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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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, 2018
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: 001-37500
Chiasma, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
460 Totten Pond Road, Suite 530
Waltham, MA
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
76-0722250
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
02451
(Zip Code)
(617)-928-5300
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Name of each exchange on which registered
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 Exchange 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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 an 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. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Emerging growth company
☐
☒
☒
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting 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 Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates (without admitting that any person whose shares are not included in such calculation is an affiliate) as
of June 30, 2018, was $27,710,787, based on the closing price of $1.50 of the registrant as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on such date. As of March 1, 2019, there were
24,465,499 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.
The registrant intends to file a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Portions of such definitive
proxy statement are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Table of Contents
CHIASMA, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Table of Contents
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
Management’s 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 Accountant Fees and Services
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Form 10-K Summary
Signatures
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, or this Annual Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act,
and is subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future
events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terms such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” or
other comparable terms. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ significantly
from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those set forth in
“Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. Except as may be required by law, we have no plans to update our forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Annual Report. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.
Unless the content requires otherwise, references to “Chiasma,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us,” in this Annual Report refer to Chiasma,
Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Item 1. Business
Overview
PART I
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients who face challenges associated with their existing
treatments for rare and serious chronic disease. Employing our proprietary Transient Permeability Enhancer, or TPE, technology platform, we seek to
develop oral medications that are currently available only as injections. We are currently evaluating oral octreotide capsules, conditionally trade-named
“MYCAPSSA”, our sole TPE platform-based clinical product candidate, in two Phase 3 clinical trials in adult patients for the treatment of acromegaly
to potentially support regulatory approval in the United States and European Union. Acromegaly is a rare and debilitating condition that results in the
body’s production of excess growth hormone. Octreotide is an analog of somatostatin, a natural inhibitor of growth hormone secretion. The current
standard of care for patients diagnosed with acromegaly and not otherwise cured by surgical removal of the pituitary tumor consists of lifelong, once-
monthly injections of an extended release somatostatin analog. We believe that octreotide capsules, if approved by regulatory authorities, will be the first
somatostatin analog available for oral administration. Octreotide capsules have been granted orphan designation in the United States and the European
Union for the treatment of acromegaly. The worldwide market for injectable somatostatin analogs is approximately $2.7 billion annually, of which we
estimate approximately $810 million represents annual sales for the treatment of acromegaly. We retain worldwide rights to develop and commercialize
octreotide capsules with no royalty obligations to third parties.
In September 2017, we initiated a third Phase 3 clinical trial for oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of adult patients with acromegaly
following our agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, on the design of the trial, reached through a Special
Protocol Assessment, or SPA, in August 2017. The trial, referred to as CHIASMA OPTIMAL, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-
month trial expected to enroll 50 adult acromegaly patients designed to support regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States. In
October 2018, we completed enrollment in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, randomizing a total of 56 patients. We expect to release top-line data from
this trial in the third quarter of 2019. If the data from CHIASMA OPTIMAL is positive, we plan to resubmit our New Drug Application, or NDA, by
year-end 2019. We expect the FDA will aim to complete its review of our anticipated NDA, if accepted
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for filing, within six months based on our expectation that the NDA will be designated a Class 2 resubmission by FDA to address its April 2016
complete response letter, or CRL, to our original NDA.
We are also conducting an international Phase 3 clinical trial, referred to as MPOWERED, of oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance treatment of
adult patients with acromegaly to support regulatory approval in the European Union. The MPOWERED trial is a randomized, open-label and active-
controlled 15-month trial initially designed to enroll up to 150 patients. In July 2018, we completed the enrollment of 135 adult acromegaly patients into
the run-in phase of the trial. The European Medicines Agency, or EMA, requested that a minimum of at least 80 patients who are responders to
octreotide capsules following the six-month run-in phase be randomized to either remain on octreotide capsules or return to injectable somatostatin
receptor ligands (octreotide or lanreotide), and then followed for an additional nine months. In October 2018, 80 patients were randomized following the
six-month run-in phase in the MPOWERED trial. In October 2018, we also elected to resume enrollment in the trial in an effort to enroll up to 15
additional patients exclusively located in the United States in order to gain further U.S. investigator and patient experience with octreotide capsules. We
expect to complete enrollment in MPOWERED in the second quarter of 2019 and to release top-line data from the MPOWERED trial in the second half
of 2020.
In order to prepare for our planned NDA resubmission following our anticipated successful completion of the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, we believe
we have reached an understanding with the FDA on the required NDA content including the integrated summaries of safety and efficacy data from our
three Phase 3 clinical trials of oral octreotide capsules. We continue to believe that the data from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial alone is designed to
address the efficacy concerns raised by the FDA in its CRL to our first NDA submission and that the FDA only expects to review safety data from the
MPOWERED trial as part of its review of our planned NDA resubmission. We anticipate that our planned NDA resubmission will be classified by the
FDA for a six-month review period. Any future requirement by the FDA to submit additional data including the efficacy data from our MPOWERED
clinical trial as part of our planned NDA resubmission may delay or prevent the filing, review or approval of our NDA.
Our octreotide capsules product candidate is the first somatostatin analog formulated for oral administration to complete a Phase 3 clinical trial. In
November 2014, we completed a multinational, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial of oral octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly. We
submitted our original NDA for octreotide capsules in June 2015. In April 2016, the FDA issued a CRL which indicated that the review of our
application was complete and that our NDA was not ready for approval in its present form. In June 2016, we participated in an End of Review meeting
with the FDA to discuss the concerns the FDA raised in the CRL. In its CRL, the FDA advised us that it did not believe our NDA had provided
substantial evidence of efficacy to warrant approval and advised us that we would need to conduct another clinical trial in order to overcome this
deficiency. The FDA expressed concerns regarding certain aspects of our single-arm, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial and strongly recommended that we
conduct a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial that enrolls patients from the United States and is of sufficiently long duration to ensure that
control of disease activity is stable at the time point selected for the primary efficacy assessment. In addition, the FDA advised that, during a site
inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that would need to be resolved before approval. While the
FDA did not note any safety concerns related to octreotide capsules in the CRL, it subsequently indicated in the June 2016 End of Review meeting
minutes that the size, duration, dropout rate and absence of a control group in our first Phase 3 trial were factors limiting an overall safety assessment. In
the End of Review meeting minutes, the FDA reiterated its strong recommendation for a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial, and introduced
the concept of a placebo control as a design element that could address some of the FDA’s concerns.
In August 2017, we reached agreement with the FDA under a SPA of a new Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules in adult acromegaly patients,
designed to address the concerns previously raised in the CRL and support a potential resubmission of our NDA for octreotide capsules in acromegaly.
The trial, referred to as CHIASMA OPTIMAL (Octreotide capsules vs. Placebo Treatment In MultinationAL centers), which we initiated in
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September 2017, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-month clinical trial expected to enroll 50 adult acromegaly patients (at least
20% of whom must be recruited from the United States) whose disease is biochemically controlled, based upon levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, or
IGF-1, a byproduct of increased growth hormone, or GH, levels caused by acromegaly, on injectable somatostatin analogs at baseline (average IGF-1 £
1.0 x upper limit of normal, or ULN). The patients must also have confirmed active acromegaly following their last surgical intervention based upon an
elevated IGF-1 at that time of ³ 1.3 x ULN. In October 2018, we completed enrollment in this trial with 56 acromegaly patients in 17 countries,
including 21 from the United States. The patients in this trial were randomized on a 1:1 basis to octreotide capsules or placebo. Patients will be dose
titrated from 40 mg per day to up to a maximum of 80 mg per day, equaling two capsules in the morning and two capsules in the evening. Patients who
meet predefined withdrawal criteria or withdraw from oral treatment in either treatment arm for any reason during the course of the trial will be
considered treatment failures; those patients will be offered their original treatment of injections and monitored for the remainder of the trial. The
primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients who maintain their biochemical response compared to placebo at the end of the nine-month
double-blind, placebo-controlled period as measured using the average of the last two IGF-1 levels £ 1.0 x ULN.
In May 2018, we reached further agreement with the FDA under a SPA Agreement Modification letter providing that the hierarchical secondary
endpoints that will be considered by the FDA in evaluating the totality of evidence for octreotide capsules treatment effect now are:
•
•
•
•
Proportion of patients who maintain GH response at week 36 compared to screening;
Time to loss of response: IGF-1 > 1.0× ULN;
Time to loss of response: IGF-1 > 1.3×ULN; and
Proportion of patients requiring rescue treatment.
We anticipate that the FDA will review the totality of the data collected from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, including both primary and secondary
endpoints, together with the data from our other clinical trials of octreotide capsules, and whether the data collected are sufficiently robust to support the
interpretability of these analyses, in determining whether to approve any NDA we may submit for octreotide capsules. There can be no assurance that
the data collected from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial will be sufficient to support approval of any NDA we may submit to allow us to commercialize
octreotide capsules in the United States. An open-label extension phase is planned following the nine-month study, which could enable patients who
completed the randomized phase to commence or continue receiving octreotide capsules and for us to collect long-term safety information. The results
of the extension phase are not required as the basis for an efficacy claim.
In March 2016, we initiated an additional international Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly in support of potential approval in the
European Union. The trial, referred to as MPOWERED (Maintenance of Acromegaly Patients with Octreotide Capsules Compared With Injections -
Evaluation of REsponse Durability), is designed to show parallel comparative safety and effectiveness as required by the EMA. In late 2016, following
the FDA’s position that the MPOWERED clinical trial would not be sufficient to address the concerns raised in the CRL, we modified certain elements
of the MPOWERED trial in an effort to preserve patients, sites and other resources necessary to conduct the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial, which
was designed to address the FDA’s concerns, and produce data packages suitable for submission in both the United States and the European Union. We
expect to complete enrollment in MPOWERED in the second quarter of 2019 and to release top-line data from the MPOWERED trial in the second half
of 2020. Assuming positive data from MPOWERED, and subject to the successful outcome of our planned NDA, we expect to submit a Marketing
Authorization Application, or MAA, to the EMA.
Acromegaly is a condition caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that releases excess GH, which in turn elevates IGF-1. These elevated
hormone levels result in a number of painful and disfiguring symptoms, including some acute, such as headaches, joint pain and fatigue, and some long-
term, such as enlarged hands, feet and
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internal organs, as well as altered facial features. If not treated promptly, acromegaly can lead to serious illness and is associated with premature death,
primarily due to cardiovascular disease. According to data published by the Mayo Clinic in 2013, the mortality rate of people afflicted by acromegaly
who go untreated is two to three times higher than that of the general population.
The current standard of care for patients diagnosed with acromegaly and not otherwise cured by surgical removal of the pituitary tumor consists of
lifelong, once-monthly injections of an extended release somatostatin analog, primarily octreotide or lanreotide. These products contain a viscous
formulation and are typically administered by a healthcare professional with large-gauge needles into the muscle or deep subcutaneously, that is, deeply
under the skin. While injectable somatostatin analogs are generally effective at reducing GH and IGF-1 levels and therefore providing disease control,
the injections are associated with significant limitations and patient burdens, including suboptimal symptom control, pain, injection-site reactions and
other injection-related side effects, inconvenience, lost work days and emotional issues. We believe that approximately 8,000 adult acromegaly patients
are chronically treated with somatostatin analogs in the United States, and that approximately 90% of these patients are managed by fewer than 1,000
patient care centers. Patients with acromegaly undergoing treatment in the United States are generally treated by endocrinologists at a small number
of academic institutions with pituitary experts (pituitary centers), regional academic centers or hospital systems (regional referral centers) and some
community endocrinologists.
We retain worldwide rights to develop and commercialize octreotide capsules with no royalty obligations to third parties. If approved, we may
commercialize octreotide capsules ourselves in the United States and we plan to explore the strategic merits of collaboration opportunities for
commercializing octreotide capsules in the European Union and the rest of the world. Octreotide capsules are currently protected by issued patents
lasting until at least 2029 in the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan and several other jurisdictions, and by pending patent
applications in additional jurisdictions that will last until 2029, if granted. We are also pursuing additional patent applications relating to particular uses,
dosages and packaging for octreotide capsules. On March 26, 2019, a United States patent which is directed to specific methods of using octreotide
capsules is due to be granted. This patent, once granted, will expire in 2036.
Strategy
Our goal is to become a successful patient-focused biopharmaceutical company by developing and commercializing, ourselves or through others,
octreotide capsules for acromegaly. Our strategy to pursue this goal includes the following elements:
•
Obtain U.S. regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly. We designed the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial to
address the concerns contained in the CRL and have secured agreement on the protocol and statistical analysis plan with the FDA under SPA
procedures. We expect to release top-line data from this trial in the third quarter of 2019, and assuming favorable results, we expect to
resubmit our NDA to the FDA by the end of 2019 to potentially secure regulatory approval in the United States for MYCAPPSA in
mid-2020.
•
Obtain European Union regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly. To support approval in the European
Union, we initiated the Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial in March 2016, with a protocol that has been accepted by the EMA, to evaluate
the comparative safety and efficacy of octreotide capsules in adult acromegaly patients. We currently expect to release top-line data from
this trial in the second half of 2020, and assuming favorable results, and pending the successful outcome of our planned NDA, we expect to
submit our MAA to the EMA to potentially secure approval in the European Union for MYCAPSSA.
•
Explore collaboration opportunities in the European Union and the rest of the world for octreotide capsules in acromegaly. At the
appropriate time, we intend to explore one or more collaborations to commercialize octreotide capsules in acromegaly outside of the United
States. However, depending on
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our evaluation of the strategic merits of these collaboration opportunities, we may decide to retain commercial rights in key markets and
undertake commercialization preparation and activities ourselves, if required regulatory approvals are obtained.
Our Product Candidate, Octreotide Capsules (MYCAPSSA) in Acromegaly
Product Candidate Overview
Octreotide capsules are a novel oral formulation of octreotide developed utilizing our TPE platform. We are developing octreotide capsules as a liquid-
filled solid gelatin capsule formulation which is intended to be taken twice a day. We expect that acromegaly patients who are prescribed octreotide
capsules, if approved, will receive a 28-day supply of capsules, which may be stored at room temperature by the patient for up to one month. Based on
the aggregate data from our previously completed clinical trials and the ongoing randomization rate of responders following the six-month run-in phase
of our Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial, we believe octreotide capsules have the potential to induce biochemical response (inhibition of GH and
IGF-1) while improving symptoms and reducing the burden of disease and treatment in patients afflicted with acromegaly.
Our product candidate, octreotide capsules, has completed one Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of acromegaly and 11 pharmacology and
pharmacokinetic (PK) Phase 1 studies. In August 2015, our NDA for octreotide capsules as a maintenance therapy for acromegaly in the United States
was accepted by the FDA for filing. In April 2016, the FDA issued a CRL to our NDA. In the CRL, the FDA advised us that it did not believe our NDA
had provided substantial evidence of efficacy to warrant approval and advised us that we would need to conduct another clinical trial in order to
overcome this deficiency. The FDA expressed concerns regarding certain aspects of our single-arm, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial and strongly
recommended that we conduct a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial that enrolls patients from the United States and be of sufficiently long
duration to ensure that control of disease activity is stable at the time point selected for the primary efficacy assessment. In addition, the FDA advised
that, during a site inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that would need to be resolved before
approval. In June 2016, we participated in an End of Review meeting with the FDA where the FDA reiterated its concerns raised in the CRL. In the
minutes from the End of Review Meeting, the FDA indicated that some of its concerns could potentially be addressed through a placebo-controlled
study design. In December 2016, we were informed that the supplier referred to in the CRL had recently received its Establishment Inspection Report, or
EIR, from the FDA. The receipt of the EIR is an indication that the FDA has concluded its inspection of the supplier and as of the date of its report
considers outstanding deficiencies resolved. In September 2017, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial for oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance
therapy of adult patients with acromegaly following our agreement with the FDA on the design of the trial, reached through a Special Protocol
Assessment, or SPA, in August 2017. The trial, referred to as CHIASMA OPTIMAL, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-month
trial expected to enroll 50 adult acromegaly patients designed to address the concerns raised in the CRL and support regulatory approval of octreotide
capsules in the United States. In October 2018, we completed enrollment in this trial with 56 acromegaly patients in 17 countries, including 21 from the
United States, which exceeded our original SPA-agreed enrollment goal of 50 patients.
The EMA has advised us that a clinical trial demonstrating non-inferiority of octreotide capsules compared to injectable somatostatin analogs as active
controls will be required prior to regulatory approval in the European Union. We agreed on the Phase 3 clinical trial protocol with the EMA and, in
March 2016, we initiated an international Phase 3 clinical trial, referred to as MPOWERED, of oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance treatment of
adult patients with acromegaly to support regulatory approval in the European Union. Following the FDA’s position that the MPOWERED clinical trial
will not be sufficient to address the concerns in the CRL, we modified certain elements of the MPOWERED trial in an effort to preserve patients, sites
and other resources necessary to conduct the Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial addressing the FDA’s concerns and produce data packages that could
be suitable for submission in both the United States and the European Union. The EMA requested that a minimum of at least 80 patients who are
responders to octreotide capsules following the
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six-month run-in phase be randomized to either remain on octreotide capsules or return to injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (octreotide or
lanreotide), and then followed for an additional nine months. In October 2018, 80 patients were randomized following the six-month run-in phase in the
MPOWERED trial. Further, in October 2018, we elected to resume enrollment in the trial in an effort to enroll up to 15 additional patients exclusively
located in the United States in order to gain further U.S. investigator and patient experience with octreotide capsules.
Overview of Acromegaly
Acromegaly results from the overproduction of GH, most often due to the growth of a benign tumor in the pituitary gland in middle-aged adults. GH, in
turn, stimulates the production of IGF-1 in the liver which stimulates the growth of bones and other tissues. Progression of acromegaly can result in
significant health problems such as hypertension, enlargement of the heart, or cardiomyopathy, sleep apnea, type-2 diabetes, and abnormal growths in
the colon and uterus. Acromegaly is associated with a number of symptoms, some acute, such as headaches, joint pain and fatigue, and some long-term,
such as enlarged hands, feet and internal organs, as well as altered facial features. Because acromegaly is uncommon and physical changes occur
gradually, the condition is often not recognized immediately, sometimes not for years. If not treated promptly, acromegaly can lead to serious illness and
is associated with premature death, primarily due to cardiovascular disease. However, both surgical and drug treatments are available for acromegaly
that can reduce the risk of complications and premature death and significantly improve symptom control.
Surgery is often the first line of therapy for acromegaly and, in most cases, surgical removal of the pituitary tumor can result in normalization of GH and
IGF-1 levels. In many other cases, however, the levels of GH remain elevated even after surgery due to residual tumor and many patients therefore also
require a therapeutic intervention. The body’s natural inhibitor of excess GH secretion is somatostatin, a peptide hormone. Octreotide and lanreotide,
analogs of somatostatin with a significantly longer half-life in the blood than natural somatostatin, have achieved widespread adoption by physicians
treating patients afflicted with acromegaly. These somatostatin analogs are routinely administered by injection by a healthcare professional. If not
administered with proper technique, the injection may not effectively deliver the medication. There is currently no oral formulation of a somatostatin
analog on the market and none, we believe, in clinical development except our octreotide capsules product candidate.
Incidence and Prevalence of Acromegaly and Current Treatment Landscape
There are an estimated 69,000 individuals with acromegaly worldwide. The U.S. National Institutes of Health, or NIH, estimates that there are roughly
20,000 individuals with acromegaly in the United States, based on its published prevalence of an estimated 60 cases per million. In 13 studies of
acromegaly prevalence since 1980, an average of approximately 75 cases per million was determined, suggesting roughly 24,000 individuals with
acromegaly in the United States. However, data presented at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting in 2015 suggest that pituitary tumors may be more
prevalent than previously thought, and that the global prevalence of acromegaly may be higher, between 85 and 118 cases per million people. NIH also
cites an annual incidence of three to four new cases per million each year. Data from a 2017 study by Lavrentaki et. al. suggest that the global
prevalence of acromegaly may be between 28 and 137 cases per million people.
According to publicly available financial reports, injectable forms of octreotide and lanreotide generate worldwide sales of approximately $2.7 billion
annually for the treatment of acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumors and some other smaller indications. We believe approximately $810 million of this
total represents the annual sales for the treatment of acromegaly. The great majority of these sales come from once-monthly long acting formulations
that must be administered by intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injections with large-gauge needles. Although we are targeting acromegaly with
octreotide capsules, we believe that this product candidate, if approved in acromegaly, has the potential to become a standard of care in other indications
currently treated with injectable somatostatin analogs.
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Current Therapeutic Options and Their Limitations
For acromegaly patients not cured by surgery, the current standard of care involves injectable somatostatin analogs. These therapies are associated with
significant patient limitations and burdens. Currently, the first therapeutic treatment options are octreotide LAR, marketed by Novartis AG, or Novartis,
which is administered monthly and intramuscularly using a large gauge needle, and lanreotide depot, another long-acting analog of somatostatin
marketed by Ipsen SA, or Ipsen, which is administered monthly using a deep subcutaneous injection. Immediate release octreotide, while available, is
more rarely used. For patients not controlled on these somatostatin analogs, the typical second line of treatment options (which may also be acceptably
used as first line therapy) includes pegvisomant daily injections, marketed by Pfizer, Inc., or Pfizer, and pasireotide LAR, which is another somatostatin
analog marketed by Novartis, which is administered monthly via intramuscular injection.
Current Injectable Treatment Options for Acromegaly
Product
Octreotide LAR
Lanreotide Depot
Pasireotide LAR
Pegvisomant
Company
Novartis
Ipsen
Novartis
Pfizer
Route
Intramuscular
Deep Subcutaneous
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
Needle
(length/gauge)
1.5”/19 or 20 G
0.79”/18 or 19 G
1.5”/20 G
1”/21-27 G
Status
Marketed
Marketed
Marketed
Marketed
Injections of these somatostatin analogs present several issues related to patient comfort and convenience as well as breakthrough, or returning,
symptoms of the disease near the end of the dosing cycle prior to the next scheduled injection. These issues include:
•
Suboptimal control. In a published patient-reported outcomes survey that we conducted in 195 acromegaly patients receiving injected
somatostatin analogs, or our patient survey, 52% of patients reported that the treatment effects begin to wane near the end of the monthly
cycle prior to the next injection, and 32% of controlled patients still experienced some symptoms.
•
Pain. Injections with somatostatin analogs require a large-gauge needle to slowly inject a viscous solution into the muscle or deep into
subcutaneous tissue. Patients report these injections to be very painful. Often, this pain persists for several days after the injection. In our
patient survey, 70% of patients said they experienced pain during the injection and approximately half of these patients experienced
continuing pain days later.
•
•
•
•
Injection-site reactions. Patients frequently experience hardness, nodules and swelling at the site of the injection as well as bruising and
inflammation.
Lack of convenience. The treatment effectiveness is dependent on proper delivery technique and thus the injections are typically
administered by a healthcare professional. The monthly injection schedule for injectable somatostatin analogs and the associated travel to
the healthcare provider is inconvenient for many patients.
Emotional impact. In our patient survey, 36% of patients said that they felt a loss of independence due to the requirement for chronic
injections that typically require them to visit a healthcare professional.
Lost work days. In our patient survey, 16% of patients said that the treatment burden associated with the injectable therapies caused them to
regularly miss work for injections. These patients missed an average of 11 days a year.
Utilizing the Acromegaly Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire, or Acro-TSQ, a patient-reported symptom assessment tool developed and copyrighted
by us, screening data from 70 eligible patients in the MPOWERED trial who treated their acromegaly with octreotide LAR or lanreotide depot were
collected and analyzed in 2018. The findings include:
•
Ongoing symptoms. 66% of patients reported ongoing acromegaly symptoms, of which 83% reported some symptoms “all the time.”
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•
•
•
•
Worsening symptoms. 50% indicated some symptoms worsen towards the end of the monthly injection interval.
Interference with life. Symptoms interfered with daily life (91%) and leisure activities (86%).
GI side effects. More than 50% reported gastrointestinal, or GI, side effects (median duration five days following each injection) that
interfered with daily life.
Worsening GI effects. GI side effects were worse in patients with more active symptoms but did not correlate with IGF-1 levels or treatment
dose.
Since injectable somatostatin analogs are used in other diseases beyond acromegaly, these limitations and burdens are also associated with the treatment
of the other indications. If approved in acromegaly, we believe oral octreotide capsules have the potential to become a standard of care in these other
indications.
Clinical Program for Octreotide Capsules in Acromegaly
United States Regulatory Pathway
We previously sought regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of acromegaly in the United States utilizing the FDA’s
505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. The 505(b)(2) pathway enables us to rely, in part, on the FDA’s prior findings of safety and efficacy of an approved
product, or published literature, in support of an NDA. In the case of octreotide capsules in acromegaly, the approved product to which our prior NDA
submission referred is the short-acting subcutaneous injectable formulation of octreotide that was the original product approved by the FDA before the
long-acting formulation was developed. Since this formulation of octreotide was approved by the FDA in generic form and is therefore no longer
proprietary, we are not aware of any third party from which we would be required to obtain any license or acquire any rights to commercialize octreotide
capsules, if approved. As described in more detail below, we have completed a series of Phase 1 clinical trials, including a trial to demonstrate that the
systemic octreotide exposure from octreotide capsules, developed utilizing our TPE technology, is comparable to that of octreotide administered in the
short-acting subcutaneous injectable formulation. We have also completed a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the bioactivity of octreotide capsules in
healthy subjects, and a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of octreotide capsules in patients with acromegaly, consisting of seven
months of treatment plus an optional six-month extension phase.
In December 2014, we met with the FDA to discuss our clinical development of octreotide capsules, including the full 13-month data from our first
Phase 3 clinical trial. At this meeting, the FDA advised us that it had not identified an issue that would preclude us from submitting an NDA for review.
However, the FDA did advise us that interpreting efficacy from a voluntary long-term extension study is subject to limitations and therefore the data at
the seven-month time point in our Phase 3 clinical trial would carry more weight in the efficacy evaluation than the extension data. The FDA also
informed us that, in its view, a single-arm study was not as informative as a controlled study, such as an active control trial using a non-inferiority
design, and that the interpretability of the efficacy findings we submitted from our single-arm study, and whether these findings are robust enough to
warrant approval, would be review issues as the FDA evaluated our NDA. In August 2015, our NDA for octreotide capsules for maintenance therapy in
acromegaly was accepted for filing by the FDA.
In April 2016, the FDA issued a CRL to our NDA. In the CRL, the FDA advised us that it did not believe our NDA had provided substantial evidence of
efficacy to warrant approval and advised us that we would need to conduct another clinical trial in order to overcome this
deficiency. The FDA expressed concerns regarding certain aspects of our single-arm, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial and strongly recommended that we
conduct a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial that enrolls patients from the United States and be of sufficiently long duration to ensure that
control of disease activity is stable at the time point selected for the primary efficacy assessment. In addition, the FDA advised that, during a site
inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that would need to be resolved before approval. In December
2016, we
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were informed that the supplier had recently received its Establishment Inspection Report, or EIR, from the FDA. The receipt of the EIR is an indication
that the FDA has concluded its inspection of the supplier and as of the date of its report considers outstanding deficiencies resolved. In June 2016, we
participated in an End of Review meeting with the FDA where the FDA reiterated its concerns raised in the CRL. In the minutes from the End of
Review Meeting, the FDA indicated that some of its concerns could potentially be addressed through a placebo-controlled study design.
Special Protocol Assessment and CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 Clinical Trial
In August 2017, we reached agreement with the FDA under a SPA of a new Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules in adult acromegaly patients,
designed to address the concerns previously raised in the CRL and support a potential resubmission of our NDA for octreotide capsules in acromegaly.
The CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, which we initiated in September 2017, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-month clinical trial in
50 adult acromegaly patients (at least 20% of whom must be recruited from the United States) whose disease is biochemically controlled, based upon
levels of insulin-like growth factor, IGF-1, a byproduct of increased GH levels caused by acromegaly, on injectable somatostatin analogs at baseline
(average IGF-1 £ 1.0 x ULN). The patients must also have confirmed active acromegaly following their last surgical intervention based upon an elevated
IGF-1 at that time of ³ 1.3 x ULN. The patients in the trial were randomized on a 1:1 basis to octreotide capsules or placebo. Patients will be dose
titrated from 40 mg per day to up to a maximum of 80 mg per day, equaling two capsules in the morning and two capsules in the evening. Similar to the
requirements of our first completed Phase 3 clinical trial and the MPOWERED trial, patients will be required to take octreotide capsules at least one
hour prior to a meal or two hours after a meal. Patients who meet predefined withdrawal criteria or withdraw from oral treatment in either treatment arm
for any reason during the course of the trial will be considered treatment failures; those patients will be offered their original treatment of injections and
monitored for the remainder of the trial. The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients who maintain their biochemical response
compared to placebo at the end of the nine-month double-blind, placebo-controlled period as measured using the average of the last two IGF-1 levels £
1.0 x ULN. In May 2018, we reached further agreement with the FDA under a SPA Agreement Modification letter providing that the hierarchical
secondary endpoints that will be considered by the FDA in evaluating the totality of evidence for octreotide capsules treatment effect now are:
•
•
•
•
Proportion of patients who maintain GH response at week 36 compared to screening;
Time to loss of response: IGF-1 > 1.0×ULN;
Time to loss of response: IGF-1 > 1.3×ULN; and
Proportion of patients requiring rescue treatment.
An open-label extension phase is planned following the nine-month study, which could enable patients who completed the randomized phase to
commence or continue receiving octreotide capsules and for us to collect long-term safety information. The results of the extension phase are not
required as the basis for an efficacy claim.
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CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 Clinical Trial Design
We initiated the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial in September 2017 and activated more than 50 clinical sites dedicated to CHIASMA OPTIMAL. In
October 2018, we completed enrollment in this trial with 56 acromegaly patients. We expect to release top-line data from this trial in the third quarter of
2019. If the data from CHIASMA OPTIMAL is positive, we plan to resubmit our NDA by year-end 2019. We expect the FDA will aim to complete its
review of our anticipated NDA, if accepted for filing, within six months based on our expectation that the NDA will be designated a Class 2
resubmission by FDA to address its April 2016 complete response letter, or CRL, to our original NDA.
We anticipate that the FDA will review the totality of the data collected from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, including both primary and secondary
endpoints, together with the data from our other clinical trials of octreotide capsules, and whether the data collected are sufficiently robust to support the
interpretability of these analyses, in determining whether to approve any NDA we may submit for octreotide capsules. There can be no assurance that
the data collected from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial will be sufficient to support approval of any NDA we may submit to allow us to commercialize
octreotide capsules in the United States.
European Regulatory Pathway
We also intend to seek regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly in the European Union utilizing the hybrid application
pathway, which is analogous to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway in the United States. In addition to the clinical data we previously submitted to the
FDA in 2015, the EMA has advised us that a clinical trial demonstrating non-inferiority of octreotide capsules compared to injectable somatostatin
analogs as active controls will be required prior to regulatory approval by EMA. We also anticipate that the EMA will expect to review the safety and
efficacy data from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial in any MAA we may file. Our MPOWERED Phase 3 clinical trial protocol has been accepted by the
EMA and we initiated this trial in March 2016.
MPOWERED Phase 3 Clinical Trial
Comparative effectiveness is an important regulatory consideration in the European Union. After agreeing to the clinical trial protocol with the EMA,
we initiated an international Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly in March 2016 to show parallel comparative safety and
effectiveness.
This trial is called MPOWERED, Maintenance of Acromegaly Patients with Octreotide Capsules Compared With Injections -Evaluation of REsponse
Durability. This trial is an open-label, randomized, active-controlled study of octreotide capsules in patients who have been classified in the study as
responders to a once-a-month
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injectable somatostatin analog based on criteria comparable to the criteria utilized in our completed Phase 3 clinical trial. This trial is intended to
demonstrate non-inferiority, comparing efficacy responses as between two randomized groups of patients who demonstrated response to octreotide
capsules. In July 2018, we completed the enrollment of 135 adult acromegaly patients into the run-in phase of the MPOWERED trial. The EMA
requested that a minimum of at least 80 patients who are responders to octreotide capsules following the six-month run-in phase be randomized to either
remain on octreotide capsules or return to injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (octreotide or lanreotide), and then followed for an additional nine
months. In October 2018, 80 patients were randomized following the six-month run-in phase in the MPOWERED trial. Further, in October 2018, we
elected to resume enrollment in the trial in an effort to enroll up to 15 additional patients exclusively located in the United States in order to gain further
U.S. investigator and patient experience with octreotide capsules. As such, we now expect to enroll up to 150 total patients in the trial in the United
States, Europe, Russia and other foreign countries. Each patient will initially receive a daily dose of 40 mg of octreotide capsules, which will be
increased up to a maximum of 80 mg daily dose if lower doses are not effective. Similar to the requirements of our first completed Phase 3 clinical trial
and the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, patients will be required to take octreotide capsules at least one hour prior to a meal or two hours after a meal.
The primary efficacy endpoint for this trial is the proportion of patients who are biochemically controlled throughout the nine-month randomized-
controlled phase measuring IGF-1 with responders defined as patients who achieve an IGF-1 level less than 1.3 times the ULN adjusted for age, the
same IGF-1 efficacy criteria utilized in our first, completed Phase 3 clinical trial. Measurements of IGF-1 will be taken throughout the randomized phase
of the trial and a time weighted average of these biochemical measures will be calculated. In addition, assessment of symptom control and patient
reported outcomes are expected to be reported.
In October 2018, 80 patients identified as responders to octreotide capsules (IGF-1 <1.3 x ULN and GH<2.5 ng/mL) following the six-month run-in
phase had been randomized (2:3) to either go back to their original long-acting injectable somatostatin analog or remain on octreotide capsules at the
appropriate dose identified during the run-in phase and then followed for an additional nine months. After completing the randomized controlled phase,
patients will be offered the opportunity to participate in a withdrawal phase sub-study to assess evidence of active disease and the requirement for long
term treatment. We expect that all eligible patients will have the option of entering an extension phase during which period these patients would receive
octreotide capsules at the dose identified during the run-in phase.
Patients who do not respond during the run-in phase will not enter the randomized phase but will be switched back to long-acting injectable somatostatin
analog and followed for an additional three months or, in selected centers, may be offered the opportunity to determine if they can respond to a
combination of octreotide capsules with a second oral agent called cabergoline. Cabergoline is used for the treatment of mild acromegaly. It has a
different mechanism of action and publications have suggested it may have an additive effect to somatostatin analogs. This sub-study, which the EMA
did not accept as part of the final protocol for comparative effectiveness, is unlikely to be sufficient to gain regulatory approval for the combination of
both drugs but may provide useful information to physicians.
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MPOWERED Phase 3 Design to Support EMA Application
In late 2016, the FDA advised us that the MPOWERED clinical trial will not be sufficient to address the concerns identified by the FDA in the CRL.
Consequently, we modified certain elements of the MPOWERED study in an effort to preserve patients, sites and other resources necessary to conduct
the Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, which was designed to address the FDA’s concerns, and produce data packages that could be suitable for
submission in both the United States and the European Union. We expect to complete enrollment in MPOWERED in the second quarter of 2019 and to
release top-line data from the MPOWERED trial in the second half of 2020.
Completed Phase 3 Clinical Trial
In March 2012, we initiated a Phase 3 multi-center, open-label, baseline-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of octreotide capsules
in patients with acromegaly who responded to and tolerated treatment with somatostatin analogs. We completed this trial in November 2014 and the
results were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in February 2015 and presented at the Endocrine Society’s Annual
Meeting in March 2015. To date, octreotide capsules is the first and only somatostatin analog formulated for oral administration to complete a Phase 3
clinical trial. In addition, the results were submitted with our NDA for octreotide capsules in June 2015. In the CRL to our NDA, the FDA expressed
concerns regarding certain aspects of the company’s single-arm, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial and strongly recommended that we conduct a
randomized, double-blind and controlled trial that enrolls patients from the United States and is of sufficiently long duration to ensure that control of
disease activity is stable at the time point selected for the primary efficacy assessment. In the minutes from our End of Review Meeting,
the FDA indicated that some of its concerns could potentially be addressed through a placebo-controlled study design, which we have sought to address
with CHIASMA OPTIMAL.
Trial Design
A total of 155 patients with acromegaly, each of whom was classified according to the study parameters as a responder to a long-acting injectable
somatostatin analog, were enrolled in the trial. Two weeks after their last monthly injection of the long-acting injectable somatostatin analog, patients
were reassessed to obtain baseline IGF-1 and GH levels. Both the screening and baseline measurements were performed while patients were still on
active injection therapy. The 155 patients enrolled in the trial are referred to as the intent to treat, or ITT, group.
After baseline levels were obtained, no less than one month following their last monthly injection of the long-acting injectable somatostatin analog, a
core treatment period with octreotide capsules was initiated. This core
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treatment period consisted of a dose-escalation phase of at least two months in duration, designed to find an appropriate dose of octreotide capsules for
each individual patient, and a fixed-dose phase of up to five months in duration, during which period the appropriate therapeutic dose identified in the
dose-escalation phase was maintained. Since data from the prior clinical trials we conducted before this initial Phase 3 trial demonstrated a significant
reduction in bioavailability when octreotide capsules were administered with a high-fat meal, patients in this Phase 3 clinical trial were required to fast
for at least one hour before and at least one to two hours after each dose.
Patients who entered the core treatment phase of the trial initially received a 40 mg daily dose (administered in two pills a day), which was increased to
daily doses of 60 mg or 80 mg on an as-required basis to maintain biochemical response and/or symptom control, at the discretion of the investigator.
For each patient, the core treatment phase lasted for seven months after his or her first dose of octreotide capsules. Patients could then opt to continue
treatment with octreotide capsules during an extension period of up to an additional six months, with a two-week period for final follow-up. Four
patients dropped out of the trial after receiving at least one dose of octreotide capsules but before a biochemical response could be measured, resulting in
a modified intent to treat, or mITT, group of 151 patients.
The primary objective of the trial was to determine the efficacy of octreotide capsules in patients with acromegaly, as measured by effect on IGF-1 and
GH levels, with responders defined as patients who achieve an IGF-1 level less than 1.3 times the ULN, adjusted for age and an integrated GH level
over two hours less than 2.5 ng/mL. Secondary objectives included assessment of safety and tolerability of octreotide capsules, and comparison of
efficacy of octreotide capsules versus long-acting injectable somatostatin analog.
Completed Phase 3 Clinical Trial Design
Trial Results
Of the 155 patients enrolled, four were not evaluable and of the 151 in the mITT group, 49 patients discontinued, the majority during the dose-escalation
phase. Of the 151 patients in the mITT group, patients discontinued for a variety of reasons, including treatment failures because the patient could not be
controlled in the study on 80 mg, the highest dose available (24); withdrawals due to adverse events (18); or patient choice, sponsor request and lost to
follow up (7). Of the 110 patients who completed the dose-escalation phase, 52 patients, or 47%, were receiving the 40 mg daily dose, 25 patients, or
23%, were receiving the 60 mg dose, and 33 patients, or 30%, were receiving the 80 mg dose.
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After completion of the dose-escalation phase, the remaining 110 patients entered the fixed dose phase of the core treatment period and continued on
octreotide capsules at their respective doses until seven months after first dosing. A total of 102 patients completed the fixed dose phase of the trial, 88
of whom, or 86%, voluntarily chose to remain on octreotide capsules during the six-month extension phase, for a total of 13 months of treatment after
first dosing. A total of 82 patients completed the six-month extension phase of the trial.
Applying a last-observation carried forward, or LOCF, methodology, 65% of patients in the mITT group were classified as responders at the end of the
seven-month core treatment phase, which was the primary endpoint for the trial. Applying a worst-case imputation method, whereby all patients who
withdrew from the study prematurely (regardless of reason) are treated as non-responders, 53% of patients were classified as responders at the end of the
seven-month core treatment phase. By the end of the six-month extension phase, or 13 months after first dosing, utilizing LOCF the responder rate was
62% in the mITT group. Of the 110 patients who completed the dose-escalation phase, and therefore received an optimized dose of octreotide capsules,
75% were classified as responders. For all 151 patients included in the mITT group, the responder rate on long-acting injectable somatostatin analogs
was 89% at baseline, prior to initiation of octreotide capsules. Endocrinologists indicated to us that effectiveness in at least 50% of patients treated
would be sufficient for an oral treatment to generally be prescribed by physicians.
Overall Phase 3 Response in mITT Group vs. Baseline
We further assessed the quality of the responses to octreotide capsules in the patients studied. The quality of the patient responses on octreotide capsules
was comparable to the quality of the responses on injectable therapies. In the mITT group, mean GH levels for patients on octreotide capsules were
below the baseline values on injectable therapies at all time points assessed through the end of the extension phase. The median GH level in the mITT
group at baseline was 0.77 ng/mL, which dropped to 0.40 ng/mL within two hours of the first dose of octreotide capsules and 0.49 ng/mL by the end of
the extension phase, 13 months later. IGF-1 levels were stably maintained below 1.3 times the ULN for up to 13 months in the mITT group.
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GH and IGF-1 Response in mITT Group Throughout the Duration of the Phase 3 Trial
We also assessed control of acromegaly symptoms, the incidence of symptoms, and the severity and number of symptoms in patients using octreotide
capsules in a retrospective analysis performed after completion of the trial. At baseline, 81% of patients in the mITT group, the majority of whom were
classified as responders, still had acromegaly symptoms, such as headaches, excessive perspiration, muscle weakness and/or joint pain and swelling.
Patients who completed 13 months of treatment reported significantly fewer acromegaly symptoms at the conclusion of the trial than at the time of their
baseline screening, and this result was statistically significant, with p-values of less than 0.020. P-value is a conventional statistical method for
measuring the statistical significance of clinical results. A p-value of 0.05 or less is generally considered to represent statistical significance, meaning
that there is a less than 1-in-20 likelihood that the observed results occurred by chance. There was also a reduction in the severity of symptoms reported.
In addition, a questionnaire conducted in a subset of the patients in the clinical trial reported that breakthrough symptoms of acromegaly were
experienced by 36% of patients receiving injections at baseline compared to 22% at 13 months on octreotide capsules.
Reduced Number of Acromegaly Symptoms at Conclusion of Phase 3 Trial
(Fixed Dose Population (n = 110))
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The safety profile of octreotide capsules in the trial was consistent with the known safety profile of octreotide and the disease burden of acromegaly,
with the most common adverse events observed in the gastrointestinal system, such as nausea and diarrhea, the nervous system, such as headaches, and
the musculoskeletal system, such as joint pain, but without adverse injection-site reactions. No new or unexpected safety signals were observed in the
study. While the FDA did not note any safety concerns related to octreotide capsules in the CRL, it subsequently indicated in the End of Review meeting
minutes that the size, duration, dropout rate and absence of a control group in our Phase 3 clinical trial were factors limiting an overall safety
assessment.
We only performed statistical analysis on the symptom reductions for our Phase 3 trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly and did not perform
statistical analysis related to the biochemistry, specifically the reduction in GH and IGF-1 levels.
Completed Phase 1 Clinical Trials of Octreotide Capsules
Together with a group of academic collaborators, we conducted a series of Phase 1 clinical trials to demonstrate that the bioavailability of octreotide
capsules, developed utilizing our TPE technology, is comparable to the bioavailability of octreotide administered in the short-acting subcutaneous, or sc,
formulation. These trials demonstrated similar pharmacokinetics for octreotide capsules and octreotide 0.1 mg sc injection and that a 20 mg oral dose of
octreotide capsules produced systemic exposure comparable to octreotide 0.1 mg sc injection in healthy volunteers. There was no effect of route of
administration on octreotide elimination, and the mean elimination half-life (t1/2) was comparable with the two treatments. However, these studies also
demonstrated that the bioavailability of octreotide capsules is approximately 90% lower when it is taken with a high-fat meal rather than in the fasted
state. Accordingly, our current Phase 3 clinical trials require patients to take octreotide capsules at least one hour prior to a meal or two hours after a
meal.
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Pharmacokinetics of Octreotide capsules vs. SC Octreotide in Phase 1 Trial
In addition, to demonstrate the bioactivity of octreotide capsules, as measured by reduction in GH levels, we conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial in 16
healthy volunteers. In this crossover study, a single 20 mg dose of octreotide capsules was shown to suppress mean GH levels below 0.25 ng/mL (p <
0.05). This is similar to the effect seen in published results using octreotide injections.
Suppression of GH Levels in Healthy Volunteers
Also in this trial, we evaluated the ability of octreotide capsules to suppress GH levels in healthy subjects whose production of GH had been transiently
stimulated by dosing with growth hormone-releasing hormone, or GHRH, and arginine. GHRH and arginine are used in routine clinical testing for
deficiencies in GH production. In a healthy person, their administration leads to a large increase in GH levels, which is what was observed in this trial. A
single 20 mg dose of octreotide capsules lowered the levels of GH by 80% (p < 0.001) following dosing with GHRH and arginine.
Data from our Phase 1 bioavailability and bioactivity clinical trials were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in July 2012.
A total of 11 clinical pharmacology studies have evaluated the safety of octreotide capsules. In all of these studies, the safety profile of octreotide
capsules was consistent with the known safety profile of the short-acting octreotide 0.1 mg sc injection. No new or unexpected safety issues were
detected during any of the clinical
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pharmacology studies. In particular, no new safety issues related to the novel formulation or route of administration were observed. While the FDA did
not note any safety concerns related to octreotide capsules in the CRL, it subsequently indicated in the End of Review meeting minutes that the size,
duration, dropout rate and absence of a control group in our Phase 3 clinical trial were factors limiting an overall safety assessment.
Other Potential Indications for Octreotide Capsules
If we receive regulatory approval for octreotide capsules in acromegaly, we may pursue the development of octreotide capsules in other indications. At
this time, we do not currently have the personnel or financing to simultaneously pursue the development of octreotide capsules in indications other than
acromegaly.
Our Proprietary Transient Permeability Enhancer Technology Platform
Our Transient Permeability Enhancer, or TPE, technology is a proprietary platform, developed internally by our scientists, that enhances the absorption
through the intestinal wall of drugs that otherwise would not be absorbed efficiently by that route. Using our TPE technology, we can transiently and
reversibly open the so-called tight junctions between the cells lining the inner intestinal wall, enabling drug molecules to be absorbed intact. Our TPE
formulation is a suspension of water-soluble particles containing a precise combination of medium-chain fatty acid salts and drug substance in a
fat-soluble medium. In creating a TPE formulation, we make no chemical modifications to the drug substance.
Oral delivery of peptides and nucleic acids is limited due to their inherent vulnerability to digestive processes and their poor intestinal absorption. The
same intestinal absorption limitation applies to certain small molecules that have poor bioavailability. The cells at the surface of the intestine, columnar
epithelial cells, are connected by tight junctions that form a barrier preventing permeation by water-soluble molecules as well as by viruses and bacteria.
Our TPE technology induces the transient opening of these tight junctions, allowing peptides and other macromolecules up to a certain size, but not
toxins, viruses and bacteria, to cross the intestinal barrier and enabling access to the blood.
The permeability of intestinal tight junctions is known to be altered by a number of dietary factors such as fatty acids, polysaccharides and flavonoids.
Transient, reversible opening of the tight junctions and an increase in epithelial permeability are a normal part of intestinal physiology. These
permeability adjustments allow the gut to balance two opposing functions: creating a barrier to the passage of microorganisms while facilitating the
absorption of nutrients following a meal. In developing the TPE platform, our goal was to establish the ability to reproducibly induce transient increases
in the permeability of tight junctions, allowing absorption of specifically formulated drug molecules.
We have conducted extensive nonclinical studies to demonstrate the ability of our TPE technology to increase the permeability of the intestinal epithelial
layer and therefore absorb molecules of different shapes, sizes and doses. As a result of these studies, we believe that our TPE technology can be applied
to multiple additional peptide drug products as well as small molecules with poor bioavailability.
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Our TPE Platform
Although not currently staffed or sufficiently financed to do so, if octreotide capsules are approved in acromegaly, we may seek to use our TPE platform
to develop other oral medications to help improve the lives of patients suffering from other debilitating diseases that are currently being treated with
injectable therapies. If we pursue new peptide-based drugs to develop using our TPE platform, to potentially reduce the development time and expenses
and overall level of investment required, where possible, we may focus our efforts on drugs for which we may utilize the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory
pathway in the United States and the hybrid application pathway, which is analogous to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, in the European Union. In
March 2017, the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development reported that the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for new drug applications in the
United States has not led to shorter approval times. With octreotide capsules, we brought a TPE-based product candidate from concept to the first
clinical trial within 18 months and then initiated our first Phase 3 clinical trial approximately two years later.
Prior License Agreement with Roche
In January 2013, we entered into a license agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., collectively Roche, for the
development and commercialization of octreotide capsules. Under the terms of the license agreement, we had responsibility for continued clinical
development through completion of our initial Phase 3 clinical trial, establishment of commercial-scale manufacturing and completion of ongoing
nonclinical activities. Roche assumed responsibility for development and commercialization thereafter. The agreement provided for an upfront payment
of $65.0 million, future consideration of up to $530 million in development and commercial milestones, and the right to receive tiered, double-digit
royalties on net sales of octreotide capsules.
In January 2014, we received the clinical results from the seven-month core treatment period of the octreotide capsules Phase 3 clinical trial. These
results did not include the six-month extension period of the trial, which allowed patients the opportunity to choose to continue on oral therapy. In May
2014, Roche conducted a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA. In July 2014, Roche elected to terminate the license agreement and transitioned octreotide
capsules and all materials related to the clinical development programs back to us. We subsequently entered into a termination agreement with Roche,
which included our purchase of active pharmaceutical ingredient for future manufacturing of octreotide capsules and a trademark associated with
octreotide capsules for an aggregate of $5.1 million payable over three years. We have made all such payments and have no further obligations to Roche.
In October 2014, we completed analyses of the full 13-month clinical results from our Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules. Subsequently, in
December 2014, we met with the FDA to discuss our clinical development of octreotide capsules, including the full 13-month data from our Phase 3
clinical trial. At this meeting, the FDA advised us that it had not identified an issue that would preclude us from submitting an NDA for review.
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However, the FDA did advise us that interpreting efficacy from a voluntary long-term extension study is subject to limitations and therefore the data at
the seven-month time point in our Phase 3 clinical trial would carry more weight in the efficacy evaluation than the extension data. The FDA also
informed us that, in its view, a single-arm study was not as informative as a controlled study, such as an active control trial using a non-inferiority
design, and that the interpretability of the efficacy findings we submitted from our single-arm study, and whether these findings are robust enough to
warrant approval, would be review issues as the FDA evaluated our NDA. We submitted our NDA to the FDA in June 2015. In April 2016, the FDA
issued a CRL to our NDA.
Commercialization Strategy
We retain worldwide rights to develop and commercialize octreotide capsules with no royalty obligations to third parties. If approved, we may
commercialize octreotide capsules ourselves in the United States employing a strategy that differentiates our product and is tailored to the needs of
patients and their physicians. Prior to the receipt of the CRL, we conducted market research with endocrinologists, nurses and patients with acromegaly
and other pre-commercial activities in the United States to better understand satisfaction levels and key unmet needs with respect to current treatments
for acromegaly and to build awareness of octreotide capsules. In surveys commissioned by us, more than 80% of patients with acromegaly expressed a
preference for an oral treatment, and endocrinologists surveyed predicted that an oral treatment would ultimately become the preferred treatment option.
Endocrinologists indicated that effectiveness in at least 50% of patients treated would be sufficient for an oral treatment to generally be prescribed by
physicians. To assess the attitudes of commercial third-party payors toward reimbursement for octreotide capsules, in 2010 we conducted research with
12 such payors collectively representing 111 million covered lives. Payors representing nearly 90% of these covered lives said they would reimburse an
oral treatment assuming pricing was in a range comparable to the existing injectable therapy market leader, octreotide. Additional U.S. payor and pricing
research will be necessary to inform our commercialization strategy if any NDA we may submit for octreotide capsules in acromegaly is approved.
Based on our evaluation of the acromegaly market in 2016, we believe the U.S. market for acromegaly treatments is concentrated. We believe that
approximately 8,000 adult acromegaly patients are chronically treated with somatostatin analogs in the United States, and that approximately 90% of
these patients are managed by fewer than 1,000 patient care centers. Patients with acromegaly undergoing treatment in the United States are generally
treated by endocrinologists at a small number of academic institutions with pituitary experts (pituitary centers), regional academic centers or hospital
systems (regional referral centers) and some community endocrinologists. We believe we will be able to market octreotide capsules, if approved, to
these patient care centers. We believe that the clinical benefits, if demonstrated, and preferences of patients and healthcare professionals for an oral
therapy together with our planned patient-centric approach could enable octreotide capsules, if approved, to become a new standard of care in
acromegaly.
Subject to resolution of our planned NDA and assuming positive data in our ongoing Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial, we intend to submit an MAA
to the EMA to enable us to commercialize octreotide capsules in the European Union. We plan to explore the strategic merits of collaboration
opportunities for commercializing octreotide capsules in the European Union and the rest of the world in order to maximize the availability of the
product candidate, if approved, to patients. However, depending on our evaluation of the strategic merits of these collaboration opportunities, we may
decide to retain commercial rights in key markets.
Manufacturing
We depend on third-party suppliers and contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, for all of our required raw materials and drug substance and to
manufacture and package drug product for clinical use and commercial use, if approved. If octreotide capsules are approved, we plan to establish a
distribution channel in the United States utilizing third-party logistics and specialty pharmacies to distribute product directly to patients who have been
prescribed octreotide capsules.
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We have qualified Novetide Ltd., a subsidiary of Teva API Pharmaceuticals Industries (TAPI) Ltd., in Israel, and Bachem Americas Inc., in the United
States, as suppliers of the generic active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, octreotide acetate.
All excipients, or substances formulated together with the API, used in manufacture of octreotide capsules are readily available. The octreotide API is
formulated with our TPE technology by Lyophilization Services of New England Inc. and filled into capsules and enteric-coated by Capsugel, a division
of Lonza, in Scotland. All manufacturers periodically undergo inspections by regulatory authorities.
Octreotide capsules are intended to be refrigerated and our NDA included primary stability data covering 24 months under these storage conditions. We
have also obtained data regarding additional one-month storage at room temperature. The FDA has previously indicated that the testing parameters for
our control strategy and product release and stability specifications are acceptable. The manufacturing process for the API has been validated at both of
our API manufacturers and octreotide capsules manufactured at our CMOs as well as final product packaging has also been validated. In the CRL,
the FDA advised that, during a site inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that would need to be
resolved before approval of our NDA. In December 2016, we were informed that the supplier had recently received its EIR from the FDA. The receipt
of the EIR is an indication that the FDA has concluded its inspection of the supplier and as of the date of its report considers outstanding deficiencies
resolved. We expect that our suppliers will be subject to additional regulatory inspections in the future, including in connection with the FDA’s review of
any NDA we may submit in the future seeking approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly.
Competition
Our industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid and significant technological change as researchers learn more about diseases and develop new
technologies and treatments. Our potential competitors include primarily large pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies and specialty pharmaceutical
companies. Key competitive factors affecting the commercial success of octreotide capsules, if approved, and any other product candidates we may
develop are likely to be efficacy, safety and tolerability profile, reliability, convenience of administration, price and reimbursement and effectiveness of
our promotional activities.
The standards of care for patients suffering from acromegaly all involve injectable therapies, other than cabergoline, an oral agent used for the treatment
of mild acromegaly. Novartis markets octreotide LAR, which is administered monthly and intramuscularly using a large gauge needle. Ipsen markets
lanreotide, another long-acting analog of somatostatin, like octreotide, which is administered monthly using a deep subcutaneous injection. Both
therapies, which are most frequently the first drug treatment options for patients, involve side effects related to the injections and inconvenience due to
the timing and requirements of the injections. Pfizer markets pegvisomant daily injections and Novartis also markets pasireotide LAR, which is another
somatostatin analog administered via intramuscular injection. Pegvisomant daily injections and pasireotide LAR are significantly more costly than
injectable octreotide and lanreotide. The label for pasireotide LAR includes a warning about hyperglycemia and diabetes, which can sometimes be
severe. The label advises healthcare professionals administering pasireotide LAR to monitor glucose levels periodically during therapy and to monitor
glucose levels more frequently in the months that follow initiation or discontinuation of therapy and following dose adjustment. We are aware of other
companies involved in early-stage nonclinical and clinical studies of similar somatostatin analogs, but most involve administration via injection. Most
notably, Camurus AB is developing CAM2029, a subcutaneous octreotide depot for the potential treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and acromegaly.
Published reports indicate that Camurus AB intends to initiate a Phase 3 acromegaly trial in the second half of 2019. MidaTech Pharma PLC also
recently conducted its first in human study of Q-Octreotide (MTD201), Midatech’s injectable treatment for acromegaly built on its Q-Sphera sustained
release platform technology. In 2018, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the planned initiation of two Phase 2 clinical trials in 2019 to evaluate
the safety and efficacy of CRN00808 in acromegaly patients. CRN00808 is a nonpeptide somatostatin agonist designed to be taken orally once per day.
In May 2017, Dauntless
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Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced positive results from its two-part, Phase 1
pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study evaluating DP1038, a novel formulation of octreotide acetate for intranasal administration. In 2018, Ionis
Pharmaceuticals initiated a Phase 2 trial of IONIS-GHR-LRx, its growth hormone receptor antagonist to control growth hormone production in
acromegaly patients. We are also aware of other companies such as Rani Therapeutics (RaniPillTM capsule containing octreotide) and Strongbridge
Biopharm (valdoreotide, or COR-005) who may also be actively developing products for the maintenance treatment of acromegaly. If any or a
combination of the other product candidates in development for acromegaly receive regulatory approval before, or in a similar timeframe as, our
octreotide capsules, or demonstrate superior clinical results to octreotide capsules, we may encounter significant difficulties with our commercial launch
of octreotide capsules, if approved.
Many of our existing or potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do and significantly greater
experience in the discovery and development of product candidates, obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of products and the
commercialization of those products. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources
being concentrated among a small number of our competitors. Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than we may be in obtaining FDA
approval of drugs and achieving widespread market acceptance. Our competitors’ drugs, or drugs they may develop in the future, may be more effective,
or more effectively marketed and sold, than any drug we may commercialize and may render octreotide capsules or any future product candidates we
may develop obsolete or non-competitive before we can recover the expenses of developing and commercializing octreotide capsules or any future
product candidates we may develop. Our competitors may also obtain FDA or other regulatory approval of their products more rapidly than we may
obtain approval of ours. We anticipate that we will face intense and increasing competition as new drugs enter the market and more advanced
technologies become available. If we are unable to compete effectively, our opportunity to generate revenue from the sale of octreotide capsules or any
future product candidates we may develop, if approved, will be adversely affected.
Intellectual Property
We strive to protect the proprietary technology that we believe is important to our business, including seeking and maintaining patents intended to cover
our product candidates and compositions, their methods of use and processes for their manufacture, and any other aspects of inventions that are
commercially important to the development of our business. We also rely on trade secrets to protect aspects of our business that are not amenable to, or
that we do not consider appropriate for, patent protection.
We plan to continue to expand our intellectual property estate by filing patent applications directed to compositions, methods of treatment, and dosage
regimens identified in the course of our business. Our success will depend on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other proprietary protection
for commercially important technology, inventions and know-how related to our business, defend and enforce our patents, preserve the confidentiality of
our trade secrets and operate without infringing the valid and enforceable patents and proprietary rights of third parties. We also rely on know-how,
continuing technological innovation and in-licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our proprietary position. We seek to obtain domestic and
international patent protection, and endeavor to promptly file patent applications for new commercially valuable inventions.
The patent positions of biopharmaceutical companies like us are generally uncertain and involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions. In
addition, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued, and patent scope can be reinterpreted by
the courts after issuance. Moreover, many jurisdictions permit third parties to challenge issued patents in administrative proceedings, which may result
in further narrowing or even cancellation of patent claims. We cannot predict whether the patent applications we are currently pursuing will issue as
patents in any particular jurisdiction or whether the claims of any issued patents will provide sufficient protection from competitors.
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Because patent applications in the United States and certain other jurisdictions are maintained in secrecy for 18 months or potentially even longer, and
since publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain of the priority of
inventions covered by pending patent applications. Moreover, we may have to participate in interference proceedings or derivation proceedings declared
by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or the USPTO, to determine priority of invention.
Patents
As of March 7, 2019, our patent portfolio includes five patents issued in the United States; one patent application for which an issue fee has been paid,
and which is due to be granted on March 26, 2019; patents issued in foreign jurisdictions; patent applications pending in the United States; and patent
applications pending in various foreign jurisdictions. These patents and patent applications include narrow and broad claims directed to polypeptide
compositions including octreotide compositions formulated with our TPE technology; capsules containing such compositions; methods of treatment
using such compositions; and methods of making various compositions with our TPE technology. This patent family includes three issued U.S. patents
and one pending patent application with claims directed to enteric-coated oral dosage form comprising octreotide compositions, capsules containing
octreotide compositions, and methods of treating various conditions with related octreotide compositions. Other patents in this family have issued in
Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, and patent
applications are pending in other jurisdictions, including Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Israel and Korea, Mexico, Russia, Australia, and Japan. Patents
in this family are expected to expire in 2029, absent any adjustments or extensions. This patent family includes an issued U.S. patent with claims
relating to enteric-coated oral dosage form comprising polypeptide compositions.
We also own a family of patent applications directed to a dosage regimen for octreotide and also directed to methods of treating acromegaly with certain
octreotide-containing compositions and dosage regimens, which has entered the National Phase. There are pending applications in the United States and
abroad. Patents issuing from any U.S. nonprovisional and foreign-filed applications claiming priority to this PCT application are expected to expire in
2036, absent any adjustments or extensions. This patent is due to be granted on March 26, 2019 and will expire in 2036.
Additionally, we own two U.S. utility patents directed to proprietary packaging for distribution of octreotide capsules which are expected to expire in
2035, absent any adjustments or extensions. We also own two U.S. design patents, which have been granted in several other jurisdictions and are
expected to expire in the U.S. in 2030 and 2033.
Finally, we own a family of patents application directed to further uses of our TPE technology which have entered the National Phase. Patents issuing
from any U.S. nonprovisional and foreign-filed applications claiming priority to this PCT application are expected to expire in 2035, absent any
adjustments or extensions.
Patent Term
The base term of a U.S. utility patent is 20 years from the filing date of the earliest-filed non-provisional patent application from which the patent claims
priority. The base term of a U.S. design patent is 14 years from issuance for designs filed before the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012
which took effect on May 13, 2015 and 15 years from issuance for designs filed after May 13, 2015. The term of a U.S. patent can be lengthened by
patent term adjustment, which compensates the owner of the patent for administrative delays at the USPTO. In some cases, the term of a U.S. patent is
shortened by terminal disclaimer that reduces its term to that of an earlier-expiring patent.
Government Regulation
Government authorities in the United States at the federal, state and local level and in other countries extensively regulate, among other things, the
research, development, testing, manufacture, quality control, approval, labeling,
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packaging, storage, record-keeping, promotion, advertising, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, marketing and export and import of
drug products such as our product candidate, octreotide capsules. Generally, before a new drug can be marketed, considerable data demonstrating its
quality, safety and efficacy must be obtained, organized into a format specific to each regulatory authority, submitted for review and approved by the
regulatory authority.
United States Drug Development
In the United States, the FDA regulates drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, and its implementing regulations. Drugs are
also subject to other federal, state and local statutes and regulations. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with
appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply
with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval, may subject an applicant
to administrative or judicial sanctions. These sanctions could include, among other actions, the FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications,
withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold, untitled or warning letters, voluntary product recalls or withdrawals from the market, product seizures, total
or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement, or civil or criminal
penalties. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us.
Octreotide capsules must be approved by the FDA through the NDA process before it may be legally marketed in the United States. The process
required by the FDA before a drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
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completion of extensive nonclinical, or preclinical, laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies in accordance with applicable
regulations, including the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practice, or GLP, regulations;
submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin;
performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with applicable IND and other clinical study related
regulations, sometimes referred to as good clinical practices, or GCPs, to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug for its
proposed indication;
submission to the FDA of an NDA;
a determination by the FDA within 60 days of its receipt of an NDA to file the NDA for review;
satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the drug is produced to assess
compliance with the FDA’s current good manufacturing practice requirements, or cGMP, to assure that the facilities, methods and controls
are adequate to preserve the drug’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 prior to any commercial marketing or sale of the drug in the United States.
The data required to support an NDA are generated in two distinct development stages: nonclinical and clinical. For new chemical entities, the
nonclinical development stage generally involves synthesizing the active component, developing the formulation and determining the manufacturing
process, as well as carrying out non-human toxicology, pharmacology and drug metabolism studies in the laboratory, which support subsequent clinical
testing. The conduct of the nonclinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements including GLPs. The sponsor must submit the
results of the nonclinical tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or published literature and a
proposed clinical protocol, to
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the FDA as part of the IND. An IND is a request for authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational drug product to humans. The central
focus of an IND submission is on the general investigational plan and the protocol(s) for human studies. The IND automatically becomes effective 30
days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA raises concerns or questions regarding the proposed clinical trials and places the IND on clinical hold
within that 30-day time period. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin.
The FDA may also impose clinical holds on a drug candidate at any time before or during clinical trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance.
Accordingly, we cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not
arise that could cause the trial to be suspended or terminated.
The clinical stage of development involves the administration of the drug candidate to healthy volunteers and/or patients under the supervision of
qualified investigators, generally physicians not employed by or under the trial sponsor’s control, in accordance with GCPs, which include the
requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under
protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters
to be used to monitor subject safety and assess efficacy. Each protocol, and any subsequent amendments to the protocol, must be submitted to the FDA
as part of the IND. Further, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, at or servicing each
institution at which the clinical trial will be conducted. An IRB is charged with protecting the welfare and rights of trial participants and considers such
items as whether the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trials are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The IRB
also approves the informed consent form that must be provided to each clinical trial subject or his or her legal representative and must monitor the
clinical trial until completion. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and completed clinical trial results to public
registries.
Clinical trials are generally conducted in three sequential phases, known as Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials, and may overlap. Phase 1
generally involves a small number of healthy volunteers who are initially exposed to a single dose and then multiple doses of the product candidate. The
primary purpose of these studies is to assess the metabolism, pharmacological action, side effect tolerability and safety of the drug. Phase 2 trials
typically involve studies in disease-affected patients to determine the dose required to produce the desired benefits. At the same time, safety and further
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information is collected, as well as identification of possible adverse effects and safety risks and preliminary
evaluation of efficacy. Phase 3 trials generally involve large numbers of patients at multiple sites and are designed to provide the data necessary to
demonstrate the effectiveness of the product for its intended use, its safety in use, and to establish the overall benefit/risk relationship of the product and
provide an adequate basis for product approval. Phase 3 trials may include comparisons with placebo and/or other comparator treatments. The duration
of treatment is often extended to mimic the actual use of a product during marketing. Generally, two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials
are required by the FDA for approval of an NDA.
Post-approval trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These studies are used to gain
additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication. In certain instances, FDA may mandate the performance of
Phase 4 trials.
Progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials, among other information, must be submitted at least annually to the FDA. Within 15 calendar
days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies for reporting, written IND safety reports must be submitted to the FDA and the
investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events, findings from other studies or animal or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk to humans
exposed to the drug and any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or
investigator brochure. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven
calendar days after the sponsor’s initial receipt of the information. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within
any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the clinical trial sponsor may suspend or terminate a clinical
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trial at any time on various grounds, 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 drug has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients. Additionally, some clinical trials are overseen by an
independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical trial sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board or committee. This group
provides authorization for whether or not a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the study. The
clinical trial sponsor may also suspend or terminate a clinical trial based on evolving business objectives and/or competitive climate.
Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the chemistry
and physical characteristics of the drug as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP
requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the drug candidate and, among other things, must
develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality and purity of the final drug product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and
tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the drug candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
NDA and FDA Review Process
Following trial completion, trial data are analyzed to assess safety and efficacy. The results of nonclinical studies and clinical trials are then submitted to
the FDA in an NDA along with proposed labeling for the product and information about the manufacturing process and facilities that will be used to
ensure product quality, results of analytical testing conducted on the chemistry of the drug, and other relevant information. The NDA is a request for
approval to market the drug and must contain proof of safety and efficacy, which is demonstrated by extensive nonclinical and clinical testing. The
application includes both negative or ambiguous results of nonclinical studies and clinical trials as well as positive findings. Data may come from
company-sponsored clinical trials intended to test the safety and effectiveness of a use of a product, or from a number of alternative sources, including
studies initiated by investigators. To support marketing approval, the data submitted must be sufficient in quality and quantity to establish the safety and
effectiveness of the investigational drug product to the satisfaction of the FDA. The submission of an NDA is subject to the payment of substantial user
fees; a waiver of such fees may be obtained under certain limited circumstances. FDA approval of an NDA must be obtained before marketing a drug in
the United States.
In addition, under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, as amended, an NDA or supplement to an NDA must contain data to assess the safety
and effectiveness of the drug for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each
pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers. An
NDA applicant must submit to the FDA a pediatric study plan typically 60 days after an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA. Because octreotide
capsules received orphan drug designation for the treatment of acromegaly, we do not need to comply with the requirements of PREA at this time. If,
however, we seek other indications for octreotide capsules or pursue approval of any other product candidate that does not have orphan drug
designation, we may need to comply with PREA or otherwise seek a waiver.
The FDA reviews all NDAs submitted before it accepts them for filing and may request additional information rather than accepting an NDA for filing.
The FDA must make a decision on accepting an NDA for filing within 60 days of receipt and within 30 days of receipt for an NDA resubmission. Once
the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth review of the NDA. The decision to accept the NDA for filing means that the FDA has
made a threshold determination that the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. Under the goals and policies agreed to by the
FDA under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, the FDA has ten months from the receipt of an NDA for a non-new molecular entity in
which to complete its initial review of a standard NDA and respond to the applicant. The FDA does not always meet its PDUFA goal dates for standard
NDAs, and the review process is often significantly extended by FDA requests for additional information or clarification.
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After the NDA submission is accepted for filing, the FDA reviews the NDA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe and
effective for its intended use, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMPs to assure and preserve the product’s identity,
strength, quality and purity. The FDA may refer applications for novel drug products or drug products which 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 carefully when making decisions. The FDA will likely re-analyze the clinical trial data, which could result in extensive
discussions between the FDA and us during the review process. The review and evaluation of an NDA by the FDA is extensive and time consuming and
may take longer than originally planned to complete, and we may not receive a timely approval, if at all.
Before approving an NDA, the FDA will conduct a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facilities for the new product to determine whether
they comply with cGMPs. 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. In addition, before approving an
NDA, the FDA may also audit data from clinical trials to ensure compliance with GCP requirements. After the FDA evaluates the application,
manufacturing process and manufacturing facilities, it may issue an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter. An approval letter authorizes
commercial marketing of the drug with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A Complete Response Letter indicates that the review
cycle of the application is complete and the application will not be approved in its present form. A Complete Response Letter usually describes all of the
specific deficiencies in the NDA identified by the FDA. The Complete Response Letter may require additional clinical data and/or an additional pivotal
Phase 3 clinical trial(s), and/or other significant and time-consuming requirements related to clinical trials, nonclinical studies or manufacturing. If a
Complete Response Letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the NDA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, withdraw the
application or request a hearing. Even if such data and information are submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide that the NDA does not satisfy the
criteria for approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive, and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret the same
data.
There is no assurance that the FDA will ultimately approve a drug product for marketing in the United States, and we may encounter significant
difficulties or costs during the review process. If a product receives marketing approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific diseases
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 or may condition the approval of the NDA on other changes to
the proposed labeling, development of adequate controls and specifications, or a commitment to conduct post-market testing or clinical trials and
surveillance to monitor the effects of approved products. For example, the FDA may require Phase 4 testing which involves clinical trials designed to
further assess drug safety and effectiveness and may require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved products that have been
commercialized. The FDA may also place other conditions on approvals including the requirement for a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or
REMS, to assure the safe use of the drug. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the NDA must submit a proposed REMS; the FDA
will not approve the NDA without an approved REMS, if required. A REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or
elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. Any of these limitations on
approval or marketing could restrict the commercial promotion, distribution, prescription or dispensing of products. Product approvals may be
withdrawn for non-compliance with regulatory requirements or if problems occur following initial marketing.
FDA’s NDA Resubmission Policy Following a Complete Response Letter
Under the FDA’s policies and procedures, an NDA that is resubmitted following the issuance of a CRL will be evaluated by the FDA to determine
whether the resubmission addresses all of the deficiencies raised in the CRL.
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If so, the FDA will classify the resubmission as either Class 1 or Class 2. The FDA will review and act on Class 1 resubmissions within two months of
the NDA receipt date and on Class 2 resubmissions within six months of the NDA receipt date. As the resubmission of an NDA that involves the safety
and efficacy data of a new Phase 3 clinical trial does not meet the criteria of a Class 1 resubmission, we expect that our NDA for octreotide capsules, if
resubmitted, will qualify as a Class 2 resubmission, if it is determined to address all of the deficiencies raised in our CRL. Data from CHIASMA
OPTIMAL, if positive, should support our NDA resubmission in the United States, which we anticipate resubmitting by year-end 2019.
505(b)(2) Approval Process
Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA provides an alternate regulatory pathway for the FDA to approve a new drug and permits reliance for such approval on
published literature or an FDA finding of safety and effectiveness for a previously approved drug product. Specifically, section 505(b)(2) permits the
filing of an NDA where one or more of the investigations relied upon by the applicant for approval were not conducted by or for the applicant and for
which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference. The applicant may rely upon published literature and/or the FDA’s findings of safety and
effectiveness for a previously approved drug. Typically, 505(b)(2) applicants must perform additional trials to support the change from the previously
approved drug and to further demonstrate the new drug’s safety and effectiveness. The FDA may then approve the new product candidate for all or some
of the labeled indications for which the referenced product has been approved, as well as for any new indication sought by the section 505(b)(2)
applicant.
Our product candidate, octreotide capsules, is based upon an already approved version of the same drug in an immediate-release formulation for
subcutaneous injection, rather than a new chemical entity product candidate. Accordingly, we expect to be able to rely on information from previously
conducted studies involving the immediate-release subcutaneous octreotide product in our clinical development plans and our NDA resubmission, if
resubmitted.
Post-Marketing Requirements
Following approval of a new product, a pharmaceutical company and the approved product are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including,
among other things, monitoring and recordkeeping activities, reporting to the applicable regulatory authorities of adverse events with the product,
providing the regulatory authorities with updated safety and efficacy information, and product sampling and distribution requirements in accordance
with the Prescription Drug Marketing Act, a part of the FDCA. Modifications or enhancements to the product or its labeling or changes of the site of
manufacture are often subject to the approval of the FDA and other regulators, which may or may not be received or may result in a lengthy review
process.
Prescription drug advertising is subject to federal, state and foreign regulations. In the United States, the FDA regulates prescription drug promotion and
advertising, including direct-to-consumer advertising. Prescription drug promotional materials must be submitted to the FDA in conjunction with their
first use. In addition, a pharmaceutical company must comply with restrictions on promoting drugs for uses or in patient populations that are not
described in the drug’s approved labeling (known as “off-label use”), limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities, and
requirements for promotional activities involving the internet. Although physicians may prescribe legally available drugs for off-label uses,
manufacturers may not market or promote such off-label uses.
In the United States, once a product is approved, its manufacture is subject to comprehensive and continuing regulation by the FDA. The FDA
regulations require that products be manufactured in specific approved facilities and in accordance with cGMPs. We rely on third parties for the
production of clinical quantities of octreotide capsules and expect to rely on third parties for the production of commercial quantities of our octreotide
capsules, in both cases in accordance with cGMP regulations. cGMP regulations require among other things, quality control and quality assurance as
well as the corresponding maintenance of records and
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documentation and the obligation to investigate and correct any deviations from cGMP. Drug manufacturers and other entities involved in the
manufacture and distribution of approved drugs are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to
periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with cGMPs and other laws. Accordingly, manufacturers must
continue to expend time, money, and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. These regulations also impose
certain organizational, procedural and documentation requirements with respect to manufacturing and quality assurance activities. NDA holders using
contract manufacturers, laboratories or packagers are responsible for the selection and monitoring of qualified firms, and, in certain circumstances,
qualified suppliers to these firms. These firms and, where applicable, their suppliers are subject to inspections by the FDA at any time, and the discovery
of violative conditions, including failure to conform to cGMPs, could result in enforcement actions that interrupt the operation of any such facilities or
the ability to distribute products manufactured, processed or tested by them. Discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in
restrictions on a product, manufacturer, or holder of an approved NDA, including, among other things, recall or withdrawal of the product from the
market.
The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, REMS and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product or
place conditions on an approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product. Discovery of previously unknown problems with a product or
the failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements can have negative consequences, including adverse publicity, judicial or administrative
enforcement, untitled or warning letters from the FDA, mandated corrective advertising or communications with doctors, and civil or criminal penalties,
among others. Newly discovered or developed safety or effectiveness data may require changes to a product’s approved labeling, including the addition
of new warnings and contraindications, and also may require the implementation of other risk management measures. Also, new government
requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may be established, or the FDA’s policies may change, which could delay or prevent
regulatory approval of our products under development and impact approved products already on the market.
Other Regulatory Matters
The distribution of pharmaceutical products is subject to additional requirements and regulations, including extensive record-keeping, licensing, storage
and security requirements intended to prevent the unauthorized sale of pharmaceutical products.
The failure to comply with regulatory requirements subjects firms to possible legal or regulatory action. Depending on the circumstances, failure to meet
applicable regulatory requirements can result in criminal prosecution, fines or other penalties, injunctions, voluntary recall, seizure of products, total or
partial suspension of production, denial or withdrawal of product approvals, exclusion from federal healthcare programs, or refusal to allow a firm to
enter into supply contracts, including government contracts. In addition, even if a firm complies with FDA and other requirements, new information
regarding the safety or effectiveness of a product could lead the FDA to modify or withdraw product approval. Prohibitions or restrictions on sales or
withdrawal of future products marketed by us could materially affect our business in an adverse way.
Changes in regulations, statutes or the interpretation of existing regulations could impact our business in the future by requiring, for example:
(i) changes to our manufacturing arrangements; (ii) additions or modifications to product labeling; (iii) the voluntary recall or discontinuation of our
products; or (iv) additional record-keeping requirements. If any such changes were to be imposed, they could adversely affect the operation of our
business.
Orphan Designation and Exclusivity
The FDA may grant orphan drug designation to drugs intended to treat a rare disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the
United States. Alternatively, orphan drug designation may be available if the disease or the condition affects more than 200,000 individuals in the United
States and there is no reasonable
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expectation that the cost of developing and making the drug for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the United States.
Orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages, and
user-fee waivers. In addition, if a product is the first to receive FDA approval of the indication for which it has orphan designation, the product is
entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which means the FDA may not approve any other application to market the same drug for the same indication for a
period of seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority over the product with orphan exclusivity.
U.S. Marketing Exclusivity
Market exclusivity provisions under the FDCA can also delay the submission or the approval of certain marketing applications. The FDA provides three
years of marketing exclusivity for an 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 modification for which the drug received approval on the basis of the new
clinical investigations and does not prohibit the FDA from approving ANDAs for drugs containing the active agent for the original indication or
condition of use. 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 nonclinical studies and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials necessary to
demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Orphan drug exclusivity, as described above, may offer a seven-year period of marketing exclusivity, except in
certain circumstances. Pediatric exclusivity is another type of regulatory market exclusivity in the United States. Pediatric exclusivity, adds six months
of exclusivity, which runs from the end of other exclusivity protection and patent term, and may be granted based on the voluntary completion of a
pediatric trial in accordance with an FDA-issued “Written Request” for such a trial.
Other Regulations
We are also subject to numerous federal, state and local laws relating to such matters as safe working conditions, manufacturing practices,
environmental protection and fire hazard control. We may incur significant costs to comply with such laws and regulations now or in the future.
European Orphan Designation and Exclusivity
In the European Union, the European Commission, after reviewing the opinion of the EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, grants orphan
drug designation to promote the development of products that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of life-threatening or chronically
debilitating conditions that affect not more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union Community, or when, without incentives, it is unlikely
that sales of such products in the European Union would be sufficient to justify the necessary investment in developing the products. Additionally,
orphan drug designation is only available where no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of the condition has been authorized (or
the product would be a significant benefit to those affected).
In the European Union, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and 10 years of market
exclusivity is granted following medicinal product approval. This period may be reduced to six years if the orphan drug designation criteria are no
longer met, including where it is shown that the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity. Market exclusivity
would not prevent the approval of a similar drug that is shown to be safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior.
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Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an application for marketing approval. Orphan drug designation does not convey any
advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process.
Coverage and Reimbursement
Sales of any products for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale will depend in part on the availability of coverage and adequate
reimbursement from third-party payors, including government healthcare program administrative authorities, managed care organizations, private health
insurers, and other entities. Patients who are prescribed medications for the treatment of their conditions, and their prescribing physicians, generally rely
on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their prescription drugs. Patients are unlikely to use our products unless
coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of our products. Therefore, our products, if approved, may
not obtain market acceptance unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of our products.
The process for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a drug product typically is separate from the process for setting the
price of a drug product or for establishing the reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the drug product once coverage is approved. Third-party
payors may limit coverage to specific drug products on an approved list, also known as a formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved
drugs for a particular indication. A decision by a third-party payor not to cover our product candidates could reduce physician utilization of our products
once approved. Moreover, a third-party payor’s decision to provide coverage for a drug product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will
be approved or that any required patient cost-sharing amount will be acceptable to the patient. 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. Additionally, coverage and
reimbursement for drug products can differ significantly from payor to payor and among the insured lives of an individual payor depending upon the
benefits applicable to the insured person. One third-party payor’s decision to cover a particular drug product or service does not ensure that other payors
will also provide coverage for the medical product or service, or will provide coverage at an adequate reimbursement rate. As a result, the coverage
determination process will require us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our products to each payor separately and will be a time-
consuming process.
The containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of federal, state and foreign governments, and the prices of drugs have been a focus in this
effort. Third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular drug products and are
increasingly challenging the prices charged for drug products and medical services, examining the medical necessity and reviewing the cost
effectiveness of drug products and medical services, in addition to questioning safety and efficacy. If these third-party payors do not consider our
products to be cost-effective compared to other available therapies, they may not cover our products after FDA approval or, if they do, the level of
payment may not be sufficient to allow us to sell our products at a profit. In the United States, the principal decisions about reimbursement for new drug
products are typically made by CMS, an agency within the HHS. CMS decides whether and to what extent a new drug product will be covered and
reimbursed under Medicare, and private payors tend to follow CMS to a substantial degree. However, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement
for drug products exists among third-party payors and coverage and reimbursement levels for drug products can differ significantly from payor to payor.
In many countries, the prices of drug products are subject to varying price control mechanisms as part of national health systems. In general, the prices
of drug products under such systems are substantially lower than in the United States. Other countries allow companies to fix their own prices for drug
products, but monitor and control company profits. Accordingly, in markets outside the United States, the reimbursement for drug products may be
reduced compared with the United States.
The U.S. government, state legislatures and foreign governments have also shown significant interest in implementing cost containment programs to
limit the growth of government-paid health care costs, including
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price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products for branded prescription drugs. By way of example,
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, collectively, the Affordable Care Act,
contains provisions that may reduce the profitability of drug products, including, for example, increased rebates for drugs sold to Medicaid programs,
extension of Medicaid rebates to Medicaid managed care plans, mandatory discounts for certain Medicare Part D beneficiaries and annual fees based on
pharmaceutical companies’ share of sales to federal health care programs. Some of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act have yet to be fully
implemented, while certain provisions have been subject to judicial and Congressional challenges. For example, on January 20, 2017, President Trump
signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act to waive, defer, grant
exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the Affordable Care Act that would impose a fiscal burden on states or a cost, fee, tax,
penalty or regulatory burden on individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. While Congress has not passed comprehensive repeal
legislation, it has enacted laws that modify certain provisions of the ACA, including eliminating a tax-based shared responsibility payment imposed on
certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage for all or part of a year, which is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate.
On December 14, 2018, a U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that the individual mandate portion of the ACA is an essential
and inseverable feature of the ACA, and therefore because the mandate was repealed, the remaining provisions of the ACA are invalid as well. The
Trump administration and CMS have both stated that the ruling will have no immediate effect, and on December 30, 2018 the same judge issued an
order staying the judgment pending appeal. It is unclear how this decision and any subsequent appeals and other efforts to repeal and replace the ACA
will impact the ACA and our business. Thus, the full impact of the Affordable Care Act, or any law replacing elements of it, on our business remains
unclear. Adoption of government controls and measures, and tightening of restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could
limit payments for pharmaceuticals.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides funding for the federal government to compare the effectiveness of different treatments
for the same illness. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes for
Health develop research plans and periodically report on the status of the research and related expenditures to Congress. Although the results of the
comparative effectiveness studies are not intended to mandate coverage policies for governmental or private payors, it is not clear what effect, if any, the
research will have on the sales of our product candidates, if any such product or the condition that it is intended to treat is the subject of a study. It is also
possible that comparative effectiveness research demonstrating benefits in a competitor’s product could adversely affect the sales of our product
candidates, if and once approved.
In addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements
governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, the European Union provides options for its member states to restrict the
range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for
human use. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the
profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or
reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products, if
approved. Historically, products launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally tend to be
significantly lower.
Anti-Kickback and False Claims Laws and Other Regulatory Matters
In the United States, among other things, the research, manufacturing, distribution, sale and promotion of drug products are potentially subject to
regulation and enforcement by various federal, state and local authorities in
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addition to the FDA, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, other divisions of the United States Department of Health and Human
Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade
Commission, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, state attorneys general and other state and local
government agencies. Our current and future business activities, including for example, sales, marketing and scientific/educational grant programs must
comply with healthcare regulatory laws, including the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal False Claims Act, as amended, the privacy regulations
promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, as amended, physician payment transparency laws, and similar
state laws. Pricing and rebate programs must comply with the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1990, as amended, and the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, as amended. If products are made available to authorized users of the Federal Supply
Schedule of the General Services Administration, additional laws and requirements apply. The handling of any controlled substances must comply with
the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and Controlled Substances Import and Export Act. Products must meet applicable child-resistant packaging
requirements under the U.S. Poison Prevention Packaging Act. All of these activities are also potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection
and unfair competition laws.
The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute makes it illegal for any person, including a prescription drug manufacturer (or a party acting on its behalf) to
knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, offer, or pay any remuneration that is intended to induce the referral of business, including the purchasing,
leasing, ordering or arranging for or recommending the purchase, lease or order 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 Medicare or Medicaid. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include
anything of value. The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers on one hand
and prescribers, purchasers and formulary managers on the other. Although there are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors
protecting some common activities from prosecution, the exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly. Practices that involve remuneration that may
be alleged to be intended to induce prescribing, purchases or recommendations may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exception or safe
harbor. Failure to meet all of the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per se
illegal under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on a cumulative
review of all of its facts and circumstances. Additionally, the intent standard under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute was amended by the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively the ACA, to a stricter
standard such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a
violation. In addition, the ACA codified case law 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 Federal False Claims Act. Violations of this law are punishable by up to five years in prison,
criminal fines, administrative civil money penalties, and exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs. In addition, many states have
adopted laws similar to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Some of these state prohibitions apply to the referral of patients for healthcare services
reimbursed by any insurer, not just federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Due to the breadth of these federal and state anti-
kickback laws, and the potential for additional legal or regulatory change in this area, it is possible that our future business activities, including our sales
and marketing practices and/or our future relationships with endocrinologists and other healthcare providers might be challenged under anti-kickback
laws, which could harm us.
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, including drugs, that are false or fraudulent. This statute has been interpreted
to prohibit presenting claims for items or services not provided as claimed, or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. 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
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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 found liable under the Federal False Claims Act in connection with their off-label promotion of drugs. Penalties for a False Claims
Act violation include three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus mandatory civil penalties of between $11,181 and $22,363 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. If the government were to allege
that we were, or convict us of, violating these false claims laws, we could be subject to a substantial fine and may suffer a decline in our stock price. 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.
Similarly, the civil monetary penalties statute imposes penalties against any person or entity who, among other things, is determined to have presented or
caused to be presented a claim to a federal health program that the person knows or should know is for an item or service that was not provided as
claimed or is false or fraudulent.
Additionally, HIPAA created federal criminal statutes that prohibit, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a
scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering
up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits,
items or services.
The ACA included a provision commonly referred to as the Sunshine Act, which requires certain pharmaceutical manufacturers to track and report
annually certain financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals, including any “transfer of value” provided, as well as any ownership or
investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Covered manufacturers are required to submit reports to CMS by the 90th
day of each subsequent calendar year. The information reported is publicly available and searchable on the CMS website. There are also an increasing
number of state and foreign laws that require manufacturers to make reports to states or foreign governments on pricing and marketing information.
Many of these laws contain ambiguities as to what is required to comply with the laws. In addition, given the lack of clarity with respect to these laws
and their implementation, our reporting actions could be subject to the penalty provisions of the pertinent state, federal or foreign authorities. These laws
may affect our sales, marketing and other promotional activities by imposing administrative and compliance burdens on us. We are engaging in
significant efforts to establish systems and processes in order to comply with these laws and regulations. Failure to comply with the reporting
requirements would result in significant civil monetary penalties.
In addition, we may be subject to data privacy and security regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business.
HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and their respective implementing
regulations, including the final omnibus rule published on January 25, 2013, imposes specified requirements relating to the privacy, security and
transmission of individually identifiable health information. Among other things, HITECH makes certain of HIPAA’s privacy and security standards
directly applicable to business associates, defined as an entity that performs certain functions that create, receive, maintain or transmit protected health
information in connection with providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties
and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and
seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions.
In addition to HIPAA and HITECH, other federal and state laws, including state security breach notification laws, state health information privacy laws
and federal and state consumer protection laws, govern the collection,
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use and disclosure of personal information. For example, in June 2018 California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act which takes effect on
January 1, 2020 and will broadly define personal information, give California residents expanded privacy rights and protections, provide civil penalties
for violations, and create a private right of action and statutory damages for victims of data breaches. Other states are considering similar laws. Many
state laws that govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances differ from each other in significant ways and may not
have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. Various foreign countries also have, or are developing, laws governing the collection, use
and transmission of personal information. The legislative and regulatory landscape for privacy and data protection continues to evolve, and there has
been an increasing amount of focus on privacy and data protection issues with the potential to affect our business.
The failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements subjects us to possible legal or regulatory action. Depending on the circumstances, failure
to meet applicable regulatory requirements can result in significant criminal, civil and/or administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement,
exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, injunctions, recall or seizure of products, total or partial
suspension of production, denial or withdrawal of product approvals, refusal to allow us to enter into supply contracts, including government contracts,
contractual damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens, diminished profits and future earnings, and the curtailment or restructuring of our
operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. Even if we are not determined to have
violated applicable regulatory or legal requirements, government investigations into alleged violations typically requires the expenditure of significant
resources and could generate negative publicity, which could harm our business.
Affordable Care Act and Other Reform Initiatives
In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and likely will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes and
proposed changes regarding the healthcare system directed at broadening the availability of healthcare and containing or lowering the cost of healthcare.
In March 2010, the ACA was enacted. The ACA includes measures that have significantly changed, and are expected to continue to significantly
change, the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among the provisions of the ACA of greatest importance to the
pharmaceutical industry are the following:
•
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 in exchange for state Medicaid coverage of most of the manufacturer’s
drugs. 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 and biologic products to 23.1% of average
manufacturer price, or 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 expanded the types of entities eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing, although, with the exception of children’s hospitals,
these newly eligible entities will not be eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing on orphan drugs used in orphan indications. In addition,
because 340B pricing is determined based on AMP and Medicaid drug rebate data, the revisions to the Medicaid rebate formula and AMP
definition described above could cause the required 340B discounts to increase. The ACA imposed a requirement on manufacturers of
branded drugs and biologic agents to provide a 50% discount off the negotiated price of branded drugs dispensed to Medicare Part D
beneficiaries in the coverage gap (i.e., “donut hole”). The required discount was increased to 70% on January 1, 2019 pursuant to the
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.
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•
•
The ACA imposed an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs and biologic
products, 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.
The ACA included the Sunshine Act, which required certain pharmaceutical manufacturers to track and annually report to CMS certain
financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals, including any “transfer of value” provided, as well as any ownership or
investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.
•
The ACA established a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, 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.
•
The ACA established 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 through 2019.
Some of the provisions of the ACA have yet to be fully implemented, while certain provisions have been subject to judicial and Congressional
challenges. In January 2017, Congress voted to adopt a budget resolution for fiscal year 2017, that while not a law, is widely viewed as the first step
toward the passage of legislation that would repeal certain aspects of the ACA. Further, on January 20, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive
Order directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the
implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal burden on states or a cost, fee, tax, penalty or regulatory burden on individuals,
healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. On October 13, 2017, President Trump signed an
Executive Order terminating the cost-sharing subsidies that reimburse insurers under the ACA. Several state Attorneys General filed suit to stop the
administration from terminating the subsidies, but their request for a restraining order was denied by a federal judge in California on October 25, 2017.
In addition, CMS has recently proposed regulations that would give states greater flexibility in setting benchmarks for insurers in the individual and
small group marketplaces, which may have the effect of relaxing the essential health benefits required under the ACA for plans sold through such
marketplaces. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, includes a provision repealing, effective January 1, 2019, the tax-based shared
responsibility payment imposed by the ACA on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage for all or part of a year that is
commonly referred to as the “individual mandate.” Additionally, on January 22, 2018, President Trump signed a continuing resolution on appropriations
for fiscal year 2018 that delayed the implementation of certain ACA-mandated fees, including the so-called “Cadillac” tax on certain high cost
employer-sponsored insurance plan, the annual fee imposed on certain high cost employer-sponsored insurance plans, the annual fee imposed on certain
health insurance providers based on market share, and the medical device excise tax on non-exempt medical devices. Further, the Bipartisan Budget Act
of 2018, or the BBA, among other things, amends the ACA, effective January 1, 2019, to reduce the coverage gap in most Medicare drug plans,
commonly referred to as the “donut hole.” Congress may consider other legislation to modify, repeal, or replace elements of the ACA. Thus, the full
impact of the ACA, or any law replacing elements of it, on our business remains unclear.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA was enacted. In August 2011, the Budget Control Act of
2011, among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with
recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby
triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers
up to 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect in April 2013 and will remain in effect through 2027 unless additional congressional action is taken. In
January 2013, former President Barack
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Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several providers,
including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover
overpayments to providers from three to five years. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a
similar reduction in payments from private payors, which may adversely affect our future profitability.
European Union Drug Development
In the European Union, octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop will also be subject to extensive regulatory requirements.
As in the United States, medicinal products can only be marketed if marketing authorizations from the competent regulatory agencies have been
obtained.
Similar to the United States, the various phases of nonclinical and clinical research in the European Union are subject to significant regulatory controls.
Although the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC has sought to harmonize the EU clinical trials regulatory framework, setting out common rules
for the control and authorization of clinical trials in the EU, the EU Member States have transposed and applied the provisions of the Directive
differently. This has led to significant variations in the member state regimes. Under the current regime, before a clinical trial can be initiated it must be
approved in each of the EU countries where the trial is to be conducted by two distinct bodies: the National Competent Authority, or NCA, and one or
more Ethics Committees, or ECs. Under the current regime all suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions to the investigated drug that occur during
the clinical trial have to be reported to the NCA and ECs of the Member State where they occurred.
On April 16, 2014, the European Commission adopted Clinical Trial Regulation EU No. 536/2014 in an effort to ensure that the rules for conducting
clinical trials in the EU will be identical. The new regulation, among other things, will implement a streamlined application procedure with a single
entry point for review, harmonize the process for assessing applications for clinical trials, simplify reporting procedures, and increase transparency
regarding clinical trials and their outcomes. The regulation, however, will not become applicable until six months after the European Commission
publishes a notice of the confirmation of the full functionality of the Clinical Trials Information System through an independent audit. Until then, the
current law, Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC, continues to govern all clinical trials performed in the EU.
European Union Drug Review and Approval
In the European Economic Area, or EEA, is comprised of the 28 Member States of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein,
medicinal products can only be commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization, or MA. There are two types of marketing authorizations:
The Community MA, is issued by the European Commission through the Centralized Procedure, based on the opinion of the Committee for Medicinal
Products for Human Use of the EMA, and which is valid throughout the entire territory of the EEA. The Centralized Procedure is mandatory for certain
types of products, such as biotechnology medicinal products, orphan medicinal products, such as octreotide capsules, and medicinal products containing
a new active substance indicated for the treatment of AIDS, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, auto-immune and viral diseases. The
Centralized Procedure is optional for products containing a new active substance not yet authorized in the EEA, or for products that constitute a
significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or which are in the interest of public health in the EU.
National MAs, which are issued by the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA and only cover their respective territory, are available for
products not falling within the mandatory scope of the Centralized Procedure. Where a product has already been authorized for marketing in a Member
State of the EEA, this National MA can be recognized in another Member States through the Mutual Recognition Procedure. If the product has not
received a National MA in any Member State at the time of application, it can be approved
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simultaneously in various Member States through the Decentralized Procedure. Under the Decentralized Procedure an identical dossier is submitted to
the competent authorities of each of the Member States in which the MA is sought, one of which is selected by the applicant as the Reference Member
State, or RMS. The competent authority of the RMS prepares a draft assessment report, a draft summary of the product characteristics, or SPC, and a
draft of the labeling and package leaflet, which are sent to the other Member States (referred to as the Member States Concerned) for their approval. If
the Member States Concerned raise no objections, based on a potential serious risk to public health, to the assessment, SPC, labeling, or packaging
proposed by the RMS, the product is subsequently granted a national MA in all the Member States (i.e. in the RMS and the Member States Concerned).
Under the above described procedures, before granting the MA, the EMA or the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA make an
assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the product on the basis of scientific criteria concerning its quality, safety and efficacy.
The approval process and requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, drug review and approval, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement
vary greatly from place to place, and the time in the EEA and other foreign territories may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval.
Employees
As of March 1, 2019, we had 18 full-time employees located in the United States and in Israel. While none of our employees are represented by a labor
union or party to any collective bargaining agreement, certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut (General
Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations (including the Industrialists’ Associations) are applicable to our
employees in Israel by extension orders issued by the Israel Ministry of Economy (previously the Israeli Ministry of Trade, Industry and Labor).
Israeli labor laws principally govern the length of the workday, minimum wages for employees, procedures for hiring and dismissing employees,
determination of severance pay, annual leave, sick days, advance notice of termination of employment, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws
and other conditions of employment. Subject to certain exceptions, Israeli law generally requires severance pay upon the retirement, death or dismissal
of an employee, and requires us and our employees to make payments to the National Insurance Institute, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security
Administration. Our Israeli employees have defined-benefit pension plans that comply with applicable Israeli legal requirements, which also include the
mandatory pension payments required by applicable law and allocations for severance pay.
Although we experienced two separate reductions in force in 2016 aggregating greater than 60% of our workforce following our receipt of the CRL, we
have never experienced any employment-related work stoppages and believe our relationship with our remaining employees is good.
Research and Development
During the year ended December 31, 2018, our total research and development expense was $22.4 million compared to $17.9 million and $31.3 million
in the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in 2018 was primarily due to increased costs related to the CHIASMA
OPTIMAL clinical trial which we initiated in September 2017, and the MPOWERED trial and were partially offset by reduced personnel costs
associated with the transition of our former Chief Development Officer from a full-time employee to a member of the board of directors of both our
company and our Israeli subsidiary. The decrease in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to approximately $7.4 million of API purchases and
pre-commercial manufacturing validation activities during 2016, that did not reoccur in 2017, as well as reduced compensation-related costs and other
research and development program efforts following the reductions of force in June and August 2016. These decreases were partially offset by an
increase in clinical trial costs of $1.3 million.
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Corporate Information
We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and commenced business operations in 2001. Our principal executive offices are located
at 460 Totten Pond Road, Suite 530, Waltham, MA 02451 and our telephone number is (617) 928-5300. Our website address is
www.chiasmapharma.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q,
proxy statement, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such
material or furnish them to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The SEC also maintains a website containing reports, proxy materials
and information statements, among other information, at http://www.sec.gov. The information contained on our website, or that can be accessed through
our website, is not a part of this annual report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.
We own various U.S. federal and foreign trademark registrations and applications, as well as pending and unregistered trademarks and service marks,
including “CHIASMA”, “TPE”, “MYCAPSSA”, “MYCAPSSA logo”, “ACROMEGALY.CARE plus logo”, CAPS plus logo and “CHIASMA logo” for
our corporate logo. “CHIASMA”, “MYCAPSSA”, “TPE”, CHIASMA logo, ACROMEGALY.CARE plus logo and CAPS plus logo are U.S. federal
trademarks registered to Chiasma, Inc. All trademarks or trade names referred to in this Form 10-K including those of third parties are the property of
their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this Form 10-K may be referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but
such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their
rights thereto. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or
sponsorship of us by, any other companies. During 2018 we obtained a copyright registration in the United States for our acromegaly treatment
satisfaction questionnaire (Acro-TSQ).
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other public filings before making an investment decision. Our business, prospects, financial condition, or
operating results could be harmed by any of these risks, as well as other risks not currently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial. If any
such risks or uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could differ materially from the plans, projections and
other forward-looking statements included in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” and elsewhere in this report and in our other public filings. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks,
and as a result, you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to the Development and Potential Regulatory Approval and Commercialization of Octreotide Capsules and any Future Product
Candidates
In light of our receipt of a Complete Response Letter, or CRL, from the FDA in April 2016 regarding our New Drug Application, or NDA, for
octreotide capsules for the maintenance treatment of U.S. adult patients with acromegaly, our participation in an End of Review Meeting and
several additional interactions with the FDA, and despite our receipt of a Special Protocol Assessment, or SPA, for our CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase
3 clinical trial, the approvability of octreotide capsules is uncertain and we may never obtain regulatory approval in the United States, which would
jeopardize our viability as a business.
In June 2015, we submitted an NDA to the FDA for the marketing and sale of octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of adult patients with
acromegaly. On the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, date of April 15, 2016, the FDA issued a CRL regarding the NDA, indicating that their
review was complete and the NDA was not ready for approval in its present form. In its CRL, the FDA advised us that it did not believe our application
provided substantial evidence of efficacy to warrant approval, and advised us that we would need to
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conduct another clinical trial in order to overcome this deficiency. The FDA expressed concerns regarding certain aspects of our single-arm, open-label
Phase 3 clinical trial and strongly recommended that we conduct a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial that enrolls patients from the United
States and is of sufficiently long duration to ensure that control of disease activity is stable at the time point selected for the primary efficacy assessment.
In addition, the FDA advised that, during a site inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that would
need to be resolved before approval. In addition, while the FDA did not note any safety concerns related to octreotide capsules in the CRL, it
subsequently indicated in the minutes from our June 2016 End of Review meeting that the size, duration, dropout rate and absence of a control group in
our Phase 3 clinical trial were factors limiting an overall safety assessment.
In the End of Review meeting, we discussed the concerns raised by the FDA in the CRL, and in the meeting minutes, the FDA reiterated its strong
recommendation for a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial, and introduced the concept of a placebo control as a design element that could
address some of the FDA’s concerns. In August 2017, we reached agreement with the FDA under its SPA procedures of a new Phase 3 clinical trial of
octreotide capsules in adult acromegaly patients, which includes a placebo control. This clinical trial was designed to address the concerns previously
raised in the CRL and support a potential resubmission of our NDA for octreotide capsules in acromegaly. In May 2018, we received a SPA Agreement
Modification Letter from the FDA agreeing to our proposed modification to the hierarchical set of secondary endpoints. We refer to this new Phase 3
trial, which we initiated in September 2017, using the acronym CHIASMA OPTIMAL.
We estimate that we will report top-line data from CHIASMA OPTIMAL in the third quarter of 2019. If the data from CHIASMA OPTIMAL is
positive, we plan to resubmit our NDA by year-end 2019. We expect the FDA will aim to complete its review of our anticipated NDA, if accepted for
filing, within six months based on our expectation that the NDA filing will be designated a Class 2 resubmission by FDA to address its CRL to our
original NDA. The duration of the trial, the timing of data and time provided for the NDA review, if submitted, could take longer that we expect.
Although we currently estimate that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operations through the
anticipated release of top-line data from our Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial in the third quarter of 2019 and into early 2020, clinical development is
inherently uncertain and therefore we may not have the sufficient capital resources necessary to achieve this plan. Further, we may not have sufficient
capital resources to fully fund CHIASMA OPTIMAL, or any additional trials that the FDA may require as a condition to approval.
We also cannot provide any assurance that if we complete CHIASMA OPTIMAL, the data from the trial will be sufficiently positive to support U.S.
regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of adult patients with acromegaly. Varying interpretations of the data obtained
from nonclinical and clinical testing or manufacturing of our product candidates could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval of octreotide capsules.
Of note, in July 2014, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., collectively Roche, elected to terminate our license agreement for
octreotide capsules after reviewing the data from the seven-month core treatment period of our first Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules and after
a May 2014 pre-NDA meeting with the FDA. Roche cited no reason for its decision in its formal notice of termination, but stated publicly at the time
that it had elected to make this decision after receiving additional information about our first Phase 3 clinical trial and after further consultation with
regulatory authorities. Subsequent to this decision, we independently met with the FDA to discuss the clinical development of octreotide capsules,
including the first Phase 3 clinical results from the six-month extension phase of the clinical trial (in addition to the seven-month core data provided by
Roche in May 2014). At this meeting, the FDA advised us that it had not identified an issue that would preclude us from submitting an NDA for review.
However, the FDA also advised us that interpreting efficacy from a voluntary long-term extension study is subject to limitations and therefore the data at
the seven-month time point in our first Phase 3 clinical trial would carry more weight in the efficacy evaluation than the extension data. The FDA also
informed us that, in its view, a single-arm study was not as informative as a controlled study such as an active control trial using a non-inferiority design,
and that the interpretability of the efficacy findings we submitted in our NDA from our single-arm study, and whether these findings would be robust
enough to warrant approval, would be review issues as the FDA evaluated our NDA. In April 2016, the FDA issued a CRL.
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If CHIASMA OPTIMAL fails to address the concerns raised by the FDA in the CRL or if we fail to meet the primary or secondary endpoints in the
trial, we may be unable to obtain U.S. regulatory approval for the marketing and sale of octreotide capsules at all or without submitting new or
additional clinical data to the FDA, which may require that we conduct one or more additional clinical trials, which we are highly unlikely to pursue.
Furthermore, if the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial is not successful, our ability to continue our business through the completion of the MPOWERED Phase
3 clinical trial and pursue regulatory approval in the European Union will require significant additional time and capital, which we may not be able to
secure on favorable terms, if at all. The prospects for our business under these circumstances will be significantly diminished, our ability to continue as a
standalone business could be materially impaired and we may need to cease operations.
Even though our Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial is being conducted under a SPA agreed to with the FDA, we cannot guarantee that the design
of, or data collected from, this trial or any of our clinical trials will be sufficient to support filing or approval of an NDA.
In the context of a Phase 3 clinical trial, the purpose of a SPA is to reach agreement with the FDA on the protocol design and size of the trial that may
form the primary basis of an efficacy claim in support of an NDA. In requesting a SPA agreement, a sponsor asks focused questions on specific issues
relating to the protocol, protocol design, study conduct, study goals and data analysis. However, according to regulatory guidance, a SPA agreement
does not indicate FDA concurrence on every protocol detail. Absence of an FDA comment on a particular aspect of a trial does not necessarily indicate
agreement if the sponsor did not specifically ask about that aspect. Moreover, a SPA is not a guarantee of approval, even if the trial is successful. A SPA
is not binding on the FDA and may be rescinded if, for example, the FDA identifies a safety concern related to the product or its pharmacological class,
if the FDA and the scientific community recognize a paradigm shift in disease diagnosis or management, if the relevant data, assumptions or information
provided by the sponsor in the SPA submission are found to be false or misstated or omit relevant facts, or if the sponsor fails to follow the protocol that
was agreed upon with the FDA. A SPA may be modified, as our SPA was in May 2018, with the written agreement of the FDA and the trial sponsor and,
according to regulatory guidance, minor issues can be resolved through additional correspondence and protocol amendments after the trial begins.
However, the FDA retains significant latitude and discretion in interpreting the terms of a SPA agreement, the significance of protocol amendments, if
necessary after the trial begins, and the data and results from the applicable clinical trial.
Further, the results from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, may not be sufficiently robust to support the
filing or approval of an NDA. In particular, the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial has a relatively small sample size, 56 patients enrolled, and therefore the
FDA has indicated that missing data, which might be only a few measurements, may raise questions about data quality and may, ultimately, invalidate
the trial results. It should also be noted that the design of the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial is different in important ways from the design of both our
current MPOWERED clinical trial and our completed Phase 3 clinical trial. For example, in contrast to our completed Phase 3 clinical trial, which did
not have a placebo arm, the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial design calls for the randomization of 50% of study patients to placebo capsules. While we
believe that as many as 90% or more of the patients randomized to placebo capsules could require injectable somatostatin analog rescue therapy or
otherwise fail placebo treatment, we cannot predict with any precision the effect of placebo capsules in this trial. Conducting a randomized, double-blind
and controlled trial, with a placebo control poses challenges different from prior clinical trials we have conducted. In our completed Phase 3 clinical trial
we used IGF-1 < 1.3 times the upper limit of normal as a screening eligibility criteria and the threshold for response whereas in our CHIASMA
OPTIMAL trial we use IGF-1 £ 1.0 times the upper limit of normal. In light of these new trial design elements, even if we achieve a clinical response
consistent with or similar to what we believe we achieved in our completed Phase 3 clinical trial, we may fail to achieve the primary or secondary
endpoints of the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial.
We anticipate that both primary and secondary endpoints in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, as well as data from our other clinical trials of octreotide
capsules, will be taken into account by the FDA in evaluating the totality of evidence for octreotide capsules treatment effect. Therefore, achievement of
the primary endpoint in the
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CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial alone may not be sufficient to support approval. Not all endpoints measured may be supportive of octreotide capsules’
efficacy or safety.
We anticipate that the FDA will review the totality of the data collected from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, including both primary and secondary
endpoints, along with the data from our other clinical trials, and whether the data collected are sufficiently robust to support the interpretability of these
analyses, in determining whether to approve our NDA, if resubmitted, for the marketing and sale of octreotide capsules. Consequently, there can be no
assurance that the data collected from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial will be sufficient to support approval of our NDA, if resubmitted, for the
marketing and sale of octreotide capsules. If the data from CHIASMA OPTIMAL is insufficient to support approval of our NDA, our ability to continue
as a standalone business could be materially impaired and we may need to cease operations.
We are substantially dependent on the regulatory approval and subsequent commercial success of octreotide capsules for the treatment of
acromegaly in the United States, both of which may never occur.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with no products approved by regulatory authorities or available for commercial sale. As a result,
our potential to generate future revenues is currently dependent upon our ability to obtain regulatory approval and achieve commercial success of
octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly in the United States and European Union. Our receipt of a CRL from the FDA to our NDA for
octreotide capsules and the requirement to conduct an additional Phase 3 clinical trial to address the concerns raised in the CRL has resulted, and will
continue to result, in a significant delay in our ability to commercialize octreotide capsules in the United States, if we are ever able to obtain U.S.
regulatory approval at all.
Even if we receive regulatory approval, the timing of the commercial launch of octreotide capsules in the United States is dependent upon a number of
factors, including, but not limited to, hiring and retaining sales and marketing personnel (especially since we terminated substantially all of our
commercial personnel in June 2016), pricing and reimbursement timelines, the production of sufficient quantities of commercial drug product
(especially since we indefinitely suspended all of our commercial manufacturing commitments during the second quarter of 2016), implementation of a
distribution infrastructure, the efficacy and safety data from our clinical trials and the competitive landscape. In addition, the FDA may introduce
significant restrictions to the label for octreotide capsules, if approved, in an effort to address the concerns it raised in the CRL and the End of Review
meeting or to address findings in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial or the MPOWERED clinical trial. Any such restrictions or concerns about efficacy
within the medical community could significantly impact market adoption and commercial performance of octreotide capsules, even if we are able
obtain regulatory approval to commercialize in the United States in the future.
In the event that the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial is not successful or we are not able to resubmit our planned NDA to the FDA, we may not be able to
ever reach or achieve profitability, or even commercial viability, based solely on the prospects of marketing authorization approval of octreotide
capsules in the European Union. Further, if the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial is unsuccessful, the MPOWERED trial, even if successful, may no longer be
sufficient evidence to warrant EMA approval of octreotide capsules as we expect that negative results from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial will reduce
the likelihood of approval of octreotide capsules by the EMA. Our potential for financial success in the European Union as a standalone market will
largely be dependent upon our ability to raise significant additional capital at least through the MAA approval date, which is uncertain, to obtain timely
and adequate pricing and reimbursement approval for octreotide capsules from countries comprising the European Union, if approved, to achieve market
acceptance of octreotide capsules in the European Union, to build our commercial infrastructure and distribution capabilities in the European Union, and
to grow the octreotide capsules business in the EU market to a certain scale. As such, there can be no assurance that the commercialization of octreotide
capsules or our business plans are at all viable in the absence of sufficiently positive CHIASMA OPTIMAL data and FDA approval of octreotide
capsules.
In addition, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant expenses and to utilize virtually all of our efforts and financial resources as we
continue to pursue the approval of octreotide capsules in the United
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States and European Union. The success of octreotide capsules, if approved, will depend on several factors, including:
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•
•
•
•
•
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•
•
•
the efficacy and safety data from our clinical trials;
execution of an effective sales and marketing strategy for the commercialization of octreotide capsules;
acceptance by patients, the medical community and third-party payors;
the incidence and prevalence of acromegaly in those markets in which octreotide capsules are approved;
the prevalence and severity of side effects, if any, experienced with octreotide capsules;
the availability, perceived advantages, cost, safety and efficacy of alternative treatments;
our success in educating physicians and patients about the benefits, administration and use of octreotide capsules;
successful implementation of our manufacturing processes and production of sufficient quantities of commercial drug product;
maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, including current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs, and taking other
measures satisfactory to the FDA; and
obtaining and maintaining patent, trademark and trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity and otherwise protecting our rights in our
intellectual property portfolio.
Other than octreotide capsules, we have no other product candidates in clinical development. As a result, we continue to be highly dependent on the
regulatory approval and successful commercialization of octreotide capsules, the failure of which could raise substantial doubt of our ability to continue
as a viable business.
If we are not able to obtain required regulatory approvals for octreotide capsules, particularly in the U.S., we will not be able to commercialize this
product candidate and our ability to generate revenue or profits, raise future capital, or continue as a standalone business could be materially
impaired.
In June 2015, we submitted an NDA to the FDA, for octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of acromegaly, which was accepted for filing to
permit a substantive review. The FDA issued a CRL regarding our NDA on our PDUFA date of April 15, 2016, indicating that the NDA was not able to
be approved during this review cycle and strongly recommending that we conduct a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial. In the End of Review
meeting, the FDA reiterated its strong recommendation for a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial.
In October 2015, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, accepted the design, enrollment criteria and required duration of our second Phase 3 trial to
evaluate the non-inferiority of octreotide capsules to injectable somatostatin analogs in adult patients with acromegaly. This clinical trial, which is
referred to as MPOWERED and was initiated in March 2016, is a global, randomized, open-label and active-controlled 15-month trial initially designed
to enroll up to 150 patients in Europe, Russia, the United States and certain other countries. This clinical trial is currently designed to show comparative
effectiveness as required by the EMA, to support submission of a marketing authorization application, or MAA, and potential approval. The FDA
advised us that positive data from the ongoing MPOWERED clinical trial, if obtained, will not be sufficient to address the concerns identified by the
FDA in the CRL. Shortly following the receipt of this advice, we commenced the SPA process with FDA for the new Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL
clinical trial. The CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial may not be successful. The FDA may never approve an octreotide capsules NDA, if resubmitted
following the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial. Our ongoing MPOWERED Phase 3 clinical trial may not be successful, or acceptable to the EMA to support
regulatory approval in the European Union. The CRL or data produced from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial could adversely impact the EMA’s review
of our regulatory submission, if submitted, and therefore we may never receive approval to market octreotide capsules in the United States, European
Union or elsewhere.
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Importantly, we expect that the safety data generated in all of our clinical trials of octreotide capsules, including our completed first Phase 3 clinical trial,
the CHIASMA OPTIMAL clinical trial and the MPOWERED clinical trial, as well as the efficacy data from our completed first Phase 3 clinical trial
and the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, will be integrated into our planned NDA, if resubmitted. We further expect the safety and efficacy data from all
three of our Phase 3 clinical trials to be submitted in our planned MAA filing. While CHIASMA OPTIMAL has been designed to address the FDA’s
concerns in the CRL and the MPOWERED trial design has been accepted by the EMA, our ultimate success in the regulatory review process of each
planned application for marketing approval could be negatively impacted by the trial results from any of our clinical trials.
The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, approval, sale, marketing, advertising and promotion, export, import and distribution
of drug products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States and other countries, and these
regulations differ from country to country and change over time. We are not permitted to market octreotide capsules in the United States until we receive
approval of an NDA from the FDA, or in any foreign countries until we receive the requisite approvals in such countries. In the United States, the FDA
generally requires the completion of nonclinical testing and clinical trials of each drug to establish its safety and efficacy and extensive pharmaceutical
development to ensure its quality and other factors before an NDA is approved. Regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions impose similar requirements
and may impose pricing restrictions. Of the large number of drugs in development, only a small percentage result in the submission of an NDA to the
FDA and even fewer are approved for commercialization.
Other than the June 2015 submission of our NDA for octreotide capsules in acromegaly to the FDA, we have not yet submitted comparable applications
to other regulatory authorities. If our development efforts for octreotide capsules, including our ability to obtain regulatory approval, are not successful
for the acromegaly indication or are delayed, or if adequate demand for octreotide capsules are not generated, our business and ability to generate
revenues will be materially harmed. Failure to obtain regulatory marketing approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly will prevent us from
commercializing the product candidate, which could raise significant concerns about our continued viability as a business.
The success of octreotide capsules will depend on the receipt of regulatory approval, and the issuance of such approvals is uncertain and subject to a
number of risks, including the following:
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•
the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, institutional review boards, or IRBs, or ethics committees may disagree with the
design or conduct of our clinical trials;
we may not be able to provide acceptable evidence of octreotide capsules’ safety and efficacy;
the results of our clinical trials may not be sufficiently robust or meet the level of statistical or clinical significance required by the FDA, the
EMA or other regulatory agencies for marketing approval;
the dosing of octreotide capsules in a particular clinical trial may not be at an optimal level;
patients in our clinical trials may suffer adverse effects for reasons that may or may not be related to octreotide capsules;
the data collected from our clinical trials may not be sufficient to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere;
the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may identify deficiencies with the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party
manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies, one of which was identified by the FDA in its CRL, or may
later suspend or withdraw approval of our products;
the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering
our clinical data insufficient for approval; and
even if we obtain marketing approval in one or more countries, future safety or other issues could result in the suspension or withdrawal of
regulatory approval in such countries.
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In particular, we cannot guarantee that regulators will agree with our assessment of the results of the clinical trials we have conducted to date, as was the
case with the FDA’s review of our completed first Phase 3 clinical trial contained in the NDA, or that any current or future trials will be successful. The
FDA, EMA and other regulators have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data
are insufficient for approval and require additional clinical trials, or nonclinical or other studies, as the FDA strongly recommended in the CRL.
We have only limited experience in filing the applications necessary to gain regulatory approvals and have relied before, and expect to continue to rely,
on consultants and third-party contract research organizations, or CROs, with expertise in this area to assist us in this process. Securing FDA approval
requires the submission of extensive nonclinical and clinical data, information about product manufacturing processes and inspection of facilities and
supporting information to the FDA for each therapeutic indication to establish a product candidate’s safety and efficacy for each indication and
manufacturing quality. Octreotide capsules may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that may preclude
our obtaining regulatory approval or prevent or limit commercial use with respect to one or all intended indications.
The process of obtaining regulatory approvals is expensive, often takes many years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon,
among other things, the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved, the jurisdiction in which regulatory approval is sought and the
substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. Changes in the regulatory approval policy during the development period, changes in or the
enactment of additional statutes or regulations, or changes in regulatory review for a submitted product application may cause delays in the approval or
rejection of an application or may result in future withdrawal of approval. Regulatory approval obtained in one jurisdiction does not necessarily mean
that a product candidate will receive regulatory approval in all jurisdictions in which we may seek approval, but the failure to obtain approval in one
jurisdiction may negatively impact our ability to seek approval in a different jurisdiction.
Our development, regulatory and commercialization strategy for octreotide capsules depends, in part, on published scientific literature and the
FDA’s prior findings regarding the safety and efficacy of approved products containing octreotide.
The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, or the Hatch-Waxman Act, added Section 505(b)(2) to the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act, or Section 505(b)(2). Section 505(b)(2) permits the submission of an NDA where at least some of the information required for
approval comes from 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 or entity by or for whom the investigations were conducted. The FDA interprets Section 505(b)(2) to permit the applicant to rely, in
part, upon published literature or the FDA’s previous findings of safety and efficacy for an approved product. The FDA also requires companies to
perform additional clinical trials or measurements to support any difference from the previously approved product. The FDA may then approve the new
product candidate for all or some of the label indications for which the listed drug has been approved, as well as for any new indication(s) sought by the
Section 505(b)(2) applicant as supported by additional data. The label, however, may require all or some of the limitations, contraindications, warnings
or precautions included in the listed drug’s label, including a black box warning, or may require additional limitations, contraindications, warnings or
precautions.
We have designed our nonclinical and clinical programs to seek regulatory approval for octreotide capsules for registration filing in the United States
using the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway and using the hybrid application pathway, which is analogous to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, in the
European Union. As such, our NDA in the United States relied, and if resubmitted following the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial will continue to rely, and
we intend that our MAA in the European Union will rely, in part, on previous findings of safety and efficacy for an approved immediate-release
injectable octreotide product and published scientific literature for which we have not received a right of reference. Even though we designed our
development programs to take advantage of Section 505(b)(2) and the hybrid application pathway to support potential regulatory approval of
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octreotide capsules in the United States and the European Union, the relevant regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials
or measurements to support approval over and above the clinical trials that we have already completed or initiated. The relevant regulatory authorities
also may determine that we have not provided sufficient data to justify reliance on prior investigations involving the approved immediate-release
injectable octreotide product.
In addition, notwithstanding the approval of many products by the FDA pursuant to Section 505(b)(2), in the past some pharmaceutical companies and
others have objected to the FDA’s interpretation of Section 505(b)(2). For example, parties have filed citizen petitions objecting to the FDA approving a
Section 505(b)(2) NDA on scientific, legal and regulatory grounds. Scientific arguments have included the assertions that for the FDA to determine the
similarity of the drug in the 505(b)(2) NDA to the listed drug, the FDA would need to reference proprietary manufacturing information or trade secrets
in the listed drug’s NDA; that it would be scientifically inappropriate for the FDA to rely on public or nonpublic information about the listed drug
because it differs in various ways from the drug in the 505(b)(2) NDA; or that differences between the listed drug and the drug in the 505(b)(2) NDA
may impair the latter’s safety and effectiveness. Legal and regulatory arguments have included the assertion that Section 505(b)(2) NDAs must contain a
full report of investigations conducted on the drug proposed for approval, and that approving a drug through the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway would
lower the approval standards. In addition, citizen petitions have made patent-based challenges against 505(b)(2) NDAs. For example, petitioners have
asserted that the FDA should refuse to file a 505(b)(2) NDA unless it references a specific NDA as the listed drug, because it is “most similar” to the
proposed drug, and provides appropriate patent certification to all patents listed for that NDA; or that when a 505(b)(2) NDA is pending before the FDA,
but before it is approved, where the FDA approves an NDA for a drug that is pharmaceutically equivalent to the drug that is the subject of the 505(b)(2)
NDA, then the FDA should require that the 505(b)(2) NDA be resubmitted referencing the approved NDA as the listed drug and certifying to the listed
patents for that approved drug. However, if the FDA or EMA changes its interpretation of Section 505(b)(2) or the hybrid application pathway, or if the
FDA’s or EMA’s interpretation is successfully challenged in court, this could delay or even prevent the FDA or EMA, as applicable, from approving any
Section 505(b)(2) NDAs or hybrid application pathway MAAs that we submit. Such a result could require us to conduct additional testing and costly
clinical trials, which could substantially delay or prevent the approval and launch of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly or any future
product candidates we may develop.
Clinical drug development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and our current and future clinical trials may not
be successful. Results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results, and approval in one jurisdiction may not be predictive
of approval in other jurisdictions.
We initiated a second Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly called MPOWERED to support potential regulatory approval in the
European Union. In the CRL and subsequent End of Review meeting minutes, the FDA strongly recommended that we conduct a randomized, double-
blind and controlled trial, and introduced the concept of a placebo control as a design element that could potentially address some of the FDA’s
concerns. We acknowledged FDA’s feedback contained in the CRL and in the End of Review meeting minutes and are now conducting a third Phase 3
clinical trial, called the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial under the FDA’s SPA procedures. This trial was initiated in September 2017, was fully enrolled in
October 2018, and we expect to release top-line data in the third quarter of 2019. If we successfully secure regulatory approval in acromegaly, we may
also consider clinical trials of octreotide capsules in indications other than acromegaly, assuming financing is available to us. Clinical testing is
expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain, and we will continue to be subject to these risks. Failure can
occur at any time during the clinical trial process and results of past, current or future trials can adversely affect prospects of securing regulatory
approval or regulatory approvals previously received.
The results of nonclinical studies and prior clinical trials may not be predictive of the results of future clinical trials. The results of our completed
clinical trials for octreotide capsules in acromegaly do not ensure that future
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clinical trials, including the MPOWERED Phase 3 trial designed to support EMA approval and the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial, will also
generate comparable results. Among other considerations, these trials may be designed in a way that is different from our completed clinical trials. For
example, the EMA required that we use multiple time points in the Phase 3 clinical trial that we initiated in March 2016 rather than a single time point
for the primary endpoint determination used for our initial Phase 3 clinical trial. While the EMA agreed that we use the same cut off as used in our first
Phase 3 clinical trial of IGF-1 < 1.3 times the upper limit of normal as the threshold for response, the FDA agreed that we use IGF-1 £ 1.0 times the
upper limit of normal in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial. The fact that we have not used such endpoints previously for regulatory submissions
introduces an additional level of uncertainty in the outcome of the MPOWERED and CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 clinical trials. Further, the
CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial design calls for the randomization of 50% of study patients to placebo capsules, the effect of which we cannot accurately
estimate. We cannot provide assurance that the FDA or EMA will view the results as we do or that any our ongoing or future trials of octreotide
capsules, including our MPOWERED or CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 clinical trials in acromegaly, or any clinical trials we may conduct for other
indications, if any, will achieve positive results. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy traits
despite having progressed through nonclinical studies and prior clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered
significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or adverse safety profiles, notwithstanding promising results in prior trials.
Despite the results reported in earlier nonclinical studies and clinical trials for octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly, any current or future
clinical trial results of octreotide capsules may not be successful in acromegaly, or any other indication, if studied. A number of factors could contribute
to a lack of favorable safety and efficacy results for octreotide capsules for acromegaly or other indications. For example, such trials could result in
increased variability due to varying site characteristics, such as local standards of care, differences in evaluation period, and varying patient
characteristics, including demographic factors and health status. If later-stage clinical trials, such as CHIASMA OPTIMAL or MPOWERED, do not
produce favorable results, it will raise substantial doubt about our ability to achieve regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the treatment of
acromegaly or other indications.
Further, our NDA relied upon the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for octreotide capsules in acromegaly in the United States and we expect to rely
on a similar hybrid application pathway for the MAA that we plan to submit in the European Union. There can be no assurance that our clinical trials, or
the clinical trials conducted by third parties, will demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy for the FDA or EMA to approve octreotide capsules for the
treatment of acromegaly or any other indication that may be specified in future NDA or MAA submissions. Even if we do obtain approval from the
FDA for octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly in the United States, we may not be successful in obtaining approval from the EMA or
other regulatory authorities, or vice versa.
Any negative clinical results from, termination or suspension of, or delays in the commencement or completion of any ongoing or future trials of
octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly or for any additional indications, in the United States or other countries, or future clinical trials
of product candidates we may develop could result in increased costs to us, delay or limit our ability to generate revenue, negatively impact our
commercial prospects, cause our market value and stock price to fall and jeopardize our viability as a business.
Delays in the completion of the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial which we initiated in September 2017 to support regulatory approval of octreotide capsules
in the United States, the Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial we initiated in March 2016 to support marketing approval of octreotide capsules in
acromegaly in the European Union, the clinical trials of octreotide capsules for other indications we may pursue, if conducted, or any future clinical
trials we may conduct for other product candidates we may develop, or negative findings in those trials, could significantly increase our product
development costs and jeopardize, our ability to commercialize octreotide capsules.
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For example, in October 2015, the EMA required us to revise our protocol for our MPOWERED Phase 3 clinical trial to extend the control period from
six months to nine months. The final protocol accepted by EMA therefore dictated that additional time will be needed to complete our second Phase 3
clinical trial of octreotide capsules. We do not know whether the MPOWERED Phase 3 trial or the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial will be
completed on schedule, if at all, or will be successful. In light of the FDA’s position that the MPOWERED clinical trial will not be sufficient to address
the concerns in the CRL, in late 2016 we modified certain elements of the MPOWERED trial in an effort to preserve patients, sites and other resources
necessary to conduct the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial. The modifications to the MPOWERED trial, together with our decision in October 2018
to enroll 15 additional patients, delayed the expected timing of an MAA submission with the EMA. We now expect top-line data from the MPOWERED
study in the second half of 2020. The completion of the MPOWERED or CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trials or other clinical trials we may conduct
could be delayed for a number of other reasons, including delays related to:
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the FDA, the EMA or any other relevant regulatory authority failing to grant permission to proceed and placing the clinical trial on hold;
patient enrollment and variability in the number and types of patients available for clinical trials, which is particularly challenging for
orphan indications, as well as other ongoing clinical trials in adult acromegaly patients;
a facility manufacturing octreotide acetate, octreotide capsules, placebo capsules or any other product candidate we may develop being
found deficient in its processes, as the FDA noted in its CRL to our NDA, or ordered by the FDA, EMA or other government or regulatory
authorities to temporarily or permanently shut down due to violations of cGMP requirements or other applicable requirements, or cross-
contaminations of product candidates in the manufacturing process;
any changes to our manufacturing process that may be necessary or desired or a failure to successfully manufacture qualifying clinical trial
supplies of oral octreotide capsules or placebo;
patients choosing an alternative treatment for acromegaly or any of the indications for which we may develop octreotide capsules or
potential product candidates, or participating in competing clinical trials;
difficulty in maintaining contact with patients after treatment, resulting in incomplete or missing data;
patients experiencing drug-related adverse effects;
reports from clinical testing on similar technologies and products raising safety and/or efficacy concerns;
third-party clinical investigators losing their licenses or permits necessary to perform our clinical trials, not performing our clinical trials on
our anticipated schedule or employing methods that are inconsistent with the clinical trial protocol, good clinical practice, or GCP,
requirements, or other third parties not performing data collection and analysis in a timely or accurate manner;
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inspections of clinical trial sites by the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authorities finding regulatory violations that require us to undertake
corrective action, result in suspension or termination of one or more sites or the imposition of a clinical hold on the entire trial, or that
prohibit us from using some or all of the data in support of our marketing applications;
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third-party contractors becoming debarred or suspended or otherwise penalized by the FDA or other government or regulatory authorities
for violations of regulatory requirements, in which case we may need to find a substitute contractor, and we may not be able to use some or
any of the data produced by such contractors in support of our marketing applications;
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one or more IRBs or ethics committees refusing to approve, suspending or terminating the study at an investigational site, precluding
enrollment of additional patients, or withdrawing its approval of the trial;
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reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective CROs and clinical trial sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive
negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;
deviations of the clinical sites from trial protocols or dropping out of a trial;
delays in adding new clinical trial sites;
the inability of the CRO to execute any clinical trials for any reason;
the inability to enroll patients who participated in prior clinical trials in our current or planned clinical trials; or
government or regulatory delays or “clinical holds” requiring suspension or termination of a trial.
Product development costs for octreotide capsules in acromegaly or any other future indications we may pursue or for product candidates we may
develop in the future will increase if we have delays in testing or approval, such as the delay in approval of octreotide capsules due to the CRL to our
NDA, or if we need to perform more or larger clinical studies than planned. If we experience delays in the completion of, or if we, the FDA, other
regulatory authorities, IRBs or other reviewing entities, or any of our clinical trial sites suspend or terminate any of our clinical trials of octreotide
capsules for any indication, its commercial prospects may be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues will be delayed. Any delays in
completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow down our 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, termination or suspension of, or a delay in the commencement or completion of, clinical trials may also ultimately lead to
the denial or even withdrawal of regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for any indication. In addition, if one or more clinical trials are delayed, our
competitors may be able to bring products to market before we do, and the commercial viability of octreotide capsules could be significantly reduced.
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.
The FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’ policies may change, and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or
delay regulatory approval of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent
of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States 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 marketing approval that we may have obtained, and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would harm our business,
prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other studies with respect to octreotide capsules or any future product candidates we may
develop beyond those that we may propose to conduct, or if we are unable to successfully complete our clinical trials or other studies, we may be
delayed in obtaining regulatory approval of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop, we may not be able to obtain
regulatory approval at all or we may obtain approval of indications that are not as broad as intended. Our product development costs will also increase if
we experience delays in testing or approvals, and we may not have sufficient funding to complete the testing and approval process for octreotide
capsules or any future product candidates we may develop. Significant clinical trial delays could allow our competitors to bring products to market
before we do and impair our ability to commercialize our products if and when approved. If any of this occurs, our business would be harmed.
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Changes in funding for, or leadership at, the FDA, the SEC and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key
personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed, approved or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those
agencies from performing normal functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products or take action with respect to other regulatory matters can be affected by a variety of factors,
including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory and
policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of the SEC, the FDA and
other government agencies on which our business relies is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new drugs to be reviewed and/or approved, or for other actions to be
taken, by relevant government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, including for 35 days
beginning on December 22, 2018, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have
had to furlough critical FDA, SEC and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could
significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, including our planned resubmission of our NDA for
octreotide capsules in acromegaly, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Moreover, changes in leadership at the FDA could have
an adverse impact on our ability to receive regulatory approval for octreotide capsules in the United States. Similarly, a prolonged government shutdown
could prevent the timely review of patent applications by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, which could delay the issuance of
any U.S. patents to which we might otherwise be entitled. Further, in our operations as a public company, future government shutdowns could impact
our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
We may find it difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials, in particular with respect to octreotide capsules and any other product candidates that
we may pursue, which could delay or prevent clinical trials of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop and potentially
harm our business.
Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop is critical to
our success. The timing of our clinical trials depends on the speed at which we can recruit patients to participate in testing octreotide capsules and any
future product candidates we may develop as well as completion of required follow-up periods. If patients are unable or unwilling to participate in our
clinical trials for any reason, including if patients choose to enroll in competitive clinical trials for similar patient populations or they are unwilling to
enroll and stay in a clinical trial with a placebo-controlled design, the timeline for recruiting patients, conducting studies and obtaining regulatory
approval of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop may be delayed. These delays could result in increased costs, and we
may not have sufficient capital on hand or the ability to raise additional capital to cover such costs, delays in advancing octreotide capsules or any future
product candidates we may develop, delays in testing the effectiveness of future product candidates, if any, or termination of the clinical trials altogether.
We may not be able to identify, recruit and enroll a sufficient number of patients, or those with required or desired characteristics to achieve diversity in
a trial, to complete our clinical trials in a timely manner. In particular, the conditions for which we may evaluate octreotide capsules are orphan diseases
with limited patient pools from which to draw for clinical trials. The eligibility criteria of our clinical trials will further limit the pool of available trial
participants. For example, while we are enrolling patients in the United States, Russia, Europe and other countries, we are not permitted to enroll
patients from our prior clinical trials in our ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial to support MAA submission and approval in the European Union. The same
limitation is true for our CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial. Further, in light of the FDA’s position that the MPOWERED clinical trial would not be sufficient
to address the concerns in the CRL, we modified certain elements of the MPOWERED trial in an effort to preserve patients, sites and other resources
necessary to conduct the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial.
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Patient enrollment is affected by factors including the:
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severity of the disease under investigation;
design of the clinical trial protocol;
size and nature of the patient population;
perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under trial;
possibility of receiving placebo rather than active drug in certain controlled trials, such as in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial;
eligibility criteria for the trial in question;
possibility of being randomized back to current injectable therapies, such as in the MPOWERED trial, or rescued back to current injectable
therapies following a loss of biochemical and symptom control, such as in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial;
proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients;
availability of competing therapies and clinical trials;
perceptions of patients and healthcare providers as to the potential advantages of the drug being studied in relation to other available
therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating;
efforts to facilitate timely enrollment of patients in clinical trials;
patient referral practices of physicians; and
ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment.
If we have difficulty enrolling a sufficient number of patients to conduct our clinical trials or our clinical trials produce incomplete data, we may be
forced to delay, limit or terminate ongoing or planned clinical trials, any of which would have an adverse effect on our business. We could encounter
delays if physicians encounter unresolved ethical issues associated with enrolling patients in clinical trials of octreotide capsules and any future product
candidates we may develop in lieu of prescribing existing treatments that have established safety and efficacy profiles. We may not be able to initiate or
continue clinical trials if we cannot enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in the clinical trials required by the FDA, the EMA or
other regulatory authorities. Our ability to successfully initiate, enroll and complete a clinical trial in any foreign country is subject to numerous risks
unique to conducting business in foreign countries, including the:
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difficulty in establishing or managing relationships with CROs and physicians;
different requirements and standards for conducting clinical trials;
inability to locate qualified local consultants, physicians and partners; and
potential burden of complying with a variety of foreign laws, medical standards and regulatory requirements, including the regulation of
pharmaceutical and biotechnology products and treatments.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for acromegaly, we may still face future development and regulatory challenges that
could inhibit or preclude our ability to commercialize octreotide capsules for any indication.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly, and other indications we may pursue, or any other product
candidates we may develop, they will be subject to ongoing requirements by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities governing
manufacturing, quality control, further development, labeling, packaging, storage, distribution, safety surveillance, import, export,
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advertising, promotion, recordkeeping and reporting of safety and other post-market information. If approved, the safety profile of octreotide capsules
and any future product candidates we may develop will continue to be closely monitored by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities after
approval. If new safety information becomes available after approval of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop, the FDA
or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require labeling changes or establishment of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, or
similar strategy, impose significant restrictions on our product candidates, indicated uses or marketing, or impose ongoing requirements for potentially
costly post-approval studies or post-market surveillance. For example, the label ultimately approved for octreotide capsules, if it achieves marketing
approval, may include restrictions on use, which could limit the marketability of octreotide capsules and impair our ability to have octreotide capsules
gain market acceptance. If we do not receive approval of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly, there would be significant doubts about
our viability as a standalone business.
In addition, manufacturers of drug products and their facilities are subject to continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory
authorities for compliance with cGMP and other regulations. If we or a regulatory authority discover previously unknown problems with a product, such
as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, we may recall or withdraw the
product from the market or a regulatory authority may impose restrictions on that product, the manufacturing facility or us, including requiring
suspension of manufacturing. If we, our potential products or the manufacturing facilities for our potential products fail to comply with applicable
regulatory requirements, a regulatory authority may, among other things:
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issue warning letters or untitled letters;
mandate modifications to promotional materials or require us to provide corrective information to healthcare practitioners;
require us to enter into a consent decree, which can include imposition of various fines, reimbursements for inspection costs, required due
dates for specific actions and penalties for noncompliance;
seek an injunction or impose civil or criminal penalties or monetary fines;
suspend or withdraw regulatory approval;
suspend any ongoing clinical trials;
refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to applications filed by us;
suspend or impose restrictions on operations, including costly new manufacturing requirements; or
seize or detain products, refuse to permit the import or export of products, or request that we initiate a product recall.
The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit or preclude our ability to commercialize octreotide capsules, if approved, and any
future product candidates we may develop and generate revenue.
We face substantial competition from larger companies with considerable resources that already have somatostatin analogs available in the market,
and they or others may also discover, develop or commercialize additional products before or more successfully than we do.
Our industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid and significant technological change as researchers learn more about diseases and develop new
technologies and treatments. Our potential competitors include primarily large pharmaceutical, biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical companies.
If approved, we expect octreotide capsules will face competition from established drugs and major brand names and also generic versions of these
products. Key competitive factors affecting the commercial success of octreotide capsules and any other product
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candidates we may develop are likely to be efficacy, safety and tolerability profile, reliability, convenience of administration, price and reimbursement
and effectiveness of our promotional activities. For example, physicians may choose not to prescribe octreotide capsules, if approved, because a lower
percentage of patients met the criteria for response in our first Phase 3 clinical trial after treatment with octreotide capsules compared to their baseline
response rates on injectable therapy or if similar data are produced by the CHIASMA OPTIMAL or MPOWERED clinical studies. Competition could
also force us to lower prices or could result in reduced sales.
The standards of care for patients suffering from acromegaly all involve injectable therapies, other than cabergoline, an oral agent used for the treatment
of mild acromegaly. Novartis markets octreotide LAR, which is administered monthly and intramuscularly using a large gauge needle. Ipsen markets
lanreotide, another long-acting analog of somatostatin, like octreotide, which is administered monthly using a deep subcutaneous injection. Pfizer
markets pegvisomant daily injections and Novartis also markets pasireotide LAR, which is another somatostatin analog administered via intramuscular
injection. We are aware of other companies involved in early-stage nonclinical and clinical studies of similar somatostatin analogs. Most notably,
Camurus AB is developing CAM2029, a subcutaneous octreotide depot for the potential treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and acromegaly. Published
reports indicate that Camurus AB intends to initiate a Phase 3 acromegaly trial in the second half of 2019. MidaTech Pharma PLC also recently
conducted its first in human study of Q-Octreotide (MTD201), Midatech’s injectable treatment for acromegaly built on its Q-Sphera sustained release
platform technology. In 2018, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the planned initiation of two Phase 2 clinical trials in 2019 to evaluate the
safety and efficacy of CRN00808 in acromegaly patients. CRN00808 is a nonpeptide somatostatin agonist designed to be taken orally once per day. In
May 2017, Dauntless Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced positive results from its two-part, Phase 1
pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study evaluating DP1038, a novel formulation of octreotide acetate for intranasal administration. In 2018, Ionis
Pharmaceuticals initiated a Phase 2 trial of IONIS-GHR-RX, its growth hormone receptor antagonist to control growth hormone production in
acromegaly patients. We are also aware of other companies such as Rani Therapeutics (RaniPill™ capsule containing octreotide) and Strongbridge
Biopharm (valdoreotide or COR-005) who may also be actively developing products for the maintenance treatment of acromegaly. If any or a
combination of CAM2029, MTD201, CRN00808, DP1038, IONIS-GHR-RX or the other products in development for acromegaly receive regulatory
approval before, or in a similar timeframe as, our octreotide capsules, or demonstrate superior clinical results to octreotide capsules, we may encounter
significant difficulties with our commercial launch of octreotide capsules.
Many of our existing or potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do and significantly greater
experience in the discovery and development of product candidates, obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of products and the
commercialization of those products. These companies also have long-established relationships within the medical and patient community, including
patients, physicians, nurses and commercial third-party payors and government payors. Our ability to compete successfully will depend largely on our
ability to:
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develop our product candidate and demonstrate that it is competitive with or superior to other products on the market;
obtain required regulatory approvals;
adequately communicate the benefits of octreotide capsules, if approved;
attract and retain qualified personnel;
obtain and maintain patent and/or other proprietary protection for octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop;
and
in certain geographies, obtain collaboration arrangements to develop and commercialize octreotide capsules and any future product
candidates we may develop.
Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a small
number of our competitors. Accordingly, our competitors may be more
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successful than we may be in obtaining FDA approval of drugs and achieving widespread market acceptance. Our competitors’ drugs may be more
effective, or more effectively marketed and sold, than any drug we may commercialize and may render octreotide capsules or any future product
candidates we may develop obsolete or non-competitive before we can recover the expenses of developing and commercializing octreotide capsules or
any future product candidates we may develop. Our competitors may also obtain FDA or other regulatory approval of their products more rapidly than
we may obtain approval of ours. We anticipate that we will face intense and increasing competition as new drugs enter the market and more advanced
technologies become available. For example, a competitor could develop another oral formulation of either a somatostatin analog or non-somatostatin
analog or other technology that could make administration of peptide-based therapies more convenient. If we are unable to compete effectively, our
opportunity to generate revenue from the sale of octreotide capsules or any future product candidates we may develop, if approved, could be impaired.
The number of patients suffering from acromegaly is small, and has not been established with precision. Our assumptions and estimates regarding
prevalence may be wrong. If our octreotide capsules product candidate is approved for sale, and the actual number of patients in the applicable
market is smaller than we estimate, our revenue could be adversely affected, possibly materially.
There are an estimated 69,000 individuals with acromegaly worldwide. The U.S. National Institutes of Health, or NIH, estimates that there are roughly
20,000 individuals with acromegaly in the United States, based on its published prevalence of an estimated 60 cases per million. In thirteen studies of
acromegaly prevalence since 1980, an average of approximately 75 cases per million was determined, suggesting roughly 24,000 individuals with
acromegaly in the United States. However, data presented at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting in 2015 suggest that pituitary tumors may be more
prevalent than previously thought, and that the global prevalence of acromegaly may be higher, between 85 and 118 cases per million people. NIH also
cites an annual incidence of three to four new cases per million each year. Data from a 2017 study by Lavrentaki et. al. suggest that the global
prevalence of acromegaly may be between 28 and 137 cases per million people. Based upon market research last performed by us in 2016, we believe
that approximately 8,000 adult acromegaly patients are chronically treated with somatostatin analogs in the United States. However, there is no
guarantee that these estimates are correct. The number of patients with acromegaly, in particular the number of patients for whom our octreotide
capsules product, if approved, is approved for use, could actually be significantly lower than these estimates.
We believe that the actual size of the total addressable acromegaly market in those markets in which our octreotide capsules product is approved, if at
all, will be determined only after we have substantial history as a commercial company. If the total addressable market for our products is smaller than
we expect, our revenue could be adversely affected, possibly materially.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of octreotide capsules, it may not achieve an adequate level of acceptance by physicians, patients and third-
party payors and government payors, and we may not generate sufficient revenue or be able to achieve or sustain profitability.
The commercial success of octreotide capsules, if approved, will depend in large part on the willingness of physicians to prescribe them to their patients.
Octreotide capsules, if approved, will compete against products that have achieved broad recognition and acceptance among medical professionals. In
order to achieve an acceptable level of prescriptions for octreotide capsules, if approved, we must be able to meet the needs of both the medical
community and patients with respect to cost, efficacy and other factors.
The degree of market acceptance of octreotide capsules, if approved, will depend on a number of factors, including:
•
the clinical safety, efficacy, tolerability and other factors regarding octreotide capsules observed in our clinical trials, and relative to
injectable somatostatin analogs, which relative data from our MPOWERED trial is expected in the second half of 2020, and any other
treatments available at the time;
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the relative convenience, number of capsules that need to be taken, requirement to fast before and after each dose of octreotide capsules, and
other factors affecting the ease of administration;
the prevalence and severity of any adverse effects;
the willingness of physicians to prescribe octreotide capsules and of the target patient population to try new therapies;
the introduction of any new products that may in the future become available to treat indications for which octreotide capsules may be
approved;
changes in the clinical or economic profiles of alternative treatments;
new procedures or methods of treatment that may reduce the incidences of any of the indications in which octreotide capsules may show
utility;
pricing and cost-effectiveness;
the effectiveness of our or any future collaborators’ sales and marketing, as well as disease education and awareness programs;
limitations or warnings contained in labeling approved by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities;
our ability to obtain and maintain sufficient third-party coverage and adequate reimbursement from government health care programs,
including Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party payors;
the willingness of patients to pay out-of-pocket in the absence of third-party coverage or reimbursement;
competitor activities; and
our ability to reliably manufacture and supply octreotide capsules.
In addition, even if we obtain regulatory approvals, the timing or scope of any approvals may prohibit or reduce our ability to commercialize octreotide
capsules successfully. For example, if the approval process takes too long, which is a greater likelihood as a result of the CRL from the FDA to our
NDA and our plans to complete the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial prior to any resubmission of our NDA, we may miss market opportunities and
give other companies the ability to develop competing products or establish market dominance. Any regulatory approval we ultimately obtain may be
limited or be subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render octreotide capsules not commercially viable. For example, regulatory
authorities may approve octreotide capsules for more limited indications than we request, may limit approved usage to narrower patient populations,
may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials, or may approve octreotide capsules with a label that does not
include the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of that indication. While we believe that our completed first
Phase 3 clinical trial demonstrated acromegaly symptom improvements in patients who completed the trial, the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial may not
demonstrate any symptom improvements nor may the symptom data from any of our Phase 3 trials be contained in our octreotide capsules product label,
if approved. Any of the foregoing scenarios could harm the commercial prospects for octreotide capsules.
Even if octreotide capsules are approved in one or more geographies, they may not achieve an adequate level of acceptance by physicians, healthcare
payors and patients, and we may not generate sufficient revenue or be able to achieve or sustain profitability. Any concerns about the clinical data of
octreotide capsules within the medical community could significantly impact market adoption and commercial performance of octreotide capsules, even
if we are able obtain regulatory approval to commercialize in the United States or European Union in the future. Our revenue and profitability may also
be delayed during the period of time when commercial third-party payors and government payors are becoming familiar with octreotide capsules and
patients are transitioning from
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injected alternatives to octreotide capsules. Our efforts to educate the medical community, patients and third-party payors on the benefits of octreotide
capsules may require significant resources and may never be successful. Even if we are able to demonstrate and maintain a competitive advantage over
our competitors, if the market for octreotide decreases, we may not generate sufficient revenue.
We do not have a sales and marketing organization and, as a company, have not commercialized any products. If we are able to secure regulatory
approval for octreotide capsules in acromegaly, but are unable to establish effective sales and marketing capabilities in the United States and access
them in the European Union and other international markets, we may not succeed in commercializing octreotide capsules.
We essentially do not have sales and marketing personnel. Based upon feedback provided by the FDA in the CRL and End of Review meeting minutes,
as well as through the SPA process, new or additional data will be required before the FDA would consider U.S. regulatory approval for the marketing
and sale of octreotide capsules in acromegaly, which requires that we conduct the CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 trial and possibly additional clinical
trials.
Even if we are able to obtain regulatory approval, we cannot guarantee when that will occur or whether we will be successful in marketing octreotide
capsules in the United States or any other jurisdiction. If we are not successful in recruiting of sales and marketing personnel on a timely basis or
rebuilding a sales and marketing infrastructure, or if we do not successfully enter into appropriate collaboration arrangements, we will have difficulty
commercializing octreotide capsules, if approved, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
If pursued by us, expansion of our business into the European Union and other international markets will require significant management attention and
additional financial resources. We may explore commercializing octreotide capsules in the European Union and other international markets by entering
into collaboration agreements with other biopharmaceutical companies, and we may not be successful in entering into these collaboration agreements. In
the event that we do enter into such agreements, we may have limited or no control over the sales, marketing and distribution activities of these third
parties. Additional factors and risks that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize octreotide capsules in foreign markets include:
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our inability to commercialize octreotide capsules in the United States.
our inability to directly control commercial activities because we are relying on third parties, should we enter into third-party collaborations;
varying pricing in different foreign markets, which could adversely affect pricing in other countries;
the burden of complying with complex and changing foreign regulatory, tax, accounting and legal requirements;
different medical practices and customs in foreign countries affecting acceptance in the marketplace;
import or export licensing requirements;
longer collection times for accounts receivable;
longer lead times for shipping;
language barriers for technical training;
reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some foreign countries, and related prevalence of generic alternatives to therapeutics;
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
our customers’ ability to obtain adequate reimbursement for octreotide capsules in foreign markets, either at all or at prices that exceed our
costs; and
the interpretation of contractual provisions governed by foreign laws in the event of a contract dispute.
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Foreign sales of octreotide capsules could also be adversely affected by the imposition of governmental price controls, political and economic instability,
trade restrictions and changes in tariffs.
Our future revenues may depend heavily on the success of the efforts of these third parties. We may not be able to establish a commercial operation in a
cost-effective manner or realize a positive return on this investment, even with the assistance of one or more third-party collaborators, should we choose
to enter into such an arrangement. In addition, we will have to compete with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to recruit, hire, train
and retain sales and marketing personnel.
If we or third-party collaborators are not successful in recruiting sales and marketing personnel or in building a sales and marketing infrastructure, or if
we do not successfully enter into additional collaboration arrangements with third parties, we may not be able to successfully commercialize octreotide
capsules or any future product candidates we may develop in foreign markets, which could impair our business, operating results and financial
condition.
Even with the potential assistance of third-party collaborators, we may not be successful in establishing a commercial operation in foreign markets for
numerous reasons, including, but not limited to, failing to attract, retain and motivate the necessary skilled personnel and failing to develop a successful
marketing strategy. Failure to establish a commercial operation in foreign markets will have a negative outcome on our ability to commercialize
octreotide capsules and generate revenue.
Additionally, if approved for marketing in one or more countries, we and/or our potential third-party collaborators may encounter unexpected or
unforeseen delays in establishing our commercial operations that delay the commercial launch in these countries. These delays may increase the cost of
and the resources required for successful commercialization of octreotide capsules both in the United States and internationally. We do not have any
experience in a commercial launch in the United States, European Union or elsewhere.
We do not have a medical affairs organization and, if we are unable to establish effective medical affairs capabilities in the United States and build
or access them in the European Union and other international markets, our business may suffer.
We essentially do not have a medical affairs organization. Medical affairs personnel are responsible for a number of key activities within
biopharmaceutical companies, which include, but are not limited to, providing expert advice to other functions within the organization, advising on
medical education activities, reviewing promotional and non-promotional communications, supporting medical and scientific publications, reviewing
grants for third-party continuing medical education events, and providing an important scientific point of contact for physicians and scientists who seek
to partner with us or better understand our science.
Failure to successfully execute these activities could harm our business in the following ways:
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our reputation among key physicians and scientists in acromegaly and other disease areas of interest to us may suffer;
we may not be able to secure the advice and feedback of outside experts to help advance our knowledge and understanding of complex
scientific and medical issues;
our commercial and corporate functions may not receive adequate medical and scientific information in the creation of their external
communications, which could lead to inaccurate information being disseminated about us, our product candidates, our disease areas of
interest, or our other scientific endeavors;
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our promotional, non-promotional, grants, and medical events review processes may not provide an effective control to ensure compliance
with applicable laws, regulations and standards; and
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we may not successfully interact with European or other ex-U.S. healthcare professionals and scientists who could help us execute plans for
expansion into Europe or other international markets.
Even if we obtain marketing approval of octreotide capsules or any future product candidates we may develop, we will be subject to ongoing
obligations and continued regulatory review, including with respect to the advertising and promotion of any product candidate that obtains approval.
Advertising and promotion of any product candidate that obtains approval in the United States will be heavily scrutinized by, among others, the FDA,
the Department of Justice, or DOJ, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, state attorneys general,
members of Congress and the public, as well as by foreign regulatory authorities in the countries in which we commercialize octreotide capsules. Even
if octreotide capsules are being marketed, the manufacture and marketing of octreotide capsules will be subject to ongoing regulation, including
compliance with cGMPs, adverse event reporting requirements, guidance regarding the provision of reimbursement support and patient services, and
general prohibitions against promoting products for unapproved or “off-label” uses. Violations of these ongoing regulations are subject to enforcement
letters, inquiries and investigations, and civil and criminal sanctions by the FDA or other government agencies. Government investigation of these issues
itself typically requires the expenditure of significant resources and can generate negative publicity, which could harm our business. Additionally,
advertising and promotion of any product candidate that obtains approval outside of the United States will be heavily scrutinized by comparable foreign
regulatory authorities.
In the United States, engaging in impermissible promotion of our drug products for “off-label” uses can also subject us to false claims litigation under
federal and state statutes, and other litigation and/or investigation, which can lead to significant administrative civil and criminal penalties and fines and
agreements that materially restrict the manner in which we promote or distribute our drug products. These false claims statutes include the federal False
Claims Act, which allows any individual to bring a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company on behalf of the federal government alleging submission
of false or fraudulent claims, or causing to present such false or fraudulent claims, for payment by a federal program such as Medicare or Medicaid. If
the government decides to intervene and prevails in the lawsuit, the individual will share in any fines or settlement funds. In recent years, these False
Claims Act lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies have increased significantly in volume and breadth, leading to substantial civil and criminal
settlements based on certain sales practices promoting “off-label” drug uses. This increasing focus and scrutiny has increased the risk that a
pharmaceutical company will have to defend a false claim action, pay settlement fines or restitution, agree to comply with burdensome reporting and
compliance obligations, and be excluded from the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs, among other penalties. If we do
not lawfully promote our approved products, we may become subject to such litigation and/or investigation and, if we are not successful in defending
against such actions, those actions could compromise our ability to become profitable.
The manufacture and packaging of pharmaceutical products such as octreotide capsules are subject to FDA requirements and those of similar
foreign regulatory bodies. If we or our third-party manufacturers fail to satisfy these requirements, our product development and commercialization
efforts may be harmed.
The manufacture and packaging of pharmaceutical products, such as octreotide capsules, if approved, are regulated by the FDA and similar foreign
regulatory bodies and must be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s cGMP and comparable requirements of foreign regulatory bodies. There are a
limited number of manufacturers that operate under these cGMP regulations who are both capable of manufacturing octreotide capsules and willing to
do so. Failure by us or our third-party manufacturers to comply with applicable regulations or requirements could result in sanctions being imposed on
us, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, failure of regulatory authorities to grant marketing approval of our products, delays, suspension or
withdrawal of approvals, seizures or voluntary recalls of product, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could harm our
business. The same requirements and risks are applicable to the suppliers of the key raw material used to manufacture the active pharmaceutical
ingredient, or API, for octreotide capsules. For example, in its
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CRL, the FDA advised that, during a site inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that would need to
be resolved before approval of our NDA for octreotide capsules. Although we were informed that the supplier received an Establishment Inspection
Report, or EIR, from the FDA, indicating that the FDA has concluded its inspection of the supplier and as of the date of its report considers outstanding
deficiencies resolved, we expect that our suppliers will be subject to additional regulatory inspections in the future, including in connection with the
FDA’s review of any NDA we may submit in the future, if any, seeking approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly. There can be no assurances that
our suppliers will pass all future inspections, the failure of which could result in delays to our ability to receive regulatory approval for octreotide
capsules.
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, may require prior FDA review and approval of the manufacturing process and procedures in accordance with the FDA’s cGMPs. Any new
facility is subject to a pre-approval inspection by the FDA and would again require us to demonstrate product comparability to the FDA. There are
comparable foreign requirements. This review may be costly and time consuming and could delay or prevent the launch of a product.
Furthermore, in order to obtain approval of our current or future product candidates, including octreotide capsules, by the FDA and foreign regulatory
agencies, we will be required to consistently produce the API and the finished product in commercial quantities and of specified quality on a repeated
basis and document our ability to do so. Each of our potential API suppliers will likely use a different method to manufacture API, which has the
potential to increase the risk to us that our manufacturers will fail to meet applicable regulatory requirements. If approved, we will also need to complete
required testing on the finished product in the packaging we propose for commercial sales. This includes testing of stability, measurement of impurities
and testing of other product specifications by validated test methods. If the FDA does not consider the result of the process validation or required testing
to be satisfactory, commercial supply after NDA approval, if obtained, and launch may be delayed.
The FDA and similar foreign regulatory bodies may also implement new requirements, or change their interpretation and enforcement of existing
requirements, for manufacturing, packaging or testing of products at any time. If we are unable to comply, we may be subject to regulatory, civil actions
or penalties which could harm our business.
If we do not achieve our projected development and commercialization goals in the timeframes we announce and expect, the commercialization of
octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop may be delayed, our business will be harmed and we may not have sufficient
resources to continue as a standalone company.
We estimate for planning purposes the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory and other product development objectives.
These milestones may include our expectations regarding the commencement or completion of clinical trials, the submission of regulatory filings, or
commercialization objectives. From time to time, we may publicly announce the expected timing of some of these milestones, such as the initiation or
completion of an ongoing clinical trial, submission of a marketing application for approval, receipt of marketing approval, or a commercial launch of a
product. The achievement of these milestones may be outside of our control. All of these milestones are based on a variety of assumptions which may
cause the timing of achievement of the milestones to vary considerably from our estimates, including:
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our available capital resources or capital constraints we experience;
the rate of progress, costs and results of our clinical trials and research and development activities, including the extent of scheduling
conflicts with participating clinicians and collaborators, and our ability to identify and enroll patients who meet clinical trial eligibility
criteria;
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our strategic decisions on trial design and modifications thereto in an effort to preserve patients, sites and other resources necessary to
conduct the CHIASMA OPTIMAL and MPOWERED Phase 3 clinical trials in parallel and produce data packages that could be suitable for
submission in both the United States and the European Union;
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our receipt of approvals by the FDA and other regulatory agencies and the timing thereof;
other actions, decisions or rules issued by regulators;
our ability to access sufficient, reliable and affordable supplies of compounds used in the manufacture of octreotide capsules and any future
product candidates we may develop;
the efforts of our collaborators and the success of our own efforts with respect to the commercialization of our products; and
the securing of, costs related to, and timing issues associated with product manufacturing as well as sales and marketing activities.
If we fail to achieve announced milestones in the timeframes we announce and expect, the commercialization of octreotide capsules, if approved, and
any future product candidates we may develop may be delayed and our business and results of operations may be harmed.
Octreotide capsules and other products we may develop, if approved, may not be commercially viable if we fail to obtain coverage and an adequate
level of reimbursement for these products from governmental payors, including Medicare and Medicaid programs, private insurers, and other third-
party payors. The market for octreotide capsules and other products we may develop may also be limited by the indications for which their use may
be reimbursed.
The availability of coverage and adequate levels of reimbursement by governmental and other third-party payors will affect the market for octreotide
capsules, if approved, and subsequent products that we may develop, if any. These third-party payors continually attempt to contain or reduce the costs
of health care, such as by challenging the prices charged for medical products and services and by applying value assessments to clinical outcomes using
different safety and efficacy standards than used for marketing approval by the FDA and the EMA.
In the United States, in the event that octreotide capsules are approved, we will seek to obtain reimbursement for octreotide capsules from third-party
payors. In recent years, through legislative and regulatory actions, the federal government has made substantial changes to various payment systems
under the Medicare program. Comprehensive reforms to the U.S. healthcare system were enacted in 2010 with the passage of the Affordable Care Act,
or the ACA. These reforms could significantly reduce payments from Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years. Reforms or other changes to these
payment systems, including modifications to the conditions on qualification for payment, bundling of payments or the imposition of enrollment
limitations on new providers, may change the availability, methods and rates of reimbursements from governmental payors, private insurers and other
third-party payors for octreotide capsules and any other potential products we may pursue. Some of these changes and proposed changes could result in
reduced reimbursement rates for octreotide capsules and any other potential products we may pursue, which would adversely affect our business
strategy, operations and financial results.
In the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors. As a result, obtaining coverage and
reimbursement approval of a product from a governmental 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 products 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 product, the resulting reimbursement payment rates
might not be adequate for us to achieve or sustain profitability or may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high.
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We expect that private insurers will consider the efficacy, cost effectiveness and safety of octreotide capsules, if approved, in determining whether to
provide reimbursement for octreotide capsules and at what level. Obtaining these additional approvals for reimbursement can be a time-consuming and
expensive process. Even if we receive regulatory approval to market octreotide capsules, our business would be harmed if we do not receive approval of
reimbursement of octreotide capsules from third-party payors on a timely or satisfactory basis. Medicare does not cover particular drugs if it determines
that they are not “reasonable and necessary” for its beneficiaries. Limitations on coverage could also be imposed at the local Medicare carrier level or by
fiscal intermediaries. Our business could be harmed if Medicare, local Medicare carriers or fiscal intermediaries were to make such a determination and
deny or limit the reimbursement of octreotide capsules.
Our business could also be harmed if governments, private insurers, Medicare, Medicaid or other reimbursing bodies or payors limit the indications for
which octreotide capsules will be reimbursed to a smaller set than we believe it is safe and effective in treating, or establish a limitation on the frequency
with which octreotide capsules may be administered that is less often than we believe would be safe and effective, or establish a limitation on dose that
is lower than we believe would be safe and effective. In addition, even if we receive regulatory approval, the FDA may introduce significant restrictions
to the label for octreotide capsules in an effort to address certain concerns about the product candidate, including those raised in the CRL, End of
Review meeting or by the FDA’s review of data from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial or the MPOWERED trial. For example, we expect to report
top-line data from the MPOWERED clinical trial in the second half of 2020 which will provide biochemical control data (GH and IGF-1) of octreotide
capsules as compared to the standard of care injectable somatostatin analogs, octreotide LAR and lanreotide depot, as well as patient treatment
satisfaction and symptom control data. If octreotide capsules are approved in the United States, and reported MPOWERED data is unfavorable, the
reimbursement rates and market potential for octreotide capsules could be severely limited. Conversely, if the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial is
unsuccessful, but we nevertheless receive regulatory approval in the European Union, the absence of positive CHIASMA OPTIMAL data could impact
reimbursement rates or reduce the willingness of physicians to prescribe octreotide capsules. Any such restrictions or potential reservations about
efficacy expressed by the FDA or within the medical community could significantly impact reimbursement, market adoption and commercial
performance of octreotide capsules.
We expect to experience pricing pressures in connection with the sale of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop, if
required regulatory approvals are obtained, due to healthcare reforms, as well as the trend toward programs aimed at reducing health care costs, the
increasing influence of health maintenance organizations, additional legislative proposals, competitive pricing pressures and the economic health of
companies. If coverage and reimbursement for our products are unavailable, or are limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory
levels, our business could be harmed.
In Europe and many other foreign countries, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control, and each country has a
different reviewing body that evaluates reimbursement dossiers submitted by holders of marketing authorizations for new drugs. That governing body
then makes recommendations as to whether or not the drug should be reimbursed and will often consider the reimbursement levels of competing
marketed standards of care. For example, injectable somatostatin analogs currently marketed in the European Union are reimbursed at levels that are far
less than in the United States on a per patient, per year basis. The pricing of octreotide capsules in the European Union, if approved, will likely be
determined by government payors following an assessment of the relative efficacy, safety and benefits of octreotide capsules versus standard of care
somatostatin analog injections. We believe the MPOWERED trial will provide the information required to make these assessments, and if octreotide
capsules are deemed inferior to standard of care injectable somatostatin analogs, octreotide capsules may lose its orphan designation in the European
Union and receive pricing determination decisions at levels that are less than standard of care injectables, and therefore financially challenging for our
business. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take 12 months or longer after the receipt of regulatory approval. To
obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our
product candidate, such as octreotide capsules, to other available therapies. Future U.S. pharmaceutical
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pricing regulations may require that the U.S. price for octreotide capsules, if approved, be referenced to the lower or lowest price levels of the product as
set in other ex-U.S. countries, which reference pricing impact could significantly harm our business.
The longer term growth of our business depends on our efforts to expand the approved uses of octreotide capsules beyond acromegaly, if approved,
and leverage our TPE platform to expand our portfolio of product candidates, which may require substantial financial resources and may ultimately
be unsuccessful.
The longer term growth of our business depends upon our ability to expand the approved uses of octreotide capsules beyond acromegaly, if approved,
and utilize our proprietary Transient Permeability Enhancer, or TPE, technology platform to potentially develop and commercialize other oral forms of
therapies that are currently only available in injectable or other non-absorbable forms. In addition to the development and commercialization of
octreotide capsules in acromegaly, if approved, we may pursue development of octreotide capsules for other indications or develop other product
candidates alone or in collaboration with other parties. Because we eliminated substantially all of our research and discovery functions during the
August 2016 reduction in workforce, we do not currently have the internal capacity to develop any new product candidates. We also may never be able
to identify other peptide drugs or poorly absorbed small-molecule drugs that can successfully be developed into product candidates utilizing our TPE
platform, let alone receive regulatory approval of such product candidates, and we may never be able to engage in licensing transactions that enable a
third party to utilize TPE in the development of future product candidates.
Research programs to identify new disease targets and product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources whether or not we
ultimately identify any product candidates, and we are not currently materially investing in such research programs. As a result, we may not be able to
successfully identify any future product candidates or new indications for octreotide capsules.
There are a number of FDA, EMA and other health authority, as applicable, requirements that we must satisfy before we can commence a clinical trial.
If we are able to identify additional potential product candidates, satisfaction of these regulatory requirements will entail substantial time, effort and
financial resources. We may never satisfy these requirements. Any time, effort and financial resources we expend on development of other product
candidates may impair our ability to continue development and commercialization of octreotide capsules for the treatment of acromegaly and other
indications, if pursued, and we may never commence clinical trials of such development programs despite expending significant resources in pursuit of
their development. If we do commence clinical trials of octreotide capsules in other indications besides acromegaly or other product candidates, these
product candidates may never demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to be approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.
Our ability to develop a viable pipeline of potential future products may require us to enter into acquisition, license or similar agreements with third
parties, and we may not be successful in negotiating the necessary agreements, or in achieving economic terms that will be sufficiently favorable to
justify development of one or more such future products.
As a result of the elimination of substantially all of our research functions, we are currently unable to develop future potential products through internal
research programs. Therefore, we may consider expanding the scope of future potential product candidates by acquiring or licensing product candidates,
discovery programs or other technologies from third parties or licensing our TPE technology to third parties.
We may, however, be unable to license or acquire suitable product candidates from third parties for a number of reasons. In particular, the licensing and
acquisition of pharmaceutical products is a competitive area. For example, several more established companies are also pursuing strategies to license or
acquire products in the somatostatin analog or endocrinology field. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their
size, cash resources and greater research, clinical development and commercialization capabilities.
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Other factors that may prevent us from licensing or otherwise acquiring suitable product candidates include the following:
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we may be unable to license or acquire the relevant product candidate or technology on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate
return, or the financial terms required by the owners of those product candidates or technologies may be unfavorable enough to preclude
successful development and commercialization for such products;
companies that perceive us to be their competitors may be unwilling to assign or license their product rights to us;
we do not currently have dedicated research, business development or commercial personnel on staff;
we may be unable to identify suitable products or product candidates within our areas of expertise; or
our receipt of the CRL could reduce third-party confidence in our TPE platform and potentially make us a less attractive partner.
In addition, even if we are able to successfully license or acquire suitable technology from third parties, there can be no assurance that we will be able to
successfully develop product candidates from such technology or receive necessary approvals to commercialize any such product candidates.
We do not have sufficient human and financial resources to develop suitable potential product candidates through internal research programs, we may
not have the resources to obtain rights to technologies or product candidates from third parties, and we may not be able to license our TPE technology to
third parties for development of future product candidates, thereby limiting our ability to develop a diverse product portfolio. If we are unable to develop
such a portfolio, our business may suffer.
We may be unable to obtain orphan drug designation or exclusivity for future product candidates we may develop. If our competitors are able to
obtain orphan drug exclusivity for their products that are the same as our product candidates, we may not be able to have competing products
approved by the applicable regulatory authority for a significant period of time.
Our octreotide capsules product candidate has been granted orphan designation in the United States and the European Union for the oral treatment of
acromegaly. Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the United States and the European Union, may designate drugs for relatively small
patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, as amended, the FDA may designate a product candidate as an orphan drug if
it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined as having a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals diagnosed
annually in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of
developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the United States. In the European Union, the European Commission, after reviewing the opinion of
the EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, or COMP, grants orphan drug designation to promote the development of products that are
intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting not more than five in
10,000 persons in the European Union. Additionally, designation is granted for products intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-
threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition when, without incentives, it is unlikely that sales of the drug in the European Union
would be sufficient to justify the necessary investment in developing the product candidate. Even if we request orphan drug designation for any future
product candidates we may develop, there can be no assurances that the FDA or the European Commission will grant any of these product candidates
such designation. Additionally, the designation by the FDA or the European Commission of any potential product candidates as an orphan drug does not
guarantee that the FDA or the EMA will accelerate regulatory review of or ultimately approve that product candidate.
Generally, if a product candidate with an orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first marketing approval of the indication for which it has
such designation, the product is entitled to a period of marketing
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exclusivity, which precludes the EMA or the FDA from approving another marketing application for the same drug and indication for that time period,
except in limited circumstances. The applicable period is seven years in the United States and 10 years in the European Union. The European exclusivity
period can be reduced to six years if a product no longer meets the criteria for orphan drug designation or if the product is sufficiently profitable so that
market exclusivity is no longer justified. Orphan drug exclusivity may be lost if the FDA or EMA determines that the request for designation was
materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or
condition.
Even though we have obtained orphan drug designation for octreotide capsules in acromegaly and may obtain orphan drug designation for octreotide
capsules in other indications or for future product candidates we may develop, we may not obtain orphan drug exclusivity and any such exclusivity that
we do obtain may not effectively protect the product candidate from competition because different drugs can be approved for the same condition and the
same drugs can be approved for different indications and might then be used off-label in our approved indication, if obtained. In the United States, even
after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve another 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. In addition, if a potential future product
candidate of ours receives an orphan drug designation and is approved for a particular indication or use within the rare disease or condition, the FDA
may later approve the same drug for additional indications or uses within that rare disease or condition that are not protected by our exclusive approval.
As a result, if our product is approved and receives orphan drug status, the FDA can still approve other drugs for use in treating the same indication or
disease covered by our product, which could create a more competitive market for us.
Our relationships with customers and third-party payors will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other healthcare 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 third-party payors will play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of octreotide capsules and any
future product candidates we may develop for which we obtain marketing approval. Our arrangements with third-party payors and customers may
expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may affect the business or financial arrangements and
relationships through which we would market, sell and distribute our products. Even though we do not and will not control referrals of healthcare
services or bill directly to Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payors, federal and state healthcare laws and regulations pertaining to fraud and abuse
and patients’ rights are and will be applicable to our business. Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations that may
affect our operations and expose us to areas of risk including the following:
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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons and entities from knowingly and willfully soliciting,
offering, receiving or paying remuneration, 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, any good or service, for which payment may be made under a federal
healthcare program such as Medicare and Medicaid;
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federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, which impose criminal and civil penalties, including through
civil whistleblower or qui tam actions, against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal
government, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent or making a false statement to
avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government;
the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which imposes criminal and civil liability for executing
a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and also created federal criminal laws that prohibit knowingly and willfully falsifying,
concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection with the delivery of or payment for
healthcare benefits, items or services;
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•
HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which also imposes obligations,
including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of certain individually
identifiable health information;
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the ACA which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies that are reimbursable under Medicare,
Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, information
related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals, and ownership and investment interests held by
physicians and their immediate family members;
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the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics, and medical supplies for which
payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with specific exceptions, to report annually to
the CMS information related to payments or transfers of value made to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists,
podiatrists and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals, as well as information regarding ownership and investment interests held by the
physicians described above and their immediate family members; and
•
analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to sales or marketing
arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including private
insurers; some state laws which require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance
guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government and may require drug manufacturers to report
information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and
state and foreign laws which govern the privacy and security of health information in specified circumstances, many of which differ from
each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by federal law, thus complicating compliance efforts.
On January 31, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and HHS Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) proposed an amendment to
the existing Anti-Kickback safe harbor protecting discounts (42 C.F.R. 1001.952(h)). The proposed amendment would explicitly exclude from the
definition of a discount eligible for safe harbor protection certain reductions in price or other remuneration from certain pharmaceutical manufacturers to
plan sponsors under Medicare Part D, Medicaid managed care organizations, or pharmacy benefit managers under contract with them. At the same time,
HHS also proposed to create a new safe harbor to protect point-of-sale discounts that drug manufacturers provide directly to patients and adds another
safe harbor to protect certain administrative fees paid by manufacturers to PBMs. If this proposal is adopted, in whole or in part, it could affect the
pricing and reimbursement for any products for which we receive approval in the future.
Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties are compliant with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve the
expenditure of appropriate, and possibly significant, resources. Nonetheless, 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 our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental regulations that may apply to us, we may be
subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, exclusion from government funded
healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. If any physicians or other healthcare
providers or entities with whom we expect to do business are found to not be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil
or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded healthcare programs.
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Legislative or regulatory reform of the health care system in the United States and foreign jurisdictions may adversely impact our business,
operations or financial results.
Our industry is highly regulated and changes in law may adversely impact our business, operations or financial results. In particular, in March 2010, the
ACA was signed into law. This legislation changes the current system of healthcare insurance and benefits intended to broaden coverage and control
costs. The law also contains provisions that will affect companies in the pharmaceutical industry and other healthcare related industries by imposing
additional costs and changes to business practices. Provisions affecting pharmaceutical companies include the following:
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mandatory rebates for drugs sold into the Medicaid program have been increased, and the rebate requirement has been extended to drugs
used in risk-based Medicaid managed care plans;
the definition of “average manufacturer price” was revised for reporting purposes, which could increase the amount of Medicaid drug
rebates by state;
the 340B Drug Pricing Program under the Public Health Service Act has been extended to require mandatory discounts for drug products
sold to certain critical access hospitals, cancer hospitals and other covered entities;
pharmaceutical companies are required to offer discounts on brand-name drugs to patients who fall within the Medicare Part D coverage
gap, commonly referred to as the “donut hole”; and
pharmaceutical companies are required to pay an annual non-tax deductible fee to the federal government based on each company’s market
share of prior year total sales of branded products to certain federal healthcare programs. If octreotide capsules or any of our future potential
product candidates are approved, we expect our branded pharmaceutical sales to constitute a small portion of the total federal health
program pharmaceutical market, and therefore would not expect this annual assessment to have a material impact on our financial condition.
Despite initiatives to invalidate the ACA, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld certain key aspects of the legislation, including the requirement that all
individuals maintain health insurance coverage or pay a penalty, referred to as the individual mandate, and a key provision of the ACA, which provides
federal premium tax credits to individuals purchasing coverage through health insurance exchanges.
Some of the provisions of the ACA have yet to be fully implemented, while certain provisions have been subject to judicial and Congressional
challenges. As a result of tax reform legislation passed in December 2017, the individual mandate has been eliminated effective January 1, 2019.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the repeal of the individual mandate will cause 13 million fewer Americans to be insured in 2027 and
premiums in insurance markets may rise. Further, since January 2017, President Trump has signed two Executive Orders designed to delay the
implementation of certain provisions of the ACA or otherwise circumvent some of the requirements for health insurance mandated by the ACA. One
Executive Order directs federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the
implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers,
or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. The second Executive Order terminates the cost-sharing subsidies that reimburse insurers under
the ACA. Several state Attorneys General filed suit to stop the administration from terminating the subsidies, but their request for a restraining order
was denied by a federal judge in California on October 25, 2017. The loss of the cost share reduction payments is expected to increase premiums on
certain policies issued by qualified health plans under the ACA. Further, on June 14, 2018, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the
federal government was not required to pay more than $12 billion in ACA risk corridor payments to third-party payors who argued were owed to them.
The effects of this gap in reimbursement on third-party payors, the viability of the ACA marketplace, providers, and potentially our business, are not yet
known. Thus, the full impact of the ACA, or any law replacing elements of it, and the political uncertainty regarding any repeal and replacement on the
ACA, on our business remains unclear.
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In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget
Control Act of 2011 among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked
with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby
triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers
of up to 2% per fiscal year, starting in 2013, which will remain in effect until 2025 unless additional congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013,
the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among other things, increased the statute of limitations period for the
government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. We expect that additional federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted
in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, and in turn could
significantly reduce the projected value of certain development projects and reduce our profitability.
In addition, in September 2007, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 was enacted giving the FDA enhanced post-marketing
authority including the authority to require post-marketing studies and clinical trials, labeling changes based on new safety information and compliance
with risk evaluations and mitigation strategies approved by the FDA. The FDA’s exercise of this authority could result in delays or increased costs
during product development, clinical trials and regulatory review, increased costs to ensure compliance with post-approval regulatory requirements and
potential restrictions on the sale and/or distribution of approved products. Other legislative and regulatory initiatives have been made to expand post-
approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products. For example, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act of
2013 imposes new obligations on manufacturers of certain pharmaceutical products related to product tracking and tracing. We do not know whether
additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance documents or interpretations will be changed, or what the
impact of such changes on the marketing approvals of octreotide capsules, if any, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by Congress of the FDA’s
approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing
testing and other requirements.
Further, in some foreign jurisdictions, including the European Union and Canada, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental
control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take 12 months or longer after the receipt of regulatory approval and
product launch. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-
effectiveness of octreotide capsules and any future product candidate we may develop to other available therapies. Our business could be harmed if
reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels.
Moreover, we cannot predict what healthcare reform initiatives may be adopted in the future. Further, federal and state legislative and regulatory
developments are likely, and we expect ongoing initiatives in the United States to increase pressure on drug pricing. Such reforms could have an adverse
effect on anticipated revenues from octreotide capsules and any other product 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 product candidates.
We may not be able to maintain our current product liability coverage, and, even if we do, our coverage may not be adequate to cover any or all
liabilities that we may incur, which could decrease our cash and harm our business.
We currently have $10.0 million in product liability insurance coverage in the aggregate, which may not be adequate to cover any or all liabilities that
we may incur. Insurance coverage is increasingly expensive. We may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in an amount
adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise. We intend to expand our product liability insurance coverage to include the sale of commercial products
if we obtain marketing approval of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may
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develop, but we may be unable to obtain commercially reasonable product liability insurance. Large judgments have been awarded in class action
lawsuits based on drugs that had unanticipated side effects. A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought against us, particularly if
judgments exceed our insurance coverage, could decrease our cash and harm our business. In addition, we may not be able to maintain sufficient
insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or otherwise to protect against potential product liability claims, which could prevent or inhibit the commercial
production and sale of our products.
Additionally, if any claims are brought against us, even if we are fully covered by insurance, we may suffer harm such as adverse publicity. We also
could suffer diversion of attention of technical and management personnel and incur substantial costs in resolving disputes, including litigation, with our
insurance provider regarding coverage.
Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
We are, and expect to be for the foreseeable future, dependent on a limited number of third parties to manufacture octreotide capsules.
We do not currently have, nor do we plan to acquire, the capability or infrastructure to manufacture the API in octreotide capsules for use in our clinical
trials or for commercial product, if regulatory approvals are obtained. We have qualified Novetide Ltd., a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries
Ltd., in Israel and an affiliate of Teva API, Inc., and Bachem Americas Inc. in the United States as our suppliers of the generic API, octreotide acetate.
All excipients, or substances formulated together with the API that are used in the manufacture of octreotide capsules, are readily available. The
octreotide API is lyophilized, formulated with our TPE technology, filled into capsules and enteric-coated by Lyophilization Services of New England
Inc., or LSNE, in Bedford, NH and Lonza, in Livingston, Scotland.
The facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture octreotide capsules are evaluated by the FDA and other regulatory bodies. We are
completely dependent on our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with cGMPs for manufacture of both API and finished drug products.
These cGMP regulations cover all aspects of the manufacturing, testing, quality control and record keeping relating to octreotide capsules. If our
contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA
or others, we will not be able to secure and/or maintain regulatory approval of our product candidate being manufactured at their manufacturing
facilities. If the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority finds deficiencies at these facilities, we may need to find alternative manufacturing
facilities, which would significantly impact our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval of or market octreotide capsules, if approved. For
example, in its CRL, the FDA advised that, during a site inspection, certain deficiencies were conveyed to the representative of one of our suppliers that
would need to be resolved before approval of our NDA for octreotide capsules. Although we were informed that the supplier received an EIR from the
FDA, indicating that the FDA has concluded its inspection of the supplier and as of the date of its report considers outstanding deficiencies resolved, we
expect that our suppliers will be subject to additional regulatory inspections in the future, including in connection with the FDA’s review of any NDA
we may submit in the future, if any, seeking approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly. There can be no assurances that our suppliers will pass all
future inspections, the failure of which could result in delays to our ability to receive regulatory approval for octreotide capsules.
Our contract manufacturers will be subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and corresponding state and foreign agencies for
compliance with cGMPs and similar regulatory requirements. We do not have control over our contract manufacturers’ compliance with these
regulations and requirements. Failure by any of our contract manufacturers to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being
imposed on us, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, failure to grant approval to market octreotide capsules, delays, suspensions or withdrawals of
approvals, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could harm our business. In addition, we have no control over the ability of our
contract manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. Failure by our contract
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manufacturers to comply with or maintain any of these requirements could impair our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval of or market
octreotide capsules.
If, for any reason, these third parties are unable or unwilling to perform, we may not be able to effectively terminate our agreements with them, and we
may not be able to locate alternative manufacturers or formulators or enter into favorable agreements with them, and we cannot be certain that any such
third parties will have the manufacturing capacity to meet future requirements. If these manufacturers or any alternate manufacturer of finished drug
product experiences any significant difficulties in its respective manufacturing processes for our API or finished octreotide capsules product or should
cease doing business with us, we could experience significant interruptions in the supply of octreotide capsules or may not be able to create a supply of
octreotide capsules at all. Were we to encounter manufacturing issues, our ability to produce a sufficient supply of octreotide capsules might be
negatively affected. Our inability to coordinate the efforts of our third-party manufacturing partners, or the lack of capacity available at our third-party
manufacturing partners, could impair our ability to supply octreotide capsules at required levels. Because of the significant regulatory requirements that
we would need to satisfy in order to qualify a new bulk or finished product manufacturer, if we face these or other difficulties with our current
manufacturing partners, we could experience significant interruptions in the supply of octreotide capsules if we decided to transfer the manufacture of
octreotide capsules to one or more alternative manufacturers in an effort to deal with the difficulties.
Any manufacturing problem or the loss of a contract manufacturer could be disruptive to our operations and, if our products receive marketing approval,
result in lost sales. Additionally, we rely on third parties to supply the raw materials needed to manufacture octreotide capsules. Any reliance on
suppliers may involve several risks, including a potential inability to obtain critical materials and reduced control over production costs, delivery
schedules, reliability and quality. Any unanticipated disruption to future contract manufacturers caused by problems at suppliers could delay shipment of
octreotide capsules and, if approved for marketing, increase our cost of goods sold and result in lost sales.
We cannot guarantee that our current manufacturing and supply partners or any alternative service providers will be able to reduce the costs of
commercial-scale manufacturing of octreotide capsules over time, particularly following the suspension of our commercial commitments to certain of
our manufacturers following the receipt of the CRL. If the manufacturing costs of octreotide capsules remain at current levels or increase, these costs
may significantly impact our future operating results. In order to reduce costs, we may need to develop and implement process improvements or produce
octreotide capsules at certain scales. However, in order to do so, we will need, from time to time, to notify or make submissions with regulatory
authorities, and the improvements may be subject to approval by such regulatory authorities. We cannot be sure that we will receive these necessary
approvals or that these approvals will be granted in a timely fashion. We also cannot guarantee that we will be able to enhance and optimize output in
our commercial manufacturing process. If we cannot enhance and optimize output, we may not be able to reduce our costs over time, which could be
detrimental to the profitability of octreotide capsules in any market, and particularly the EU market where lower prices are expected if we are able to
secure marketing approvals for octreotide capsules there.
We have previously established commercial manufacturing agreements with Teva API, Inc. for the API in octreotide capsules and with LSNE for certain
testing and lyophilization services. Following our receipt of the CRL, we indefinitely suspended our commercial production commitments. In the future,
if octreotide capsules are approved, we may not be able to reach or maintain agreements containing terms that are acceptable to us with our commercial
manufacturers.
If our third-party manufacturers use hazardous and biological materials in a manner that causes injury or violates applicable law, we may be liable
for damages.
Our development activities involve the controlled use of potentially hazardous substances, including chemical and biological materials by our third-
party manufacturers. Our manufacturers are subject to federal, state and
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local laws and regulations in the United States governing medical, radioactive and hazardous materials. Although we believe that our manufacturers’
procedures for using, handling, storing and disposing of these materials comply with legally prescribed requirements, we cannot completely eliminate
the risk of contamination or injury resulting from such materials. As a result of any such contamination or injury we may incur liability or local, city,
state or federal authorities may curtail the use of these materials, interrupting our business operations. In the event of an accident, we could be held
liable for damages or penalized with fines, and the liability could exceed our resources. Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations
is expensive, and current or future environmental regulations may impair our development and production efforts, which could harm our business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations.
An important part of our strategy may be to enter into licensing or collaboration agreements with respect to octreotide capsules and future product
candidates, if any, in certain territories. We may not be able to identify suitable collaborators and, even if we do, our dependence on such
relationships may adversely affect our business.
Because we have limited resources, we may seek to enter into collaboration agreements with other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. Our
strategy for commercializing octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop may depend on our ability to enter into agreements
with collaborators to obtain assistance and funding for the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates in the territories in
which we may seek to partner. Despite our efforts, we may be unable to secure collaborative licensing or other arrangements that are necessary for us to
further develop and commercialize our product candidates. Supporting diligence activities conducted by potential collaborators and negotiating the
financial and other terms of a collaboration agreement are long and complex processes with uncertain results. Our receipt of the CRL from the FDA may
cause potential collaborators to assign a lower probability to our regulatory success of octreotide capsules which could reduce the likelihood of our
ability to enter into a collaboration on favorable terms, if at all. Even if we are successful in entering into one or more collaboration agreements,
collaborations may involve greater uncertainty for us, as we have less control over certain aspects of our collaborative programs than we do over our
proprietary development and commercialization programs.
Any failure by our partners to perform their obligations or any decision by our partners to terminate these agreements could negatively impact our
ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approvals for and commercialize our product candidates. In the event we grant exclusive rights to such
partners, we could be precluded from potential commercialization of our product candidate within the territories in which we have a partner. In addition,
any termination of our collaboration agreements will terminate any funding we may receive under the relevant collaboration agreement and may impair
our ability to fund further development efforts and our progress in our development programs.
Further, our potential future collaborators may develop alternative products or pursue alternative technologies either on their own or in collaboration
with others, including our competitors, and the priorities or focus of our collaborators may shift such that our product candidates receive less attention or
resources than we would like, or they may be terminated altogether. Any such actions by our potential future collaborators may harm our business
prospects and ability to earn revenues. In addition, we could have disputes with our potential future collaborators, such as the interpretation of terms in
our agreements. Any such disagreements could lead to delays in the development or commercialization of our product candidates or could result in time-
consuming and expensive litigation or arbitration, which may not be resolved in our favor.
We rely, and will rely in the future, on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not appropriately carry out their
contractual duties, fail to conduct high-quality studies or meet expected deadlines, regulatory approval and commercialization of octreotide capsules
or any future candidates we may develop could be delayed or not obtained at all.
We do not have the ability to conduct our clinical trials independently. We will continue to rely on third parties, including clinical investigators, third-
party CROs and consultants, to monitor, manage data for, and execute our
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ongoing clinical programs for octreotide capsules, and we control only some aspects of their activities. Because we rely on third parties, our internal
capacity to perform these functions is limited. We currently have a small number of employees, which limits the internal resources we have available to
identify and monitor our third-party providers. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials are conducted in accordance
with the applicable protocol and legal, regulatory and scientific requirements and standards, including, for example, Good Laboratory Practices and
Good Clinical Practices, or GCPs. Our reliance on third parties does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. Regulatory authorities enforce
GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we or any of these third parties fail to comply with
applicable GCPs, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the relevant regulatory authorities may require us to
perform additional clinical trials in support of 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 requirements. Failure to comply with these regulations may
require us to repeat nonclinical studies and clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
The third parties conducting our clinical trials are not our employees, and we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to
our ongoing clinical programs. To the extent we are unable to identify and successfully manage the performance of third-party service providers in the
future, our business may be adversely affected. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected
deadlines, or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our protocols, regulatory requirements or
for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of or successfully
commercialize octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop. As a result, our results of operations and the commercial
prospects for our product candidates could be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed.
Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Capital Resources
We have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will incur continued losses for the next several years and thus may
never achieve or maintain profitability.
We have funded our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of our common stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock and, to a
lesser extent, the issuance of convertible notes. On July 21, 2015, we completed the sale of 7,319,750 shares of our common stock in our initial public
offering, or IPO, at a price to the public of $16.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $106.5 million after deducting underwriting
discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us. From our inception through December 31, 2018, we had received net proceeds of
$267.9 million from such transactions, including amounts raised in the IPO. As of December 31, 2018, our cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities were $41.7 million. Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our net loss was $31.3 million and $26.8 million for the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $236.6 million.
We have no products approved for commercialization and have never generated any product revenue. We expect to incur operating losses for at least the
next several years. Past operating losses, combined with expected future operating losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our
cash resources, stockholders’ equity and working capital. In June 2016, in light of the CRL, we announced a corporate restructuring plan intended to
focus our resources on the continued development of octreotide capsules and pursuit of regulatory approval in the United States and the European Union
for the maintenance treatment of adult acromegaly patients. This plan included a reduction of approximately 33% of our workforce in June 2016,
including substantially all of our commercial personnel. In August 2016, we announced a second corporate restructuring plan which further reduced our
workforce by approximately 44%, primarily in our research and administrative functions. In aggregate, these restructuring plans resulted in a reduction
to our workforce of more than 60% since May 1,
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2016. In November 2017, we finalized the termination of our lease agreement on our 24,000 square foot office facility in Waltham, MA which we no
longer required following the 2016 workforce reductions. As a result, we recorded approximately $1.0 million of restructuring expenses during the year
ended December 31, 2017. We expect to incur significant additional costs conducting and completing our CHIASMA OPTIMAL and MPOWERED
clinical trials, to fund our operations in support of these clinical development activities, to pursue regulatory approvals and to prepare for
commercialization. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result of these and other factors, we
expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with
developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses, when we will become profitable, if at
all, or whether we will have the funds necessary to continue as a standalone business in the long term.
Even if we achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain
profitable could depress the value of our stock and impair our ability to raise capital, expand our business, maintain our development efforts, obtain
regulatory approvals, diversify our product pipeline or continue our operations. A decline in the value of our company could also cause you to lose all or
part of your investment.
We have not generated revenue from any commercial products and may never be profitable.
Our ability to become profitable depends upon our ability to generate revenue. Unless and until marketing approval is obtained from either the FDA or
EMA for octreotide capsules or any future product candidates we may develop, we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to attain profitability.
In addition, our ability to generate profits after any FDA or EMA approval of our product candidates is subject to our ability to contract for the
manufacture of commercial quantities of our product candidates at acceptable cost levels and establish sales and marketing capabilities or identify and
enter into one or more strategic collaborations to effectively market and sell any approved product candidate.
Even if octreotide capsules or any future product candidates are approved for commercial sale, any approved product candidate may not gain market
acceptance or achieve commercial success. In addition, we would anticipate incurring significant costs associated with commercializing any approved
product. We may not achieve profitability soon after generating product sales, if ever. If we are unable to generate product revenues, we will not become
profitable and may be unable to continue operations without continued funding.
We have a limited operating history and no history of commercializing drugs, which may make it difficult for you to evaluate the success of our
business to date and to assess our future viability.
Although we commenced operations in 2001, our operations to date have been largely focused on developing octreotide capsules, including undertaking
nonclinical studies and conducting clinical trials. Octreotide capsules are our only current product candidate for which we have conducted clinical trials.
We have completed only a single Phase 3 clinical trial to date with this product candidate, although we are currently conducting two Phase 3 clinical
trials of octreotide capsules in acromegaly. We have not yet demonstrated our ability to successfully obtain regulatory approvals, manufacture a
commercial-scale drug or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful
commercialization. Consequently, any predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer
operating history or a history of successfully developing and commercializing drugs.
We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known or unknown factors in achieving our business objectives. If
we are successful in obtaining marketing approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly, we will need to transition at some point from a company with a
development focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be successful in such a transition.
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We will need additional capital to support our operations, which may be difficult to obtain and restrict our operations and would result in additional
dilution to our stockholders.
Our business will require additional capital that we have not yet secured. In the short term, we expect to continue to conduct and complete our
CHIASMA OPTIMAL and MPOWERED clinical trials. In June and August of 2016, following our receipt of the CRL and the End of Review meeting,
we announced corporate restructuring plans intended to focus our resources on the continued development of octreotide capsules for the maintenance
treatment of adult acromegaly patients.
The actual amount of funds that we will need will be determined by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, and we may need funds sooner
than currently anticipated. These factors include but are not limited to:
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our efforts to obtain FDA approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly, and to conduct and complete our CHIASMA OPTIMAL and
MPOWERED clinical trials;
the amount of our future operating losses;
the timing of approvals, if any, of octreotide capsules in additional jurisdictions;
the need and cost of conducting one or more additional clinical trials for octreotide capsules and any future product candidates;
the amount of our research and development, marketing, selling and general and administrative expenses;
the extent to which we enter into, maintain, and derive revenues from licensing agreements, including potential agreements to out-license
octreotide capsules, research and other collaborations, joint ventures and other business arrangements;
our success in integrating product candidates, technologies or companies that we may acquire; and
regulatory changes and technological developments in our markets.
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 stock being quoted on
The NASDAQ Global Select Market or upon obtaining stockholder approval. 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 stockholder approval if it is necessary. If we are unable to
obtain additional funds on a timely basis or on terms favorable to us, we may be required to cease development of octreotide capsules, to sell some or all
of our technology or assets or to merge all or a portion of our business with another entity. In the event additional financing is needed or advisable, we
may seek to fund our operations through the sale of equity securities, additional debt financing and strategic collaboration agreements. We cannot be
sure that additional financing from any of these sources will be available when needed or that, if available, the additional financing will be obtained on
terms favorable to us or our stockholders. If we raise additional funds by selling shares of our capital stock, the ownership interest of our current
stockholders will be diluted. If we attempt to raise additional funds through strategic collaboration agreements, we may not be successful in obtaining
collaboration agreements, or in receiving milestone or royalty payments under those agreements. The terms of any debt facility may involve significant
cash payment obligations as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict our ability to develop and commercialize octreotide capsules
or any future product candidates or operate our business. Any of these actions could raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a standalone
business could be materially impaired and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights.
We may seek additional capital through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings and collaboration, strategic and licensing
arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale
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of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other
preferences that adversely affect the rights of our existing stockholders. 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. If we
raise additional funds through collaboration, strategic alliance and licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights
to our technologies or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We depend on the knowledge and skill of our senior management and other key employees, and if we are unable to retain or if we fail to recruit
additional highly skilled personnel, our business will be harmed.
Our ability to compete in the highly competitive pharmaceuticals industry depends in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified
managerial and development personnel. As of March 1, 2019, we have a total of 18 full-time employees. In order to induce valuable employees to
remain with us, we have provided employees with stock options that vest over time. The value to employees of stock options that vest over time is
significantly affected by movements in our stock price that we cannot control and, together with our other compensation programs and benefits, may at
any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies.
We are highly dependent upon the principal members of our management team. These executives have significant research and development, regulatory,
industry, operational, and/or corporate finance experience. The loss of any executive, other principal member of our management team, key employee or
member of our board of directors could impair our ability to develop and commercialize octreotide capsules, if approved, and identify, develop and
market new products and conduct successful operations.
In addition, if octreotide capsules are approved, we will likely need to hire a significant number of qualified technical, commercial, medical and
administrative personnel. There is intense competition from other companies and research and academic institutions for qualified personnel in the areas
of our activities. Other biopharmaceutical companies with which we compete for qualified personnel may have greater financial and other resources,
different risk profiles, and a longer history in the industry than we do. They also may provide more diverse opportunities and better chances for career
advancement. Some of these characteristics may be more appealing to high-quality candidates than what we have to offer. If we are unable to continue
to attract and retain high-quality personnel, the rate and success at which we can develop and commercialize octreotide capsules, if approved, and any
future product candidates we may develop would be impaired and could adversely affect our growth and financial performance.
We may acquire additional businesses or form strategic alliances in the future, and we may not realize the benefits of such acquisitions or alliances.
We may acquire additional businesses, products or technologies, form strategic alliances or create joint ventures with third parties that we believe will
complement or augment our existing business. If we acquire businesses with promising markets or technologies, we may not be able to realize the
benefit of acquiring such businesses if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and company culture. We may have
difficulty in developing, manufacturing and marketing the products of a newly acquired company that enhances the performance of our combined
businesses or product lines to realize value from expected synergies. We cannot assure you that, following an acquisition, we will achieve the revenues
or specific net income that justifies the acquisition.
Potential technological changes in our field of business create considerable uncertainty.
We are engaged in the biopharmaceutical field, which is characterized by extensive research efforts and rapid technological progress. New developments
in research are expected to continue at a rapid pace in both industry
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and academia. We cannot assure you that research and discoveries by others will not render octreotide capsules or future product candidates we may
develop uncompetitive or obsolete. The longer-term success of our business depends upon our ability to develop octreotide capsules for other approved
indications and utilize our TPE platform to develop and commercialize oral forms of therapies that are currently only available in injectable or other
non-absorbable forms, which strategy assumes we first obtain regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly. We cannot assure you that
unforeseen problems will not develop with our TPE technology or applications thereof or that any commercially feasible products will ultimately be
developed by us.
Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners, principal investigators, CROs and vendors may engage in misconduct or
other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements, which could cause significant liability for us and
harm our reputation.
We are exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners, principal investigators, CROs and vendors
may engage in fraudulent conduct or other misconduct, including intentional failures to comply with FDA regulations or similar regulations of
comparable foreign regulatory authorities, to provide accurate information to the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, to comply with
manufacturing standards we have established, to comply with federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations and similar laws and
regulations established and enforced by comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and to report financial information or data accurately or disclose
unauthorized activities to us. The misconduct of our employees and contractors could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the
course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. We have a code of conduct and ethics for our
directors, officers and employees, but it is not always possible to identify and deter such misconduct, 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 be in compliance with such 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 and results of operations,
including the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions.
Our business and operations would suffer in the event of computer system failures, cyber-attacks on our systems or deficiency in our cyber security.
Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems, and those of third parties on which we rely, are vulnerable to damage
from computer viruses, unauthorized access, malware, natural disasters, fire, terrorism, war and telecommunication, electrical failures, cyber-attacks or
cyber-intrusions over the Internet, attachments to emails, persons inside our organization, or persons with access to systems inside our organization. The
risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments, and
cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have
increased. In addition, our systems and those of our clinical service providers safeguard important confidential personal data regarding patients enrolled
in our clinical trials. If a disruption event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a disruption of our drug development
programs. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed, ongoing or clinical trials that we may consider could result in delays in our
regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach
results 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 of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop could be delayed.
Business disruptions could seriously harm our future revenues and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.
Our operations could be subject to earthquakes, power shortages, telecommunications failures, water shortages, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, fires,
extreme weather conditions, medical epidemics, military conflicts, acts of
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terrorism and other natural or man-made disasters or business interruptions. Some of our operations and a commercial supplier are in Israel, which has a
history of certain conflicts. The occurrence of any business disruptions could seriously harm our operations and financial condition and increase our
costs and expenses. We rely on third-party manufacturers to produce octreotide capsules. Our ability to obtain clinical supplies of octreotide capsules
could be disrupted if the operations of these suppliers are affected by a man-made or natural disaster or other business interruption, as we do not carry
insurance to cover such risks.
Laws and regulations governing conduct of international operations may negatively impact our development, manufacture and sale of products
outside of the United States and require us to develop and implement costly compliance programs.
As we have operations in Israel and may seek to further expand our operations outside of the United States, we must comply with numerous laws and
regulations in Israel and each other jurisdiction in which we plan to operate. The creation and implementation of international business practices
compliance programs is costly and such programs are difficult to enforce, particularly where we must rely on third parties.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, prohibits any U.S. individual or business from paying, offering, authorizing payment or offering of
anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the
foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are
listed in the United States to comply with certain accounting provisions requiring such companies to maintain books and records that accurately and
fairly reflect all transactions of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal
accounting controls for international operations. The anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA are enforced primarily by the DOJ. The Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC, is involved with enforcement of the books and records provisions of the FCPA.
Compliance with the FCPA is expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition, the FCPA
presents particular challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, because, in many countries, hospitals are operated by the government, and doctors and
other hospital employees are considered foreign officials. Certain payments to hospitals in connection with clinical trials and other work have been
deemed to be improper payments to government officials and have led to FCPA enforcement actions.
Various laws, regulations and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside of the United States, or the sharing with certain foreign
nationals, of information classified for national security purposes, as well as certain products and technical data relating to those products. An expanding
presence outside of the United States will require us to dedicate additional resources to comply with these laws, and these laws may preclude us from
developing, manufacturing, or selling octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop outside of the United States, which could
limit our growth potential and increase our development costs.
The failure to comply with laws governing international business practices may result in substantial penalties, including suspension or debarment from
government contracting. Violation of the FCPA can result in significant civil and criminal penalties. Indictment alone under the FCPA can lead to
suspension of the right to do business with the U.S. government until the pending claims are resolved. Conviction of a violation of the FCPA can result
in long-term disqualification as a government contractor. The termination of a government contract or relationship as a result of our failure to satisfy any
of our obligations under laws governing international business practices would have a negative impact on our operations and harm our reputation and
ability to procure government contracts. Additionally, the SEC also may suspend or bar issuers from trading securities on U.S. exchanges for violations
of the FCPA’s accounting provisions.
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Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and
reputation to suffer.
We collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary business information and that of our manufacturers, business partners,
healthcare professionals and patients. This includes, where required or permitted by applicable laws, personally identifiable information. The secure
maintenance of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. Despite our security measures, our information technology and
infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Any such breach could
compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss
of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, disrupt our operations,
and damage our reputation which could adversely affect our business.
Compliance with changing European privacy laws could require us to incur significant costs or experience significant business disruption and
failure to so comply could result in an adverse impact on our business.
In Europe, data protection regulation is an area of increased focus and changing requirements. On April 27, 2016 the European Union adopted the
General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, or GDPR, which took effect on May 25, 2018, replacing the data protection laws of each European Union
member state. The GDPR applies to any company that collects and uses personal data in connection with offering goods or services to, or monitoring the
behavior of, individuals in the European Union. The GDPR enhances data protection obligations with respect to European personal data, including, for
example, by requiring expanded disclosures about how personal data is to be used, by placing limitations on retention of information, by imposing
mandatory data breach notification requirements, and by creating expansive data subject rights. Non-compliance with the GDPR can trigger fines of up
to €20 million, or 4% of total worldwide annual revenue, whichever is higher. Given the breadth and depth of changes in data protection obligations,
complying with the GDPR’s requirements has caused us to expend significant resources and such expenditures are likely to continue into the near future
as we respond to new interpretations and enforcement actions following the effective date.
The GDPR’s restriction on transfers of personal data outside of Europe to countries that have not been found to provide adequate protection to personal
data, such as the United States, poses particular compliance challenges. One of the transfer mechanisms that allows companies to transfer personal data
from Europe to the United States is the EU-US Privacy Shield (see https://www.privacyshield.gov/welcome for more information). We conducted a self-
assessment and subsequently self-certified under the Privacy Shield Framework in September 2016 and received a notice of acceptance of our self-
certification in October 2016. However, our registration recently lapsed. Although we did renew our registration, this renewal is not yet reflected on the
Safe Harbors List. While we have continued to conduct our business in compliance with the Safe Harbor Principles, until our registration is processed,
we run the risk that we may be investigated and may even face an enforcement action and subsequent liability for having a lapsed registration. In
addition, there continues to be concerns about whether the EU-US Privacy Shield will face legal challenges (as its predecessor the Safe Harbor
framework did). If this does occur, we may need to identify and implement an alternative mechanism for legitimizing cross-border data transfers. This
may entail additional cost and expense as well as changes to our business practices.
Separate European Union laws and regulations (and member states’ implementations thereof) govern the protection of consumers and of electronic
communications and these are also evolving. We cannot yet determine the impact that such future laws, regulations, and standards may have on our
business. Such laws and regulations are often subject to differing interpretations and may be inconsistent among jurisdictions. We expect that for the
immediate future, we will continue to face uncertainty as to whether our efforts to comply with our obligations under European privacy laws will be
sufficient. We may incur substantial expense in complying with the new obligations to be imposed by the GDPR and we may be required to make
significant changes in our business operations and product development, all of which may adversely affect our revenues and our business overall. If we
are investigated by a European data protection authority, we may face fines and other penalties. Any such
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investigation or charges by European data protection authorities could have a negative effect on our existing business.
Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. currencies may negatively affect our results of operations.
The U.S. dollar is our functional and reporting currency; however, a portion of our operations are currently conducted in Israel and most of the Israeli
expenses are currently paid in New Israeli Shekels, or NIS. We also contract with CROs internationally, primarily for the execution of clinical trials and
manufacturing activities. A portion of these transactions are settled in Euros or Great British Pounds, or GBPs. As a result, we are exposed to the risk
that the NIS, Euro or GBP may appreciate relative to the U.S. dollar, or, if the NIS, Euro or GBP instead devalue relative to the U.S. dollar, that the
relative inflation rate may exceed such rate of devaluation, or that the timing of such devaluation may lag behind the relative inflation. In any such
event, the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Israel and transactions with certain CROs would increase and our U.S. dollar-denominated results of
operations would be adversely affected. To date, we have not engaged in hedging transactions. In the future, we may enter into currency hedging
transactions to decrease the risk of financial exposure from fluctuations in the exchange rates of our principal operating currencies. These measures,
however, may not adequately protect us from the material adverse effects of such fluctuations. If the U.S. dollar cost of our operations increases, our
U.S. dollar-measured results of operations will be adversely affected. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.”
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights or if our intellectual property rights are inadequate to protect our technology and product
candidates, our competitors could develop and commercialize technology and drugs similar to ours, and our competitive position could be harmed.
Our commercial success will depend in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection in the United
States and other countries with respect to our proprietary technology and products. We rely on trade secret, patent, copyright and trademark laws, and
confidentiality and other agreements with employees and third parties, all of which offer only limited protection. Our strategy is to seek patent
protection for our product candidates and compositions, their methods of use and processes for their manufacture, and any other aspects of inventions
that are commercially important to the development of our business.
The patent prosecution process is expensive and time-consuming, and we and any future licensors and licensees may not be able to apply for or
prosecute patents on certain aspects of our product candidates or delivery technologies at a reasonable cost, in a timely fashion, or at all. We may not
have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications, or to maintain the rights to patents licensed to third parties.
Therefore, these patents and applications may not be prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business. It is also
possible that we or any future licensors or licensees, will fail to identify patentable aspects of inventions made in the course of development and
commercialization activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them. Therefore, our patents and applications may not be prosecuted and
enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business. It is possible that defects of form in the preparation or filing of our patents or
patent applications may exist, or may arise in the future, such as with respect to proper priority claims, inventorship, claim scope or patent term
adjustments. If any future licensors or licensees, are not fully cooperative or disagree with us as to the prosecution, maintenance, or enforcement of any
patent rights, such patent rights could be compromised and we might not be able to prevent third parties from making, using, and selling competing
products. If there are material defects in the form or preparation of our patents or patent applications, such patents or applications may be invalid or
unenforceable. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods, and know-how. Any of
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these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business, financial
condition, and operating results.
The patent positions of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally are highly uncertain, involve complex legal and factual questions and
have in recent years been the subject of much litigation. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability and commercial value of any patents that
issue, are highly uncertain. The steps we have taken to protect our proprietary rights may not be adequate to preclude misappropriation of our
proprietary information or infringement of our intellectual property rights, both inside and outside the United States. Further, the examination process
may require us to narrow the claims of pending patent applications, which may limit the scope of patent protection that may be obtained if these
applications issue. The rights that may be granted under future issued patents may not provide us with the proprietary protection or competitive
advantages we are seeking. If we are unable to obtain and maintain patent protection for our technology and products, or if the scope of the patent
protection obtained is not sufficient, our competitors could develop and commercialize technology and products similar or superior to ours, and our
ability to successfully commercialize our technology and products may be impaired.
With respect to patent rights, we do not know whether any of our patent applications will result in issued patents or, if any of our patent applications do
issue, whether such patents will protect our technology and drugs, in whole or in part, or whether such patents will effectively prevent others from
commercializing competitive technologies and products. There is no guarantee that any of our issued or granted patents will not later be found invalid or
unenforceable. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States
and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing or in some cases not at all, until they are issued as a patent. Therefore, we
cannot be certain that we were the first to make the inventions claimed in our pending patent applications, that we were the first to file for patent
protection of such inventions, or that we have found all of the potentially relevant prior art relating to our patents and patent applications that could
invalidate one or more of our patents or prevent one or more of our patent applications from issuing. Even if patents do successfully issue and even if
such patents cover our product candidates, third parties may initiate oppositions, interferences, re-examinations, post-grant reviews, inter partes reviews,
nullification or derivation actions in court or before patent offices or similar proceedings challenging the validity, enforceability, or scope of such
patents, which may result in the patent claims being narrowed or invalidated. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent
applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property, provide exclusivity for our product candidates, or prevent others from designing
around our claims. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties.
Furthermore, the issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, and our owned and licensed patents may
be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. Such challenges may result in loss of exclusivity or freedom to operate or in
patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or
commercializing similar or identical technology and drugs, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and drugs. 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 owned and licensed patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to
exclude others from commercializing drugs similar or identical to ours.
We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time consuming and
unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file
infringement claims, which can be expensive and time consuming. In a patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity
or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, for
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example, lack of novelty, obviousness or non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with
prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. The outcome following
legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability during patent litigation is unpredictable. A court may decide that a patent of ours or our licensors is
not valid or is unenforceable or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the
technology in question. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that no invalidating prior art exists. An adverse result in
any litigation or defense proceedings could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, found unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly, and
it could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense
and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity or
unenforceability, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on one or more of our products or certain aspects of our platform
technology. Such a loss of patent protection could have an adverse impact on our business.
Interference proceedings brought by the USPTO may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patents and patent
applications or those of our collaborators or licensors. An unfavorable outcome could require us to cease using the technology or to attempt to license
rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if a prevailing party does not offer us a license on terms that are acceptable to us.
Litigation or interference proceedings may fail and, even if successful, may result in substantial costs and distraction of our management and other
employees. We may not be able to prevent, alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our proprietary rights, particularly in countries where the
laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the United States. 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. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If
securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
Moreover, we may be subject to a third-party pre-issuance submission of prior art to the USPTO or other foreign patent offices, or become involved in
opposition, derivation, reexamination, inter partes review, post-grant review or interference proceedings challenging our patent rights or the patent
rights of others. An adverse determination in any such submission, proceeding or litigation could reduce the scope of, or invalidate, our patent rights,
allow third parties to commercialize our technology or drugs and compete directly with us, without payment to us, or result in our inability to
manufacture or commercialize drugs without infringing third-party patent rights. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our
patents and patent applications is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop, or commercialize current or
future product candidates.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on polypeptide containing capsules including octreotide capsules and our TPE platform throughout the world
would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States may be less extensive than those in the
United States. In addition, the laws and practices of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights, especially those relating to life
sciences, to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. For example, novel formulations of existing drugs and manufacturing
processes may not be patentable in certain jurisdictions, and the requirements for patentability may differ in certain countries, particularly developing
countries. Also, some foreign countries, including European Union countries, India, Japan and China, have compulsory licensing laws under which a
patent owner may be compelled under certain circumstances to grant licenses to third parties. Consequently, we may have limited remedies if patents are
infringed or if we are compelled to grant a license to a third party, and we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all
countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions into or within the
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United States or other jurisdictions. This could limit our potential revenue opportunities. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where
we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent
protection, but where enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our products in jurisdictions where we
do not have any issued patents and our patent claims or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from
competing with us in these jurisdictions. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a
significant commercial advantage from our intellectual property. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate in these foreign countries and the
damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful.
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 non-compliance with these
requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other governmental fees on patents and applications are required to be paid to the
USPTO and various governmental patent agencies outside of the United States in several stages over the lifetime of the patents and applications. 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 and after a patent has issued. There are situations in which non-compliance 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.
Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which could be
uncertain and could harm our business.
While our product candidate is in clinical trials, we believe that the use of our product candidate in these clinical trials falls within the scope of the
exemptions provided by 35 U.S.C. Section 271(e) in the United States, which exempts from patent infringement liability activities reasonably related to
the development and submission of information to the FDA. As our current and any future product candidates progress toward commercialization, the
possibility of a patent infringement claim against us increases. There can be no assurance that our current and any future product candidates do not
infringe other parties’ patents or other proprietary rights, however, and competitors or other parties may assert that we infringe their proprietary rights in
any event. We may become party to, or threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to
our product candidates, including interference or derivation proceedings before the USPTO. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us
based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we could be
required to obtain a license from such third party to continue commercializing our product candidates. However, we may not be able to obtain any
required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if a license can be obtained on acceptable terms, the rights may be non-exclusive,
which could give our competitors access to the same technology or intellectual property rights licensed to us. If we fail to obtain a required license, we
may be unable to effectively market product candidates based on our technology, which could limit our ability to generate revenue or achieve
profitability and possibly prevent us from generating revenue sufficient to sustain our operations. Alternatively, we may need to redesign our infringing
products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. Under certain circumstances, we could be forced, including by
court order, to cease commercializing our product candidates. In addition, in any such proceeding or litigation, we could be found liable for substantial
monetary damages, potentially including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed. A finding of infringement could
prevent us from commercializing our product candidates or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could harm our business. Any
claims by third parties that we have misappropriated their confidential information or trade secrets could have a similar negative impact on our business.
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The cost to us in defending or initiating any litigation or other proceeding relating to patent or other proprietary rights, even if resolved in our favor,
could be substantial, and litigation would divert our management’s attention. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent
litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of
patent litigation or other proceedings could delay our development efforts and limit our ability to continue our operations.
Octreotide capsules or any future products we may develop may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which could increase our costs
and delay or prevent our development and commercialization efforts.
Our success depends in part on avoiding infringement of the proprietary technologies of others. The pharmaceutical industry has been characterized by
frequent litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. Identification of third-party patent rights that may be relevant to our
proprietary technology is difficult because patent searching is imperfect due to differences in terminology among patents, incomplete databases and the
difficulty in assessing the meaning of patent claims. Additionally, because patent applications are maintained in secrecy until the application is
published, we may be unaware of third-party patents that may be infringed by commercialization of octreotide capsules or any future product candidate.
There may be certain issued patents and patent applications claiming subject matter that we may be required to license in order to research, develop, or
commercialize octreotide capsules, and we do not know if such patents and patent applications would be available to license on commercially
reasonable terms, or at all. Any claims of patent infringement asserted by third parties would be time-consuming and may:
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divert the time and attention of our technical personnel and management;
cause product development or commercialization delays;
prevent us from commercializing a product until the asserted patent expires or is held finally invalid or not infringed in a court of law;
require us to cease or modify our use of the technology and/or develop non-infringing technology; or
require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements.
Although no third party has asserted a claim of infringement against us, others may hold proprietary rights that could prevent octreotide capsules or any
future product candidates from being marketed. Any patent-related legal action against our collaborators or us claiming damages and seeking to enjoin
commercial activities relating to octreotide capsules or our processes could subject us to potential liability for damages and require us to obtain a license
to continue to manufacture or market octreotide capsules or any future product candidates. We cannot predict whether we would prevail in any such
actions or that any license required under any of these patents would be made available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, we
cannot be sure that we could redesign octreotide capsules or any future product candidates or processes to avoid infringement, if necessary. Accordingly,
an adverse determination in a judicial or administrative proceeding, or the failure to obtain necessary licenses, could prevent us from developing and
commercializing octreotide capsules or a future product candidate, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
A number of companies, including several major pharmaceutical companies, have conducted research on pharmaceutical uses of somatostatin analogs,
which resulted in the filing of many patent applications related to this research. If we were to challenge the validity of these or any issued U.S. patent in
court, we would need to overcome a statutory presumption of validity that attaches to every U.S. patent. This means that, in order to prevail, we would
have to present clear and convincing evidence as to the invalidity of the patent’s claims. If we were to challenge the validity of these or any issued
U.S. patent in an administrative trial before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in the USPTO, we would have to prove that the claims are unpatentable
by a preponderance of the evidence. There is no assurance that a jury and/or court would find in our favor on questions of infringement, validity or
enforceability.
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Our competitors may be able to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner.
Our competitors may seek to market generic versions of any approved products by submitting abbreviated NDAs to the FDA in which our competitors
claim that our patents are invalid, unenforceable or not infringed. Alternatively, our competitors may seek approval to market their own products that are
the same as, similar to or otherwise competitive with octreotide capsules and any future product candidates we may develop. In these circumstances, we
may need to defend or assert our patents, by means including filing lawsuits alleging patent infringement requiring us to engage in complex, lengthy and
costly litigation or other proceedings. In any of these types of proceedings, a court or government agency with jurisdiction may find our patents invalid,
unenforceable or not infringed. We may also fail to identify patentable aspects of our development activities before it is too late to obtain patent
protection. Even if we have valid and enforceable patents, these patents still may not provide protection against competing products or processes
sufficient to achieve our business objectives.
Changes in either U.S. or foreign patent law or interpretation of such laws could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our
ability to protect our products.
As is the case with other biotechnology companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents. Obtaining and
enforcing patents in the biotechnology industry involve both technological and legal complexity, and it therefore is costly, time-consuming and
inherently uncertain. In addition, on September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the AIA, was signed into law. The AIA includes a
number of significant changes to U.S. patent law, including provisions that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and may also affect
patent litigation.
An important change introduced by the AIA is that, as of March 16, 2013, the United States transitioned to a “first-to-file” system for deciding which
party should be granted a patent when two or more patent applications are filed by different parties claiming the same invention. A third party that files a
patent application in the USPTO after that date but before us could therefore be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours even if we had made the
invention before it was made by the third party. This will require us to be cognizant going forward of the time from invention to filing of a patent
application.
Among some of the other changes introduced by the AIA are changes that limit where a patentee may file a patent infringement suit and providing
opportunities for third parties to challenge any issued patent in the USPTO. This applies to all of our U.S. patents, even those issued before March 16,
2013. Because of a lower evidentiary standard necessary to invalidate a patent claim in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in
United States federal court, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid
even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may
attempt to use the USPTO procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a
defendant in a district court action.
Depending on decisions by the United States Congress, the federal courts, the USPTO, or similar authorities in foreign jurisdictions, 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.
If we are unable to protect our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.
In addition to seeking patent protection for certain aspects of our product candidates and delivery technologies, we also consider trade secrets, including
our confidential and unpatented know-how important to the maintenance of our competitive position. We protect our trade secrets and confidential and
unpatented know-how, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties who have access
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to such knowledge, such as our employees, outside scientific collaborators, CROs, contract manufacturers, consultants, advisors and other third parties.
We also enter into confidentiality and invention or patent assignment agreements with our employees and consultants that obligate them to maintain
confidentiality and assign their inventions to us. Despite these efforts, any of these parties may breach the agreements and disclose our proprietary
information, including our trade secrets, 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 is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some courts in the
United States and certain foreign jurisdictions are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully
obtained or the subject matter independently developed by a competitor, we would have no right to prevent them from using that technology or
information to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed to or the subject matter independently developed by a competitor, our
competitive position would be harmed.
If our trademarks are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may
be adversely affected.
Our trademarks may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. We may not be able to
protect our rights to these trademarks or may be forced to stop using these names, which we need for name recognition by potential partners or
customers in our markets of interest. If we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks, we may not be able to compete effectively
and our business may be adversely affected.
We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information
of third parties.
We have received confidential and proprietary information from third parties. In addition, we employ individuals who were previously employed at
other companies and universities. We may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or
otherwise used or disclosed confidential information of these third parties or our employees’ former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend
against these claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial cost and be a distraction to our
management and employees.
Risks Related to Our Operations in Israel
The tax benefits available to us under Israeli law require us to meet several conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which would
increase our costs and taxes.
We are able to take advantage of tax exemptions and reductions resulting from the “beneficiary enterprise” status of our facilities in Israel. To remain
eligible for these tax benefits, we must continue to meet certain conditions stipulated in the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments,
1959 and its regulations. If we fail to meet these conditions in the future, the tax benefits would be canceled and we could be required to refund any tax
benefits we might already have received. These tax benefits may not be continued in the future at their current levels or at any level. In recent years, the
Israeli government has reduced the benefits available and has indicated that it may further reduce or eliminate some of these benefits in the future. The
termination or reduction of these tax benefits may increase our income taxes in the future. Additionally, if we increase our activities outside of Israel, for
example, by future acquisitions, our increased activities generally will not be eligible for inclusion in Israeli tax benefit programs. Our move out of our
Jerusalem location in 2016 may also negatively impact the local tax benefits we have received by operating there.
We may become subject to claims for remuneration or royalties for assigned service invention rights by our employees, which could result in
litigation and harm our business.
A significant portion of our intellectual property has been developed by our employees in the course of their employment for us. Under the Israeli Patent
Law, 5727-1967 (the Patent Law), and recent decisions by the Israeli
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Supreme Court and the Israeli Compensation and Royalties Committee, a body constituted under the Patent Law, employees may be entitled to
remuneration for intellectual property that they develop for us unless they waive any such rights. Although we enter into agreements with our employees
pursuant to which they agree that any inventions created in the scope of their employment or engagement are owned exclusively by us, and our current
separation agreements with Israeli employees who have left our company include a waiver of all claims, rights or payments under Israeli law, we may
still face claims demanding remuneration. As a consequence of such claims, we could be required to pay additional remuneration or royalties to our
current and former employees, or be forced to litigate such claims, which could negatively affect our business.
Our development and administrative facilities and one of our third-party manufacturers are located in Israel and, therefore, our business could be
hurt by political and military instability affecting Israel.
Our development and administrative facilities and one of our third-party manufacturers’ facilities are located in Israel. Accordingly, political, economic
and military conditions in Israel and the surrounding region may directly affect our business. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or
curtailment of trade within Israel or between Israel and its trading partners could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and
results of operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Instability in the region may lead to deterioration of the political
relationships that exist between Israel and these countries and has raised concerns regarding security in the region and the potential for armed conflict.
Our commercial insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of an event associated with the security situation in the Middle East. Any
losses or damages incurred by us could have an adverse effect on our business. Any armed conflicts, terrorist activities or political instability in the
region could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations may be disrupted as a result of the obligation of Israeli citizens to perform military service.
Many Israeli citizens are obligated to perform several days, and in some cases more, of annual military reserve duty each year until they reach the age of
40 (or older, for reservists who are military officers or have certain occupations) and, in the event of a military conflict, may be called to active duty. In
response to increases in terrorist activity, there have been periods of significant call-ups of military reservists. It is possible that there will be military
reserve duty call-ups in the future. Our operations could be disrupted by such call-ups, which may include the call-up of members of our management.
Such disruption could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Under current Israeli law, we may not be able to enforce our Israeli employees’ covenants not to compete and therefore may be unable to prevent
our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of some of our former employees.
We generally enter into non-competition agreements with our key employees, in most cases within the framework of their employment agreements.
These agreements prohibit our key employees, if they cease working for us, from competing directly with us or working for our competitors for a
limited period. Under applicable Israeli law, it is difficult (and may even be impossible) to enforce these agreements or any part thereof against our
Israeli employees unless it can be shown that there are special circumstances in any particular case. If we cannot enforce our non-competition
agreements against our Israeli employees, then we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of these former
employees, which could impair our business, results of operations and ability to capitalize on our proprietary information.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We may not be able to utilize a significant portion of our net operating loss carryforwards, which could negatively impact our profitability.
At December 31, 2018, we had federal operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards of approximately $184.9 million. The federal NOL carryforwards
generated in 2017 and prior expire at various dates through 2037. The Federal
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NOL generated in 2018 has an unlimited carryforward period. At December 31, 2018, we had state NOLs of approximately $138.0 million which expire
at various dates through 2038. At December 31, 2018, there were no NOL carryforwards in our Israeli subsidiary.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or Section 382, substantial changes in our ownership may limit the amount of
federal NOL carryforwards that can be utilized annually in the future to offset our U.S. federal taxable income. Specifically, this limitation may arise in
the event of a cumulative change in our ownership of more than 50% within any three-year period. Management has determined that we experienced an
ownership change for purposes of Section 382 on August 16, 2005 and May 12, 2008. These ownership changes resulted in annual limitations to the
amount of NOL carryforwards that can be utilized to offset future taxable income, if any, at the federal level. The annual limit is approximately $0.1
million for 2017 and each year thereafter. These annual limitations resulted in the loss of our ability to utilize approximately $8.9 million in federal NOL
carryforwards, which resulted in a write-off of approximately $3.0 million of federal deferred tax assets prior to 2014. In addition, changes in our stock
ownership, which are outside of our control, may have triggered an additional ownership change, as may future changes in our stock ownership. If
additional ownership changes have occurred or occur in the future, our ability to utilize our net operating losses to offset income if we attain profitability
may be substantially limited.
Our directors, executive officers and principal stockholders exercise significant influence over our company, which will limit your ability to
influence corporate matters.
As of December 31, 2018, our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders collectively controlled approximately 65.8% of our outstanding
common stock, excluding any shares of common stock that such persons may have the right to acquire upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants.
As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to influence our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval,
including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions.
Provisions of Delaware law or our charter documents could delay or prevent an acquisition of our company, even if the acquisition would be
beneficial to our stockholders, and could make it more difficult for you to change our current management.
Provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, may discourage, delay or
prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might
otherwise receive a premium for their shares. These provisions may also prevent or delay attempts by stockholders to replace or remove our current
management or members of our board of directors. These provisions include:
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a classified board of directors;
limitations on the removal of directors;
advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations;
the inability of stockholders to act by written consent or to call special meetings;
the ability of our board of directors to make, alter or repeal our amended and restated bylaws; and
the authority of our board of directors to issue preferred stock with such terms as our board of directors may determine.
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our shares of capital stock entitled to vote, and not less than 75% of the outstanding shares of each
class entitled to vote thereon as a class, is necessary to amend or repeal the above provisions that are contained in our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation. In addition, absent approval of our board of directors, our amended and restated bylaws may only be amended or repealed by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our shares of capital stock entitled to vote.
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In addition, we are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which limits business combination transactions
with stockholders of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock that our board of directors has not approved. These provisions and other similar
provisions make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirers to acquire us without negotiation. These provisions may apply even if some
stockholders may consider the transaction beneficial to them.
As a result, these provisions could limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. These provisions might
also discourage a potential acquisition proposal or tender offer, even if the acquisition proposal or tender offer is at a premium over the then current
market price for our common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
is the exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a
favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is
the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty
owed by any of our directors, officers or other employee to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or (iv) any action
asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial
forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our
directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated
with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.
The trading price of our common stock may be volatile, and your investment in our common stock could decline in value and incur substantial
losses.
On July 21, 2015, we completed the sale of 7,319,750 shares of our common stock in our IPO, at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. Since shares
of our common stock were sold in our IPO, our stock price has reached a high of $30.52 per share and a low of $1.20 per share through March 1, 2019.
There has been a public market for our common stock for only a relatively short period of time. Although our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ
Global Select Market, an active public market for our common stock may not emerge or be sustained.
In addition, the market price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, including:
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our efforts to secure FDA approval for octreotide capsules in acromegaly;
the timing and results of our MPOWERED and CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 clinical trials of octreotide capsules or any future clinical
trials we may conduct, or changes in the development status of octreotide capsules or any other product candidates we may develop;
any delay in our regulatory filings for octreotide capsules or any other future product candidate and any adverse development or perceived
adverse development with respect to the applicable regulatory authority’s review of such filings;
adverse results or delays in clinical trials;
our decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate an existing clinical trial;
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adverse regulatory decisions, including failure to receive regulatory approval of octreotide capsules, such as occurred in April 2016 with the
FDA’s CRL to our NDA;
changes in laws or regulations applicable to octreotide capsules or any other future product candidates, including clinical trial requirements
for approvals;
adverse developments concerning our manufacturers;
our inability to obtain adequate supply of clinical trial material or for any approved drug or inability to do so at acceptable prices;
our inability to acquire products or technologies or establish strategic collaborations, if needed;
failure to successfully commercialize octreotide capsules or any other future product candidates, if approved;
our ability to obtain market adoptions and coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors for octreotide capsules or any other
future product candidates, if approved;
unanticipated serious safety concerns related to the use of octreotide capsules or any other future product candidates;
our ability to effectively manage our operations or changes in organizational structure;
the size and growth of our initial target markets;
actual or anticipated variations in our operating results;
changes in financial estimates by us or by any securities analysts who might cover our stock;
conditions or trends in our industry;
changes in the market valuations of similar companies;
stock market price and volume fluctuations of comparable companies and, in particular, those that operate in the biopharmaceutical industry;
publication of research reports about us or our industry or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by
securities analysts;
announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships or divestitures;
announcements of investigations or regulatory scrutiny of our operations or lawsuits filed against us;
capital commitments;
investors’ general perception of our company and our business;
recruitment or departure of key personnel;
sales of our common stock in the future, including sales by our directors and officers or specific stockholders;
overall performance of the equity markets;
trading volume of our common stock;
changes in accounting practices;
ineffectiveness of our internal controls;
disputes or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain patent protection
for our technologies;
significant lawsuits, including patent or stockholder litigation, and developments related thereto;
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other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control.
We are the subject of securities litigation, which is expensive and may divert our management’s attention.
On June 9, 2016, Chiasma, Inc. and certain of our current and former officers were named as defendants in a purported federal securities class action
lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, styled Gerneth v. Chiasma, Inc., et al. An amended complaint was filed
by the lead plaintiff on February 10, 2017 challenging our statements regarding the Phase 3 clinical trial methodology and results, and our ability to
obtain FDA approval for octreotide capsules, in violation of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The amended complaint adds as
defendants current and former members of our board of directors, as well as the investment banks that underwrote our IPO on July 15, 2015. The
plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory damages on behalf of himself and members of a putative shareholder class, including interest
and reasonable costs and expenses incurred in litigating the action, and any other relief the court determines is appropriate. The defendants filed a
motion to dismiss the amended complaint on March 27, 2017 and on February 15, 2018, the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss. The defendants
filed an answer to the amended complaint on March 30, 2018. On February 27, 2019, the parties agreed to a settlement of all legal claims in which
defendants expressly denied that they have committed any act or omission giving rise to any liability under Sections 11 or 15 of the Securities Act of
1933 and which will primarily be funded by our insurance. On March 5, 2019, the court issued an order scheduling the hearing on Plaintiff’s motion for
preliminary approval of the settlement for March 14, 2019. We continue to believe this lawsuit is meritless and, to the extent the court does not approve
a settlement, we intend to vigorously defend against it.
This litigation and any matters arising out of the allegations may result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business
concerns, which could seriously harm our business. We may not be successful in defending these claims and cannot provide assurance that insurance
proceeds will be sufficient to cover any costs or liability under such claims.
We are an “emerging growth company” and we intend to take advantage of reduced disclosure and governance requirements applicable to emerging
growth companies, which could result in our securities being less attractive to investors.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be
an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public
companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b)
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports
and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding nonbinding advisory votes on executive compensation and stockholder approval
of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years following the year of our
IPO, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds
$700 million as of June 30 in any year before that time or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.1 billion or more during any fiscal year before that
time, in which cases we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31 or, if we issue more than $1.0 billion in
non-convertible debt during any three-year period before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company immediately. Even after we no
longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company” which would allow us to take advantage of many
of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b)
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We
cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our
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securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the price of our securities may be more volatile.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply
to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will
be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. As a result, changes in
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or their interpretation, the adoption of new guidance or the application of existing guidance to changes in
our business could adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.
We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, any
gains from an investment in our common stock will likely depend on whether the price of our common stock increases, which may not occur.
We have not paid cash dividends on any of our classes of capital stock to date and we currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to fund the
development and growth of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the
foreseeable future. Consequently, in the foreseeable future, you will likely only experience a gain from your investment in our common stock if the price
of our common stock increases.
We incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to new
compliance initiatives and other activities associated with being a public company.
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market, has imposed various new requirements on public
companies, including requiring establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and changes in corporate governance
practices. Our management and other personnel are required to devote a substantial amount of time to these new compliance initiatives. Moreover, these
rules and regulations have substantially increased our legal and financial compliance costs and have made some activities more time consuming and
costly. These rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to maintain our existing director and officer liability insurance
or to obtain similar coverage from an alternative provider.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure controls and
procedures. In particular, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we are required to perform system and process evaluation and testing of
our internal controls over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Our
testing, or the subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial
reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. Our compliance with Section 404 will require us to continue to incur substantial accounting
expense and expend significant management efforts. We currently do not have an internal audit group, and we may need to hire additional accounting
and financial staff. Moreover, if we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or if we or our independent
registered public accounting firm identifies deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the
market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by The NASDAQ Stock Market, the SEC or other
regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
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If we fail to maintain proper and effective internal controls, our ability to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis could be impaired.
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the
rules and regulations of the stock market on which our common stock is listed. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain
effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We must perform system and process evaluation and testing of
our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as
required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This requires that we incur substantial additional professional fees and that we expend significant
management efforts. Prior to our IPO, we had never been required to test our internal control within a specified period, and, as a result, we may
experience difficulty in meeting these reporting requirements in a timely manner.
We may discover weaknesses in our system of internal financial and accounting controls and procedures that could result in a material misstatement of
our financial statements. Our internal control over financial reporting will not prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how
well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Because of the
inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not
occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud will be detected.
If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner, or if we are unable to maintain proper
and effective internal controls, we may not be able to produce timely and accurate financial statements. If that were to happen, the market price of our
stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the stock exchange on which our common stock is listed, the SEC or other
regulatory authorities.
In addition, if we increase our reliance on contractors for important business functions, it may be more difficult to collect, analyze and report the
information we are obligated to disclose as a public company and this could result in a material misstatement or omission in our disclosures.
A significant portion of our total outstanding shares are restricted from immediate resale but may be sold into the market in the near future, which
could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is otherwise doing well.
If our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intent to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the trading price of our
common stock could decline significantly. As of December 31, 2018, we had 24,456,120 outstanding shares of common stock, assuming no exercise of
outstanding options or warrants. In addition, the 4,373,674 shares subject to outstanding options under our stock option plans, the 2,351,592 shares
reserved for future issuance under our stock option plans and the 3,567,015 shares subject to outstanding warrants will become eligible for sale in the
public market in the future, subject to certain legal and contractual limitations. Moreover, holders of approximately 16,543,995 shares of our common
stock have the right to require us to register these shares under the Securities Act pursuant to an investors’ rights agreement. If our existing stockholders
sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or if the public perceives that such sales could occur, this could have an adverse
impact on the market price of our common stock, even if there is no relationship between such sales and the performance of our business.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our trading price and
trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our securities will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business.
Shortly following our IPO, four securities analysts initiated coverage
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on our company. Following the receipt of the CRL to our NDA from the FDA, each of these analysts downgraded their ratings on and lowered their
price targets for our stock, and all four of the analysts have either since dropped coverage or discontinued coverage following their departure from their
employer. As of March 7, 2019, four securities analysts, including one of the original four analysts, initiated coverage on our company. In the event that
one or more analysts who now, or in the future, cover us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our
trading price would likely decline. If one or more analysts, now or in the future, cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly,
demand for our stock could decrease, which might cause our trading price and trading volume to decline.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Properties
Our corporate headquarters, where our principal executive and administration functions are primarily located in a subleased facility in Waltham,
Massachusetts. Our Waltham sublease expires in November 2020. In addition, our international operations are headquartered in a leased facility located
in Ness Ziona, Israel, where our development and supply chain operational functions are primarily based. Our Ness Ziona lease expires in December
2020. Based on our current operating plans, we believe our current facilities are adequate.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
On June 9, 2016, Chiasma, Inc. and certain of our current and former officers were named as defendants in a purported federal securities class action
lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, styled Gerneth v. Chiasma, Inc., et al. An amended complaint was filed
by the lead plaintiff on February 10, 2017 challenging our statements regarding the Phase 3 clinical trial methodology and results, and our ability to
obtain FDA approval for octreotide capsules, in violation of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The amended complaint adds as
defendants current and former members of our board of directors, as well as the investment banks that underwrote our initial public offering on July 15,
2015. The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory damages on behalf of himself and members of a putative shareholder class,
including interest and reasonable costs and expenses incurred in litigating the action, and any other relief the court determines is appropriate. The
defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on March 27, 2017 and on February 15, 2018, the court denied defendants’ motion to
dismiss. The defendants filed an answer to the amended complaint on March 30, 2018. On February 27, 2019, the parties agreed to a settlement of all
legal claims in which defendants expressly denied that they have committed any act or omission giving rise to any liability under Sections 11 or 15 of
the Securities Act of 1933 and which will primarily be funded by our insurance. On March 5, 2019, the court issued an order scheduling the hearing on
Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary approval of the settlement for March 14, 2019. We continue to believe this lawsuit is meritless and, to the extent the
court does not approve a settlement, we intend to vigorously defend against it.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock began trading on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CHMA” on July 16, 2015. The following table sets forth the high
and low sales prices of our common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Market for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Year ended December 31, 2018
First quarter ended March 31, 2018
Second quarter ended June 30, 2018
Third quarter ended September 30, 2018
Fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018
Year ended December 31, 2017
First quarter ended March 31, 2017
Second quarter ended June 30, 2017
Third quarter ended September 30, 2017
Fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017
High
Low
$1.80
$1.70
$3.80
$4.87
$2.30
$1.85
$2.65
$2.95
$1.40
$1.30
$1.20
$ 2.11
$1.55
$1.25
$1.25
$1.55
Holders of Record
On March 1, 2019, the closing price per share of our common stock was $4.37 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market, and we had approximately
19 stockholders of record. In addition, we believe that a significant number of beneficial owners of our common stock hold their shares in street name.
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Stock Price Performance Graph
Set forth below is a graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the NASDAQ US Composite Index, the
NASDAQ Biotechnology Index for the period covering from our IPO date of July 16, 2015, through the end of our fiscal year ended December 31,
2018. The graph assumes an investment of $100.00 made on July 16, 2015, in (i) our common stock, (ii) the stocks comprising the NASDAQ US
Composite Index, and (iii) stocks comprising the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. This graph is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the
SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing by us under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act whether made before or after the date
hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing. The graph assumes our closing sale price on July 16, 2015 of $20.00
per share as the initial value of our common stock and not the initial offering price to the public of $16.00 per share.
COMPARISON OF 42 MONTH CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Chiasma, Inc., the NASDAQ Composite Index
and the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index
* $100 invested on 7/16/15 in stock or 6/30/15 in index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.
Chiasma, Inc.
NASDAQ Composite
NASDAQ Biotechnology
7/16/15 12/31/15 12/31/16 12/31/17 12/31/18
100.00 97.85
15.55
100.00 101.22 109.77 141.85 136.68
79.19
100.00 91.81 73.31 87.30
8.50
9.75
Our fiscal year ends on the last day of December each year; data in the above table reflects market values for our stock and NASDAQ and peer group
indices as of the close of trading on the last trading day of the periods presented.
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Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans
Information about our equity compensation plans is incorporated herein by reference to Item 12 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities
Use of Proceeds from Initial Public Offering of Common Stock
On July 21, 2015, we completed the sale of 7,319,750 shares of our common stock (inclusive of 954,750 shares of common stock sold by us pursuant to
the full exercise of an option granted to the underwriters) in our IPO at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. The offer and sale of the shares in our
IPO was registered under the Securities Act pursuant to registration statements on Form S-1 (File No. 333-204949), which was filed with the SEC on
June 15, 2015 and amended subsequently and declared effective by the SEC on July 15, 2015, and Form S-1MEF (File No. 333-205691), which was
filed with the SEC on July 15, 2015 and automatically effective upon filing. Following the sale of the shares in connection with the closing of our IPO,
the offering terminated. The offering did not terminate before all the securities registered in the registration statements were sold. Barclays Capital Inc.
and Cowen and Company, LLC acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
acted as co-managers.
We raised approximately $106.5 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
We invested the funds received in cash equivalents and other short-term investments in accordance with our investment policy.
In June 2016 and August 2016, we announced two separate corporate restructuring plans intended to focus our resources on the continued development
of octreotide capsules for the maintenance treatment of adult acromegaly patients. As a result of the August 2016 reduction in workforce, we eliminated
our research and discovery functions and are currently not investing in those areas.
We expect that our primary uses of capital will be associated with seeking regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States and European
Union, including clinical trial costs (including our international Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL clinical trial to support United States regulatory
approval of octreotide capsules and our international Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial to support European Union regulatory approval of octreotide
capsules), manufacturing of octreotide capsules for market consumption, if approved, legal and regulatory expenses related to seeking regulatory
approval of octreotide capsules in the United States and European Union, compensation and related expenses, third-party clinical development services,
legal and other regulatory expenses, pre-commercialization activities, and other general operating costs.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
There were no repurchases of shares of common stock made during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
You should read the following selected consolidated financial data in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes which
are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have derived the consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended
December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 and 2017,
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from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report. We have derived the statement of operations
data for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 from our
audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this Annual Report. Our historical results for any prior period are not necessarily
indicative of results to be expected for any future period.
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data
Revenue from license agreement
Operating expenses:
General and administrative
Research and development
Restructuring charges
Total operating expenses
Loss from operations
Other expenses (income), net
Loss before income taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net loss
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
Earnings per share attributable to common stockholders
Basic
Diluted
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic
Diluted
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Redeemable convertible preferred stock
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
(in thousands except share and per share data)
For the Years Ended December 31,
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
$13,166
9,974
22,362
—
32,336
(32,336)
(1,044)
(31,292)
(31)
(31,261)
—
(31,261)
(1.28)
(1.28)
9,146
17,948
1,038
28,132
(28,132)
(716)
(27,416)
(590)
(26,826)
—
(26,826)
(1.10)
(1.10)
21,815
31,317
8,179
61,311
(61,311)
(547)
(60,764)
347
(61,111)
—
(61,111)
(2.51)
(2.51)
$
$
$
$
$
$
16,456
18,991
—
35,447
(35,447)
300
(35,747)
161
(35,908)
(318)
(36,226)
3,469
11,527
—
14,996
(1,830)
5
(1,835)
176
(2,011)
(904)
$ (2,915)
(3.25)
(3.25)
$ (66.21)
$ (66.21)
$
$
$
$
$
$
24,399,706
24,366,681
24,319,443
11,151,978
44,017
24,399,706
24,366,681
24,319,443
11,151,978
44,017
2018
2017
$13,060
28,602
62,187
63,256
28,627
505
29,132
—
34,124
96
$14,603
52,336
68,707
69,883
6,745
664
7,409
—
62,474
December 31,
2016
(in thousands)
$37,013
55,971
95,094
96,756
8,400
2,631
11,031
—
85,725
2015
2014
$ 41,039
107,715
151,085
153,108
6,514
3,778
10,292
—
142,816
$ 40,160
—
40,472
41,399
4,318
4,613
8,931
104,486
(72,018)
Table of Contents
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial
statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this
discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our
business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those
factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our actual results could differ materially from the results described
in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients who face challenges associated with their existing
treatments for rare and serious chronic disease. Employing our proprietary Transient Permeability Enhancer, or TPE, technology platform, we seek to
develop oral medications that are currently available only as injections. We are currently evaluating oral octreotide capsules, conditionally trade-named
“MYCAPSSA”, our sole TPE platform-based clinical product candidate, in two Phase 3 clinical trials in adult patients for the treatment of acromegaly
to potentially support regulatory approval in the United States and European Union. Acromegaly is a rare and debilitating condition that results in the
body’s production of excess growth hormone. Octreotide is an analog of somatostatin, a natural inhibitor of growth hormone secretion. The current
standard of care for patients diagnosed with acromegaly and not otherwise cured by surgical removal of the pituitary tumor consists of lifelong, once-
monthly injections of an extended release somatostatin analog. We believe that octreotide capsules, if approved by regulatory authorities, will be the first
somatostatin analog available for oral administration. Octreotide capsules have been granted orphan designation in the United States and the European
Union for the treatment of acromegaly. The worldwide market for injectable somatostatin analogs is approximately $2.7 billion annually, of which we
estimate approximately $810 million represents annual sales for the treatment of acromegaly. We retain worldwide rights to develop and commercialize
octreotide capsules with no royalty obligations to third parties.
In September 2017, we initiated a third Phase 3 clinical trial for oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of adult patients with acromegaly
following our agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, on the design of the trial, reached through a Special
Protocol Assessment, or SPA, in August 2017. The trial, referred to as CHIASMA OPTIMAL, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-
month trial expected to enroll 50 adult acromegaly patients designed to support regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States. In
October 2018, we completed enrollment in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial randomizing a total of 56 patients. We anticipate the release of top-line data
from this trial in the third quarter of 2019. The primary endpoint of this trial is the proportion of patients who maintain biochemical response at the end
of the nine-month period.
We are also currently conducting an international Phase 3 clinical trial, referred to as MPOWERED, of oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance
treatment of adult patients with acromegaly to support regulatory approval in the European Union. The MPOWERED trial is a global, randomized,
open-label and active-controlled 15-month trial initially designed to enroll up to 150 patients. In July 2018, we completed the enrollment of 135 adult
acromegaly patients into the run-in phase of the trial. The EMA requested that a minimum of 80 patients who are responders to octreotide capsules
following the six-month run-in phase be randomized, to either remain on octreotide capsules or return to injectable somatostatin receptor ligands
(octreotide or lanreotide), and then followed for an additional nine months. In October 2018, 80 patients were randomized following the six-month
run-in phase in the MPOWERED trial. Further, in October 2018, we elected to resume enrollment in the trial in an effort to enroll up to 15 additional
patients exclusively located in the United States in order to gain further U.S. investigator and patient experience with octreotide capsules. This action
will also allow us to focus our limited resources on planned 2019 and 2020 U.S. regulatory activities. As a
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result of our decision to resume MPOWERED enrollment, we now expect to enroll up to the 150-patient enrollment target set forth in the
EMA-accepted trial protocol, complete enrollment into the trial in the second quarter of 2019 and to release top-line data from this trial in the second
half of 2020.
In order to prepare for our planned NDA resubmission following our anticipated successful completion of the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, we believe
we have reached an understanding with the FDA on the required NDA content including the integrated summaries of safety and efficacy data from our
three Phase 3 clinical trials of oral octreotide capsules. We continue to believe that the data from the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial alone is designed to
address the efficacy concerns raised by the FDA in its complete response letter, or CRL, to our first NDA submission and that the FDA only expects to
review safety data from the MPOWERED trial as part of its review of our planned NDA resubmission. We anticipate that our planned NDA
resubmission will be classified by the FDA for a six-month review period. Any requirement by the FDA to submit additional data including the efficacy
data from our MPOWERED clinical trial as part of our planned NDA resubmission may delay or prevent the filing, review or approval of our NDA.
We were incorporated in 2001 and commenced active operations in the same year. Our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing
our company, business planning, raising capital, developing our TPE technology, identifying potential drug candidates, undertaking nonclinical studies
and, beginning in 2010, conducting clinical trials and preparing for regulatory submissions. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through
private placements, funding received from a licensing agreement, a loan agreement and our initial public offering. We have no products approved for
sale and all of our historical revenue has been related to one license agreement, which has been terminated. Since our inception and through
December 31, 2018, we have raised an aggregate of $366.2 million to fund our operations, of which $86.3 million was through our license agreement
with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., collectively Roche, $106.5 million was from issuing shares of common stock in our
initial public offering, or IPO, $161.4 million was from the issuance of private securities and $12.0 million was from borrowings under a loan
agreement. In 2013, using proceeds from the Roche license agreement, we repaid all outstanding borrowings under our loan agreement and paid an
aggregate of $55.0 million in cash as partial consideration for the redemption of certain shares of our redeemable preferred stock. As of December 31,
2018, our consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $41.7 million, of which $0.3 million was held by Chiasma (Israel) Ltd.,
our wholly owned Israeli subsidiary.
We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception. Our net loss was $31.3 million and $26.8 million for the years ended December 31,
2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $236.6 million. We expect to incur significant operating losses
over the next several years. These losses, combined with prior losses will continue to have an adverse effect on our cash resources, stockholders’ equity
and working capital. We expect to continue our Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL Phase 3 clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly to support
potential regulatory approval in the United States and to continue to conduct our international Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial of octreotide capsules
in acromegaly to support potential regulatory approval in the European Union. We expect the release of top-line CHIASMA OPTIMAL data in the third
quarter of 2019 and we expect the release of top-line MPOWERED data in the second half of 2020. Clinical development timelines, the probability of
success and development costs can differ materially from expectations.
In June and August 2016, we announced two separate corporate restructuring plans intended to focus our resources on the continued development of
octreotide capsules for the maintenance treatment of adult acromegaly patients. As a result of the August 2016 reduction in workforce, we eliminated
our research and discovery functions and are currently not materially investing in those areas. We are making substantial investments in our two ongoing
Phase 3 clinical trials of octreotide capsules. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties facing our company and associated with developing and
commercializing pharmaceutical products generally, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all.
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Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings
and debt financings, and we may also opportunistically consider license and collaboration agreements with potential partners. We may be unable to raise
capital when needed or on attractive terms, or to enter into collaboration agreements, which could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our
product development or future commercialization efforts. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability, which we may not be
able to achieve.
Roche License Agreement
In December 2012, we executed a license agreement with Roche, which went into effect in January 2013. Pursuant to the license agreement, we granted
Roche an exclusive, non-transferable license to all intellectual property related to octreotide capsules. Under the terms of the license, Roche obtained
worldwide rights to research, develop, make, import, export, sell, market or distribute the commercial product. We retained certain responsibilities for
research and development activities under a joint development plan.
In July 2014, Roche terminated the license agreement. Pursuant to the termination of the license agreement, we are not entitled to further payments from
Roche, Roche has no remaining rights to octreotide capsules and we retain all rights to octreotide capsules and all related intellectual property.
Subsequent to the termination, we purchased from Roche active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, supplies to continue the development and
manufacturing of octreotide capsules, together with Roche’s proposed trade name, “MYCAPSSA” for octreotide capsules, for an aggregate amount of
$5.1 million, payable in three annual installments of $1.7 million beginning in 2016. We made the $1.7 million annual payments in each of March 2018,
2017, and 2016. We have no further financial or operational obligations to Roche.
Financial Overview
Research and Development
Research and development expenses consist of expenses incurred in performing research and development activities, including compensation and
benefits for full-time research and development employees, an allocation of facilities expenses, overhead expenses, nonclinical pharmacology studies,
manufacturing process-development and scale-up activities, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing expenses, fees paid to contract research
organizations, or CROs, investigative sites, and other external expenses. In the early phases of development, our research and development costs
included expanding our technology platform as well as early development of specific product candidates. The majority of our research and development
expenses has been spent on the development of octreotide capsules, including the manufacturing of clinical trial material, manufacturing process
development and validation, regulatory and clinical activities, and our TPE platform. We expense research and development costs as incurred.
As a result of the August 2016 reduction in workforce, we eliminated our research and discovery functions and are currently not investing in those areas.
Since then, we have continued to invest in the clinical development of octreotide capsules including our two international Phase 3 trials, CHIASMA
OPTIMAL and MPOWERED. Product candidates in late stages of development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of
development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of late-stage clinical trials. We plan to continue our international Phase 3 CHIASMA
OPTIMAL clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly to support potential regulatory approval in the United States. We also expect to continue to
conduct our international Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly to support potential regulatory approval in the
European Union. The successful development of octreotide capsules is highly uncertain.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefits, including stock-based compensation, related to our executive,
finance, legal, marketing and support functions. Other general and
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administrative expenses include facility-related costs not otherwise allocated to research and development expenses, travel expenses for our general and
administrative personnel and professional fees for auditing, tax, and corporate, litigation and intellectual property-related legal services.
Marketing expenses consist of professional fees related to preparation for the potential commercialization of octreotide capsules, if approved, as well as
salaries and related benefits for commercial employees. In anticipation of marketing approval of our NDA, and prior to the receipt of the CRL in April
2016, we accelerated our preparation for commercialization of octreotide capsules. Following the June 2016 restructuring plan and the termination of
primarily all of our commercial personnel, these expenses were significantly reduced throughout 2016. Our marketing expenses in 2018 were immaterial
and are expected to continue to be immaterial prior to the release of top-line data from our CHIASMA OPTIMAL clinical trial which we expect to occur
in the third quarter of 2019 and while our primary business activity involves the conduct of clinical trials.
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges consist of employee severance benefits and related costs, contract termination fees, asset write-offs resulting from restructuring
plans, suspension fees associated with commercial manufacturing agreements, lease termination fees, and other expenses associated with restructuring
our operations.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net consists mainly of interest income earned on our investments, net of interest incurred on our obligation related to the acquisition of
API and trade name MYCAPSSA from Roche.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
We are subject to federal and state income taxes for earnings generated in the United States, and foreign taxes on earnings of our wholly-owned Israeli
subsidiary. Our consolidated tax expense is primarily affected by the mix of our foreign subsidiary permanent items, discrete items, and unrecognized
tax benefits and to a lesser extent our taxable income (loss) in the United States.
Results of Operations
Comparison for the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, our results of operations and the change between the specified periods expressed as a percent
increase or decrease:
Research and Development
Research and development
2018
2017
$ Change
% change
($ in thousands)
$22,362
$17,948
$ 4,414
25%
During the year ended December 31, 2018, our total research and development expenses increased by $4.4 million to $22.4 million. This increase was
primarily due to increased costs related to the CHIASMA OPTIMAL clinical trial which we initiated in September 2017 and the MPOWERED trial and
were partially offset by reduced personnel costs associated with the 2017 transition of our former Chief Development Officer from a full-time employee
to a member of the board of directors of both our company and our Israeli subsidiary.
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General and Administrative
General and administrative
2018
2017
$ Change
% change
($ in thousands)
$9,974
$9,146
$
828
9%
For the year ended December 31, 2018, our general and administrative expenses increased by $0.8 million to $10.0 million. This increase was primarily
due to an increase in legal costs which were primarily offset by a reduction in facility costs.
Restructuring Charges
In November 2017, we finalized the termination of our lease agreement on our 24,000 square foot office facility in Waltham, MA which we no longer
required following the 2016 workforce reductions. As a result, we recorded approximately $1.0 million of restructuring expenses during the year ended
December 31, 2017, which consisted of a lease termination payment of $1.0 million, the write-off of office furniture and equipment of $0.4 million
offset by the release of deferred rent liabilities of $0.4 million associated with the terminated lease. There were no restructuring charges incurred during
the year ended December 31, 2018.
Other Income, net
Other income totaled $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase
of approximately $0.3 million. The increase was driven by interest income generated from increased yields on our cash equivalents and marketable
securities and a decrease in the imputed interest expense associated with the lower remaining obligation related to the acquisition of API and trade name
MYCAPSSA from Roche.
Benefit from Income Taxes
Our total tax benefit was $31,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, representing an effective tax rate of 0.10%, as compared to a tax benefit of
$0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an effective tax rate of 2.16%, which was primarily driven by the U.S. Federal
alternative minimum tax credit of $1.0 million which was recorded as a benefit to the income tax provision as a result of the 2017 income tax reform.
Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate each year mainly due to a full valuation allowance maintained against U.S. deferred tax assets and
due to lower tax rates applied to income of our Israeli subsidiary.
Comparison for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, our results of operations and the change between the specified periods expressed as a percent
increase or decrease:
Research and Development
Research and development
2017
2016
$ Change
% Change
($ in thousands)
$17,948
$31,317
$(13,369)
(43%)
During the year ended December 31, 2017, our total research and development expenses decreased by $13.4 million to $17.9 million. This decrease was
primarily due to approximately $7.4 million of API purchases
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and pre-commercial manufacturing validation activities during 2016 that did not reoccur in 2017, as well as reduced compensation-related costs and
other research and development program efforts following the reductions of force in June and August 2016. These decreases were partially offset by an
increase in clinical trial costs of $1.3 million in 2017.
General and Administrative
General and administrative
2017
2016
$ Change
($ in thousands)
Percent
change
$9,146
$21,815
$(12,669)
(58%)
For the year ended December 31, 2017, our general and administrative expenses decreased by $12.7 million to $9.1 million. This decrease was primarily
due to the reduction in pre-commercial activity expenditures following the CRL, as well as the June and August 2016 reductions in force of substantially
all of our commercial personnel and certain administrative functions.
Restructuring Charges
In November 2017, we finalized the termination of our lease agreement on our 24,000 square foot office facility in Waltham, MA which we no longer
required following the 2016 workforce reductions. As a result, we recorded approximately $1.0 million of restructuring expenses during the year ended
December 31, 2017, which consisted of a lease termination payment of $1.0 million, the write-off of office furniture and equipment of $0.4 million
offset by the release of deferred rent liabilities of $0.4 million associated with the terminated lease.
In June 2016, we announced a corporate restructuring plan, including an immediate reduction of approximately 33% of our workforce, including
substantially all of our commercial personnel. In August 2016, we announced a second corporate restructuring plan, including an immediate reduction of
approximately 44% of our remaining workforce. In aggregate, these restructuring plans resulted in a reduction to our workforce of more than 60% since
May 1, 2016. As a result of the August 2016 reduction in force, we no longer required the research lab and additional office space of the Israel facility
and we were able to early terminate the Israel lease in November 2016. Accordingly, we recorded restructuring charges totaling $8.2 million during the
year ended December 31, 2016 which consisted of employee severance benefits and related costs of $2.2 million, manufacturing commitment-related
suspension fees of $4.5 million, non-cash restructuring charges of $0.8 million resulting from the impairment of leasehold improvements of $1.7 million
offset by the forgiveness of tenant allowances received under the lease of $0.9 million and non-cash restructuring charges related to the impairment of
capitalized commercial software and laboratory equipment of $0.7 million.
Other Income, net
Other income totaled $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The
improvement was driven by interest income generated from increased yields on our cash equivalents and marketable securities and a decrease in the
imputed interest associated with the lower remaining obligation related to the acquisition of API and trade name MYCAPSSA from Roche.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
Our total tax benefit was $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an effective tax rate of 2.16%, as compared to a tax provision
of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, representing an effective tax rate of (0.6%).
At December 31, 2017, we had approximately $1.0 million of federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards that do not expire. Federal tax
reform, enacted in December 2017, allows for U.S. federal
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alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards to be refund between 2019 and 2022. We have a history of generating losses and are forecasting that they
will not generate taxable income through 2022 which would otherwise limit our ability to realize the U.S. Federal alternative minimum tax credit.
Accordingly, we have recorded the U.S. Federal alternative minimum tax credit as a benefit to the income tax provision for the year ended December 31,
2017.
Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate each year mainly due to a full valuation allowance maintained against U.S. deferred tax assets and
due to lower tax rates applied to income of our Israeli subsidiary.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception and through December 31, 2018, we have raised an aggregate of $366.2 million to fund our operations, of which $86.3 million was
through our license agreement with Roche, approximately $106.5 million was from selling shares of common stock in our IPO, $161.4 million was from
the issuance of private securities, and $12.0 million was from borrowings under a loan agreement. In March 2013, using proceeds from the Roche
license agreement, we repaid all outstanding borrowings under our loan agreement and paid an aggregate of $55.0 million in cash as partial
consideration for the redemption of certain shares of our preferred stock.
As of December 31, 2018, our cash and cash equivalents were $13.1 million, of which $0.3 million was held by our Israeli subsidiary. In addition, as of
December 31, 2018, we have $28.6 million invested in short-term marketable securities.
Plan of Operations and Future Funding Requirements
We expect that our primary uses of capital will be associated with seeking regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States and European
Union, including clinical trial costs (including our international Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL clinical trial that we initiated in September 2017 to
support regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States and our international Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial that we initiated in
March 2016 to support regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the European Union), manufacturing of octreotide capsules for market
consumption, if approved, legal and regulatory expenses related to seeking regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States and European
Union, compensation and related expenses, third-party clinical development services, legal and other regulatory expenses, and other general operating
costs.
In June 2016, we announced a corporate restructuring plan intended to focus our resources on the continued development of octreotide capsules for the
potential maintenance treatment of adult acromegaly patients. This plan included a reduction of approximately 33% of our workforce at the time,
including substantially all of our commercial personnel. In August 2016, we announced a second corporate restructuring plan that included the reduction
of approximately 44% of our remaining workforce. In aggregate, these restructuring plans resulted in a reduction to our workforce of more than 60%
since May 1, 2016. In November 2017, we terminated the lease agreement on our 24,000 square foot office facility in Waltham, MA which we no longer
required following the 2016 workforce reductions. We currently expect our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to
fund our operations through the anticipated release of top-line data from our Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial in the third quarter of 2019 and into
early 2020. We cannot estimate the actual amounts necessary to successfully complete the development and commercialization of octreotide capsules, if
at all, or whether, or when, we may achieve profitability. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:
•
•
the costs, timing and outcome of the development and regulatory review of octreotide capsules;
the progress and results of our ongoing clinical trials of octreotide capsules or any future clinical trials or studies we may conduct;
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•
•
•
•
the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution, for
octreotide capsules and any other future product candidates for which we receive marketing approval;
proceeds, if any, received from commercial sales of octreotide capsules and any future product candidates for which we receive marketing
approval;
the costs and timing of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and
defending any intellectual property-related claims; and
the extent to which we develop, acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies or explore or consummate other strategic
transactions.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product sales, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings and
debt financings and we may opportunistically consider license and collaboration arrangements. We filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2018, which was declared effective in May 2018. In November 2018, we entered into a sales
agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC, or Cowen, pursuant to which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock for which we included a
prospectus to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3, having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $25.0 million, from time to time, through an “at the
market” equity program under which Cowen acts as the sales agent. No shares of common stock have been sold under this program. To the extent that
we raise additional capital through future issuance of equity or debt, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these
securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our existing common stockholders. If we raise additional funds
through collaboration arrangements, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our current or future product candidates, exploratory programs,
technologies or future revenue streams on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt
financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts of
octreotide capsules or grant rights to develop and market future potential product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market
ourselves.
Cash Flows
The following is a summary of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Cash flows provided by (used in):
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Operating Activities
2018
2017
($ in thousands)
$(24,091)
24,211
(1,663)
$(24,424)
3,712
(1,698)
Net cash used in operating activities was $24.1 million in 2018, and primarily consisted of $31.3 million in net loss, adjusted for non-cash items of
$2.4 million (primarily stock-based compensation of $2.7 million and partially offset by amortization of premium on marketable securities) and was
offset by working capital decreases of $4.8 million (primarily driven by the increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and the decreases in
prepaid and other current assets and other assets). Net cash used in operating activities was $24.4 million in 2017, and primarily consisted of
$26.8 million in net loss, adjusted for non-cash items of $2.8 million (primarily stock-based compensation of $3.5 million and partially offset by benefit
for deferred income taxes) and was offset by working capital decreases of $0.4 million (primarily driven by the decrease in accounts payable and
accrued expenses and partially offset by the decreases in prepaid and other current assets and other assets).
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Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was $24.2 million in 2018, primarily related to the net maturities of marketable securities. Net cash provided
by investing activities was $3.7 million in 2017, primarily related to the net maturities of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $1.7 million in 2018, related to the third and final $1.7 million installment payment on the termination of the
Roche license agreement and was partially offset by the proceeds resulting from the exercise of stock options. Net cash used in financing activities was
$1.7 million in 2017 related to the second $1.7 million installment payment on the termination of the Roche license agreement.
Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities
The following summarizes our significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018:
Contractual Obligations
Operating leases
Total contractual obligations
Total
$264
$264
Less than
1 Year
$
$
160
160
1 to
3 Years
($ in thousands)
$ 104
$ 104
3 to
5 Years
More than
5 Years
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Operating Leases. This amount represents future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases in effect as of December 31, 2018 for
our current and future facilities in the U.S. and Israel. The minimum lease payments do not include common area maintenance charges or real estate
taxes.
The table excludes potential payments we may be required to make under manufacturing and CRO agreements as the timing of when these payments
will be made is uncertain and the payments are contingent upon the initiation and completion of future activities.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have
been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of consolidated financial
statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes. We base these estimates and assumptions on historical experience when available, and on various factors that we
believe to be reasonable under the specific circumstances. Significant estimates relied upon in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial
statements include, but are not limited to, the fair value of common stock and other equity instruments, accounting for stock-based compensation,
present value of long-term purchase obligation, income taxes, and accounting for certain accruals. We assess these estimates on an ongoing basis;
however, actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies are critical to the process of making significant judgments and estimates
in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements and understanding and evaluating our reported financial results.
Clinical trial costs
Clinical trial costs are a component of research and development expenses. We accrue and expense clinical trial activities performed by third parties on
an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data
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such as hours spent in performance of services, patient enrollment, clinical site activation, and other information provided to us by our vendors. We
make estimates of our clinical trial accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to
us. If timelines or contracts are modified based upon changes in the clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed, we assess our estimates of
accrued expenses accordingly.
If we do not identify costs that we have begun to incur, or if we underestimate or overestimate the level of services performed or the costs of these
services, our actual expenses could differ from our estimates. To date, there have not been any material adjustments to our prior estimates of accrued
research and development expenses.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for all stock-based compensation to employees and nonemployees based on their fair values on the date of grant. The fair value of stock-
based awards to nonemployees is remeasured as the award vests. For employee stock-based awards with only service conditions, we recognize
compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period of the award, net of any actual forfeitures.
We determine the fair value of stock options by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires the input of several assumptions
such as the expected option term, the expected risk-free interest rate over the expected option term, the expected volatility of our stock price over the
expected option term, and the expected dividend yield over the expected option term. The computation of expected volatility is based on an average
historical share price volatility based on an analysis of reported data for a peer group of comparable publicly traded companies, which were selected
based upon industry similarities. The interest rate for periods within the expected term of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury risk-free interest rate
in effect at the time of grant. The expected lives of the options were estimated using the simplified method. For options granted to non-employees, the
expected life of the option used is the contractual term of each such option. All other assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value are generally
consistent with the assumptions used for options granted to employees. Stock-based compensation expense for awards granted to non-employees is
adjusted as the award vests to reflect the current fair value of such awards, and is recognized using an accelerated attribution model.
Income Taxes
The consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect provisions for federal, state, local and foreign
income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying
amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for loss carryforwards using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the years in which the
differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We
cannot be certain that future U.S. taxable income will be sufficient to realize our deferred tax assets and, accordingly, a full valuation allowance has been
provided against our U.S. net deferred tax assets.
We evaluate the tax positions we have taken when preparing our federal, state, local and foreign income tax returns, and determine whether it is more
likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If it is not more likely than not that a position will be sustained, none of the
benefit attributable to the position is recognized. The tax benefit to be recognized for any tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition
threshold is calculated as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon resolution of the contingency. As of December 31, 2018
and 2017, we have provided a liability of $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively. We account for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax
positions as part of our other expenses.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations
of the SEC.
JOBS Act
In April 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging
growth company” can take advantage of an extended transition period 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 public companies.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The market risk inherent in our financial instruments and in our financial position represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in interest
rates. As of December 31, 2018, we had $13.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, consisting of cash in checking accounts at U.S. and Israeli banking
institutions as well as money market funds and short-term corporate notes. In addition, we had $28.6 million of marketable securities. Our primary
exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. An immediate 100 basis point
change in interest rates would cause a decrease in the value of short-term investments of $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2018, we did not have any
outstanding borrowings so we are not exposed to interest rate risk associated with credit facilities.
In addition, we are subject to currency risk for balances held, or denominated, in currencies other than U.S. dollars. We work to maintain all balances in
U.S. dollars until payment in other currencies is required to minimize this currency risk. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and
each of the Euro, GBP and NIS over the past 24 months has been approximately 8%, 3% and 2%, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we held
$0.3 million in Israeli banks and petty cash funds to support our Israeli operations, the majority of which is denominated in U.S. dollars. We contract
with CROs internationally, primarily for the execution of clinical trials and manufacturing activities. Transactions with these providers are settled in U.S.
dollars, Euros or GBP and, therefore, we believe that we have only minimal exposure to foreign currency exchange risks. We do not hedge against
foreign currency risks.
We do not believe that inflation and changing prices had a significant impact on our results of operations for any periods presented herein.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See the consolidated financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K as listed under Item 15 below.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not Applicable.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are designed only to provide reasonable assurance that
they will meet their objectives. Under the supervision and with the
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participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the
effectiveness, as of December 31, 2018, of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer has concluded that, as of such
date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is
recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated
and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange
Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors
regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can only
provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of these inherent limitations, management does
not expect that our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued in 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, our management
concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2018.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(d)) during the quarter
ended December 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Other Information
Not Applicable.
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A,
which proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018.
We intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that are required to be disclosed
pursuant to the rules of the SEC. Information contained on, or connected to, our website is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K and should
not be considered part of this report or any other filing that we make with the SEC.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A,
which proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018.
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Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A,
which proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A,
which proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018.
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A,
which proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018.
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)
1. Consolidated Financial Statements.
For a list of the consolidated financial statements included herein, see Index on page F-1 of this report.
PART IV
2. Financial Statement Schedules.
All required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
3. List of Exhibits.
See the Exhibit Index in Item 15(b) below.
7(b) Exhibit Index.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
10.1†
10.2†
10.3†
10.4†
10.5†
10.7†
10.8†
10.9
10.10†
10.11
10.12
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on July 21, 2015
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2015
Form of Common Stock certificate of the Company, incorporated by reference from our Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on
Form S-1/A filed on July 6, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, by and between the Company and the Investors named therein, dated as of
December 16, 2014, incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 15, 2015 (File
No. 333-204949)
Form of Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock (issued in connection with the Company’s Series D preferred stock financing),
incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 15, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
Form of Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock (issued in connection with the Company’s Series E preferred stock financing),
incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 15, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
Israeli Stock Option Plan 2003 and forms of agreements thereunder, incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed on June 15, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and forms of agreement thereunder, incorporated by reference from our Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on July 6, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, incorporated by reference from our Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1/A
filed on July 6, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
Senior Executive Cash Incentive Bonus Plan, incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 15,
2015 (File No. 333-204949)
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of September 27, 2016 by and between the Company and Mark J. Fitzpatrick,
incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2016
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of February 23, 2018 by and between the Company and Drew Enamait,
incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 28, 2018
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of February 23, 2018 by and between the Company and William Ludlam,
incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2018
Form of Indemnification Agreement, to be entered into between the Company and its directors and officers, incorporated by reference
from our Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on July 6, 2015 (File No. 333-204949)
Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q filed on May 5, 2017
Sublease Termination Agreement dated as of November 8, 2017 by and between the Company and Cimpress USA Incorporated,
incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 11, 2017
Lease dated as of November 15, 2017 by and between the Company and NWALP TPOP Property Owner LLC, incorporated by
reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 20, 2018
110
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Exhibit
No.
10.13
21.1*
23.1*
31.1*
32.1**
101
Common Stock Sales Agreement, by and between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC, dated as of November 8, 2018,
incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2018
Subsidiaries of the Company
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002
Interactive Data Files regarding (a) our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, (b) our Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, (c) our
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, (d) our Consolidated Statements of
Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and (e) the Notes to such Consolidated Financial Statements
†
*
**
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.
Filed herewith.
Furnished herewith.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
None.
111
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Waltham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on March 8, 2019.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Chiasma, Inc.
By: /s/ Mark J. Fitzpatrick
Mark J. Fitzpatrick
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Name
/s/ Mark J. Fitzpatrick
Mark J. Fitzpatrick
/s/ Drew Enamait
Drew Enamait
/s/ David Stack
David Stack
/s/ Todd Foley
Todd Foley
/s/ Bard Geesaman, M.D., Ph.D.
Bard Geesaman, M.D., Ph.D.
/s/ Roni Mamluk, Ph.D.
Roni Mamluk, Ph.D.
/s/ Scott Minick
Scott Minick
/s/ John Scarlett, M.D.
John Scarlett, M.D.
/s/ John F. Thero
John F. Thero
Title
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
Vice President, Finance and Administration
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
112
Date
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
March 8, 2019
Table of Contents
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-1
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Chiasma, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Chiasma, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017,
the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (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, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.
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 or 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
Boston, Massachusetts
March 8, 2019
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
F-2
Table of Contents
CHIASMA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Insurance recovery (Note 12)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
Estimated settlement liability (Note 12)
Accrued expenses
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 125,000,000 shares at December 31, 2018 and
December 31, 2017; issued and outstanding 24,456,120 shares at December 31, 2018 and
24,381,605 shares at December 31, 2017
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none outstanding
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Accumulated deficit
Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
As of December 31,
2018
2017
(in thousands except share data)
$
$
$
$
13,060
28,602
18,288
2,237
62,187
111
958
63,256
2,029
18,750
7,848
—
28,627
505
29,132
245
—
270,509
(16)
(236,614)
34,124
63,256
$
$
$
$
14,603
52,336
—
1,768
68,707
193
983
69,883
1,017
—
4,033
1,695
6,745
664
7,409
244
—
267,642
(59)
(205,353)
62,474
69,883
Table of Contents
CHIASMA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Operating expenses:
General and administrative
Research and development
Restructuring charges
Total operating expenses
Loss from operations
Other income, net
Loss before income taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net loss
Earnings per share
Basic
Diluted
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic
Diluted
2018
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands except share and per share data)
2016
$
$
$
$
9,974
22,362
—
32,336
(32,336)
(1,044)
(31,292)
(31)
(31,261)
(1.28)
(1.28)
$
$
$
$
9,146
17,948
1,038
28,132
(28,132)
(716)
(27,416)
(590)
(26,826)
(1.10)
(1.10)
$
$
$
$
21,815
31,317
8,179
61,311
(61,311)
(547)
(60,764)
347
(61,111)
(2.51)
(2.51)
24,399,706
24,366,681
24,399,706
24,366,681
24,319,443
24,319,443
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
CHIASMA, INC.
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities, net
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive loss
2018
$(31,261)
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)
$(26,826)
43
43
$(31,218)
(50)
(50)
$(26,876)
2016
$ (61,111)
(32)
(32)
$(61,143)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CHIASMA, INC.
Common Stock
Shares
Amount
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
Balance, January 1, 2016
Stock-based compensation
Exercise of stock options
Exercise of warrants into common stock
Additional paid in capital on account of vested
portion of restricted stock
Other comprehensive loss
Net loss
Balance, December 31, 2016
Stock-based compensation
Exercise of stock options
Additional paid in capital on account of vested
portion of restricted stock
Other comprehensive loss
Net loss
Balance, December 31, 2017
Stock-based compensation
Exercise of stock options
Additional paid in capital on account of vested
portion of restricted stock
Other comprehensive loss
Net loss
Balance, December 31, 2018
24,012,597
—
292,235
54,752
—
—
—
24,359,584
—
22,021
—
—
—
24,381,605
—
74,515
—
—
—
24,456,120
$ 240
—
3
1
—
—
—
244
—
—
—
—
—
244
—
1
—
—
—
$ 245
$
(in thousands except share data)
23
—
—
—
$259,969
3,346
597
4
101
—
—
264,017
3,522
2
101
—
—
267,642
2,730
36
101
—
—
$270,509
$
—
(32)
—
(9)
—
—
—
(50)
—
(59)
—
—
—
43
—
(16)
Accumulated
Deficit
$ (117,416)
—
—
—
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
$ 142,816
3,346
600
5
—
—
(61,111)
(178,527)
—
—
—
—
(26,826)
(205,353)
—
—
—
—
(31,261)
$ (236,614)
$
101
(32)
(61,111)
85,725
3,522
2
101
(50)
(26,826)
62,474
2,730
37
101
43
(31,261)
34,124
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Table of Contents
CHIASMA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2018
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
($ in thousands)
2016
Operating Activities:
Net loss
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
$(31,261)
$(26,826)
$ (61,111)
Depreciation
Stock-based compensation
Amortization of premium on marketable securities, net
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes
Non-cash interest expense
Non-cash restructuring charges
Loss on sale of property and equipment
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Other assets
Other current and long-term liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities
Investing Activities:
Purchase of marketable securities
Maturities of marketable securities
Purchases of property and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Net cash provided by investing activities
Financing Activities:
Payment under license termination agreement
Exercise of warrants
Exercise of stock options
Net cash used in financing activities
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes
88
2,730
(440)
16
5
—
—
471
4,349
9
(58)
(24,091)
(38,010)
62,227
(6)
—
24,211
(1,700)
—
37
(1,663)
(1,543)
14,603
$ 13,060
152
3,522
(150)
(884)
131
—
—
820
(1,616)
402
25
(24,424)
(89,163)
92,898
(23)
—
3,712
(1,700)
—
2
(1,698)
(22,410)
37,013
$ 14,603
433
3,346
(150)
(16)
246
1,474
67
674
1,805
(14)
1,282
(51,964)
(117,146)
169,006
(2,964)
137
49,033
(1,700)
5
600
(1,095)
(4,026)
41,039
$ 37,013
$
333
$
51
$
140
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
Table of Contents
1. Nature of Business
CHIASMA, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Chiasma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company incorporated in 2001 under the laws of the State of Delaware. Chiasma, Inc. is
headquartered in Massachusetts and has two wholly owned subsidiaries; Chiasma (Israel) Ltd., and Chiasma Securities Corp, collectively referred to as
“the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “Chiasma”. We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients who
face challenges associated with their existing treatments for rare and serious chronic disease. Employing our proprietary Transient Permeability
Enhancer (“TPE”) technology platform, we seek to develop oral medications that are currently available only as injections. We are currently evaluating
oral octreotide capsules, conditionally trade-named “MYCAPSSA”, our sole TPE platform-based clinical product candidate, in two Phase 3 clinical
trials in adult patients for the treatment of acromegaly to potentially support regulatory approval in the United States and European Union. Acromegaly
is a rare and debilitating condition that results in the body’s production of excess growth hormone. Octreotide is an analog of somatostatin, a natural
inhibitor of growth hormone secretion. Octreotide capsules have been granted orphan designation in the United States and the European Union for the
treatment of acromegaly. We retain worldwide rights to develop and commercialize octreotide capsules with no royalty obligations to third parties.
In September 2017, we initiated a third Phase 3 clinical trial for oral octreotide capsules for the maintenance therapy of adult patients with
acromegaly following our agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) on the design of the trial, reached through a Special
Protocol Assessment in August 2017. The trial, referred to as CHIASMA OPTIMAL, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-month
trial expected to enroll 50 adult acromegaly patients designed to support regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in the United States. In October
2018, we completed enrollment in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial, randomizing a total of 56 patients.
We are also currently conducting an international Phase 3 clinical trial, referred to as MPOWERED, of oral octreotide capsules for the
maintenance treatment of adult patients with acromegaly to support regulatory approval in the European Union by the European Medicines Agency
(“EMA”). The MPOWERED trial is a global, randomized, open-label and active-controlled 15-month trial initially designed to enroll up to 150 patients.
In July 2018, we completed the enrollment of 135 adult acromegaly patients into the run-in phase of the trial. The EMA requested that a minimum of at
least 80 patients who are responders to octreotide capsules following the six-month run-in phase be randomized to either remain on octreotide capsules
or return to injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (octreotide or lanreotide), and then followed for an additional nine months. In October 2018, 80
patients were randomized following the six-month run-in phase in the MPOWERED trial. Further, in October 2018, we elected to resume enrollment in
the trial in an effort to enroll up to 15 additional patients exclusively located in the U.S. in order to gain further U.S. investigator and patient experience
with octreotide capsules.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Chiasma, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are prepared in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and are stated in U.S. dollars. The consolidated financial
statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of
business. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
F-8
Table of Contents
Liquidity
We have incurred significant losses from operations since our inception and expect losses to continue for at least the next several years. We are
heavily dependent on the regulatory approval and subsequent commercial success of our product candidate, octreotide capsules for the treatment of
acromegaly in the United States and European Union, both of which may never occur.
We expect to continue with our ongoing international Phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly to support
potential regulatory approval in the United States and ongoing international Phase 3 MPOWERED clinical trial of octreotide capsules in acromegaly to
support potential regulatory approval in the European Union. In June and August 2016, we announced two separate corporate restructuring plans, which
were completed in 2017, intended to focus our resources on the continued development of octreotide capsules for the maintenance treatment of adult
acromegaly patients. We currently expect our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities to fund our operations for at least one year after
the date these consolidated financial statements are issued. We expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future.
Successful transition to attaining profitable operations is dependent upon achieving a level of revenues adequate to support our cost structure. We
plan to continue to fund our losses from operations and capital funding needs from existing balances of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
and potentially through the issuance of debt and/or equity or through collaborations or license agreements with other companies. Debt or equity
financing may not be available on a timely basis on terms acceptable to us, or at all. If we are not able to secure adequate additional funding, we may be
forced to make further reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, suspend or curtail our planned
development of octreotide capsules, or delay our commercial preparations or launch readiness even if the CHIASMA OPTIMAL trial achieves its
primary endpoint or if octreotide capsules are approved by the FDA or EMA. Any of these actions could materially harm our business, results of
operations and future prospects. Failure to obtain regulatory approval of octreotide capsules in acromegaly will prevent us from commercializing the
product candidate, which could raise significant concerns about our continued viability as a business.
In November 2018, we entered into a Sales Agreement (“ATM Agreement”) for “at the market offerings” with Cowen and Company, LLC
(“Cowen”), which allows us to offer and sell up to $25.0 million in gross proceeds of common stock from time to time, at prevailing market prices at the
time of the sale, through Cowen, acting as our sales agent. To date, we have not sold any common stock under the ATM Agreement.
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We base these estimates and assumptions on historical
experience when available, and on various factors that we believe to be reasonable under the specific circumstances. Significant estimates relied upon in
preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, accounting for stock-based compensation, income taxes,
and accounting for certain accruals. We assess these estimates on an ongoing basis; however, actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments which mature within three months or less from the date of purchase.
Marketable Securities
Our investments primarily consist of commercial paper and corporate and government debt securities. These marketable securities are classified as
available-for-sale, and as such, are reported at fair value on our
F-9
Table of Contents
consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized holding gains and losses are reported within accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component
of stockholders’ equity. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such
amortization, together with interest on securities, are included in other income, net, on our consolidated statements of operations.
If a decline in the fair value of a marketable security below our cost basis is determined to be other than temporary, such marketable security is
written down to its estimated fair value as a new cost basis and the amount of the write-down is included in earnings as an impairment charge. The cost
of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
Foreign currency translation
We use the U.S. dollar as our functional currency. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are re-measured at current rates
and non-monetary assets denominated in foreign currency are recorded at historical exchange rates. Realized and unrealized exchange gains or losses
from transactions and re-measurement adjustments are reflected in other income, net, in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
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. Other than reported net income, comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on available
for sale securities, which are disclosed in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income. There were no reclassifications out of
comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.
Segment information
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation
by the chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer, in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. We
view our operations and manage our business in one operating segment.
Other assets
Other assets consist of long-term restricted deposits, prepayments, and deferred tax assets. Long-term restricted deposits represent interest-bearing
money market accounts held as security deposits against bank guarantees.
Concentrations of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, and
marketable securities. We routinely maintain deposits in financial institutions in excess of government insured limits. Management believes that we are
not exposed to significant credit risk as our deposits are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality and we have
not experienced any significant losses in these deposits. We regularly invest excess operating cash in deposits with major financial institutions and
money market funds and in notes issued by the U.S. government, as well as in fixed income investments and bond funds, both of which can be readily
purchased and sold using established markets. We believe that the market risk arising from our holdings of these financial instruments is mitigated based
on the fact that many of these securities are either government backed or of high credit rating.
F-10
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Property and equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are
charged to operations as incurred, whereas major betterments are capitalized as additions to property and equipment. Depreciation and amortization are
recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
Asset Category
Computer equipment and software
Office furniture and equipment
Leasehold improvements
Estimated Useful Lives
3 years
7—17 years (mainly 7)
The lesser of lease term or estimated useful lives
Impairment of long-lived assets
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not
be recoverable. When such events occur, we compare the carrying amounts of the assets to their undiscounted expected future cash flows the assets are
expected to generate and to be recognized. The amount of impairment loss to be recognized is the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of the
related asset. We did not record any impairments during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (other than described in Note 15).
Employment termination costs
We accrue employment termination liabilities when (a) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan of termination;
(b) the plan identifies the number of employees to be terminated, their job classifications or functions, their locations, and the expected completion date;
(c) the plan establishes the terms of the arrangement, including the benefits that employees will receive upon termination, in sufficient detail to enable
employees to determine the type and amount of benefits they will receive upon involuntary termination; (d) it is unlikely that significant changes to the
plan will be made or withdrawn; and (e) the plan has been communicated to the affected employees. When employees are required to render services
beyond the minimum retention period through the involuntary termination date in order to receive the termination benefits, a liability is measured
initially at the communication date based on the fair value of the liability and is recognized ratably over the future service period through expected
termination date. We reverse the liability when events or circumstances occur that discharge or remove its responsibility to settle the termination
liability.
Research and development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include payroll and personnel expense, consulting
costs, external contract research and development expenses, raw materials, drug product manufacturing costs, and allocated overhead including
depreciation and amortization, rent, and utilities. Research and development costs that are paid in advance of performance are capitalized as a prepaid
expense and amortized over the service period as the services are provided.
Clinical trial costs
Clinical trial costs are a component of research and development expenses. We accrue and expense clinical trial activities performed by third
parties on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as hours spent in performance of services, patient enrollment,
clinical site activation, and other information provided to us by our vendors. We make estimates of our clinical trial accrued expenses as of each balance
sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us. If timelines or contracts are modified based upon changes in the
clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed, we assess our estimates of accrued expenses accordingly.
F-11
Table of Contents
Patent costs
Patent costs are expensed as incurred as their realization is uncertain. These costs are classified as general and administrative in the accompanying
consolidated statements of operations.
Warrants
Common stock warrants issued in connection with the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock were classified as a component of
stockholders’ equity because they are free standing financial instruments that are legally detachable and separately exercisable from the redeemable
convertible preferred stock, are contingently exercisable, do not embody an obligation for us to repurchase the shares, and permit the holders to receive a
fixed number of common shares upon exercise. In addition, the common stock warrants require physical settlement and do not provide any guarantee of
value or return. Common stock warrants were initially recorded at their relative fair value and were not subsequently re-measured. Common stock
warrants were valued using Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Stock-based compensation
We account for all stock-based compensation to employees and nonemployees based on their fair values on the date of grant. The fair value of
stock-based awards to nonemployees is remeasured as the award vests. For employee stock-based awards with only service conditions, we recognize
compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period of the award, net of any actual forfeitures.
We determine the fair value of stock options by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires the input of several
assumptions such as the expected option term, the expected risk-free interest rate over the expected option term, the expected volatility of our stock
price over the expected option term, and the expected dividend yield over the expected option term. The computation of expected volatility is based on
an average historical share price volatility based on an analysis of reported data for a peer group of comparable publicly traded companies, which were
selected based upon industry similarities. The interest rate for periods within the expected term of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury risk-free
interest rate in effect at the time of grant. The expected lives of the options were estimated using the simplified method. For options granted to
non-employees, the expected life of the option used is the contractual term of each such option. All other assumptions used to calculate the grant date
fair value are generally consistent with the assumptions used for options granted to employees. Stock-based compensation expense for awards granted to
non-employees is adjusted as the award vests to reflect the current fair value of such awards and is recognized using an accelerated attribution model.
Income taxes
The consolidated financial statements reflect provisions for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
represent future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities
and for loss carryforwards using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the years in which the differences reverse. A valuation allowance is
recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If it is not more likely than not that a
position will be sustained, none of the benefit attributable to the position is recognized. The tax benefit to be recognized for any tax position that meets
the more likely than not recognition threshold is calculated as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon resolution of the
contingency. We account for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of our other expenses in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements.
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Contingent liabilities
In the normal course of business, we are subject to proceedings, lawsuits, and other claims and assessments. We assess the likelihood of any
adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters as well as potential ranges of probable losses. A determination of the amount of reserves required, if
any, for these contingencies is made after careful analysis of each individual issue. The required reserves may change in the future due to new
developments in each matter or changes in approach such as a change in settlement strategy in dealing with these matters. We record charges for the
losses we anticipate incurring in connection with litigation and claims against us when we conclude a loss is probable and we can reasonably estimate
these losses.
Earnings per share
We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. We
compute diluted earnings per common share after giving consideration to all potentially dilutive common shares, including stock options, and warrants
outstanding during the period except where the effect of such non-participating securities would be antidilutive.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance which establishes a right-of-use model that requires
a lessee to record an asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either
finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for annual
periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods. A modified retrospective approach, which
includes a number of optional practical expedients that we may elect to apply, is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or
entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. We plan to adopt this standard on January 1,
2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Upon adoption of this standard, we expect recognition of a right-of-use assets and corresponding
operating lease liabilities pertaining to our operating leases on our consolidated balance sheets. We believe the adoption of this standard will not have a
material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In June 2018, the FASB issued new guidance which changes certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees.
Under this guidance, most of the treatment for share-based payments granted to nonemployees would be aligned with the requirements for share-based
payments granted to employees. The new standard is effective beginning January 1, 2019. Early adoption of this standard is permitted. We plan to adopt
this standard on January 1, 2019. We believe the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
3. Investments
Our investments consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Money market funds
Corporate notes
Commercial paper
Total
Amortized Cost
$
$
11,612
7,234
21,384
40,230
As of December 31, 2018
Gross Unrealized
Gains
Gross Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
($ in thousands)
$
—
—
—
—
$
—
(3)
(13)
(16)
$
$
11,612
7,231
21,371
40,214
$
$
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Table of Contents
Money market funds
Corporate notes
Commercial paper
Total
Amortized Cost
$
$
12,399
29,788
22,607
64,794
As of December 31, 2017
Gross Unrealized
Gains
Gross Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
$
$
($ in thousands)
$
—
—
1
1
$
—
(35)
(25)
(60)
$
$
12,399
29,753
22,583
64,735
As of December 31, 2018, we do not consider those securities that are in an unrealized loss position to be other-than-temporarily impaired, as we
have the ability to hold such investments until recovery of the fair value. We utilize the specific identification method in computing realized gains and
losses. We had no realized gains and losses on our available-for-sale securities for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.
The fair values of our investments by classification in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Total
As of December 31,
2018
2017
($ in thousands)
$11,612
28,602
$40,214
$12,399
52,336
$64,735
Cash and cash equivalents in the table above exclude cash of $1.4 million and $2.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The
contractual maturity dates of all of our investments are less than one year.
4. Fair Value Measurements and Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Certain assets and liabilities are reported at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for
an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value accounting guidance requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be
classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1— Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2— Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3— Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.
To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value
requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by us in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in
Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value
measurement.
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The following tables summarize the fair value measurements of our financial instruments as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds
Total cash equivalents
Marketable securities:
Corporate notes
Commercial paper
Total marketable securities
Total
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds
Total cash equivalents
Marketable securities:
Corporate notes
Commercial paper
Total marketable securities
Total
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
($ in thousands)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
$
$
$
$
11,612
11,612
—
—
—
11,612
$
$
$
$
—
—
7,231
21,371
28,602
28,602
$
$
$
$
—
—
—
—
—
—
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
($ in thousands)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
$
$
$
$
12,399
12,399
—
—
—
12,399
$
$
$
$
—
—
29,753
22,583
52,336
52,336
$
$
$
$
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total
$11,612
$11,612
$ 7,231
21,371
28,602
$40,214
Total
$12,399
$12,399
$29,753
22,583
52,336
$64,735
Our cash equivalents are classified as Level 1 assets under the fair value hierarchy as these assets have been valued using quoted market prices in
active markets and do not have any restrictions on redemption. Our marketable securities are classified as Level 2 assets under the fair value hierarchy
as these assets were primarily determined from independent pricing services, which normally derive security prices from recently reported trades for
identical or similar securities, making adjustments based upon other significant observable market transactions. At the end of each reporting period, we
perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of prices received from third parties to determine whether prices are reasonable estimates of fair value.
After completing our analysis, we did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by our pricing services as of December 31, 2018 or
2017. We did not have any Level 3 assets being measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 or 2017. There were no transfers
between measurement levels during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
5. Earnings per Share
All common stock warrants and stock options have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding because
such securities would have an anti-dilutive impact due to net losses reported during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Since we have
reported a net loss for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share for those
periods.
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6. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Computer equipment and software
Office furniture and equipment
Property and equipment, at cost
Less accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
As of December 31,
2018
2017
($ in thousands)
$ 357
155
512
(401)
$ 111
$ 359
173
532
(339)
$ 193
Depreciation expense was $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
7. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Accrued general and administrative expenses
Accrued research and development expenses
Accrued payroll and employee benefits
Total accrued expenses
As of December 31,
2018
2017
($ in thousands)
$2,120
4,557
1,171
$7,848
$ 752
2,501
780
$4,033
8. License Agreement
In December 2012, we signed a license agreement with F. Hoffman- La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (collectively “Roche”), which
was effective in January 2013, and granted Roche an exclusive, non-transferable license to our intellectual property related to the octreotide capsules.
Under the terms of the agreement, Roche obtained worldwide rights to research, develop, make, import, export, sell, market or distribute the commercial
product. We retained certain research and development activities under a joint development plan and all rights to the intellectual property contained in
the agreement.
In July 2014, Roche terminated the license agreement. Upon termination, Roche returned all rights and documentation granted under the
agreement to us. We were relieved of further obligations under the agreement. Following the termination of the license agreement, we are not entitled to
further payments from Roche, Roche has no remaining rights to octreotide capsules and we retain all rights to octreotide capsules and all related
intellectual property. Subsequent to the termination, we purchased from Roche active pharmaceutical ingredient supplies to continue the development
and manufacturing of octreotide capsules as well as Roche’s proposed trade name for octreotide capsules for an aggregate amount of $5.1 million
payable in three equal annual installments of $1.7 million beginning in 2016. We made the $1.7 million annual payments in each of March 2018, 2017,
and 2016. The difference between the aggregate purchase price and the present value of the installment payments represents the interest component of
the financing arrangement and was recorded as interest expense over the payment term. We have no further financial or operational obligations to
Roche.
9. Warrants
As of December 31, 2018, there are warrants for the purchase of 3,567,015 shares of common stock outstanding, with exercise prices ranging
from $0.09 to $9.13. Such warrants were issued between June 2011 and
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February 2015 and have expiration dates ranging from March 2022 through February 2025. There were no warrants issued or exercised during the year
ended December 31, 2018.
10. Stock Incentive Plan
In 2008, our Board of Directors adopted the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), which provided for the grant of incentive stock options,
nonqualified stock options, and restricted stock to our employees, directors, and nonemployees up to 3,547,741 shares of common stock. Option awards
expire 10 years from the grant date and generally vest over four years, but vesting conditions can vary at the discretion of our Board of Directors.
In July 2015, we approved a 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), which became effective upon our IPO. The 2015 Plan
allows the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, and restricted stock to employees, directors, and nonemployees of Chiasma up to
3,566,296 shares of common stock. In connection with the adoption of the 2015 Plan, no further option grants are permitted under the 2008 Plan and any
expirations, cancellations, or terminations under the previous plan are available for issuance under the 2015 Plan. On January 1, 2019, the number of
shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2015 Stock Plan increased by 978,245 shares of common stock pursuant to a provision in the 2015
Stock Plan that provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance will automatically increase each January 1, beginning on
January 1, 2016, by 4% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or such lesser
number as determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The compensation committee of the Board of Directors determined
there would be no increase to the shares reserved and available under the 2015 Stock Plan on January 1, 2018 and 2017. As of December 31, 2018, the
total number of shares authorized for stock award plans is 7,114,037 of which 2,351,592 remain available for grant. There are 4,373,674 stock options
outstanding as of December 31, 2018. The fair value of each stock option issued was estimated at the date of grant using the following weighted-average
assumptions:
Expected volatility
Expected term (years)
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
2018
77%
6.2
2.72%
0%
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
74%
5.7
1.81%
0%
2016
75%
6.2
1.45%
0%
A summary of option activity as of December 31, 2018 and the year then ended is presented below:
Outstanding, January 1, 2018
Exercised
Granted
Forfeited/Expired
Outstanding, December 31, 2018
Exercisable, December 31, 2018
Vested and expected to vest, December 31, 2018
Number of
Stock Options
3,609,766
(74,515)
849,749
(11,326)
4,373,674
2,992,198
4,373,674
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
4.71
$
0.49
$
1.54
$
4.38
$
4.16
$
$
$
4.77
4.16
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
7.4
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
668,434
$
7.0
6.4
7.0
$ 3,140,879
$ 1,692,857
$ 3,140,879
The weighted-average grant date per-share fair value of stock options granted during 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $1.06, $0.95 and $4.38,
respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the
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years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $0.2 million, $40,000 and $3.5 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2018, there was $2.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options, which is expected to be recognized
over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.
Stock-based compensation expense for 2018, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:
General and administrative
Research and development
Total
For the Years Ended December 31,
2018
$1,412
1,318
$2,730
2017
($ in thousands)
$1,510
2,012
$3,522
2016
$1,717
1,629
$3,346
During 2015, two directors exercised options to purchase an aggregate of 122,644 shares of common stock of which 116,258 of the shares were
issued as restricted stock as they were exercised prior to full vesting. The proceeds from the issuance of the restricted stock are presented as liabilities
within the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, since we have the right to repurchase the unvested portion of the restricted stock following
termination of the services of their holder. The liability is released to additional paid-in capital per the original vesting schedule of the options. As of
December 31, 2018, there were 5,110 restricted shares outstanding and the outstanding balance of the liability was $16,800. The weighted average grant
date fair value of the options was $2.62.
11. Income Taxes
Our loss before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:
Domestic
Foreign
Total
2018
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
($ in thousands)
$(27,703)
287
$(27,416)
$(31,477)
185
$(31,292)
$(61,390)
626
$(60,764)
2016
The components of income tax provision (benefit) consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
2018
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
($ in thousands)
2016
Current provision for income taxes:
U.S.
Foreign
Total current provision for income taxes
Deferred tax benefit—U.S. Federal
Deferred tax provision (benefit)—foreign
Total deferred provision (benefit) for income taxes
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes
F-18
$ 12
(59)
(47)
—
16
16
$ (31)
$ 13
281
294
(956)
72
(884)
$(590)
$ 12
351
363
—
(16)
(16)
$347
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A reconciliation setting forth the differences between our effective tax rates and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate is as follows:
U.S. federal tax provision at statutory rate
State and local tax, net of federal benefit
Foreign rate differences
Non-deductible foreign stock compensation
Effect of other permanent differences
Uncertain tax positions
Change in valuation allowance
Federal Tax Reform Rate Change
Other adjustments
Effective tax rate
2018
21.0%
5.3%
0.2%
(0.4%)
(0.3%)
0.1%
(26.0%)
—
0.1%
0.1%
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
34.0%
4.4%
0.8%
(1.7%)
(0.7%)
0.1%
33.2%
(68.6%)
0.6%
2.2%
2016
34.0%
4.8%
0.4%
(0.6%)
(0.3%)
(0.0%)
(40.0%)
—
1.2%
(0.6%)
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and the amounts used for income and for tax carryforwards. Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards
Intangible and other related assets
Accrued expenses
Stock compensation
Other
Total deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax assets
As of December 31,
2018
2017
($ in thousands)
$ 45,722
333
482
1,513
77
48,127
(48,119)
8
$
$ 37,882
312
627
1,067
120
40,008
(39,984)
24
$
When realization of a deferred tax asset is more likely than not to occur, the benefit related to the deductible temporary differences attributable to
operations is recognized as a reduction of income tax expense. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when, based on all
available evidence, it is considered more likely than not that some portion or all of the recorded deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods.
We cannot be certain that future U.S. taxable income will be sufficient to realize our deferred tax assets. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance has
been provided against our U.S. net deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance increased by $8.1 million and decreased by $9.1 million in 2018 and
2017, respectively. The increase in 2018 is primarily the result of an increase in net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards. The decrease in 2017 is
primarily related to Federal tax reform reducing the Federal tax rate to 21% which resulted in a decrease to our deferred assets and a corresponding
decrease to the valuation allowance.
In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“tax reform” or the “tax law”) was enacted. The tax reform reduced our U.S. corporate
income tax rate from 34% to 21% beginning in 2018. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted rate for the period in which they
are expected to reverse. Accordingly, the reduction to the U.S. Federal corporate tax rate reduced our net U.S. deferred tax asset by $18.8 million which
was offset by a corresponding reduction to its valuation allowance. In addition, the tax reform includes a
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transition tax in which all foreign earnings are deemed to be repatriated to the U.S. The transition tax resulted in taxable income inclusion of
approximately $0.2 million which was offset by losses.
At December 31, 2018, we had U.S. Federal and state NOL carryforwards totaling approximately $184.9 million and $138.0 million, respectively,
that expire at various dates through 2038 with the exception of the Federal NOL generated in 2018 of approximately $29.1 million which has an
unlimited carryover period. At December 31, 2018, we had no Israeli NOL carryforwards.
We expect, the U.S. Federal alternative minimum tax credit to go unutilized and become refundable in future periods. The tax reform also allows
us to receive the U.S. Federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforward in the form of a refund on the 2018 through 2021 Federal tax returns. We
have a history of generating losses and are forecasting that we will not generate taxable income through 2021 which would otherwise limit our ability to
realize the U.S. Federal alternative minimum tax credit. Accordingly, we have recorded a receivable of $1.0 million for the U.S. Federal alternative
minimum tax credit refund in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, substantial changes in our ownership may limit the amount of NOL
carryforwards that can be utilized annually in the future to offset our U.S. Federal taxable income. Specifically, this limitation may arise in the event of a
cumulative change in our ownership of more than 50% within any three-year period. We have determined that we experienced an ownership change for
purposes of Section 382 in August 2005 and May 2008. These ownership changes resulted in annual limitations to the amount of NOL carryforwards
that can be utilized to offset future taxable income, if any, at the U.S. Federal level. The annual limit is approximately $0.1 million for 2008, and each
year thereafter. We are currently in the process of performing a Section 382 study. If we conclude that have in fact undergone an ownership change, our
NOL carryforwards may be substantially limited.
Our Israeli subsidiary has been recognized as a research and development company by the Head of the Israeli Administration of Industrial
Research and Development and is entitled to tax benefits by virtue of the “beneficiary enterprise” status granted to part of its business activities under
the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments 1959. The tax benefits include reduced tax rates on the research and development portion
of its income during the first ten years of the benefit period (commenced in 2008). We benefit from a 10% tax rate for its income derived from research
and development activities. Our tax rate on income from non-research and development activities is 23.0%. The continued application of the tax benefits
is subject to certain conditions as defined by Israeli law.
As part of the transition tax provision, we have a deemed repatriation of all of our undistributed earnings as of December 31, 2018. However, our
subsidiary’s earnings, if distributed, would still be subject to local withholding tax and state income taxes. The subsidiary has undistributed earnings of
approximately $2.6 million as of December 31, 2018, which is considered to be permanently reinvested in the operations of the subsidiary. If the
earnings were to be distributed to the U.S. parent, they would be subject to Israeli withholding and state income tax liabilities. The unrecognized
deferred tax liability is approximately $0.3 million.
We file U.S. federal, various state and Israeli income tax returns. The associated tax filings remain subject to examination by applicable tax
authorities for a certain length of time following the tax year to which those filings relate. As we are in a loss carry-forward position, we are generally
subject to U.S. Federal and state examinations for all years for which the Company generated losses that are included in the available losses carried
forward to the current period. As of December 31, 2018, a summary of the tax years that remain subject to examination in our taxing jurisdictions is as
follows:
United States
Israel
2003 and forward
2014 and forward
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We have reviewed the tax positions taken, or to be taken, in our tax returns for all tax years currently open to examination by a taxing authority.
We have recorded minimal interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. We remain subject to examination until the statute of limitations
expires for each respective tax jurisdiction. The statute of limitations will be open with respect to these tax positions until 2021. A reconciliation of the
beginning and ending amount of our unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
2018
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
($ in thousands)
2016
Uncertain tax position at the beginning of year
Additions for uncertain tax positions of prior year
Additions for uncertain tax positions of current year
Reductions for settlements with taxing authorities
Reductions for lapses of the applicable statutes of limitations
Uncertain tax position at the end of the year
$471
—
—
—
(80)
$391
$460
45
—
—
(34)
$471
$429
—
40
—
(9)
$460
12. Commitments and Contingencies
We conduct certain of our operations in leased facilities, which are accounted for as operating leases. Certain leases include renewal options. In
addition, we lease automobiles and equipment under operating leases. There were no assets held under capital leases at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Rent expense was as follows for 2018, 2017 and 2016:
Rent Expense
2018
For the Years Ended December 31,
2017
($ in thousands)
$945
$166
$1,221
2016
At December 31, 2018, the minimum rental commitments under all non-cancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms of more than
one year, for each of the following fiscal years, are as follows:
Operating Leases
$160
$104
$—
$—
$—
$ —
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in thousands)
Legal Proceedings
On June 9, 2016, Chiasma, Inc. and certain of our current and former officers were named as defendants in a purported federal securities class
action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, styled Gerneth v. Chiasma, Inc., et al. An amended complaint
was filed by the lead plaintiff on February 10, 2017 challenging our statements regarding the Phase 3 clinical trial methodology and results, and our
ability to obtain FDA approval for octreotide capsules, in violation of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The amended complaint adds as
defendants current and former members of our board of directors, as well as the investment banks that underwrote our initial public offering on July 15,
2015. The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory damages on behalf of himself and members of a putative shareholder class,
including interest and reasonable costs and expenses incurred in litigating the action, and any other relief the court determines is appropriate. The
defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on March 27, 2017 and on February 15, 2018, the court denied defendants’ motion to
dismiss. The defendants filed an answer to the amended complaint on March 30, 2018. On February 27, 2019, the parties agreed to a settlement of all
legal claims in which defendants expressly denied that they have committed any act or omission giving rise to any liability under Sections 11 or 15 of
the Securities Act of 1933. On March 5, 2019, the court
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issued an order scheduling the hearing on Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary approval of the settlement for March 14, 2019. As a result of this settlement
agreement, we have recorded a litigation settlement liability of $18.8 million as of December 31, 2018. Additionally, we have recorded a litigation
insurance settlement recovery receivable of $18.3 million as of December 31, 2018 which represents the estimated insurance claim proceeds from our
insurance carriers. We continue to believe this lawsuit is meritless and, to the extent the court does not approve a settlement, we intend to vigorously
defend against it.
13. Related Party Transactions
In August 2014, we signed a consulting agreement, which was most recently amended in March 2018, with one of our investors and a
representative of this investor to serve as our head of clinical. Costs incurred for services rendered by the head of clinical were $0.3 million, $0.2 million
and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Related to this consulting agreement, there were $0.1 million and
$0.1 million of accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, recorded in our consolidated balance sheets.
In December 2014, we entered into a consulting agreement with a representative of another investor to provide financial and strategic consulting
services to us. This agreement was terminated in March 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded $0.2 million of expense related to
this agreement which was classified as general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
14. Employee Benefit Plans
Pursuant to the Israeli Severance Pay Law 1963, Israeli employees are entitled to severance pay equal to one month’s salary for each year of
employment, or a portion thereof. The employees of Chiasma (Israel) Ltd. are included under Section 14 of the Severance Pay Law, under which these
employees are entitled to monthly deposits, which relieve us from future obligations under this law. As a result, no assets or liabilities are recorded in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In addition, we make mandated monthly contributions to an Israeli government retirement benefit plan for
our Israeli employees. Beginning in 2016, we provide a 401(k) profit-sharing plan covering eligible U.S. employees to make tax deferred contributions,
a portion of which are matched by us. All matching contributions and participant contributions vest immediately. During the years ended December 31,
2018, 2017 and 2016, we recorded expenses of $0.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, related to these employee benefit plans.
15. Restructuring Charges
In June 2016, we announced a corporate restructuring plan, including an immediate reduction of approximately 33% of our workforce, including
substantially all of our commercial personnel. In August 2016, we announced a second corporate restructuring plan, including an immediate reduction of
approximately 44% of our remaining workforce. In aggregate, these restructuring plans resulted in a reduction to our workforce of more than 60% since
May 1, 2016. As a result of the August reduction in force, we no longer required the research lab and additional office space of the Israel facility and we
were able to early terminate the Israel lease in November 2016. Accordingly, we recorded restructuring charges totaling $8.2 million during the year
ended December 31, 2016 which consisted of employee severance benefits and related costs of $2.2 million, manufacturing commitment-related
suspension fees of $4.5 million, non-cash restructuring charges of $0.8 million resulting from the impairment of leasehold improvements of $1.7 million
offset by the forgiveness of tenant allowances received under the lease of $0.9 million and non-cash restructuring charges related to the impairment of
previously capitalized commercial software and laboratory equipment of $0.7 million.
In November 2017, we finalized the termination of our lease agreement on our 24,000 square foot office facility in Waltham, MA which we no
longer required following the 2016 workforce reductions. As a result, we
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recorded approximately $1.0 million of restructuring expenses during the year ended December 31, 2017, which consisted of a lease termination
payment of $1.0 million, the write-off of office furniture and equipment of $0.4 million offset by the release of deferred rent liabilities of $0.4 million
associated with the terminated lease.
We did not incur any restructuring expenses during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Activity related to accrued restructuring costs during the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:
Balance at beginning of year
Plus:
Current year restructuring costs
Less:
Lease termination costs
Payment of employee severance costs
Balance at end of year
2017
283
$
1,038
(1,038)
(283)
$ —
16. Other Income, net
Other income, net is as follows:
Loss / (gain) on foreign currency transactions, net
Interest income
Interest expense
Total
17. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
Loss from operations
Net loss
Earnings per share
Basic
Diluted
Loss from operations
Net loss
Earnings per share
Basic
Diluted
For the Years Ended December 31,
2018
$
(37)
(1,013)
6
$(1,044)
2017
($ in thousands)
$ 81
(928)
131
$(716)
2016
$
(9)
(802)
264
$(547)
March 31,
2018
Three Months Ended
June 30,
2018
September 30,
2018
($ in thousands, except for per share data)
$ (7,297)
(7,043)
$(8,932)
(8,673)
$ (0.29)
$ (0.29)
$ (0.36)
$ (0.36)
$
$
$
(7,718)
(7,470)
(0.31)
(0.31)
March 31,
2017
Three Months Ended
June 30,
2017
September 30,
2017
($ in thousands, except for per share data)
$ (7,115)
(7,020)
$(6,920)
(6,854)
$ (0.29)
$ (0.29)
$ (0.28)
$ (0.28)
$
$
$
(6,943)
(6,849)
(0.28)
(0.28)
December 31,
2018
$
$
$
(8,389)
(8,075)
(0.32)
(0.32)
December 31,
2017
$
$
$
(7,154)
(6,103)
(0.25)
(0.25)
F-23
The following is a list of our subsidiaries:
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
Name
Chiasma (Israel) Ltd.
Chiasma Securities Corp
State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation
Name Under Which Does Business
Israel
United States
Same
Same
Exhibit 21.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-223850 on Form S-3 and Nos. 333-210259 and 333-205773 on
Form S-8 of our report dated March 8, 2019, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Chiasma, Inc. appearing in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K of Chiasma, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Exhibit 23.1
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, MA
March 8, 2019
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Mark J. Fitzpatrick, certify that:
(1) I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 of Chiasma, Inc.;
(2) 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;
(3) 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;
(4) I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) 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;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) 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
(d) Disclosed in the 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 the annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
(5) I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee
of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) 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
(b) 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.
Dated: March 8, 2019
/s/ Mark J. Fitzpatrick
Mark J. Fitzpatrick
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial 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 connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Chiasma, Inc. (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mark J. Fitzpatrick, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer) of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company at
the dates and for the periods indicated in the Report.
Dated: March 8, 2019
/s/ Mark J. Fitzpatrick
Mark J. Fitzpatrick
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)