UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2016

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______________ TO ____________.

Commission file number 033-80623

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-4343413

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

 

Identification Number)

19820 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, Washington 98011

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(425) 686-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes     No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes     No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,”  “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

Accelerated filer

 

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).   Yes     No  

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at November 10, 2016

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

30,020,294

 

 


OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Index to Form 10-Q

 

 

Page
Number

 

 

Part I.   Financial Information

3

 

 

 

Item 1

Financial Statements (unaudited)

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016  and September 30, 2015

4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2016  and September 30, 2015

5

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

6

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

17

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

25

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

26

 

 

Part II.   Other Information

27

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

27

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

28

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

43

 

 

Items 2, 3 and 4 are not applicable and therefore have been omitted.

 

 

 

Signatures

44

 

 

Exhibit Index

45

2


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share and share amounts) 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents [note 4]

 

$

11,800

 

 

$

34,310

 

Short-term investments [note 4]

 

 

20,655

 

 

 

20,876

 

Interest receivable

 

 

36

 

 

 

111

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

1,647

 

 

 

1,987

 

Other current assets

 

 

158

 

 

 

14

 

Total current assets

 

 

34,296

 

 

 

57,298

 

Restricted cash [note 4 and note 7]

 

 

272

 

 

 

272

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

493

 

 

 

602

 

Other assets

 

 

13

 

 

 

37

 

Total assets

 

$

35,074

 

 

$

58,209

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,043

 

 

$

1,343

 

Accrued liabilities other

 

 

602

 

 

 

641

 

Accrued clinical liabilities

 

 

7,114

 

 

 

9,966

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

1,422

 

 

 

1,267

 

Current portion of long-term obligations [note 7]

 

 

57

 

 

 

52

 

Lease termination liability [note 7]

 

 

 

 

 

1,250

 

Deferred collaboration revenue [note 3]

 

 

 

 

 

5,040

 

Warrant liability [note 4 and note 5]

 

 

350

 

 

 

1,105

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

10,588

 

 

 

20,664

 

Long-term obligations, less current portion [note 7]

 

 

67

 

 

 

105

 

Total liabilities

 

 

10,655

 

 

 

20,769

 

Commitments and contingencies [note 7]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 30,054,287 and

   29,846,991 issued at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and

   30,020,294 and 29,812,998 outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31,

   2015, respectively

 

 

30

 

 

 

29

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

212,843

 

 

 

211,590

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(191,097

)

 

 

(176,811

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

2,643

 

 

 

2,632

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

24,419

 

 

 

37,440

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

 

35,074

 

 

 

58,209

 

Subsequent events [note 8]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 

3


OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share and share amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

COLLABORATION REVENUE (note 3)

 

$

 

 

$

6,737

 

 

$

5,062

 

 

$

12,136

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

3,782

 

 

 

8,303

 

 

 

13,086

 

 

 

18,520

 

General and administrative

 

 

1,864

 

 

 

3,125

 

 

 

6,638

 

 

 

8,890

 

Restructuring costs (recovery) [note 7]

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

 

 

392

 

 

 

 

Recovery of lease termination loss [note 7]

 

 

(1,250

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,250

)

 

 

 

Litigation settlement [note 3 and note 7]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,375

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

4,365

 

 

 

11,428

 

 

 

20,241

 

 

 

27,410

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

53

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

162

 

 

 

91

 

Other

 

 

1

 

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(24

)

 

 

(60

)

Gain (loss) on warrants

 

 

621

 

 

 

131

 

 

 

755

 

 

 

166

 

Total other income (expense)

 

 

675

 

 

 

141

 

 

 

893

 

 

 

197

 

Net loss

 

$

(3,690

)

 

$

(4,550

)

 

$

(14,286

)

 

$

(15,077

)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities

 

 

(7

)

 

 

5

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

20

 

Total other comprehensive income

 

 

(7

)

 

 

5

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

20

 

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(3,697

)

 

$

(4,545

)

 

$

(14,275

)

 

$

(15,057

)

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

 

$

(0.12

)

 

$

(0.16

)

 

$

(0.48

)

 

$

(0.60

)

Shares used in computation of basic and diluted net loss per

   common share

 

 

30,013,928

 

 

 

28,538,918

 

 

 

29,925,219

 

 

 

24,914,844

 

 

See accompanying notes

 

 

4


OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(14,286

)

 

$

(15,077

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on warrants [note 4 and note 5 [f]]

 

 

(755

)

 

 

(166

)

Depreciation

 

 

148

 

 

 

178

 

Stock-based compensation [note 5 [c] and note 5 [d]]

 

 

1,253

 

 

 

1,940

 

Recovery of lease termination loss [note 7]

 

 

(1,250

)

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest receivable

 

 

75

 

 

 

65

 

Amounts receivable

 

 

(144

)

 

 

5,663

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

364

 

 

 

1,554

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(300

)

 

 

1,707

 

Accrued liabilities other

 

 

(39

)

 

 

(2,052

)

Accrued clinical liabilities

 

 

(2,852

)

 

 

(3,494

)

Accrued compensation

 

 

155

 

 

 

277

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

Excess lease liability

 

 

 

 

 

(194

)

Lease obligation

 

 

(33

)

 

 

113

 

Deferred collaboration revenue [note 3]

 

 

(5,040

)

 

 

11,041

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

 

(22,704

)

 

 

1,584

 

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital, net of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

 

17,629

 

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards

 

 

 

 

 

(52

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

17,577

 

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of investments

 

 

(34,125

)

 

 

(22,942

)

Proceeds from sale of investments

 

 

 

 

 

1,003

 

Proceeds from maturities of investments

 

 

34,358

 

 

 

17,659

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

 

(39

)

 

 

(301

)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

 

194

 

 

 

(4,581

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(22,510

)

 

 

14,580

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

34,310

 

 

 

27,897

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

11,800

 

 

$

42,477

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non cash financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued common stock in consideration for the purchase agreement with Lincoln

   Park Capital

 

$

 

 

$

254

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

5


OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

1. NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (referred to as “OncoGenex,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of new therapies that address treatment resistance in cancer patients. We were incorporated in the state of Delaware, are headquartered in Bothell, Washington and have a subsidiary in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required to be presented for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The accompanying consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared with the assumption that users of the interim financial information have read or have access to the audited consolidated financial statements for the preceding fiscal year. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on March 9, 2016.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of OncoGenex and our wholly owned subsidiary, OncoGenex Technologies Inc., or OncoGenex Technologies. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the financial presentation adopted for the current year.

 

 

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Pending Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Some of the areas of simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2016-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual period for which financial statements haven’t been issued or made available for issuance. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments must be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. We are currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its financial position and results from operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued its new leases standard, ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). ASU 2016-02 is aimed at putting most leases on lessees’ balance sheets, but it would also change aspects of lessor accounting. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within that year.  This standard is expected to have a significant impact on our current accounting for our lease arrangements, particularly our current operating lease arrangements, as well as, disclosures.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its financial position and results from operations.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The standard requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. Entities are currently required to separate deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments, which require non-current presentation only (by jurisdiction), are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The guidance is to be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of ASU No. 2015-17 on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures

6


In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB issued Accounting Standards Updated, or ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 2015-40) (ASU 2014-15). ASU 2014-15 provides guidance to U.S. GAAP about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is a substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. This new rule requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles currently in the U.S. auditing standards. Specifically, ASU 2014-15 (1) defines the term substantial doubt, (2) requires an evaluation of every reporting period including interim periods, (3) provides principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (5) requires an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) requires an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). This guidance is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of ASU No. 2014. Depending on our capital resources and forecasted expenses at the time of adoption, the impact of ASU No. 2014-15 could have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB, issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which guidance in this update will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance when it becomes effective. ASU No. 2014-09 affects any entity that enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The core principal of ASU No. 2014-09 is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, which will be our fiscal year 2018 (or December 31, 2018), and entities can transition to the standard either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently Adopted Accounting Policies

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) — Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU 2015-02 eliminates the deferral of FAS 167 and makes changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after 15 December 2015. For nonpublic business entities, it is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items. ASU 2015-01 eliminates the concept of reporting extraordinary items, but retains current presentation and disclosure requirements for an event or transaction that is of an unusual nature or of a type that indicates infrequency of occurrence. Transactions that meet both criteria would now also follow such presentation and disclosure requirements. For all entities, the guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted; however, adoption must occur at the beginning of an annual period and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

 

 

3. CUSTIRSEN COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

In December 2009, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, OncoGenex Technologies, entered into a collaboration agreement, or Collaboration Agreement, with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., or Teva, for the development and global commercialization of custirsen (and related compounds), a pharmaceutical compound designed to inhibit the production of clusterin, a protein we believe is associated with cancer treatment resistance, or the Licensed Product. In December 2014, we and Teva agreed to terminate the Collaboration Agreement upon entry into a termination agreement. In April 2015, OncoGenex Technologies and Teva entered into an agreement, or the Termination Agreement, pursuant to which the Collaboration Agreement was terminated and we regained rights to custirsen.

Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Teva paid to us, as advanced reimbursement for certain continuing research and development activities related to custirsen, an amount equal to $27.0 million less approximately $3.8 million, which reduction represented a hold-back amount of $3.0 million and $0.8 million for certain third-party expenses incurred by Teva between January 1, 2015 and April 24,

7


2015, or Closing Date. Teva was permitted to deduct from the $3.0 million hold-back certain costs incurred after January 1, 2015 that arose after the Closing Date. Teva will be responsible for expenses related to custirsen incurred pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement through December 31, 2014. We will be responsible for certain custirsen-related expenses from and after January 1, 2015. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, we received a nominal amount from the remaining hold-back after deductions by Teva for certain costs incurred after the Closing Date. We do not expect to receive any additional amounts from Teva.

In accordance with the Termination Agreement, Teva transferred certain third-party agreements for the ENSPIRIT study and custirsen development activities to us on the Closing Date. If any additional historical third-party agreements are discovered after the Closing Date and are used to conduct the ENSPIRIT study, then Teva will use commercially reasonable effort to assign such agreements to us and will be responsible for any costs invoiced under such agreements in excess of an aggregate of $0.1 million. We will be responsible for the initial $0.1 million of costs under such agreements.

All licenses granted by us to Teva under the Collaboration Agreement were terminated as of the Closing Date. In addition, Teva assigned to us certain patent applications related to custirsen and abandoned certain other patent applications as requested by us. Furthermore, Teva granted to us and our affiliates an exclusive license (except as to Teva and its affiliates) to any know-how created under and during the term of the Collaboration Agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize custirsen and certain other antisense inhibitors of clusterin, as set forth in more detail in the Termination Agreement. Teva additionally granted to us and our affiliates a non-exclusive license to any intellectual property owned by or licensed to Teva and its affiliates, whether as of the Closing Date or thereafter, to develop, manufacture and commercialize custirsen, subject to certain limitations. Teva also agreed not to challenge the patentability, validity or enforceability of certain of our patents, and agreed not to file any patent applications covering custirsen or any antisense inhibitor of clusterin for 18 months after the Closing Date. We are responsible for any such expenses incurred from and after January 1, 2015. We do not owe Teva any development milestone payments or royalty payments on sales of custirsen, if any.

As part of the termination, Teva assigned to us the investigational new drug application for custirsen and submitted amendments, on a country-by-country basis, transferring sponsorship of the ENSPIRIT study to us. In July 2015, we became the sole trial sponsor for the ENSPIRIT study in all countries.

We and Teva released each other from all claims related to the Collaboration Agreement. In addition, we agreed to indemnify Teva and its affiliates against any third-party claims attributable to the development and commercialization of custirsen prior to the execution of the Collaboration Agreement and after the Closing Date, and any third-party claims attributable to the conduct of the AFFINITY study. Teva agreed to indemnify us and our affiliates against any third-party claims attributable to the development of custirsen during the period between the execution of the Collaboration Agreement and the Closing Date, but excluding the AFFINITY study. The parties’ indemnity obligations cover, among other things, third-party claims brought by current or former patients in the relevant studies and patient product liability claims.

Revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was zero and $5.1 million, respectively, which consists of recognition of deferred collaboration revenue representing our efforts in the development of custirsen. As of June 30, 2016, the full amount of the advanced reimbursement payment was recognized into collaboration revenue. The advanced reimbursement payment made by Teva, as part of the Termination Agreement, was deferred and recognized as collaboration revenue on a dollar for dollar basis as costs were incurred as part of the continuing research and development activities related to custirsen.

Ionis and UBC License Agreements

In November 2016, we provided a notice of discontinuance to Ionis, or the Notice of Discontinuance, and a letter of termination to UBC, or the Letter of Termination, notifying the parties that we have discontinued development of custirsen, resulting in termination of all licensing agreements related to custirsen. We believe that all financial obligations, other than continuing mutual indemnification obligations and our requirement to pay for out-of-pocket patent expenses incurred up to the date of termination and for abandoning the custirsen patents and patent applications, under all agreements with Ionis and UBC, including the Ionis settlement agreement, are no longer owed and no further payments are due.

Under the license agreements with Ionis and UBC, we were required to pay royalties to each of Ionis and UBC based on a percentage of net sales. We did not make any royalty payments to either Ionis or UBC in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the agreements with Ionis, we were required to pay to Ionis up to 20% of all non-royalty revenue (defined to mean revenue not based on net sales of products) we receive from third parties.

8


In May and November 2015, we received communications from Ionis requesting payment of 30% of the $23.2 million paid by Teva under the Termination Agreement, as well as 30% of any amounts paid by Teva upon release of the $3.0 million holdback amount. In January 2016, Ionis filed a lawsuit and claimed that OncoGenex Technologies was in breach of the license agreement for failing to pay Ionis a share of the advance reimbursement payment from Teva and other non-monetary consideration received from Teva in connection with the termination of the Collaboration Agreement. Ionis sought damages and a declaratory judgment that, based on OncoGenex Technologies’ alleged breach, Ionis has the right to terminate the license agreement.

In August 2016, we and Ionis settled this lawsuit. Pursuant to the settlement, we paid to Ionis a $1.4 million upfront payment. In addition, under the settlement agreement, we were required to pay to Ionis additional success-based payments of up to an amount that does not exceed $5.0 million based on, (i) an additional 5% royalty on net sales of custirsen and (ii) 50% of any money we receive related to the sale, license or any other commercial transaction involving custirsen, subject to certain limitations. As a result of the Notice of Discontinuance, we believe that all financial obligations under the settlement agreement are no longer owed and no further payments are due. 

 

 

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. For certain of our financial instruments including amounts receivable and accounts payable the carrying values approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. In accordance with ASC 820, these inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

 

Level 2 – Other significant inputs that are observable through corroboration with market data (including quoted prices in active markets for similar securities).

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

As quoted prices in active markets are not readily available for certain financial instruments, we obtain estimates for the fair value of financial instruments through third-party pricing service providers.

In determining the appropriate levels, we performed a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to ASC 820.

We invest our excess cash in accordance with investment guidelines that limit the credit exposure to any one financial institution other than securities issued by the U.S. Government. These securities are not collateralized and mature within one year.

A description of the valuation techniques applied to our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis follows.

Financial Instruments

Cash

Significant amounts of cash are held on deposit with large well-established U.S. and Canadian financial institutions.

Money Market Securities

Money market securities are classified within Level I of the fair value hierarchy and are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

U.S. Government and Agency Securities

U.S. Government Securities U.S. government securities are valued using quoted market prices. Valuation adjustments are not applied. Accordingly, U.S. government securities are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

U.S. Agency Securities U.S. agency securities are comprised of two main categories consisting of callable and non-callable agency issued debt securities. Non-callable agency issued debt securities are generally valued using quoted market prices. Callable agency issued debt securities are valued by benchmarking model-derived prices to quoted market prices and trade data for identical or

9


comparable securities. Actively traded non-callable agency issued debt securities are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Callable agency issued debt securities are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Corporate and Other Debt

Corporate Bonds and Commercial Paper The fair value of corporate bonds and commercial paper is estimated using recently executed transactions, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads or credit default swap spreads adjusted for any basis difference between cash and derivative instruments. The spread data used are for the same maturity as the bond. If the spread data does not reference the issuer, then data that reference a comparable issuer are used. When observable price quotations are not available, fair value is determined based on cash flow models with yield curves, bond or single name credit default swap spreads and recovery rates based on collateral values as significant inputs. Corporate bonds and commercial paper are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; in instances where prices, spreads or any of the other aforementioned key inputs are unobservable, they are categorized in Level 3 of the hierarchy.

Warrants

As of September 30, 2016, we recorded a $0.4 million warrant liability. We reassess the fair value of the common stock warrants classified as liabilities at each reporting date utilizing a Black-Scholes pricing model. Inputs used in the pricing model include estimates of stock price volatility, expected warrant life and risk-free interest rate. The computation of expected volatility was based on the historical volatility of shares of our common stock for a period that coincides with the expected life of the warrants that are classified as liabilities. Warrants that are classified as liabilities are categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. A small change in the estimates used may have a relatively large change in the estimated valuation. Warrants that are classified as equity are not considered liabilities and therefore are not reassessed for their fair values at each reporting date.

The following table presents information about our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques we utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):

 

September 30, 2016

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

1,328

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,328

 

Money market securities

 

 

8,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,365

 

Government securities

 

 

10,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,007

 

Restricted cash (Note 7)

 

 

272

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

272

 

Corporate bonds and commercial paper

 

 

 

 

 

12,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,755

 

Total assets

 

$

19,972

 

 

$

12,755

 

 

$

 

 

$

32,727

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

350

 

 

$

350

 

 

The following table presents the changes in fair value of our total Level 3 financial liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we did not issue any common stock warrants that were classified as liabilities (in thousands):

 

 

 

Liability at

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

Liability at

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

Issuance of

 

 

Gain on

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

Warrants

 

 

warrants

 

 

2016

 

Warrant liability

 

$

1,105

 

 

$

 

 

$

(755

)

 

$

350

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

Estimated

 

September 30, 2016

 

Cost

 

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

Cash

 

$

1,328

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,328

 

Money market securities

 

 

8,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,365

 

Government securities

 

 

10,003

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,007

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

$

19,696

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

 

 

$

19,700

 

Money market securities (restricted cash)

 

 

272

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

272

 

Total restricted cash

 

$

272

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

272

 

Corporate bonds and commercial paper

 

 

12,757

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

12,755

 

Total short-term investments

 

$

12,757

 

 

$

 

 

$

(2

)

 

$

12,755

 

10


 

Our gross realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities were not material for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

All securities included in cash and cash equivalents had maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. All securities included in short-term investments have maturities of within one year of the balance sheet date.  The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.

We only invest in A (or equivalent) rated securities. We do not believe that there are any other than temporary impairments related to our investment in short-term investments at September 30, 2016, given the quality of the investment portfolio and subsequent proceeds collected on sale of securities that reached maturity.

 

 

5. COMMON STOCK

[a]

Authorized

75,000,000 authorized common shares, par value of $0.001, and 5,000,000 preferred shares, par value of $0.001. 

[b]

Issued and outstanding shares

Equity Award Issuances and Settlements

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we issued no shares of common stock to satisfy stock option exercises and 207,296 shares of common stock to satisfy restricted stock unit settlements, compared with the issuance of no shares of common stock to satisfy stock option exercises and 260,676 shares of common stock to satisfy restricted stock unit settlements, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

[c]

Stock options

2010 Performance Incentive Plan

As of September 30, 2016, we had reserved, pursuant to various plans, 3,648,991 common shares for issuance upon exercise of stock options and settlement of restricted stock units by employees, directors, officers and consultants of ours, of which 2,973,955 were reserved for options currently outstanding, 341,085 were reserved for restricted stock units currently outstanding and 333,951 were available for future equity grants.

Stock Option Summary

We grant stock options that vest over time in accordance with terms as determined by our Board of Directors, or the Board, which terms are typically four years for employee and consultant grants and one to three years for Board option grants. We also grant stock option awards that vest in conjunction with certain performance conditions to executive officers, employees and consultants. At each reporting date, we are required to evaluate whether achievement of the performance conditions is probable. Compensation expense is recorded over the appropriate service period based upon our assessment of accomplishing each performance condition. The expiry date for each option is set by the Board, which is typically seven to ten years. The exercise price of the options is determined by the Board, but will be at least equal to the fair value of the share at the grant date.

Stock option transactions and the number of stock options outstanding are summarized below:

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Optioned

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Common

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Price

 

Balance,  December 31, 2015

 

 

1,479,221

 

 

$

8.78

 

Granted

 

 

1,635,250

 

 

 

0.86

 

Expired

 

 

(16,520

)

 

 

7.25

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(123,996

)

 

 

5.35

 

Balance,  September 30, 2016

 

 

2,973,955

 

 

$

4.58

 

 

11


The fair value of each stock award for employees and directors is estimated on the grant date and for consultants at each reporting period, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the weighted-average assumptions noted in the following table:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Risk-free interest rates

 

 

1.51

%

 

 

1.74

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 

0

%

 

 

0

%

Expected life

 

5.3 years

 

 

5.8 years

 

Expected volatility

 

 

71.88

%

 

 

62.31

%

 

The expected life was calculated based on the simplified method as permitted by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 110, Share-Based Payment. We consider the use of the simplified method appropriate because we believe our historical stock option exercise activity may not be indicative of future stock option exercise activity based upon strategic alternatives we are exploring and the structural changes to our business that may result and the potential impact on future stock option exercise activity. The expected volatility of options granted was calculated based on the historical volatility of the shares of our common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on a U.S. Treasury instrument whose term is consistent with the expected life of the stock options. In addition to the assumptions above, as required under ASC 718, management made an estimate of expected forfeitures and is recognizing compensation costs only for those equity awards expected to vest. Forfeiture rates are estimated using historical actual forfeiture rates. These rates are adjusted on a quarterly basis and any change in compensation expense is recognized in the period of the change. We have never paid or declared cash dividends on our common stock and do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

The results for the periods set forth below included share-based compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock units in the following expense categories of the consolidated statements of loss (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Research and development

 

$

(70

)

 

$

351

 

 

$

614

 

 

$

920

 

General and administrative

 

$

(64

)

 

 

361

 

 

 

639

 

 

 

1,020

 

Total stock-based compensation

 

$

(134

)

 

$

712

 

 

$

1,253

 

 

$

1,940

 

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options granted was $1.8 million and $1.8 million respectively, which is expected to be recognized as expense over a period of approximately 1.5 years from September 30, 2016.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, a total of 7.0 million shares, consisting of  3.7 million warrants, 3.0 million options and 0.3 million restricted stock units, have not been included in the loss per share computation, as their effect on diluted per share amounts would have been anti-dilutive. For the same periods in 2015, a total of 7.6 million shares underlying options, restricted stock units and warrants have not been included in the loss per share computation.

[d]

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

We grant restricted stock unit awards that generally vest and are expensed over a four year period. We also grant restricted stock unit awards that vest in conjunction with certain performance conditions to certain executive officers, key employees and consultants. At each reporting date, we are required to evaluate whether achievement of the performance conditions is probable. Compensation expense is recorded over the appropriate service period based upon our assessment of accomplishing each performance condition. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 we recorded a compensation recovery of $0.1 million and a compensation expense of $0.5 million, respectively, related to these awards, compared to $0.4 million and $1.0 million of compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

The following table summarizes our restricted stock unit award activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Number

 

 

Average

 

 

 

of

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Fair Value

 

Balance,  December 31, 2015

 

 

640,759

 

 

$

4.92

 

Settled

 

 

(207,296

)

 

 

5.21

 

Forfeited or expired

 

 

(92,378

)

 

 

6.39

 

Balance,  September 30, 2016

 

 

341,085

 

 

$

4.35

 

12


 

As of September 30, 2016, we had approximately $1.2 million in total unrecognized compensation expense related to our restricted stock unit awards that is to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.6 years.

[e]

Non-employee options and restricted stock units

We recognize non-employee stock-based compensation expense over the period of expected service by the non-employee. As the service is performed, we are required to update our valuation assumptions, re-measure unvested options and restricted stock units and record the stock-based compensation using the valuation as of the vesting date. This differs from the accounting for employee awards where the fair value is determined at the grant date and is not subsequently adjusted. This re-measurement may result in higher or lower stock-based compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss. As such, changes in the market price of our stock could materially change the value of an option or restricted stock unit and the resulting stock-based compensation expense.

[f]

Common Stock Warrants

The following is a summary of outstanding warrants to purchase common stock at September 30, 2016:

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

price per

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable

 

 

Share

 

 

Expiration Date

(1) Series A Warrants issued in July 2014 financing

 

 

2,779,933

 

 

 

4.00

 

 

July 2019

(2) Series B Warrants issued in July 2014 financing

 

 

670,269

 

 

 

4.00

 

 

July 2019

(3) Series A-1 Warrants issued in April 2015 financing

 

 

239,234

 

 

 

2.40

 

 

October 2020

 

No warrants were exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015.  The Series A-1 Warrants issued in the April 2015 financing are classified as equity. The Series A and Series B warrants issued in the July 2014 financing are classified as liabilities. The estimated fair value of warrants issued and classified as liabilities is reassessed at each reporting date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

September 30,

 

Series A and Series B Warrant Valuation Assumptions

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Risk-free interest rates

 

 

0.85

%

 

 

1.09

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 

0

%

 

 

0

%

Expected life

 

2.75 years

 

 

3.75 years

 

Expected volatility

 

 

100.97

%

 

 

70.15

%

 

 

6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

In January 2016, Scott Cormack, our Chief Executive Officer, married Michelle Griffin, a consultant to us.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we paid Ms. Griffin approximately $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, for consulting services pursuant to a consulting agreement entered into in 2013 and amended thereafter. We also granted Ms. Griffin options to purchase 135,000 shares of common stock in 2016. In addition, pursuant to the consulting agreement with Ms. Griffin, as at September 30, 2016, we had an accrued termination liability of approximately $0.4 million.

 

 

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

In December 2009, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, OncoGenex Technologies, entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Teva for the development and global commercialization of custirsen (and related compounds). In December 2014, we and Teva agreed to terminate the Collaboration Agreement upon entry into a Termination Agreement. In April 2015, OncoGenex Technologies and Teva entered into the Termination Agreement, pursuant to which the Collaboration Agreement was terminated and we regained rights to custirsen. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Teva paid to us, as advanced reimbursement for certain continuing research and development activities related to custirsen, an amount equal to $27.0 million less approximately $3.8 million, which reduction represented a hold-back amount of $3.0 million and $0.8 million for certain third-party custirsen-related development expenses incurred by Teva between January 1, 2015 and the Closing Date. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, we received a

13


nominal amount from the remaining hold-back after deductions by Teva for certain costs incurred after the Closing Date. We do not expect to receive any additional amounts from Teva.

All licenses granted by us to Teva under the Collaboration Agreement were terminated as of the Closing Date.

In accordance with the Termination Agreement, Teva transferred certain third-party agreements for the ENSPIRIT study and custirsen development activities to us on the Closing Date. If any additional historical third-party agreements are discovered after the Closing Date and are used to conduct the ENSPIRIT study, then Teva will use commercially reasonable effort to assign such agreements to us and will be responsible for any costs invoiced under such agreements in excess of an aggregate of $0.1 million. We will be responsible for the initial $0.1 million of costs under such agreements.

Prior to the termination of the Collaboration Agreement, Teva made upfront payments in the aggregate amount of $50.0 million. Teva also acquired $10.0 million of our common stock at a premium under a separate Stock Purchase Agreement. We were required to contribute $30.0 million in direct and indirect costs towards the clinical development plan. We fulfilled our obligation to contribute $30.0 million towards the development of custirsen. Teva was required to and did fund all additional expenses under the clinical development plan through December 31, 2014, after which date we took over responsibility for future costs following termination of our Collaboration Agreement. We do not owe, to Teva, any development milestone payments or royalty payments on sales of custirsen, if any.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and University of British Columbia

Custirsen

In November 2016, we provided the Notice of Discontinuance to Ionis and the Letter of Termination to UBC, notifying the parties that we have discontinued development of custirsen, resulting in termination of all licensing agreements related to custirsen. We believe that all financial obligations, other than continuing mutual indemnification obligations and our requirement to pay for out-of-pocket patent expenses incurred up to the date of termination and for abandoning the custirsen patents and patent applications, under all agreements with Ionis and UBC, including the Ionis settlement agreement, are no longer owed and no further payments are due.

Under the license agreements with Ionis and UBC, we were required to pay royalties to each of Ionis and UBC based on a percentage of net sales. We did not make any royalty payments to either Ionis or UBC in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the agreements with Ionis, we were required to pay to Ionis up to 20% of all non-royalty revenue (defined to mean revenue not based on net sales of products) we receive from third parties.

In May and November 2015, we received communications from Ionis requesting payment of 30% of the $23.2 million paid by Teva under the Termination Agreement, as well as 30% of any amounts paid by Teva upon release of the $3.0 million holdback amount. In January 2016, Ionis filed a lawsuit and claimed that OncoGenex Technologies was in breach of the license agreement for failing to pay Ionis a share of the advance reimbursement payment from Teva and other non-monetary consideration received from Teva in connection with the termination of the Collaboration Agreement. Ionis sought damages and a declaratory judgment that, based on OncoGenex Technologies’ alleged breach, Ionis has the right to terminate the license agreement.

In August 2016, we and Ionis settled this lawsuit. Pursuant to the settlement, we paid to Ionis a $1.4 million upfront payment. In addition, under the settlement agreement, we were required to pay to Ionis additional success-based payments of up to an amount that does not exceed $5.0 million based on, (i) an additional 5% royalty on net sales of custirsen and (ii) 50% of any money we receive related to the sale, license or any other commercial transaction involving custirsen, subject to certain limitations. As a result of the Notice of Discontinuance, we believe that all financial obligations under the settlement agreement are no longer owed and no further payments are due.

Apatorsen and OGX-225

We are obligated to pay milestone payments of up to CAD $1.6 million and $7.75 million pursuant to license agreements with UBC and Ionis, respectively, upon the achievement of specified product development milestones related to apatorsen and OGX-225 and low to mid-single digit royalties on future product sales.

Unless otherwise terminated, the Ionis agreements for apatorsen will continue until the later of 10 years after the date of the first commercial product sale, or the expiration of the last to expire of any patents required to be licensed in order to use or sell the product, unless OncoGenex Technologies discontinues apatorsen and Ionis does not elect to unilaterally continue development. The Ionis agreement for OGX-225 will continue into perpetuity unless OncoGenex Technologies discontinues development of the product and Ionis does not elect to unilaterally continue development.

14


Lease Arrangements

We have an operating lease agreement for office space being used in Vancouver, Canada, which expires in September 2017. Pursuant to the operating lease agreement, we have the option to terminate the lease early without penalty at any time after January 1, 2017 so long as we provide three months prior written notice to the landlord. As of September 30, 2016, the remaining future minimum lease payments under the Vancouver lease are an aggregate of $0.1 million.

In February 2015, we entered into an office lease with Grosvenor International (Atlantic Freeholds) Limited, or Landlord, pursuant to which we leased approximately 11,526 square feet located at 19820 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, Washington, 98011, commencing on February 15, 2015. The initial term of this lease will expire on April 30, 2018, with an option to extend the term for one approximately three-year period. Our monthly base rent for the premises started at approximately $18,000 commencing on May 1, 2015 and will increase on an annual basis up to approximately $20,000. We received a construction allowance, for leasehold improvements that we made, of approximately $0.1 million. We will be responsible for 17% of taxes levied upon the building during each calendar year of the term. We delivered to the Landlord a letter of credit in the amount of $0.2 million, in accordance with the terms if the lease, which the Landlord may draw upon for base rent or other damages in the event of our default under this lease. In August 2015 we exercised our expansion option for an additional 2,245 square feet of office space, which commenced on August 1, 2015.

The remaining future minimum annual lease payments under the Bothell lease are as follows (in thousands):

 

2016

 

 

68

 

2017

 

 

281

 

2018

 

 

95

 

Total

 

$

444

 

 

Consolidated rent and operating expense relating to both the Vancouver, Canada and Bothell, Washington offices for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Consolidated rent expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

In February 2015, we entered into a Lease Termination Agreement with BMR pursuant to which we and BMR agreed to terminate our lease, dated November 21, 2006, as amended, for the premises located at 1522 217th Place S.E. in Bothell, Washington, or Terminated Lease, effective March 1, 2015. Under the Lease Termination Agreement, we paid BMR a $2.0 million termination fee. BMR drew approximately $0.1 million on our letter of credit with respect to its payment of deferred state sales tax and terminated the remaining balance of $0.2 million. BMR returned to us the security deposit under the Terminated Lease, less amounts deducted in accordance with the terms of the Terminated Lease, of $0.5 million.

Pursuant to the Lease Termination Agreement, an additional termination fee of $1.3 million would have been payable to BMR if we had (i) met the primary endpoint for our phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of second line metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer, or CRPC, with custirsen, or the AFFINITY Trial, and if we had (ii) closed a transaction or transactions pursuant to which we received funding in an aggregate amount of at least $20.0 million. As at December 31, 2014 and subsequent annual and interim reporting periods up to June 30, 2016, we had assessed that the likelihood of meeting both contingent events was probable and as a result, recognized the $1.3 million in lease termination liability on our balance sheet as at the end of those reporting periods. In August 2016, final survival results of our AFFINITY trial did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in men with metastatic CRPC. As at September 30, 2016, we have re-assessed that the likelihood of meeting both contingent events is no longer possible due to not achieving the primary endpoint on our AFFINITY trial. As a result, we have reversed the $1.3 million in lease termination liability on our balance sheet as at September 30, 2016 and recognized a recovery on our statement of loss.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

We indemnify our officers, directors and certain consultants for certain events or occurrences, subject to certain limits, while the officer or director is or was serving at our request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is equal to the officer’s, consultant’s or director’s lifetime.

The maximum amount of potential future indemnification is unlimited; however, we have obtained director and officer insurance that limits our exposure and may enable us to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. We believe that the fair value of these indemnification obligations is minimal. Accordingly, we have not recognized any liabilities relating to these obligations as of September 30, 2016.

15


We have agreements with certain organizations with which we do business that contain indemnification provisions pursuant to which we typically agree to indemnify the party against certain types of third-party claims. We accrue for known indemnification issues when a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. There were no accruals for or expenses related to indemnification issues for any period presented.

Restructure

In February 2016, we committed to a plan to reduce operating expenses, which included a workforce reduction of 11 employees, representing approximately 27% of our employees prior to the reduction. We incurred approximately $0.4 million in expenses as a result of the workforce reduction, substantially all of which were severance costs.

 

 

8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

In October 2016, we committed to a restructuring of a portion of our workforce in order to preserve our resources as we determine future strategic plans. As part of this restructuring, we will eliminate 16 positions, representing approximately 55% of our workforce. We expect the restructuring to be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2017. We currently anticipate incurring total restructuring costs of approximately $1.4 million, which includes severance, benefits and related costs of approximately $1.2 million and potential fixed asset impairments of approximately $0.2 million.

In November 2016, we provided the Notice of Discontinuance to Ionis and the Letter of Termination to UBC, notifying the parties that we have discontinued development of custirsen, resulting in termination of all licensing agreements related to custirsen. We believe that all financial obligations, other than continuing mutual indemnification obligations and our requirement to pay for out-of-pocket patent expenses incurred up to the date of termination and for abandoning the custirsen patents and patent applications, under all agreements with Ionis and UBC, including the Ionis settlement agreement, are no longer owed and no further payments are due.

 

 

16


Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, costs and expenses, interest rates, outcome of contingencies, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, business strategies, cost savings, objectives of management and other statements that are not historical facts. You can find many of these statements by looking for words like “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “could,” “plan,” “intend” or similar expressions in this document  or in documents incorporated by reference into this document. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Examples of these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

expectations regarding the timing, likelihood, nature and effects of our ongoing exploration of strategic alternatives and any consummation of a strategic transaction;

 

progress and preliminary and future results of clinical trials;

 

anticipated regulatory filings and requirements and future clinical trials;

 

timing and amount of future contractual payments, product revenue and operating expenses;

 

market acceptance of our products and the estimated potential size of these markets; and

 

our anticipated future capital requirements and the terms of any capital financing agreements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from current expectations and projections. Factors that might cause such a difference include those discussed in Item 1A “Risk Factors,” as well as those discussed elsewhere in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document or, in the case of documents referred to or incorporated by reference, the date of those documents.

All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. securities law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. 

Overview

Our mission is to accelerate transformative therapies to improve the lives of people living with cancer and other serious diseases. Our product candidates are designed to block the production of specific proteins that promote treatment resistance in cancer. We believe our therapies have the potential to improve treatment outcomes in a variety of cancers. Each of our product candidates, apatorsen and OGX-225, have a distinct mechanism of action and represents a unique opportunity for cancer drug development.

Our product candidates focus on mechanisms of treatment resistance in cancer patients and are designed to block the production of specific proteins that we believe promote treatment resistance and survival of tumor cells and are over-produced in response to a variety of cancer treatments. Our aim in targeting these particular proteins is to disable the tumor cell’s adaptive defenses, thereby rendering the tumor cells more susceptible to attack with a variety of cancer therapies. We believe this approach may increase survival time and improve the quality of life for cancer patients.

We believe that our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our currently planned operations for at least the next 12 months.

In August 2016, we engaged MTS Health Partners LP as our advisor to assist with the exploration of strategic alternatives.  MTS Health Partners is providing a range of advisory services aimed to enhance stockholder value. We expect to devote substantial time and resources to exploring strategic alternatives; however, there can be no assurance that such activities will result in any agreements

17


or transactions that will enhance stockholder value. Further, any strategic transaction that is completed ultimately may not deliver the anticipated benefits or enhance stockholder value.

In October 2016, we committed to a restructuring of a portion of our workforce in order to preserve our resources as we determine future strategic plans. As part of this restructuring, we will eliminate 16 positions, representing approximately 55% of our workforce. We expect the restructuring to be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2017. We currently anticipate incurring total restructuring costs of approximately $1.4 million, which includes severance, benefits and related costs of approximately $1.2 million and potential fixed asset impairments of approximately $0.2 million.

As a result of custirsen not meeting the primary endpoint of improving overall survival in three completed phase 3 trials, we have discontinued further development of custirsen and have begun to wind down all clinical trials and other activities related to this product candidate. In November 2016, we provided a notice of discontinuance to Ionis, or the Notice of Discontinuance, and a letter of termination to UBC, or the Letter of Termination, notifying those parties that we have discontinued development of custirsen, resulting in termination of all licensing agreements related to custirsen.

Product Candidate Apatorsen

Apatorsen is our product candidate that is designed to inhibit production of Hsp27, a cell-survival protein expressed in many types of cancers including bladder, prostate, breast, pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer. Hsp27 expression is stress-induced, including by many anti-cancer therapies. Overexpression of Hsp27 is thought to be an important factor leading to the development of treatment resistance and is associated with metastasis and negative clinical outcomes in patients with various tumor types.

A number of preclinical studies have shown that reducing Hsp27 production induces tumor cell death in prostate, non-small cell lung, bladder and pancreatic cancer cells. The studies also suggest that reducing Hsp27 production sensitizes prostate tumor cells to hormone ablation therapy. These preclinical studies have also shown that inhibiting the production of Hsp27 in human prostate, bladder, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic tumor cells sensitizes the cells to chemotherapy.

Hsp27 has been reported by others to function as an immunomodulatory protein by a number of mechanisms that include altering important membrane expressed proteins on monocytes and immature dendritic cells; this alteration results in tumor-associated immune cells that are not functional in identifying and killing cancer cells. The induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines by Hsp27 may also play a role in down-regulating lymphocyte activation leading to additional unresponsive immune cells.

In 2013, we initiated the ORCA (Ongoing Studies Evaluating Treatment Resistance in CAncer) program which encompasses clinical studies designed to evaluate whether inhibition of Hsp27 can lead to improved prognosis and treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Our goal is to advance cancer treatment by conducting clinical trials for apatorsen across multiple cancer indications including bladder, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancers. We are conducting parallel clinical trials to evaluate apatorsen in several cancer indications and treatment combinations to accelerate the development of apatorsen. As part of this strategy, we are supporting specific investigator-sponsored trials to allow assessment of a broader range of clinical indications for future OncoGenex-sponsored trials and possible market approval. The ORCA trials, with exception of the Pacific™ trial, are designed to provide information that will be useful for designing future phase 3 trials and may be used as supportive studies for registration, if applicable.  Due to small sample sizes, data from these trials are not likely to result in statistically significant differences in either progression free survival, or PFS, or overall survival, or OS.

Six phase 2 apatorsen clinical trials have been initiated or completed under the ORCA program.

 

 

Completed Trials

 

The Borealis-2™ Trial: The completed investigator-sponsored, randomized phase 2 trial evaluated apatorsen in combination with docetaxel treatment compared to docetaxel treatment alone in patients with advanced or metastatic bladder cancer who have disease progression following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who received apatorsen treatment experienced a 20% reduction in risk of death, compared to patients receiving docetaxel alone (HR=.80; 80% CI: 0.65-0.98; p=0.078). The primary analysis was a superiority test of overall survival, performed at a one-sided 0.10 significance level using a stratified log-rank test.  Safety results in patients treated with apatorsen and docetaxel were similar to those observed in patients treated with docetaxel alone. The trial was conducted by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network at 28 sites across the United States.

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The Borealis-1™ Trial: Our completed company-sponsored Borealis-1™ phase 2 trial was a three-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating 600mg or 1000mg apatorsen in combination with a first-line standard of care chemotherapy regimen (gemcitabine and cisplatin) in the metastatic setting. Overall, trial results indicated that the addition of 600mg apatorsen to standard of care chemotherapy showed a 14% reduction in risk of death (OS HR = 0.86) and a 17% reduction in progressive disease and death (PFS HR = 0.83) when compared to chemotherapy alone. Less benefit was observed in the 1000mg apatorsen arm due to increased adverse events leading to a higher rate of discontinuation of both apatorsen and chemotherapy. Results from an exploratory analysis showed that metastatic bladder cancer patients with poor prognostic features (lower performance status, liver involvement, low hemoglobin and high alkaline phosphatase) achieved a 28% reduction in risk of death from the addition of 600mg apatorsen to first-line chemotherapy (OS HR = 0.72) compared to chemotherapy alone. Overall, higher baseline serum Hsp27 levels predicted worse survival outcome and patients characterized as poor prognosis had significantly higher baseline Hsp27 levels than patients characterized as good prognosis. These results were presented in an oral session on June 1, 2015 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, and additional analyses were presented on September 28, 2015 at the European Cancer Congress, or ECC.

 

The Rainier™ Trial: Our completed investigator-sponsored Rainier™ phase 2 trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating apatorsen in combination with ABRAXANE® (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) and gemcitabine compared to ABRAXANE and gemcitabine alone in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer. The addition of apatorsen to ABRAXANE and gemcitabine did not demonstrate an overall survival benefit in the study when compared to ABRAXANE and gemcitabine alone (OS HR = 1.253; PFS HR = 1.038).   A potential benefit was observed in a subgroup of patients (14%) with high baseline serum Hsp27 status when treated with apatorsen (OS HR = 0.568; PFS HR = 0.402). Overall, higher baseline Hsp27 status correlated with worse survival outcome. The study was sponsored and conducted by Sarah Cannon Research Institute, or SCRI, and further results were presented at the Gastrointestinal, or GI, Cancers Symposium meeting in January 2016. The study investigators concluded that these promising results in pancreatic cancer patients with high Hsp27 status warrant further study of apatorsen in this population.

 

The Pacific™ Trial: The investigator-sponsored, randomized phase 2 trial evaluating apatorsen in men with CRPC who are experiencing a rising PSA while receiving Zytiga® (abiraterone acetate). The aim of the trial is to determine if adding apatorsen to Zytiga treatment can reverse or delay treatment resistance by evaluating the PFS rate at a milestone Day 60 assessment. Other secondary endpoints such as PSA and objective responses, time to disease progression, CTCs and Hsp27 levels are expected to be evaluated. The trial completed enrollment of 72 patients in March 2016, results have been submitted to a medical congress and  are expected to be presented in early 2017. The study is being sponsored and conducted by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network.

Ongoing Trials

 

The Spruce™ Trial: The investigator-sponsored, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial evaluating apatorsen plus carboplatin and pemetrexed therapy compared to carboplatin and pemetrexed therapy in patients with previously untreated advanced non-squamous NSCLC. Patients continued pemetrexed with weekly apatorsen or placebo infusions as maintenance treatment until disease progression if they completed a minimum of 3 cycles of chemotherapy treatment. The aim of the trial is to determine if adding apatorsen to carboplatin and pemetrexed therapy can extend PFS outcome. Additional analyses are expected to include tumor response rates, overall survival, safety, tolerability and the effect of therapy on Hsp27 levels. Patients who are at increased risk for poor outcomes will also be prospectively evaluated. This trial was initiated in August 2013 and patient enrollment was completed in February 2015. The trial randomized approximately 155 patients. In January 2016, the primary endpoint data for PFS was reported to have not reached the statistical significance required to demonstrate a benefit. A potential PFS benefit was observed in patients with high baseline serum Hsp27 status when treated with apatorsen. PFS results were presented at ASCO 2016. Survival follow up is ongoing. The study was sponsored and conducted by Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

 

The Spruce-2™ Trial (formerly referred to as the Cedar Trial): The investigator-sponsored, randomized phase 2 trial evaluating apatorsen plus gemcitabine and carboplatin therapy or gemcitabine and carboplatin therapy alone in patients with previously untreated advanced squamous NSCLC. Patients also continue weekly apatorsen infusions as maintenance treatment after chemotherapy until disease progression. The aim of the trial is to determine if adding apatorsen to gemcitabine and carboplatin therapy can extend PFS outcome. Additional analyses will include tumor response rates, overall survival, safety, and health-related quality of life. Additional analyses are expected to determine the effect of therapy on Hsp27 levels, explore potential biomarkers that may help predict response to treatment and survival outcomes in patients who were at increased risk for poor outcomes. The trial was initiated in July 2014 and is enrolling patients. Following review of our randomized phase 2 apatorsen clinical trials, an amendment was submitted that reduces the apatorsen dose from 600mg to 400mg to allow comparison of safety and efficacy between the two apatorsen doses. The

19


 

trial is expected to randomize approximately 140 patients. The trial is being conducted and funded primarily by the UK National Cancer Research Network and the UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Network.

In addition to the Borealis-1 and Borealis-2 clinical trials in metastatic bladder cancer in the ORCA program, we are evaluating apatorsen for a potential pivotal study in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, or NMIBC. We have completed a pre-IND meeting with FDA in preparation for a separate IND application to evaluate apatorsen for intravesical administration in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, treatment in patients with NMIBC. FDA had no objection to the study population or classification of subpopulations in a preliminary study design and deemed the proposed definitions of primary and secondary endpoints acceptable. We do not currently intend to fund further development of apatorsen in bladder cancer without collaboration partner or additional funding.

Product Candidate Custirsen

As a result of custirsen not meeting the primary endpoint of improving overall survival in three completed phase 3 trials, we have discontinued further development of custirsen and have begun to wind down all clinical trials and other activities related to this product candidate. In November 2016, we provided the Notice of Discontinuance to Ionis and the Letter of Termination to UBC, notifying those parties that we have discontinued development of custirsen, resulting in termination of all licensing agreements related to custirsen.

Product Candidate OGX-225

OGX-225 is our product candidate designed to inhibit the production of Insulin Growth Factor Binding Proteins -2 and -5 (IGFBP-2, IGFBP-5), two proteins that when overexpressed affect the growth of cancer cells. Increased IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 production are observed in many human cancers, including prostate, breast, colorectal, non-small cell lung, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, neuroblastoma, and melanoma. The increased production of these proteins is linked to faster rates of cancer progression, treatment resistance, and shorter survival duration in humans.

Preclinical studies with human prostate and breast cancer cells have shown that reducing IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 production with OGX-225 sensitized these tumor types to hormone ablation therapy or chemotherapy and induced tumor cell death. We have completed IND enabling toxicology studies for OGX-225. We currently have no plans to further develop OGX-225 without a collaboration partner or additional funding.

Collaboration Revenue

Revenue recognized to date was attributable to the upfront payment we received in the fourth quarter of 2009 pursuant to a Collaboration Agreement with Teva, as well as cash reimbursements from Teva for certain costs incurred by us under the clinical development plan. Our policy is to account for these reimbursements as collaboration revenue.

In April 2015, we and Teva entered into an agreement to terminate the Collaboration Agreement, or the Termination Agreement. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Teva paid to us, as advanced reimbursement for certain continuing research and development activities related to custirsen and certain other antisense inhibitors of clusterin, an amount equal to $27.0 million less approximately $3.8 million, which reduction represents a hold-back amount of $3.0 million and $0.8 million for certain third-party expenses incurred by Teva between January 1, 2015 and April 24, 2015, or Closing Date. Teva was permitted to deduct from the $3.0 million hold-back certain costs incurred after January 1, 2015 that arose after the Closing Date. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, we received a nominal amount from the remaining hold-back after deductions by Teva for certain costs incurred after the Closing Date. We do not expect to receive any additional amounts from Teva. Teva is responsible for expenses related to custirsen incurred pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement through December 31, 2014.  We will be responsible for certain custirsen-related expenses from and after January 1, 2015.

As a result of the termination of the Collaboration Agreement with Teva, we do not expect to earn any additional collaboration revenue beyond the amounts provided as advanced reimbursement for custirsen -related development expenses as set forth in the Termination Agreement. The advanced reimbursement payment made by Teva, as part of the Termination Agreement, was deferred and was recognized as collaboration revenue on a dollar for dollar basis as costs were incurred as part the of continuing research and development activities related to custirsen and certain other antisense inhibitors of clusterin. We have fully utilized the $23.2 million in advance reimbursement for custirsen-related development costs between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development, or R&D, expenses consist primarily of costs for clinical trials, contract manufacturing, personnel costs, milestone payments to third parties, facilities, regulatory activities, preclinical studies and allocations of other R&D-related costs.

20


External expenses for clinical trials include fees paid to clinical research organizations, clinical trial site costs and patient treatment costs.

Currently, we manage our clinical trials through contract research organizations and independent medical investigators at their sites and at hospitals and expect this practice to continue. Through our clinical development programs, we are developing each of our product candidates in parallel for multiple disease indications. Due to the number of ongoing projects and our ability to utilize resources across several projects, we do not record or maintain information regarding the indirect operating costs incurred for our research and development programs on a program-specific basis. In addition, we believe that allocating costs on the basis of time incurred by our employees does not accurately reflect the actual costs of a project.

Several of our clinical trials have been supported by grant funding that was received directly by the hospitals and/or clinical investigators conducting the clinical trials as investigator-sponsored trials, thereby allowing us to complete these clinical trials at a lower cost to us.

In accordance with the Termination Agreement, Teva was required to and did fund all additional expenses under the clinical development plan through December 31, 2014, after which date we took over responsibility for future custirsen-related costs following termination of our Collaboration Agreement. We do not owe Teva any development milestone payments or royalty payments on sales of custirsen, if any.

We cannot estimate completion dates for development activities or when we might receive material net cash inflows from our R&D projects, if ever.

Our projects or intended R&D activities may be subject to change from time to time as we evaluate results from completed studies, our R&D priorities and available resources.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative, or G&A, expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs for our personnel in executive, finance and accounting, corporate communications, human resources and other administrative functions, as well as consulting costs, including market research, business consulting and intellectual property. Other costs include professional fees for legal and auditing services, insurance and facility costs.

Warrant liability

The following is a summary of outstanding warrants to purchase common stock that are classified as liabilities at September 30, 2016:

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

price per

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable

 

 

Share

 

 

Expiration Date

(1) Series A Warrants issued in July 2014 financing

 

 

2,779,933

 

 

 

4.00

 

 

July 2019

(2) Series B Warrants issued in July 2014 financing

 

 

670,269

 

 

 

4.00

 

 

July 2019

 

No warrants were exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015.

We reassess the fair value of the common stock warrants classified as liabilities at each reporting date utilizing a Black-Scholes pricing model. Inputs used in the pricing model include estimates of stock price volatility, expected warrant life and risk-free interest rate. The computation of expected volatility was based on the historical volatility of shares of our common stock for a period that coincides with the expected life of the warrants.

Results of Operations

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

Collaboration revenue

Revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased to zero and $5.1 million, respectively, from $6.7 million and $12.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The advanced reimbursement payment made by Teva, as part of the Termination Agreement, was deferred and recognized as collaboration revenue on a dollar for dollar basis as costs were incurred as part of the continuing research and development activities related to custirsen. The decrease in collaboration revenue in 2016 as compared to 2015 was due to the full recognition of the remaining amounts of deferred revenue in 2016.

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Research and development expenses

Our research and development expenses for our clinical development programs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Clinical development programs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custirsen

 

$

2,992

 

 

$

6,916

 

 

$

7,648

 

 

$

11,441

 

Apatorsen

 

$

431

 

 

$

399

 

 

$

1,335

 

 

$

2,014

 

Other  research and development

 

$

359

 

 

$

988

 

 

$

4,103

 

 

$

5,065

 

Total research and development expenses

 

$

3,782

 

 

$

8,303

 

 

$

13,086

 

 

$

18,520

 

 

Research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased to $3.8 million and $13.1 million, respectively, from $8.3 million and $18.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The decrease in 2016 as compared to 2015 was due to lower clinical trial costs for the AFFINITY trial and our investigator sponsored apatorsen trials, lower consulting and professional fees as a result of the restructuring in the first quarter of 2016 and a decrease in facilities costs. This was partially offset by higher ENSPIRIT trial costs, which we became responsible for after the termination of our Collaboration Agreement with Teva. We expect our research and development costs to decrease with the completion of our phase 3 custirsen clinical trials and as our phase 2 apatorsen clinical trials wind down, as well as the result of the restructuring announced in October 2016.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased to $1.9 million and $6.6 million, respectively, from $3.1 million and $8.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The decrease in 2016 as compared to 2015 was due to lower professional fees and headcount and consulting expenses as a result of the restructuring in the first quarter of 2016. We expect our general and administrative costs to decrease further as result of the restructuring announced in October 2016.

Gain / (loss) on warrants

We recorded a gain of $0.6 million and $0.8 million on the revaluation of our outstanding warrants for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. We recorded a gain of $0.1 million and $0.2 million on revaluation of the warrants for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. We revalue the warrants at each balance sheet date to fair value.

Restructuring recovery / (expense)

We recorded a restructuring recovery of $31,000 and a restructuring expense of $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. In February 2016, we committed to a plan to reduce operating expenses, which included a workforce reduction of 11 employees, representing approximately 27% of our employees prior to the reduction. We incurred approximately $0.4 million in expenses as a result of the workforce reduction and recognized this as a restructuring expense in the first quarter of 2016. In the three months ended September 30, 2016, we revised our estimates of the restructuring expense and recognized a recovery of $31,000. No restructuring gain or expense was recognized in three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 as there were no restructuring activities. We expect to incur additional expenses as a result of the restructuring announced in the fourth quarter of 2016

Recovery of lease termination loss

We recorded a recovery of lease termination loss of $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. In February 2015, we entered into a Lease Termination Agreement with BMR pursuant to which we and BMR agreed to terminate our prior lease, effective March 1, 2015. Under the Lease Termination Agreement, we paid BMR a $2.0 million termination fee and would have been required to pay an additional $1.3 million termination fee if we had (i) met the primary endpoint for our AFFINITY Trial and if we had (ii) closed a transaction or transactions pursuant to which we received funding in an aggregate amount of at least $20.0 million. As of December 31, 2014 and subsequent annual and interim reporting periods up to June 30, 2016, we had assessed that the likelihood of meeting both contingent events was probable and as a result, recognized the $1.3 million in lease termination liability on our balance sheet as at the end of those reporting periods. In August 2016, final survival results of our AFFINITY trial did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in men with metastatic CRPC. As at September 30, 2016, we re-assessed that the likelihood of meeting both contingent events is no longer possible due to not achieving the primary

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endpoint on our AFFINITY trial. As a result, we have reversed the $1.3 million in lease termination liability on our balance sheet as at September 30, 2016 and recognized a recovery on our statement of loss.

Litigation settlement expense

In August 2016, we and Ionis settled our lawsuit. Pursuant to the settlement, we paid to pay Ionis a $1.4 million upfront payment and were required to pay additional success-based payments up to an amount not exceeding $5.0 million.  In accordance with the upfront payment, we recorded litigation settlement expense of $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. In November 2016, we provided the Notice of Discontinuance to Ionis and we believe that all financial obligations, other than continuing mutual indemnification obligations, under all agreements with Ionis, including the settlement agreement, are no longer owed and no further payments are due.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred an accumulated deficit of $191.1 million through September 30, 2016, and we expect to incur substantial additional losses in the future as we continue or expand our R&D activities and other operations, as more fully described below. We have not generated any revenue from product sales to date, and we may not generate product sales revenue in the near future, if ever.

Our operations to date have been primarily funded through the sale of our equity securities and payments received from Teva. As of September 30, 2016, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments decreased to $32.5 million from $55.2 million as of December 31, 2015.

In April 2015, we and Teva terminated our Collaboration Agreement. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Teva paid to us, as advanced reimbursement for certain continuing research and development activities related to custirsen, an amount equal to $27.0 million less approximately $3.8 million. We do not expect to receive any additional amounts from Teva.

Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Teva remains responsible for expenses related to custirsen incurred pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement through December 31, 2014. We will be responsible for all custirsen-related expenses incurred from and after January 1, 2015. We do not owe Teva any development milestone payments or royalty payments on sales of custirsen, if any. As a result of the termination of the Collaboration Agreement, other than the advanced reimbursement for certain continuing research and development activities related to custirsen already received by us, and any amounts paid to us from the hold-back by Teva, if any, we will not receive any future cash reimbursements from Teva for certain costs incurred by us in connection with the clinical development of custirsen. We have fully utilized the $23.2 million in advance reimbursement for custirsen-related development costs between January 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

In April 2015, we and Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC, or LPC, entered into a Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we had the right to sell to LPC up to $18.0 million in shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement. LPC initially purchased 956,938 Series A-1 Units at a purchase price of $2.09 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.0 million. Each Series A-1 Unit consisted of (i) one share of common stock and (ii) one warrant to purchase one-quarter of a share of common stock at an exercise price of $2.40 per share.

From April 30, 2015 through August 13, 2015, we offered and sold 6,814,980 shares of our common stock pursuant to our Purchase Agreement with LPC. These sales resulted in gross proceeds to us of approximately $18.0 million and offering expenses of $0.4 million. As of August 13, 2015, no further amounts remained available for sale under this offering program.

In February 2016, we committed to a plan to reduce operating expenses, which included a workforce reduction of 11 employees, representing approximately 27% of our employees prior to the reduction. We incurred approximately $0.4 million in expenses as a result of the workforce reduction, substantially all of which were severance costs.

In October 2016, we committed to a restructuring of a portion of our workforce in order to preserve our resources as we determine future strategic plans. As part of this restructuring, we will eliminate 16 positions, representing approximately 55% of our workforce. We expect the restructuring to be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2017. We currently anticipate incurring total restructuring costs of approximately $1.4 million, which includes severance, benefits and related costs of approximately $1.2 million and potential fixed asset impairments of approximately $0.2 million

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Cash Flows

Cash Used by Operations

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net cash used in operating activities was $22.7 million compared to net cash provided by operations of $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in cash used in operations in 2016 as compared to cash provided by operations in 2015 was primarily attributable to the advanced reimbursement payment made by Teva, as part of the Termination Agreement, which was received in the second quarter of 2015.

Cash Used by Financing Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net cash used in financing activities was zero compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $17.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. There were no financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Net cash provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 relates to proceeds received from the financing through our purchase agreement with LPC.

Cash Provided by Investing Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net cash provided by investing activities was $0.2 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and net cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was due to transactions involving short-term investments in the normal course of business.

Operating Capital and Capital Expenditure Requirements

Based on our current expectations, we believe that our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our currently planned operations for at least the next 12 months.

We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, or we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. We may require additional funding to support our operations if we were to spend capital on activities related to the outcome of our current evaluation of potential business alternatives, conduct development activities with respect to our product candidates beyond those development activities described above, including activities with respect to apatorsen or OGX-225, or if the clinical trials cost more than we anticipate. If we need to extend our cash availability or to conduct any such currently unplanned development activities, we would seek such necessary funding through the licensing or sale of certain of our product candidates, by executing a partnership or collaboration agreement, or executing a strategic transaction, or through private or public offerings of our equity or debt. However, we can provide no assurance that such funding would be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

 

our ability to identify and consummate a strategic transaction for the company;

 

our ability to obtain additional funding through a partnership or collaboration agreement with a third party or licenses of certain of our product candidates, or executing a strategic transaction, or through private or public offerings of our equity or debt, or through sale of certain of our royalty rights;

 

our ongoing level of focus and efforts to develop and commercialize apatorsen;

 

timing, costs and results of clinical development, preclinical development and regulatory approvals;

 

success of apatorsen;

 

costs to defend and/or settle, and results of, litigation; and

 

costs related to obtaining, defending and enforcing patents.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements at September 30, 2016.

Commitments and Contingencies

We previously disclosed certain contractual obligations and contingencies and commitments relevant to us within the financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form

24


10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2016. There have been no material changes to our “Contractual Obligations” table in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2015 Form 10-K. For more information regarding our current contingencies and commitments, see note 7 to the financial statements included above.

Material Changes in Financial Condition

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Total Assets

 

$

35,074

 

 

$

58,209

 

Total Liabilities

 

 

10,655

 

 

 

20,769

 

Total Equity

 

 

24,419

 

 

 

37,440

 

 

The decrease in assets at September 30, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015 was primarily due to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents as these assets have been used to fund operations. The decrease in liabilities at September 30, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015 were due to a decrease in deferred revenue as these amounts were recognized into collaboration revenue on a dollar for dollar basis as costs were incurred as part of the continuing research and development activities related to custirsen, lower clinical trial accruals associated with patient treatment costs in the AFFINITY trial and our investigator sponsored trials evaluating apatorsen and the reversal of the lease termination liability.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. We have discussed those estimates that we believe are critical and require the use of complex judgment in their application in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2016. Since December 31, 2015, there have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies or the methodologies or assumptions we apply under them.

New Accounting Standards

See Note 2, “Accounting Policies,” of the consolidated financial statements for information related to the adoption of new accounting standards in 2016, none of which had a material impact on our financial statements, and the future adoption of recently issued accounting standards, which we do not expect to have a material impact on our financial statements. 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair values and future cash flows of financial instruments will fluctuate because of the changes in market interest rates. We invest our cash in a variety of financial instruments, primarily in short-term bank deposits, money market fu