UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
July 2022
Commission file number: 001-36288
Akari Therapeutics, Plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
75/76 Wimpole Street
London W1G 9RT
United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulations S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulations S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
CONTENTS
On July 20, 2022, Akari Therapeutics, Plc (the “Company”) issued unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2022, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, together with the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the same period. Attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein are the following exhibits:
99.1 | Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2022 |
99.2 | Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of March 31, 2022 |
In addition, on July 20, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2022 financial results and recent clinical progress highlights. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3, and incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 and the statements under “First Quarter 2022 Financial Results”, the accompanying financial statements and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” of Exhibit 99.3 are hereby incorporated by reference into all effective registration statements filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933.
Exhibit No.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Akari Therapeutics, Plc | ||
(Registrant) | ||
By: | /s/ Rachelle Jacques | |
Name: | Rachelle Jacques | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: July 20, 2022
Exhibit 99.1
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, PLC
Quarterly Report For The Period Ended March 31, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Page | ||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2021 | 2 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and March 31, 2021 (Unaudited) | 3 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and March 31, 2021 (Unaudited) | 4 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and March 31, 2021 (Unaudited) | 5 | |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – Unaudited | 6-20 |
1
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021
(in U.S. dollars, except share data)
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current Assets: | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 16,722,503 | $ | 9,361,270 | ||||
Prepaid expenses | 2,385,131 | 2,173,528 | ||||||
Other current assets | 325,742 | 90,301 | ||||||
Total Current Assets | 19,433,376 | 11,625,099 | ||||||
Patent acquisition costs, net | 21,335 | 22,929 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 19,454,711 | $ | 11,648,028 | ||||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||
Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | 3,076,033 | 1,788,563 | ||||||
Accrued expenses | 2,447,536 | 3,184,883 | ||||||
Liability related to deposits received for share subscriptions | - | 1,120,000 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | $ | 5,523,569 | $ | 6,093,446 | ||||
Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
Shareholders' Equity: | ||||||||
Share capital of $0.0001 par value | ||||||||
Authorized: 15,000,000,000 ordinary shares; issued and outstanding: 5,934,917,123 and 4,759,731,923 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively | 593,492 | 475,973 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 166,598,599 | 153,130,813 | ||||||
Capital redemption reserve | 52,193,811 | 52,193,811 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (573,317 | ) | (540,967 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (204,881,443 | ) | (199,705,048 | ) | ||||
Total Shareholders' Equity | 13,931,142 | 5,554,582 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 19,454,711 | $ | 11,648,028 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - UNAUDITED
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021
(in U.S. dollars)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, 2022 | March 31, 2021 | |||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
Research and development expenses | $ | 2,139,607 | $ | 3,529,384 | ||||
General and administrative expenses | 3,104,378 | 2,019,286 | ||||||
Total Operating Expenses | 5,243,985 | 5,548,670 | ||||||
Loss from Operations | (5,243,985 | ) | (5,548,670 | ) | ||||
Other Income: | ||||||||
Interest income | 4,362 | 3,735 | ||||||
Foreign currency exchange gains (losses) | 70,337 | (285,854 | ) | |||||
Other expenses | (7,109 | ) | (7,712 | ) | ||||
Total Other Income (Loss) | 67,590 | (289,831 | ) | |||||
Net Loss | (5,176,395 | ) | (5,838,501 | ) | ||||
Other Comprehensive (Loss)/ Income: | ||||||||
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | (32,350 | ) | 306,097 | |||||
Comprehensive Loss | $ | (5,208,745 | ) | $ | (5,532,404 | ) | ||
Loss per ordinary share (basic and diluted) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.0 | ) | ||
Weighted average ordinary shares (basic and diluted) | 5,358,350,789 | 3,847,331,923 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - UNAUDITED
As of and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
(in U.S. dollars)
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Capital | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share Capital | Paid-in | Redemption | Comprehensive | Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Reserve | Loss | Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' Equity, December 31, 2021 | 4,759,731,923 | $ | 475,973 | $ | 153,130,813 | $ | 52,193,811 | $ | (540,967 | ) | $ | (199,705,048 | ) | $ | 5,554,582 | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | 98,836 | - | - | - | 98,836 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of share capital related to financing, net of issuance costs | 1,175,185,200 | 117,519 | 13,368,950 | - | - | - | 13,486,469 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive loss | - | - | - | - | (32,350 | ) | (5,176,395 | ) | (5,208,745 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' Equity, March 31, 2022 | 5,934,917,123 | $ | 593,492 | $ | 166,598,599 | $ | 52,193,811 | $ | (573,317 | ) | $ | (204,881,443 | ) | $ | 13,931,142 |
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Capital | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share Capital | Paid-in | Redemption | Comprehensive | Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Reserve | Loss | Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' Equity, December 31, 2020 | 3,847,331,923 | $ | 384,733 | $ | 139,734,651 | $ | 52,193,811 | $ | (648,065 | ) | $ | (182,280,811 | ) | $ | 9,384,319 | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | 84,892 | - | - | - | 84,892 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | - | - | - | - | 306,097 | (5,838,501 | ) | (5,532,404 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' Equity, March 31, 2021 | 3,847,331,923 | $ | 384,733 | $ | 139,819,543 | $ | 52,193,811 | $ | (341,968 | ) | $ | (188,119,312 | ) | $ | 3,936,807 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - UNAUDITED
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
(in U.S. dollars)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, 2022 | March 31, 2021 | |||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (5,176,395 | ) | $ | (5,838,501 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,006 | 1,034 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | 98,836 | 84,892 | ||||||
Foreign currency exchange (gains)/ losses | (82,362 | ) | 265,484 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (442,851 | ) | (623,629 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 552,155 | (1,307,452 | ) | |||||
Total adjustments | 126,784 | (1,579,671 | ) | |||||
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | (5,049,611 | ) | (7,418,172 | ) | ||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of shares | 12,366,469 | - | ||||||
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities | 12,366,469 | - | ||||||
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash | 44,375 | 30,720 | ||||||
Net Increase/ (Decrease) in Cash | 7,361,233 | (7,387,452 | ) | |||||
Cash, beginning of period | 9,361,270 | 14,055,777 | ||||||
Cash, end of period | $ | 16,722,503 | $ | 6,668,325 | ||||
Supplement cash flow information: | ||||||||
Ordinary Share Subscriptions Deposit received in December 2021 | $ | 1,120,000 | $ | - |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 1 – Nature of Business |
Akari Therapeutics, Plc, (the “Company” or “Akari”) is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Company is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases involving the complement (C5) and leukotriene (LTB4) pathways. The Company’s activities since inception have consisted of performing research and development activities and raising capital.
As of March 31, 2022, the Company has an accumulated deficit of $204,881,443 and cash of $16,722,503 and negative cash flows from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 in the amount of $5,049,611. On June 30, 2020, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “2020 Purchase Agreement”) with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“Aspire Capital”) which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $30,000,000 of the Company’s ADSs over the 30-month term of the Purchase Agreement (See Note 3). As of March 31, 2022, approximately $22,000,000 remains available under the facility.
The Company believes its current capital resources are sufficient to support its operations into December 2022 without giving effect to the sale of additional shares to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreement. To fund its capital needs, the Company plans to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other sources, such as strategic partnerships, alliance and/or licensing arrangements, and in the long term, proceeds from sales of commercial products.
The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to those of clinical stage companies, including dependence on key individuals, uncertainty of product development and generation of revenues, dependence on outside sources of capital, risks associated with the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, risks associated with clinical trials of products, dependence on third-party collaborators for research and development operations, need for marketing authorization of products, risks associated with protection of intellectual property, and competition with larger, better-capitalized companies. In addition, the Company is subject to risks related to COVID-19.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company reported a net loss of $5,176,395 and expects to continue to incur substantial losses over the next several years during its development phase. To fully execute its business plan, the Company will need, among other things, to complete its research and development efforts and clinical and regulatory activities. These activities may take several years and will require significant operating and capital expenditures in the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that these activities will be successful. If the Company is not successful in these activities it could delay, limit, reduce or terminate preclinical studies, clinical trials or other research and development activities. To fund its capital needs, the Company plans to raise funds through equity or debt financings or other sources, such as strategic partnerships and alliance and licensing arrangements, and in the long term, from the proceeds from sales of commercial products. Additional funds may not be available when the Company needs them, on terms that are acceptable to it, or at all. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities that would result if the Company was unable to continue as a going concern.
Public health epidemics or outbreaks could adversely impact the Company’s business. The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including the mutation of variants, continues to remain fluid globally and the Company continues to manage ongoing challenges associated with the pandemic as they relate to operations. The potential for a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operation remains a risk. Management cannot reasonably estimate with any degree of certainty any future impact of COVID-19. Pandemics such as this can adversely impact the Company’s business as a result of disruptions, such as travel bans, quarantines, staffing shortages, and interruptions to access the trial sites and supply chains, which could result in material delays and complications with respect to our research and development programs and clinical trials. Moreover, as a result of COVID-19, there is a general unease of conducting certain non-critical activities in medical centers. For example, while now open for enrollment, prior clinical trials have been halted or delayed due to COVID-19. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts operations will depend on future developments, including the scope of any new virus mutations and outbreaks, the nature of government public health guidelines and the public's adherence to those guidelines, the rate of individuals becoming fully vaccinated and the public's adherence to guidelines to receive booster vaccinations, and the extent to which new lockdowns may be needed or are required in particular countries, including China. In particular, the continued spread of COVID-19 globally could adversely impact our operations and workforce, including research and clinical trials and the ability to raise capital, could affect the operations of key governmental agencies, such as the FDA, which may delay the development of our product candidates, and could result in the inability of suppliers to deliver components or raw materials, including drug product and drug substance, on a timely basis or at all, each of which in turn could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operation.
6
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the SEC and assumes that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the Company’s annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, including normal and recurring adjustments, which the Company considers necessary for the fair presentation of financial information. The results of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of expected results for the full fiscal year or any other period. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2021 and notes thereto included in the Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“2021 Annual Report”).
Principles of Consolidation – The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, Volution Immuno Pharmaceuticals SA, a private Swiss company, and Akari Malta Limited, a private Maltese company, each wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Foreign Currency – The functional currency of the Company is U.S. dollars, as that is the primary economic environment in which the Company operates as well as the currency in which it has been financed.
The reporting currency of the Company is U.S. dollars. The Company translated its non-U.S. operations’ assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars at current rates of exchange as of the balance sheet date and income and expense items at the average exchange rate for the reporting period. Translation adjustments resulting from exchange rate fluctuations are recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments, a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains or losses from foreign currency transactions are included in foreign currency exchange gains/(losses).
Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management’s estimates and judgments include assumptions used in the evaluation of impairment and useful lives of intangible assets (patents), accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes, stock-based compensation and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Fair Value Measurements – The carrying amounts of financial instruments, including cash, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities.
7
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.) |
Cash – The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the time of acquisition to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalents as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets – Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist principally of prepaid expenses and VAT receivables.
Property and Equipment, net – Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets at the following annual rates:
Years | ||||
Computers, peripheral, and scientific equipment | 3 | |||
Office furniture and equipment | 3 |
Property and equipment, consists of the following:
March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Computers, peripheral, and scientific equipment | $ | 85,489 | $ | 85,489 | ||||
Office furniture and equipment | 79,449 | 79,449 | ||||||
Total property and equipment | 164,938 | 164,938 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation | (164,938 | ) | (164,938 | ) | ||||
Property and equipment, net | $ | - | $ | - |
The Company did not incur any depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Long-Lived Assets – The Company reviews all long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held or used is measured by comparison of the carrying value of the asset to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.
Patent Acquisition Costs – Patent acquisition costs and related capitalized legal fees are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the legal or economic life. The estimated useful life is 22 years. The Company expenses costs associated with maintaining and defending patents subsequent to their issuance in the period incurred. Amortization of patent acquisition costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $1,006 and $1,034, respectively.
8
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.) |
Accrued Expenses – As part of the process of preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates accrued expenses. This process involves identifying services that third parties have performed on the Company’s behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred on these services as of each balance sheet date in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Examples of estimated accrued expenses include contract service fees in conjunction with pre-clinical and clinical trials, professional service fees and contingent liabilities. In connection with these service fees, the Company’s estimates are most affected by its understanding of the status and timing of services provided relative to the actual services incurred by the service providers. In the event that the Company does not identify certain costs that have been incurred or it under or over-estimates the level of services or costs of such services, the Company’s reported expenses for a reporting period could be understated or overstated. The date on which certain services commence, the level of services performed on or before a given date, and the cost of services are often subject to the Company’s estimation and judgment. The Company makes these judgments based upon the facts and circumstances known to it in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Research and Development Expenses – Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred unless there is an alternative future use in other research and development projects. Research and development expenses include, among other costs, salaries and personnel-related expenses, fees paid for contract research services, fees paid to clinical research organizations, costs incurred by outside laboratories, manufacturers’ and other accredited facilities in connection with clinical trials and preclinical studies.
Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are capitalized until the goods or services are received. The Company records expenses related to clinical studies and manufacturing development activities based on its estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple contract research organizations (CROs) and manufacturing vendors that conduct and manage these activities on its behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to the Company’s vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of subjects and the completion of clinical study milestones. In amortizing or accruing service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be performed, enrollment of subjects, number of sites activated and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the Company’s estimate, the Company will adjust the accrued or prepaid expense balance accordingly.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $2,139,607 and $3,529,384, respectively. The Company accounts for research and development tax credits at the time its realization becomes probable as a credit to research and development expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense – Stock-based compensation expense is recorded using the fair-value based method for all awards granted. Compensation costs for stock options and awards is recorded in earnings (loss) over the requisite service period based on the fair value of those options and awards. For employees and non-employees, fair value is estimated at the grant date, as required by Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” and Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) 2018-07, “Compensation - Stock Compensation”. Stock options for non-employee directors for their services as directors acting in their role as members of a board of directors are treated as employees if those directors were elected by the employer’s shareholders or appointed to a board position that will be filled by shareholder election when the existing term expires. Awards granted to those individuals for other services shall be accounted for as awards to non-employees. Fair values of awards granted under the share option plans are estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of fair value for stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model requires management to make certain assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. The Company classifies its stock-based payments which are settled in ordinary shares as equity-classified awards. The Company accounts for awards of equity instruments issued to employees, non-employees and directors under the fair value method of accounting and recognizes such amounts, upon vesting, in general administrative or research and development expenses within its unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
9
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.) |
Leases – The Company accounts for its leases in accordance with Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-2). ASU 2016-02 establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. This determination generally depends on whether the arrangement conveys to the Company the right to control the use of an explicitly or implicitly identified fixed asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control of an underlying asset is conveyed to the Company if the Company obtains the rights to direct the use of and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from using the underlying asset. Operating leases are classified as right of use ("ROU") assets, short term lease liabilities, and long-term lease liabilities. Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. ROU assets are amortized and lease liabilities accrete to yield straight-line expense over the term of the lease. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are comprised of fixed payments. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet and the Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company applies this policy to all underlying asset categories. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and depreciated over the lesser of useful life or lease term. As of March 31, 2022, the Company did not have a lease with a term longer than twelve months.
Concentration of Credit Risk – Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash. The Company maintains cash with well-capitalized financial institutions. At times, those amounts may exceed insured limits. The Company has no other significant concentrations of credit risk.
Income Taxes – On March 27, 2020, the United States enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, referred to herein as the CARES Act, as a response to the economic uncertainty resulting from COVID-19. The CARES Act includes modifications for net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks, limitations of business interest expense for tax, immediate refund of alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryovers. Tax provisions of the Act also include the deferral of certain payroll taxes, relief for retaining employees, and other provisions. The Company determined that these provisions did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the accounting rules that require an asset and liability approach to accounting for income taxes based upon the future expected values of the related assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for tax loss and credit carryforwards and are measured using the expected tax rates estimated to be in effect when such basis differences reverse. Valuation allowances are established, if necessary, to reduce the deferred tax asset to the amount that will, more likely than not, be realized. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Uncertain Tax Positions – The Company follows the provisions of ASC 740 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, which prescribes recognition thresholds that must be met before a tax position is recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. Under ASC 740 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” an entity may only recognize or continue to recognize tax positions that meet a “more-likely-than-not” threshold. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as general and administrative expense. At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no uncertain tax positions.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Basic earnings (loss) per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to ordinary shareholders by the sum of (1) the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, (2) the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of options and warrants using the treasury stock method and (3) the dilutive effect of other potentially dilutive securities. For purposes of the diluted net income (loss) per share calculation, share options and warrants are considered to be potentially dilutive securities. Due to the Company’s net loss position and/or the share options and warrants having no intrinsic value, these potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share was the same for the periods presented.
10
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.) |
Comprehensive Loss – Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company’s other comprehensive loss is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments.
The following table provides details with respect to changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments, as presented in the balance sheets at March 31, 2022:
Balance, January 1, 2022 | $ | (540,967 | ) | |
Net current period other comprehensive loss | (32,350 | ) | ||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | (573,317 | ) |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Adopted during the period –
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (ASU 2020-06), which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. Specifically, ASU 2020-06 simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models in ASC 470-20 that require separate accounting for embedded conversion features. ASU 2020-06 also removes certain settlement conditions in ASC 815-40 that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for the scope exception and simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. ASU 2020-06 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of ASU 2020-06 can either be on a modified retrospective or full retrospective basis. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2022. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
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AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 3 – Fair Value Measurements |
Fair value of financial instruments:
The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined by the Company using available market information and valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required in estimating fair values. Accordingly, the estimates may not be indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange.
The carrying amounts of cash, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of such instruments.
Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:
Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 - inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; or
Level 3 - unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
As of March 31, 2022 and December, 31, 2021, the Company did not have any financial assets that require fair value measurement on a recurring basis.
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NOTE 4 – Shareholders’ Equity |
2020 Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement with Aspire Capital –
On June 30, 2020, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement (“2020 Purchase Agreement”) with Aspire Capital, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $30.0 million of the Company’s ADS, with each ADS representing one hundred (100) ordinary shares, during a 30-month period beginning on the effective date of a registration statement related to the transaction. Concurrently with entering into the 2020 Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement with Aspire Capital, in which the Company agreed to file one or more registration statements, as permissible and necessary to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the sale of the Company’s securities that have been and may be issued to Aspire Capital under the 2020 Purchase Agreement.
Under the 2020 Purchase Agreement, after the SEC declared effective the registration statement referred to above (which occurred in July 2020), on any trading day selected by the Company, the Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a purchase notice (each, a “Purchase Notice”), directing Aspire Capital (as principal) to purchase up to 150,000 ADSs per business day and up to $30.0 million of the Company’s ADSs in the aggregate at a per share price (the “Purchase Price”) equal to the lesser of:
· | the lowest sale price of the Company’s ADSs on the purchase date; or |
· | the arithmetic average of the three (3) lowest closing sale prices for the ADSs during the ten (10) consecutive business days ending on the business day immediately preceding such Purchase Date (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction). |
In addition, on any date on which the Company submits a Purchase Notice to Aspire Capital in an amount of 150,000 ADSs, the Company also has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a volume-weighted average price purchase notice (each, a “VWAP Purchase Notice”) directing Aspire Capital to purchase an amount of ADSs equal to up to 30% of the aggregate shares of the Company’s ADSs traded on its principal market on the next trading day (the “VWAP Purchase Date”), subject to a maximum number of 250,000 ADSs. The purchase price per share pursuant to such VWAP Purchase Notice is generally 97% of the volume-weighted average price for the Company’s ADSs traded on its principal market on the VWAP Purchase Date.
The Purchase Price will be adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, or other similar transaction occurring during the period(s) used to compute the Purchase Price. The Company may deliver multiple Purchase Notices and VWAP Purchase Notices to Aspire Capital from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement, so long as the most recent purchase has been completed.
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The 2020 Purchase Agreement provides that the Company and Aspire Capital shall not effect any sales under the Purchase Agreement on any purchase date where the closing sale price of the Company’s ADSs is less than $0.25. Additionally, governing law in the United Kingdom, where the Company is incorporated, requires a minimum payment per ADS to be issued pursuant to a purchase notice equal to the nominal value of an ADS (i.e., $0.0001). There are no trading volume requirements or restrictions under the Purchase Agreement, and the Company will control the timing and amount of sales of the Company’s ADSs to Aspire Capital. Aspire Capital has no right to require any sales by the Company, but is obligated to make purchases from the Company as directed by the Company in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. There are no limitations on use of proceeds, financial or business covenants, restrictions on future fundings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement.
In accordance with ASC 815-40-15, Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock, since the ultimate floor price, which is effectively the nominal value of the ADS which was denominated in GBP at the time of entering into the 2018 Purchase agreement as well as the 2020 Purchase Agreement (together “the Purchase Agreements”) prior to the 2020 Redenomination, the number of shares issuable under the contract was impacted by foreign currency, therefore ASC 815-40-15-7I precluded the Purchase Agreements from being indexed to the Company’s own stock. The Company determined that the right to sell shares to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreements represents a freestanding put option that met the criteria of a derivative pursuant to ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging. Since the purchase price per share pursuant to the Purchase Agreements is at the market, the Company concluded that the put option has a fair value of zero, and therefore no additional accounting related to the put option was required.
In consideration for entering into the 2020 Purchase Agreement, the Company issued to Aspire Capital 40,760,900 ordinary shares of the Company (the “2020 Commitment Shares”) which had a fair value of approximately $900,000. Since the Company has determined that the 2020 Purchase Agreement was considered a freestanding put option derivative in accordance with ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging when entering into the agreement, the Company recorded the value of the 2020 Commitment Shares in General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The 2020 Purchase Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time, at its discretion, without any cost to the Company. Aspire Capital has agreed that neither it nor any of its agents, representatives and affiliates shall engage in any direct or indirect short-selling or hedging of the Company’s securities during any time prior to the termination of the 2020 Purchase Agreement. Any proceeds the Company receives under the 2020 Purchase Agreement are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold to Aspire Capital 460,758,800 ordinary shares of the Company for gross proceeds of approximately $6,000,000. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold to Aspire Capital 117,647,100 ordinary shares of the Company for gross proceeds of $2,000,001. As of March 31, 2022, approximately $22 million of the original purchase commitment of $30 million remains available under the facility.
2021 Private Placements - On July 7, 2021, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with certain accredited and institutional investors, including Praxis Trustees Limited as trustee of Sonic Healthcare Holding Company EFRBS which is beneficially owned by Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, providing for the issuance of an aggregate of 7,947,529 ADSs in a private placement at $1.55 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $12.3 million, which subsequently closed (the “2021 Private Placements”). The Company also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC to serve as the placement agent for the Company in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, on July 16, 2021, the Company issued to the Placement Agent unregistered warrants to purchase a total of 398,384 ADSs at $2.32 per ADS (“July 2021 Warrants”). The July 2021 Warrants will expire five years from issuance and are immediately exercisable, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. Subject to certain conditions, the Company has the option to “call” the exercise of the warrants from time to time after any 10-consecutive trading day period during which the daily volume-weighted average price of the ADSs exceeds $3.00. The Company paid to the Placement Agent an aggregate of $993,000 in placement agent fees and expenses. The July 2021 Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis if nine months after issuance there is no effective registration statement registering the ADSs underlying the warrants. Pursuant to the cashless exercise provision, the warrant holder must make an additional payment to the Company equal to the nominal value of an ADS (i.e., $0.0001) per warrant ADS actually to be issued pursuant to the cashless exercise. The total amount of the July 2021 Warrants issued in connection with the 2021 Private Placements amounted to 398,384, all of which were outstanding as of March 31, 2022.
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December 2021 Registered Direct Offering - On December 29, 2021, the Company sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by existing investors of the Company, including Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, an aggregate of 4,311,019 ADSs in a registered direct offering (“December 2021 Registered Direct Offering”) at $1.40 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6 million which closed on January 4, 2022. The Company also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC (the “Placement Agent”) to serve as the placement agent for the Company in connection with this offering. In connection with the sale of the ADSs in the December 2021 Registered Direct Offering, the Company issued to the investors registered warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,155,507 ADSs at $1.65 per ADS (“December 2021 Investor Warrants”). The December 2021 Investor Warrants are immediately exercisable and will expire five years from issuance, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The Company paid to the Placement Agent an aggregate of $542,834 in placement agent fees and expenses and issued registered warrants to the Placement Agent to purchase an aggregate of 172,441 ADS (“December 2021 Placement Warrants”) on the same terms as the December 2021 Investor Warrants, except that the December 2021 Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at $1.75 per ADS. Both the December 2021 Investor Warrants and the December 2021 Placement Agent Warrants (together the “December 2021 Warrants”) may be exercised on a cashless basis if six months after issuance there is no effective registration statement registering the ADSs underlying the warrants. Pursuant to the cashless exercise provision, the warrant holder must make an additional payment to the Company equal to the nominal value of an ADS (i.e., $0.0001) per warrant ADS actually to be issued pursuant to the cashless exercise. The total amount of December 2021 Warrants issued in connection with this registered direct offering amounted to 2,327,948, all of which were outstanding as of March 31, 2022.
March 2022 Registered Direct Offering - On March 10, 2022, the Company sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by existing investors of the Company, including Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, an aggregate of 7,440,833 ADSs in a registered direct offering (“March 2022 Registered Direct Offering”) at $1.20 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.9 million. The Company also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC (the “Placement Agent”) to serve as the placement agent for the Company in connection with this offering. In connection with the sale of the ADSs in the March 2022 Registered Direct Offering, the Company issued to the investors registered warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,720,409 ADSs at $1.40 per ADS (“March 2022 Investor Warrants”). The March 2022 Investor Warrants are immediately exercisable and will expire five years from issuance, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The Company paid to the Placement Agent an aggregate of $774,320 in placement agent fees and expenses and issued registered warrants to the Placement Agent to purchase an aggregate of 297,633 ADS (“March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants”) on the same terms as the March 2022 Investor Warrants, except that the March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at $1.50 per ADS. Both the March 2022 Investor Warrants and the March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants (together the “March 2022 Warrants”) may be exercised on a cashless basis if six months after issuance there is no effective registration statement registering the ADSs underlying the warrants. Pursuant to the cashless exercise provision, the warrant holder must make an additional payment to the Company equal to the nominal value of an ADS (i.e., $0.0001) per warrant ADS actually to be issued pursuant to the cashless exercise. The total amount of March 2022 Warrants issued in connection with this registered direct offering amounted to 4,018,042, all of which were outstanding as of March 31, 2022.
Warrants issued in 2021 and 2022
The Company accounts for warrants issued to investors and a placement agent after December 8, 2020 as Additional paid-in capital within Shareholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measured their fair values at their grant date with no subsequently re-measuring at each reporting period.
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The Company has determined that, at the time of their issuance, the July 2021 Warrants, the December 2021 Warrants as well as the March 2022 Warrants met the requirements for classification as equity under ASC 815-40-25. The costs directly attributable to realizing proceeds of issuing ADSs such as placement agent fees, commissions, legal and accounting fees pertaining to the financing and other external, incremental fees and expenses paid to advisors are recognized in Additional paid-in capital of the Shareholders’ Equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with ASC 814-40. At July 16, 2021, the fair value of the July 2021 Warrants was $231,063 and was recorded within Additional paid-in capital of Shareholders’ Equity. At January 4, 2022, the fair value of the December 2021 Warrants was $2,605,577 and was recorded within Additional paid-in capital of Shareholders’ Equity. At March 10, 2022, the fair value of the March 2022 Warrants was $3,693,622 and was recorded within Additional paid-in capital of Shareholders’ Equity.
Below are the assumptions used for the fair value calculations of the warrants issued in 2021:
July 16, 2021 | ||||
Standard deviation | 110.00 | % | ||
Annual risk-free interest rate | 0.79 | % | ||
Required return on equity | 17.00 | % | ||
Expected life in years | 4.98 | |||
Annual turnover rate | 0.00 | % | ||
Period risk-free rate | 0.07 | % |
Below are the assumptions used for the fair value calculatons of the warrants issued in 2022:
January 4, 2022 | March 10, 2022 | |||||||
Expected dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Expected volatility | 110 | % | 110 | % | ||||
Risk-free interest | 1.4 | % | 1.9 | % | ||||
Expected life | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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Description | Exercise Price | Balance December 31, 2020 | Warrants Issued in 2021 | Balance December 31, 2021 | Warrants Issued in 2022 | Balance March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
2019 Investor Warrants | $ | 3.00 | 1,184,213 | - | 1,184,213 | - | 1,184,213 | |||||||||||||||||
2019 Placement Warrants | $ | 2.85 | 177,629 | - | 177,629 | - | 177,629 | |||||||||||||||||
2020 Investor Warrants | $ | 2.20 | 2,797,636 | - | 2,797,636 | - | 2,797,636 | |||||||||||||||||
2020 Placement Warrants | $ | 2.55 | 449,623 | - | 449,623 | - | 449,623 | |||||||||||||||||
July 2021 Placement Agent Warrants | $ | 2.32 | - | 398,384 | 398,384 | - | 398,384 | |||||||||||||||||
December 2021 Investor Warrants | $ | 1.65 | - | - | - | 2,155,507 | 2,155,507 | |||||||||||||||||
December 2021 Placement Agent Warrants | $ | 1.75 | - | - | - | 172,441 | 172,441 | |||||||||||||||||
March 2022 Investor Warrants | $ | 1.40 | - | - | - | 3,720,409 | 3,720,409 | |||||||||||||||||
March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants | $ | 1.50 | - | - | - | 297,633 | 297,633 | |||||||||||||||||
4,609,101 | 398,384 | 5,007,485 | 6,345,990 | 11,353,475 |
Share option plan
In accordance with the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the number of shares that may be issued upon exercise of options under the Plan shall not exceed 400,000,000 ordinary shares. At March 31, 2022, 218,050,965 ordinary shares are available for future issuance under the Plan. The option plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors and grants are made pursuant thereto by the compensation committee. The per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of an option shall be such price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the grant date and set forth in the individual option agreement. Options expire ten years after the grant date and typically vest over one to four years.
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The following is a summary of the Company’s share option activity and related information for employees and directors for the period ended March 31, 2022:
Number of shares | Weighted average exercise price | Weighted average grant date fair value | Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years) | Aggregate intrinsic value | ||||||||||||||||
Options outstanding as of January 1, 2022 | 142,949,035 | $ | 0.07 | 6.8 | - | |||||||||||||||
Changes during the period: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Granted | 39,000,000 | $ | 0.01 | 0.01 | 9.8 | - | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Options outstanding at March 31, 2022 | 181,949,035 | $ | 0.06 | 7.3 | - | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable options at March 31, 2022 | 100,524,035 | $ | 0.10 | 5.7 | - |
The Company measures compensation cost for all share-based awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense in general administrative and research and development expenses within its unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) using the straight-line method over the service period over which it expects the awards to vest.
The Company estimates the fair value of all time-vested options as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected share price volatility, which is calculated based on the historical volatility of peer companies. The Company uses a risk-free interest rate, based on the U.S. Treasury instruments in effect at the time of the grant, for the period comparable to the expected term of the option. Given its limited history with share option grants and exercises, the Company uses the “simplified” method in estimating the expected term, the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, for its grants.
The Company classifies its stock-based payments which are settled in ordinary shares as equity-classified awards.
The Company measures equity-classified awards at their grant date fair value and does not subsequently re-measure them. Compensation costs related to equity-classified awards generally are equal to the grant date fair value of the award amortized over the vesting period of the award.
Below are the assumptions used for the options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2022:
March 31, 2022 | ||||
Expected dividend yield | 0 | % | ||
Expected volatility | 90.4 | % | ||
Risk-free interest | 1.5% - 1.7 | % | ||
Expected life | 6.25 years |
The following is a summary of the Company’s share options granted separated into ranges of exercise price as of March 31, 2022:
Exercise price (range) ($) | Options outstanding | Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) | Weighted average exercise price ($) | Options exercisable | Remaining contractual life (years for exercisable options) | Weighted average exercise price ($ for exercisable options) | ||||||||||||||||
0.01 | 30,500,000 | 9.9 | 0.01 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
0.02 | 101,950,000 | 8.0 | 0.02 | 51,025,000 | 7.1 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||
0.03-0.05 | 14,450,000 | 5.4 | 0.04 | 14,450,000 | 5.4 | 0.04 | ||||||||||||||||
0.12-0.32 | 35,049,035 | 3.8 | 0.23 | 35,049,035 | 3.8 | 0.23 | ||||||||||||||||
181,949,035 | 100,524,035 |
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AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED
March 31, 2022
(in U.S. dollars)
NOTE 4 – Shareholders’ Equity (cont.) |
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded approximately $98,836 and $84,892, respectively, in stock-based compensation expenses for employees and directors. At March 31, 2022, there was approximately $727,367 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s share option plans which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average of 3.2 years.
NOTE 5 – Related Party Transactions |
Office Lease - The Company leases its offices in London from The Doctors Laboratory (“TDL”) and has incurred expenses of approximately $35,000 and $38,000 plus VAT during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman is also Chairman of TDL and David Byrne, a non-employee director of the Company is the Chief Executive Officer of TDL (see Note 6).
Laboratory Testing Services - The Company has received laboratory testing services for its clinical trials provided by TDL and has incurred expenses of approximately $4,000 and $72,000 plus VAT during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company has outstanding accounts payables with TDL of $7,000 and $132,000 as of March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Consulting - A non-employee director of the Company began providing business development consulting services in January 2018. The Company has incurred expenses of approximately $25,000 and $25,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, relating to these consulting services.
NOTE 6 – Commitments and Contingencies |
Lease commitment –The Company currently leases its offices in London on a month-to-month basis. (See Note 5). The Company currently leases office space in New York, New York on a month-to-month basis.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company incurred rental expense in the amount of approximately $43,000 and $46,000, respectively.
NOTE 7 – Loss Per Share |
For purposes of the diluted net income (loss) per share calculation, share options and warrants are considered to be potentially dilutive securities. Due to the Company’s net loss position and/or the share options and warrants having no intrinsic value, these potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, basic and diluted net income (loss) per share was the same for the periods presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss.
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The following table shows the number of share equivalents that were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share for the respective periods because the effect would have been anti-dilutive:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Share options | 181,949,035 | 115,649,035 | ||||||
Warrants | 1,135,347,500 | 460,910,100 | ||||||
Total Anti-Dilutive Share Equivalents | 1,317,296,535 | 576,559,135 |
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Exhibit 99.2
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read this discussion together with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Report on Form 6-K. The following discussion may contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under Item 3D “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021. These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested below and elsewhere in the report.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to “Akari,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and similar designations refer to Akari Therapeutics, PLC and its subsidiaries.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases involving the complement (C5) and leukotriene (LTB4) pathways. Our activities since inception have consisted of performing research and development activities and raising capital. Each of these pathways has scientifically well-supported causative roles in the diseases we are targeting. We believe that blocking early mediators of inflammation will prevent initiation and continual amplification of the processes that cause certain diseases.
Our lead product candidate, nomacopan, is a recombinant small protein derived from a protein originally discovered in the saliva of the Ornithodoros moubata tick, which modulates the host immune system to allow the parasite to feed without alerting the host to its presence or provoking an immune response. Nomacopan is a second-generation complement inhibitor which acts on complement component-C5, preventing release of C5a and formation of C5b–9 (also known as the membrane attack complex, or MAC), and independently and specifically also inhibits leukotriene B4, or LTB4, activity, both elements that are often co-located as part of the immune/inflammatory response. The importance of nomacopan’s dual inhibitory action is therefore twofold. First, it can prevent inflammatory and prothrombotic activities of two key pathways, and second, the pathways can be independently activated. Additionally, nomacopan’s bio-physical properties allow it to be potentially used in a variety of formulations, including subcutaneous,intravenous, topical or inhaled routes of administration.
Our clinical targets for nomacopan are orphan diseases where the inhibition of both C5 and LTB4 are implicated, including bullous pemphigoid (BP), as severe blistering skin disease, pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy HSCT-TMA, and as well as both orphan and mass market diseases in the eye including a long-acting PAS-nomacopan program for geographic atrophy (GA) in dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD).
In June 2020, we entered into a Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital, or 2020 Purchase Agreement, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $30.0 million of our ADSs during a 30-month period beginning on the effective date of a registration statement related to the transaction. Concurrently with entering into the 2020 Purchase Agreement, we also entered into a registration rights agreement with Aspire Capital, in which we agreed to file one or more registration statements, as permissible and necessary to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, the sale of our securities that have been and may be issued to Aspire Capital under the 2020 Purchase Agreement. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Aspire Capital Financing Arrangements”.
In July 2021, we sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by some of our existing investors, including Praxis Trustees Limited as trustee of Sonic Healthcare Holding Company EFRBS which is beneficially owned by Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, an aggregate of 7,947,529 ADSs in a private placement at $1.55 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $12.3 million. We also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC, or the Placement Agent, to serve as our placement agent in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, we issued to the Placement Agent unregistered warrants to purchase 398,384 ADSs at $2.32 per ADS. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
In December 2021, we sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by existing investors of the Company, including Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, an aggregate of 4,311,019 ADSs in a registered direct offering, or the 2021 Registered Offering, at $1.40 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6 million. We also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC, or the Placement Agent, to serve as our placement agent in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, we issued to the investors and the Placement Agent registered warrants to purchase 2,155,507 ADSs at $1.65 per ADS and 172,441 ADSs at $1.75 per ADS, respectively. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
In March 2022, we sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by existing investors of the Company, including Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, an aggregate of 7,440,833 ADSs in a registered direct offering, or the 2022 Registered Offering, at $1.20 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.9 million. We also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC, or the Placement Agent, to serve as our placement agent in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, we issued to the investors and the Placement Agent registered warrants to purchase 3,720,409 ADSs at $1.40 per ADS and 297,633 ADSs at $1.50 per ADS, respectively. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
Impact of COVID-19
The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including the mutation of variants, continues to remain fluid globally and we continue to manage ongoing challenges associated with the pandemic as they relate to operations. The potential for a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operation remains a risk. We cannot reasonably estimate with any degree of certainty any future impact of COVID-19. Pandemics such as this can adversely impact our business as a result of disruptions, such as travel bans, quarantines, staffing shortages, and interruptions to access the trial sites and supply chains, which could result in material delays and complications with respect to our research and development programs and clinical trials.
Moreover, as a result of COVID-19, there is a general unease of conducting certain non-critical activities in medical centers. For example, while now open for enrollment, prior clinical trials have been halted or delayed due to COVID-19. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts operations will depend on future developments, including the scope of any new virus mutations and outbreaks, the nature of government public health guidelines and the public’s adherence to those guidelines, the rate of individuals becoming fully vaccinated and the public’s adherence to guidelines to receive booster vaccinations, and the extent to which new lockdowns may be needed or are required in particular countries, including China. In particular, the continued spread of COVID-19 globally could adversely impact our operations and workforce, including research and clinical trials and the ability to raise capital, could affect the operations of key governmental agencies, such as the FDA, which may delay the development of our product candidates, and could result in the inability of suppliers to deliver components or raw materials, including drug product and drug substance, on a timely basis or at all, each of which in turn could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operation.
Results of Operations
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021
Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was approximately $2,140,000 compared to approximately $3,529,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This decrease of 39% or $1,389,000 was primarily due to lower expenses incurred for manufacturing to support ongoing clinical trials.
We expect our clinical expenses including other research development expenses to increase in the future as we plan to conduct additional trials to support the development of nomacopan, and advance other product candidates into pre-clinical and clinical development.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were approximately $3,104,000 compared to approximately $2,019,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This increase of 54% or $1,085,000 was primarily due to hiring a new Chief Executive Officer in March 2022 and the departure of the previous CEO.
We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase due to increased staffing, legal, accounting and professional fees associated with being a publicly reporting company in the United States, and to support the Company’s operational plans and anticipated growth.
Other Income (expense)
Other income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was approximately $68,000 compared to other expense of approximately $290,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This $358,000 increase was primarily attributed to foreign currency exchange gains in the current period as compared to foreign currency exchange losses in the prior period.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At March 31, 2022, we had $16,722,503 in cash and an accumulated deficit in the amount of $204,881,443. Since inception, we have funded our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities.
In June 2020, we entered into a Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $30.0 million of our ADSs beginning on the effective date of a registration statement related to the transaction. To date, we have sold to Aspire Capital a total of approximately $8 million of ADSs and $22 million of the original purchase commitment remains available for draw down under the 2020 Purchase Agreement. See “Aspire Capital Financing Arrangements – 2020 Purchase Agreements” below.
In July 2021, we sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by some of our existing investors, including Praxis Trustees Limited as trustee of Sonic Healthcare Holding Company EFRBS which is beneficially owned by Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, an aggregate of 7,947,529 ADSs in a private placement at $1.55 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $12.3 million. We also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC, or the Placement Agent, to serve as our placement agent in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, we issued to the Placement Agent unregistered warrants to purchase 398,384 ADSs at $2.32 per ADS.
In December 2021, we sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by existing investors of the Company, including Dr. Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, providing for the issuance of an aggregate of 4,311,019 ADSs in a registered direct offering at $1.40 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6 million which subsequently closed on January 4, 2022. We also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC, or the Placement Agent, to serve as our placement agent in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, we issued to the investors and the Placement Agent registered warrants to purchase 2,155,507 ADSs at $1.65 per ADS and 172,441 ADSs at $1.75 per ADS, respectively.
In March 2022, we sold to certain accredited and institutional investors, led by existing investors of the Company, including Dr.Ray Prudo, the Company’s Chairman, providing for the issuance of an aggregate of 7,440,833 ADSs in a registered direct offering at $1.20 per ADS for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.9 million. We also entered into a letter agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC, or the Placement Agent, to serve as our placement agent in connection with this offering. In connection with the offering, we issued to the investors and the Placement Agent registered warrants to purchase 3,720,409 ADSs at $1.40 per ADS and 297,633 ADSs at $1.50 per ADS, respectively.
We believe our current capital resources are sufficient to support our operations into December 2022 without giving effect to the sale of additional shares to Aspire Capital under the 2020 Purchase Agreement.
We are subject to a number of risks similar to those of clinical stage companies, including dependence on key individuals, uncertainty of product development and generation of revenues, dependence on outside sources of capital, risks associated with clinical trials of products, dependence on third-party collaborators for research operations, need for marketing authorization of products, risks associated with protection of intellectual property, and competition with larger, better-capitalized companies. We are closely monitoring ongoing developments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in disruptions to and the halting of previous clinical trials and may negatively impact our ability to raise capital. To fully execute our business plan, we will need, among other things, to complete our research and development efforts and clinical and regulatory activities. These activities may take several years and will require significant operating and capital expenditures in the foreseeable future.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we reported a net loss of $5,176,395 and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses over the next several years during our development phase. To fund our capital needs, we plan to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other sources, such as strategic partnerships and alliance and licensing arrangements, and in the long term, from the proceeds from sales of commercial products. To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our shareholders may experience significant dilution.
These additional funds may not be available when we need them, on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global financial markets, and may limit our ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining an adequate level of financing needed for our research and development efforts and clinical and regulatory activities, which may take several years and will require significant operating and capital expenditures in the foreseeable future. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital resources, we will not be able to continue the development of all of our products, or may be required to delay part of our development programs and significantly reduce our activities in order to maintain our operations. These matters raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our independent registered public accounting firm, in its report on our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities that would result if we were unable to continue as a going concern.
Aspire Capital Financing Arrangements
2020 Purchase Agreement
On September 30, 2020, we entered into a second Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital (“2020 Purchase Agreement”) which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $30.0 million of our ADSs, during a 30-month period beginning July 27, 2020 on the effective date of a registration statement related to the transaction. Concurrently with entering into the 2020 Purchase Agreement, we also entered into a registration rights agreement with Aspire Capital, or the Registration Rights Agreements in which we agreed to file one or more registration statements, as permissible and necessary to register under the Securities Act, the sale of our securities that have been and may be issued to Aspire Capital under the 2020 Purchase Agreement. On July 17, 2020, we filed the registration statement on Form F-1 to register the resale of such securities and such registration statement was declared effective on July 27, 2020.
Under the 2020 Purchase Agreement, after the SEC has declared effective the registration statement referred to above, on any trading day selected by us, we have the right, in our sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a purchase notice, each, a Purchase Notice, directing Aspire Capital (as principal) to purchase up to 150,000 ADSs per business day and up to $30.0 million of our ADSs in the aggregate at a per share price, or the Purchase Price, equal to the lesser of:
· | the lowest sale price of our ADSs on the purchase date; or | |
· | the arithmetic average of the three (3) lowest closing sale prices for the ADSs during the ten (10) consecutive business days ending on the business day immediately preceding such Purchase Date (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction). |
In addition, on any date on which we submit a Purchase Notice to Aspire Capital in an amount of 150,000 ADSs, the Company also has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a volume-weighted average price purchase notice, each, a VWAP Purchase Notice, directing Aspire Capital to purchase an amount of ADSs equal to up to 30% of the aggregate shares of our ADSs traded on our principal market on the next trading day, or the VWAP Purchase Date, subject to a maximum number of 250,000 ADSs. The purchase price per share pursuant to such VWAP Purchase Notice is generally 97% of the volume-weighted average price for our ADSs traded on our principal market on the VWAP Purchase Date.
The Purchase Price will be adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, or other similar transaction occurring during the period(s) used to compute the Purchase Price. We may deliver multiple Purchase Notices and VWAP Purchase Notices to Aspire Capital from time to time during the term of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, so long as the most recent purchase has been completed.
The 2020 Purchase Agreement provides that we and Aspire Capital shall not effect any sales under the 2020 Purchase Agreement on any purchase date where the closing sale price of our ADSs is less than $0.25. Additionally, governing law in the United Kingdom, where the Company is incorporated, requires a minimum payment per ADS to be issued pursuant to a purchase notice equal to the nominal value of an ADS (i.e., $0.0001). There are no trading volume requirements or restrictions under the 2020 Purchase Agreement, and the Company will control the timing and amount of sales of the Company’s ADSs to Aspire Capital. Aspire Capital has no right to require any sales by the Company, but is obligated to make purchases from the Company as directed by the Company in accordance with the 2020 Purchase Agreement. There are no limitations on use of proceeds, financial or business covenants, restrictions on future fundings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the 2020 Purchase Agreement. In accordance with ASC 815-40-15, Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock, since the ultimate floor price which is effectively the nominal value of the ADS which was denominated in GBP at the time of entering into the 2018 Purchase agreement as well as the 2020 Purchase Agreement (together “the Purchase Agreements”) prior to the 2020 Redenomination, the number of shares issuable under the contract was impacted by foreign currency, therefore ASC 815-40-15-7I precluded the Purchase Agreements from being indexed to the Company’s own stock. The Company determined that the right to sell shares to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreements represents a freestanding put option that met the criteria of a derivative pursuant to ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging. Since the purchase price per share pursuant to the Purchase Agreements is at the market, the Company concluded that the put option has a fair value of zero, and therefore no additional accounting related to the put option was required.
In consideration for entering into the 2020 Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to Aspire Capital 40,760,900 ordinary shares of the Company, the 2020 Commitment Shares, which had a fair value of approximately $900,000. Because the Company has determined that the 2020 Purchase Agreement is considered a freestanding put option derivative, the Company recorded the value of the 2020 Commitment Shares in the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 in General and Administrative Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The 2020 Purchase Agreement may be terminated by us at any time, at our discretion, without any cost to us. Aspire Capital has agreed that neither it nor any of its agents, representatives and affiliates shall engage in any direct or indirect short-selling or hedging of our securities during any time prior to the termination of the 2020 Purchase Agreement. Any proceeds we receive under the 2020 Purchase Agreement are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
To date, we have sold to Aspire Capital a total of approximately $8 million of ADSs and $22 million of the original purchase commitment remains available for draw down under the Purchase Agreements.
Cash Flows
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $5,050,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $7,418,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2021. Net cash flow used in operating activities was primarily attributed to our ongoing research activities to develop nomacopan, including manufacturing, clinical trial and preclinical activities as well as to our general and administrative activities.
There were no investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021.
Net cash provided by financing activities, after related expenses, was approximately $12,366,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2022. This was from net proceeds from our December 2021 Registered Direct and our March 2022 Registered Direct.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any significant contractual obligations as of March 31, 2022. We lease office space in London, UK and New York, NY on a short-term basis.
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses
Our research and development expenditures were approximately $2,140,000 and $3,529,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Most of such research and development expenditures were in the form of payments to third parties to carry out our manufacturing, pre-clinical and clinical research activities.
We incurred the following research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:
Three Months Ended March 31 | ||||||||
(in $000’s) | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Direct Expenses: | ||||||||
Nomacopan | $ | 972 | $ | 1,648 | ||||
Clinical trials | 238 | 959 | ||||||
Other | 72 | 291 | ||||||
Total direct expenses | 1,282 | 2,898 | ||||||
Indirect Expenses: | ||||||||
Staffing | 617 | 505 | ||||||
Other indirect | 241 | 126 | ||||||
Total indirect expenses | 858 | 631 | ||||||
Tax credits | - | - | ||||||
Total Research and Development | $ | 2,140 | $ | 3,529 |
Trend Information
We are a clinical-stage drug development company and it is not possible for us to predict with any degree of accuracy the outcome of our research, development or commercialization efforts. As such, it is not possible for us to predict with any degree of accuracy any significant trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net sales or revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause financial information to not necessarily be indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In doing so, we must make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses, as well as related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. In some cases, we could reasonably have used different accounting policies and estimates. Changes in the accounting estimates are reasonably likely to occur from period to period. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from our estimates. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations will be affected. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, those related to deferred revenue, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation and fair value of marketable debt securities. For further significant accounting policies please see Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of this interim report. We believe that our accounting policies contained therein are critical in fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition and operating results.
Share-Based Compensation and Fair Value of Ordinary Shares
We account for awards of equity instruments issued to employees and directors under the fair value method of accounting and recognize such amounts in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. We measure compensation cost for all stock-based awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognize compensation expense in general administrative and research and development expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss using the straight-line method over the service period over which we expect the awards to vest.
We estimate the fair value of all time-vested options as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected share price volatility, which we calculate based on the historical volatility of peer companies. We use a risk-free interest rate, based on U.S. Treasury instruments in effect at the time of the grant, for the period comparable to the expected term of the option. Given our limited history with share option grants and exercises, we use the “simplified” method in estimating the expected term, the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, for our grants.
We classify our stock-based payments which are settled in our ordinary shares as equity-classified awards. We measure equity-classified awards at their grant date fair value and do not subsequently remeasure them. Compensation costs related to equity-classified awards generally are equal to the grant date fair value of the award amortized over the vesting period of the award.
Warrants issued in connection with the 2021 Private Placements
In connection with the sale of the ADSs in the 2021 Private Placements, we issued unregistered warrants to the Placement Agent to purchase an aggregate of 398,384 ADSs, or 2021 Warrants. The 2021 Warrants are immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $2.32 per ADS, subject to adjustment as set forth therein and will expire five years from issuance. The Company has determined that, at the time of their issuance, the 2021 Warrants met the requirements for classification as equity under ASC 815-40-25. In connection with the 2021 Private Placements, the costs directly attributable to realizing proceeds of issuing ADSs such as placement agent fees, commissions, legal and accounting fees pertaining to the financing and other external, incremental fees and expenses paid to advisors are recognized in Additional paid-in capital of the Shareholders’ Equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with ASC 814-40. At July 16, 2021, the fair value of the 2021 Warrants was $231,063 and was recorded within Additional paid-in capital of Shareholders’ Equity.
Warrants issued in connection with the December 2021 Registered Direct Offering
In connection with the sale of the ADSs in the December 2021 Registered Direct Offering, we issued to investors registered warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,155,507 ADSs, or the December 2021 Investor Warrants. The December 2021 Investor Warrants are immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $1.65 per ADS, subject to adjustment as set forth therein and will expire five years from issuance. We also issued registered warrants to the Placement Agent to purchase an aggregate of 172,441 ADSs, or the December 2021 Placement Agent Warrants, on the same terms as the December 2021 Investor Warrants, except that the December 2021 Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at $1.75 per ADS. The Company has determined that, at the time of their issuance, the December 2021 Investor Warrants and the December 2021 Placement Agent Warrants, or, together, the December 2021 Warrants, met the requirements for classification as equity under ASC 815-40-25. In accordance with ASC 820, we measured the December 2021 Warrants at grant date fair value. The total grant date fair value of the December 2021 Warrants was $2,613,016 and was recorded within Additional paid-in capital of Shareholders’ Equity.
Warrants issued in connection with the March 2022 Registered Direct Offering
In connection with the sale of the ADSs in the March 2022 Registered Direct Offering, we issued to investors registered warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,720,409 ADSs in a private placement, or the March 2022 Investor Warrants. The March 2022 Investor Warrants are immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $1.40 per ADS, subject to adjustment as set forth therein and will expire five years from issuance. We also issued registered warrants to the Placement Agent to purchase an aggregate of 297,633 ADSs, or the March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants, on the same terms as the March 2022 Investor Warrants, except that the March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at $1.50 per ADS. The Company has determined that, at the time of their issuance, the March 2022 Investor Warrants and the March 2022 Placement Agent Warrants, or, together, the March 2022 Warrants, met the requirements for classification as equity under ASC 815-40-25. In accordance with ASC 820, we measured the March 2022 Warrants at grant date fair value. The total grant date fair value of the March 2022 Warrants was $3,697,758 and was recorded within Additional paid-in capital of Shareholders’ Equity.
Functional Currency
The functional currency of Akari is U.S. dollars, as that is the primary economic environment in which the Company operates as well as the currency in which it has been financed.
The reporting currency of the Company is U.S. dollars. The Company translated its non-U.S. operations’ assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars at current rates of exchange as of the balance sheet date and income and expense items at the average exchange rate for the reporting period. Translation adjustments resulting from exchange rate fluctuations are recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments, a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Gains or losses from foreign currency transactions and the remeasurement of intercompany balances are included in foreign currency exchange (losses) gains.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Exhibit 99.3
Akari Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Pipeline Progress
· | Four patients have been enrolled in the Phase 3 Part A clinical trial of nomacopan in severe pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant related (HSCT) thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA); the Part A study is enrolling seven patients |
· | Ten of the clinical trial sites across the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands are now opened and screening has begun for the placebo-controlled ARREST-BP Phase 3 Part A study of investigational nomacopan in bullous pemphigoid (BP) that has a recruitment goal of 48 patients; Akari continues to open clinical trial sites | |
· | Significant progress has been made in the pre-clinical work on tolerability and extended dose interval of long-acting PAS-nomacopan for geographic atrophy (GA) in dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD); advances PAS-nomacopan on the pathway to potential IND/IMPD | |
· | Appointment of accomplished biotech executive Melissa Bradford-Klug as Chief Operating Officer |
NEW YORK and LONDON, July 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), a late-stage biotechnology company focused on advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as well as research and development progress on nomacopan and long-acting PAS-nomacopan. Investigational nomacopan is a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of complement C5 and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) currently being investigated in two Phase 3 clinical trials for use in severe pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant related (HSCT) thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and bullous pemphigoid (BP). Akari also is advancing long-acting PASylatedâ nomacopan for geographic atrophy (GA) in dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD).
“Akari is advancing our two Phase 3 programs with urgency, opening ten clinical trial sites and beginning the screening of bullous pemphigoid patients, while also enrolling and dosing in the pediatric HSCT-TMA study at a rate that has exceeded my expectations and positions us well to meet our recruitment objectives,” said Rachelle Jacques, President and CEO of Akari Therapeutics. “Akari also has made significant strides in the pre-clinical work on long-acting PAS-nomacopan as we advance the potential of this novel therapeutic to address significant unmet patient needs in geographic atrophy and build a solid foundation for human studies.”
Akari Pipeline Highlights
Phase 3 Part A clinical trial in severe pediatric HSCT-TMA
Four patients have been enrolled in the Phase 3 Part A clinical trial of nomacopan in severe pediatric HSCT-TMA. The Phase 3 Part A clinical trial has a recruitment goal of seven patients over six months old. Sites are open and recruiting in the U.S, U.K., and Poland for the open-label study of pediatric patients who have undergone allogeneic or autologous HSCT and develop HSCT-TMA within a year of transplant.
Thrombotic microangiopathy following a stem cell transplant procedure is a rare but serious complication of HSCT that appears to involve complement activation, inflammation, tissue hypoxia and blood clots, leading to progressive organ damage and death. The mortality rate in patients who develop severe transplant-related TMAs is 80%.1 Currently, there are no approved treatment options in the U.S. or Europe.
ARREST-BP Phase 3 Part A clinical trial in BP
After resolving third-party supply chain issues, in May 2022 Akari began opening clinical trial sites. Ten of the clinical trial sites across the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands are now opened and screening patients for the placebo-controlled Phase 3 Part A study of investigational nomacopan in BP. The Phase 3 Part A clinical trial is enrolling 48 patients with moderate-to-severe BP and will compare the efficacy and safety of nomacopan plus oral corticosteroids (OCS) against placebo plus OCS.
While BP is the most common autoimmune blistering skin disease, it is a rare disease. Prevalence rates vary in specific regions around the world and it has been estimated to be 12 to 23 cases per million people in the general population. It primarily affects people over the age of 65 and prevalence rises with age to approximately 190 to 312 cases each year per million people who are over 80 years of age.2 The mortality rate in BP is approximately three-fold higher than the general population, due to the disease itself, and infections and cardiovascular conditions that are more common in older patients and are exacerbated by treatment with high-dose OCS.3 There are no approved treatment options for BP.
Pre-clinical program in GA/dAMD
Akari has made significant progress on the pre-clinical program that is laying a foundation for potential clinical trials of long-acting PAS-nomacopan for geographic atrophy (GA) in dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD). Recent progress was focused on tolerability and half-life of PAS-nomacopan to further clarify the potential of addressing three areas of significant unmet patient needs in GA: less frequent intravitreal injections into the back of the eye, lower dose volume of intravitreal injections, and, through LTB4 inhibition4, reduced risk of sight-threatening choroidal neovascularization (CNV), also known as wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), which can be a complication of certain complement-only inhibitors.5,6
Geographic atrophy is a chronic progressive degeneration of the macula, which occurs during late-stage dry AMD. GA can lead to irreversible vision loss. Approximately 5 million people are affected worldwide with GA,7 nearly 1 million in the U.S.8 There are no approved treatment options.
References
1. | Rosenthal J. Hematopoietic cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: a review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. J Blood Med. 2016;7:181-186. Published 2016 Sep 2. |
2. | Gudi VS, et al. Annual incidence and mortality of bullous pemphigoid in the Grampian Region of North-east Scotland. Br J Dermatol. 2005;153(2):424-427. |
3. | Tedbirt B, Gillibert A, Andrieu E, et al. Mixed Individual-Aggregate Data on All-Cause Mortality in Bullous Pemphigoid: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(4):421-430. |
4. | Sasaki F, Koga T, Ohba M, et al. Leukotriene B4 promotes neovascularization and macrophage recruitment in murine wet-type AMD models. JCI Insight. 2018;3(18):e96902. Published 2018 Sep 20. |
5. | Liao DS, Grossi FV, El Mehdi D, et al. Complement C3 Inhibitor Pegcetacoplan for Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Phase 2 Trial. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(2):186-195. |
6. | Jaffe GJ, Westby K, Csaky KG, et al. C5 Inhibitor Avacincaptad Pegol for Geographic Atrophy Due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Pivotal Phase 2/3 Trial. Ophthalmology. 2021;128(4):576-586. |
7. | Wong WL, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2014;2(2):e106-e116. |
8. | Friedman DS,, et al. Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States [published correction appears in Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Sep;129(9):1188]. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122(4):564-572. |
First Quarter 2022 Financial Results
At March 31, 2022, the Company had cash of approximately $16.7 million, compared to cash of approximately $9.4 million at December 31, 2021.
In March 2022, Akari entered into an agreement with Paulson Investment Company, LLC to serve as placement agent in connection with a registered direct offering and sold approximately 7.4 million of the Company’s ADSs for gross proceeds of approximately $8.9 million.
Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were approximately $2.1 million, as compared to approximately $3.5 million for the same period the previous year. This decrease was primarily due to lower manufacturing expenses to support ongoing clinical trials.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were approximately $3.1 million, as compared to approximately $2.0 million for the same period the previous year. The increase was primarily due to expenses associated with the appointment of the Company’s new chief executive officer and the departure of the previous CEO.
For the first quarter of 2022, total other income was approximately $68,000, as compared to total other loss of approximately $290,000 for the same period the previous year. This change was primarily due to foreign currency exchange gains in the current period as compared to foreign currency exchange losses in the prior period.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2022 was approximately $5.2 million, as compared to net loss of approximately $5.8 million in the same period the previous year.
About Akari Therapeutics
Akari Therapeutics, plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) is a biotechnology company focused on developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Akari's lead asset, investigational nomacopan, is a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of C5 complement activation and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) activity. Akari's pipeline includes two Phase 3 clinical trial programs investigating nomacopan for bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related (HSCT) thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), as well as pre-clinical research of long-acting PAS-nomacopan in geographic atrophy (GA). For more information about Akari, please visit akaritx.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward- looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward- looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control. Such risks and uncertainties for our company include, but are not limited to: needs for additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to continue as a going concern; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; an inability or delay in obtaining required regulatory approvals for nomacopan and any other product candidates, which may result in unexpected cost expenditures; our ability to obtain orphan drug designation in additional indications; risks inherent in drug development in general; uncertainties in obtaining successful clinical results for nomacopan and any other product candidates and unexpected costs that may result there; difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials; failure to realize any value of nomacopan and any other product candidates developed and being developed in light of inherent risks and difficulties involved in successfully bringing product candidates to market; inability to develop new product candidates and support existing product candidates; the approval by the FDA and EMA and any other similar foreign regulatory authorities of other competing or superior products brought to market; risks resulting from unforeseen side effects; risk that the market for nomacopan may not be as large as expected risks associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; inability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property rights or the unexpected costs associated with such enforcement or litigation; inability to obtain and maintain commercial manufacturing arrangements with third party manufacturers or establish commercial scale manufacturing capabilities; the inability to timely source adequate supply of our active pharmaceutical ingredients from third party manufacturers on whom the company depends; unexpected cost increases and pricing pressures and risks and other risk factors detailed in our public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Except as otherwise noted, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021
(in U.S. dollars, except share data)
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current Assets: | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 16,722,503 | $ | 9,361,270 | ||||
Prepaid expenses | 2,385,131 | 2,173,528 | ||||||
Other current assets | 325,742 | 90,301 | ||||||
Total Current Assets | 19,433,376 | 11,625,099 | ||||||
Patent acquisition costs, net | 21,335 | 22,929 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 19,454,711 | $ | 11,648,028 | ||||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||
Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | 3,076,033 | 1,788,563 | ||||||
Accrued expenses | 2,447,536 | 3,184,883 | ||||||
Liability related to deposits received for share subscriptions | - | 1,120,000 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | $ | 5,523,569 | $ | 6,093,446 | ||||
Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
Shareholders' Equity: | ||||||||
Share capital of $0.0001 par value | ||||||||
Authorized: 15,000,000,000 ordinary shares; issued and outstanding: 5,934,917,123 and 4,759,731,923 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively | 593,492 | 475,973 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 166,598,599 | 153,130,813 | ||||||
Capital redemption reserve | 52,193,811 | 52,193,811 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (573,317 | ) | (540,967 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (204,881,443 | ) | (199,705,048 | ) | ||||
Total Shareholders' Equity | 13,931,142 | 5,554,582 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 19,454,711 | $ | 11,648,028 |
AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - UNAUDITED
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021
(in U.S. dollars)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, 2022 | March 31, 2021 | |||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
Research and development expenses | $ | 2,139,607 | $ | 3,529,384 | ||||
General and administrative expenses | 3,104,378 | 2,019,286 | ||||||
Total Operating Expenses | 5,243,985 | 5,548,670 | ||||||
Loss from Operations | (5,243,985 | ) | (5,548,670 | ) | ||||
Other Income: | ||||||||
Interest income | 4,362 | 3,735 | ||||||
Foreign currency exchange gains (losses) | 70,337 | (285,854 | ) | |||||
Other expenses | (7,109 | ) | (7,712 | ) | ||||
Total Other Income (Loss) | 67,590 | (289,831 | ) | |||||
Net Loss | (5,176,395 | ) | (5,838,501 | ) | ||||
Other Comprehensive (Loss)/ Income: | ||||||||
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | (32,350 | ) | 306,097 | |||||
Comprehensive Loss | $ | (5,208,745 | ) | $ | (5,532,404 | ) | ||
Loss per ordinary share (basic and diluted) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.0 | ) | ||
Weighted average ordinary shares (basic and diluted) | 5,358,350,789 | 3,847,331,923 |
For More Information
Investor
Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
(617) 308-4306
mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com
Media Contact:
Eliza Schleifstein
Schleifstein PR
(917) 763-8106
eliza@schleifsteinpr.com