502 at December 31, 2006, primarily
as a
result of the Company’s private placement closings on June 30, 2006 and July 27,
2006, which generated net proceeds of $522,939 and $446,433,
respectively.
Investing
Activities. For the year ended December 31, 2006, investing activities
utilized
net cash of $498 for the purchase of office equipment.
Financing
Activities. For the year ended December 31, 2006, financing activities
provided
net cash of $1,118,643, consisting of the gross proceeds from the sale of
common stock of $1,183,889, the cash acquired in the reverse merger transaction
of $62,500, and advances from stockholder of $86,771, reduced by the payment
of
private placement offering costs of $214,517.
Principal
Commitments
At
December 31, 2006, we did not have any material commitments for capital
expenditures. Our principal commitments at December 31, 2006 consisted
of the
estimated liquidated damages payable under the registration rights
agreement (see "Results of Operations—Year Ended December 31, 2006" above and to
contractual obligations as summarized below.
Effective
March 22, 2006, Lixte entered into a Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (the “CRADA”) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
as represented by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(“NINDS”) of the National Institutes of Health. The CRADA is for a term of two
years from the effective date and may be unilaterally terminated by either
party
by providing written notice within sixty days. Pursuant to the CRADA, Lixte
agreed to provide total payments of $400,000 over the term of the CRADA,
of
which $200,000 had been paid at December 31, 2006 and $200,000 is scheduled
for payment in July 2007.
On
January 5, 2007, Lixte entered into a Services Agreement with The Free
State of
Bavaria (Germany) represented by the University of Regensburg (the “University”)
pursuant to which Lixte retained the University to provide to it certain
samples
of primary cancer tissue and related biological fluids to be obtained from
patients afflicted with specified types of cancer. The University will
also
provide certain information relating to such patients. Lixte will pay the
University 72,000 Euros (approximately $99,700) in two installments of
36,000
Euros (approximately $49,850). The first installment was paid on March
7, 2007, and the second installment will be paid within sixty days of
the earlier of (i) January 5, 2008 or (ii) the University’s fulfillment of
certain obligations relating to the delivery of materials.
On
February 5, 2007, we entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with
Chem-Master International, Inc. (“Chem-Master”) pursuant to which the Company
engaged Chem-Master to synthesize a compound designated as “LB-1”, and any other
compound synthesized by Chem-Master pursuant to the Company’s request, which
have potential use in treating a disease, including, without limitation,
cancers
such as glioblastomas. Pursuant to the Agreement, we agreed to reimburse
Chem-Master for the cost of materials, labor and expenses for other items
used
in synthesis process, and to grant to Chem-Master a five-year option to
purchase
100,000 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $0.333 per
share.
Additionally, provided that the Agreement is not terminated by us without
cause
or by any party for cause prior to the second anniversary of the Agreement,
we
agreed to grant to Chem-Master a five-year option to purchase an additional
100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.333 per
share.
37
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
At
December 31, 2006, the Company did not have any transactions, obligations
or
relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet
arrangements.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”
(“SFAS No. 157”), which establishes a formal framework for measuring fair value
under generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS No. 157 defines and
codifies the many definitions of fair value included among various other
authoritative literature, clarifies and, in some instances, expands on the
guidance for implementing fair value measurements, and increases the level
of
disclosure required for fair value measurements. Although SFAS No. 157 applies
to and amends the provisions of existing FASB and AICPA pronouncements, it
does
not, of itself, require any new fair value measurements, nor does it establish
valuation standards. SFAS No. 157 applies to all other accounting pronouncements
requiring or permitting fair value measurements, except for: SFAS No. 123R,
share-based payment and related pronouncements, the practicability exceptions
to
fair value determinations allowed by various other authoritative pronouncements,
and AICPA Statements of Position 97-2 and 98-9 that deal with software revenue
recognition. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within
those
fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of
SFAS
No. 157 on its consolidated financial statements.
In
December 2006, the FASB issued FSP EITF 00-19-2, “Accounting for Registration
Payment Arrangements (“EITF 00-19-2”), which addresses an issuer’s accounting
for registration payment arrangements. EITF 00-19-2 specifies that the
contingent obligation to make future payments or otherwise transfer
consideration under a registration payment arrangement, whether issued as
a
separate agreement or included as a provision of a financial instrument or
other
agreement, should be separately recognized and measured in accordance with
FASB
No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies”. The guidance in EITF 00-19-2 amends
FASB No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities” and FASB No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments
with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity”, and FASB Interpretation
No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees,
Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”, to include scope
exceptions for registration payment arrangements. EITF 00-19-2 further clarifies
that a financial instrument subject to a registration payment arrangement
should
be accounted for in accordance with other applicable generally accepted
accounting principles without regard to the contingent obligation to transfer
consideration pursuant to the registration payment arrangement. EITF 00-19-2
is
effective immediately for registration payment arrangements and the financial
instruments subject to those arrangements that are entered into or modified
subsequent to the date of issuance of EITF 00-19-2. For registration payment
arrangements and financial instruments subject to those arrangements that
were
entered into prior to the issuance of EITF 00-19-2, EITF 00-19-2 is effective
for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December
15,
2006, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of EITF
00-19-2 for interim or annual periods for which financial statements or interim
reports have not been issued is permitted. The Company has chosen to early
adopt
EITF 00-19-2 effective December 31, 2006, the effect of which is discussed
above
at “Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2006 - Estimated Liquidated
Damages Under Registration Rights Agreement”.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.
159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”
(“SFAS No. 159”), which provides companies with an option to report selected
financial assets and liabilities at fair value. SFAS No. 159’s objective is to
reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the
volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities
differently. Generally accepted accounting principles have required different
measurement attributes for different assets and liabilities that can create
artificial volatility in earnings. SFAS No. 159 helps to mitigate this type
of
accounting-induced volatility by enabling companies to report related assets
and
liabilities at fair value, which would likely reduce the need for companies
to
comply with detailed rules for hedge accounting. SFAS No. 159 also establishes
presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons
between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar
types
of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional
information that will help investors and other users of financial statements
to
more easily understand the effect of the company’s choice to use fair value on
its earnings. SFAS No. 159 also requires companies to display the fair value
of
those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair
value
on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate disclosure
requirements included in other accounting standards, including requirements
for
disclosures about fair value measurements included in SFAS No. 157 and SFAS
No.
107. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of a company’s first fiscal
year beginning after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of
the
beginning of the previous fiscal year provided that the company makes that
choice in the first 120 days of that fiscal year and also elects to apply
the
provisions of SFAS No. 157. The Company is currently assessing the potential
effect of SFAS No. 159 on its consolidated financial
statements.
Management
does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective,
accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect
on the
Company's financial statements.
38
ITEM
7. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
Our
financial statements and notes thereto and the related report of our independent
registered accounting firm are attached to this Report beginning on page
F-1.
ITEM
8. CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
Not
Applicable.
ITEM
8A. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file with the SEC
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such
information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our
principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate, to allow for timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. As required by SEC Rule 13a-15, we
carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation
of
the our management, including our principal executive and financial officer,
of
the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures as of the end of the most recent fiscal year covered by this report.
Based on the foregoing, our principal executive and financial officer concluded
that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15) are
effective.
There
has
been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our
most
recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely
to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM
8B. OTHER
INFORMATION
None
ITEM
9. DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION
16H
OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The
following table and text set forth the names of all directors and executive
officer of our Company as of December 31, 2006. The Board of Directors is
comprised of only one class. All of the directors will serve until the next
annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified, or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal.
There are no family relationships between or among the directors, executive
officers or persons nominated or charged by our Company to become directors
or
executive officers. The executive officer serves at the discretion of the Board
of Directors, and is appointed to serve until the first Board of Directors
meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. The brief descriptions
of
the business experience of each director and executive officer and an indication
of directorships held by each director in other companies subject to the
reporting requirements under the Federal securities laws are provided herein
below. Also provided are the biographies of the members of the Scientific
Advisory Committee.
Our
directors and executive officer are as follows:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
Held with the Registrant
|
|
Dr.
John S. Kovach
|
|
70
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer, Director
|
|
Dr.
Philip F. Palmedo
|
|
72
|
|
Director
|
39
We
intend
to add at least one more independent director as soon as possible.
Biographies
of Directors and Executive Officer:
Dr.
John S. Kovach
Dr.
John
S. Kovach, age 70, founded Lixte in August 2005 and was its President and a
member of the Board of Directors. He received a BA (cum laude) from Princeton
University and an MD (AOA) from the College of Physicians & Surgeons,
Columbia University. Dr. Kovach trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology
at
Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University and spent six years in the laboratory
of Chemical Biology, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic diseases
studying control of gene expression in bacterial systems.
Dr.
Kovach was recruited to Stony Brook University in 2000 to found the Long Island
Cancer Center (now named the Stony Brook University Cancer Center). He is
presently Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Stony Brook
University in Stony Brook, New York. From 1994 to 2000, Dr. Kovach was Executive
Vice President for Medical and Scientific Affairs, City of Hope National Medical
Center in Los Angeles, California. His responsibilities included oversight
of
all basic and clinical research initiatives at the City of Hope. During that
time he was also Director of the Beckman Research Center at City of Hope and
a
member of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Scientific Advisory Board in Newport
Beach, California.
From
1976
to 1994, Dr. Kovach was a consultant in oncology and director of the Cancer
Pharmacology Division at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During this
time, he directed the early clinical trials program for evaluation of new
anti-cancer drugs as principal investigator of contracts from the National
Cancer Institute. From 1986 to 1994, he was also Chair of the Department of
Oncology and Director of the NCI-designated Mayo Comprehensive Cancer Center.
During that time, Dr. Kovach, working with a molecular geneticist, Steve Sommer
MD, PhD, published extensively on patterns of acquired mutations in human cancer
cells as markers of environmental mutagens and as potential indicators of breast
cancer patient prognosis. Dr. Kovach has published over 100 articles on the
pharmacology, toxicity, and effectiveness of anti-cancer treatments and on
the
molecular epidemiology of breast cancer. Dr. Kovach directs Lixte with the
approval of the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the New York
State Ethics Commission.
Chief
Executive Officer
Initially,
leadership and management of our company will be provided by Dr. Kovach with
the
advice of the board of Directors and the Scientific Advisory Committee. The
activities for the first year at least will be confined to achieving the goals
of the CRADA through the collaborative arrangement of the company by which
Dr.
Kovach and Dr. Zhuang, aided by two full time technical personnel, will pursue
development of lead compounds for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.
During the initial year, Dr. Kovach will also oversee the collection of the
clinical samples needed to validate the biomarker observations regarding GBMs
and to be in a position to extend the discovery process to ovarian and stomach
cancers. At this point, we will consider seeking another CRADA to extend the
scope of our research or establishing an independent laboratory. The timing
of
this expansion will depend on raising additional capital of approximately $2.3
million by sale of additional shares of stock. A chief executive officer would
then be recruited to manage our business affairs. It is anticipated that this
may require less than full time effort for the second year with a need
developing for a full time CEO and at least a part time financial officer in
the
third year of operation.
Dr.
Philip F. Palmedo
Dr.
Palmedo joined our board of directors on June 30, 2006. Dr. Palmedo has had
a
diversified career as a physicist, entrepreneur, corporate manager and writer.
Dr. Palmedo received his undergraduate degree from Williams College and M.S.
and
Ph.D. degrees from MIT. He carried out experimental nuclear reactor physics
research at MIT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the French Atomic Energy
Commission Laboratory at Saclay and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). At
BNL
in 1972 he initiated and was the first head of the Energy Policy Analysis Group.
In 1974 he served with the Energy Policy Office of the White House and in the
following year initiated the BNL Developing Country Energy Program.
40
In
1979,
Dr. Palmedo founded the International Resources Group, an international
professional services firm in energy, environment and natural resources. He
served as Chairman and CEO until 1988 and since that time remains as Chairman
of
the company. In 1985 the company was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of
the
500 fastest growing private companies in the U.S.
In
1988,
Dr. Palmedo joined in the formation of Kepler Financial Management, Ltd., a
quantitative financial research and trading company. Dr. Palmedo held the
position of President and Managing Director until the end of 1991 when
Renaissance Technologies Corporation acquired the company. In 2005 he started
a
new hedge fund, Kepler Asset Management, and is a Managing Director of the
firm.
Dr.
Palmedo was the designer and, in 1992, became the first president of the Long
Island Research Institute. LIRI was formed by Brookhaven National Laboratory,
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Stony Brook University to facilitate the
commercialization of technologies developed in their research and development
programs. LIRI guided fledgling companies and started several new high tech
entities. In order to provide “zero-stage” financing, LIRI created the Long
Island Venture Fund, which evolved into the $250 million Topspin
Fund.
Dr.
Palmedo served on the boards of Asset Management Advisors and the Teton Trust
Company and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of EHR Investments
and the Gyrodyne Corporation of America. Dr. Palmedo also served on the Board
of
Trustees of Williams College and of the Stony Brook (University) Foundation
and
chaired the Foundation’s Investment Committee. He is the founding Chairman of
the non-profit Cultural Preservation Fund.
Dr.
Palmedo has served as a consultant and advisor to numerous corporations and
national and international agencies in science, technology and environmental
policy including the MacArthur Foundation, the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences, International Atomic Energy Agency, UNIDO, Organization of American
States, the Governments of Sweden, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Indonesia,
Somalia, Sudan, Egypt and Peru. He is the author of many publications in nuclear
reactor physics, energy and environment, and technology and economic
development. Dr. Palmedo has two sons and lives in St. James, Long Island,
N.Y.
with his wife, Elisabeth.
SCIENTIFIC
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The
Committee which is not part of management advises us in three areas: human
molecular pathology; the clinical management of human brain tumors; and
medicinal chemistry. It is planned that the committee will meet as a group
annually with some members participating via telephone conference. Thus far
the
Committee has been apprised of our general objectives and several of the
specific challenges and leads for developing improved therapies for human brain
tumors. The Committee members have not provided specific advice thus far that
has modified strategy nor do they serve in any management capacity. The
scientific advisory committee was formalized on June 30, 2006. The members
of
our Advisory Committee are:
Arndt
Hartmann, MD
Dr.
Hartmann is Professor of Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of
Regensburg, Germany. He was trained in Internal Medicine at the University
of
Jena, Germany, and in molecular genetics of cancer at Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
MN. He was subsequently trained in pathology at the University of Regensburg
and
the University of Basel, Switzerland. His research is focused on methods
development in molecular pathology. He has specific expertise in genetic
alterations in cancers of the bladder, prostate, kidney and breast.
41
Ferdinand
Hofstadter, MD
Dr.
Hofstadter is Professor and Director of the Institute of Pathology, University
of Regensburg Medical School, Germany. He is Research Dean of the University
of
Regensburg-Medical Faculty, Chairman of the Managing Board of the Association
of
German Tumor Centers, Chairman of the German Society for Pathology, a member
of
the editorial boards of Virchow’s Archives and the Journal of Pathology, and a
referee for Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft, the Dr. Mildred Scheel-Stiftung,
EU, and the European Research Framework Program.
Stefan
Madajewicz, MD, PhD
Dr.
Madajewicz is Professor of Medicine. For the past 15 years, he has been Director
of Cancer Clinical Trials and for the past 10 years, Chief, Neoplastic Diseases
at SUNY-Stony Brook. Dr. Madajewicz is a Fellow, American College of Physicians
and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association
for Cancer Research, European Society of Medical Oncology an affiliate of the
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, and member of the National Surgical Adjuvant
Breast and Bowel Project. He is recognized as an outstanding cancer clinician
and for the design of clinical trials, particularly the evaluation of new drugs
in the treatment of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and
brain.
Iwao
Ojima, BS, MS, PhD
Professor
Ojima is Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Director, Institute of
Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, SUNY-Stony Brook. He is an internationally
recognized expert in medicinal chemistry, including anticancer agents and enzyme
inhibitors, development of efficient synthetic methods for organic synthesis
by
means of organometallic reagents, homogeneous catalysis and organometallic
chemistry, peptide and peptide mimetics, beta-lactam chemistry, and
organoflourine chemistry at the biomedical interface.
Dr.
Ojima
is a recipient of the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (1994) and the E. B.
Hershberg Award (for important discovery of medicinally active substances)
(2001) from the American Chemical Society; The Chemical Society of Japan Award
(for distinguished achievements) (1999); Outstanding Inventor Award from the
Research Foundation of the State University of New York (2002. He is a Fellow
of
the J.S. Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1995-), the American Association for
the Advancement of Science (1997-), and The New York Academy of Sciences
(2000-).
Dr.
Ojima
is a member of the American Chemical Society, American Association for the
Advancement of Science, American Association for Cancer Research, American
Peptide Society, the Chemical Society of Japan, the Society of Synthetic Organic
Chemistry, Japan, New York Academy of Sciences, and Signa Xi. He has served
as a
consultant for E. I. du Pont, Eli Lilly, Air Products & Chemicals,
Mitsubishi Chem. Inc., Nippon Steel Corp., Life Science Division, Rhone-Poulenc
Rorer, ImmunoGen, Inc., Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Milliken & Co., Aventis
Pharma, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mitsubishi Chem. Corp.
(current).
Audit
Committee
We
do not
presently have an audit committee. The board of directors acts in that capacity
and has determined that we do not currently have an audit committee financial
expert serving on our audit committee.
42
Code
of Ethics
Our
Board
of Directors adopted a code of ethics covering all of our executive officers
and
key employees. A copy of our code of ethics will be furnished without charge
to
any person upon written request. Requests should be sent to: Secretary, Lixte
Biotechnology Holdings, Inc., 248 Route 25A, No. 2, Setauket, New York 11733.
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
Amended:
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s
directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of a
registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file various reports with
the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning their holdings of, and
transactions in, securities of the Company. Copies of these filings must be
furnished to the Company.
To
the
Company’s knowledge based solely on its review of the copies of the Section
16(a) reports furnished to the Company and written representations to the
Company that no other reports were required, the Company believes that all
individual filing requirements applicable to the Company’s directors and
executive officers were complied with under Section 16(a) during
2006.
ITEM
10. EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
For
the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, no individual, including Richard
Rappaport, who served as our President in 2005 through the date of the reverse
merger, and Dr. John Kovach, our current Chief Executive Officer, received
any
compensation. Dr. Kovach will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses.
Any
future compensation arrangements will be subject to the approval of the board
of
directors.
Option
Grants in 2005 and 2006
None.
Aggregated
Option Exercises in 2005 and 2006 Option Values at December 31, 2005 and at
2006
None.
Employment
Agreements; Compensation
We
have
not entered into any employment agreements. As of December 31, 2006, we had
no
full-time employees. For the current fiscal year, Dr. Kovach does not anticipate
receiving any compensation from us in view of our early stage status. He will
be
reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. Any future compensation arrangements
will be subject to the approval of the board of directors. Dr. Phillip Palmedo,
our sole outside director, has received options to purchase 200,000 shares
of
common stock at the initial private placement price of $0.333 per share with
one
third of the options (66,666 shares) vesting immediately upon joining the board
and one third vesting annually for two years on the anniversary of that date.
Dr. Palmedo has also received options to purchase 190,000 shares of common
stock
at $0.333 per share for services rendered in developing the business plan for
Lixte.
Director
Compensation
Members
of the Board of Directors
On
June
30, 2006, Dr. Palmedo was granted options to purchase 200,000 shares of common
stock at the initial private placement price of $0.333 per share with one third
of the options (66,666 shares) vesting on such date and one third vesting
annually for two years on the anniversary of that date. Any additional outside
member of the Board will receive options to purchase 200,000 shares of common
stock at the fair market value as of the date of the grant with one third of
the
options (66,666 shares) vesting immediately upon joining the board and one
third
vesting annually for two years on the anniversary of that date. On June 30,
2006, Dr. Palmedo also was granted options to purchase 190,000 shares of common
stock exercisable for a period of five years at $0.333 per share for services
rendered in developing our business plan, all of which were fully vested upon
issuance.
43
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($) |
Bonus
($) |
Stock
Awards ($)
|
Option
Awards ($)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
|
Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
|
All
Other Compensation ($)(1)
|
Total
($) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Philip
F. Palmedo Director
|
2006
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
120,900
|
0
|
0
|
--
|
120,900
|
Members
of the Scientific Advisory Committee
On
June
30, 2006, each member of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), other than
Drs. Hartmann and Hofstadter, received options to purchase 50,000 shares of
common stock at the initial private placement price of $0.333 per share with
one-half of the options (25,000 shares) vesting on the first anniversary of
joining the SAC and one-half vesting on the second anniversary.
ITEM
11. SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND
MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth, as of January 15, 2007, certain information
regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock by (i) each person or entity
who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares
of
common stock, (ii) each of our directors, and (iii) all directors and executive
officers as a group. As of January 15, 2007, there were 26,582,183 shares of
our
common stock issued and outstanding. In computing the number and percentage
of
shares beneficially owned by a person, shares of common stock that a person
has
a right to acquire within sixty (60) days of January 15, 2007, pursuant to
options, warrants or other rights are counted as outstanding, while these shares
are not counted as outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any
other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each stockholder
listed in the following table is c/o SRKP 7, Inc., 248 Route 25A, No. 2, East
Setauket, New York 11733. This table is based upon information supplied by
directors, officers and principal stockholders and reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
44
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
Amount
and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
Percent
of Class
|
|||||
Officers,
Directors and 5% stockholders
|
|||||||
Dr.
John S. Kovach
248
Route 25A, No. 2
East
Setauket, New York 11733
|
17,021,786
|
64.03
|
%
|
||||
Dr.
Philip F. Palmedo
248
Route 25A, No. 2
|
|
|
|
|
|||
East
Setauket, New York 11733
|
256,666
|
(1)
|
0.96
|
%
|
|||
Richard
Rappaport(2)
1900
Avenue of the Stars
Los
Angeles, California 90067
|
1,581,471
|
5.85
|
%
|
||||
All
Officers and directors as a group (two persons)
|
17,278,452
|
(1)
|
64.37
|
%
|
_________________
(1) |
Includes
options to purchase an aggregate of 256,666 shares of common stock,
which
are immediately exercisable.
|
(2) |
Mr.
Rappaport served as the Company's President from May 2005 until June
30,
2006. Mr. Rappaport is the Chief Executive Officer of WestPark Capital
Inc. The number in the table includes 426,626 shares of our common
stock
issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued to WestPark Capital,
Inc.
with respect to which Mr. Rappaport disclaims beneficial
ownership.
|
ITEM
12. CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
This
section describes the transactions we have engaged in with persons who were
directors, officers or affiliates before and at the time of the transaction,
and
persons known by us to be the beneficial owners of 5% or more of our common
stock as of December 31, 2006.
On
May
26, 2005, we sold 1,155,000 shares and 270,000 shares of our common stock to
Richard Rappaport and Anthony Pintsopoulos at a per share price of $0.009.
Messrs Rappaport and Pintsopoulos were our officers and directors prior to
the
Reverse Merger.
Most
office services are provided without charge by Dr. Kovach, our president. Such
costs are immaterial to the financial statements and accordingly, have not
been
reflected therein. Our officer and director are involved in other business
activities and may, in the future, become involved in other business
opportunities that become available, such person may face a conflict in
selecting between us and his other business interests. We have not formulated
a
policy for the resolution of such conflicts.
In
connection with the private placement of our securities in June and July 2006,
we paid WestPark Capital, Inc. fees of $165,744 representing a commission of
10%
and a nonaccountable expense fee of 4% on the gross proceeds. We also issued
five year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 426,626 shares of common stock
equal to 12% of the number of shares sold in the private placement at an
exercise price of $0.333 per share. We also paid WestPark Capital, Inc. a
$50,000 fee in connection with the Reverse Merger. Richard Rappaport, the Chief
Executive Officer of WestPark Capital, Inc., was our President from our
formation through the date of the Reverse Merger.
45
Also,
Dr.
Kovach, our President, has advanced to us an aggregate of $92,717 through
December 31, 2006 to meet operating expenses. Such advances are
non-interest bearing and are due on demand.
ITEM
13. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
|
|
2.1
|
Share
Exchange Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006 among the Company, John
S.
Kovach and Lixte Biotechnology, Inc.1
|
|
2.2
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement3
|
|
2.3
|
Registration
Rights Agreement3
|
|
3.1
|
Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on
May 24,
2005.2
|
|
3.2
|
Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation
|
|
3.2
|
Bylaws2
|
|
10.1
|
Cooperative
Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the U.S. Department
of
Health and Human Services, as represented by National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health
and
Lixte Inc., as amended.4
|
|
10.2
|
Services
Agreement between Lixte and the Free State of Bavaria represented
by the
University of Regensburg dated as of January 5, 2007.7
|
|
10.3
|
Agreement
between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and Chem-Master International,
Inc. dated as of February 5, 2007.6
|
|
31
|
Officer’s
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
32
|
Officer’s
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
1 Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2006, and incorporated
herein by reference.
2 Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-SB, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2005
and
incorporated herein by reference.
3 Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8,
2006 and
incorporated herein by reference.
4 Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Registration on Form SB-2 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2007 and incorporated
herein by reference.
5 Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 11,
2007 and
incorporated herein by reference.
6 Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2007 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND EXPENSES
The
Company has appointed AJ.
Robbins, P.C.
as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006.
The
following table shows the fees that were billed by us for audit and other
services provided by AJ.
Robbins, P.C. for
the
2005 and 2006 fiscal years.
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Audit
Fees (1)
|
$
|
40,000 |
$
|
4,750
|
|||
Audit-Related
Fees (2)
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Tax
Fees (3)
|
5,000
|
1,000
|
|||||
All
Other Fees
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
45,000 |
$
|
5,750
|
(1)
|
Audit
fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection
with
the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our
financial statements included in our Form 10-QSB quarterly reports
and
services that are normally provided in connection with statutory
or
regulatory filings for the 2005 and 2006 fiscal
years.
|
46
(2)
|
Audit-related
fees represent fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably
related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial
statements and not reported above under “Audit Fees.”
|
(3)
|
Tax
fees represent fees for professional services related to tax compliance,
tax advice and tax planning.
|
All
audit
related services, tax services and other services rendered by AJ
Robbins
were
pre-approved by our Board of Directors. The Board Committee has adopted a
pre-approval policy that provides for the pre-approval of all services performed
for us by AJ.
Robbins, P.C.
47
SIGNATURES
In
accordance with Section 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the
Registrant caused Amendment No. 2 to this report to be signed on its behalf
by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May
14, 2007
|
LIXTE BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC. | |
|
|
|
By: | /s/ John S. Kovach | |
Name: John S. Kovach |
||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
In
accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Amendment No. 2 to this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant in the capacity and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
||
/s/
John S. Kovach
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer,
|
|
May
14, 2007
|
John
S. Kovach
|
|
Principal
Accounting Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
/s/
Philip F. Palmedo
|
|
Director
|
|
May
14, 2007
|
Philip
F. Palmedo
|
|
|
|
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Restated)
December
31, 2006
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
F-2
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet - December 31, 2006
|
|
F-3
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2006, August 9,
2005 (Inception) to December 31, 2005, and August 9, 2005 (Inception)
to December 31, 2006 (Cumulative)
|
|
F-4
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficiency) - August 9,
2005 (Inception) to December 31, 2006
|
|
F-5
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows - Year Ended December 31, 2006, August 9,
2005 (Inception) to December 31, 2005, and August 9, 2005 (Inception)
to December 31, 2006 (Cumulative)
|
|
F-6
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements - December 31,
2006
|
|
F-8
|
F-1
REPORT
OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the
Board of Directors
Lixte
Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.
East
Setauket, New York
We
have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Lixte Biotechnology
Holdings, Inc. (formerly SRKP 7, Inc.) and subsidiary (a development stage
company) as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements
of
operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficiency) and cash flows for the
year then ended and for the periods from August 9, 2005 (inception) to December
31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These consolidated financial statements
are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our
audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that
we plan
and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Lixte Biotechnology
Holdings, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2006, and the results of
their
operations and their cash flows for the year then ended and for the periods
from
August 9, 2005 (inception) to December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of
America.
As
discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the accompanying
consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity (deficiency) for
the year ended December 31, 2006 have been restated to properly account
for
registration payment arrangements.
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming
that
the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the
consolidated financial statements, the Company is in the development stage
and
has not commenced operations. Its ability to continue as a going concern
is
dependent upon its ability to develop additional sources of capital, locate
and
complete a merger with another company and ultimately achieve profitable
operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to
continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
AJ.
ROBBINS, P.C.
CERTIFIED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Denver,
Colorado
February
5, 2007 except for Note 8, as to which the date is April 4,
2007
F-2
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET (Restated)
December
31, 2006
|
|
|||
ASSETS
|
|
|||
Current
assets:
|
|
|||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
679,640
|
||
Advances
on research and development contract services
|
50,000
|
|||
Prepaid
insurance
|
20,365
|
|||
Total
current assets
|
750,005
|
|||
Office
equipment ,
net of accumulated depreciation of $575
|
1,062
|
|||
Total
assets
|
$
|
751,067
|
||
|
||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||
Current
liabilities:
|
||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
$
|
31,786
|
||
Estimated
liquidated damages payable under registration rights
agreement
|
74,000
|
|||
Due
to stockholder
|
92,717
|
|||
Total
current liabilities
|
198,503
|
|||
|
||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||
|
||||
Stockholders’
equity:
|
||||
Preferred
stock, $0.0001 par value;
authorized
- 10,000,000 shares; issued - none
|
—
|
|||
Common
stock, $0.0001 par value;
authorized
- 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 26,582,183
shares
|
2,658
|
|||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
1,128,114
|
|||
Deficit
accumulated during the development stage
|
(578,208
|
)
|
||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
552,564
|
|||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
$
|
751,067
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
Year
Ended
December 31,
2006
(Restated)
|
Period from
August 9,
2005
(Inception)
to
December 31,
2005
|
Period from
August 9,
2005
(Inception)
to
December 31,
2006
(Cumulative)
(Restated)
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||
General
and administrative, including $97,400 of stock-based compensation
to
director during the year ended December 31, 2006 and the period
from
August 9, 2005 inception) to December 31, 2006
(cumulative)
|
299,420
|
16,011
|
315,431
|
|||||||
Depreciation
|
462
|
113
|
575
|
|||||||
Research
and development costs
|
150,100
|
—
|
150,100
|
|||||||
Reverse
merger costs
|
50,000
|
—
|
50,000
|
|||||||
Total
costs and expenses
|
499,982
|
16,124
|
516,106
|
|||||||
|
(499,982
|
)
|
(16,124
|
)
|
(516,106
|
)
|
||||
Interest
income
|
11,898
|
—
|
11,898
|
|||||||
Estimated
liquidated damages under registration rights agreement
|
(74,000
|
)
|
---
|
(74,000
|
)
|
|||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(562,084
|
)
|
$
|
(16,124
|
)
|
$
|
(578,208
|
)
|
|
Net
loss per common share - basic and diluted
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
||||
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding - basic and
diluted
|
22,750,033
|
19,021,786
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
(Restated)
Period
from August 9, 2005 (Inception) to December 31, 2006
|
|
Additional
|
Deficit
Accumulated
During
the
|
Total
Stockholders’
|
||||||||||||
|
Common
Stock
|
Paid-in
|
Development
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Stage
|
(Deficiency)
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance,
August 9, 2005 (inception)
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
|||||||
Shares
issued to founding stockholder
|
19,021,786
|
1,902
|
(402
|
)
|
—
|
1,500
|
||||||||||
Net
loss
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(16,124
|
)
|
(16,124
|
)
|
|||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2005
|
19,021,786
|
1,902
|
(402
|
)
|
(16,124
|
)
|
(14,624
|
)
|
||||||||
Shares
issued in connection with reverse
merger
transaction
|
4,005,177
|
401
|
62,099
|
—
|
62,500
|
|||||||||||
Shares
issued in private placement, net of
offering
costs of $214,517
|
3,555,220
|
355
|
969,017
|
—
|
969,372
|
|||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
—
|
—
|
97,400
|
—
|
97,400
|
|||||||||||
Net
loss (Restated)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(562,084
|
)
|
(562,084
|
)
|
|||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2006 (Restated)
|
26,582,183
|
$
|
2,658
|
$
|
1,128,114
|
$
|
(578,208
|
)
|
$
|
552,564
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
Year
Ended
December
31,
2006
(Restated)
|
Period from
August 9,
2005
(Inception)
to
December 31,
2005
|
Period from
August 9,
2005
(Inception)
to
December
31,
2006
(Cumulative)
(Restated)
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(562,084
|
)
|
$
|
(16,124
|
)
|
$
|
(578,208
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
||||||||||
Depreciation
|
462
|
113
|
575
|
|||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
97,400
|
—
|
97,400
|
|||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||
Decrease
in -
|
||||||||||
Advances
on research and development contract services
|
(50,000
|
)
|
—
|
(50,000
|
)
|
|||||
Prepaid
insurance
|
(20,365
|
)
|
—
|
(20,365
|
)
|
|||||
Increase
in -
|
||||||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
17,136
|
14,650
|
31,786
|
|||||||
Estimated
liquidated damages payable under registration rights
agreement
|
74,000
|
---
|
74,000
|
|||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(443,451
|
)
|
(1,361
|
)
|
(444,812
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||||
Purchase
of office equipment
|
(498
|
)
|
(1,139
|
)
|
(1,637
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(498
|
)
|
(1,139
|
)
|
(1,637
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of common stock to founder
|
—
|
1,500
|
1,500
|
|||||||
Cash
acquired in reverse merger transaction
|
62,500
|
—
|
62,500
|
|||||||
Gross
proceeds from sale of common stock
|
1,183,889
|
—
|
1,183,889
|
|||||||
Payment
of private placement offering costs
|
(214,517
|
)
|
—
|
(214,517
|
)
|
|||||
Advances
from stockholder
|
86,771
|
5,946
|
92,717
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
1,118,643
|
7,446
|
1,126,089
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
Net
increase in cash
|
674,694
|
4,946
|
679,640
|
|||||||
Cash
at beginning of period
|
4,946
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||
Cash
at end of period
|
$
|
679,640
|
$
|
4,946
|
$
|
679,640
|
(continued)
F-6
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
|
|
Year
Ended
December
31,
2006
(Restated)
|
|
Period from
August 9,
2005
(Inception)
to
December 31,
2005
|
|
Period from
August 9,
2005
(Inception)
to
December
31,
2006
(Cumulative)
(Restated)
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cash
paid for -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Income
taxes
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(FORMERLY
SRKP 7, INC.)
AND
SUBSIDIARY
(a
development stage company)
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Restated)
December
31, 2006
1.
Organization and Basis of Presentation
On
June
30, 2006, Lixte Biotechnology, Inc., a privately-held Delaware corporation
(“Lixte”), completed a reverse merger transaction with SRKP 7, Inc. (“SRKP”), a
public “shell” company, whereby Lixte became a wholly-owned subsidiary of SRKP.
For financial reporting purposes, Lixte was considered the accounting acquirer
in the merger and the merger was accounted for as a reverse merger. Accordingly,
the historical financial statements presented herein are those of Lixte and
do
not include the historical financial results of SRKP. The stockholders’ equity
section of SRKP has been retroactively restated for all periods presented
to
reflect the accounting effect of the reverse merger transaction. All costs
associated with the reverse merger transaction were expensed as incurred.
Comparative financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2005 reflect
the results of operations of Lixte for the period August 9, 2005 (inception)
to
December 31, 2005 as Lixte, the accounting acquirer in the reverse merger
transaction, was not formed until August 9, 2005. As such, the operations
of the
Company during this period, was nominal. Unless the context indicates otherwise,
SRKP and Lixte are hereinafter referred to as the “Company”. On December 7,
2006, the Company amended its Certificate of Incorporation to change its
name
from SRKP 7, Inc. to Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.
(“Holdings”).
2.
Business Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies
Nature
of Operations
Lixte
was
incorporated in Delaware on August 9, 2005 to capitalize on opportunities
to
develop low cost, specific and sensitive tests for the early detection of
cancers to better estimate prognosis, to monitor treatment response, and
to
reveal targets for development of more effective treatments.
The
Company’s initial focus is on developing new treatments for the most common and
most aggressive type of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”).
Lixte entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”)
with the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (“NINDS”) of the
National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) to identify and evaluate drugs that target
a specific biochemical pathway for GBM cell differentiation. The CRADA also
covers research to determine whether expression of a component of this pathway
correlates with prognosis in glioma patients.
The
Company expects that its products will derive directly from its intellectual
property, which will consist of patents that it anticipates will arise out
of
its research activities. These patents are expected to cover biomarkers uniquely
associated with the specific types of cancer, patents on methods to identify
drugs that inhibit growth of specific tumor types, and combinations of drugs
and
potential drugs and potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of specific
cancers.
At
December 31, 2006, the Company was considered a “development stage company” as
defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 7, “Accounting and
Reporting by Development Stage Enterprises”, as it had not yet commenced any
revenue-generating operations, did not have any cash flows from operations,
and
was dependent on debt and equity funding to finance its operations. The Company
has selected December 31 as its fiscal year-end.
Going
Concern and Plan of Operations
The
Company’s financial statements have been presented on the basis that it is a
going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction
of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company is in the development
stage and has not earned any revenues from operations to date, which raises
substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going
concern.
The
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability
to develop additional sources of capital, and ultimately achieve profitable
operations. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments
that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
F-8
The
Company is currently devoting its efforts to research and development related
to
specific cancer biomarkers for early detection, estimation of prognosis,
monitoring response to treatment, and development of targeted therapeutic
agents. The Company is seeking to exploit this opportunity through execution
of
its business plan and the development of related patents.
At
December 31, 2006, the Company had not yet commenced any revenue-generating
operations. All activity through December 31, 2006 related to the Company’s
formation, capital raising efforts and initial research and development
activities. As such, the Company has yet to generate any cash flows from
operations, and is essentially dependent on debt and equity funding from
both
related and unrelated parties to finance its operations. Prior to June 30,
2006,
the Company’s cash requirements were funded by advances from Lixte’s founder. On
June 30, 2006, the Company completed an initial closing of its private placement
(see Note 3), selling 1,973,869 shares of common stock at a price of $0.333
per
share and receiving net proceeds of $522,939. On July 27, 2006, the Company
completed a second closing of its private placement, selling 1,581,351 shares
of
common stock at a price of $0.333 per share and receiving net proceeds of
$446,433.
Because
the Company is currently engaged in research at a very early stage, it will
likely take a significant amount of time to develop any product or intellectual
property capable of generating revenues. As such, the Company’s business is
unlikely to generate any revenue in the next several years and may never
do so.
Even if the Company is able to generate revenues in the future through licensing
its technologies or through product sales, there can be no assurance that
such
revenues will exceed its expenses.
Based
on
the proceeds received from the private placement (see Note 3), the Company
may
not have sufficient resources to completely fund its planned operations for
the
next twelve months. The
strain on the Company’s cash
resources has been further exacerbated by the accrual of a registration penalty
obligation under EITF 00-19-2 at December 31, 2006 of $74,000 (reflecting
the
cash amount payable for the registration penalty through mid-May 2007, as
described at Note 3). If the Company’s registration
statement has not been declared effective by mid-May 2007 (or the Company
does not maintain its effectiveness after it has been declared effective),
the Company would be subject to a registration penalty at the rate of
approximately $12,000 per 30-day period thereafter, continuing through July
2008, for a total potential maximum liability of approximately $300,000.
Since
the Company only has cash of $679,640 and working capital of $551,502 (net
of the $74,000 registration penalty obligation referred to above) at December
31, 2006, this short-term cash obligation and the uncertainty as to how long
it
may continue to accrue could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability
to
fund its business plan and conduct operations.
The
Company does not have sufficient resources to fully develop and commercialize
any products that may arise from its research. Accordingly, the Company will
need to raise additional funds in order to satisfy its future working capital
requirements. In the short-term, in addition to the net proceeds from the
private placement, the Company estimates that it will require additional
funding
of approximately $2,300,000. Additionally, the amount and timing of future
cash
requirements will depend on market acceptance of the Company’s products, if any,
and the resources that the Company devotes to developing and supporting its
products. The Company will need to fund these cash requirements from either
one
or a combination of additional financings, mergers or acquisitions, or via
the
sale or license of certain of its assets.
Current
market conditions present uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to secure
additional funds, as well as its ability to reach profitability. There can
be no
assurances that the Company will be able to secure additional financing, or
obtain favorable terms on such financing if it is available, or as to its
ability to achieve positive cash flow from operations. Continued negative
cash
flows and lack of liquidity create significant uncertainty about the Company’s
ability to fully implement its operating plan and the Company may have to
reduce
the scope of its planned operations. If cash and cash equivalents are
insufficient to satisfy the Company’s liquidity requirements, the Company would
be required to scale back or discontinue its product development program,
or
obtain funds if available through strategic alliances that may require the
Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or discontinue
its
operations.
Principles
of Consolidation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements
of Holdings and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lixte. All intercompany balances
and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents and Concentrations
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity
of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At times, such
cash
and cash equivalents may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has
not
experienced a loss in such accounts to date. The Company maintains its accounts
with financial institutions with high credit ratings.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes under Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which requires the
recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected impact
of
differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets
and
liabilities.
For
federal income tax purposes, substantially all expenses, except for interest,
taxes, and research and development, are deemed start-up and organization
costs
and must be deferred until the Company commences business operations at which
time they may be written off over a 60-month period. The Company has elected
to
deduct research and development costs currently.
F-9
The
Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to
the
amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In the event the Company
was
to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in
the
future in excess of its recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax
assets would be credited to operations in the period such determination was
made. Likewise, should the Company determine that it would not be able to
realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment
to
the deferred tax assets would be charged to operations in the period such
determination was made.
For
federal income tax purposes, net operating losses can be carried forward
for a
period of 20 years until they are either utilized or until they
expire.
Stock-Based
Compensation
In
December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS
No.
123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" ("SFAS No. 123R"), a revision to
SFAS
No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation". SFAS No. 123R superseded
APB
No. 25. Effective January 1, 2006, SFAS No. 123R requires that the Company
measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for equity awards
based on the grant date fair value of the awards, with the cost to be recognized
as compensation expense in the Company’s financial statements over the vesting
period of the awards.
The
Company adopted SFAS No. 123R effective January 1, 2006, and is using the
modified prospective method in which compensation cost is recognized beginning
with the effective date (a) based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123R for
all
share-based payments granted after the effective date and (b) based on the
requirements of SFAS No. 123R for all awards granted to employees prior to
the
effective date of SFAS No. 123R that remain unvested on the effective
date.
Accordingly,
the Company recognizes compensation cost for equity-based compensation for
all
new or modified grants issued after December 31, 2005. The Company did not
have
any modified grants during the year ended December 31, 2006.
In
addition, commencing January 1, 2006, the Company is required to recognize
the
unvested portion of the grant date fair value of awards issued prior to the
adoption of SFAS No. 123R based on the fair values previously calculated
for
disclosure purposes over the remaining vesting period of the outstanding
stock
options and warrants. The Company did not have any unvested outstanding stock
options or warrants at December 31, 2005.
Pro
forma
information regarding net income (loss) per share is required by SFAS No.
123 as
if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options and warrants
under
the fair value method of such statement. However, during the period from
August 9, 2005 (Inception) to December 31, 2005, Lixte had no stock options
or
warrants outstanding. Accordingly, no pro forma financial disclosure has
been
presented for the period from August 9, 2005 (Inception) to December 31,
2005.
Information
with respect to stock options and warrants issued during 2006 is presented
at
Note 3. A summary of stock option and warrant activity for the year ended
December 31, 2006 is shown below.
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(Years)
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Options
and warrants outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
916,626
|
|
|
0.333
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Options
and warrants outstanding at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
916,626
|
|
$
|
0.333
|
|
|
4.51
|
|
Options
and warrants exercisable at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
683,292
|
|
$
|
0.333
|
|
|
4.52
|
|
F-10
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.
157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”), which establishes a formal
framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting
principles. SFAS No. 157 defines and codifies the many definitions of fair
value
included among various other authoritative literature, clarifies and, in
some
instances, expands on the guidance for implementing fair value measurements,
and
increases the level of disclosure required for fair value measurements. Although
SFAS No. 157 applies to and amends the provisions of existing FASB and AICPA
pronouncements, it does not, of itself, require any new fair value measurements,
nor does it establish valuation standards. SFAS No. 157 applies to all other
accounting pronouncements requiring or permitting fair value measurements,
except for: SFAS No. 123R, share-based payment and related pronouncements,
the
practicability exceptions to fair value determinations allowed by various
other
authoritative pronouncements, and AICPA Statements of Position 97-2 and 98-9
that deal with software revenue recognition. SFAS No. 157 is effective for
financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2007,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently
assessing the potential effect of SFAS No. 157 on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
December 2006, the FASB issued FSP EITF 00-19-2, “Accounting
for Registration Payment Arrangements (“EITF 00-19-2”), which
addresses an issuer’s accounting for registration payment arrangements. EITF
00-19-2 specifies that the contingent obligation to make future payments
or
otherwise transfer consideration under a registration payment arrangement,
whether issued as a separate agreement or included as a provision of a financial
instrument or other agreement, should be separately recognized and measured
in
accordance with FASB No. 5, “Accounting
for Contingencies”.
The guidance in EITF 00-19-2 amends FASB No. 133, “Accounting
for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and FASB No. 150, “Accounting
for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities
and
Equity”, and FASB
Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s
Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect
Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”, to
include scope exceptions for registration payment arrangements. EITF 00-19-2
further clarifies that a financial instrument subject to a registration payment
arrangement should be accounted for in accordance with other applicable
generally accepted accounting principles without regard to the contingent
obligation to transfer consideration pursuant to the registration payment
arrangement. EITF 00-19-2 is effective immediately for registration payment
arrangements and the financial instruments subject to those arrangements
that
are entered into or modified subsequent to the date of issuance of EITF 00-19-2.
For registration payment arrangements and financial instruments subject to
those
arrangements that were entered into prior to the issuance of EITF 00-19-2,
EITF
00-19-2 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2006, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early
adoption of EITF 00-19-2 for interim or annual periods for which financial
statements or interim reports have not been issued is permitted. The Company
has
chosen to early adopt EITF 00-19-2 effective December 31, 2006, the effect
of
which is discussed at Note 3.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.
159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”
(“SFAS No. 159”), which provides companies with an option to report selected
financial assets and liabilities at fair value. SFAS No. 159’s objective
is to reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and
the
volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities
differently. Generally accepted accounting principles have required different
measurement attributes for different assets and liabilities that can create
artificial volatility in earnings. SFAS No. 159 helps to mitigate this type
of
accounting-induced volatility by enabling companies to report related assets
and
liabilities at fair value, which would likely reduce the need for companies
to
comply with detailed rules for hedge accounting. SFAS No. 159 also establishes
presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons
between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar
types
of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional
information that will help investors and other users of financial statements
to
more easily understand the effect of the company’s choice to use fair value on
its earnings. SFAS No. 159 also requires companies to display the fair value
of
those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair
value
on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate
disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards, including
requirements for disclosures about fair value measurements included in SFAS
No.
157 and SFAS No. 107. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of a
company’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. Early
adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the previous fiscal year provided
that the company makes that choice in the first 120 days of that fiscal year
and
also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157. The Company is currently
assessing the potential effect of SFAS No. 159 on its consolidated financial
statements.
Management
does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective,
accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect
on the
Company's financial statements.
Loss
per Common Share
Loss
per
common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number
of
shares of common stock outstanding during the respective periods. Basic and
diluted loss per common share are the same for all periods presented because
all
warrants and stock options outstanding are anti-dilutive. The 19,021,786
shares
of common stock issued to the founder of Lixte in conjunction with the closing
of the reverse merger transaction on June 30, 2006 have been presented as
outstanding for all periods presented.
F-11
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs are expensed as incurred. Amounts due, pursuant to
contractual commitments, on research and development contracts with third
parties are recorded as a liability, with the related amount of such contracts
recorded as advances on research and development contract services on the
Company’s balance sheet. Such advances on research and development contract
services are expensed over their life on the straight-line basis, unless
the
achievement of milestones, the completion of contracted work, or other
information indicates that a different expensing schedule is more
appropriate.
The
funds
paid to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (as represented
by the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or the “ICD”), pursuant
to the CRADA effective March 22, 2006, represent an advance on research and
development costs and therefore have future economic benefit. As such, the
costs
should be charged to expense when they are actually expended by the provider,
which is, effectively, as they perform the research activities that they
are
contractually committed to provide. Absent information that would indicate
that
a different expensing schedule is more appropriate (such as, for example,
from
the achievement of performance milestones or the completion of contract work),
such advances will be expensed over the contractual service term on a
straight-line basis, which reflects a reasonable estimate of when the underlying
research and development costs are being incurred. The Company’s payments under
the CRADA during May, June and July 2006 aggregating $200,000 are intended
to
fund ongoing research and development activities through March
2007.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to
make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Equipment
Equipment
is recorded at cost. Depreciation expense is provided on a straight-line
basis
using estimated useful lives of 3 years. Maintenance and repairs are charged
to
expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the
property accounts are relieved of costs and accumulated depreciation and
any
resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, accounts
payable, accrued expenses and due to stockholder approximate their respective
fair values due to the short-term nature of these items and/or the current
interest rates payable in relation to current market
conditions.
3.
Share Exchange Agreement and Private Placement
Share
Exchange Agreement
On
June
30, 2006, pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006
(the
“Share Exchange Agreement”) by and among Holdings, Dr. John S. Kovach (“Seller”)
and Lixte, Holdings issued 19,021,786 shares of its common stock in exchange
for
all of the issued and outstanding shares of Lixte (the “Exchange”). Previously,
on October 3, 2005, Lixte had issued 1,500 shares of its no par value common
stock to its founder for $1,500, which constituted all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Lixte prior to the Exchange. As a result of the Exchange,
Lixte became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings.
Pursuant
to the Exchange, Holdings issued to the Seller 19,021,786 shares of its common
stock. Holdings had a total of 25,000,832 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding after giving effect to the Exchange and the 1,973,869 shares
of
common stock issued in the initial closing of the private
placement.
As
a
result of the Exchange and the shares of common stock issued in the initial
closing of the private placement, on June 30, 2006, the stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to the Exchange owned 4,005,177 shares of common
stock, equivalent to approximately 16% of the issued and outstanding shares
of
the Company’s common stock, and the Company is now controlled by the former
stockholder of Lixte.
The
Share
Exchange Agreement was determined through arms-length negotiations between
Holdings, the Seller and Lixte. In connection with the Exchange, the Company
paid WestPark Capital, Inc. a cash fee of $50,000.
F-12
Private
Placement
On
June
30, 2006, concurrently with the closing of the Exchange, the Company sold
an
aggregate of 1,973,869 shares of its common stock to 26 accredited investors
in
an initial closing of its private placement at a per share price of $0.333,
resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $657,299. The Company
paid to WestPark Capital, Inc., as placement agent, a commission of 10% and
a
non-accountable fee of 4% of the gross proceeds of the private placement
and
issued five-year warrants to purchase common stock equal to (a) 10% of the
number of shares sold in the private placement exercisable at $0.333 per
share
and (b) an additional 2% of the number of shares sold in the private placement
also exercisable at $0.333 per share. A total of 236,864 warrants were issued.
Net cash proceeds to the Company, after the deduction of all private placement
offering costs and expenses, were $522,939.
On
July
27, 2006, the Company sold an aggregate of 1,581,351 shares of its common
stock
to 31 accredited investors in a second closing of the private placement at
a per
share price of $0.333 resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the Company
of
$526,590. The Company paid to WestPark Capital, Inc., as placement agent,
a
commission of 10% and a non-accountable fee of 4% of the gross proceeds of
the
private placement and issued five-year warrants to purchase common stock
equal
to (a) 10% of the number of shares sold in the private placement exercisable
at
$0.333 per share and (b) an additional 2% of the number of shares sold in
the
private placement also exercisable at $0.333 per share. A total of 189,762
warrants were issued. Net cash proceeds to the Company were
$446,433.
In
conjunction with the private placement of common stock, the Company issued
a
total of 426,626 five-year warrants to WestPark Capital, Inc. exercisable
at the
per share price of the common stock sold in the private placement ($0.333
per
share). The warrants issued to WestPark Capital, Inc. do not contain any
price
anti-dilution provisions. However, such warrants contain cashless exercise
provisions and demand registration rights, but the warrant holder has agreed
to
waive any claims to monetary damages or financial penalties for any failure
by
the Company to comply with such registration requirements . Based on the
foregoing, the warrants have been accounted for as equity.
The
fair
value of the warrants, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model, was determined to be $132,254 ($0.31 per share) using
the
following Black-Scholes input variables: stock price on date of grant - $0.333;
exercise price - $0.333; expected life - 5 years; expected volatility - 150%;
expected dividend yield - 0%; risk-free interest rate - 5%.
As
part of the Company’s private placement of its securities completed on July 27,
2006, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with the
purchasers, whereby the Company agreed to register the shares of common stock
sold in the private placement. The agreement required the Company to file
a
registration statement within 45 days of the closing of the private placement
and to have the registration statement declared effective within 120 days
of the
closing of the private placement. Since the registration statement was not
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days
of
the closing of the private placement, the Company is required to pay each
investor prorated liquidated damages equal to 1.0% of the amount raised.
The
liquidated damages are payable monthly in cash. On September 8, 2006, the
Company filed a registration statement on Form SB-2 to register 3,555,220
shares
of the common stock sold in the private placement.
In
accordance with EITF 00-19-2, on the date of the closing of the private
placement, the Company believed it would meet the deadlines under the Agreement
with respect to filing a registration statement and having it declared effective
by the SEC. As a result, the Company did not record any liabilities associated
with the registration rights agreement at June 30, 2006 or at September 30,
2006. At December 31, 2006, the Company has determined that the registration
statement covering the shares sold in the private placement would not be
declared effective within the requisite timeframe; management currently
estimates that the registration statement will be declared effective during
May
2007. As a result, the Company has recorded six months liquidated damages
under
the registration rights agreement aggregating approximately $74,000 as a
charge
to operations and a current liability at December 31, 2006. The Company will
continue to review the status of the registration statement and adjust the
accrued liquidated damages under the registration rights agreement at each
quarter end as appropriate.
Stock
Options
On
June
30, 2006, effective with the closing of the Exchange, the Company granted
to Dr.
Philip Palmedo, an outside director of the Company, stock options to purchase
an
aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock, exercisable for a period of
five
years at $0.333 per share, with one-third of the options (66,666 shares)
vesting
immediately upon joining the Board and one-third vesting annually on each
of
June 30, 2007 and 2008. The fair value of these options, as calculated pursuant
to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $62,000 ($0.31
per share), of which $20,666 was charged to operations on June 30, 2006,
and the
remaining $41,334 will be charged to operations ratably from July 1, 2006
through June 30, 2008. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company
recorded a charge to operations of $31,000 with respect to these
options.
F-13
On
June
30, 2006, effective with the closing of the Exchange, the Company also granted
to Dr. Palmedo additional stock options to purchase 190,000 shares of common
stock exercisable for a period of five years at $0.333 per share for services
rendered in developing the business plan for Lixte, all of which were fully
vested upon issuance. The fair value of these options, as calculated pursuant
to
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $58,900 ($0.31
per
share), and was charged to operations at June 30, 2006.
On
June
30, 2006, effective with the closing of the Exchange, the Company granted
to
certain members of its Scientific Advisory Committee stock options to purchase
an aggregate of 100,000 shares of common stock exercisable for a period of
five
years at $0.333 per share, with one-half of the options vesting annually
on each
of June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2008. The fair value of these options, as
calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was initially
determined to be $31,000 ($0.31 per share). The fair value of such options
will
be charged to operations ratably from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2008.
In
accordance with EITF 96-18, options granted to committee members are valued
each
reporting period to determine the amount to be recorded as an expense in
the
respective period. On December 31, 2006, the fair value of these options,
as
calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined
to
be $30,000 ($0.30 per share) which resulted in a charge to operations of
$7,500
during the year ended December 31, 2006. As the options vest, they will be
valued one final time on each vesting date and an adjustment will be recorded
for the difference between the value already recorded and the then current
value
on the date of vesting.
On
June
30, 2006, the fair value of the aforementioned stock options was initially
calculated using the following Black-Scholes input variables: stock price
on
date of grant - $0.333; exercise price - $0.333; expected life - 5 years;
expected volatility - 150%; expected dividend yield - 0%; risk-free interest
rate - 5%. On December 31, 2006, the Black-Scholes input variables utilized
to
determine the fair value of the aforementioned stock options were deemed
to be
the same as at June 30, 2006, except for an expected life of 4.5
years.
4.
Related Party Transactions
Since
inception, Dr. John Kovach, Lixte’s founding stockholder, has periodically made
advances to the Company to meet operating expenses. Such advances are
non-interest-bearing and are due on demand. At December 31, 2006 stockholder
advances totaled $92,717.
Through
December 31, 2006, the Company’s office facilities have been provided without
charge by the Company’s founding stockholder and President. Such costs were not
material to the financial statements and accordingly, have not been reflected
therein.
Through
December 31, 2006, Dr. John Kovach, the Company’s President, did not receive any
compensation from the Company in view of the Company’s early stage status and
limited activities. Any future compensation arrangements will be subject
to the
approval of the Board of Directors.
Dr.
John
Kovach, the Company’s President, is involved in other business activities and
may, in the future, become involved in other business opportunities that
become
available. Accordingly, the President may face a conflict in selecting between
the Company and his other business interests. The Company has not yet formulated
a policy for the resolution of such potential conflicts.
5.
Common Stock and Preferred Stock
The
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides for authorized capital of
110,000,000 shares, of which 100,000,000 shares are common stock with a par
value of $0.0001 per share and 10,000,000 shares are preferred stock with
a par
value of $0.0001 per share.
The
Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with
such
designations, voting and other rights and preferences, as may be determined
from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
F-14
6. Income
Taxes
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between
the
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes
and
the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the
Company's deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2006 are as
follows:
Start-up
and organization costs
|
$
|
129,000
|
||
Contingent
liability
|
31,000
|
|||
Net
operating loss carryforwards
|
58,000
|
|||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
218,000
|
|||
Valuation
allowance
|
(
218,000
|
)
|
||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$
|
—
|
No
federal tax provision has been provided for the periods ended December 31,
2006 and 2005 due to the losses incurred to date.
The
reconciliation between the income tax rate computed by applying the U.S.
federal
statutory rate and the effective rate for the periods ended December 31,
2006
and 2005 is as follows:
Periods
Ended
December
31,
|
|||||||
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
U.
S. federal statutory tax rate
|
(34.0
|
%)
|
(34.0
|
%)
|
|||
Pre-merger
loss of accounting acquiree
|
(3.7
|
%)
|
(69.3
|
%)
|
|||
State
income taxes
|
(6.3
|
%)
|
(22.8
|
%)
|
|||
Non-deductible
merger costs
|
3.0
|
%
|
---
|
||||
Non-deductible
stock-based compensation
|
5.9
|
%
|
---
|
||||
Change
in valuation allowance
|
35.1
|
%
|
126.1
|
%
|
|||
Effective
tax rate
|
0.0
|
%
|
0.0
|
%
|
At
December 31, 2006, the Company has available net operating loss carryforwards
for federal income tax purposes of approximately $139,000 which, if not utilized
earlier, expire in 2025.
7. Commitments
and Contingencies
Effective
March 22, 2006, Lixte entered into a Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (the “CRADA”) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
as represented by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(“NINDS”) of the National Institutes of Health. The CRADA is for a term of two
years from the effective date and may be unilaterally terminated by either
party
by providing written notice within sixty days. The CRADA provides for the
collaboration between the parties in the identification and evaluation of
agents
that target the Nuclear Receptor CoRepressor (N-CoR) pathway for glioma cell
differentiation. The CRADA also provided that NINDS and Lixte will conduct
research to determine if expression of N-CoR correlates with prognosis in
glioma
patients.
Pursuant
to the CRADA, Lixte agreed to provide funds under the CRADA in the amount
of
$200,000 per year to fund two technical assistants for the technical,
statistical and administrative support for the research activities, as well
as
to pay for supplies and travel expenses. The first installment of $200,000
was
due within 180 days of the effective date and was paid in full on July 6,
2006.
The second installment of $200,000 is scheduled for payment in July
2007.
On
January 5, 2007, Lixte entered into a Services Agreement with The Free State
of
Bavaria (Germany) represented by the University of Regensburg (the “University”)
pursuant to which Lixte retained the University to provide to it certain
samples
of primary cancer tissue and related biological fluids to be obtained from
patients afflicted with specified types of cancer. The University will also
provide certain information relating to such patients. Lixte will pay the
University 72,000 Euros (approximately $99,700) in two installments of 36,000
Euros (approximately
$49,850). The first installment was paid on March 7, 2007, and the second
installment will be paid within sixty days of the earlier of (i) January
5, 2008
or (ii) the University’s fulfillment of certain obligations relating to the
delivery of materials.
F-15
On
February 5, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with
Chem-Master International, Inc. (“Chem-Master”) pursuant to which the Company
engaged Chem-Master to synthesize a compound designated as “LB-1”, and any other
compound synthesized by Chem-Master pursuant to the Company’s request, which
have potential use in treating a disease, including, without limitation,
cancers
such as glioblastomas. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed to
reimburse Chem-Master for the cost of materials, labor and expenses for other
items used in synthesis process, and to grant to Chem-Master a five-year
option
to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price
of $0.333 per share. Additionally, provided that the Agreement is not terminated
by the Company without cause or by any party for cause prior to the second
anniversary of the Agreement, the Company agreed to grant to Chem-Master
a
five-year option to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock at $0.333 per share.
8.
Restatement
As
a result of recognizing a charge to operations of $74,000 at December 31,
2006
for estimated liquidated damages under the registration rights agreement
associated with the shares of common stock sold in 2006 but not yet registered
with the SEC (see Note 3), the Company restated its previously issued financial
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006. The impact of
such
restatement is summarized below.
For
the
year ended December 31, 2006, net loss increased by $74,000, to $562,084
($0.02
per share) from $488,084 ($0.02 per share). Cash flows from operating activities
did not change.
As
of
December 31, 2006, current liabilities (and total liabilities) increased
by
$74,000, to $198,503 from $124,503, as a result of which working capital
decreased to $551,502 from $625,502, and shareholders’ equity decreased to
$552,564 from $626,564. Total assets did not change.
F-16