Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

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 001-14888

 

 

INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   33-0969592

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1787 SENTRY PARKWAY WEST

BUILDING 18, SUITE 400

BLUE BELL, PENNSYLVANIA 19422

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(267) 440-4200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    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  x    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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
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 Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, was 127,268,682 as of October 26, 2011.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2011

INDEX

 

Part I

  Financial Information      3   
  Item 1.    Financial Statements      3   
     a)  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010

     3   
     b)  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited)

     4   
     c)  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited)

     5   
     d)  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

     6   
  Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      16   
  Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      22   
  Item 4.    Controls and Procedures      23   
Part II   Other Information      24   
  Item 1.    Legal Proceedings      24   
  Item 1A.    Risk Factors      24   
  Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      37   
  Item 3.    Default Upon Senior Securities      37   
  Item 4.    (Removed and Reserved)      37   
  Item 5.    Other Information      37   
  Item 6.    Exhibits      38   
Signatures      39   

 

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Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
     (Unaudited)        
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 25,302,689      $ 19,998,489   

Short-term investments — certificates of deposit

     5,763,535        1,846,271   

Accounts receivable

     426,948        32,887   

Accounts receivable from affiliated entity

     28,246        72,149   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     866,027        273,975   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets from affiliated entity

     346,262        653,436   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     32,733,707        22,877,207   

Fixed assets, net

     288,854        276,795   

Intangible assets, net

     9,773,176        11,180,002   

Goodwill

     10,113,371        10,113,371   

Investment in affiliated entity

     9,911,949        11,360,888   

Common stock warrants

     237,000        —     

Other assets

     208,262        259,128   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 63,266,319      $ 56,067,391   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

   $ 3,285,279      $ 3,410,610   

Accounts payable and accrued expenses due to affiliated entity

     606,755        1,680,947   

Accrued clinical trial expenses

     817,598        178,328   

Common stock warrants

     4,520,716        370,926   

Deferred revenue

     72,211        420,897   

Deferred revenue from affiliated entity

     401,042        375,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     9,703,601        6,436,708   

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

     81,853        72,780   

Deferred revenue from affiliated entity, net of current portion

     2,055,444        2,336,694   

Deferred rent

     68,280        67,112   

Deferred tax liabilities

     53,186        53,186   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     11,962,364        8,966,480   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     127,257        105,038   

Additional paid-in capital

     255,238,121        241,233,334   

Accumulated deficit

     (204,614,933     (194,838,229

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income

     (5,206     2,850   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholders’ equity

     50,745,239        46,502,993   

Non-controlling interest

     558,716        597,918   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     51,303,955        47,100,911   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 63,266,319      $ 56,067,391   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Revenue:

        

License fee and milestone revenue

   $ 76,888      $ 39,330      $ 129,712      $ 161,825   

License fee and milestone revenue from affiliated entity

     106,250        93,750        305,208        219,556   

Grant and miscellaneous revenue

     2,454,423        1,075,563        7,727,669        3,335,510   

Miscellaneous revenue from affiliated entity

     —          67,900        —          67,900   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     2,637,561        1,276,543        8,162,589        3,784,791   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

     6,987,824        2,951,067        15,873,601        8,764,891   

General and administrative

     2,323,188        2,881,994        8,734,806        8,959,745   

Gain on sale of assets

     (337,000 )     —          (587,000     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     8,974,012        5,833,061        24,021,407        17,724,636   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (6,336,451     (4,556,518     (15,858,818     (13,939,845

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income, net

     5,724        14,714        26,298        62,869   

Other income, net

     346,970        522,760        7,566,676        2,226,932   

Gain/ (loss) from investment in affiliated entity

     1,427,176        2,604,311        (1,550,062     320,727   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (4,556,581     (1,414,733     (9,815,906     (11,329,317

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

     14,649        4,585        39,202        9,045   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

   $ (4,541,932   $ (1,410,148   $ (9,776,704   $ (11,320,272
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per common share — basic and diluted:

        

Net loss per share attributable to Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholders

   $ (0.04   $ (0.01   $ (0.08   $ (0.11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic and diluted

     127,256,907        102,928,096        125,184,087        102,832,795   

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2011
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2010
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (9,815,906 )   $ (11,329,317 )

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

    

Depreciation

     101,905        143,308   

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,406,826        1,439,017   

Change in value of common stock warrants

     (7,577,582 )     (2,264,795 )

Change in value of short-term investments – auction rate securities

     —          (3,152,470

Change in value of auction rate security rights

     —          3,145,156   

Stock-based compensation

     1,431,976        974,107   

Interest income accrued on short term investments — certificates of deposit

     6,271        —     

Interest expense accrued on line of credit

     —          61,152   

Deferred rent

     1,168        38,332   

Loss/(gain) from investment in affiliated entity

     1,550,062        (320,727

Gain on sale of intangible assets

     (587,000 )     —     

Loss on disposal of tangible assets

     —          15,811  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (394,061 )     80,552   

Accounts receivable from affiliated entity

     43,903        21,805   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (592,052 )     (3,454 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets from affiliated entity

     307,174        (141,410 )

Other assets

     50,866        21,419   

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     513,939        (368,291 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses due to affiliated entity

     (1,074,192 )     32,678   

Deferred revenue

     (339,613 )     212,104   

Deferred revenue from affiliated entity

     (255,208 )     2,805,444   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (15,221,524 )     (8,589,579 )
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of short term investments — certificates of deposit

     (5,768,000 )     (8,009,934 )

Sale of short term investments — certificates of deposit

     1,840,000        3,900,000   

Sale of short term investments — auction rate securities

     —          13,550,000   

Purchases of capital assets

     (113,964 )     (156,482 )

Additional investment in affiliated entity

     (101,123     —     

Proceeds from sale of intangible assets

     350,000        —     

Acquired intangible assets and other assets

     —          (124,980 )
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities

     (3,793,087 )     9,158,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs

     24,309,472        548,621   

Proceeds from stock option and warrant exercises

     12,930        143,051   

Repayment of line of credit

     —          (12,175,912 )
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     24,322,402        (11,484,240 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (3,591     10,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     5,304,200        (10,904,355 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     19,998,489        30,296,215   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 25,302,689      $ 19,391,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Description of Business

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company” or “Inovio”) is engaged in the discovery, development, and delivery of a new generation of vaccines, called DNA vaccines, focused on cancers and infectious diseases. The Company’s SynCon® technology enables the design of “universal” DNA-based vaccines capable of providing cross-protection against new, unmatched strains of pathogens such as influenza. The Company’s electroporation DNA delivery technology uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular DNA vaccine uptake. Initial human data has shown this method can safely and significantly increase gene expression and immune responses. The Company’s clinical programs include human papillomavirus (“HPV”)/cervical cancer (therapeutic), avian influenza (preventative), hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) and human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) vaccines. The Company is advancing preclinical research for a universal seasonal/pandemic influenza vaccine and other product candidates. The Company’s partners and collaborators include University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (“PATH” or “MVI”), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”), Merck, ChronTech, University of Southampton, United States Military HIV Research Program (“USMHRP”), U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”), HIV Vaccines Trial Network (“HVTN”) and Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”).

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Inovio have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011, condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 shown herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011, or for any other period. These financial statements, and notes thereto, should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 16, 2011. The balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The Company has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of September 30, 2011 through the date it filed these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements with the SEC.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company incurred a net loss from operations of $4.5 million and $9.8 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. The Company had working capital of $23.0 million and an accumulated deficit of $204.6 million as of September 30, 2011. The Company’s ability to continue its operations is dependent upon its ability to obtain additional capital in the future and achieve profitable operations. In January 2011, the Company closed a $24.3 million offering of its shares of common stock and warrants to purchase shares of common stock. The Company received net proceeds from the transaction of approximately $23.0 million, after deducting offering expenses. The Company expects to continue to rely on outside sources of financing to meet its capital needs and the Company may never achieve positive cash flow. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the specific amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities, which might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue in business. The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2011 have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future.

3. Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an update to conform existing guidance to the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments in this update change the wording used to describe many of the requirements under U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments in this update will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied retrospectively. The adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, cash flow or results of operations.

 

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Table of Contents

In June 2011, the FASB issued an update which amends the presentation of comprehensive income. The objective of this update is to improve the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. Under this update, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Under either choice, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. The amendments in this update will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively. The adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, cash flow or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance on performing goodwill impairment testing. Under the revised guidance, entities testing goodwill for impairment have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the reporting unit (step 1 of the goodwill impairment test). If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step impairment test would be required; otherwise, no further testing is required. The revised guidance does not change how goodwill is calculated or assigned to reporting units, does not revise the requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment, and does not amend the requirement to test goodwill for impairment between annual tests if events and circumstances warrant. The revised authoritative guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the early adoption of this statement may have on its financial position and results of operations.

4. Principles of Consolidation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries. In conjunction with the acquisition in June 2009 of VGX Pharmaceuticals (the “Merger”), the Company acquired an 88% interest in VGX Animal Health and certain shares in VGX International, Inc. (“VGX Int’l”) (a publicly-traded company in South Korea). The Company consolidates VGX Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiary VGX Animal Health and records a non-controlling interest for the 12% of VGX Animal Health it does not own. The Company’s investment in VGX Int’l, which is recorded as investment in affiliated entity within the condensed consolidated balance sheets is accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value recorded on the condensed consolidated statements of operations within gain/(loss) from investment in affiliated entity. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Variable Interest Entities

In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires companies to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether a variable interest in another entity represents a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity is characterized by having both the power to direct the most significant activities of the entity and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity. This guidance also requires on-going reassessments of variable interests based on changes in facts and circumstances. This guidance became effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company adopted the provisions of the guidance in the first quarter of 2010 and determined that none of the entities with which the Company currently conducts business and collaborations are variable interest entities, except VGXI (a wholly-owned subsidiary of VGX Int’l). The Company determined that VGX Int’l is the primary beneficiary to consolidate VGXI.

Reorganization

In July 2011, the Company completed liquidation of its inactive wholly-owned subsidiary Inovio Asia Pte. Ltd. (“IAPL”) and there was no impact on the Company’s financial position.

5. Short-term Investments

Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported in comprehensive income/ (loss). The following is a summary of investments classified as available-for sale securities:

 

     Contractual
Maturity (in years)
     As of September 30, 2011  
        Cost      Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Market Value  

Certificates of deposit

     Less than 1       $ 5,768,000       $ —         $ (4,465   $ 5,763,535   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ 5,768,000       $ —         $ (4,465   $ 5,763,535   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Contractual
Maturity (in years)
     As of December 31, 2010  
        Cost      Gross Unrealized
Gains
     Gross Unrealized
Losses
     Fair Market Value  

Certificates of deposit

     Less than 1       $ 1,846,271       $ —         $ —         $ 1,846,271   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ 1,846,271       $ —         $ —         $ 1,846,271   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There were no realized gains or losses on our investments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

6. Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements

The guidance regarding fair value measurements establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011:

 

     Fair Value Measurements at
September 30, 2011
 
     Total      Using Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Using Significant
Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
     Using Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 19,452,441       $ 19,452,441       $ —         $ —     

Certificates of deposit

     5,763,535         —           5,763,535         —     

Investment in affiliated entity

     9,911,949         9,911,949         —           —     

Common stock warrants

     237,000         —           —           237,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 35,364,925       $ 29,364,390       $ 5,763,535       $ 237,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Common stock warrants

   $ 4,520,716       $ —         $ —         $ 4,520,716   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 4,520,716       $ —         $ —         $ 4,520,716   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010:

 

     Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2010
 
     Total      Using Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Using Significant
Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
     Using Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 16,852,609       $ 16,852,609       $ —         $ —     

Certificates of deposit

     1,846,271         —           1,846,271         —     

Investment in affiliated entity

     11,360,888         11,360,888         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 30,059,768       $ 28,213,497       $ 1,846,271       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Common stock warrants

   $ 370,926       $ —         $ —         $ 370,926   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 370,926       $ —         $ —         $ 370,926   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Level 1 assets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 include money market funds held by the Company that are valued at quoted market prices, as well as the Company’s investment in VGX Int’l, for which the fair value is based on the market value of 8,220,775 common shares on September 30, 2011 and 8,075,775 common shares on December 31, 2010, listed on the Korean Stock Exchange.

Level 2 assets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 include certificates of deposit held by the Company with maturities that range from 91 days to 12 months. The Company determines fair value through broker quotations with reasonable levels of price transparency. Certificates of deposit are initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued, at the end of each reporting period, typically utilizing market observable data.

Level 3 assets at September 30, 2011 include a common stock purchase warrant received by the Company to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock of OncoSec Medical Incorporated (“OncoSec”), in connection with the September 2011 amendment to the Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and OncoSec. The warrant received was a five-year warrant with an exercise price of $1.20 per share.

 

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There are no Level 3 assets at December 31, 2010.

Level 3 liabilities held as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consist of common stock warrant liabilities associated with warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock issued in October 2006, August 2007, July 2009 and January 2011. If unexercised, the warrants will expire at various dates between October 2011 and January 2016.

There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement classifications.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a long-term asset of $237,000 associated with the warrant received to purchase common stock of OncoSec at $1.20 per share. The Company valued the warrant as of the issuance date using the Black Scholes pricing model and recorded a $237,000 gain on sale of asset within the condensed consolidated statement of operations. Inputs used in the pricing model include estimates of OncoSec stock price volatility, expected warrant life and risk-free interest rate. The Company develops its estimates based on publicly available historical data. The warrant will be revalued at each balance sheet date subsequent to the initial issuance and changes in the fair market value will be reflected in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as a component of other income, net .

There was no change in fair value of the Company’s total Level 3 financial assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as shown in the following table:

 

Balance at January 1, 2011

   $ —     

Record fair value of warrant received in September 2011

     237,000   
  

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2011

   $ 237,000   
  

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a $4.5 million common stock warrant liability. The Company reassesses the fair value of the common stock warrants 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 Company develops its estimates based on historical data. As a result of these calculations, the Company recorded a decrease of $347,000 and $7.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and a decrease of $539,000 and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The decrease in the fair value is reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations as a component of other income, net.

The following table presents the changes in fair value of the Company’s total Level 3 financial liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2011:

 

Balance at January 1, 2011

   $ 370,926   

Record fair value of warrants issued in January 2011 financing

     11,727,372   

Decrease in fair value included in other income, net

     (7,577,582
  

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2011

   $ 4,520,716   
  

 

 

 

 

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7. Line of Credit

On August 26, 2008, the Company received notice from UBS Bank USA (“UBS”) that the Company’s application had been approved for a $5.0 million uncommitted demand revolving line of credit (“Line of Credit”) secured by ARS held by the Company in an account with UBS Financial Services, Inc. (the “Collateral Account”), to provide additional working capital. On December 19, 2008, the Company amended its existing loan agreement with UBS Bank USA, which increased the existing credit line up to $12.1 million, with the ARS pledged as collateral. The Company fully drew down on the line of credit on December 23, 2008. Advances under the Line of Credit bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.00% (the “Spread Over LIBOR”). UBS was entitled to change the Spread Over LIBOR at its discretion when the Collateral consisting of ARS was sold, exchanged or otherwise conveyed by the Company for gross proceeds that were, in the aggregate, not less than the par value of such securities. The loan was treated as a “no net cost loan”, as it bore interest at a rate equal to the average rate of interest paid to the Company on the pledged ARS, and the net interest cost to the Company was zero. In July 2010, the Company sold all of the remaining ARS held at par value and the line of credit was paid off in full.

8. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

In accordance with the guidance regarding goodwill and other intangible assets, the Company’s goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to an annual impairment test, which the Company performs as of November each year or sooner if indicators of impairment exist. The following sets forth the intangible assets by major asset class:

 

     Useful
Life
(Yrs)
     September 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  
        Gross      Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Book
Value
     Gross      Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Book
Value
 

Non-Amortizing:

                  

Goodwill(a)

      $ 10,113,371       $ —        $ 10,113,371       $ 10,113,371       $ —        $ 10,113,371   

Amortizing:

                  

Patents

     8 - 17         5,802,528         (4,437,543     1,364,985         5,802,528         (4,151,955     1,650,573   

Licenses

     8 - 17         1,323,761         (1,010,935     312,826         1,323,761         (989,374     334,387   

CELLECTRA®(b)

     5 - 11         8,106,270         (2,822,291     5,283,979         8,106,270         (1,915,126     6,191,144   

GHRH(b)

     11         335,314         (73,928     261,386         335,314         (50,166     285,148   

Other(c)

     18         4,050,000         (1,500,000     2,550,000         4,050,000         (1,331,250     2,718,750   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

        19,617,873         (9,844,697     9,773,176         19,617,873         (8,437,871     11,180,002   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total goodwill and intangible assets

      $ 29,731,244       $ (9,844,697   $ 19,886,547       $ 29,731,244       $ (8,437,871   $ 21,293,373   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Goodwill was recorded from the Inovio AS acquisition in January 2005 and from the acquisition of VGX in June 2009 for $3.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively.
(b)

CELLECTRA® and GHRH are developed technologies that were recorded from the acquisition of VGX.

(c) Other intangible assets represent the fair value of acquired contracts and intellectual property from the Inovio AS acquisition.

Aggregate amortization expense on intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $466,000 and $1.4 million, respectively. Aggregate amortization expense on intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $479,000 and $1.4 million, respectively. Estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is $463,000 for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, $1.8 million for 2012, $1.8 million for 2013, $943,000 for 2014, $870,000 for 2015 and $815,000 for 2016.

9. Stockholders’ Equity

The following is a summary of the Company’s authorized and issued common and preferred stock as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

     Authorized      Issued      Outstanding as of  
           September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Common Stock, par $0.001

     300,000,000         127,254,031         127,256,907         105,038,192   

Series A Preferred Stock, par $0.001

     1,000         817         —           —     

Series B Preferred Stock, par $0.001

     1,000         750         —           —     

Series C Preferred Stock, par $0.001

     1,091         1,091         26         26   

Series D Preferred Stock, par $0.001

     1,966,292         1,966,292         —           —     

 

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Common Stock

In January 2011, the Company entered into investor purchase agreements with investors relating to the issuance and sale of (a) 21,130,400 shares of common stock, and (b) warrants to purchase a total of 10,565,200 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.40 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24.3 million. The shares of common stock and warrants were sold in units, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of common stock, at a purchase price of $1.15 per unit. The Warrants have a five-year term from the date of issuance and are first exercisable commencing on the 180th day after the date of issuance. The Company may call the warrants if the closing bid price of the common stock has been at least $2.80 over 20 trading days and certain other conditions are met. The Company received net proceeds from the transaction of approximately $23.0 million, after deducting the placement agent’s fee and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company valued the registered warrants issued in connection with the January 2011 financing as of the issuance date using the Black Scholes pricing model and recorded a current liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheet of $11.7 million. The warrants were subsequently revalued as of September 30, 2011 to $4.4 million, and the Company recorded the decrease in fair value of $7.3 million within other income, net, on the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

In August 2010, the Company entered into an At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with an outside placement agent (the “Placement Agent”), under which the Company may, from time to time, offer and sell its common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $25.0 million through or to the Placement Agent, for resale. Sales of the Company’s common stock through the Placement Agent, if any, can be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE Amex or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or as otherwise agreed upon by the Company and the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Company’s common stock from time to time, based upon instructions from the Company. The Company will pay the Placement Agent a commission, or allow a discount, as the case may be, in each case equal to 3.0% of the gross sales proceeds of any common stock sold through the Placement Agent under the ATM Agreement. The Company has agreed to reimburse the Placement Agent for certain expenses incurred by them in connection with the transactions contemplated by the ATM Agreement, up to an aggregate of $30,000, plus up to an additional $5,000 per calendar quarter related to ongoing maintenance, due diligence expenses and other expenses associated therewith.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company sold a total of 1,028,905 shares of common stock under the ATM Agreement. The sales were made at a weighted average price of $1.35 per share with net proceeds to the Company of $1.4 million, after deducting commissions and other fees. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has sold a total of 3,023,577 shares of common stock under the ATM Agreement. The sales were made at a weighted average price of $1.25 per share with net proceeds to the Company of $3.7 million, after deducting commissions and other fees.

In July 2009, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors relating to the sale and issuance of (a) 11,111,110 shares of common stock and (b) warrants to purchase a total of 2,777,776 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $3.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $30 million. The shares of common stock and warrants were sold in units, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.25 of a share of common stock, at a purchase price of $2.70 per unit. The Company received net proceeds from the transaction of approximately $28.4 million, after deducting offering expenses. The issued warrants expired in August 2010, unexercised.

Upon the closing of the Merger in June 2009, an aggregate of 41,492,757 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued to the former stockholders of VGX, and an additional 18,794,187 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of the assumed options and warrants and conversion of the principal of and maximum interest payable on the VGX convertible debt. In August 2009 the VGX convertible debt was automatically converted into 4,600,681 shares of the Company’s common stock. VGX warrants assumed were ten-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,923,406 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price ranging from $0.05 to $1.28 per share, expiring at various dates between March 25, 2013 and April 28, 2016. As of September 30, 2011, none of these warrants have been exercised.

The Company accounts for registered common stock warrants issued in October 2006, August 2007, July 2009 and January 2011 under the authoritative guidance on accounting for derivative financial instruments indexed to, and potentially settled in, a company’s own stock, on the understanding that in compliance with applicable securities laws, the registered warrants require the issuance of registered securities upon exercise and do not sufficiently preclude an implied right to net cash settlement. The Company classifies registered warrants on the consolidated balance sheet as a current liability, which is revalued at each balance sheet date subsequent to the initial issuance. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of registered warrants

 

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requires considerable judgment, including estimating stock price volatility and expected warrant life. The Company develops its estimates based on historical data. A small change in the estimates used may have a relatively large change in the estimated valuation. The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to value the registered warrants. Changes in the fair market value of the warrants are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations as “Other income, net.”

Warrants

The following table summarizes the warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2011:

 

     Total Warrants Outstanding

Issued in connection with:

   Exercise
Price
     Number
Outstanding
     Expiration Date

January 2011 financing

   $ 1.40         10,565,200       January 27, 2016

July 2009 financing

   $ 3.38         333,333       July 1, 2014

Warrants assumed in June 2009 Merger

   $ 0.05-$1.28         4,920,527       March 24, 2013-
April 28, 2016

October 2006 financing

   $ 2.87         2,364,394       October 13, 2011

August 2007 consulting services

   $ 3.00         150,000       August 3, 2012
     

 

 

    

Total

        18,333,454      
     

 

 

    

In December 2010, warrants expired to purchase 3,462,451 shares of our common stock issued in connection with our December 2005 private placement.

In September 2010, warrants expired to purchase 150,000 shares of our common stock, which were issued in connection with a license agreement with the University of South Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (USF).

Stock Options

The Company has one active stock and cash-based incentive plan, the Amended and Restated 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”), pursuant to which the Company has granted stock options and restricted stock awards to executive officers, directors and employees. The plan was adopted on March 31, 2007, approved by the stockholders on May 4, 2007, approved by the stockholders as amended on May 2, 2008, and approved by the stockholders as amended and restated on August 25, 2009 and May 14, 2010. On May 14, 2010 the stockholders approved to increase the aggregate number of shares available for grant under the Incentive Plan by 2,000,000 shares and to provide that the aggregate number of shares available for grant under the plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year beginning in 2011 by a number of shares equal to the lesser of (1) 2,055,331 shares or (2) such lesser number of shares as the Board of Directors may determine. On January 1, 2011 the number of securities available for future issuance increased by 2,055,331 shares. At September 30, 2011, the Incentive Plan reserved 7,805,331 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of incentive awards granted and to be granted at future dates. At September 30, 2011, the Company had 2,266,790 shares of common stock available for future grant under the plan, and 240,000 shares of vested restricted stock and options to purchase 4,983,341 shares of common stock outstanding under the plan. The awards granted and available for future grant under the Incentive Plan generally vest over three years and have a maximum contractual term of ten years. The Incentive Plan terminates by its terms on March 31, 2017.

The Incentive Plan supersedes all of the Company’s previous stock option plans, which include the Amended 2000 Stock Option Plan and the VGX Equity Compensation Plan, under which the Company had options to purchase 1,743,933 and 7,692,317 shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2011, respectively. The terms and conditions of the options outstanding under these plans remain unchanged.

10. Net loss per share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss for the year by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted loss per share is calculated in accordance with the treasury stock method and reflects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted to common stock. Since the effect of the assumed exercise of common stock options and warrants was anti-dilutive for the periods presented in 2011 and 2010, there is no difference between basic and diluted loss per share.

11. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the

 

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expected stock price volatility and expected option life. The Company amortizes the fair value of the awards expected to vest on a straight-line basis. All option grants are amortized over the requisite service period of the awards. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility. The expected life of options granted is based on historical expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. The forfeiture rate is based on historical data, and the Company records stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. The dividend yield is based on the fact that no dividends have been paid historically and none are currently expected to be paid.

The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are presented below:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,      Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Risk-free interest rate

     0.57%-1.32%         1.09%-1.37%         0.57%-1.89%         1.09%-2.65%   

Expected volatility

     132%         134%         132%-134%         134%   

Expected life in years

     4         4         4         4   

Dividend yield

     —           —           —           —     

Forfeiture rate

     11%         13%         11%         13%   

Total compensation cost for the Company’s stock plan that has been recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $261,000 and $1.4 million, respectively, of which $103,000 and $388,000 was included in research and development expenses and $158,000 and $1.0 million was included in general and administrative expenses, respectively.

Total compensation cost for the Company’s stock plan that has been recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $266,000 and $727,000, respectively, of which $75,000 and $226,000 was included in research and development expenses and $191,000 and $501,000 was included in general and administrative expenses, respectively.

As of September 30, 2011, there was $1.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements for Inovio stock options, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years. All compensation expense related to Inovio stock options granted prior to the Merger was fully vested upon the Merger.

As of September 30, 2010, there was $1.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements for Inovio stock options, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years, as well as $15,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements from VGX stock options assumed in the Merger, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of ten months.

The weighted average grant date fair value per share was $0.53 and $0.91 for employee and director stock options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and $0.83 and $0.93 for employee and director stock options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

There was no restricted stock granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010.

The fair value of options granted to non-employees at the measurement dates were estimated using the Black-Scholes pricing model. Total stock-based compensation for options granted to non-employees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $21,000 and $22,000, respectively. Total stock-based compensation for options granted to non-employees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $106,000 and $247,000, respectively.

VGX Animal Health, a majority owned subsidiary of VGX, has adopted a 2007 equity incentive plan for the issuance of options to employees and consultants. There were no options granted under this plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010.

 

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12. Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010 includes net loss, unrealized gain/(loss) on investments and foreign currency translation adjustments. A summary of the Company’s comprehensive loss is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Comprehensive loss:

  

Net loss

   $ (4,556,581   $ (1,414,733   $ (9,815,906   $ (11,329,317

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (4,084     7,519        (3,591     10,860   

Unrealized gain/(loss) on short-term investments

     1,819        —          (4,465     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (4,558,846   $ (1,407,214   $ (9,823,962   $ (11,318,457
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

13. Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2010  

Supplemental schedule of financing activities:

     

Interest paid

   $ —         $ 61,152   

14. Related-Party Transactions

The Company conducts transactions with its affiliated entity, VGX Int’l.

In July 2011 the Company purchased an additional 145,000 shares of VGX Int’l at a price of approximately $0.71 per share in connection with a common stock rights offering. The rights offering, however, reduced the Company’s ownership percentage to approximately 16.1%.

On October 7, 2011, the Company entered into a Collaborative Development and License Agreement (the “Agreement”) with VGX Int’l. Under the Agreement, the Company and VGX Int’l will co-develop the Company’s SynCon ® therapeutic vaccines for hepatitis B and C infections (the “Products”). Under the terms of the agreement, VGX Int’l will receive marketing rights for the Products in Asia, excluding Japan, and in return will fully fund IND-enabling and initial Phase I and II clinical studies with respect to the Products. The Company will receive from VGX Int’l payments based on the achievement of clinical milestones and royalties based on sales of the Products in the licensed territories, retaining all commercial rights to the Products in all other territories.

On March 24, 2010, the Company entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “VGX Int’l Agreement”) with VGX Int’l. Under the VGX Int’l Agreement, the Company granted VGX Int’l an exclusive license to Inovio’s SynCon® universal influenza vaccine delivered with electroporation to be developed in certain countries in Asia (the “Product”). As consideration for the license granted to VGX Int’l, the Company received payment of $3.0 million, and will receive research support, annual license maintenance fees and royalties on net Product sales. The Company recorded the $3.0 million as deferred revenue from affiliated entity, and will recognize it as revenue over the eight year expected period of the Company’s performance obligation. In addition, contingent upon achievement of clinical and regulatory milestones, the Company will receive development payments over the term of the VGX Int’l Agreement. The VGX Int’l Agreement also provides Inovio with exclusive rights to supply devices for clinical and commercial purposes (including single use components) to VGX Int’l for use in the Product. The term of the VGX Int’l Agreement commenced upon execution and will extend on a country by country basis until the last to expire of all Royalty Periods for the territory (as such term is defined in the VGX Int’l Agreement) for any Product in that country, unless the VGX Int’l Agreement is terminated earlier in accordance with its provisions as a result of breach, by mutual agreement, or by VGX Int’l’s right to terminate without cause upon prior written notice.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recognized revenue from VGX Int’l of $106,000 and $305,000, respectively, which consisted of licensing fees. Operating expenses related to VGX Int’l for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 include $2.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively, related to manufacturing and engineering services. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 we had an accounts receivable balance of $10,000 and $72,000, respectively, from VGX Int’l and its subsidiaries.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized revenue from VGX Int’l of $162,000 and $287,000, respectively, which consisted of licensing fees. Operating expenses related to VGX Int’l for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 include $519,000 and $1.3 million, respectively, related to manufacturing and engineering services.

 

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For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company received sublease income from VGX Int’l of $61,000 and $171,000 for the facility in The Woodlands, TX, which offset the Company’s lease expense. In November 2010, this facility lease was transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary of VGX Int’l.

In June 2011, Bryan Kim, a member of VGX Int’l’s board of directors and former president and chief executive officer of VGX Int’l, terminated his employment with the Company as Vice President of Asian operations. In September 2010, Young Park, a member of VGX Int’l’s board of directors, terminated his employment with the Company as general counsel. Mr. Park currently serves as president and chief executive officer of VGX Int’l.

In August 2010, Dr. J. Joseph Kim, the Company’s CEO, resigned from his position on the VGX Int’l board of directors. Dr. Kim previously served as chief executive officer of VGX Int’l prior to the Company’s acquisition of VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in June 2009.

On March 24, 2011, the Company completed the sale of certain assets related to certain non-DNA vaccine technology and intellectual property relating to selective electrochemical tumor ablation (“SECTA”) to OncoSec Medical Incorporated, or OncoSec, pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated March 14, 2011 by and between the Company and OncoSec.

The president and Chief Executive Officer of OncoSec previously served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Operations. Additionally, the Company’s Chairman, Avtar Dhillon, M.D., is also the non-executive Chairman of OncoSec.

At September 30, 2011 we had an accounts receivable balance of $18,000 from OncoSec.

The Company has received payment of $350,000 from OncoSec as of September 30, 2011 and will receive an additional $2.65 million in scheduled payments over a period of two years from the closing date and a royalty on any potential commercial product sales related to the SECTA technology if and when a product is approved. No receivable has been recorded for the $2.65 million due from OncoSec as collection of the funds is not reasonably assured.

On September 28, 2011 the Company signed an amended agreement with OncoSec extending the term of the second payment owed to the Company in exchange for a warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock of OncoSec. The warrant received was a five-year warrant with an exercise price of $1.20 per share. (See Note 6 for further discussion.)

Pursuant to a cross-license agreement dated March 21, 2011, the Company obtained a fully paid-up, exclusive, worldwide license to certain of the SECTA technology patents in the field of gene or nucleic acids, outside of those encoding cytokines, delivered by electroporation. The Company also granted to OncoSec a non-exclusive, worldwide license to certain non-SECTA technology patents in the SECTA field for the following consideration:

(a) a fee for any sublicense of the Company’s technology;

(b) a royalty on net sales of any business developed with the Company’s technology; and

(c) repayment by OncoSec for any amount the Company pays to a licensor of our technology that is a direct result of the license.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This report contains forward-looking statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we, nor any other person, assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the filing of this Quarterly Report to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us that attempt to advise interested parties of the factors that affect our business, including without limitation the disclosures made in Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report under the Caption “Risk Factors” and under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Risk Factors” and in our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: our history of losses; our lack of products that have received regulatory approval; uncertainties inherent in clinical trials and product development programs, including but not limited to the fact that pre-clinical and clinical results may not be indicative of results achievable in other trials or for other indications, that the studies or trials may not be successful or achieve desired results, that pre-clinical studies and clinical trials may not commence or be completed in the time periods anticipated, that results from one study may not necessarily be reflected or supported by the results of other similar studies, that results from an animal study may not be indicative of results achievable in human studies, that clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, that the outcome of any clinical trial is uncertain and failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process, and that our electroporation technology and DNA vaccines may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy traits in clinical trials; the availability of funding; the ability to manufacture vaccine candidates; the availability or potential availability of alternative therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by us or our collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or cost-effective than any therapy or treatment that we and our collaborators hope to develop; whether our proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of invalidity; and the impact of government healthcare proposals.

General

We are engaged in the discovery, development, and delivery of a new generation of vaccines, called DNA vaccines, focused on cancers and infectious diseases. Our SynCon® technology enables the design of “universal” DNA-based vaccines capable of providing cross-protection against new, unmatched strains of pathogens such as influenza. Our electroporation DNA delivery technology uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular DNA vaccine uptake. Initial human data has shown this method can safely and significantly increase gene expression and immune responses. Our clinical programs include HPV/cervical cancer (therapeutic), avian influenza (preventative), HCV and HIV vaccines. We are advancing preclinical research for a universal seasonal/pandemic influenza vaccine as well as other products. Our partners and collaborators include University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (“PATH” or “MVI”), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”), Merck, ChronTech, University of Southampton, United States Military HIV Research Program (“USMHRP”), U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”), HIV Vaccines Trial Network (“HVTN”) and Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”).

All of our potential human products are in research and development phases. We have not generated any revenues from the sale of any such products, and we do not expect to generate any such revenues for at least the next several years. We earn revenue from license fees and milestone revenue, collaborative research and development agreements, grants and government contracts. Our product candidates will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing. All product candidates that we advance to clinical testing will require regulatory approval prior to commercial use, and will require significant costs for commercialization. We may not be successful in our research and development efforts, and we may never generate sufficient product revenue to be profitable.

 

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Recent Developments

On October 7, 2011, we entered into a Collaborative Development and License Agreement (the “Agreement”) with VGX Int’l. Under the Agreement, we will co-develop with VGX Int’l our SynCon® therapeutic vaccines for hepatitis B and C infections (the “Products”). Under the terms of the agreement, VGX Int’l will receive marketing rights for the Products in Asia, excluding Japan, and in return will fully fund IND-enabling and initial Phase I and II clinical studies with respect to the Products. We will receive from VGX Int’l payments based on the achievement of clinical milestones and royalties based on sales of the Products in the licensed territories, retaining all commercial rights to the Products in all other territories.

On September 27, 2011, we entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate Plum Island Animal Disease Center. This collaboration will evaluate the efficacy of Inovio’s SynCon® vaccines for foot & mouth disease (FMD) in important animal models including cattle, sheep, and pigs.

On January 27, 2011, we entered into investor purchase agreements with investors relating to the issuance and sale of (a) 21,130,400 shares of common stock, and (b) warrants to purchase a total of 10,565,200 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.40 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24.3 million. The shares of common stock and warrants were sold in units, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of common stock, at a purchase price of $1.15 per unit. The warrants have a five-year term from the date of issuance and are first exercisable commencing on the 180th day after the date of issuance. We may call the warrants if the closing bid price of the common stock has been at least $2.80 over 20 trading days and certain other conditions are met. We received net proceeds from the transaction of approximately $23.0 million, after deducting the placement agent’s fee and other estimated offering expenses.

On March 24, 2010, we entered into our Agreement with VGX Int’l. Under the VGX Int’l Agreement, we granted VGX Int’l an exclusive license to the Product, i.e., Inovio’s SynCon® universal influenza vaccine delivered with electroporation to be developed in certain countries in Asia. As consideration for the license granted to VGX Int’l, we have received payment of $3.0 million as a research and development initiation fee, and will receive research support, annual license maintenance fees and royalties on net Product sales. In addition, contingent upon achievement of clinical and regulatory milestones, we will receive development payments over the term of the VGX Int’l Agreement. The VGX Int’l Agreement also provides us with exclusive rights to supply devices for clinical and commercial purposes (including single use components) to VGX Int’l for use in the Product. The term of the VGX Int’l Agreement commenced upon execution and will extend on a country by country basis until the last to expire of all Royalty Periods for the territory (as such term is defined in the VGX Int’l Agreement) for any Product in that country, unless the VGX Int’l Agreement is terminated earlier in accordance with its provisions as a result of breach, by mutual agreement, or by VGX Int’l’s right to terminate without cause upon prior written notice.

In January 2010, we announced that we expanded our existing license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania, adding exclusive worldwide licenses for technology and intellectual property for novel DNA vaccines against pandemic influenza, Chikungunya, and foot-and-mouth disease. The amendment also encompasses new chemokine and cytokine molecular adjuvant technologies. The technology was developed in the University of Pennsylvania laboratory of Professor David B. Weiner, a pioneer in the field of DNA vaccines, and chairman of our scientific advisory board. Under the terms of the original license agreement completed in 2007, we obtained exclusive worldwide rights to develop multiple DNA plasmids and constructs with the potential to treat and/or prevent HIV, HCV, HPV and influenza and included molecular adjuvants. These prior and most recent agreements and amendments provide for royalty payments, based on future sales, to the University of Pennsylvania.

As of September 30, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of $204.6 million. We expect to continue to incur substantial operating losses in the future due to our commitment to our research and development programs, the funding of preclinical studies, clinical trials and regulatory activities and the costs of general and administrative activities.

Critical Accounting Policies

The SEC defines critical accounting policies as those that are, in management’s view, important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require management’s judgment. Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There have been no changes to our critical accounting policies during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 other than the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. We base our estimates on experience and on various assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies include:

 

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Revenue Recognition.

Grant revenue

We receive non-refundable grants under available government programs. Government grants towards current expenditures are recorded as revenue when there is reasonable assurance that we have complied with all conditions necessary to receive the grants, collectability is reasonably assured, and as the expenditures are incurred.

License fee and milestone revenue

We have adopted a strategy of co-developing or licensing our gene delivery technology for specific genes or specific medical indications. Accordingly, we have entered into collaborative research and development agreements and have received funding for pre-clinical research and clinical trials. Prior to the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, we recorded payments under these agreements, which are non-refundable, as revenue as the related research expenditures were incurred pursuant to the terms of the agreements and provided collectability was reasonably assured.

For new collaborative agreements or material modifications of existing collaborative agreements entered into after December 31, 2010, we follow the provisions of ASU No. 2009-13. In order to account for the multiple-element arrangements, we identify the deliverables included within the agreement and evaluate which deliverables represent units of accounting. Analyzing the arrangement to identify deliverables requires the use of judgment, and each deliverable may be an obligation to deliver services, a right or license to use an asset, or another performance obligation. A delivered item is considered a separate unit of accounting when the delivered item has value to the collaborator on a standalone basis based on the consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances for each arrangement.

Arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the agreement to all identified units of accounting based on their relative selling price. The relative selling price for each deliverable is determined using vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”), of selling price or third-party evidence of selling price if VSOE does not exist. If neither VSOE nor third-party evidence of selling price exists, we use our best estimate of the selling price for the deliverable. The amount of allocable arrangement consideration is limited to amounts that are fixed or determinable. The consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are applied to each of the separate units. Changes in the allocation of the sales price between delivered and undelivered elements can impact revenue recognition but do not change the total revenue recognized under any agreement.

Upfront license fee payments are recognized upon delivery of the license if facts and circumstances dictate that the license has standalone value from the undelivered items, the relative selling price allocation of the license is equal to or exceeds the upfront license fee, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, our price to the collaborator is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Upfront license fee payments are deferred if facts and circumstances dictate that the license does not have standalone value. The determination of the length of the period over which to defer revenue is subject to judgment and estimation and can have an impact on the amount of revenue recognized in a given period.

Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2010-17, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Milestone Method of Revenue Recognition (“Milestone Method”), we recognized non-refundable milestone payments upon the achievement of specified milestones upon which we had earned the milestone payment, provided the milestone payment was substantive in nature and the achievement of the milestone was not reasonably assured at the inception of the agreement. We deferred payments for milestone events that were reasonably assured and recognized them ratably over the minimum remaining period of our performance obligations. Payments for milestones that were not reasonably assured were treated as the culmination of a separate earnings process and were recognized as revenue when the milestones were achieved.

Effective January 1, 2011, we adopted on a prospective basis the Milestone Method of ASU No. 2010-17. Under the Milestone Method, we will recognize consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of a milestone in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone is substantive in its entirety. A milestone is considered substantive when it meets all of the following criteria:

 

  1. The consideration is commensurate with either the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of the value of the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone,

 

  2. The consideration relates solely to past performance, and

 

  3. The consideration is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement.

A milestone is defined as an event (i) that can only be achieved based in whole or in part on either the entity’s performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the entity’s performance, (ii) for which there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved and (iii) that would result in additional payments being due to the Company.

Research and development expenses. Since our inception, virtually all of our activities have consisted of research and development efforts related to developing our electroporation technologies and DNA vaccines. Research and development expenses consist of expenses incurred in performing research and development activities including salaries and benefits, facilities and other overhead expenses, clinical trials, contract services and other outside expenses. Research and development expenses are charged to operations as they are incurred.

Valuation and Impairment Evaluations of Goodwill and Intangible Assets. Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. As of September 30, 2011, our intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of VGX and Inovio AS, and additional intangibles including previously capitalized patent costs and license costs, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $9.8 million. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 18 years. We are concurrently conducting Phase II, Phase I and pre-clinical trials using acquired intangibles, and we have entered into certain significant licensing agreements for use of these acquired intangibles.

Historically we have recorded patents at cost and amortized these costs using the straight-line method over the expected useful lives of the patents or 17 years, whichever is less. Patent costs consist of the consideration paid for patents and related legal costs. Effective June 1, 2009, in connection with our acquisition of VGX, we will expense all new patent costs as incurred. We will continue to amortize patent costs currently capitalized over the expected life of the patent. The effect of this change was immaterial to prior periods. We record license costs based on the fair value of consideration paid and amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected useful life of the underlying patents or the term of the related license agreement.

The determination of the value of such intangible assets requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect our consolidated financial statements. We assess potential impairments to intangible assets when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators and future cash flows related to intangible assets are based on operational performance of our acquired businesses, market conditions and other factors. If impairment is indicated, we reduce the carrying value of the intangible asset to fair value. While our current and historical operating and cash flow losses are potential indicators of impairment, we believe the future cash flows to be received from our intangible assets will exceed the intangible assets’ carrying value, and accordingly, we have not recognized any impairment losses through September 30, 2011.

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but instead are measured for impairment annually, or when events indicate that impairment exists. Our accounting policy with respect to reviewing goodwill for impairment is a two step process. The first step of the impairment test compares the fair value of our reporting unit with its carrying value including allocated goodwill. If the carrying value of our reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the impairment loss, if any. We test goodwill for impairment at the entity level, which is considered our reporting unit. Our estimate of fair value is determined using both the Discounted Cash Flow method of the Income Approach and the Guideline Public Company method of the Market Approach. The Discounted Cash Flow method estimates future cash flows of our business for a certain discrete period and then discounts them to their present value. The Guideline Public Company method computes value indicators (“multiples”) from the operating data of the selected publicly traded guideline companies. After these multiples were evaluated, appropriate value indicators were selected and applied to the operating statistics of the reporting unit to arrive at indications of value. Specifically, we relied upon the application of Total Invested Capital based valuation multiples for each guideline company. In applying the Income and Market Approaches, premiums and discounts were determined and applied to estimate the fair values of the reporting unit. To arrive at the indicated value of equity under each approach, we then assigned a relative weighting to the resulting values from each approach to determine whether the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, thus requiring step two of the impairment test.

 

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We conduct the impairment test annually on November 30th for each fiscal year for which goodwill is evaluated for impairment. We are also aware of the requirement to evaluate goodwill for impairment at other times should circumstances arise. To date, we have concluded that the fair value of the reporting unit significantly exceeded the carrying value and therefore, step two of the impairment test has never been performed.

Although there are inherent uncertainties in this assessment process, the estimates and assumptions we use are consistent with our internal planning. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record an impairment charge on all or a portion of our goodwill and intangible assets. Furthermore, we cannot predict the occurrence of future impairment-triggering events nor the impact such events might have on our reported asset values. Future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that goodwill or other intangible assets associated with our acquired businesses are impaired. Any resulting impairment loss could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

Stock-based Compensation. Stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair-value of the award and is recognized as an expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, expected option life and forfeiture rates. We develop our estimates based on historical data. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in future periods, the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period. A small change in the estimates used may have a relatively large change in the estimated valuation. We use the Black-Scholes pricing model to value stock option awards. We recognize compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method.

Registered Common Stock Warrants. We account for registered common stock warrants pursuant to the authoritative guidance on accounting for derivative financial instruments indexed to, and potentially settled in, a company’s own stock, on the understanding that in compliance with applicable securities laws, the registered warrants require the issuance of registered securities upon exercise and do not sufficiently preclude an implied right to net cash settlement. We classify registered warrants on the consolidated balance sheet as a current liability, which is revalued at each balance sheet date subsequent to the initial issuance. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of registered warrants requires considerable judgment including estimating stock price volatility and expected warrant life. We develop our estimates based on historical data. A small change in the estimates used may have a relatively large change in the estimated valuation. We use the Black-Scholes pricing model to value the registered warrants. Changes in the fair market value of the warrants are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations as “Other income, net.”

Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We describe below recent pronouncements that may have a significant effect on our financial statements. We do not discuss recent pronouncements that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to our financial condition, results of operations, or related disclosures.

Accounting Standards Update 2009-13—In October 2009, the FASB issued an Accounting Standard Update which replaces the concept of allocating revenue consideration amongst deliverables in a multiple-element revenue arrangement according to fair value with an allocation based on selling price. The amended guidance also establishes a hierarchy for determining the selling price of revenue deliverables sold in multiple element revenue arrangements. The selling price used for each deliverable will be based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence if VSOE is not available, or management’s estimate of an element’s stand-alone selling price if neither VSOE nor third-party evidence is available. The amendments in this update also require an allocation of selling price amongst deliverables be performed based upon each deliverable’s relative selling price to total revenue consideration, rather than on the residual method previously permitted. The updated guidance is effective for the first annual reporting period beginning on or after June 15, 2010, and may be applied retrospectively for all periods presented or prospectively to arrangements entered into or materially modified after the adoption date. We prospectively adopted the updated guidance on January 1, 2011 and will apply the amended guidance to revenue arrangements containing multiple deliverables that are entered into or significantly modified on or after January 1, 2011. We now allocate revenue consideration, excluding contingent consideration, based on the relative selling prices of the separate units of accounting contained within an arrangement containing multiple deliverables. Selling prices are determined using fair value, when available, or our estimate of selling price when fair value is not available for a given unit of accounting. As we did not enter into any new collaborations or materially modify any existing collaborations, adoption of this guidance had no impact on our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Accounting Standards Update 2010-17—Effective January 1, 2011, we adopted the FASB’s revised authoritative guidance for research and development milestone recognition. The revised guidance is not required and does not represent the only acceptable method of revenue recognition. Milestones, as defined per the revised guidance, are (1) events that can only be achieved in whole or in part on either the entity’s performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting in the entity’s performance (2) for which there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved and (3) that would result in additional payments being due to us. We evaluate events under this guidance at the inception of an arrangement to determine the existence of milestones and if they are substantive. The adoption of the revised guidance has not had a material impact on our results of operations as it is consistent with our historical practice of milestone revenue recognition.

 

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Results of Operations

Revenue. We had total revenue of $2.6 million and $8.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to $1.3 million and $3.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Revenue primarily consists of license fees, milestone revenue and grants and government contracts.

Revenue from license fees and milestone revenue was $183,000 and $435,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to $133,000 and $381,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The increase for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the comparable period in 2010, was mainly due to higher revenues recognized from the VGX Int’l Agreement entered into in March 2010 and various smaller license agreements. The increase for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the comparable period in 2010, was mainly due to higher revenues recognized from the VGX Int’l Agreement entered into in March 2010, offset by lower revenues recognized from various smaller license agreements.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded grant and miscellaneous revenue of $2.5 million and $7.7 million, respectively, as compared to $1.1 million and $3.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The increase was primarily due to higher revenues recognized from our contract with the NIAID of $1.9 million and $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $895,000 and $2.7 million for the same periods in 2010, respectively. The NIAID contract, which was modified in September 2011, has an initial term of five years with two one-year options (period of performance is September 30, 2008 – September 29, 2015 including the two options). The current value of the contract for the five years is $23.0 million with option years six and seven valued at $1.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for a total potential value of $25.3 million, and will fund research and development for HIV DNA-based vaccines delivered via our proprietary electroporation system. These increases were also attributable to higher revenue recognized under our PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (“MVI”) contract of $316,000 and $715,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $0 and $239,000 for the same periods in 2010, respectively. PATH is an international nonprofit organization funded by private donors. We have a research program and agreement with the PATH MVI to evaluate in a preclinical feasibility study our SynCon® DNA vaccine development platform to target antigens from Plasmodium species and deliver them intradermally using the CELLECTRA® electroporation device. The initial agreement with MVI was for $685,000 and was completed in February 2010. In September 2010 we entered into an amended agreement with PATH to further this study in non-human primates. The amended agreement had a total value of $804,000 and was completed in August 2011. These increases were also due to new revenue recognized during the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 from our subcontracts with Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania as well as from our Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) grant of $254,000 and $660,000, respectively. These increases were partially offset by no revenue recognized from the Department of Defense (“U.S. Army”) grant during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 when compared to $173,000 and $373,000 for the same periods in 2010, respectively. The U.S. Army grant, which commenced in 2008, had a total value of $933,000 and was completed in May 2010. This project funded research and development of DNA-based vaccines delivered via our proprietary electroporation system and focused on identifying DNA vaccine candidates with the potential to provide rapid, robust immunity to protect against bio-warfare and bioterror attacks.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, were $7.0 million and $15.9 million, respectively, as compared to $3.0 million and $8.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The increase for the three-month period year over year, was primarily due to $1.9 million in higher clinical trial costs including the initiation of the HPV Phase II study, $700,000 in higher costs related to work performed for the NIAID contract, $607,000 in higher outside service expense related to various research and development projects, $394,000 in higher compensation and related expenses due to increased employee headcount, and $193,000 in higher engineering and laboratory supplies purchased. These increases were partially offset by a $158,000 decrease in consulting expense related to our US Army grant and other services, among other variances. The increase for the nine-month period year over year, was primarily due to $4.2 million in higher clinical trial costs including the initiation of the HPV Phase II study, $1.3 million in higher costs related to work performed for the NIAID contract, $766,000 in higher outside services related to other research and development projects, as well as $764,000 in higher compensation and related expenses due to increased employee headcount. These increases were partially offset by a $311,000 decrease in consulting expense related to our US Army grant and other services, among other variances.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses, which include business development expenses and the amortization of intangible assets, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, were $2.3 million and $8.7 million, respectively, as compared to $2.9 million and $9.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The decrease for the three-month period year over year was primarily due to a decrease in accounting fees, compensation and related expenses, employee and consultant stock-based compensation, and legal and investor relations outside services of $146,000, $218,000, $127,000 and $53,000, respectively, among other variances. The decrease for the nine-month period year over year was primarily due to a decrease in compensation and related expenses, accounting fees, consultant stock-based compensation, legal fees,

 

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and license maintenance fees and other investor relations outside services of $544,000, $280,000, $255,000 , $179,000 and $190,000, respectively. These decreases were partially offset by a $469,000 increase in severance expenses, a $515,000 increase in employee stock based compensation due to an increase in total options granted during the period and severance related stock option expense, and a $315,000 increase in contract labor expenses, among other variances.

Stock-based Compensation. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award reduced by estimated forfeitures, and is recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period. Total compensation cost for our stock plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $261,000 and $1.4 million, respectively. From these amounts, $103,000 and $388,000 was included in research and development expenses and $158,000 and $1.0 million was included in general and administrative expenses, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Total compensation cost for our stock plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $266,000 and $727,000 respectively. From these amounts, $75,000 and $226,000 was included in research and development expenses and $191,000 and $501,000 was included in general and administrative expenses, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The slight decrease for the three-month period year over year was primarily due to a lower valuation of the employee stock options granted during the period. The increase for the nine-month period year over year was primarily due to a significant increase in total options granted during the period in 2011 as well as severance related stock-based compensation expense recognized in 2011.

Interest Income, net. Interest income, net, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $6,000 and $26,000 respectively, as compared to $15,000 and $63,000 for the three and nine month ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to a lower interest rate earned on our accounts.

Other Income, net. We recorded other income, net, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 of $347,000 and $7.6 million, respectively, as compared to $523,000 and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The variances for the three-and nine-month period year over year were primarily due to the revaluation of registered common stock warrants issued by us in January 2011, as well as those issued in October 2006, August 2007 and July 2010. We are required to revalue the warrants at each balance sheet date to fair value. If unexercised, the warrants will expire at various dates between October 2011 and January 2016.

Gain (Loss) from investment in affiliated entity. Gain (loss) is a result of the change in the fair market value of the investment as of September 30, 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, our primary uses of cash have been to finance research and development activities including clinical trial activities in the oncology, DNA vaccines and other immunotherapy areas of our business. Since inception, we have satisfied our cash requirements principally from proceeds from the sale of equity securities and government grants.

Working Capital and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2011, we had working capital of $23.0 million, as compared to $16.4 million as of December 31, 2010. The increase in working capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was primarily due to the January 2011 financing. In January 2011, the Company entered into investor purchase agreements with investors relating to the issuance and sale of (a) 21,130,400 shares of common stock, and (b) warrants to purchase a total of 10,565,200 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.40 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24.3 million. The shares of common stock and warrants were sold in units, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of common stock, at a purchase price of $1.15 per unit. The Company received net proceeds from the transaction of approximately $23.0 million, after deducting the placement agent’s fee and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. This increase in working capital was partially offset by the $4.4 million valuation of the registered common stock warrants issued in connection with the January 2011 financing that are classified as a current liability on the consolidated balance sheet, as well as due to expenditures related to our research and development activities and various general and administrative expenses related to legal, consultants, accounting and audit, and corporate development.

Net cash used in operating activities was $15.3 million and $8.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase was primarily the result of the increased spending on clinical, engineering and other research and development activities to support our programs.

Net cash (used in) /provided by investing activities was $(3.7 million) and $9.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase was primarily the result of timing differences in short-term investment purchases, sales and maturities.

 

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Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities was $24.3 million and $(11.5 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The fluctuation was primarily due to the proceeds from our January 2011 financing and At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement as well as repayment of our line of credit during 2010.

Prior to July 1, 2010, we held Auction Rate Securities (“ARS”), which were municipal debt obligations with an underlying long-term maturity. Due to conditions in the global credit markets these securities were not liquid as of December 31, 2009. In December 2008, we, via our wholly-owned subsidiary Genetronics, which held the ARS, accepted an offer of ARS Rights from UBS that permitted us to require UBS to purchase our ARS at par value at any time during the period of June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012. On July 1, 2010, we exercised the ARS Rights, and we sold the remaining ARS at par value.

In conjunction with the acceptance of the ARS Rights, we also amended our existing loan agreement with UBS Bank USA, increasing the existing credit line up to $12.1 million, with the ARS pledged as collateral. We fully drew down on the line of credit in December 2008. On July 1, 2010, upon exercise of our ARS Rights, the line of credit was paid in full.

We initiated an At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement in August 2010 and raised $3.7 million net of expenses, as of September 30, 2011.

As of September 30, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of $204.6 million. We have operated at a loss since 1994, and we expect to continue to operate at a loss for some time. The amount of the accumulated deficit will continue to increase, as it will be expensive to continue research and development efforts. If these activities are successful and if we receive approval from the FDA to market our DNA vaccine products, then we will need to raise additional funding to market and sell the approved vaccine products and equipment. We cannot predict the outcome of the above matters at this time. We are evaluating potential collaborations as an additional way to fund operations. We will continue to rely on outside sources of financing to meet our capital needs beyond the second quarter of 2013.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows due to adverse changes in financial and commodity market prices and rates. We are exposed to market risk primarily in the area of changes in United States interest rates and conditions in the credit markets, and the recent fluctuations in interest rates and availability of funding in the credit markets primarily impact the performance of our investments. We do not have any material foreign currency or other derivative financial instruments. Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. We attempt to increase the safety and preservation of our invested principal funds by limiting default risk, market risk and reinvestment risk. We mitigate default risk by investing in investment grade securities.

Fair Value measurements

We account for our common stock warrants pursuant to the authoritative guidance on accounting for derivative financial instruments indexed to, and potentially settled in, a company’s own stock, on the understanding that in compliance with applicable securities laws, the registered warrants require the issuance of registered securities upon exercise and do not sufficiently preclude an implied right to net cash settlement. We classify registered warrants on the consolidated balance sheet as a current liability that is revalued at each balance sheet date subsequent to the initial issuance.

In December 2008, we, via our wholly-owned subsidiary Genetronics, which held the ARS, accepted an offer of ARS Rights from our investment advisor, UBS Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of UBS AG, or UBS. The ARS Rights permitted us to require UBS to purchase our ARS at par value at any time during the period of June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012. On July 1, 2010 we exercised the ARS Rights, and we sold the remaining ARS held by us at par value.

Foreign Currency Risk

We have operated primarily in the United States and most transactions during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 have been made in United States dollars. Accordingly, we have not had any material exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations, with the exception of the valuation of our equity investment in VGX Int’l, which is denominated in South Korean Won. We do not have any foreign currency hedging instruments in place.

Certain transactions related to us are denominated primarily in foreign currencies, including Euros, British Pounds, Canadian Dollars and South Korean Won. As a result, our financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in foreign markets where we conduct business, including the impact of the existing crisis in the global financial markets in such countries and the impact on both the United States dollar and the noted foreign currencies.

 

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We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. We do not engage in exchange rate hedging or hold or issue foreign exchange contracts for trading purposes. Currently, we do not expect the impact of fluctuations in the relative fair value of other currencies to be material in 2011.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Based on an evaluation carried out as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) were effective as of September 30, 2011.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a—15(f) and 15d—15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Not applicable.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following Risk Factors do not reflect any material changes to the Risk Factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2011. You should carefully consider and evaluate each of the following factors as well as the other information in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including our financial statements and the related notes, in evaluating our business and prospects. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business and financial results could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline. You should also consider the more detailed description of our business contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

We have incurred losses since inception, expect to incur significant net losses in the foreseeable future and may never become profitable.

We have experienced significant operating losses to date; as of September 30, 2011 our accumulated deficit was approximately $204.6 million. We have generated limited revenues, primarily consisting of license and grant revenue, and interest income. We expect to continue to incur substantial additional operating losses for at least the next several years as we advance our clinical trials and research and development activities. We may never successfully commercialize our vaccine product candidates or electroporation-based DNA vaccine delivery technology and thus may never have any significant future revenues or achieve and sustain profitability.

We have limited sources of revenue and our success is dependent on our ability to develop our vaccine and other product candidates and electroporation equipment.

We do not sell any products and may not have any other products commercially available for several years, if at all. Our ability to generate future revenues depends heavily on our success in:

 

   

developing and securing United States and/or foreign regulatory approvals for our product candidates, including securing regulatory approval for conducting clinical trials with product candidates;

 

   

developing our electroporation-based DNA delivery technology; and

 

   

commercializing any products for which we receive approval from the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities.

Our electroporation equipment and product candidates will require extensive additional clinical study and evaluation, regulatory approval in multiple jurisdictions, substantial investment and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenues from product sales. We are not permitted to market or promote our electroporation equipment and product candidates before we receive regulatory approval from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. If we do not receive regulatory approval for and successfully commercialize any products, we will not generate any revenues from sales of electroporation equipment and products, and we may not be able to continue our operations.

None of our human vaccine product candidates has been approved for sale, and we may not develop commercially successful vaccine products.

Our human vaccine programs are in the early stages of research and development, and currently include vaccine product candidates in discovery, pre-clinical studies and Phase I and II clinical studies. There are limited data regarding the efficiency of DNA vaccines compared with conventional vaccines, and we must conduct a substantial amount of additional research and development before any regulatory authority will approve any of our vaccine product candidates. The success of our efforts to develop and commercialize our vaccine product candidates could fail for a number of reasons. For example, we could experience delays in product development and clinical trials. Our vaccine product candidates could be found to be ineffective or unsafe, or otherwise fail to receive necessary regulatory clearances. The products, if safe and effective, could be difficult to manufacture on a large scale or uneconomical to market, or our competitors could develop superior vaccine products more quickly and efficiently or more effectively market their competing products.

 

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In addition, adverse events, or the perception of adverse events, relating to vaccines and vaccine delivery technologies may negatively impact our ability to develop commercially successful vaccine products. For example, pharmaceutical companies have been subject to claims that the use of some pediatric vaccines has caused personal injuries, including brain damage, central nervous system damage and autism. These and other claims may influence public perception of the use of vaccine products and could result in greater governmental regulation, stricter labeling requirements and potential regulatory delays in the testing or approval of our potential products.

We will need substantial additional capital to develop our electroporation-based DNA vaccine delivery technology and vaccine and other product candidates and for our future operations.

Conducting the costly and time consuming research, pre-clinical and clinical testing necessary to obtain regulatory approvals and bring our vaccine delivery technology and product candidates to market will require a commitment of substantial funds in excess of our current capital. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, among others:

 

   

the progress of our current and new product development programs;

 

   

the progress, scope and results of our pre-clinical and clinical testing;

 

   

the time and cost involved in obtaining regulatory approvals;

 

   

the cost of manufacturing our products and product candidates;

 

   

the cost of prosecuting, enforcing and defending against patent infringement claims and other intellectual property rights;

 

   

competing technological and market developments; and

 

   

our ability and costs to establish and maintain collaborative and other arrangements with third parties to assist in potentially bringing our products to market.

Additional financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Domestic and international capital markets have been experiencing heightened volatility and turmoil, making it more difficult to raise capital through the issuance of equity securities. Furthermore, as a result of the recent volatility in the capital markets, the cost and availability of credit has been and may continue to be adversely affected by illiquid credit markets and wider credit spreads. Concern about the stability of the markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically has led many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases cease to provide, funding to borrowers. To the extent we are able to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities or we issue securities in connection with another transaction, the ownership position of existing stockholders could be substantially diluted. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of preferred stock or debt securities, these securities are likely to have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock and may involve significant fees, interest expense, restrictive covenants and the granting of security interests in our assets. Fluctuating interest rates could also increase the costs of any debt financing we may obtain. Raising capital through a licensing or other transaction involving our intellectual property could require us to relinquish valuable intellectual property rights and thereby sacrifice long-term value for short-term liquidity.

Our failure to successfully address ongoing liquidity requirements would have a substantially negative impact on our business. If we are unable to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms when needed, we may need to take actions that adversely affect our business, our stock price and our ability to achieve cash flow in the future, including possibly surrendering our rights to some technologies or product opportunities, delaying our clinical trials or curtailing or ceasing operations.

We depend upon key personnel who may terminate their employment with us at any time and we may need to hire additional qualified personnel in order to obtain financing, pursue collaborations or develop or market our product candidates.

The success of our business strategy will depend to a significant degree upon the continued services of key management, technical and scientific personnel and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel and managers, including personnel with expertise in clinical trials, government regulation, manufacturing, marketing and other areas. Competition for qualified personnel is intense among companies, academic institutions and other organizations. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel and advisors, it may negatively affect our ability to successfully develop, test, commercialize and market our products and product candidates.

We face intense and increasing competition and many of our competitors have significantly greater resources and experience.

Many other companies are pursuing other forms of treatment or prevention for diseases that we target. For example, many of our competitors are working on developing and testing H5N1, H1N1 and universal influenza vaccines, and several H1N1 vaccines developed by our competitors have been approved for human use. Our competitors and potential competitors include large pharmaceutical and medical device companies and more established biotechnology companies. These companies have significantly greater financial and other resources and greater expertise than us in research and development, securing government contracts and grants to support research and development efforts, manufacturing, pre-clinical and clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approvals and

 

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marketing. This may make it easier for them to respond more quickly than us to new or changing opportunities, technologies or market needs. Many of these competitors operate large, well-funded research and development programs and have significant products approved or in development. Small companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large pharmaceutical companies or through acquisition or development of intellectual property rights. Our potential competitors also include academic institutions, governmental agencies and other public and private research organizations that conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for product and clinical development and marketing. Research and development by others may seek to render our technologies or products obsolete or noncompetitive.

If we lose or are unable to secure collaborators or partners, or if our collaborators or partners do not apply adequate resources to their relationships with us, our product development and potential for profitability will suffer.

We have entered into, or may enter into, distribution, co-promotion, partnership, sponsored research and other arrangements for development, manufacturing, sales, marketing and other commercialization activities relating to our products. For example, in the past we have entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Merck. The amount and timing of resources applied by our collaborators are largely outside of our control.

Wyeth terminated one of our existing collaboration agreements. If any of our other current or future collaborators breaches or terminates our agreements, or fails to conduct our collaborative activities in a timely manner, our commercialization of products could be diminished or blocked completely. It is possible that collaborators will change their strategic focus, pursue alternative technologies or develop alternative products, either on their own or in collaboration with others. Further, we may be forced to fund programs that were previously funded by our collaborators, and we may not have, or be able to access, the necessary funding. The effectiveness of our partners, if any, in marketing our products will also affect our revenues and earnings.

We desire to enter into new collaborative agreements. However, we may not be able to successfully negotiate any additional collaborative arrangements and, if established, these relationships may not be scientifically or commercially successful. Our success in the future depends in part on our ability to enter into agreements with other highly-regarded organizations. This can be difficult due to internal and external constraints placed on these organizations. Some organizations may have insufficient administrative and related infrastructure to enable collaborations with many companies at once, which can extend the time it takes to develop, negotiate and implement a collaboration. Once news of discussions regarding possible collaborations are known in the medical community, regardless of whether the news is accurate, failure to announce a collaborative agreement or the entity’s announcement of a collaboration with another entity may result in adverse speculation about us, resulting in harm to our reputation and our business.

Disputes could also arise between us and our existing or future collaborators, as to a variety of matters, including financial and intellectual property matters or other obligations under our agreements. These disputes could be both expensive and time-consuming and may result in delays in the development and commercialization of our products or could damage our relationship with a collaborator.

A small number of licensing partners and government contracts account for a substantial portion of our revenue.

We currently derive, and in the past we have derived, a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of licensing partners and government grants and contracts. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2010, the NIAID, the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and the Department of Defense (U.S. Army grant) accounted for approximately 66%, 5%, and 6% of our consolidated revenue, respectively. If we fail to sign additional future contracts with major licensing partners and the government, if a contract is delayed or deferred, or if an existing contract expires or is cancelled and we fail to replace the contract with new business, our revenue would be adversely affected.

We have agreements with government agencies, which are subject to termination and uncertain future funding.

We have entered into agreements with government agencies, such as the NIAID and the US Army, and we intend to continue entering into these agreements in the future. Our business is partially dependent on the continued performance by these government agencies of their responsibilities under these agreements, including adequate continued funding of the agencies and their programs. We have no control over the resources and funding that government agencies may devote to these agreements, which may be subject to annual renewal and which generally may be terminated by the government agencies at any time.

Government agencies may fail to perform their responsibilities under these agreements, which may cause them to be terminated by the government agencies. In addition, we may fail to perform our responsibilities under these agreements. Many of our government agreements are subject to audits, which may occur several years after the period to which the audit relates. If an audit identifies significant unallowable costs, we could incur a material charge to our earnings or reduction in our cash position. As a result, we may be unsuccessful entering, or ineligible to enter, into future government agreements.

 

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Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly.

We expect our operating results to be subject to quarterly fluctuations. Our net loss and other operating results will be affected by numerous factors, including:

 

   

variations in the level of expenses related to our electroporation equipment, product candidates or future development programs;

 

   

expenses related to corporate transactions, including ones not fully completed;

 

   

addition or termination of clinical trials or funding support;

 

   

any intellectual property infringement lawsuit in which we may become involved;

 

   

any legal claims that may be asserted against us or any of our officers;

 

   

regulatory developments affecting our electroporation equipment and product candidates or those of our competitors;

 

   

our execution of any collaborative, licensing or similar arrangements, and the timing of payments we may make or receive under these arrangements; and

 

   

if any of our products receives regulatory approval, the levels of underlying demand for our products.

If our quarterly operating results fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Furthermore, any quarterly fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our stock to fluctuate substantially. We believe that quarterly comparisons of our financial results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance.

If we are unable to obtain FDA approval of our products, we will not be able to commercialize them in the United States.

We need FDA approval prior to marketing our electroporation equipment and products in the United States. If we fail to obtain FDA approval to market our electroporation equipment and product candidates, we will be unable to sell our products in the United States, which will significantly impair our ability to generate any revenues.

This regulatory review and approval process, which includes evaluation of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials of our products as well as the evaluation of our manufacturing processes and our third-party contract manufacturers’ facilities, is lengthy, expensive and uncertain. To receive approval, we must, among other things, demonstrate with substantial evidence from well-controlled clinical trials that our electroporation equipment and product candidates are both safe and effective for each indication for which approval is sought. Satisfaction of the approval requirements typically takes several years and the time needed to satisfy them may vary substantially, based on the type, complexity and novelty of the product. We do not know if or when we might receive regulatory approvals for our electroporation equipment and any of our product candidates currently under development. Moreover, any approvals that we obtain may not cover all of the clinical indications for which we are seeking approval, or could contain significant limitations in the form of narrow indications, warnings, precautions or contra-indications with respect to conditions of use. In such event, our ability to generate revenues from such products would be greatly reduced and our business would be harmed.

The FDA has substantial discretion in the approval process and may either refuse to consider our application for substantive review or may form the opinion after review of our data that our application is insufficient to allow approval of our electroporation equipment and product candidates. If the FDA does not consider or approve our application, it may require that we conduct additional clinical, pre-clinical or manufacturing validation studies and submit that data before it will reconsider our application. Depending on the extent of these or any other studies, approval of any applications that we submit may be delayed by several years, or may require us to expend more resources than we have available. It is also possible that additional studies, if performed and completed, may not be successful or considered sufficient by the FDA for approval or even to make our applications approvable. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to abandon one or more of our applications for approval, which might significantly harm our business and prospects.

It is possible that none of our products or any product we may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals necessary for us or our collaborators to commence product sales. Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, applicable regulatory approvals would prevent us from commercializing our products, generating revenues and achieving and sustaining profitability.

 

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Clinical trials involve a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results.

Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of pre-clinical studies and early clinical trials of our products may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. Results from one study may not be reflected or supported by the results of similar studies. Results of an animal study may not be indicative of results achievable in human studies. Human-use equipment and product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy traits despite having progressed through pre-clinical studies and initial clinical testing. The time required to obtain approval by the FDA and similar foreign authorities is unpredictable but typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical trials, depending upon numerous factors. In addition, approval policies, regulations, or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change. We have not obtained regulatory approval for any human-use products.

Our products could fail to complete the clinical trial process for many reasons, including the following:

 

   

we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that our electroporation equipment and a product candidate are safe and effective for any indication;

 

   

the results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for approval;

 

   

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials;

 

   

we may be unable to demonstrate that our electroporation equipment and a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;

 

   

we may be unable to demonstrate that our electroporation equipment and a product candidate presents an advantage over existing therapies, or over placebo in any indications for which the FDA requires a placebo-controlled trial;

 

   

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from pre-clinical studies or clinical trials;

 

   

the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of a new drug application or other submission or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere;

 

   

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes or facilities of us or third-party manufacturers with which we or our collaborators contract for clinical and commercial supplies; and

 

   

the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

Delays in the commencement or completion of clinical testing could result in increased costs to us and delay or limit our ability to generate revenues.

Delays in the commencement or completion of clinical testing could significantly affect our product development costs. We do not know whether planned clinical trials will begin on time or be completed on schedule, if at all. In addition, ongoing clinical trials may not be completed on schedule, or at all. The commencement and completion of clinical trials can be delayed for a number of reasons, including delays related to:

 

   

obtaining regulatory approval to commence a clinical trial;

 

   

adverse results from third party clinical trials involving gene based therapies and the regulatory response thereto;

 

   

reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective CROs and trial sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;

 

   

future bans or stricter standards imposed on gene based therapy clinical trials;

 

   

manufacturing sufficient quantities of our electroporation equipment and product candidates for use in clinical trials;

 

   

obtaining institutional review board, or IRB, approval to conduct a clinical trial at a prospective site;

 

   

slower than expected recruitment and enrollment of patients to participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including competition from other clinical trial programs for similar indications;

 

   

conducting clinical trials with sites internationally due to regulatory approvals and meeting international standards;

 

   

retaining patients who have initiated a clinical trial but may be prone to withdraw due to side effects from the therapy, lack of efficacy or personal issues, or who are lost to further follow-up; and

 

   

collecting, reviewing and analyzing our clinical trial data.

 

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Clinical trials may also be delayed as a result of ambiguous or negative interim results. In addition, a clinical trial may be suspended or terminated by us, the FDA, the IRB overseeing the clinical trial at issue, any of our clinical trial sites with respect to that site, or other regulatory authorities due to a number of factors, including:

 

   

failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols;

 

   

inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial sites by the FDA or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold;

 

   

unforeseen safety issues; and

 

   

lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.

If we experience delays in completion of, or if we terminate, any of our clinical trials, the commercial prospects for our electroporation equipment and our product candidates may be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues will be delayed. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of a product candidate. Further, delays in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

We and our collaborators rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we and our collaborators may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates.

We and our collaborators have entered into agreements with CROs to provide monitors for and to manage data for our on-going clinical programs. We and the CROs conducting clinical trials for our electroporation equipment and product candidates are required to comply with current good clinical practices, or GCPs, regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA for all of our products in clinical development. The FDA enforces GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we or the CROs conducting clinical trials of our product candidates fail to comply with applicable GCPs, the clinical data generated in the clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA may require additional clinical trials before approving any marketing applications.

If any relationships with CROs terminate, we or our collaborators may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs. In addition, these third-party CROs are not our employees, and we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our on-going clinical programs or perform trials efficiently. These CROs may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical studies or other drug development activities, which could harm our competitive position. If CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, regulatory requirements, or for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize our product candidates. As a result, our financial results and the commercial prospects for our product candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed. Cost overruns by or disputes with our CROs may significantly increase our expenses.

Even if our products receive regulatory approval, they may still face future development and regulatory difficulties.

Even if United States regulatory approval is obtained, the FDA may still impose significant restrictions on a product’s indicated uses or marketing or impose ongoing requirements for potentially costly post-approval studies. This governmental oversight may be particularly strict with respect to gene based therapies. Our products will also be subject to ongoing FDA requirements governing the labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, recordkeeping and submission of safety and other post-market information. In addition, manufacturers of drug products and their facilities are subject to continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory authorities for compliance with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP, regulations. If we or a regulatory agency discover previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, a regulatory agency may impose restrictions on that product, the manufacturer or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market or suspension of manufacturing. If we, our product candidates or the manufacturing facilities for our product candidates fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency may:

 

   

issue Warning Letters or untitled letters;

 

   

impose civil or criminal penalties;

 

   

suspend regulatory approval;

 

   

suspend any ongoing clinical trials;

 

   

refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to applications filed by us;

 

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impose restrictions on operations, including costly new manufacturing requirements; or

 

   

seize or detain products or require us to initiate a product recall.

Even if our products receive regulatory approval in the United States, we may never receive approval or commercialize our products outside of the United States.

In order to market any electroporation equipment and product candidates outside of the United States, we must establish and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of other countries regarding safety and efficacy. Approval procedures vary among countries and can involve additional product testing and additional administrative review periods. The time required to obtain approval in other countries might differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. The regulatory approval process in other countries may include all of the risks detailed above regarding FDA approval in the United States as well as other risks. Regulatory approval in one country does not ensure regulatory approval in another, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory process in others. Failure to obtain regulatory approval in other countries or any delay or setback in obtaining such approval could have the same adverse effects detailed above regarding FDA approval in the United States. Such effects include the risks that our product candidates may not be approved for all indications requested, which could limit the uses of our product candidates and have an adverse effect on their commercial potential or require costly, post-marketing follow-up studies.

We face potential product liability exposure and, if successful claims are brought against us, we may incur substantial liability.

The use of our electroporation equipment and DNA vaccine candidates in clinical trials and the sale of any products for which we obtain marketing approval expose us to the risk of product liability claims. Product liability claims might be brought against us by consumers, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies or others selling or otherwise coming into contact with our products. For example, pharmaceutical companies have been subject to claims that the use of some pediatric vaccines has caused personal injuries, including brain damage, central nervous system damage and autism, and these companies have incurred material costs to defend these claims. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we could incur substantial liabilities. In addition, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may result in:

 

   

decreased demand for our product candidates;

 

   

impairment of our business reputation;

 

   

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

 

   

costs of related litigation;

 

   

distraction of management’s attention from our primary business;

 

   

substantial monetary awards to patients or other claimants;

 

   

loss of revenues; and

 

   

inability to commercialize our products.

We have obtained product liability insurance coverage for our clinical trials, but our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to reimburse us for any expenses or losses we may suffer. Moreover, insurance coverage is becoming increasingly expensive, and, in the future, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to liability. On occasion, large judgments have been awarded in class action lawsuits based on products that had unanticipated side effects. A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought against us could cause our stock price to decline and, if judgments exceed our insurance coverage, could adversely affect our business.

We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience in marketing products. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our products, we may not be able to generate product revenues.

We currently do not have a sales organization for the marketing, sales and distribution of our electroporation equipment and product candidates. In order to commercialize any products, we must build our marketing, sales, distribution, managerial and other non-technical capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services. We contemplate establishing our own sales force or seeking third-party partners to sell our products. The establishment and development of our own sales force to market any products we may develop will be expensive and time consuming and could delay any product launch, and we may not be able to successfully develop this capability. We will also have to compete with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to recruit, hire, train and retain marketing and sales personnel. To the extent we rely on third parties to commercialize our approved products, if any, we will receive lower revenues than if we commercialized these products ourselves. In addition, we may have little or no control over the sales efforts of third parties involved in our commercialization efforts. In the event we are unable to develop our own marketing and sales force or collaborate with a third-party marketing and sales organization, we would not be able to commercialize our product candidates which would negatively impact our ability to generate product revenues.

 

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If any of our products for which we receive regulatory approval does not achieve broad market acceptance, the revenues that we generate from their sales will be limited.

The commercial success of our electroporation equipment and product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval from the FDA or other regulatory authorities will depend upon the acceptance of these products by both the medical community and patient population. Coverage and reimbursement of our product candidates by third-party payors, including government payors, generally is also necessary for optimal commercial success. The degree of market acceptance of any of our approved products will depend on a number of factors, including:

 

   

our ability to provide acceptable evidence of safety and efficacy;

 

   

the relative convenience and ease of administration;

 

   

the prevalence and severity of any actual or perceived adverse side effects;

 

   

limitations or warnings contained in a product’s FDA-approved labeling, including, for example, potential “black box” warnings

 

   

availability of alternative treatments;

 

   

pricing and cost effectiveness;

 

   

the effectiveness of our or any future collaborators’ sales and marketing strategies;

 

   

our ability to obtain sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement; and

 

   

the willingness of patients to pay out of pocket in the absence of third-party coverage.

If our electroporation equipment and product candidates are approved but do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance by physicians, health care payors and patients, we may not generate sufficient revenue from these products, and we may not become or remain profitable. In addition, our efforts to educate the medical community and third-party payors on the benefits of our product candidates may require significant resources and may never be successful.

We are subject to uncertainty relating to reimbursement policies which, if not favorable to our product candidates, could hinder or prevent our products’ commercial success.

Our ability to commercialize our electroporation equipment and product candidates successfully will depend in part on the extent to which governmental authorities, private health insurers and other third-party payors establish appropriate coverage and reimbursement levels for our product candidates and related treatments. As a threshold for coverage and reimbursement, third-party payors generally require that drug products have been approved for marketing by the FDA. Third-party payors also are increasingly challenging the effectiveness of and prices charged for medical products and services. We may not be able to obtain third-party coverage or reimbursement for our products in whole or in part.

Healthcare reform measures could hinder or prevent our products’ commercial success.

In both the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions there have been, and we anticipate there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system that could impact our ability to sell any of our products profitably. In the United States, the Federal government recently passed healthcare reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or the ACA. The provisions of the ACA are effective on various dates over the next several years. While many of the details regarding the implementation of the ACA are yet to be determined, we believe there will be continuing trends towards expanding coverage to more individuals, containing health care costs and improving quality. At the same time, the rebates, discounts, taxes and other costs associated with the ACA are expected to be a significant cost to the pharmaceutical industry.

The continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors of healthcare services to make and implement healthcare reforms may adversely affect:

 

   

our ability to set a price we believe is fair for our products;

 

   

our ability to generate revenues and achieve or maintain profitability;

 

   

the availability of capital; and

 

   

our ability to obtain timely approval of our products.

 

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If we fail to comply with applicable healthcare regulations, we could face substantial penalties and our business, operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Certain federal and state healthcare laws and regulations pertaining to fraud and abuse and patients’ rights may be applicable to our business. We could be subject to healthcare fraud and abuse and patient privacy regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business, without limitation. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:

 

   

the federal healthcare program Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, for an item or service or the purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;

 

   

federal false claims laws which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent;

 

   

The ACA expands the government’s investigative and enforcement authority and increases the penalties for fraud and abuse, including amendments to both the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute to make it easier to bring suit under those statutes;

 

   

the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which prohibits executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters and which also imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information;

 

   

the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which among other things, strictly regulates drug product marketing, prohibits manufacturers from marketing drug products for off-label use and regulates the distribution of drug samples; and

 

   

state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers, and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

Additionally, the compliance environment is changing, with more states, such as California and Massachusetts, mandating implementation of compliance programs, compliance with industry ethics codes, and spending limits, and other states, such as Vermont, Maine, and Minnesota requiring reporting to state governments of gifts, compensation, and other remuneration to physicians. Under the ACA, starting in 2012, pharmaceutical companies will be required to record any transfers of value made to doctors and teaching hospitals and to disclose such data to HHS, with initial disclosure to HHS due in 2013. These laws all provide for penalties for non-compliance. The shifting regulatory environment, along with the requirement to comply with multiple jurisdictions with different compliance and/or reporting requirements, increases the possibility that a company may run afoul of one or more laws.

If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Any penalties, damages, fines, curtailment or restructuring of our operations could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. Moreover, achieving and sustaining compliance with applicable federal and state privacy, security and fraud laws may prove costly.

If we and the contract manufacturers upon whom we rely fail to produce our systems and product candidates in the volumes that we require on a timely basis, or fail to comply with stringent regulations, we may face delays in the development and commercialization of our electroporation equipment and product candidates.

We manufacture some components of our electroporation systems and utilize the services of contract manufacturers to manufacture the remaining components of these systems and our product supplies for clinical trials. The manufacture of our systems and product supplies requires significant expertise and capital investment, including the development of advanced manufacturing techniques and process controls. Manufacturers often encounter difficulties in production, particularly in scaling up for commercial production. These problems include difficulties with production costs and yields, quality control, including stability of the equipment and product candidates and quality assurance testing, shortages of qualified personnel, as well as compliance with strictly enforced federal, state and foreign regulations. If we or our manufacturers were to encounter any of these difficulties or our manufacturers otherwise fail to comply with their obligations to us, our ability to provide our electroporation equipment to our partners and products to patients in our clinical trials or to commercially launch a product would be jeopardized. Any delay or interruption in the supply of clinical trial supplies could delay the completion of our clinical trials, increase the costs associated with maintaining our clinical trial program and, depending upon the period of delay, require us to commence new trials at significant additional expense or terminate the trials completely.

 

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In addition, all manufacturers of our products must comply with cGMP requirements enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. These requirements include, among other things, quality control, quality assurance and the generation and maintenance of records and documentation. Manufacturers of our products may be unable to comply with these cGMP requirements and with other FDA, state and foreign regulatory requirements. We have little control over our manufacturers’ compliance with these regulations and standards. A failure to comply with these requirements may result in fines and civil penalties, suspension of production, suspension or delay in product approval, product seizure or recall, or withdrawal of product approval. If the safety of any product is compromised due to our or our manufacturers’ failure to adhere to applicable laws or for other reasons, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize our products, and we may be held liable for any injuries sustained as a result. Any of these factors could cause a delay of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, approvals or commercialization of our products, entail higher costs or result in our being unable to effectively commercialize our products. Furthermore, if our manufacturers fail to deliver the required commercial quantities on a timely basis, pursuant to provided specifications and at commercially reasonable prices, we may be unable to meet demand for our products and would lose potential revenues.

Our failure to successfully acquire, develop and market additional product candidates or approved products would impair our ability to grow.

We may acquire, in-license, develop and/or market additional products and product candidates. The success of these actions depends partly upon our ability to identify, select and acquire promising product candidates and products.

The process of proposing, negotiating and implementing a license or acquisition of a product candidate or approved product is lengthy and complex. Other companies, including some with substantially greater financial, marketing and sales resources, may compete with us for the license or acquisition of product candidates and approved products. We have limited resources to identify and execute the acquisition or in-licensing of third-party products, businesses and technologies and integrate them into our current infrastructure. Moreover, we may devote resources to potential acquisitions or in-licensing opportunities that are never completed, or we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such efforts. We may not be able to acquire the rights to additional product candidates on terms that we find acceptable, or at all.

In addition, future acquisitions may entail numerous operational and financial risks, including:

 

   

exposure to unknown liabilities;

 

   

disruption of our business and diversion of our management’s time and attention to develop acquired products or technologies;

 

   

incurrence of substantial debt or dilutive issuances of securities to pay for acquisitions;

 

   

higher than expected acquisition and integration costs;

 

   

increased amortization expenses;

 

   

difficulty and cost in combining the operations and personnel of any acquired businesses with our operations and personnel;

 

   

impairment of relationships with key suppliers or customers of any acquired businesses due to changes in management and ownership; and

 

   

inability to retain key employees of any acquired businesses.

Further, any product candidate that we acquire may require additional development efforts prior to commercial sale, including extensive clinical testing and approval by the FDA and applicable foreign regulatory authorities. All product candidates are prone to risks of failure typical of product development, including the possibility that a product candidate will not be shown to be sufficiently safe and effective for approval by regulatory authorities.

Our business involves the use of hazardous materials and we and our third-party manufacturers must comply with environmental laws and regulations, which can be expensive and restrict how we do business.

Our and our third-party manufacturers’ activities involve the controlled storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials, including the components of our product candidates and other hazardous compounds. We and our manufacturers are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these hazardous materials. In the event of an accident, state or federal authorities may curtail the use of these materials and interrupt our business operations. If we are subject to any liability as a result of our or our third-party manufacturers’ activities involving hazardous materials, our business and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

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We may be subject to stockholder litigation, which would harm our business and financial condition.

We may have actions brought against us by stockholders relating to the Merger, past transactions, changes in our stock price or other matters. Any such actions could give rise to substantial damages, and thereby have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. Even if an action is not resolved against us, the uncertainty and expense associated with stockholder actions could harm our business, financial condition and reputation. Litigation can be costly, time-consuming and disruptive to business operations. The defense of lawsuits could also result in diversion of our management’s time and attention away from business operations, which could harm our business.

Our results of operations and liquidity needs could be materially affected by market fluctuations and general economic conditions.

Our results of operations could be materially affected by economic conditions generally, both in the United States and elsewhere around the world. Recently, concerns over inflation, the national debt and deficits, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the United States mortgage market and a declining residential real estate market in the United States have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and the markets going forward. These factors, combined with volatile oil prices, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have precipitated an economic recession. Domestic and international capital markets have also been experiencing heightened volatility and turmoil. These events and the continuing market upheavals may have an adverse effect on us. In the event of a continuing market downturn, our results of operations could be adversely affected. Our future cost of equity or debt capital and access to the capital markets could be adversely affected, and our stock price could decline. There may be disruption in or delay in the performance of our third-party contractors and suppliers. If our contractors, suppliers and partners are unable to satisfy their contractual commitments, our business could suffer. In addition, we maintain significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at one or more financial institutions that are in excess of federally insured limits. Given the current instability of financial institutions, we may experience losses on these deposits.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

It is difficult and costly to generate and protect our intellectual property and our proprietary technologies, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.

Our commercial success will depend in part on obtaining and maintaining patent, trademark, trade secret, and other intellectual property protection relating to our electroporation equipment and product candidates, as well as successfully defending these intellectual property rights against third-party challenges.

The patent positions of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles remain unresolved. The laws and regulations regarding the breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology patents has evolved over recent years and continues to undergo review and revision, both in the United States. The biotechnology patent situation outside the United States can be even more uncertain depending on the country. Changes in either the patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property. Accordingly, we cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our licensed patents, our patents or in third-party patents, nor can we predict the likelihood of our patents surviving a patent validity challenge.

The degree of future protection for our intellectual property rights is uncertain, because legal decision-making can be unpredictable, thereby often times resulting in limited protection, which may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage, or resulting in an invalid or unenforceable patent. For example:

 

   

we, or the parties from whom we have acquired or licensed patent rights, may not have been the first to file the underlying patent applications or the first to make the inventions covered by such patents;

 

   

the named inventors or co-inventors of patents or patent applications that we have licensed or acquired may be incorrect, which may give rise to inventorship and ownership challenges;

 

   

others may develop similar or alternative technologies, or duplicate any of our products or technologies that may not be covered by our patents, including design-arounds;

 

   

pending patent applications may not result in issued patents;

 

   

the issued patents covering our products and technologies may not provide us with any competitive advantages or have any commercial value;

 

   

the issued patents may be challenged and invalidated, or rendered unenforceable;

 

   

the issued patents may be subject to reexamination, which could result in a narrowing of the scope of claims or cancellation of claims found unpatentable;

 

   

we may not develop or acquire additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;

 

   

our trademarks may be invalid or subject to a third party’s prior use; or

 

   

our ability to enforce our patent rights will depend on our ability to detect infringement, and litigation to enforce patent rights may not be pursued due to significant financial costs, diversion of resources, and unpredictability of a favorable result or ruling.

 

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We depend, in part, on our licensors and collaborators to protect a portion of our intellectual property rights. In such cases, our licensors and collaborators may be primarily or wholly responsible for the maintenance of patents and prosecution of patent applications relating to important areas of our business. If any of these parties fail to adequately protect these products with issued patents, our business and prospects would be harmed significantly.

We also may rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. Although we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our trade secrets to competitors. Enforcing a claim that a third-party entity illegally obtained and is using any of our trade secrets is expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States are sometimes less willing to protect trade secrets. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how.

If we or our licensors fail to obtain or maintain patent protection or trade secret protection for our product candidates or our technologies, third parties could use our proprietary information, which could impair our ability to compete in the market and adversely affect our ability to generate revenues and attain profitability.

If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, it will be costly and time consuming, and an unfavorable outcome in that litigation would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Other companies may have or may acquire intellectual property rights that could be enforced against us. If they do so, we may be required to alter our technologies, pay licensing fees or cease activities. If our products or technologies infringe the intellectual property rights of others, they could bring legal action against us or our licensors or collaborators claiming damages and seeking to enjoin any activities that they believe infringe their intellectual property rights.

Because patent applications can take many years to issue, and there is a period when the application remains undisclosed to the public, there may be currently pending applications unknown to us or reissue applications that may later result in issued patents upon which our products or technologies may infringe. There could also be existing patents of which we are unaware that our products or technologies may infringe. In addition, if third parties file patent applications or obtain patents claiming products or technologies also claimed by us in pending applications or issued patents, we may have to participate in interference proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of invention. If third parties file oppositions in foreign countries, we may also have to participate in opposition proceedings in foreign tribunals to defend the patentability of our filed foreign patent applications.

If a third party claims that we infringe its intellectual property rights, it could cause our business to suffer in a number of ways, including:

 

   

we may become involved in time-consuming and expensive litigation, even if the claim is without merit, the third party’s patent is invalid or we have not infringed;

 

   

we may become liable for substantial damages for past infringement if a court decides that our technologies infringe upon a third party’s patent;

 

   

we may be enjoined by a court to stop making, selling or licensing our products or technologies without a license from a patent holder, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, or which may require us to pay substantial royalties or grant cross-licenses to our patents; and

 

   

we may have to redesign our products so that they do not infringe upon others’ patent rights, which may not be possible or could require substantial investment or time.

If any of these events occur, our business could suffer and the market price of our common stock may decline.

 

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Risks Related to Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock is expected to be volatile and an investment in our common stock could decline substantially in value.

In light of our small size and limited resources, as well as the uncertainties and risks that can affect our business and industry, our stock price is expected to be highly volatile and can be subject to substantial drops, with or even in the absence of news affecting our business. Period to period comparisons are not indicative of future performance. The following factors, in addition to the other risk factors described in this quarterly report and our Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the potentially low volume of trades in our common stock, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock, some of which are beyond our control:

 

   

developments concerning any research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and marketing efforts or collaborations;

 

   

fluctuating public or scientific interest in the potential for influenza pandemic or other applications for our vaccine or other product candidates;

 

   

our announcement of significant acquisitions, strategic collaborations, joint ventures or capital commitments;

 

   

fluctuations in our operating results

 

   

announcements of technological innovations;

 

   

new products or services that we or our competitors offer;

 

   

the initiation, conduct and/or outcome of intellectual property and/or litigation matters;

 

   

changes in financial or other estimates by securities analysts or other reviewers or evaluators of our business;

 

   

conditions or trends in bio-pharmaceutical or other healthcare industries;

 

   

regulatory developments in the United States and other countries;

 

   

negative perception of gene based therapy;

 

   

changes in the economic performance and/or market valuations of other biotechnology and medical device companies;

 

   

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

   

sales or other transactions involving our common stock;

 

   

sales or other transactions by executive officers or directors involving our common stock;

 

   

changes in accounting principles;

 

   

global unrest, terrorist activities, economic and other external factors, and stock market volatility and fluctuations; and

 

   

catastrophic weather and/or global disease pandemics.

The stock market in general has recently experienced relatively large price and volume fluctuations. In particular, the market prices of securities of smaller biotechnology and medical device companies have experienced dramatic fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating results of these companies. Continued market fluctuations could result in extreme volatility in the price of the common stock, which could cause a decline in the value of the common stock. In addition, price volatility may increase if the trading volume of our common stock remains limited or declines.

Anti-takeover provisions under our charter documents and Delaware law could delay or prevent a change of control which could limit the market price of our common stock.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that could delay or prevent a change of control of our company or changes in our board of directors that our stockholders might consider favorable. Some of these provisions include:

 

   

the authority of our board of directors to issue shares of undesignated preferred stock and to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of these shares, without stockholder approval;

 

   

all stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called meeting of stockholders and not by written consent; and

 

   

the elimination of cumulative voting.

In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporate Law, which may prohibit certain business combinations with stockholders owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. These and other provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirers to obtain control of our board of directors or initiate actions that are opposed by the then-current board of directors, including to delay or impede a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving our company. Any delay or prevention of a change of control transaction or changes in our board of directors could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

 

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We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have paid no cash dividends on our common stock to date, and we currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business. In addition, the terms of any future debt or credit facility may preclude or limit our ability to pay any dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of potential gain for the foreseeable future.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

 

Item 3. Default Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Document

10.1    Collaborative Development and License Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 between VGI International, Inc. and Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.**
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

 

Exhibit 101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
Exhibit 101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Exhibit 101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.
** The Company has applied with the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission requesting confidential treatment of certain information pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A copy of the exhibit including all confidential portions has been submitted separately with the confidential treatment application.

 

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INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  Date: November 7, 2011     By:   /s/    J. JOSEPH KIM        
        J. Joseph Kim
        President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
        (Principal Executive Officer)
  Date: November 7, 2011     By:   /s/    PETER KIES        
        Peter Kies
        Chief Financial Officer
        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

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