2017 Annual Report
Included in the 2017 Annual Report:
Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 26, 2018
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
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 001-38112
ATHENEX, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization
1001 Main Street, Suite 600
Buffalo, NY
United States
(Address of principal executive offices)
EIN 43-1985966
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
14203
(Zip Code)
(716) 427-2950
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Name of Exchange on Which Registered
The NASDAQ Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Se- curities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be
contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,”and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☒ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
☐
☐
☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised
financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant calculated based on the closing price of $16.0 of the registrant’s common stock as reported
on The Nasdaq Global Market on June 30, 2017, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $551.0 million.
As of March 16, 2018, 63,492,667 shares of common stock of the registrant were outstanding.
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting of stockholders currently scheduled to be held June 12, 2018 are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
PART I.
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
PART II.
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
PART III.
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
PART IV.
Item 15.
Item 16.
Business
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Properties
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Selected Financial Data
Managements’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Other Information
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Form 10-K Summary
Signatures
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SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (Annual Report) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), and section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(Securities Act). All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of this Annual
Report. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future results of operations
and financial position, business strategy, market size, potential growth opportunities, clinical development activities, the timing and
results of clinical trials and potential regulatory approval and commercialization of product candidates. In some cases, forward-
looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “predict,” “goal,” “strategy,”
“potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” “seek” and similar
expressions and variations thereof. These words are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and
trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business
operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Moreover,
we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our
management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or
combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may
make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated
or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance
or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to
update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results
or to changes in our expectations, except as required by law.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this Annual Report, the terms “Athenex,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and
“our” refer to Athenex, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless otherwise noted.
1
Item 1.
Business.
Overview
PART I
We are a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies
for the treatment of cancer. Our mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by creating more effective, safer and tolerable
treatments. We have generated our clinical product candidates through our Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition research platforms,
which are based on our understanding of human absorption biology and novel approaches to inhibiting kinase activity, respectively.
We believe that our ability to overcome the challenges of oral delivery of chemotherapy and limitations associated with IV delivery,
via our P-gp inhibitor, offers significant potential benefits to patient outcomes by allowing patients to stay on therapy longer and
extending the potential opportunities to combine with other agents, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies that would
otherwise be too toxic in combination with IV chemotherapy. We have assembled a leadership team and have established operations
in the U.S. and China across the pharmaceutical value chain to execute our mission to become a global leader in bringing innovative
cancer treatments to the market and improve health outcomes.
Common treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and such newer methods as targeted therapy;
however, chemotherapy remains one of the key treatment options for cancer patients and is traditionally administrated intravenously.
A major part of cancer treatment consists of IV chemotherapy. The limitations of IV chemotherapy involve repeated painful IV line
insertions, potential anaphylactic reactions, expensive hospital visits, toxic side effects and poor quality of life for cancer patients. To
address this unmet medical need, development of oral chemotherapy that is more effective and more tolerable, can be taken easily
orally at home, avoiding weekly IV infusions and hospital visits (e.g. paclitaxel) is urgently needed. Oral administration of many IV
chemotherapy drugs has been unsuccessful because human intestinal cells have a P-gp pump that pumps out chemotherapy drugs (e.g.
paclitaxel, doxetaxel, irinotecan etc.) before they can be absorbed. Many attempts at new drug development of P-gp inhibitors failed
clinically because of lack of clinical efficacy or significant toxicities.
We believe that oral administration can overcome key limitations and challenges around IV administration of certain cytotoxic
chemotherapies, and that our Orascovery platform will establish a new paradigm in the use of oral anti-cancer drugs for cancer
treatments. Our Orascovery platform is based on the novel P-gp pump inhibitor molecule HM30181A, which we in-licensed in 2011
from Hanmi, a major Korean pharmaceutical company focusing on research and development. The P-gp pump is a plasma membrane
protein on the cells of the gut which forms a localized drug transport system and prevents oral absorption at therapeutic levels of many
well-known, widely used P-gp substrate cancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel, irinotecan and docetaxel, limiting their
current delivery to IV. These chemotherapy agents are widely used to treat multiple types of cancer. A cancer patient’s inability to
tolerate IV chemotherapies has limited the effectiveness of IV anti-cancer therapies. Co-administration of HM30181A with oral
paclitaxel is designed to facilitate the oral absorption of paclitaxel by blocking P-gp in intestinal cells and enables oral dosing at
therapeutic blood levels which have not been successfully and safely achieved to date without the use of HM30181A. We have
learned through clinical studies that this technology allows for certain active chemotherapeutic agents to be absorbed into the blood
orally as compared to IV, and may enable some patients to tolerate many cycles of treatment. Oraxol, our leading Orascovery drug
candidate is composed of HM30181A co-administered with an oral dosage form of paclitaxel. We have three other major clinical
product candidates in this platform, Oratecan, Oradoxel and Oratopo, which include HM30181A co-administered with an oral
formulation of the widely used IV-administered chemotherapeutic agents, irinotecan, docetaxel and topotecan, respectively. In
December 2017, we also announced that we have initiated the preparation of an IND for oral eribulin co-administered with
HM30181A.
Oral administration can overcome key limitations and challenges around IV administration of certain cytotoxic chemotherapies,
such as dosing, tolerability and efficacy, and we believe the Orascovery approach will establish a new paradigm in the use of oral anti-
cancer drugs for cancer treatments in at least three ways. First, with the use of HM30181A, clinicians may be able to consistently
deliver oral doses of certain chemotherapeutic drugs over a greater number of cycles and duration of time. Second, we believe active
drug exposure of chemotherapeutic agents in the patient over time is a critical element in determining efficacy and we can achieve
greater tolerability with administration of HM30181A in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs as compared to the current IV
standards of care. Third, in light of better tolerability of standard chemotherapies delivered orally, combination with immuno-
oncology and targeted anti-cancer treatments can be potentially optimized compared to current treatment paradigms.
We are rapidly advancing our lead Orascovery drug candidate, Oraxol. In 2015, we started enrolling patients in a Phase 3
Oraxol study which combined the dosing of our 15 milligram tablet of HM30181A paired with dosing of our oral formulation of
paclitaxel in a head to head comparison to IV formulation of paclitaxel. In October 2016, we entered into a clinical study collaboration
with Eli Lilly and Company to evaluate Oraxol in combination with Lilly’s approved monoclonal antibody Cyramza (ramucirumab) to
treat gastric, gastric-esophageal and esophageal cancer. This combination study commenced in July 2017. In January 2018, we
completed the first cohort of patients in our Oraxol and ramucirumab combination study, which showed encouraging early results. We
are also planning a combination study of Oraxol with Anti-PD1 in advanced malignancies. In October 2017, the Drug Safety
2
Monitoring Board unanimously recommended continuation of our Oraxol Phase 3 study following review of an interim analysis. In
January 2018, we received positive feedback from the FDA on the design of the ongoing Phase 3 trial, which indicated that if the
study meets the primary endpoint with an acceptable benefit to risk profile, it could be adequate as a single comparative trial to
support registration of Oraxol in the U.S. for the indication of metastatic breast cancer. In February 2018, the enrollment of patients
was on target for the Company to be able to conduct a second interim analysis in the Oraxol KX-ORAX-001 Phase 3 clinical trial in
the third quarter of 2018. When interim results are available, we plan to confirm with the FDA regarding its use as the pivotal trial. If
accepted, we could be able to complete all other required studies by end of 2018. If not, other studies, which could require multiple
years, may be required. In addition, in June 2017, our Chinese subsidiary submitted an IND application to the China FDA, or CFDA,
for Oraxol, and in January 2018, the CFDA allowed the IND application for Oraxol. Acceptance of the Oraxol IND by the CFDA
allows us to commence a clinical trial program for Oraxol in China in 2018.
We have also developed novel small molecule compounds through our Src Kinase Inhibition platform. The Src Kinase
inhibition platform refers to novel small molecule compounds that have differentiated multiple-mechanisms of actions including:
(1) the inhibition of the activity of Src Kinase and (2) the inhibition of tubulin polymerization. We believe the combination of the two
mechanisms of action provides a broader range of anti-cancer activity compared to either mechanism of action alone. Our three key
clinical product candidates in this platform are KX-01 ointments for actinic keratosis, or AK, pre-cancerous lesions and psoriasis; KX-
01 oral for solid and liquid tumors and potential skin cancer indications and pre-cancerous lesions and KX-02 for glioblastoma
multiforme, or GBM. AK has an estimated prevalence of over 58 million patients, and was found in approximately 14% of patients
visiting dermatologists in the U.S., while GBM has an incidence of 2 to 3 per 100,000 adults per year and accounts for 52% of all
primary brain tumors.
We completed enrollment of an approximately 160-patient Phase 2a study of KX-01 ointment for treatment of AK across 16
sites in 2016. We commenced patient enrollment in two Phase 3 studies in September 2017 and the enrollment was completed in
February 2018. AK is a common disease, with a prevalence of approximately 58 million patients in the United States. If left untreated,
10-15% of AK lesions will develop into skin cancers. Our Phase 1 clinical study and preliminary data from our Phase 2 clinical study
demonstrated a complete response rate of up to 43% among subjects who received treatment on their faces, with few severe local skin
reactions, or LSRs, reported with the dosing regimen studied. Currently available treatments are limited by severe local skin reactions
such as vesiculation, pustulation, erosion and ulceration, with low patient compliance. We believe physicians and patients have
avoided topical treatments because of the pronounced side effects of the current treatments such as ingenol mebutate, imiquimod,
fluorouracil, and that an ointment product with good clinical activity and a favorable side effect profile could capture substantial new
market share for treatment of this condition. In addition, in May 2017, the CFDA approved clinical trials of KX-02 in tablet form for
treatment of Glioblastoma, which are being led by our partner, Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
In addition to our existing portfolio of clinical candidates, our research and development teams are evaluating additional
applications of Orascovery, and developing new platforms based on our knowledge of absorption biology. For example, we are
exploring a CYP and P-gp dual inhibitor technology to generate new product candidates.
3
The following pipeline chart sets forth certain information concerning our key innovative drug product candidates:
(1) Also excluding Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and Africa
(2) Collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, manufacturer of ramucirumab
(3) Also excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam
(4) Also excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore
To date, we and our partners have conducted, or are conducting, clinical trials across various sites in the U.S., South Korea, New
Zealand, Taiwan, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and China.
4
In advance of the launch of our proprietary product candidates in the U.S., our commercial team has begun to market oncology
and oncology symptom-related products to fund our infrastructure build-out. We believe it is important to minimize supply chain
disruptions for high potency oncology active pharmaceutical ingredients. We have thus internalized key components of the supply
chain that we believe are integral to minimizing the associated risks. We have organized our business model into three segments:
Oncology Innovation Platform, Commercial Platform and Global Supply Chain Platform—with operations in both the U.S. and China.
Our global operations across the three segments are shown below:
Our Global Supply Chain Platform manufactures API for use internally in our research and development and clinical studies,
and for sale to pharmaceutical customers globally. Our Global Supply Chain Platform includes Polymed Therapeutics, Inc. and
Chongqing Taihao Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, collectively Polymed. Our Commercial Platform currently markets nine APIs produced by
our Global Supply Chain Platform in the specialty and generic market segment in the U.S., 12 products by APD, and 3 products
subject to Section 503B of the FDCA through our outsourcing facility. Our Commercial Platform is expected to launch an additional
13 products in the first half of 2018, including 10 products by APD and 3 products by APS.
Based in Buffalo, New York, we were formed in 2003 and have been funded from inception from over $250 million in private
financings, $132.3 million in public offerings and public-private partnerships with an estimated aggregate value of $375 million to be
funded following the achievement of certain milestones.
Our leadership team has been carefully assembled to capture the global commercial market opportunities in novel drug
development. Our executive officers are seasoned leaders with complementary skill sets across global pharmaceutical research and
development, operations, supply chain and manufacturing, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. We believe this characteristic
is unique for a U.S.-based company and we believe we will be able to utilize this strength to create long term value for cancer patients,
our employees and our shareholders. Our team is excited about the prospects of creating new paradigms in the treatment of cancer in
developed markets and also driving our product candidates to emerging markets where patient access to treatments has historically
been limited.
Strategy and Mission
We have a comprehensive and experienced leadership team who have come together under one organization to achieve our
mission. Our mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by creating more effective, safer and tolerable treatments. To achieve
our mission, we intend to execute the following strategies:
5
Rapidly and concurrently advance our clinical product candidates.
We intend to pursue the fastest feasible pathways to approval of our existing novel oral absorption technology. We are currently
enrolling patients in a Phase 3 clinical trial of Oraxol, which is comprised of a combination of our novel investigational absorption-
enhancing tablet, HM30181A, with the oral capsule formulation of paclitaxel. We recently received a PIM designation for Oraxol in
the UK from the MHRA. We plan to submit an NDA to the regulatory authorities in both New Zealand and Taiwan in the next 12-18
months. We believe that if we demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of our oral absorption technology with Oraxol, the other drug
candidates paired with this technology will face a more efficient development process. In addition, we presented to the American
Academy of Dermatology meeting our Phase 2 clinical study data for KX-01 ointment and we completed patient enrollment for both
Phase 3 clinical studies of KX-01 ointment for AK in February 2018. We anticipate the development timeframe for our KX-02 drug
candidate for GBM to be accelerated by our partnered clinical program in China. Our licensing partner in China submitted a CTA for
KX-02 to the CFDA in 2016. Based on the approval that has been granted by the CFDA, we expect Xiangxue to commence Phase 1
clinical trials for KX-02 for GBM in China in 2018. We anticipate fast enrollment in China based on its large patient population,
which would accelerate the overall global development timeframe.
Leverage our global research and development operations to continue development of an oncology-focused product pipeline.
We have research and development operations in both the U.S. and China that are focused on both advancing our existing
product pipeline and on developing additional novel clinical drug product candidates in order to replenish our development pipeline as
other candidates mature. We have developed a core competency in oral absorption technology and apply that skill to develop new
methods of drug discovery and to identify new pipeline candidates, such as our recently-announced oral eribulin IND program. In
addition, we may leverage our research and development capabilities to partner with others for the development of new pipeline
candidates. We believe that we can create substantial long term value by pursuing a robust, ongoing research and development
program.
Build a proprietary commercial platform and selectively leverage collaborative relationships to achieve global drug sales,
marketing and distribution.
We have begun building our U.S. commercial operation in preparation for future FDA approvals of our proprietary product
candidates. We believe that our experienced product commercialization team can build an infrastructure that leverages both our global
facilities and collaborative relationships to achieve global distribution of any products approved by the FDA and regulatory authorities
in other jurisdictions, as applicable, in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Continue to build-out our supply chain and cGMP manufacturing capabilities.
We believe internalization of our supply chain is uniquely suited to execute in both the U.S. and China, two of the world’s
largest pharmaceutical markets. We intend to utilize cGMP manufacturing facilities from our public/private partnerships in both the
China and U.S. markets as a mechanism to access both important markets and minimize supply disruptions. We intend to manufacture
certain of our proprietary drugs and our partnered drugs commercialized around the world. Additionally, we expect that the expansion
of our existing cGMP high potency API facilities will provide us with more flexibility, and control over high potency APIs as our
drugs start to become commercialized. Our goal is to continue expanding this infrastructure and to leverage it to maintain future
financial flexibility by optimizing our financial commitments and capital expenditures, which we believe will create value for
shareholders.
Selectively pursue strategic M&A or licensing opportunities to complement our existing operations.
We have historically pursued acquisitions and in-licensing opportunities, and will continue to target opportunities that will
complement our existing portfolio and operations to create value for shareholders and support our business strategy and mission.
Operating Segments
We operate in three segments including our Oncology Innovation Platform, dedicated to the research and development of the
Company’s proprietary drugs; our Commercial Platform, focused on the sales and marketing of the Company’s specialty drugs and the
market development of our proprietary drugs; and our Global Supply Chain Platform, dedicated to providing a stable and efficient
supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients for our clinical and commercial efforts.
6
Oncology Innovation Platform
Our Orascovery Research Platform
We are developing a series of orally administered chemotherapeutic agents using our proprietary P-gp pump inhibitor delivery
system. The technology is designed to enable the oral administration of many cancer agents, which currently are only given by IV due
to poor oral absorption. Oral administration of certain cytotoxic chemotherapies can potentially overcome several key challenges in IV
administration of those molecules. We believe that our Orascovery platform overcomes these challenges by allowing more frequent
dosing over longer periods of time, which we believe will lead to better tolerability and allow for higher total dosage and longer time
exposure to the chemotherapeutic agent. Further, we believe additional agents like immuno-oncology and targeted therapy can be
better optimized with longer administration of oral chemotherapy agents.
Chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel, irinotecan, docetaxel and topotecan are clinically proven and widely used but have
historically been limited to IV administration. The combined worldwide revenue of marketed formulations of these agents is estimated
to be $1.9 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% to reach $3.6 billion by 2022. We believe our pipeline products,
which leverage our proprietary delivery system that enables oral administration of these chemotherapeutic agents, will substantially
expand the use of these chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, we believe that there is a substantial opportunity for our products to be
used in combination with targeted therapies. Furthermore, as shown by Abraxane, novel technology applied to a traditional
chemotherapy agent may achieve pricing premiums if data demonstrates superior efficacy and tolerability as compared to current
standards of care. We believe our pipeline products will be able to capture a large untapped market and achieve significantly larger
market potential than the revenue generated by existing formulations, due to (1) increasing adoption of oral therapy due to patient
preference, (2) the potential for improved response rates through greater exposure (based on our predictive model), (3) the potential
for improved tolerability (based on our predictive model), and (4) the possibility to expand the market through combination therapies
with immune-oncology therapy and oral targeted treatments, of which 39% are already oral.
The table below shows certain clinical trials for our major Orascovery drug candidates.
PK and MTD denote pharmacokinetics and maximum tolerated dose, respectively.
7
HM30181A—Our Novel P-gp Pump Inhibitor
Overview
The novel P-gp inhibition by HM30181A forms the cornerstone of our Orascovery platform, and enables the administration of
oral dosing formats of paclitaxel (Oraxol), irinotecan (Oratecan), docetaxel (Oradoxel), and topotecan (Oratopo) each of which is
currently under clinical development. In December 2017, we also announced that we have initiated the preparation of an IND for oral
eribulin co-administered with HM30181A. The feature that distinguishes HM30181A from other small molecule P-gp inhibitors is
that this novel compound is specific to P-gp, does not interfere significantly with the activity of other related transporters, and does not
significantly inhibit cytochrome 3A4, an enzyme that is important in the metabolism of commonly used drugs. HM30181A is
minimally absorbed following oral administration. This localizes P-gp inhibitory activity in the gastrointestinal tract, limiting the
potential for interaction at additional systemic sites where P-gp is expressed. Based on the results of our HM30181A clinical
development programs to date, inhibition of gastrointestinal P-gp significantly improves the absorption of chemotherapy agents to
achieve systemic exposure profiles which enhance the efficacy and may reduce toxicity of these established chemotherapeutic agents.
Based on its pharmacological profile and low systemic absorption, HM30181A is not expected to cause drug-to-drug interactions
other than enhancement of oral absorption of medications which are P-gp substrates.
Background—Chemotherapy Treatments
IV paclitaxel is used widely for the treatment of breast, ovarian, and lung cancer. Due to its poor solubility, paclitaxel is usually
dissolved in ethanol and polyethoxylated castor oil, which is a major cause of IV hypersensitivity reactions. As a result, premedication
with steroids and antihistamines is required to minimize these adverse reactions. Additional common toxicities associated with IV
administration of paclitaxel include neuropathy, neutropenia, and alopecia. These side effects limit dose intensification and often
require reduction in dosing.
As a single agent or in combination, IV paclitaxel is administered at a variety of doses and regimens that are approved for
therapeutic use for various indications, including 135 and 175 mg/m2 administered as both 3- and 24- hour infusions once every 3
weeks. Over the past fifteen years, there has been great interest in dose dense therapy with paclitaxel, switching from the conventional
every three-week regimen to administering the drug once weekly. Dose dense treatment with paclitaxel has various advantages that
can lead to an increase in the overall exposure, as measured by AUC, over a treatment cycle, while balancing the adverse event profile
normally observed, such as neutropenia. This concept is consistent with the hypothesis of maintaining sufficient drug concentrations
above a threshold target value for an extended duration.
Based on various clinical trials conducted across multiple tumor types, the weekly regimen of paclitaxel can lead to an increase
in response rate, progression free survival, and overall survival. For example, in a clinical trial investigating different dosing schedules
of paclitaxel for the treatment of breast cancer in the adjuvant setting, dose-dense paclitaxel given as 80 mg/m2 weekly led to an
improvement in disease-free and overall survival, with a 5-year survival rate of 81.5% versus 76.9%. In addition, weekly paclitaxel
(80 mg/m2) has a benefit in response rate (42% vs. 29%), time to tumor progression (TTP) (9 vs. 5 months), and median overall
survival (24 vs. 12 months) over conventional 175 mg/m2 every three weeks.
A recent analysis compiling data from 29 clinical trials of paclitaxel given as monotherapy investigated the relationship between
paclitaxel dose and dosing regimen versus safety and efficacy. This average weekly dose from the every 3-week regimen (175—210
mg/m2) of paclitaxel produced a response rate of 30%, while the weekly regimen of 80 mg/m2 showed a response rate of 37%. In
another analysis, a trend towards reduced grade 3 neuropathy with weekly paclitaxel was observed. Together, several clinical trials
along with analyses, which evaluated efficacy and safety for dose-dense paclitaxel, suggested a trend of larger therapeutic window and
a better safety-efficacy profile for weekly paclitaxel.
8
Irinotecan is a potent anticancer drug that is marketed under the trade name, Camptosar. Irinotecan is mainly administered to
patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but also in glioblastoma, lung, ovarian, cervical, upper gastrointestinal cancer, and
pancreatic cancer. The active metabolite of Irinotecan, SN-38, is a type 1 DNA topoisomerase inhibitor with potent antitumor activity
and wide antitumor spectrum. We believe that oral administration of irinotecan will more efficiently generate SN-38, resulting in the
potential for better clinical response with reduced toxicity. Oratecan is intended for oral administration for the treatment of irinotecan-
responsive cancers.
Docetaxel is a potent anticancer drug within the class of antimicrotubule agents that is marketed under the trade name Taxotere.
Docetaxel is mainly administered to patients with breast, lung, prostate, gastric, and head and neck cancers. Docetaxel has potent
activity with a wide antitumor spectrum. As a single-agent therapy, docetaxel is administered by IV infusion over 1 hour at a dose of
60-100 mg/m2 for breast cancer and 75 mg/m2 for non-small cell lung cancer given once every 3 weeks. Docetaxel is also used in
combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (adjuvant treatment of breast cancer), cisplatin (lung), topical fluorouracil (head
and neck and gastric), and prednisone (prostate). Docetaxel causes dose-limiting toxicities that are more common at higher doses. One
significant dose-limiting toxicity is fluid retention that we believe is associated (at least in part) with the IV formulation that contains
polysorbate 80, a nonionic and emulsifier frequently used in food and cosmetics. Hypersensitivity reactions may also be attributable to
IV administration of polysorbate 80. We believe that oral administration of docetaxel with HM30181A will provide therapeutic
exposures of the drug, and result in the potential for better clinical response with reduced toxicity.
Topotecan is a potent anticancer drug under the class of camptothecins that is marketed under the trade name, Hycamtin.
Topotecan is mainly administered to patients with lung, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Clinical activity has been shown in combination
with the taxanes, docetaxel and paclitaxel, for the treatment of a variety of tumors, including lung cancer. Topotecan causes dose-
limiting toxicities. These side effects mainly include neutropenia, late onset diarrhea and nausea and vomiting.
Mechanism of Action of HM30181A
P-gp plays an important physiologic role as a transporter protein at multiple barrier sites, including the gastrointestinal tract and
the blood brain barrier. The demonstrated role of P-gp in limiting intestinal absorption of multiple cancer chemotherapies highlighted
the potential utility of a small molecule P-gp inhibitor for enabling oral administration of P-gp substrate drugs otherwise restricted to
IV dosing. HM30181A was originally identified by Hanmi as a highly selective and potent P-gp inhibitor, capable of elevating the oral
bioavailability of paclitaxel from less than 5% (in the absence of HM30181A) to 41% in rats. Unlike previously developed small
molecule P-gp inhibitors, HM30181A is designed to not be systemically absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract following oral
administration, with only small amounts detectable in the plasma even after relatively high doses. This unique property made
HM30181A a good candidate for co-administration with P-gp substrate drugs, such as paclitaxel, which normally exhibit poor oral
bioavailability and are therefore limited to IV routes of dosing.
9
Pre-clinical and Clinical Development of HM30181A
In vitro Activity
HM30181A was first discovered as a novel P-gp inhibitor in 2006. A subsequent published study demonstrated selective activity
against P-gp, with low nanomolar inhibitory activity reported (IC50=0.6 nM in an in vitro assay of P-gp function, where the lower the
number the higher the potency) and more potent than cyclosporin A, tariquidar and elacridar, which are previously tested P-gp
inhibitors, as shown in the first figure below. In similar assays, HM30181A did not inhibit the transporter proteins MRP1, MRP2, or
MRP3 at the concentrations evaluated and only marginally inhibited BCRP transporter activity (IC50 = 3,717 nM, as shown in the
second figure below).
Inhibition concentration against Pgp transporter
Inhibition concentration against transporters
Compound
Cyclosporin A
Tariquidar
Elacridar
HM30181A
Transporter
MRP1
MRP2
MRP3
BCRP
IC50 (nM)
123.1
44.4
4.9
0.6
IC50 (nM)
> 5,000
> 5,000
> 5,000
2,960
In vivo Activity
In preclinical studies, HM30181A demonstrated poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract following oral administration in
rats and dogs. The low systemic exposure to HM30181A may at least partially account for the good tolerability observed thus far in
pre-clinical toxicology studies. In a single dose rat study, no mortality was noted and there were no test article-related clinical signs or
body weight changes, and no gross necropsy findings 15 days after treatment with single oral doses of HM30181A as high as 2,000
mg/kg. Likewise, the highest dose evaluated (200 mg/kg) was well tolerated in repeat dose studies in both rats and dogs (once daily up
to 13 weeks), with no dose-related mortality.
Multiple pre-clinical studies have evaluated the in vivo pharmacologic effect of HM30181A, generally in the context of a co-
administered P-gp substrate, such as paclitaxel. In each case, co-administration of HM30181A significantly enhanced systemic
exposure of the co-administered substrate. In murine models of human cancer, oral co-administration of HM30181A with oral
paclitaxel or docetaxel conferred anti-tumor activity comparable to the IV dosing route.
10
Clinical Development
HM30181A belongs to a new class of P-gp inhibitor that has high potency, specificity and local action at the intestine cells.
Oraxol consists of two drug products, a paclitaxel capsule and a HM30181A tablet. The 15 mg HM30181A tablet has an established
room temperature shelf life of 36 months. The 30 mg paclitaxel liquid-filled, hard gelatin capsule has an established room temperature
shelf life of 18 months. Oratecan consists of two drug products, an irinotecan tablet and a HM30181A tablet. The irinotecan 20 mg
tablet has an established room temperature shelf life of at least 18 months.
Phase 1 clinical trials showed HM30181A has a good clinical safety profile and was not significantly absorbed systemically in
humans. It has been given in amounts of up to 900 mg as a single dose, and up to 360 mg/day for 5 days, without major toxicities. The
clinical dose we use currently in our Phase 3 clinical trial is 15 mg/day.
In three separate PK studies of HM30181A conducted in healthy subjects, a total of 81 individuals received single oral doses of
HM30181A tablets in single doses of up to 900 mg and 30 individuals were enrolled in multiple dose cohorts, with treatment groups
receiving HM30181A tablets ranging from 60 to 360 mg per day for 5 days. HM30181A was well-tolerated, with mostly mild GI side
effects at high doses. At the current clinical dose of 15 mg given once daily for up to 5 days, the Cmax in systemic circulation is low.
Our Orascovery Product Candidates
Oraxol (HM30181A tablet + Oral Paclitaxel)
Overview of Clinical Findings
Oraxol has been administered to approximately 180 patients through September 30, 2017 across multiple clinical studies in
advanced malignances and gastric cancer. There were four completed Phase 1 and 2 clinical studies. No MTD was reached. Overall,
Oraxol has been well-tolerated by cancer patients. Studies have indicated that anti-cancer activity of paclitaxel may be related to blood
exposure in the patient. Oraxol administration results in similar blood concentration of paclitaxel over time as achieved with IV
paclitaxel. We believe oral dosing of paclitaxel can provide a longer drug exposure over a target drug concentration than intravenous
paclitaxel, which may translate to better clinical response. We have observed anti-cancer activity in a Phase 1/2 study of patients in
gastric cancer with Oraxol monotherapy, where the overall survival in the study for 43 subjects was 10.7 months, which compared
favorably to historical data for ramucirumab, the only FDA approved drug for second line treatment of gastric cancer, which reported
5.2 months of overall survival in a randomized, placebo controlled Phase 3 clinical study.
Completed Clinical Studies
HM-OXL-101 Phase 1 MTD Study
The Phase 1 MTD study was conducted by Hanmi in South Korea in 24 subjects with advanced solid cancer, with a “3+3”
design in which cycles were 28 days and dosing with HM30181A tablets and an oral liquid formulation of paclitaxel was given on
Days 1, 8, and 15 of each cycle for three cycles. Premedication was not required prior to treatment with Oraxol. Paclitaxel doses
evaluated ranged from 60 to 420 mg/m2. HM30181A doses were half of paclitaxel doses (30 to 210 mg/m2). The MTD was not
reached in this study and dose escalation was stopped after 420 mg/m2 because the drug exposure at doses above 300 mg/m2 reached a
plateau.
HM-OXL-201 Phase 2 Gastric Cancer Study
The Phase 1/2 gastric cancer study was conducted by Hanmi in South Korea. HM-OXL-201 was an open-label Phase 2, single-
arm clinical trial of Oraxol for second line treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients. This trial included dosing Oraxol at 150
mg/m2 per day, for 2 consecutive days per week, for 3 weeks out of a 4-week cycle. A total of 46 subjects enrolled in this study.
Oraxol was well tolerated by gastric cancer patients. The results of the Phase 2 portion of this clinical trial showed treatment with
Oraxol resulted in a median overall survival of 10.7 months.
ORAX-01-13-US Phase 1 MTD Study
We conducted this Phase 1 MTD study in the U.S. and it is clinically complete. The objective of this study was to demonstrate
the MTD of Oraxol. Study ORAX-01-13-US was a standard “3+3” Phase 1b study to determine the MTD of Oraxol in subjects with
advanced malignancies. Oraxol dosing was 270 mg (approximately 150 mg/m2) per day starting at the 2 days of treatment per week
for 3 weeks out of a 4 week cycle. Subjects in subsequent cohorts received 3, 4 or 5 days of treatment per week for 3 weeks out of a 4
week cycle. Premedication was not required prior to Oraxol treatment. A total of 34 subjects were enrolled in this study, including 10
subjects in an expansion cohort at the highest weekly dose tested (5 days per week of dosing). The MTD was not reached in this study,
showing daily oral dosing of Oraxol was well tolerated.
11
ORAX-01-14-NZ Phase 1 Bioavailability Study
This Phase 1 bioavailability study was conducted by us in conjunction with ZenRX Limited, or ZenRx, in New Zealand and is
clinically complete. The objective of this study was to determine the absolute bioavailability of Oraxol, and to compare the extent of
absorption of Oraxol to that of IV paclitaxel. This study showed that Oraxol can achieve blood paclitaxel concentrations over time that
are comparable in total exposure to IV paclitaxel.
The following figure shows the mean plasma concentrations of paclitaxel following intravenous administration of 80 mg/m2, as
compared to oral administrations of 274 mg/m2 orally dosed daily for two days:
In this study the aggregate Oraxol AUC was 7,052 ng*hr/mL for the 274 mg/m2 dosing regimen (N=2) versus IV Taxol AUC of
6,628 ng*hr/mL (N=2). Oraxol dose escalation above 274 mg/m2 did not further increase exposure (N=2). Based on this, we chose a
dose regimen of 15 mg HM30181A + 205 mg/m2 of Oraxol daily over three consecutive days each week for future study, that we
believe will produce similar exposure to paclitaxel as 80 mg/m2 IV Taxol given weekly. In addition, this 3 day dosing regimen is
expected to provide a longer time above the target plasma concentration and could lead to better anti-cancer efficacy.
Overview of Safety Observations in the four completed Oraxol Studies
The MTD for Oraxol was not reached in these studies. Oraxol was well tolerated by cancer patients even when given without
premedication for hypersensitivity type reactions, in contrast to the premedication requirement for IV paclitaxel. No hypersensitivity
type reactions were observed. No new toxicity, apart from those typically observed with paclitaxel, was observed. Infusion related
reactions, including hypersensitivity type reactions, have not been observed. Additionally, severe toxicities associated with IV
administration of paclitaxel, including neuropathy, neutropenia and alopecia, are expected to be at a lower incidence and grade for
Oraxol.
In our Oraxol clinical studies to date, the serious adverse effects observed that were deemed to be possibly, likely or definitely
related to Oraxol include severe neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, sepsis, septic shock, altered state of consciousness, hypokalemia
and cardiac arrest, dehydration, pneumonia, death, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia, acute gastroenteritis.
12
Current and Planned Clinical Studies
Phase 1 Bioequivalence Study
The Phase 1 AUC bioequivalence study is being conducted by us in conjunction with ZenRx in New Zealand and is currently
ongoing. The study of approximately 40 patients was designed to compare the area under the curve of Oraxol at the estimated clinical
dose to that of IV paclitaxel. We are evaluating the bioavailability, safety and tolerability of the bioequivalence of Oraxol Phase 3
dosing regimen of 15 mg HM30181A + 205 mg/m2 of Oraxol daily over three consecutive days each week. The following chart shows
interim PK results from the first 6 completed patients, indicating that this dosing regimen could achieve similar exposure to weekly
AUC to 80 mg/m2 of IV paclitaxel:
According to findings from this study, patients treated with Oraxol demonstrated exposure that was comparable to IV paclitaxel
and no grade 3-4 toxicities. These interim results were presented at ESMO Asia 2017 in Singapore, an Annual Congress organized by
the European Society for Medical Oncology.
Phase 1 MTD Study of Oraxol in Combination with Ramucirumab
We are conducting a Phase 1 MTD study of Oraxol in combination with ramucirumab in patients with advanced gastric cancer
in the U.S. and Asia, through a clinical trial collaboration with Lilly. We commenced a study of up to 18 patients in a dose escalation
study of Oraxol in combination with a fixed dose of ramucirumab to determine the MTD in July 2017. In a published Lilly-sponsored
Phase 3 study comparing ramucirumab in combination with IV paclitaxel to IV paclitaxel alone, the single agent IV paclitaxel arm of
the study showed a median overall survival of 7.4 months as compared to 9.6 months with IV paclitaxel in combination with
ramucirumab.
The following list shows overall survival rates from the randomized, Phase 3 studies for Lilly’s FDA approved drug,
ramucirumab, approved in combination with IV paclitaxel for second line treatment of advanced gastric cancer:
Phase 3 clinical study of ramucirumab vs placebo (n=355)
Phase 3 trial of ramucirumab plus IV paclitaxel vs IV paclitaxel (n=665)
5.2 months ramucirumab
3.8 months placebo
9.6 months ramucirumab + IV paclitaxel
7.4 months IV paclitaxel
13
We conducted a Phase 1/2 study of single agent Oraxol dosing in end-stage gastric cancer patients at 150 mg/m2 for two
consecutive days each week, three weeks on, one week off, resulting in a median overall survival of 10.7 months. The objective of our
Phase 1 study is to define the MTD of daily Oraxol dosing, starting at 200 mg/m2 for 3 days in a week, three weeks on, one week off,
in combination with ramucirumab, which will be dosed every other week. We expect to obtain data from this Phase 1 study in 2018. In
January 2018, we announced the completion of the first cohort of patients in this study. Of the six patients in the first cohort, the
Oraxol and ramucirumab combination treatment was well tolerated. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in one patient who fully recovered
and there were no patient deaths or neuropathy. Two patients had partial responses (tumor shrinkage of 34-42%) and three patients
had stable diseases (with tumor shrinkage of 27% in one patient). Only one patient had progressive disease. Although early, these
results are regarded as encouraging compared with previous IV paclitaxel and ramucirumab combination therapy Phase 3 clinical trial
results. We are currently advancing to the second cohort with Oraxol dose escalation.
Phase 3 Study for Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer
Our Phase 3 study of Oraxol for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer is an open-label, randomized, multicenter study in
approximately 360 adult female subjects. The study contains a screening period, a treatment period of 18-21 weeks, and a treatment
extension period up to a total of 48 weeks. The study is currently being conducted in 8 countries in Central and South America and
will have up to 50 sites participating. Subjects will be randomized to either Oraxol or IV paclitaxel in a 2:1 ratio. The study is
designed with two interim analyses which will be conducted after 90 and 180 evaluable subjects have been treated. Tumor
assessments will be performed utilizing RECIST v1.1 guidelines by a blinded central radiologist group in the U.S. The blinded U.S.
radiology group will measure tumor response rates with scans at week 10, 16 and week 19. An independent Drug Safety Monitoring
Board conducted and reviewed a planned interim analysis of the study in October 2017 and unanimously recommended continuation
of the study. In January 2018, we received positive feedback from the FDA on the design of the ongoing Phase 3 trial, which indicated
that if the study meets the primary endpoint with an acceptable benefit to risk profile, it could be adequate as a single comparative trial
to support registration of Oraxol in the U.S. for the indication of metastatic breast cancer. The next expected milestone is a second
interim analysis at 180 patients in the third quarter of 2018.
Our Oraxol dosing regimen consists of 3 days consecutive dosing, each week, of: a 15 mg tablet HM30181A one hour before
dosing an oral formulation of paclitaxel of 205 mg/m2. The comparator IV paclitaxel arm is the labeled dosing regimen of 175 mg/m2
paclitaxel IV one week out of three.
The chart below shows the simulated comparison of one cycle of the labeled dose of IV Taxol of 175 mg/m2 and Oraxol dosed
daily at 205 mg/m2 for three consecutive days per week over a similar three week period. While the expected aggregate Oraxol AUC
over the cycle is similar to IV Taxol at 15,240 as compared to 15,000, the expected time exposure of Oraxol in the patient’s blood at a
therapeutic level is projected to be longer. For Oraxol, the time above 40 ng/mL is forecasted to equal 108 hours per three week cycle
as compared to 54 hours for IV Taxol. We believe time exposure of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the patient’s blood is an
important consideration in determining efficacy. In addition, the lower Cmax with Oraxol is believed to be associated with better long
term tolerability of Oraxol.
14
Simulated PK comparison of Oraxol 205 mg/m2 QDx3 per week for 3 weeks vs. IV Taxol 175 mg/m2 one week out of three weeks
cycle:
In summary, we believe Oraxol’s longer paclitaxel exposure over time and lower Cmax (based on our predictive model) as
compared to the labeled dose of IV paclitaxel could translate into superior clinical response and improved tolerability. We expect to
obtain data from our Phase 3 second interim analysis in the third quarter of 2018.
Other Planned Clinical Development
We recently received a Promising Innovative Medicine, or PIM, designation for Oraxol in the UK from the Medicines and
Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA. This is the first of a two-step evaluation process which aims to give patients with
life threatening or seriously debilitating conditions access to medicines that do not yet have a marketing authorization when there is a
clear unmet medical need. Under the Early Access to Medicines Scheme, or EAMS, MHRA will, after assessing the data available in
a scientific meeting, grant a PIM designation if it considers that the product is a promising candidate for EAMS. Following the PIM
designation, the applicant is expected to complete as a second step a clinical development program and continue with an application
for a scientific opinion if granted, from the MHRA. In its scientific opinion the MHRA will assess the risks and benefits of the
medicine based on data gathered from the patients who will benefit from the medicine. We are now qualified to apply for the scientific
opinion, which would allow us to provide patients early access to Oraxol, prior to receiving marketing authorization. This scheme is
voluntary and the opinion from the MHRA does not replace the normal licensing procedures for medicines. The PIM designation was
given to Oraxol for the treatment for the entire class of paclitaxel-responsive cancers instead of a narrow specific cancer indication.
We believe this is an important milestone that may provide a streamlined path for the development of Oraxol not just for the UK, but
also for the European market as part of our planned strategy for global outreach.
In addition, we are also planning a combination study of Oraxol with Anti-PD1 in advanced malignancies in patients with
gastric, urothelial and non-small cell carcinoma.
Oratecan (HM30181A Tablet + Oral Irinotecan)
Completed Clinical Studies
Hanmi conducted three Oratecan Phase 1 studies, two as monotherapy (HM-OTE-101, HM-OTE-102), and one in combination
with capecitabine (HM-OTE-103), in a total of 54 Korean patients with advanced solid tumors. The tumor types in these clinical trials
were mostly gastric and colorectal cancers. MTD for Oratecan as monotherapy was defined as 100 mg/m2 per 3 week cycle, either
given as once daily for 5 consecutive days for 1 week (20 mg/day), or 2 weeks (10 mg/day), of a 3 week cycle. Anti-cancer activity
was observed in these studies.
15
HM-OTE-101 Phase 1 MTD Oratecan Study
Oratecan was administered to 20 patients with advanced solid tumors on Days 1 to 5 during a 21-day cycle. Irinotecan daily
doses ranged from 5 to 30 mg/m2, and HM30181A doses were 60 mg. MTD was identified at 20 mg/m2 per day for 5 days of a 3 week
cycle. Adverse events were typical of events seen with IV irinotecan. Common adverse events included nausea (90%), diarrhea (65%),
and vomiting (55%). Four subjects had dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) events (diarrhea, neutropenia, nausea/vomiting, and AST
elevation). At the MTD, the SN-38 Cmax on Days 1 and 5 were 9 and 12 ng/mL. Estimated SN-38 cycle exposure (AUC) was
373 ng*hr/mL. In this study Oratecan monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors resulted in a disease control rate of 44%.
HM-OTE-102 Phase 1 MTD Oratecan Study
Oratecan was given once daily for 5 consecutive days each week for 2 weeks during a 21-day cycle to 13 subjects with
advanced solid tumors. Irinotecan doses ranged from 5 to 20 mg/m2. MTD was identified at 10 mg/m2 per day. Adverse events were
similar to those observed following IV irinotecan and included diarrhea, nausea, and anorexia. Five subjects had a dose limiting
toxicity, or DLT, in Cycle 1. At the MTD, the resulting SN-38 Cmax on Days 1 and 12 were 5 and 4 ng/mL. Estimated cycle exposure
(AUC) for SN-38 was 423 ng*hr/mL.
The following table shows the rate of control of the disease following administration of Oratecan once daily for five days for
two out of every three weeks.
Dose Level
HM30181A tablet 60 mg + irinotecan HCl tablet 5 mg/m2
HM30181A tablet 60 mg + irinotecan HCl tablet 10 mg/m2
HM30181A tablet 60 mg + irinotecan HCl tablet 15 mg/m2
HM30181A tablet 60 mg + irinotecan HCl tablet 20 mg/m2
Total
Disease control
rate (DCR)*
# of DCR (%)
3
3
1
1
8
(100%)
(60.0%)
(100%)
(50.0%)
(72.7%)
N
3
5
1
2
11
* DCR determined by the total number of subjects with complete response, partial response or stable disease, divided by the
number of subjects at each dose level.
HM-OTE-103 Phase 1 MTD Study of Oratecan in Combination with Capecitabine
This study was to determine the MTD of Oratecan in combination with capecitabine. Oratecan was administered to 21 subjects
on Days 1 to 5 during a 21-day cycle. Irinotecan doses ranged from 10 to 20 mg/m2 per day, with HM30181A (15 mg) in combination
with capecitabine at 800-1000 mg/m2 for 14 days. The MTD of Oratecan, in combination with capecitabine at the 1000 mg/m2 dose
was identified at 15 mg/m2 per day. Adverse drug reactions in the study included diarrhea, nausea, anorexia, and vomiting. At the
MTD of 15 mg/m2, the SN-38 Cmax on Days 1 and 5 were 6 and 4 ng/mL. Estimated SN-38 cycle exposure (AUC) was 217 ng-hr/mL.
In this study of combination of Oratecan with capecitabine in patients with a variety of solid tumors (mostly GI cancers), 10 out of 18
(56%) patients had either stable disease or a partial response.
Overview of Safety Observations in completed Oratecan Studies
In our Oratecan clinical studies to date, the serious adverse effects observed that were deemed to be possibly, likely or definitely
related to Oratecan include diarrhea, rash, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, anorexia, vomiting, nausea, enteritis, asthenia, neutropenia,
increased alanine aminotransferase and increased aspartate aminotransferase.
Current and Planned Clinical Development
ORTE-01-14-US Phase 1 MTD Study
The Phase 1 MTD study is being conducted by us and is currently ongoing. This study is to determine the MTD of Oratecan,
when given once every 3 weeks, in subjects with advanced malignancies. In previous studies, Oratecan was given once daily for 5
days every 3 weeks and achieved total cycle SN-38 exposure, as measured by AUC, similar to IV administration of irinotecan. This
once every 3-week dosing strategy is being evaluated in order to assess if we can further increase SN-38 exposure while avoiding
toxicity.
16
Phase 1 Bioavailability Study
We are currently planning a Phase 1 bioavailability study of Oratecan to be conducted in conjunction with ZenRx in New
Zealand. The objective is to determine the absolute bioavailability of Oratecan and to compare the extent of absorption of Oratecan to
that of IV irinotecan based on levels of SN-38 This study will allow us to determine the exposure of SN-38 following Oratecan
administration that will be equivalent to the SN-38 levels observed with the IV route of administration.
Oradoxel (HM30181A Tablet + Oral Docetaxel)
Preclinical Activity and Evaluation
The potential effectiveness of HM30181A to inhibit the P-gp pump’s ability to transport docetaxel out of cells was first
observed in vitro by an increase in the potency of docetaxel by 1,788-fold in a uterine sarcoma cell line. In rat oral PK studies, the
plasma concentrations of docetaxel versus time, shown below, showed a significant increase upon co-administration of HM30181A
with docetaxel. In this experiment, docetaxel was formulated in the currently proposed clinical formulation. Oradoxel was tested in
preclinical human prostate cancer murine model as shown in the table below. Overall, Oradoxel was more active than docetaxel given
orally without a P-gp inhibitor and was similar to the efficacy of IV docetaxel administration. At a dose of 25 mg/kg docetaxel with
HM30181A a percent of tumor control of 4.8% was achieved which is comparable to the standard 10 mg/kg IV dosing regimen of
docetaxel (2.9%). Without P-gp pump inhibition by HM30181A, oral administration of docetaxel demonstrated less inhibition of
tumor growth, with a percent of control of 50.5%, consistent with reduced absorption of oral docetaxel when dosed without
HM30181A.
Docetaxel +/- HM30181A in Prostate Cancer Murine Model
Treatment
Control
Docetaxel (10 mg/kg, IV)
Docetaxel (25 mg/kg. Oral) plus HM30181A
Docetaxel (25 mg/kg Oral)
Mean (±SEM) Tumor Weight (g)
on Day 21 Post Treatment
0.348 ± 0.047
0.01 ± 0
0.017 ± 0.003
0.176 ±0.035
(T/C (%))a
(—)
(2.87%)
(4.78%)
(50.53%)
a
Tumor Growth Inhibition is calculated by dividing the group average tumor volume for the treated group by the group average
tumor volume for the control group (T/C).
Current and Planned Clinical Studies
Based on the preclinical mouse efficacy data and rat and dog toxicology data, we expect that oral administration of docetaxel
together with HM30181A will be efficacious and well tolerated in the clinic. We believe it may minimize the dose-limiting toxicities
associated with docetaxel therapy, such as fluid retention, and allow increasing dosing to obtain superior efficacy.
The U.S. FDA authorized us to proceed with a Phase 1 clinical study under an IND in the first quarter of 2016 and we received
regulatory allowance for a clinical trial in New Zealand. The ongoing U.S. study is a Phase 1 dose escalation trial for Oradoxel in
patients with various solid tumors with a starting dose of 35 mg/m2 given once every 3 weeks. In New Zealand, a Phase 1 study is
being conducted to identify the absolute bioavailability of Oradoxel in prostate cancer patients. We expect to obtain data from this
Phase 1 clinical study during 2018.
17
Oratopo (HM30181A Tablet + Oral Topotecan)
Preclinical Activity and Evaluation
In rat oral PK studies, the plasma concentrations of topotecan versus time, shown below, demonstrates a significant increase
upon co-administration with HM30181A. This effect is evident when topotecan is formulated in saline or the marketed product,
Hycamtin. In preclinical murine models with human tumor transplants, including ovarian cancer, oral topotecan in combination with
HM30181A was more active than oral topotecan alone following administration at a dose of topotecan 1 mg/kg once daily for five
days per week, as illustrated in the lower chart below.
Topotecan +/- HM30181A in Ovarian Cancer Murine Model
Current and Planned Clinical Studies
IND enabling studies have been conducted. To date, dose-range finding studies along with Good Laboratory Practice, or GLP,
compliant toxicology and toxicokinetic studies following single and multiple daily doses are being conducted with oral Topotecan in
combination with HM30181A. These studies have been completed to establish the maximum tolerated dose for the 5-day regimen to
support our proposed clinical dosing regimen. We recently completed cGMP manufacturing of oral irinotecan formulation. We filed
an IND application for oral topotecan in combination with HM30181A in February 2017 and FDA authorized us to proceed with a
Phase 1 clinical study in March 2017. We are currently planning a Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced malignancies for Oratopo.
18
Additional Orascovery Programs
In addition to existing chemotherapy agents, we are utilizing HM30181A to develop cancer treatments with better efficacy,
tolerability and convenience for patients. We have recently initiated pre-clinical work to prepare an IND that we expect to be filed
with the FDA in late 2018 for oral eribulin co-administered with HM30181A. Eribulin is an anticancer drug used to treat certain
patients with breast cancer and advanced liposarcoma marketed by Eisai Company under the trade name Halaven. Eribulin is also
known as E7389 and ER-086526, and also carries the US NCI designation NSC-707389. It is a fully synthetic macrocyclic ketone
analogue of the marine natural product halichondrin B. Eribulin is a mechanistically unique inhibitor of microtubule dynamics,
binding predominantly to a small number of high affinity sites at the plus ends of existing microtubules. Eribulin also has both
cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic mechanisms of action. We have developed a novel and efficient synthetic route for the synthesis of
eribulin API which we believe will support our development of this candidate.
The table below shows certain clinical trials for our major Kinase inhibition drug candidates.
Our Src Kinase Inhibition Research Platform
KX-01
ointment
Protocol
KX KX01 AK 01 US
KX KX01 AK 002
KX KX01 AK 003
KX KX01 AK 004
KX KX01 006
KX KX01 007
KX KX01 008
KX KX01 009
KX01-PS-01-TW
KX-01 oral KX01 Oral 01 11
KX01 XXX
KX01 XXX
KX KX01 XXX Oral
KX02 01 13
KX-02
Indication
PK - Safety
Location
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Taiwan
USA
PK - Safety
Efficacy
Efficacy
RIPT (sensitization)
Maximal Use PK
Phototoxicity
Photoallergy
Psoriasis
PK - AML
Ovarian Cancer (PK) China
China
Leukemia (PK)
USA
Liver Fibrosis (PK)
USA
PK - MTD
I
I
III
III
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
PK and MTD denote pharmacokinetics and maximum tolerated dose, respectively.
Number of
Sites
Number of
Patients Status
1
16
31
31
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
3
2
29
Completed
168
300
300
240
16
40
50
16
24
TBD
TBD
TBD
76
Clinically Complete
Enrollment Closed
Enrollment Closed
Under Development
Under Development
Under Development
Under Development
Ongoing
Completed
Under Development
Under Development
Under Development
Enrollment Closed
KX-01
Mechanism of Action
KX-01 is a novel small molecule, which we discovered and developed, which demonstrates at least two MOAs relevant to the
potential control of cancer and hyper-proliferative disorders: Src tyrosine kinase inhibition (non-ATP competitive) and tubulin
polymerization inhibition. Src plays a role in regulating multiple aspects of tumor development, growth, and metastases, and its
inhibition limits such tumor activity. Interfering with tubulin polymerization activity is a clinically validated mechanism for treating
cancer. For both targets KX-01 binds at a novel binding site. Taken together, these two MOAs may provide for a potent means of
treating cancer and other hyper-proliferative disorders.
19
The first MOA defined for KX-01 is Src tyrosine kinase inhibition. We have observed the correlation of KX-01 inhibition of Src
auto-phosphorylation (a measure of Src activity) and cell growth during the proliferation phase of tumor cells in both c-Src527F/NIH-
3T3, a cell line derived from fibroblasts with enhanced Src activity, and HT29, a cell line derived from colon cancer cells. Through in
vitro tests, KX-01 has been shown to induce caspase 3 cleavage and PARP cleavage, which are both markers for cell death/apoptosis,
as well as p53 induction, which is a protein involved in tumor suppression. Unlike most known Src inhibitors, KX-01 is unique in that
it is not an ATP competitive inhibitor of Src but rather it is believed to be a substrate competitive inhibitor, which means high
specificity for the intended binding target. A computational model for how KX-01 is predicted to bind in the peptide substrate site of
Src is depicted in the figure below, as noted in a NMR/paramagnetic probe study conducted and published by Wyeth LLC.
The second MOA defined for KX-01 is inhibition of tubulin polymerization, a step essential for cell growth. We have observed
the ability of KX-01 to inhibit tubulin polymerization in vivo within tumors in a mouse xenograft, and synergistic activity with
paclitaxel to interrupt cell proliferation.
The two MOAs of KX-01 are believed to have the potential to control cell growth and proliferation of cancer cell types as well
as cell types involved in hyper-proliferative diseases. Specifically, KX-01 has been observed in vitro to have potent activity in
controlling cell growth in keratinocytes, or skin cells (with IC50 = 32 nM). This activity demonstrates the potential of these compounds
to control hyper-proliferative diseases of the skin, examples being actinic keratosis and psoriasis.
The following table shows the potential broad spectrum activity of KX-01 against many cancer types. GI50 represents the
concentration of KX-01 that may be used to inhibit 50% of tumor cell growth. The lower the numerical value of GI50 the higher the
potency of KX-01.
Human Tumor Cell Line
HT29 (Colon)
SKOV-3 (Ovarian)
PC3-MM2 (Prostate)
L3.6pl (Pancreas)
MDA-MB-231 (Breast)
A549 (Lung)
HuH7 (Liver)
769-P (Kidney)
SNU-1 (Gastric)
Research Background
KX-01 GI50
(nM)
25
10
9
25
20
9
9
45
6
Human Leukemia Cell Line
K562 (CML)
K562R (Gleevec resistant CML)
MOLT-4 (ALL)
CCRF-HSB-2 (ALL)
Jurkat (Adult T Cell Leukemia)
Ba/F3 + WT BCR-Abl
Ba/F3 + E225K (Gleevec Resistant)
Ba/F3 + T315l (Gleevec & Dasatinib Resistant)
KG-1 (AML)
RPMI8226 (Multiple Myeloma)
RL (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
KX-01 GI50
(nM)
13
0.64
13
12
10
85
80
35
16
40
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Topical formulation development studies carried out by our licensing partner, PharmaEssentia, in Taiwan resulted in a
formulation believed to be suitable for clinical testing. KX-01 topical formulations are initially being tested by PharmaEssentia in
psoriasis clinical trials in Taiwan.
20
In parallel, we are evaluating a topical KX-01 ointment in the clinic for AK in the U.S. The most common cause of AK is
exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds. This exposure can lead to oncogenic changes, such as inactivation of
p53, and consequential hyper-proliferation of mutated keratinocytes. If left untreated 10-15% of AKs can progress to skin cancer. KX-
01 inhibits the proliferation of keratinocytes and up-regulates p53 so its utility in clinically treating AK is of interest. Clinical trials
with a KX-01 topical ointment for treating AK have produced encouraging early results. KX-01 ointment 1% has a room temperature
shelf life of at least 6 months.
KX-01 Ointment for Topical Indications
Completed Clinical Study
Phase 1 Study
The Phase 1 study of KX-01 ointment for treatment of AK was conducted by us in the U.S. and is clinically complete. This is a
four cohort, PK and safety study of 3 days or 5 days, with treatment of 25 cm2 or 100 cm2 applied to the forearm. The results for the
Phase 1 studies showed that with 1% KX-01 ointment being applied for 5 consecutive days in on a 25 cm2 area of the forearm; 50% (4
of 8 subjects) had complete response (100% clearance). This was achieved with very good local and systemic tolerability. We believe
that the high clearance rate with low skin toxicity compares well to existing treatments on the market.
Clinical data thus far indicate that KX-01 ointment produces a complete response without severe adverse skin reactions in some
patients, as shown in the images below:
Skin reaction from KX-01 ointment in a subject who had a 100% response
Current and Planned Clinical Development
Phase 2a Study
We completed enrollment in 2016 of an approximately 160-patient Phase 2a clinical study in the U.S. of KX-01 ointment for
treatment of AK on the face and scalp. This is an open label, two sequential cohort study of approximately 80 patients each with
treatment of KX-01 ointment 1% for either 5 days or 3 days. The primary objective is to evaluate the complete response rate, which is
defined as 100% clearance of such patient’s AK at Day 57 after treatment. Additionally, we seek to further investigate the findings
from the Phase 1 proof of concept study indicating that KX-01 ointment has a favorable side effect profile. We expect to present final
data from these clinical trials in February 2018.
Initial data from patients in the study shows that the KX-01 dosing regimen used in this study is well tolerated, with few LSRs.
There were two Grade 4 LSRs reported thus far, one for scaly skin and one for erythema, and there was no discontinuation prior to
Day 57. The below table presents preliminary data on Grade 4 LSRs reported in this study, subsequent to which the two Grade 4 LSRs
were reported.
Maximal Local Skin Reactions for Study KX-01-AK-002 Phase 2a Trial: Percentage of subjects with most severe LSRs as
assessed by study investigators (Grade 4)
Local Skin Responses
Erythema
Flaking/Scaling
Crusting
Swelling
Vesiculation/Pustulation
Erosion/Ulceration
(a) Ongoing preliminary data.
21
Grade
KX-01-AK-002(a)
N=67
(%)
4
4
4
4
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tabulation of Complete Clearance Rate:
Face
Scalp
(a) Ongoing preliminary data.
Skin reaction example from KX-01 ointment in a subject who had a 100% response
KX-01 % Clearance Day 57(a)
15/35 (43%)
9/32 (28%)
Day 1
Day 8
Day 57
The images above show the experience of a subject in our Phase 2 study who experienced a 100% response experienced no
severe skin reaction. Since skin toxicity is likely to be a significant consideration of clinicians and patients, especially on the face and
scalp, we believe that the market is likely to expand for topical treatments options for this pre-cancerous skin condition. To the extent
that skin toxicity has been limiting the market, we believe that KX-01 ointment may significantly expand the market as a result of a
low skin toxicity.
Phase 3 Studies
We commenced patient enrollment in two Phase 3 studies of KX-01 for treatment of AK on the face and scalp at approximately
60 total sites in the United States in September 2017. Each trial is designed to enroll approximately 300 subjects. We completed
patient enrollment for both Phase 3 studies in February 2018, with over 600 subjects. The endpoints of these studies are identical to
those in the Phase 2 program, although, unlike the Phase 2 study, the two identical Phase 3 clinical trials each include a vehicle-treated
control group and a double-blinded study design in which subjects are randomly assigned to receive either the vehicle or the KX-01
ointment. The trials, designed to assess activity and tolerability, are expected to be complete in June 2018, subject to a follow-up
period. A 12-month recurrence follow-up period is expected to be complete for the last subject in June 2019, and a final clinical study
report for both trials, marking official completion of the Phase 3 study, is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2019.
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KX-01 Oral
Completed Clinical Studies
KX-01 oral capsules are available in strengths of 20 mg and 80 mg and have a room temperature shelf life of 48 months. KX-01
oral has been evaluated in several early dose finding studies against both solid and liquid tumors. Initial clinical results indicate
activity against both solid and liquid tumors in patients in clinical studies. We are planning further probe studies to focus our
evaluation in certain of those indications where activity was observed.
Phase 1 and Phase 2a US Study—Complete
A Phase 1 clinical trial in solid tumor patients identified the MTD for continuous twice daily oral dosing at 40 mg/dose, with a
favorable PK profile, and indications of activity. In this trial, 44 patients were enrolled in 9 dose cohorts. The drug was well tolerated
and the dose limiting toxicities were mainly elevated levels of aspartate transaminase, or AST, and alanine transaminase, or ALT,
which were readily reversible. 11 patients had stable disease for at least 4 months, including patients with ovarian, carcinoid, papillary
thyroid, prostate, pancreas and head and neck cancer. An ovarian cancer patient had stable disease for 16 months and a KX-01 oral
induced a large decrease in the ovarian cancer CA-125 biomarker, which correlates well with clinical response. As shown in the table
below, this patient had failed nine prior drug, and drug combination therapies, showing a clear benefit from KX-01 oral treatment.
Therapy
Carboplatin, Paclitaxel
Gemcitabine, Carboplatin
Gemcitabine, Taxotere
Doxil
Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin
Tamoxifen
Topotecan
Abraxane, Avastin
Folfox, Avastin
KX-01 oral
Duration (months)
5
2
2
1
4
2
3
4
1
16
A subsequent Phase 2a clinical study in men with bone-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer using the twice daily 40
mg/dose was conducted. 31 patients were dosed with KX-01 oral at 40 mg/dose twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable
toxicity. The primary endpoint was 24-week progression-free survival (PFS). The designated clinical endpoints were not met with
KX-01 oral at this dose.
A Phase 1b clinical study in elderly AML patients was conducted using once daily dosing. The doses tested were 40, 80, 120,
140 and 160 mg of KX-01. 24 patients were recruited with a median age of 76 years (range 63 to 86 years). Most had been previously
treated for their disease, generally with decitabine or azacitidine. The MTD is estimated to be 105 mg of KX-01 oral daily.
Overview of Safety Observations in completed KX-01 Oral Studies
In our KX-01 Oral clinical studies to date, the serious adverse effects observed that were deemed to be possibly, likely or
definitely related to KX-01 Oral include allergic reaction, bacteremia, rash, syncope, tremor, dermatitis, neutropenic fever,
hyponatremia, hypersensitivity, failure to thrive, lower extremity edema, mucositis, neutropenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia,
seizure and motor vehicle accident, embolic stroke, pneumonitis, fever, acute kidney injury, increased bilirubin and albumin levels,
decreased blood platelet count, abdominal pain, arm pain, pyrexia, rigors, tachypenea, oxygen desaturation, pneumonia, anemia,
elevated ALT and AST, dehydration and leukopenia.
Current and Planned Clinical Development
Our licensing collaborator, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals is completing a Phase 1b clinical trial in South Korea, combining escalating
continuous once daily doses of KX-01 with a standard Taxol IV treatment of 80 mg/m2 once weekly for 3 out of 4 weeks. This study
is clinically completed and awaiting a study report.
Phase 1 Probe Studies in Hong Kong and Taiwan—Planned
We are planning pilot studies in Asia in 2018 to evaluate KX-01 oral treatment in ovarian and liquid tumors for cancer
indications where previous activities were observed.
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KX-02
Research Background
KX-02 is a closely related structural analog of KX-01 and has been observed to have a similar dual MOA of inhibition of Src
activity and microtubule polymerization. KX-02 was designed to readily cross the blood-brain-barrier, or BBB. In vitro studies in
mice have found that the KX-02 levels in the mouse brain meet or exceed the levels in the plasma at the same time points after oral
dosing, indicating that KX-02 readily crosses the BBB. We believe that this ability to cross the BBB provides a rationale for
investigating brain cancers and metastases in the brain as potential therapeutic applications, which are traditionally considered to be an
unmet medical need.
Preclinical evaluation and activity
In Vivo Activity
Based on pre-clinical testing which found activity of KX-02 against a number of brain cancer cell lines, and which found BBB
penetration by KX-02, KX-02 was tested orally in a mouse GBM tumor model, wherein mouse GBM tumor cells were implanted into
the brains of mice with fully-competent immune systems in order to simulate human patients. When compared with TMZ, the current
standard of treatment, in one particular study, KX-02 produced long term survival mice, as compared to TMZ, which extended
survival but did not result in any long term survivors. Across multiple experiments, an average of approximately 30% long term
survival mice were produced when dosed with KX-02 at 30 mg/kg once daily, as shown in the figure below.
To visualize tumor growth in situ, animals treated with KX-02 were compared to those that had been treated with placebo alone
using MRI. The KX-02 treated mice that eventually survived long term did not have tumors whereas the placebo mice have large
tumors at the time points evaluated.
The potential role of an adaptive immune response in the responses of the mice treated with KX-02 was observed in three ways.
First, when the same mouse study was repeated with mice lacking an adaptive immune system no cures were obtained. Second, when
mice that had been cured by KX-02 were re-challenged with mouse GBM cells they failed to support sustained tumor growth, whereas
untreated mice readily showed pernicious tumor growth. Third, a larger infiltration of lymphocytes into brain tumor tissues was seen
in mice treated with KX-02 as compared to those treated with a placebo, and these lymphocytes stained as CD3 and CD8 immune
24
cells. Accordingly, KX-02 also appears to facilitate the immune system’s recognition of brain tumor tissues as foreign cells, in
addition to its Src and tubulin-targeted activities. In our KX-02 clinical studies to date, the only serious adverse effects observed were
thromboembolic events, hyperuricemia and pulmonary embolism.
Current and Planned Clinical Studies
Phase 1 Study
We are currently enrolling a Phase 1 study in the U.S. of KX-02 for treatment of solid tumors in order to determine the MTD,
PK, and safety profile. We expect to receive data from these trials in late 2018.
In 2012, we out-licensed KX-02 to Xiangxue Pharmaceuticals for development and marketing in greater China and clinical trials
are currently being planned. In May 2017, the CFDA allowed an IND to commence clinical trials in China. Based on the approval that
has been granted by the CFDA, we expect Xiangxue to commence Phase 1 clinical trials for KX-02 for GBM in China in 2018. We
anticipate this partnered clinical program in China will accelerate the development timeline of this candidate.
Our Src Kinase Product Candidates
KX-01
KX-01 is a compound developed under our Src Kinase Inhibition platform that, as a free base, has advantageous physical
properties for topical ointment formulations. A topical ointment with KX-01 has shown promising results in a proof of concept clinical
trial for actinic keratosis, or AK, a pre-cancerous skin lesion. We completed enrollment of an approximately 160-patient Phase 2a
study of KX-01 for treatment of AK in 2016 and we commenced two Phase 3 studies in September 2017, which completed patient
enrollment in February 2018. The trials are designed to assess activity and tolerability are expected to be complete in June 2018,
subject to a follow-up period. A 12-month recurrence follow-up period is expected to be complete for the last subject in June 2019,
and a final clinical study report for both trials, marking official completion of the Phase 3 study, is expected to be available in the
fourth quarter of 2019. An additional indication for psoriasis is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial led by our out-licensing
partner. Since AK can lead to skin cancers, we are now investigating the initiation of a study in that indication, along with a study in
T-cell lymphomas. These applications provide additional potential therapeutic utilities for KX-01 ointment and could represent
significant potential market expansions beyond AK. We are also developing KX-01 in an oral formulation, and we have observed
activity against both solid and liquid tumors in patients in clinical studies, and we are planning further studies to focus our upcoming
evaluation efforts in targeted indications.
In December 2017, we entered into a license agreement with Almirall, pursuant to which we granted to Almirall an exclusive,
sublicensable license of certain of our intellectual property for the development and commercialization of topical products containing
KX-01 for the treatment of AK in the United States and substantially all European countries. We believe this partnership validates the
potential of this candidate and that this partnership is an important step in the development and commercialization of KX-01 develop
and commercialize this product. For additional information, please see “Business—License and Collaboration Agreements—Almirall
License Agreement.” We presented data from our Phase 2 clinical trials at the American Academy of Dermatology Meeting in
February 2018 and expect to complete the treatment phase of our Phase 3 trials in the first half of 2018, with topline data to be
available in the third quarter of 2018.
KX-02
KX-02 is the second compound we developed using our Src Kinase Inhibition platform. Although KX-02 is an analog of KX-
01, it has significantly different physical properties. These properties are designated to allow KX-02 freely cross the blood-brain-
barrier such that the concentration in the brain is equal to, or somewhat greater than, that in the plasma. This trait is uncommon for
oncology drugs and highlights the potential for KX-02 as a novel therapy for unmet medical needs such as brain cancers, including
GBM and brain metastases. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to KX-02 for the treatment of gliomas. KX-02 is a non-
ATP competitive Src Kinase inhibitor and tubulin polymerization inhibitor. Studies of KX-02 in preclinical syngeneic mouse GBM
models resulted in the complete eradication, without recurrence, of the tumors in an average of approximately 30% of treated mice.
KX-02’s multiple mechanisms of action, or MOAs, along with its ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier, make it a novel molecule for
the treatment of brain tumors. KX-02 is currently in the early stages of a U.S. Phase 1 clinical trial in solid tumor patients and we
expect to receive data from this study by late 2018. A Chinese IND has been filed by our development partner in China to start a study
in primary brain tumors with KX-02 which we believe will commence in 2018.
25
Intranasal Granisetron (GNS)
The development of supportive therapy is complementary to our oncology drug platform. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and
vomiting, or CINV, is a common side effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy treatments. Granisetron is a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3, or 5-HT3,
receptor antagonist, a class of anti-emetic drugs that are commonly used in the prevention of CINV. Our subsidiary, Comprehensive
Drug Enterprises, has developed intranasal formulations of granisetron for further evaluation in the clinic.
Current Therapies and Limitations
Currently, granisetron is dosed in IV, oral and patch forms to treat CINV. We believe these dosing regimens have disadvantages
including time to effectiveness, and lack of ability to control the symptoms effectively at home.
Current and Planned Clinical Studies
We believe intranasal delivery will possess a number of advantages for the patient. These advantages may include a rapid
delivery of therapeutic drug levels for quick relief of CINV as well as the ability to self-dose outside of the hospital and IV settings
while experiencing CINV (when oral administration would be difficult). The intranasal route of administration of GNS leads to more
rapid achievement of systemic concentrations of the drug compared to the oral route.
A Phase 1 parallel-group study of GNS was conducted in Taiwan to assess the PK, safety, and tolerability of GNS. A total of 50
healthy subjects, 25 male and 25 female, were divided into the following treatment groups: 1 mg Kytril administered IV over 30
seconds to 10 patients, 1 mg Kytril tablets administered orally to 10 patients, and either 0.5, 1, or 2 mg of intranasal GNS administered
to 10 patients. The results showed that the drug concentrations were dose proportional following intranasal delivery of GNS and the
side effects were acceptable.
We are presently evaluating the market opportunity in various geographies for the development of an intranasal route of delivery
in order to determine the clinical development program for this drug candidate.
Our Research and Development
We are an innovative oncology company with drug discovery, drug formulation, clinical development, and API/drug product
manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and China. The U.S. drug discovery, clinical development, and formulation research facilities
are largely concentrated in Buffalo, New York and Cranford, New Jersey. The range of capabilities at these facilities includes
medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, formulation, chemical manufacturing and control, quality control,
pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), data management, as well as pharmacovigilance, clinical development and regulatory
expertise functions. Animal efficacy, PK/PD, and toxicology studies are carried out at various contract research organizations, or
CROs, around the world in order to facilitate the drug research and development process.
In China, our research and development center in Hong Kong is integrated with our research and development center in Buffalo.
This center concentrates on drug formulation development and evaluation. When we acquired Comprehensive Drug Enterprises, or
CDE, in 2015, we added scale to our formulation and research personnel in Hong Kong. The clinical oral formulation of docetaxel is
an example of a discovery emanating from our Hong Kong research and development center. Higher strength paclitaxel powder tablet
formulations, to be introduced into our future clinical evaluations of the Oraxol drug product, are a second example of the formulation
development work being successfully carried out at the Hong Kong research and development center.
Our proprietary Dual (CYP/P-gp) Inhibitor Program
We are developing a proprietary class of “dual” absorption enhancers that are intended to inhibit both the P-gp transporter and
the CYP enzymes within the gastrointestinal tract. There are many barriers that limit the oral absorption of drugs in humans. The P-gp
transporter is a major barrier to absorption of active chemotherapy drugs. However, certain other drugs with P-gp liabilities may also
have liabilities for other barriers such as metabolizing enzymes, such as the cytochrome P450, or CYP, class of enzymes. This
intestinal CYP mediated metabolisim can be a contributing factor in limiting oral absorption of certain drugs. This class of dual
absorption enhancers has shown potential to significantly improve the oral bioavailability of certain other drugs in laboratory tests,
and may expand the application of our oral absorption platform to drugs where the CYP barrier to oral absorption is also
important. These dual absorption enhancers may lead to better performing next-generation oral medicines in our pipeline of clinical
products.
26
The development of these dual absorption enhancers is at the preclinical stage. Proof of concept, providing increased oral
bioavailability in preclinical species, has been obtained with several absorption enhancers and candidate drugs. Currently additional
filters such as patentability/freedom to operate, physical-chemical characterization, pre-formulation studies, manufacturing analysis
and preliminary toxicity testing are being applied to our first group of lead candidates for clinical development. In 2018, we expect to
identify our lead molecule for a future IND enabling study.
Commercial Platform
We believe the value creation potential is higher for biopharmaceutical companies able to commercialize their proprietary
products as compared to companies who have a partner to commercialize. The infrastructure investment and build-out of a
commercial team prior to regulatory approval is typically costly and requires years of investment. In 2016, we launched a commercial
platform in the U.S. to begin building out this infrastructure in advance of our launch of proprietary products. As part of our capital
efficient strategy, we anticipate that our commercial team will market and sell a variety of in-licensed pharmaceutical products, which
are therapeutically related to our proprietary portfolio, to cover the cost and expense of the infrastructure investment.
Using our resources to commercialize products in oncology may create more value for investors than marketing product rights
pre-commercialization. We believe commercialization risks can be offset by establishing oncology manufacturing operations (API,
Manufacturing, etc.) and commercial operations (Multi-source Oncology, Pharmacy, Hospitals, etc.).
Our Commercial Operations
Target Audiences: U.S. Oncology Market
The U.S. Oncology market is highly complex with Gatekeepers, Influencers and Prescribers influencing sales of oncology
products. Launching a commercial operation in preparation for a proprietary drug approval is risky, difficult and expensive. Any
commercial oncology organization must be able to market to Gatekeepers, Influencers and Prescribers in the oncology market at
launch. Gatekeepers include hospitals (including pharmacies and therapeutics committees), buying groups, oncology managed care
organizations, specialty distributors and pharmacists. Influencers in the oncology market include Key Opinion Leader physicians,
regional cancer centers (as defined by the National Cancer Institute) and the U.S. government. Prescribers include oncologists and
dermatologists.
Key hurdles in establishing Commercial Operations in the oncology market include the unpredictability of timing for U.S. FDA
approval and the limited time to establish market relationships post approval, competition with companies with broader oncology
offerings, and identifying key influencers in the local oncology market. Another hurdle is recruiting key senior business leaders since
they are responsible for recruiting a successful Oncology Sales and Marketing team. For all these reasons, establishing commercial
operations in the oncology market is risky and expensive.
In order to manage the risks and capture post commercial oncology economics, we plan to launch two oncology product lines in
2017—Multisource Oncology products and 503B Compounded Oncology Products. We intend to support these two product lines with
a sales and marketing organization to target Gatekeepers. Our National Accounts organization will target Gatekeepers and the U.S.
Government for these two oncology product lines. Regional Cancer Centers will also be targeted for Multisource Oncology and 503B
Outsourced Facility products.
503B Outsourced Facility Products
We manufacture certain products in our 503B Outsourcing Facility. We expect to use our internal cGMP operations, and
selected contract manufacturers to make both sterile to sterile products and products from sterilized bulk API. We plan to source
certain of our API from our own internal supply chain to make products from sterile API bulk. We also plan to buy API from other
sources. For sterile to sterile products, we expect to source the sterile vials and bags from national suppliers. This second oncology
business is expected to further expand our offering to the U.S. oncology market.
U.S. Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Our U.S. Specialty Pharmaceuticals business sources products through licensing agreements with various partners, who we
collectively refer to as our Global Partner network. The company has unique commercial expertise in multisource oncology products
and has developed a number of Global Partners that develop and manufacture multisource products for the U.S. market. This Global
Partner network supplies the products the company markets in the U.S. Specialty Pharmaceutical business. The company is launching
a commercial oncology business in the U.S. by launching multisource oncology and therapeutically related products supplied by our
Global Partner network. We anticipate structuring collaborations whereby we split the profits with the Global Partners and market the
products to Gatekeepers and Influencers in the U.S. oncology market. This will help the company prepare to launch proprietary
oncology products into the U.S. market.
27
As of December 31, 2017, APD markets 12 products with 20 SKUs and has 7 products pending FDA approval. In addition, APS
markets 3 products with 16 SKUs as of December 31, 2017. Our Commercial Platform, is expected to launch an additional 13
products in the first half of 2018, including 10 products by APD and 3 products by APS.
Agreements with key Suppliers and Marketing Partners
Gland Agreement
In August 2016, we entered into two binding term sheets with Gland, pursuant to which we expect to enter into a definitive
agreement for a non-exclusive license to market 21 of Gland’s products. Gland has obtained FDA approval for 8 of such products and
has filed an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, in the U.S. for the remaining 13 products. For each of the licensed products
we will pay a license fee to Gland. The maximum amount of such licenses is $7.3 million, of which $1.15 million is contingent on
regulatory approval for 13 products for which Gland has filed ANDAs. We will pay a portion of such $1.15 million upon regulatory
approval of each of these 13 licensed drugs. Additionally, during the terms of the agreements we have a profit sharing arrangement
pursuant to which we will pay to Gland between 20% and 60% of the net profits from sales of each of the licensed products,
depending on the product. The initial term of each of the of the Gland license agreements is five years from the launch of each product
licensed pursuant to the agreement, subject to automatic renewal for additional two year terms, unless terminated by either party upon
provision to the other party at least 90 days’ notice in advance of a renewal date.
In February 2017, we entered into an additional binding term sheet with Gland, pursuant to which we expect to enter into a
definitive agreement for a non-exclusive license to market an additional 6 of Gland’s products. Gland has obtained FDA approval for
4 of such products and has filed an ANDA in North America for the remaining 2 products. For each of the licensed products we will
pay a license fee to Gland. The maximum amount of such licenses is $3.15 million, of which $312,500 is contingent on regulatory
approval for 2 products for which Gland has filed ANDAs. We will pay a portion of such $312,500 upon regulatory approval of each
of these 2 licensed drugs. Additionally, during the term of the agreement we have a profit sharing arrangement pursuant to which we
will pay to Gland between 25% and 40% of the net profits from sales of each of the licensed products, depending on the product. The
initial term the Gland license agreement is five years from the launch of each product licensed pursuant to the agreement, subject to
automatic renewal for additional two year terms, unless terminated by either party upon provision to the other party at least 90 days’
notice in advance of a renewal date.
In May 2017, we entered into another binding term sheet with Gland, pursuant to which we expect to enter into a definitive
agreement for a non-exclusive license to market an additional 2 of Gland’s products. Gland has an ANDA in North America for each
of the products. For each of the licensed products we will pay a license fee to Gland. The maximum amount of such licenses is
$650,000, of which $162,500 is contingent on regulatory approval for 2 products for which Gland has filed ANDAs and the remainder
is payable upon execution of the term sheet. We will pay a portion of such $162,500 upon regulatory approval of each of these 2
licensed drugs. Additionally, during the term of the agreement we have a profit sharing arrangement pursuant to which we will pay to
Gland between 40% and 50% of the net profits from sales of each of the licensed products, depending on the product. The initial term
the Gland license agreement is five years from the launch of each product licensed pursuant to the agreement, subject to automatic
renewal for additional two year terms, unless terminated by either party upon provision to the other party at least 90 days’ notice in
advance of a renewal date.
SunGen Agreement
In September 2016, we entered into a joint venture agreement with SunGen which we refer to as the SunGen Agreement, to
create a joint venture to develop and commercialize certain specialty pharmaceuticals. We and SunGen have agreed to negotiate in
good faith a limited liability company operating agreement to govern the joint venture, which we agreed will be owned 51% by
SunGen and 49% by us.
Initially, SunGen has committed the sales and marketing rights for two specialty pharmaceuticals—terbutaline drug products
and injectable lincomycin, as well as other related lincomycin products which are in the development stage to the joint venture. We
have agreed to pay any manufacturing costs of terbutaline, our portion of the development and manufacturing costs of lincomycin,
$375,000, and marketing and sales expenses for both. We have agreed to equal profit sharing of all profits of the joint venture, except
for any profits arising from sales of terbutaline injectable products, which shall be allocated 75% to SunGen and 25% to us. We and
SunGen launched our first product, Terbutaline Sulfate Injection, in August 2017.
In November 2016, we signed an addendum to the agreement to add Desmopressin Acetate Injection to the existing SunGen
joint venture agreement. Through the joint venture, we and SunGen have agreed to pay to a third party an aggregate of $200,000 for
the rights to the product. We and SunGen will each pay $40,000 upfront, with an additional $60,000 payable by each of us upon FDA
approval of the product. In addition we and SunGen have each agreed to pay 25% of the one-time ANDA filing fee of $70,480, and
4% each of the annual FDA facility fees. The term of the addendum is ten years from the date of ANDA approval by the FDA, and
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renews automatically for one year periods, unless terminated in writing six months prior to the end of the term or automatic extension.
50% of the profits from the sale of Desmopressin Acetate under this addendum will be payable to the third party, with the remaining
50% paid to the joint venture between us and SunGen.
The term of the SunGen Agreement shall continue for 99 years, unless the parties mutually agree to terminate it earlier. The
agreement also contains customary termination rights for either party in the event of a breach of the agreement by the other party.
Pemetrexed, Supply Agreement Term Sheet
In December 2016, we entered into a binding term sheet with Nang-Kuang Pharmaceutical Co., LTD and CANDA NK-2, LLC,
two affiliated pharmaceutical suppliers, pursuant to which we will enter into a definitive agreement for exclusive distribution of a
generic injectable oncology product for the U.S. market. The generic product is not currently marketed in the U.S. pending the
outcome of an ongoing challenge to the validity of patent protection of the branded product currently on the market. The ANDA for
this product has been filed by the suppliers with the FDA and is awaiting approval. Upon signing of the term sheet, we were obligated
to make a prepayment for a total of $12.0 million, of which $3.0 million was paid in January and February 2017, with the remaining
$9.0 million paid in April 2017.
Under the agreement, we will make two additional product transfer payments, one equal to a premium between 10% and 20%
over the cost incurred by the suppliers to produce and ship the product after confirmation of each purchase order of the product and,
after receiving such product, we will make the other payment quarterly to the suppliers of between 40% and 60% of the earnings from
sales, less certain expenses, of the product.
The initial term of the definitive agreement will begin on the signing date and continue through ten years after the date of our
first commercial sale of the product, subject to automatic renewals of successive two-year terms, unless terminated by either party
with six months’ notice prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term. The agreement will also contain customary
termination rights for either party in the event of a material breach of the agreement by the other party or bankruptcy or insolvency. In
addition, we will be able to terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice to the suppliers if the net profits from sales of the product,
less certain expenses, equals zero or less and the parties cannot agree on reductions to the actual cost of the products.
Amphastar Agreement
In February 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Amphastar, to acquire 14
ANDAs and inventory for certain APIs. The agreement requires payments of up to $6.4 million, of which $1.0 million was paid upon
execution of the agreement, $1.0 million was due within thirty days following May 1, 2017, $3.0 million was due within thirty days of
receiving FDA approval of site transfer to sell Prochlorperazine Edisylate Injection USP, and $1.4 million was due within thirty days
of receiving FDA approval of site transfer of a second product. Each of these payments have been made. In addition to the payments
described above, we have agreed to pay Amphastar a royalty fee equal to 2% of our net sales relating to the 14 ANDAs and API
inventory transferred to us by Amphastar for a period of 10 years from the execution of the agreement.
Summary of Commercial Strategy & Source of Supply Chain
Product line
Launch date
Commercialization regions
Manufacturing sites
Proprietary Oral /
Dermal
To be determined
U.S., EU, China
Multisource / Specialty
2017
U.S.
503B Products
2017
U.S.
API
Ongoing
U.S., EU, China
Clarence, NY, Dunkirk,
NY, Chongqing, China
Partner network, Dunkirk,
NY, Chongqing, China
Clarence, NY,
Dunkirk, NY Chongqing, China
Customers and Product Distribution
We distribute our products primarily through pharmaceutical wholesalers and, to a lesser extent, specialty distributors that focus
on particular therapeutic product categories, for use by a wide variety of end-users, including hospitals, integrated delivery networks
and alternative site facilities. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the products we sold through our three largest wholesalers,
AmerisourceBergan Corp. (“Amerisource”), Cardinal Health Inc. (“Cardinal Health”) and McKesson Corp. (“McKesson”), accounted
for approximately 33%, 16% and 13 %, respectively, of the net revenue of our specialty products.
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We utilize an outside third-party logistics contractor to distribute our U.S. products. Since the inception of the launch of our
specialty products, the third-party logistics provider has been handling all aspects of our product logistics efforts and related services
to us, including warehousing and shipment services, order-to-cash services, contract administration services and chargeback
processing. Our products are warehoused and distributed through a third party logistics provider located in Memphis, Tennessee.
Under our agreement with the third-party logistics provider, we maintain ownership of our finished products until sale to our
customers. The initial term of the agreement is three years following the initial delivery date, and will automatically renew for
successive 12-month periods, unless either we or the other party give notice of intent to terminate at least 90 days in advance of such
automatic renewal. We may also have the opportunity to terminate the agreement within 30 days of receiving notice of certain price
increases by the third-party logistics provider. The agreement also contains customary termination rights for either party, such as in
the event of a breach of the agreement.
Global Supply Chain Platform
We believe it is important to minimize potential disruptions associated with a high potency oncology pharmaceutical supply
chain. Therefore, we have begun the process of internalizing key components of the supply chain we believe are integral to
minimizing these risks and retaining value for shareholders. For example, the World Health Organization lists paclitaxel as an
essential medicine. Paclitaxel is derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree and harvestable trees for the starting biomass are
globally limited in supply. While current supply of the starting biomass for paclitaxel may be sufficient to meet global paclitaxel API
demand, we believe future shortages are possible if we are successful in the commercialization of one of our lead drug candidates,
Oraxol. We believe this increased demand could lead to shortages of paclitaxel API potentially leading to market and supply
disruptions.
Our research group evaluated the purity and potency of some of the largest global suppliers of paclitaxel API. In 2015, we
acquired one of these suppliers, Polymed Therapeutics Inc., or Polymed, and Chongqing Taihao Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., or Taihao.
Taihao is a cGMP manufacturer of high potency oncology API based in Chongqing, China and Polymed is the U.S. marketing entity
for Taihao’s API in North America and Europe. Historical production and sales of API by this subsidiary were to third parties. We
anticipate a greater share of Taihao’s manufacturing capacity will be used for our internal needs in the future and, therefore, sales to
third parties may decrease. Historically, Polymed sold certain of these API products internationally to mostly large multi-national
pharmaceutical companies. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, 19%, 38% and 29%, respectively, of our total
revenue came from Intas Pharmaceuticals and 9%, 24 % and 17%, respectively, came from Ebewe Pharmaceuticals.
In 2014 we sought to obtain better control over our manufacturing of high potency oncology drugs used in global clinical
studies, and in the third quarter of 2014 acquired QuaDPharma, one of our suppliers based in Clarence, New York. The number of our
clinical studies has grown since the close of the acquisition. We are currently standardizing and leveraging the acquired cGMP
systems and operating procedures in anticipation of developing multi-cGMP large scale manufacturing plants in both the U.S. and
China. Our Commercial Platform has also initiated an assessment for a transition and potential expansion of these facilities to produce
FDA shortage products.
Strategic Public-Private Partnerships
New York State Partnership
In May 2015, we entered into an agreement with Fort Schuyler Management Corporation, or FSMC, a not-for-profit corporation
owned by the State of New York, for a medical technology research, development, innovation, and commercialization alliance. Under
the agreement, FSMC will pay up to $25 million for the construction of our North American headquarters and formulation lab and
equipment in Buffalo, New York. We moved into the North American Headquarters in October 2015 and will lease from FSMC for a
10-year term, with an option to extend the term for an additional 10 years. For the first three years of the lease, we will pay rent to
FSMC equal to 35% of FSMC’s operating costs for the space and thereafter will pay 100% of FSMC’s operating costs for the space
for the remainder of the term. Under the agreement, we are obligated to spend $100 million in the Buffalo area over the initial 10-year
term of the lease, and an additional $100 million during the second 10-year term, if we elect to extend the lease. We also committed to
hiring 250 permanent employees in the Buffalo area within the first 5 years of completion of the project.
Under the same May 2015 agreement, FSMC also agreed to fund the costs of construction of a new manufacturing facility in
Dunkirk, New York. Under the current arrangement, we have selected a general contractor for the project and we will oversee the
development of the facility. ESD, the parent entity of FSMC, is responsible for the costs of construction and all equipment for the
facility, up to an aggregate of $200 million, and FSMC, not us, will own the facility and equipment. We are entitled to lease the
facility and all equipment at a rate of $1.00 per year for an initial 10-year term, and for the same rate if we elect to extend the lease for
an additional 10-year term. We are responsible for all operating costs and expenses for the facility. In exchange, we have committed to
spending $1.52 billion on operational expenses in our first 10-year term in the facility, and an additional $1.5 billion on operational
expenses if we elect to extend the lease for a second 10-year term. We also committed to hiring 450 employees at our Dunkirk facility
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within the first 5 years of operations. In September 2017, we entered into a grant disbursement agreement with ESD, whereby the
State of New York will grant up to $200 million, plus any additional funds available from a previous $25 million ESD grant, to us in
order to fund the construction of the Dunkirk facility. The funds will be deposited in four installments of up to $50 million each into
an ESD held account, and the first $50 million installment was deposited in the third quarter of 2017. Actual disbursement of such
funds to the Company will occur as the Company submits appropriate documentation verifying that expenditures on the project have
been incurred. In addition, in July 2017 we entered into a 20-year payment in-lieu of tax agreement for the construction of our
Dunkirk facility with the CCIDA, under which we anticipate incurring sales tax exemption savings of approximately $9.1 million
during the development of the facility, and property tax savings of approximately $78 million over 20 years.
In November 2017, we entered into a project agreement with the CCIDA which sets forth the obligations of the parties in
relation to the CCIDA’s grant to the Company of certain sales and use tax exemptions and real property tax exemptions in
consideration for the Company’s agreement to complete the Dunkirk facility. The project agreement estimates the cost of the Dunkirk
project at greater than $208.0 million, which exceeds the $200 million grant committed to by the State of New York, and the
Company will be responsible for the difference. We are obligated to invest no less than $187.2 million in the facility prior to the
completion of the project, which sum includes funds committed by the State of New York. The agreement includes commitments to
comply with state and local laws in connection with the project. In December 2017, we entered into an agreement with M+W,
whereby M+W will be responsible for the design and construction of the Dunkirk facility at a cost estimated between $205 million
and $210 million, of which up to $200 million will be paid by a grant from the State of New York, with the remaining amount being
paid by us. Payments under the December 2017 agreement will be made to M+W over time based upon completion of certain
milestones under the agreement, and ESD must approve any payment from the grant funds.
Under the same September 2017 agreement with ESD, we must complete the construction of the facility in Dunkirk, New York
in accordance with the final plans and specifications approved in writing by ESD and must maintain our business operations at the
facility for a minimum of ten years after its completion. The September 2017 agreement may be subject to termination if ESD and
FSMC perform their obligations under the agreement and we do not attain and or maintain certain levels of employment or spending
for specified periods of time. In such event and in accordance with the May 2015 agreement, any potential liability of us would be
capped at the amount of actual ESD spending on the facility in Dunkirk, New York times the percentage of required spending by us
which we have not yet incurred.
China Partnership
In October 2015, we entered into an agreement with Chongqing Maliu Riverside Development & Investment Co., Ltd., or CQ,
which is wholly owned by the Finance Bureau of Banan district of Chongqing, and is authorized to be responsible for investments,
financing, infrastructure construction, operations and management in the Chongqing Maliu Riverside Development Zone. Our
agreement with CQ provides for the construction of both a formulation plant and an API plant in the PRC. After entering into the
agreement, and pursuant to its terms, we established a PRC-based subsidiary that is responsible for the operations of both facilities in
July 2016. CQ is now responsible for construction of both facilities according to U.S. GMP standards. Although the agreement
contemplates completion by the end of 2016, the construction of the new API plant is expected to be completed in July 2018 and we
will anticipate we will begin utilizing the facility later in 2018 or in early 2019. The land and buildings will be owned by CQ, and we
will lease the facilities, rent-free, for the first 10-year term, with an option to extend the lease for an additional 10-year term, during
which, if we are profitable, we will pay a monthly rent of 5 RMB per square meter of space occupied. We are responsible for the costs
of all equipment for the facilities, and we have committed to occupying and beginning to use the facilities within six months of the
completion of construction. We have also committed to achieving certain operational, revenue and tax generation milestones within
certain time periods once we commence operations.
Our goal is to use our public-private partnerships as a capital efficient method for large scale cGMP manufacturing within our
supply chain and to facilitate market access in China. We believe our current facilities will be adequate and suitable for our operations
for the foreseeable future.
To date, we have utilized a combination of acquisitions and public-private partnerships to internalize certain key components of
our manufacturing and supply chain. We expect to continue to use a combination of collaborations and acquisitions to continue to
build out elements of our supply chain where needed as a mechanism to minimize execution risk and retain value for our shareholders.
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License and Collaboration Agreements
In-Licenses
Hanmi Licensing Agreements
In December 2011 and June 2013 we entered into two separate in-licensing agreements with Hanmi pursuant to which Hanmi
granted us licenses to certain patents and know-how with respect to Hanmi’s Orascovery Program to research, discover and develop
compounds that enhance or increase the oral absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The December 2011 agreement, which we refer to as the 2011 Hanmi Agreement, granted us an exclusive, sublicensable license
for development and commercialization activities utilizing Hanmi’s patents and know-how related to the Orascovery Program in a
certain territory including North America, South America, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Eastern Europe,
Taiwan and Hong Kong, and a non-exclusive license to utilize the same intellectual property in manufacturing worldwide for sales
inside those territories. The June 2013 agreement, which we refer to as the 2013 Hanmi Agreement, granted us an exclusive,
sublicensable license comparable to the 2011 Hanmi Agreement solely for China. The 2011 Hanmi Agreement was amended in
November 2012 to add Macau and Singapore to the territory governed by the agreement; in October 2013 to add Malaysia, Thailand,
Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia; in March 2015 to add India; and again in March 2017 to add Japan.
Upon effectiveness of the 2011 Hanmi Agreement we made an upfront payment of $250,000 to Hanmi, and we will pay Hanmi
tiered royalty payments in the teens based on aggregate net sales of any products using the licensed intellectual property in the
territory. Such royalties will be reduced if competing generic products gain market share in the applicable country. Depending on
when we receive regulatory approval of a product using the intellectual property licensed from Hanmi in the U.S. or Europe, we may
be obligated to pay Hanmi a regulatory bonus worth $24,000,000, to be paid (i) upon the occurrence of a liquidity event, if the
regulatory approval has already been received, or (ii) upon receipt of the regulatory approval, if such approval is received after a
liquidity event. We were also required to pay Hanmi an exit bonus, in shares of our common stock at a 20% discount to the initial
public offering price, worth $6,250,000 upon the completion of our initial public offering in June 2017 based on a nominal value of
$5,000,000. In connection with the March 2015 amendment to the 2011 Hanmi Agreement, we made an upfront payment of $50,000
to Hanmi. Additionally, in connection with the March 2017 amendment to the 2011 Hanmi Agreement, we issued a $7.0 million
convertible bond to Hanmi in lieu of an upfront payment. Hanmi elected to convert the $7.0 million principal amount of the
convertible bond into 795,455 shares of our common stock, based on the agreed 20% discount to our initial public offering price, in
September 2017.
Upon effectiveness of the 2013 Hanmi Agreement we made an upfront payment of $100,000 to Hanmi, and we will pay Hanmi
tiered royalty payments in the teens based on net sales of any products using the licensed intellectual property in China. The royalties
shall be reduced if competing generic products gain market share in China. We also granted to Hanmi a one-time right of first
negotiation to purchase all of our rights in Oraxol or Oratecan under the agreement during development and prior that, at Hanmi’s
discretion, requires us to negotiate in good faith the sale of our rights under such agreement to Hanmi at a purchase price determined
by an internationally-recognized investment banking firm with an office in Hong Kong at any time prior to the earlier of (i) our first
commercial sale of products using such technology or (ii) receipt by Hanmi of written notice from our company of the sublicense of
the rights in an applicable product to a third party.
Under each agreement, we are responsible for all clinical studies and development and commercialization activities, and the
related expenses, resulting from the agreements. Each of the 2011 Hanmi Agreement and the 2013 Hanmi Agreement expires on the
earlier of (i) expiration of the last of Hanmi’s patent rights licensed under the agreement or (ii) invalidation of Hanmi’s patent rights
which are the subject of the agreement, provided that the term will automatically be extended for consecutive one year periods unless
either party gives notice to the in each case other at least 90 days prior to expiration of the patent rights licensed under the agreement
or before the then-current annual expiration date of the agreement. The patent rights licensed to us under the 2011 and 2013 Hanmi
Agreements have expiry dates ranging from in 2023 to 2033, unless the terms of such licensed patents are able to be extended in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Hanmi may also terminate the 2011 Hanmi Agreement if (i) we fail to file an IND with the FDA for Oraxol within 6 months of
the latest of (x) our receipt from Hanmi of all English translations necessary for the filing of an IND with the FDA, (y) the date we and
Hanmi agree that all studies necessary for the filing of an IND with the FDA have been completed, or (z) the date of the final study
report for the last of any additional studies that are necessary for the filing of an IND with the FDA, or (ii) we fail to commence
clinical studies for Oraxol within twelve months after the date of approval of an IND by the FDA.
The 2013 Hanmi Agreement may be terminated by Hanmi if (i) we fail to file an IND for Oraxol with the CFDA within six
months after the latest of (w) completion of all Chinese translations necessary for the filing of an IND with the CFDA, (x) completion
of all manufacturing and toxicology studies necessary for the filing of an IND with the CFDA, (y) the date we and Hanmi agree that
all studies necessary for the filing of an IND with the CFDA have been completed, or (z) the date of the final study report for the last
of any additional studies that are necessary for the filing of an IND with the CFDA, or (ii) we fail to commence clinical studies for
Oraxol within twelve months after the date of approval of an IND by the CFDA.
32
Such clinical development milestones in respect of the termination right in both the 2011 Hanmi Agreement and the 2013
Hanmi Agreement may be extended for 12 months if we reasonably request.
Prior to the expiration of the term of each agreement, we may terminate the agreement in our sole discretion, by providing six
months’ notice to Hanmi. Subject to certain conditions. The agreements also contain customary termination rights for either party,
such as in the event of a breach of the agreement or the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by the other party or by mutual
agreement.
Out-License
Hanmi Licensing Agreements
In April 2011, we entered into a license agreement with Hanmi, which we refer to as the Hanmi Out-License, pursuant to which
we granted to Hanmi an exclusive, sublicensable license to use certain of our intellectual property for development and
commercialization of products containing KX-01 in certain territory including South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. We also granted to Hanmi a right of first refusal for any KX-01 related
formulation or pharmaceutical that we develop and intend to grant an exclusive license for in the territory covered by the Hanmi Out-
License. Hanmi is responsible for all development, manufacturing and commercialization, and the related costs and expenses, of any
product candidates resulting from the agreement.
We received an upfront payment of $1.5 million from Hanmi upon effectiveness of the agreement, and we may be entitled to
receive an aggregate of $4.0 million in additional development and regulatory milestone payments. We are also eligible to receive
tiered royalty payments in the teens on net sales of each product commercialized by Hanmi utilizing the intellectual property subject to
the Hanmi Out-License. Such royalties will be reduced as competing generic products gain market share in the applicable country.
The term of the Hanmi Out-License expires on the earlier of (i) expiration of the last of our patent rights licensed under the
agreement or (ii) invalidation of our patent rights which are the subject of the agreement, provided that in each case the term will
automatically be extended for consecutive one-year periods unless either party gives notice to the other at least 90 days prior to
expiration of the patent rights licensed under the agreement or before the then-current annual expiration date of the agreement. Prior to
the expiration of the term of the agreement, Hanmi may terminate the agreement in its sole discretion by providing six months’ notice
to us. Subject to certain conditions, we may also terminate the agreement if Hanmi fails to comply with certain development timelines
set forth in the Hanmi Out-License. The agreement also contains customary termination rights for either party, such as in the event of
a breach of the agreement or the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by the other party.
In September 2012, we entered into a memorandum of understanding with Hanmi, related to the Hanmi Out-License, pursuant
to which we agreed to jointly enter into an agreement with a contract manufacturing organization to manufacture KX-01 for our and
Hanmi’s needs, and to determine cost-sharing between us and Hanmi for such services. We have subsequently sourced certain clinical
supplies from Formex L.L.C., pursuant to this agreement.
ZenRx License Agreement
In April 2013, we entered into a license agreement with ZenRx, which we refer to as the ZenRx License, pursuant to which we
granted to ZenRx an exclusive, sublicensable license to use certain of our intellectual property to develop and commercialize Oratecan
and Oraxol in Australia and New Zealand, and a non-exclusive license to manufacture a certain compound, but only for use in
Oratecan and Oraxol. ZenRx is responsible for all development, manufacturing and commercialization, and the related costs and
expenses, of any product candidates resulting from the agreement.
We received a $50,000 payment from ZenRx upon effectiveness of the agreement, and we may be entitled to receive up to an
aggregate of $1.4 million in additional development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. We will also be eligible to receive
tiered royalties in the mid-teens on net sales of each product commercialized by ZenRx utilizing the intellectual property that is the
subject of the ZenRx License. Such royalties will be reduced by 40% when competing generic products have 30% of the market share
in the applicable country, and will be eliminated entirely when competing generic products have 60% of the market share in the
applicable country.
As an incentive to ZenRx to further development and commercialization of Oratecan and Oraxol in the territory, if ZenRx
obtains certain regulatory approvals in the territory prior to regulatory approval of those products in either the U.S. or South Korea, we
may be required to make payments to ZenRx, at ZenRx’s option, either up to $600,000 in cash or $350,000 in cash plus $250,000
worth of our common stock.
33
The term of the ZenRx License expires on the earlier of (i) expiration of the last of our patent rights licensed under the
agreement or (ii) invalidation of our patent rights which are the subject of the agreement, provided that the term will automatically be
extended for consecutive one year periods unless either party gives notice to the other at least 90 days prior to expiration of the patent
rights licensed under the agreement or before the then current annual expiration date of the agreement. Prior to the expiration of the
term of the agreement, ZenRx may terminate the agreement in its sole discretion, by providing three months’ notice to us. Subject to
certain conditions, we may also terminate the agreement if ZenRx fails to comply with certain development timelines set forth in the
ZenRx License. The agreement also contains customary termination rights for either party, such as in the event of a breach of the
agreement or the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by the other party.
PharmaEssentia License Agreements
In December 2011 and December 2013, we entered into two separate out-licensing agreements with PharmaEssentia Corp., or
PharmaEssentia, pursuant to which we granted to PharmaEssentia certain licenses to our intellectual property for use in development
and commercialization of certain products in specific territories.
The December 2011 agreement, which we refer to as the 2011 PharmaEssentia Agreement, granted an exclusive, sublicensable
license to use any pharmaceutical preparation containing KX-01 or KX-02 for use in treating psoriasis or other non-malignant skin
conditions in a territory that includes China, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. In December 2016, we agreed to
amend the 2011 PharmaEssentia Agreement such that the field under the license agreement does not include AK for any country in the
territory except Taiwan.
We received a $40,000 payment from PharmaEssentia upon effectiveness of the 2011 PharmaEssentia Agreement, and we may
be entitled to an aggregate of up to $1.6 million in additional development and regulatory milestone payments, $250,000 of which
may be paid in the form of PharmaEssentia stock. PharmaEssentia has discretion to offer to make such payment in the form of its
stock, and we have discretion as to whether to accept such payment in the form of its stock. We will also be eligible to receive tiered
royalties ranging from the high single-digits to teens on net sales of each product commercialized by PharmaEssentia utilizing the
intellectual property that is the subject of the 2011 PharmaEssentia Agreement. Such royalties will be reduced by 40% when
competing generic products have 30% of the market share in the applicable country, and will be eliminated entirely when competing
generic products have 60% of the market share in the applicable country.
The December 2013 agreement, which we refer to as the 2013 PharmaEssentia Agreement, granted an exclusive, sublicensable
license for development and commercialization of Oraxol and Oratecan in Taiwan and Singapore. Under the agreement,
PharmaEssentia may also have the right to expand its license to include China, if Hanmi does not exercise its right of first refusal to
such a product candidate under the Hanmi Out-License. In December 2016, we agreed to amend the 2013 PharmaEssentia Agreement
to also include Vietnam in the territories covered by the license, provided that, if PharmaEssentia has not completed a submission for
regulatory approval in Vietnam by 2021, the rights under the license in Vietnam will be returned to us.
We received a $50,000 payment from PharmaEssentia upon effectiveness of the 2013 PharmaEssentia Agreement and a
$500,000 payment upon the initiation of a 505b2 strategy registration study in the first quarter of 2017 and we may be entitled to an
aggregate of up to $1.5 million in additional development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, and we may also be obligated to
pay PharmaEssentia an aggregate of $1.0 million in incentives if PharmaEssentia achieves certain milestones within designated
timeframes. We will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties in the mid-teens on net sales of each product commercialized by
PharmaEssentia utilizing the intellectual property that is the subject of the 2013 PharmaEssentia Agreement. Such royalties will be
reduced by 40% when competing generic products have 30% of the market share in the applicable country, and will be eliminated
entirely when competing generic products have 60% of the market share in the applicable country.
Under each agreement, PharmaEssentia is responsible for all clinical studies and development and commercialization activities,
and the related expenses, resulting from the agreements. Each of the 2011 PharmaEssentia Agreement and the 2013 PharmaEssentia
Agreement expire on the earlier of (i) expiration of the last of our patent rights licensed under the agreement or (ii) invalidation of our
patent rights which are the subject of the agreement, provided that the term will automatically be extended for consecutive one year
periods unless either party gives notice to the other at least 90 days prior to expiration of the patent rights licensed under the
agreement or before the then current annual expiration date of the agreement.
Prior to the expiration of the term of each agreement, PharmaEssentia may terminate the agreement in its sole discretion, by
providing six months’ notice to us. Subject to certain conditions, we may also terminate the agreement if PharmaEssentia fails to
comply with certain development timelines set out in each of the agreements. The agreements also contain customary termination
rights for either party, such as in the event of a breach of the agreement or the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by the other party.
34
Guangzhou Xiangxue License Agreement
In May 2012, we entered into a license agreement with Guangzhou Xiangxue New Drug Discovery and Development Company
Limited, or Xiangxue, which we refer to as the Xiangxue License, pursuant to which we granted to Xiangxue an exclusive,
sublicensable license to use certain of our intellectual property to develop and commercialize products containing KX-02 in all
indications for brain tumors in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Xiangxue is responsible for all development,
manufacturing and commercialization, and the related costs and expenses, of any product candidates resulting from the agreement.
We received a $750,000 payment from Xiangxue upon effectiveness of the agreement and in 2013 received a further $750,000
payment upon meeting the first regulatory milestone under the agreement. We may be entitled to receive an aggregate of up to
$4.5 million in additional development and regulatory milestone payments. We will also be eligible to receive royalties in the teens on
net sales of each product commercialized by Xiangxue utilizing the intellectual property that is the subject of the Xiangxue License.
Such royalties will be reduced by 40% when competing generic products have 30% of the market share in the applicable country, and
will be eliminated entirely when competing generic products have 60% of the market share in the applicable country.
The term of the Xiangxue License expires on the earlier of (i) expiration of the last of our patent rights licensed under the
agreement or (ii) invalidation of our patent rights which are the subject of the agreement, provided that the term will automatically be
extended for consecutive one year periods unless either party gives notice to the other at least 90 days prior to expiration of the patent
rights licensed under the agreement or before the then current annual expiration date of the agreement. Prior to the expiration of the
term of the agreement, Xiangxue may terminate the agreement in its sole discretion, by providing six months’ notice to us. Subject to
certain conditions, we may also terminate the agreement if Xiangxue fails to comply with certain development timelines set forth in
the Xiangxue License. The agreement also contains customary termination rights for either party, such as in the event of a breach of
the agreement or the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by the other party.
Eli Lilly and Company Agreement
In October 2016, we entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Eli Lilly and Company, which we
refer to as the Lilly Agreement, under which we and Lilly will conduct a Phase 1b trial of Oraxol in combination with Lilly’s
ramucirumab in patients with gastric, gastro-esophageal and esophageal cancers. Under the terms of the Lilly Agreement we will act
as the sponsor of the study and will hold the IND/CTA relating to the study, while all clinical data generated under the study will be
jointly owned by us and Lilly. Other than Lilly’s obligation to supply ramucirumab to us, we will be responsible for all other costs
associated with the conduct of the study.
The Lilly Agreement will remain in effect until the study contemplated by the agreement has been completed. The agreement
also contains customary termination rights for either party, such as in the event of a breach of the agreement by the other party, or in
the event a regulatory authority takes any action against or raises any objection to the study.
Almirall License Agreement
In December 2017, we entered into a license agreement with Almirall pursuant to which we granted to Almirall an exclusive,
sublicensable license of certain of our intellectual property for the development and commercialization of topical products containing
KX-01 to treat and prevent skin disorders and diseases in humans (including AK), or the Field, in a specified territory, which includes
the United States and substantially all European countries (including Russia and Turkey), or the Licensed Territory. We also granted
Almirall a right of first negotiation to license from us in the territory covered by the Almirall license any compound (other than KX-
01) that we may develop in the future with the same mechanism of action as KX-01 for topical treatment of skin disorders and
diseases if we decide to collaborate with a third party regarding that newly developed compound. Under the license agreement,
Almirall also grants us an exclusive, sublicensable license to use certain of its intellectual property related to the products containing
our licensed KX-01 for use in the Field in order to commercialize such products outside of the Licensed Territory and outside of the
Field in the Licensed Territory, and to commercialize other products containing KX-01 for indications outside the Field. If we decide
to sublicense that license from Almirall for certain additional products or indications, we will negotiate with Almirall to allow them to
reasonably participate in the commercial benefit of such sublicense.
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In March 2018, we received an upfront payment of $30 million from Almirall under this agreement, and we expect to receive
other near-term payments of up to $25 million. We may also be entitled to receive an aggregate of $65 million in additional milestone
payments, as well as sales milestone payments we estimate will likely total $155 million. Almirall will reward Athenex with
additional sales milestones, should the sales exceed the currently projected amounts. In addition, we are eligible to receive tiered
royalty payments for a certain period starting at 15% based on annual net sales of the topical products commercialized by Almirall
utilizing the intellectual property subject to the license agreement, with incremental increases in royalty rates commensurate with
increased sales. Additionally, under certain circumstances starting after one year following regulatory approval of certain licensed
products in the United States, we would have the option to co-promote such licensed products under pre-negotiated terms and
conditions with Almirall.
The term of the Almirall license began in February 2018 when antitrust approval was obtained, and the license continues for the
entire life of the licensed topical products on a country-by-country basis. Prior to the expiration of the term of the agreement, Almirall
may terminate the agreement in its entirety or with regard to a certain territory in its sole discretion by providing six months’ notice to
us. Almirall may also terminate the agreement upon written notice during a 45-day evaluation period if Almirall does not find certain
clinical data we provide to them to be satisfactory, upon which we may be required to reimburse Almirall $5 million of its upfront fee.
We may also be required to reimburse Almirall $5 million in the event Almirall provides notice that certain other clinical endpoints
under the agreement are not met. In addition, Almirall may terminate the agreement effective immediately if the licensed topical
products cannot be marketed in the territory due to significant safety concerns, if regulatory approval is finally and irrevocably denied
in a territory, or if an approved product label is less favorable than the product label submitted to the regulatory authorities in a way
that would materially affect the commercial value of the product.
The agreement also contains customary termination rights for both parties, such as in the event of a breach of the agreement or if
the other party defaults in performance of its obligations under the agreement.
Competition
The biopharmaceutical industry and the oncology subsector are characterized by rapid evolution of technologies, fierce
competition and strong defense of intellectual property. Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will
have to compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future. While we believe that our product
candidates, platforms and scientific expertise in the field of biotechnology and oncology provide us with competitive advantages, a
wide variety of institutions, including large biopharmaceutical companies, specialty biotechnology companies, academic research
departments and public and private research institutions, are actively developing potentially competitive products and technologies.
We face substantial competition from biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies developing oncology products. These
competitors generally fall within the following categories:
Oral administration: Taxol, Abraxane, Cynviloq, Camptosar, Onivyde, Taxotere and Hycamtin;
Src Kinase inhibitors: Picato and Temodar.
Many of our competitors, either alone or with strategic partners, have substantially greater financial, technical and human
resources than we do. Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than us in obtaining approval for treatments and
achieving widespread market acceptance, rendering our treatments obsolete or non-competitive. Accelerated merger and acquisition
activity in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller
number of our competitors. These companies also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management
personnel, establishing clinical study sites and patient registration for clinical studies, acquiring technologies complementary to, or
necessary for, our programs and for sales in the API business. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant
competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Our commercial opportunity could
be substantially limited in the event that our competitors develop and commercialize products that are more effective, safer, less toxic,
more convenient or less expensive than our comparable products. In geographies that are critical to our commercial success,
competitors may also obtain regulatory approvals before us, resulting in our competitors building a strong market position in advance
of our products’ entry. We believe the factors determining the success of our programs will be the efficacy, safety and convenience of
our product candidates and our access to supply of API.
Intellectual Property
We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technologies, inventions, products and product candidates, methods of
manufacture, methods of using our products and product candidates, and improvements thereof that are commercially important to our
business. We protect our proprietary intellectual property position by, among other things, filing patent applications in the U.S. and in
jurisdictions outside of the U.S. covering our proprietary technologies, inventions, products and product candidates, methods, and
improvements that are important to the development and implementation of our business. We also rely on trade secrets, know-how,
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continuing innovation, and licensing opportunities to develop, strengthen and maintain our proprietary intellectual property position.
As of December 31, 2017, we owned more than 100 granted patents and more than 40 pending patent applications worldwide. In
addition, we have in-licensed patents and patent applications relating to our Orascovery platform technology from Hanmi. In our
Orascovery platform, the lead compound is covered as composition-of-matter in granted patents in the U.S. and other territories, such
as China and Europe. These patents will expire in October 2023 or 2024, excluding any potential patent term adjustments and/or
patent term extensions that may be available. The lead compounds in our Src Kinase Inhibition platform are covered as composition-
of-matter in granted patents in the US and other territories, including China and Europe. These patents will begin to expire in
December 2025, excluding any potential patent term adjustments and/or patent term extensions that may be available.
The term of individual patents depends upon the laws of the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries in which we
file, the patent term is 20 years from the earliest date of filing of a non-provisional patent application. In the U.S., the term of a patent
may be lengthened by patent term adjustment to compensate the patentee for administrative delays by the USPTO in examining and
granting the patent, or may be shortened if the patent is terminally disclaimed over an earlier-filed patent. In addition, a patent term
may be extended to restore a portion of the term effectively lost as a result of FDA regulatory review. However, the restoration period
cannot be longer than five years and cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of FDA
approval, and only one patent applicable to an approved drug may be extended. Similar extensions as compensation for regulatory
delays are available in Europe and other jurisdictions. We intend to seek patent term extensions where these are available. However
there is no guarantee that the applicable authorities, including the FDA in the U.S., will agree with our assessment of whether such
extensions should be granted, and we cannot predict the length of the extensions even if they are granted. The actual protection
afforded by a patent varies on a claim-by-claim basis, from country-to-country, and depends upon many factors, including the type of
patent, the scope of its coverage, the availability of regulatory-related extensions, the availability of legal remedies in a particular
country, and the validity and enforceability of the patent. For a granted patent to remain in force most countries require the payment of
annuities or maintenance fees, either yearly or at certain intervals during the term of a patent. If an annuity or maintenance fee is not
paid, the patent may lapse irrevocably.
As of December 31, 2017, we owned 17 granted patents in the U.S. and 110 granted patents in other countries relating to our Src
Kinase Inhibition technology. In addition, as of the same date we owned 36 pending applications relating to the Src Kinase Inhibition
technology in the U.S. and other countries. These patents and pending patent applications contain composition-of-matter claims to our
lead product candidates and their analogs, claims to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such candidates, and claims to methods
of making and method of treatment using such candidates. Not accounting for any patent term adjustment, patent term extension or
terminal disclaimer, and assuming that all annuity and/or maintenance fees are paid, the patents and, if granted, patent applications,
will expire from 2025 to 2038.
In addition, we have one pending patent application in each of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, the Gulf Cooperation
Council, Jordan and Taiwan. The PCT application can be filed worldwide by entering national stage in various member states by
January 21, 2018. These pending patent applications relate to therapeutic combinations of orally administered paclitaxel and a P-gp
inhibitor. Not accounting for any patent term adjustment, patent term extension or terminal disclaimer, and assuming that all annuity
and/or maintenance fees are paid, the patent applications, if granted, will expire in 2036.
Government Regulation and Product Approval
Governmental authorities in the U.S., at the federal, state and local level, and other countries extensively regulate, among other
things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, approval, quality control, labeling, packaging, promotion, storage,
advertising, distribution, post-approval monitoring, marketing and export and import of products such as those we are developing. Our
therapeutic drug candidates must be approved by the FDA through the NDA process before they may be legally marketed in the
U.S. and will be subject to similar requirements in other countries prior to marketing in those countries. The process of obtaining
regulatory approvals and compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure
of substantial time and financial resources.
U.S. Government Regulation
In the U.S., the FDA regulates drugs under the FDCA and its implementing regulations. Failure to comply with the applicable
U.S. requirements at any time during the product development or approval process, or after approval, may subject an applicant to
administrative or judicial sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us. These sanctions could include:
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refusal to approve pending applications;
withdrawal of an approval;
imposition of a clinical hold;
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warning or untitled letters;
seizures or administrative detention of product;
total or partial suspension of production or distribution; or
injunctions, fines, restitution, disgorgement, refusal of government contracts, or civil or criminal penalties.
NDA approval processes
The process required by the FDA before a therapeutic drug product may be marketed in the U.S. generally involves the
following:
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completion of extensive nonclinical laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies conducted according to GLPs,
and other applicable regulations;
submission to the FDA of an IND, which must be authorized before human clinical trials may begin;
performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials according to Good Clinical Practices, or GCPs, to
establish the safety and efficacy of the product candidate for its intended use;
submission to the FDA of an NDA;
satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the product
candidate is produced to assess readiness for commercial manufacturing and conformance to the manufacturing-related
elements of the application, to conduct a data integrity audit, and to assess compliance with cGMPs to assure that the
facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the product candidate’s identity, strength, quality and purity;
potential FDA audit of the clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the NDA; and
FDA review and approval of the NDA.
Once a pharmaceutical candidate is identified for development, it enters the preclinical or nonclinical testing stage. Nonclinical
tests include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity and formulation, as well as animal studies. Such studies must
generally be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s GLPs. An IND sponsor must submit the results of the nonclinical tests, together
with manufacturing information and analytical data, to the FDA as part of the IND. Some nonclinical testing may continue even after
the IND is submitted. In addition to including the results of the nonclinical studies, the IND will also include a protocol detailing,
among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to
be evaluated if the first phase lends itself to an efficacy determination. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt
by the FDA, unless the FDA, within the 30-day time period, places the IND on clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the
FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before clinical trials can begin. A clinical hold may occur at any time during the life of an
IND and may affect one or more specific studies or all studies conducted under the IND.
The manufacture of investigational drugs for the conduct of human clinical trials is subject to cGMP requirements.
Investigational drugs and API imported into the U.S. are also subject to regulation by the FDA relating to their labeling and
distribution. Further, the export of investigational drug products outside of the U.S. may be subject to regulatory requirements of the
receiving country as well as U.S. export requirements under the FDCA.
All clinical trials must be conducted under the supervision of one or more qualified investigators in accordance with GCP
requirements, which include, among other things, the requirements that all research subjects provide their informed consent in writing
for their participation in any clinical trial. Investigators must also provide certain information to the clinical trial sponsors to allow the
sponsors to make certain financial disclosures to the FDA. Clinical trials must be conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of
the trial, dosing procedures, research subject selection and exclusion criteria and the safety and effectiveness criteria to be evaluated.
Each protocol, and any subsequent material amendment to the protocol, must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND, and
progress reports detailing the status of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA annually. Sponsors also must report to the FDA
serious and unexpected adverse reactions in a timely manner. Reporting requirements also apply to, among other things, any clinically
important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator’s brochure and any
findings from other studies or animal or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk in humans exposed to the product candidate. An
institutional review board, or IRB, at each institution participating in the clinical trial must review and approve the protocol before a
clinical trial commences at that institution and must also approve the information regarding the trial and the consent form that must be
provided to each research subject or the subject’s legal representative, monitor the study until completed and otherwise comply with
IRB regulations. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and completed clinical trial results to
public registries within a certain timeframe for public dissemination on the National Institutes of Health clinicaltrials.gov website.
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Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined.
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Phase 1—The product candidate is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety, dosage tolerance,
absorption, metabolism, distribution and elimination. In the case of some therapeutic candidates for severe or life-
threatening diseases, such as cancer, especially when the product candidate may be inherently too toxic to ethically
administer to healthy volunteers, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients.
Phase 2—Clinical trials are performed on a limited patient population intended to identify possible adverse effects and
safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage
tolerance and optimal dosage.
Phase 3—Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy and safety in an expanded patient
population at geographically dispersed clinical study sites. These studies are intended to establish the overall risk-benefit
ratio of the product and provide an adequate basis for product labeling.
A pivotal study is a clinical study that adequately meets regulatory agency requirements for the evaluation of a product
candidate’s efficacy and safety such that it can be used to justify the approval of the product. Generally, pivotal studies are also Phase
3 studies but may be Phase 2 studies, with the agreement of FDA, if the trial design provides a reliable assessment of clinical benefit,
particularly in situations where there is an unmet medical need.
In the case of a 505(b)(2) NDA, which is a marketing application in which the sponsor may rely on investigations that were not
conducted by or for the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference or use from the person by or for
whom the investigations were conducted, some of the above-described studies and nonclinical studies may not be required or may be
abbreviated. The applicant may rely upon the FDA’s prior findings of safety and efficacy for a previously approved product or on
published scientific literature in support of its application. Bridging studies, including clinical studies, may be needed, however, to
demonstrate the applicability of the studies that were previously conducted by other sponsors to the drug that is the subject of the
marketing application.
Human clinical trials are inherently uncertain and Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 testing may not be successfully completed or
may not be completed at all. The FDA or the sponsor may suspend a clinical trial at any time for a variety of reasons, including a
finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or
terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s
requirements or if the product candidate has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
During the development of a new product candidate, sponsors are given opportunities to meet with the FDA at certain points;
specifically, prior to the submission of an IND, at the end of Phase 2 and before an NDA is submitted. Meetings at other times may be
requested. These meetings can provide an opportunity for the sponsor to share information about the data gathered to date and for the
FDA to provide advice on the next phase of development. Sponsors typically use the meeting at the end of Phase 2 to discuss their
Phase 2 clinical results and present their plans for the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial that they believe will support the approval of the
new therapeutic. If a Phase 3 clinical trial is the subject of discussion at the end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, a sponsor may be
able to request a Special Protocol Assessment, or SPA, the purpose of which is to reach agreement with the FDA on the Phase 3
clinical trial protocol design and analysis that will form the primary basis of an efficacy claim. The agreement will be binding on the
FDA and may not be changed by the sponsor or the FDA after the trial begins except with the written agreement of the sponsor and
the FDA or if the FDA determines that a substantial scientific issue essential to determining the safety or efficacy of the product
candidate was identified after the testing began.
Post-approval trials, sometimes referred to as “Phase 4” clinical trials, may be required after initial marketing approval. These
trials are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication.
Concurrent with clinical trials, sponsors usually complete additional animal safety studies, develop additional information about
the chemistry and physical characteristics of the product candidate and finalize a process for manufacturing commercial quantities of
the product candidate in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing
quality batches of the product candidate and the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the quality, purity and potency of the
product candidate. Additionally, for NDA products, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be
conducted to demonstrate that the product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its proposed shelf-life.
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The results of product development, nonclinical studies and clinical trials, along with descriptions of the manufacturing process,
analytical tests and other control mechanisms, proposed labeling and other relevant information are submitted to the FDA as part of an
NDA requesting approval to market the product. Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, as amended, each NDA must
be accompanied by a significant user fee. The FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual
product fee for products and an annual establishment fee on facilities used to manufacture prescription drug products. Fee waivers or
reductions are available in certain circumstances, such as where a waiver is necessary to protect the public health, where the fee would
present a significant barrier to innovation, or where the applicant is a small business submitting its first human therapeutic application
for review. Product candidates that are designated as orphan drugs are also not subject to user fees unless the application contains an
indication other than an orphan indication.
Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews a NDA submitted to determine if it is substantially
complete before the agency accepts it for filing. The FDA may refuse to accept any NDA that it deems incomplete or not properly
reviewable at the time of submission, and may request additional information. In this event, the NDA must be resubmitted with the
additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission
is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth substantive review of the NDA. The FDA reviews an NDA, whether the product is
safe and effective for its intended use, and in each case, whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMP. The
FDA may refer applications for novel products or products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory
committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the
application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee,
but it considers such recommendations when making decisions.
During the product approval process, the FDA also will determine whether a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or
REMS, plan is necessary to assure the safe use of the product. If the FDA concludes that an REMS plan is needed, the sponsor of the
NDA must submit a proposed REMS plan prior to approval. The FDA has authority to require an REMS plan under the Food and
Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (the “FDAAA”) when necessary to ensure that the benefits of a drug outweigh the
risks. In determining whether an REMS plan is necessary, the FDA must consider the size of the population likely to use the drug, the
seriousness of the disease or condition to be treated, the expected benefit of the drug, the duration of treatment, the seriousness of
known or potential adverse events, and whether the drug is a new molecular entity. A REMS plan may be required to include various
elements, such as a medication guide or patient package insert, a communication plan to educate health care providers of the risks,
limitations on who may prescribe or dispense the drug, or other measures that the FDA deems necessary to assure the safe use of the
drug. In addition, the REMS plan must include a timetable to assess the strategy at 18 months, three years, and seven years after the
strategy’s approval.
The FDA may also require an REMS plan for a drug that is already on the market if it determines, based on new safety
information, that an REMS plan is necessary to ensure that the product’s benefits outweigh its risks.
Before approving a NDA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve
the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and
adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before approving a NDA, the
FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in compliance with IND trial
requirements and GCP requirements. To assure cGMP and GCP compliance, an applicant must incur significant expenditure of time,
money and effort in the areas of training, record keeping, production and quality control.
Notwithstanding the submission of relevant data and information, the FDA may ultimately decide that the NDA does not satisfy
its regulatory criteria for approval and deny approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive and the FDA may
interpret data differently than the applicant. If the agency decides not to approve the NDA in its then present form, the FDA will issue
a complete response letter that describes all of the specific deficiencies in the NDA identified by the FDA. The deficiencies identified
may be minor, for example, requiring labeling changes, or major, for example, requiring additional clinical trials. Additionally, the
complete response letter may include recommended actions that the applicant might take to place the application in a condition for
approval. If a complete response letter is issued, the applicant must either resubmit the NDA, addressing all of the deficiencies
identified in the letter, withdraw the application, or request an opportunity for a hearing.
Even if a product receives regulatory approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific indications and dosages or
the indications for use may otherwise be limited, which could restrict the commercial value of the product. Further, the FDA may
require that certain contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling. The FDA may impose restrictions
and conditions on product distribution, prescribing, or dispensing in the form of a risk management plan, or otherwise limit the scope
of any approval. In addition, the FDA may require post marketing clinical trials, sometimes referred to as “Phase 4” clinical trials,
designed to further assess a drug’s safety and effectiveness, and testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved
products that have been commercialized.
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Expedited Review and Approval
The FDA has various programs, including Fast Track, priority review, accelerated approval and breakthrough therapy
designation, which are intended to expedite or simplify the process for reviewing therapeutic candidates, or provide for the approval of
a product candidate on the basis of a surrogate endpoint. Even if a product candidate qualifies for one or more of these programs, the
FDA may later decide that the product candidate no longer meets the conditions for qualification or that the time period for FDA
review or approval will be lengthened. Generally, therapeutic candidates that are eligible for these programs are those for serious or
life-threatening conditions, those with the potential to address unmet medical needs and those that offer meaningful benefits over
existing treatments. For example, Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of therapeutic
candidates to treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions and fill unmet medical needs. Priority review is designed to give
therapeutic candidates that offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists an initial review
within six months as compared to a standard review time of ten months.
Although Fast Track and priority review do not affect the standards for approval, the FDA will attempt to facilitate early and
frequent meetings with a sponsor of a Fast Track designated product candidate and expedite review of the application for a product
candidate designated for priority review. Accelerated approval, which is described in Subpart H of 21 CFR Part 314, provides for an
earlier approval for a new product candidate that is (1) intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition; (2) generally
provides a meaningful advantage over available therapies; and (3) demonstrates an effect on either a surrogate endpoint that is
reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or
mortality, or IMM, and is reasonably likely to predict an effect on IMM or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity,
rarity or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. A surrogate endpoint is a laboratory
measurement or physical sign used as an indirect or substitute measurement representing a clinically meaningful outcome. As a
condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a product candidate receiving accelerated approval perform post-
marketing studies to verify and describe the predicted effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical endpoint, and the
product may be subject to accelerated withdrawal procedures.
In the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, or FDASIA, which was signed into law in July 2012, the U.S.
Congress encouraged the FDA to utilize innovative and flexible approaches to the assessment of therapeutic candidates under
accelerated approval. The law required the FDA to issue related guidance and also promulgate confirming regulatory changes. In May
2014, the FDA published a final Guidance for Industry titled “Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions—Drugs and Biologics,”
which provides guidance on FDA programs that are intended to facilitate and expedite development and review of new therapeutic
candidates as well as threshold criteria generally applicable to concluding that a product candidate is a candidate for these expedited
development and review programs.
In addition to the Fast Track, accelerated approval and priority review programs discussed above, the FDA’s “Expedited
Programs” guidance also describes the breakthrough therapy designation. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended,
alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or conditions, and preliminary
clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically
significant endpoints. Drugs designated as breakthrough therapies are eligible for, among other things, the Fast Track designation,
intensive guidance on an efficient drug development program, and a commitment from FDA to involve senior managers and
experienced review staff in a proactive collaborative, cross-disciplinary review.
In December 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act, or Cures Act, was signed into law. The Cures Act included numerous provisions
that may be relevant to our product candidates, including provisions designed to speed development of innovative and breakthrough
therapies. The Cures Act amends the FDCA and the Public Health Service Act, or PHSA, to reauthorize and expand funding for the
National Institutes of Health, or NIH, and to authorize FDA to increase spending on innovation projects. Central to the Cures Act are
provisions that enhance and accelerate FDA’s processes for reviewing and approving new drugs and supplements to approved NDAs.
These include, but are not limited to, provisions that (i) require FDA to establish a program to evaluate the potential use of real world
evidence to help to support the approval of a new indication for an approved drug and to help to support or satisfy post-approval study
requirements, (ii) provide that FDA may rely upon qualified data summaries to support the approval of a supplemental application
with respect to a qualified indication for an already approved drug, (iii) require FDA to issue guidance for purposes of assisting
sponsors in incorporating complex adaptive and other novel trial designs into proposed clinical protocols and applications for new
drugs, (iv) affirm that FDA should continue to expedite the approval of breakthrough therapies, and (v) require FDA to establish a
process for the qualification of drug development tools for use in supporting or obtaining FDA approval for investigational use of a
drug. The Cures Act also includes a provision which requires certain manufacturers or distributors of an investigational drug to make
their policies on the availability of certain expanded access programs publicly available. Because the Cures Act was enacted recently
and the FDA may take several years to develop these policies, it is difficult to know whether or how the Cures Act will directly affect
our business.
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Abbreviated New Drug Applications for Generic Drugs
NDA applicants are required to list with the FDA each patent with claims covering the applicant’s product or method of using
the product. Upon approval of a drug, each of the patents listed in the application for the drug is then published in the FDA’s
Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. Drugs listed in the
Orange Book can, in turn, be cited by potential generic or 505(b)(2) applicants in support of approval of an abbreviated new drug
application, or ANDA, or a 505(b)(2) application. An ANDA provides for marketing of a drug product that has the same active
ingredients in the same strengths and dosage form as the listed drug and has been shown to be bioequivalent to the listed drug. Other
than the requirement for bioequivalence testing, ANDA applicants are not required to conduct, or submit results of, pre-clinical or
clinical tests to prove the safety or effectiveness of their drug product. Drugs approved in this way can often be substituted by
pharmacists under prescriptions written for the original listed drug.
The ANDA or 505(b)(2) applicant is required to make a certification to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved
NDA product in the FDA’s Orange Book. Specifically, the ANDA or 505(b)(2) applicant must certify that: (i) the required patent
information has not been filed; (ii) the listed patent has expired; (iii) the listed patent has not expired, but will expire on a particular
date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or (iv) the listed patent is invalid or will not be infringed by the new product. The
ANDA applicant may also elect to submit a section viii statement certifying that its proposed ANDA labeling does not contain (or
carves out) any language regarding the patented method-of-use rather than certify to a listed method-of-use patent. If the applicant
does not challenge the listed patents, the ANDA or 505(b)(2) application will not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the
referenced product have expired.
A certification that the ANDA or 505(b)(2) product will not infringe the already approved product’s listed patents, or that such
patents are invalid, is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the ANDA or 505(b)(2) applicant has provided a Paragraph IV
certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the
ANDA or 505(b)(2) application has been received by the FDA. The NDA and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement
lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the
receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving the ANDA or 505(b)(2) application until the
earlier of 30 months, expiration of the patent, settlement of the lawsuit or a decision in the infringement case that is favorable to the
ANDA applicant.
The ANDA or 505(b)(2) application will not be approved until any applicable non-patent exclusivity listed in the Orange Book
for the referenced product has expired.
Patent Term Restoration and Marketing Exclusivity
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA approval of the use of our drug candidates, some of our U.S. patents
may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984,
commonly referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent restoration term of up to five years as
compensation for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process. However, patent term
restoration cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date. The patent term
restoration period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of an NDA plus the
time between the submission date of an NDA and the approval of that application, except that this review period is reduced by any
time during which the applicant failed to exercise due diligence. Only one patent applicable to an approved product is eligible for the
extension and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent. The USPTO, in consultation
with the FDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration. In the future, if available, we intend
to apply for restorations of patent term for some of our currently owned patents beyond their current expiration dates, depending on
the expected length of the clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of the relevant NDA; however, there can be no
assurance that any such extension will be granted to us.
Market exclusivity provisions under the FDCA can also delay the submission or the approval of certain applications. The FDCA
provides a five-year period of non-patent marketing exclusivity within the U.S. to the first applicant to gain approval of an NDA for a
new chemical entity. A drug is a new chemical entity if the FDA has not previously approved any other new drug containing the same
active moiety, which is the molecule or ion responsible for the action of the drug substance. During the exclusivity period, the FDA
may not accept for review an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, or a 505(b)(2) NDA submitted by another company for
another version of such drug where the applicant does not own or have a legal right of reference to all the data required for approval.
However, an application may be submitted after four years if it contains a certification of patent invalidity or non-infringement. The
FDCA also provides three years of marketing exclusivity for an NDA, 505(b)(2) NDA or supplement to an existing NDA if new
clinical investigations, other than bioavailability studies, that were conducted or sponsored by the applicant are deemed by the FDA to
be essential to the approval of the application, for example, new indications, dosages or strengths of an existing drug. This three-year
exclusivity covers only the conditions of use associated with the new clinical investigations and does not prohibit the FDA from
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approving ANDAs for drugs containing the original active agent. Five-year and three-year exclusivity will not delay the submission or
approval of a full NDA. However, an applicant submitting a full NDA would be required to conduct or obtain a right of reference to
all of the preclinical studies and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials necessary to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.
Orphan Drug Designation
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant Orphan Drug Designation to therapeutic candidates intended to treat a rare
disease or condition, which is generally a disease or condition that affects either (1) fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S., or
(2) or more than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and
making available in the U.S. a product candidate for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the U.S. for that
product candidate. Orphan Drug Designation must be requested before submitting an NDA. We have received Orphan Drug
Designation for KX-02. After the FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation, the identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan
use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. Orphan Drug Designation does not convey any advantage in or shorten the duration of the
regulatory review and approval process.
If a product candidate that has Orphan Drug Designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease for which
it has such designation, the product candidate is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve
any other applications to market the same drug for the same indication, except under limited circumstances, for seven years. Orphan
drug exclusivity, however, could also block the approval of one of our therapeutic candidates for seven years if a competitor obtains
approval of the same drug as defined by the FDA or if our product candidate is determined to be contained within the competitor’s
product candidate for the same indication or disease.
Pediatric Exclusivity and Pediatric Use
Under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (the “BPCA”), certain therapeutic candidates may obtain an additional six
months of exclusivity if the sponsor submits information requested in writing by the FDA, referred to as a Written Request, relating to
the use of the active moiety of the product candidate in children. Although the FDA may issue a Written Request for studies on either
approved or unapproved indications, it may only do so where it determines that information relating to that use of a product candidate
in a pediatric population, or part of the pediatric population, may produce health benefits in that population.
In addition, the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, requires a sponsor to conduct pediatric studies for most therapeutic
candidates, for a new active ingredient, new indication, new dosage form, new dosing regimen or new route of administration. Under
PREA, original NDAs and supplements thereto must contain a pediatric assessment unless the sponsor has received a deferral or
waiver. The required assessment must assess the safety and effectiveness of the product candidate for the claimed indications in all
relevant pediatric subpopulations and support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product
candidate is safe and effective. The sponsor or FDA may request a deferral of pediatric studies for some or all of the pediatric
subpopulations. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the product candidate is ready for approval for
use in adults before pediatric studies are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data needs to be collected before the
pediatric studies begin. The law requires the FDA to send a PREA Non-Compliance letter to sponsors who have failed to submit their
pediatric assessments required under PREA, have failed to seek or obtain a deferral or deferral extension or have failed to request
approval for a required pediatric formulation. It further requires the FDA to post the PREA Non-Compliance letter and sponsor’s
response.
As part of the FDASIA, the U.S. Congress made a few revisions to the BPCA and PREA, which were slated to expire on
September 30, 2012, and made both laws permanent.
Post-Approval Requirements
Once an approval is granted, the FDA may withdraw the approval if compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained
or if problems occur after the product candidate reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product
candidate may result in restrictions on the product candidate or even complete withdrawal of the product candidate from the market.
After approval, some types of changes to the approved product candidate, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes and
additional labeling claims, are subject to further FDA review and approval. In addition, the FDA may under some circumstances
require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the effect of approved therapeutic candidates that have been commercialized, and
the FDA under some circumstances has the power to prevent or limit further marketing of a product candidate based on the results of
these post-marketing programs.
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Any therapeutic candidates manufactured or distributed pursuant to FDA approvals for prescription drugs are subject to
continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things:
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reporting and record-keeping requirements;
reporting of adverse experiences with the product candidate;
providing the FDA with updated safety and efficacy information;
product sampling and distribution requirements;
notifying the FDA and gaining its approval of specified manufacturing or labeling changes; and
complying with FDA promotion and advertising requirements, which include, among other things, standards for direct-to-
consumer advertising, restrictions on promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the
product’s approved labeling, limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and requirements for
promotional activities involving the internet.
Therapeutic manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved therapeutic products are
required to register their establishments with the FDA and obtain licenses in certain states and are subject to periodic unannounced
inspections by the FDA and some state agencies for compliance with cGMPs and other laws. The FDA periodically inspects
manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with cGMP, which imposes extensive procedural, substantive and record-keeping
requirements. In addition, changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and, depending on the significance of the
change, may require FDA approval before being implemented. FDA regulations would also require investigation and correction of any
deviations from cGMP and impose reporting and documentation requirements upon us and any third-party manufacturers used.
Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain
compliance with cGMP and other aspects of regulatory compliance.
Disclosure of Clinical Trial Information
Sponsors of clinical trials of FDA-regulated products, including drugs, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial
information, which is publicly available at www.clinicaltrials.gov. Information related to the product, patient population, phase of
investigation, study sites and investigators, and other aspects of the clinical trial is then made public as part of the registration.
Sponsors are also obligated to disclose the results of their clinical trials after completion. Disclosure of the results of these trials can be
delayed under certain limited circumstances. Competitors may use this publicly available information to gain knowledge regarding the
progress of development programs. The government recently released a regulation and policy to expand and enhance the requirements
related to registering and reporting the results of which may result in greater enforcement of these requirements in the future.
Regulation of Compounding Pharmacies
Compounding is a practice in which a licensed pharmacist, a licensed physician, or in the case of an outsourcing facility, a
person under the supervision of a licensed pharmacists, combines, mixes, or alters ingredients of a drug to create a medication tailored
to the needs of an individual patient. We are engaged in the compounding of sterile drugs as an outsourcing facility registered with
FDA. The Compounding Quality Act, or CQA, allows an entity that compounds sterile drugs to register as an outsourcing facility.
Once registered (including payment of a fee), an outsourcing facility must meet certain conditions in order to be exempt from the
FDCA’s approval requirements and the requirement to label products with adequate directions for use. Under the CQA, a drug must
be compounded in compliance with CGMP by or under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist in a facility registered pursuant
to Section 503B of the FDCA in order to be so exempt. The outsourcing facility must also report specific information about the
products that it compounds, including a list of all of the products it compounded during the previous six months, and information
about the compounded products, such as the source of the active ingredients used to compound pursuant to Section 503B(b)(2). If the
outsourcing facility compounds using bulk drug substances, the bulk drug substances must either appear on a list established by FDA
of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need, or be used to compound drugs that appear on a list established by FDA of
drugs for which there is a shortage. Although FDA has not yet established a list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical
need, FDA has announced an interim policy pursuant to which bulk drug substances may be nominated for inclusion on such list and,
provided certain conditions are met, outsourcing facilities may compound with such bulk drug substances pending evaluation of the
substances for inclusion on FDA’s list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need.
In addition, an outsourcing facility must meet other conditions described in the CQA, including reporting adverse events
pursuant to Section 503B(b)(5) of the FDCA, and labeling its compounded products with certain information pursuant to
Section 503B(a)(10). Registered outsourcing facilities are prohibited from selling compounded drugs through a wholesale distributor,
or from compounding drugs that are essentially copies of FDA-approved drugs. Registered outsourcing facilities are subject to FDA
inspection, and FDA conducts inspections on a risk-based frequency under Section 503B(b)(4).
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Pharmaceutical Coverage, Reimbursement and Pricing
Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any products for which we may obtain regulatory
approval. In the U.S., sales of any products for which we may receive regulatory approval for commercial sale will depend in part on
the availability of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors. Third-party payors include government authorities such as
Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and the Veterans Administration, managed care providers, private health insurers and other
organizations.
The Medicaid Drug Rebate Program requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to enter into and have in effect a national rebate
agreement with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services as a condition for states to receive federal matching
funds for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs furnished to Medicaid patients. Effective in 2010, the ACA made several changes to the
Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, including increasing pharmaceutical manufacturers’ rebate liability by raising the minimum basic
Medicaid rebate on most branded prescription drugs from 15.1% of average manufacturer price, or AMP, to 23.1% of AMP, and
adding a new rebate calculation for “line extensions” (i.e., new formulations, such as extended release formulations) of solid oral
dosage forms of branded products, as well as potentially impacting their rebate liability by modifying the statutory definition of AMP.
The ACA also expanded the universe of Medicaid utilization subject to drug rebates by requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay
rebates on Medicaid managed care utilization as of 2010 and by expanding the population potentially eligible for Medicaid drug
benefits. CMS will expand Medicaid rebate liability to the territories of the United States as well, beginning in 2017, if the territories
elect to enroll in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. In addition, the ACA provides for the public availability of retail survey prices
and certain weighted average AMPs under the Medicaid program. The implementation of this requirement by CMS may also provide
for the public availability of pharmacy acquisition cost data, which could influence our decisions related to setting product prices and
offering related discounts.
In order for a pharmaceutical product to receive federal reimbursement under the Medicare Part B and Medicaid programs or to
be sold directly to U.S. government agencies, the manufacturer must extend discounts to entities eligible to participate in the 340B
drug pricing program. The required 340B discount on a given product is calculated based on the AMP and Medicaid rebate amounts
reported by the manufacturer. Effective in 2010, the ACA expanded the types of entities eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing;
although, under the current state of the law, with the exception of children’s hospitals, these newly eligible entities will not be eligible
to receive discounted 340B pricing on orphan drugs when used for the orphan indication. In addition, as 340B drug pricing is
determined based on AMP and Medicaid rebate data, the revisions to the Medicaid rebate formula and AMP definition described
above could cause the required 340B discount to increase.
The process for determining whether a payor will provide coverage for a product is typically separate from the process for
setting the reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on
an approved list or formulary which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular indication. Also, third-party
payors may refuse to include a particular branded drug on their formularies or otherwise restrict patient access to a branded drug when
a less costly generic equivalent or other alternative is available. However, under Medicare Part D—Medicare’s outpatient prescription
drug benefit—there are protections in place to ensure coverage and reimbursement for oncology products and all Part D prescription
drug plans are required to cover substantially all anti-cancer agents. However, a payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product
does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be available. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to
enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.
Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price and examining the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of medical
products and services, in addition to their safety and efficacy. In order to obtain coverage and reimbursement for any product that
might be approved for sale, we may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the medical
necessity and cost-effectiveness of any products, in addition to the costs required to obtain regulatory approvals. Our drug candidates
may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective. If third-party payors do not consider a product to be cost-effective
compared to other available therapies, they may not cover an approved product as a benefit under their plans or, if they do, the level of
payment may not be sufficient to allow a company to sell its products at a profit.
The U.S. government and state legislatures have shown significant interest in implementing cost containment programs to limit
the growth of government-paid health care costs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for
substitution of generic products for branded prescription drugs. Further, the ACA, contains provisions that may reduce the profitability
of drug products, including, for example, increased rebates for drugs reimbursed by Medicaid programs and the extension of Medicaid
rebates to Medicaid managed care plans. Several other provisions of the ACA focused on cost containment include:
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The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, which was established to identify priorities in, and conduct
comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research. The research conducted by the Patient-
Centered Outcomes Research Institute may affect the market for certain pharmaceutical products.
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The Independent Payment Advisory Board which, since 2014, has had authority to recommend certain changes to the
Medicare program to reduce expenditures by the program when spending exceeds a certain growth rate and such changes
could result in reduced payments for prescription drugs. Under certain circumstances, these recommendations will become
law unless Congress enacts legislation that will achieve the same or greater Medicare cost savings. However, as of late
2016, the President has yet to nominate anyone to serve on the board.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation within CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to
lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending. Funding has been allocated to
support the mission of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation from 2011 to 2019.
Effective in 2011, the ACA imposed an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain
branded prescription drugs, apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government
healthcare programs, although this fee would not apply to sales of certain products approved exclusively for orphan
indications.
Effective in 2011, the ACA imposed a requirement on manufacturers of branded drugs to provide a 50% discount off the
negotiated price of branded drugs dispensed to Medicare Part D patients in the coverage gap (i.e., the “donut hole” or the
period of consumer payment for prescription medicine costs which lies between the initial coverage limit and the
catastrophic—coverage threshold).
The adoption of government controls and measures, and tightening of restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls
and measures, could also limit payments for pharmaceuticals.
The marketability of any products for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if the government
and third-party payors fail to provide adequate coverage and reimbursement. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates
may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more products for which we
receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.
Generic Drugs
Given that we manufacture and market generic drug products, our business may be impacted by laws and policies governing the
coverage, pricing, and reimbursement of generic drugs. Generic drugs are the same active pharmaceutical ingredient as initial
innovator medicines and are typically more affordable in comparison to the innovator’s products. Sales of generic medicines have
benefitted from policies encouraging generic substitution and a general increasing acceptance of generic drugs on the part of
healthcare insurers, consumers, physicians and pharmacists. However, while the U.S. generics market is one of the largest in the
world, with generic prescription sales of approximately $70 billion in 2016, the recent trend of rising generic drug prices has drawn
scrutiny from the U.S. government. Specifically, beginning in 2014 generic drug pricing became the subject of Congressional
inquiries and media attention, and many generic drug manufacturers became the targets of government investigations.
In addition, under amendments to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Statute in 2015, generic drug manufacturers are now required to
pay an inflation penalty if price increases on generic drugs exceed the rate of inflation. Specifically, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
(“BBA ‘15”) amended section 1927(c)(3) of the Social Security Act to require manufacturers of non-innovator multiple source
(N) drugs to pay additional Medicaid rebates if a drug’s AMP increases at a rate that exceeds the rate of inflation. Manufacturers of
generic drugs must calculate the additional Medicaid rebates for noninnovator drugs beginning with the rebates that are calculated for
the first quarter of 2017.
Also, the ACA revised the methodology for setting Medicaid generic drug reimbursement in order to further limit the
reimbursement of generic drugs under the Medicaid program. Specifically, effective April 1, 2016, the Federal Upper Limit (“FUL”),
which establishes the government’s maximum payment amount for certain generic drugs, is no less than 175% of the weighted
average of the most recently reported monthly AMPs for pharmaceutically and therapeutically equivalent multiple source drug
products that are available for purchase by retail community pharmacies on a nationwide basis. Similarly, reimbursement for generic
drugs is also limited in Medicare Part B, as the Average Sales Price (the metric upon which reimbursement is based) for multiple-
source drugs included within the same multiple-source drug billing and payment code is the volume-weighted average of the various
manufacturers’ ASPs for those drug products.
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Laboratory Testing Services Coverage and Reimbursement
Given that we market medical devices in the form of in vitro diagnostic devices, or IVDs, used in the performance of clinical
laboratory tests, currently limited to drugs of abuse, pregnancy, and alcohol testing in the U.S., and cardiac marker and infectious
disease testing in Asia, our business may be impacted by laws and policies governing the coding, coverage, reimbursement, and
demand for clinical laboratory services. With regard to the clinical laboratory services performed on Medicare beneficiaries, health
care providers utilizing such tests generally either are paid under prospective payment systems for most tests performed on hospital
inpatients and outpatients, or must bill the Medicare Part B program directly in compliance with applicable coding, coverage and
reimbursement rules, and accept the amount paid by the Medicare contractor under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, or
CLFS, as payment in full. Currently, Medicare does not require the beneficiary to pay a co-payment for clinical laboratory services
paid under the CLFS. Pursuant to Section 216 of-the federal Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, or PAMA, CMS is
modernizing the CLFS by creating a market-based reimbursement system which will require clinical laboratories subject to the law to
report certain private payor prices and test volumes, and CMS to set new payment rates for CLFS tests based on the weighted median
of reported prices, effective January 1, 2018. It is unclear how this new law will affect testing services that use our products at this
time, but as a general matter CMS has indicated that prices of many clinical laboratory tests will decrease under PAMA. In addition,
state Medicaid programs are prohibited from paying more (and in many instances, pay significantly less) than Medicare, and payment
is subject to state-specific coverage, reimbursement, and laboratory law requirements. Certain state Medicaid programs also require
Medicaid recipients to pay co-payment amounts for clinical laboratory services. Likewise, payment by private payors is subject to
payor-determined coverage and reimbursement policies that vary considerably and are subject to change without notice. Finally, there
is increasing legislative attention to opioid abuse in the United States, including passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and
Recovery Act of 2016 which, among other things, strengthens state prescription drug monitoring programs and expands educational
efforts for certain populations, which may increase the need for drugs of abuse testing. Changes like these related to clinical laboratory
services, and any other changes related to coverage or reimbursement may impact the demand for and pricing of some of our products
which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results.
Reimbursement for Compounded Drugs
Given that we intend to compound and sell compounded products, some of which may include APIs that we manufacture, our
business may be impacted by the downstream coverage and reimbursement of compounded products. Generally, federal
reimbursement is available for compounded drugs, but is typically dependent upon whether the individual ingredients or bulk drug
substances that make up the compounded product are FDA-approved. Certain of our API products have not yet received FDA
approval.
There is a national payment policy for compounded drugs under Medicare Part B, but the policy is unclear because it does not
stipulate whether payment is available for ingredients that are bulk drug substances, which are generally not FDA-approved. Under
Medicare Part B, claims for compounded drugs are typically submitted using a billing code for “not otherwise classified drugs”, and
CMS contractors who process Part B claims may conduct further reviews of outpatient claims to determine whether the drug billed
under a nonspecific billing code is a compounded drug and to identify its ingredients in order to make payment decisions. However,
CMS contractors who process Part B claims do not always collect information on the FDA-approval status of drug ingredients and,
therefore, payment may be made for ingredients that are not FDA-approved products. Therefore, there is uncertainty as to whether
Medicare payments for compounded drugs are consistent with the Medicare Part B policy.
Under Medicare Part D, federal payments are not available for non-FDA-approved products—including bulk drug substances—
and inactive ingredients used to make a compounded drug. Insurers that offer Medicare Part D benefits and Part D-only sponsors,
generally, pay pharmacies for each ingredient in the compounded drug that is an FDA-approved product and is otherwise eligible for
reimbursement under Part D. However, with respect to non-FDA approved bulk drug substances, insurers that offer Medicare Part D
benefits and Part D-only sponsors may choose to pay for such bulk substances but may not submit these payments as part of the Part D
transaction data CMS uses to determine federal payments to Part D plans.
Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Laws and Compliance Requirements
We are subject to various federal and state laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry. These laws may impact,
among other things, our proposed sales and marketing programs. In addition, we may be subject to patient privacy regulation by both
the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:
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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting,
receiving, offering, or paying remuneration (a term interpreted broadly to include anything of value, including, for
example, gifts, discounts, chargebacks, and credits), directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in
return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order, or recommendation of, an item or service
reimbursable under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
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federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, which prohibit, among other things,
individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid,
or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent, or making a false statement or record material to payment of a false
claim or avoiding, decreasing, or concealing an obligation to pay money owed to the federal government;
provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created new
federal criminal statutes, referred to as the “HIPAA All-Payor Fraud Prohibition,” that prohibit knowingly and willfully
executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and making false statements relating to healthcare matters;
the federal transparency laws, including the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which was part of the ACA, that
require manufacturers of certain drugs and biologics to track and disclose payments and other transfers of value they make
to U.S. physicians and teaching hospitals as well as physician ownership and investment interests in the manufacturer, and
that such information is subsequently made publicly available in a searchable format on a CMS website;
provisions of HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and its
implementing regulations, which imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of
individually identifiable health information; 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, state transparency reporting and
compliance laws; 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 which may not have the same effect, thus complicating
compliance efforts.
The ACA broadened the reach of the fraud and abuse laws by, among other things, amending the intent requirement of the
federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the applicable criminal healthcare fraud statutes contained within 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b. Pursuant
to the statutory amendment, a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it in
order to have committed a violation. In addition, the ACA provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or
services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the civil
False Claims Act or the civil monetary penalties statute. Many states have adopted laws similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute,
some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare items or services reimbursed by any source, not only the Medicare and
Medicaid programs.
The federal False Claims Act prohibits anyone from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, for
payment to federal programs (including Medicare and Medicaid) claims for items or services that are false or fraudulent. Although we
would not submit claims directly to payors, manufacturers can be held liable under these laws if they are deemed to “cause” the
submission of false or fraudulent claims by, for example, providing inaccurate billing or coding information to customers or
promoting a product off-label. In addition, our future activities relating to the reporting of wholesaler or estimated retail prices for our
products, the reporting of prices used to calculate Medicaid rebate information and other information affecting federal, state, and third-
party reimbursement for our products, and the sale and marketing of our products, are subject to scrutiny under this law. For example,
pharmaceutical companies have been prosecuted under the federal False Claims Act in connection with their alleged off-label
promotion of drugs, purportedly concealing price concessions in the pricing information submitted to the government for government
price reporting purposes, and allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal
health care programs for the product. Penalties for a False Claims Act violation include three times the actual damages sustained by
the government, plus mandatory civil penalties for each separate false claim, the potential for exclusion from participation in federal
healthcare programs, and, although the federal False Claims Act is a civil statute, conduct that results in a False Claims Act violation
may also implicate various federal criminal statutes. In addition, private individuals have the ability to bring actions under the federal
False Claims Act and certain states have enacted laws modeled after the federal False Claims Act.
Medical Devices
Through our subsidiary, Polymed, we currently market in-vitro diagnostic rapid test kits used in the performance of clinical
laboratory tests (limited to drugs of abuse and pregnancy testing in the U.S.) pursuant to clearance under Section 510(k) of the FDCA
by the FDA. These products and our operations are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other federal and state authorities
in the United States, as well as comparable authorities in foreign jurisdictions. Our test kits are subject to regulation as medical
devices in the United States under the FDCA, and related regulations enforced by the FDA. The FDA regulates, among other things,
the development, design, non-clinical and clinical research, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, packaging, storage, installation,
servicing, recordkeeping, premarket clearance or approval, import, export, adverse event reporting, advertising, promotion, marketing
and distribution of medical devices to ensure that medical devices distributed domestically are safe and effective for their intended
uses and otherwise meet the requirements of the FDCA.
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In addition, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, established quality standards for laboratory
testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test was performed. Pursuant to
CLIA, the FDA categorizes diagnostic tests into three categories based on their complexity in the testing process and risk of harm in
reporting erroneous results: (1) waived tests, (2) moderate complexity tests, and (3) high complexity tests. Laboratories that perform
only waived tests and hold a Certificate of Waiver under CLIA (including most physician office laboratories) are subject to minimal
regulation as compared with laboratories that perform moderate or high complexity tests. To obtain a CLIA waived categorization for
diagnostic tests that are intended for home use or for use by laboratories holding a Certificate of Waiver, we must demonstrate to FDA
that the tests are simple to use with a low risk of error. Foreign countries may require similar or more onerous approvals to
manufacture or market our products or to allow the use of our products in certain settings. Most of our test strips are categorized as
CLIA waived, but some of our test strips are categorized as moderate in complexity.
FDA Premarket Clearance and Approval Requirements
Unless an exemption applies, each medical device commercially distributed in the United States requires either FDA clearance
of a 510(k) premarket notification submission, granting of a de novo classification request, or approval of a premarket approval
application, or PMA. Under the FDCA, medical devices are classified into one of three classes—Class I, Class II or Class III—
depending on the degree of risk associated with each medical device. Class I includes devices with the lowest risk to the patient and
are subject to the FDA’s general controls for medical devices, which include compliance with the applicable portions of the Quality
System Regulation, or QSR, facility registration and product listing, reporting of adverse medical events, and truthful and non-
misleading labeling, advertising, and promotional materials. Class II devices are subject to the FDA’s general controls, and special
controls as deemed necessary by the FDA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device. These special controls can include
performance standards, post-market surveillance, patient registries and FDA guidance documents.
Most Class I devices are exempt from the 510(k) requirements. Manufacturers of most Class II devices are required to submit to
the FDA a premarket notification under Section 510(k) of the FDCA requesting permission to commercially distribute the device. The
FDA’s permission to commercially distribute a device subject to a 510(k) premarket notification is generally known as 510(k)
clearance. Devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risks, such as life sustaining, life supporting or some implantable devices,
or devices that have a new intended use, or use advanced technology that is not substantially equivalent to that of a legally marketed
device, are placed in Class III, requiring approval of a PMA. Our currently marketed products are Class II devices subject to 510(k)
clearance.
510(k) Marketing Clearance and De Novo Pathways
To obtain 510(k) clearance, a premarket notification submission must be submitted to the FDA demonstrating that the proposed
device is “substantially equivalent” to a predicate device. A predicate device is a legally marketed device that is not subject to
premarket approval, i.e., a device that was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 (pre-amendments device) and for which a PMA is
not required, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class II or I, or a device that was found substantially equivalent
another device cleared through the 510(k) process. The FDA’s 510(k) review process usually takes from three to six months, but may
take longer. The FDA may require additional information, including clinical data, to make a determination regarding substantial
equivalence.
If the FDA agrees that the device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device, it will grant 510(k) clearance to market the
device. If the FDA determines that the device is “not substantially equivalent” to a previously cleared device, the device is
automatically designated as a Class III device. The device sponsor must then fulfill more rigorous PMA requirements, or can request a
risk-based classification determination for the device in accordance with the “de novo” process, which may determine that the new
device is of low to moderate risk and that it can be appropriately be regulated as a Class I or II device. If a de novo request is granted,
the device may be legally marketed and a new classification is established. If the device is classified as Class II, the device may serve
as a predicate for future 510(k) submissions.
PMA Approval Pathway
Class III devices require PMA approval before they can be marketed. The PMA process is more demanding than the 510(k)
process. In a PMA the manufacturer must demonstrate that the device is safe and effective, and the PMA must be supported by
extensive data, including data from preclinical studies and human clinical trials. The FDA will approve the new device for commercial
distribution if it determines that the data and information in the PMA constitute valid scientific evidence and that there is reasonable
assurance that the device is safe and effective for its intended use(s). The FDA may approve a PMA with post-approval conditions
intended to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device, including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale
and distribution, and collection of long-term follow-up data from patients in the clinical trial that supported PMA approval or
requirements to conduct additional clinical trials post-approval. Failure to comply with the conditions of approval can result in
material adverse enforcement action, including withdrawal of the approval.
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Our products are not currently subject to PMA requirements. However, we may in the future develop devices that will require
the submission of a PMA, or FDA may find that some of our proposed uses are not substantially equivalent to previously cleared and
marketed devices, and thus a PMA is required.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are almost always required to support a PMA and are sometimes required to support a 510(k) submission. All
clinical investigations of devices to determine safety and effectiveness must be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s
investigational device exemption, or IDE, regulations which govern investigational device labeling, prohibit promotion of the
investigational device, and specify an array of recordkeeping, reporting and monitoring responsibilities of study sponsors and study
investigators. If the device presents a “significant risk,” to human health, as defined by the FDA, the FDA requires the device sponsor
to submit an IDE application to the FDA, which must be approved prior to commencing human clinical trials. A significant risk device
is one that presents a potential for serious risk to the health, safety or welfare of a patient and either is implanted, used in supporting or
sustaining human life, substantially important in diagnosing, curing, mitigating or treating disease or otherwise preventing impairment
of human health, or otherwise presents a potential for serious risk to a subject. An IDE application must be supported by appropriate
data, such as animal and laboratory test results, showing that it is safe to test the device in humans and that the testing protocol is
scientifically sound. The IDE will automatically become effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA unless the FDA notifies us that the
investigation may not begin. If the FDA determines that there are deficiencies or other concerns with an IDE for which it requires
modification, the FDA may permit a clinical trial to proceed under a conditional approval.
During a clinical trial, the sponsor is required to comply with applicable FDA requirements, and the clinical investigators are
also subject to FDA’s regulations. Both must comply with GCPs, which among other things require that informed consent be obtained
from each research subject, that the investigational plan and study protocol be followed, that the disposition of the investigational
device be controlled, and that reporting and recordkeeping requirements are followed. Additionally, after a trial begins, we, the FDA
or the IRB could suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the risks to study subjects
outweigh the anticipated benefits. Even if a clinical trial is completed, there can be no assurance that the data generated during a
clinical trial will meet the safety and effectiveness endpoints or otherwise produce results that will lead the FDA to grant marketing
clearance or approval.
Post-Market Regulation
After a device is cleared or approved for marketing, numerous and pervasive regulatory requirements continue to apply. These
include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
establishment registration and device listing with the FDA;
Quality System Regulation, or QSR, requirements, which require manufacturers, including third-party manufacturers, to
follow stringent design, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of the
design and manufacturing process;
labeling regulations and requirements related to promotional activities, including FDA prohibitions against the promotion
of investigational products, or ”off-label” uses of cleared or approved products;
clearance or approval of product modifications to 510(k)-cleared devices that could significantly affect safety or
effectiveness or that would constitute a major change in intended use of one of our cleared devices;
medical device reporting requirements, which require that a manufacturer report to the FDA if a device it markets may
have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, or has malfunctioned and the device or a similar device that it
markets would be likely to cause or contribute to a death or serious injury, if the malfunction were to recur;
correction, removal and recall reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA field corrections
and product recalls or removals if undertaken to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the
FDCA that may present a risk to health;
the FDA’s mandatory recall authority, whereby the agency can order device manufacturers to recall from the market a
product that is in violation of governing laws and regulations; and
post-market surveillance activities and regulations, which apply when deemed by the FDA to be necessary to protect the
public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device.
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Our manufacturing processes are required to comply with the applicable portions of the QSR, which cover the methods and the
facilities and controls for the design, manufacture, testing, production, processes, controls, quality assurance, labeling, packaging,
distribution, installation and servicing of finished devices intended for human use. The QSR also requires, among other things,
maintenance of a device master file, device history file, and complaint files. As a manufacturer, we and our third-party manufacturers
are subject to periodic scheduled or unscheduled inspections by the FDA. Our failure to maintain compliance with the QSR
requirements could result in the shut-down of, or restrictions on, our manufacturing operations and the recall or seizure of our product.
The discovery of previously unknown problems with our product, including unanticipated adverse events or adverse events of
increasing severity or frequency, whether resulting from the use of the device within the scope of its clearance or off-label by a
physician in the practice of medicine, could result in restrictions on the device, including the removal of the product from the market
or voluntary or mandatory device recalls.
New Legislation and Regulations
From time to time, legislation is drafted, introduced and passed in Congress that could significantly change the statutory
provisions governing the testing, approval, manufacturing, marketing, coverage and reimbursement of products regulated by the FDA
or other government agencies. In addition to new legislation, FDA and healthcare fraud and abuse and coverage and reimbursement
regulations and policies are often revised or interpreted by the agency in ways that may significantly affect our business and our
products. In particular, we expect that the current presidential administration and U.S. Congress will continue to seek to modify,
repeal, or otherwise invalidate all, or certain provisions of, the ACA. Most recently, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted, which,
among other things, removes penalties for not complying with the individual mandate to carry health insurance. There is still
uncertainty with respect to the impact President Trump’s administration and the U.S. Congress may have, if any, and any changes will
likely take time to unfold. Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenues from therapeutic candidates that we may
successfully develop and for which we may obtain regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to
develop therapeutic candidates. However, we cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare reform legislation
or the impact of potential legislation on us.
Furthermore, in the U.S., the health care industry is subject to political, economic, and regulatory influences. Initiatives to
reduce the federal budget and debt and to reform health care coverage are increasing cost-containment efforts. We anticipate that
federal agencies, Congress, state legislatures, and the private sector will continue to review and assess alternative health care benefits,
controls on health care spending, and other fundamental changes to the healthcare delivery system. Any proposed or actual changes
could limit coverage for or the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for health care products and services, which could
also result in reduced demand for our products or additional pricing pressures, and limit or eliminate our spending on development
projects and affect our ultimate profitability. We are not able to predict whether further legislative changes will be enacted or whether
FDA or healthcare fraud and abuse or coverage and reimbursement regulations, guidance, policies or interpretations will be changed
or what the effect of such changes, if any, may be.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The FCPA prohibits any U.S. individual or business from corruptly offering, paying, promising, or authorizing the provision of
anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, foreign political party or official thereof, or candidate for foreign
political office to obtain or retain business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the United States to
comply with accounting provisions requiring the issuer to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all transactions
of the issuer and its controlled subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls.
Environment
We are subject to inspections by the FDA for compliance with cGMP and other U.S. regulatory requirements, including U.S.
federal, state and local regulations regarding environmental protection and hazardous and controlled substance controls, among others.
Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. We have
incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenditures to ensure we are in compliance with these laws and regulations. We
would be subject to significant penalties for failure to comply with these laws and regulations.
PRC Government Regulation
In the PRC, we operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. We are subject to a variety of PRC laws,
rules and regulations affecting many aspects of our business. This section summarizes the principal PRC laws, rules and regulations
relevant to our business and operations.
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Foreign Investment in Pharmaceutical Industry
The Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue (2015 Version), or the Foreign Investment Catalogue jointly
promulgated by the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC, and the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, in
March 2015 and effective in April 2015 and replaced the previous versions. The Foreign Investment Catalogue divides foreign
investments in the pharmaceutical industry into four categories: encouraged, permitted, restricted or prohibited. In September 2016,
the National People’s Congress Standing Committee adopted a decision on amending the law of foreign invested companies which
became effective from October 1, 2016. Upon the effectiveness of the decision, the establishment of the foreign invested enterprise
and its subsequent changes will be required to be filed with the relevant authorities instead of obtaining approvals from relevant
commerce authorities, except for the foreign invested enterprises which are subject to the special administrative measures regarding
foreign investment entry. In October 2016, NDRC and MOFCOM jointly issued a notice according to which the industries falling
within the categories in which foreign investment is prohibited or restricted and those falling within the encouraged category subject
to relevant requirements of equity or senior management under the Foreign Investment Catalogue, will be subject to the special
administrative measures for foreign investment entry.
General Regulations on China Food and Drug Administration
In the PRC, the CFDA monitors and supervises the administration of pharmaceutical products, as well as medical devices and
equipment. The CFDA’s primary responsibility includes evaluating, registering and approving new drugs, generic drugs, imported
drugs and traditional Chinese medicines; approving and issuing permits for the manufacture, export and import of pharmaceutical
products and medical appliances; approving the establishment of enterprises for pharmaceutical manufacture and distribution;
formulating administrative rules and policies concerning the supervision and administration of food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals;
and handling significant accidents involving these products. The local provincial drug administrative authorities are responsible for
supervision and administration of drugs within their respective administrative regions.
The PRC Drug Administration Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in 1984 and the
Implementing Measures of the PRC Drug Administration Law promulgated by the Ministry of Health, or the MOH, in 1989 set forth
the legal framework for the administration of pharmaceutical products, including the research, development and manufacturing of
drugs.
The PRC Drug Administration Law was revised in February 2001, December 2013, and again in April 2015 respectively. The
purpose of the revisions was to strengthen the supervision and administration of pharmaceutical products and to ensure the quality and
safety of those products for human use. The revised PRC Drug Administration Law applies to entities and individuals engaged in the
development, production, trade, application, supervision and administration of pharmaceutical products. It regulates and prescribes a
framework for the administration of pharmaceutical preparations of medical institutions and for the development, research,
manufacturing, distribution, packaging, pricing and advertisement of pharmaceutical products. Revised Implementing Measures of the
PRC Drug Administration Law promulgated by the State Council took effect in September 2002 and was revised in February 2016,
providing detailed implementing regulations for the revised PRC Drug Administration Law.
Under these regulations, we need to follow related regulations for preclinical research, clinical trials and production of new
drugs.
Good Laboratories Practice Certification for Preclinical Research
To improve the quality of preclinical research, the CFDA promulgated the Administrative Measures for Good Laboratories
Practice of Preclinical Laboratory in 2003 and began to conduct the certification program of GLP. Under the Certifying Measures for
Clinical Test Units, or CFDA Circular 44, promulgated in February 2004, the CFDA decides whether an institution is qualified for
undertaking pharmaceutical preclinical research upon the evaluation of the institution’s organizational administration, its research
personnel, its equipment and facilities and its operation and management of preclinical pharmaceutical projects. If all requirements are
met, a GLP Certification will be issued by the CFDA and the result will be published on the CFDA’s website.
Approval for Clinical Trials and Production of New Drugs
According to the Provisions for Drug Registration promulgated by the CFDA in 2007, the PRC Drug Administration Law, the
Provisions on the Administration of Special Examination and Approval of Registration of New Drugs, or the Special Examination and
Approval Provisions issued by the CFDA in 2009, and the Circular on Information Publish Platform for Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials
issued by the CFDA in 2013, we must comply with the following procedures and obtain several approvals for clinical trials and
production of new drugs.
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Clinical Trial Application
Upon completion of its preclinical research, a research institution must apply for approval of a Clinical Trial Application before
conducting clinical trials.
Domestic Category 1 New Drugs Are Eligible for Special Examination and Approval
According to the Provisions for Drug Registration, drug registration applications are divided into three different types, namely
Domestic New Drug Application, Domestic Generic Drug Application, and Imported Drug Application. Drugs fall into one of three
categories, namely chemical medicine, biological product, or traditional Chinese or natural medicine. The registrations of chemical
medicines are divided into six categories, among which, a Category 1 drug is a new drug that has never been marketed in any country.
All of our clinical-stage drug candidates qualify as domestic Category 1 new drugs.
In March 2016, the CFDA promulgated the Work Plan for Reforming the Chemical Medicines Registration Classification
System, under which, the registrations of chemical medicines are divided into five categories as follows:
Category 1: Innovative drugs that are not marketed both domestically and abroad. These drugs contain new compounds with
clear structures and pharmacological effects and they have clinical value.
Category 2: Modified new drugs that are not marketed both domestically and abroad. With known active components, the drug’s
structure, phase, prescription manufacturing process, administration route and indication are optimized and it has obvious clinical
advantage.
Category 3: The drugs that are imitated by domestic applicants to original drugs that have been marketed abroad but not
domestically. These kinds of drugs are supposed to have the same quality and effects with original drugs. Original drugs are the
foremost drugs that are approved to be marketed domestically and /or abroad with complete and full safety and validity data as
marketing evidence.
Category 4: The drugs that are imitated by domestic applicants to original drugs that have been marketed domestically. These
kinds of drugs are supposed to have the same quality and effects with original drugs.
Category 5: The drugs that have been marketed abroad are applied to be marketed domestically.
The registration of Category 1 or Category 2 drugs above will be subject to the requirements of Domestic New Drug
Application under the Provisions for Drug Registration, Domestic Generic Drug Application will be applicable to Category 3 or
Category 4 drugs registration, and Imported Drug Application will be applicable to Category 5 drugs registration. The applicants
whose registration applications for chemical medicines have been accepted by the CFDA before the date of promulgation of the Work
Plan for Reforming the Chemical Medicines Registration Classification System can choose to continue the applications process
according to the Provisions for Drug Registration or to comply with the new categories under the Work Plan for Reforming the
Chemical Medicines Registration Classification System
According to the Special Examination and Approval Provisions, the CFDA conducts special examination and approval for new
drugs registration application when:
(1)
(2)
(3)
active ingredients and their preparations extracted from plants, animals and minerals, and newly discovered medical
materials and their preparations have not been marketed in China;
the chemical raw material medicines as well as the preparations and biological products thereof haven’t been approved for
marketing home and abroad;
the new drugs are for treating AIDS, malignant tumors and rare diseases, etc., and have obvious advantages in clinic
treatment; or
(4)
the new drugs are for treating diseases with no effective methods of treatment.
The Special Examination and Approval Provisions provide that the applicant may file for special examination and approval at
the stage of Clinical Trial Application if the drug candidate falls within items (1) or (2), and for drug candidates that fall within
items (3) or (4), the application for special examination and approval must be made when filing for production.
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The registration of Category 1 or Category 2 drugs above will be subject to the requirements of Domestic New Drug
Application under the Provisions for Drug Registration, Domestic Generic Drug Application will be applicable to Category 3 or
Category 4 drugs registration, and Imported Drug Application will be applicable to Category 5 drugs registration. The applicants
whose registration applications for chemical medicines have been accepted by the CFDA before the date of promulgation of the
Reform Plan Regarding the Category of the Registration of Chemical Medicines can choose to continue the applications process
according to the Provisions for Drug Registration or to comply with the new categories under the Reform Plan Regarding the Category
of the Registration of Chemical Medicines.
We believe that certain of our products fall within items (2) and (3) above. Therefore, we may file an application for special
examination and approval at the Clinical Trial Application stage, which may enable us to pursue a more expedited path to approval in
China and bring therapies to patients more quickly.
The Advantages of Category 1 New Drugs over Category 5 Drugs
Under the Provisions for Drug Registration and the Work Plan for Reforming the Chemical Medicines Registration
Classification System, Category 5 drugs are drugs which have already been marketed abroad by multinational companies, but are not
yet approved in China and Category 5 drug registration will be subject to the requirements of the Imported Drug Application.
Compared with the application for Category 5 drugs, the application for Category 1 domestic new drugs has a more straight-forward
registration pathway. According to the Special Examination and Approval Provisions, where a special examination and approval
treatment is granted, the application for clinical trial and manufacturing will be handled with priority and with enhanced
communication with the Center for Drug Evaluation of the CFDA, or the CDE, which will establish a working mechanism for
communicating with the applicants. If it becomes necessary to revise the clinical trial scheme or make other major alterations during
the clinical trial, the applicant may file an application for communication. When an application for communication is approved, the
CDE will arrange the communication with the applicant within one month.
In comparison, according to the Provisions for Drug Registration, the registration pathway for Category 5 drugs is complicated
and evolving. Category 5 drug applications may be submitted after a company obtains an NDA approval and receive the CPP granted
by a major regulatory authority, such as the FDA or the EMA. Multinational companies may need to apply for conducting MRCTs,
which means that companies do not have the flexibility to design the clinical trials to fit the Chinese patients and standard-of-care.
Category 5 drug candidates may not qualify to benefit from fast track review with priority at the Clinical Trial Application stage.
Moreover, a requirement to further conduct local clinical trials can potentially delay market access by several years from its
international NDA approval.
Adjustment on the Administration of Imported Drug Registration
On October 10, 2017, the CFDA promulgated the Decision on Adjusting Relevant Matters Concerning the Administration of
Imported Drug Registration, effective as of the date of its promulgation, which stipulates that, among others, (1) simultaneous research
and application are allowed, meaning that, in the case of a clinical trial concerning a drug subject thereto to be conducted at an
international multi-center clinical trial (“IMCCT”) in the PRC, Phase 1 clinical trials of the drug are allowed simultaneously, and the
requirement that the drug subject to the clinical trial need to have been previously registered overseas or to have entered a Phase 2 or
Phase 3 clinical trial shall not apply, except for preventative biological products; (2) the drug registration procedure is to be optimized,
meaning that, upon the completion of a clinical trial at an IMCCT in the PRC, an applicant may directly file a drug registration
application; and (3) for a new chemical drug or an innovative therapeutic biological drug for which a clinical trial or market
registration is made, in each case as an imported drug, the requirement that such drug has received an overseas license issued by the
country or region where the drug’s overseas pharmaceutical manufacturer is located shall not apply.
Changes to the Review and Approval Process
In August 2015, the State Council issued a statement, Opinions on Reforming the Review and Approval Process for
Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Devices, which contained several potential policy changes that could benefit the pharmaceutical
industry:
•
•
A plan to accelerate innovative drug approval with a special review and approval process, with a focus on areas of high
unmet medical needs, including drugs for HIV, cancer, serious infectious diseases, orphan diseases and drugs on national
priority lists.
A plan to adopt a policy which would allow companies to act as the marketing authorization holder and to hire contract
manufacturing organizations to produce drug products.
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•
A plan to improve the review and approval of clinical trials, and to allow companies to conduct clinical trials at the same
time as they are in other countries and encourage local clinical trial organizations to participate in international multi-
center clinical trials.
In November 2015, the CFDA released the Circular Concerning Several Policies on Drug Registration Review and Approval,
which further clarified the following policies potentially simplifying and accelerating the approval process of clinical trials:
•
•
A one-time umbrella approval procedure allowing approval of all phases of a new drug’s clinical trials at once, rather than
the current phase-by-phase approval procedure, will be adopted for new drugs’ clinical trial applications.
A fast track drug registration or clinical trial approval pathway will be available for the following applications:
(1) registration of innovative new drugs treating HIV, cancer, serious infectious diseases and orphan diseases;
(2) registration of pediatric drugs; (3) registration of geriatric drugs and drugs treating China-prevalent diseases;
(4) registration of drugs sponsored by national science and technology grants; (5) registration of innovative drugs using
advanced technology, using innovative treatment methods, or having distinctive clinical benefits; (6) registration of
foreign innovative drugs to be manufactured locally in China; (7) concurrent applications for new drug clinical trials
which are already approved in the U.S. or European Union, or concurrent drug registration applications for drugs which
have applied for marketing authorization and passed onsite inspections in the U.S. or European Union and are
manufactured using the same production line in China; and (8) clinical trial applications for drugs with urgent clinical
need and patent expiry within three years, and marketing authorization applications for drugs with urgent clinical need and
patent expiry within one year.
In March 2016, the CFDA issued the Interim Provisions on the Procedures for Drug Clinical Trial Data Verification that
provides procedural rules for CFDA’s on-site verification of clinical data before drug approvals.
Also in February 2016, the CFDA published the Opinions on Implementing a Prioritized Review System to Avoid Drug Review
Backlogs, which introduces a prioritized review and approval pathway to clinical trial applications and registration applications of
certain drugs as part of CFDA’s ongoing reform of its current drug review and approval system.
The CFDA issued the Procedures for Priority Examination and Approval of Medical Devices, or the Procedures on October 25,
2016, which shall come into effect on January 1, 2017. The Procedures, composed of 17 articles, specify that the priority in
examination and approval shall be given, in relation to the applications of registering Class-III domestic, or Class-II and Class-III
imported medical devices, when those applications fall within such categories as diagnosis or treatment of rare disease or malignant
tumor with significant clinical advantage. According to the Procedures, the medical device technical evaluation center of the CFDA
will tentatively decide on the applicants applying for their project given priority examination and approval, names of their products
and the reception numbers and disclose such information on its website for a period of no less than five working days. The Procedures
provide that for projects given priority in examination and approval, the medical device technical evaluation center shall communicate
with applicants in an active way as required by applicable provisions in the course of evaluating relevant technologies, and may
arrange for special talks when necessary; food and drug administrative departments at provincial level shall take the review of the
registered quality management system of medical devices as priority; and the CFDA will prioritize their administrative examination
and approval.
PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and Its Implementation
The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or EIT Law, and its implementation rules provide that from January 1, 2008, a uniform
income tax rate of 25% is applied equally to domestic enterprises as well as foreign investment enterprises, and permit certain High
and New Technologies Enterprises, or HNTEs, to enjoy preferential enterprise income tax rates subject to these HNTEs meeting
certain qualification criteria.
The EIT Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax at the rate of 10% is applicable to dividends and other
distributions payable by a PRC resident enterprise to investors who are “non-resident enterprises” (that do not have an establishment
or place of business in the PRC, or that have such establishment or place of business but the relevant dividend or other distribution is
not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business). However, pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland
and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with
respect to Taxes on Income effective on December 8, 2006, the withholding tax rate for dividends paid by a PRC resident enterprise is
5% if the Hong Kong enterprise owns at least 25% of the capital of the PRC enterprise; otherwise, the dividend withholding tax rate is
10%. According to the Notice of the PRC State Administration of Taxation on Issues relating to the Administration of the Dividend
Provision in Tax Treaties promulgated on February 20, 2009 and effective on the same day, the corporate recipient of dividends
distributed by PRC enterprises must satisfy the direct ownership thresholds at all times during the 12 consecutive months preceding
the receipt of the dividends. The PRC State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice on How to Understand and Identify the
Owner of Benefits in the PRC-HK Tax Agreement on October 27, 2009. Pursuant to these regulations and the Administrative
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Measures for Tax Treaty Treatment for Non-Resident Taxpayers promulgated by the PRC State Administration of Taxation in August,
2015, non-resident enterprises are required to file information sheets to the competent tax authorities in order to enjoy the favorable
treatments under the treaties. However, the relevant tax authorities may check and verify at their discretion, and if a company is
deemed to be a pass-through entity rather than a qualified owner of benefits, it cannot enjoy the favorable tax treatments provided in
the tax arrangement. In addition, if transactions or arrangements are deemed by the relevant tax authorities to be entered into mainly
for the purpose of enjoying favorable tax treatments under the tax arrangement, such favorable tax treatments may be subject to
adjustment by the relevant tax authorities in the future.
On July 27, 2011, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation
issued the Notice on the Relevant Tax Policies for the Implementation of the Strategy of Extensive Development of the Western
Regions, under which from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020, a reduced enterprise income tax rate of 15% is applicable to the
enterprises set up in the western regions as designated by the relevant PRC regulations with their main business in the encouraged
industries. The encouraged industries are those listed in the Catalog of Encouraged Industries in the Western Regions as promulgated
by NDRC. To qualify for the reduced tax rate, an enterprise must derive 70 percent or more of its revenue from the business listed in
the Catalog of Encouraged Industries in the Western Regions.
Regulations Relating to Business Tax and Value-added Tax
Pursuant to the Temporary Regulations on Business Tax, which were promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993
and effective on January 1, 1994, as amended on November 10, 2008 and effective January 1, 2009, any entity or individual
conducting business in a service industry is generally required to pay business tax at the rate of 5% on the revenues generated from
providing such services.
In November 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, promulgated the Pilot Plan for
Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax, or the Pilot Plan. Since January 2012, the SAT has been implementing the
Pilot Plan, which imposes value-added tax, or VAT, in lieu of business tax for certain industries in Shanghai. The Pilot Plan was
expanded to other regions, including Beijing, in September 2012, and was further expanded nationwide beginning August 1, 2013.
VAT is applicable at a rate of 6% in lieu of business taxes for certain services and 17% for the sale of goods and provision of tangible
property lease services. VAT payable on goods sold or taxable services provided by a general VAT taxpayer for a taxable period is the
net balance of the output VAT for the period after crediting the input VAT for the period. In March 2016, the Ministry of Finance and
SAT jointly issued the Notice on Adjustment of Transfer Business Tax to Value Added Tax effective from May 2016, according to
which PRC tax authorities have started imposing VAT on revenues from various service sectors, including real estate, construction,
financial services and insurance, as well as other lifestyle service sectors, replacing the business tax.
Four Phases of Clinical Trials
A clinical development program consists of Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4. Phase 1 refers to the initial clinical pharmacology and safety
evaluation studies in humans. Phase 2 refers to the preliminary evaluation of a drug candidate’s therapeutic effectiveness and safety
for particular indication(s) in patients, provide evidence and support for the design of Phase 3 clinical trial, and settle the
administrative dose regimen. Phase 3 refers to clinical trials undertaken to confirm the therapeutic effectiveness of a drug. Phase 3 is
used to further verify the drug’s therapeutic effectiveness and safety on patients with target indication(s), to evaluate overall benefit-
risk relationships of the drug, and ultimately to provide sufficient evidence for the review of drug registration application. Phase 4
refers to a new drug’s post-marketing study to assess therapeutic effectiveness and adverse reactions when the drug is widely used, to
evaluate overall benefit-risk relationships of the drug when used among general population or specific groups, and to adjust the
administration dose, etc.
New Drug Application
When Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the clinical trials have been completed, the applicant must apply to the CFDA for approval of a new
drug application. The CFDA then determines whether to approve the application according to the comprehensive evaluation opinion
provided by the CDE of the CFDA. We must obtain approval of a new drug application before our drugs can be manufactured and
sold in the PRC market.
Good Manufacturing Practice
All facilities and techniques used in the manufacture of products for clinical use or for sale in the PRC must be operated in
conformity with cGMP guidelines as established by the CFDA. Failure to comply with applicable requirements could result in the
termination of manufacturing and significant fines.
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Animal Test Permits
According to Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals promulgated by the State Science
and Technology Commission in November 1988, as revised in January 2011 and July 2013, and Administrative Measures on the
Certificate for Animal Experimentation promulgated by the State Science and Technology Commission and other regulatory
authorities in January 2001, performing experimentation on animals requires a Certificate for Use of Laboratory Animals. Applicants
must satisfy the following conditions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Laboratory animals must be qualified and sourced from institutions that have Certificates for Production of Laboratory
Animals;
The environment and facilities for the animals’ living and propagating must meet state requirements;
The animals’ feed and water must meet state requirements;
The animals’ feeding and experimentation must be conducted by professionals, specialized and skilled workers, or other
trained personnel;
The management systems must be effective and efficient; and
The applicable entity must follow other requirements as stipulated by the PRC laws and regulations.
We obtained a Certificate for Use of Laboratory Animals in 2012 regarding the scope of rats and mice.
Regulations Relating to Intellectual Property Rights
Patent
Pursuant to the Patent Law of the PRC and its implementation rules, patents in the PRC fall into three categories, namely
invention patent, utility model and design patent. Invention patent refers to a new technical solution proposed in respect of a product,
method or its improvement; utility model refers to a new technical solution that is practicable for application and proposed in respect
of the shape, structure or a combination of both of a product; and design patent refers to the new design of a certain product in shape,
pattern or a combination of both and in color, shape and pattern combinations aesthetically suitable for industrial application. Under
the Patent Law of the PRC, the term of patent protection starts from the date the patent was filed. Patents relating to inventions are
effective for twenty years from the initial date the patent application was filed, and the term for utility model and designed patents is
ten years from the initial date the patent application was filed. The Patent Law of the PRC adopts the principle of “first to file,” which
means where more than one person files a patent application for the same invention, a patent will be granted to the person who first
filed the application.
Existing patents can become invalid or unenforceable due to a number of factors, including known or unknown prior art,
deficiencies in patent application and lack of novelty in technology. In the PRC, a patent must have novelty, innovation and practical
application. Under the Patent Law of PRC, novelty means that before a patent application is filed, no identical invention or utility
model has been publicly disclosed in any publication in the PRC or abroad or has been publicly used or made known to the public by
any other means, whether in or outside of China, nor has any other person filed with the patent authority an application that describes
an identical invention or utility model and is published after the filing date. Patents in the PRC are filed with the State Intellectual
Property Office, or SIPO. Normally, the SIPO publishes an application for a pharmaceutical invention 18 months after the application
is filed, which may be shortened upon request by the applicant. The applicant must apply to the SIPO for a substantive examination
within three years from the date the application is filed.
Article 20 of the Patent Law of the PRC provides that, for an invention or utility model completed in China, any applicant (not
just Chinese companies and individuals), before filing a patent application outside of China, must first submit it to the SIPO for a
confidential examination. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the denial of any Chinese patent for the subject
invention. This added requirement of confidential examination by the SIPO has raised concerns by foreign companies who conduct
research and development activities in the PRC or outsource research and development activities to service providers in the PRC.
Patent Enforcement
Unauthorized use of patents without consent from owners of patents, forgery of the patents belonging to other persons, or
engagement in other infringement acts against patent rights, will subject the infringers to tortious liabilities. Serious offences may be
subject to criminal penalties.
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When a dispute arises as a result of infringement of the patent owner’s patent right, PRC law requires that the parties first
attempt to settle the dispute through consultation between them. However, if the dispute cannot be settled through consultation, the
patent owner, or an interested party who believes the patent is being infringed, may either file a civil legal suit or file an administrative
complaint with the relevant patent administration authority under the SIPO. A PRC court may issue a preliminary injunction upon the
patent owner’s or an interested party’s request before instituting any legal proceedings or during the proceedings. Damages for
infringement are calculated as either the loss suffered by the patent holder arising from the infringement or the benefit gained by the
infringer from the infringement. If it is difficult to ascertain damages in this manner, damages may be determined by using a
reasonable multiple of the license fee under a contractual license. As in other jurisdictions, with one notable exception, the patent
owner in the PRC has the burden of proving that the patent is being infringed. However, if the owner of a manufacturing process
patent alleges infringement of its patent, the alleged infringer has the burden of proving that it has not infringed. To our knowledge,
there are no disputes as to our infringement of any third party’s patent.
Medical Patent Compulsory License
According to the Patent Law of the PRC, the SIPO may grant a compulsory license for manufacturing patented drugs and
exporting them to countries or regions covered under relevant international treaties to which the People’s Republic of China has
acceded.
Exemptions for Unlicensed Manufacture, Use and Import of Patented Drugs
According to the Patent Law of the PRC, any person may manufacture, use or import patented drugs for the purpose of
providing information required for administrative examination and approval without authorization granted by the patent owner.
Trade Secrets
According to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the PRC, the term “trade secrets” refers to technical information and business
information that is unknown to the public, that has utility and may create business interest or profit for its legal owners or holders, and
that is maintained as a secret by its legal owners or holders.
Under this law, business persons are prohibited from employing the following methods to infringe trade secrets: (1) obtaining
the trade secrets from the legal owners or holders by any unfair methods such as stealing, solicitation or coercion; (2) disclosing, using
or permitting others to use the trade secrets obtained illegally under item (1) above; or (3) disclosing, using or permitting others to use
the trade secrets, in violation of any contractual agreements or any requirements of the legal owners or holders to keep such trade
secrets in confidence. If a third party knows or should have known of the above-mentioned illegal conduct but nevertheless obtains,
uses or discloses trade secrets of others, the third party may be deemed to have committed a misappropriation of the others’ trade
secrets. The parties whose trade secrets are being misappropriated may petition for administrative corrections, and regulatory
authorities may stop any illegal activities and fine infringing parties in the amount of RMB 10,000—200,000. Alternatively, persons
whose trade secrets are being misappropriated may file lawsuits in a PRC court for loss and damages caused by the misappropriation.
The measures to protect trade secrets include oral or written agreements or other reasonable measures to require the employees
of, or persons in business contact with, legal owners or holders to keep trade secrets confidential. Once the legal owners or holders
have asked others to keep trade secrets confidential and have adopted reasonable protection measures, the requested persons bear the
responsibility for keeping the trade secrets confidential.
Recently Issued Policies on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
On November 4, 2016, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council jointly issued a Guideline
on Improving the Property Rights Protection System and Providing Law-based Protection to Property Rights (the “Guideline”),
effective on the date of its release. The Guideline proposes that the country will provide equal, comprehensive and law-based
protection to all kinds of property rights and requires that the punishment of intellectual property rights violations should be
strengthened and the limits on compensation for violating intellectual property rights laws should be increased. In addition, the
Guideline proposes to explore the establishment of infringement punitive compensation system for such intellectual property rights as
patent and copyright, including allowing for punitive damages for serious malicious tort. The Guideline also stipulates to perfect the
foreign-related intellectual property rights enforcement mechanism, and strengthen the international cooperation in criminal case
enforcement and investigation in foreign-related intellectual property crimes. On November 28, 2016, the Supreme People’s Court
released the Implementation Opinions on Appropriately and Lawfully Handling Long-standing Historical Property Rights Cases and
the Opinions on Giving Full Play to Judicial Functions to Enhance Judicial Protection of Property Rights (the “Opinions”), effective
on the date of their releases. The Opinions stipulate that, among others, efforts shall be made to crack down on intellectual property
rights infringement and crimes in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, provide stronger judicial protection to intellectual
property rights, introduce judicial interpretations and guiding cases in due time, promote the lawful application of the punitive
compensation system, and impose severer punishments on chain-type and industrialized crimes against intellectual property rights.
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Regulations Relating to Environmental Protection
China has adopted extensive environmental laws and regulations with national and local standards for emissions control,
discharge of waste water and storage and transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials. At the national level, the relevant
environmental protection laws and regulations include the PRC Environmental Protection Law, the PRC Law on the Prevention and
Control of Air Pollution, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, the PRC Law on the Promotion of Clean
Production, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Solid
Waste Pollution, the PRC Recycling Economy Promotion Law, the PRC Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, the
Administrative Regulations on the Levy and Use of Discharge Fees and the Measures for the Administration of the Charging Rates for
Pollutant Discharge Fees. In recent years, the PRC Government has introduced a series of new policies designed to generally promote
the protection of the environment. For instance, on November 10, 2016, the General Office of the State Council has released the
Implementing Plan for the Permit System for Controlling the Discharge of Pollutants (the “Plan”). The Plan proposes the need of
instituting a system for enterprises and public institutions to control their respective total amount of pollutants discharged, which shall
be connected with the environmental impact assessment system organically. The Plan also stipulates that it is necessary to regulate the
orderly issuance of pollutant discharge permits, to make a name list to manage the permission of pollutant discharge, to promote the
administration of such permission system per industry, and to impose severer administration and control over enterprises and public
institutions located at such places where environment quality fails to reach relevant standards. Furthermore, the Plan requires that a
national pollutant discharge permit management information platform shall be established by 2017 to strengthen the information
disclosure and social supervision.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution
Foreign Exchange Regulation
The Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, most recently amended in August 2008, are the principal regulations
governing foreign currency exchange in China. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such
as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, may be made in foreign currencies without prior
approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. In
contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required when Renminbi is to be converted into a
foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans.
In August 2008, SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration
of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the
conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency-registered capital into Renminbi by restricting how the converted
Renminbi may be used. In addition, SAFE promulgated Notice on Issues concerning Further Clarifying and Regulating the Foreign
Exchange Administration under Some Capital Accounts, or Circular 45, on November 9, 2011 to clarify the application of SAFE
Circular 142. Under SAFE Circular 142 and Circular 45, Renminbi capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a
foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable government authority
and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the
Renminbi capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises. The use of such Renminbi capital
may not be changed without SAFE’s approval, and such Renminbi capital may not, in any case, be used to repay Renminbi loans
whose proceeds were not used. Furthermore, SAFE promulgated Notice on Issues Concerning Strengthening Administration of
Foreign Exchange Services in November 2010, which tightens the regulation over settlement of net proceeds from overseas offerings,
such as our initial public offering, and requires, among other things, the authenticity of settlement of net proceeds from offshore
offerings to be closely examined and the net proceeds to be settled in the manner described in our prospectus or otherwise approved by
our board of directors. Violations of these SAFE regulations may result in severe monetary or other penalties, including confiscation
of earnings derived from such violation activities, a fine of up to 30% of the RMB funds converted from the foreign invested funds or
in the case of a severe violation, a fine ranging from 30% to 100% of the Renminbi funds converted from the foreign-invested funds.
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In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration
Policies on Foreign Direct Investment, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to
this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign
exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of Renminbi proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC, and
remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the
approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was
not previously possible. In addition, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange
Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies
that the administration by the SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC will be conducted by
way of registration, and banks must process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the
registration information provided by SAFE and its branches.
Under the Circular of the SAFE on Further Improving and Adjusting the Policies for Foreign Exchange Administration under
Capital Accounts promulgated by the SAFE on January 10, 2014 and effective from February 10, 2014, administration over the
outflow of the profits by domestic institutions has been further simplified. In principle, a bank is no longer required to examine
transaction documents when handling the outflow of profits of no more than the equivalent of $50,000 by a domestic institution. When
handling the outflow of profits exceeding the equivalent of $50,000, the bank, in principle, is no longer required to examine the
financial audit report and capital verification report of the domestic institution, provided that it must examine, according to the
principle of transaction authenticity, the profit distribution resolution of the board of directors (or the profit distribution resolution of
the partners) relating to this profit outflow and the original copy of its tax record-filing form. After each profit outflow, the bank must
affix its seal to and endorsements on the original copy of the relevant tax record-filing form to indicate the actual amount of the profit
outflow and the date of the outflow.
On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming the Management Approach regarding the Settlement of
Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which became effective on June 1, 2015. According
to SAFE Circular 19, the foreign exchange capital of foreign-invested enterprises may be settled on a discretionary basis, meaning that
the foreign exchange capital in the capital account of a foreign-invested enterprise for which the rights and interests of monetary
contribution has been confirmed by the local foreign exchange bureau (or the book-entry registration of monetary contribution by the
banks) can be settled at the banks based on the actual operational needs of the foreign-invested enterprise. The proportion of such
discretionary settlement is temporarily determined as 100%. The Renminbi converted from the foreign exchange capital will be kept
in a designated account, and if a foreign-invested enterprise needs to make further payment from such account, it still must provide
supporting documents and go through the review process with the banks.
Furthermore, SAFE Circular 19 stipulates that the use of capital by foreign-invested enterprises must adhere to the principles of
authenticity and self-use within the business scope of enterprises. The capital of a foreign-invested enterprise and capital in RMB
obtained by the foreign-invested enterprise from foreign exchange settlement must not be used for the following purposes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
directly or indirectly used for the payment beyond the business scope of the enterprises or the payment prohibited by
relevant laws and regulations;
directly or indirectly used for investment in securities, unless otherwise provided by relevant laws and regulations;
directly or indirectly used for granting the entrusted loans in RMB, unless permitted by the scope of business, repaying the
inter-enterprise borrowing (including advances by the third party), or repaying the bank loans in RMB that have been sub-
lent to the third party; and/or
paying the expenses related to the purchase of real estate that is not for self-use, except for the foreign-invested real estate
enterprises.
On June 9, 2016, SAFE issued the Notice to Reform and Regulate the Administration Policies of Foreign Exchange Capital
Settlement to further reform foreign exchange capital settlement nationwide.
Our PRC subsidiaries’ distributions to the offshore parent and carrying out cross-border foreign exchange activities shall comply
with the various SAFE registration requirements described above.
Share Option Rules
Under the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control issued by the People’s Bank of China on
December 25, 2006, all foreign exchange matters involved in employee share ownership plans and share option plans in which PRC
citizens participate require approval from SAFE or its authorized branch. In addition, under the Notices on Issues concerning the
Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed
Companies, commonly known as SAFE Circular 7, or Share Option Rules, issued by the SAFE on February 15, 2012, PRC residents
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who are granted shares or share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to
(1) register with the SAFE or its local branches; (2) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas
listed company or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures
with respect to the share incentive plans on behalf of the participants; and (3) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in
connection with their exercise of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers. We have made and will to
continue to make efforts to comply with these requirements since the completion of our initial public offering in June 2017.
In addition, the State Administration of Taxation has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options or restricted
shares, including the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning Individual Income Tax in Relation to
Share Options, promulgated in August 2009. Under these circulars, the employees working in the PRC who exercise share options or
are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. The PRC subsidiaries of such overseas listed companies
have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold
individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If the employees fail to pay or the PRC subsidiaries fail
to withhold their income taxes in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries may face fines or sanctions
imposed by tax authorities or other PRC government authorities.
Regulation of Dividend Distribution
The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividend distribution by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are the
Company Law of the PRC, as amended, the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law and its implementation regulations, the
Cooperative Joint Venture Law and its implementation regulations and the Equity Joint Venture Law and its implementation
regulations. Under these laws, rules and regulations, foreign-invested enterprises may pay dividends only out of their accumulated
profit, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Both PRC domestic companies and
wholly-foreign owned PRC enterprises are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated after-tax profits each year,
if any, to fund certain capital reserve funds until the aggregate amount of these reserve funds have reached 50% of the registered
capital of the enterprises. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been
offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.
Labor Laws and Social Insurance
Pursuant to the PRC Labor Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-
time employees. All employers must comply with local minimum wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the
PRC Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative and criminal liability in the case of serious violations.
In addition, according to the PRC Social Insurance Law, employers like our PRC subsidiaries in China must provide employees
with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance,
medical insurance, and housing funds.
Rest of the World Regulation
For other countries outside of the United States and the PRC, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, drug
licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases the clinical trials must be conducted in accordance
with GCP requirements and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles having their origin in the Declaration of
Helsinki.
If we fail to comply with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines,
suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals, product recalls, seizure of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.
Employees
As of December 31, 2017, we had 471 full-time employees and 6 part-time employees. Of these, 186 are engaged in full-time
research and development and laboratory operations, 184 are engaged in manufacturing activities and 101 are engaged in full-time
selling, general and administrative functions. As of December 31, 2017, 41% of our personnel were located in the U.S. and 59% were
located in Asia. We have also engaged and may continue to engage independent consultants and contractors to assist us with our
operations. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have never
experienced any employment related work stoppages, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.
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Financial Information
We manage our operations and allocate resources in line with our three distinct reportable segments. Financial information
regarding our operations, assets and liabilities, including our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 and our
total assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, is included in our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Corporate Information
We were originally formed under the laws of the state of Delaware in November 2003 under the name Kinex Pharmaceuticals,
LLC. In December 2012, we converted from a limited liability company to a Delaware corporation, Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In
August 2015, we amended and restated our certificate of incorporation to change our name to Athenex, Inc. Our principal executive
offices are located at 1001 Main Street, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY 14203, and our telephone number is (716) 427-2950. Our website
address is www.athenex.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference
into this Annual Report, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this Annual Report.
Available Information
We file Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other information
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our filings with the SEC are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov and on our website under the “Investor Relations” tab as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such
material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
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Item 1A.
Risk Factors.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the following risk factors, as well as
the other information in this report, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. The
occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could harm our business, financial condition and results of
operations and growth prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part
of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital
Our primary clinical candidates are still in the development stage and have not yet received regulatory approval, which may make
it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future performance.
We are a globally-focused biopharmaceutical company formed in November 2003. Our operations to date have focused on
organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, establishing our intellectual property portfolio and conducting
preclinical studies and clinical trials of our drug candidates. We have not yet successfully completed large-scale, pivotal clinical trials,
or obtained regulatory approvals for our drug candidates and have not yet established sales and marketing activities necessary for
successful commercialization. Consequently, any predictions you make about our future success or viability may not be accurate. In
addition, as a developing business, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and
unknown challenges.
We are focused on the discovery and development of innovative drugs for the treatment of cancers. The fact that we have not
yet, among other things, demonstrated our ability to initiate or complete large-scale clinical trials or manufacture drugs at commercial
scale, particularly in light of the rapidly evolving cancer treatment field, may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and
predict our future performance. These constraints make any assessment of our future success or viability subject to significant
uncertainty. We will encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by early-stage companies in rapidly evolving fields as we
seek to transition to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. If we do not address these risks and difficulties
successfully, our business will suffer.
We incurred net losses in 2017, 2016 and 2015 and anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future.
Investment in pharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront costs and
expenses and significant risk that a drug candidate will fail to gain regulatory approval or become commercially viable. Since our
formation, the company has relied on a combination of private securities offerings, public-private partnerships, the issuance of
convertible notes and public grants to fund our operations. We have devoted most of our financial resources to research and
development, including our non-clinical development activities and clinical trials. We have not generated substantial revenue from
product sales to date, and we continue to incur significant development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. As a
result, we incurred losses in 2017, 2016 and 2015. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we reported net losses of
$131.2 million, $87.9 million and $50.7 million, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of $326.3 million as of December 31,
2017. Substantially all of our operating losses have resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research and development
programs and from selling, general and administrative expenses associated with our operations.
We expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect these losses to increase as we continue our
development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our drug candidates, and begin to commercialize approved drugs, if any. Typically,
it takes many years to develop a new drug before it is available for treating patients. We may encounter unforeseen expenses,
difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. The size of our future net losses
will depend, in part, on the rate of future growth of our expenses, our ability to generate revenue and the timing and amount of
milestones and other required payments to third parties in connection with our potential future arrangements with third parties. If any
of our drug candidates fail in clinical trials or do not gain regulatory approval, or if approved, fail to achieve market acceptance, we
may never become profitable. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent
periods. Our prior losses and expected future losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our shareholders’ equity
and working capital.
We expect our research and development expenses to continue to be significant in connection with our continued investment in
our drug candidates and our ongoing and planned clinical trials for our drug candidates. Furthermore, if we obtain regulatory approval
for our drug candidates, we expect to incur increased selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, as a public company,
we incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant and
increasing operating losses and negative cash flows from operations for the foreseeable future. These losses have had and will
continue to have a material adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity, financial position, cash flows and working capital.
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Our ability to continue as a going concern will require us to obtain additional financing to fund our current operations, which may
be unavailable on acceptable terms, or at all.
Our recurring losses from operations and our current operating plans raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a
going concern. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph in its report on our
consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 with respect to this uncertainty. Our ability to
continue as a going concern will require us to obtain additional financing to fund our current operating plans. We believe that our
existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our current operating plans through at least the
end of 2018. We have based these estimates, however, on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could spend our available
financial resources much faster than we currently expect and need to raise additional funds sooner than we anticipate. If we are unable
to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and drug
development programs or commercialization efforts.
We currently do not generate substantial revenue from product sales and may never become profitable.
Our ability to generate revenue and become profitable depends upon our ability to successfully complete the development of,
and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for, our proprietary drug candidates, as we currently only have commercialized our API
products, such including paclitaxel and docetaxel, and specialty products, such as medical testing kits. Our product sales of API
totaled $15.4 million, $15.3 million and $ 9.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our
specialty products launched in March 2017 and sales reached a total of $17.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. We
expect to continue to incur substantial and increasing losses through the projected development and commercialization of our drug
candidates. None of our proprietary drug candidates have been approved for marketing in the U.S., China or any other jurisdiction,
and they may never receive such approval. Our ability to achieve revenue and profitability is dependent on our ability to complete the
development of our proprietary drug candidates, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, and have our proprietary drugs manufactured
and successfully marketed.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of our proprietary drug candidates for commercial sale, we do not know when they will
generate revenue, if at all. Our ability to generate revenue from product sales of our drug candidates depends on a number of factors,
including our ability to:
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complete research regarding, and non-clinical and clinical development of, our proprietary drug candidates;
formulate appropriate dosing protocols, drug preparations and capsule encapsulation methods;
obtain regulatory approvals and marketing authorizations for drug candidates for which we complete clinical trials;
develop a sustainable and scalable manufacturing processes, including establishing and maintaining commercially viable
supply relationships with third parties and establishing our own manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure;
compliantly launch and commercialize proprietary drug candidates for which we obtain regulatory approvals and
marketing authorizations, either directly or with a collaborator or distributor;
obtain market acceptance of our proprietary drug candidates and their routes of administration as viable treatment options;
obtain adequate coverage and reimbursement for our proprietary drug candidates from government (including U.S. federal
healthcare programs) and private payors;
identify, assess, acquire and/or develop new proprietary drug candidates;
address any competing technological and market developments;
negotiate and maintain favorable terms in any collaboration, licensing or other arrangements into which we may enter;
maintain, protect and expand our portfolio of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets and know-how;
ability to successfully commercialize our 503B outsourcing facility products and U.S. specialty pharmaceutical products;
ability to further develop our API business; and
attract, hire and retain qualified personnel.
In addition, because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, we are unable to predict the
timing or amount of increased expenses, or when, or if, we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. In addition, our expenses
could increase beyond expectations if we are required by the FDA, CFDA, or regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions to perform
studies in addition to those that we currently anticipate. Even if our proprietary drug candidates are approved for commercial sale, we
anticipate incurring significant costs associated with the commercial launch of these drugs.
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Our ability to become and remain profitable depends on our ability to generate revenue. Even if we are able to generate revenue
from the sale of our drug candidates and API we manufacture for others, we may not become profitable and may need to obtain
additional funding to continue operations. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis,
we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce our operations. Even if we do achieve
profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the
value of our company and could impair our ability to raise capital, expand our business or continue our operations. Failure to become
and remain profitable may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to raise capital and continue
operations. A decline in the value of our company could also cause you to lose all or part of your investment.
We will need to obtain additional financing to fund our operations, and if we are unable to obtain such financing, we may be
unable to complete the development and commercialization of our drug candidates.
We have financed our operations with a combination of private securities offerings, public-private partnerships, issuance of
convertible notes and public grants. Through February 28, 2018, we have been funded from over $250.0 million in private financings
and $132.3 million in our public offerings. In addition, we have entered into public-private partnerships with an estimated aggregate
value of $375.0 million. Our drug candidates will require the completion of regulatory review, significant sales and marketing efforts
and substantial investment before they can provide us with any product sales revenue.
Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. The net cash used for our operating activities was
$81.5 million, $47.9 million and $33.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. We expect to
continue to spend substantial amounts on advancing the clinical development of our proprietary drug candidates, and launching and
commercializing any proprietary drug candidates for which we receive regulatory approval, including building our own commercial
organizations to address certain markets.
We will need to obtain additional financing to fund our future operations, including completing the development and
commercialization of our proprietary drug candidates. We also need to obtain additional financing to conduct additional clinical trials
for the approval of our proprietary drug candidates if requested by regulatory bodies, and completing the development of any
additional proprietary drug candidates we might discover. Moreover, our research and development expenses and other contractual
commitments are substantial and are expected to increase in the future.
Our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-
looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors, including the
factors discussed elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong,
and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Our future funding requirements will depend on
many factors, including, but not limited to:
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the progress, timing, scope and costs of our clinical trials, including the ability to timely enroll patients in our planned and
potential future clinical trials;
the outcome, timing and cost of regulatory approvals by the FDA, CFDA and regulatory authorities in jurisdictions where
we seek such approvals, including the possibility that the FDA, CFDA or regulatory authorities may require that we
perform more studies than those that we currently expect;
our ability to secure adequate coverage and reimbursement for our proprietary drug candidates from government
(including U.S. federal health care programs) and private payors;
the number and characteristics of drug candidates that we may in-license and develop;
our ability to successfully and compliantly launch and commercialize our drug candidates;
the amount of sales and other revenues from drug candidates that we may commercialize, if any, including the selling
prices for such potential products and the availability of adequate reimbursement by third-party payors;
the amount of rebates or other price concessions we may owe under U.S. federal health care programs that cover and
reimburse our proprietary drug candidates;
the amount and timing of the milestone and royalty payments we receive from our collaborators under our licensing
arrangements;
the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;
selling and marketing costs associated with our potential products, including the cost and timing of expanding our
marketing and sales capabilities;
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the terms and timing of any potential future collaborations, licensing or other arrangements that we may establish;
cash requirements of any future acquisitions and/or the development of other drug candidates;
the costs of operating as a public company;
the cost and timing of completion of commercial-scale outsourced manufacturing activities;
the time and cost necessary to respond to technological and market developments; and
the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights.
Until we can generate a sufficient amount of revenue, we may finance future cash needs through public or private equity
offerings, debt financings, collaborations and strategic alliances. Additional funds may not be available when we need them on terms
that are acceptable to us, or at all. General market conditions or the market price of our common stock may not support capital raising
transactions such as an additional public or private offering of our common stock or other securities. In addition, our ability to raise
additional capital may be dependent upon our common stock being quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or upon obtaining
shareholder approval to issue a sufficient number of shares of our common stock. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
satisfy the criteria for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or that we will be able to obtain shareholder approval of
such stock issuances if it is necessary. If adequate funds are not available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be required to
delay or reduce the scope of, or eliminate, one or more of our research or development programs or our commercialization efforts. We
may seek to access the public or private capital markets whenever conditions are favorable, even if we do not have an immediate need
for additional capital at that time. In addition, if we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing,
distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue
streams or drug candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will not be sufficient to enable us to complete
all necessary development or commercially launch our proprietary drug candidates. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or
on attractive terms, we will be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future
commercialization efforts. Our inability to obtain additional funding when needed could seriously harm our business.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our shareholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our
technologies or drug candidates.
We may seek additional funding through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations and licensing
arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership
interest will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a holder of our
common stock. The incurrence of additional indebtedness or the issuance of certain equity securities could result in increased fixed
payment obligations and could also result in certain additional restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur
additional debt or issue additional equity, limitations on our ability to acquire or license intellectual property rights and other operating
restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. In addition, issuance of additional equity securities, or the
possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. In the event that we enter into collaborations
or licensing arrangements in order to raise capital, we may be required to accept unfavorable terms, including relinquishing or
licensing to a third party on unfavorable terms our rights to technologies or proprietary drug candidates that we otherwise would seek
to develop or commercialize ourselves or potentially reserve for future potential arrangements when we might be able to achieve more
favorable terms.
Certain of our executive officers and employees have received grants of stock options and shares of restricted stock, which vest
over time. Under certain circumstances, such vesting may be accelerated. The accelerated vesting of stock options and shares of
restricted stock could result in dilution to our existing stockholders and lower the market price of our common stock.
An impairment of goodwill could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Acquisitions frequently result in the recording of goodwill and other intangible assets. As of December 31, 2017, goodwill
represented $37.8 million, or 26.9% of our total assets, primarily as a result of our acquisitions of QuaDPharma, LLC, or
QuaDPharma, Comprehensive Drug Enterprises Limited, or CDE, and Polymed Therapeutics, Inc. and Chongqing Taihao
Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, collectively Polymed. Goodwill is not amortized and is subject to impairment testing at least annually using a
fair value based approach. The identification and measurement of goodwill impairment involves the estimation of the fair value of our
reporting units. The estimates of fair value of reporting units are based on the best information available as of the date of the
assessment and incorporate management assumptions about expected future cash flows and other valuation techniques. Future cash
flows can be affected by changes in industry or market conditions, among other factors. The recoverability of goodwill is evaluated at
least annually or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit has more
likely than not declined below its carrying value.
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We cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any future impairment of assets, and, going forward, we may be required
to take goodwill or other asset impairment charges relating to certain of our reporting units. Any such charges would have an adverse
effect on our financial results.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
We have incurred operating losses that are treated as taxable losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent that we
continue to generate taxable losses, unused losses will carry forward to offset future taxable income, if any, until such unused losses
expire. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if a corporation undergoes an ownership
change (generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage points change (by value) in its equity ownership over a rolling three-year
period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its
post-change income may be limited. We believe that we have experienced an ownership change in the past, which may affect our
ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards. In addition, we may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of
this offering or subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which are outside our control. As of December 31, 2017, we had
federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $196.6 million that could be limited by our past and any future ownership
change, which could have an adverse effect on our future results of operations. Similar limitations will apply to our ability to carry
forward any unused tax credits to offset future taxable income.
Risks Related to Clinical Development of Our Proprietary Drug Candidates
We depend substantially on the success of our proprietary drug candidates, which are in pre-clinical and clinical development.
As of the date of this Annual Report, we had a total of more than 40 planned, ongoing and completed clinical trials for our drug
candidates, including a Phase 2 and two Phase 3 clinical trials for KX-01 ointment and a Phase 3 clinical trial for Oraxol. Our business
and the ability to generate revenue related to product sales from our proprietary drug candidates will depend on the successful
development, regulatory approval and commercialization for the treatment of patients with our drug candidates, which are still in
development, and other drugs we may develop. Clinical development is a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome.
The results of pre-clinical studies and early clinical trials of our drug candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage
clinical trials. In the case of any trials we conduct, results have in the past, and may in the future, fail to meet the desired safety and
efficacy endpoints, or differ from earlier trials due to the larger number of clinical trial sites and additional countries and populations
involved in such trials. We have invested a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources in the development of our existing
drug candidates. The success of our proprietary drug candidates will depend on several factors, including:
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successful enrollment in, and completion of, clinical studies;
receipt of regulatory approvals from the FDA, CFDA and other regulatory authorities for our drug candidates;
establishing commercial manufacturing capabilities, either by using our own facilities or making arrangements with third-
party manufacturers;
conducting our clinical trials compliantly and efficiently, and in many cases, relying on third parties to do so;
obtaining, maintaining and protecting our rights in our intellectual property, including patent, trade secrets, know-how and
regulatory exclusivity;
ensuring we do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the patent, trade secret or other intellectual property
rights of third parties;
competition with other drug candidates and drugs, including existing IV chemotherapy treatments, potential oncology
biologics and other oral dosing technologies developed or being developed by competitors; and
continued acceptable safety profile for our drug candidates following regulatory approval, if and when received.
If we do not achieve one or more of these requirements in accordance with our business plans or at all, we could experience
significant delays in our ability to obtain approval for and/or to successfully commercialize our drug candidates, which would
materially harm our business and we may not be able to generate sufficient revenues and cash flows to continue our operations.
Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. For example, our
current lead product candidate, Oraxol, currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, has been in development by us since 2011. Failure can
occur at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of our drug candidates may
not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. Drug candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired
safety and efficacy traits despite having progressed through preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. In some instances, there can be
significant variability in safety and/or efficacy results between different trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors,
including changes in trial procedures set forth in protocols, differences in the size and type of the patient populations, including
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genetic differences, patient adherence to the dosing regimen and other trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial
participants. In the case of any trials we conduct, results may differ from early trials due to the larger number of patients, clinical trial
sites and additional countries and populations involved in such trials. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or adverse safety profiles,
notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. Our future clinical trial results may not be favorable.
We may not be successful in our efforts to identify or discover additional drug candidates. Due to our limited resources and access
to capital, we must and have in the past decided to prioritize development of certain product candidates; these decisions may prove
to have been wrong and may adversely affect our business.
To date, we have focused our drug discovery efforts on developing our cancer platform, particularly our Orascovery and Src
Kinase Inhibition product candidates. If our cancer platform fails to identify potential drug candidates, our business could be
materially harmed. Additionally our management, at the direction of our board of directors, has discretion in prioritizing which
product candidates to develop.
Research programs to pursue the development of our drug candidates for additional indications and to identify new drug
candidates and disease targets require substantial technical, financial and human resources whether or not we ultimately are
successful. Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential indications and/or drug candidates, yet fail to
yield results for clinical development for a number of reasons, including:
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the research methodology used may not be successful in identifying potential indications and/or drug candidates;
potential drug candidates may, after further study, be shown to lack efficacy, have harmful adverse effects or other
characteristics that indicate they are unlikely to be effective drugs; or
it may take greater human and financial resources to identify additional therapeutic opportunities for our drug candidates
or to develop suitable potential drug candidates through internal research programs than we possess, thereby limiting our
ability to diversify and expand our drug portfolio.
Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on research programs and drug candidates for specific
indications. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other drug candidates or for other indications that later
prove to have greater commercial potential or a greater likelihood of success. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to
capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify additional therapeutic opportunities for our drug
candidates or to develop suitable potential drug candidates through internal research programs, which could materially adversely
affect our future growth and prospects. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential drug candidates or other potential
programs that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful.
If we encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials, our clinical development activities could be delayed or
otherwise adversely affected.
The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with their protocols depends, among other things, on our ability to enroll a
sufficient number of patients who remain in the trial until its conclusion. We and our research partners have from time to time and
may in the future experience difficulties in patient enrollment in our clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including:
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the availability of a sizeable population of eligible patients;
the design of the trial;
our ability to recruit clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience;
competing clinical trials for similar therapies or other new therapeutics;
clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages and side effects of the drug candidate being studied in
relation to other available therapies,
our ability to obtain and maintain patient consents;
the failure of patients to complete a clinical trial; and
the availability of approved therapies that are similar in mechanism to our drug candidates.
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In addition, our clinical trials will compete with other clinical trials for drug candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as
our drug candidates, and this competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who
might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors. Because the
number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, we have conducted and expect to conduct some of our clinical trials at the same
clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which will reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials at
such clinical trial sites.
Even if we are able to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials, delays in patient enrollment may result in
increased costs or may affect the timing or outcome of the planned clinical trials, which could prevent completion of these trials and
adversely affect our ability to advance the development of our drug candidates.
Some of our drug candidates represent a novel approach to cancer treatment, which could result in delays in clinical development,
heightened regulatory scrutiny, delays in our ability to achieve regulatory approval or commercialization, or market acceptance by
physicians and patients of our drug candidates.
Some of our drug candidates, particularly those developed through our Orascovery platform, represent a departure from more
commonly used methods for cancer treatment, and therefore represent a novel approach that carries inherent development risks. For
instance, our Orascovery platform intends to facilitate the delivery of chemotherapy agents orally, as opposed to IV, while our Src
Kinase inhibitor candidates operate by a new mechanism of action. To develop our Orascovery platform, we must successfully
develop oral formulations of the active ingredients and ensure they can be delivered safely and consistently in capsule form. The need
to further develop or modify in any way the protocols related to our drug candidates to demonstrate safety or efficacy may delay the
clinical program, regulatory approval or commercialization, if approved. Our Src Kinase inhibitor platform is based on a novel
molecule with an additional mechanism of action that is not found in other Src Kinase inhibitors. Because of this, unexpected safety
and tolerability concerns may arise during the development process.
In addition, potential patients and their doctors may be inclined to use conventional standard-of-care treatments rather than
enroll patients in any future clinical trial or to use our product candidates commercially once approved. This may have a material
impact on our ability to generate revenues from our drug candidates. Further, given the novelty of the administration of our drug
candidates, hospitals and physicians may prefer traditional treatment methods, may be reluctant to adopt the use of our products or
may require a substantial amount of education and training, any of which could delay or prevent acceptance of our products by
physicians and patients and materially hinder successful commercialization of our drug candidates.
Our products and product candidates may cause undesirable, or an increase in the frequency of, side effects that could delay or
prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences
following marketing approval, if any.
Undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt
clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA, CFDA or other
regulatory authorities. Further, if a product candidate receives marketing approval and we or others identify undesirable side effects
caused by the product after the approval, or if drug abuse is determined to be a significant problem with an approved product, a
number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:
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regulatory authorities may withdraw or limit their approval of the product;
regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “Black Box warning” or a
contraindication;
we may be required to change the way the product is distributed or administered, conduct additional clinical trials or
change the labeling of the product;
we may decide to remove the product from the marketplace;
we could be sued and held liable for injury caused to individuals exposed to or taking the product; and
our reputation may suffer.
Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected product candidate and
could substantially increase the costs of commercializing an affected product or product candidate and significantly impact our ability
to successfully commercialize or maintain sales of our product or product candidates and generate revenues.
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If clinical trials of our drug candidates fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of the FDA, CFDA or other
regulatory authorities or do not otherwise produce positive results, we may incur costs or experience delays in completing, or
ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of our drug candidates.
We may experience various unexpected events during, or as a result of, clinical trials that could delay or prevent our ability to
receive regulatory approval or commercialize our drug candidates, including:
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regulators, institutional review boards, or IRBs, or ethics committees may not authorize us or our investigators to
commence a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site;
clinical trials of our drug candidates may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may
require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon drug development programs;
the number of patients required for clinical trials of our drug candidates may be larger than we anticipate, enrollment may
be insufficient or slower than we anticipate or patients may drop out at a higher rate than we anticipate;
our third-party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a
timely manner, or at all;
we might have to suspend or terminate clinical trials of our drug candidates for various reasons, including a finding of a
lack of clinical response or a finding that participants are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;
regulators, IRBs or ethics committees may require that we or our investigators suspend or terminate clinical research for
various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements;
the cost of clinical trials of our drug candidates may be greater than we anticipate;
the supply or quality of our drug candidates or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials of our drug candidates
may be insufficient or inadequate; and
our drug candidates may cause adverse events, have undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics, causing
us or our investigators to suspend or terminate the trials.
If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other testing of our drug candidates beyond those that we currently
contemplate, if we are unable to successfully complete clinical trials of our drug candidates or other testing, if the results of these trials
or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive or if they raise safety concerns, we may:
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be delayed in obtaining regulatory approval for our drug candidates;
not obtain regulatory approval at all;
obtain approval for indications that are not as broad as intended;
have the drug removed from the market after obtaining regulatory approval;
be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements;
be subject to restrictions on how the drug is distributed or used; or
be unable to obtain reimbursement for use of the drug.
Delays in testing or approvals may result in increases in our drug development costs. We do not know whether any clinical trials
will begin as planned, will need to be restructured or will be completed on schedule, or at all.
Significant clinical trial delays also could shorten any periods during which we have the exclusive right to commercialize our
drug candidates or allow our competitors to bring drugs to market before we do and impair our ability to commercialize our drug
candidates and may harm our business and results of operations.
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Manufacturing risks, including our inability to manufacture API and clinical products used in the clinical trials of our proprietary
product candidates could adversely affect our ability to commercialize our product candidates.
Our business strategy depends on our ability to manufacture API in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis so as to meet our
needs to manufacture our product candidates for our clinical trials and to meet consumer demand for our future products, while
adhering to product quality standards, complying with regulatory requirements and managing manufacturing costs. We are subject to
numerous risks relating to our manufacturing capabilities, including:
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Our inability to manufacture API and clinical products in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of our clinical trials or to
commercialize our products;
our inability to secure product components in a timely manner, in sufficient quantities or on commercially reasonable
terms;
our failure to increase production of products to meet demand;
our inability to modify production lines to enable us to efficiently produce future products or implement changes in
current products in response to regulatory requirements;
difficulty identifying and qualifying alternative suppliers for components in a timely manner; and
potential damage to or destruction of our manufacturing equipment or manufacturing facility.
In addition, we conduct manufacturing operations at our facility in Chongqing, China to manufacture our proprietary product
candidates. As a result, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business in China, including:
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adverse political and economic conditions, particularly those negatively affecting the trade relationship between the U.S.
and China;
trade protection measures, such as tariff increases, and import and export licensing and control requirements;
potentially negative consequences from changes in tax laws;
difficulties associated with the Chinese legal system, including increased costs and uncertainties associated with enforcing
contractual obligations in China;
historically lower protection of intellectual property rights;
unexpected or unfavorable changes in regulatory requirements;
possible patient or physician preferences for more established pharmaceutical products and medical devices manufactured
in the U.S.; and
difficulties in managing foreign relationships and operations generally.
These risks are likely to be exacerbated by our limited experience with our current products and manufacturing processes. If, as
we expect, our need for API increases, or demand for our products increase, we will have to invest additional resources to purchase
components, hire and train employees, and enhance our manufacturing processes. If we fail to increase our production capacity
efficiently, our sales may not increase in line with our forecasts and our operating margins could fluctuate or decline. Any of these
factors may affect our ability to manufacture our product and could reduce our revenues and profitability.
Risks Related to Obtaining Regulatory Approval for Our Drug Candidates
The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, CFDA and other regulatory authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently
unpredictable, and if we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our drug candidates, our business will be
substantially harmed.
The time required to obtain approval by the FDA, CFDA and other regulatory authorities in jurisdictions where we seek such
approval is unpredictable but typically takes many years following the commencement of preclinical studies and clinical trials and
depends upon numerous factors, including the substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. In addition, approval policies,
regulations or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a drug candidate’s
clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions. We have not obtained regulatory approval for any drug candidate, and it is
possible that none of our existing drug candidates or any drug candidates we may discover, in-license or acquire and seek to develop
in the future will ever obtain regulatory approval.
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Our drug candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval from the FDA, CFDA or another regulatory authority for many
reasons, including:
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disagreement with the design or implementation of our clinical trials;
failure to demonstrate that a drug candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication;
failure of clinical trial results to meet the level of statistical significance required for approval;
failure to demonstrate that a drug candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;
disagreement with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials;
the insufficiency of data collected from clinical trials of our drug candidates to support the submission and filing of a new
drug application, or NDA, or other submission or to obtain regulatory approval;
the FDA, CFDA or another regulatory authority’s finding of deficiencies related to the product, manufacturing processes
or facilities of ours or of third-party manufacturers with whom we contract for clinical and commercial supplies; and
changes in approval policies or regulations that render our preclinical and clinical data insufficient for approval.
The FDA, CFDA or a regulatory authority in another jurisdiction may require more information, including additional preclinical
or clinical data, to support approval, which may delay or prevent approval and our commercialization plans, or we may decide to
abandon the development program. If we were to obtain approval, regulatory authorities may approve any of our drug candidates for
fewer or more limited indications than we request, may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical
trials, or may approve a drug candidate with a label that is not desirable for the successful commercialization of that drug candidate. In
addition, if our drug candidate produces undesirable side effects or safety issues, the FDA may require the establishment of Risk
Evaluation Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, or the CFDA or a regulatory authority may require the establishment of a similar strategy,
that may, for instance, restrict distribution of our drug candidates and impose burdensome implementation requirements on us. Any of
the foregoing scenarios could materially harm the commercial prospects of our drug candidates.
The approval process for pharmaceutical products outside the U.S. varies among countries and may limit our ability to develop,
manufacture and sell our products internationally. Failure to obtain marketing approval in international jurisdictions would
prevent our product candidates from being marketed abroad.
In order to market and sell our products internationally, we must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with
numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and may involve additional testing.
We may conduct clinical trials for, and seek regulatory approval to market, our product candidates in countries other than the U.S. and
the PRC. Depending on the results of clinical trials and the process for obtaining regulatory approvals in other countries, we may
decide to first seek regulatory approvals of a product candidate in countries other than the U.S., or we may simultaneously seek
regulatory approvals in the U.S. and other countries. If we seek marketing approval for a product candidate outside the U.S., we will
be subject to the regulatory requirements of health authorities in each country in which we seek approval. With respect to marketing
authorizations in China, we will be required to seek regulatory approval from the CFDA. The approval procedure varies among
regions and countries and may involve additional testing, and the time required to obtain approval may differ from that required to
obtain FDA approval.
Obtaining regulatory approvals from health authorities in countries outside the U.S. is likely to subject us to all of the risks
associated with obtaining FDA approval described above. In addition, marketing approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by the
health authorities of any other country, and marketing approvals by foreign health authorities do not ensure a similar approval by the
FDA.
We are conducting, and may in the future conduct, clinical trials for our product candidates in sites outside the U.S. and the FDA
may not accept data from trials conducted in such locations.
We have conducted, and may in the future conduct, certain of our clinical trials outside of the U.S. Although the FDA may
accept data from clinical trials conducted outside the U.S., acceptance of this data is subject to certain conditions imposed by the FDA.
There can be no assurance the FDA will accept data from any clinical trials we conduct outside of the U.S. If the FDA does not accept
the data from any of our clinical trials conducted outside the U.S., it would likely result in the need for additional clinical trials in the
U.S., which would be costly and time-consuming and could delay or prevent the commercialization of any of our product candidates.
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Regulatory approval may be substantially delayed or may not be obtained for one or all of our drug candidates for a variety of
reasons.
We may be unable to complete development of our drug candidates on schedule, if at all. The completion of the studies for our
drug candidates will require funding beyond our current resources. In addition, if regulatory authorities require additional time or
studies to assess the safety or efficacy of our drug candidates, we may not have or be able to obtain adequate funding to complete the
necessary steps for approval for any or all of our drug candidates. Preclinical studies and clinical trials required to demonstrate the
safety and efficacy of our drug candidates are time consuming and expensive and together take several years or more to complete. For
example, our current lead product candidate, Oraxol, currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, has been in development since 2011. Delays
in clinical trials, regulatory approvals or rejections of applications for regulatory approval in the U.S., Taiwan, New Zealand, China or
other jurisdictions may result from many factors, including:
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our inability to obtain sufficient funds required for a clinical trial;
regulatory requests for additional analyses, reports, data, non-clinical and preclinical studies and clinical trials;
regulatory questions regarding interpretations of data and results and the emergence of new information regarding our
drug candidates or other products;
clinical holds, other regulatory objections to commencing or continuing a clinical trial or the inability to obtain regulatory
approval to commence a clinical trial in countries that require such approvals;
failure to reach agreement with the FDA, CFDA or other regulators regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials;
delay or failure in obtaining authorization to commence a trial or inability to comply with conditions imposed by a
regulatory authority regarding the scope or design of a clinical trial;
our inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria in a clinical trial;
our inability to conduct a clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols;
clinical sites and investigators deviating from trial protocol, failing to conduct the trial in accordance with regulatory
requirements, or dropping out of a trial;
withdrawal of clinical trial sites from our clinical trials as a result of changing standards of care or the ineligibility of a site
to participate in our clinical trials;
inability to identify and maintain a sufficient number of trial sites, many of which may already be engaged in other
clinical trial programs, including some that may be for the same indication;
failure of our third-party clinical trial managers to satisfy their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines;
delay or failure in adding new clinical trial sites;
ambiguous or negative interim results, or results that are inconsistent with earlier results;
unfavorable or inconclusive results of clinical trials and supportive non-clinical studies, including unfavorable results
regarding effectiveness of drug candidates during clinical trials;
feedback from the FDA, CFDA, an IRB, data safety monitoring boards, or comparable entities, or results from earlier
stage or concurrent preclinical studies and clinical trials, that might require modification to the protocol;
unacceptable risk-benefit profile or unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects;
decision by the FDA, CFDA, an IRB, comparable entities, or the company, or recommendation by a data safety
monitoring board or comparable regulatory entity, to suspend or terminate clinical trials at any time for safety issues or for
any other reason;
failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a drug or biologic;
lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial due to unforeseen costs or other business decisions;
our inability to reach agreements on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and trial
sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and
trial sites;
our inability to obtain approval from IRBs or ethics committees to conduct clinical trials at their respective sites;
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manufacturing issues, including problems with manufacturing or timely obtaining from third parties sufficient quantities
of a drug candidate for use in a clinical trial; and
difficulty in maintaining contact with patients after treatment, resulting in incomplete data.
Changes in regulatory requirements and guidance may also occur, and we may need to amend clinical trial protocols submitted
to applicable regulatory authorities to reflect these changes. Amendments may require us to resubmit clinical trial protocols to IRBs or
ethics committees for re-examination, which may impact the costs, timing or successful completion of a clinical trial.
According to the Provisions for Drug Registration and the Reform Plan Regarding the Category of the Registration of Chemical
Medicines promulgated by the CFDA, the registrations of chemical medicines in China are divided into five categories, among which,
Category 1 means the registration of innovative drugs that are not marketed either domestically or abroad, and Category 5 for the
registration of drugs that have been marketed abroad and are being registered for marketing in the PRC for the first time. Our drug
candidates are all new therapeutic agents and we have built both research and development, clinical trial capacities, and commercial
manufacturing facilities in China. As a result, we expect all of our current drug candidates to fall within the Category 1 application
process, but cannot be sure we will be granted or be able to maintain Category 1 designation. We believe the local drug registration
pathway, Category 1, is a faster and more efficient path to obtain approval in the Chinese market than the drug registration pathway
for imported drugs under Category 5. Category 5 drug candidates may not qualify to benefit from fast track review with priority at the
Clinical Trial Application stage. Category 1 drugs receive special examination and approval treatment. The advantages of such
treatment include a separate pathway for Category 1 application to queue up for examination by the Center for Drug Evaluation of the
CFDA, or the CDE, and a working mechanism for communication with the applicants for discussion of relevant technical issues. The
applications for Category 1 drugs are handled with higher priority and enhanced communications with the CDE. Compared with
Category 5 drugs, Category 1 drugs are qualified to apply for special examination and approval at both the Clinical Trial Application
stage and the production registration application stage. If the special examination and approval are granted at the Clinical Trial
Application stage, such treatment will apply to the production registration application stage without further approval. During the
Clinical Trial Application stage, reduction or exemption of clinical trial may be available if Category 1 drugs are for orphan diseases
or other special diseases. The advantages also include, by providing priority resources, shortening time limits to review and exam
applications of Category 1 drugs’ clinical trials and of production registration, and to handle document submission and approval
process. We cannot be sure that the CFDA will grant such priority treatment to any of our drugs candidates. Please see “Business—
Government Regulation and Product Approval—PRC Government Regulation.”
If we experience delays in the completion of, or the termination of, a clinical trial, of any of our drug candidates, the commercial
prospects of our drug candidates will be harmed, and our ability to generate revenues from the sale of any of those drug candidates
will be delayed. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow down our drug candidate
development and approval process, and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues. Any of these
occurrences may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly. 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 our
drug candidates.
Our drug candidates have caused and may cause undesirable adverse events or have other properties that could delay or prevent
their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences
following any regulatory approval.
Undesirable adverse events caused by our drug candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt
clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA, CFDA or another
regulatory authority. Results of our trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity or prevalence of adverse events. In such an
event, our trials could be suspended or terminated and the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities could order us to cease further
development of, or deny approval of, our drug candidates for any or all targeted indications. Drug-related adverse events could affect
patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled subjects to complete the trial, and could result in potential product liability claims. Any of
these occurrences may significantly harm our reputation, business, financial condition and prospects.
In our clinical studies to date, we have observed the following serious adverse effects that were deemed to be possibly, likely or
definitely related to each of our product candidates:
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Oraxol - severe neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, sepsis, septic shock, altered state of consciousness, hypokalemia and
cardiac arrest, dehydration, pneumonia, death, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia, acute gastroenteritis;
Oratecan - diarrhea, rash, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, vomiting, nausea, asthenia, neutropenia, anorexia, increased
alanine aminotransferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase and enteritis;
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KX-01 oral - allergic reaction, bacteremia, rash, syncope, dermatitis, neutropenic fever, hyponatremia, failure to thrive,
hypersensitivity, lower extremity edema, mucositis, neutropenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, seizure and motor
vehicle accident, embolic stroke, pneumonitis, fever, acute kidney injury, increased bilirubin and albumin levels,
decreased blood platelet count, abdominal pain, arm pain, pyrexia, rigors, tachypenea, oxygen desaturation pneumonia,
anemia, elevated ALT and AST, dehydration and leukopenia; and
KX-02 - embolism.
Additionally, if one or more of our drug candidates receives regulatory approval, and we or others later identify undesirable side
effects caused by such drugs, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:
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we may suspend marketing of the drug;
regulatory authorities may withdraw approvals of the drug;
regulatory authorities may require additional warnings on the label;
we may be required to develop a REMS for the drug or, if a REMS is already in place, to incorporate additional
requirements under the REMS, or to develop a similar strategy as required by a regulatory authority;
we may be required to conduct post-marketing studies;
we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to subjects or patients; and
our reputation may suffer.
Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the particular drug candidate, if
approved, and could significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
We may seek Orphan Drug Designation for some of our drug candidates, and we may be unsuccessful.
We have received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for our KX-02 proprietary product candidate for treatment of
glioma. As part of our business strategy, we may seek Orphan Drug Designation for our product candidates and we may be
unsuccessful. Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the U.S. and Europe, may designate drugs for relatively small
patient populations as orphan drugs or medicines, respectively. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a drug as an
orphan drug if it is a drug intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined as a disease with a patient population
of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S., or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the U.S. where there is no reasonable
expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the U.S.
Generally, if a drug with an Orphan Drug Designation subsequently receives the first regulatory approval for the indication for
which it has such designation, the drug is entitled to a period of marketing exclusivity, which precludes the FDA from approving
another marketing application for the same drug for the same indication during the period of exclusivity, with certain limited
exceptions. Orphan designations for medicines in Europe also benefit from incentives such as reduced fees and protocol assistance.
The applicable post-approval exclusivity period is seven years in the U.S. and 10 years in Europe. The European exclusivity period
can be reduced to six years if a drug no longer meets the criteria for Orphan Drug Designation or if the drug is sufficiently profitable
so that market exclusivity is no longer justified. Orphan Drug Exclusivity may be lost if the FDA determines that the request for
designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the drug to meet the needs of
patients with the rare disease or condition.
Even if we obtain Orphan Drug Exclusivity for a drug candidate, exclusivity may not effectively protect the drug candidate from
competition because different drugs can be approved for the same condition and the same drugs can be approved for a different
condition but used off-label for any orphan indication we may obtain. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA may
subsequently approve a different drug for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is clinically superior in that it is
shown to be safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care.
Risks Related to Commercialization of Our Drug Candidates
If we are not able to obtain, or experience delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals, we will not be able to commercialize
our drug candidates, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.
We currently do not have any proprietary drug candidates that have gained regulatory approval for sale in the U.S., China or any
other country, and we cannot guarantee that we will ever obtain regulatory approval for marketable proprietary drugs. Our business is
substantially dependent on our ability to complete the development of, obtain regulatory approval for and successfully commercialize
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drug candidates in a timely manner. We cannot commercialize drug candidates without first obtaining regulatory approval to market
each drug from the FDA, CFDA or regulatory authorities in the relevant jurisdictions. Our proprietary drug candidates are currently
undergoing various phases of FDA clinical trials. We cannot predict whether these trials and future trials will be successful or whether
regulators will agree with our conclusions regarding the preclinical studies and clinical trials we have conducted to date.
Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any drug candidate for a target indication, we must
demonstrate in preclinical studies and well-controlled clinical trials, and, with respect to approval in the U.S., to the satisfaction of the
FDA, that the drug candidate is safe and effective for use for that target indication and that the manufacturing facilities, processes and
controls are adequate. An NDA must include extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish the drug
candidate’s safety and effectiveness. The NDA must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing and
controls for the drug. Obtaining approval of an NDA is a lengthy, expensive and uncertain process, and approval may not be obtained.
If we submit an NDA to the FDA, the FDA decides whether to accept or reject the submission for filing. We cannot be certain that any
submissions will be accepted for filing and review by the FDA.
Regulatory authorities outside of the U.S., such as the regulatory authorities in emerging markets, also have requirements for
approval of drugs for commercial sale with which we must comply prior to marketing in those areas. Regulatory requirements can
vary widely from country to country and could delay or prevent the introduction of our drug candidates. Clinical trials conducted in
one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries, and obtaining regulatory approval in one country does
not mean that regulatory approval will be obtained in any other country. Approval processes vary among countries and can involve
additional product testing and validation and additional administrative review periods. Seeking non-U.S. regulatory approval could
require additional non-clinical studies or clinical trials, which could be costly and time-consuming. The non-U.S. regulatory approval
process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval and other risks specific to the relevant jurisdiction. For all
of these reasons, we may not obtain non-U.S. regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all.
If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for our drug candidates in one or more jurisdictions, or any approval contains
significant limitations, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our drug candidates will
be harmed. Furthermore, if we are not able to obtain, or experience delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals, we will not be
able to commercialize our drug candidates, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.
Even if any of our drug candidates receives regulatory approval, they may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by
physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.
If any of our drug candidates receives regulatory approval, they may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient market acceptance by
physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community. For example, current cancer treatments like
chemotherapy and radiation therapy are well established in the medical community, and doctors may continue to rely on these
treatments to the exclusion of our drug candidates. In addition, physicians, patients and third-party payors may prefer other novel
products to ours, and we may experience difficulties gaining acceptance for our orally administered drug candidates. We are also
subject to regulatory restrictions on how we market our drug candidates. If our drug candidates do not achieve an adequate level of
acceptance, we may not generate significant product sales revenues and we may not become profitable. The degree of market
acceptance of our drug candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
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the clinical indications for which our drug candidates are approved;
physicians, hospitals, cancer treatment centers and patients considering our drug candidates as a safe and effective
treatment;
the potential and perceived advantages of our drug candidates over alternative treatments;
the prevalence and severity of any side effects;
product labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities;
limitations or warnings contained in the labeling approved by the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities;
the timing of market introduction of our drug candidates as well as competitive drugs;
the cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments;
the amount of upfront costs or training required for physicians to administer our drug candidates;
the availability of adequate coverage, reimbursement and pricing by third-party payors and government authorities
(including U.S. federal healthcare programs);
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the willingness of patients to pay out-of-pocket in the absence of coverage and reimbursement by third-party payors and
government authorities;
relative convenience and ease of administration, including as compared to alternative treatments and competitive
therapies; and
the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
If our drug candidates are approved but fail to achieve market acceptance among physicians, patients, hospitals, cancer
treatment centers or others in the medical community, we will not be able to generate significant revenue. Even if our drugs achieve
market acceptance, we may not be able to maintain that market acceptance over time if new products or technologies are introduced
that are more favorably received than our drugs, are more cost effective or render our drugs obsolete.
Even if we receive regulatory approval for our drug candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued
regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with
regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our drug candidates.
If our drug candidates are approved, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling,
packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies, and submission of safety,
efficacy, and other post-marketing information, including both federal and state requirements in the U.S. and requirements of
regulatory authorities.
Manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive requirements of the FDA, CFDA and
regulatory authorities, including, in the U.S., ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to current cGMP
regulations. As such, we and our contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with
cGMP and adherence to commitments made in any NDA or other marketing application, and previous responses to inspection
observations. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of
regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control.
Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our drug candidates may be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses
for which the drug may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing
testing, including Phase 4 clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the drug candidate. The FDA may also
require a REMS program as a condition of approval of one or more of our drug candidates, which could entail requirements for long-
term patient follow-up, a medication guide, physician communication plans or additional elements to ensure safe use, such as
restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. In addition, if the FDA, CFDA or a regulatory
authority approves our drug candidates, we will have to comply with requirements including, for example, submissions of safety and
other post-marketing information and reports, registration, and continued compliance with cGMPs and Good Clinical Practices, or
GCPs, for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval.
The FDA may impose consent decrees or withdraw approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not
maintained or if problems occur after the drug reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our drug
candidates, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with our third-party manufacturers or manufacturing
processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety
information; imposition of post-marketing studies or clinical studies to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution
restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:
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restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of our drugs, withdrawal of the product from the market, or voluntary or
mandatory product recalls;
fines, untitled or warning letters, or holds on clinical trials;
refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or suspension or
revocation of license approvals;
product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of our drug candidates; and
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placed on the market. Drugs may
be promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA, CFDA and
other regulatory authorities actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that
is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. The policies of the FDA, CFDA and of
other regulatory authorities may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay
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regulatory approval of our drug candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise
from future legislation or administrative action, either in the U.S. or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing
requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose
any regulatory approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
In addition, if we were able to obtain accelerated approval of any of our drug candidates, the FDA would require us to conduct a
confirmatory study to verify the predicted clinical benefit and additional safety studies. Other regulatory authorities outside the U.S.,
such as the CFDA, may have similar requirements. The results from the confirmatory study may not support the clinical benefit,
which would result in the approval being withdrawn. While operating under accelerated approval, we will be subject to certain
restrictions that we would not be subject to upon receiving regular approval.
We market certain medical devices that, if modified, may be subject to FDA clearance and failure to obtain such clearance could
adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
Through our subsidiary, Polymed, we currently market in-vitro diagnostic rapid test kits used in the performance of clinical
laboratory tests (limited to drugs of abuse and pregnancy testing in the U.S.) under 510(k) clearance by the FDA pursuant to
Section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. These products and our operations are subject to extensive regulation by
the FDA and other federal and state authorities in the United States, as well as comparable authorities in foreign jurisdictions. After a
device receives 510(k) marketing clearance, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would
constitute a major change or modification in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) marketing clearance or, depending on the
modification, Premarket Approval, or PMA. The FDA requires each manufacturer to determine whether the proposed change requires
submission of a 510(k) or a PMA in the first instance, but the FDA can review that decision and disagree with a manufacturer’s
determination. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s determination, the FDA can require the manufacturer to cease marketing
and/or request the recall of the modified device until 510(k) marketing clearance or PMA approval is obtained. Also, in these
circumstances, we may be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties. In the event we make additional product enhancements
to our 510(k)-cleared products, we cannot be assured that the FDA would agree with any of our decisions to not submit 510(k)
premarket notifications for these modified devices.
Our manufacturing experience is limited and any failure by us to manufacture our products for commercial sale after receiving
FDA approval would materially impact our revenue and financial condition.
The manufacture of drugs for commercial sale is subject to regulation by the FDA under cGMP regulations and by other
regulators under other laws and regulations. We cannot assure you that we will continue to manufacture our products under cGMP
regulations or other laws and regulations in sufficient quantities for commercial sale, or in a timely or economical manner.
Our manufacturing facilities require specialized personnel and are expensive to operate and maintain. Any delay in the
regulatory approval or market launch of product candidates to be manufactured in these facilities will require us to continue to operate
these expensive facilities and retain specialized personnel, which may increase our expected losses.
Through our public-private partnerships, additional cGMP manufacturing facilities for our use are currently being built in
Dunkirk, New York and Chongqing, China. Our facility in Dunkirk, New York is being built pursuant to an agreement with Fort
Schuyler Management Corporation, or FSMC, a not-for-profit corporation organized by the State of New York. Under the current
arrangement, we will select and hire contractors for the project and oversee the development of the Dunkirk facility. Empire State
Development, or ESD, the parent entity of FSMC, is responsible for the costs of construction and all equipment for the facility, up to
an aggregate of $200 million, and ESD, not us, will own the facility and equipment. We have limited experience in overseeing the
development of such a facility and we may not be able to complete the development within the timeframe expected, within the
expected budget, or at all. If development of the Dunkirk facility is delayed or not completed it could materially adversely affect our
operations and financial results.
Additionally, upon completion, both the Dunkirk and Chongqing facilities will need to be cGMP validated prior to operating.
Validation is a lengthy process that must be completed before we can manufacture under cGMP guidelines. We cannot guarantee that
the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies will approve any of the other facilities or, once they are approved, that such facilities will
remain in compliance with cGMP regulations.
The manufacture of pharmaceutical products is a highly complex process in which a variety of difficulties may arise from time
to time. We may not be able to resolve any such difficulties in a timely fashion, if at all. If anything were to interfere with the
continuing manufacturing operations in our facilities, it could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
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Currently, many of our product candidates are manufactured in small quantities for use in clinical trials. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to successfully scale up the manufacture of each of our product candidates in a timely or economical manner, or at
all. If any of these product candidates are approved by the FDA or other drug regulatory authorities for commercial sale, we will need
to manufacture them in larger quantities. If we are unable to successfully scale up our manufacturing capacity, the regulatory approval
or commercial launch of such product candidate may be delayed or there may be a shortage in supply of such product candidate.
If we fail to develop manufacturing capacity and experience, fail to continue to contract for manufacturing on acceptable terms,
or fail to manufacture our product candidates economically on a commercial scale or in accordance with cGMP regulations, our
development programs will be materially adversely affected. This may result in delays in receiving FDA or foreign regulatory
approval for one or more of our product candidates or delays in the commercial production of a product that has already been
approved. Any such delays could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
The manufacture of API is highly regulated by FDA, CFDA and other regulatory bodies and is subject to current good
manufacturing practice requirements and to inspection by such regulators, which may result in adverse findings and actions
against certain API manufacturing facilities.
API manufacturing facilities are subject to regulation by the applicable regulatory bodies in the place of manufacture as well as
the regulatory agency in the country to which the product is exported. For instance, FDA’s cGMP regulations apply to these facilities
and violation of these, or other, regulations may result in adverse action against the facility, including cessation of manufacturing
activities. Our API manufacturing facilities in Chongqing are also subject to regulation by the CFDA. If the FDA, CFDA or other
regulators discover a problem at one facility, we may be subject to increased scrutiny and/or adverse actions across our operations,
including fines or orders to cease manufacturing, which could have a material impact on our operations, clinical development,
business strategy or results of operations.
We have limited experience in marketing proprietary drug products. If we are unable to establish such marketing and sales
capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our proprietary drug candidates, we may not be able to
generate sales revenue from such products.
We have limited sales, marketing and commercial product experience. We intend to continue to develop our in-house
commercial organization and sales force for such products, which will require significant capital expenditures, management resources
and time. We will have to compete with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to recruit, hire, train and retain marketing
and sales personnel.
If we are unable to establish internal sales, marketing and commercial distribution capabilities for our proprietary drug
candidates, we will need to pursue collaborative arrangements for the sales and marketing of our proprietary drugs. However, there
can be no assurance that we will be able to establish or maintain such collaborative arrangements, or if we are able to do so, that they
will have effective sales forces. Any revenue we receive will depend upon the efforts of such third parties, which may not be
successful. We may have less control over the marketing and sales efforts of such third parties which may present fraud and abuse and
other regulatory considerations, and our revenue from product sales may be lower than if we had commercialized our proprietary drug
candidates ourselves. We also face competition in our search for third parties to assist us with the sales and marketing efforts of our
proprietary drug candidates.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to develop our in-house sales and commercial distribution capabilities or
establish or maintain relationships with third-party collaborators to successfully commercialize any proprietary product, and as a
result, we may not be able to generate sales revenue from such products.
We face substantial competition, and our competitors may discover, develop or commercialize competing drugs before or more
successfully than we do.
The development and commercialization of new drugs is highly competitive. We face competition with respect to our current
drug candidates, and will face competition with respect to any drug candidates that we may seek to develop or commercialize in the
future, from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide. There
are a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that currently market and sell drugs or are pursuing the
development of drugs for the treatment of the types of cancer for which we are developing our drug candidates. Some of these
competitive drugs and therapies are based on scientific approaches that are the same as or similar to our approach, and others are
based on entirely different approaches. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, government agencies and other public
and private research organizations that conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research,
development, manufacturing and commercialization.
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Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize drugs that are safer,
more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than any drugs that we may develop.
Our competitors also may obtain approval from the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities for their drugs more rapidly than we
may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter
the market and/or slow our regulatory approval.
Many of the companies against which we are competing or against which we may compete in the future have significantly
greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials,
obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved drugs than we do. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller
and other early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with
large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management
personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary
to, or necessary for, our programs.
Even if we are able to commercialize any drug candidates, the drugs may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third
party reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives, which could harm our business.
Successful sales of our drug candidates, if approved, depend on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from
third-party payors. Patients who are provided medical treatment for their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse
all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. Adequate coverage and reimbursement from governmental healthcare programs,
such as Medicare and Medicaid in the U.S., and commercial payors are critical to new drug acceptance.
The regulations that govern regulatory approvals, pricing and reimbursement for new therapeutic products vary widely from
country to country. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a drug before it can be marketed. In many countries, the
pricing review period begins after marketing or licensing approval is granted. In some non-U.S. markets, prescription pharmaceutical
pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we might obtain
regulatory approval for a drug in a particular country, but be subject to price regulations that delay our commercial launch of the drug
and negatively impact the revenues we are able to generate from the sale of the drug in that country. For example, according to the
guidance issued in March 2015 by the central government of the PRC, each province will decide which drugs to include in its
provincial major illness reimbursement lists and the percentage of reimbursement, based on local funding. Adverse pricing limitations
may hinder our ability to recover our investment in one or more drug candidates, even if our drug candidates obtain regulatory
approval. For example, in China, according to a statement, Opinions on reforming the review and approval process for
pharmaceutical products and medical devices, issued by the State Council in August 2015, the enterprises applying for new drug
approval will be required to undertake that the selling price of new drug on PRC mainland market shall not be higher than the
comparable market prices of the product in its country of origin or PRC’s neighboring markets, as applicable.
Our ability to commercialize any drugs successfully also will depend in part on the extent to which coverage and reimbursement
for these drugs and related treatments will be available from government health administration authorities, private health insurers and
other organizations. Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance
organizations, decide which medications they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels. Coverage and reimbursement by a
third-party payor may depend upon a number of factors, including the third-party payor’s determination that use of a drug is:
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a covered benefit under its health plan;
safe, effective and medically necessary;
appropriate for the specific patient;
cost-effective; and
neither experimental nor investigational.
We cannot be sure that reimbursement will be available for any drug that we commercialize and, if coverage and reimbursement
are available, what the level of reimbursement will be. Reimbursement may impact the demand for, or the price of, any drug for which
we obtain regulatory approval. Obtaining reimbursement for our drugs may be particularly difficult because of the higher prices often
associated with branded drugs and drugs administered under the supervision of a physician. If reimbursement is not available or is
available only at limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize any drug candidate that we successfully develop.
In the U.S., no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for drugs exists among third-party payors. As a result, obtaining
coverage and reimbursement approval of a drug from a government or other third-party payor is a time-consuming and costly process
that could require us to provide to each payor supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our drugs on a
payor-by-payor basis, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be obtained. Even if we obtain coverage for a
given drug, the resulting reimbursement payment rates might not be adequate for us to achieve or sustain profitability or may require
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co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Additionally, third-party payors may not cover, or provide adequate reimbursement
for, long-term follow-up evaluations required following the use of our drugs. However, under Medicare Part D—Medicare’s
outpatient prescription drug benefit—there are protections in place to ensure coverage and reimbursement for oncology products and
all Part D prescription drug plans are required to cover substantially all anti-cancer agents.
The State Council required central and provincial authorities across the PRC to promote a medical insurance program for major
illnesses, which targets covering at least 50% of the medical cost as incurred by treating major illnesses, but falls out of the coverage
of the basic insurance programs. The State Council requires provincial authorities to increase reimbursement rates over the next three
years.
We intend to seek approval to market our drug candidates in the U.S., China, and in other selected jurisdictions. If we obtain
approval in one or more non-U.S. jurisdictions for our drug candidates, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those
jurisdictions. In some non-U.S. countries, the pricing of drugs and biologics is subject to governmental control. In these countries,
pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after obtaining regulatory approval of a drug candidate.
In addition, market acceptance and sales of our drug candidates will depend significantly on the availability of adequate coverage and
reimbursement from third-party payors for our drug candidates and may be affected by existing and future health care reform
measures.
Recently enacted and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us to obtain regulatory approval of and
commercialize our drug candidates and affect the prices we may obtain.
In the U.S., China and certain other jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed
changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay regulatory approval of our drug candidates, restrict or regulate
post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell any drug candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval.
In the U.S., the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or the MMA, changed the way
Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly
and introduced a new reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for physician-administered drugs. In addition, this
legislation provided authority for limiting the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class. Cost reduction initiatives
and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and price that we receive for any approved products. While the
MMA only applies to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment
limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result
in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.
The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, included provisions to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of
healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add transparency requirements for the healthcare and health insurance
industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms.
Among the provisions of the ACA of importance to our potential drug candidates are the following:
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an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports specified branded prescription drugs and
biologics;
an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program;
expansion of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, new
government investigative powers, and enhanced penalties for noncompliance;
a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale
discounts off negotiated prices;
extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;
expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs;
expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service Act pharmaceutical pricing program;
requirements to report payments and other transfers of value made to physicians or teaching hospitals;
a requirement to annually report drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; and
a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical
effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.
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In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the U.S. since the ACA was enacted. These changes
included aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, starting in 2013. In January 2013, the
American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several providers, and
increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These
laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding.
We expect that the ACA, as well as other healthcare reform legislative measures that have been since adopted or may be
adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and an additional downward pressure on the price that we receive
for any approved drug. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar
reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may
prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize our drugs. In particular, we expect that the
current presidential administration and U.S. Congress will seek to modify, repeal, or otherwise invalidate all, or certain provisions of,
the ACA. Most recently, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted, which, among other things, removes penalties for not complying
with the individual mandate to carry health insurance. There is still uncertainty with respect to the impact President Trump’s
administration and the U.S. Congress may have, if any, and any changes will likely take time to unfold. Such reforms could have an
adverse effect on anticipated revenues from therapeutic candidates that we may successfully develop and for which we may obtain
regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop therapeutic candidates. However, we cannot
predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare reform legislation or the impact of potential legislation on us.
Other legislative and regulatory proposals have been made to expand post-approval requirements and restrict coverage and
reimbursement and sales and promotional activities, for pharmaceutical products. We cannot be sure whether additional legislative
changes will be enacted, or whether agencies such as the FDA or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will issue new
regulations, guidance or interpretations that may impact our drug candidates. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of
the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent regulatory approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product
labeling and post-marketing testing and other requirements.
We are subject, directly or indirectly, to applicable U.S. federal and state anti-kickback, false claims laws, physician payment
transparency laws, fraud and abuse laws or similar healthcare and privacy and security laws and regulations, which could expose
us to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.
Healthcare providers, physicians and others play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of our products and any
of our product candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. Our operations are subject to various federal and state fraud and
abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal False Claims Act and physician payment
transparency laws and regulations. These laws may impact, among other things, our proposed sales and marketing programs as well as
any patient support programs we may consider offering. In addition, we may be subject to patient privacy regulation by both the
federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:
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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving,
offering or paying any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in
cash or in kind, to induce, or in return for, either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, lease, order or
recommendation of any good, facility, item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a
federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, such as the federal False Claims Act which
imposes criminal and civil penalties, including civil whistleblower or qui tam actions, against individuals or entities for
knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment or approval from
Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent, including failure to timely return an
overpayment received from the federal government or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an
obligation to pay money to the federal government;
provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created new
federal criminal statutes referred to as the “HIPAA All-Payor Fraud Prohibition,” prohibit knowingly and willfully
executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or obtain, by means of false or
fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control
of, any healthcare benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private) and knowingly and willfully falsifying,
concealing or covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection
with the delivery of, or payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services relating to healthcare matters;
provisions of HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009
and their respective implementing regulations, which impose requirements on certain covered healthcare providers, health
plans, and healthcare clearinghouses as well as their respective business associates that perform services for them that
involve the use, or disclosure of, individually identifiable health information, relating to the privacy, security and
transmission of individually identifiable health information without appropriate authorization;
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the federal transparency requirements under the ACA, including the provision commonly referred to as the Physician
Payments Sunshine Act, which requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which
payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services information related to all payments or other transfers of value made to
physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate
family members unless a specific exclusion applies; and
federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that
potentially harm consumers.
Additionally, we are subject to state and non-U.S. equivalents of each of the healthcare laws described above, among others,
some of which may be broader in scope and may apply regardless of the payor. Many U.S. states have adopted laws similar to the
Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare services reimbursed by any source, not
just governmental payors, including private insurers. In addition, some states have passed laws that require pharmaceutical companies
to comply with the April 2003 Office of Inspector General Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and/or
the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Several states also
impose other marketing restrictions or require pharmaceutical companies to make marketing or price disclosures to the state. There are
ambiguities as to what is required to comply with these state requirements and if we fail to comply with an applicable state law
requirement we could be subject to penalties.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that
some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. In addition, recent health care reform
legislation has strengthened these laws. For example, the ACA, among other things, amends the intent requirement of the federal Anti-
Kickback and criminal healthcare fraud statutes. As a result of such amendment, a person or entity no longer needs to have actual
knowledge of these statutes or specific intent to violate them in order to have committed a violation. Moreover, the ACA provides that
the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute
constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.
Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including penalties, fines and/or
exclusion or suspension from federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and debarment from contracting
with the U.S. government. In addition, private individuals have the ability to bring actions on behalf of the U.S. government under the
Federal False Claims Act as well as under the false claims laws of several states.
Law enforcement authorities are increasingly focused on enforcing these laws, and it is possible that some of our practices may
be challenged under these laws. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable
healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our
business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or
other healthcare laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or
asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of civil, criminal and
administrative penalties, damages, disgorgement, monetary fines, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and
other federal healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of
our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. In addition, the
approval and commercialization of any of our drug candidates outside the U.S. will also likely subject us to non-U.S. equivalents of
the healthcare laws mentioned above, among other non-U.S. laws.
If any of the physicians or other providers or entities with whom we expect to do business is found to be not in compliance with
applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded
healthcare programs.
Lastly, political, economic, and regulatory influences are subjecting the health care industry in the United States to fundamental
change. Initiatives to reduce the federal budget and debt and to reform health care coverage are increasing cost-containment efforts.
We anticipate that federal agencies, Congress, state legislatures, and the private sector will continue to review and assess alternative
health care benefits, controls on health care spending, and other fundamental changes to the healthcare delivery system. Any proposed
or actual changes could limit coverage for or the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for health care products and
services, which could also result in reduced demand for our products or additional pricing pressures, and limit or eliminate our
spending on development projects and affect our ultimate profitability.
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We intend to market our drugs, if approved, in a variety of international markets and we are exploring the licensing of
commercialization rights or other forms of collaboration worldwide, which exposes us to additional risks of conducting business in
additional international markets.
We conduct business operations in regions including the U.S., China, Taiwan and New Zealand, and non-U.S. markets are an
important component of our growth strategy. If we fail to obtain licenses or enter into collaboration arrangements with third parties in
these markets, or if these parties are not successful, our revenue-generating growth potential will be adversely affected.
Moreover, international business relationships subject us to additional risks that may materially adversely affect our ability to
attain or sustain profitable operations, including:
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initiatives to develop an international sales, marketing and distribution organization may increase our expenses, divert our
management’s attention from the acquisition or development of drug candidates or cause us to forgo profitable licensing
opportunities in these geographies;
efforts to enter into collaboration or licensing arrangements with third parties in connection with our international sales,
marketing and distribution efforts may increase our expenses or divert our management’s attention from the acquisition or
development of drug candidates;
changes in a specific country’s or region’s laws, regulations or political and cultural climate or economic condition;
differing regulatory requirements for drug approvals and marketing internationally;
difficulty of effective enforcement of contractual provisions and intellectual property rights in local jurisdictions;
potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights;
potential third-party patent rights;
unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers and regulatory requirements, such as Export Administration Regulations
promulgated by the U.S. Department of Commerce and fines, penalties or suspension or revocation of export privileges;
economic weakness, including inflation or political instability, particularly in non-U.S. economies and markets;
compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees traveling abroad;
the effects of applicable non-U.S. tax structures and potentially adverse tax consequences;
currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced revenue, and other obligations
incidental to doing business in another country;
workforce uncertainty and labor unrest, particularly in non-U.S. countries where labor unrest is more common than in the
U.S.;
the potential for so-called parallel importing, which is what happens when a local seller, faced with high or higher local
prices, opts to import goods from a non-U.S. market with low or lower prices rather than buying them locally;
failure of our employees and contracted third parties to comply with Office of Foreign Asset Control rules and regulations
and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;
production shortages resulting from any events affecting raw material supply or manufacturing capabilities abroad; and
business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism, or natural disasters, including
earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, floods, hurricanes and fires.
These and other risks may materially adversely affect our ability to obtain or sustain revenue from international markets.
The use of legal, regulatory, and legislative strategies by both brand and generic competitors, including but not limited to
“authorized generics” and regulatory petitions, as well as the potential impact of proposed and newly enacted legislation, may
increase costs associated with the introduction or marketing of our generic products, could delay or prevent such introduction, and
could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our competitors, both branded and generic, often pursue strategies to prevent, delay, or eliminate competition from generic
alternatives to branded products. These strategies include, but are not limited to:
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entering into agreements whereby other generic companies will begin to market an authorized generic, a generic
equivalent of a branded product, at the same time or after generic competition initially enters the market;
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launching a generic version of their own branded product prior to or at the same time or after generic competition initially
enters the market;
filing petitions with the FDA or other regulatory bodies seeking to prevent or delay approvals, including timing the filings
so as to thwart generic competition by causing delays of our product approvals;
seeking to establish regulatory and legal obstacles that would make it more difficult to demonstrate bioequivalence or to
meet other requirements for approval, and/or to prevent regulatory agency review of applications, such as through the
establishment of patent linkage (laws and regulations barring the issuance of regulatory approvals prior to patent
expiration);
initiating legislative or other efforts to limit the substitution of generic versions of brand pharmaceuticals;
filing suits for patent infringement and other claims that may delay or prevent regulatory approval, manufacture, and/or
scale of generic products;
introducing “next-generation” products prior to the expiration of market exclusivity for the reference product, which often
materially reduces the demand for the generic or the reference product for which we seek regulatory approval;
persuading regulatory bodies to withdraw the approval of brand name drugs for which the patents are about to expire and
converting the market to another product of the brand company on which longer patent protection exists;
obtaining extensions of market exclusivity by conducting clinical trials of brand drugs in pediatric populations or by other
methods; and
seeking to obtain new patents on drugs for which patent protection is about to expire.
If any other actions by our competitors and other third parties to prevent or delay activities necessary to the approval,
manufacture, or distribution of our products are successful, our entry into the market and our ability to generate revenues associated
with new products may be delayed, reduced, or eliminated, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations, cash flows, and/or share price.
Our compounded preparations and the pharmacy compounding industry are subject to regulatory and customer scrutiny, which
may impair our growth and sales.
Formulations prepared and dispensed by compounding pharmacies may contain ingredients found in FDA-approved drugs, and
such formulations and the compounding thereof are subject to various FDA regulatory requirements. However, compounded drugs
prepared by outsourcing facilities under Section 503B of the FDCA are not themselves approved by the FDA. As a 503B outsourcing
facility, our compounded formulations are not subject to the FDA approval process. Certain compounding pharmacies have been the
subject of widespread negative media coverage in recent years, and the actions of these pharmacies have resulted in increased scrutiny
of compounding pharmacy activities from the FDA and state governmental agencies. For example, the FDA has in the past requested
that a number of compounding pharmacies conduct a recall of all non-expired, purportedly sterile drug products and cease sterile
compounding operations due to lack of sterility assurance, and additional compounding pharmacies have suspended sterile production
or voluntarily recalled certain sterile compounding products after an FDA inspection of the relevant facilities. As a result of this
exercise of caution, or due to the absence of FDA approval, though such approval is not required, some physicians may be hesitant to
prescribe, and some patients may be hesitant to purchase and use, these compounded formulations.
In addition, an outsourcing facility must meet certain conditions under Section 503B of the FDCA in order for its compounded
products to be exempt from the FDCA’s premarket approval requirements and from the FDCA requirement that products be labeled
with adequate directions for use; for example, the drug must be compounded by or under the direct supervision of a licensed
pharmacist, in a facility registered pursuant to Section 503B of the FDCA and in compliance with cGMP. If our outsourcing facility or
any of our compounded products are found not to satisfy the criteria of Section 503B, the marketing of our products absent FDA
approval and/or absent adequate directions for use in the product labeling could render our products adulterated or misbranded under
the FDCA, which could have an adverse effect on our business. Furthermore, if an outsourcing facility compounds drugs using bulk
drug substances, such bulk drug substances must either appear on a list established by FDA of bulk drug substances for which there is
a clinical need, or be used to compound drugs that appear on a list established by FDA of drugs for which there is a shortage. FDA has
not yet established a list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need; however, FDA has announced an interim policy
pursuant to which bulk drug substances may be nominated for inclusion on such list and, provided certain conditions are met,
outsourcing facilities may compound with such bulk drug substances pending evaluation of the substances for inclusion on FDA’s list
of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need. We use bulk drug substances in the preparation of certain of our
compounded products. In the event FDA’s evaluation of these bulk drug substances results in a determination not to include such
substances on FDA’s list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need, or if FDA were to change its interim policy such
that compounding with such bulk drug substances could not proceed while FDA’s evaluation of the substances is pending or until
FDA has issued its list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need, our ability to continue marketing compounded
products subject to Section 503B would be impaired, and our business could be harmed.
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If a compounded drug formulation provided through our compounding services leads to patient injury or death or results in a
product recall, we may be exposed to significant liabilities and reputational harm.
The production, labeling and packaging of compounded drugs is inherently risky. The success of our compounded formulations
and pharmacy operations depends to a significant extent upon perceptions of the safety and quality of our products. We could be
adversely affected if our formulations are subject to negative publicity. We could also be adversely affected if any of our formulations
or other products, any similar products sold by other companies, or any products sold by other compounding outsourcing facilities,
prove to be, or are asserted to be, harmful to patients. There are a number of factors that could result in the injury or death of a patient
who receives one of our compounded formulations, including quality issues, manufacturing or labeling flaws, improper packaging or
unanticipated or improper uses of the products, any of which could result from human or other error. Any of these situations could
lead to a recall of, or safety alert relating to, one or more of our products. Similarly, to the extent any of the components of approved
drugs or other ingredients used by us to produce compounded formulations have quality or other problems that adversely affect the
finished compounded preparations, our sales could be adversely affected. In addition, in the ordinary course of business, we may
voluntarily retrieve products in response to a customer complaint. Because of our dependence upon medical and patient perceptions,
any adverse publicity associated with illness or other adverse effects resulting from the use or misuse of our products, any similar
products sold by other companies or any other compounded formulations, could have a material adverse impact on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
A significant portion of our intellectual property portfolio currently comprises pending patent applications that have not yet been
issued as granted patents, and if our pending patent applications fail to issue our business will be adversely affected. If we are
unable to obtain and maintain patent protection for our technology and drugs, our competitors could develop and commercialize
technology and drugs similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully commercialize our technology and drugs may be
adversely affected.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection in the U.S., the PRC and other
countries with respect to our proprietary technology and drug candidates. We have sought to protect our proprietary position by filing
patent applications in the U.S., the PRC and other countries related to novel technologies and drug candidates that we consider are
important to our business. As of September 30, 2017, we owned more than 100 granted patents and more than 40 pending patent
applications worldwide, including one pending international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, which
we plan to file nationally in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. The process of obtaining patent protection is expensive and time-
consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a
timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too
late to obtain patent protection. There can be no assurance that our pending patent applications will result in issued patents in the U.S.
or non-U.S. jurisdictions in which such applications are pending. Moreover, even our issued patents do not guarantee us the right to
practice our technology in relation to the commercialization of our platforms’ product candidates. The area of patent and other
intellectual property rights in biotechnology is an evolving one with many risks and uncertainties, and third parties may have blocking
patents that could be used to prevent us from commercializing our patented technologies, platforms and product candidates and
practicing our proprietary technology. There can also be no assurance that a third party will not challenge the validity of our patents or
that we will obtain sufficient claim scope in those patents to prevent a third party from competing successfully with our drug
candidates.
The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally is highly uncertain, involves complex legal and
factual questions and has in recent years been the subject of much litigation. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability
and commercial value of our patent rights are highly uncertain. Our pending and future patent applications may not result in patents
being issued that protect our technology or drug candidates, or that effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive
technologies and drug candidates. Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the U.S. and other countries
may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection. Publications of discoveries in the scientific
literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the U.S. and other jurisdictions are typically not published
until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. Therefore, we cannot be certain that we were the first to make the inventions
claimed in our patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions. Under
the America Invents Act enacted in 2011, the U.S. moved to a first-to-file system in early 2013 from the previous system under which
the first to make the claimed invention was entitled to the patent. Assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, the first to
file a patent application is entitled to the patent.
Even if our patent applications issue as patents, they may not issue in a form that will provide us with any meaningful
protection, prevent competitors from competing with us or otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. Our competitors
may be able to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or drug candidates in a non-infringing
manner. The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its scope, validity or enforceability, and our owned and licensed patents may
be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the U.S. and abroad, which proceedings are time-consuming, costly and of uncertain
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outcome. We may become involved in interference, inter partes review, post grant review, ex parte reexamination, derivation,
opposition or similar other proceedings challenging our patent rights or the patent rights of others. Such challenges may result in
patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, which could limit our ability to stop or prevent us from stopping
others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and drug candidates, or limit the duration of the patent protection
of our technology and drug candidates. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new
drug candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. As a
result, our patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing drug candidates similar or
identical to ours.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
The patent positions of companies like ours are generally uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. No
consistent policy regarding the scope of claims allowable in patents has emerged in the U.S. The patent situation outside of the U.S. is
even more uncertain. Changes in the patent laws and rules, either by legislation, judicial decisions, or regulatory interpretation in the
U.S. and other countries may diminish our ability to protect our inventions and enforce our intellectual property rights, and more
generally could affect the value of our intellectual property.
In addition, the laws of certain non-U.S. countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as U.S. federal
and state laws do. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the
U.S., or from selling or importing drugs made using our inventions in and into the U.S. or non-U.S. jurisdictions. Competitors may use
our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own drugs and further, may export
otherwise infringing drugs to non-U.S. jurisdictions where we have patent protection, but where enforcement rights are not as strong
as those in the U.S. These drugs may compete with our drug candidates and our patent rights or other intellectual property rights may
not be effective or adequate to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain
jurisdictions, including China. The legal systems of some countries do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets and other
intellectual property, particularly those relating to biopharmaceutical products, which could make it difficult in those jurisdictions for
us to stop the infringement or misappropriation of our patents or other intellectual property rights, or the marketing of competing
drugs in violation of our proprietary rights. Proceedings to enforce our patent and other intellectual property rights in non-U.S.
jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.
Furthermore, such proceedings could put our patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly,
could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing, and could provoke third parties to assert claims of infringement or
misappropriation against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any,
may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be
inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop.
We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our intellectual property, which could be expensive, time-consuming and
unsuccessful and our patent rights relating to our drug candidates could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court
or before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or comparable non-U.S. authority.
Competitors may infringe our patent rights or misappropriate or otherwise violate our intellectual property rights. To counter
infringement or unauthorized use, litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights, to
protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of our own intellectual property rights or the proprietary rights of
others. Such litigation can be expensive and time-consuming. Any claims that we assert against perceived infringers could also
provoke these parties to assert counterclaims against us alleging that we infringe their intellectual property rights. Many of our current
and potential competitors have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to enforce and/or defend their intellectual
property rights than we can. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing upon or
misappropriating our intellectual property. Litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of management resources, which
could harm our business and financial results. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that patent rights or other
intellectual property rights owned by us are invalid or unenforceable, or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology
at issue on the grounds that our patent rights or other intellectual property rights do not cover the technology in question. An adverse
result in any litigation proceeding could put our patent, as well as any patents that may issue in the future from our pending patent
applications, at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable or interpreted narrowly. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount
of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could
be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation.
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If we initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce any patent, or any patents that may issue in the future from our
patent applications, that relates to one of our drug candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that such patent rights are invalid or
unenforceable. In patent litigation in the U.S., defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity or unenforceability are commonplace, and
there are numerous grounds upon which a third party can assert invalidity or unenforceability of a patent. Third parties may also raise
similar claims before administrative bodies in the U.S. or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include ex
parte re-examination, inter partes review, post-grant review, derivation and equivalent proceedings in non-U.S. jurisdictions, such as
opposition proceedings. Such proceedings could result in revocation or amendment to our patents in such a way that they no longer
cover and protect our drug candidates. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable.
With respect to the validity of our patents, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art of which we, our
patent counsel, and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of
invalidity and/or unenforceability, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our drug candidates. Such a
loss of patent protection could have a material adverse impact on our business.
We may not be able to prevent misappropriation of our trade secrets or confidential information, particularly in countries where
the laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the U.S. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in
connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by
disclosure during this type of litigation.
We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship of our patents and other intellectual property.
Although we are not currently experiencing any claims challenging the inventorship of our patents or ownership of our
intellectual property, we may in the future be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an
interest in our patents or other intellectual property as inventors or co-inventors. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise
from conflicting obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our drug candidates. Litigation may be necessary
to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying
monetary damages, we may lose rights such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, our patent rights or other intellectual property.
Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims,
litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.
If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, such litigation could be costly and time-consuming and
could prevent or delay us from developing or commercializing our drug candidates.
Our commercial success depends in part on our avoiding infringement of the patents and other intellectual property rights of
third parties. There is a substantial amount of litigation involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries, including litigation in the U.S. courts, inter partes review, post grant review, interference and ex
parte reexamination proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, or oppositions and other comparable
proceedings in non-U.S. jurisdictions. Numerous issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties,
exist in the fields in which we are developing drug candidates. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries expand and more
patents are issued, the risk increases that our drug candidates or manufacturing processes may give rise to claims of infringement of
the patent rights of others.
Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. There may be third-party
patents of which we are currently unaware with claims to materials, formulations, methods of manufacture or methods for treatment
related to the use or manufacture of our drug candidates. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be
currently pending patent applications which may later result in issued patents that our drug candidates may infringe. In addition, third
parties may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents. If any third-party patents
were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover the manufacturing process of any of our drug candidates, any molecules
formed during the manufacturing process or any final product itself, the holders of any such patents may be able to prevent us from
commercializing such drug candidate unless we obtain a license under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or they are
finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. Similarly, if any third-party patent were held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for manufacture or methods of use, including combination therapy or
patient selection methods, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the applicable
drug candidate unless we obtain a license, limit our uses, or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held invalid or
unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
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Third parties who bring successful claims against us for infringement of their intellectual property rights may obtain injunctive
or other equitable relief, which could prevent us from developing and commercializing one or more of our drug candidates. Defense of
these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of
management and employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement or misappropriation against
us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees in the case of willful infringement, obtain
one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing drug candidates, which may be impossible or require
substantial time and monetary expenditure and undertaking additional preclinical studies, clinical trials or regulatory review. In the
event of an adverse result in any such litigation, or even in the absence of litigation, we may need to obtain licenses from third parties
to advance our research or allow commercialization of our drug candidates. We cannot predict whether any required license would be
available at all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable terms, and we may fail to obtain any of these licenses on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all. In the event that we are unable to obtain such a license, we would be unable to further
develop and commercialize one or more of our drug candidates, which could harm our business significantly. We may also elect to
enter into license agreements in order to settle patent infringement claims or to resolve disputes prior to litigation and any such license
agreements may require us to pay royalties and other fees that could significantly harm our business.
Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur
significant expenses, and could distract our technical personnel, management personnel, or both from their normal responsibilities. In
addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments and if
securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the market price of
our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available
for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other
resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such
litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the
initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in
the marketplace.
If our products conflict with the intellectual property rights of third parties, we may incur substantial liabilities and we may be
unable to commercialize products in a profitable manner or at all.
We seek to launch generic pharmaceutical products either where patent protection or other regulatory exclusivity of equivalent
branded products has expired, where patents have been declared invalid or where products do not infringe on the patents of others.
However, at times, we may seek approval to market generic products before the expiration of patents relating to the branded versions
of those products, based upon our belief that such patents are invalid or otherwise unenforceable or would not be infringed by our
products. Our success depends in part on our ability to operate without infringing the patents and proprietary rights of third parties.
The manufacture, use and sale of generic versions of products has been subject to substantial litigation in the pharmaceutical industry.
These lawsuits relate to the validity and infringement of patents or proprietary rights of third parties. If our products were found to be
infringing on the intellectual property rights of a third-party, we could be required to cease selling the infringing products, causing us
to lose future sales revenue from such products and face substantial liabilities for patent infringement, in the form of either payment
for the innovator’s lost profits or a royalty on our sales of the infringing product. These damages may be significant and could
materially adversely affect our business. Any litigation, regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, would be costly and time
consuming and we could incur significant costs and/or a significant reduction in revenue in defending the action and from the resulting
delays in manufacturing, marketing or selling any of our products subject to such claims.
Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee
payment, and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or
eliminated for noncompliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the USPTO and other patent agencies in several stages over
the lifetime of the patent. The USPTO and various non-U.S. governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of
procedural, documentary, fee payment, and other similar provisions during the patent application process. Although an inadvertent
lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are
situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or
complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent
or patent application include failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees, and failure to
properly legalize and submit formal documents. In any such event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would
have a material adverse effect on our business.
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The terms of our patents may not be sufficient to effectively protect our drug candidates and business.
In most countries in which we file patent applications, including the U.S., the term of an issued patent is generally 20 years from
the earliest claimed filing date of a non-provisional patent application in the applicable country. With respect to any issued patents in
the U.S., we may be entitled to obtain a patent term extension or extend the patent expiration date provided we meet the applicable
requirements for obtaining such patent term extensions. Although various such extensions may be available, the life of a patent and the
protection it affords is by definition limited. Even if patents covering our drug candidates are obtained, we may be open to competition
from other companies as well as generic medications once the patent life has expired for a drug. If patents are issued on our currently
pending patent applications, the resulting patents will be expected to expire on dates ranging from 2025 to 2038, excluding any
potential patent term extension or adjustment. Upon the expiration of our issued patent or patents that may issue from our pending
patent applications, we will not be able to assert such patent rights against potential competitors and our business and results of
operations may be adversely affected.
In addition, the rights granted under any issued patents may not provide us with protection or competitive advantages against
competitors with similar technology. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop similar technologies. For these
reasons, we may have competition for our technologies, platforms and product candidates. Moreover, because of the extensive time
required for development, testing and regulatory review of a potential product, it is possible that, before any particular product
candidate can be commercialized, any related patent may expire or remain in force for only a short period following
commercialization, thereby reducing any advantage of the patent.
If we do not obtain additional protection under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments and similar legislation in other countries
extending the terms of our patents, if issued, relating to our drug candidates, our business may be materially harmed.
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA regulatory approval for our drug candidates, one or more of our U.S.
patents, if issued, may be eligible for limited patent term restoration under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration
Act of 1984, referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent term extension of up
to five years as compensation for patent term lost during drug development and the FDA regulatory review process. Patent term
extensions, however, cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of drug approval by the
FDA, and only one patent can be extended for a particular drug.
The application for patent term extension is subject to approval by the USPTO, in conjunction with the FDA. We may not be
granted an extension because of, for example, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of
relevant patents or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent
protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain a patent term extension for a given patent or the term of
any such extension is less than we request, the period during which we will have the right to exclusively market our drug will be
shortened and our competitors may obtain earlier approval of competing drugs, and our ability to generate revenues could be
materially adversely affected.
Changes in patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our drug candidates.
As is the case with other biopharmaceutical companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly
patent rights. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biopharmaceutical industry involves both technological and legal complexity, and
is therefore costly, time-consuming, and inherently uncertain. In addition, the U.S. has recently enacted and is currently implementing
wide-ranging patent reform legislation. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in
certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard
to our ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents
once obtained, if any. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts and the USPTO, the laws and regulations
governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing
patents and patents that we might obtain in the future. For example, in Assoc. for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., the
U.S. Supreme Court held that certain claims to naturally-occurring substances are not patentable. Although we do not believe that our
issued patents and any patents that may issue from our pending patent applications directed to our drug candidates if issued in their
currently pending forms, as well as patent rights licensed by us, will be found invalid based on this decision, we cannot predict how
future decisions by the courts, the U.S. Congress or the USPTO may impact the value of our patent rights. There could be similar
changes in the laws of foreign jurisdictions that may impact the value of our patent rights or our other intellectual property rights.
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If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed. We may
be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.
In addition to our issued patents and pending patent applications, we rely on trade secrets, including unpatented know-how,
technology and other proprietary information, to maintain our competitive position and to protect our drug candidates. We seek to
protect these trade secrets, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties that have access to
them, such as our employees, corporate collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers, contract manufacturers,
consultants, advisors and other third parties. We also enter into confidentiality and invention or patent assignment agreements with our
employees and consultants. These agreements provide that all confidential information concerning our business or financial affairs
developed or made known to the individual during the course of the individual’s relationship with us is to be kept confidential and not
disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees, the agreements provide that all inventions
conceived by the individual, and which are related to our current or planned business or research and development or made during
normal working hours, on our premises or using our equipment or proprietary information, are our exclusive property. In many cases
our confidentiality and other agreements with consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors
require them to assign to us or grant us licenses to inventions they invent as a result of the work or services they render under such
agreements or grant us an option to negotiate a license to use such inventions. However, any of these parties may breach such
agreements and disclose our proprietary information, and we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for such breaches.
Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and
the outcome is unpredictable. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor, we
would have no right to prevent them from using that technology or information to compete with us and our competitive position would
be harmed.
Furthermore, many of our employees, including our senior management, were previously employed at other biotechnology or
pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Some of these employees, including each member of
our senior management, executed proprietary rights, non-disclosure and non-competition agreements in connection with such previous
employment. Although we try to ensure that our employees do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their
work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these employees have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade
secrets or other proprietary information, of any such employee’s former employer. We are not aware of any threatened or pending
claims related to these matters or concerning the agreements with our senior management, but in the future litigation may be necessary
to defend against such claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable
intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in
substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
In addition, while we typically require our employees, consultants and contractors who may be involved in the development of
intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an
agreement with each party who in fact develops intellectual property that we regard as our own, which may result in claims by or
against us related to the ownership of such intellectual property. If we fail in prosecuting or defending any such claims, in addition to
paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights. Even if we are successful in prosecuting or defending
against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to our management and scientific personnel.
We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our proprietary technology and processes by maintaining physical
security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. Although we have confidence in
these individuals, organizations, and systems, agreements or security measures may be breached and we may not have adequate
remedies for any breach. To the extent that our employees, contractors, consultants, collaborators, and advisors use intellectual
property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.
We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights for our development pipeline through acquisitions and in-
licenses.
Because our programs may involve additional drug candidates that may require the use of proprietary rights held by third
parties, the growth of our business may depend in part on our ability to acquire and maintain licenses or other rights to use these
proprietary rights. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, or other third-party intellectual
property rights from third parties that we identify. The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a
competitive area, and a number of more established companies are also pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual
property rights that we may consider attractive. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their
size, cash resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities.
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In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be
unable to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our
investment. If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property rights, our business, financial
condition and prospects for growth could suffer.
If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we license intellectual property rights from third parties or
otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could be required to pay monetary damages
or could lose license rights that are important to our business.
We have entered into license agreements with third parties providing us with rights under various third-party patents and patent
applications, including the rights to prosecute patent applications and to enforce patents. Certain of these license agreements impose
and, for a variety of purposes, we may enter into additional licensing and funding arrangements with third parties that also may
impose diligence, development or commercialization timelines and milestone payment, royalty, insurance and other obligations on us.
Certain of these license agreements provide us with the exclusive right to practice technologies in major markets including North
America, South America, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Eastern Europe, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and parts of
Southeast Asia, although the right to practice the technologies and any inventions arising out of such technologies outside of these
territories may be reserved to the licensing company. In addition, under certain of our existing licensing agreements, we are obligated
to pay royalties on net product sales of our drug candidates once commercialized, pay a percentage of sublicensing revenues, make
other specified payments relating to our drug candidates or pay license maintenance and other fees. We also have diligence and
clinical development obligations under certain of these agreements that we are required to satisfy. If we fail to comply with our
obligations under our current or future license agreements, our counterparties may have the right to terminate these agreements, in
which event we might not be able to develop, manufacture or market any drug or drug candidate that is covered by the licenses
provided for under these agreements or we may face claims for monetary damages or other penalties under these agreements. Such an
occurrence could diminish the value of these products and our company. Termination of the licenses provided for under these
agreements or reduction or elimination of our rights under these agreements may result in our having to negotiate new or reinstated
agreements with less favorable terms, or cause us to lose our rights under these agreements, including our rights to important
intellectual property or technology.
In particular, our ability to stop third parties from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing any of our patented
inventions, either directly or indirectly, will depend in part on our success in obtaining, defending, and enforcing patent claims that
cover our technology, inventions, and improvements. With respect to both licensed and company-owned intellectual property, we
cannot be sure that patents will be granted with respect to any of our pending patent applications or with respect to any patent
applications filed by us in the future, nor can we be sure that any of our existing patents or any patents that may be granted to us in the
future will be commercially useful in protecting our platforms and product candidates and the methods used to manufacture those
platforms and product candidates. Our issued patents and those that may issue in the future may be challenged, invalidated, or
circumvented, which could limit our ability to stop competitors from marketing related platforms or product candidates or limit the
length of the term of patent protection that we may have for our technologies, platforms, and product candidates.
We also rely on trade secret protection for our confidential and proprietary information. Although we take steps to protect our
confidential and proprietary information as trade secrets, including through contractual means with our employees and consultants,
third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to
our trade secrets or technology. Thus, we may not be able to meaningfully protect our trade secrets. It is our policy to require our
employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors to execute confidentiality
agreements upon the commencement of employment or consulting relationships with us.
If our licensing and sublicensing activities result in non-compliance with our licensing agreements, our business relationships
with our licensing partners may suffer and we may be required to pay monetary damages or rescind or amend existing agreements
which are important to our business.
We have entered into agreements with third parties under which we have granted licenses to use certain of our patents and
patent applications, including the rights to develop, seek regulatory approval for and sell products using our KX-01 and KX-02
products. We have also entered into similar agreements sublicensing the intellectual property for the Orascovery platform, which we
have licensed from Hanmi. We have granted exclusive patent rights to certain of these partners and have granted them certain
additional rights with respect to the intellectual property we have licensed to them. From time to time we may engage in other
licensing transactions in which we acquire licenses to certain intellectual property or sublicense intellectual property rights. If we fail
to comply with or are found to have violated the terms of any of our licenses, we may be required to rescind or amend our license
agreements or pay damages to license counterparties or other rightsholders. This may also negatively impact our relationships with our
licensing and sublicensing partners for our candidate platforms. For further information regarding the terms of our licenses, please see
“Business—License and Collaboration Agreements”.
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Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
We depend on our agreements with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, or Hanmi, to provide rights to the intellectual property
relating to certain of our lead product candidates. Any termination or loss of significant rights under those agreements would
adversely affect our development or commercialization of our lead product candidates.
We have licensed the intellectual property rights related to HM30181A, an integral part of our current product candidates, from
Hanmi pursuant to two license agreements. If, for any reason, our license agreements are terminated or we otherwise lose those rights,
it would adversely affect our business. Our license agreements with Hanmi impose on us obligations relating to exclusivity, territorial
rights, development, commercialization, funding, payment, diligence, sublicensing, insurance, intellectual property protection and
other matters. If we breach any material obligations, or use the intellectual property licensed to us in an unauthorized manner, we may
be required to pay damages to Hanmi and Hanmi may have the right to terminate our license, which could result in us being unable to
develop, manufacture and sell our product candidates that incorporate HM30181A.
In addition, under our 2013 license agreement with Hanmi, we have granted Hanmi a one-time right of first negotiation that, at
Hanmi’s discretion, requires us to negotiate in good faith the sale of our rights in Oraxol and Oratecan under such agreement to Hanmi
at a purchase price determined by an internationally-recognized investment banking firm with an office in Hong Kong at any time
prior to the earlier of (i) our first commercial sale of products using such technology or (ii) receipt by Hanmi of written notice from
our company of the sublicense of the rights in an applicable product to a third party. If Hanmi exercises this right of first negotiation
and we reach an agreement to sell our rights under that licensing agreement, our ability to continue to develop certain of our product
candidates would be significantly impaired and would adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Each of our license agreements with Hanmi expires on the earlier of (i) expiration of the last of Hanmi’s patent rights licensed
under the agreement or (ii) invalidation of Hanmi’s patent rights which are the subject of the agreement, provided that the term will
automatically be extended for consecutive one year periods unless either party gives notice to the other at least 90 days prior to
expiration of the patent rights licensed under the agreement or before the then current annual expiration date of the agreement. The
patent rights licensed to us under the agreements with Hanmi have expiry dates ranging from 2023 to 2033, unless the terms of such
licensed patents are able to be extended in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Subject to certain conditions, Hanmi may
also terminate the license agreements if we fail to comply with certain development milestones set out in each of the agreements. The
agreements also contain customary termination rights for either party, such as in the event of a breach of the agreement or the
initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by the other party or by mutual agreement. For further information regarding the license terms,
right of first negotiation and termination provisions of the Hanmi in-license agreements, please see “Business—License and
Collaboration Agreements—Hanmi Licensing Agreements—In-Licenses.”
We may rely on third parties to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry
out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines, perform satisfactorily or operate in compliance with laws and regulations, we
may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our drug candidates and our business could be substantially
harmed.
We have relied upon and may, in the future, rely upon third-party CROs to monitor and manage data for our ongoing preclinical
and clinical programs. We rely on these parties for execution of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and control only certain
aspects of their activities. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of our studies is conducted in accordance with the
applicable protocol, legal, and regulatory requirements and scientific standards, and our reliance on the CROs does not relieve us of
our regulatory responsibilities. We and our CROs are required to comply with GCPs, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by
the FDA, CFDA and other regulatory authorities for all of our drugs in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these
GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we or any of our CROs fail to comply
with applicable GCPs, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, CFDA or regulatory
authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that
upon inspection by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with
GCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with product produced under cGMP regulations. Our failure to
comply with these regulations may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative
CROs or to do so on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, our CROs are not our employees, and except for remedies available
to us under our agreements with such CROs, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our
ongoing clinical, non-clinical and preclinical programs. 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, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, 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 drug candidates. As a result, our results of operations and the commercial prospects for our drug
candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed.
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Our total revenue is highly dependent on a limited number of API customers and pharmaceutical wholesalers, and the loss of, or
any significant decrease in business from, any one or more of our major API customers or pharmaceutical wholesalers could
adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We have derived a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers, as is typical in the pharmaceutical
industry. During the year ended December 31, 2016, prior to the launch of our specialty products, we generated 62% of our total
revenue from our two largest API customers, Intas Pharmaceuticals and Ebewe Pharmaceuticals. During the year ended December 31,
2017, we generated 28% of our total revenue from those API customers and generated 28% of our total revenue from the three largest
wholesalers in the U.S. market, Amerisource, Cardinal Health, and McKesson (15%, 7%, and 6%, respectively).
There are a number of factors that could cause us to lose major API customers. We do not enter into long-term sales contracts
with customers, but sell API to them based on short-term purchase orders. Accordingly, these customers may choose to use other
suppliers with little or no notice, based upon considerations of price, quality, shipping time, competitive or other reasons. In addition,
our API customers use the API to manufacture drugs, and they are subject to regulation and oversight by the FDA and other relevant
regulatory agencies. If for any reason, any such customer violates an FDA regulation that results in their being prohibited from
manufacturing drugs, they would no longer purchase API from us. Such sanctions or regulatory action against drug manufacturers
could happen without notice, and our revenue stream could be adversely affected without notice.
If we are unable to maintain our business relationships with these major API customers and pharmaceutical wholesalers on
commercially acceptable terms, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, Polymed, our wholly owned subsidiary, sells API to third parties for use in those third parties’ products, which
may be manufactured in cGMP facilities. In the event Polymed’s customers fail to remain in compliance with cGMP regulations, their
operations may be adversely impacted, causing them to cancel or cease API orders from Polymed. Any decrease in orders by
Polymed’s customers may impact Polymed’s revenue and, as a result, our overall financial condition.
If our Global Supply Chain Platform is insufficient, we may rely on third parties to manufacture at least a portion of our drug
candidate supplies, and for at least a portion of the manufacturing process of our drug candidates, if approved. Our business could
be harmed if those third parties fail to provide us with sufficient quantities of product or fail to do so at acceptable quality levels or
prices.
Although we currently have a facility that may be used as our clinical-scale manufacturing and processing facility, we partially
rely on outside vendors to manufacture supplies and process our drug candidates. We have not yet begun to manufacture or process
our drug candidates on a commercial scale and may not be able to do so for any of our drug candidates.
We have limited experience in managing the manufacturing process, and our process may be more difficult or expensive than
the approaches currently in use.
Although we do intend to further develop our manufacturing facilities, and those leased to us under our public-private
partnerships, we may also use third parties as part of our manufacturing process. Our reliance on third-party manufacturers may
expose us to the following risks:
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we may be unable to identify manufacturers on acceptable terms or at all because the number of potential manufacturers is
limited and the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities must approve any manufacturers. This approval would require
new testing and cGMP-compliance inspections by FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities. In addition, a new
manufacturer would have to be educated in, or develop substantially equivalent processes for, production of our drugs.
our manufacturers may have little or no experience with manufacturing our drug candidates, and therefore may experience
quality issues or require a significant amount of support from us in order to implement and maintain the infrastructure and
processes required to manufacture our drug candidates.
our third-party manufacturers might be unable to timely manufacture our drug or produce the quantity and quality
required to meet our clinical and commercial needs, if any.
contract manufacturers may not be able to execute our manufacturing procedures and other logistical support requirements
appropriately.
our future contract manufacturers may not perform as agreed, may not devote sufficient resources to our drugs, or may not
remain in the contract manufacturing business for the time required to supply our clinical trials or to successfully produce,
store and distribute our drugs.
we may not own, or may have to share, the intellectual property rights to any improvements made by our third-party
manufacturers in the manufacturing process for our drugs.
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our third-party manufacturers could breach or terminate their agreement with us.
raw materials and components used in the manufacturing process, particularly those for which we have no other source or
supplier, may not be available or may not be suitable or acceptable for use due to material or component defects.
our contract manufacturers and critical reagent suppliers may be subject to inclement weather, as well as natural or man-
made disasters.
our contract manufacturers may have unacceptable or inconsistent product quality success rates and yields.
Each of these risks could delay or prevent the completion of our clinical trials or the approval of any of our drug candidates by
the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities, result in higher costs or adversely impact commercialization of our drug candidates.
In addition, we will rely on third parties to perform certain specification tests on our drug candidates prior to delivery to patients. If
these tests are not conducted appropriately and test data are not reliable, patients could be put at risk of serious harm and the FDA,
CFDA or other regulatory authorities could place significant restrictions on our company until deficiencies are remedied.
The manufacture of drug and biological products is complex and requires significant expertise and capital investment, including
the development of advanced manufacturing techniques and process controls.
Currently, raw materials used in our manufacturing activities, including the pacific yew used in many of the API products we
manufacture, are supplied by multiple suppliers. We have agreements for the supply of such raw materials with manufacturers or
suppliers that we believe have sufficient capacity to meet our demands. In addition, we believe that adequate alternative sources for
such supplies exist. However, there is a risk that, if supplies are interrupted, it would materially harm our business.
Manufacturers of drug and biological products often encounter difficulties in production, particularly in scaling up or out,
validating the production process, and assuring high reliability of the manufacturing process (including the absence of contamination).
These problems include logistics and shipping, difficulties with production costs and yields, quality control, including stability of the
product, product testing, operator error, availability of qualified personnel, as well as compliance with strictly enforced federal, state
and non-U.S. regulations. Furthermore, if contaminants are discovered in our supply of our drug candidates or in the manufacturing
facilities, such manufacturing facilities may need to be closed for an extended period of time to investigate and remedy the
contamination. We cannot assure you that any stability failures or other issues relating to the manufacture of our drug candidates will
not occur in the future. Additionally, our manufacturers may experience manufacturing difficulties due to resource constraints or as a
result of labor disputes or unstable political environments. If our manufacturers were to encounter any of these difficulties, or
otherwise fail to comply with their contractual obligations, our ability to provide our drug candidate to patients in clinical trials would
be jeopardized. Any delay or interruption in the supply of clinical trial supplies could delay the completion of clinical trials, increase
the costs associated with maintaining clinical trial programs and, depending upon the period of delay, require us to begin new clinical
trials at additional expense or terminate clinical trials completely.
If third-party manufacturers fail to comply with pharmaceutical manufacturing regulations, our financial results and financial
condition will be adversely affected.
Before a third party can begin commercial manufacture of our drug candidates and potential drugs, contract manufacturers are
subject to regulatory inspections of their manufacturing facilities, processes and quality systems. Due to the complexity of the
processes used to manufacture drug and biological products and our drug candidates, any potential third-party manufacturer may be
unable to initially pass federal, state or international regulatory inspections in a cost effective manner in order for us to obtain
regulatory approval of our drug candidates. If our contract manufacturers do not pass their inspections by the FDA, CFDA or other
regulatory authorities, our commercial supply of drug product or substance will be significantly delayed and may result in significant
additional costs, including the delay or denial of any marketing application for our drug candidates. In addition, drug and biological
manufacturing facilities are continuously subject to inspection by the FDA, CFDA and other regulatory authorities, before and after
drug approval, and must comply with cGMPs. Our contract manufacturers may encounter difficulties in achieving quality control and
quality assurance and may experience shortages in qualified personnel. In addition, contract manufacturers’ failure to achieve and
maintain high manufacturing standards in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, or the incidence of manufacturing
errors, could result in patient injury, product liability claims, product shortages, product recalls or withdrawals, delays or failures in
product testing or delivery, cost overruns or other problems that could seriously harm our business, reputation or corporate image. If a
third-party manufacturer with whom we contract is unable to comply with manufacturing regulations, we may also be subject to fines,
unanticipated compliance expenses, recall or seizure of our drugs, product liability claims, total or partial suspension of production
and/or enforcement actions, including injunctions, and criminal or civil prosecution. These possible sanctions could materially
adversely affect our financial results and financial condition.
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Furthermore, changes in the manufacturing process or procedure, including a change in the location where the product is
manufactured or a change of a third-party manufacturer, could require prior review by the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities
and/or approval of the manufacturing process and procedures in accordance with the FDA or CFDA’s regulations, or comparable
requirements. This review may be costly and time consuming and could delay or prevent the launch of a product. The new facility will
also be subject to pre-approval inspection. In addition, we have to demonstrate that the product made at the new facility is equivalent
to the product made at the former facility by physical and chemical methods, which are costly and time consuming. It is also possible
that the FDA, CFDA or other regulatory authorities may require clinical testing as a way to prove equivalency, which would result in
additional costs and delay.
We have entered into collaborations and may form or seek collaborations or strategic alliances or enter into additional licensing
arrangements in the future, and we may not realize the benefits of such alliances or licensing arrangements.
We have partnered with companies such as Hanmi, Almirall, Gland Pharma Limited, or Gland, and SunGen Pharma LLC, or
SunGen, and may form or seek strategic alliances, create joint ventures or collaborations, or enter into additional licensing
arrangements with third parties that we believe will complement or augment our development and commercialization efforts with
respect to our drug candidates and any future drug candidates that we may develop. Any of these relationships may require us to incur
non-recurring and other charges, increase our near and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute our existing shareholders, or
disrupt our management and business. In addition, we face significant competition in seeking appropriate strategic partners and the
negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. Moreover, we may not be successful in our efforts to establish a strategic
partnership or other alternative arrangements for our drug candidates because they may be deemed to be at too early of a stage of
development for collaborative effort and third parties may not view our drug candidates as having the requisite potential to
demonstrate safety and efficacy. If and when we collaborate with a third party for development and commercialization of a drug
candidate, we can expect to relinquish some or all of the control over the future success of that drug candidate to the third party.
Further, collaborations involving our drug candidates are subject to numerous risks, which may include the following:
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collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to a collaboration;
collaborators may not pursue development and commercialization of our drug candidates or may elect not to continue or
renew development or commercialization programs based on clinical trial results, changes in their strategic focus due to
the acquisition of competitive drugs, availability of funding, or other external factors, such as a business combination that
diverts resources or creates competing priorities;
collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial, stop a clinical trial, abandon a drug
candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials, or require a new formulation of a drug candidate for clinical testing;
collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, drugs that compete directly or indirectly with our
drugs or drug candidates;
a collaborator with marketing and distribution rights to one or more drugs may not commit sufficient resources to their
marketing and distribution;
collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our intellectual property or
proprietary information in a way that gives rise to actual or threatened litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our
intellectual property or proprietary information or expose us to potential liability;
disputes may arise between us and a collaborator that cause the delay or termination of the research, development or
commercialization of our drug candidates, or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management attention
and resources;
collaborations may be terminated and, if terminated, may result in a need for additional capital to pursue further
development or commercialization of the applicable drug candidates; and
collaborators may own or co-own intellectual property covering our drugs that results from our collaborating with them,
and in such cases, we would not have the exclusive right to commercialize such intellectual property.
As a result, if we enter into collaboration agreements and strategic partnerships or license our drugs, we may not be able to
realize the benefit of such transactions if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and company
culture, which could delay our timelines or otherwise adversely affect our business. We also cannot be certain that, following a
strategic transaction or license, we will achieve the revenue or specific net income that justifies such transaction. If we are unable to
reach agreements with suitable collaborators on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all, we may have to curtail the development
of a drug candidate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential
commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or
commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to fund and undertake development or commercialization activities on our
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own, we may need to obtain additional expertise and additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.
If we fail to enter into collaborations and do not have sufficient funds or expertise to undertake the necessary development and
commercialization activities, we may not be able to further develop our drug candidates or bring them to market and generate product
sales revenue, which would harm our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
We have engaged and will continue to rely on a single vendor to manage our order to cash cycle and our distribution activities in
the U.S., and the loss or disruption of service from this vendor could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.
Our U.S. customer management, order processing, invoicing, cash application, chargeback and rebate processing and
distribution and logistics activities are managed by Dohmen Life Science Services, or DLSS, a managed services provider with a
focus on life sciences companies. If we were to lose the availability of DLSS’s services due to a dispute, termination of or inability to
renew the contract, or other factors such as fire, natural disaster or other disruption, such loss could have a material adverse effect on
our operations. Although multiple providers of such services exist, there can be no assurance that we could secure another source to
handle these transactions on acceptable terms or otherwise to our specifications in the event of a disruption of services at operational
centers.
Risks Related to Our Industry, Business and Operation
Our future success depends on our ability to retain our Chief Executive Officer and other key executives and to attract, retain and
motivate qualified personnel. Additionally, certain members of our leadership may engage in other business ventures that may
have interests in conflict with ours.
We are highly dependent on Dr. Lau, our Chief Executive Officer, and the other principal members of our management and
scientific teams. We do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or other employees. The loss of the services of
any of these persons could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization objectives.
To induce valuable employees to remain at our company, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we have provided stock
option grants that vest over time. The value to employees of these equity grants that vest over time may be significantly affected by
changes in the price of our common stock that are beyond our control, and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative
offers from other companies. Although we have employment agreements with our key employees, any of our employees could leave
our employment at any time, with or without notice.
Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, manufacturing and sales and marketing personnel or consultants will also
be critical to our success. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in
formulating our discovery and preclinical development and commercialization strategy. The loss of the services of our executive
officers or other key employees and consultants could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization
objectives and seriously harm our ability to successfully implement our business strategy.
Furthermore, replacing executive officers and key employees or consultants may be difficult and may take an extended period of
time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to successfully
develop, gain regulatory approval of and commercialize products. Competition to hire from this limited pool is intense, and we may be
unable to hire, train, retain or motivate these key personnel or consultants on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel.
We may choose to hire part-time employees or use consultants. As a result, certain of our employees, officers, directors and
consultants may not devote all of their time to our business, and may from time to time serve as officers, directors and consultants of
other companies. These other companies may have interests in conflict with ours. For instance, Dr. Johnson Lau, who serves as our
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Dr. Manson Fok and Mr. Song-Yi Zhang, who serve on our board of directors, are also
directors of Avalon Global Holdings Limited, or Avalon, a shareholder of ours. In addition, Dr. David Hangauer, our former Chief
Scientific Officer and one of our founders, retired in December 2016, and now maintains an advisory relationship with our company
as Retired Chief Scientific Officer, Scientist Emeritus.
We also face competition for the hiring of scientific and clinical personnel from universities and research institutions. Our
consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory
contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us. If we are unable to continue to attract and retain high quality
personnel, our ability to pursue our growth strategy will be limited.
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We are substantially dependent on our public-private partnerships and if we or our counterparties fail to meet the obligations of
those agreements and we lose the benefits of those partnerships, it would materially impact our development, operations and
prospects.
Our long-term public-private partnerships with governments and government agencies, including in certain emerging markets,
include agreements to build and/or maintain manufacturing facilities for us. For example, we entered into an agreement with FSMC,
whereby FSMC agreed to fund the costs of construction of a new manufacturing facility in Dunkirk, New York. FSMC is responsible
for the costs of construction and of all equipment for the facility, up to an amount not to exceed $225 million, and shall retain
ownership of the facility and the equipment. We are entitled to lease the facility and all equipment at a rate of $1.00 per year for an
initial 10-year term, and for the same rate if we elect to extend the lease for an additional 10-year term. We are responsible for all
operating costs and expenses for the facility. In exchange, we have committed to spending $1.52 billion on operational expenses in the
Dunkirk facility in our first 10-year term in the facility, and an additional $1.5 billion on operational expenses if we elect to extend the
lease for a second 10-year term. We have also committed to hiring 450 permanent employees within the first 5 years at the Dunkirk
facility. In addition, in July 2017 we entered into a 20-year payment in-lieu of tax agreement with the Chautauqua County Industrial
Development Agency, or CCIDA, for the construction of our Dunkirk facility, valued at approximately $9.1 million. We have also
entered into similar arrangements with FSMC relating to our headquarters, and Chongqing Maliu Riverside Development &
Investment Co., Ltd. relating to a plant in Chongqing, PRC, under which we have committed to achieving certain operating, revenue
and tax generation milestones. If we are unable to comply with our obligations under these arrangements, including the milestones we
have committed to achieve, we may lose access to the properties covered by such arrangements which could disrupt our operations
and manufacturing activities, cause us to divert resources to finding alternative facilities, which would not have any subsidies, and
would have a significant impact on our operations and financial performance. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the
counterparties to our public-private partnerships will comply with the terms of the agreements, including that their ability to fund their
capital commitments under the agreements may be subject to their ability to raise additional capital and that construction timetables
may not be met, nor is there guarantee that the successors to such counterparties will continue to comply with terms of the agreements,
regardless of existence of such government stipulations as a guideline released on November 4, 2016 by the State Council of China,
which provides that, among others governments and relevant departments at all levels shall strictly keep policy commitments lawfully
made to society and administrative counterparties, shall carefully perform all the contracts lawfully entered into with investment
subjects in activities like attraction of investment and public-private partnership, shall not breach contracts with such excuses as
government transition and replacement of leaders, and shall bear legal and economic liability in event of their infringements and
contract breaches. If our public-private partnership counterparties or their successors fail to comply with their obligations under these
arrangements, our development programs and prospects will be materially adversely affected. Public-private partnerships are also
subject to risks associated with government and government agency counterparties, including risks related to government relations
compliance, sovereign immunity, shifts in the political environment, changing economic and legal conditions and social dynamics.
We will need to continue to increase the size and capabilities of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing
our growth.
As of December 31, 2017, we had 477 employees and consultants and most of our employees are full-time. As our development
and commercialization plans and strategies develop, and as we continue to operate as a public company, we must add a significant
number of additional managerial, operational, sales, marketing, financial and other personnel. Future growth will impose significant
added responsibilities on members of management, including:
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identifying, recruiting, integrating, maintaining, and motivating additional employees;
managing our internal development efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA or other comparable authority
review process for our drug candidates, while complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third
parties; and
improving our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures.
Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our drug candidates will depend, in part, on our ability to
effectively manage any future growth, and our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away
from day-to-day activities in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. In addition, we expect
to incur additional costs in hiring, training and retaining such additional personnel.
If we are not able to effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and
contractors, we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop and commercialize our drug
candidates and, accordingly, may not achieve our research, development and commercialization goals.
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If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our consolidated
financial results.
We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses and significant deficiencies that our independent registered
public accounting firm or we will identify in the future. Under standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board, a deficiency in internal control over financial reporting exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow
management or personnel, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely
basis. A material weakness is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is
a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented
or detected and corrected on a timely basis. As a public company, we also need to establish and maintain effective disclosure and
financial controls and make changes in our corporate governance practices including our board and committee practices. If we identify
such issues or if we are unable to produce accurate and timely financial statements, our stock price may be adversely affected and we
may be unable to maintain compliance with applicable listing requirements.
Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors may engage in misconduct or other
improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk of fraud, misconduct or other illegal activity by our employees, independent contractors, consultants,
commercial partners and vendors. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless and negligent conduct that fails to:
comply with the laws of the FDA and other similar non-U.S. regulatory authorities; provide true, complete and accurate information to
the FDA and other similar non-U.S. regulatory authorities; comply with manufacturing standards we have established; comply with
healthcare fraud and abuse and privacy laws in the U.S. and similar non-U.S. fraudulent misconduct laws; or report financial
information or data accurately or to disclose unauthorized activities to us. If we obtain FDA approval of any of our drug candidates
and begin commercializing those drugs in the U.S., our potential exposure under U.S. laws will increase significantly and our costs
associated with compliance with such laws are also likely to increase. These laws may impact, among other things, our current
activities with principal investigators and research patients, as well as proposed and future sales, marketing and education programs.
In particular, the promotion, sales and marketing of healthcare items and services, as well as certain business arrangements in the
healthcare industry, are subject to extensive laws designed to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These
laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, structuring and
commission(s), certain customer incentive programs and other business arrangements generally. Activities subject to these laws also
involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of patient recruitment for clinical trials, which could result in
regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees
and other parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or
unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to
comply with these laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or
asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant fines or other
sanctions.
If we engage in future acquisitions or strategic partnerships, this may increase our capital requirements, dilute our shareholders,
cause us to incur debt or assume contingent liabilities, and subject us to other risks.
We may evaluate various acquisitions and strategic partnerships, including licensing or acquiring complementary products,
intellectual property rights, technologies or businesses. Any potential acquisition or strategic partnership may entail numerous risks,
including:
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increased operating expenses and cash requirements;
assimilation of operations, intellectual property and products of an acquired company, including difficulties associated
with integrating new personnel;
the diversion of our management’s attention from our existing product programs and initiatives in pursuing such a
strategic merger or acquisition;
retention of key employees, the loss of key personnel, and uncertainties in our ability to maintain key business
relationships;
risks and uncertainties associated with the other party to such a transaction, including the prospects of that party and their
existing drugs or drug candidates and regulatory approvals; and
our inability to generate revenue from acquired technology and/or products sufficient to meet our objectives in
undertaking the acquisition or even to offset the associated acquisition and maintenance costs.
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In addition, if we undertake acquisitions, we may issue dilutive securities, assume or incur debt obligations, incur large one-time
expenses and acquire intangible assets that could result in significant future amortization expense. Moreover, we may not be able to
locate suitable acquisition opportunities and this inability could impair our ability to grow or obtain access to technology or products
that may be important to the development of our business.
Our business is subject to applicable laws and regulations relating to sanctions, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery practices,
the violation of which could adversely affect our operations.
We must comply with all applicable economic sanctions, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery laws and regulations of the
U.S. and other foreign jurisdictions where we operate, including the PRC. U.S. laws and regulations applicable to us include the
economic trade sanctions laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control, or OFAC, as well as certain laws administered by the U.S. Department of State. Our business is also subject to anti-money
laundering laws and regulations, including the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Money Laundering
Regulations 2007 in the U.K., the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 and the USA PATRIOT Act
of 2001 in the U.S. and equivalent or similar legislation in the other countries where we do business. In addition, we are subject to the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or FCPA, and other anti-bribery laws such as the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 that generally prohibit
the corrupt provision of anything of value to foreign governments and their officials and political parties for the purpose of influencing
official conduct or obtaining or retaining an undue business advantage. Applicable anti-bribery laws also may prohibit commercial
bribery.
We have operations, conduct clinical trials, deal with government entities, including hospitals and public health regulators, and
have contracts in countries known to experience corruption and commercial bribery. Our activities in these countries create the risk of
unauthorized payments or offers of payments by our employees, brokers or agents that could be in violation of various laws, including
the FCPA, even though these parties are not always subject to our control and supervision. There is no assurance that our existing
safeguards and procedures will be completely effective in ensuring compliance with such laws, and our employees, brokers or agents
may engage in conduct for which we may be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA or other anti-bribery laws may result in severe
criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our reputation, business, operating
results, and financial condition.
Regulations administered by OFAC govern transactions with countries and persons subject to U.S. trade sanctions. We are also
subject to U.S. Government restrictions on transactions with specific entities and individuals, including, without limitation, those set
forth on the Entity List, the Specially Designated Nationals List, the Denied Persons List, the Unverified List, and the U.S. State
Department’s lists of debarred parties and sanctioned entities, and we may also be subject to restrictions on transactions with specific
entities and individuals subject to the sanctions administered by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her
Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority. These regulations prohibit us from entering into or facilitating unlicensed
transactions with, for the benefit of, or in some cases involving the property and property interests of such persons, governments, or
countries designated by the relevant sanctions authority under one or more sanctions regimes. Failure to comply with these sanctions
and embargoes may result in material fines, sanctions or other penalties being imposed on us or other governmental investigations. In
addition, various state and municipal governments, universities and other investors maintain prohibitions or restrictions on
investments in companies that do business involving sanctioned countries or entities.
International economic and trade sanctions are complex and subject to frequent change, including jurisdictional reach and the
lists of countries, entities, and individuals subject to the sanctions. Current or future economic and trade sanctions regulations or
developments might have a negative impact on our business or reputation, and we may incur significant costs related to current, new,
or changing sanctions programs, as well as investigations, fines, fees or settlements, which may be difficult to predict. In addition,
companies subject to SEC reporting obligations are required under Section 13 of the Exchange Act to disclose in their periodic reports
specified dealings or transactions involving Iran or other individuals and entities targeted by certain sanctions promulgated by OFAC
that the reporting company or any of its affiliates engaged in during the period covered by the relevant periodic report. In some cases
Section 13 requires companies to disclose transactions even if they are permissible under U.S. law. The SEC is required to post this
notice of disclosure pursuant to Section 13 on its website and report to the President and certain congressional committees regarding
such filings.
On January 16, 2016, OFAC issued General License H, which authorized certain transactions relating to Iran. Pursuant to
General License H, certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries may conduct business relating to Iran. SEC guidance to date indicates that
activities authorized by General License H generally are not subject to disclosure under Section 13, but should applicable SEC
guidance or disclosure requirements change, or should our non-U.S. subsidiaries engage in activities subject to disclosure under
Section 13, we may be required to disclose certain Iran-related transactions in future periodic reports with the SEC. Even if such
activity is permitted under applicable law, disclosure could harm our reputation and have a negative impact on our business. Our non-
U.S. subsidiaries also remain subject to OFAC secondary sanctions governing trade with Iran, and any violations of OFAC secondary
sanctions regulations could negatively affect our reputation, business, operating results, and financial condition.
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Although we have policies and controls in place that are designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, it is
possible that an employee or intermediary could fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations. In such event, we could be
exposed to civil penalties, criminal penalties and other sanctions, including fines or other punitive actions, and the government may
seek to impose modifications to business practices, including cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries, and
modifications to compliance programs, which may increase compliance costs. In addition, such violations could damage our business
and/or our reputation. Such criminal or civil sanctions, penalties, other sanctions, and damage to our business and/or reputation could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Any failure to comply with applicable regulations and industry standards or obtain various licenses and permits could harm our
reputation and our business, results of operations and prospects.
A number of governmental agencies or industry regulatory bodies in the U.S., and in non-U.S. jurisdictions including the PRC,
impose strict rules, regulations and industry standards governing pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development and
manufacturing and marketing activities, which apply to us. Our failure to comply with such regulations could result in the termination
of ongoing research or manufacturing and marketing, administrative penalties imposed by regulatory bodies or the disqualification of
data for submission to regulatory authorities. This could harm our reputation, prospects for future work and operating results. For
example, if we were to treat research animals inhumanely or in violation of international standards set out by the Association for
Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, it could revoke any such accreditation and the accuracy of our animal
research data could be questioned.
If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or
incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.
We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory
procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Our operations involve the use of
hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals. Our operations also produce hazardous waste products. We generally
contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from
these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any
resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal
fines and penalties.
Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our
employees resulting from the use of or exposure to hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against
potential liabilities. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in
connection with our storage, use or disposal of biological or hazardous materials.
In addition, we may be required to incur substantial costs to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws
and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts. Failure to
comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.
If we face allegations of noncompliance with the law and encounter sanctions, our reputation, revenues and liquidity may suffer,
and our drugs could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.
Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response,
and could generate negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements may significantly and adversely
affect our ability to commercialize and generate revenues from our drugs. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval
is withdrawn, the value of our company and our operating results will be adversely affected. Additionally, if we are unable to generate
revenues from our product sales, our potential for achieving profitability will be diminished and the capital necessary to fund our
operations will be increased.
Our internal computer systems, or those used by our CROs or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security
breaches.
Despite the implementation of cybersecurity measures, our information technology and Internet based systems, including those
of our current and future CROs and other contractors and consultants, are vulnerable to damage, interruption, or failure from computer
viruses, unauthorized access, intrusion, and other cybersecurity incidents. This could result in the exposure of sensitive data including
the loss of trade secrets, intellectual property, personal identifiable or sensitive information of employees, customers, partners, clinical
trial patients, and others, leading to a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations. For example, the
loss of clinical trial data from completed or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and
significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. Likewise, we partially rely on our third-party research institution
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collaborators for research and development of our drug candidates and other third parties for the manufacture of our drug candidates
and to conduct clinical trials, and similar cybersecurity incidents relating to their computer systems could also have a material adverse
effect on our business. Certain data security breaches must be reported to affected individuals and the government, and in some cases
to the media, under provisions of HIPAA, other U.S. federal and state law, and requirements of non-U.S. jurisdictions, and financial
penalties may also apply. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or
applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further
development and commercialization of our drug candidates could be delayed.
We are aware of a security breach that occurred in March 2017. That incident occurred when the credentials of an approved
consultant were compromised, and the consultant’s credentials were used to access the remote desktop server and active directory
server of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Athenex Pharma Solutions, or APS. Upon discovery of the breach, we immediately took steps
to void the compromised credentials and reset all credentials having access to APS’ systems. These particular APS information
systems are independent of ours, and did not contain any drug candidate, clinical trial or patient-specific data. However, information
stored on APS’ systems may have been vulnerable during the intrusion. To help mitigate future incidents we have put in place
enhanced security measures required for access by consultants. Notwithstanding such measures, we cannot be certain that no future
security breaches will occur or that future breaches will not result in a material disruption of our development programs and our
business operations.
Business disruptions could seriously harm our future revenue and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.
Our operations, and those of our third-party research institution collaborators, CROs, suppliers and other contractors and
consultants, could be subject to earthquakes, power shortages, telecommunications failures, water shortages, floods, hurricanes,
typhoons, fires, extreme weather conditions, medical epidemics and other natural or man-made disasters or business interruptions, for
which we are predominantly self-insured. In addition, we partially rely on our third-party research collaborators for conducting
research and development of our drug candidates, and they may be affected by government shutdowns or withdrawn funding. The
occurrence of any of these business disruptions could seriously harm our operations and financial condition and increase our costs and
expenses. Our ability to obtain clinical supplies of our drug candidates could be disrupted if the operations of these suppliers are
affected by a man-made or natural disaster or other business interruption. Damage or extended periods of interruption to our corporate,
development or research facilities due to fire, natural disaster, power loss, communications failure, unauthorized entry or other events
could cause us to cease or delay development of some or all of our drug candidates. Although we maintain property damage and
business interruption insurance coverage on these facilities, our insurance might not cover all losses under such circumstances and our
business may be seriously harmed by such delays and interruption.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit
commercialization of our drug candidates or our 503B products.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our drug candidates and will face an even greater
risk if we commercialize any of our clinical candidates. For example, we may be sued if our drug candidates that we plan to
manufacture, or our 503B products that we currently manufacture or plan to manufacture cause or are perceived to cause injury or are
found to be otherwise unsuitable during clinical testing, as applicable, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability
claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the drug,
negligence, strict liability or a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot
successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit
commercialization of our drug candidates. Even successful defense would require significant financial and management resources.
Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
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decreased demand for our drugs;
injury to our reputation;
withdrawal of clinical trial participants and inability to continue clinical trials;
initiation of investigations by regulators;
costs to defend the related litigation;
a diversion of management’s time and our resources;
substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;
product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions;
loss of revenue;
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exhaustion of any available insurance and our capital resources;
the inability to commercialize any drug candidate; and
a decline in the price of our common stock.
Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability
claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of drugs we develop, alone or with collaborators. Although we currently carry
clinical trial insurance, which we believe to be adequate for our current operations, the amount of such insurance coverage may not be
adequate now, or in the future, and we may be unable to maintain such insurance, or we may not be able to obtain additional or
replacement insurance at a reasonable cost, if at all. Our insurance policies may also have various exclusions, and we may be subject
to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. We may have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a
settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain,
sufficient capital to pay such amounts. Even if our agreements with any future corporate collaborators entitle us to indemnification
against losses, such indemnification may not be available or adequate should any claim arise.
Additionally, we may be sued if the products that we commercialize, market or distribute for our partners cause or are perceived
to cause injury or are found to be otherwise unsuitable, and may result in:
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decreased demand for those products;
damage to our reputation;
costs incurred related to product recalls;
limiting our opportunities to enter into future commercial partnership; and
a decline in the price of our common stock.
We have limited insurance coverage, and any claims beyond our insurance coverage may result in our incurring substantial costs
and a diversion of resources.
We maintain property insurance policies covering physical damage to, or loss of, our buildings and their improvements,
equipment, office furniture and inventory. We hold employer’s liability insurance generally covering death or work-related injury of
employees. We hold public liability insurance covering certain incidents involving third parties that occur on or in the premises of the
company. We hold directors and officers liability insurance. We do not maintain key-man life insurance on any of our senior
management or key personnel, or business interruption insurance. Our insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover any claim for
product liability, damage to our fixed assets or employee injuries. Any liability or damage to, or caused by, our facilities or our
personnel beyond our insurance coverage may result in our incurring substantial costs and a diversion of resources.
We may increasingly become a target for public scrutiny, including complaints to regulatory agencies, negative media coverage,
including social media and malicious reports, all of which could severely damage our reputation and materially and adversely
affect our business and prospects.
We focus on the development of drugs used in the treatment of cancers, and such drugs may be the subject of regulatory,
watchdog and media scrutiny and coverage, which also the possibility of heightened attention from the public, the media and our
participants. In addition, members of our management and board include high-profile public figures who may be the subject of media
and public scrutiny and attention. From time to time, these objections or allegations, regardless of their veracity, may result in public
protests or negative publicity, which could result in government inquiry or harm our reputation. Corporate transactions we or related
parties undertake may also subject us to increased media exposure and public scrutiny. There is no assurance that we would not
become a target for public scrutiny in the future or such scrutiny and public exposure would not severely damage our reputation as
well as our business and prospects.
In addition, our directors and management have been in the past, and may continue to be, subject to scrutiny by the media and
the public regarding their activities in and outside our company, which may result in unverified, inaccurate or misleading information
about them being reported by the press. Negative publicity about our directors or management, even if untrue or inaccurate, may harm
our reputation.
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Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by global economic conditions.
Our business and operating results could be affected by global economic conditions. When global economic conditions
deteriorate or economic uncertainty continues, customers and potential customers may delay or cancellation of plans to purchase our
products, governments may reduce healthcare expenditures, and other payors may reduce their reimbursement coverage or
reimbursement rates. Our sensitivity to economic cycles and any related fluctuations in the businesses of our customers or potential
customers could have a material adverse impact on our business and financial results. Although we are uncertain about the extent to
which global financial market disruptions or a slowdown of the U.S. or Chinese economy would impact our business in the long term,
there is a risk that our business, results of operations and prospects would be materially and adversely affected by any global economic
downturn or the slowdown of the U.S. or Chinese economy.
If our manufacturing facilities are damaged or destroyed or production at such facilities is otherwise interrupted, our business and
prospects would be negatively affected.
If our manufacturing facilities or the equipment in them is damaged or destroyed, we may not be able to quickly or
inexpensively replace our manufacturing capacity or replace it at all. In the event of a temporary or protracted loss of the facilities or
equipment, we might not be able to transfer manufacturing to a third party. Even if we could transfer manufacturing to a third party,
the shift would likely be expensive and time-consuming, particularly since the new facility would need to comply with the necessary
regulatory requirements and we would need FDA, CFDA or and other comparable regulatory agency approval before selling any
drugs manufactured at that facility. Such an event could delay our clinical trials or reduce our product sales if and when we are able to
successfully commercialize one or more of our drug candidates.
Any interruption in manufacturing operations at our manufacturing facilities could result in our inability to satisfy the demands
of our clinical trials or commercialization. A number of factors could cause interruptions, including:
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equipment malfunctions or failures;
malfunctions or compromise by third party actors of our technology systems;
work stoppages;
damage to or destruction of either facility due to natural disasters;
regional power shortages;
product tampering; or
terrorist activities.
Any disruption that impedes our ability to manufacture our drug candidates in a timely manner could materially harm our
business, financial condition and operating results.
Currently, we maintain insurance coverage against damage to our property and equipment. However, our insurance coverage
may not reimburse us, or may not be sufficient to reimburse us, for any expenses or losses we may suffer. We may be unable to meet
our requirements for our drug candidates if there were a catastrophic event or failure of our manufacturing facilities or processes.
Risks Related to Our Doing Business in the PRC
The pharmaceutical industry in China is highly regulated and such regulations are subject to change which may affect approval
and commercialization of our drugs.
Certain of our research operations and manufacturing facilities are in China. The pharmaceutical industry in China is subject to
comprehensive government regulation and supervision, encompassing the approval, registration, manufacturing, packaging, licensing
and marketing of new drugs. In recent years, the regulatory framework in China regarding the pharmaceutical industry has undergone
significant changes, and we expect that it will continue to undergo significant changes. Any such changes or amendments may result
in increased compliance costs on our business or cause delays in or prevent the successful development or commercialization of our
drug candidates in China and reduce the current benefits we believe are available to us from developing and manufacturing drugs in
China. Chinese authorities have become increasingly vigilant in enforcing laws in the pharmaceutical industry and any failure by us or
our partners to maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations or obtain and maintain required licenses and permits may
result in the suspension or termination of our business activities in China. We believe our strategy and approach is aligned with the
Chinese government’s policies, but we cannot ensure that our strategy and approach will continue to be aligned.
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Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses, which may adversely affect our financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We incur portions of our expenses, and may in the future derive revenues, in currencies other than U.S. dollars, in particular, the
Renminbi. As a result, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk as our results of operations and cash flows are subject to
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. For example, a portion of our clinical trial activities are conducted outside of the U.S.,
and associated costs may be incurred in the local currency of the country in which the trial is being conducted, which costs could be
subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. We currently do not engage in hedging transactions to protect against uncertainty in
future exchange rates between particular foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. A decline in the value of the U.S. dollar against
currencies in countries in which we conduct clinical trials could have a negative impact on our research and development costs.
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things,
changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC and other non-U.S. governments.
Specifically in the PRC, on July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S.
dollar. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the
following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the
U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the PRC government has allowed the Renminbi to appreciate slowly
against the U.S. dollar again, and it has appreciated more than 10% since June 2010. In April 2012, the PRC government announced
that it would allow more Renminbi exchange rate fluctuation and in August 2015, China’s central bank executed a 2% devaluation in
the Renminbi. From December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016, the Renminbi depreciated approximately 6.7% against the U.S. dollar.
From December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017, the Renminbi appreciated approximately 6.3% against the U.S. dollar. It remains
unclear what further fluctuations may occur or what impact this will have on the currency.
It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC, U.S. or other government policies may impact the exchange rate between the
Renminbi, U.S. dollar and other currencies in the future. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to
adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result in greater fluctuation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. Substantially
all of our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars and our costs are denominated in U.S. dollars and Renminbi, and a large portion of
our financial assets is denominated in U.S. dollars. To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this offering
into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi
amount we would receive. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for other business purposes,
appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount we would receive. We
cannot predict the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, and foreign currency fluctuations in the future may adversely affect our
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC government may materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations and may result in our inability to sustain our growth and expansion strategies.
A significant portion of our operations are in the PRC. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations are
affected to a large extent by economic, political and legal developments in the PRC.
The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the extent of
government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the
PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state
ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion
of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in
regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s
economic growth by allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy,
regulating financial services and institutions and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past three decades, growth has been uneven, both
geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage
economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall PRC economy, but may also
have a negative effect on us. Our financial condition and results of operation could be materially and adversely affected by
government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us and consequently have a material
adverse effect on our businesses, financial condition and results of operations.
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There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.
A portion of our operations are conducted in the PRC through our PRC subsidiaries, and are governed by PRC laws, rules and
regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal
system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference
but have limited precedential value.
In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations governing economic
matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to
various forms of foreign investment in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted
laws, rules and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China or may be subject to significant
degrees of interpretation by PRC regulatory agencies. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and
because of the limited number of published decisions and the nonbinding nature of such decisions, and because the laws, rules and
regulations often give the relevant regulator significant discretion in how to enforce them, the interpretation and enforcement of these
laws, rules and regulations involve uncertainties and can be inconsistent and unpredictable. In addition, the PRC legal system is based
in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, and which may have a
retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until after the occurrence of the
violation.
Any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources
and management attention. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and
implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court
proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede our
ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, the final version, interpretation and implementation of draft
PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate governance.
The Ministry of Commerce published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law in January 2015 aiming to,
upon its enactment, replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint
Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law,
together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The draft Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC
regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative
efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. The Ministry of Commerce has solicited
comments on this draft and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, the final version, interpretation and
implementation.
Among other things, the draft Foreign Investment Law expands the definition of foreign investment and introduces the principle
of “actual control” in determining whether a company is considered a foreign-invested enterprise, or an FIE. The draft Foreign
Investment Law specifically provides that entities established in China but “controlled” by foreign investors will be treated as FIEs,
whereas an entity set up in a foreign jurisdiction would nonetheless be, upon market entry clearance by the Ministry of Commerce or
its local counterparts, treated as a PRC domestic investor provided that the entity is “controlled” by PRC entities and/or citizens. In
this connection, “control” is broadly defined in the draft law to cover the following summarized categories: (1) holding 50% of more
of the shares, equity or voting rights of the subject entity; (2) holding less than 50% of the voting rights of the subject entity but having
the power to secure at least 50% of the seats on the board or other equivalent decision making bodies, or having the voting power to
exert material influence on the board, the shareholders’ meeting or other equivalent decision making bodies; or (3) having the power
to exert decisive influence, via contractual or trust arrangements, over the subject entity’s operations, financial matters or other key
aspects of business operations. Once an entity is determined to be an FIE, it will be subject to the foreign investment restrictions or
prohibitions, if the FIE is engaged in the industry listed in the “negative list” which will be separately issued by the State Council
later. Unless the underlying business of the FIE falls within the negative list, which calls for market entry clearance by the Ministry of
Commerce or its local counterparts, prior approval from the government authorities as mandated by the existing foreign investment
legal regime would no longer be required for establishment of the FIE.
The draft Foreign Investment Law, if enacted as proposed, may also materially impact our corporate governance practice and
increase our compliance costs. For instance, the draft Foreign Investment Law imposes stringent ad hoc and periodic information
reporting requirements on foreign investors and the applicable FIEs. Aside from investment implementation report and investment
amendment report that are required at each investment and alteration of investment specifics, an annual report is mandatory, and large
foreign investors meeting certain criteria are required to report on a quarterly basis. Any company found to be non-compliant with
these information reporting obligations may potentially be subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities, and the persons
directly responsible may be subject to criminal liabilities.
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PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our future PRC-resident beneficial
owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our
PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits.
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign
Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose
Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular, commonly known as SAFE Circular 75,
promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 and other SAFE rules require PRC residents to register with local
branches of SAFE or delegated commercial banks in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore
entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in
domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle”. SAFE Circular 37
further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such
as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material
events. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required registration, the
PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from
carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to
contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various registration requirements described
above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.
We believe that certain of our shareholders are PRC residents under SAFE Circular 37. These certain shareholders have
undertaken to (i) apply to register with local SAFE branch or its delegated commercial bank as soon as possible after exercising their
options, and (ii) indemnify and hold harmless us and our subsidiaries against any loss suffered arising from their failure to complete
the registration. We do not have control over the shareholders and our other beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our
PRC-resident beneficial owners have complied with, and will in the future comply with, SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent
implementation rules. The failure of PRC-resident beneficial owners to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner
pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, or the failure of future PRC-resident beneficial owners of our
company to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, may subject
such beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Furthermore, SAFE Circular 37 is unclear how this
regulation, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented
by the relevant PRC government authorities, and we cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future
strategy. Failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC
subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us. These risks could in the future have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee share option plans may subject
the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic
Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, commonly known as SAFE Circular 7, or
the Share Option Rules, replacing earlier rules promulgated in 2007. Pursuant to these rules, PRC residents who are granted shares or
share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to (1) register with the SAFE
or its local branches; (2) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas listed company or another
qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the share
incentive plans on behalf of the participants; and (3) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise
of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers. We and our executive officers and other employees who
are PRC residents and who have been granted options will be subject to these regulations. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations
may subject them to fines, and legal sanctions, and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary
and limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability
to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law. See “Regulation—Regulations
Relating to Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution—Share Option Rules.”
We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may
therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules, both of which came into effect on January 1, 2008,
enterprises established under the laws of jurisdictions outside of China with “de facto management bodies” located in China may be
considered PRC tax resident enterprises for tax purposes and may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on
their global income. “De facto management body” refers to a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and
control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise. The State Administration of
Taxation has issued guidance, known as Circular 82 that provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto
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management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China. Although Circular 82 only applies to
offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises, not those, such as us, controlled by foreign enterprises or individuals, the
determining criteria set forth in Circular 82 may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto
management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are
controlled by PRC enterprises. Currently, our management is located in the U.S., and we generate a portion of our revenues within the
PRC and a portion outside the PRC. We believe that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident
enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax
authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body”. If we were to be
considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our global income. In
such case, our profitability and cash flow may be materially reduced as a result of our global income being taxed under the PRC
Enterprise Income Tax Law.
Dividends payable to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of our common stock by our foreign investors may become subject
to PRC tax law.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules issued by the State Council, in general, a 10% PRC
withholding tax is applicable to dividends payable to investors that are non-resident enterprises that do not have an establishment or
place of business in the PRC or which have such establishment or place of business but the dividends are not effectively connected
with such establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC. Similarly, any
gain realized on the transfer of shares of our common stock by such investors is also subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 10%,
subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties, if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within
the PRC. If we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends paid on our common stock, and any gain realized from the transfer of
our common stock, would be treated as income derived from sources within the PRC and would as a result be subject to PRC taxation.
Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to individual investors who are non-PRC residents and
any gain realized on the transfer of common stock by such investors may be subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 20%, subject to any
reduction or exemption set forth in applicable tax treaties. It is unclear whether we or any of our subsidiaries established outside China
are considered a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our common stock would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or
agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas. If dividends payable to our non-PRC investors or gains from the
transfer of our common stock by such investors are subject to PRC tax, the value of your investment in our common stock may decline
significantly.
We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by
their non-PRC holding companies.
Pursuant to a notice, or Circular 698, issued by the State Administration of Taxation, where a non-resident enterprise conducts
an “indirect transfer” by transferring the equity interests of a PRC resident enterprise indirectly via disposing of the equity interests of
an overseas holding company, and such overseas holding company is located in a tax jurisdiction that: (1) has an effective tax rate less
than 12.5%; or (2) does not tax foreign income of its residents, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, shall report to the
relevant tax authority of the PRC resident enterprise such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax
authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was
established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be
subject to PRC enterprise income tax, currently at a rate of 10%. In 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular,
known as Circular 7, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under Circular 698. Circular 7 sets out a wider scope of
indirect transfer of PRC assets that might be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and more detailed guidelines on the circumstances
when such indirect transfer is considered to lack a bona fide commercial purpose and thus regarded as avoiding PRC tax. The
conditional reporting obligation of the non-PRC investor under Circular 698 is replaced by a voluntary reporting by the transferor, the
transferee or the underlying PRC resident enterprise being transferred. Furthermore, if the indirect transfer is subject to PRC enterprise
income tax, the transferee has an obligation to withhold tax from the sale proceeds, unless the transferor reports the transaction to the
PRC tax authority under Circular 7. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest. Gains derived from
the sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange are not subject to the PRC enterprise income tax pursuant to Circular 7
where such shares were acquired in a transaction through a public stock exchange. Circular 698 was abolished by an announcement
promulgated by the State Administration of Taxation in October 2017 and effective from December 1, 2017, or SAT Circular 37,
which, among other things, provides specific provisions on matters concerning withholding of income tax of non-resident enterprises
at the source.
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As newly implemented, there is uncertainty as to the application of Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37, both of which may be
determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to our offshore restructuring transactions or sale of the shares of our offshore
subsidiaries where non-resident enterprises, being the transferors, were involved. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-
resident enterprises with respect to a filing regarding the transactions and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a
result, we and our non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed
under Circular 7, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 7 or to establish that we and our non-
resident enterprises should not be taxed under Circular 7, for our previous and future restructuring or disposal of shares of our offshore
subsidiaries, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenue effectively.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the
remittance of currency out of China. A portion of our revenue may in the future be denominated in Renminbi. Shortages in availability
of foreign currency may then restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to our offshore entities for
our offshore entities to pay dividends or make other payments or otherwise to satisfy our foreign currency denominated obligations.
The Renminbi is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign
exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account”, which includes foreign direct investment and loans, including loans we
may secure from our onshore subsidiaries. Currently, our PRC subsidiaries, which are wholly-foreign owned enterprises, may
purchase foreign currency for settlement of “current account transactions,” including payment of dividends to us, without the approval
of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, the relevant PRC governmental authorities may limit or
eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. Since a portion of our future revenue
may be denominated in Renminbi, any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenue
generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside of the PRC or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders,
including holders of our common stock. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and
require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE and other relevant PRC governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to
obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for our subsidiaries.
Recent litigation and negative publicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the U.S. may result in increased regulatory
scrutiny of us and negatively impact the trading price of our common stock and could have a material adverse effect upon our
business, including its results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
We believe that litigation and negative publicity surrounding companies with operations in China, including concerning the
directors and officers of such companies, that are listed in the U.S. have negatively impacted stock prices for such companies. Various
equity-based research organizations have published reports on China-based companies after examining, among other things, their
corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements that have led to special
investigations and stock suspensions on national exchanges, including as a result of purported whistle-blowing or leaking by
employees or former employees. Any similar scrutiny of us, regardless of its lack of merit, could result in a diversion of management
resources and energy, potential costs to defend ourselves against rumors, decreases and volatility in the trading price of our common
stock, and increased directors and officers insurance premiums and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, including
its results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
The trading price of our common stock has been and is likely to continue to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to
you.
The trading price of our common stock has been and is likely to continue to be volatile and could fluctuate widely in response to
a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other
companies with a portion of their business operations located in China that have listed their securities in the U.S. may affect the
volatility in the price of and trading volumes for our common stock. Some of these companies have experienced significant volatility,
including significant price declines after their initial public offerings. The trading performances of these companies’ securities at the
time of or after their offerings may affect the overall investor sentiment towards other companies with significant China operations
listed in the U.S. and consequently may impact the trading performance of our common stock.
In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our common stock may be highly volatile for
specific business reasons, including:
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announcements of regulatory approval or a complete response letter, or specific label indications or patient populations for
its use, or changes or delays in the regulatory review process;
announcements of therapeutic innovations or new products by us or our competitors;
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adverse actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our clinical trials, manufacturing supply chain or sales and
marketing activities;
any adverse changes to our relationship with manufacturers or suppliers;
the results of our testing and clinical trials;
the results of our efforts to acquire or license additional drug candidates;
variations in the level of expenses related to our existing drug candidates or preclinical and clinical development
programs;
any intellectual property infringement actions in which we may become involved;
announcements concerning our competitors or the pharmaceutical industry in general;
achievement of expected product sales and profitability;
manufacture, supply or distribution shortages;
variations in our results of operations;
announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations, the risk of which is enhanced because it
is our policy not to give guidance on earnings;
publication of operating or industry metrics by third parties, including government statistical agencies, that differ from
expectations of industry or financial analysts;
changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
announcements made by us or our competitors of new product and service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships,
joint ventures or capital commitments;
press reports or other negative publicity, whether or not true, about our business;
additions to or departures of our management;
fluctuations of exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar;
release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding common stock;
sales or perceived potential sales of additional common stock;
sales of our common stock by us, our executive officers and directors or our shareholders in the future;
general economic and market conditions and overall fluctuations in the U.S. equity markets;
changes in accounting principles; and
changes or developments in the PRC or global regulatory environment.
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and trading price of our common stock. In the past,
following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, shareholders have often instituted securities class action
litigation against that company. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert the attention of management, and, if
adversely determined, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the stock market, in general, and small pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have experienced extreme
price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies.
Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating
performance. Further, the current decline in the financial markets and related factors beyond our control may cause our common stock
price to decline rapidly and unexpectedly.
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We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert management attention.
The price of our common stock may be volatile, and in the past companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of
their common stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future.
Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business concerns,
which could seriously harm our business.
Our disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all errors or acts of fraud.
Upon completion of our initial public offering, we became subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure
that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated
to management, and recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
We believe that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur
because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of
two or more people or by an unauthorized override of the controls. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in our control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our common stock or other equity securities in the public market could
cause the price of our common stock to decline significantly.
Sales of our common stock or other equity securities in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could
cause the market price of our common stock to decline significantly. The shares of our common stock will be available for sale, upon
the expiration of the lock-up periods beginning from April 24, 2018 (if applicable to such holder), subject to volume and other
restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. Any or all of these shares may be released prior to the
expiration of the applicable lock-up period at the discretion of one of the designated representatives. To the extent shares are released
before the expiration of the applicable lock-up period and sold into the market, the market price of our common stock could decline
significantly.
We are currently an “emerging growth company.” As a result of the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging
growth companies, our common stock may be less attractive to investors.
We are currently an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth
company, we are permitted and intend to rely on some of the exemptions from certain reporting requirements that are applicable to
other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include but are not limited to not being required to
comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, not being required to comply with
any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or
a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, reduced disclosure
obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of
holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not
previously approved.
We cannot predict whether investors will find our common stock less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If
some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and
the price of our common stock may be more volatile.
Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future, you must rely on price appreciation of our common stock for
return on your investment.
We intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As
a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our
common stock as a source for any future dividend income.
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Our board of directors has significant discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to
declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future
results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our
subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly,
the return on your investment in our common stock will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our common
stock. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased our
common stock. You may not realize a return on your investment in our common stock and you may even lose your entire investment
in our common stock. See “Dividend Policy.”
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the
market price for our common stock and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish
about us or our business. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the
analysts who covers us downgrades our common stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market
price for our common stock would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish
reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume
for our common stock to decline significantly.
Our directors, executive officers and principal stockholders have substantial control over us after this offering, which could limit
your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.
Our directors, officers and stockholders who own greater than 5% of our outstanding common stock, together with their
affiliates, beneficially owned, in the aggregate, approximately 48.51% of our outstanding common stock based on the number shares
outstanding as of February 28, 2018. As a result, these stockholders, if acting together, will be able to influence or control matters
requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers, acquisitions or other
extraordinary transactions. In addition, these stockholders, acting together, would have the ability to control the management and
affairs of our company. They may also have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which
may be adverse to your interests. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of
control of our company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a
sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our common stock.
In addition, our directors and officers as a group, will beneficially own in the aggregate approximately 33.00% of our
outstanding common stock based on the number shares outstanding as of December 31, 2017. As such, our directors and executive
officers could have considerable influence over matters such as approving a potential acquisition of us. Our directors and executive
officers’ investment in and position in our company could also discourage others from pursuing any potential acquisition of us, which
could have the effect of depriving the holders of our common stock of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the
prevailing market price.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents may discourage our acquisition by a third party, which could limit our
shareholders’ opportunity to sell their shares at a premium.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of others to
acquire control of our company, could modify our structure or could cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These
provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing
market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control in a tender offer or similar transaction.
We will continue to incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management are required to devote
substantial time to compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a
private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing
requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on
public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance
practices including our board and committee practices. Our management and other personnel need to devote a substantial amount of
time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations have increased our legal and financial compliance costs and
have made some activities more time-consuming and costly.
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We will continue to evaluate these rules and regulations on an ongoing basis. These rules and regulations are often subject to
varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over
time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding
compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we will first be required to furnish a report by our
management on our internal control over financial reporting for the year ending December 31, 2017. However, while we remain an
emerging growth company, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued
by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we will
be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging.
In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work
plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as
appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and
improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to
conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by
Section 404. If we identify one or more material weaknesses, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a
loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Properties.
Our corporate headquarters is located in Buffalo, New York, where we occupy approximately 51,000 square feet of the
Conventus Center for Collaborative Medicine, which includes approximately 16,000 square feet of a formulation testing and
chemistry lab under a lease that expires in July 2025 and is renewable for an additional 10 years. We also occupy approximately
15,000 square feet of office space in the Woodfield Preserve Office Center in Schaumberg, Illinois under a lease that expires in March
2027 which serves as the headquarters for our Commercial Platform. We occupy approximately 1,300 square feet of office space in
Cranford, New Jersey under a lease that expires in February 2025 that serves as our clinical research headquarters. We also occupy
office and lab space which represents a portion of the IC Development Centre in Hong Kong under a lease that expires in July 2018
and is renewable annually that serves as our Hong Kong headquarters and research and development center serving our Oncology
Innovation Platform. We occupy approximately 6,200 square feet of office space in Taipei, Taiwan under a lease that expires in
December 2022 which serves for clinical research and clinical data management.
We occupy space in manufacturing facilities in Clarence, New York and Chongqing, China which provide our manufacturing
capabilities for our 503B and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient operations.
We believe that these facilities will be sufficient to meet our current needs.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
From time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our
business. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken
together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Regardless of the
outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and
other factors.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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Executive Officers
The following table provides information with respect to our executive officers as of February 28, 2018.
Name
Executive Officers
Johnson Lau, M.D.
Jeffrey Yordon
Rudolf Kwan, M.B., B.S.
Simon Pedder, Ph.D.
William Zuo, Ph.D.
Li Shen, MBA, CPA
Age
Position(s)
57 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
69 Chief Operating Officer and President, Athenex
Pharmaceutical Division
65 Chief Medical Officer
56 Chief Business and Strategy Officer, Proprietary Products
56 President, Polymed Therapeutics
50 Acting Chief Accounting Officer and Vice President of
Financial Reporting
The following is a biographical summary of the experience of our executive officers:
Executive Officers
Johnson Y.N. Lau
Dr. Lau has served as our Chief Executive Officer since 2011, and as Chairman of the Board since our inception in 2003.
Dr. Lau has had extensive leadership experience in both scientific and business management. He previously served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Ribapharm Inc., and oversaw the company’s initial public offering in 2002. Prior to Ribapharm, he served
as Senior Vice President and Head of Research and Development for ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. Prior to joining ICN, Dr. Lau served
as the Senior Director of Antiviral Therapy Research at Schering-Plough Corporation. Dr. Lau has contributed more than 200
scientific publications, editorials/reviews and chapters in peer reviewed scientific journals and has edited two books. He was a former
Managing Director at Roth Capital Partners, LLC and a Director of the Board of Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd., serving as
the Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee as well as the Corporate Governance Committee. He is currently serving on
the board of Porton Fine Chemicals Ltd., and private companies including Avalon Biomedical (Management) Ltd., Avagenex Ltd. and
Aiviva Biopharma, Inc., as well as serving the Hong Kong X-Tech Startup platform as a general partner and mentor. He is also an
Executive Board Member of the charity Project Vision and is an honorary professor/adjunct professor of the University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Chongqing Southwestern Hospital, and a member of the Advisory Board of the School
of Biomedical Sciences of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr. Lau received his medical degree (M.B.B.S.) and medical
doctorate degree (M.D.) from the University of Hong Kong. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
Jeffrey Yordon
Mr. Yordon joined our company as President, Athenex Pharmaceutical Division in April 2016 and in February 2017 he was
appointed as our Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Yordon has held multiple senior management positions in the pharmaceutical industry
over the last 46 years. Mr. Yordon was the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sagent Pharmaceuticals from 2007 until joining us in
2016. Prior to that Mr. Yordon was the COO of American Pharmaceutical Partners where he was a co-founder until the company was
eventually sold to Fresenius. Mr. Yordon was the CEO of Faulding Pharmaceuticals, CEO and founder of YorPharm, COO of Gensia
Pharmaceuticals and he was involved in the sale of each of these companies to Apotex, Teva and Hospira, respectively. Mr. Yordon
was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011, was inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2014, won a
prestigious Innovation Award from the City of Chicago, was appointed to the Chicago Innovation Council in 2014, was appointed by
Governor Rauner to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority in 2015, has been appointed to be the Chairman of the Board of the
Northern Illinois University Foundation, is the Chair of the NIU Political Science Advisory Panel and is actively involved in the NIU
Athletic program. Mr. Yordon received a B.A. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University.
Rudolf Kwan
Dr. Kwan has served as our Chief Medical Officer since 2014 and has advised our company since 2008. Until February 2017,
Dr. Kwan was engaged on a consultant basis. Dr. Kwan has over twenty years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in global
clinical development and operations. Before joining us, he served dual roles at Schering-Plough as Vice President and Regional Head
of Asia Pacific Global Clinical Operations and Vice President of Global Clinical Development, CNS. In the clinical operations
position, Dr. Kwan successfully recruited Heads of Clinical Operations for China, South East Asia, Australia, Taiwan and South
Korea and set up the infrastructure to conduct global clinical trials in Asia Pacific for Schering-Plough. As Vice President of Global
Clinical Development, CNS, he was responsible for the clinical development of all Schering-Plough’s central nervous system drugs,
globally, where his achievements included overseeing development and execution of a bioequivalence registration strategy for a new
formulation of Temodol for glioblastoma, which led to a simultaneous global registration. He also designed and executed multiple
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global development programs. He held similar positions at Chiron Corporation and was at Smith-Kline Beecham. Dr. Kwan obtained
his medical degree (MBBS) from the University of Hong Kong, and received subsequent training at the University of Wales and is a
member of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. He was a member and Chair of the Data Monitoring and Safety
Board and Protocol Review Board for the Clinical Trial Network of the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the U.S. National
Institutes of Health, or NIH. He was also a member of several advisory panels and grant review panels for the NIH.
Simon Pedder
Dr. Pedder joined our company as Chief Business Development Officer in February 2016 and he now serves as our Chief
Business and Strategy Officer for Proprietary Products. Dr. Pedder has had a long career in both drug development and
commercialization. This includes recent leadership roles with publicly traded Biotechnology companies. He was President and CEO of
Cellectar Biosciences from April 2014 to June 2015. He was President and CEO of Chelsea Therapeutics from May 2004 to July
2012. Previously he was Vice President of Oncology Pharma Business, and a company officer at Hoffmann-La Roche, as well he has
served as the Life Cycle Leader and Global Project Leader of Pegasys/IFN and Head of Hepatitis Franchise at Roche. Dr. Pedder
serves on the board of directors of Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. Formerly, he was a member of the faculty in the Department of
Pharmacology in College of Medicine in the University of Saskatchewan, where he obtained his Ph.D in Pharmacology. During his
longstanding career in pharmaceutical development, Dr. Pedder has led the late stage development and commercial launch of multiple
proprietary pharmaceutical products. In addition to his Ph.D in Pharmacology, Dr. Pedder obtained a Master of Science in Toxicology
from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, and completed the
Roche-sponsored Pharmaceutical Executive Management Program at Columbia Business School.
William Zuo
Dr. Zuo joined our company in 2015 as President of our China operations in conjunction with our acquisition of Polymed.
Dr. Zuo served as President of Polymed Therapeutics since 1995 and Chairman of Chongqing Taihao Pharmaceutical since 2012.
Dr. Zuo’s career has focused on the development, manufacture, and sale and marketing of various complex API on a global basis,
especially injectable oncology API. Dr. Zuo was the CEO of the Fibrocell Science Group Companies in Asia from 2010 to 2013.
Dr. Zuo oversaw the introduction of the U.S. FDA approved cell therapeutics product, LaViv, to the Asia market. He has overseen the
construction of multiple cGMP facilities in China and has extensive experience with the Food and Drug Administrations in both China
and the United States. Dr. Zuo received his Ph.D in Nanotechnology from Rice University where he worked extensively with
Dr. Richard Smalley, the late Nobel Prize Scholar in Chemistry. Dr. Zuo also has Master degrees in Chemical Engineering and
Applied Mathematics from Rice University.
Li Shen
Ms. Shen has served as our vice president of financial reporting since 2015 and was appointed as our acting Chief Accounting
Officer in December 2017. Ms. Shen has held multiple management positions at global companies in a variety of industries, including
financial services, international trade, workforce solutions, energy, real estate and biotech for over 28 years. Ms. Shen has extensive
experience with financial analysis, planning, accounting and auditing, asset management and risk management for both public and
private companies. Prior to joining Athenex, Ms. Shen worked in audit and assurance services functions for PricewaterhouseCoopers
in New York City, leading audit engagements in the capital markets area. Her clients included key U.S. banks, investment companies,
the depository trust company and large insurance companies. Ms. Shen graduated with an MBA in professional accounting from
Rutgers University and she is a certified public accountant in New York State.
115
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities.
Price Range of Common Stock
Our common stock has been listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ATNX” since June 14, 2017. Prior
to that date, there was no public trading market for our common stock. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high
and low sale prices of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market:
Fiscal Year 2017
Second Quarter (from June 14, 2017)
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
High
Low
$
$
$
18.58 $
20.79 $
19.20 $
11.21
13.16
13.28
As of March 16, 2018, there were 191 holders of record of our common stock. The actual number of stockholders is greater than
this number of record holders and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners but whose shares are held in street by brokers and
other nominees.
Stock Price Performance Graph
The graph below shows a comparison from June 14, 2017, the date on which our common stock first began trading on the
NASDAQ Global Select Market, of the cumulative total return on an assumed investment of $100.00 in cash in our common stock as
compared to the same investment in the NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, all through to December
31, 2017. Such Returns are based on historical results and are not intended to suggest future performance.
*$100 invested on June 14, 2017 in stock or index. Fiscal year ending December 31.
Cumulative Total Return Comparison
Athenex, Inc.
NASDAQ Composite
NASDAQ Biotechnology Index
June 14,
2017
December 31,
2017
$
$
$
100.00 $
100.00 $
100.00 $
144.55
111.44
108.33
This performance graph is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the
Exchange Act, or incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be
expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing.
116
Dividends Policy
We have never declared or paid cash or stock dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds
and any future earnings for use in the operations of our business and do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in
the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare dividends on common stock will be made at the discretion of our board of
directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions, any
contractual restrictions on dividends, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The information called for by this item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, and Part III, Item 11 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters” below.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
The following selected statements of operations and comprehensive loss data and the cash flow data for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are derived from our audited
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. You should read this data together with our audited consolidated
financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this filing and the information under the caption “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our
future results. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss Data:
Revenue:
Year Ended December 31,
2016
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
2017
2015
Product sales, net
License fees and consulting revenue
Grant revenue
Total revenue
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Total costs and operating expenses
Operating loss
Interest expense
Loss on derivative liability
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net loss
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
Net loss per share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common
stockholders, basic and diluted (1)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per
share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders,
basic and diluted (1)
Comprehensive loss
$
36,106 $
1,105
832
38,043
19,394 $
392
765
20,551
25,122
76,797
46,112
148,031
(109,988)
5,912
15,411
85
(131,396)
(226)
(131,170) $
19,718
60,624
25,956
106,298
(85,747)
1,891
533
(265)
(87,906)
(191)
(87,715) $
12,816
314
814
13,944
13,153
24,463
27,036
64,652
(50,708)
1
—
(54)
(50,655)
(55)
(50,600)
$
$
(2.63) $
(2.19) $
(1.50)
49,960,925 40,120,908 33,765,751
(50,906)
$
(130,012) $
(88,796) $
(1) See Note 17 to our audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report for a description of the method
used to calculate basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders and pro forma basic and
diluted net loss per share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders.
117
Selected Balance sheet data:
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Goodwill
Working capital(1)
Total assets
Long-term debt
Total liabilities
Non-controlling interests
Total stockholders' equity
December 31,
2017
2016
(In thousands)
39,284 $
11,753
37,795
38,615
140,413
1,981
49,691
685
90,722 $
33,125
8,628
37,552
23,904
105,890
41,807
71,221
862
34,669
Year Ended December 31,
2016
(In thousands)
2015
$
$
2017
Selected Cash flow data:
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net effect of foreign exchange rate changes
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
$
(81,512) $
(10,018)
96,896
793
6,159
33,125
39,284 $
(47,870) $
2,659
35,272
(431)
(10,370)
43,495
33,125 $
(33,756)
(16,909)
76,302
337
25,974
17,521
43,495
(1) Working capital = total current assets - total current liabilities.
118
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion contains management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
and should be read together with the historical consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8
“Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our
plans, estimates and beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those described in the “Risk
Factors” section of this Annual Report. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
You should carefully read “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
Overview
We are a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies
for the treatment of cancer. Our mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by creating more effective, safer and tolerable
treatments. We have generated our clinical product candidates through our Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition research platforms,
which are based on our understanding of human absorption biology and novel approaches to inhibiting kinase activity, respectively.
We believe that our ability to overcome the challenges of oral delivery of chemotherapy and limitations associated with IV delivery,
via our P-gp inhibitor, offers significant potential benefits to patient outcomes by allowing patients to stay on therapy longer and
extending the potential opportunities to combine with other agents, including targeted and immunotherapies that would otherwise be
too toxic in combination with IV chemotherapy. We have assembled a leadership team and have established global operations in the
U.S. and China across the pharmaceutical value chain to execute our mission to become a global leader in bringing innovative cancer
treatments to the market and improve health outcomes.
Our Orascovery research platform will establish a new paradigm in the use of oral anti-cancer drugs for cancer treatments. Our
Orascovery platform is based on the novel P-gp pump inhibitor molecule HM30181A, which we in-licensed in 2011 from Hanmi, a
major Korean pharmaceutical company focusing on research and development. The P-gp pump is a plasma membrane protein on the
cells of the gut which forms a localized drug transport system and prevents oral absorption at therapeutic levels of many well-known,
widely used P-gp substrate cancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel, irinotecan and docetaxel, limiting their current delivery
to IV. These chemotherapy agents are widely used to treat multiple types of cancer. A cancer patient’s inability to tolerate IV
chemotherapies has limited the effectiveness of IV anti-cancer therapies. Co-administration of HM30181A with oral paclitaxel is
designed to facilitate the oral absorption of paclitaxel by blocking P-gp in intestinal cells and enables oral dosing at therapeutic blood
levels which have not been successfully and safely achieved to date without the use of HM30181A. We have learned through clinical
studies that this technology allows for certain active chemotherapeutic agents to be absorbed into the blood orally as compared to IV,
and may enable some patients to tolerate a greater number of treatment cycles and duration of treatment time. In light of better
tolerability of standard chemotherapies delivered orally, combination with immuno-oncology and targeted anti-cancer treatments can
be potentially optimized compared to current treatment paradigms. Oraxol, our leading Orascovery drug candidate is composed of
HM30181A co-administered with an oral dosage form of paclitaxel. We have three other major clinical product candidates in this
platform, Oratecan, Oradoxel and Oratopo, which include HM30181A co-administered with an oral formulation of the widely used
IV-administered chemotherapeutic agents, irinotecan, docetaxel and topotecan, respectively. In December 2017, we also announced
that we have initiated the preparation of an IND for oral eribulin co-administered with HM30181A.
We are rapidly advancing our lead Orascovery drug candidate, Oraxol. In 2015, we started enrolling patients in a Phase 3
Oraxol study which combined the dosing of our 15 milligram tablet of HM30181A paired with dosing of our oral formulation of
paclitaxel in a head to head comparison to IV formulation of paclitaxel. In October 2016, we entered into a clinical study collaboration
with Eli Lilly and the Company to evaluate Oraxol in combination with Lilly’s approved monoclonal antibody Cyramza
(ramucirumab) to treat gastric, gastric-esophageal and esophageal cancer. This combination study commenced in July 2017. In
January 2018, we completed the first cohort of patients in our Oraxol and ramucirumab combination study, which showed
encouraging early results. We are also planning a combination study of Oraxol with Anti-PD1 in advanced malignancies. In October
2017, the Drug Safety Monitoring Board unanimously recommended continuation of our Oraxol Phase 3 study following review of an
interim analysis. In January 2018, we received positive feedback from the FDA on the design of the ongoing Phase 3 trial, which
indicated that if the study meets the primary endpoint with an acceptable benefit to risk profile, it could be adequate as a single
comparative trial to support registration of Oraxol in the U.S. for the indication of metastatic breast cancer. In February 2018, the
enrollment of patients was on target for the Company to be able to conduct a second interim analysis in the Oraxol KX-ORAX-001
Phase 3 clinical trial in the third quarter of 2018. When interim results are available, we plan to confirm with the FDA regarding its
use as the pivotal trial. If accepted, we could be able to complete all other required studies by end of 2018. If not, other studies, which
could require multiple years, may be required. In addition, in June 2017, our Chinese subsidiary submitted an IND application to the
CFDA for Oraxol, and in January 2018, the CFDA allowed the IND application for Oraxol. Acceptance of the Oraxol IND by the
CFDA allows us to commence a clinical trial program for Oraxol in China in 2018.
119
We have also developed novel small molecule compounds through our Src Kinase Inhibition research platform, which refers to
novel small molecule compounds that have differentiated multiple-mechanisms of actions including: (1) the inhibition of the activity
of Src Kinase and (2) the inhibition of tubulin polymerization. We believe the combination of the two mechanisms of action provides
a broader range of anti-cancer activity compared to either mechanism of action alone. Our three key clinical product candidates in this
platform are KX-01 ointments for actinic keratosis, or AK, pre-cancerous lesions and psoriasis; KX-01 oral for solid and liquid tumors
and potential skin cancer indications and pre-cancerous lesions and KX-02 for glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM. AK has an
estimated prevalence of over 58 million patients, and was found in approximately 14% of patients visiting dermatologists in the U.S.,
while GBM has an incidence of 2 to 3 per 100,000 adults per year and accounts for 52% of all primary brain tumors.
We completed enrollment of an approximately 160-patient Phase 2a study of KX-01 ointment for treatment of AK across 16
sites in 2016 and we commenced patient enrollment in a Phase 3 study in September 2017, for which enrollment was completed in
February 2018. AK is a common disease, with a prevalence of approximately 58 million patients in the United States. If left untreated,
10-15% of AK lesions will develop into skin cancers. Our Phase 1 clinical study and preliminary data from our Phase 2 clinical study
demonstrated a complete response rate of up to 43% among subjects who received treatment on their faces, with few severe local skin
reactions, or LSRs, reported with the dosing regimen studied. Currently available treatments are limited by severe local skin reactions
such as vesiculation, pustulation, erosion and ulceration, with low patient compliance. We believe physicians and patients have
avoided topical treatments because of the pronounced side effects of the current treatments such as ingenol mebutate, imiquimod,
fluorouracil, and that an ointment product with good clinical activity and a favorable side effect profile could capture substantial new
market share for treatment of this condition. In addition, in May 2017, the China FDA approved clinical trials of KX-02 in tablet form
for treatment of Glioblastoma, which are being led by our partner, Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
In addition to our existing portfolio of clinical candidates, our research and development teams are evaluating additional
applications of Orascovery, and developing new platforms based on our knowledge of absorption biology. For example, we are
exploring a CYP and P-gp dual inhibitor technology to generate new product candidates
Since inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to research and development of our lead product candidates
under our Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition research platforms. We have incurred significant net losses since inception. As of
December 31, 2017, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $326.3 million. Our recurring losses from operations and
negative cash flows from operations have raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern, and as a result,
our independent registered public accounting firm has noted this in the opinion they issued on our consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2017. As a result of the acquisitions of QuaDPharma in 2014 and Polymed in 2015, we started to
generate revenue from those businesses. Our Commercial Platform also launched sales of generic injectable products in 2017. Product
sales totaled $36.1 million, $19.4 million and 12.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We
expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our expenses will
increase significantly in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Continue to advance our lead programs, Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition research platforms, through clinical
development;
Continue our current preclinical and clinical research program and development activities;
Seek to identify additional research programs and product candidate;
Continue investment in acquiring or in-licensing other drugs and technologies;
Continue investment in our manufacturing facilities;
Hire additional research, development and business personnel;
Maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and
Incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company.
In June 2017, we completed the initial public offering (IPO) of our common stock pursuant to a registration statement on Form
S-1. In IPO, we sold an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares of our common stock, which included 900,000 shares of common stock
purchased by the underwriters upon the full exercise of their options to purchase additional common stock, at a price to the public of
$11.00 per share. We received aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $64.2 million from the initial public offering, net of
underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. Upon the initial public offering, convertible bonds with an aggregate
principal value of $68.0 million, and a carrying value of $55.8 million, were converted into 7,727,273 shares of common stock at a
20% discount from the initial public offering price of $11.00 per share. On September 29, 2017, the remaining convertible bond with a
principal value of $7.0 million was converted into 795,455 shares of common stock, at a 20% discount from the initial public offering
price of $11.00 per share.
120
In January 2018, we completed an underwritten public offering of 4,300,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price
of $15.25 per share. In addition, we granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 645,000 shares of
common stock at the same price. In February 2018, the underwriters partially exercised their option to purchase an additional 465,000
shares of common stock at the offering price of $15.25 per share. Net proceeds from this public offering were - approximately $68.1
million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid or payable by us of approximately $4.5
million.
We have funded our operations to date primarily from the issuance and sale of our common stock, including public offerings,
and convertible bonds and, to a lesser extent, through revenue generated from our Global Supply Chain Platform and Commercial
Platform. Cash used in operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $81.5 million compared with cash used in operations of
$47.9 million and $33.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. As of December 31,
2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $39.3 million and short-term investments of $11.8 million.
We believe that revenue generated from our Global Supply Chain Platform and Commercial Platform will grow at a steady pace
in the years ahead. However, due to both unforeseeable factors such as global political and economic changes and foreseeable factors
such as market competition, revenue generated from these segments might not be sufficient to meet their operating costs. Therefore,
we will continue to require substantial additional capital to continue our clinical development and potential commercialization
activities. The amount and timing of our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including the pace and results of
our clinical development efforts. We cannot assure you that we will be profitable or generate positive cash flow from operating
activities in the next three years, or at all.
Components of Statements of Operations
Revenue
We derive our consolidated revenue primarily from (i) the sales of API and medical devices by our Global Supply Chain
Platform; (ii) the sales of generic injectable products by our Commercial Platform; (iii) licensing and collaboration projects conducted
by our Oncology Innovation Platform, which generates revenue in the form of upfront payments, milestone payments and payments
received for providing research and development services for our collaboration projects and for other third parties; and (iv) grant
awards from government agencies and universities for our continuing research and development efforts. The following table sets forth
the components of our consolidated revenue and the amount as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated.
Product sales, net
Licensing fees and consulting
revenue
Grant revenue
2017
Year ended December 31,
2016
2015
(in thousands)
36,106
$
%
95%
(in thousands)
19,394
$
%
94%
(in thousands)
12,816
$
1,105
832
38,043
3%
2%
$
392
765
20,551
2%
4%
$
314
814
13,944
$
%
92%
2%
6%
We do not anticipate revenue being generated from sales of our product candidates under development in our Oncology
Innovation Platform until we have obtained regulatory approval. We cannot assure you that we will succeed in achieving regulatory
approval for our drug candidates as planned, or at all.
Cost of Product Sales
Along with sourcing from third party manufacturers, we manufacture our clinical products in our cGMP facility in New York
and APIs at our cGMP facility in China. Cost of sales primarily includes the cost of finished products, raw materials, labor costs,
manufacturing overhead expenses, reserves for expected scrap, as well as transportation costs. Cost of product sales also includes
depreciation expense for production equipment, changes to our excess and obsolete inventory reserves, and certain direct costs such as
shipping costs, net of costs charged to customers.
121
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist of the costs associated with in licensing of product candidates, conducting
preclinical studies and clinical trials, activities related to regulatory filings and other research and development activities. The
following table sets forth the components of our research and development expenses and the amount as a percentage of total research
and development expenses for the periods indicated.
Wages, benefits, and related costs
Clinical trial costs
Preclinical research costs
Drug licensing costs
Other research and development
costs
Total research and development
costs
2017
(in thousands)
$
12,190
31,070
3,101
22,298
%
16%
40%
4%
29%
Year Ended December 31,
2016
(in thousands)
$
19,531
14,438
5,449
17,690
%
32%
24%
9%
29%
2015
(in thousands)
$
6,660
8,617
7,946
—
%
27%
35%
33%
0%
8,138
11%
3,516
6%
1,240
5%
$
76,797
$
60,624
$
24,463
Our current research and development activities mainly relate to the clinical development of the following programs:
Orascovery platform—Comprised of our in-licensed and novel P-gp inhibitor, HM30181A, that is combined with various
chemotherapeutic agents and enables them to be absorbed into the blood when given orally:
•
•
•
•
•
Oraxol, combining HM30181A with an oral dosage form of paclitaxel;
Oratecan, combining HM30181A with an oral dosage form of irinotecan;
Oradoxel, combining HM30181A with an oral dosage form of docetaxel;
Oratopo, combining HM30181A with an oral dosage form of topotecan; and
Oral eribulin, combining HM30181A with an oral dosage form of eribulin.
Src Kinase Inhibition platform—Targets the tyrosine kinase protein in regulating cell growth that leads to blockade of
metastasis:
•
•
•
KX-01 ointment, Src kinase inhibitor that is being topically administered to treat skin cancers and pre-cancers;
KX-01 oral, Src kinase inhibitor that is being orally administered to treat certain solid and liquid tumors; and
KX-02, Src kinase inhibitor that is orally administered to treat brain cancer, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
We expense research and development costs as incurred. We record costs for certain development activities, such as clinical
trials, based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment or clinical site
activations. We do not allocate employee related costs, depreciation, rental and other indirect costs to specific research and
development programs because these costs are deployed across multiple product programs under research and development.
We cannot determine with certainty the duration, costs and timing of the current or future preclinical or clinical studies of our
drug candidates. The duration, costs, and timing of clinical studies and development of our drug candidates will depend on a variety of
factors, including:
•
•
•
•
•
The scope, rate of progress, and costs of our ongoing, as well as, any additional clinical studies and other research and
development activities;
Future clinical study results;
Uncertainties in clinical study enrollment rates;
Significant and changing government regulation; and
The timing and receipt of any regulatory approvals.
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of a drug candidate could mean a significant
change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that drug candidate.
122
Research and development activities are central to our business model. We expect our research and development expenses to
continue to increase for the foreseeable future as we continue to support the clinical trials of Oraxol, Oratecan, Oradoxel, Oratopo,
KX-01 ointment, KX-01 oral and KX-02, as well as initiate and prepare for additional clinical and preclinical studies. We also expect
spending to increase in the research and development for API, 503B and specialty products. There are numerous factors associated
with the successful commercialization of any of our drug candidates, including future trial design and various regulatory requirements,
many of which cannot be determined with accuracy at this time based on our stage of development. Additionally, future commercial
and regulatory factors beyond our control will likely impact our clinical development programs and plans.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses primarily consist of compensation, including salary, employee benefits
and stock-based compensation expenses for sales and marketing personnel, and for administrative personnel that support our general
operations such as, executive management, legal counsel, financial accounting, information technology, and human resources
personnel. SG&A expenses also includes professional fees for legal, patents, consulting, auditing and tax services, as well as other
direct and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, insurance and other supplies used in selling, general and
administrative activities. Further, we have incurred additional SG&A expenses in connection with operating as a public company,
which may increase further when we are no longer able to rely on the “emerging growth company” exemption pursuant to the JOBS
Act.
We anticipate that our SG&A expenses will increase in future periods to support increases in our research and development and
commercialization activities. We expect these increases will likely result in increased headcount, increased share compensation
charges, expanded infrastructure and increased costs for insurance. We also anticipate increases to legal, compliance, accounting and
investor and public relations expenses associated with being a public company.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial
statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods. We evaluate our
estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis, including but not limited to, estimating the useful lives of long-lived assets, assessing
the impairment of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation expenses, and the realizability of deferred income tax assets. We base
our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, contractual milestones and other various factors that are believed to
be 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. Changes in the accounting estimates are likely to occur from period to
period. Actual results could be significantly different from these estimates. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below
are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving
management’s judgment and estimates.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize product revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the price is fixed or determinable,
collectability is reasonably assured, and upon shipment to customers or acceptance by customers.
We receive certain grant award funding to support our continuing research and developing efforts. We consider these grants to
be operating revenue as they support our primary operating activities. Revenue is recognized when earned and when realized or
realizable. Revenue from grant awards is deemed to be earned when all eligibility criteria are met.
We recognize revenue related to the license of certain intellectual properties and related consulting services when earned and
when realized or realizable. Amounts received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue until earned. Out-license revenue is earned
upon the achievement of milestone events by the licensees. Milestone events include execution of license agreements, completion of
clinical studies of varying stages in various territories, regulatory approval of drugs in specific jurisdictions, among other events. After
the licensees obtain regulatory approval and begin sales, we are entitled to royalties on net sales on most out-license agreements.
Currently, all out-license agreements are in the milestone stage; no licensees have yet obtained regulatory approval of the licensed
drugs.
123
Certain of our out-license agreements contain multiple elements and are accounted for in accordance with ASC 605-25—
Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Element Arrangements. We identify the deliverables included within the arrangement and evaluate
which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. The consideration received is then allocated among the separate units of
accounting based on each unit’s relative selling price. We generally consider non-refundable milestone payments to be achieved as a
result of our efforts to be substantive and recognize them as revenue upon achievement of the milestone, assuming all other revenue
recognition criteria are met. Revenue related to agreements with multiple elements or milestone payments are not significant in the
periods presented.
Commencing in 2017, our Commercial Platform has sold specialty products distributed through independent pharmaceutical
wholesalers. The wholesalers then generally sell to an end-user, normally a hospital, alternative healthcare facility, or an independent
pharmacy, at a lower price previously established by the end-user and the Company. Sales are initially recorded at the list price sold to
the wholesaler. Because these prices will be reduced for the end-user, we record a contra asset in accounts receivable and a reduction
to revenue at the time of the sale, using the difference between the list price and the estimated end-user contract price. Upon the sale
by the wholesaler to the end-user, the wholesaler will chargeback the difference between the original list price and price at which the
product was sold to the end-user and such chargeback is offset against the initial estimated contra asset. As of December 31, 2017, our
chargeback provision totaled $3.3 million.
We offer cash discounts on these specialty products, which approximate 2% of the gross sales price as an incentive for prompt
customer payment. We expect that the wholesale customers will make timely payments and take advantage of the cash discounts, and
expect customers to use their right of return. Therefore, at the time of sale, product revenue and accounts receivable are reduced by the
full amount of the discount offered and the return expected. We consider payment performance and historical return rates and adjust
the accrual to reflect actual experience. As of December 31, 2017, our accrual for cash discounts and return accrual were not material
to the financial statements.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses represent costs associated with developing our proprietary drug candidates, our
collaboration agreements for such drugs, and our ongoing clinical studies.
Clinical trial costs are a significant component of our research and development expenses. We have a history of contracting with
third parties that perform various clinical trial activities on our behalf in the ongoing development of our drug candidates. Expenses
related to clinical trials are accrued based on our estimates of the actual services performed by the third parties for the respective
period. If the contracted amounts are revised or the scope of a contract is revised, we will modify the accruals accordingly on a
prospective basis and will do so in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become reasonably certain.
Business Acquisitions, Intangible Assets, Goodwill, and Contingent Consideration
We account for acquired businesses using the purchase method of accounting, which requires that the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective estimated fair values. The cost to acquire businesses has
been allocated to the underlying net assets of the acquired businesses based on estimates of their respective fair values. Total
consideration for the three acquisitions was $5.5 million for QuaDPharma, $30.8 million for Polymed and $14.9 million for CDE. Any
excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The amount of goodwill
recorded was $4.6 million for QuaDPharma, $22.2 million for Polymed and $11.4 million for CDE.
The judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as
well as asset lives, can materially impact our results of operations. The fair values of intangible assets are determined using one of
three valuation approaches: market, income, or cost. The selection of a particular method depends on the reliability of the available
data and the nature of the asset. The market approach values the asset based on available market pricing for comparable assets. The
income approach values the asset based on the present value of risk adjusted cash flows projected to be generated by the asset. The
cost approach values the asset by determining the current cost of replacing that asset with another asset of equivalent economic utility.
Because this process involves management making estimates with respect to future sales volumes, pricing, new product launches,
government reform actions, anticipated cost environment and overall market conditions, and because these estimates form the basis
for the determination of whether or not an impairment charge should be recorded, these estimates are considered to be critical
accounting estimates. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over the expected life of the asset. If the carrying value of the
indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds management’s estimate of fair value or the projects have been abandoned, the asset is
impaired, and we would record an impairment charge accordingly.
124
Goodwill is recorded when the purchase price of an acquisition exceeds the fair value of the net tangible and identified
intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is allocated to our reporting units based on the relative expected fair value provided by the
acquisition. Reporting units may be operating segments as a whole or an operation one level below an operating segment, referred to
as a component, or a combination thereof.
We perform an annual impairment assessment on October 1, or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist, to
determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Impairment test
approaches with a weighting of the Discounted Cash Flow (income approach) and Guideline Public Company method (market
approach) are utilized. Weighting will most likely be greater for the market approach given the lack of historical results to be able to
rely significantly on financial projections. The performance of the goodwill impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step
is to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit and compare the fair value to the carrying value. For reporting units in which the
step-one impairment assessment concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying
value of the net assets assigned to that reporting unit, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and we do not perform additional
analysis. For reporting units in which the step-one impairment assessment concludes that it is more likely than not that the carrying
value of the net assets assigned to that reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, we must perform the second step,
which is to measure the amount of impairment. We then record the impairment loss equal to the difference between the fair value and
the carrying value. None of our reporting units are at risk of failing step one of the impairment test, as the fair value is substantially in
excess of the carrying value for each reporting unit.
We record contingent consideration resulting from a business acquisition at its estimated fair value on the acquisition date. Each
reporting period thereafter, we revalue these obligations and record increases or decreases in their fair value as an adjustment to
contingent consideration recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive loss. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations can result from adjustments to the
discount rates, payment periods, and adjustments in the probability of achieving future development steps, regulatory approvals,
market launches, sales targets, and profitability.
Significant judgment is employed in determining the assumptions utilized as of the acquisition date and for each subsequent
measurement period. Accordingly, changes in assumptions described above could have a material impact on our consolidated results
of operations.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and
2015, together with the changes in those items in dollars and percentage. This information should be read together with our
consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. Our operating results in any period are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.
Year ended December 31,
Revenue
Cost of product sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Interest expense
Unrealized loss on derivative liability
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net loss
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
2017
2016
(in thousands) (in thousands) (in thousands)
$
Change
38,043 $
(25,122)
(76,797)
(46,112)
(5,912)
(15,411)
(85)
(131,396)
(226)
$ (131,170) $
20,551 $
(19,718)
(60,624)
(25,956)
(1,891)
(533)
265
(87,906)
(191)
(87,715) $
17,492
(5,404)
(16,173)
(20,156)
(4,021)
(14,878)
(350)
(43,490)
(35)
(43,455)
%
85%
27%
27%
78%
NM
NM
-132%
18%
125
Revenue
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $38.0 million, an increase of $17.5 million, or 85%, as compared to $20.5
million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to the launch of 11 specialty products through
our Commercial Platform since March 2017, which contributed $17.2 million of the revenue increase in the current year. Revenue
from licensing fees, proprietary product sales, and API product sales increased by $0.7 million, $0.2 million, and $0.1 million
respectively. These were offset by decreases in medical device sales of $0.6 million and contract manufacturing revenue of $0.1
million.
Cost of Sales
Cost of product sales totaled $25.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $5.4 million, or 27%, from the
year ended December 31, 2016. The launch of our specialty products from the Commercial Platform in 2017 resulted in an increase of
$10.5 million and the increase in proprietary product sales increased cost of product sales by $0.3 million. These were offset by a $5.4
million decrease in medical device and contract manufacturing cost of product sales. The increase in gross profit was driven primarily
by the sale of Sodium Bicarbonate, of which there was a shortage since the third quarter of 2017. Changes in availability of products
and market demand could increase or decrease our revenue and gross profit in the future.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses increased by $16.2 million, or 27%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 from $60.6
million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the advancement of our clinical pipeline and additional drug licensing
fees, and included the following:
•
•
•
•
•
$16.6 million increase in the costs of clinical studies, primarily for Oraxol, KX-01 Ointment, and Oratecan;
$4.6 million increase resulting from drug licensing fees to Hanmi, Gland, and Amphastar;
$2.7 million increase in general product development and supplies related to 503B products;
$1.6 million increase in API research and development expenses; and
$0.3 million increase in the amortization of license fees.
These increases were partially offset by a $7.3 million decrease in compensation expenses due to a shift in focus of certain
personnel to support selling, general, and administrative functions and additional R&D stock-based compensation in 2016 associated
to the accelerated forgiveness of promissory notes from officers prior to our IPO, as well as a $2.3 million decrease in preclinical
study costs as our proprietary drugs entered the clinical stages.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Our selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by $20.2 million, or 78%, from $25.9 million in the year ended
December 31, 2016 to $46.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to an increase in employee compensation and
selling and marketing costs and included the following:
•
•
•
•
$12.6 million increase in employee and executive compensation, due to the expansion of our sales and marketing force
and a shift in focus of certain personnel to general and administrative functions, and stock-based compensation resulting
from awards made upon the IPO;
$3.7 million increase in office expenses, rent and utilities, and other expenses related to the expansion of our business
operations;
$3.1 million increase in selling and marketing costs related to the launch of our generic injectable products and the
branding of our proprietary products; and
$0.8 million increase in professional fees, which included accounting, legal, and consulting fees.
126
Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and
2015, together with the changes in those items in dollars and percentage. This information should be read together with our
consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. Our operating results in any period are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.
Year Ended December 31,
Revenue
Cost of sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Interest expense
Loss on derivative liability
Income tax benefit
Net loss
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
Change
2016
2015
(in thousands) (in thousands) (in thousands)
6,607
$
(6,565)
(36,161)
1,080
(1,890)
(533)
211
(37,251)
(136)
(37,115)
13,944 $
(13,153)
(24,463)
(27,036)
(1)
—
54
(50,655)
(55)
(50,600) $
20,551 $
(19,718)
(60,624)
(25,956)
(1,891)
(533)
265
(87,906)
(191)
(87,715) $
$
%
47%
50%
148%
-4%
NM
NM
391%
74%
247%
Revenue
Our revenue increased by $6.6 million, or 47%, from the year ended December 31, 2015 to the year ended December 31, 2016,
primarily due to an increase from sales primarily of API, of $6.5 million, a portion of which increase was due to the inclusion of
Polymed in our consolidated financial statements for the full twelve months of activity in 2016 compared to only seven months of
activity in 2015.
Cost of Product Sales
Our cost of sales similarly increased as a result of the June 1, 2015 acquisition of Polymed. Polymed’s cost of sales in 2016 was
$14.2 million compared to the seven-month cost of sales of $9.2 million included in the consolidated operating results for the year
ended December 31, 2015, a $5.0 million, or 54%, increase. Also, cost of sales at QuaDPharma increased by $1.8 million as a result of
increased costs to support the internal production of clinical supplies.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses increased by $36.2 million, or 148%, to $60.6 million in the year ended December 31,
2016 from $24.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the advancement of our clinical and preclinical
pipeline, and included the following:
•
•
•
•
$17.7 million increase as a result of the increased costs of drug licensing;
$12.9 million increase in employee compensation expenses, including wages and benefits, as well as stock-based
compensation, primarily attributable to increased headcount during 2016;
$7.4 million increase in costs of clinical studies, primarily for Oraxol and KX-01 ointment; and
$0.5 million increase in the office related costs.
The increases in research and development expenses were offset by $2.3 million of decreases in preclinical studies costs related
to drugs that entered into clinical study phases.
127
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $1.1 million, or 4%, from $27.0 million in the year ended
December 31, 2015 to $26.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 primarily due to a decrease of expenses on professional
services, and included the following:
•
•
$3.8 million decrease in professional fees, which included a decrease of $2.0 million of accounting, legal, and consulting
fees associated with our public-private partnerships, a decrease of $1.1 million of legal fees for certain litigation
settlement, and a decrease of $0.7 million of business acquisition related costs; and
This was partially offset by a $1.2 million increase of employee compensation, including wages and benefits, as well as
stock-based compensation, primarily attributable to increased headcount, a $0.8 million increase in office related costs,
and a $0.7 million increase in loss on disposal of long-lived assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception, we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. Substantially all of our losses
have resulted from funding our research and development programs and selling, general and administrative costs associated with our
operations. We incurred net losses of $131.2 million, $87.9 million and $50.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016
and 2015, respectively. As of December, 2017, we had an accumulated deficit of $326.2 million. Our primary use of cash is to fund
research and development costs. Our operating activities used $81.5 million, $47.9 million and $33.8 million of cash during the years
ended December 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our principal sources of liquidity as of December 31, 2017 were cash and cash
equivalents totaling of $39.3 million and short-term investments totaling $11.8 million, which are generally U.S. government or high
quality investment grade corporate debt securities.
Pursuant to our initial public offering in June 2017, we sold an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares of common stock at a price of
$11.00 per share for cash proceeds of $64.2 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of $6.1 million and offering costs
of $5.6 million. In January 2018, we completed a second public offering of 4,300,000 share of common stock at a price of $15.25 per
share; in February 2018, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 465,000 shares of common stock at the
public offering price of $15.25 per share. The net cash proceeds of this offering were $68.1 million, net of underwriting discounts and
commissions of $3.8 million and offering costs of $0.7 million.
Based on our current operating plan, we expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of
December 31, 2017, in addition to the funds anticipated to be received in connection with our license agreement with Almirall, will
enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditures requirements at least through the fourth quarter of 2018. We expect
that our expenses will increase substantially as we continue to fund clinical development of our Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition
research programs, new and ongoing research and development activities and working capital and other general corporate purposes.
We have based our estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may use our available capital resources sooner than
we currently expect. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our
drug candidates, we are unable to accurately estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures necessary to
complete the development and commercialization of our drug candidates.
Our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-
looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors, including the
factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
our ability to generate revenue from our Commercial Platform or otherwise;
the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory reviews and approvals;
the ability of our drug candidates to progress through clinical development successfully;
the initiation, progress, timings, costs and results of nonclinical studies and clinical trials for our other programs and
potential drug candidates;
the number and characteristics of the drug candidate we pursue;
the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property
rights and defending intellectual property related claims;
the extent to which we acquire or in-license other products and technologies; and
our ability to maintain and establish collaboration arrangements on favorable terms, if at all.
128
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs through a
combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements and government grants. To
the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our
shareholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect rights
of holders of common stock. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our
ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends and may require
the issuance of warrants, which could potentially dilute the ownership interest of holders of common stock. If we raise additional
funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable
rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or research programs or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If
we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or
terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market products or drug
candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
We believe that the existing cash and cash equivalents and short term investments will not be sufficient to enable us to complete
all necessary development or commercially launch our proprietary drug candidates. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or
on attractive terms, we will be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future
commercialization efforts. Our inability to obtain additional funding when needed could seriously harm our business.
Cash kept in our subsidiaries in China is subject to PRC regulations restricting transfer of funds overseas. Thus, our PRC
subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer their net assets to us as cash dividends, loans or advances. As of December 31,
2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $4.0 million at our Chinese subsidiaries. Although we do not currently
require any such dividends, loans or advances from our PRC subsidiaries to fund our operations, should we require additional sources
of liquidity in the future, such restrictions may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources.
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net effect of foreign exchange rate changes
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
2017
Year ended December 31,
2016
(in thousands)
2015
$
$
(81,512) $
(10,018)
96,896
793
6,159 $
(47,870) $
2,659
35,272
(431)
(10,370) $
(33,756)
(16,909)
76,302
337
25,974
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
The use of cash in all periods presented resulted primarily from our net losses adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in
components of working capital. The primary use of our cash in all periods presented was to fund our research and development,
regulatory and other clinical trial costs, drug licensing costs, inventory purchase, and other expenditures related to sales, marketing
and administration. Our prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expense balances in all periods
presented were affected by the timing of vendor invoicing and payments.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, operating activities used $81.5 million of cash, which resulted principally from our
net loss of $131.4 million, adjusted for non-cash charges of $54.0 million and partially offset by $0.3 million change in deferred
income taxes. Cash used in our operating assets and liabilities was $3.8 million. Our net non-cash charges during the year ended
December 31, 2017 primarily consisted of $3.7 million in depreciation and amortization expense, $14.6 million in stock-based
compensation expense, $15.4 million in fair value change of derivative liabilities, $3.3 million in amortization of debt discount, $13.3
million license in fees settled with convertible bond and stock and $2.8 million in interest incurred on converted bonds.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, operating activities used $47.9 million of cash, which resulted principally from our
net loss of $87.9 million, adjusted for non-cash charges of $24.7 million which was partially offset by $0.5 million change in deferred
income taxes. Cash provided from our operating assets and liabilities was $15.8 million. Our net non-cash charges during the year
ended December 31, 2016 primarily consisted of $2.0 million in depreciation and amortization expense, $19.5 million in stock-based
compensation expense, and $1.0 million in loss on disposal of assets and impairment charges.
129
During the year ended December 31, 2015, our operating activities used $33.8 million of cash, which resulted principally from
our net loss of $50.7 million, adjusted for non-cash charges of $16.9 million and offset by $0.3 million change in deferred income
taxes. Cash provided from our operating assets and liabilities was $0.2 million. Our net non-cash charges during the year ended
December 31, 2015 primarily consisted of $0.9 million of depreciation and amortization expense, $15.5 million of stock-based
compensation expense, and a $0.5 million increase from changes in fair value of contingent consideration.
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities
In 2017, cash used in investing activities of $10.0 million was primarily attributable to $5.4 million in purchasing property and
equipment, $3.1 million in net purchasing short-term investments and $1.6 million in payment for licenses.
In 2016, cash provided by investing activities was $2.7 million, consisting of $5.5 million in sales of short-term investments and
$1.0 million in receipt of refundable deposit, partially offset by $2.7 million in payment for licenses and $1.5 million in purchasing
property and equipment.
In 2015, cash used in investing activities was $16.9 million, consisting of $11.1 million in acquisition-related cash payment,
$3.3 million in purchase of property and equipment, $3.2 million in net purchasing short-term investments, $1.0 million payment of
deposit, partially offset by $1.7 million cash acquired through acquisition.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
In 2017, cash provided by financing activities was $96.9 million, consisting primarily of $75.9 million in net proceeds received
from the sales of common stock, $30.0 million from the issuance of convertible bonds and $2.3 million from the exercise of options to
purchase common stock, offset by $10.2 million in certain offering costs and $1.2 million in repayment of capital lease obligations
and long-term debt.
In 2016, cash provided by financing activities was $35.3 million, consisting primarily of $38.0 million in proceeds from the
issuance of convertible bonds and $8.5 million from the sales of common stock, partially offset by $5.9 million in purchase of treasury
stock, $3.2 million in payment of contingent consideration, $1.5 million in offering costs and $1.3 million in repayment of capital
lease obligation and long-term debt.
In 2015, cash provided by financing activities was $76.3 million, consisting of $78.8 million in net proceeds received from the
sales of common stock, partially offset by $1.3 million in purchase of treasury stock, $1.0 million in offering costs and $0.7 million in
repayment of capital lease obligation and long-term debt.
Indebtedness
We had $2.0 million and $41.8 million of debt as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. This consisted of three seller
promissory notes that were negotiated as part of the Polymed acquisition, a mortgage under CDE, capital lease obligations, and
convertible loan agreements entered into in 2016.
The Polymed promissory notes have a 36-month maturity beginning on July 1, 2015 and ending on June 1, 2018 with a 6%
stated interest rate. The outstanding principal on the Polymed promissory notes was $0.5 million and $1.6 million as of December 31,
2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
In connection with the acquisition of CDE, we assumed a mortgage liability associated with the manufacturing plant asset in the
PRC. The mortgage payments extend through July 30, 2018. The remaining mortgage principal payment of $0.8 million is due in
2018.
In 2017 and 2016, the Company issued convertible bonds with an aggregate principal value of $75.0 million and a maturity date
of October 1, 2018. Of the convertible bonds issued, an aggregate principal of $24.0 million were issued to related parties. On June 14,
2017, the IPO date, $68.0 million of these bonds, which had a carrying value of $55.8 million, were converted into 7,727,273 shares of
common stock.
In March 2017, the Company signed an amendment to its license agreement with Hanmi, under which the Company received
the rights to develop and sell drugs under the Orascovery program in additional territories, including Japan. This license amendment
required an upfront fee of $7.0 million payable to Hanmi upon the execution of the agreement. In lieu of the payment, the Company
issued a convertible bond to Hanmi with a par value of $7.0 million. This bond carried an interest rate of 10% per annum and a
maturity date of October 1, 2018. This amendment included additional regulatory milestone payments and royalties based on sales.
130
The occurrence of any milestone triggering events have not been deemed to be probable and no sales have yet occurred. On
September 29, 2017, Hanmi converted its bond with a principal value of $7.0 million into 795,455 shares of common stock, at a 20%
discount from the IPO price of $11 per share, which resulted in a loss on the embedded derivative feature from the convertible bond of
$6.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017.
Capital Expenditures
Our liquidity position and capital requirements are subject to a number of factors. For example, our cash inflow and outflow
may be impacted by the following:
•
•
Our ability to generate revenue; and
Fluctuations in working capital.
Our primary short term capital needs, which are subject to change, include expenditures related to:
•
•
•
•
Continuous support of the development and research of our proprietary drug products;
Build out of our new API plant in China and improvements in our existing manufacturing capacity and efficiency;
New research and product development efforts; and
Support of our commercialization efforts related to our current and future products.
Although we believe the foregoing items reflect our most likely uses of cash in the short term, we cannot predict with certainty
all of our short-term cash uses or the timing or amounts of cash used. If cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our
working capital and capital expenditure requirements, we may be required to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain credit
financing. This capital may not be available on satisfactory terms, if at all. Furthermore, any additional equity financing may be
dilutive to our stockholders, and debt financing, if available, may include restrictive covenants.
In 2015, we entered into two public-private partnerships. New York State is investing in a 315,000 square foot, ISO Class 5 high
potency oral and sterile injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, which will be built in Dunkirk, New York. We have agreed
to utilize this facility to manufacture our proprietary products upon approval of the drugs and completion of the facility. The estimated
cost of the facility will be approximately $200 million, and we will be able to occupy the space on concessionary terms. In Chongqing,
China, funded by the Banan District government, a GMP API and a GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing plant will be built, which we
will occupy on concessionary terms. We plan to utilize these plants to manufacture API and the finished drugs in which these API will
be used. We do not have significant construction period risks. New York State and the Banan District government will fund a majority
of the construction costs and hold ownership of the manufacturing and office facilities. In addition, in July 2017 we entered into a 20-
year payment in-lieu of tax agreement for the construction of our Dunkirk facility with the CCIDA, valued at approximately
$9.1 million. In December 2017, we entered into an agreement with M+W U.S., Inc., or M+W, whereby M+W will be responsible for
the design and construction of the Dunkirk facility at a cost estimated between $205 million and $210 million, of which up to $200
million will be paid by a grant from the State of New York, with the remaining amount being paid by us. Payments under the
December 2017 agreement will be made to M+W over time based upon completion of certain milestones under the agreement, and
ESD must approve any payment from the grant funds.
Future Capital Requirements
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our current
operating plans through at least the end of 2018. To the extent that we raise additional capital through future equity financings, the
ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences
that adversely affect the rights of our existing common stockholders. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of debt
securities, these securities could contain covenants that would restrict our operations. There can be no assurance that such additional
financing, if available, can be obtained on terms acceptable to us. If we are unable to obtain such additional financing, we would need
to reevaluate our future operating plans.
131
Contractual Obligations
A summary of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017 is as follows:
Operating leases
Long-term debt
Long-term debt - related parties
Licensing fees
Capital leases
Less than 1
year
Payments Due by Period
1 to 3 years
3 to 5 years
(in thousands)
More than
5 years
Total
Amounts
Committed
$
$
2,138 $
835
491
5,729
180
9,373 $
4,630 $
—
—
—
393
5,023 $
5,227 $
—
—
—
82
5,309 $
3,091 $
—
—
—
—
3,091 $
15,086
835
491
5,729
655
22,796
The operating leases include (1) the rental of our global headquarters in the Conventus Center for Collaborative Medicine in
Buffalo, NY and (2) the rental of our research and development facility in the IC Development Centre in Hong Kong and (3) the rental
of the Commercial Platform headquarters in Chicago, IL and (4) the rental of our clinical research headquarters in Cranford, NJ and
(5) the rental of our clinical data management center in Taipei, Taiwan and (6) the rental of our Global Supply Chain distribution
office in Houston, TX and (7) the rental of our Global Supply Chain API manufacturing facility in Chongqing, China. These locations
represent $9.3 million, $0.2 million, $2.7 million, $0.4 million, $0.8 million, $0.2 million, and $1.5 million, respectively, of the total
amounts committed.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not maintain any off balance sheet partnerships, arrangements, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or
others, often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which are established for the purpose of facilitating off
balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.
Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In the normal course of business, we evaluate all new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, SEC, or other
authoritative accounting bodies to determine the potential impact they may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to
Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this
report for additional information about these recently issued accounting standards and their potential impact on our financial condition
or results of operations.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
A significant portion of our business is located outside the United States and, as a result, we generate revenue and incur
expenses denominated in currencies other that the U.S. dollar, a majority of which is denominated in Renminbi. In 2017, 2016 and
2015, approximately 7%, 7% and13%, respectively, of our sales, excluding intercompany sales, were denominated in foreign
currencies. As a result, our revenue can be significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We expect that
foreign currencies will represent a lower percentage of our sales in the future due to the anticipated growth of our U.S. business. Our
international selling, marketing, and administrative costs related to these sales are largely denominated in the same foreign currencies,
which somewhat mitigates our foreign currency exchange risk rate exposure.
Currency Convertibility Risk
A portion of our revenues and expenses, and a portion of our assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. On January 1, 1994,
the PRC government abolished the dual rate system and introduced a single rate of exchange as quoted daily by the People’s Bank of
China, or PBOC. However, the unification of exchange rates does not imply that the RMB may be readily convertible into U.S. dollars
or other foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions continue to take place either through the PBOC or other banks
authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the PBOC. Approvals of foreign currency payments by
the PBOC or other institutions require submitting a payment application form together with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents
and signed contracts.
Additionally, the value of the RMB is subject to changes in central government policies and international economic and political
developments affecting supply and demand in the PRC foreign exchange trading system market.
132
Interest Rate Sensitivity
We had cash and cash equivalents of $39.3 million and short-term investments of $11.8 million as of December 31, 2017, which
consisted primarily of U.S. government or high quality investment grade corporate debt securities. Our primary exposure to market
risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. However, because of the
short-term nature of the instruments in our portfolio, a sudden change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material
impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. We do not believe that our cash or cash equivalents have
significant risk of default or illiquidity.
Credit Risk
We had cash and cash equivalents of $39.3 million, $33.1 million and $43.5 million and marketable securities of $11.8 million,
$8.6 million and $14.1 million at December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Substantially all of our bank deposits are in major
financial institutions, which we believe are of high credit quality. The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve
principle, provide liquidity and maximize income without significant increasing risk.
We make periodic assessments of the recoverability of trade and other receivables and amounts due from related parties. Our
historical experience in collection of receivables falls within the recorded allowances, and we believe that we have made adequate
provision for uncollectible receivables.
Inflation
Inflationary factors, such as increases in our cost of sales and SG&A expenses, may adversely affect our operating results.
Although we do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, a high
rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain and increase our net income and SG&A expenses
as a percentage of our revenue if the selling prices of our products do not increase as much or more than these increased costs.
Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (JOBS Act)
In April 2012, the JOBS Act was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take
advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised
accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards
would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and,
as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required
for other public companies.
We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the
JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions, as an emerging growth company, we may rely on certain of these exemptions, including
without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to
Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional
information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an emerging
growth company until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or
more; (b) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of our initial public offering in
June 2017; (c) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (d) the
date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
133
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Athenex, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Athenex, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of
December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the
Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As
discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows
from operations that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these
matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the
U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part
of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no
such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
error of fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Williamsville, New York
March 26, 2018
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
F-1
ATHENEX, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Accounts receivable, net of chargebacks, allowance for doubtful accounts,
and other deductions of $3,795 and $155, respectively
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Investment
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Deferred income tax asset
Other long-term assets
Total assets
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Current portion of long-term debt - related parties
Current portion of long-term debt
Total current liabilities
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred compensation
Deferred rent
Deferred income tax liability
Capital lease obligation
Long-term debt - related parties
Convertible bonds
Convertible bonds - related parties
Derivative liability
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 250,000,000 shares authorized at
December 31, 2017 and 2016; 59,894,362 and 42,342,706 shares issued at
December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively; 58,221,442 and 40,685,786 shares
outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Accumulated deficit
Less: treasury stock, at cost; 1,672,920 and 1,656,920 shares at December 31,
2017 and 2016, respectively
Total Athenex, Inc. stockholders' equity
Non-controlling interests
Total stockholders' equity
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
$
$
39,284 $
11,753
8,468
16,561
7,692
83,758
9,651
328
37,795
8,572
121
188
140,413 $
16,659 $
26,978
491
1,015
45,143
2,313
1,760
—
475
—
—
—
—
49,691
60
423,805
(146)
(326,276)
(7,406)
90,037
685
90,722
140,413 $
33,125
8,628
2,777
4,240
3,153
51,923
5,810
340
37,552
8,464
—
1,801
105,890
7,174
18,956
1,123
766
28,019
2,174
904
206
—
496
14,498
16,129
8,795
71,221
42
237,581
(1,304)
(195,106)
(7,406)
33,807
862
34,669
105,890
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-2
ATHENEX, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Revenue:
Product sales, net
License fees and consulting revenue
Grant revenue
Total revenue
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Total costs and operating expenses
Operating loss
Interest expense
Loss on derivative liability
Loss before income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net loss
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment, net of income taxes
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income taxes
Comprehensive loss
Net loss per share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders,
basic and diluted (Note 17)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable
to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders, basic and diluted (Note 17)
$
$
$
$
2017
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
36,106 $
1,105
832
38,043
25,122
76,797
46,112
148,031
(109,988)
5,912
15,411
(131,311)
85
(131,396)
(226)
(131,170) $
(26)
1,184
(130,012) $
19,394 $
392
765
20,551
19,718
60,624
25,956
106,298
(85,747)
1,891
533
(88,171)
(265)
(87,906)
(191)
(87,715) $
(33)
(1,048)
(88,796) $
12,816
314
814
13,944
13,153
24,463
27,036
64,652
(50,708)
1
—
(50,709)
(54)
(50,655)
(55)
(50,600)
91
(397)
(50,906)
(2.63) $
(2.19) $
(1.50)
49,960,925
40,120,908
33,765,751
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
ATHENEX, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)
Common Stock
Shares Amount capital
23,649,044 $
13,050,924
Additional
paid-in Accumulated comprehensive Treasury Stock stockholders' controlling stockholders'
Shares Amount
83 (422,328 ) $ (1,545 ) $
—
—
—
interests
— $
—
Athenex, Inc. Non-
(56,791 ) $
—
86,064 $
85,355
27,835 $
85,368
27,835
85,368
24 $
13
equity
equity
deficit
Total
loss
Accumulated
other
Total
1,538,464
1
11,537
—
—
—
11,538
—
11,538
Balance at December 31, 2014
Issuance of common stock
Issuance of common stock in
connection with
acquisition of Polymed
Issuance of common stock in
connection with
acquisition of CDE
Cost of equity raise
Stock awarded to directors and
officers
Stock-based compensation cost
Notes receivable from officers
Vesting of restricted stock
Stock options exercised
Repurchase of stock options and
warrants
Non-controlling interests
Net loss
Other comprehensive loss,
net of tax
Balance at December 31, 2015
Issuance of common stock
Issuance of common stock in
connection with
satisfaction of contingent
consideration
Stock-based compensation cost
Vesting of restricted stock
Repurchase of common stock
Stock options and warrants
exercised
Non-controlling interests
Net loss
Other comprehensive loss, net of
tax
Balance at December 31, 2016
Sale of common stock, net of
costs and discounts
of $11,706
Conversion of bonds
Stock-based compensation cost
Research and development
licensing fee satisfied
with stock
Vesting of restricted stock
Stock options and warrants
exercised
Repurchase of common stock
Non-controlling interests
Net loss
Other comprehensive income,
net of tax
1,651,264
—
410,668
—
—
—
29,760
—
—
—
—
40,330,124
1,133,332
315,810
—
50,000
—
513,440
—
—
—
42,342,706
6,900,000
8,522,728
400,000
568,182
421,982
738,764
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(50,600 )
—
(107,391 )
—
—
—
—
—
14,860
(13 )
2,559
8,932
(6,632 )
4,035
61
(79 )
—
—
—
206,679
8,499
2,842
10,977
8,534
—
50
—
—
—
—
(87,715 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(306 )
—
(223 ) (422,328 )
—
—
—
(1,545 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
— (1,234,592 )
—
—
—
(5,861 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
237,581
—
(195,106 )
(1,081 )
—
(1,304 ) (1,656,920 )
—
(7,406 )
64,187
98,920
12,431
6,249
2,160
2,277
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(131,170 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(16,000 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
40
1
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
42
7
9
—
1
—
1
—
—
—
14,861
(13 )
2,560
8,932
(6,632 )
4,035
61
(79 )
—
(50,600 )
(306 )
97,560
8,500
2,843
10,977
8,534
(5,861 )
50
—
(87,715 )
(1,081 )
33,807
64,194
98,929
12,431
6,250
2,160
2,278
—
—
(131,170 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
539
(55 )
—
484
—
—
—
—
—
—
569
(191 )
—
862
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
49
(226 )
—
685 $
14,861
(13 )
2,560
8,932
(6,632 )
4,035
61
(79 )
539
(50,655 )
(306 )
98,044
8,500
2,843
10,977
8,534
(5,861 )
50
569
(87,906 )
(1,081 )
34,669
64,194
98,929
12,431
6,250
2,160
2,278
—
49
(131,396 )
1,158
90,722
Balance at December 31, 2017
59,894,362 $
—
60 $
—
423,805 $
—
(326,276 ) $
1,158
—
(146 ) (1,672,920 ) $ (7,406 ) $
—
1,158
90,037 $
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
ATHENEX, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation expense
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Loss on derivative liability
Amortization of debt discount
Deferred rent expense
Loss on disposal of assets and impairment charges
Research and development license fees settled with convertible bond and stock
Interest incurred on converted bonds
Deferred income taxes
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Inventories
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Purchase of property and equipment
Receipts of refundable deposit
Payments for licenses
Acquisition of Polymed, net of cash acquired
Acquisition of CDE, net of cash acquired
Purchases of short-term investments
Sale of short-term investments
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of stock
Proceeds from issuance of convertible bonds
Costs incurred related to the sale of stock
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Investment from non-controlling interest
Payment of contingent consideration
Repurchase of options and warrants
Repayment of capital lease obligations and long-term debt
Purchase of treasury stock
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
Interest paid
Income taxes paid
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued purchases of property and equipment
Cost of equity raise in accounts payable and accrued expenses
Convertible bond issued in lieu of licensing cash payment
Common stock issued in lieu of licensing cash payment
Common stock issued upon the conversion of bonds and derivative liability
Property and equipment financed under capital lease
Stock issued in connection with the acquisition of QuaDPharma
Stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Polymed
Stock issued in connection with the acquisition of CDE
Fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration
Notes payable assumed in connection with the acquisition of Polymed
Mortgage assumed in connection with the acquisition of CDE
Note receivable for restricted stock granted to officers
2017
Year ended December 31,
2016
2015
$
(131,396 )
$
(87,906 )
$
(50,655 )
3,673
14,591
—
15,411
3,349
856
80
13,250
2,759
(327 )
(5,691 )
(4,537 )
(12,321 )
18,791
(81,512 )
—
(5,440 )
110
(1,550 )
—
—
(55,282 )
52,144
(10,018 )
75,900
30,000
(10,168 )
2,278
49
—
—
(1,163 )
—
96,896
5,366
33,125
793
39,284
109
244
156
188
7,000
6,250
98,929
688
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2,026
19,511
53
533
889
649
1,034
—
—
(491 )
1,055
(359 )
(984 )
16,120
(47,870 )
335
(1,487 )
1,000
(2,700 )
—
—
(9,750 )
15,261
2,659
8,500
38,000
(1,537 )
50
569
(3,184 )
—
(1,265 )
(5,861 )
35,272
(9,939 )
43,495
(431 )
33,125
144
329
348
264
—
—
—
—
343
2,500
—
—
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
888
15,527
491
—
—
—
31
—
—
(270 )
1,081
(1,394 )
786
(241 )
(33,756 )
—
(3,310 )
(1,000 )
(50 )
(11,076 )
1,699
(15,787 )
12,615
(16,909 )
78,768
—
(1,013 )
61
539
—
(79 )
(724 )
(1,250 )
76,302
25,637
17,521
337
43,495
92
146
239
—
—
—
—
—
—
11,538
14,681
4,488
3,275
1,099
6,600
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
ATHENEX, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
COMPANY AND NATURE OF BUSINESS
Description of Business
Athenex, Inc. (the “Company” or “Athenex”), originally under the name Kinex Pharmaceuticals LLC (“Kinex”), formed in November
2003, commenced operations on February 5, 2004, and operated as a limited liability company until it was incorporated in the State of
Delaware under the name Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on December 31, 2012. The Company changed its name to Athenex, Inc. on
August 26, 2015.
Athenex is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for
the treatment of cancer. The Company’s mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by creating more effective, safer and
tolerable treatments. The Company has generated its clinical product candidates through its Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition
research platforms, which are based on their understanding of human absorption biology and novel kinase binding selection,
respectively. The Company has assembled a leadership team and have established global operations in the U.S. and China across the
pharmaceutical value chain to execute its mission to become a global leader in bringing innovative cancer treatments to the market and
improve health outcomes. The Company’s primary activities since commencement have been conducting research and development
internally and through corporate collaborators, in-licensing and out-licensing pharmaceutical compounds and technology, and
conducting clinical trials.
Significant Risks and Uncertainties
The Company has incurred operating losses since its inception and, as a result, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 had an accumulated
deficit of $326.3 million and $195.1 million, respectively. Operations have been funded primarily through the sale of common stock
and, to a lesser extent, from convertible bond financing and grant funding. The Company will require significant additional funds to
conduct clinical trials and to fund its operations. There can be no assurances, however, that additional funding will be available on
favorable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to delay, modify, or terminate its research
and development programs or reduce its planned commercialization efforts. The Company believes that it will be able to obtain
additional working capital through equity financings or other arrangements to fund operations, including additional public offerings;
however, there can be no assurance that such additional financing, if available, can be obtained on terms acceptable to the Company.
If the Company is unable to obtain such additional financing, the Company will need to reevaluate future operating plans.
Accordingly, there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which implies the Company will continue to
realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of the business. The Company’s recurring losses from operations and
negative cash flows from operations have raised substantial doubt regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. The
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset
amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Athenex is subject to a number of risks similar to other biopharmaceutical companies, including, but not limited to, the lack of
available capital, possible failure of preclinical testing or clinical trials, inability to obtain marketing approval of product candidates,
competitors developing new technological innovations, market acceptance of the Company’s products, and protection of proprietary
technology. If the Company does not successfully commercialize or partner any of its product candidates, it will be unable to generate
sufficient product revenue and might not, if ever, achieve profitability.
Initial Public Offering
On June 13, 2017, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-217928) relating to the initial public offering
(“IPO”) of its common stock was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Pursuant to such
Registration Statement, the Company sold an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $11.00 per share for
cash proceeds of $64.2 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of $6.1 million and offering costs of $5.6 million.
On June 14, 2017, the day of the IPO, convertible bonds with an aggregate principal value of $68.0 million, and a carrying value of
$55.8 million, were converted into 7,727,273 shares of common stock. The IPO closed on June 19, 2017. On September 29, 2017, the
remaining convertible bond with a principal value of $7.0 million was converted into 795,455 shares of common stock, at a 20%
discount from the IPO price of $11 per share.
F-6
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries in which the
Company has a controlling financial interest. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting
period. Such management estimates include those relating to assumptions used in contract research accruals, measurement of acquired
assets and assumed liabilities in business combinations, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, the valuation of the
derivative liability, income taxes, the estimated useful life and recoverability of long-lived assets, and the valuation of stock-based
awards. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Functional Currency
Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries that prepare financial statements in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated using rates
of exchange as of the balance sheet date and the statements of operations and comprehensive loss are translated at the average rates of
exchange for each reporting period. The Company recorded a foreign currency translation gain of $1.2 million and loss of $1.0 million
and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be
cash equivalents. The Company deposits its cash primarily in checking, money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The
Company generally does not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes, rather to preserve its capital for the purpose of
funding operations.
Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its accounts receivable and
establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts, based upon a history of past write-offs, the age of the receivables, and current credit
conditions.
Inventories
Inventories for clinical trials are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with approximate cost being determined on a first-
in-first-out basis. Active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with
approximate cost being determined on a weighted average basis.
The Company provides inventory write-downs based on excess and obsolete inventories determined primarily by future demand
forecasts. The write-down is measured as the difference between the cost of the inventory and market, based upon assumptions about
future demand, and is charged to the provision for inventory, which is a component of cost of sales. At the point of the loss
recognition, a new, lower cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result
in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment are recorded at cost or acquisition date fair value in a business acquisition. Depreciation is recorded over the
estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line
basis over the shorter of the useful life or term of the lease. Upon retirement or disposal, the cost and related accumulated depreciation
are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and the resulting gain or loss is recorded to general and administrative expense in
the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Routine expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as
incurred.
F-7
Estimated useful lives for property and equipment are as follows:
Property and Equipment
Land
Equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Computer hardware
Leasehold improvements
Construction in process
Estimated Useful Life
Not depreciated
5 - 8 years
5 years
3 years
Lesser of estimated useful
life or remaining lease term
Not depreciated
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, marketable securities, an investment, accounts
receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, a derivative liability and debt. Marketable securities, the investment, and the
derivative liability are stated at fair value. Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable
and accrued liabilities, and debt, are stated at their carrying value, which approximates fair value due to the short time to the expected
receipt or payment date of such amounts.
Investment
The Company’s investment is classified as an available-for-sale security which is reported at fair value with unrealized gains and
losses, net of related income taxes, recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in
stockholders’ equity until realized. Unrealized losses that are considered to be other-than-temporary are expensed in the consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss as an impairment charge.
The Company considers available evidence in evaluating potential other-than-temporary impairments of its investment, including the
duration and extent to which fair value is less than cost, and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment. Realized gains
and losses on sales of the securities are included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss as financial
income or expenses. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the securities are recognized in other
comprehensive income.
Business Acquisitions
The Company accounts for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that assets acquired and
liabilities assumed be recognized at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Identifiable amortizing intangible assets are
recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and amortized over their estimated useful lives. Acquisition-related costs are
expensed as incurred. Any excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded
as goodwill.
Goodwill
The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually on October 1st, the Company’s annual goodwill impairment measurement date,
or more frequently if a triggering event occurs. The Company has three operating segments: Oncology Innovation Platform,
Commercial Platform, and Global Supply Chain Platform which has two components: Polymed and QuaDPharma. Accordingly, the
Company has four reporting units: Oncology Innovation Platform, Commercial Platform, Polymed, and QuaDPharma, all of which
have discrete financial information that are reviewed by segment managers. Goodwill is assigned to three reporting units: Oncology
Innovation Platform, Polymed, and QuaDPharma. Goodwill impairment exists when the fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying
value. The Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.
Intangible Assets, net
Intangible assets arising from a business acquisition are recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. The Company amortizes
intangible assets using the straight-line method. When the straight-line method of amortization is utilized, the estimated useful life of
the intangible asset is shortened to assure the recognition of amortization expense corresponds with the expected cash flows. Other
purchased intangibles, including certain licenses, are capitalized at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the license life,
when a future economic benefit is probable and measurable. If a future economic benefit is not probable or measurable, the license
costs are expensed as incurred within research and development expenses.
F-8
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews the recoverability of its long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, when events or changes in circumstances occur
that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based on the ability
to recover the carrying value of the assets from the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest expense) of the
related operations. If these cash flows are less than the carrying value of such assets, an impairment loss for the difference between the
estimated fair value and carrying value is recorded. Impairment charges of $0.1 million and $0.3 million were recorded for the years
ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There were no impairment charges in 2015. See Note 5—Goodwill and Intangible
Assets, net for additional details.
Contingent Consideration
Contingent consideration arising from a business acquisition is included as part of the purchase price and is recorded at fair value as of
the acquisition date. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the Company remeasures contingent consideration arrangements at fair value
at each reporting period until the contingency is resolved. The changes in fair value are recognized within selling, general, and
administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Changes in fair values reflect
new information about the likelihood of the payment of the contingent consideration and the passage of time.
Derivative Liability
The Company had recognized at fair value a derivative liability related to certain features embedded within the Company’s convertible
bonds. The embedded derivative is accounted for as a derivative liability and it is re-measured to fair value as of each balance sheet
date. The related remeasurement adjustments are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The
Company records adjustments to the fair value of the derivative liability until the conversion or repayment of the convertible bonds
occurs as discussed further in Note 10—Debt.
Treasury Stock
The Company records treasury stock activities at the cost of the acquired stock. The Company’s accounting policy upon the formal
retirement of treasury stock is to deduct the par value from common stock and to reflect any excess of cost over par value as a
reduction to additional paid-in capital (to the extent created by previous issuances of the stock) and then accumulated deficit.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes product revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the price is fixed or determinable,
collectability is reasonably assured, and upon shipment to or delivery and acceptance by customers. Service revenue is recognized in
the period such services have been rendered.
The Company receives certain grant award funding to support its continuing research and development efforts. The Company
considers these grants to be operating revenue as they support the Company’s primary operating activities. Revenue is recognized
when earned and when realized or realizable. Revenue from grant awards is deemed to be earned when all eligibility criteria are met.
The Company recognizes revenue related to the license of certain intellectual properties and related consulting services when earned
and when realized or realizable. Amounts received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue until earned.
Certain of the Company’s out-license agreements contain multiple elements and are accounted for in accordance with Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-25—Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Element Arrangements. The Company identifies the
deliverables included within the arrangement and evaluates which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. The
consideration received is then allocated among the separate units of accounting based on each unit’s relative selling price. The
Company generally considers non-refundable milestone payments to be achieved as a result of the Company’s efforts to be substantive
and recognizes them as revenue upon achievement of the milestone, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Revenue
related to agreements with multiple elements or milestone payments were not significant in the periods presented.
Commencing in 2017, the Company’s Commercial Platform has sold specialty products distributed through independent
pharmaceutical wholesalers. The wholesalers then generally sell to an end-user, normally a hospital, alternative healthcare facility, or
an independent pharmacy, at a lower price previously established by the end-user and the Company. Sales are initially recorded at the
list price sold to the wholesaler. Because these prices will be reduced for the end-user, the Company records a contra asset in accounts
receivable and a reduction to revenue at the time of the sale, using the difference between the list price and the estimated end-user
contract price. Upon the sale by the wholesaler to the end-user, the wholesaler will chargeback the difference between the original list
price and price at which the product was sold to the end-user and such chargeback is offset against the initial estimated contra asset.
As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s chargeback provision totaled $3.3 million.
F-9
The Company offers cash discounts on these specialty products, which approximate 2% of the gross sales price as an incentive for
prompt customer payment, and, consistent with industry practice, the Company’s return policy permits customers to return products
within a window of time before and after the expiration of product dating. The Company expects that its wholesale customers will
make timely payments and take advantage of the cash discounts, and expects customers to use their right of return. Therefore, at the
time of sale, product revenue and accounts receivable are reduced by the full amount of the discount offered and the return expected.
The Company considers payment performance and historical return rates and adjusts the accrual to reflect actual experience. As of
December 31, 2017, the Company’s accrual for cash discounts and return accrual were not material to the financial statements.
Research and Development Expenses
Costs for research and development (“R&D”) of products, including payroll, contractor expenses, and supplies, are expensed as
incurred. Clinical trial and other development costs incurred by third parties are expensed as the contracted work is performed. Where
contingent milestone payments are due to third parties under research and development arrangements, the obligations are recorded
when the milestone results are probable of being achieved.
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of qualified legal, accounting and other direct costs related to the efforts to raise capital through a
public sale of the Company’s common stock. Qualified offering costs deferred amounted to $0.2 million and $1.8 million as of
December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Deferred Rent
Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives, including rent holidays provided by
lessors and rent escalation provisions, are accounted for as deferred rent.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other
events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Changes in unrealized gains and losses on investments and foreign currency
translation adjustments represent the differences between the Company’s net loss and comprehensive loss.
Stock-Based Compensation
Awards granted to employees
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation based on the grant date fair value of stock options granted to employees, officers,
and directors. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the grant date fair value of stock options. The
Black-Scholes option pricing model requires inputs for risk-free interest rate, dividend yield, volatility, fair value of common stock,
and expected lives of the stock options. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the stock option is based on the U.S.
Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. No dividend yield is used, consistent with the Company’s history. Expected
volatility is based on historical volatilities of the stock prices of peer biopharmaceutical companies. The fair value of common stock is
based on the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on grant date. The Company uses the simplified method for
determining the expected lives of stock options. The Company recognizes compensation expenses based on the grant date fair value of
stock options on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period.
Stock grants
The Company grants common stock to key officers and directors and records the fair value of these grants, based on the fair value of
the common stock on the grant date, as compensation expense throughout the requisite service period.
Awards granted to non-employees
The Company has accounted for equity instruments issued to non-employees in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718,
Compensation—Stock Compensation, and ASC 505, Equity. All transactions in which goods or services are received in exchange for
equity instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument
issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The expense is recognized in the same manner as if the Company had paid cash for the
services provided by the non-employees.
F-10
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are
recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying
amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using
enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered
or settled. Deferred income tax expense or benefit is the result of changes in the deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Valuation
allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets where, based upon the available evidence,
management concludes that it is more-likely-than not that the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating its ability
to recover deferred income tax assets, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including its operating
results, ongoing tax planning and forecasts of future taxable income on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Because of the uncertainty
of the realization of the deferred income tax assets, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred income tax
assets.
Reserves are provided for tax benefits for which realization is uncertain. Such benefits are only recognized when the underlying tax
position is considered more likely than not to be sustained on examination by a taxing authority, assuming they possess full
knowledge of the position and facts. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in income tax expense
(benefit); however, the Company currently has no interest or penalties related to income taxes.
Segment and Geographic Information
The Company’s chief operating decision-maker, its Chief Executive Officer, reviews its operating results on an aggregate basis and at
the operating segment level for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The Company has three
business platforms which are the operating segments: (1) Oncology Innovation Platform, for the discovery and development of cancer
supportive therapies, (2) Commercial Platform, the manufacturing and selling of commercial pharmaceutical products, and (3) Global
Supply Chain Platform, the cGMP manufacturing and marketing of API, medical devices, and clinical products. Each operating
segment has a segment manager who is held accountable for operations and operating results. Accordingly, the Company operates in
three reportable segments.
Concentration of Credit Risk, Other Risks and Uncertainties
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash
equivalents and investments. The Company deposits its cash equivalents in interest-bearing money market accounts and certificates of
deposit. Although the Company deposits the cash with multiple financial institutions, cash balances may occasionally be in excess of
the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The primary focus of the Company’s investment strategy is to
preserve capital and meet liquidity requirements. The Company’s investment policy addresses the level of credit exposure by limiting
the concentration in any one corporate issuer and establishing a minimum allowable credit rating. The Company also has significant
assets and liabilities held in its overseas manufacturing facility in China, Taihao, and therefore is subject to foreign currency
fluctuation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09,
“Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it
expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue
recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018.
The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method.
The Company is substantially complete with its evaluation of adopting ASU 2014-09 and based upon this review, the standard is not
expected to materially impact Company’s consolidated financial statements. The majority of the Company’s customer contracts,
including contracts for commercial product sales, API product sales, and medical device sales consist of a single performance
obligation for which revenue will continue to be recognized at the point of shipment or title transfer. Contracts for specialty product
through the Company’s Commercial Platform include variable pricing. The Company will continue to estimate the transaction price,
after all variable pricing factors, at the time of the sale and record net revenue as the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue
earned through these product groups amounted to 91%, 87%, and 82% of the Company’s total consolidated revenue for the years
ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively, and the revenue recognition for these product groups is not expected to
change materially upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09. Licensing revenue, which is 3% of total consolidated revenue for the year
ended December 31, 2017, includes several performance obligations and variable pricing. These revenues will be recognized at points-
in-time as the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company is currently finalizing the required additional disclosures related to
the nature, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company has adopted this
standard during the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective approach and the cumulative catch-up of revenue on existing
contracts is not expected to be material to the consolidated financial statements.
F-11
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” which requires that lessees distinguish between finance
and operating leases and recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from the leases on the balance sheet. This ASU is required to be
adopted retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those
fiscal years, and is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis. The Company is evaluating the effect of this standard on
its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses
on Financial Instruments,” which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses of certain financial instruments. ASU 2016-13
is required to be adopted retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods
within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the effect of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The primary purpose of
this ASU is to reduce the diversity in practice that exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the
statement of cash flows. This ASU will require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash,
cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as
restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-
period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2017. This ASU is required to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim
period. The Company is evaluating the effect of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Stock Compensation—Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance as
to when a modification of a share-based award must be accounted for. In general, if a modification of the terms and conditions of an
award does not change the fair value of the award (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if used instead of fair value), does not change
the vesting conditions of the award, and does not change the classification of the award as an equity instrument or a liability
instrument, then an entity need not account for the modification. This guidance is effective in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. The
new rules are applied prospectively to awards modified after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the
adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” This ASU
requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The provisions of this ASU are effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendment is required to be applied
prospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-11 effective January 1, 2017. Adoption of ASU
2015-11 did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation- Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee
Share-Based Payment Accounting” which changes how companies account for certain aspects of stock-based awards to employees,
including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as the classification in the
statement of cash flows. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09. The standard eliminated the requirement to
defer recognition of excess tax benefits related to employee share-based awards until they are realized through a reduction to income
taxes payable. The Company applied the modified retrospective method and there was no cumulative-effect adjustment to retained
earnings on January 1, 2017 as the increase in deferred income tax assets for previously unrecognized excess tax benefits was fully
offset by a valuation allowance. As permitted by the ASU, the Company will continue to use an estimated forfeiture rate in
determining stock-based compensation expense.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) Simplifying the Test for Goodwill
Impairment.” The primary purpose of the ASU is to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the
goodwill impairment test. The ASU also applies the same test of goodwill to all reporting units, now including those with a zero or
negative carrying amount of net assets. This ASU is required to be adopted on a prospective basis and is effective for any goodwill
impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted for any impairment tests
performed after January 1, 2017. The Company has adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis during the first quarter of 2017.
The adoption of this ASU has not impacted the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
F-12
3.
INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
Raw materials and purchased parts
Work in progress
Finished goods
Total inventories
4.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net, consists of the following (in thousands):
Land
Equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Computer hardware
Leasehold improvements
Construction in process
Property and equipment, gross
Less: accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
1,471 $
1,877
13,213
16,561 $
977
2,727
536
4,240
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
1,196 $
5,123
975
1,395
1,326
3,225
13,240
(3,589)
9,651 $
1,120
3,955
836
338
948
670
7,867
(2,057)
5,810
Depreciation expense amounted to $2.1 million, $1.2 million, and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and
2015, respectively.
5.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
Goodwill
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for each reporting unit with goodwill for the periods indicated are as follows (in
thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Effect of currency translation adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2016
Effect of currency translation adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Polymed
Oncology
Innovation
Platform
22,031 $
(439)
21,592
332
21,924 $
11,379 $
(5)
11,374
(89)
11,285 $
Total
37,996
(444)
37,552
243
37,795
QuaDPharma
$
4,586 $
—
4,586
—
4,586 $
$
F-13
Intangible Assets, Net
The Company’s identifiable intangible assets, net, consist of the following (in thousands):
Amortizable intangible assets
Licenses
Polymed customer list
Polymed technology
Product rights
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
CDE in-process research and development (IPR&D)
Effect of currency translation adjustment
Total intangibles, net
Amortizable intangible assets
Licenses
QuaDPharma customer list
Polymed customer list
Polymed technology
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
CDE in-process research and development (IPR&D)
Effect of currency translation adjustment
Total intangibles, net
December 31, 2017
Cost/Fair
Value
Accumulated
Amortization
Impairments
Net
$
$
$
$
4,650 $
1,593
3,712
530
1,106
(197)
11,394 $
1,173 $
675
762
132
—
—
2,742 $
— $
—
—
—
80
—
80 $
3,477
918
2,950
398
1,026
(197)
8,572
December 31, 2016
Cost/Fair
Value
Accumulated
Amortization
Impairments
Net
3,100 $
204
1,593
3,712
315 $
58
414
437
1,884
(411)
10,082 $
—
—
1,224 $
— $
146
—
—
248
—
394 $
2,785
—
1,179
3,275
1,636
(411)
8,464
As of December 31, 2017, licenses at cost include an Orascovery license of $0.4 million and licenses purchased from Gland Pharma
Ltd (“Gland”) of $4.3 million. The Orascovery license with Hanmi Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. (“Hanmi”) was purchased directly from
Hanmi and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 12.75 years, the remaining life of the license agreement at the
time of purchase.
The licenses purchased from Gland are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 5 years, the remaining life of the
license agreement at the time of purchase.
The remaining intangible assets were acquired in connection with the acquisitions of QuaDPharma, Polymed, and CDE. Intangible
assets are amortized using an economic consumption model over their useful lives. The QuaDPharma customer list was being
amortized on a straight-line basis over 7 years. The Polymed customer list and technology are amortized on a straight-line basis over 6
and 12 years, respectively. The CDE in-process research and development, or IPR&D, will not be amortized until the related projects
are completed. IPR&D will be tested annually for impairment, unless conditions exist causing an earlier impairment test (e.g.,
abandonment of project). During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company abandoned a project within IPR&D and therefore,
the related balance of $0.1 million was written-off as impaired and is included within research and development expenses in the
consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2017. During the year ended
December 31, 2016, impairment charges of $0.2 million and $0.1 million were recorded within research and development costs and
selling, general, and administrative costs, respectively, in the 2016 consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The
charge of $0.2 million was due to the impairment of CDE’s IPR&D. One drug development project included within IPR&D was
abandoned and therefore the related balance was written off as impaired. The charge of $0.1 million was due to the impairment of the
QuaDPharma customer list. This was due to the business model change of QuaDPharma from a contract manufacturer to a facility
primarily producing FDA shortage products under 503B regulations, which changed the Company’s anticipated use of the customer
list. The weighted-average useful life for all intangible assets was 7.56 years as of December 31, 2017.
F-14
The Company recorded $1.6 million, $0.8 million, and $0.4 million of amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2017,
2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company expects amortization expense related to its finite-lived intangible assets for the next 5 years and thereafter to be as
follows as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
Year ending December 31:
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Thereafter
Estimated
Amortization
Expense
$
$
1,588
1,588
1,588
1,127
392
1,460
7,743
6.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value
hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to
unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to
unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the ASC 820 are described as follows:
Level 1—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the
plan has the ability to access.
Level 2—Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
•
•
•
•
•
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of
the asset or liability.
Level 3—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable, supported by little or no market activity, and that are significant to the
fair value measurement.
Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs; there were no
transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 of any financial assets or liabilities during the years ended 2017, 2016, or 2015.
F-15
The following tables represent the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities that the Company measures at fair value on a
recurring basis (in thousands):
Assets:
Money market funds
Short-term investments - commercial paper
Short-term investments - corporate notes
Short-term investments - corporate U.S. government
bonds
Investment
Total assets
Assets:
Money market funds
Marketable securities - certificate of deposit
Investment
Total assets
Liabilities:
Derivative liability
Total liabilities
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Using:
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
13,804 $
14,982
2,824
13,804 $
—
—
— $
14,982
2,824
5,006
328
36,944 $
—
328
14,132 $
5,006
—
22,812 $
—
—
—
—
—
—
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016 Using:
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
6,522 $
8,625
340
15,487 $
6,522 $
8,625
340
15,487 $
8,795 $
8,795 $
— $
— $
— $
—
—
— $
— $
— $
—
—
—
—
8,795
8,795
$
$
$
$
$
$
The Company classifies its certificates of deposit and money market funds within Level 1 because it uses quoted market prices to
determine their fair value. The Company classifies its commercial paper, corporate notes, and U.S. government bonds within Level 2
because it uses quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and each has a specified term and all level 2 inputs are
observable for substantially the full term of each instrument.
The Company owns 68,000 shares of PharmaEssentia, a company publicly traded on the Taiwan OTC Exchange. As of December 31,
2017 and 2016, the Company’s investment in PharmaEssentia is valued at the reported closing price. This investment is classified as a
level 1 investment.
The Company bifurcated the embedded derivative feature from its convertible bonds and recorded such as a long-term liability. The
derivative liability was measured at fair value as of the issuance date and remeasured at fair value at the end of the reporting period.
The liability is measured at fair value using level 3 inputs. The derivative liability is discussed further in Note 10—Debt.
F-16
The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial instruments (in
thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2016
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Derivative Liability
—
$
8,262
Issuance of convertible bonds with embedded derivative
533
Change in fair value
8,795
13,172
15,411
(37,378)
—
Issuance of convertible bonds with embedded derivative
Change in fair value
Conversion of derivative liability to common stock
$
Balance as of December 31, 2017
7.
ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
Accrued wages and benefits
Accrued clinical expenses
Accrued operating expenses
Deferred revenue
Accrued cost of equity raise
Accrued R&D licensing fees
Accrued inventory purchases
Accrued tax withholdings
Accrued selling fees and rebates
Accrued construction costs
Accrued consulting costs
Accrued interest
Total accrued expenses
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
3,817 $
3,826
1,529
1,202
186
5,729
6,835
357
788
2,709
—
—
26,978 $
1,828
1,080
1,057
237
264
12,988
—
—
—
—
515
987
18,956
The accrued construction costs relate to the building of the manufacturing facility in Dunkirk, NY (refer to Note 14 – Business and
Economic Collaborative Agreements). These Company will be reimbursed by the State for these costs.
8.
INCOME TAXES
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Reform Act was signed into law. This legislation significantly changes U.S. tax law by, among other
things, lowering corporate income tax rates, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a repatriation tax on deemed
repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Tax Reform Act permanently reduces the U.S. corporate income tax rate from a
maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate, effective January 1, 2018.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in
which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. As a result of the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35%
to 21% under the Tax Reform Act, the Company revalued its net U.S. deferred income tax liabilities at December 31, 2017. The
Company has reduced its income tax expense from continuing operations by approximately $34.1 million due to the revaluation of
U.S. deferred tax liabilities, offset by a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets decreased by $1.9 million
for the year ended December 31, 2017 and increased by $30.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The 2017 change in the
valuation allowance was due to an increase of deferred income tax assets of approximately $32.3 million mainly due to an increase in
net operating losses and a reduction of deferred tax assets of approximately $34.2 million due to the revaluation of the deferred taxes
due to the enactment of the Tax Reform Act.
The Tax Reform Act provided for a one-time deemed mandatory repatriation of post-1986 undistributed foreign subsidiary earnings
and profits (“E&P”) through the year ended December 31, 2017. The one-time transition tax is based on the Company’s total post-
1986 earnings and profits for which it has previously deferred from U.S. income taxes. The Company did not record a provisional
F-17
amount in income tax expense for the transition tax as it has accumulated losses in its foreign subsidiaries, and thus does not anticipate
being subject to the transition tax.
While the Tax Reform Act provides for a territorial tax system, beginning in 2018, it also includes two new U.S. tax base erosion
provisions - the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions and the base-erosion and anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”)
provisions.
The GILTI provisions require the Company to include in its U.S. income tax return foreign subsidiary earnings in excess of an
allowable return on the foreign subsidiary’s tangible assets. The Company does not expect that it will be subject to incremental U.S.
tax on GILTI income beginning in 2018. Because of the complexity of the new GILTI tax rules, the Company continues to evaluate
this provision of the Tax Reform Act and the application of ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under GAAP, the Company is allowed to make
an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-
period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or (2) factoring such amounts into the Company's measurement of its
deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). The Company's selection of an accounting policy with respect to the new GILTI tax rules will
depend, in part, on analyzing its global income to determine whether it expects to have future U.S. inclusions in taxable income
related to GILTI and, if so, what the impact is expected to be. The Company is currently in the process of analyzing its structure and,
as a result, is not yet able to reasonably estimate the effect of this provision of the Tax Reform Act. Therefore, the Company has not
made any adjustments related to potential GILTI tax in its consolidated financial statements and has not made a policy decision
regarding whether to record deferred tax on GILTI.
The BEAT provisions in the Tax Reform Act eliminates the deduction of certain base-erosion payments made to related foreign
corporations, and impose a minimum tax if greater than regular tax. The Company does not expect to be impacted by this tax based on
annual gross receipts threshold.
On December 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 118 to address the
application of GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed
(including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act. The
Company has recognized the provisional tax impacts related to the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and included these
amounts in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. The ultimate impact may differ from the
provisional amounts, possibly materially, due to, among other things, additional analysis, changes in interpretations and assumptions
the Company has made, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued, and actions the Company may take as a result of the Tax
Reform Act. The accounting is expected to be complete when the Company’s 2017 U.S. corporate income tax return is filed in 2018.
The Company recorded income tax expense of $0.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 and an income tax benefit of
$0.3 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Current year income tax expense is
primarily attributable to foreign withholding taxes levied on income earned in Taiwan. The prior year income tax benefit is
attributable to changes in deferred income tax liabilities that were recognized in connection with the Company’s acquisitions. The
Company and its other subsidiaries were in a cumulative loss position as of December 31, 2017.
The components of loss before income tax expense (benefit) consist of the following (in thousands):
Domestic
Foreign
Year Ended December 31,
2016
(83,714) $
(4,457)
(88,171) $
2017
(125,770) $
(5,541)
(131,311) $
$
$
2015
(47,428)
(3,281)
(50,709)
F-18
The components of the income tax expense (benefit) consist of the following (in thousands):
Current:
Federal
State
Foreign
Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign
Change in valuation allowance
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
$
$
64 $
(92)
440
412
— $
61
165
226
—
80
136
216
(3,222)
5,799
(874)
1,703
(2,030)
85 $
(26,386)
(4,165)
(848)
(31,399)
30,908
(265) $
(15,488)
(2,948)
(529)
(18,965)
18,695
(54)
The income tax expense (benefit) differs from the federal statutory rate due to the following:
Statutory rate
State taxes, net of federal benefit
Foreign rate differential
Federal income tax rate change
Valuation allowance
Other
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following (in thousands):
Intangible assets
Property and equipment
Stock-based compensation
Net operating loss carryforwards
Other
Gross deferred income tax assets
Less: valuation allowance
Net deferred income tax assets
Intangible assets
Property and equipment
Gross deferred income tax liabilities
Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities)
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
34.0%
(4.3)
(0.6)
(25.9)
1.5
(4.8)
(0.1)%
34.0%
5.4
(0.8)
—
(35.1)
(3.2)
0.3%
34.0%
5.7
(0.9)
—
(36.9)
(1.8)
0.1%
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
8,923 $
70
6,489
44,008
2,014
61,504
(60,379)
1,125
(1,004)
—
(1,004)
121 $
8,534
28
9,437
43,807
1,840
63,646
(62,308)
1,338
(1,296)
(248)
(1,544)
(206)
As of December 31, 2017, there exists $184.7 million federal net operating losses and $47.4 million of state net operating losses,
respectively, which may be carried forward to offset future years’ tax liabilities and expire beginning in 2027. In addition, there exists
$12.0 million of foreign net operating losses as of December 31, 2017 which may be carried forward indefinitely.
The Company considers whether any positions taken on the Company’s income tax returns would be considered uncertain tax
positions that may require the recognition of a liability. The Company has concluded that there are no material uncertain tax positions
as of December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a
component of income benefit in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. There were no amounts recognized
F-19
for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015. The income
tax returns for the taxable years 2012 to 2016 in the U.S., China, and Hong Kong remain open and subject to income tax audits.
The Company has not made provisions for the limitation of executive compensation associated with the tax reform legislation of 2017
due to a lack of further clarity regarding the application of the law. This provision of the tax reform legislation is not expected to have
a material effect on the Company’s financial condition.
Provision has not been made for U.S. taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Those earnings have been and will
continue to be indefinitely reinvested.
Under the provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), net operating loss and credit carryforwards and other tax
attributes may be subject to limitation if there has been a significant change in ownership of the Company, as defined by the IRC.
Future owner of equity shifts, including any public offerings, could result in limitations on net operating loss carryforwards.
9.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The Company has a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain key employees. In connection with the agreements between
the Company and certain members of management, the employees have agreed to defer a portion of their salary to the future which is
payable upon their retirement or separation of service with the Company. The deferred compensation accrues interest at 4% annually
which is included with the total balance due. The Company incurred $0.6 million, $0.7 million, and $0.5 million of deferred
compensation expense included within research and development expenses ($0, $0.4 million, and $0.3 million) and selling, general,
and administrative expenses ($0.6 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million) during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015,
respectively. The Company paid $0.5 million of deferred compensation associated with the separation of a key employee in 2017. The
related liability as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 totaled $2.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
10. DEBT
The Company’s debt as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $2.0 million and $41.8 million, respectively. This consisted of
three seller promissory notes that were negotiated as part of the Polymed acquisition in 2015, a mortgage, capital lease obligations,
convertible bonds issued in 2016 and 2017 and a related derivative liability. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the balances of this
debt are as follows (in thousands):
Current portion of promissory notes to related parties
Current portion of mortgage
Current portion of capital lease obligation
Long-term portion of promissory notes to related parties
Long-term portion of capital lease obligation
Convertible bonds, net of debt discount of $3,502
as of December 31, 2016
Convertible bonds—related parties, net of debt
discount of $3,871 as of December 31, 2016
Derivative liability
Total
$
December 31,
2017
2016
491 $
835
180
—
475
1,123
766
—
496
—
—
14,498
—
—
1,981 $
16,129
8,795
41,807
$
The promissory notes have a 36 month maturity beginning on July 1, 2015 and ending on June 1, 2018 with a 6% stated interest rate.
The mortgage payments extend through July 30, 2018. Future minimum principal payments on these promissory notes and mortgage
consist of $1.3 million due in the year ending December 31, 2018.
In 2017 and 2016, the Company issued convertible bonds with an aggregate principal value of $75.0 million and a maturity date of
October 1, 2018. Of the convertible bonds issued, an aggregate principal of $24.0 million were issued to related parties. On June 14,
2017, the IPO date, $68.0 million of these bonds, which had a carrying value of $55.8 million, were converted into 7,727,273 shares of
common stock.
In March 2017, the Company signed an amendment to its license agreement with Hanmi, under which the Company received the
rights to develop and sell drugs under the Orascovery program in additional territories, including Japan. This license amendment
required an upfront fee of $7.0 million payable to Hanmi upon the execution of the agreement. In lieu of the payment, the Company
issued a convertible bond to Hanmi with a par value of $7.0 million. This bond carried an interest rate of 10% per annum and a
F-20
maturity date of October 1, 2018. This amendment included additional regulatory milestone payments and royalties based on sales.
The occurrence of any milestone triggering events have not been deemed to be probable and no sales have yet occurred. On
September 29, 2017, Hanmi converted its bond with a principal value of $7.0 million into 795,455 shares of common stock, at a 20%
discount from the IPO price of $11 per share.
The conversion feature of these convertible bonds has been accounted for as an embedded derivative liability, which was measured at
fair value and totaled $13.2 million and $8.3 million on the borrowing dates in 2017 and 2016, respectively. This resulted in a debt
discount in the same amount, which was amortized to interest expense over the term of the debt using the effective interest method.
The fair value measurement of the derivative liability was determined using unobservable Level 3 inputs. These inputs include (a) the
estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows and (b) the probability and timing of the achievement of the factors on which the
derivative is based. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those input could result in a lower or higher fair value measurement.
The loss due to changes in the derivative liability amounted to $15.4 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017
and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, all bonds have been converted there were no convertible bonds outstanding.
During 2017, the Company entered into three leases classified as capital leases under ASC 842. These leases include a bargain
purchase option at the end of the lease term. The value of the property leased has been recorded in property and equipment on the
consolidated balance sheet with a corresponding current and long-term lease obligation.
11. BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
Polymed
In June 2015, the Company finalized the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of Polymed Therapeutics Inc. and Chongqing
Taihao Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (collectively, “Polymed”). Polymed markets and sells API and medical devices in North America,
Europe, and Asia from its locations in Texas and China. Polymed also develops new compounds, processing techniques, and
manufactures API at Taihao, a cGMP facility in Chongqing, China. The Company believed that the acquisition was essential to
control its supply chain, develop business globally, and to generate capital to fund operations.
The total cash purchase price paid by the Company during 2015 amounted to $11.0 million. This included $9.2 million of cash paid,
$2.2 million of debt paid on Polymed’s behalf, less $0.4 million of cash acquired. In addition, the Company issued promissory notes in
the amount of $3.3 million to the sellers (refer to Note 10—Debt). Further, the Company issued 1,538,464 shares of common stock
valued at $7.50 per share as part of the consideration paid, which was the fair value of the common stock at the acquisition date.
In accordance with the acquisition agreement, there are provisions for contingent consideration up to a maximum of $5.0 million upon
achievement of certain consolidated net revenue goals. On the acquisition date, the Company recorded the fair value of this contingent
consideration as a liability based on the probabilities of Polymed achieving the performance thresholds and the present value of such
payments. Refer to Note 12—Contingent Consideration for further details.
F-21
The net assets acquired have been recorded at fair value. To estimate the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets acquired, the
Company utilized the income method which requires assumptions of projected revenue and expenses and an estimated discount rate,
among other inputs. The following table summarizes the purchase price and the initial estimates of the fair values of assets and
liabilities acquired at the date of acquisition (in thousands):
$
$
$
Consideration:
Cash
Debt repaid
Promissory notes
Stock issued (1,538,464 shares at $7.50)
Contingent consideration
Purchase price
Net assets acquired:
Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other assets
Property and equipment
Customer list
Technology
Accounts payable and other accruals
Deferred income tax liability
Customer deposits
Total identifiable net assets
Goodwill
Total purchase price allocation
$
9,285
2,234
3,275
11,538
4,488
30,820
443
4,527
3,876
199
1,011
1,593
3,712
(5,718)
(987)
(40)
8,616
22,204
30,820
Goodwill in the amount of $22.2 million was recorded for the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired
and liabilities assumed. The goodwill and intangible assets acquired in connection with this acquisition are not deductible for income
tax purposes. This acquisition was made to benefit the Company’s Global Supply Chain Platform and therefore is included as a
component of such segment.
The operating results of Polymed have been included within the Company’s Global Supply Chain Platform operating segment from
the date of acquisition. Polymed added $16.0 million, $18.8 million, and $11.5 million of revenue for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Polymed contributed net income of $0.5 million and $0.1 million and a net loss of $1.3 million for
the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
Comprehensive Drug Enterprises
On July 17, 2015, the Company executed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to purchase 100% of the shares of Comprehensive Drug
Enterprises Ltd. (“CDE”). CDE is a Hong Kong-based biopharmaceutical company with a focus on the development of transmucosal
drug delivery, with special emphasis on sublingual and nasal administration of pharmaceuticals. Additionally, CDE owns 100% of the
shares of Maxinase Life Sciences Limited and owns 95% of the shares of MJ Medical Gel Systems (“HKMJ”). HKMJ has one
wholly-owned subsidiary, Chongqing MJ Medical Sciences Co Ltd. and holds a majority interest (66.6%) in Chongqing MJ Medical
Devices Co Ltd. For each of the entities in which the Company has a majority interest but is not wholly-owned, the Company
consolidated the financial results of that company in its consolidated financial statements and records a non-controlling interest. The
non-controlling interests are classified as equity in the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $0.7 million and $0.9 million as of
December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company believed that the acquisition of CDE was essential to expand its research
efforts, add short-cycle symptom therapeutic drug candidates to the product portfolio, and add efficiencies to the manufacturing
occurring in Chongqing, China.
This transaction was executed with a stock-for-stock exchange, with Athenex being the surviving parent company. For each share of
CDE outstanding prior to the acquisition, the Company issued 0.023 shares of its common stock. Each Athenex share was valued as
$9 and a total of 1,651,264 shares were issued as part of this transaction as the consideration transferred. The purchase price of CDE
amounted to $14.9 million, however, as a cashless acquisition, the cash effect was the $1.7 million of cash acquired.
F-22
The net assets acquired have been recorded at fair value. To estimate the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets acquired, the
Company utilized the cost method. The intangible asset, in-process research and development, is not amortized and is held as an
indefinite-lived asset until the research and development projects are completed or abandoned. The following table summarizes the
purchase price and the initial estimates of the fair values of assets and liabilities acquired at the date of acquisition (in thousands):
$
$
$
Consideration:
Stock issued (1,651,264 shares at $9)
Purchase price
Net assets acquired:
Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other assets
Property and equipment
In-process research & development
Investment
Accounts payable and other accruals
Mortgage liability
Total identifiable net assets
Goodwill
Total purchase price allocation
$
14,861
14,861
1,699
107
166
449
1,803
1,884
144
(1,671)
(1,099)
3,482
11,379
14,861
Goodwill in the amount of $11.4 million was recorded for the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired
and liabilities assumed. The goodwill and intangible assets acquired in connection with this acquisition are not deductible for income
tax purposes. This acquisition was made to benefit the Company’s R&D efforts and therefore, is included in the Oncology Innovation
Platform.
The operating results of CDE have been included within the Company’s Oncology Innovation Platform operating segment from the
date of acquisition. CDE added $0.9 million, $0.7 million, and $0.5 million of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,
and 2015, respectively. CDE contributed a net loss of $1.3 million, $1.8 million, and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
Pro-forma Financial Information (Unaudited)
The pro forma results presented below include the effects of the Company’s 2015 acquisitions as if the acquisitions occurred on
January 1, 2014. The pro forma net loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes the following adjustments: (1) additional
amortization resulting from assets which arose during purchase accounting, (2) additional expenses for the change in the fair value of
contingent consideration if the original measurement period was the beginning of the prior reporting period, (3) additional interest
expense for loans that were used to fund the acquisitions, (4) removal of interest expense related to loans which were repaid in
connection with the acquisitions, (5) removal of direct acquisition-related costs which would not have been incurred had the
businesses been owned on the beginning of the prior reporting period, and (6) the deferred tax effect if the intangible assets and
purchase accounting were recorded as of the beginning of the prior reporting period. The pro forma results do not include any
anticipated synergies or other expected benefits of the acquisitions. The unaudited pro forma financial information is for informational
purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of either future results of operations of the combined entity or results that might have
been achieved had the acquisitions been consummated as of the beginning of the prior reporting period. The following table presents
the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for 2015 (in thousands):
Unaudited pro forma financial information
(Athenex, Polymed, and CDE
consolidated)
Consolidated revenue
Consolidated net loss
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
$
$
21,032
(51,682)
Acquisition-Related Costs
Acquisition-related costs, including legal and regulatory and consulting costs, amounted to $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the
acquisitions of Polymed and CDE, respectively, and are included within selling, general, and administrative expenses in the
Company’s 2015 consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
F-23
12. CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION
The fair value measurements of contingent consideration liabilities are determined using unobservable Level 3 inputs. These inputs
include (a) the estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows; (b) the probability of the achievement of the factors on which the
contingency is based; and (c) the risk-adjusted discount rate used to present value the probability-weighted cash flows. Significant
increases (decreases) in any of those inputs could result in a lower or higher fair value measurement.
QuaDPharma
The following table represents a reconciliation of the contingent consideration liability related to the acquisition of QuaDPharma in
2014 measured on a recurring basis using level 3 inputs as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Adjustment to fair value
Satisfied through issuance of common stock
Paid in cash
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
$
1,133
(106)
(343)
(684)
—
The increase of the contingent consideration related to QuaDPharma was due to the time value of money from the initial measurement
date (QuaDPharma acquisition date) to the final date of the payout. This adjustment to the contingent consideration liability is
included within selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and
comprehensive loss. On March 31, 2016, the Company exercised its option, to pay up to 50% of the earn-out liability in common
stock, and issued 38,033 shares of common stock at $9.00 per share. In May 2016, cash payments totaling $0.7 million were made,
satisfying the contingent consideration liability in full.
Polymed
The following table represents a reconciliation of the contingent consideration liability related to the acquisition of Polymed measured
on a recurring basis using level 3 inputs as of December 31, 2016:
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Adjustment to fair value
Satisfied through issuance of common stock
Paid in cash
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
$
4,841
159
(2,500)
(2,500)
—
The increase of the contingent consideration related to Polymed was due to the time value of money from the initial measurement date
(Polymed acquisition date) to the final date of the payout. This adjustment to the contingent consideration liability is included within
selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. On
March 31, 2016, the Company exercised its option to pay up to 50% of the earn-out liability in common stock, and issued 277,777
shares of common stock at $9.00 per share. In April 2016, the remaining liability of $2.5 million was paid in cash.
13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company entered into transactions with individuals and other
companies that have financial interests in the Company. Related party transactions included the following:
a.
The Company sold 2,520,000 shares of restricted stock to the executives of the Company: 1,200,000 in 2015 and 1,320,000 in
2014. To fund these stock purchases, the executives signed promissory notes in the amount of $6.6 million in 2015 and
$6.0 million in 2014. The notes in 2015 purchased 1,200,000 shares at $5.50 share and the notes in 2014 purchased 1,320,000
shares at $4.55 per share. In an effort to retain the executives, it was negotiated that, based on the continued employment of
those executives, the Company will forgive the notes over a three year period. Accordingly, the restricted shares vest and
become non-restricted equally over the three year period. The Company has accounted for this related party transaction as a
restricted stock offering, recognizing as an expense the value of the vested shares and the forgiveness of the notes over the 3-
year period, contingent on the continued employment of the executive. The notes are reported as a reduction to additional paid-
in capital. The Company accelerated the forgiveness of these promissory notes in 2016 and forgave the notes in full. The stock-
based compensation expense recognized from these transactions was $0, $6.9 million and $4.0 million for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Further, certain family members of executives hold unvested, restricted
shares resulting from consulting services performed in years prior. Such services were not significant to the consolidated
financial statements.
F-24
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Prior to the acquisition of CDE, certain directors, stockholders, and officers of the Company had a financial interest in CDE.
Consequently, the Company’s board established a Special Committee of disinterested directors with authority to review,
evaluate, negotiate, and approve or reject the terms and conditions of the transaction and to retain its own financial and legal
advisors to assist in connection therewith. Following negotiation of the transaction between the committee and its advisors and
representatives of CDE, the committee determined that the proposed terms of the transaction were fair from a financial point of
view to the Company and approved the Company’s execution of the definitive agreements and consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby.
In 2015, CDE signed an agreement with Avalon BioMedical (Management) (“Avalon”) under which Avalon will receive certain
administrative services and will occupy space at CDE’s research location. Avalon reimburses CDE for these administrative
services as incurred and pays CDE a certain percentage of the total rent payment based on its staff headcount occupying the
Hong Kong research and development facility (See Note 21—Commitments and Contingencies). Certain members of the
Company’s board and management collectively have a controlling interest in Avalon. The Company does not hold any interest
in Avalon and does not have any obligations to absorb losses or any rights to receive benefits from Avalon. As of December 31,
2017 and 2016, Avalon held 678,880 shares of the Company’s common stock, which represents 1.17% of the Company’s total
issued shares. Balances due from Avalon recorded on the consolidated balance sheets were not significant.
The Company receives consulting and licensing revenue from PharmaEssentia, a company in which Athenex has an investment
classified as available-for-sale (see Note 6—Fair Value Measurements). Revenue recorded from PharmaEssentia amounted to
$0.5 million, $0, and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company purchases certain pharmaceutical ingredients from Chongqing Taisheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Taisheng”), a
company which is owned by a member of Athenex’s management. Purchases from Taisheng amounted to $0, $0.2 million, and
$0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively, and no amounts were owed to Taisheng as of
December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The Company receives certain clinical development services from ZenRx Limited and subsidiaries (“ZenRx”), a company for
which one of our executive officers serves on the board of directors. In connection with such services, the Company made
payments to ZenRx of $0.6 million, less than $0.1 million, and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and
2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, amounts owed to ZenRx were $0.1 million. In April 2013, the Company entered
into a license agreement with ZenRx pursuant to which the Company granted an exclusive, sublicensable license to use certain
of our intellectual property to develop and commercialize Oratecan and Oraxol in Australia and New Zealand, and a non-
exclusive license to manufacture a certain compound, but only for use in Oratecan and Oraxol. ZenRx is responsible for all
development, manufacturing and commercialization, and the related costs and expenses, of any product candidates resulting
from the agreement. No revenue was earned from this license agreement in the periods presented in these consolidated financial
statements.
The Company receives certain consulting services from RSJ Consulting LLC (“RSJ”), a limited liability company for which one
of our executive officers serves as the principal. Services incurred from RSJ amounted to $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0.1
million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company issued and sold $24.0 million in convertible bonds in 2017 and 2016 to related parties. One of the holders of more
than 5% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2016, and an entity affiliated with one of our directors, each
purchased $10.0 million in convertible bonds during 2016. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2017, the Company issued
and sold $4.0 million in convertible bonds to two related parties. One of the holders of more than 5% of our outstanding
common stock as of the IPO date and a director of the Company each purchased $2.0 million in convertible bonds. On June 14,
2017, the IPO date, these bonds were converted into 2,727,273 shares of common stock.
14. BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS
New York State
On May 1, 2015, the Company executed an agreement for a medical technology research, development, innovation, and
commercialization alliance with Fort Schuyler Management Corporation (“FSMC”), a not-for-profit corporation existing under the
laws of the State of New York (the “State”). The Company expects that $25 million be invested by the State to build new corporate
offices including a formulation lab with related equipment for the Company.
The Company, through its partnership with FSMC, Empire State Development (“ESD”), and The State University of New York
(“SUNY”) Polytechnic, plans to execute a major expansion and establish a 315,000 square foot, ISO Class 5 high potency oral and
sterile injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Dunkirk, New York. On September 4, 2017, the Company entered into a
Grant Disbursement Agreement whereby the State will grant up to $200 million, plus any additional funds available from the previous
$25 million ESD Grant for the Company’s corporate offices, to fund the construction of the new pharmaceutical manufacturing
F-25
facility. The Company is entitled to lease the facility and all equipment purchased with grant funds at a rate of $1.00 per year for an
initial 10-year term, and for the same rate if the Company elects to extend the lease for an additional 10-year term. In exchange, the
Company committed to spending $1.52 billion on operational expenses in the facility in its first 10-year term, and an additional
$1.50 billion on operational expenses if the Company elects to extend the lease for a second 10-year term. The Company does not
have significant construction period risks and the State will fund a majority of the construction costs and hold ownership of the
manufacturing and office facilities. As of December 31, 2017, construction on these facilities had not yet been completed.
Chongqing Government Department of Economic Development
In October 2015, the Company completed and executed an agreement with the Banan District in Chongqing, China to construct one
GMP API and one GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing plant on Banan sites identified and selected by the Company’s management.
Under the terms of the agreement, Banan will provide the funding for the land and construction of the manufacturing plants according
to Athenex specifications and the Company will equip the plant. This agreement allows the Company to expand its existing high
potency oncology active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing capacity as well as its drug manufacturing capacity in China. The
Company does not have significant construction period risks and the Banan District will fund a majority of the construction costs and
hold ownership of the facilities. As of December 31, 2017, construction on these facilities had not yet been completed.
In connection with these arrangements with FSMC and the Banan District we have committed to certain operational milestones. If we
are unable to comply with such, we may lose access to these properties.
15.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, 250 million common shares, par value $0.001, were authorized by the Company’s Board of
Directors. The common shares are entitled to one vote per share and to receive dividends as declared.
On June 14, 2017, the Company completed an IPO of its common stock (refer to Note 1—Company and Nature of Business for
additional information). During 2017, the Company issued 6,900,000 shares of common stock at $11.00 per share in connection with
the IPO, 8,522,728 shares of common stock from the conversion of the convertible bonds into common stock, 568,182 shares of
common stock upon the IPO in connection with a licensing agreement, 738,764 shares from the exercise of warrants and stock
options, and 821,982 shares from the vesting of restricted stock and the grant of shares in connection with an executive’s employment
agreement for cumulative increase to equity of $186.2 million.
During 2016, the Company issued 1,133,332 shares of common stock at $7.50 per share, 315,810 shares at $9.00 per share, 513,440
shares from the exercise of warrants and stock options, and 50,000 shares from the vesting of restricted stock units for a cumulative
increase to equity of $19.9 million. During 2015, the Company issued 2,400,000 shares of common stock at $5.00 per share,
3,399,232 shares at $5.50 per share, 307,689 shares at $6.50 per share, 8,845,132 shares at $7.50 per share, 1,699,267 shares at $9.00
per share, and 29,760 shares from the exercise of stock options for a cumulative increase to equity of $114.3 million.
Treasury Stock
During 2017, the Company purchased 16,000 shares of common stock for de minimis amounts as the result of the cancellation of
shares issued in connection with a restricted stock agreement. During 2016, the Company purchased 1,234,592 shares of common
stock at a cost of $5.9 million. No treasury stock was purchased during 2015.
Cost of Equity Raise
Costs incurred in raising equity, whether paid with cash or through the issuance of common stock, are charged against the equity
raised. These costs include underwriting discounts and commissions, legal fees, accounting services and amounts paid to consultants
and amounted to $11.7 million, cumulatively, as of the IPO date, of these costs $1.8 million were deferred and included within other
long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016. The total amount of $11.7 million was charged against
the equity raised through the IPO. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company incurred $0.2 million of qualified issuance costs
related to a secondary public offering of its common stock. Such amount was deferred and included within other long-term assets on
the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017. Refer to Note 22 – Subsequent Events for further details of the secondary
public offering.
F-26
Common Stock Option Plans
The Company has three common stock option plans adopted in 2013, 2007 and 2004 (the “Plans”) which authorize the grant of up to
11,800,000 common stock options to employees, directors and consultants. Additionally, on June 14, 2017, the Company adopted its
2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2017 Plans”). Under the 2017 Plans, 5,200,000 shares of
common stock are reserved for future issuance to employees, directors, and consultants, including 1,000,000 reserved for an Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, which was established at IPO but no shares have as yet been issued.
16. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock options granted have a contractual term of 10 years and generally vest over a 2-4 year period. A limited number of stock options
vest immediately in certain circumstances. The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s stock option activity granted
under the Plans to employees, directors, and consultants (in thousands, except stock option amounts):
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Vested an exercisable at December 31, 2017
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Stock Options
6.26
9,280,689 $
11.46
1,741,732
5.63
(404,698)
(430,882)
5.89
(10,198) 4.04
7.19
6.25
10,176,643 $
7,824,015 $
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
7.26 $
—
—
—
—
6.83 $
6.22 $
43,994
88,615
75,527
The total fair-value of stock options vested and recorded as compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,
and 2015 was $8.0 million, $11.0 million, and $8.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 $14.6 million and
$11.0 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options is expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years and 1.6 years, respectively. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised
was approximately $4.2 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The Company determines the fair value of stock option awards on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which
is impacted by assumptions regarding a number of highly subjective variables. The following table summarizes the weighted-average
assumptions used as inputs to the Black-Scholes option pricing model during the periods indicated:
Weighted average grant date fair value
Expected dividend yield
Expected stock price volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Expected life of options (in years)
$
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
7.01
$
—%
66%
1.74%
6.2
5.53
$
—%
65%
1.29%
6.0
4.25
—%
62%
1.56%
5.9
Employee Stock Grants
The Company grants common stock to key officers and directors as additional compensation in certain circumstances. The fair value
of these grants is recorded as compensation expense throughout the requisite service period (See Note 13—Related Party
Transactions for further detail on these grants). Compensation expense recorded for these restricted stock grants and stock granted
upon the IPO amounted to $6.6 million, $8.5 million, and $4.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015,
respectively.
F-27
Restricted Stock
The following table summarizes restricted stock activity:
Nonvested at December 31, 2016
Granted
Vested
Nonvested at December 31, 2017
Shares of
Restricted
Stock
661,982 $
—
(421,982)
240,000 $
Weighted
Average Fair
Value
9.00
9.00
9.00
9.00
Warrants
The Company has granted warrants to purchase common stock. The Company determined the fair value of the warrants on the grant
date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, consistent with the valuations of stock options described above. As of December
31, 2016, 344,000 fully vested warrants were outstanding. During June 2017, the holder exercised their warrants and as of December
31, 2017, there were no outstanding warrants.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The components of stock-based compensation and the amounts recorded within research and development expenses and selling,
general, and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss consisted of the
following for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 (in thousands):
Stock options
Restricted stock expense
Stock awarded to directors and officers
Total stock-based compensation expense
Cost of sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Total stock-based compensation expense
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
$
$
$
$
8,031 $
2,160
4,400
14,591 $
137 $
2,030
12,424
14,591 $
10,977 $
8,534
—
19,511 $
— $
8,573
10,938
19,511 $
8,932
4,035
2,560
15,527
—
5,600
9,927
15,527
17. NET LOSS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATHENEX, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders by the weighted-average
number of common shares issued, outstanding, and vested during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net
loss attributable to Athenex, Inc. common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common share and common shares
equivalents for the period using the treasury-stock method. For the purposes of this calculation, warrants for common stock and stock
options are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their
effect is dilutive.
The following outstanding shares of common stock equivalents were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share
attributable Athenex, Inc. to common stockholders for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:
2017
Year Ended December 31,
2016
9,534,658 9,624,689 10,601,684
948,484 1,162,221
9,928,066 10,573,173 11,763,905
393,408
2015
Stock options and other common stock equivalents
Unvested restricted common shares
Total potential dilutive common shares
F-28
18. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The components and changes of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related income tax effects, are as follows (in
thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2014
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized gains on investment
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized (loss) on investment
Balance as of December 31, 2016
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized (loss) on investment
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
$
83
(397)
91
(223)
(1,048)
(33)
(1,304)
1,184
(26)
(146)
19. BUSINESS SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHIC, AND CONCENTRATION RISK INFORMATION
The Company has three operating segments, which are organized based mainly on the nature of the business activities performed and
regulatory environments in which they operate. The Company also considers the types of products from which the reportable
segments derive their revenue (only applicable to two reportable segments). Each operating segment has a segment manager who is
held accountable for operations and has discrete financial information that is regularly reviewed by the Company’s chief operating
decision-maker. The Company’s operating segments are as follows:
Oncology Innovation Platform—This primary operating segment performs research and development on certain of the Company’s
proprietary drugs, from the preclinical development of its chemical compounds, to the execution and analysis of its several clinical
trials. This segment focuses specifically on the oral absorption cancer drug platform, the Src Kinase inhibitors, and the transmucosal
drug delivery system. This segment performs research in the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China.
Global Supply Chain Platform—This operating segment includes QuaDPharma and Polymed. QuaDPharma is a contract
manufacturing company that provides small to mid-scale cGMP manufacturing of clinical and commercial products for
pharmaceutical and biotech companies. QuaDPharma also performs microbiological and analytical testing for raw material and
formulated products and is expanding to manufacture and sell pharmaceutical products under 503B regulations set forth by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Polymed markets and sells API and medical devices in North America, Europe, and Asia
from its locations in Texas and mainland China. Polymed also develops new compounds, processing techniques, and manufactures
API at Taihao, a cGMP facility in Chongqing, China. A majority of the Company’s revenue is generated by this segment. The
pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities being built in the Banan District in Chongqing, China (see Note 14—Business and Economic
Collaborative Agreements) will be included within this segment and the Company anticipates that this segment will support the
Oncology Innovation Platform segment when drugs in development are approved for market.
Commercial Platform—This operating segment includes Athenex Pharmaceutical Division, a newly-formed component that is
focused on the manufacturing, distribution, and sales of generic pharmaceuticals. This segment provides services and products to
external customers based mainly in the United States.
The segments operate in North America and Asia. The Company’s Oncology Innovation Platform segment operates and holds long-
lived assets located in the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. The Global Supply Chain Platform segment
operates and holds long-lived assets located in the United States and China. The Commercial Platform segment operates and holds
long-lived assets located in the United States. For geographic segment reporting, product sales have been attributed to countries based
on the location of the customer.
F-29
Segment information is as follows (in thousands):
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.:
Oncology Innovation Platform
Global Supply Chain Platform
Commercial Platform
$
Total consolidated net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
$
Total revenue:
Oncology Innovation Platform
Global Supply Chain Platform
Commercial Platform
Total revenue for reportable segments
Intersegment revenue
Total consolidated revenue
Total revenue by product group:
API sales
Medical device sales
Contract manufacturing revenue
Commercial product sales
License fees and consulting revenue
Grant revenue
Total consolidated revenue
$
$
$
$
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
(108,563) $
(7,179)
(15,428)
(131,170) $
(64,837) $
(11)
(22,867)
(87,715) $
(50,257)
(343)
—
(50,600)
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
1,411 $
28,427
17,218
47,056
(9,013)
38,043 $
998 $
26,581
—
27,579
(7,028)
20,551 $
973
17,998
—
18,971
(5,027)
13,944
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
15,351 $
1,747
1,360
17,648
1,105
832
38,043 $
15,331 $
2,338
1,497
228
392
765
20,551 $
9,179
1,966
1,464
224
297
814
13,944
Intersegment revenue is recorded by the selling segment when it is realized or realizable and all revenue recognition criteria are met.
Upon consolidation, all intersegment revenue and related cost of sales are eliminated from the selling segment’s ledger.
Total depreciation and amortization
Oncology Innovation Platform
Global Supply Chain Platform
Commercial Platform
Total consolidated depreciation and amortization
Total assets:
Oncology Innovation Platform
Global Supply Chain Platform
Commercial Platform
Total assets
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
$
$
482 $
2,272
919
3,673 $
195 $
1,644
187
2,026 $
101
787
—
888
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
65,966 $
51,128
23,319
140,413 $
53,022
48,560
4,308
105,890
F-30
Total revenue
United States
India
Austria
China
Taiwan
Other foreign countries
Total consolidated revenue
Total property and equipment, net:
United States
China
Total property and equipment, net
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
$
$
19,933 $
8,479
3,962
2,803
500
2,366
38,043 $
3,573 $
7,803
5,197
2,338
—
1,640
20,551 $
3,270
4,914
2,323
2,366
84
987
13,944
December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
5,305 $
4,346
9,651 $
2,177
3,633
5,810
Customer revenue and accounts receivable concentration amounted to the following for the identified periods. These customers relate
to the Commercial Platform segment and the Global Supply Chain Platform segment.
Percentage of total revenue by customer:
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Percentage of total accounts receivable by customer:
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
2017
19%
9%
15%
8%
38%
24%
—
—
December 31,
2017
2016
29%
17%
—
—
26%
18%
13%
10%
50%
9%
—
—
F-31
20.
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
The following tables present our unaudited quarterly results of operations for each quarter within the two most recent fiscal years. This
unaudited quarterly information has been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and, in the
opinion of management, the statement of operations data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments,
necessary for the fair presentation of the results of operations for these periods. The results of operations for any quarter are not
necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any future periods.
March 31,
2017
Fiscal 2017 Quarter Ended
June 30,
2017
September 30,
2017
December 31,
2017
(In thousands, except per share data)
Statements of Operations Data:
Revenue:
Product sales
License fees and consulting revenue
Grant revenue
Total revenue
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Total costs and operating expenses
Operating loss
Net loss (1)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
Net loss per share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common
stockholders, basic and diluted
Statements of Operations Data:
Revenue:
Product sales
License fees and consulting revenue
Grant revenue
Total revenue
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Total costs and operating expenses
Operating loss
Net loss (1)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
Net loss attributable to Athenex, Inc.
Net loss per share attributable to Athenex, Inc. common
stockholders, basic and diluted
$
$
$
$
$
$
3,900 $
598
83
4,581
4,416 $
98
81
4,595
2,839
26,408
9,799
39,046
(34,465)
(41,025)
(37)
(40,988) $
4,137
17,597
13,632
35,366
(30,771)
(38,668)
(43)
(38,625) $
13,662 $
60
272
13,994
8,082
11,944
10,364
30,390
(16,396)
(23,308)
(34)
(23,274) $
14,128
349
396
14,873
10,064
20,848
12,317
43,229
(28,356)
(28,395)
(112)
(28,283)
(1.01) $
(0.88) $
(0.41) $
(0.49)
March 31,
2016
Fiscal 2016 Quarter Ended
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2016
December 31,
2016
(In thousands, except per share data)
4,488 $
95
46
4,629
4,820 $
71
302
5,193
5,235 $
76
305
5,616
4,142
6,746
4,337
15,225
(10,596)
(10,650)
(32)
(10,618) $
4,834
8,645
4,567
18,046
(12,853)
(12,499)
(78)
(12,421) $
5,416
18,052
6,790
30,258
(24,642)
(24,656)
(34)
(24,622) $
4,851
150
112
5,113
5,326
27,181
10,262
42,769
(37,656)
(40,101)
(47)
(40,054)
(0.27) $
(0.31) $
(0.61) $
(0.98)
Note (1): Results for the quarters ended September 30 and December 31, 2016 and March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2017
include interest expense and losses on derivative liabilities related to convertible notes.
F-32
21. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Rental and lease commitments
In August 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with FSMC to occupy a portion of the Conventus Center for
Collaborative Medicine in Buffalo, NY. A deferred rent liability for this agreement of $1.5 million and $0.9 million was recorded as
of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Total rent expense related to this location, recognized on a straight-line basis, for the
years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 were $1.0 million, $1.0 million, and $0.4 million, respectively,.
In July 2015, CDE entered into an agreement to lease facilities in Hong Kong. Under the rental agreement, CDE will make monthly
payments of less than $0.1 million for three years beginning on July 1, 2015. Total rent expense related to this location, recognized on
a straight-line basis, amounted to $0.4 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015,
respectively.
In October 2016, the Company’s Commercial Platform entered into an agreement to lease office space in Chicago, IL. Under the lease
agreement, the Company will make monthly payments based on an escalating scale over ten years. Total rent expense related to this
location, recognized on a straight-line basis, amounted to $0.2 million, less than $0.1 million, and $0 for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The Company has recorded a deferred rent liability of $0.3 million and less than
$0.1 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. In lieu of a security deposit, an irrevocable letter of credit was issued to
the landlord in the amount of $0.3 million.
The Company entered into a lease agreement expiring in 2025 to lease office space in Cranford, New Jersey that serves as its clinical
research headquarters. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis and amounted to $0.1 million for each of the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company entered into a lease agreement expiring in 2022 to lease office space in Taipei, Taiwan which serves for clinical
research and clinical data management. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis and amounted to less than $0.1 million for
each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company leases its manufacturing and office facilities in Chongqing, China, where it produces API and performs research and
development. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis and amounted to $0.6 million, $0.6 million, and $0.3 million for the
years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
Future minimum payments under the non-cancelable operating leases consists of the following as of December 31, 2017 (in
thousands):
Year ending December 31:
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Thereafter
Minimum
payments
2,138
2,383
2,247
1,844
1,802
4,672
15,086
$
$
Legal Proceedings
The Company is not a party to any pending or known threatened legal proceedings that, in the opinion of the Company, would have a
material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
F-33
22.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In January 2018, we issued and sold 4,300,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $15.25 per share. In addition,
we granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 645,000 shares of common stock. On February 27, 2018,
the underwriters partially exercised their option to purchase an additional 465,000 shares of common stock at the offering price of
$15.25 per share. Net proceeds were approximately $68.1 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and
offering expenses of approximately $4.5 million.
In December 2017, we entered into a license agreement with Almirall, pursuant to which we granted to Almirall an exclusive,
sublicensable license of certain of our intellectual property for the development and commercialization of topical products containing
KX-01 for the treatment of AK in the United States and substantially all European countries. In February 2018, the Company obtained
antitrust approval of the Almirall license, commencing the term of the agreement. In March 2018, in accordance with the agreement,
the Company received an upfront payment of $30.0 million from Almirall. Of this amount, $25.0 million is non-refundable.
******
F-34
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) and
our Vice President of Financial Reporting and Acting Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer),
evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2017. The term “disclosure controls and
procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act means controls and other procedures of a company
that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required
to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the
company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well-designed and operated,
can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating
the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as
of December 31, 2017, our Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) and our Vice President of
Financial Reporting and Acting Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) concluded that, as of such
date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by
Rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
This annual report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or
an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission for newly public companies.
Item 9B.
Other Information.
None.
136
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information required by this Item concerning our directors is incorporated by reference from the sections captioned “Election of
Directors” and “Corporate Governance Matters” contained in our proxy statement related to the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
currently scheduled to be held on June 12, 2018, which we intend to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120
days of the end of our fiscal year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.
Our board of directors has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee, namely Messrs. Zukin and Trainor-
Degirolamo and Dr. Wu are independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules and meet the additional test
for independence for audit committee members imposed by Securities and Exchange Commission regulation and the NASDAQ Stock
Market listing rules. Our board has also determined that Dr. Zukin is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in
Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics relating to the conduct of our business by all of our employees,
executive officers, and directors. The policy is posted on our website, www.athenex.com.
The information required by this Item concerning our executive officers is set forth at the end of Part I of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
The information required by this Item concerning compliance with Section 16(a) of the United States Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, is incorporated by reference from the section of the proxy statement captioned “Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance”.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the sections captioned “Executive
Compensation,” “Director Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in the proxy
statement.
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the sections captioned “Executive
Compensation” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” contained in the proxy statement.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the sections captioned “Certain
Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Corporate Governance Matters” in the proxy statement.
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the section captioned “Audit
Committee Report” in the proxy statement.
137
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report.
1. Financial Statements.
The financial statements of the Company and the related report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm
thereon have been filed under Item 8 hereof.
2. Financial Statement Schedules.
Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Activity in the following valuation and qualifying accounts consisted of the following (in thousands):
Col. A
Description
December 31, 2017
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Allowance for chargebacks and other deductions
Reserve for excess and obsolete inventory
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
December 31, 2016
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Reserve for excess and obsolete inventory
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
December 31, 2015
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Reserve for excess and obsolete inventory
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
Col. C - Additions
Col. B
Balance at
Beginning of
Period
Charged to
Costs &
Expenses
Charged to
Other
Accounts -
Describe
Col. D
Deductions -
Describe
Col. E
Balance at
End of
Period
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
155
—
929
62,308
478
839
31,400
199
—
12,512
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
662 (1)
3,834 (2)
544
—
$
$
$
$
—
—
—
(1,929) (4)
$
$
$
$
(733) (1)
(123) (2)
(470) (3)
—
$
$
$
$
267 (1)
175
—
$
$
$
—
—
30,908 (4)
$
$
(590) (1)
(85) (3)
279 (1)
839
—
$
$
$
—
—
18,888 (4)
$
$
$
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
$
84
3,711
1,003
60,379
155
929
62,308
478
839
31,400
(1) Increases in the allowance for doubtful accounts consist of our provision for bad debts, which is included within selling,
general, and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Decreases in the
allowances for doubtful accounts consist of the write-off of specific accounts and the recovery of previously reserved receivables.
(2) Increases in the allowance for chargebacks and other deductions consist of our provision for chargebacks, cash discounts,
returns, fees, and other credits, which are a deduction from product sales on the consolidated statements of operations and
comprehensive loss. Decreases in the allowances for chargebacks and other deduction consist of the collection of the underlying
accounts and advances received on chargebacks.
(3) Increases in the reserve for excess and obsolete inventory are charged to expense within cost of sales on the consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss and are based on the difference, if any, between the cost of the inventory and market,
based upon assumptions about future demand. Decreases in the reserve for excess and obsolete inventory consist of the write-off of
specific items.
(4) Increases and decreases in the valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets offset the increases and decreases in our
gross deferred tax assets, based on the expected realization of those future tax benefits.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary.
None.
138
(b) Exhibits.
Incorporated by Reference
(Unless Otherwise Indicated)
Exhibit
Number
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.2
Exhibit Title
Form
File
Exhibit
Filing Date
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company, effective as of June 19, 2017.
Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated
Certificate of the Company, effective as of June 13, 2015.
Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated
Certificate of the Company, effective as of August 26, 2015.
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective as
of June 19, 2017.
Form 8-K
001-38112
3.1
June 22, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
3.1.1
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
3.1.2
May 12, 2017
Form 8-K
001-38112
3.2
June 22, 2017
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.1+
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement.
Form S-1
333-217928
First Amended and Restated 2004 Common Unit Option Plan
and Form of Unit Option Agreement.
Form S-1
333-217928
4.1
10.1
10.2
May 12, 2017
May 12, 2017
May 12, 2017
First Amended and Restated 2007 Common Unit Option Plan
and Form of Unit Option Agreement.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.3
May 12, 2017
2013 Common Stock Option Plan and Form of Common
Stock Option Agreement.
2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan and Form of Stock Option
Award Agreement.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.4
May 12, 2017
Form S-1/A 333-217928
10.5
June 2, 2017
10.2+
10.3+
10.4+
10.5+
10.6+
2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.7^
10.7.1
10.7.2
10.7.3
License Agreement by and between Hanmi Pharmaceutical
Ltd. and Kinex Pharmaceuticals, LLC, effective as of
December 16, 2011.
First Amendment to License Agreement by and between
Kinex Pharmaceuticals, LLC and Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd., effective as of November 9, 2012.
Second Amendment to License Agreement by and between
Kinex Pharmaceuticals, LLC and Hanmi Pharmaceutical
Ltd., effective as of October 21, 2013.
Third Amendment to License Agreement by and between
Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Hanmi Pharmaceutical Ltd.,
effective as of March 3, 2015.
10.7.4^
Fourth Amendment to License Agreement by and between
Athenex, Inc. and Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., effective
as of March 7, 2017.
10.8^
10.9^
License Agreement by and among Hanmi Pharmaceutical
Co., Ltd., Kinex Therapeutics (HK) Limited, and Kinex
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective as of June 28, 2013.
License Agreement by and between Kinex Pharmaceuticals,
LLC and Hanmi Pharmaceutical Ltd., effective as of April
2011.
Form S-1/A 333-217928
Form S-1
333-217928
10.6
10.7
June 2, 2017
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.7.1
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.7.2
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.7.3
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.7.4
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.8
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.9
May 12, 2017
139
Incorporated by Reference
(Unless Otherwise Indicated)
Exhibit
Number
10.10^
10.10.1
10.11^
10.11.1
10.12^
10.13^
10.14^
Exhibit Title
Form
File
Exhibit
Filing Date
License Agreement by and between Kinex Pharmaceuticals,
LLC and PharmaEssentia Corp, effective as of December 8,
2011.
First Amendment to License Agreement by and between
Athenex, Inc. and PharmaEssentia Corp., effective as of
December 23, 2016.
License Agreement by and between Kinex Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. and PharmaEssentia Corp, effective as of December 16,
2013.
First Amendment to License Agreement by and between
Athenex, Inc. and PharmaEssentia Corp., effective as of
December 23, 2016.
License Agreement by and between Kinex Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. and ZenRx Limited, effective as of April 25, 2013.
License Agreement by and between Kinex Pharmaceuticals,
LLC and Guangzhou Xiangxue New Drug Discovery and
Development Company Limited, effective as of May 6, 2012.
Binding Term Sheet for License by and between Athenex
Pharmaceutical Division, LLC and Gland Pharma Limited,
effective as of August 1, 2016.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.10
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.10.1 May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.11
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.11.1 May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.12
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.13
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.14
May 12, 2017
10.14.1^ Binding Term Sheet for License by and between Athenex
Form S-1
333-217928
10.14.1 May 12, 2017
10.14.2^
10.14.3^
10.15^
Pharmaceutical Division, LLC and Gland Pharma Limited,
effective as of August 26, 2016.
Binding Term Sheet for License by and between Athenex
Pharmaceutical Division, LLC and Gland Pharma Limited,
effective as of February 22, 2017.
Binding Term Sheet for License by and between Athenex
Pharmaceutical Division, LLC and Gland Pharma Limited,
effective as of May 5, 2017.
Joint Venture Agreement by and between SunGen Pharma
LLC and Athenex Pharmaceutical Division effective as of
September 22, 2016.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.14.2 May 12, 2017
Form S-1/A 333-217928
10.14.3
June 2, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.15
May 12, 2017
10.15.1^ Addendum to Joint Venture Agreement by and between
Form S-1
333-217928
10.15.1 May 12, 2017
10.15.2
10.16^
10.17^
SunGen Pharma LLC and Athenex Pharmaceutical Division,
LLC, effective November 29, 2016.
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Peterson Athenex
Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
Service Agreement by and between Dohmen Life Science
Services, LLC and Athenex Pharmaceutical Division, LLC,
effective as of August 9, 2016.
Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement by and
among Athenex, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and ImClone
LLC, effective as of October 24, 2016.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.15.2 May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.16
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.17
May 12, 2017
140
Exhibit
Number
10.18
10.18.1
10.18.2
10.19
10.20
10.21^
10.22
10.23+
10.24+
10.25+
10.26+
10.27+
10.28+
10.29+
Exhibit Title
Form
File
Exhibit
Filing Date
Incorporated by Reference
(Unless Otherwise Indicated)
Agreement for Medical Technology Research, Development,
Innovation, and Commercialization Alliance by and between
Fort Schuyler Management Corporation and Kinex
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective as of May 1, 2015.
First Amendment to Agreement for Medical Technology
Research, Development, Innovation, and Commercialization
Alliance by and between Fort Schuyler Management
Corporation and Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective as of
July 21, 2015.
Second Amendment to Agreement for Medical Technology
Research, Development, Innovation, and Commercialization
Alliance by and between Fort Schuyler Management
Corporation and Athenex, Inc., effective as of June 22, 2016.
Sublease Agreement by and between Fort Schuyler
Management Corporation and Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
effective as of July 21, 2015.
Athenex Pharmaceutical Base Project Located in the
Chongqing Maliu Riverside Development Zone Agreement
with Chongqing Maliu Riverside Development and
Investment Co., Ltd., effective as of October 16, 2015
(English translation of original foreign language agreement).
Binding Term Sheet for License, Supply and Distribution
Agreement by and among Athenex API Limited, Nang-
Kuang Pharmaceutical Co., LTD and CANDA NK-2, LLC,
effective as of December 29, 2016.
Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Athenex, Inc.
and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated February 1,
2017.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and
between Johnson Lau and Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
effective as of June 1, 2015.
Employment Agreement by and between Kinex Polymed
Hong Kong Ltd. and William Zuo, PhD, effective as of June
1, 2015.
Employment Agreement by and between Athenex, Inc. and
Dr. Rudolf Min-Fun Kwan, effective as of February 21,
2017.
Employment Agreement by and between Athenex, Inc. and
Dr. Simon Pedder, effective as of February 20, 2017.
Employment Agreement by and between Athenex, Inc. and
J. Nick Riehle, effective as of February 21, 2017.
Employment Agreement by and between Athenex, Inc. and
Jeffrey Yordon, effective as of February 21, 2017.
Letter Agreement between Athenex, Inc. and Flint Besecker,
dated December 8, 2016.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.18
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.18.1 May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.18.2 May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.19
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.20
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.21
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
10.22
10.22
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.23
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.24
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.25
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.26
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.27
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.28
May 12, 2017
Form S-1
333-217928
10.29
May 12, 2017
10.29.1
First Amendment to Letter Agreement between Athenex,
Inc. and Flint D. Besecker, effective as of April 17, 2017.
Form S-1
333-217928
10.29.1 May 12, 2017
141
Incorporated by Reference
(Unless Otherwise Indicated)
Exhibit
Number
10.30
10.31^
Exhibit Title
Form
File
Exhibit
Filing Date
Grant Disbursement Agreement by and between New York
State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State
Development and Athenex, Inc., dated September 4, 2017.
License and Development Agreement by and between
Athenex, Inc., Almirall, S.A. and Aqua Pharmaceuticals
LLC., dated as of December 11, 2017.
10-Q
001-38112
10.30
8-K
001-38112
10.1
November 9,
2017
December 15,
2017
10.32
Standard Form of Agreement by and between M+W U.S.,
Inc. and Athenex, Inc. on December 29, 2017.
21.1
23.1
24.1
31.1
31.2
32.1
Subsidiaries of Athenex, Inc.
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm.
Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Board
Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of the Vice President of Financial Reporting
and Acting Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer) pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Board
Chairman (Principal Executive Officer), and Vice President
of Financial Reporting and Acting Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCHY XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
Document.
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
Document.
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Filed herewith
__
__
__
__
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
__
Filed herewith
__
Filed herewith
__
__
__
__
__
__
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
Filed herewith
+
^
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
Confidential treatment has been granted for certain confidential portions of this exhibit pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities
Act. In accordance with Rule 406, these confidential portions have been omitted from this exhibit and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
142
Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has
duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
ATHENEX, INC.
By: /s/ Johnson Y.N. Lau
Johnson Y.N. Lau
Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Li Shen and Teresa Bair, and each of
them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-
in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and
in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
/s/ Johnson Y.N. Lau
Johnson Y.N. Lau
Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Li Shen
Li Shen
/s/ Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell
/s/ Manson Fok
Manson Fok
/s/ Michael Cannon
Michael Cannon
/s/ Jinn Wu
Jinn Wu
/s/ Song-Yi Zhang
Song-Yi Zhang
/s/ Sheldon Trainor-
Degirolamo
Sheldon Trainor-
Degirolamo
/s/ James Zukin
James Zukin
Vice President of Financial Reporting and Acting
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
143
Date
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 26, 2018
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF
THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Exhibit 31.1
I, Johnson Y.N. Lau, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(a)
(b)
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Athenex, Inc. (the registrant);
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report,
fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and
have:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and
procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
[Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/34-49313];
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in
the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over
financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant
role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 26, 2018
/s/ Johnson Y.N. Lau
Name: Johnson Y.N. Lau
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF
THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Exhibit 31.2
I, Li Shen, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(a)
(b)
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Athenex, Inc. (the registrant);
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report,
fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and
have:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and
procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
[Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/34-49313];
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in
the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over
financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant
role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 26, 2018
/s/ Li Shen
Name: Li Shen
Title: Vice President of Financial Reporting and
Acting Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Exhibit 32.1
In accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
Johnson Y.N. Lau, Chief Executive Officer of Athenex, Inc. (the “registrant”) and Board Chairman (Principal
Executive Officer), and Li Shen, Vice President of Financial Reporting and Acting Chief Accounting Officer of the
registrant (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer), each hereby certifies that, to the best of their knowledge:
1.
2.
The registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017, to which this
Certification is attached as Exhibit 32.1 (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition of
the registrant at the end of the period covered by the Report and results of operations of the registrant for
the period covered by the Report.
Date: March 26, 2018
/s/ Johnson Y.N. Lau
Name: Johnson Y.N. Lau
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Li Shen
Name: Li Shen
Title: Vice President of Financial Reporting and
Acting Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Board of Directors
Johnson Y.N. Lau, M.D., Director
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Athenex, Inc.
Kim Campbell, Director
Founding Principal, Peter Lougheed Leadership College at the University of Alberta
Michael Cannon, Director
Executive Director, BioSentinel, Inc.
Manson Fok, Director
Chairman, Pedder Clinic
Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology
Sheldon Trainor-Degirolamo, Director
Founder and Managing Director, PacBridge Capital Partners (HK) Limited
Jinn Wu, Ph.D., Director
Scientific Strategic Advisor, WuXi AppTec Group
Song-Yi Zhang, Director
Founder and Chairman, Mandra Capital Limited
James Zukin, Director
Co-Founder, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.
Financial Reports
Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are available at www.athenex.com or on request, free of charge, by
calling (716) 427-2950 or emailing IR@athenex.com.
1001 Main Street, Suite 600
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 427-2950
www.athenex.com