UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
¨
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
or
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: May 31, 2003 or
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 0-31092
MEDICURE INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Canada
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
4 - 1200 Waverley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R3T 0P4
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section
12(g) of the Act:
Common Shares, without par value
(Title of Class) Securities for which there is a reporting
obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers
classes of capital or common stock as of
the close of the period covered by the annual report:
At May 31, 2003, the registrant had 38,509,864 common shares issued and outstanding
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period
that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject
to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days.
Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 x Item 18 ¨
As of September 30, 2003, the rate for Canadian dollars was US $0.7408 for Cdn$1.00.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GLOSSARY | 4 | ||
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS | 5 | ||
PART I | 5 | ||
ITEM 1 - IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 5 | ||
A. | Directors and Senior Management | 5 | |
B. | Advisers | 5 | |
C. | Auditors | 5 | |
ITEM 2 - OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE | 5 | ||
ITEM 3 - KEY INFORMATION | 5 | ||
A. | Selected Financial Data | 5 | |
B. | Capitalization and Indebtedness | 8 | |
C. | Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds | 8 | |
D. | Risk Factors | 8 | |
ITEM 4 - INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY | 15 | ||
A. | History and Development of the Company | 15 | |
B. | Business Overview | 16 | |
C. | Organizational Structure | 23 | |
D. | Property, Plants and Equipment | 23 | |
ITEM 5 - OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS | 23 | ||
A. | Critical Accounting Policy Disclosure | 23 | |
B. | Operating Results | 24 | |
C. | Liquidity and Capital Resources | 28 | |
D. | Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc. | 30 | |
E. | Trend Information | 32 | |
ITEM 6 - DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES | 32 | ||
A. | Directors and Senior Management | 32 | |
B. | Compensation | 37 | |
C. | Board Practises | 38 | |
D. | Employees | 39 | |
E. | Share Ownership | 39 | |
ITEM 7 - MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | 41 | ||
A. | Major Shareholders | 41 | |
B. | Related Party Transactions | 41 | |
C. | Interests of Experts and Counsel | 42 | |
ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 43 | ||
A. | Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information | 43 | |
B. | Significant Changes | 43 | |
ITEM 9 - THE OFFERING AND LISTING | 44 | ||
A. | Offer and Listing Details | 44 | |
B. | Markets | 44 | |
ITEM 10 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 45 | ||
A. | Share Capital | 45 | |
B. | Memorandum and Articles of Association | 45 | |
C. | Material Contracts | 48 | |
D. | Exchange Controls | 48 | |
E. | Taxation | 50 | |
F. | Dividends and Paying Agents | 56 | |
G. | Statement by Experts | 56 | |
H. | Documents on Display | 56 | |
ITEM 11 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK | 56 | ||
ITEM 12 - DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES | 56 | ||
PART II | 56 |
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ITEM 13 - DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES | 56 | |
ITEM 14 - MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEED | 57 | |
ITEM 15 - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 57 | |
ITEM 16 - RESERVED | 57 | |
PART III | 57 | |
ITEM 17 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 57 | |
ITEM 18 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 79 | |
ITEM 19 - EXHIBITS | 79 |
4
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below:
"angina" means chest pain;
"angioplasty" means the surgical repair of a blood vessel;
"anti-hypertensive" means blood pressure reducing;
"arrhythmia" means irregular heart rhythm;
"bioavailability means the degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target in the body after administration;
"Computer Aided Drug Design" means a method for design of new therapeutic molecules using computer generated models of the drug and its molecular target;
"FDA" means the United States Food and Drug Administration;
"GCP" means Good Clinical Practices; "GLP" means Good Laboratory Practice;
" GMP " means Good Manufacturing Practice;
" IND " means Investigative New Drug application to a regulatory authority for first human testing of a new drug;
" in-vitro " means test tube;
" in-vivo " means live animal;
" ischemia " means the lack of blood flow;
" myocardial infarction " means scarring and death to portions of the heart wall;
" myocardial ischemia " means blockages to parts of the heart muscle;
" NDS " means New Drug Submission, which is a request made to the HPB for commencement of product sales and marketing;
" NSAID " means non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
" pharmacodynamics " means the fundamental processes through which a drug(s) exerts its effects on living organisms;
" pharmacokinetics " means the uptake, biotransformation, distribution, metabolism and elimination of a drug(s) by the body, including both total amounts and tissue and organ concentrations.;
" reperfusion " means the resumption of blood flow;
" TPD " means the Canadian Therapeutic Products Directorate, formerly the Canadian Health Protection Branch;
5
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Medicure Inc. cautions readers that certain important factors (including without limitation those set forth in this Form 20-F) may affect the Corporations actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be deemed to have been made in this Form 20-F annual report, or that are otherwise made by or on behalf of the Corporation. For this purpose, any statements contained in the annual report that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as may, except, believe, anticipate, intend, could, estimate, or continue, or the negative or other variations of comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
As used in this annual report, the "Corporation refers to Medicure Inc., the company resulting from the amalgamation of Medicure Inc. and Lariat Capital Inc., Medicure refers to Medicure Inc. prior to its amalgamation with Lariat Capital Inc. and Lariat refers to Lariat Capital Inc. prior to its amalgamation with Medicure Inc. Values otherwise indicated, all references to dollar amounts in this annual report are to Canadian dollars.
PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
A. Directors and Senior Management
Not applicable
B. Advisers
Not applicable
C. Auditors
Not applicable
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
A. Selected Financial Data
The selected financial data of the Corporation as at May 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2003, and 2002 and 2001 was extracted from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation included in this annual report on Form 20-F. The information contained in the selected financial data is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 17 - Financial Statements, and should be read in conjunction with such financial statements and with the information appearing in Item 5 - Operating and Financial Review and Prospects. The attached financial data as at May 31, 2001 and 2000 and August 31, 1999 and for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2000 and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 was extracted from the audited financial statements of the Corporation not included in this annual report.
6
Reference is made to Note 9 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation included herein for a discussion of the material measurement differences between Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP, and their effect on the Corporations financial statements. Except where otherwise indicated, all amounts are presented in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
To date, the Corporation has not generated sufficient cash flow from operations to fund ongoing operational requirements and cash commitments. The Corporation has financed its operations principally through the sale of its equity securities. While the Corporation believes it has sufficient capital and liquidity to finance current operations, nevertheless, its ability to continue operations is dependent on the ability of the Corporation to obtain additional financing. See Item 3 - Key Information - D. Risk Factors.
Under Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (in Canadian dollars):
May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | August 31, | ||||||
Balance Sheet | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000(1) | 1999 | |||||
Data | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||
(as at period end) | ||||||||||
Current Assets | 4,465,048 | 8,783,318 | 4,045,011 | 4,149,722 | 184,485 | |||||
Capital Assets | 67,497 | 84,571 | 63,941 | 74,385 | 4,214 | |||||
Patent Costs | 763,464 | 508,902 | 313,088 | 185,836 | 87,296 | |||||
Total Assets | 5,296,009 | 9,376,791 | 4,422,040 | 4,409,943 | 275,995 | |||||
Total Liabilities | 353,908 | 389,663 | 570,077 | 191,830 | 769,013 | |||||
Net Assets | 4,942,101 | 8,987,128 | 3,851,963 | 4,218,113 | (493,018 | ) | ||||
(Liabilities) | ||||||||||
Capital Stock | 17,502,222 | 17,458,936 | 8,448,684 | 5,582,824 | 100 | |||||
Deficit Accumulated | ||||||||||
During | ||||||||||
the Development | (12,665,496 | ) | (8,471,808 | ) | (4,596,721 | ) | (1,364,711 | ) | (493,118 | ) |
Stage | ||||||||||
Statement of | ||||||||||
Operations | ||||||||||
(for the fiscal year | ||||||||||
ended on) | ||||||||||
Gross Revenue | 241,281 | 183,912 | 135,868 | 54,943 | 1,555 | |||||
Loss from | ||||||||||
Continuing | ||||||||||
Operations | (4,193,688 | ) | (3,875,087 | ) | (3,232,010 | ) | (871,593 | ) | (252,752 | ) |
Net Loss for the | (4,193,688 | ) | (3,875,087 | ) | (3,232,010 | ) | (871,593 | ) | (252,752 | ) |
Period | ||||||||||
Basic and Diluted | (0.11 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.03 | ) |
Loss per Share | ||||||||||
Weighted-Average | ||||||||||
Number of | ||||||||||
Common Shares | 37,118,889 | 27,900,412 | 15,928,521 | 8,224,389 | 9,500,000 | |||||
Outstanding | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (3 | ) |
7
Under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (in Canadian dollars):
May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | August 31, | ||||||
Balance Sheet Data | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 (1) | 1999 | |||||
(as at Period end) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||
Current Assets | 4,465,048 | 8,783,318 | 4,045,011 | 4,149,722 | 184,485 | |||||
Capital Assets | 37,050 | 47,087 | 17,793 | 16,700 | 2,148 | |||||
Patent Costs | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Total Assets | 4,502,098 | 8,830,405 | 4,062,804 | 4,166,422 | 186,633 | |||||
Total Liabilities | 353,908 | 389,663 | 570,077 | 191,830 | 769,013 | |||||
Net Assets (Liabilities) | 4,189,286 | 8,440,742 | 3,492,727 | 3,974,592 | (582,380 | ) | ||||
Capital Stock | 33,859,545 | 32,855,388 | 23,588,136 | 13,860,276 | 100 | |||||
Deficit Accumulated | ||||||||||
During | ||||||||||
the Development Stage | (29,670,259 | ) | (24,414,646 | ) | (20,095,409 | ) | (9,885,684 | ) | (582,480 | ) |
Statement of Operations | ||||||||||
Gross Revenue | 241,281 | 183,912 | 135,868 | 54,943 | 1,555 | |||||
Loss from Continuing | ||||||||||
Operations | (5,255,613 | ) | (4,319,237 | ) | (10,209,725 | ) | (9,303,204 | ) | (330,994 | ) |
Net Loss for the Period | (5,255,613 | ) | (4,319,237 | ) | (10,209,725 | ) | (9,303,204 | ) | (330,994 | ) |
Basic and Diluted Loss | (0.14 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (0.03 | ) |
per Share | ||||||||||
Weighted-Average | ||||||||||
Number of | ||||||||||
Common Shares | 37,118,889 | 27,900,412 | 15,928,521 | (2) | 8,224,389 | 9,500,000 | ||||
Outstanding | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (3 | ) |
Note 1: Information for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 is for a nine-month period.
Note 2: Includes 1,280,000 Class A common shares outstanding. On March 1, 2003 all of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares totalling 1,280,000 shares were converted into common shares of the Corporation on the basis of one common share for each Class A common shares in accordance with the Corporations Articles of Continuance. The Class A common shares were identical in all respects to the common shares, except that the holders were eligible for the Manitoba Equity Tax Credit until February 28, 2003.
Note 3: The 9,500,000 common shares issued by Lariat to acquire Medicure are considered to be the outstanding number of shares for periods prior to November 23, 1999 for accounting purposes
Comparability of Data
On November 22, 1999, Lariat acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Medicure in consideration for the issuance of 9,500,000 common shares of Lariat. As control of Lariat passed to the former shareholders of Medicure resulting in a reverse acquisition, Medicure is deemed to be the acquirer for accounting purposes. Accordingly, the net assets of Medicure are included in the balance sheet at their book values and the deemed acquisition of Lariat is accounted for by the purchase method with the net assets of Lariat recorded at their fair value at the date of acquisition.
The selected financial data for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 includes the operations of Medicure International Inc. (Medicure International) commencing June 1, 2000. The selected financial data for the nine months ended May 31, 2000 includes the operations of Medicure commencing September 1, 1999 combined with the activities of Lariat beginning on November 22, 1999, the effective date of the reverse takeover. The selected financial data for the year ended August 31, 1999 are those of the financial statements of Medicure.
8
Dividends
No cash dividends have been declared nor are any intended to be declared. The Corporation is not subject to legal restrictions respecting the payment of dividends except that they may not be paid to render the Corporation insolvent. Dividend policy will be based on the Corporation 's cash resources and needs and it is anticipated that all available cash will be required to further the Corporations research and development activities for the foreseeable future.
Exchange Rates
Unless otherwise indicated, all reference to dollar amounts are to Canadian dollars. The following table sets out the exchange rates for one Canadian dollar expressed in terms of one U.S. dollar for the periods indicated. Rates of exchange are obtained from the Bank of Canada and believed by the Registrant to approximate closely the noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.
May 31 | May 31 | May 31, | May 31, | August 31, | ||||||
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | ||||||
Period End | 0.7307 | 0.6545 | 0.6470 | 0.6682 | 0.6700 | |||||
Average | 0.6569 | 0.6380 | 0.6600 | 0.6808 | 0.6637 |
September | August | July | June | May | April | |||||||
2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | |||||||
High for | ||||||||||||
Month (1) | 0.7423 | 0.7106 | 0.7061 | 0.7302 | 0.7044 | 0.6764 | ||||||
Low for | ||||||||||||
Month (1) | 0.7185 | 0.7249 | 0.7488 | 0.7491 | 0.7404 | 0.6976 |
Notes:
(1) Figures are extracted from daily exchange rates
As of September 30, 2003, the exchange rate to convert one Canadian dollar into the U.S. dollar was 0.7408.
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable
D. Risk Factors
The Corporation is subject to a number of risks due to the nature of its business and the present stage of development of business. The following factors should be considered:
THE CORPORATIONS PROSPECTS MUST BE CONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE DIFFICULTIES FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED BY COMPANIES IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STAGE. MOREOVER, THE CORPORATION IS A RECENTLY PUBLIC CORPORATION WITH A LIMITED HISTORY OF OPERATIONS WHICH MAKES EVALUATION OF ITS PROSPECTS DIFFICULT.
9
The Corporation began operations in 1997 and its common shares were listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange from November 23, 1999 to March 14, 2002. The Corporation commenced trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 15, 2002 to the present.
The Corporation has concentrated on research and development and has a limited operating history. The Corporation's prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered with the establishment of a development stage company in a highly competitive industry, characterized by frequent new product introductions. The Corporation has had no earnings to date, and may never have earnings or positive cash flow in the future. As a result of these factors, it is difficult to evaluate the Corporations business and prospects for future profitability, and its success is more uncertain than if it had a longer or more proven history of operations.
THE CORPORATION EXPECTS TO CONTINUE TO INCUR SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES AND MAY NEVER ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY, WHICH IN TURN MAY HARM THE FUTURE OPERATING PERFORMANCE AND MAY CAUSE THE MARKET PRICE OF THE CORPORATIONS STOCK TO DECLINE.
The Corporation has incurred net losses every year since inception in 1997 and as of May 31, 2003, had an accumulated deficit of $12,665,496. The Corporation incurred net losses of $4,193,688 for the year ended May 31, 2003, $3,875,087 for the year ended May 31, 2002, $3,232,010 for the year ended May 31, 2001, $871,593 for the nine months ended May 31, 2000 and $252,752 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999.
The Corporation anticipates that its losses will not only continue for the foreseeable future but will increase significantly principally from expenditures relating to its research and development efforts and clinical trials. The long-term profitability of the Corporations operations is uncertain, and may never occur, and will be directly related to the success of its research and development activities which depend on numerous factors, including the following:
a) | obtaining Canadian and United States regulatory approvals to market MC-1, the Corporations current lead product; |
b) | the ability to manufacture the Corporations products according to schedule and within budget, given it has no experience in large scale manufacturing; and |
c) | the ability to successfully market the Corporations products, given it has no experience in marketing; |
If the Corporation does achieve profitability, it may not be able to sustain or increase profitability in the future.
THE CORPORATION MAY NEVER RECEIVE REGULATORY APPROVAL IN CANADA OR ABROAD FOR ANY OF ITS PRODUCTS DEVELOPED. THEREFORE, THE CORPORATION MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SELL ANY THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS DEVELOPED.
The Corporations failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals to fully market its current and future therapeutic products in one or more significant markets may adversely affect the Corporations business, financial condition and results of operations. The procedure involved in obtaining regulatory approval from the competent authorities to market therapeutic products is long and costly and may delay product development. The approval to market a product may be applicable to a limited extent only or it may be refused entirely.
The Corporations products and technologies are currently in the preliminary research and development stages. The Corporation does not and may never have a commercially viable drug formulation approved for marketing. To obtain regulatory approvals for the Corporations products and to achieve commercial success, human clinical trials must demonstrate that the products are safe for human use and that they show efficacy. Unsatisfactory results obtained from a particular study relating to one or more of the Corporations products may cause the Corporation to reduce or abandon its commitment to that program.
10
In April 2001, the Corporation completed a Phase I safety and pharmacokinetics study for MC-1, its lead product. In March 2002 the Corporation commenced a Phase II multi-centre Proof of Principle clinical trial called MEND-1, of 60 high-risk cardiovascular patients undergoing elective angioplasty with the lead product, MC-1. The Phase II clinical trial was designed to evaluate the ability of MC-1 to reduce heart damage from myocardial infarction (heart attack) and to protect the heart against injury resulting from coronary bypass surgery and angioplasty (a condition referred to as ischemia reperfusion injury). In January 2003, the Corporation announced positive results from the MEND-1 study as the primary endpoint and certain important secondary endpoints of the study were met.
The Corporation would not obtain approval from the Canadian Therapeutic Products Directorate, formerly the Canadian Health Protection Branch (TPD) or the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market MC-1 if it failed to successfully complete its Phase II clinical studies, or subsequent studies required. Regulatory approvals may also be subject to conditions that could limit the market for MC-1 or make it more difficult or expensive to sell than anticipated. Also, regulatory approvals may be revoked for a variety of reasons at any time, including the Corporations failure to comply with regulatory requirements or poor performance of MC-1 in terms of safety and effectiveness.
The Corporations business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected if it failed to obtain regulatory approvals in Canada, the United States or abroad to market MC-1 or any future therapeutic products, including any limitations imposed to market such products.
THE CORPORATION MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HIRE OR RETAIN THE QUALIFIED SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IT REQUIRES.
The Corporation is currently dependent on CanAm Bioresearch Inc. (CanAm) for most of its research and development activities. Because of the specialized scientific nature of the Corporations business, the loss of services of CanAm may require the Corporation to attract and retain qualified scientific, technical and management personnel. Competition in the biotechnology industry for such personnel is intense and the Corporation may not be able to hire or retain a sufficient number of qualified personnel, which may compromise the pace and success of its research and development activities.
Also, certain management personnel of the Corporation are officers and/or directors of other publicly- traded companies and will only devote part of their time to the Corporation. The Corporation does not have key man insurance in effect in the event of a loss of any management personnel.
THE CORPORATION FACES SUBSTANTIAL TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITION FROM MANY BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES WITH MUCH GREATER RESOURCES, AND IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY COMPETE.
Technological competition in the pharmaceutical industry is intense. The Corporation competes with other companies in Canada, the United States and abroad to develop products designed to treat similar conditions. Many of these other companies have substantially greater financial, technical research and development resources and production and marketing capabilities than the Corporation. Smaller companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Developments by other companies may adversely affect the competitiveness of the Corporations products or technologies or the commitment of the Corporations research collaborators to its programs.
The pharmaceutical industry is also characterized by extensive research efforts and rapid technological change. Competition can be expected to increase as technological advances are made and commercial applications for biopharmaceutical products increase. Competitors of the Corporation may use different technologies or approaches to develop products similar to products which the Corporation is seeking to develop, or may develop new or enhanced products for processes that may be more effective, less expensive, safer or more readily available before the Corporation obtains approval of its products. The Corporation may not be able to successfully compete with its competitors and, if it is unable to do so, the Corporations business, financial condition and results of operations may suffer.
11
THE CORPORATION MAY BE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH COLLABORATIVE AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THIRD PARTIES.
The success of the Corporation will depend partly on its ability to enter into various arrangements with corporate partners, licensors, licensees and others for the research, development, manufacturing, marketing and commercialization of its products. To date, the Corporation has not entered into any such arrangements and may never be able to establish such arrangements on favourable terms. The failure to establish successful collaborative arrangements with respect to certain products may negatively impact the Corporation's ability to commercialize those products and adversely affect the Corporations business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Corporation has licensed certain technologies relating to products under development and may enter into future licensing agreements. The Corporation's current licensing agreements contain provisions allowing the licensors to terminate such agreements if the Corporation becomes insolvent or breaches the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement, without rectifying same upon notice.
THE CORPORATION DOES NOT HAVE MANUFACTURING OR MARKETING EXPERIENCE AND MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MANUFACTURE OR MARKET ITS PRODUCTS.
The Corporation has no experience in large-scale manufacturing and in marketing its products and may never be able to successfully manufacture and market its products. If the TPD or FDA approves MC-1 or any future products, the Corporation intends to rely on third parties to manufacture or market its products. Accordingly, the quality, timing and ultimately the commercial success of such products may be outside the Corporations control. Failure of or delay by a manufacturer of the Corporation's products to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices or similar quality control regulations or satisfy regulatory inspections may have a material adverse effect on the future prospects of the Corporation. Also, providers, payers or patients may not accept the Corporation's products, even if they prove to be safe and effective and are approved for marketing by the TPD, the FDA and other regulatory authorities. The Corporation estimates that it may take up to 4 years or longer before the Corporation's initial products may be sold commercially. Other competitors may be in a position to bring competing products to market within a shorter time frame.
THE CORPORATION DOES NOT HAVE PRODUCT LIABILITY INSURANCE AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE PRODUCT LIABILITY INSURANCE IN THE FUTURE.
The sale and use of products under development by the Corporation, and the conduct of clinical studies involving human subjects, may entail risk of product liability. The Corporation does not currently have product liability insurance in place for its products but expects that, as it expands, the Corporation will acquire such insurance. However, the Corporation may not be able to obtain appropriate levels of product liability insurance prior to the sale of its products. An inability to obtain insurance on economically feasible terms or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims could inhibit or prevent the commercialization of products developed by the Corporation. The obligation to pay any product liability claim or recall a product may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and future prospects of the Corporation.
IF THE CORPORATION IS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PROTECT ITS PROPRIETARY RIGHTS, THE CORPORATIONS COMPETITIVE POSITION WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
The success of the Corporation will depend partly on its ability to obtain and protect its patents and protect its proprietary rights in unpatented trade secrets.
12
The Corporation owns or jointly owns eight United States patents and has received a Notice of Allowance for two other patent from the United States Patent Office. The Corporation has an additional seventeen pending United States patent applications. The Corporations pending and any future patent applications may not be accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any other jurisdiction in which applications may be filed. Also, processes or products that may be developed by the Corporation in the future may not be patentable.
The patent protection afforded to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies is uncertain and involves many complex legal, scientific and factual questions. There is no clear law or policy involving the degree of protection afforded under patents. As a result, the scope of patents issued to the Corporation may not successfully prevent third parties from developing similar or competitive products. Competitors may develop similar or competitive products that do not conflict with the Corporations patents. Litigation may be commenced by the Corporation to prevent infringement of its patents. Litigation may also commence against the Corporation to challenge the Corporations patents that, if successful, may result in the narrowing or invalidating of such patents. It is not possible to predict how any patent litigation will affect the Corporation's efforts to develop, manufacture or market its products. However, the cost of litigation to prevent infringement or uphold the validity of any patents issued to the Corporation may be significant in which case the Corporations business, financial condition and results of operations may suffer.
Disclosure and use of the Corporation 's proprietary rights in unpatented trade secrets not otherwise protected by patents are generally controlled by written agreements. However, such agreements will not provide the Corporation with adequate protection if they are not honoured, others independently develop equivalent technology, disputes arise concerning the ownership of intellectual property or the Corporation's trade secrets are disclosed improperly. To the extent that consultants or other research collaborators use intellectual property owned by others in their work with the Corporation, disputes may also arise as to the rights to related or resulting know-how or inventions.
OTHERS COULD CLAIM THAT THE CORPORATION INFRINGES ON THEIR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS, WHICH MAY RESULT IN COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING LITIGATION.
The success of the Corporation will depend partly on its ability to operate without infringing upon the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties. The Corporation is not aware that any of its products or processes infringe the proprietary rights of third parties. However, despite the best efforts of the Corporation, it may be sued for infringing on the patent or other proprietary rights of third parties at any time in the future.
Such litigation, with or without merit, is time-consuming and costly and may significantly impact the Corporations financial condition and results of operations, even if the Corporation prevails. If it does not prevail, the Corporation, in addition to any damages it may have to pay, may be required to stop the infringing activity or enter into a royalty or licensing agreement. The Corporation may not be able to obtain such a license or the terms of the royalty or license may be burdensome for the Corporation, which may significantly impair its ability to market its products and adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.
THE CORPORATION IS, AND IN THE FUTURE MAY BECOME, SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS AND IF IT IS UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH THEM, THE CORPORATIONS BUSINESS MAY BE MATERIALLY HARMED.
The Corporation is or may become subject to various federal, provincial, state and local laws, regulations and recommendations. The Corporation is subject to various laws and regulations in Canada, relating to product emissions, use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals or potentially hazardous substances, infectious disease agents and other materials, and laboratory and manufacturing practices used in connection with its research and development activities. If the Corporation fails to comply with these
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regulations, the Corporation may be fined or suffer other consequences that could materially affect its business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Corporation is unable to predict the extent of future government regulations or industry standards. However, it should be assumed that government regulations or standards will increase in the future. New regulations or standards may result in increased costs, including costs for obtaining permits, delays or fines resulting from loss of permits or failure to comply with regulations.
THE CORPORATION WILL NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL THOUGH THE SALE OF ITS SECURITIES, RESULTING IN DILUTION TO THE EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS, AND WHICH MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, ADVERSELY AFFECTING ITS OPERATIONS.
The Corporation has not to date generated any revenues from sales. The timing of generation of any sales is uncertain. Based on the Corporations current plans, the Corporations available working capital will be sufficient for the next 2 fiscal years. This projection includes several Phase II clinical trials involving MC-1, its lead product and MC-4232, its second clinical candidate.
The Corporation has limited financial resources and has financed its operations through the sale of securities, primarily common shares. The Corporation will need to continue its reliance on the sale of such securities for future financing, resulting in dilution to the Corporations existing shareholders. The Corporation's long-term capital requirements will depend on many factors, including continued scientific progress in its product discovery and development program, progress in its pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of products and product candidates, time and expense associated with filing, prosecuting and enforcing its patent claims and costs associated with obtaining regulatory approvals. In order to meet such capital requirements, the Corporation will consider contract fees, collaborative research and development arrangements, public financing or additional private financing (including the issuance of additional equity securities) to fund all or a part of particular programs.
The Corporations business, financial condition and results of operations will depend on its ability to obtain additional financing which may not be available under favorable terms, if at all. The ability of the Corporation to arrange such financing in the future will depend in part upon the prevailing capital market conditions as well as the business performance of the Corporation. If the Corporations capital resources are exhausted and adequate funds are not available, it may have to reduce substantially or eliminate expenditures for research and development, testing, production and marketing of its proposed products, or obtain funds through arrangements with corporate partners that require the Corporation to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or products.
FUTURE ISSUANCE OF THE CORPORATIONS COMMON SHARES WILL RESULT IN DILUTION TO THE EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS. ADDITIONALLY, FUTURE SALES OF THE CORPORATIONS COMMON SHARES INTO THE PUBLIC MARKET MAY LOWER THE MARKET PRICE WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSSES TO THE CORPORATIONS SHAREHOLDERS.
As of May 31, 2003, the Corporation had 38,509,864 common shares issued and outstanding. A further 2,137,033 common shares are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and another 18,446,537 common shares are issuable upon exercise of share purchase warrants, all of which may be exercised in the future resulting in dilution to the Corporations shareholders. The Corporations stock option plan allows for the issuance of stock options to purchase up to a maximum of 3,574,000 of the common shares issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2003. Stock options to purchase an additional 1,436,967 common shares are issuable by the Corporation as at May 31, 2003. With the exception of 5,670,236 common shares held in escrow, these common shares, including the common shares to be issued upon exercise of the outstanding options and warrants, are freely tradable. It should be noted that 5,670,236 shares still held in escrow are performance based escrow shares. The Corporation has met the required performance conditions for all of these shares and they are currently eligible for release upon application being made, by the Corporation, to the Toronto Stock Exchange.
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Sales of substantial amounts of the Corporations common shares into the public market, or even the perception by the market that such sales may occur, may lower the market price of its common shares.
THE CORPORATIONS COMMON SHARES MAY EXPERIENCE EXTREME PRICE AND VOLUME VOLATILITY WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSSES TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE CORPORATION.
On May 31, 2003, the Corporations common shares closed at a price of $0.75. For the period from June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003, the high and low trading prices of the Corporations common shares were $1.13 and $0.20, respectively, with a total trading volume of 17,488,243 shares.
Daily trading volume in the Corporations common stock for the period from June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003 has generally been limited, with a high of 1,300,950 shares and a low of 400 shares, averaging approximately 67,262 shares. Accordingly, the trading price of the Corporations common stock may be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors including announcement of material events by the Corporation such as the status of required regulatory approvals for the Corporations products, competition by new products or new innovations, fluctuations in the operating results of the Corporation, general and industry-specific economic conditions and developments pertaining to patent and proprietary rights.
The securities markets in the United States and Canada have recently experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market price of securities of biotechnology companies have experienced wide fluctuations in price which have not necessarily been related to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. In addition, because of the limited public float, there may be limited liquidity for the Common Shares. It is expected that such fluctuations in price and limited liquidity will continue in the foreseeable future which may make it difficult for a shareholder to sell shares at a price equal to or above the price at which the shares were purchased.
THE CORPORATIONS COMMON SHARES ARE CONSIDERED PENNY STOCK WHICH MAY HAVE THE EFFECT OF REDUCING THE LEVEL OF TRADING ACTIVITY AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SELL SUCH SHARES.
The Corporations shares are penny stock as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which might affect the trading market for the shares. Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than U.S.$5.00 other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market. The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customers account. The bid and compensation information must be given to the customer orally or in writing before or with the customers confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from such rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchasers written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for a stock that is subject to the penny stock rules, such as the Corporations shares which are considered penny stock, and therefore make it more difficult to sell those shares.
The Corporation commenced trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 15, 2002.
THE CORPORATION HAS NO HISTORY OF PAYING DIVIDENDS, DOES NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND MAY NEVER PAY DIVIDENDS.
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Since incorporation, the Corporation has not paid any cash or other dividends on its common stock and does not expect to pay such dividends in the foreseeable future as all available funds will be invested to finance the growth of its business. The Corporation will need to achieve profitability prior to any dividends being declared which may never happen.
INVESTORS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE FOREIGN ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AGAINST OUR MANAGEMENT
The enforcement by investors of civil liabilities under the federal securities laws of the United States may be adversely affected by the fact that the Corporation is organized under the laws of Canada, that all of its officers and directors are residents of a foreign country and that all or a substantial portion of its assets and such person's assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for holders of the Common Shares to effect service of process on such persons within the United States or to realize in the United States upon judgments rendered against them.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
Lariat Capital Inc. (Lariat) was incorporated by Certificate of Incorporation issued pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on June 3, 1997. On February 11, 1999, by Certificate of Amendment and Registration of Restated Articles, the Articles of Lariat were amended to remove the private company restriction. Lariat was formed as a Junior Capital Pool company, as defined by, and under the rules of the Alberta Stock Exchange with the expressed intent of acquiring a project or company through a reverse take over. With the exception of this intent and the associated search for potential acquisitions, Lariat had no substantial prior business activities.
Medicure Inc. (Medicure) was incorporated by Certificate of Incorporation issued pursuant to the provisions of The Corporations Act (Manitoba) on September 15, 1997. Medicure was continued from Manitoba to Alberta by Certificate of Continuance issued pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on December 3, 1999. On December 22, 1999, Medicure and Lariat were amalgamated by Certificate of Amalgamation issued pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) as Medicure Inc. The Corporation was continued from Alberta to the federal jurisdiction by Certificate of Continuance issued pursuant to the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act on February 23, 2000.
Medicure was formed as a private Manitoba company to advance the discoveries of Dr. Naranjan Dhalla of the University of Manitoba. Dr. Dhalla and Dr. Albert Friesen were the principal owners of the corporation as first formed, together with certain other individuals who contributed to the project. The first order of business was the completion of a licensing agreement to acquire the technology rights from the University of Manitoba, which owned the technology by virtue of the fact that it was invented by employees of the University. From that date until the merger with Lariat, the Corporation's primary focus was on the preclinical testing and development of the lead product, identified as MC-1. In 1998 other research involving synthesis and testing of other potential therapeutics was commenced through a research contract with the University of Manitoba. Various business activities were conducted in support of these primary research projects including but not limited to; (1) the application for and approval of government sponsored research awards, (2) the search for alternative sources of investment capital to fund operations, and (3) the ongoing search for other potential therapeutics. Business and administrative functions were handled by Genesys Venture Inc., a consulting corporation, that at the time, was owned entirely by Dr. Friesen. Operations and research, until the merger, were primarily funded by Dr. Friesen, with assistance from government grants. On November 22, 1999 Medicure was acquired by Lariat by way of a reverse takeover as Lariats Major Transaction as a Junior Capital Pool company within the meaning of the Alberta Securities Commission Rule 46-501, the Alberta Securities Commission Companion Policy 46-501CP and The Alberta Stock Exchange Circular 7. Pursuant to the terms of the Major Transaction, Lariat acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Medicure in exchange for
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9,500,000 shares of Lariat, at a deemed price for securities regulatory purposes only of $0.20 per share for aggregate deemed value of $1,900,000. The Major Transaction was negotiated entirely at arms length. As a result of the share exchange, control of Lariat passed to the former shareholders of Medicure. This type of transaction is commonly referred to as a reverse takeover. Under reverse takeover accounting, for financial reporting purposes, the Corporation is considered to be a continuation of the operations formerly carried on by Medicure.
The Corporations current registered office is 30 th Floor, 360 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3C 4G1. The Corporations head office is located at 4-1200 Waverley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 0P4.
The MC-1 technology was originally licensed to Genesys Pharma Inc. by the University of Manitoba, on August 18, 1997. Genesys Pharma Inc., which had made a small investment on some preliminary research, transferred the technology without cost, except for costs designated in the license, to Medicure Inc. on September 26, 1997. On August 30, 1999 Medicure Inc. completed a new license agreement with the University of Manitoba in order to slightly modify the terms of the original license agreement transferred from Genesys Pharma Inc., and to have the documentation properly prepared in the Corporations own name.
On June 1, 2000 the Corporation licensed the world-wide development and marketing rights (except for Canada) for MC-1, the Corporations lead product, to the Corporations wholly owned subsidiary, Medicure International. Medicure International then entered into a Development Agreement with CanAm to perform research and development on MC-1 and other compounds at cost, plus a reasonable mark-up not to exceed ten percent of any amount invoiced. The parties to the Development Agreement agreed that the aggregate amount of all invoiced expenditures shall not exceed $15,000,000 over the term of the agreement. CanAm is a private Canadian company wholly owned by Peter de Visser, a former director of the Corporation. Peter de Visser resigned as a director of the Corporation in December 2001.
Since its amalgamation, the Corporation, directly and through certain research contracts, has been engaged in the research and development of human therapeutic drugs for cardiovascular disease. In certain instances, therapeutics developed by the Corporation may also provide benefit for other diseases. The Corporations lead product, MC-1, is based upon scientific discoveries led by Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla of The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and the Department of Physiology, of the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Corporations focus is on the clinical development and commercialization of MC-1 for treatment of cardiovascular disease and on the discovery and development of other cardiovascular therapeutics. There are currently 19 full time scientific researchers and support staff who are retained as consultants or employees by CanAm and who are performing the Corporations scientific research pursuant to the Development Agreement.
B. Business Overview
Plan of Operation
It is the Corporations intention to focus on the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals. The Corporation intends to license the sale and distribution of commercialized products to larger, international companies. As such, the Corporation intends to derive its revenue primarily through milestone payments and product royalties. As of the date hereof, other than the Medicure International Licensing Agreement and the University of Manitoba License Agreement, the Corporation has not entered into any license agreements or other arrangements regarding the sale or distribution of any of its products.
The Corporations focus is on the discovery and development of therapeutics for various large-market, unmet cardiovascular needs. The Corporations research and development program is designed to address these market needs with the clinical development of the Corporations lead product, MC-1, and with the potential discovery and development of other drug candidates. MC-1 is a natural compound that has demonstrated effectiveness in safely treating various forms of cardiovascular disease in initial research.
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MC-1 is being developed as a treatment to reduce injury from blockages of blood to the heart (i.e. myocardial ischemia, associated with heart attacks, angina and arrhythmia) and prevent injury from ischemic reperfusion injury. Ischemic reperfusion injury occurs when blood flow to an organ is suddenly resumed following a stoppage, as occurs during medical procedures such as angioplasty and heart surgery. MC-1 may also be developed for other cardiovascular disorders for which it has shown potential benefit, including certain forms of hypertension that are difficult to treat (i.e. high blood pressure).
A Phase I human clinical trial for MC-1, the Corporations lead product, was commenced by the Corporation on October 20, 2000 after receiving approval of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application by Canadas Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD) (formerly the Health Protection Branch). On April 19, 2001, the Phase I trial was completed.
In March, 2002 the Corporation commenced a Phase II multi-centre Proof of Principle clinical trial called MEND-1 of 60 high-risk cardiovascular patients undergoing elective angioplasty with our lead product, MC-1 after obtaining approval from the TPD and the FDA. In January 2003, the Corporation announced positive results from the MEND-1 clinical study managed by the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) in Durham, North Carolina. Both the primary endpoint and certain important secondary endpoints of the Phase II MEND-1 study were met. The primary endpoint of the trial was infarct size (area of the heart that is damaged) during the procedure as determined by the release of the amount of the marker cardiac enzyme, CK-MB, over 24 hours following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Improvement was also shown in certain secondary endpoints, including myocardial ischemia measured by continuous ST-segment electrocardiographic monitoring, peak periprocedural CK-MB through 24 hours and clinical tolerability and safety.
The Corporation is currently gathering data to support a Phase I clinical application in an intravenous formulation in fiscal 2004, subject to approval by TPD. The initial Phase I clinical trials will be designed to evaluate the safety of MC-1 in an intravenous formulation in healthy volunteers.
In June 2003, the Corporation announced a second clinical candidate, MC-4232, for use in treatment of hypertension. In a pre-IND meeting to consider the Corporations proposed development of MC-4232, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed in principle with the Corporations plan with regard to the proposed Phase II/III clinical program. In July 2003, the Corporation announced it had received approval to start a Phase II study that will enrol 15 patients with hypertension and is designed to determine an effective dose-range for future studies. It is expected that results from the trial will be available in fiscal 2004.
In parallel to the development of MC-1 and MC-4232, the Corporation has a drug discovery program the objective of which is to discover and in-license new drug candidates for advancement into clinical development and commercialization for unmet cardiovascular market needs. The program involves the synthesis of compounds that utilize the same scaffold as MC-1. The Corporation has already produced several groups of candidate compounds and plans to build a pipeline of additional preclinical products over the next several years. Certain of the Corporations new compounds have shown positive effects in in vitro and in vivo efficacy studies and are currently being studied further to evaluate their commercial potential. Patent applications have been, and are expected to be filed for all novel candidate compounds, to the extent commercially and reasonably possible, protecting their composition of matter and use in a treatment of targeted cardiovascular and related diseases.
The Corporation is also evaluating other cardiovascular drug candidates for potential license with the objective of further broadening its product and patent portfolio.
The Corporation anticipates that no substantial material acquisition of equipment or facilities will take place in the coming year. However, CanAm has spent approximately $500,000 on equipment in the past year that has enabled it to perform the Corporations scientific research pursuant to the Development Agreement.
CanAm retains no ownership and derives no direct benefit from the Corporations biotechnology
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products. CanAms development contract with the Corporation is on the basis of billing for direct costs plus a fee of up to 10%. CanAm derives an indirect benefit from the research contract by the experience and developmental knowledge retained by its employees, as CanAm will also be providing research and development services to other biotech firms on a confidential and non-competitive basis with the Corporation. As a private company, CanAm is entitled to certain Canadian government assistance that is not available, in Canada, to public companies. The flexibility CanAm has in providing additional work and career opportunities for its employees in fields other than those of interest to the Corporation, allows CanAm to provide additional qualified staff that the Corporation could not easily attract.
In summary, it is the Corporations intention over the next year to continue its focus on being a drug discovery and development company and to begin to actively search for a partnership with a large pharmaceutical company. Such a partnership would conceivably provide funding for Phase II/III clinical trials, add experience to the product development process and bring in overall marketing expertise. While the Corporation has had informal discussions with potential partners, no formal agreement, or letter of intent, has been entered into by the Corporation as of the date hereof.
Potential Products in Development Stage
As previously stated, one of the Corporations primary focuses is the clinical development and commercialization of its lead product, MC-1, a natural small molecule that has shown potential for safely and effectively treating various forms of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
In January 2003, the Corporation announced positive results from a Phase II study called MEND-1. The MEND-1 trial was a proof of principle study to establish the efficacy and safety of the Corporations lead compound, MC-1 as a cardioprotective treatment to reduce damage to the heart associated with acute ischemic and reperfusion injury. The trial enrolled a total of 60 high-risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and was conducted at four medical centres in Canada and the USA. Patients were randomized to receive either MC-1 (n=40) or placebo (n=20).
The primary endpoint, peri-procedural infarct size (as determined by area under the curve (AUC) of CK-MB within 24 hours following initiation of elective PCI) was significantly reduced by approximately 33% in the MC-1 treatment group. Compared with the placebo group, the peak absolute CK-MB in the MC-1 patients was also reduced by 30% relative to the placebo group.
With respect to secondary endpoints, there were no significant statistical differences between the MC-1 treatment group and the placebo group in the composite clinical endpoint of death, nonfatal MI, new or worsening heart failure, or recurrent ischemia at 30 days, or in any of the individual components of the composite endpoint. These efficacy results were achieved without any significant adverse effect on hemorrhaging, stroke, death or hepatic dysfunction, thus confirming the safety and tolerability of the drug candidate. Treatment for the study was in the presence of standard medical care.The effectiveness of MC-1 in treating the damage done to the heart by myocardial ischemia, including common conditions such as heart attack and angina, has been demonstrated in established, industry accepted in vivo models. One primary model is the coronary artery ligation model, which involves inflicting a blockage in a major artery going into the heart of the animal thereby mimicking blockages involved in human heart attacks. Benefits of treatment suggested in a series of animal studies in this model are improved cardiac function and reduced negative change in heart size.
MC-1s effectiveness in preventing ischemic reperfusion injury has been demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo models that are routinely used throughout the industry. A selection of benefits seen in these studies include improved contractile force and reduced infarct size.
Although the precise mechanism by which MC-1 acts, is not yet known, research indicates that its effect occurs from a cardiovascular mechanism that has not previously been used clinically, thereby offering potential to further extend the benefits beyond current therapeutic alternatives.
Additional preclinical studies with MC-1 also suggest its potential value in treatment of stroke. During 2002, promising preclinical studies were carried out under the direction of Dr. Ashfaq Shuaib, Director of
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the Division of Neurology at the WC Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre of the University of Alberta. MC-1 reduced infarct size (damaged region) in the brain and preserved neurological function in an animal model. Preliminary studies also indicate that beneficial effects may even be obtained with treatment several hours after the onset of ischemia. A combination of MC-1 and TPA was also shown to be an effective treatment. There was no indication that MC-1 alone increased the incidence of hemorrhage, suggesting it would be a safe treatment for stroke patients. Medicure plans further research on stroke, hypertension and other potential uses.
In June 2003, the Corporation announced a second clinical candidate, MC-4232, for use in treatment of hypertension. In a pre-IND meeting to consider the Corporations proposed development of MC-4232, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed in principle with the Corporations plan with regard to the proposed Phase II/III clinical program. In July 2003, the Corporation announced it had received approval to commence a Phase II study in that will enrol 15 patients with hypertension and is designed to determine an effective dose-range for future studies. It is expected that results from the trial will be available in fiscal 2004.
While MC-1 and MC-4232 development proceeds, the Corporation is seeking to develop or acquire additional cardiovascular therapeutics with commercial potential to meet a market need. The Corporations objective is to establish a pipeline of novel cardiovascular therapeutics to ensure the Corporations long-term growth and security. The Corporation is taking a two-pronged approach to this effort, combining the efforts of a drug discovery program with strategic licensing of promising new compounds from other research groups.
The Corporations drug discovery program has produced several families of new compounds that have shown promising effects in in vitro and/or in vivo studies. From these compounds, the Corporation has thus far identified certain candidates, as having potential for further development. These compounds, the chemical identities of which are being held confidential while patents are pending, will undergo further in vitro analysis and in vivo animal testing on disease models and for bioavailability.
According to the American Heart Association , cardiovascular disease is the most prevalent serious disease in the United States, affecting approximately 58.8 million people. 1 According to the American Heart Association , one in five Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. In 1996, cardiovascular disease was a primary contributing cause of mortality on 60% of death certificates in the United States. The rates in Canada are similar, with the subset of ischemic heart disease accounting for the greatest percentage of deaths at 21%. 2
The Corporation is focusing its initial drug discovery and development efforts on meeting unmet needs in the cardiovascular and stroke market. The Corporation is advancing its lead product, MC-1, into clinical testing with the intention of commercializing it for treatment of (1) ischemic reperfusion injury (associated with common procedures such as angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery and stroke); and(2) myocardial ischemia, including heart attacks, angina and other related disorders. The Corporation intends to subsequently develop MC-1 for other cardiovascular disorders such as difficult to treat forms of hypertension.
Medicure anticipates the commencement of a Phase II clinical trial of MC-1 in a second indication in fiscal 2004.
The Corporation has various compounds currently in early stage research screening. Compounds developed by the chemistry group will be advanced through the following steps based on their successful advancement through early stage screening; (1) in vitro (cell based) screening, (2) in vivo screening in appropriate disease model, (3) in vivo toxicity screening, (4) dose response confirmation of efficacy
________________________________________________________________
1
American Heart Association,
1999 Heart and Stroke Statistical
Update
.
2 Health Canada, Heart Disease and Stroke in Canada, 1997, Chapter 2.1.
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testing in vivo, (5) preclinical, GLP toxicity and pharmacokinetics testing, (6) Phase I human testing, (7) Phase II human, (8) Phase III human, (9) Filing of NDA in United States and NDS in Canada to request the right to commercialize. At the present time the most advanced product is in stage 4 of this testing continuum, but no estimate can be made as to when a certain product may advance to the human clinical testing stage.
The Corporation currently has eight issued patents. United States Patent No. 6,051,587 terminates on April 16, 2018, United States Patent No. 6,043,259 terminates on March 25, 2019, United States Patent No. 6,339,085 terminates on March 7, 2000,United States Patent No. 6,417,204 terminates on July 6, 2021, United States Patent No. 6,489,345 terminates on July 14, 2019, United States Patent No. 6,548,519 terminates on May 15, 2022, United States Patent No. 6,586,414 terminates on March 28, 20021, United States Patent No. 6,605,612 terminates on February 28, 2021.
Competitors Current Products
There are numerous products on the market for treatment of cardiovascular disorders, most of which are marketed by large pharmaceutical companies.
It is recognized that cardiovascular treatments have been of great benefit in reducing mortality and morbidity from a range of conditions. The existing cardiovascular drugs can be categorized into several main drug classes, as distinguished by their mechanism of action. Some of the primary drug classes include ACE Inhibitors (2001 global sales estimated at US$10 billion), Angiotensin II Inhibitors (2001 global sales estimated US$5.6 billion, Thrombolytics (1999 global sales estimated US$8.9 billion), Beta-Blockers (2001 global sales estimated at US$3.8 billion), and Calcium Channel Blockers (2001 global sales estimated at US$9.9 billion), each class has particular benefits as well as an array of alternative products. 3 Cross-use of drugs between different types of cardiovascular disease categories makes it difficult to differentiate sales by the more specific market segment (such as for myocardial infarction, ischemic reperfusion injury, etc.). 4
Despite the development of various effective products, pharmaceutical companies carefully monitor developments in the field and continually attempt to bring in new major products. This is in part driven by the rise of generic products that substantially reduce profit margins for products as they come off patent. Competition is most intense in cardiovascular markets like hypertension where there are many treatment options. Large pharmaceutical companies are most interested in finding new treatment options for inadequately treated conditions such as those targeted by the Corporation.
Despite the number of cardiovascular products, the Corporation has identified certain remaining unmet therapy needs for certain forms of cardiovascular disease. For example, physicians recognize the current lack of effective products for reducing ischemic reperfusion injury. This is a very real clinical problem and a significant market is available for a product that would effectively protect against this injury that results from a variety of surgical procedures. Similarly, although current treatments are in many cases able to restore blood flow to the heart muscle following a heart attack (myocardial ischemia), there remains a need for products that reduce the amount of damage and scarring that results from the blockage. Other large cardiovascular markets targeted by the Corporation that require improved therapeutics are congestive heart failure and certain forms of hypertension.
Current cardiovascular drugs are difficult to prescribe due to the interrelated nature of disorders and the danger of negative side effects. Typically, after a person who has had a suspected heart attack or a case of angina is admitted to the emergency room, numerous points of diagnosis must be carried out to best identify the cause. Following this, a suitable course of therapy can be selected. Another difficulty in
___________________________________________________________________
3
Sales estimates provided by
Datamonitor
, 2002
4 Supra, note 9.
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treatment is cost, with many of the best treatment options (such as anticoagulants) being too expensive for some health care providers.
Ischemic stroke is damage to the brain caused by a sudden reduction in blood supply, most often due to blood clots lodging in major arteries of the brain. Stroke ranks as the third leading cause of death in North America, behind diseases of the heart and cancer. Stroke affects approximately 5.1 million North Americans annually, with one in four strokes being fatal. It is also a leading cause, of long term disability in the U.S. As Baby Boomers age, the incidence of stroke will climb by 32% ever the next four years and 68% over the next 20 years.
To date, the only FDA approved stroke therapeutic is tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a treatment that helps dissolve arterial obstructions. Unfortunately, TPA is typically available to less than 10% of stroke patients due to the increased risk of hemorrhage and the narrow therapeutic time frame during which the drug can be applied.
Competitors Products in Development
As there remain unmet needs for treatment of certain forms of cardiovascular disease and stroke, management of the Corporation believes there is room for an increased number of novel research products.
The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America estimated that in 2001, approximately US $3.9 billion was invested by research companies in the United States on research and development of cardiovascular therapeutics in 2001. In its 2001 report, R & D Directions identified approximately 270 separate products in development for heart disease and stroke. A large proportion of products in development are modifications of existing therapeutic classes.
The Corporations clinical trials for MC-1 focus on ischemia and ischemic reperfusion injury for cardiovascular diseases and will also focus on stroke. The following tables provides an overview of competitors products in development pertaining to ischemia and ischemic reperfusion injury of cardiovascular diseases and stroke:
Product | Company (s) | Development Stage |
Adenosine | Fujisawa | Phase II |
Pexelizumab | Alexion | Phase III |
Ranexa (Ranolazine) | CV Therapeutics | NDA |
Plavix (Clopidogrel) | Sanodi-Synthelabo SA | Market |
Some of the products set forth above have the advantage of being further along in development than the Corporations products. However, market share for new products depends primarily upon the relative strengths of a product in areas such as safety, effectiveness, cost, and dose form.
It is noted that cardiovascular drugs are often prescribed together and therefore products do not necessarily compete for use on an individual patient. MC-1s use in many indications is expected to be as adjunct therapy, that is, it will be given together with other therapeutics. Historically, the challenge of competing with earlier products has not acted as a significant barrier to entry for new products, provided that the new product has some advantage relative to earlier products.
The Corporations second clinical candidate, MC-4232, is being developed for the treatment of hypertension. The market for management of high blood pressure is one of the largest in the pharmaceutical industry but is also one of the most competitive. Approximately 50 million Americans are affected by hypertension ( American Heart Association ). In Canada, 50% of all visits made to a physician for cardiovascular related disorders are to manage hypertension. Decision Resources expects hypertension drug global sales to reach US $22 billion by 2008. The following table presents a list of competitors products on the market pertaining to hypertension.
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Product | Company | Type of Drug |
Accupril (quanapril) | Pfizer | ACE inhibitor |
Aldactone (spironolactone) | Pharmacia | Diuretic; antihypertensive |
Aldomet (methyldopa) | Merck & Co. | CNS antihypertensive |
Apresoline (hydralazine) | Novartis | Direct vasodilator |
Atacand (candesartan) | AstraZeneca | AIIRA (Type A1) |
Blocadren (timolol) | Merck & Co. | Beta blocker |
Capoten (captopril) | Bristol-Myers Squibb | ACE inhibitor |
Catapres (clonidine) | Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals | CNS antihypertensive |
Corgard (nadolol) | King Pharmaceuticals | Beta blocker |
Cozaar (losartan) | Merck & Co. | AIIRA (Type A1) |
Diovan (valsartan) | Novartis | AIIRA (Type A1) |
Hydrodiuril (hydrochlorothiazide) | Merck & Co. | Diuretic |
Hytrin (terazosin) | Abbott Laboratories | Alpha-1-selective adrenoceptor blocking agent |
Inderal (propranolol) | AstraZeneca | Beta blocker |
Ismelin (guanethidine) | Alliance Pharmaceuticals | Neuron blocker |
Lexxel (enalapril maleate; felodipine) | AstraZeneca | Combo ACE inhibitor and calcium blocker |
Loniten (minoxidil) | Par Pharmaceutical | Direct vasodilator |
Lotensin (benazepril) | Novartis | ACE inhibitor |
Monopril (fosinopril) | Boehringer Ingelheim | ACE inhibitor |
Nif-Ten (nifedipine; atenolol) | AstraZeneca | Combination calcium blocker and beta blocker |
Normodyne (labetalol) | Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Combined alpha/beta blocker |
Norvasc (Amlodipine besylate) | Pfizer | Calcium channel blocker |
Sectral (acebutolol) | Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories | Beta blocker |
Sular (nisoldipine) | Bayer | Calcium blocker |
Tenoretic (atenolol; chlorthalidone) | AstraZeneca | Combination beta blocker and diuretic |
Teveten (eprosartan mesylate) | Solvay Pharmaceuticals | AIIRA (Type A1) |
Thalitone (chlorthalidone) | King Pharmaceuticals | Diuretic |
Vasotec (enalapril) | Merck & Co. | ACE inhibitor |
Verelan (verapamil) | Elan Pharmaceuticals | Calcium blocker |
Zebeta (bisoprolol fumarate) | Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories | Beta blocker |
Zestoretic (lisinipril; hydrochlorothiazide) | AstraZeneca | Combination ACE inhibitor and diuretic |
Zestril (lisinopril) | AstraZeneca | ACE inhibitor |
Competitive Strategy and Position
As stated, the Corporation is primarily focusing on developing MC-1 for myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. The Corporation is focusing initially on these markets because of preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the products efficacy in these applications and, therefore, these applications have high potential for showing MC-1s clinical benefit. The clinical need for a product with this activity will also be considered by regulatory authorities (principally the FDA and also the TPD). Although MC-1 shows potential for treatment of other cardiovascular diseases, these uses are not being addressed as a first priority due to factors including the cost of clinical trials and the more intense competitive nature of these markets.
It is the Corporations intention to secure a partnership with a large pharmaceutical company. Such a partnership would provide funding for clinical development, add experience to the product development process and provide market positioning expertise. While the Corporation has had informal discussions with potential partners in this regard, no formal agreement or letter of intent has been entered into by the Corporation as of the date hereof.
Management of the Corporation believes that, based on initial in vivo and human studies, MC-1 has many competitive advantages over existing competitors products and over products known to be in development. These advantages relate to MC-1s effectiveness for a broad range of disorders, safety at higher than expected dosages, and the potential that the product acts by a new mechanism of action.
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C. Organizational Structure
Medicure International, the Corporations wholly owned subsidiary, was incorporated pursuant to the laws of Barbados, West Indies, on May 23, 2000. Medicure Internationals registered office is located at Whitepark House, White Park Road, Bridgetown, Barbados. Medicure Internationals head office is located at 2nd Street, Holetown, St. James, Barbados.
The following diagram illustrates the relationship between the Corporation and Medicure International:
D. Property, Plants and Equipment
Office Space
The Corporation has use of about 2,100 square feet of office space provided by Waverly Business and Science Centre Inc. as part of its business services contract. The office is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Research Facilities
CanAm, on behalf of the Corporation, leases 6,100 square feet of office and laboratory space at a newly built facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Biological, chemistry, and analytical research take place under one roof.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
This section contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties. The Corporation 's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth under part Item 3 - Key Information - D. Risk Factors. The following discussion of the financial condition, changes in financial conditions and results of operations of the Corporation for the years ended May 31, 2003, May 31, 2002, May 31, 2001 and the period ended May 31, 2000, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation. The Corporations consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian dollars and have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) included under Item 17 to this annual report. Material differences between Canadian and U.S. GAAP, as applicable to the Corporation, are set forth in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation included herein.
A. Critical Accounting Policy Disclosure
The following critical accounting policies involve significant judgements and estimates that are used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Research and development:
All costs of research activities are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Development costs are charged as an expense in the period incurred unless a development project meets stringent criteria for cost deferral and amortization. No development costs have been deferred to date.
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Patents:
Costs incurred in obtaining patents are capitalized and amortized upon issuance on a straight-line basis over the remaining legal life of the respective patents, being approximately twenty years, or its economic life, if shorter. The cost of servicing the companys patents is expensed as incurred. The Corporation commenced amortization of patent costs during fiscal 2002.
Stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments:
The Corporation has a Stock Option Plan [note 4(c)] for its directors, management, consultants and employees. Effective June 1, 2002, the Corporation adopted the new Recommendations of the CICA Handbook Section 3870, Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments. As permitted, the Corporation has applied this change prospectively for new awards granted on or after June 1, 2002. Under this section, the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation is used to account for awards to non-employees and direct awards of stock to employees. The fair value of direct awards is determined based on the quoted market price of the Corporations common shares and the fair value of stock options and other stock-based payments to non-employees is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
The Corporation has elected to measure compensation costs for stock options granted to employees, management and directors using the intrinsic method. Under this method, no compensation expense is recognized when stock options are issued under the Stock Option Plan, as the exercise price of each option equals or is greater than the market value of the Corporations common shares at the date immediately preceding the grant date. However, in accordance with Section 3870, the Corporation must present pro forma disclosure relating to net loss and loss per share figures as if the fair value method had been used.
B. Operating Results
General
The Corporation has concentrated primarily on research and development and has yet to and may never derive any revenues from its general operations. The Corporation has a limited operating history and its prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered with the establishment of a development stage company in a highly competitive industry, characterized by frequent new product introductions. The Corporation has historically incurred net losses and anticipates that such losses will increase as it continues its development and clinical trials and eventually seeks regulatory approval for the sale of its products.
The Corporation believes it has sufficient funds on hand to complete several Phase II clinical trials involving MC-1, its lead product and MC-4232, its second clinical candidate. As discussed in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation, however, the Corporations ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to obtain sufficient funds to conduct the remainder of its clinical trials and to successfully commercialize its products. Failure to obtain further financing may require the Corporation to reduce substantially or eliminate expenditures for research and development, testing including further clinical trials, and production and marketing of its proposed products.
Subsequent to August 31, 2000, the Corporation has received no government assistance towards its research and development expenditures. The Corporation, through its subsidiary Medicure International Inc., currently contracts out all its research and development expenses, and expects to do so for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Corporation itself is not eligible for research-related government assistance, nor does it expect to be eligible in the future. The Corporation's operations have remained stable for some time now, without government assistance, evidencing the fact that the loss of such assistance has not materially affected the Corporation.
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Year Ended May 31, 2003 Compared to the Year Ended May 31, 2002
Interest and other income for fiscal 2003 totaled $241,000 as compared to $184,000 for fiscal 2002. Interest income was higher in fiscal 2003 primarily due to a larger average cash and cash equivalents balance, which resulted from equity offerings in fiscal 2002 that raised net proceeds of $9,004,0000. Throughout fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002, management invested funds in short-term investments.
Research and development expenditures include costs associated with the Corporations clinical development and preclinical programs including salaries, research centre costs and monitoring costs. The Corporation is a development stage enterprise that focuses a majority of its cash resources on research and development activities.
Research and Development expenditures increased to $3,118,000 as compared to $3,104,000 for fiscal 2002 and represent 70% of the Corporations total expenditures in fiscal 2003. Substantially all research and development expenditures in each year were paid to CanAm Bioresearch Inc. pursuant to the Development Agreement. A significant portion of the expenditures in fiscal 2003 were attributed to the Phase II trial, MEND-1, managed by Duke Clinical Research Institute, which showed that the Corporation's lead product, MC-1, reduces ischemic heart damage following angioplasty. The trial enrolled a total of 60 high-risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and was conducted at four medical centres in Canada and the USA. In addition, the Corporation enhanced its research and development capabilities with the expansion of its research team, and a rise in screening and preclinical testing of compounds brought forward by the Corporations drug discovery program. The Corporations scientific developments led to the announcement in June 2003 of a second clinical candidate, MC-4232 for use in the treatment of hypertension.
The Corporation expects the research and development expenditures for the fiscal 2004 to be higher than fiscal 2003. A significant portion of the increase in expenditures during fiscal 2004 will be incurred in the Phase II Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) trial attributed to MC-1 and the Phase II Hypertension trial involving MC-4232. In a pre-IND meeting to consider the Corporations proposed development of MC-4232, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed in principle with the Corporations plan with regard to the proposed Phase II/III clinical program. Based on the plan presented to the FDA, the Corporation expects to commence the initial study in the first quarter of fiscal 2004. The Corporation is in the process if developing a strategy for its Phase II/III clinical trial for the oral dose of MC-1 which may involve third party collaboration. The Corporation continues to pursue strategic alliances with a suitable partner to help further develop this product.
General and administrative expenses include salaries and related costs for those employees not directly involved in research and development, but are required to support ongoing business development and corporate stewardship activities. The balance also includes professional fees such as legal, audit, investor and public relations and business development activities. General and administration expenses totaled $1,284,000 for the year ended May 31, 2003, as compared to $950,000 for the year ended May 31, 2002. The increased spending in fiscal 2003 as compared to fiscal 2002 was primarily attributable to the internal growth that is required to support the Corporations increasing business development and investor relations activities. These activities were primarily associated with increasing the awareness of the Corporations clinical trial results in both the medical and investment communities in North America and Europe. The Corporation also incurred stock-based compensation expenses of $105,000 in fiscal 2003 as compared to nil in fiscal 2002 as a result of adopting new accounting standards in fiscal 2003 related to measurement of compensation associated with stock options granted by the Corporation to non-employees. The Corporation expects slightly higher levels of general and administrative activities for fiscal 2004 to support increased business development activities.
For the year ended May 31, 2003, the Corporation recorded a net loss of $4,194,000 or $0.11 per share compared to a net loss of $3,875,000 or $0.14 per share for the year ended May 31, 2002. As stated above, these results of operations were mainly attributable to the Corporations clinical development program and the increased business development activity required to support the program. The Corporation expects to incur a loss next year as it continues to invest in product research and development.
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The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted loss per share increased to 37,118,889 for the year ended May 31, 2003 from 27,900,412 for the year ended May 31, 2002.
Year Ended May 31, 2002 Compared to the Year Ended May 31, 2001
Interest and other income for fiscal 2002 totaled $183,912 as compared to $135,868 for fiscal 2001. Interest income was higher in fiscal 2002 primarily due to a larger cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balance, which resulted from the net cash proceeds of $9.0 million raised during the year from a public offering.
Research and Development expenditures increased to $3,103,707 as compared to $2,472,951 for fiscal 2001. Substantially all research and development expenditures in each year were paid to CanAm Bioresearch Inc. pursuant to the Development Agreement. The increase in spending is primarily due to the Corporations continuing clinical development of MC-1, including the commencement of the Proof of Principle Phase II clinical trial (MEND-1) for treatment of angioplasty patients. In addition, the Corporation enhanced its research and development capabilities with the expansion in our research team, and a rise in screening and preclinical testing of compounds brought forward by the Corporations drug discovery program. The Corporations scientific developments led to the filing of numerous patents during the year.
Medicure expects the research and development expenditures for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 to be higher than fiscal 2002. The main source of the increase will result from the completion of the current Phase II clinical trial in angioplasty patients and the commencement of clinical trials in other indications.
General and administration expenses totaled $949,569 for the year ended May 31, 2002, as compared to $879,914 for the year ended May 31, 2001. This increase in spending is the result of the addition of personnel and professional services that were required to support increased business development activities, as well as increased regulatory fees resulting from the Corporations listing on the TSX.
Medicure expects general and administrative expenditures for fiscal 2003 to be slightly higher than those incurred in fiscal 2002
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002 (fiscal 2002), Medicure recorded a net loss of $3,875,087 or $0.14 per share compared to a net loss of $3,232,010 or $0.20 per share for the year ended May 31, 2001 (fiscal 2001). These results of operations were in line with managements expectations. The Corporation expects losses to continue for the next several years due to expenditures relating to its research and development efforts and clinical trials.
The weighted average number of common shares and class A shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted loss per share increased to 27,900,412 for the year ended May 31, 2002 from 15,928,521 for the year ended May 31, 2001.
Year Ended May 31, 2001 Compared to Nine Months Ended May 31, 2000
In reviewing financial results for fiscal 2001 and 2000 it is noted that the length of the periods differed which materially impacts the comparative analysis.
Revenues of the Corporation increased to $135,868 for the year ended May 31, 2001 consisting entirely of interest income earned on cash deposits as compared to $54,943 for the nine months ended May 31, 2000. The increase in interest income is due primarily to the increase in cash and cash equivalent balance during the year to $3,775,472 as at May 31, 2001 as compared to $1,613,865 as at May 31, 2000 as a result of $2,865,860 in net cash proceeds received from equity financings and exercise of stock options and shares purchase warrants.
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Research and development expenses for the year ended May 31, 2001 increased significantly to $2,472,951 from $547,461 for the nine months ended May 31, 2000 due to a number of factors. Clinical trial expenses (including drug formulation) increased by $628,938, pre-clinical research expenses increased by $672,709 and payroll expenses increased by $214,560. The increase in clinical trial costs was primarily due to the Phase I trial of the Corporations lead product, MC-1, and increased formulation work to develop an MC-1 pill for future clinical trial studies. The increase in pre-clinical research costs was primarily due to increased animal testing and toxicity studies of both MC-1 and other pre-clinical compounds. The increase in payroll costs was primarily the result of hiring additional scientists to help with preclinical research.
Research and development investment tax credit amounts were Nil for the year ended May 31, 2001 and for the nine months ended May 31, 2000. The Corporation received $2,436 of government assistance towards its research and development expenditures during the year ended May 31, 2001 as compared to $64,482 during the nine months ended May 31, 2000 due primarily to the timing and duration of the IRAP program grant.
General and administrative expenses for the year ended May 31, 2001 increased significantly to $879,914 from $435,692 for the nine months ended May 31, 2000. A significant part of this increase in expenses is a result of costs of $271,683 related to a financing that did not close. In addition, travel costs increased by $48,634, promotional material costs increased by $45,045 and printing costs increased by $29,847. The increase in travel costs was primarily a result of travel related to promoting the Corporation during a financing period. The increase in promotional material costs and printing costs was primarily the result of increased printing of shareholder materials and other promotional materials such as the Corporations annual report.
Net loss for the year ended May 31, 2001 increased significantly to $3,232,010 from $871,593 for the nine months ended May 31, 2000, resulting in basic and diluted loss per share of $0.20 compared to $0.11, respectively. The significant increase in net loss is primarily the result of an increase of $444,222 in general and administration expenses, an increase of $1,925,490 in research and development expenses and a decrease of $62,046 in government assistance for research and development expenditures received offset by an increase in interest income of $80,925. These increases are in part, due to the additional three months in the 2001 as compared to the 2000 period.
The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted loss per share increased to 15,928,521 for the year ended May 31, 2001 from 8,224,389 for the nine months ended May 31, 2000.
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C. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since inception, the Corporation has financed its operations from public and private sales of equity, the exercise of warrants and stock options, interest income on funds available for investment and government grants and tax credits.
As at May 31, 2003, the Corporation had cash and cash equivalents totaling $4,131,000 compared with $8,341,000 at the previous year-end. During fiscal 2003, the Corporation did not perform any private or public financings. During fiscal 2002, the Corporation raised gross proceeds of $10,000,000 (before share issuance costs of $1.2 million) through an equity offering of 15,384,615 units of the Corporation priced at $0.65 per unit. Each unit comprises one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Corporation at a price of $0.81 per common share on or before December 20, 2003. Subsequent to May 31, 2003, the Corporation strengthened its cash position by raising gross proceeds of $7,648,000 (before share issuance costs of $606,000) through a private placement of 8,997,632 common shares of the Corporation at $0.85 per share. As additional compensation to the underwriters, the Corporation issued compensation options of 629,834 common shares of the Corporation exercisable at $1.00 per common share. These compensation options expire June 26, 2005. The financing increased the Corporations cash and cash equivalents to $10,739,000 as at June 30, 2003.
The Corporation expects to continue to incur operating losses as it expands its clinical and drug discovery programs. The Corporation expects higher clinical expenses as a result of the planned Phase II clinical trial with its lead product, MC-1 in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery (CABG) and the commencement of the Phase II/III development program for its second product MC-4232 for treatment in hypertension in fiscal 2004. Based on current plans, it is anticipated that total expenses will increase during fiscal 2004 as a result of these clinical trials. The Corporation believes it has sufficient resources to fund operations until the end of fiscal 2005. However, funding requirements may vary depending on a number of factors including the progress of the Corporations research and development programs, the results of preclincal studies and clinical trials and changes in the focus and direction of the Corporations product development projects.
Based on the positive results from the MEND-1 trial, the Corporation plans to proceed with pivotal Phase II trials of MC-1 with a larger number of patients. These studies could start as early as fiscal 2004 and cost $5,000,000 to $12,000,000 each and will hope to confirm the results from the earlier trial and provide more data regarding the pharmacological effects of the drug as well as the optimal drug dosage levels. The Corporation will require additional funding to meet the costs of such studies that may not be available if and when it is required.
Successful completion of a pivotal Phase II trial will ultimately lead to a Phase III trial. This is a large-scale study of patients with the targeted disease and will probably cost in the range of $16,000,000 to $40,000,000. It could potentially start in 2005 and finish in 2006 or 2007 provided the Corporation is able to secure a partnership with a large pharmaceutical company. The main purpose of this trial is to obtain definitive statistical evidence of the efficacy and safety of the drug so that an application can be made to the TPD and FDA for commercial approval.
In a pre-IND meeting held to consider the Corporations second clinical candidate for the treatment of Hypertension, MC-4232, the FDA agreed in principle with the Corporations proposed product development plan and found that the information presented by the Corporation was sufficient to support an IND application, subject to review. The Corporation announced approval by regulatory authorities of a Phase II trial for the treatment of Hypertension in July 2003 and assuming satisfactory completion of the Phase II trial expects to enrol between 1,500-2,000 patients in both the Phase II and III clinical trials to support an NDA for the product. The total cost for the proposed product development based on current estimates is $20,000,000.
If either MC-1 or MC-4232 is approved for marketing by the TPD and FDA, there will then potentially be follow-up studies (called Phase IV trials) that may need to be completed while the drug is being marketed,
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in order to adjust or extend product claims. It is not possible to estimate the scope and size of any such studies that may be required.
It continues to be the Corporations intention to secure a partnership with a large pharmaceutical company. Such a partnership would provide funding for clinical development (most specifically Phase III) and could ultimately lead to a license agreement for the sale and distribution of the Corporations lead product in return for milestone payments and product royalties. In this way, the Corporation would rely on the marketing expertise of its partner, instead of developing its own marketing department.
While MC-1 and MC-4232 progresses through clinical trials, the Corporation will continue the drug development process. This process begins with initial product screening which should produce preliminary candidates for preclinical research. MC 5422 and MC 45228 are such candidates that have moved into the preclinical research stage. Once a drug candidate reaches this stage, it can cost in excess of $1,000,000 to advance it to the clinical trial stage. Ongoing research and development to find preliminary candidates currently costs the Corporation between $1,200,000 to $1,500,000.
Besides public or private financings, the other major financings are planned to be through up front and milestone payments from a large pharmaceutical company that has partnered with the Corporation for clinical development and or marketing of the lead compound.
When additional funds are required, potential sources of financing include strategic relationships and public or private sales of the Corporations common shares. The Corporation does not have any committed sources of financing at this time and it is uncertain whether additional funding will be available when the need arises on terms that will be acceptable to the Corporation. If funds are raised by selling additional common shares, or other securities convertible into common shares, the ownership interests of the Corporations existing shareholders will be diluted. If the Corporation is unable to obtain financing when required, the Corporation would not be able to carry out its business plan, including further clinical trials of MC-1 and MC-4232. The Corporation would have to significantly limit its operations and business, and its financial condition and results of operations would be materially harmed.
At May 31, 2003, the Corporation had net working capital of $4,111,440 compared to net working capital of $8,393,655 at May 31, 2002. During the three months ended August 31, 2003, the Corporation strengthened its cash position by raising gross proceeds of $7,648,000 (before share issuance costs of $606,000) through a private placement of 8,997,632 common shares of the Corporation at $0.85 per share. The financing increased the Corporations cash and cash equivalents to $10,250,000 as at August 31, 2003. In addition, the Corporation raised a total of $290,000 in cash from 435,025 common shares issued as a result of exercised options and warrants during the three month period ended August 31, 2003.
At May 31, 2002, the Corporation had net working capital of $8,393,655 compared to net working capital of $3,474,934 at May 31, 2001. During the three months ended August 31, 2002, the Corporation raised a total of $25,200 in cash from exercised options.
At May 31, 2001, the Corporation had net working capital of $3,474,934 compared to net working capital of $3,957,892 at May 31, 2000. During the year ended May 31, 2001, the Corporation raised a total of $2,865,860 in cash through the issuance of shares from treasury. A private placement provided $2,446,753, net of share issuance costs of $153,247, and $419,107 was raised through the exercise of stock options and warrants.
The Corporation had no long-term debt as of May 31, 2003 or August 31, 2003 and no other significant expenditure commitments not related to operating activities.
No dividends have been declared or paid on any shares of the Corporation since its incorporation. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will ever declare any dividends on any of its shares, or if declared, what the dividend amounts will be or whether such dividends, once declared, will continue for any future period.
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D. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, Etc.
Research and Development
Drug development and design begins with an idea, or theoretical concept for treating a given disorder. The idea is advanced through the drug design process, resulting in preliminary candidates that have theoretical potential. Candidates are improved to achieve the optimal effectiveness with limited toxicity. Following preclinical testing, products with the greatest potential become lead candidates and are advanced into clinical trials (human testing) with the intent of having them receive regulatory approval for marketing.
The Corporation has demonstrated the effectiveness of MC-1 in preclinical in vivo models of cardiovascular disease and a Phase I and Phase II clinical trial.. Additional preclinical studies may also be performed in order to evaluate other potential uses of MC-1 and to gather otherdata as may be necessary to support future clinical objectives.
In vitro and in vivo laboratory experiments to date have been used to study MC-1 therapeutic activity in myocardial ischemia, ischemic reperfusion injury, and hypertension. These experiments involved internationally recognized models (including coronary artery ligation, Langendorff, reperfusion and hypertensive rat models), and analysis techniques (such as electrocardiogram and hemodynamic measurements, and electron microscopy). In vivo studies involve oral and/or intravenous administration of the drug dose.
While MC-1s development proceeds, novel chemical compounds will be synthesized or in-licensed and entered into further testing to evaluate their commercial potential. As previously set forth, the
Corporations drug discovery program is pursuing medicinal chemistry strategies with the objective of maximizing the probability of commercial potential. Novel chemical compounds are screened for commercial viability prior to advancement into preclinical testing. These studies are to determine bioavailability/distribution, safety and efficacy (on both in vitro and in vivo models).
For the period from inception on September 15, 1997 to May 31, 2003, a total of $9,566,000 was incurred for research and development.
Patents and Licenses
The Corporation has been issued eight patents from the United States Patent Office providing protection for certain uses of MC-1 and related compounds in treatment of cardiovascular disease. The Corporation has obtained an additional two Notice of Allowances and has also filed seventeen additional applications in the United States plus corresponding patent applications in other jurisdictions. The Corporation will continue to file patents to extend protection of MC-1 and for new compounds in development. The eight patents issued to the Corporation are as follows:
The first two patents are jointly owned by the Corporation and the University of Manitoba. Pursuant to a Licence Agreement dated August 18, 1997, an Assignment Agreement dated September 26, 1997, and an ensuing new License Agreement dated August 30, 1999 (the Licence Agreement) the University of Manitoba licensed the exclusive worldwide use of the patents and the MC-1 technology to the Corporation. Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Corporation has agreed to pay the University of
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Manitoba a royalty payment of 3% of net sales from any cardiovascular product derived from the MC-1 technology. The License Agreement commenced on August 30, 1999 and shall terminate:
(i) | if a patent or patents are obtained prior to commercialization of a Licensed Product (as defined therein), on the expiration date of the last to expire of any patents covered by the Patent Rights (as defined therein); and | |
(ii) | if a patent is not obtained prior to commercialization of a Licensed Product (as defined therein), on August 30, 2009. |
The MC-1 technology is derived from work done by Dr. Rajat Sethi as an employee of the Corporation and by two employees of the University of Manitoba, Dr. Naranjan Dhalla and Dr. Krishnamurti Dakshinamurti, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biochemistry.
The two Notice of Allowances and seventeen pending United States patent applications, including those filed with the United States Patent Office as either regular or provisional applications, are owned by the Corporation by virtue of their inventorship by employees of the Corporation and, subsequent to June 1, 2000, by CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Much of the work, including some of the research methods, that is important to the success of the Corporations business is germane to the industry and may not be patentable. For this reason all employees, contracted researchers and consultants are bound by non-disclosure agreements.
Given that the patent applications for these technologies involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions, there can be no assurance that patent applications relating to the technology used by the Corporation will result in patents being issued, or that, if issued, the patents will provide a competitive advantage or will afford protection against competitors with similar technology, or will not be challenged successfully or circumvented by competitors.
The Corporation has filed patents in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty (the PCT). The PCT is a multilateral treaty that was concluded in Washington in 1970 and entered into force in 1978. It is administered by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (the WIPO), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The PCT facilitates the obtaining of protection for inventions where such protection is sought in any or all of the PCT contracting states (total of 104 at July 1999). It provides for the filing of one patent application (the international application), with effect in several contracting states, instead of filing several separate national and/or regional patent applications. At the present time, an international application may include designation for regional patents in respect of contracting states party to any of the following regional patent treaties: The Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs within the framework of the African Regional Industrial Property Organization, the Eurasian Patent Convention, the European Patent Convention, and the Agreement Establishing the African Intellectual Property Organization. The PCT does not eliminate the necessity of prosecuting the international application in the national phase of processing before the national or regional offices, but it does facilitate such prosecution in several important respects by virtue of the procedures carried out first on all international applications during the international phase of processing under the PCT. The formalities check, the international search and (optionally) the international preliminary examination carried out during the international phase, as well as the automatic deferral of national processing which is entailed, give the applicant more time and a better basis for deciding whether and in what countries to further pursue the application. Further information may be obtained from the official WIPO internet website (http://www.wipo.int).
On June 1, 2000 the Corporation entered into the Medicure International Licensing Agreement whereby it licensed the world-wide development and marketing rights for MC-1, except for Canada, to its wholly owned subsidiary, Medicure International. As consideration for the grant of the license, Medicure International agreed to pay the Corporation a fee of $1.00 upon the completion of specified milestones in the development process, together with a variable royalty of 7% to 9% of net sales of MC-1 (if any sales are ever in fact made). The term of the Medicure International Licensing Agreement will expire on the
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date of expiration of the last to expire patent on MC-1, or in the absence of any such patent, on the 10th anniversary of the date of the first commercial sale of MC-1 in the country where it was last introduced (if it is ever so introduced). The Medicure International Licensing Agreement may be terminated under a number of circumstances and, in any event, by either party at any time by providing the other with at least 90 days prior written notice of its intention to terminate the Medicure International Licensing Agreement.
Medicure International subsequently entered into the Development Agreement with CanAm on June 1, 2000 to perform research and development of MC-1 and other compounds at cost, plus a reasonable mark-up not to exceed ten percent of any amount invoiced. The parties to the Development Agreement agreed that the aggregate amount of all invoiced expenditures shall not exceed $15,000,000 over the term of the agreement. The term of the Development Agreement is to expire on the completion of all research and development activities by CanAm, and the written acknowledgment by CanAm and Medicure International that no further research projects will be undertaken (see Item 6 - Directors, Senior Management and Employees - A. Directors and Senior Management)
The Development Agreement may be terminated under a number of circumstances and, in any event, by Medicure International at any time by providing CanAm with at least 30 days prior written notice of its intention to terminate, or by CanAm at any time by providing Medicure International with at least 90 days prior written notice of its intention to terminate the Development Agreement.
The agreements provide that all confidential information developed or made known during the course of the relationship with the Corporation is to be kept confidential except in specific circumstances.
E. Trend Information
The Corporation is not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events which are reasonably likely to have a material effect upon the Corporations net sales or revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
Directors and Senior Management
The members of the board of directors and senior officers of the Corporation including a brief biography of each are as follows:
Dr. Albert D. Friesen - Director, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The founder of Medicure Inc., Dr. Friesen holds a Ph.D. in protein chemistry from the University of Manitoba. Dr. Friesen played a key role in founding several health industry companies including Rh Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Cangene Inc.), ABI Biotechnology (acquired by Apotex Inc.), Viventia Biotech Inc., Genesys Pharma Inc. and KAM Scientific Inc. Dr. Friesen has experience in the establishment of pharmaceutical production facilities and has also managed and initiated the research and clinical development of several pharmaceutical candidates. Dr. Friesen is a founder of the Industrial Biotechnology Association of Canada (IBAC) and past Chairman of its board of directors and former member of the Industrial Advisory Committee to the Biotechnology Research Institute in Montreal. Dr. Friesen previously served as a senior executive of other publicly-traded companies, including a position as President of Viventia Biotech Inc. (formerly Novopharm Biotech Inc.) Dr. Friesen provides his services to the Corporation through A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd., his private consulting corporation. Dr. Friesen devotes substantially all of his time to the Corporation.
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Dr. Arnold Naimark - Director
Arnold Naimark, M.D., F.R.C.P. (C), F.R.S.C. has had a distinguished career within medicine and higher education. Dr. Naimark served as Head of the Department of Physiology and later as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, following which he served as the Universitys President and Vice-Chancellor (15 years). Dr. Naimark is currently Director of the University of Manitoba Centre for the Advancement of Medicine, Chair of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and of the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, a Director of Inspiraplex and of the Robarts Research Institute and is a member of the Research Council of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Dr. Naimark has served on many committees and boards, in such positions as a Director of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Chair of the International Review Panel for the Medical Research Council of Canada and President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Dr. Naimark has also received several honourary degrees and awards, including the Order of Canada.
Dr. William A. Cochrane - Director
Dr. Cochrane is an internationally recognized biotechnology executive and entrepreneur. In addition to other distinctions and senior appointments, Dr. Cochrane has previously served as Chairman and CEO of Connaught Laboratories Inc. and as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary. Dr. Cochrane currently works as a health product investment consultant and serves on the board of Oncolytics. Dr. Cochrane has also been the President, CEO, and a Director of Nucleus BioScience Inc. since January 2000.
Mr. G. James Umlah - Director
Mr. Umlah is Chief Investment Officer of the Crocus Investment Fund (a labour sponsored fund) and the President of Crocus Capital (the Crocus Investment Funds sales subsidiary). In his capacity with the Crocus Investment Fund, which has current assets of approximately $170 million, Mr. Umlah has been responsible for investing in over 50 Manitoba businesses and has provided corporate finance advice to many of those businesses. In addition, Mr. Umlah has fifteen years experience in the investment industry in Manitoba. He is a former director of a major Canadian securities dealer. Mr. Umlah has an Honours Economics degree from the University of Manitoba. His areas of expertise include retail and institutional securities, corporate planning, and financial restructuring of businesses. Mr. Umlah is responsible for chairing and overseeing the operation of the Crocus Investment Funds staff investment committee, which evaluates proposed investments and recommends investments to the board of directors. In addition, Mr. Umlah is responsible for coordinating the functions of the Investment Advisory Committee and sits on the boards of several investee companies. As President of Crocus Capital, Mr. Umlah is responsible for managing the investments of the fund and for securities compliance matters related thereto. Mr. Umlah is also responsible for managing the business and investments of the Manitoba Science & Technology Fund.
Moray W. Merchant, MBA - Vice-President, Market Development
Moray Merchant received his MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing from Saint Josephs University in Philadelphia and holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick. Mr. Merchant has over 20 years of industry experience leading the strategic planning, sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products. For 18 years he held several positions with DuPont Pharma in Canada managing the sales and marketing of their cardiovascular products, directing business development activities and establishing and leading their generics business. Beginning in 2001, he held the positions of Vice President, Sales and Vice President of Marketing for aaiPharma Inc., a U.S. based specialty pharmaceutical company. In these roles he was responsible for building the sales and marketing organizations and leading the promotion of their acquired portfolio of pharmaceutical products.
Mr. Merchant holds the responsibility for identifying partnering opportunities, leading the strategic planning process and overseeing the commercialization of the Corporations cardiovascular products.
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Derek G. Reimer, C.A. - Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Derek Reimer came to the Corporation from Deloitte & Touche LLP where he most recently served as a Senior Manager in the Assurance and Advisory Services group. In this role, Mr. Reimer dealt mainly with major corporate clients, including several TSX 100 companies, providing advice regarding complex accounting, regulatory, and compliance issues. His previous experience includes several years providing international accounting services to clients exclusively in the financial services industry. Mr. Reimer is a Chartered Accountant who also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) degree in accounting from the University of Manitoba. Mr. Reimer is responsible for managing financial systems, programs and processes to ensure the successful accomplishment of the Corporations business objectives.
Business Management
Dr. Albert D. Friesen - Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director : Dr. Friesen directs the overall business management of the Corporation (see Directors and Senior Management under this item).
Moray W. Merchant, MBA - Vice-President, Market Development : Mr. Merchant holds the responsibility for identifying partnering opportunities, leading the strategic planning process and overseeing the commercialization of the Corporations cardiovascular products. (see Directors and Senior Management under this item).
Derek G. Reimer, CA - Chief Financial Officer and Secretary :Mr. Reimer participates in the Corporations financial management and accounting practices (see Directors and Senior Management under this item).
Dawson Reimer - Director of Business Development: Dawson Reimer received his Masters of Applied Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. From September 1996 Mr. Reimer served as Director of Business Development/Investor Relations with Genesys Pharma Inc. Mr. Reimer was also project director for the establishment of the companys new research and GMP pharmaceutical production facility. In October 1997, Mr. Reimer began conducting business activities for GVI, where he has assisted biotechnology projects in developing business plans, obtaining financing and developing intellectual property protection. Mr. Reimer has been actively involved in the Corporation since its inception and provided his services through GVI up until October 1, 2001, at which point he became an employee of the Corporation.
Don Bain Director of Investor Relations: Don Bains background includes nearly four years as Director of Communications and Investor Relations at CanWest Global Communications Corp. (TSX: CGS.A and NYSE: CWG), operating his own Investor Relations and Communications firm, and the position of Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at a Toronto-based IR consulting firm. He has provided IR counsel to numerous companies encompassing a variety of industry sectors including, biotech, oil and gas, retail, manufacturing, real estate and high tech.
Scientific Management
Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla - Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Dhalla participates in the scientific management of the Corporation under the title Chief Scientific Officer. The principal inventor of MC-1, Dr. Dhalla presently serves as Distinguished Professor and Director, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba. Dr. Dhalla is an internationally recognized cardiovascular researcher who has received 59 honours and awards including the Research Achievement Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, The Upjohn Award of the Pharmacological Society of Canada, Honorary Professorship at several universities, the Order of the Buffalo Hunt from the Province of Manitoba, and the Order of Canada. Professionally, Dr. Dhalla has been actively promoting the scientific basis of cardiology for over 25 years.
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Dr. Dhalla has served in senior positions such as Secretary General (17 years) and President (3 years) of the International Society for Heart Research, Editor-in-Chief (11 years) of the international journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and is currently serving on the editorial boards of 11 other international journals. Since 1996, Dr. Dhalla has served as Executive Director of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Dr. Dhalla has published 500 papers and 350 abstracts as well as edited or authored 31 books in the area of heart research.
Dr. Karl-Gunnar Hidinger - Vice-President, Clinical Development
Dr. Karl-Gunnar Hidinger received his Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology from University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Dr. Hidingers drug development experience spans 30 years and includes basic pharmacology research and preclinical research through clinical Phase I, II, III and market approval of new chemical entities. Dr. Hidingers career has included clinical research positions in Europe and North America with recognized companies such as Astra Pharma Inc., Glaxo Inc. and Ortho-McNeil Inc. Dr. Hidingers experience in clinical drug development complying with international regulatory standards covers a wide variety of therapeutic areas. Most recently, Dr. Hidinger established the corporate infrastructure for the Scientific Affairs Department of the newly established Byk Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Byk Gulden AG, Germany. Dr. Hidinger will be responsible for the design and management of clinical studies for Medicures lead compound, MC-1, and for the clinical aspects of other business development and research projects. Since February 1, 2001, Dr. Hidinger has provided his services to the Corporation's research and development activities through a consulting contract with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Dr. Robert Burford Vice-President, Product Development
Dr. Burford brings 38 years of pharmaceutical research and development experience to the Corporation, particularly in the area of clinical program for new cardiovascular drugs. For 17 years he was first Director, Clinical Research Searle Canada and then Director, Scientific Affairs Searle U.S., Pharmaceuticals Division. Following that he was Director, Scientific Affairs for Biovail Corporation International and more recently Vice President Product Development for Axonyx Corporation. In the latter position, he was responsible for advancing a new drug for Alzheimer's disease through to the clinical proof-of-concept stage. Throughout his career he has played a key role in planning and managing product development programs and clinical studies of new chemical entities in support of regulatory submissions in both domestic and foreign markets. A pharmacologist/toxicologist by training, Dr. Burford's clinical expertise is in the field of cardiovascular medication and in particular, anti-hypertensive drugs. Dr. Burford has provided her services to Medicure through a consulting agreement with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Dr. Ahmad Khalil Director of Scientific Affairs
Dr. Khalil received his MD from the Medical Academy IP in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in 1986, and his M.Sc degree (1993) and PhD (1997) from The University of Montreal. He has excellent basic research experience in the areas of in vivo antithrombotic treatment and ischemia reperfusion, as well as therapeutic approaches to coronary artery bypass graft surgery, much of which was done during his tenure as researcher and lecturer at the renowned Montreal Heart Institute. In addition, Dr. Khalil has experience as a practicing surgeon in Europe and has presented at numerous cardiovascular conventions and published extensively. Dr. Khalil has provided her services to Medicure through an employment agreement with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Dr. Wasimul Haque - Director of Chemistry
Dr. Haque received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba. Dr. Haque has over fifteen years of experience in industrial biotechnology research and development where he has managed a variety of drug discovery projects. Senior positions held prior to joining Medicure include Project Manager at Alberta Research Council and Senior Scientist at Biomira Inc. Dr. Haque has been issued four patents and is author of several peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Haque began employment with Medicure in July
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1998. Since June 1, 2000 Dr. Haque has been employed by CanAm Bioresearch Inc. and works on the Corporations research and development pursuant to the Development Agreement.
Dr. Jim Diakur - Associate Director of Chemistry
Dr. Diakur is an experienced medicinal chemist who was previously employed as Research Assistant Professor at the Noujaim Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alberta. At the institute, Dr. Diakurs group was focused on the development of carbohydrate-based pharmaceuticals for diabetes, cancer and inflammation and on carbohydrate-based drug carriers for targeted drug delivery. He also has over 10 years of industrial research and management experience in the field of chemistry with Chembiomed Inc. and Biomira Inc. Among other achievements, Dr. Diakur managed a team of scientists responsible for the preclinical development of injectable carbohydrate-based immunotherapeutic agents. Dr. Diakur is employed by CanAm Bioresearch Inc. and works on the Corporations research and development pursuant to the Development Agreement.
Dr. Deborah Douglas, Ph.D. Manager, Cardiovascular Biology
Dr. Douglas received her Ph.D. in Animal Science from McGill University, focusing on molecular biology related research. Her post-doctoral experience involved cell biology research at the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, and the Jack Bell Research Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia. Dr. Douglas developed in vitro and in vivo models to screen for human diseases as Chief of Compound Screening for Al viva Biopharmaceutical Inc. Dr. Douglas has provided her services to Medicure through an employment agreement with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Dr. Paul Armstrong - Clinical Consultant
Dr. Armstrong, Chair of the Advisory Board, is Professor in the Department of Medicine , University of Alberta in Edmonton. Dr. Armstrong is an internationally recognized cardiologist and clinical investigator with extensive expertise in the design and conduct of clinical trials focused on acute ischemic syndromes and congestive heart failure. Dr. Armstrong has published widely and served as a senior advisor to major organizations and industry. Since June 1, 2000, Dr. Armstrong provides services to the Corporations research and development activities through a consulting contract with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Dr. Stephen Hanessian - Chemistry Consultant
Dr. Hanessian received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1960 and has served at the University of Montreal since 1968. He is internationally recognized for his contributions in the field of medicinal chemistry and has been named as principal inventor on over 25 patents. Dr. Hanessian has published 400 papers, trained 250 scientists, and received the 1996 Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, Canadas highest award for scientific achievement. He has also been made an Officer of the Order of Canada. His special interest in cardiovascular medicinal chemistry is directly aligned with Medicures objective of establishing a pipeline of products to address cardiovascular diseases that remain inadequately treated by existing therapeutics. Dr. Hanessian provides services to the Corporations research and development activities through a consulting contract with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
Scientific Advisory Board
The Corporation has established a Scientific Advisory Board to ensure continued and proper review of research activities and work plans. The members of the Scientific Advisory Board and a brief biography of each are as follows:
Dr. Paul Armstrong - Chairperson
Dr. Armstrong, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, is Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Alberta in Edmonton. Dr. Armstrong is an internationally recognized cardiologist and
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clinical investigator with extensive expertise in the design and conduct of clinical trials focused on acute ischemic syndromes and congestive heart failure. Dr. Armstrong has published widely and served as a senior advisor to major organizations and industry.
Dr. Raymond Gibbons
Dr. Gibbons is a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Gibbons has extensive experience with scar size measurement and myocardial infarction.
Dr. Stephen Hanessian
Dr. Hanessian is Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Montreal. Dr. Hanessian is one of North Americas most renowned medicinal chemists with considerable experience in industry collaboration for the discovery of new pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Morris Karmazyn
Dr. Karmazyn is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. Dr. Karmazyn is internationally recognized and has received numerous distinctions for his research in the field of myocardial ischemia and ischemic reperfusion injury.
Dr. John McNeill
Dr. McNeill is Professor and Dean Emeritus, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, Dr. McNeills research is centered on the biochemical mechanism action of drugs on the heart.
Dr. Eldon Smith
Dr. Smith is a Professor at the University of Calgary Medical School in Alberta, where his past positions include Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Department of Medicine and Head of the Division of Cardiology. A distinguished clinician and research scientist, Dr. Smith has considerable industry experience having served on the boards of several well-recognized companies.
Dr. Pierre Theroux
Dr. Theroux is Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal and Chief of the Coronary Care Unit at the Montreal Heart Institute. Dr. Therouxs innovative work is widely recognized and he has contributed extensively to the development of new treatments for acute ischemic heart disease.
Dr. Jeffrey Weitz
Dr. Weitz is Professor of Medicine and Haematology at McMaster University in Hamilton where he has contributed extensively to understanding the role of thrombosis and its treatment in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Weitz also brings a wealth of expertise in academic-industrial collaboration and development of new products.
B. Compensation
No compensation of any kind was paid to the directors and officers of the Corporation during the year ended May 31, 2003, except as follows:
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On October 1, 2001 a compensation agreement was entered into between the Corporation and A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd., a corporation owned by Dr. Friesen. For the year ended June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003, the Corporation paid A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd., $150,000 in consulting compensation.
Derek G. Reimer serves the Corporation as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary in consideration for an annual salary of $88,000 payable in equal monthly installments.
During the year ended May 31, 2003, the Corporation paid directors a total of Nil (Year ended May 31, 2002: Nil; Year ended May 31, 2001: $35,000; Nine months ended May 31, 2000: $22,500) for consulting fees.
Additionally, the Corporation provides its directors $1,500 for each quarterly meeting they personally attend, and $750 for each quarterly meeting they are present via telephone. The Corporation does not provide any cash compensation for its directors who are also officers of the Corporation for their services as directors.
No pension, retirement fund and other similar benefits have been set aside for the officers and directors of the Corporation.
C. Board Practices
The Board of Directors presently consists of four directors. Each director was re-elected at the
Corporations annual general meeting of the shareholders held on October 10, 2002. Each director holds office until the next annual general meeting of the Corporation or until his successor is elected or appointed, unless his office is earlier vacated in accordance with the Articles of the Corporation, or with the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act . Dr. Albert D. Friesen has served as a director of the Corporation since September 1997. Dr. Arnold Naimark has served as a director of the Corporation since March 2000, Dr. William A. Cochrane has served as a director of the Corporation since October 2000 and James Umlah was appointed to the Board on September 17, 2001.
Pursuant to Section 171 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the Act) , the Corporation is required to have an Audit Committee. As at the date hereof, the members of the Audit Committee are Dr. William Cochrane (Chair), Dr. Arnold Naimark and James Umlah. Section 171(1) of the Act requires the directors of a reporting corporation to elect from among their number a committee composed of not fewer than three directors, of whom a majority must not be officers or employees of the corporation or an affiliate of the corporation. Section 171(3) provides that, before financial statements are approved by the directors, they must be submitted to the audit committee for review. Section 171(4) provides that the auditor must be given notice of, and has the right to appear before and to be heard at, every meeting of the audit committee, and must appear before the audit committee when requested to do so by the committee. Finally, section 171(5) provides that on the request of the auditor, the audit committee must convene a meeting of the audit committee to consider any matters the auditor believes should be brought to the attention of the directors or members.
The Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of executive officers of the Corporation. The current members of the Committee are Dr. Arnold Naimark (Chair), Dr. William Cochrane and James Umlah, none of whom is a current or former executive officer of the Corporation. The Committee meets at least once a year.
The Committee has developed a policy to govern the Corporation's approach to corporate governance issues and provides a forum for concerns of individual directors about matters not easily or readily discussed in a full board meeting, e.g., the performance of management. The Committee ensures there is a clear definition and separation of the responsibilities of the Board, the Committees of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and other management employees. It also ensures there is a process in place for the orientation and education of new directors and for continuing education of the Board. The Committee also assesses the effectiveness of the Board and its committees on an ongoing ad hoc basis. It also reviews at
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least annually the Corporation's responsiveness to environmental impact, health and safety and other regulatory standards.
The Committee reviews the objectives, performance and compensation of the Chief Executive Officer at least annually and makes recommendations to the Board for change. The Committee makes recommendations based upon the Chief Executive Officers' suggestions regarding the salaries and incentive compensation for senior officers of the Corporation. The Committee also reviews significant changes to compensation, benefits and human resources policies and compliance with current human resource management practices, such as pay equity, performance review and staff development. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the compensation of directors as necessary.
D. Employees
In addition to the individuals disclosed in A. Directors and Senior Management of this item, CanAm has a staff of nineteen research scientists, technicians and staff dedicated solely to the Corporations research and development activities.
E. Share Ownership
With respect to the persons referred to above in B. Compensation of this item, the following table discloses the number of shares (each share possessing identical voting rights), stock options held and percent of the shares outstanding held by those persons, as of August 31, 2003.
Name and Title |
No. of Shares |
Percent of Shares Outstanding (Greater than 10% ownership) |
Dr. Albert D. Friesen
Chairman, President, CEO and Director |
6,159,415 (1) | 12.8% |
(1) | Dr. Albert Friesen holds 461,500 shares personally. The rest of the shares are held by ADF Family Holding Corp., a private company wholly-owned by Dr. Albert D. Friesen, his wife Mrs. Leona M. Friesen, and Bert & Lee Family Trust (the trustees of which are Dr. and Mrs. Friesen). |
Incentive Stock Options
The following table discloses the stock options beneficially held by the aforementioned persons, as of September 30, 2003. The stock options are for shares of Common Stock of the Corporation.
Name of Person |
Number of
Shares Subject to Issuance |
Exercise
Price per Share |
Expiry Date |
Dr. Albert D. Friesen | 30,000 | $2.15 | February 22, 2005 |
Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla | 25,000 | $0.75 | January 5, 2005 |
Derek G. Reimer | 90,000 | $0.80 | February 4, 2007 |
Dr. William Cochrane | 150,000 | $0.75-1.10 | August 12, 2008 |
Dr. Arnold Naimark | 150,000 | $0.75-1.10 | August 12, 2008 |
Moray Merchant | 100,000 | $1.65 | September 22, 2008 |
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The Corporation has established an Incentive Stock Option Plan (the Plan) for its directors, key officers, employees and consultants. Options granted pursuant to the Plan will not exceed a term of five years and are granted at an option price and on other terms which the directors determine is necessary to achieve the goal of the Plan and in accordance with regulatory requirements, including those of the TSX. Each option entitles the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Common Share of the Corporation on the terms set forth in the Plan and in such purchasers specific stock option agreement. The option price may be at a discount to market price, which discount will not, in any event, exceed that permitted by any stock exchange on which the Corporations Common Shares are listed for trading.
The number of Common Shares allocated to the Plan, the exercise period for the options (not to exceed five years), and the vesting provisions for the options will be determined by the board of directors of the Corporation from time to time. The aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, together with any other employee stock option plans, options for services and employee stock purchase plans, will not exceed 3,700,000 of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. In addition, the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance to any one person shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.
The Common Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options, when fully paid for by a participant, are not included in the calculation of Common Shares allocated to or within the Plan. Should a participant cease to be eligible due to the loss of corporate office (being that of an officer or director) or employment, the option shall cease for varying periods not exceeding 90 days. Loss of eligibility for consultants is regulated by specific rules imposed by the directors when the option is granted to the appropriate consultant. The Plan also provides that estates of deceased participants can exercise their options for a period not exceeding one year following death.
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ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
As of August 31, 2003, the following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Corporation's common shares by each person known by the Corporation to own beneficially more than 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation:
Title of Class | Identity of Person or Group | Amount Owned | Percentage of Class |
Common shares | CDS & Company (1) | 28,277,483 (2) | 59.0% |
Toronto, Ontario | |||
Common shares | Dr. Albert D. Friesen (3) | 6,159,415 (2) | 12.8% |
Winnipeg, Manitoba |
(1) | Brokerage clearing house; the ultimate beneficial owners of these shares are not known to the Corporation. |
(2) | Amount of shares as of August 31, 2003. |
(3) | Dr. Albert Friesen holds 461,500 shares personally. The rest of the shares are held by ADF Family Holding Corp., a private company wholly-owned by Dr. Albert D. Friesen, his wife Mrs. Leona M. Friesen, and Bert & Lee Family Trust (the trustees of which are Dr. and Mrs. Friesen). |
As of August 31, 2003, there were 3 shareholders of record in the United States holding a total of 2,375 shares of the Corporation.
To the best of the Corporation's knowledge, it is not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by another company, by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person severally or jointly.
As of August 31, 2003, the total number of issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation beneficially owned by the directors and officers of the Corporation as a group was 6,206,915 (or 12.9% of common shares).
To the best of the Corporation's knowledge, there are no arrangements, the operation of which at a subsequent date will result in a change in control of the Corporation.
B. Related Party Transactions
Other than as set forth below, management of the Corporation is not aware of any material interest, direct or indirect, of any director or officer of the Corporation, any person beneficially owning, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Corporations voting securities, or any associate or affiliate of any such person in any transaction within the last three years or in any proposed transaction which in either case has materially affected or will materially affect the Corporation or its subsidiaries.
On November 22, 1999 Medicure was acquired by Lariat by way of a reverse takeover as Lariats Major Transaction as a Junior Capital Pool company within the meaning of the Alberta Securities Commission Rule 46-501, the Alberta Securities Commission Companion Policy 46-501CP and The Alberta Stock Exchange Circular 7. Pursuant to the terms of the Major Transaction, Lariat acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Medicure in exchange for 9,500,000 shares of Lariat, at a deemed price for securities regulatory purposes of $0.20 per share for aggregate consideration of $1,900,000. The Major Transaction was negotiated entirely at arms length. As a result of the share exchange, control of Lariat passed to the former shareholders of Medicure. This type of transaction is commonly referred to as a reverse takeover. Under reverse takeover accounting, for financial reporting purposes, the Corporation is considered to be a continuation of the operations formerly carried on by Medicure.
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During the period beginning June 1, 2001 to September 30, 2001, the Corporation paid Genesys Venture Inc., a biotech incubator company co-owned by Dr. Albert D. Friesen, $84,000 to provide the Corporation with overall management services including those of Dr. Friesen as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Genesys Venture Inc, in turn, paid Dr. Friesen $32,000 of the $84,000 total, in salary compensation. On October 1, 2001, the agreement with Genesys Venture Inc. was modified such that Dr, Friesen no longer received a salary as part of the overall management services agreement. During the eight month period from June 1, 2001 to January 31, 2002, the Corporation paid Genesys Venture Inc. a total of $120,000 (Year ended May 31, 2001: $242,000; Nine months ended May 31, 2000: $155,640) for consulting fees and office rent and supplies. As of February 1, 2002 the agreement with Genesys Venture Inc. was terminated.
On October 1, 2001 a compensation agreement was entered into between the Corporation and A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd., a corporation owned by Dr. Friesen. This agreement, which was subsequently amended on February 1, 2002, provides Dr. Albert D. Friesen with an annual consulting fee of $150,000. During the year ended May 31, 2003, the Corporation paid a total of $150,000 to A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd. For the period commencing October 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002, the Corporation paid A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd., $82,000 in consulting compensation.
Dr. Friesen, a director, the Chairman, the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation also owns a leasing company, Waverley Business and Science Centre Inc. which entered into a lease with the Corporation as of March 1, 2002. Pursuant to this agreement, the Corporation leases approximately 2,100 square feet of office space from Waverley Business and Science Centre Inc. for minimum annual rental payments of $23,507. The agreement is for a five year term.
Dr. Naranjan Dhalla, the Chief Scientific Officer of the Corporation, is the principal scientist responsible for discovering the cardiovascular benefits of MC-1. He is also a significant shareholder of the Corporation. As an employee of the University of Manitoba he will receive 25% of any royalties the university may receive in respect to the License Agreement. In addition, Dr. Dhalla entered into a consulting agreement with the Corporation effective January 18, 1998 wherein Dr. Dhalla agreed to perform certain consulting services to the Corporation and which contract remains in effect as at the date hereof. The Corporation is currently paying Dr. Dhalla $40,000 per annum for these services through a contract with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements or Other Financial Information
Financial Statements
Attached hereto are the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the years ended May 31, 2003 and 2002 audited by KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants. The consolidated financial statements including related notes are accompanied by auditors reports.
Legal Proceedings
There are no legal or arbitration proceedings, including those relating to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings and those involving any third party, which may have, or have had in the recent past, significant effects on the Corporations financial position or profitability. There are no legal proceedings to which the Corporation is a party, nor to the best of the knowledge of the Corporations management are any legal proceedings contemplated.
Dividend Policy
The Corporation has not paid dividends in the past and it has no present intention of paying dividends on its shares as it anticipates that all available funds will be invested to finance the growth of its business. The directors of the Corporation will determine if and when dividends should be declared and paid in the future based upon the Corporations financial position at the relevant time. All of the Corporations Shares are entitled to an equal share of any dividends declared and paid.
B. Significant Changes
Since May 31, 2003, the date of the most recent financial statements, no significant changes have occurred with the exception of the following:
a) | Subsequent to May 31, 2003, the Corporation completed an equity offering for gross proceeds of $7,648,000 (before share issuance costs of $606,000) through a private placement of 8,997,632 common shares of the Corporation at $0.85 per share. The financing increased the Corporations cash and cash equivalents to $10,739,000 as at June 30, 2003. | |
b) | Subsequent to May 31, 2003, 1,580,792 warrants were exercised at prices ranging from $0.65-$0.81 and 66,666 stock options were exercised at prices ranging from $0.75-$0.80 and converted into common shares. |
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ITEM 9. THE OFFERING AND LISTING
A. Offer and Listing Details
The Corporation's common shares are listed and traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol MPH. The historical trading data for the common shares of the Corporation on the above-mentioned exchanges is set out below.
Fiscal Period/Year Ended | High ($) | Low ($) | ||
May 31, 2003 | 1.13 | 0.20 | ||
May 31, 2002 | 1.24 | 0.40 | ||
May 31, 2001 | 3.45 | 0.95 | ||
May 31, 2000 | 8.00 | 0.48 | ||
August 31, 1999 (1) | 0.59 | 0.25 | ||
August 31, 1998 | N/A | N/A | ||
Fiscal Quarter Ended | ||||
August 31, 2003 | 1.39 | 0.73 | ||
May 31, 2003 | 0.99 | 0.64 | ||
February 28, 2003 | 1.13 | 0.23 | ||
November 30, 2002 | 0.30 | 0.20 | ||
August 31, 2002 | 0.52 | 0.215 | ||
May 31, 2002 | 0.60 | 0.40 | ||
February 28, 2002 | 0.74 | 0.52 | ||
November 30, 2001 | 0.85 | 0.55 | ||
August 31, 2001 | 1.24 | 0.70 | ||
May 31, 2001 | 1.70 | 0.95 | ||
February 28, 2001 | 2.89 | 1.65 | ||
November 30, 2000 | 3.45 | 1.80 | ||
August 31, 2000 | 3.60 | 1.80 | ||
Month | ||||
September 2003 | 1.84 | 1.30 | ||
August 2003 | 1.39 | 0.97 | ||
July 2003 | 1.26 | 0.88 | ||
June 2003 | 1.04 | 0.73 | ||
May 2003 | 0.88 | 0.70 | ||
April 2003 | 0.94 | 0.64 |
Note: | |
(1)
|
For the period from initial listing on March 30, 1999 to August 31, 1999 |
B. Markets
The Corporation's common shares were listed on The Canadian Venture Exchange under the symbol MPH, from November 29, 1999 to March 14, 2002. The common shares and Class A common shares commenced trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 15, 2002 to the present. On March 1, 2003 all of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares totalling 1,280,000 shares were converted into common shares of the Corporation on the basis of one common share for each Class A common shares in accordance with the Corporations Articles of Continuance. The Class A common shares were identical in all respects to the common shares, except that the holders were eligible for the Manitoba Equity Tax Credit until February 28, 2003. The Corporations shares are not currently trading on any
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United States stock exchange or the over-the-counter market, and, accordingly, there is currently no public market for the common stock of the Corporation in the United States.
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. Share Capital
Not applicable
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
1. Objects and Purposes of the Corporation
The Memorandum of the Corporation places no restrictions upon the Corporations objects and purposes.
2. Directors
Under applicable Canadian law, the directors and officers of the Corporation, in exercising their powers and discharging their duties, must act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation. The directors and officers must also exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
Section 4.14 of By-Law No.1 of the Corporation (the By-Law) provides that a director shall not be disqualified by reason of his office from contracting with the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof. Subject to the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the Act), a director shall not by reason only of his office be accountable to the Corporation or its shareholders for any profit or gain realized from a contract or transaction in which he has an interest. Such contract or transaction shall not be voidable by reason only of such interest, or by reason only of the presence of a director so interested at a meeting, or by reason only of his presence being counted in determining a quorum at a meeting of the directors at which such a contract or transaction is approved, provided that a declaration and disclosure of such interest shall have been made at the time and in the manner prescribed by section 120 of the Act, and the director so interested shall have refrained from voting as a director on the resolution approving the contract or transaction (except as permitted by the Act) and such contract shall have been reasonable and fair to the Corporation and shall have been approved by the directors or shareholders of the Corporation as required by section 120 of the Act.
Section 4.01 of the By-Law states that the exact number of directors to form the board shall be determined from time to time by the directors of the Corporation entitled to vote at regular meetings. A quorum of the board shall be a majority of the board. No business shall be transacted at a meeting unless a quorum is present.
Section 3.01 of the By-Law states that the board may, without the authorization of the shareholders:
i) | borrow money upon the credit of the Corporation; |
ii) | issue, reissue, sell or pledge debt obligations of the Corporation, including bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness or guarantees, whether secured or unsecured; |
iii) | subject to section 44 of the Act, give a guarantee on behalf of the Corporation to secure performance of an obligation of any person; and |
iv) | mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security interest in all or any property of the Corporation, owned or subsequently acquired, to secure any obligation of the Corporation. |
The borrowing powers of the directors can be varied by amending the By-Law of the Corporation.
There is no provision in the By-Law imposing a requirement for retirement or non-retirement of directors under an age limit requirement.
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Section 4.02 states that a director need not be a shareholder to be qualified as a director.
3. Shares
The Articles of the Corporation provide that the Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares designated as Common Shares, Class A Common Shares and Preferred Shares. Except for meetings at which only holders of another specified class or series of shares of the Corporation are entitled to vote separately as a class or series, each holder of the Common and Class A shares is entitled to receive notice of, to attend and to vote at all meetings of the shareholders of the Corporation. Subject to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to any other class of shares of the Corporation, the holders of the Common and Class A shares are also entitled to receive dividends if, as and when declared by the directors of the Corporation and are entitled to share equally in the remaining property of the Corporation upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.
The Preferred Shares shall have attached to them, as a class, the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions as hereinafter set forth.
The Preferred Shares may from time to time be issued in one or more series and, subject to the following provisions, and subject to the sending of articles of amendment in respect thereof, the directors may fix from time to time and before issue a series of Preferred Shares, the number of shares which are to comprise that series and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions to be attached to that series of Preferred Shares including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rate or amount of dividends or the method of calculating dividends, the dates of payment of dividends, the redemption, purchase and/or conversion, and any sinking fund or other provisions.
The Preferred Shares of each series shall, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets or return of capital in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other return of capital or distribution of the assets of the Corporation among its shareholders for the purpose of winding-up its affairs, rank on a parity with the Preferred Shares of every other series and be entitled to preference over the Common and Class A Common Shares and over any other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares of any series may also be given other preferences, not inconsistent with these articles, over the Common Shares and Class A Common Shares and any other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Preferred Shares of a series as may be fixed in accordance with clause (i).
If any cumulative dividends or amounts payable on the return of capital in respect of a series of Preferred Shares are not paid in full, all series of Preferred Shares shall participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends and return of capital.
Unless the directors otherwise determine in the articles of amendment designating a series of Preferred Shares, the holder of each share or a series of Preferred Shares shall not, as such, be entitled to receive notice of or vote at any meeting of shareholders, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Act.
4. Rights of Shareholders
Under the Act, shareholders of the Corporation are entitled to examine, during its usual business hours, the Corporations articles and by-laws, notices of directors and change of directors, any unanimous shareholder agreements, the minutes of meetings and resolutions of shareholders and the list of shareholders.
Shareholders of the Corporation may obtain a list of shareholders upon payment of a reasonable fee and sending an affidavit to the Corporation or its transfer agent stating, among other things, that the list of shareholders will not be used by any person except in connection with an effort to influence the voting of shareholders of the Corporation, an offer to acquire shares of the Corporation or any other matter relating to the affairs of the Corporation.
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Under the Act, shareholders of the Corporation may apply to a court having jurisdiction directing an investigation to be made of the Corporation. If it appears to the court that the formation, business or affairs of the Corporation were conducted for fraudulent or unlawful purposes, or that the powers of the directors were exercised in a manner that is oppressive or unfairly disregards the interests of the shareholders, the court may order an investigation to be made of the Corporation.
To change the rights of holders of stock, where such rights are attached to an issued class or series of shares, requires the consent by a separate resolution of the holders of the class or series of shares, as the case may be, requiring a majority of 75% of the votes cast.
The Corporation is organized under the laws of Canada. The Corporations directors, officers, and affiliates of the Corporation, as well as the experts named in this registration statement, are residents of Canada and, to the best of the Corporations knowledge, all or a substantial portion of their assets and all of the Corporations assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for shareholders of the Corporation in the United States to effect service of process on the Corporation or these persons above within the United States, or to realize in the United States upon judgments rendered against the Corporation or such persons. Additionally, a shareholder of the Corporation should not assume that the courts of Canada (i) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against the Corporation or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws or other laws of the United States, or (ii) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against the Corporation or such persons predicated upon the U.S. federal securities laws or other laws of the United States.
Laws in the United States and judgments of U.S. courts would generally be enforced by a court of Canada unless such laws or judgments are contrary to public policy in Canada, are or arise from foreign penal laws or laws that deal with taxation or the taking of property by a foreign government and are not in compliance with applicable laws in Canada regarding the limitation of actions. Further, a judgment obtained in a U.S. court would generally be recognized by a court of Canada, except under the following examples:
i) | the judgment was rendered in a U.S. court that had no jurisdiction according to applicable laws in Canada; |
ii) | the judgment was subject to ordinary remedy (appeal, judicial review and any other judicial proceeding which renders the judgment not final, conclusive or enforceable under the laws of the applicable state) or not final, conclusive or enforceable under the laws of the applicable state; |
iii) | the judgment was obtained by fraud or in any manner contrary to natural justice or rendered in contravention of fundamental principles of procedure; and |
iv) | a dispute between the same parties, based on the same subject matter has given rise to a judgment rendered in a court of Canada or has been decided in a third country and the judgment meets the necessary conditions for recognition in a court of Canada. |
5. Meetings
Subject to the provisions of the Act, the annual general meeting of the shareholders shall be on such date in each year as the board of directors may determine, and a special meeting of the shareholders may be convened at any time by order of the President or by the board on their own motion or on the requisition of shareholders as provided for in the Act. Notice of the time and place of each meeting of shareholders shall be given not less than 21 days nor more than 50 days before the date of the meeting to each director and shareholder. A meeting of shareholders may be held without notice at any time and at any place provided a waiver of notice is obtained in accordance with section 136 of the Act. The quorum for the transaction of business at meetings of the shareholders shall consist of not less than one (1) shareholder present or represented by proxy and holding in all not less than five (5%) percent of the issued capital of the Corporation carrying voting rights. At any meeting of shareholders, every person shall be entitled to vote who, at the time of the taking of a vote (or, if there is a record date for voting, at the close of business
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on such record date) is entered in the register of shareholders as the holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting, subject to the provisions of the Act.
6. Ownership of Securities
There are no limitations on the right to own securities, imposed by foreign law or by the By-Law or other constituent document of the Corporation.
7. Change in Control of Corporation
No provision of the Corporations articles of association, charter or By-Law would have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of the Corporation, and operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
8. Ownership Threshold
The Manitoba and Ontario Securities Acts provide that a person that has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, control or direction over, or a combination of direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, and control or direction over, securities of the issuer carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all the issuer's outstanding voting securities must, within 10 days of becoming an "insider", file an insider report in the required form effective the date on which the person became an insider, disclosing any direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, or control or direction over, securities of the reporting issuer. The Manitoba and Ontario Securities Acts also provide for the filing of a report by an "insider" of a reporting issuer who acquires or transfers securities of the issuer. This insider report must be filed within 10 days after the end of the month in which the change takes place.
The U.S. rules governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed are more stringent than those discussed above. Section 13 of the Exchange Act imposes reporting requirements on persons who acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in the Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 5 per cent of a class of an equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. In general, such persons must file, within 10 days after such acquisition, a report of beneficial ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing the information prescribed by the regulations under Section 13 of the Exchange Act. This information is also required to be sent to the issuer of the securities and to each exchange where the securities are traded.
C. Material Contracts
The following are the material contracts of the Corporation, other than those mentioned elsewhere in this Form, to which the Corporation or any member of the group is a party, for the two years immediately preceding publication of this registration statement.
a) | Investor Relations Contract dated March 28, 2002 between Boxe Studio Intl. and the Corporation whereby investor relations services will be provided to the Corporation including identifying possible sources of capital, providing analysis and advice with respect to capital structure, advising and assisting the Corporation with respect to its relationship with existing shareholders and assisting in the preparation of public information materials. | |
b) | Employment Agreement dated February 4, 2002 between Derek G. Reimer and the Corporation. | |
c) | Employment Agreement dated September 22, 2003 between Moray Merchant and the Corporation. |
D. Exchange Controls
There is no law or government decree of regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or that affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of Common Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. See "Item 7 Taxation."
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There is no limitation imposed by Canadian law or by the articles or other charter documents of the Corporation on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote the Common Shares or the Class A common shares of the Corporation, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act, as amended (the "Investment Act").
The Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a reviewable investment by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture that is a "non-Canadian" as defined in the Investment Act (a "non-Canadian"), unless, after review the Minister responsible for the Investment Act is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. If an investment by a non-Canadian is not a reviewable investment, it nevertheless requires the filing of a short notice which may be given at any time up to 30 days after the implementation of the investment.
An investment in Common Shares of the Corporation by a non-Canadian that is a "WTO investor" (an individual or other entity that is a national of, or has the right of permanent residence in, a member of the World Trade Organization, current members of which include the European Community, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States, or a WTO investor-controlled entity, as defined in the Investment Act) would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it were an investment to acquire direct control, through a purchase of assets or voting interests, of the Corporation and the value of the assets of the Corporation equalled or exceeded $184 million, the threshold established for 1999, as indicated on the financial statements of the Corporation for its fiscal year immediately preceding the implementation of the investment. In subsequent years, such threshold amount may be increased or decreased in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Act.
An investment in Common Shares of the Corporation by a non-Canadian, other than a WTO investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it were an investment to acquire direct control of the Corporation and the value of the assets were $5.0 million or more, as indicated on the financial statements of the Corporation for its fiscal year immediately preceding the implementation of the investment.
A non-Canadian, whether a WTO investor or otherwise, would acquire control of the Corporation for the purposes of the Investment Act if he, she or it acquired a majority of the Common Shares of the Corporation or acquired all or substantially all of the assets used in conjunction with the Corporation 's business. The acquisition of less than a majority, but one-third or more of the Common Shares of the Corporation, would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of the Corporation unless it could be established that the Corporation was not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of the Common Shares.
The Investment Act would not apply to certain transactions in relation to Common Shares of the Corporation, including:
(a) | an acquisition of Common Shares of the Corporation by any person if the acquisition were made in the ordinary course of that person's business as a trader or dealer in securities; | |
(b) | an acquisition of control of the Corporation in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for any purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act; and | |
(c) | an acquisition of control of the Corporation by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of the Corporation, through the ownership of voting interests, remains unchanged. |
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E. Taxation
Considerations for Canadian Holders
The following is a summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations, as of the date hereof, generally applicable to Security holders who deal at arm's length with the Corporation, who, for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Canadian Tax Act") and any applicable tax treaty or convention, have not been and will not be resident or deemed to be resident in Canada at any time while they have held shares of the Corporation, to whom such shares are capital property, and to whom such shares are not "taxable Canadian property" (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act). This summary does not apply to a non-resident insurer.
Generally, shares of the Corporation will be considered to be capital property to a holder thereof provided that the holder does not use such shares in the course of carrying on a business or has not acquired them in one or more transactions considered to be an adventure in the nature of trade. All security holders should consult their own tax advisors as to whether, as a matter of fact, they hold shares of the Corporation as capital property for the purposes of the Canadian Tax Act.
Under the current provisions of the Canadian Tax Act, as modified by the Proposed Amendments (see below), one-half of capital gains (taxable capital gains) must be included in computing the income of a holder in the year of disposition. One-half of capital losses (allowable capital losses) may generally be deducted against taxable capital gains for the year of disposition subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Canadian Tax Act.
Allowable capital losses in excess of a holders taxable capital gains of a taxation year may generally be carried back three years and carried forward indefinitely for deduction against taxable capital gains realized in those years, to the extent and under circumstances permitted under the Canadian Tax Act.
This discussion takes into account specific proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act and the regulations thereunder publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof (the "Proposed Amendments") and assumes that all such Proposed Amendments will be enacted in their present form. No assurances can be given that the Proposed Amendments will be enacted in the form proposed, if at all; however the Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable to security holders described herein will not be different in a material adverse way if the Proposed Amendments are not enacted.
Except for the foregoing, this discussion does not take into account or anticipate any changes in law, whether by legislative, administrative or judicial decision or action, nor does it take into account provincial, territorial or foreign income tax legislation or considerations, which may differ from the Canadian federal income tax considerations described herein.
Generally, shares of the Corporation will not be taxable Canadian property at a particular time provided that such shares are listed on a prescribed stock exchange (which exchanges currently include the Toronto Stock Exchange), the holder does not use or hold, and is not deemed to use or hold, the shares of the Corporation in connection with carrying on a business in Canada and the holder, persons with whom such holder does not deal at arm's length, or the holder and such persons, have not owned (or had under option) 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation at any time within five years preceding the particular time.
A holder of shares of the Corporation that are not taxable Canadian property will not be subject to tax under the Canadian Tax Act on the sale or other disposition of shares.
WHILE INTENDED TO ADDRESS ALL MATERIAL CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS, THIS SUMMARY IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSTRUED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO ANY HOLDER OR PROSPECTIVE HOLDER OF COMMON SHARES. NO OPINION
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WAS REQUESTED BY THE CORPORATION, OR IS PROVIDED BY ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND/OR AUDITORS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES.
ACCORDINGLY, HOLDERS AND PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, OWNING, AND DISPOSING OF COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION.
Considerations for U.S. holders
CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summarizes the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations applicable to the holding and disposition of Common Shares of the Corporation by a holder of one or more Common Shares (the "U.S. Holder") who is a resident in the United States and holds common shares solely as capital property. This summary is based on the Canadian Tax Act, and on the current provisions of the Canada - U.S. Income Tax Convention, 1980 (the "Treaty"). It has been assumed that all currently proposed amendments to the Canadian Tax Act will be enacted as proposed and that there is no other relevant change in any governing law.
Every U.S. Holder is liable to pay a Canadian withholding tax on every dividend that is or is deemed to be paid or credited to the U.S. Holder on the U.S. Holder's Common Shares. Under the Treaty, the rate of withholding tax is, if the U.S. Holder is a company that owns at least 10% of the voting stock of the Corporation and beneficially owns the dividend, 6% in 1996 and 5% thereafter, and in any other case 15%, of the gross amount of the dividend.
Pursuant to the Canadian Tax Act, a U.S. Holder will not be subject to Canadian capital gains tax on any capital gain realized on an actual or deemed disposition of a Common Share, including a deemed disposition on death, provided either that the U.S. Holder did not hold the Common Share as capital property used in carrying on a business in Canada, or that neither the U.S. Holder nor persons with whom the U.S. Holder did not deal at arm's length alone or together owned 25% or more of the issued shares of any class of the Corporation at any time in the five years immediately preceding the disposition.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, a U.S. Holder who otherwise would be liable for Canadian capital gains tax in consequence of an actual or deemed disposition of a Common Share will generally be exempted for Canadian tax under the Treaty. Any holder who is a former resident of Canada may have different Canadian tax considerations and should obtain specific tax advice.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following summary is a general discussion of the material United States Federal income tax considerations to U.S. holders of shares of the Corporation under current law. It does not discuss all the tax consequences that may be relevant to particular holders in light of their circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, non-resident alien individuals or foreign corporations whose ownership of shares of the Corporation is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, shareholders who acquired their stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, shareholders who hold their stock as ordinary assets and not capital assets and any other non-U.S. holders.
The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. This discussion
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does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any recently proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. The following discussion is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any holder or prospective holder of shares of the Corporation and no opinion or representation with respect to the United States Federal income tax consequences to any such holder or prospective holder is made. Accordingly, holders and prospective holders of shares of the Corporation should consult their own tax advisors about the Federal, state, local, estate and foreign tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of shares of the Corporation.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a "U.S. Holder" includes a holder of shares of the Corporation who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, any entity that is taxable as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes and any other person or entity whose ownership of shares of the Corporation is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A U.S. Holder does not include persons subject to special provisions of Federal income tax law, such as tax exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, nonresident alien individuals or foreign corporations whose ownership of shares of the Corporation is not effectively connected with conduct or trade or business in the United States, shareholders who acquired their stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation and shareholders who hold their stock as ordinary assets and not as capital assets.
Distributions on Shares of the Corporation
U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to shares of the Corporation are required to include in gross income for United States Federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such distributions to the extent that the Corporation has current or accumulated earnings and profits as defined under U.S. Federal tax law, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S. Holder's United States Federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holder's United States Federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See more detailed discussion at "Foreign Tax Credit" below). To the extent that distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Corporation, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in the shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of the shares. Preferential tax rates for net capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long term capital gains for a U.S. Holder that is a corporation.
Dividends paid on the shares of the Corporation will not generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder that is a corporation may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% deduction of the United States source portion of dividends received from the Corporation (unless the Corporation qualifies as a "foreign personal holding company" or a "passive foreign investment company", as defined below) if such U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and value of the Corporation. The availability of this deduction is subject to several complex limitations that are beyond the scope of this discussion.
In the case of foreign currency received as a dividend that is not converted by the recipient into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Generally, any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the foreign currency, including the exchange for U.S. dollars, will be ordinary income or loss. However, for tax years after 1997, an individual whose realized foreign exchange gain does not exceed U.S. $200 will not recognize that gain, to the extent that there are not expenses associated with the transaction that meet the requirement for deductibility as a trade or business expense (other than travel expenses in connection with a business trip or as an expense for the production of income).
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Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of shares of the Corporation may be entitled, at-the option of the U.S. Holder, to either a deduction or a tax credit for such foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States Federal income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayer's income subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are significant and complex limitations that apply to the credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holder's United States Federal income tax liability that the U.S. Holder's foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. In the determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. There are further limitations on the foreign tax credit for certain types of income such as "passive income", "high withholding tax interest", "financial services income", "shipping income", and certain other classifications of income. The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact specific and holders and prospective holders of shares of the Corporation should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.
Disposition of Shares of the Corporation
A U.S. Holder will recognize a gain or loss upon the sale of shares of the Corporation equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the shareholder's tax basis in the shares of the Corporation. This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder, and will be a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending upon the holding period of the U.S. Holder. Gains and losses are netted and combined according to special rules in arriving at the overall capital gain or loss for a particular tax year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. Corporate capital losses (other than losses of corporations electing under Subchapter S or the Code) are deductible to the extent of capital gains. Non-corporate taxpayers may deduct net capital losses, whether short-term or long-term, up to U.S. $3,000 a year (U.S. $1,500 in the case of a married individual filing separately). For U.S. Holders which are individuals, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted. For U.S. Holders which are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years from the loss year and carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
Other Considerations
In the following circumstances, the above sections of this discussion may not describe the United States Federal income tax consequences resulting from the holding and disposition of shares of the Corporation:
Foreign Personal Holding Company
If at any time during a taxable year more than 50% of the total combined voting power or the total value of the Corporation's outstanding shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States and 60% (50% in subsequent years) or more of the Corporation's gross income for such year was derived from certain passive sources, the Corporation would be treated as a "foreign personal holding company". In that event, U.S. Holders that hold shares of the Corporation (on the earlier of the last day of the Corporation's tax year or the last date on which the Corporation was a foreign personal holding company) would be required to include in gross income for such year their allowable portions of such passive income to the extent the Corporation does not actually distribute such income.
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Foreign Investment Company
If 50% or more of the combined voting power or total value of the Corporation's outstanding shares are held, directly or indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships or corporations, or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts (as defined by the Code Section 7701 (a)(31)), and the Corporation is found to be engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, commodities, or any interest therein, it is possible that the Corporation might be treated as a "foreign investment company" as defined in Section 1246 of the Code, causing all or part of any gain realized by a U.S. Holder selling or exchanging shares of the Corporation to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
As a foreign corporation with U.S. Holders, the Corporation could potentially be treated as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC"), as defined in Section 1296 of the Code, if 75% or more of its gross income in a taxable year is passive income, or the average percentage of the Corporation's assets (by value) during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for production of same is at least 50%. Passive income is generally defined to include gross income in the nature of dividends, interest, royalties, rents and annuities; excess of gains over losses from certain transactions in any commodities not arising inter alia from a PFIC whose business is actively involved in such commodities; certain foreign currency gains; and other similar types of income. U.S. Holders owning shares of a PFIC are subject to an additional tax and to an interest charge based on the value of deferral of tax for the period during which the shares of the PFIC are owned, in addition to treatment of any gain realized on the disposition of shares of the PFIC as ordinary income rather than as a capital gain. However, if the U.S. Holder makes a timely election to treat a PFIC as a qualified electing fund ("QEF") with respect to such shareholder's interest therein, the above-described rules generally will not apply. Instead, the electing U.S. Holder would include annually in his gross income his pro rata share of the PFIC's ordinary earnings and any net capital gain regardless of whether such income or gain was actually distributed. A U.S. Holder of a QEF can, however, elect to defer the payment of United States Federal income tax on such income inclusions. Special rules apply to U.S. Holders who own their interests in a PFIC through intermediate entities or persons.
Effective for tax years of U.S. Holders beginning after December 31, 1997, U.S. Holders who hold, actually or constructively, marketable stock of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to the market (a "mark-to-market election"). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the special taxation rules of PFIC described above for the taxable years for which the mark-to-market election is made. A U.S. Holder who makes such an election will include in income for the taxable year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of the Corporation as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in such shares. In addition, the U.S. Holder is allowed a deduction for the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares over the fair market value of such shares as of the close of the tax year, or (ii) the excess, if any of (A) the mark-to-market gains for the shares in the Corporation included by such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been included for any prior year but for Section 1291 interest on tax deferral rules discussed above with respect to a U.S. Holder, who has not made a timely QEF election during the year in which he holds (or is deemed to have held) shares in the Corporation and the Corporation is a PFIC ("Non-Electing U.S. Holder"), over (B) the mark-to-market losses for shares that were allowed as deductions for prior tax years. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares of the Corporation will be increased or decreased to reflect the amount included or deducted as a result of mark-to-market election. A mark-to-market election will apply to the tax year for which the election is made and to all later tax years, unless the PFIC stock ceases to be marketable or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.
The IRS has issued proposed regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would treat as taxable certain transfers of PFIC stock by a Non-Electing U.S. Holder that are generally not otherwise taxed, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. Generally, in such cases, the basis of the Corporation's shares in the hands of the transferee and the basis of any property received in the exchange for those shares would be increased by the amount of gain recognized. A U.S. Holder
55
who has made a timely QEF election (as discussed below) will not be taxed on certain transfers of PFIC stock, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. The transferee's basis in this case will depend on the manner of the transfer. The specific tax effect to the U.S. Holder and the transferee may vary based on the manner in which the shares of the Corporation are transferred. Each U.S. Holder should consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect their tax situation.
Shareholder Election
These adverse tax consequences may be avoided, if the U.S. Holder has elected to treat the PFIC as a qualified electing fund (a "QEF") with respect to that U.S. Holder effective for each of the PFIC's taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1987, which include any portion of the U.S. Holder's holding period.
The procedure a U.S. Holder must comply with in making an effective QEF election will depend on whether the year of election is the first year in the U.S. Holder's holding period in which the Corporation is a PFIC. If the U.S. Holder makes a QEF election in such first year (i.e. a timely QEF election), then the U.S. Holder may make the QEF election by simply filing the appropriate documents at the time the U.S. Holder files his tax return for such first year. If, however, the Corporation qualified as a PFIC in a prior year, then in addition to filing documents, the U.S. Holder must generally recognize gain as if it had sold the QEF stock on the first day of the taxable year in which the QEF election is made, if (i) the U.S. Holder holds stock in the PFIC on that day, and (ii) the U.S. Holder can establish the fair market value of the PFIC stock on that day. The U.S. Holder will treat that deemed sale transaction as a disposition of PFIC stock and will, thereafter, be subject to the rules described below applicable to U.S. shareholders of a QEF.
In general, U.S. shareholders of a QEF are taxable currently on their pro rata share of the QEF's ordinary income and net capital gain regardless of whether such income or gain was actually distributed. A U.S. Holder of a QEF can, however, elect to defer the payment of United States Federal income tax on such income inclusions.
Mark to Market Election
Effective for tax years of U.S. Holders beginning after December 31, 1997, U.S. Holders who hold, actually or constructively, marketable stock of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to the market (a "mark-to-market election"). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the special taxation rules of PFIC described above for the taxable years for which the mark-to-market election is made. A U.S. Holder who makes such an election will include in income for the taxable year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of the Corporation as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in such shares. In addition, the U.S. Holder is allowed a deduction for the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares over the fair market value of such shares as of the close of the tax year, or (ii) the excess, if any of (A) the mark-to-market gains for the shares in the Corporation included by such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been included for any prior year but for Section 1291 interest on tax deferral rules discussed above with respect to a U.S. Holder, who has not made a timely QEF election during the year in which he holds (or is deemed to have held) shares in the Corporation and the Corporation is a PFIC ("Non-Electing U.S. Holder"), over (B) the mark-to-market losses for shares that were allowed as deductions for prior tax years. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares of the Corporation will be increased or decreased to reflect the amount included or deducted as a result of mark-to-market election. A mark-to-market election will apply to the tax year for which the election is made and to all later tax years, unless the PFIC stock ceases to be marketable or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.
The PFIC and QEF election rules are complex. U.S. Holders should consult a tax advisor regarding the availability and procedure for making the QEF election as well as the applicable method for recognizing gains or earnings and profits under the foregoing rules.
56
Controlled Foreign Corporation
If more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of stock or the total value of the stock of the Corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships and corporations or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts, each of whom own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation ("United States shareholder"), the Corporation could be treated as a "controlled foreign corporation" under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would effect many complex results including the required inclusion by such United States shareholders in income of their pro rata share of "Subpart F income" (as specially defined by the Code) of the Corporation. If the Corporation is both a PFIC and controlled foreign corporation. The Corporation will generally not be treated as a PFIC with respect to United States shareholders of the controlled foreign corporation. This rule generally will be effective for taxable years of the Corporation ending with or within such taxable years of United States shareholders. In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, a gain from the sale or exchange of shares by a U.S. Holder who is or was a United States shareholder at any time during the five year period ending with the sale or exchange is treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent of earnings and profits of the Corporation attributable to the stock sold or exchanged. Because of the complexity of Subpart F, and because it is not clear that Subpart F would apply to the U.S. Holders of shares of the Corporation, a more detailed review of these rules is outside of the scope of this discussion.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable
H. Documents on Display
The documents described herein may be inspected at the head office of Corporation at 4 1200 Waverley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 0P4, during normal business hours.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
INTEREST RATE RISK
The primary objective of the Corporations investment activities is to preserve principal by maximizing the income the Corporation receives from such activities without significantly increasing risk. Securities that the Corporation invests in are generally highly liquid short-term investments such as term deposits with terms to maturity of less than one year.
Due to the short-term nature of these investments, the Corporation believes there is no material exposure to interest rate risk arising from such investments and accordingly, no quantitative tabular disclosure is required.
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable
PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
Not applicable
57
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Corporation carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation's management, including the Corporation's chief executive officer and its chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Corporation's chief executive officer and its chief financial officer concluded that the Corporation's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date that is within 90 days of the date of filing of this Form 20-F are effective in alerting, on a timely basis, material information relating to the Corporation required public disclosure.
There have been no significant changes in the Corporation's internal controls or in other factors, which could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date the Corporation carried out its evaluation, other than those being undertaken to increase the effectiveness of controls as discussed above.
ITEM 16. RESERVED
Not applicable
PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP and are presented in Canadian dollars. There are material measurement differences between United States and Canadian GAAP. A reconciliation of the consolidated financial statements to United States GAAP is set forth in Note 9 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The consolidated financial statements are in the following order:
1 | . | Auditors' Reports; | |
2 | . | Consolidated Balance Sheets; | |
3 | . | Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit; | |
4 | . | Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and | |
5 | . | Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
58
Consolidated Financial Statements of
MEDICURE INC.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001
59
AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Directors of Medicure Inc.
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Medicure Inc. (a Development Stage Enterprise) as at May 31, 2003 and 2002 and the consolidated statements of operations and deficit and cash flows for each of the three years ended May 31, 2003 and for the cumulative period from inception on September 15, 1997 to May 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. The cumulative statements of operations and deficit and cash flows for the period from September 15, 1997 to May 31, 2003 include amounts for the period from September 15, 1997 to August 31, 1999, which were audited by another auditor whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion on the cumulative amounts, insofar as it relates to amounts included for the period from September 15, 1997 to August 31, 1999, is based solely on the report of the other auditor.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, based on our audit and the report of the other auditor, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the company as at May 31, 2003 and 2002 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years ended May 31, 2003 and for the cumulative period from inception on September 15, 1997 to May 31, 2003 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
Chartered Accountants
Winnipeg, Canada
August 7, 2003
COMMENTS BY AUDITORS ON CANADA-U.S. REPORTING DIFFERENCE
In the United States, reporting standards for auditors require the addition of an explanatory paragraph when there are changes in accounting principles that have a material effect on the comparability of the companys financial statements, such as the change described in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. Our report to the directors dated August 7, 2003 is expressed in accordance with Canadian reporting standards which do not require a reference to such changes in accounting principles in the auditors report when the changes are properly accounted for and adequately disclosed in the financial statements.
Chartered Accountants
Winnipeg, Canada
August 7, 2003
60
MEDICURE INC.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
May 31, | May 31, | |||||
2003 | 2002 | |||||
Assets | ||||||
Current assets: | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,130,456 | $ | 8,341,018 | ||
Accounts receivable | 79,544 | 152,425 | ||||
Research advance (note 6) | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
Prepaid expenses | 55,048 | 89,875 | ||||
4,465,048 | 8,783,318 | |||||
Capital assets (note 3) | 67,497 | 84,571 | ||||
Patent costs, net of accumulated amortization of | ||||||
$54,002 (2002 - $ 43,147) | 763,464 | 508,902 | ||||
$ | 5,296,009 | $ | 9,376,791 | |||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | ||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 353,908 | $ | 389,663 | ||
Shareholders equity: | ||||||
Capital stock (note 4): | ||||||
Authorized: | ||||||
Unlimited number of common voting shares | ||||||
Unlimited number of class A common voting shares | ||||||
Unlimited number of preferred shares | ||||||
Issued: | ||||||
38,509,864 common voting shares | ||||||
(2002 - 37,088,864) | 17,502,222 | 16,079,309 | ||||
Nil class A common shares (2002 - 1,280,000) | | 1,379,627 | ||||
Contributed surplus [note 4(c)] | 105,375 | | ||||
Deficit accumulated during the development stage | (12,665,496 | ) | (8,471,808 | ) | ||
4,942,101 | 8,987,128 | |||||
Nature of operations (note 1) | ||||||
Subsequent events (note 4) | ||||||
Commitments (note 6) | ||||||
$ | 5,296,009 | $ | 9,376,791 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Approved by:
Signed Dr. A.D. Friesen Director
Signed Dr. W.A. Cochrane Director
61
MEDICURE INC.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Cumulative from | ||||||||||||
inception on | ||||||||||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | September 15, | |||||||||
May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | 1997 to | |||||||||
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | May 31, 2003 | |||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||
Interest and other income | $ | 241,281 | $ | 183,912 | $ | 135,868 | $ | 642,559 | ||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,284,225 | 949,569 | 879,914 | 3,637,597 | ||||||||
Research and | ||||||||||||
development (note 6) | 3,117,619 | 3,103,707 | 2,472,951 | 9,998,884 | ||||||||
Research and development - | ||||||||||||
government assistance | | (54,782 | ) | (2,436 | ) | (261,741 | ) | |||||
Research and development - | ||||||||||||
investment tax credit | | | | (188,312 | ) | |||||||
Amortization | 33,125 | 60,505 | 17,449 | 121,627 | ||||||||
4,434,969 | 4,058,999 | 3,367,878 | 13,308,055 | |||||||||
Loss for the period | (4,193,688 | ) | (3,875,087 | ) | (3,232,010 | ) | (12,665,496 | ) | ||||
Deficit accumulated during the | ||||||||||||
development stage, | ||||||||||||
beginning of period | (8,471,808 | ) | (4,596,721 | ) | (1,364,711 | ) | | |||||
Deficit accumulated during | ||||||||||||
the development stage, | ||||||||||||
end of period | $ | (12,665,496 | ) | $ | (8,471,808 | ) | $ | (4,596,721 | ) | $ | (12,665,496 | ) |
Basic and diluted loss per | ||||||||||||
share (note 4) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
62
MEDICURE INC.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Cumulative from | ||||||||||||
inception on | ||||||||||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | September 15, | |||||||||
May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | 1997 to | |||||||||
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | May 31, 2003 | |||||||||
Cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||||||
Operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Loss for the period | $ | (4,193,688 | ) | $ | (3,875,087 | ) | $ | (3,232,010 | ) | $ | (12,665,496 | ) |
Adjustments for: | ||||||||||||
Amortization of capital assets | 22,270 | 17,358 | 17,449 | 67,625 | ||||||||
Amortization of patent costs | 10,855 | 43,147 | | 54,002 | ||||||||
Stock based compensation | 105,375 | | | 105,375 | ||||||||
Change in the following: | ||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | 72,881 | (82,886 | ) | 153,776 | (89,898 | ) | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 34,827 | (89,875 | ) | | (55,048 | ) | ||||||
Research advance | | | (200,000 | ) | (200,000 | ) | ||||||
Investment tax credit receivable | | | 152,542 | 35,770 | ||||||||
Accounts payable and | ||||||||||||
accrued liabilities | (35,755 | ) | (180,414 | ) | 378,247 | 364,599 | ||||||
(3,983,235 | ) | (4,167,757 | ) | (2,729,996 | ) | (12,383,071 | ) | |||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||||||
Decrease in short-term investments | | | 2,160,000 | | ||||||||
Acquisition of capital assets | (5,196 | ) | (37,988 | ) | (7,005 | ) | (135,122 | ) | ||||
Cash of acquired business at | ||||||||||||
acquisition | | | | 727,005 | ||||||||
Patent costs | (265,417 | ) | (238,961 | ) | (127,252 | ) | (796,858 | ) | ||||
(270,613 | ) | (276,949 | ) | 2,025,743 | (204,975 | ) | ||||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||||||
Issuance of common shares, | ||||||||||||
net of share issue costs | 43,286 | 9,010,252 | 2,865,860 | 16,019,838 | ||||||||
Change in due to related parties | | | | 698,664 | ||||||||
43,286 | 9,010,252 | 2,865,860 | 16,718,502 | |||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash | ||||||||||||
equivalents | (4,210,562 | ) | 4,565,546 | 2,161,607 | 4,130,456 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning | ||||||||||||
of period | 8,341,018 | 3,775,472 | 1,613,865 | | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of | ||||||||||||
period | $ | 4,130,456 | $ | 8,341,018 | $ | 3,775,472 | $ | 4,130,456 | ||||
Non-cash transactions: | ||||||||||||
Interest paid during the period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 10,306 | ||||
Value assigned to shares issued | ||||||||||||
as consideration for acquisition | ||||||||||||
of Medicure, net of cash acquired | ||||||||||||
of $727,005 | | | | 755,379 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
63
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
1. |
Nature of operations: The company is engaged in the discovery and development of cardiovascular therapeutics and is currently in the research and development phase of its lead product, MC-1. To date, the company has no products currently in commercial production or use. Accordingly, the company is considered to be a development stage enterprise for accounting purposes. Since September 15, 1997, the date of inception of the company through to May 31, 2003, the company has expended approximately $9,566,000, net of government assistance and investment tax credits, which aggregate approximately $455,000, on the research and development of MC-1 and other compounds. To date, the company has financed its cash requirements primarily through share issuance, investment tax credits, government grants and interest income. The success of the company is dependent on its ability to obtain sufficient funds to conduct its clinical trials and to successfully commercialize its products. |
|
2. |
Significant accounting
policies:
|
|
(a)
|
Basis of presentation: These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada (Canadian GAAP). The measurement principles applied are also in conformity, in all material respects, with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) except as described in note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared on a consolidated basis to include the accounts of the company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Medicure International Inc. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated. |
|
(b)
|
Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and balances with banks as well as highly liquid short-term investments. The company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with terms to maturity when acquired of three months or less to be cash equivalents. |
64
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
2. | Significant accounting policies (continued): | |
(c) |
Capital assets: Capital assets are stated at cost. Amortization is recorded over the estimated useful life of the assets at the following rates: |
Asset | Basis | Rate | ||
Computer equipment | Straight-line | 25% | ||
Office equipment | Diminishing balance | 20% | ||
Scientific equipment | Diminishing balance | 20% | ||
Leasehold improvements | Straight-line | 20% |
(d) |
Patents: Costs incurred in obtaining patents are capitalized and amortized upon issuance on a straight-line basis over the remaining legal life of the respective patents, being approximately twenty years, or its economic life, if shorter. The cost of servicing the companys patents is expensed as incurred. The company commenced amortization of patent costs during fiscal 2002. |
|
(e) |
Stock option plan: The company has a Stock Option Plan [note 4(c)] for its directors, management, consultants and employees. Effective June 1, 2002, the company adopted the new Recommendations of the CICA Handbook Section 3870, Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments. As permitted, the company has applied this change prospectively for new awards granted on or after June 1, 2002. Under this section, the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation is used to account for awards to non-employees and direct awards of stock to employees. The fair value of direct awards is determined based on the quoted market price of the companys common shares and the fair value of stock options and other stock-based payments to non-employees is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. |
65
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
2. | Significant accounting policies (continued): | |
The company has elected to measure compensation costs for stock options granted to employees, management and directors using the intrinsic method. Under this method, no compensation expense is recognized when stock options are issued under the Stock Option Plan, as the exercise price of each option equals or is greater than the market value of the companys common shares at the date immediately preceding the grant date. However, in accordance with Section 3870, the company must present pro forma disclosure relating to net loss and loss per share figures as if the fair value method had been used. For fiscal 2003, there were no options issued to employees, management or directors of the company and, therefore, no pro forma disclosure is required. The adoption of these new recommendations did not have an impact on the financial statements of prior periods presented. For the year ended May 31, 2003, the adoption of these new recommendations resulted in an increase in the loss for the year of $105,375 and an offsetting increase to contributed surplus due to the recognition of the fair value of options granted to non-employees. |
||
(f)
|
Government assistance and investment tax credits: Government assistance toward current expenses is recorded as a reduction against the related expenses in the period they are incurred. Government assistance towards capital assets is deducted from the cost of the related capital asset. The benefits of investment tax credits for scientific research and development expenditures are recognized in the period the qualifying expenditure is made, providing there is reasonable assurance of recoverability. Investment tax credits receivable are recorded at their net realizable value net of any reasonably possible adjustments by Canadian tax authorities. Investment tax credits are only available on research and development expenditures incurred directly by the company or Medicure International Inc. |
|
(g)
|
Research and development: All costs of research activities are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Development costs are charged as an expense in the period incurred unless a development project meets stringent criteria for cost deferral and amortization. No development costs have been deferred to date. |
66
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
2. |
Significant accounting
policies (continued):
|
|
(h)
|
Income taxes: The company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, future income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Future income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on future tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of substantive enactment. When realization of future income tax assets does not meet the more likely than not criterion, a valuation allowance is provided for the difference. |
|
(i)
|
Net earnings (loss) per share: Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year including contingently issuable shares where the contingency has been resolved. The diluted per share amounts are calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus the effect of dilutive common share equivalents such as options and warrants. This method requires that diluted per share amounts be calculated using the treasury stock method, as if all the common share equivalents where the average market price for the period exceeds the exercise price had been exercised at the beginning of the reporting period, or at the date of issue, if later, as the case may be, and that the funds obtained thereby were used to purchase common shares of the company at the average trading price of the common shares during the period. Certain of the companys escrowed shares outstanding were considered to be contingently issuable and have been excluded from the denominator used in the calculation of earnings (loss) per share. During fiscal 2003, the company has met the required performance conditions on the remaining 1,825,532 escrowed shares which have been included in the calculation of earnings (loss) per share from the date the performance conditions were met. |
|
(j)
|
Foreign currency translation: Current assets and current liabilities in foreign currencies have been translated into Canadian dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense transactions are translated at actual rates of exchange during the year. Exchange gains and losses are included in loss for the year. |
67
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
2. | Significant accounting policies (continued): | |
(k) |
Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
|
3. | Capital assets: |
Accumulated | Net book | |||||||||
May 31, 2003 | Cost | amortization | value | |||||||
Computer equipment | $ | 45,767 | $ | 27,465 | $ | 18,302 | ||||
Office equipment | 9,817 | 3,265 | 6,552 | |||||||
Scientific equipment | 63,822 | 33,375 | 30,447 | |||||||
Leasehold improvements | 15,718 | 3,522 | 12,196 | |||||||
$ | 135,124 | $ | 67,627 | $ | 67,497 | |||||
Accumulated | Net book | |||||||||
May 31, 2002 | Cost | amortization | value | |||||||
Computer equipment | $ | 42,264 | $ | 16,694 | $ | 25,570 | ||||
Office equipment | 9,817 | 1,750 | 8,067 | |||||||
Scientific equipment | 63,822 | 26,338 | 37,484 | |||||||
Leasehold improvements | 14,025 | 575 | 13,450 | |||||||
$ | 129,928 | $ | 45,357 | $ | 84,571 |
4. | Capital stock: | |
(a) |
Authorized: The company has authorized share capital of an unlimited number of common voting shares, an unlimited number of class A common shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series, and the directors may fix prior to each series issued, the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to each series of preferred shares. |
68
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
4. |
Capital stock (continued): |
|
As of March 1, 2003, all of the issued and outstanding class A common shares - totaling 1,280,000 shares - were converted into common shares of the company on the basis of one common share for each class A common share in accordance with the company's Articles of Continuance. The class A common voting shares were identical in all respects to the common voting shares, except that the holders were eligible for the Manitoba Equity Tax Credit until February 28, 2003. | ||
(b) | Shares issued and outstanding are as follows: |
2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Common shares | $ | 17,502,222 | $ | 16,079,309 | ||||
Class A common shares | | 1,379,627 | ||||||
$ | 17,502,222 | $ | 17,458,936 | |||||
Number of shares | Amount | |||||||
Common shares: | ||||||||
Balance at May 31, 2000 | 18,672,342 | $ | 4,203,197 | |||||
Private placement for cash on May 31, 2001, at | ||||||||
$1.00 per share, net of share issue costs of $ 153,247 | 2,600,000 | 2,446,753 | ||||||
Exercise of options for cash | 21,667 | 16,250 | ||||||
Exercise of warrants for cash | 423,632 | 402,857 | ||||||
Balance at May 31, 2001 | 21,717,641 | 7,069,057 | ||||||
Private placement for cash on June 14, 2001 | ||||||||
at $1.00 per share | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||||
Exercise of options for cash | 8,333 | 6,250 | ||||||
Shares returned to treasury | (221,725 | ) | | |||||
Public offering for cash on December 20, 2001 and | ||||||||
January 31, 2002 at $0.65 per share, net of share | ||||||||
issue costs of $ 1,195,998 | 15,384,615 | 8,804,002 | ||||||
Balance at May 31, 2002 | 37,088,864 | 16,079,309 | ||||||
Exercise of options for cash | 126,000 | 25,200 | ||||||
Refund of portion of share issue costs | | 5,936 | ||||||
Exercise of warrants for cash | 15,000 | 12,150 | ||||||
Conversion of class A common shares | 1,280,000 | 1,379,627 | ||||||
Balance at May 31, 2003 | 38,509,864 | $ | 17,502,222 |
69
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
4. | Capital stock (continued): | |
On June 26, 2003, the company, through a private
placement, issued 8,997,632 common shares at a price of $0.85 per common
share for total gross proceeds of $7,648,000 (net proceeds of $7,042,000
after share issuance costs). As additional compensation to the underwriters,
the company issued compensation options of 629,834 common shares of the
company exercisable at $1.00 per common share. These compensation options
expire June 26, 2005.
|
||
(c) |
Options: The company has a Stock Option Plan which is administered by the Board of Directors of the company with stock options granted to directors, management, employees and consultants as a form of compensation. The number of common shares reserved for issuance of stock options is limited to a maximum of 3,700,000 common shares of the company at any time. The stock options are subject to vesting over a period of three years. A summary of the companys Stock Option Plan is as follows: |
Range of | Weighted average | Options outstanding | |||||||||||
exercise | Number | remaining | weighted average | Number | |||||||||
prices | outstanding | contractual life | exercise price | exercisable | |||||||||
$ | 0.50 - 1.25 | 2,027,033 | 2.6 years | $ | 0.77 | 1,580,700 | |||||||
2.15 - 2.55 | 110,000 | 1.9 years | 1.89 | 110,000 | |||||||||
2,137,033 | 2.6 years | $ | 0.83 | 1,690,700 |
70
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
4. | Capital stock (continued): | |
The compensation expense related to stock options
granted under the Stock Option Plan during fiscal 2003 to non-employees
aggregated $105,375. The compensation expense was determined based on
the fair value of the options at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
|
Granted | Granted | |||||||||||||||
Issuee | Original | Value | May 31, | (Exercised) | May 31, | (Exercised) | May 31, | |||||||||
(Expiry date) | granted | per share | 2001 | (Cancelled)* | 2002 | (Cancelled)* | 2003 | |||||||||
Prospectus offering | ||||||||||||||||
1,280,000 class A | ||||||||||||||||
common shares | ||||||||||||||||
(August 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2001) | 128,000 | $ 1.25 | 128,000 | (128,000 | ) * | | | | ||||||||
18,461,537 warrants | ||||||||||||||||
(December 20, 2003) | 18,461,537 | 0.65 - 0.81 | | 18,461,537 | 18,461,537 | (15,000 | ) | 18,446,537 | ||||||||
Private placements: | ||||||||||||||||
694,444 units | ||||||||||||||||
(January 27, 2002) | 694,444 | 1.00 - 1.30 | 270,834 | (270,834 | ) * | | | | ||||||||
1,000,000 units | ||||||||||||||||
(July 7, 2001) | 1,000,000 | 2.40 | 1,000,000 | (1,000,000 | ) * | | | | ||||||||
1,360,000 units | ||||||||||||||||
(August 31, 2002) | 1,360,000 | 1.05 - 1.15 | 1,360,000 | | 1,360,000 | (1,360,000 | )* | | ||||||||
120,000 units | ||||||||||||||||
(September 14, 2002) | 120,000 | 1.00 - 1.15 | | 120,000 | 120,000 | (120,000 | )* | |
71
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
4. | Capital stock (continued): | |
The warrants were all issued together with common shares either under prospectus offerings or private placements with the fair value of the consideration received under the offerings allocated to the common shares issued. Subsequent to May 31, 2003, 74,000 of the units were exercised for $0.65 resulting in the issuance of 74,000 common shares of the company for gross proceeds of $48,100. |
||
(e) |
Escrowed shares: As at May 31, 2003, the companys transfer agent held 7,606,404 (2002 - 7,606,404) common shares pursuant to a performance escrow agreement. The company has met the required performance conditions on the 7,606,404 (2002 - 5,780,867) common shares. However, the company has not applied for regulatory approval as required to release the shares from escrow. In addition, the 1,485,934 of common shares that were held in escrow on a time-release basis at May 31, 2002 were released during the 2003 fiscal year. |
|
(f) |
Loss per share: The weighted average number of common shares and class A common shares outstanding for the year ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were 37,118,889, 27,900,412 and 15,928,521, respectively. All common shares issuable on exercise of stock options and warrants have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their effect is anti-dilutive. |
72
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
5. |
Income taxes: Significant components of the companys future tax assets and liabilities are as follows: |
73
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
6. | Commitment: | |
(a) |
On June 1, 2000, Medicure International
Inc. entered into a development agreement with CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
(CanAm), a private Canadian company owned by a former director
of the company, whereby CanAm performs research and development of MC-1
and its related compounds on a cost plus up to ten percent recovery basis
up to a maximum of direct research and development expenditures of $15,000,000.
During the year ended May 31, 2003, the company incurred an aggregate
of $3,058,946 (2002 - $3,021,115; 2001 - $2,364,440) in expenditures under
this agreement which is included in research and development expenses
on the statement of operations. Expenditures incurred from inception of
the agreement to May 31, 2003 total $8,444,501. As at May 31, 2003, the
company has provided a research advance to CanAm of $200,000 (2002 - $200,000)
which is non-interest bearing, unsecured and repayable on demand.
|
|
(b) |
The company leases its premises under
an operating lease. Minimum annual rental payments to the end of the lease
term are as follows:
|
74
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
8. |
Financial instruments: The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, research advance and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their carrying values due to their short term to maturity. |
|
9. |
Reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles: The company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP which, as applied in these consolidated financial statements, conform in all material respects to U.S. GAAP, except as follows: |
|
(a) |
Patents: Under Canadian GAAP, the patent costs which relate to products which have not yet received regulatory approval are included as an asset on the balance sheet. Under U.S. GAAP, the unamortized patent costs would have been recorded as an expense in the year of incurrence. The effect of this difference is that for the years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, research and development expense would have increased by $265,417, $238,961 and $127,252, respectively. The company commenced amortization of the patents during fiscal 2002. Under U.S. GAAP, the amortization expense to be added back is $10,855 for the year ended May 31, 2003 (2002 - $43,147). |
|
(b) |
Scientific equipment: Scientific equipment acquired solely for research and development activities has been capitalized and amortized over its useful life for Canadian GAAP purposes. Under U.S. GAAP, this equipment would be charged to research and development expense as incurred as it does not have alternative future use. There were no additions to scientific equipment during the years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001. Amortization of the scientific equipment for Canadian GAAP would be added back to the loss for the period for U.S. GAAP reconciliation purposes. The amortization to be added back for the years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 is $7,037, $9,664 and $11,537, respectively. |
|
(c) |
Stock options - stock based compensation costs: For reconciliation purposes to U.S. GAAP, the company has elected to follow the fair value method in accounting for its employee, management and director stock options. Under U.S. GAAP, stock-based compensation to non-employees must be recorded at fair value of the options granted. For stock-based compensation granted to non-employees subsequent to June 1, 2002, the accounting is consistent under both Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP. |
75
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
9. | Reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles (continued): | |
The company uses the Black-Scholes option
pricing model to determine the fair value of all options granted. The
assumptions used in the valuation included a five year life for the options,
a risk-free rate of between 3.50% and 5.80%, volatility between 37% and
87% and no dividend yield. This compensation expense would be amortized
over the appropriate vesting periods. For purposes of reconciliation of
U.S. GAAP, the company would record an additional compensation expense
for the years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 of approximately $129,900,
$257,000 and $550,000, respectively.
|
||
(d) |
Escrowed common shares: Under Canadian GAAP, common shares of the company under escrow arrangements are included in capital stock at the time of issuance based on the total number of shares issued and the issuance price. No additional compensation expense is recorded when the common shares are released from escrow. Under U.S. GAAP, the common shares of the company that were previously held in escrow on a time release basis are accounted for in the same manner as under Canadian GAAP. A compensation expense however, would be recorded under U.S. GAAP, upon eligibility for release of the escrowed common shares of the company, where the release is based on performance conditions being met. The compensation expense would be accounted for as the difference between the market value of the companys common shares at the time the common shares are eligible for release from escrow and the price paid per common share at the time of issuance multiplied by the number of common shares released from escrow. During the year ended May 31, 2003, performance conditions on 1,825,537 (2002 - nil; 2001 - 4,212,000) of the common shares under escrow have been met. For purposes of reconciliation to U.S. GAAP, the company would record an additional compensation expense for the years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 of $684,500, nil and $6,312,000, respectively. |
76
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
9. |
Reconciliation of generally
accepted accounting principles (continued):
|
||
(e)
|
Recent pronouncements: During fiscal 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) have issued a variety of interpretations including the following interpretations with wide applicability: |
||
•
|
Financial interpretation
No. 45 (FIN 45),
Guarantors Accounting and Discount
Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness
of Others
, which addresses disclosure and initial recognition and
measurement provisions related to guarantees. The disclosure provisions
became effective for periods ending after December 15, 2002. The initial
recognition and measurement provisions apply to guarantees issued after
December 31, 2002.
|
||
•
|
Financial interpretation No. 36 (FIN
46),
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
, which addresses
the consolidation of variable interest entities (formerly referred to
as Special-Purpose Entities). The interpretation is effective
for interim or annual periods beginning after June 15, 2003.
|
||
•
|
The EITF reached a consensus on issue
00-21,
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables
. This consensus
addresses issues related to separating and allocating value to the individual
elements of a single customer arrangement involving obligations regarding
multiple products, services, or rights which may be fulfilled at different
points in time or over different periods of time. The EITF guidance is
applicable for arrangements entered into in fiscal periods beginning after
June 15, 2003.
|
||
Neither EITF 00-21, FIN
46 or the measurement provisions of FIN 45 are expected to currently impact
the companys consolidated financial statements.
|
77
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
9. |
Reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles (continued): Summary: The impact of significant variations to U.S. GAAP on the consolidated statement of operations and deficit are as follows: |
Cumulative from | |||||||||||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | inception on | ||||||||||
May 31, | May 31, | May 31, | September 15, 1997 | ||||||||||
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | to May 31, 2003 | ||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | (4,248,652 | ) | $ | (4,406,718 | ) | $ | (2,857,248 | ) | $ | 13,243,811 | ||
Investing activities | (5,196 | ) | 37,988 | 2,152,995 | 655,765 |
78
MEDICURE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 |
9. |
Reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles (continued): The impact of significant variations to U.S. GAAP on the consolidated balance sheet items are as follows: |
2003 | 2002 | ||||||
Capital assets | $ | 37,050 | $ | 47,087 | |||
Capital stock and contributed surplus | 33,859,545 | 32,855,388 | |||||
Deficit accumulated during the development stage | (29,670,259 | ) | (24,414,646 | ) | |||
79
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
The exhibits are in the following order:
1. |
Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws:
|
|
(a)
|
Medicures Articles of Incorporation
dated September 15, 1997 [1]
|
|
(b)
|
Lariats Articles of Incorporation
dated June 3, 1997 [1]
|
|
(c)
|
Medicures Certificate of Continuance
from Manitoba to Alberta dated December 3, 1999 [1]
|
|
(d)
|
Certificate of Amalgamation for Medicure
and Lariat dated December 22, 1999 [1]
|
|
(e)
|
Medicures Certificate of Continuance
from Alberta to Canada dated February 23, 2000 [1]
|
|
Amended Certificate of Continuance and
Articles of Continuance dated February 20, 2003**.
|
||
4. |
Material Contracts and
Agreements
|
|
a)
|
Escrow Agreement dated February 12,
1999 among the Corporation, Montreal Trust Company of Canada, and certain
shareholders of the Corporation [1];
|
|
b)
|
Performance Based Escrow Agreement,
as amended, dated as of November 23, 1999 among the Corporation, Montreal
Trust Company of Canada and certain shareholders of the Corporation [1];
|
|
c)
|
Timed Release Escrow Agreement, as amended,
dated as of November 23, 1999 among the Corporation, Montreal Trust Company
of Canada and certain shareholders of the Corporation [1];
|
|
d)
|
Edstrom Escrow Agreement, dated as of
November 5, 1999 among the Corporation, Montreal Trust Company of Canada
and Dr. Daryle Edstrom [1];
|
|
e)
|
Business and Administration Services
Agreement between the Corporation and Genesys Venture Inc. dated as of
October 1, 2001, wherein Genesys Venture Inc. agreed to provide the Corporation
with certain business services [1];
|
|
f)
|
License Agreement between Medicure and
the University of Manitoba dated August 30, 1999, wherein the University
of Manitoba granted to Medicure an exclusive license with regard to certain
intellectual property (the U of M Licensing Agreement) [1];
|
|
g)
|
Research Agreement between Medicure
and the University of Manitoba dated August 30, 1999, wherein the University
of Manitoba agreed to provide Medicure with premises and facilities to
conduct research and development activities. This Agreement (the original
term of which has expired) was assigned by the Corporation to CanAm and
has been extended pursuant to a letter agreement dated May 25, 2000 [1];
|
|
h)
|
Transfer Agency Agreement between Montreal
Trust Company of Canada and the Corporation dated as of January 26, 2000,
whereby Montreal Trust Company of Canada agreed to act as transfer agent
and registrar with respect to the Shares [1];
|
80
i) |
Medicure International Licensing Agreement
between the Corporation and Medicure International Inc. dated June 1,
2000, wherein the Corporation granted Medicure International Inc a license
with regard to certain intellectual property [1];
|
|
j) |
Development Agreement between Medicure
International Inc. and CanAm Bioresearch Inc. dated June 1, 2000, wherein
CanAm Bioresearch Inc. agreed to conduct research and development activities
for Medicure International [1];
|
|
k) |
Three option agreements between the
Corporation and George Washington University (GWU) dated October
25, 2000, wherein GWU grants to the Corporation the option to evaluate
three patented therapeutics for their potential in treatment of cardiovascular
and other diseases and the option to thereafter obtain the worldwide right
to and license the three products (the GWU Option Agreements).
Under terms specified in the agreements, the Corporation could acquire
exclusive worldwide commercial development rights to the technologies
in exchange for sales royalties and other payments based on the successful
commercialization of resulting products [1];
|
|
l) |
Investor Relations Contract dated March
28, 2002 between Boxe Studio Intl. and the Corporation whereby investor
relations services will be provided to the Corporation including identifying
possible sources of capital, providing analysis and advice with respect
to capital structure, advising and assisting the Corporation with respect
to its relationship with existing shareholders and assisting in the preparation
of public information materials [2];
|
|
m) |
Amendment to the Consulting Services
Agreement dated February 1, 2002 between A.D. Friesen Enterprises Ltd.
and the Corporation whereby consulting services will be provided to the
Corporation by Dr. Albert D. Friesen [2];
|
|
n) |
Stock Option Plan approved February
4, 2002 **;
|
|
o) |
Employment Agreement with Derek G. Reimer
dated February 4, 2002 **;
|
|
p) |
Employment Agreement with Moray Merchant
dated September 22, 2003 **;
|
|
q) |
Investor Relations Contract dated December
15, 2002 between Noble House Capital Corp. and the Corporation whereby
investor relations services will be provided **;
|
|
r) |
Amendment dated April 28, 2003 to the
Investor Relations contract between Boxe Studio Intl and the Corporation
**;
|
|
s) |
Amendment dated August 7, 2003 to the
Development Agreement between Medicure International Inc. and CanAm Bioresearch
Inc **.
|
|
12. | a) |
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**.
|
b) |
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**.
|
|
13. | a) |
Certification of CEO and CFO pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002**.
|
[1] Herein incorporated by reference as previously included in the Corporations Form 20-F registration statement filed on January 30, 2001 [2] Herein incorporated by reference as previously included in the Corporations Form 20-F annual report filed on December 31, 2002 |
81
SIGNATURE PAGE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Corporation certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: October 7, 2003
ON BEHALF OF THE CORPORATION, MEDICURE INC.
per:
_________________________________________________________
Albert D. Friesen, Ph.D.
Chairman, President & CEO
MEDICURE INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. |
Purpose.
The purpose of the Stock
Option Plan (the Plan) of
Medicure Inc.
(the Corporation),
a Corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada, is to advance
the interests of the Corporation by encouraging its directors, management,
consultants and employees to acquire shares in the Corporation, thereby
increasing their proprietary interest in the Corporation, encouraging
them to remain associated with the Corporation and furnishing them with
additional incentive in their efforts on behalf of the Corporation in
the conduct of its affairs.
|
2. |
Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the board of directors of the Corporation. A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved in writing, shall be the acts of the directors. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the board of directors shall have authority to construe and interpret the Plan and all option agreements entered into thereunder, to define the terms used in the Plan and in all option agreements entered into thereunder, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, subject to any necessary regulatory approvals in accordance with Section 634 of the Toronto Stock Exchanges (TSEs) company manual, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. All determinations and interpretations made by the board of directors shall be binding and conclusive on all participants in the Plan and on their legal personal representatives and beneficiaries. Each option granted hereunder shall be evidenced by an agreement, signed on behalf of the Corporation and by the optionee, in such form as the directors shall approve. Each such agreement shall recite that it is subject to the provisions of this Plan. |
3. |
Shares Subject to Plan.
Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 14 hereof, the shares to be offered
under the Plan shall consist of shares of the Corporations authorized
but unissued common shares. The aggregate number of shares reserved to
be delivered upon the exercise of all options granted under the Plan is
currently fixed at 3,700,000. If any option granted hereunder shall expire
or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
unpurchased shares subject thereto shall again be available for the purpose
of this Plan.
|
4. |
Maintenance of Sufficient Capital.
The Corporation shall at all times during the term of this Plan reserve
and keep available such numbers of shares as will be sufficient to satisfy
the requirements of the Plan.
|
5. |
Eligibility and Participation.
Directors, officers, management, consultants and employees of the
Corporation shall be eligible for selection to participate in the Plan
(such persons hereinafter collectively referred to as Participants).
The board of directors shall determine to whom options shall be granted,
the terms and provisions of the respective option agreements, the time
or times at which such options shall be granted, and the number of shares
to be subject to each option. An individual who has been granted an option
may, if he is otherwise eligible, and if permitted under the policies
of the stock exchange or stock exchanges on which the shares of the Corporation
are to be listed, be granted an additional option or options if the directors
shall so determine.
|
||
6. |
Exercise Price
|
||
(a)
|
The exercise price
of the shares covered by each option shall be determined by the directors.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6(b), the exercise price shall be
not less than the closing price of the Corporations shares on the
primary stock exchange on which the shares of the Corporation are listed
on the last trading day immediately preceding the day on which the option
is granted;
|
||
(b)
|
If an option is granted
within six months of a public distribution of the Corporations shares
by way of prospectus, then the minimum exercise price of such option shall,
if the policy of such stock exchange or stock exchanges requires, be the
greater of the price determined pursuant to Section 6(a) and the price
per share paid by the investing public for shares of the Corporation acquired
by the public during such public distribution, determined in accordance
with the policy of such stock exchange or stock exchanges.
|
||
7. |
Number of Optioned Shares.
The number of Shares subject to an option to a Participant shall be
determined in the resolution of the board of directors, but no Participant
shall be granted an option which exceeds 5% of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Corporation (on a non-diluted basis).
|
||
8. |
Duration of Option.
Each
option and all rights thereunder shall be expressed to expire on the date
set out in the option agreements and shall be subject to earlier termination
as provided in paragraphs 10 and 11.
|
||
9. |
Option Period, Consideration
and Payment.
|
||
(a)
|
The Option Period shall
be a period of time fixed by the board of directors, not to exceed five
years from the date the Option is granted, provided that the Option Period
shall be reduced with respect to any option as provided in Sections 10
and 11covering cessation as a director, officer, consultant or employee
of the Corporation or death of the Participant.
|
||
(b)
|
An Option shall vest and
may be exercised (in each case to the nearest full Share) during the Option
Period in such manner as the board of directors may fix by
|
resolution. Options which have vested
may be exercised in whole or in part at any time and from time to time
during the Option Period.
|
||
(c) |
Except as set forth in Section 10 and
11, no Option may be exercised unless the Participant is at the time of
such exercise a director, officer, manager, consultant, or employee of
the Corporation. In the case of a consultant, where the Option has been
granted for a specific service, the Option may be exercised only upon
completion of that service.
|
|
(d) |
The exercise of any Option will be contingent
upon receipt by the Corporation at its head office of a written notice
of exercise, specifying the number of Common Shares with respect to which
the Option is being exercised, accompanied by cash payment, certified
cheque or bank draft for the full purchase price of such Common Shares
with respect to which the Option is exercised. No Participant or his legal
representatives, legatees or distributes will be, or will deemed to be,
a holder of any Shares subject to an Option under this Plan, unless and
until the certificate for such Shares are issued to him or them under
the terms of the Plan.
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10. |
Ceasing to Be a Director, Consultant, Officer, Manager, Consultant or Employee. If a Participant shall cease to be a director, officer, manager, consultant or employee of the Corporation or a company for any reason (other than death), he may, but only within the earlier of the original expiry date and 90 days next succeeding his ceasing to be a director, officer, manager, consultant, or employee, exercise his Option to the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at the date of such cessation. Nothing contained in the Plan, nor in any Option granted pursuant to the Plan, shall as such confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance as a director, officer, manager, consultant or employee of the Corporation or of any affiliate. |
|
11. | Death of Participant. In the event of the death of a Participant, the Option previously granted to him shall be exercisable only within the twelve months next succeeding such death and then only: | |
(a) |
by the person or persons to whom the
Participants rights under the Option shall pass by the Participants
will or the laws of descent and distribution; and
|
|
(b) |
if and to the extent that he was entitled
to exercise the Option at the date of his death.
|
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12. |
Right of Optionee.
No
person entitled to exercise any option granted under the Plan shall have
any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Corporation in
respect of any shares issuable upon exercise of such option until certificates
representing such shares shall have been issued and delivered.
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13. |
Proceeds from Sales of Shares.
The
proceeds from sales of shares issued upon the exercise of options shall
be added to the general funds of the Corporation and shall thereafter
be used from time to time for such corporate purposes as the board of
directors may determine and direct.
|
14. |
Adjustments. If the outstanding shares of the Corporation are increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of securities of the Corporation through re-organization, merger, re-capitalization, re-classification, stock dividend, subdivision or consolidation, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made in the maximum number of kind of shares as to which options may be granted under the Plan. A corresponding adjustment changing the number or kind of shares allocated to unexercised options or portions thereof, which shall have been granted prior to any such change, shall likewise be made. Any such adjustment in the outstanding options shall be made without change in the aggregate purchase price applicable to the unexercised portion of the option but with a corresponding adjustment in the price for each share or other unit of any security covered by the option. Upon the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or upon a re-organization, merger or consolidation of the Corporation with one or more corporations as a result of which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation, or upon the sale of substantially all of the property or more than eighty (80 %) percent of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation to another corporation, the Plan shall terminate, and any options theretofore granted hereunder shall terminate unless provision is made in writing in connection with such transaction for the continuance of the Plan and for the assumption of options theretofore granted, or the substitution for such options of new options covering the shares of a successor employer corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to number and kind of shares and prices, in which event the Plan and options theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and upon the terms so provided. If the Plan and unexercised options shall terminate pursuant to the foregoing sentence of all persons then entitled to exercise is an unexercised portion of options then outstanding shall have the right at such time immediately prior to consummation of the event which results in the termination of the Plan as the Corporation shall designate, to exercise their options to the full extent not theretofore exercised. Adjustments under this Section shall be made by the board of directors, subject to the approval of the primary stock exchange on which the shares of the Corporation are listed, whose determination as to what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional share shall be issued under the Plan on any such adjustment. |
15. |
Transferability.
All benefits,
rights and options accruing to any Participant in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Plan shall not be transferable or assignable
unless specifically provided herein. During the lifetime of a Participant
any benefits, rights and Options may only be exercised by the Participant.
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16. |
Amendment and Termination of Plan.
The board of directors may, at any time, suspend or terminate the
Plan. The board may also at any time amend or revise the terms of the
Plan, PROVIDED that no such amendment or revisions shall alter the terms
of any options theretofore granted under the Plan.
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17. |
Necessary Approvals.
The obligation
of the Corporation to issue and deliver Shares in accordance with the
Plan is subject to any approvals which may be required from any regulatory
authority or stock exchange having jurisdiction over the securities of
the Corporation. If any Shares cannot be issued to any Participant for
whatever reason, the obligation of the Corporation to issue such Shares
shall terminate and any Option exercise price paid to the Corporation
will be returned to the Participant.
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18.
|
Stock Exchange Rules.
The rules
of any stock exchange upon which the Corporations Shares are listed
shall be applicable relative to options granted to Participants.
|
19. |
Effective Date of Plan.
The Plan
has been adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation subject
to the approval of the stock exchange or stock exchanges on which the
Shares of the Corporation are to be listed and, if so approved, the Plan
shall became effective upon such approvals being obtained.
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20. |
Interpretation.
The Plan will
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Canada.
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Corporation has caused its corporate seal to be affixed hereto in the presence of its officers duly authorized in that behalf as of the 4 th day of February, 2002.
Per:
________________________________________
Per:
________________________________________
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made the 4th day of February 2002.
BETWEEN:
MEDICURE INC.
,
a corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada,
(hereinafter referred to as the Employer),
- and -
DEREK G. REIMER
,
of the City of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba,
(hereinafter referred to the "Employee").
WHEREAS the Employer is engaged in the Business;
AND WHEREAS the Employer desires to employ or to continue to employ the Employee in its Business, and the Employee desires to be so employed or to be so continued to be employed;
NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Schedule A hereto.
2. Employment
The Employer hereby agrees to employ the Employee for the purpose set forth in Schedule B attached hereto, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment, all on the terms and conditions herein set forth.
3. Commencement and Termination
(a) |
Employment shall commence on the date set forth in
Schedule B, and shall continue until this Agreement is terminated by either
party hereto in accordance with the provisions hereof.
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2
(b) |
Either party may terminate
this Agreement at any time, without cause, on two weeks written notice
to the other party or, in the case of termination by the Employer, payment
of the Employees salary for two weeks in lieu of such notice. The
Employer may terminate this Agreement at any time for cause immediately
upon notifying the Employee in writing to this effect. For purposes of
this Agreement, cause shall include any breach of this Agreement
by the Employee, receipt by the Employer of notice from any client or
customer of the Employer that the performance of the Employee is unsuitable,
or, subject to the Employers duty to reasonably attempt to accommodate
the Employee, in the event the Employee becomes totally disabled.
For certainty, totally disabled means the occurrence of:
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(i)
|
a court of competent jurisdiction making
an order certifying the mental incompetency of the Employee, or appointing
a committee or legal guardian to administer the estate of the Employee;
or
|
||
(ii)
|
the Employee being incapable of performing
his normal responsibilities in connection with the operation of the business
of the Employer, on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis, such incapacity
being caused by disease, bodily injury, mental infirmity or drug or alcohol
abuse and continuing for a period of 180 consecutive days.
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(c) |
Notwithstanding paragraph
(b) of this section 3, in the event the Employee has not already been
employed by the Employer for at least 12 months, the first 12 months of
employment under this Agreement shall be considered a probationary period,
during which period such employment may be terminated by the Employer
without notice and without payment in lieu of notice if the Employees
services are not satisfactory to the Employer.
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(d) |
In the event the Employee
seeks to terminate this Agreement but does not provide two weeks notice
as required by paragraph (b) of this section 3, the Employer may recover
an equivalent amount from the Employee in lieu of such notice by set off
against any and all amounts then owing by the Employer to the Employee
including, without limitation, vacation pay.
|
||
(e) |
In the event of any termination
of employment under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, the Employee
acknowledges and agrees that the Employee will have no claim against the
Employer for damages or otherwise except for accrued remuneration due
and owing to the Employee as of the effective date of such termination.
|
||
(f) |
Notwithstanding any other
provision of this section 3, this Agreement shall terminate immediately
upon any termination of any contract which the Employer has entered into
and which is referred to in Schedule B.
|
3
(g) |
In the event of any termination of employment under
this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, or upon the request of the Employer
from time to time, the Employee shall immediately return to the Employer
all materials, including all copies in whatever form, containing any Confidential
Information which are in the Employees possession or under the Employees
control, together with anything else that could provide access to any
Confidential Information as well as all records or personal notes of any
nature whatsoever prepared by the Employee and relating to work performed
by the Employee while employed by the Employer, including all copies in
whatever form as well as all other property of the Employer then in the
possession or under the control of the Employee including, without limitation,
all computer equipment (hardware, software, and documentation), all other
equipment, all tools, all materials, all merchandise, and all promotional
information of any nature whatsoever.
|
4. Compensation
The Employees compensation shall be the amount calculated and paid in the manner set forth in Schedule B.
5. General Duties
During the period of employment of the Employee by the Employer, the Employee shall:
(a) |
devote full working time and best efforts,
judgment, skill, and ability to the performance of all duties as may be
assigned to the Employee by the Employer, from time to time;
|
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(b) |
comply with all lawful instructions
of the Employer as may be in effect from time to time, and abide by any
and all rules, policies, and procedures enacted by the Employer and brought
to the attention of the Employee as same may be in effect from time to
time including, without limitation, those regarding attendance, professional
conduct, and security;
|
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(c) |
reflect the highest standards of integrity,
honesty, and responsibility in dealings with the Employers or its
Affiliates clients, prospective clients, customers, prospective
customers, suppliers, and employees; and
|
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(d) |
use his best efforts to faithfully,
honestly, and diligently serve and endeavour to further the best interests
of the Employer.
|
6. Confidential Information
4
The Employee acknowledges that during the course of employment with the Employer the Employee may become aware of, see or receive copies of, have access to or become knowledgeable in respect of Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employee shall not acquire any right, title or interest in or to any Confidential Information, by virtue of being employed by the Employer or otherwise, and that the Employer or its Affiliates, clients, customers or suppliers, as the case may be, owns the Confidential Information.
7. Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information
At all times during the Employee's employment with the Employer and at all times subsequent thereto, the Employee shall:
(a) |
keep in strictest confidence and trust
all Confidential Information;
|
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(b) |
take all necessary precautions against
unauthorized disclosure of any Confidential Information;
|
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(c) |
not directly or indirectly disclose,
allow access to, transmit or transfer any Confidential Information to
a third party; and
|
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(d)
|
not copy or reproduce any Confidential
Information except as may be reasonably required for the Employee to perform
his duties for the Employer.
|
For certainty, at all times during the Employees employment with the Employer and all times subsequent thereto, the Employee acknowledges that he shall not disclose or use any Confidential Information in any manner whatsoever except as reasonably required for the Employee to perform his duties for the Employer.
8. Developments
The Employee agrees to be bound by the Employers Developments Policy as set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement.
9. Non-Competition
The Employee agrees that while the Employee is employed by the Employer, and for a period of three (3) years immediately following the termination of the Employees employment with the Employer for any reason whatsoever, without the prior written approval of the President of the Employer, the Employee shall not, either individually or in partnership or in conjunction with any person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation or entity as principal, agent, shareholder, employee, owner, investor, partner (inactive or otherwise), director or officer of a corporation or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, carry on or be engaged in or be concerned with or interested in or advised, to lend money to, and guarantee the debts or obligations of or permit his name or any part thereof to be used or employed by any person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation or entity engaged in or concerned with or interested in, within
5
North America, the Business, or any business similar to the Business carried on by the Employer or any Affiliate, or that could reasonably be viewed as being competitive with the Business of the Employer or any Affiliate.
The Employee hereby agrees that all restrictions in this section 9 are reasonable and valid and all defences to the strict enforcement thereof by the Employer are hereby waived by the Employee.
10. Non-solicitation
The Employee agrees that while the Employee is employed by the Employer, and for two (2) years immediately following the termination of the Employees employment with the Employer for any reason whatsoever, the Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Employer, directly or indirectly, either personally or by agent or by letters, circulars or advertisements, whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation or entity:
(a) |
contact, canvass, solicit, induce or
attempt to induce or do business of a similar nature as that of the Employer,
with any person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation, or entity
which was a client, customer, employee of or an independent contractor
to the Employer or any Affiliate at the time of such termination or any
time during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding such termination;
|
|
(b) |
hire any employee of or independent
contractor to the Employer or any Affiliate, or contact, canvass, solicit,
induce or attempt to induce any person who was an employee of or an independent
contractor to the Employer or any Affiliate at the time of such termination
or any time during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding
such termination, to terminate their employment or independent contracting
agreement with the Employer or any Affiliate.
|
The Employee hereby agrees that all restrictions in this section 10 are reasonable and valid and all defences to the strict enforcement thereof by the Employer are hereby waived by the Employee.
11. Security Clearance Requirements
The Employee shall forthwith comply with each and every security clearance requirement communicated by the Employer to the Employee. In particular, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that continued employment by the Employer may be conditional upon the Employee complying with such security clearance requirements.
12. Enforcement
6
The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employees faithful observance of all covenants in this Agreement is an essential condition to his employment, and that the Employer requires absolute compliance. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that damages may not be an adequate remedy to compensate the Employer for any breach of the Employee's obligations contained in this Agreement, and accordingly the Employee agrees that in addition to any and all other remedies available, the Employer shall be entitled to obtain relief by way of a temporary or permanent injunction to enforce the obligations contained in this Agreement. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Employer's Technology Protection Policy, if any, in effect from time to time, shall constitute grounds for discipline up to and including immediate termination of employment for cause.
13. Entire Agreement
This Agreement, together with any schedule which may be attached hereto from time to time, constitutes the entire agreement between the Employer and the Employee pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supercedes all prior formal and informal agreements, proposals, promises, inducements, representations, conditions, warranties, understandings, negotiations, and discussions, whether oral or written, of the Employer and the Employee.
14. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws in effect in the Province of Manitoba.
15. No Assignment
Neither this Agreement, nor any rights or obligations hereunder, shall be assignable by the Employee.
16. Waivers
No waiver by the Employer of any breach of any of the covenants, provisoes, conditions or stipulations herein contained, whether express or implied or negative or positive in form, by the Employee, shall have any effect or be binding upon the Employer unless the same shall be in writing under the authority of the Employer, and any waiver shall extend only to the particular breach so waived and shall not limit or affect the rights of the Employer with respect to any other or further breach by the Employee.
17. Severability
Each and every term and provision in this Agreement shall be severable, one from the other, and should any court of competent jurisdiction interpreting this Agreement determine any provision or term hereof to be void or unenforceable, then the same shall be struck from this Agreement without in any way affecting the validity of any other term or provision of this Agreement.
7
18. Time of the Essence
Time shall in all respects be of the essence of this Agreement.
19. Successors and Assigns
This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Employer and the Employee, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and other legal representatives and their respective successors.
20. Gender and Number
In this Agreement, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing gender include all genders.
THE EMPLOYEE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTANDS IT, HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE IN RESPECT OF IT, AND AGREES TO ITS TERMS. The Employee acknowledges having received a fully executed copy of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.
MEDICURE INC. | ||
Per: | ||
Albert D. Friesen, Ph.D. | ||
President | ||
(Witness) | (Derek G. Reimer) |
8
SCHEDULE A
TO
MEDICURE INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Employment Agreement utilized by Medicure Inc. (the Employer), together with any Schedule thereto, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
1. | " Affiliate " means the Employer, together with any other corporation, regardless of its jurisdiction of incorporation, that: | |
(a) | is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Employer; or | |
(b) | is controlled by the Employer or by the same person that controls the Employer; or | |
(c) | is the parent corporation of the Employer. | |
For greater certainty, if
pursuant to the foregoing definition two corporations are each affiliated
with a third corporation at the same time they are deemed to be affiliated
with each other.
|
||
2. |
"
Agreement
" means,
collectively, the Employment Agreement executed by an Employee together
with all Schedules then or thereafter attached thereto including, without
limitation, the following Schedules:
|
Schedule A - | Definitions | ||
Schedule B - | Purpose of Employment | ||
Schedule C - | Developments Policy | ||
3.
|
Business
means the
business of planning, supporting, financing, conducting, negotiating,
contracting, sub-contracting or otherwise conducting or planning to conduct
the activities associated with research, development, clinical trials,
regulatory testing, compliance, manufacturing, distribution, marketing,
sales, licensing, sub-licensing or other exploitation of biotechnology
products, and in particular such business in Canada and in the United
States associated with the development of compounds which are currently
or are planned for research and development by the Employer or any Affiliate
and associated with target markets as selected by the Employer or any
Affiliate.
|
9
4. | " Confidential Information " includes all of the following: | |
(a) |
any and all versions of the technology
and related documentation owned or marketed or being developed by the
Employer or any Affiliate, as well as the software and documentation owned
by the Employer's suppliers and used internally by the Employer, including
all related algorithms, concepts, data, designs, flowcharts, ideas, programming
techniques, programmer's notes, electronic artwork, specifications, and
source code listings;
|
|
(b) |
all Developments;
|
|
(c) |
any and all information regarding existing
or proposed services of the Employer or any Affiliate;
|
|
(d) |
any and all information regarding the
Employer's or any Affiliates business operations, methods, and practices,
including sources of information, sales leads, marketing strategies, product
and service pricing, margins and hourly rates for staff and information
regarding the financial affairs of the Employer or that Affiliate;
|
|
(e) |
any and all concepts or ideas in or
reasonably related to the Business of the Employer or any Affiliate that
are not generally known outside of the Employer or that Affiliate;
|
|
(f) |
the names of the Employer's or any Affiliates
clients or customers and the names of suppliers of computer services and
software to the Employer or any Affiliate, and the nature of the Employer's
or that Affiliates relationships with these clients, customers,
and suppliers;
|
|
(g) |
any and all technical and business information
of or regarding the clients or customers of the Employer or any Affiliate
obtained in order for the Employer or that Affiliate to provide such clients
or customers with products and/or services, including information regarding
the data processing requirements and the business operations, methods
and practices, and product plans of such clients or customers;
|
|
(h) |
any and all information received from
others that the Employer or any Affiliate is obligated to treat as confidential;
|
|
(i) |
all Trade Secrets;
|
|
(j) |
any other confidential or proprietary
information in the possession or control of the Employer or any Affiliate,
regardless of whether or not it has a copyright notice or a claim to copyright
thereon;
|
|
(k) |
any other information concerning or
with respect to the Employer or any Affiliate and its respective business
and affairs the dissemination of any knowledge whereof might prove prejudicial
to the Employer or to that Affiliate; and
|
10
(l) |
such information as a director, officer
or senior employee of the Employer or any Affiliate may from time to time
designate to the Employee as being included in the expression "Confidential
Information";
whether the same may be contained in papers, microfilm, recordings, computer disks, magnetic storage or, without limitation, any other medium of storage of information; provided that Confidential Information does not include information which is or becomes generally available to the public without the fault of the Employee. |
|
5. | " Developments " means: | |
(a) |
all reports, products, scientific, and
technical information or material;
|
|
(b) |
all inventions, devices, discoveries,
concepts, ideas, algorithms, formulae, specifications, proposals, models,
designs, processes, techniques, systems and improvements, test results
and reports, analyses, simulation results, tables of operating conditions,
materials, components, industrial skills, operating and testing procedures,
know-how and show-how, whether patentable or not; and
|
|
(c) |
all software, documentation, data, designs,
reports, flowcharts, trademarks, specifications and source code listings,
and any related works, including any enhancements, modifications or additions
to the products owned, marketed, licensed or used by the Employer or any
Affiliate;
|
|
conceived, developed, created,
generated, produced or reduced to practice by the Employee, alone or jointly
with others, during the Employees employment with the Employer and
which:
|
||
(d) |
are complimentary to or could reasonably
be viewed as being competitive with any of the products owned or marketed
by the Employer or any Affiliate; or
|
|
(e) |
result from tasks assigned to the Employee
by the Employer or any Affiliate; or
|
|
(f) |
result from the use of the premises
or property (including equipment, supplies, materials or Confidential
Information) owned, leased or licensed by the Employer or any Affiliate.
|
|
Any Development so conceived, developed, created, generated, produced or reduced to practice shall constitute Confidential Information immediately upon such conception, development, creation, generation, production or reduction to practice. | ||
6. |
"
Trade Secrets
" means
all information concerning or with respect to the Employer or any Affiliate
and its respective business and affairs that:
|
|
(a) |
derives economic value, actual or potential,
from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable
by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from the
disclosure or use thereof; and
|
11
(b) | is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain the secrecy thereof. | |
In essence, Trade Secrets
are the distinctive features of the operations of the Employer or any
Affiliate that make the products or services of that corporation, and
the way that that corporation conducts business, special, even unique.
|
12
SCHEDULE B
TO
MEDICURE INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
PURPOSE OF EMPLOYMENT
Purpose of Employment: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Commencement Date: | February 4, 2002 | |
Hours: | Minimum 40 hours per week | |
Compensation: | ||
– | Amount per hour or | |
per annum, as applicable: | $85,000.00 per annum | |
– | Payment: | Twice monthly |
Benefits: | ||
– | Vacation: | 3 weeks with pay during the first year of employment. |
– | Bonuses: | Determined and payable at Medicure Inc.s sole discretion. |
– | Stock Options: |
90,000 stock options at a price to be
determined and will vest over 3 years and remain available for 5 years.
|
Contract (for purposes of | ||
section 3(f): | None. |
13
SCHEDULE C
TO
MEDICURE INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
DEVELOPMENTS POLICY
Violation of this Policy is grounds for discipline up to and including immediate dismissal for cause.
All Employees of Medicure Inc. (the "Employer") MUST comply with this Policy. By signing the Employers Employment Agreement, each Employee agrees as follows:
1. |
To make full disclosure to the Employer
of each Development promptly after its conception, development, creation,
generation, production or reduction to practise.
|
2. |
To be deemed to have assigned and transferred
to the Employer, automatically upon the conception, development, creation,
generation, production or reduction to practise of any Development, and
without further consideration, all of the Employees right, title,
and interest in and to each Development throughout the world, including
all trade secrets, patent rights, copyrights, and all other intellectual
property rights therein, with such deemed assignment and transfer to be
treated in all respects as a formal assignment in writing.
|
3. |
To recognize the Employer as the exclusive
owner of all of the Employee's right, title, and interest in and to each
Development throughout the world, including all trade secrets, patent
rights, copyrights and all other intellectual property rights therein.
|
4. |
To cooperate fully at all times during
and subsequent to the Employee's employment with the Employer with respect
to signing further documents and doing such acts and other things reasonably
requested by the Employer to confirm such assignment and transfer of ownership
of rights, including any and all intellectual property rights, effective
at or after the time any Development is conceived, developed, created,
generated, produced or reduced to practise and to obtain patents or copyrights
or the like covering any Development.
|
5. |
To not require the Employer, its successors,
assignees, and licensees to designate the Employee as the author of any
Development.
|
6. |
To be deemed to have waived in whole
all moral rights which the Employee may have in any Development, including
the right to the integrity of the Development, the right to be associated
with the Development, the right to restrain or claim damages for any distortion,
mutilation or other modification of the Development, and the right to
restrain use or reproduction of any Development in any context and in
connection with any product, service, cause or institution, with such
deemed waiver to be treated as a formal waiver in writing.
|
7. |
To not knowingly infringe the intellectual
property rights, including copyright, of any third party in the Employees
work creating any Development.
|
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made the 22 nd day of September 2003.
BETWEEN:
MEDICURE INC.
,
a corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada,
(hereinafter referred to as the Employer),
- and -
MORAY MERCHANT
of the City of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba,
(hereinafter referred to the "Employee").
WHEREAS the Employer is engaged in the Business;
AND WHEREAS the Employer desires to employ or to continue to employ the Employee in its Business, and the Employee desires to be so employed or to be so continued to be employed;
NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Schedule A hereto.
2. Employment
The Employer hereby agrees to employ the Employee for the purpose set forth in Schedule B attached hereto, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment, all on the terms and conditions herein set forth.
3. Commencement and Termination
(a) |
Employment shall commence on the date set forth in Schedule B, and shall
continue until this Agreement is terminated by either party hereto in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
|
2
(b) |
Either party may terminate
this Agreement at any time, without cause, on two weeks written notice
to the other party or, in the case of termination by the Employer, payment
of the Employees salary for two weeks in lieu of such notice. The
Employer may terminate this Agreement at any time for cause immediately
upon notifying the Employee in writing to this effect. For purposes of
this Agreement, cause shall include any breach of this Agreement
by the Employee, receipt by the Employer of notice from any client or
customer of the Employer that the performance of the Employee is unsuitable,
or, subject to the Employers duty to reasonably attempt to accommodate
the Employee, in the event the Employee becomes totally disabled.
For certainty, totally disabled means the occurrence of:
|
||
(i)
|
a court of competent jurisdiction making
an order certifying the mental incompetency of the Employee, or appointing
a committee or legal guardian to administer the estate of the Employee;
or
|
||
(ii)
|
the Employee being incapable of performing
his normal responsibilities in connection with the operation of the business
of the Employer, on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis, such incapacity
being caused by disease, bodily injury, mental infirmity or drug or alcohol
abuse and continuing for a period of 180 consecutive days.
|
||
(c) |
Notwithstanding paragraph
(b) of this section 3, in the event the Employee has not already been
employed by the Employer for at least six months, the first six months
of employment under this Agreement shall be considered a probationary
period, during which period such employment may be terminated by the Employer
without notice and without payment in lieu of notice if the Employees
services are not satisfactory to the Employer.
|
||
(d) |
In the event the Employee
seeks to terminate this Agreement but does not provide two weeks notice
as required by paragraph (b) of this section 3, the Employer may recover
an equivalent amount from the Employee in lieu of such notice by set off
against any and all amounts then owing by the Employer to the Employee
including, without limitation, vacation pay.
|
||
(e) |
In the event of any termination
of employment under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, the Employee
acknowledges and agrees that the Employee will have no claim against the
Employer for damages or otherwise except for accrued remuneration due
and owing to the Employee as of the effective date of such termination.
|
3
(f) |
Notwithstanding any other provision
of this section 3, this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon any
termination of any contract which the Employer has entered into and which
is referred to in Schedule B.
|
|
(g) |
In the event of any termination of employment
under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, or upon the request of
the Employer from time to time, the Employee shall immediately return
to the Employer all materials, including all copies in whatever form,
containing any Confidential Information which are in the Employees
possession or under the Employees control, together with anything
else that could provide access to any Confidential Information as well
as all records or personal notes of any nature whatsoever prepared by
the Employee and relating to work performed by the Employee while employed
by the Employer, including all copies in whatever form as well as all
other property of the Employer then in the possession or under the control
of the Employee including, without limitation, all computer equipment
(hardware, software, and documentation), all other equipment, all tools,
all materials, all merchandise, and all promotional information of any
nature whatsoever.
|
4. Compensation
The Employees compensation shall be the amount calculated and paid in the manner set forth in Schedule B.
5. General Duties
During the period of employment of the Employee by the Employer, the Employee shall:
(a) |
devote full working time and best efforts,
judgment, skill, and ability to the performance of all duties as may be
assigned to the Employee by the Employer, from time to time;
|
|
(b) |
comply with all lawful instructions
of the Employer as may be in effect from time to time, and abide by any
and all rules, policies, and procedures enacted by the Employer and brought
to the attention of the Employee as same may be in effect from time to
time including, without limitation, those regarding attendance, professional
conduct, and security;
|
|
(c) |
reflect the highest standards of integrity,
honesty, and responsibility in dealings with the Employers or its
Affiliates clients, prospective clients, customers, prospective
customers, suppliers, and employees; and
|
|
(d) |
use his best efforts to faithfully,
honestly, and diligently serve and endeavor to further the best interests
of the Employer.
|
4
6. Confidential Information
The Employee acknowledges that during the course of employment with the Employer the Employee may become aware of, see or receive copies of, have access to or become knowledgeable in respect of Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employee shall not acquire any right, title or interest in or to any Confidential Information, by virtue of being employed by the Employer or otherwise, and that the Employer or its Affiliates, clients, customers or suppliers, as the case may be, owns the Confidential Information.
7. Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information
At all times during the Employee's employment with the Employer and at all times subsequent thereto, the Employee shall:
(a) |
keep in strictest confidence and trust
all Confidential Information;
|
|
(b) |
take all necessary precautions against
unauthorized disclosure of any Confidential Information;
|
|
(c) |
not directly or indirectly disclose,
allow access to, transmit or transfer any Confidential Information to
a third party; and
|
|
(d) |
not copy or reproduce any Confidential
Information except as may be reasonably required for the Employee to perform
his duties for the Employer.
|
For certainty, at all times during the Employees employment with the Employer and all times subsequent thereto, the Employee acknowledges that he shall not disclose or use any Confidential Information in any manner whatsoever except as reasonably required for the Employee to perform his duties for the Employer.
8. Developments
The Employee agrees to be bound by the Employers Developments Policy as set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement.
9. Non-Competition
The Employee agrees that while the Employee is employed by the Employer, and for a period of three (3) years immediately following the termination of the Employees employment with the Employer for any reason whatsoever, without the prior written approval of the President of the Employer, the Employee shall not, either individually or in partnership or in conjunction with any person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation or entity as principal, agent, shareholder, employee, owner, investor, partner (inactive or otherwise), director or officer of a corporation or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, carry on or be engaged
5
in or be concerned with or interested in or advised, to lend money to, and guarantee the debts or obligations of or permit his name or any part thereof to be used or employed by any person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation or entity engaged in or concerned with or interested in, within North America, the Business, or any business similar to the Business carried on by the Employer or any Affiliate, or that could reasonably be viewed as being competitive with the Business of the Employer or any Affiliate.
The Employee hereby agrees that all restrictions in this section 9 are reasonable and valid and all defences to the strict enforcement thereof by the Employer are hereby waived by the Employee.
10. Non-solicitation
The Employee agrees that while the Employee is employed by the Employer, and for two (2) years immediately following the termination of the Employees employment with the Employer for any reason whatsoever, the Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Employer, directly or indirectly, either personally or by agent or by letters, circulars or advertisements, whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation or entity:
(a) |
contact, canvass, solicit, induce or
attempt to induce or do business of a similar nature as that of the Employer,
with any person, firm, association, syndicate, corporation, or entity
which was a client, customer, employee of or an independent contractor
to the Employer or any Affiliate at the time of such termination or any
time during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding such termination;
|
|
(b) |
hire any employee of or independent
contractor to the Employer or any Affiliate, or contact, canvass, solicit,
induce or attempt to induce any person who was an employee of or an independent
contractor to the Employer or any Affiliate at the time of such termination
or any time during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding
such termination, to terminate their employment or independent contracting
agreement with the Employer or any Affiliate.
|
The Employee hereby agrees that all restrictions in this section 10 are reasonable and valid and all defences to the strict enforcement thereof by the Employer are hereby waived by the Employee.
11. Security Clearance Requirements
The Employee shall forthwith comply with each and every security clearance requirement communicated by the Employer to the Employee. In particular, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that continued employment by the Employer may be conditional upon the Employee complying with such security clearance requirements.
6
12. Enforcement
The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employees faithful observance of all covenants in this Agreement is an essential condition to his employment, and that the Employer requires absolute compliance. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that damages may not be an adequate remedy to compensate the Employer for any breach of the Employee's obligations contained in this Agreement, and accordingly the Employee agrees that in addition to any and all other remedies available, the Employer shall be entitled to obtain relief by way of a temporary or permanent injunction to enforce the obligations contained in this Agreement. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Employer's Technology Protection Policy, if any, in effect from time to time, shall constitute grounds for discipline up to and including immediate termination of employment for cause.
13. Entire Agreement
This Agreement, together with any schedule which may be attached hereto from time to time, constitutes the entire agreement between the Employer and the Employee pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supercedes all prior formal and informal agreements, proposals, promises, inducements, representations, conditions, warranties, understandings, negotiations, and discussions, whether oral or written, of the Employer and the Employee.
14. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws in effect in the Province of Manitoba.
15. No Assignment
Neither this Agreement, nor any rights or obligations hereunder, shall be assignable by the Employee.
16. Waivers
No waiver by the Employer of any breach of any of the covenants, provisoes, conditions or stipulations herein contained, whether express or implied or negative or positive in form, by the Employee, shall have any effect or be binding upon the Employer unless the same shall be in writing under the authority of the Employer, and any waiver shall extend only to the particular breach so waived and shall not limit or affect the rights of the Employer with respect to any other or further breach by the Employee.
17. Severability
Each and every term and provision in this Agreement shall be severable, one from the other, and should any court of competent jurisdiction interpreting this Agreement determine any provision or term hereof to be void or unenforceable, then the same shall be struck from this
7
Agreement without in any way affecting the validity of any other term or provision of this Agreement.
18. Time of the Essence
Time shall in all respects be of the essence of this Agreement.
19. Successors and Assigns
This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Employer and the Employee, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and other legal representatives and their respective successors.
20. Gender and Number
In this Agreement, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing gender include all genders.
THE EMPLOYEE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTANDS IT, HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE IN RESPECT OF IT, AND AGREES TO ITS TERMS. The Employee acknowledges having received a fully executed copy of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.
MEDICURE INC. | ||
Per: | ||
Albert D. Friesen | ||
President | ||
(Witness) | Moray Merchant |
8
SCHEDULE A
TO
MEDICURE INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Employment Agreement utilized by Medicure Inc. (the Employer), together with any Schedule thereto, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
1. |
"
Affiliate
" means
the Employer, together with any other corporation, regardless of its jurisdiction
of incorporation, that:
|
|
(a)
|
is a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Employer; or
|
|
(b)
|
is controlled by the Employer or by
the same person that controls the Employer; or
|
|
(c)
|
is the parent corporation of the Employer.
|
|
For greater certainty, if
pursuant to the foregoing definition two corporations are each affiliated
with a third corporation at the same time they are deemed to be affiliated
with each other.
|
||
2. |
"
Agreement
" means,
collectively, the Employment Agreement executed by an Employee together
with all Schedules then or thereafter attached thereto including, without
limitation, the following Schedules:
|
Schedule A - | Definitions | ||
Schedule B - | Purpose of Employment | ||
Schedule C - | Developments Policy | ||
3. |
Business
means the
business of planning, supporting, financing, conducting, negotiating,
contracting, sub-contracting or otherwise conducting or planning to conduct
the activities associated with research, development, clinical trials,
regulatory testing, compliance, manufacturing, distribution, marketing,
sales, licensing, sub-licensing or other exploitation of biotechnology
products, and in particular such business in Canada and in the United
States associated with the development of compounds which are currently
or are planned for research and development by the Employer or any Affiliate
and associated with target markets as selected by the Employer or any
Affiliate.
|
9
4. |
"
Confidential Information
"
includes all of the following:
|
|
(a)
|
any and all versions of the technology
and related documentation owned or marketed or being developed by the
Employer or any Affiliate, as well as the software and documentation owned
by the Employer's suppliers and used internally by the Employer, including
all related algorithms, concepts, data, designs, flowcharts, ideas, programming
techniques, programmer's notes, electronic artwork, specifications, and
source code listings;
|
|
(b)
|
all Developments;
|
|
(c)
|
any and all information regarding existing
or proposed services of the Employer or any Affiliate;
|
|
(d)
|
any and all information regarding the
Employer's or any Affiliates business operations, methods, and practices,
including sources of information, sales leads, marketing strategies, product
and service pricing, margins and hourly rates for staff and information
regarding the financial affairs of the Employer or that Affiliate;
|
|
(e)
|
any and all concepts or ideas in or
reasonably related to the Business of the Employer or any Affiliate that
are not generally known outside of the Employer or that Affiliate;
|
|
(f)
|
the names of the Employer's or any Affiliates
clients or customers and the names of suppliers of computer services and
software to the Employer or any Affiliate, and the nature of the Employer's
or that Affiliates relationships with these clients, customers,
and suppliers;
|
|
(g)
|
any and all technical and business information
of or regarding the clients or customers of the Employer or any Affiliate
obtained in order for the Employer or that Affiliate to provide such clients
or customers with products and/or services, including information regarding
the data processing requirements and the business operations, methods
and practices, and product plans of such clients or customers;
|
|
(h)
|
any and all information received from
others that the Employer or any Affiliate is obligated to treat as confidential;
|
|
(i)
|
all Trade Secrets;
|
|
(j)
|
any other confidential or proprietary
information in the possession or control of the Employer or any Affiliate,
regardless of whether or not it has a copyright notice or a claim to copyright
thereon;
|
|
(k)
|
any other information concerning or
with respect to the Employer or any Affiliate and its respective business
and affairs the dissemination of any knowledge whereof might prove prejudicial
to the Employer or to that Affiliate; and
|
10
(l) |
such information as a director, officer
or senior employee of the Employer or any Affiliate may from time to time
designate to the Employee as being included in the expression "Confidential
Information";
|
|
whether the same may be contained in papers, microfilm, recordings, computer disks, magnetic storage or, without limitation, any other medium of storage of information; provided that Confidential Information does not include information which is or becomes generally available to the public without the fault of the Employee. | ||
5. | " Developments " means: | |
(a) |
all reports, products, scientific, and
technical information or material;
|
|
(b) |
all inventions, devices, discoveries,
concepts, ideas, algorithms, formulae, specifications, proposals, models,
designs, processes, techniques, systems and improvements, test results
and reports, analyses, simulation results, tables of operating conditions,
materials, components, industrial skills, operating and testing procedures,
know-how and show-how, whether patentable or not; and
|
|
(c) |
all software, documentation, data, designs,
reports, flowcharts, trademarks, specifications and source code listings,
and any related works, including any enhancements, modifications or additions
to the products owned, marketed, licensed or used by the Employer or any
Affiliate;
|
|
conceived, developed, created, generated, produced or reduced to practice by the Employee, alone or jointly with others, during the Employees employment with the Employer and which: | ||
(d) |
are complimentary to or could reasonably
be viewed as being competitive with any of the products owned or marketed
by the Employer or any Affiliate; or
|
|
(e) |
result from tasks assigned to the Employee
by the Employer or any Affiliate; or
|
|
(f) |
result from the use of the premises
or property (including equipment, supplies, materials or Confidential
Information) owned, leased or licensed by the Employer or any Affiliate.
.
|
|
Any Development so conceived, developed, created, generated, produced or reduced to practice shall constitute Confidential Information immediately upon such conception, development, creation, generation, production or reduction to practice | ||
6. | " Trade Secrets " means all information concerning or with respect to the Employer or any Affiliate and its respective business and affairs that: | |
(a) |
derives economic value, actual or potential,
from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable
by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from the
disclosure or use thereof; and
|
11
(B)
|
is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under
the circumstances to maintain the secrecy thereof.
|
|
In essence, Trade Secrets
are the distinctive features of the operations of the Employer or any
Affiliate that make the products or services of that corporation, and
the way that that corporation conducts business, special, even unique.
|
12
SCHEDULE B
TO
MEDICURE INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
PURPOSE OF EMPLOYMENT
Purpose of Employment: | Providing services to the Employer as | |
Vice President of Market Development | ||
Commencement Date: | September 22, 2003 | |
Hours: | Minimum 40 hours per week | |
Compensation: | ||
• | Amount per annum: | $125,000 per annum |
• | Payment: | Twice monthly |
Benefits: | ||
•
|
Vacation:
|
Three weeks paid vacation per year,
standard vacation policy as per Medicure Inc. Employment Guidelines
|
• | Stock Options: |
You will be provided with 100,000 stock
options in Medicure Inc., price will be set on day of commencement and
vest over 3 years, remain available for 5 years, subject to your continued
employment with the Company.
|
• | Bonus: |
Subject to your satisfactory and continued
employment with the Company, Medicure Inc. will also provide bonuses and
adjust base salary as licensing; product launch and sales milestones are
achieved.
|
Contract (for purposes of section 3(f): | None |
13
SCHEDULE C
TO
MEDICURE INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
DEVELOPMENTS POLICY
Violation of this Policy is grounds for discipline up to and including immediate dismissal for cause.
All Employees of Medicure Inc. (the "Employer") MUST comply with this Policy. By signing the Employers Employment Agreement, each Employee agrees as follows:
1. |
To make full disclosure to the Employer
of each Development promptly after its conception, development, creation,
generation, production or reduction to practise.
|
2. |
To be deemed to have assigned and
transferred to the Employer, automatically upon the conception, development,
creation, generation, production or reduction to practise of any Development,
and without further consideration, all of the Employees right,
title, and interest in and to each Development throughout the world,
including all trade secrets, patent rights, copyrights, and all other
intellectual property rights therein, with such deemed assignment and
transfer to be treated in all respects as a formal assignment in writing.
|
3. |
To recognize the Employer as the exclusive
owner of all of the Employee's right, title, and interest in and to
each Development throughout the world, including all trade secrets,
patent rights, copyrights and all other intellectual property rights
therein.
|
4. |
To cooperate fully at all times during
and subsequent to the Employee's employment with the Employer with respect
to signing further documents and doing such acts and other things reasonably
requested by the Employer to confirm such assignment and transfer of
ownership of rights, including any and all intellectual property rights,
effective at or after the time any Development is conceived, developed,
created, generated, produced or reduced to practise and to obtain patents
or copyrights or the like covering any Development.
|
5. |
To not require the Employer, its successors,
assignees, and licensees to designate the Employee as the author of
any Development.
|
6. |
To be deemed to have waived in whole
all moral rights which the Employee may have in any Development, including
the right to the integrity of the Development, the right to be associated
with the Development, the right to restrain or claim damages for any
distortion, mutilation or other modification of the Development, and
the right to restrain use or reproduction of any Development in any
context and in connection with any product, service, cause or institution,
with such deemed waiver to be treated as a formal waiver in writing.
|
7. |
To not knowingly infringe the intellectual
property rights, including copyright, of any third party in the Employees
work creating any Development.
|
INVESTOR RELATIONS AND CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made effective the 15 th Day of December, 2002.
BETWEEN:
Medicure Inc.
(hereinafter the Corporation)
OF THE FIRST PART
-and-
NOBLE HOUSE CAPITAL CORP.
(hereinafter the Noble House)
OF THE SECOND PART
WHEREAS:
A.
|
The Corporation is a reporting issuer
in the Province(s) of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario;
|
|
B. |
The Corporation is desirous of obtaining
the services of a firm to handle all investor relations matters for the
Corporation; and
|
|
C. |
The Corporation wishes to retain the
services of Noble House and compensate it accordingly.
|
NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1 Engagement of Noble House
The Corporation hereby agrees to engage and retain Noble House to perform the services hereinafter defined and Noble House hereby accepts such retainer to perform the services hereinafter defined on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2
2 Term
The term of this Agreement shall extend from December 15 th , 2002, for a period of 6 months ending June 15 th , 2003 (the Term). The Agreement may be terminated by either party at the end of each three-month period by providing written notice of its intention to the other party. Following the end of the Term, the parties hereto may mutually agree to any renewals of this Agreement for a time period to be discussed.
3 Obligations of Noble House
3.1 |
Noble House agrees to manage
and control; all of the investor relations needs of the Corporation during
the Term in a faithful, diligent and honest manner including, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, performance of the following
duties:
|
|
3.1.1 |
communicating with investment dealers,
advisors and shareholders, both current and prospective, with a view to
increasing awareness of and interest in the Corporation;
|
|
3.1.2 | maintaining an orderly market in the Corporations securities; | |
3.1.3 | promoting the Corporation in a positive manner at all times and developing and expanding the Corporations shareholder base; | |
3.1.4 |
assisting the Corporation in identifying
and securing new sources of capital through public or private offerings
for debt or equity securities as the need arises;
|
|
3.1.5 | coordinating regular meetings between the Corporation, investment dealers, advisors, analysts and shareholders; | |
3.1.6 |
assisting the Corporation with marketing
materials and media relations including the preparation and dissemination
of information through press releases, provided that, the Corporation
has adequately reviewed and approved such information prior to its release
to the public;
|
|
3.1.7 |
providing analysis and advice with respect
to the Corporations capital structure and the potential financial
impact of any proposed capital expenditures; and
|
|
3.1.8 |
assisting the Corporation with respect
to any due diligence required in relation to any proposed transaction
if, and when, required.
|
|
In the performance of the
foregoing duties, Noble House shall report to the Corporation on a regular
basis as reasonably required by the Corporation and at no time will a
finders fee be payable to Noble House by the Corporation.
|
3
4 Confidentiality
Except as directed by the Corporation, required by law or required in the course of providing the services described herein, the Consultant shall not, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, use, supply, show or disclose to any person, firm or corporation any secret or proprietary information, knowledge or data concerning the business, affairs, products or prospects of the Corporation which the Consultant may have acquired at any time prior to this Agreement, in the course of or incidental to this Agreement or otherwise, for the Consultant's own benefit, or to the detriment, or intended or probable detriment, of the Corporation.
5 Remuneration5.1 |
During the Term, the Corporation
agrees to pay Noble House, as compensation for services rendered a fee
of $4000.00 per month (Cdn) plus GST, payable on the fifteenth day of
each month commencing December 15, 2002.
|
|
5.2 |
The Corporation agrees to
reimburse Noble House for all reasonable expenses incurred by it in the
provision of its services to the Corporation, provided, such expenses
have been approved by the Corporation in advance. Such payments shall
be made promptly upon receipt by the Corporation of an invoice for such
expenses.
|
|
6 | Stock Options | |
6.1 |
Noble House shall receive
stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Corporations listed
common shares (the Option) upon execution of this Agreement.
|
|
6.1.1 |
The options to purchase common shares, the exercise
price, the vesting schedule, the applicable hold period and the expiry
date of the such options are subject to all stock exchange polices and
applicable securities laws; and
|
|
6. 1. 2 |
At no time shall the number of options granted to
Noble House as compensation exceed an aggregate of 2% of the Corporations
issued and outstanding shares.
|
|
6.2 |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the making of an Offer (as hereinafter defined), the Option shall become immediately exercisable in respect of any and all shares covered thereby and in respect of which Noble House has not previously exercised the right to acquire shares under the Option. For the purposes of this paragraph, Offer means an offer made generally to the holders of the Corporations voting securities in one or more jurisdictions to purchase directly or indirectly voting securities of the Corporation where the voting securities which are the subject of the offer to purchase together with the offerors then presently owned securities will in the aggregate exceed 20% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, and, in this regard, where two or more persons, corporations or other entities make an offer or offers jointly or in concert or intend to exercise jointly or in concert any voting rights attaching to the securities to be acquired, then the securities owned by each of them shall be included in the calculation of the percentage of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation owned by the offeror. 50,000 shares vest immediately upon execution of this agreement at $0.50 per share. 50,000 shares vest on March 15 th , 2003 at $0.75 per share. |
4
7 Termination
If either party breaches any provisions, conditions or covenants of this Agreement, the other party shall have the right, without prejudice to any other rights it may have under the circumstances, to terminate this Agreement by giving the breaching party thirty (30) days written notice of such termination, specifying therein the grounds upon which said notice is based; and, provided that if such breach or default can be remedied and if the breaching party within said thirty day period shall in fact remedy or cure the breach or default, then such notice shall not become effective and this Agreement shall remain in force and effect.
If Noble House shall cease to be a consultant of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as the case may be , for any reason, it may but only within sixty (60) days next succeeding its ceasing to be a consultant exercise his Share Option to the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at the date of such cessation.
8 Notices
All notices, communications, statements and invoices (hereinafter called "Notices") required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing. Notices may be served in the following manner:8.1 |
Personally by leaving them with the party on whom
they are to be served at that party's address hereinafter given. Personally
served Notices shall be deemed received by the addressee when actually
delivered, provided such delivery shall be during normal business hours;
or
|
8.2 |
By mailing them in Canada by first class, registered
post, postage prepaid, to the party on whom they are to be served. Notices
so served shall be deemed to be received by the addressee on the fourth
day (excluding as the fourth day Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays)
following the mailing thereof.
|
The address of each of the respective parties hereto for service of Notices shall be as follows: | |
The Corporation :
Medicure Inc.
Noble House
:
|
5
9 Severability
Every provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term or provision is illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.
10 Consents and Waivers
No consent or waiver, express or implied, by any party hereto to or of any breach or default by any other party hereto in the performance of any obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by such other party of the same or any other obligation of such party hereunder. Failure on the part of any party to complain of any act or failure to act of any other party or to declare any party to be in breach or default, irrespective of how long such failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of his or its rights hereunder.
11 Applicable Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta and each of the parties hereto agrees to attorn to the jurisdiction of the courts of Alberta for any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.
12 Entire Agreement
This Agreement and any Schedules attached hereto, constitute and express the whole agreement of the parties hereto with reference to the engagement and retainer of the Consultant by the Corporation and with reference to any of the matters and things herein provided for or hereinbefore discussed or mentioned with reference to such engagement and retainer, all promises, representations and undertakings relative thereto being hereby merged herein.
13 Time
Time is of the essence of this Agreement.
14 Enurement
This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
6
15 Regulatory Approvals
The engagement of Noble House may be subject to regulatory approval including without limitation the approval of any stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation may be listed. The Corporation agrees to diligently pursue any and all regulatory approvals necessary for the engagement of Noble House and the granting of options under clause 6.1 hereof and shall provide Noble House with copies of such approvals upon receipt of same.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereby have duly executed this Agreement as of the day, month and year first above written.
April 28, 2003
Dear Mr. Dubé:
Re: Amendment of Consulting Services Agreement (the Agreement)
This letter, once executed, will constitute an amendment to the Agreement dated March 28, 2002. The original wording of Section 3.2 and 3.3 of the Agreement is hereby replaced with the following:
"In consideration of the Consultant providing the services required of it under the terms of this Agreement, the Corporation shall pay to the Consultant a fee of $3,000 per month (the "Fee") together with GST payable thereon. In addition, the Corporation will allow the Consultant to retain the existing 140,000 stock options that have been granted subject to the terms of a stock option agreement. No additional options will be granted during the Term. The Fee shall be paid on the last day of each month during the Term hereof.
All other terms, covenants and conditions remain in force in accordance with the original agreement as dated March 28, 2002
Upon execution of the agreement, please return one original to our office and retain the other for your files.
Best Regards,
_______________________________
Albert D. Friesen
President
M E D I C U R E I N T E R N A T I O N A L I N C .
August 7, 2003
MEDICURE INTERNATIONAL INC.
,
a corporation incorporated under the laws of Barbados,
(hereinafter referred to as "Medicure"),
- and -
CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada,
(hereinafter referred to as "Research Co").
Re: Amendment to the Development Agreement (the Agreement)
This letter, once executed, will constitute an amendment to the Agreement dated June 1, 2000 and previously amended on _______ ). The wording of Section 3.1 (b) of the Agreement, dated June 1, 2000 is hereby replaced with the following:
The aggregate of all Expenditure Limits under all Research Schedules entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) (the Aggregate Expenditures).
In addition the Expenditure Limit as defined in Schedule B of the Agreement is increased to $15,000,000.
All other terms, covenants and conditions remain in force in accordance with the original agreement as dated January 1, 2000 and subsequent amendment on _____ .
Upon execution of the agreement, please return one original to our office and retain the other for your files.
MEDICURE INTERNATIONAL INC. | CANAM BIORESEARCH INC. |
Per: _____________________________________ | Per: _____________________________________ |
Name: | Name: |
Position: | Position: |
CERTIFICATION
I, Albert D. Friesen, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Medicure 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 company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the company 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 company,
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;
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(b) |
Omitted;
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(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company'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
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(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in
the company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company's internal control
over financial reporting; and
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5. The company's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company's auditors and the audit committee of the company'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 company's ability
to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
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(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: October 7, 2003 | /s/ Albert D. Friesen |
Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
CERTIFICATION
I, Derek Reimer, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Medicure 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 company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the company 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 company,
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;
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(b) |
Omitted;
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(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company'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
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(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in
the company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company's internal control
over financial reporting; and
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5. The company's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company's auditors and the audit committee of the company'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 company's ability
to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
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(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: October 7, 2003 | /s/ Derek Reimer |
Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal Financial Officer) |
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(SUBSECTIONS (a) AND (b) OF SECTION 1350, CHAPTER 63 OF
TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE)
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Medicure Inc. (the "Company"), does hereby certify with respect to the Annual Report of the Company on Form 20-F for the year ended May 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Form 20-F") that, to the best of their knowledge:
(1) the Form 20-F 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 Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated: October 7, 2003 | /s/ Albert D. Friesen | |
Albert D. Friesen, Chief Executive Officer | ||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Dated: October 7, 2003 | /s/ Derek Reimer | |
Derek Reimer, Chief Financial Officer | ||
(Principal Financial Officer) |