UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 10-Q

  

 

 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For Quarterly Period ended March 31, 2016

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

For the transition period from                      to                       .

 

Commission File Number: 001-36357

 

 

 

LIPOCINE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware 99-0370688

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

   

675 Arapeen Drive, Suite 202,

Salt Lake City, Utah

84108
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

801-994-7383

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes:   x No   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§220.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     No   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer x  
       
Non-accelerated filer ¨    Smaller reporting company ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x

 

Outstanding Shares

 

As of May 9, 2016, the registrant had 18,258,901 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page 
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) 3
     
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 16
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks 25
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 25
     
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 25
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 26
     
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 26
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 27
     
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 27
     
Item 5. Other Information 27
     
Item 6. Exhibits 27

   

  2  

 

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM  1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2016     2015  
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 14,114,852     $ 20,007,659  
Marketable investment securities     24,098,383       24,375,168  
Accrued interest income     159,839       144,536  
Prepaid and other current assets     268,857       350,160  
                 
Total current assets     38,641,931       44,877,523  
                 
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,067,404 and $1,060,750, respectively     108,298       75,750  
Long-term marketable investment securities     -       400,252  
Other assets     23,753       23,753  
                 
Total assets   $ 38,773,982     $ 45,377,278  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 1,077,160     $ 507,067  
Accrued expenses     1,916,604       2,884,794  
Income taxes payable     700       -  
                 
Total current liabilities     2,994,464       3,391,861  
                 
Total liabilities     2,994,464       3,391,861  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (notes 7 and 9)                
                 
Stockholders' equity:                
Preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized; zero issued and outstanding     -       -  
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 18,256,901 and 18,250,456 issued and 18,251,191 and 18,244,746 outstanding     1,825       1,825  
Additional paid-in capital     129,270,410       128,502,659  
Treasury stock at cost, 5,710 shares     (40,712 )     (40,712 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     2,895       (32,900 )
Accumulated deficit     (93,454,900 )     (86,445,455 )
                 
Total stockholders' equity     35,779,518       41,985,417  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 38,773,982     $ 45,377,278  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

  3  

 

  

LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

 

             
     Three Months Ending March 31,  
    2016     2015  
             
Operating expenses:                
Research and development   $ 2,673,391     $ 1,918,695  
General and administrative     4,397,013       1,055,544  
Total operating expenses     7,070,404       2,974,239  
                 
Operating loss     (7,070,404 )     (2,974,239 )
                 
Other income, net     61,659       18,633  
                 
Loss before income tax expense     (7,008,745 )     (2,955,606 )
                 
Income tax expense     (700 )     (200 )
                 
Net loss   $ (7,009,445 )   $ (2,955,806 )
                 
Basic loss per share attributable to common stock   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.23 )
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic     18,251,905       12,819,332  
               
Diluted loss per share attributable to common stock   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.23 )
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted     18,251,905       12,819,332  
                 
Comprehensive loss:                
Net loss   $ (7,009,445 )   $ (2,955,806 )
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities   $ 35,795       -  
                 
Comprehensive loss   $ (6,973,650 )   $ (2,955,806 )

 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

  4  

 

  

LIPOCINE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ending March 31,  
    2016     2015  
             
Cash flows from operating activities:                
                 
Net loss   $ (7,009,445 )   $ (2,955,806 )
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:                
                 
Depreciation expense     6,654       4,303  
Stock-based compensation expense     733,502       179,042  
Accretion of premium on marketable investment securities     91,566       -  
                 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accrued interest income     (15,303 )     -  
Prepaid and other current assets     81,303       43,450  
Accounts payable     570,093       73,252  
Accrued expenses     (968,190 )     (369,479 )
Income taxes payable     700       -  
                 
Cash used in operating activities     (6,509,120 )     (3,025,238 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
                 
Purchases of property and equipment     (39,202 )     (13,230 )
Purchases of marketable investment securities     (3,178,734 )     -  
Maturities of marketable investment securities     3,800,000       -  
                 
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities     582,064       (13,230 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
                 
Proceeds from stock option exercises     34,249       136,869  
Cash provided by financing activities     34,249       136,869  
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (5,892,807 )     (2,901,599 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     20,007,659       27,666,055  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 14,114,852     $ 24,764,456  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:                
                 
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities   $ 35,795     $ -  
Cash paid for income taxes     -       200  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 

  5  

 

 

LIPOCINE INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

(1) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Lipocine Inc. (“Lipocine” or the “Company”) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are comprised of the financial statements of Lipocine and its subsidiaries collectively referred to as the Company. In management's opinion, the interim financial data presented includes all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring items) necessary for fair presentation. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain information required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles has been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the SEC. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period or for the year ending December 31, 2016.

 

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions relating to reporting of the assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

(2) Earnings (Loss) per Share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Net income (loss) available to common shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was calculated using the two-class method, which is an earnings (loss) allocation method for computing earnings (loss) per share when an entity’s capital structure includes common stock and participating securities. The two-class method determines earnings (losses) per share based on dividends declared on common stock and participating securities (i.e., distributed earnings) and participation rights of participating securities in any undistributed earnings (loss). The application of the two-class method was required since the Company’s unvested restricted stock contains non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. However, unvested restricted stock grants are not included in computing basic earnings (loss) per share for periods where the Company has losses as these securities are not contractually obligated to share in losses of the Company.

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus, where applicable, the additional potential common shares that would have been outstanding related to dilutive options, warrants, unvested restricted stock units and unvested restricted stock to the extent such shares are dilutive.

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

  6  

 

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2016     2015  
Basic loss per share attributable to common stock:                
Numerator                
Net loss   $ (7,009,445 )   $ (2,955,806 )
                 
Denominator                
Weighted avg. common shares outstanding     18,251,905       12,819,332  
                 
Basic loss per share attributable to  common stock   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.23 )
                 
Diluted loss per share attributable to common stock:                
Numerator                
Net loss   $ (7,009,445 )   $ (2,955,806 )
Denominator                
Weighted avg. common shares outstanding     18,251,905       12,819,332  
                 
Diluted loss per share attributable to common stock   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.23 )

 

The computation of diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 does not include the following stock options, unvested restricted stock, and warrants to purchase shares in the computation of diluted loss per share because these instruments were antidilutive:

 

    March 31,  
    2016     2015  
Stock options     2,251,107       1,480,029  
Unvested restricted stock     2,000       6,000  
Warrants     -       20,467  

 

(3) Marketable Investment Securities

 

The Company has classified its marketable investment securities as available-for-sale securities. These securities are carried at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity until realized. Gains and losses on investment security transactions are reported on the specific-identification method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses, and fair value for available-for-sale securities by major security type and class of security at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:

 

  7  

 

 

March 31, 2016   Amortized
Cost
    Gross
unrealized
holding
gains
    Gross
unrealized
holding
losses
    Aggregate
fair value
 
                         
Government notes   $ 3,978,552     $ 1,965     $ -     $ 3,980,517  
Corporate bonds and notes     20,116,936       7,665       (6,735 )     20,117,866  
                                 
    $ 24,095,488     $ 9,630     $ (6,735 )   $ 24,098,383  

 

December 31, 2015   Amortized
Cost
    Gross
unrealized
holding
gains
    Gross
unrealized
holding
losses
    Aggregate
fair value
 
                         
Government notes   $ 802,862     $ -     $ (750 )   $ 802,112  
Corporate bonds and notes     24,005,458       594       (32,744 )     23,973,308  
                                 
    $ 24,808,320     $ 594     $ (33,494 )   $ 24,775,420  

  

Maturities of debt securities classified as available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

March 31, 2016   Amortized
Cost
    Aggregate
fair value
 
Due within one year   $ 24,095,488     $ 24,098,383  
Due after one year through five years     -       -  
Due after five years     -       -  
    $ 24,095,488     $ 24,098,383  

  

There were no sales of marketable investment securities during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and therefore no realized gains or losses. Additionally, $3.8 million of marketable investment securities matured during the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company determined there were no other-than-temporary impairments for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. The Company held no marketable investment securities during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

(4) Fair Value

 

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:

 

  8  

 

 

  Level 1 Inputs: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

  Level 2 Inputs: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuation in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

 

  Level 3 Inputs: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

All of the Company’s financial instruments are valued using quoted prices in active markets or based on other observable inputs. For prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The following table presents the placement in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

          Fair value measurements at reporting date using  
    March 31,
2016
    Level 1 inputs     Level 2 inputs     Level 3 inputs  
                         
Assets:                                
Cash equivalents - money market funds   $ 867,995     $ 68,206     $ 799,789     $ -  
                                 
Government notes     3,980,517       3,980,517       -       -  
                                 
Corporate bonds and notes     20,117,866       -       20,117,866       -  
                                 
    $ 24,966,378     $ 4,048,723     $ 20,917,655     $ -  

 

          Fair value measurements at reporting date using  
    December 31,
2015
    Level 1 inputs     Level 2 inputs     Level 3 inputs  
                         
Assets:                                
Cash equivalents - money market funds   $ 127,905     $ 127,905     $ -     $ -  
                                 
Government notes     802,112       802,112       -       -  
                                 
Corporate bonds and notes     23,973,308       -       23,973,308       -  
                                 
    $ 24,903,325     $ 930,017     $ 23,973,308     $ -  

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to determine the fair value of each class of assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the balance sheets:

 

Cash equivalents: Cash equivalents primarily consist of highly rated money market funds and commercial paper with original maturities to the Company of three months or less, and are purchased daily at par value with specified yield rates. Cash equivalents are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices or broker or dealer quotations for similar assets.

 

  9  

 

 

Government notes: The Company uses a third-party pricing service to value these investments. The pricing service utilizes quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and reportable trades.

 

Corporate bonds and notes: The Company uses a third-party pricing service to value these investments. The pricing service utilizes reportable trades, broker/dealer quotes, bids and offers, benchmark yields and credit spreads and other observable inputs.

 

The Company’s accounting policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy on the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. There were no transfers into or out of Level 1 or Level 2 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

(5) Income Taxes

 

The tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the Company’s effective tax rate for the full year adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter the Company updates its estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if the estimated tax rate changes, the Company makes a cumulative adjustment.

 

At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets, net of expected reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities, as it believes it is more likely than not that these benefits will not be realized.

 

(6) Collaborative Agreements

 

(a) Abbott Products, Inc.

 

On March 29, 2012, the Company terminated its collaborative agreement with Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (later acquired by Abbott Products, Inc.) for TLANDO. As part of the termination, the Company reacquired the rights to the intellectual property from Abbott. All obligations under the prior license agreement have been completed except that Lipocine will owe Abbott a perpetual 1% royalty on net sales. Such royalties are limited to $1.0 million in the first two calendar years following product launch, after which period there is not a cap on royalties and no maximum aggregate amount. If generic versions of any such product are introduced, then royalties are reduced by 50%. The Company did not incur any royalties during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

(b) Contract Research and Development

 

The Company has entered into agreements with various contract organizations that conduct preclinical, clinical, analytical and manufacturing development work on behalf of the Company as well as a number of independent contractors, primarily clinical researchers, who serve as advisors to the Company. The Company incurred expenses of $1.8 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 under these agreements and has recorded these expenses in research and development expenses.

 

(7) Leases

 

On August 6, 2004, the Company assumed a non-cancelable operating lease for office space and laboratory facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah. On May 6, 2014, the Company modified and extended the lease through February 28, 2018. Additionally, on December 28, 2015, the Company entered into an operating lease for office space in Lawrenceville, New Jersey through January 31, 2018. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of March 31, 2016 are:

 

    Operating  
    leases  
Year ending December 31:        
2016     283,961  
2017     387,119  
2018     58,903  
         
Total minimum lease payments   $ 729,983  

 

The Company’s rent expense was $95,000 and $73,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

  10  

 

 

(8) Stockholders’ Equity

 

(a) Issuance of Common Stock

 

On April 29, 2015, the Company sold 5,347,500 shares of common stock in an underwritten offering. Net proceeds to the Company from the sale totaled approximately $32.4 million, after deducting the direct and incremental expenses of the offering and the commissions in connection with the offering paid by the Company of $2.3 million.

 

(b) Rights Agreement

 

On November 13, 2015, the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent, entered into a Rights Agreement. Also on November 12, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and the Company declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (each a “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company. The dividend was payable to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 30, 2015 and entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company at a price of $63.96 per one-thousandth share (the “Purchase Price”). The Rights will generally become exercisable upon the earlier to occur of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person (as defined below) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the board of directors prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock of the Company. Except in certain situations, a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an “Acquiring Person” upon acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.

 

In general, in the event a person becomes an Acquiring Person, then each Right not owned by such Acquiring Person will entitle its holder to purchase from the Company, at the Right’s then current exercise price, in lieu of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, common stock of the Company with a market value of twice the Purchase Price.

 

In addition, if after any person has become an Acquiring Person, (a) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination, or (b) 50% or more of the Company’s assets, or assets accounting for 50% or more of its earning power, are sold, leased, exchanged or otherwise transferred (in one or more transactions), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person, its affiliates and associates and certain transferees thereof, whose Rights became void) shall thereafter have the right to purchase from the acquiring corporation, for the Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring corporation which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of twice the Purchase Price.

 

The Company will be entitled to redeem the Rights at $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such. The terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, which is summarized in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 2015. The rights plan will expire on November 12, 2018, unless the rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company.

 

(c) Share-Based Payments

 

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for grants of stock option awards, restricted stock units and restricted stock under the Company’s Incentive Plan to employees and nonemployee members of the Company’s board of directors based on the grant-date fair value of those awards. The grant-date fair value of an award is generally recognized as compensation expense over the award’s requisite service period. In addition, the Company grants stock options to nonemployee consultants from time to time in exchange for services performed for the Company. Equity instruments granted to nonemployees are subject to periodic revaluation over their vesting terms.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes model to compute the estimated fair value of stock option awards. Using this model, fair value is calculated based on assumptions with respect to (i) expected volatility of the Company’s common stock price, (ii) the periods of time over which employees and members of the board of directors are expected to hold their options prior to exercise (expected term), (iii) expected dividend yield on the Common Stock, and (iv) risk-free interest rates. Stock-based compensation expense also includes an estimate, which is made at the time of grant, of the number of awards that are expected to be forfeited. This estimate is revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Stock-based compensation cost that has been expensed in the statements of operations amounted to $734,000 and $179,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, allocated as follows:

 

  11  

 

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2016     2015  
             
Research and development   $ 184,424     $ 66,962  
General and administrative     549,078       112,080  
                 
    $ 733,502     $ 179,042  

 

The Company issued 547,000 stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and did not issue any stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

Key assumptions used in the determination of the fair value of stock options granted are as follows:

 

Expected Term : The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. Due to limited historical experience of similar awards, the expected term was estimated using the simplified method in accordance with the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107, Share-Based Payment, for awards with stated or implied service periods. The simplified method defines the expected term as the average of the contractual term and the vesting period of the stock option. For awards with performance conditions, and that have the contractual term to satisfy the performance condition, the contractual term was used.

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate : The risk-free interest rate used was based on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury issues with an equivalent remaining term.

 

Expected Dividend : The expected dividend assumption is based on management’s current expectation about the Company’s anticipated dividend policy. The Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

Expected Volatility : Since the Company did not have sufficient trading history, the volatility factor was based on the average of similar public companies through August 2014. When selecting similar companies, the Company considered the industry, stage of life cycle, size, and financial leverage. Beginning in August 2014, the volatility factor was based on a combination of the Company's trading history since March 2014 and the average of similar public companies.

 

For options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company calculated the fair value of each option grant on the respective dates of grant using the following weighted average assumptions:

 

    2016  
Expected term     5.85 years
Risk-free interest rate     1.73 %
Expected dividend yield     0.00 %
Expected volatility     82.70 %

  

FASB ASC 718, Stock Compensation requires the Company to recognize compensation expense for the portion of options that are expected to vest. Therefore, the Company applied estimated forfeiture rates that were derived from historical employee termination behavior. If the actual number of forfeitures differs from those estimated by management, additional adjustments to compensation expense may be required in future periods.

 

As of March 31, 2016, there was $6.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s stock option plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.5 years and will be adjusted for subsequent changes in estimated forfeitures. The weighted average fair value of share-based compensation awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was approximately $8.51 per share.

 

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(d) Stock Option Plan

 

In April 2014, the board of directors adopted the 2014 Stock and Incentive Plan ("2014 Plan") subject to shareholder approval which was received in June 2014. The 2014 Plan provides for the granting of nonqualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, restricted stock and dividend equivalents. An aggregate of 1,000,000 shares are authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Additionally, 271,906 remaining authorized shares under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan ("2011 Plan") were issuable under the 2014 Plan at the time of the 2014 Plan adoption. In January 2011, the board of directors adopted the 2011 Plan that provides for the granting of nonqualified and incentive stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock. The 2011 Plan assumed all of the obligations, which existed under the previous 2000 Stock Option Plan. Under the 2011 Plan, the Company has granted nonqualified and incentive stock options for the purchase of common stock to directors, employees and nonemployees providing services to the Company. The board of directors, on an option-by-option basis, determines the number of shares, exercise price, term, and vesting period. Options granted generally have a ten-year contractual life. The Company issues shares of common stock upon the exercise of options with the source of those shares of common stock being either newly issued shares or shares held in treasury. An aggregate of 1,271,906 shares are authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan, with 193,687 shares remaining available for grant as of March 31, 2016.

 

A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

 

    Outstanding stock options  
    Number of
shares
    Weighted average
exercise price
 
Balance at December 31, 2015     1,722,552     $ 5.21  
Options granted     547,000       12.18  
Options exercised     (5,445 )     6.29  
Options forfeited     (13,000 )     10.67  
Options cancelled     -       -  
Balance at March 31, 2016     2,251,107       6.87  
                 
Options exercisable at March 31, 2016     1,273,319       3.83  

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2016:

 

Options outstanding   Options exercisable  
Number
outstanding
  Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(Years)
    Weighted
average
exercise
price
    Aggregate intrinsic
value
    Number
exerciseable
    Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(Years)
    Weighted
average
exercise
price
    Aggregate
intrinsic
value
 
                                                         
2,251,107     7.02     $ 6.87     $ 8,911,718       1,273,319       5.17     $ 3.83     $ 8,043,843  

 

The intrinsic value for stock options is defined as the difference between the current market value and the exercise price. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $22,000 and $192,000. There were 5,445 and 48,708 stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

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(e) Restricted Common Stock

 

A summary of restricted common stock activity is as follows:

 

    Number of
unvested restricted
shares
 
       
Balance at December 31, 2015     3,000  
Granted     -  
Vested     (1,000 )
Cancelled     -  
Balance at March 31, 2016     2,000  

 

(f) Warrants

 

For charitable purposes, on December 23, 2003, the Company granted warrants to a local university for 20,467 shares of common stock at a price of $12.21 per share with an original expiration date of December 31, 2010. In January 2011, the Company extended the term to December 31, 2015 at the same price. The warrants were not exercised by December 31, 2015 and were cancelled.

 

(9) Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

The Company is involved in various lawsuits, claims and other legal matters from time to time that arise in the ordinary course of conducting business. The Company records a liability when a particular contingency is probable and estimable. The Company has not accrued for any contingency at March 31, 2016 as the Company does not consider any contingency to be probable nor estimable. While complete assurance cannot be given to the outcome of these proceedings, management does not currently believe that any of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

 

Guarantees and Indemnifications

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into agreements, such as lease agreements, licensing agreements, clinical trial agreements, and certain services agreements, containing standard guarantee and / or indemnifications provisions. Additionally, the Company has indemnified its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(10) Spriaso, LLC

 

On July 23, 2013, the Company entered into an assignment/license and a services agreement with Spriaso, a related-party that is majority-owned by certain current and former directors of Lipocine Inc. and their affiliates. Under the license agreement, the Company assigned and transferred to Spriaso all of the Company’s rights, title and interest in its intellectual property to develop products for the cough and cold field. In addition, Spriaso received all rights and obligations under the Company’s product development agreement with a third-party. In exchange, the Company will receive a royalty of 20 percent of the net proceeds received by Spriaso, up to a maximum of $10.0 million. Spriaso also granted back to the Company an exclusive license to such intellectual property to develop products outside of the cough and cold field. Under the service agreement, the Company provided facilities and up to 10 percent of the services of certain employees to Spriaso for a period of 18 months which expired January 23, 2015. Effective January 23, 2015, the Company entered into an amended services agreement with Spriaso in which the Company agreed to continue providing up to 10 percent of the services of certain employees to Spriaso at a rate of $230/hour for a period of six months. The agreement was further amended on July 23, 2015 and again on January 23, 2016 to continue providing services for an additional six months. The agreement may be extended upon written agreement of Spriaso and the Company. The Company did not receive any reimbursements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. Spriaso filed its first NDA and as an affiliated entity of the Company, it used up the one-time waiver for user fees for a small business submitting its first human drug application to the FDA. Spriaso is considered a variable interest entity under the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810-10, Consolidations , however the Company is not the primary beneficiary and has therefore not consolidated Spriaso.

 

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(11)  Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In, March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting , which amends ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation . The objective of this amendment is part of the FASB’s Simplification Initiative as it applies to several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard becomes effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. This pronouncement is effective for the Company on July 1, 2017, and allows for prospective, retrospective or modified retrospective adoption, depending on the area covered in the update, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and the timing of adoption.

 

In February 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 , Leases, which provides new guidance for lease accounting including recognizing most leases on-balance sheet. The standard becomes effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. ASU 2016-02 mandates a modified retrospective transition method for all entities. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In January 2016, FASB issued ASU 2 016-01, Financial Instruments, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities , which provides new guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial assets and liabilities. The standard becomes effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect, if any, that the standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes , which requires entities to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current on the balance sheet. The standard may be adopted on either a prospective or retrospective basis. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

 

In August 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern . ASU 2014-15 provides guidance regarding management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there exists substantial doubt about an organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) with amendments in 2015 (ASU 2015-14) and 2016 (ASU 2015-10, ASU 2015-08) . The updated standard is a new comprehensive revenue recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In July 2015, the FASB voted to approve the deferral of the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. Therefore, ASU 2014-09 will become effective for the Company in the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. Early adoption is permitted, but not earlier than the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. The ASU allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. The Company has not yet selected a transition method, and the Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this report. For additional context with which to understand our financial condition and results of operations, see the management’s discussion and analysis included in our Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016 as well as the financial statements and related notes contained therein.

 

As used in the discussion below, “we,” “our,” and “us” refers to Lipocine.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This section and other parts of this report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements may refer to such matters as products, product benefits, pre-clinical and clinical development timelines, clinical and regulatory expectations and plans, anticipated financial performance, future revenues or earnings, business prospects, projected ventures, new products and services, anticipated market performance, future expectations for liquidity and capital resources needs and similar matters. Such words as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “continue”, “estimate”, “project”, and “intend” and similar terms and expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of this Form 10-Q or in Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

 

Overview of Our Business

 

We are a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on applying our oral drug delivery technology for the development of pharmaceutical products in the area of men’s and women’s health. Our proprietary delivery technologies are designed to improve patient compliance and safety through orally available treatment options. Our primary development programs are based on oral delivery solutions for poorly bioavailable drugs. We have a portfolio of proprietary product candidates designed to produce favorable pharmacokinetic (“PK”) characteristics and facilitate lower dosing requirements, bypass first-pass metabolism in certain cases, reduce side effects, and eliminate gastrointestinal interactions that limit bioavailability. Our lead product candidate, TLANDO, is an oral testosterone replacement therapy (“TRT”) designed for twice-a-day dosing, that is currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") after completing Phase 3 testing. Additional pipeline candidates include LPCN 1111, a next generation oral testosterone therapy product targeted for once daily dosing, that is currently in Phase 2 testing, and LPCN 1107, which has the potential to become the first oral hydroxyprogesterone caproate product indicated for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth, and is currently in Phase 1 testing.

 

To date, we have funded our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities and convertible debt and through up-front payments, research funding and milestone payments from our license and collaboration arrangements. We have not generated any revenues from product sales and we do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of TLANDO or other products.

 

We have incurred losses in most years since our inception. As of March 31, 2016, we had an accumulated deficit of $93.5 million. Income and losses fluctuate year to year, primarily depending on the timing of recognition of revenues from our license and collaboration agreements. Our net loss was $7.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Substantially all of our operating losses resulted from expenses incurred in connection with our product candidate development programs, our research activities and general and administrative costs associated with our operations.

 

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. In the near term, we anticipate that our expenses will increase as we:

 

prepare for commercial manufacturing for TLANDO; ;

 

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conduct market research, market analytics and other sales and marketing activities in preparation for the commercial launch of TLANDO;

 

conduct further development of our other product candidates, including LPCN 1111 and LPCN 1107;

 

continue our research efforts;

 

maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and

 

provide general and administrative support for our operations.

 

To fund future long-term operations we will need to raise additional capital. The amount and timing of future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including capital market conditions, the timing and results of our ongoing development efforts, the potential expansion of our current development programs, regulatory development requirements related to TLANDO and our other development programs, potential new development programs, the pursuit of various potential commercial activities and strategies associated with our development programs and related general and administrative support. We anticipate that we will seek to fund our operations through public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, such as potential license and collaboration agreements. We cannot be certain that anticipated additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. Although we have previously been successful in obtaining financing through public and private equity securities offerings and our license and collaboration agreements, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.

 

Our Product Candidates

 

Our current portfolio, shown below, includes our lead product candidate, TLANDO, a twice daily oral testosterone replacement therapy, that is currently under review with the FDA. Additionally, we are in the process of establishing our pipeline of other clinical candidates including a next generation once daily oral testosterone replacement therapy, LPCN 1111, and an oral therapy for the prevention of preterm birth, LPCN 1107.

 

Our Development Pipeline

 

Product
Candidate
  Indication   Status   Next Expected Milestone(s)
Men’s Health            
             
TLANDO   Testosterone Replacement   Under FDA Review  

Prescription Drug User Fee Act Date (June 28, 2016)

File NDA in Canada (2H 2016)

             
LPCN 1111   Testosterone Replacement   Phase 2   Expected top-line results from Phase 2b PK dose finding study (3Q 2016)
             
Women’s Health            
             
LPCN 1107   Prevention of Preterm Birth   Phase 1   Request End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA (2Q 2016)

 

These products are based on our proprietary Lip’ral promicellar drug delivery technology platform. Lip’ral promicellar technology is a patented technology based on lipidic compositions which form an optimal dispersed phase in the gastrointestinal environment for improved absorption of insoluble drugs. The drug loaded dispersed phase presents the solubilized drug efficiently at the absorption site (gastrointestinal tract membrane) thus improving the absorption process and making the drug less dependent on physiological variables such as dilution, gastro-intestinal pH and food effects for absorption. Lip’ral based formulation enables improved solubilization and higher drug-loading capacity, which can lead to improved bioavailability, reduced dose, faster and more consistent absorption, reduced variability, reduced sensitivity to food effects, improved patient compliance, and targeted lymphatic delivery where appropriate.

 

TLANDO: An Oral Product Candidate for Testosterone Replacement Therapy

 

Our lead product, TLANDO, is an oral formulation of the chemical testosterone undecanoate ("TU"), an eleven carbon side chain attached to testosterone. TU is an ester prodrug of testosterone. An ester is chemically formed by bonding an acid and an alcohol. Upon the cleavage, or breaking, of the ester bond, testosterone is formed. TU has been approved for use outside the United States for many years for delivery via intra-muscular injection and in oral dosage form and TU has received regulatory approval in the United States for delivery via intra-muscular injection. We are using our Lip’ral technology to facilitate steady gastrointestinal solubilization and absorption of TU for twice daily oral dosing of TU. Proof of concept was initially established in 2006, and subsequently TLANDO was licensed in 2009 to Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Solvay") which was then acquired by Abbott Products, Inc. ("Abbott"). Following a portfolio review associated with the spin-off of AbbVie by Abbott in 2011, the rights to TLANDO were reacquired by us. All obligations under the prior license agreement have been completed except that Lipocine will owe Abbott a perpetual 1% royalty on net sales. Such royalties are limited to $1 million in the first two calendar years following product launch, after which period there is not a cap on royalties and no maximum aggregate amount. If generic versions of any such product are introduced, then royalties are reduced by 50%.  

 

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Results From SOAR

 

We have completed our Study of Oral Androgen Replacement ("SOAR") pivotal Phase 3 clinical study evaluating efficacy and safety of TLANDO and have received efficacy results and 52-week safety results. SOAR was a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, active-controlled, Phase 3 clinical study of LPCN-1021 in hypogonadal males with low testosterone (< 300 ng/dL). In total, 315 subjects at 40 active sites were assigned, such that 210 were randomized to TLANDO and 105 were randomized to the active control, Androgel 1.62%®, for 52 weeks of treatment. The active control is included for safety assessment. TLANDO subjects were started at 225 mg TU (equivalent to ~ 142 mg of T) twice daily (“BID”) with a standard meal and then dose titrated, if needed, up to 300 mg TU BID or down to 150 mg TU BID based on serum testosterone measured at weeks 3 and 7. The mean age of the subjects in the trial was ~53 yrs with ~91% of the patients < 65 yrs of age.

 

Primary statistical analysis was conducted using the Efficacy Population Set ("EPS"). The EPS is defined as subjects randomized into the study with at least one PK profile and no significant protocol deviations and includes imputed missing data by last observation carried forward, N=151. Further analysis was performed using the full analysis set ("FAS") (any subject randomized into the study with at least one post-baseline efficacy variable response, N=193) and the safety set (“SS”) (any subject that was randomized into the study and took at least one dose, N=210).

 

Efficacy

 

The primary efficacy end point is the percentage of subjects with an average 24-hour serum testosterone concentration (“Cavg”) within the normal range, which is defined as 300-1140 ng/dL, after 13 weeks of treatment. The FDA guidelines for primary efficacy success is that at least 75% of the subjects on active treatment achieve a testosterone Cavg within the normal range; and the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (“CI”) must be greater than or equal to 65%.

 

TLANDO met the FDA primary efficacy guideline. In the EPS analysis, 87% of the subjects on active treatment achieved testosterone Cavg within the normal range with lower bound CI of 82%. Additionally, sensitivity analysis using the FAS and SS reaffirmed the finding that TLANDO met the FDA primary efficacy guideline as 87% and 80%, respectively, of the subjects on active treatment achieved testosterone Cavg within the normal range with lower bound CI of 82% and 74%, respectively.

 

Other highlights from the efficacy results include:

 

· Mean Cavg was 446 ng/dL with coefficient of variance of 38%;

 

· Less than 13% of the subjects were outside the tesosterone Cavg normal range at final dose;

 

· 89% of subjects arrived at final dose with no more than one titration; and

 

· 51% of subjects were on final dose of 225 mg BID which was also the starting dose.

 

In the EPS analysis, Cmax ≤1500 ng/dL was 83%, Cmax between 1800 and 2500 ng/dL was 4.6% and Cmax > 2500 ng/dL was 2%. Three patients had a Cmax >2500 ng/dL which were transient, isolated and sporadic. Moreover, none of these subjects reported any adverse events ("AEs") through the efficacy readout at week 13. Results were generally consistent with those of approved TRT products.

 

Safety

 

The safety component of the SOAR trial was completed the last week of April 2015. The safety extension phase was designed to assess safety based on information such as metabolites, biomarkers, laboratory values, serious adverse events ("SAEs") and AE, with subjects on their stable dose regimen in both the treatment arm and the active control arm. TLANDO treatment was well tolerated in that there were no hepatic, cardiac or drug related SAEs.

 

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TLANDO safety highlights include:

 

· TLANDO was well tolerated during 52 weeks of dosing;
· Overall AE profile for TLANDO was comparable to the active control;
· Cardiac AE profiles were consistent between treatment groups and none of the observed cardiac AEs occurred in greater than 1.0% of the subjects in the TLANDO arm and none were classified as severe; and
· All observed adverse drug reactions (“ADRs”) were classified as mild or moderate in severity and no serious ADRs occurred during the 52-week treatment period.

 

We also completed our labeling "food effect" study in May 2015. Results from the labeling "food effect" study indicate that bioavailability of testosterone from TLANDO is not affected by changes in meal fat content. The results demonstrate comparable testosterone levels between the standard fat meal (similar to the meal instruction provided in the Phase 3 clinical study) and both the low and high fat meals. The labeling “food effect” study was conducted per the FDA requirement and we submitted preliminary results from this study to the FDA in the second quarter of 2015 prior to submitting the NDA. Based on our pre-NDA meeting with the FDA, we do not expect to be required to conduct a heart attack and stroke risk study or any additional safety studies prior to the potential approval of our NDA for TLANDO. We may, however, be required to conduct a heart attack and stroke risk study on our own or with a consortium of sponsors that have an approved TRT product subsequent to the potential approval of TLANDO.

 

The FDA accepted our NDA in October 2015 and has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act ("PDUFA") goal date of June 28, 2016 for completion of the review. Additionally, the 74-day filing communication letter did not mention a need to convene an Advisory Committee for advice on the NDA for TLANDO. We also expect to file a New Drug Submission in Canada in the second half of 2016.

 

LPCN 1111: A Next-Generation Oral Product Candidate for TRT

 

LPCN 1111 is a next-generation, novel ester prodrug of testosterone which uses the Lip’ral technology to enhance solubility and improve systemic absorption. We initiated a Phase 2b dose finding study in hypogonadal men in the fourth quarter of 2015 and anticipate top-line results from that study in the third quarter of 2016. The primary objectives of the Phase 2b clinical study are to determine the optimal dose of LPCN 1111 along with safety and tolerability of LPCN 1111 and its metabolites following oral administration of single and multiple doses of LPCN 1111 in hypogonadal men. The Phase 2b clinical study is an open label, two-period, multiple dose PK study in 36 hypogonadal males. The 2b clinical study has three dose levels of LPCN 1111 in Period 1 and two dose levels of LPCN 1111 in Period 2 in which 12 subjects at each dose level will receive treatment for 14 days. In October 2014, we successfully completed a Phase 2a proof-of-concept study in hypogonadal men. The Phase 2a open-label, dose-escalating single and multiple dose study enrolled 12 males. These subjects had serum total testosterone < 300 ng/dL based on two blood draws on two separate days. Subjects received doses of LPCN 1111 as a single dose of 330 mg, 550 mg, 770 mg, followed by once daily administration of 550 mg for 28 days in 10 subjects, and once daily administration of 770 mg for 28 days in eight subjects. Results from the Phase 2a clinical study demonstrated the feasibility of a once daily dosing with LPCN 1111 in hypogonadal men and a good dose response. Additionally, the study confirmed that steady state is achieved by day 14 with consistent inter-day performance observed on day 14, 21 and 28. No subjects exceeded Cmax of 1500 ng/dL at any time during the 28-day dosing period on multi-dose exposure. Overall, LPCN 1111 was well tolerated with no serious AE

 

LPCN 1107: An Oral Product Candidate for the Prevention of Preterm Birth

 

We believe LPCN 1107 has the potential to become the first oral hydroxyprogesterone caproate (“HPC”) product indicated for the reduction of risk of preterm birth in women with a prior history of at least one preterm birth. We have successfully completed a multi-dose PK dose selection study in pregnant women. The objective of the multi-dose PK selection study was to assess HPC blood levels in order to identify the appropriate LPCN 1107 Phase 3 dose. The multi-dose PK dose selection study was an open-label, four-period, four-treatment, randomized, single and multiple dose, PK study in pregnant women of three dose levels of LPCN 1107 and the injectable HPC (Makena®). The study enrolled 12 healthy pregnant women (average age of 27 years) with a gestational age of approximately 16 to 19 weeks. Subjects received three dose levels of LPCN 1107 (400 mg BID, 600 mg BID, or 800 mg BID) in a randomized, crossover manner during the first three treatment periods and then received five weekly injections of HPC during the fourth treatment period. During each of the LPCN 1107 treatment periods, subjects received a single dose of LPCN 1107 on Day 1 followed by twice daily administration from Day 2 to Day 8. Following completion of the three LPCN 1107 treatment periods and a washout period, all subjects received five weekly injections of HPC. Results from this study demonstrated that average steady state HPC levels (C avg 0-24) were comparable or higher for all three LPCN 1107 doses than for injectable HPC. Additionally, HPC levels as a function of daily dose were linear for the three LPCN 1107 doses. Also unlike the injectable HPC, steady state exposure was achieved for all three LPCN 1107 doses within seven days. The approved HPC injectable product is a single fixed dose product that does not allow for dose adjustments. We have also successfully completed a proof-of-concept Phase 1b clinical study of LPCN 1107 in healthy pregnant women in January 2015 and a proof-of-concept Phase 1a clinical study of LPCN 1107 in healthy non-pregnant women in May 2014. These studies were designed to determine the PK and bioavailability of LPCN 1107 relative to an intramuscular ("IM") HPC, as well as safety and tolerability. A traditional pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (“PK/PD”) based Phase 2 clinical study in the intended patient population may not be required prior to entering into Phase 3. Therefore; based on the results of our multi-dose PK study results we plan to request an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA in the second quarter of 2016 to agree on a Phase 3 development plan for LPCN 1107. There are multiple potential development plans for LPCN 1107 with no assurances which, if any, will be acceptable to the FDA. Each potential development plan has a different timeline, cost and risk profile.

 

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The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to LPCN 1107 based on a major contribution to patient care. Orphan designation qualifies Lipocine for various development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, and a waiver of the prescription drug user fee when we file our NDA.

 

Financial Operations Overview

 

Revenue

 

To date, we have not generated any revenues from product sales and do not expect to do so until one of our product candidates receives approval from the FDA. Revenues to date have been generated substantially from license fees, milestone payments and research support from our licensees. Since our inception through March 31, 2016, we have generated $27.5 million in revenue under our various license and collaboration arrangements and from government grants. We may never generate revenues from TLANDO or any of our other clinical or preclinical development programs or licensed products as we may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval or commercializing any of these product candidates.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation and related personnel costs, fees paid to external service providers such as contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations, contractual obligations for clinical development, clinical sites, manufacturing and scale-up for late-stage clinical trials, formulation of clinical drug supplies, and expenses associated with regulatory submissions. Research and development expenses also include an allocation of indirect costs, such as those for facilities, office expense, travel, and depreciation of equipment based on the ratio of direct labor hours for research and development personnel to total direct labor hours for all personnel. We expense research and development expenses as incurred. Since our inception, we have spent approximately $80.8 million in research and development expenses through March 31, 2016.

 

We expect to incur approximately $3.7 million in additional research and developments costs for TLANDO as we respond to FDA questions during the review of our NDA for TLANDO and as we manufacture launch supplies in advance of our NDA approval. However, these expenditures are subject to numerous uncertainties regarding timing and cost to completion.

 

Approval of our NDA for LPCN1021 may take longer than currently estimated or the FDA may require additional clinical trials or non-clinical studies. The cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of uncertainties in clinical development, including, among others:

 

the number of sites included in the trials;

 

the length of time required to enroll suitable subjects;

 

the duration of subject follow-ups;

 

the length of time required to collect, analyze and report trial results;

 

the cost, timing and outcome of regulatory review; and

 

potential changes by the FDA in clinical trial and NDA filing requirements for testosterone replacement therapies.

 

  20  

 

 

We also expect to incur significant manufacturing costs to prepare validation batches of finished product and launch supplies for TLANDO prior to potential NDA approval, which will be significant. However, these expenditures are subject to numerous uncertainties regarding timing and cost to completion, including, among others:

 

our dependence on third-party manufacturers for the production of clinical trial materials and satisfactory finished product for registration;

 

the outcome of regulatory reviews for TLANDO;

 

the potential for future license or co-promote arrangements for TLANDO, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our future plans and capital requirements; and

 

the effect on our product development activities of action taken by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.

 

A change of outcome for any of these variables with respect to the development of TLANDO could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with these efforts.

 

Given the stage of clinical development and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical development, manufacturing and regulatory approval process, we are unable to estimate with any certainty the time or cost to complete the development of LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and other product candidates. Clinical development timelines, the probability of success and development costs can differ materially from expectations and results from our clinical trials may not be favorable. If we are successful in progressing LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 or other product candidates into later stage development, we will require additional capital. The amount and timing of our future research and development expenses for these product candidates will depend on the preclinical and clinical success of both our current development activities and potential development of new product candidates, as well as ongoing assessments of the commercial potential of such activities.

 

Summary of Research and Development Expense

 

We are conducting on-going clinical trials with all three of our product candidates. Additionally, we incur costs for our other research programs. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses:

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2016     2015  
External service provider costs:                
TLANDO   $ 898,087     $ 1,246,205  
LPCN 1111     741,399       87,605  
LPCN 1107     148,490       27,425  
Other product candidates     7,500       7,500  
Total external service provider costs     1,795,476       1,368,735  
Internal personnel costs     733,503       429,761  
Other research and development costs     144,412       120,199  
Total research and development   $ 2,673,391     $ 1,918,695  

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefits, including stock-based compensation related to our executive, finance, business development, marketing, sales and support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include rent and utilities, travel expenses, professional fees for auditing, tax and legal services, market research and market analytics .

 

They also include expenses for the cost of preparing, filling and prosecuting patent applications and maintaining, enforcing and defending intellectual property-related claims.

 

We expect that general and administrative expenses will increase materially as we mature as a public company. These increases will likely include salaries and related expenses, legal and consulting fees, accounting and audit fees, director fees, increased directors’ and officers’ insurance premiums, fees for investor relations services and enhanced business and accounting systems and other costs. In addition, as our NDA is under review for TLANDO, we expect general and administrative expenses to increase as we incur pre-commercialization costs and, potentially, commercialization activities if our product candidates receive approval by the FDA including further market research, market analytics and other sales and marketing activities.

 

  21  

 

 

Other Income, Net

 

Other income, net consists primarily of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities.

  

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 30, 2016 and 2015

 

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,        
    2016     2015     Variance  
Research and development expenses   $ 2,673,391     $ 1,918,695       754,696  
General and administrative expenses     4,397,013       1,055,544       3,341,469  
Other income, net     61,659       18,633       43,026  
Income tax expense     (700 )     (200 )     (500 )

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

The increase in research and development expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily due to an increase in technical batch manufacturing costs for TLANDO of $804,000 and increased personnel costs of $304,000 partially offset by a decrease in contract research organization and consultants costs of $377,000.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

The increase in general and administrative expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily due to an increase of $1.4 million for business development, market research and pre-commercialization activities related to TLANDO and an increase of $1.3 in personnel costs. The remaining increase in 2016 of $641,000 was primarily due to a higher allocation of overhead expense for general and administrative personnel relative to research and development personnel, increased costs for patent litigation and the opening of an administrative office in New Jersey.

 

Other Income, Net

 

The increase in other income, net, primarily reflects increased interest earned on average higher balances in cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities in 2016 as compared to 2015.

 

Income tax expense

 

The increase in income tax expense is for minimum income tax in New Jersey.

 

  Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since our inception, our operations have been primarily financed through sales of our equity and payments received under our license and collaboration arrangements. We have devoted our resources to funding research and development programs, including discovery research, preclinical and clinical development activities. We have incurred operating losses in most years since our inception and we expect to continue to incur operating losses into the foreseeable future as we advance our lead product candidate, TLANDO, and further clinical development of LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and our other programs and continued research efforts.

 

As of March 31, 2016, we had $38.2 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities compared to $44.8 million at December 31, 2015. We believe that our existing capital resources, together with interest thereon, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements for at least the next twelve months. While we believe we have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to fund our projected operating requirements beyond December 31, 2016, we may need to raise additional capital at some point, either before or after December 31, 2016, to support our operations, long-term research and development and commercialization of our product candidates if they receive approval from the FDA. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Further, our operating plan may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for product development and pre-commercialization sooner than planned. We may consume our capital resources more rapidly if we elect to pursue the build out of an internal sales force as part of our commercialization launch plan if our product candidates receive approval from the FDA. We currently have no credit facility or committed sources of capital. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and, if they receive approval by the FDA, commercialization of our product candidates and our ability to enter into collaborations with third parties to participate in the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our anticipated clinical studies and ongoing development and pre-commercialization efforts. To fund future operations, we will need to raise additional capital and our requirements will depend on many factors, including the following:

 

  22  

 

 

the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our clinical studies, preclinical testing and other related activities;

 

the cost of manufacturing clinical supplies, and establishing commercial supplies, of our product candidates and any products that we may develop;

 

the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities;

 

the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing and other arrangements that we may establish;

 

the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue;

 

the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory approvals;

 

the timing, receipt and amount of sales, profit sharing or royalties, if any, from our potential products;

 

the cost of preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;

 

the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products or technologies, although we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions; and

 

the extent to which we grow significantly in the number of employees or the scope of our operations.

 

Funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Also, market conditions may prevent us from accessing the debt and equity capital markets. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or suspend one or more of our clinical studies, research and development programs or, if any of our product candidates receive approval from the FDA, commercialization efforts. We may seek to raise any necessary additional capital through a combination of public or private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements and other marketing and distribution arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through marketing and distribution arrangements, other collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we do raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences or other terms that adversely affect our stockholders’ rights or further complicate raising additional capital in the future. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we are unable, for any reason, to raise needed capital, we will have to delay research and development programs, liquidate assets, dispose of rights, commercialize products or product candidates earlier than planned or on less favorable terms than desired or reduce or cease operations.

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2016     2015  
Cash used in operating activities   $ (6,509,120 )   $ (3,025,238 )
Cash used in investing activities     582,064       (13,230 )
Cash provided by financing activities     34,249       136,869  

 

  23  

 

 

Operating Activities

 

Cash used in operating activities was $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of $3.5 million. Included in the increase was a $3.8 million increase in net loss and a $599,000 increase in accrued expenses. These changes were partially offset by a $497,000 increase in accounts payable, a $554,0000 increase in stock-based compensation and a $92,000 increase in accretion of premium on marketable investment securities.

 

Investing Activities

 

Investing activities consist primarily of purchases of marketable investment securities and property and equipment. We purchased $3.2 million of marketable investment securities in the three months ended March 31, 2016 and none during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Additionally, marketable investment securities of $3.8 million matured during the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to none maturing during the three months ended March 31, 2015. We acquired $39,000 of property and equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $13,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

Financing Activities

 

Financing activities consist primarily of proceeds from the exercise of stock options Cash provided by financing activities was $34,000 and $137,000, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Contractual Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

In August 2004, we entered into an agreement to lease our facility in Salt Lake City, Utah consisting of office and laboratory space which serves as our corporate headquarters. On May 6, 2014, we modified and extended the lease through February 28, 2018. Our remaining commitment through 2018 under this lease is $576,000. Additionally, on December 28, 2015, we entered into an agreement to lease office space in Lawrenceville, New Jersey which has an occupancy date of February 1, 2016 and an end date of January 31, 2018. Our remaining commitment through 2018 under this lease is $154,000.

 

Other Contractual Obligations

 

We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with clinical research organizations for clinical trials and clinical supply manufacturing and with vendors for preclinical research studies, research supplies and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice, and are cancellable obligations.

 

JOBS Act Accounting Election

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements which we have prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In preparing our financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. There have been no significant and material changes in our critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to those disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates” in our Form 10-K filed March 10, 2016.

 

  24  

 

 

New Accounting Standards

 

Refer to Note 11, in “Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” for a discussion of accounting standards not yet adopted.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

None.

  

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

  

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM  4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain "disclosure controls and procedures" within the meaning of Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures, or Disclosure Controls, are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Our Disclosure Controls include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our Disclosure Controls, which was done under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer. Based on the controls evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the date of their evaluation, our Disclosure Controls were effective as of March 31, 2016.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter covered by this report, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM  1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

On May 15, 2015, we filed a patent application with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO"), and our application requests that the PTO declare an interference between our patent application and Clarus Therapeutics’ U.S. Patent No. 8,828,428 (“the ‘428 patent”).  In the request for an interference, known as a "Suggestion of Interference", we asked the PTO for a determination that our pending patent application has priority over Clarus’ patent, and that the U.S. Patent Office should instead grant a patent to us. In this case we have asserted that we are the senior party, and thus entitled to priority over the Clarus’ 428 patent. Pursuant to Lipocine's request, on December 4, 2015, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) declared an interference between the Clarus '428 patent and Lipocine's application to determine, as between Clarus and Lipocine, who was the first to invent the subject matter of the claimed invention. Lipocine was declared the Senior Party in the interference, by virtue of its earlier accorded benefit date, and Clarus was declared the Junior Party. As Senior Party, Lipocine has certain procedural benefits. The claimed invention relates to an orally delivered testosterone undecanoate composition. Preliminary motions were filed by March 4, 2016, oppositions to those motions are due by May 9, 2016, and replies are due by June 20, 2016. Oral argument is scheduled for September 9, 2016.

 

On November 2, 2015, Clarus filed a complaint against us in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that TLANDO will infringe the Clarus’ 428 patent, and the complaint seeks damages, declaratory and injunctive relief.  We intend to vigorously defend against these allegations and on January 5, 2016 we filed a motion to dismiss this complaint with the court.

 

  25  

 

 

ITEM  1A. RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this Report, consider the risk factors discussed in Part 1, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016, the risk factors discussed in Part II, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the aforementioned report are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be not material also may materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and or operating results.

 

The following are the risk factors that have materially changed from our risk factors included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016:

 

RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

 

We will need to grow our company, and we may encounter difficulties in managing this growth, which could disrupt our operations.

 

As of March 31, 2016, we had only 25 employees, and we currently expect to experience significant growth in the number of employees and the scope of our operations. To manage our anticipated future growth, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Also, our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from our day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, give rise to operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. The physical expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of TLANDO. If our management is unable to effectively manage our expected growth, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth.

 

RISKS RELATING TO OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

 

We have incurred significant operating losses in most years since our inception, and anticipate that we will incur continued losses for the foreseeable future.

 

We have focused a significant portion of our efforts on developing TLANDO. We have funded our operations to date through proceeds from sales of common stock, preferred stock and convertible debt and from license and milestone revenues and research revenue from license and collaboration agreements with corporate partners. We have incurred losses in most years since our inception. As of March 31, 2016, we had an accumulated deficit of $93.5 million. Substantially all of our operating losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research and development programs and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. These losses, combined with expected future losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital. We expect our research and development expenses to significantly increase in connection with our NDA review of TLANDOand outsourced manufacturing expenses and other clinical trials associated with LPCN 1111 and LPCN 1107. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for TLANDO, we will incur significant sales, marketing and commercialization expenses. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future as we advance our lead product candidate, TLANDO, and further clinical development of LPCN 1111, LPCN 1107 and our other programs and continued research efforts. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all. 

   

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

  

As previously disclosed, on November 25, 2013, the SEC declared effective our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-192069) relating to our public offering. There have not been any material changes in the use of proceeds from what has previously been disclosed relating to such offering.

 

  26  

 

 

ITEM  3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

  

None.

   

ITEM  5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this report.

 

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.

 

  Lipocine Inc.
  (Registrant)
   
Dated: May 9, 2016 /s/ Mahesh V. Patel
 

Mahesh V. Patel, President and Chief

Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

   
Dated: May 9, 2016 /s/ Morgan R. Brown
 

Morgan R. Brown, Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

  27  

 

   

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit     Incorporation By Reference
Number   Exhibit Description     Form   SEC File No.   Exhibit   Filing Date
                     
10.1 *†   Manufacturing Agreement, dated March 3, 2016, by and between Lipocine Inc. and Encap Drug Delivery                
                     
31.1 *   Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002                
                     
31.2 *   Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002                
                     
32.1 *   Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350 (1)                
                     
32.2 *   Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350 (1)                
                     
101.INS*   XBRL Instance Document                
                     
101.SCH *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document                
                     
101.CAL *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document                
                     
101.DEF *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document                
                     
101.LAB *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document                
                     
101.PRE *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document                
                     
*   Filed herewith                
                     
  Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to certain provisions of this exhibit                
                     
(1)  

This certification accompanies the Form 10-Q to which it relates, is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act (whether made before or after the date of the Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing. 

               

 

  28  

  

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING SERVICES AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT

 

This Commercial Manufacturing Services and Supply Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 3, 2016 (“Effective Date”), by and between Lipocine Inc., with offices at 675 Arapeen Drive, Suite 202, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (“Customer”), and M.W. Encap Ltd., together with its Affiliates, with offices at Units 4, 5 & 6, Oakbank Park, Livingston, West Lothian, EH53 0TH (“Encap”). Each of Encap and Customer may be referred to individually as a “Party,” and Encap and Customer may be referred to collectively as the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, Customer is engaged in research and development of pharmaceutical products; and

 

WHEREAS, Encap can process and fill pharmaceutical formulations in liquid filled hard capsules; and

 

WHEREAS, Customer wishes to engage Encap, and Encap wishes to be engaged by Customer, to manufacture quantities of the Product (as defined below), pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement for human pharmaceutical use in the Territory produced in accordance with cGMP.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and warranties set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL MATTERS .

 

1.1             Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below.

 

· “Affiliate” means any Person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with any other Person; provided, however, with respect to Encap, the term “Affiliate” shall be limited to Persons who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries are Controlled by the parent of Encap’s direct parent entity. “Control” means (a) the direct or indirect legal or beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the ownership interests in a Person or (ii) the outstanding voting rights in a Person or (b) the power to otherwise direct the business activities of a Person.

 

· “API” means the active pharmaceutical ingredient testosterone undecanoate that has been released by Customer and provided to Encap, along with a certificate of analysis certifying that it has been manufactured in accordance with its specifications.

 

· “Application” means an NDA submitted to the U.S. FDA for the Product or its equivalent in the Territory.

 

· “Arising IP” means all IP developed by a Party pursuant to the research, development and manufacture of the Product under the terms of this Agreement.

 

· “Claim or Proceeding” means any third party claim, action, suit, proceeding or arbitration, including any governmental authority action or investigation.

 

· “Commercialization” means the date upon which the FDA approves Customer’s Application seeking approval for the sale and marketing of Product in the Territory.

 

  1  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

· “cGMPs” mean all applicable Laws in the Territory relating to current good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical products (including but not limited to ingredients, packaging, testing, storage, distribution, handling, intermediates, bulk and finished products) promulgated by any relevant governmental authority, as may be updated, supplemented or amended from time to time.

 

· “Facility” means Encap’s manufacturing facility located at Edinburgh, Scotland or such other locations as mutually agreed to in accordance with Section 2.2 herein.

 

· “FDA” means the United States Food and Drug Administration, or any successor agency thereof.

 

· “Healthcare Laws” means the laws, regulations, policies and guidelines of all governmental authorities relating to the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, pricing, marketing, promotion, sale, distribution, coverage, or reimbursement of a drug, including the federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq.), the federal healthcare program anti-kickback statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b, 42 C.F.R. § 1001.952), the Federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7h) (the “Sunshine Act”), the healthcare fraud, false statement and health information privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations (“HIPAA”), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), the federal healthcare program civil money penalty and exclusion authorities (42 U.S.C. §§ 1320a-7 and 1320a-7a), federal statutes related to Health Care Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1347) and False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters (18 U.S.C. § 1035), the applicable requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and other Governmental Authority healthcare programs, including the Veterans Health Administration and U.S. Department of Defense healthcare and contracting programs, all government price reporting laws such as those pertaining to Average Manufacturer Price, Best Price, Average Sales Price, and non-Federal Average Manufacturer Price that may be applicable to Products, and the analogous laws of any locality, state or country, all as amended from time to time.

 

· “Hidden Defect” means those deviations from the Specifications that are not visible or readily identifiable at the time of delivery.

 

· “Intellectual Property” or “IP” means any and all of the following, and rights in, arising out of, or associated therewith: U.S. and non-U.S. (a) patents, utility models, supplementary protection certificates and applications thereof (including provisional applications, invention disclosures, certificates of invention and applications for certificates of invention) and divisional, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions, re-examinations, and equivalents thereof, (b) trade secrets, know-how, proprietary information, inventions, discoveries, improvements, technology, technical data, work product and the contents thereof, and research and development, whether or not patentable, (c) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, and equivalents thereof, (d) copyrights, mask works, registrations and applications thereof, and equivalents thereof.

 

· “Law” means Healthcare Laws, any treaty, law, statute, rule, regulation, judicial opinion or administrative finding or order.

 

· “Losses” means any and all losses, fines, fees, settlements, payments, obligations, penalties, deficiencies, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees).

 

· “Launch Stock” means up to [***] units of Product.

 

  2  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

· “Minimum Launch Stock” means, subject to Section 3.1(b), [***] units of Product (which, for clarity, is part of the Launch Stock).

 

· “Minimum Purchase Requirement” means Customer’s purchase from Encap of a minimum of [***] units of Product in the Territory annually during the Term beginning on the date of Commercialization in the Territory (which annual amount (x) for the year in which such date of Commercialization occurs shall include purchases of Product since the Effective Date, and (y) for the final year of this Agreement shall be prorated if such final year is a partial calendar year).

 

· “Non-Complying Product” definition is set forth in Section 9.1 of this Agreement.

 

· “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization.

 

· “Product” means liquid filled hard capsules (“Product Capsules”) containing the API and Customer’s fill formulation containing the API, as more fully described in the Specifications.

 

· “Quality Agreement” means the Quality Agreement referred to in Section 9.1.

 

· “Regulatory Authority” means any governmental regulatory authority within a Territory involved in regulating any aspect of the development, manufacture, market approval, sale, distribution, packaging or use of the Product.

 

· “Specifications” means the release specifications for the manufacture, processing, bulk packaging, testing and testing procedures, shipping, storage and supply of the Product, any raw materials requirements, analytical procedures and standards of quality control and quality assurance, established by the Parties for the Product. Specifications are attached as Exhibit B .

 

· “Supply Price” means the price of Product referred to in Section 4.1.

 

· “Territory” means the United States of America, its territories, possessions, districts, protectorates and Commonwealths and any other country that the Parties agree in writing to add to this definition of Territory in an amendment to this Agreement.

 

1.2             Exhibits.    The attached Exhibits are incorporated in and form part of this Agreement:

 

EXHIBIT A COMMERCIAL TERMS
EXHIBIT B RELEASE SPECIFICATIONS
EXHIBIT C ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION
EXHIBIT D SDS OF API PROVIDED BY CUSTOMER

 

2. TERM; FACILITY

 

2.1             Term.   The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and, unless terminated earlier as provided for herein, shall remain in effect for five (5) years from the date of Commercialization (“Initial Term”). The Initial Term shall thereafter be extended for subsequent years upon the mutual written agreement of the Parties (the Initial Term, together with such subsequent periods, the “Term”).

 

  3  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

2.2             Facility.   Encap shall perform all manufacturing activities and all storage activities at the Facility. Encap may use other facilities for the manufacture and storage of Product provided that (i) such facilities have been approved for such manufacture and storage by all applicable governmental authorities and (ii) Customer’s written approval is obtained prior to the use of such facilities, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld by Customer.

 

3. FORECASTS AND ORDERS

 

3.1 Launch Stock Order .

 

(a) Customer has prior to the Effective Date submitted to Encap a purchase order for a portion of the Minimum Launch Stock relating to the validation batches, and shall prior to [***] submit to Encap a purchase order for the remainder of the Minimum Launch Stock (together, the “Minimum Launch Stock Purchase Order”). Encap shall deliver the Minimum Launch Stock no later than [***]. Encap shall notify Customer immediately in writing if at any time Encap has reason to believe that it will not be able to fill the Minimum Launch Stock Purchase Order. Should Encap advise Customer that it cannot meet the [***] delivery date, then such inability shall be deemed a Supply Failure and the provisions of Section 3.7 shall apply.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Encap shall use commercially reasonable efforts to be able to manufacture and supply more than the Minimum Launch Stock on or prior to [***], including by obtaining permission from other customers to defer manufacture and supply of their products, rearranging the order or configuration of the manufacture and supply of other products, changing or adding shifts, and accelerating the availability of additional sites within the Facility. Encap shall keep Customer reasonably informed of the progress of such efforts and, upon obtaining such additional manufacture and supply capacity, shall notify Customer of such ability. Upon receipt of such notice, Customer may submit a Purchase Order or modify an existing Purchase Order in order to take advantage of Encap’s additional manufacture and supply capacity up to an additional [***] units of Product above the Minimum Launch Stock.

 

3.2             Steady State Rolling Forecasts. Following delivery of the Launch Stock Purchase Order, but no later than 30 days prior to Commercialization, Customer shall submit to Encap a good faith, estimated twelve (12) month rolling forecast of the quantity of Product Customer expects to order for production commencing with the month following the month in which such forecast is provided (“Forecast”). Each Forecast shall be non-binding, with the exception of the Forecast for the first three months of the Forecast, which shall be considered a firm order for Product (“Firm Order”).

 

3.3             Purchase Orders.    Customer shall submit a purchase order corresponding to the Firm Order (“Purchase Order”) [***] in advance of the delivery date requested in the Purchase Order. Each Purchase Order shall specify the quantity of Product ordered, Customer’s purchase order number, the requested delivery date, the invoice address, the shipping address and any further information necessary or reasonably requested by Encap to facilitate the shipment of Product. Encap shall acknowledge receipt of Purchase Orders within ten (10) business days of receipt of the Purchase Order and Encap shall notify Customer immediately in writing if at any time Encap has reason to believe that it will not be able to fill a Firm Order (a “Supply Deficiency Notice”). Beginning with the [***] Purchaser Order delivered with the Firm Order portion of a Forecast, should Encap thereafter deliver to Customer [***] Supply Deficiency Notices in response to [***] consecutive Purchase Orders, or more than [***] Supply Deficiency Notices in any [***] month rolling period, then a “ Supply Failure ” shall be deemed to have occurred and the provisions of Section 3.7 shall apply.

 

  4  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

3.4             Purchase Order Variances.    If the quantity of the Product ordered by Customer pursuant to Section 3.3 for delivery in any one month is more than [***] greater than the quantity of Product reflected in the most recent Forecast for such month, Encap shall use commercially reasonable efforts, but shall not be obligated, to deliver the quantity of the Product ordered by Customer in excess of [***] of such Forecast amount. Provided however, that should Customer submit a new Purchase Order for additional Product to cover previously supplied Product that was determined to be Non-Complying Product under Section 9.2, Encap shall accept the Purchaser Order and such additional Purchase Order shall not be counted towards determining the preceding limitation.

 

3.5             Forms and Inconsistencies.    Any term or condition of a Purchase Order, acceptance form used by Encap, or any other correspondence between the Parties that is different from, inconsistent with or contrary to the terms and condition of this Agreement shall be void. All Purchase Orders submitted by Customer shall be deemed to incorporate and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Encap’s failure to object to any provisions contained in any communication from Customer shall not be deemed a waiver of the provisions herein.

 

3.6             Unplanned Delay or Elimination of Processing .    Encap shall use commercially reasonable efforts to fulfill the Launch Stock Purchase Order and each subsequent Purchase Order. Encap shall provide Customer with as much advance notice as possible (and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide at least fifteen (15) days' advance notice where possible) if Encap determines that any production will be delayed or eliminated for any reason.

 

3.7             Supply Failure .    In the event of any Supply Failure that remains uncured for thirty [***] days following the occurrence of such Supply Failure, the Parties agree that: (i) Customer shall have the right (upon written notice to Encap) to obtain the Product elsewhere from another supplier; (ii) from and after such notice, Customer shall be relieved of any Firm Commitment under any then-existing Forecasts or Purchase Orders and the amount of the Product purchased from another supplier shall count towards the Minimum Purchase Requirement; (iii) Encap shall grant Customer or its designee any licenses as may be necessary or reasonably useful for the manufacture of the Product and shall transfer to Customer or its designee, upon request by Customer, any applicable data and information; and (iv) subject to the aggregate cap on costs and expenses set forth in Section 11.4, Encap shall promptly reimburse Customer for any additional costs incurred by Customer as a result of such supply failure, upon receipt of written invoice thereof with reasonable supporting documentation. Subject to Section 11.4, nothing contained in this Section 3.7 shall limit any legal rights or remedies that may be available to Customer on account of any such supply failure.

 

3.8 Customer's Modification .

 

        A.    Customer may modify the delivery date, Specifications or quantity of Product in such Purchase Order only by submitting a written change order ("Change Order") to Encap at least [***] business days in advance of the earliest scheduled production date covered by the Change Order. Such Change Order shall be effective and binding against Encap only upon the written approval of Encap, and notwithstanding the foregoing, Customer shall remain responsible for the Firm Order portion of the Rolling Forecast.

 

        B.    If Customer fails to place Purchase Orders sufficient to satisfy the Firm Order, Customer shall, within [***] days of receipt of invoice, (i) pay to Encap an amount equal to [***] of the total purchase price of the Purchase Orders for all units of Product that would have been produced if Customer had placed Purchase Orders sufficient to satisfy the Firm Order, and (ii) reimburse Encap for raw materials and packaging components purchased by Encap for use solely in the manufacture of the Product and that would have been reasonably necessary to acquire in advance in order to fulfill any Forecast previously delivered by Customer and that cannot be used for future manufacture of Product or otherwise in Encap’s business, and Encap shall promptly deliver such materials and components to Customer or its designee at Customer’s written direction and cost.

 

  5  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

3.9             Reservation of Capacity.    Subject to Section 3.1 with respect to the manufacture and delivery of the Minimum Launch Stock, Encap will ensure that it will be in a position to manufacture and deliver all of the remainder of the Launch Stock by [***]. The Launch Stock (including the Minimum Launch Stock, as applicable) will be released on an on-going basis for secondary packaging in accordance with the delivery dates specified in the applicable Purchase Order. Additionally, by [***], Encap will ensure that it will be in a position to manufacture and supply at least [***] [***] units of Product in a twelve (12) month period ([***] units of Product monthly) based on the rolling Forecast submitted pursuant to Section 3.2 above. Should Customer determine that it requires greater than [***] units of Product in any twelve (12) month period, then the Parties shall negotiate in good faith costs and resources associated with such increased production demand.

 

4. PRICE; PAYMENT TERMS; TITLE

 

4.1             Price and Payments.    Customer agrees to pay Encap for the Product provided hereunder at the Supply Price set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

 

4.2             Taxes .   Supply Price is exclusive of taxes, which taxes shall be for the account of Customer. Taxes that Encap is required by Law to collect from Customer, e.g., V.A.T., will be separately stated in Encap’s invoice and will be paid by Customer to Encap.

 

4.3             Payment Terms.    The payment terms are set forth in Exhibit A . Encap shall invoice Customer at the time Product is tendered for delivery to Customer or Customer’s designee together with appropriate necessary release documentation. If Customer delays the requested delivery date of Product set forth in a Purchase Order, Encap may invoice Customer on the delivery date set forth in the Purchase Order or, if such Product is not ready for delivery on such date, then on such later date when such Product is ready for delivery, in each case with appropriate necessary release documentation. Each shipment shall constitute an independent transaction, and Customer shall pay for the same in accordance with the specified payment terms and without deduction or set-off.

 

4.4             Shipping Term; Title.    Title and risk of loss or damage to the Product shall pass to Customer according to the terms of shipment set forth in Exhibit A . Encap shall provide necessary documentation to allow shipment from Encap’s premises to those detailed in the Purchase Order. Product that has been released for commercialization and held by Encap at Customer’s request beyond the scheduled delivery date set forth in the applicable Purchase Order or due to Customer’s refusal to accept delivery of Product in accordance with the applicable Purchase Order shall be stored at Customer’s risk and expense. In the event Encap stores Product that has been released for commercialization, beginning [***] beyond the delivery date Encap may charge Customer a reasonable storage fee equal to [***] per pallet of Product that has been released for commercialization.

 

4.5             Cancellation of Purchase Order.    Should Customer notify Encap that it is terminating an outstanding Purchase Order within thirty (30) days after the order has been placed (or otherwise delaying the delivery date such that Encap cannot, in the exercise of commercially reasonable efforts, use the partially completed materials), Customer shall (i) pay to Encap all documented costs of the undelivered partially completed materials plus a [***] mark-up for handling. In the event a Purchase Order is cancelled more than thirty (30) days after the order has been placed, Customer shall pay an amount equal to [***] of the amount of the purchase price for the Product ordered in the terminated Purchase Order, and (ii) reimburse Encap for raw materials and packaging components purchased by Encap for use solely in the manufacture of the Product and that would have been reasonably necessary to acquire in advance in order to fulfill such Purchase Order and that cannot be used for future manufacture of Product or otherwise in Encap’s business, and Encap shall promptly deliver such materials and components to Customer or its designee at Customer’s written direction and cost.

 

  6  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

4.6             Credit .   Encap shall have the right to cancel any Purchase Order accepted by Encap, or to delay the shipment of the Product ordered therein, if Customer fails to meet payment schedules or other credit or financial requirements established by Encap within [***] of such request being provided to Customer. Customer agrees to make available to Encap all publicly available financial statements that have been filed in Customer’s filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Encap reserves the right at all times, either generally or with respect to any specific Purchase Order, upon [***]advance written notice, to vary, change or limit the amount or duration of credit to be allowed to Customer.

 

5. OBLIGATIONS OF THE CUSTOMER

 

5.1             Manufacture and Supply of API.    Customer shall comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws related to the manufacture of API and the delivery of API to Encap. Customer shall supply Encap, at Customer’s sole cost, the API and applicable reference standards in quantities sufficient to meet Customer’s requirements for Product hereunder. Prior to importation of the API by Encap for use in the manufacture of Product and delivery of any applicable reference standard to Encap by Customer, Customer shall provide to Encap a copy of the API Certificate of Analysis and the API Material Safety Data Sheet. Customer shall be responsible for qualification of the API supplier and associated API testing prior to delivery to Encap. Upon receipt of API, Encap shall conduct identification testing of the API to confirm the identity. Customer may request that Encap perform additional API testing at Customer’s expense to confirm that the API meets the associated Specifications or Certificate of Analysis subject to the following conditions: (i) written agreement between the Parties; and (ii) successful transfer of the testing methods to Encap if Encap is to confirm that the API meets the associated Specifications. API shall be used by Encap solely for carrying out the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Customer shall supply Encap with the quantity of API required to manufacture the Product in the amount specified in Customer’ Purchase Order not less than [***] prior to the requested delivery date of Product in an accepted Purchase Order. Customer shall also provide Encap with an additional amount of API to allow for normal waste and breakage in the manufacturing process. Such additional amount shall be based on the actual amount of API loss experienced in the manufacture of the initial [***]batches of Product, but such API loss shall not exceed [***] of the amount necessary to manufacture Product without Customer prior written agreement (excluding material for lab testing and retain) (“Loss Allowance”). The actual Loss Allowance experienced by Encap in the manufacture of Product shall be reconciled on annual basis with the first such adjustment to occur at the end of [***]. The Parties anticipate that the Loss Allowance shall be different for each of the two (2) different capsule concentrations of API and the Loss Allowance shall be determined for either capsule concentrations beginning January 1, [***] and beyond based on actual performance data but not to exceed [***]. Additionally, the agreed upon Loss Allowance shall be subject to recalculation on an annual basis to account for increases in efficiencies by Encap in the manufacture of Product. Encap shall not be responsible for any failure to deliver or any delivery delay of Product due to the failure of Customer to deliver or cause delivery of API in the time specified in this Section. In the event of any loss or damage to API while in the possession of Encap in excess of the Loss Allowance, Encap’s sole and exclusive liability to Customer related to or arising out of such loss shall be limited to reimbursement of Customer for replacement API at the actual cost thereof plus any additional direct costs of the API including shipping, handling and importation costs. Customer shall retain title to API and all Customer supplied materials at all times, and Customer shall bear the risk of loss thereof until the time API and/or Customer supplied materials are delivered to Encap’s loading dock at the Facility.

 

  7  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

5.2             Health & Safety Data.    (a) Customer has provided to Encap certain information relating to the API, attached hereto as Exhibit D . To the extent Customer has not provided the information in Exhibit D and to the extent it possesses the information, Customer shall provide to Encap, prior to the shipment of any API to Encap hereunder, the environmental, health and safety information described in Exhibit C as it relates to the API. Customer shall properly document all such test results and shall provide such documentation to Encap prior to the delivery of any API to Encap.

 

(b)  Customer shall provide to Encap promptly upon receipt by Customer (i) any information needed to clarify, correct, supplement or amend any of the information described in Exhibit C or provided in Exhibit D and (ii) any other information reasonably related to the environmental, health and safety implications, including employee health and safety, of the handling, manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of the API. Encap shall not be responsible for any failure to deliver or delivery delay due to Customer’s failure to deliver such results or documentation.

 

5.3             Compliance with Law; Use and Disposal of Product.    Customer is responsible for (a) the use, packaging, labeling, distribution, marketing, promotion, sale and disposal of Product, including compliance with all present and future Laws related to the same; (b) communicating with any governmental authority concerning the Product, including without limitation with respect to the registration, classification or notification of a new Product or substance, or the use, packaging, labeling, distribution, marketing, promotion, sale or disposal of the same or any adverse events related to the Product (for the avoidance of doubt, Encap may interact with governmental authorities for the purpose of fulfilling its obligations hereunder); (c) storing and handling Product in appropriate conditions following its delivery; and (d) determining the Specifications for the Product to permit its sale in the Territory. Customer shall conduct all such activities at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Encap has no control, role, or other form of influence in Customer’s use, packaging, labeling, distribution, marketing, promotion, sale and disposal of Product, nor does it control or influence any payments or transfers of value that may be made by Customer to health care professionals, health care institutions, or any other customer or third party. Customer is responsible for participation and compliance in all government health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and any rebate liability, mandatory pricing, or reporting obligations resulting therefrom.

 

5.4             Import of API.    Encap shall serve as the importer of record and import API on Customer’s behalf and at Customer’s expense. Customer shall provide Encap with such documentation as is required to be available in accordance with the applicable Laws, as well as other documentation and information reasonably requested by Encap relating to the same and that is necessary for the importation of API.

 

5.5             Additional Obligations.    Customer shall manage, direct and be responsible for all intellectual property decisions and all litigation costs which result solely from the filing of the Application and that are not related to Encap’s manufacturing processes and procedures. Customer shall maintain pharmacovigilance infrastructure as required by a distributor of Product. Customer will own and control all regulatory approvals in the Territory (including all associated contents and correspondences) and applications therefor related to the Product and any other marketing authorizations within the Territory.

 

6. OBLIGATIONS OF ENCAP

 

6.1             Manufacture of the Product, Raw Materials and API.    Encap shall manufacture and supply Product in accordance with the Specifications. Encap shall execute process validation batches and perform validation services with protocols, time lines and pricing as agreed to between the Parties in writing.

 

  8  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

Promptly following execution of this Agreement, Encap shall commence such activities as necessary to ensure that it has sufficient capacity to meet its Product supply obligations hereunder which activities shall include recruitment of personnel and construction of additional clean rooms as are necessary to ensure Encap’s ability to meet its supply obligations set forth in this Agreement.

 

Encap shall be responsible for procuring raw materials from vendors qualified by Customer, inspecting and releasing adequate raw materials in accordance with the Specifications as necessary to meet the Firm Order, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties in writing. Encap shall keep safety stock of raw materials required for the manufacture of the Product of at least the [***] or such time as Encap is in a position to manufacture [***] of Product per month, when at such time the required amount of safety stock shall be re-evaluated in good faith by each of the Parties.

 

6.2             Testing and Release.    Encap shall be responsible for and shall conduct quality assurance and quality control functions, including identity testing of API and additional testing of API if agreed to by the Parties as set forth in Section 5.1, and at Customer’s expense, testing of raw materials, oversight of manufacturing process, release testing of Product, stability testing of Product, and maintaining of reference standards as set forth in the Quality Agreement.

 

6.3             Encap Regulatory Obligations .   Encap shall be responsible for and shall conduct all activities necessary for (i) maintaining approved regulatory status for commercial production and testing facilities including U.S. FDA and its equivalent in the Territory and other customary standards and paying all regulatory and license fees for its facilities, conducting Product support such as periodic audits, annual Product reviews, sample storage, batch documentation, audit reports, appropriate vendor qualification and other applicable regulatory requirements to supply Product to the Territory during the Term and following FDA approval of the Product; (ii) serving as the importer of record and import the API on Customer’s behalf and at Customer’s expense, including obtaining all permits and licenses required to import of raw materials and components, including API, and co-operating with Customer on the export of API for the development, manufacture, and delivery of pilot batches, pivotal batches, validation, and commercial batches of the Product, along with associated costs for the import permits or licenses; (iii) being prepared for an FDA pre-approval inspection within [***] working days of Application submission; and (iv) diligently sharing with Customer all regulatory communication pertaining to Product supply and quality. “Submission” shall be deemed to have occurred on the date that the Application is delivered to the FDA by Customer or its agent.

 

6.4             Inspections and Audits .   Customer and its representatives shall have the right to visit or audit the Facility, at a reasonable time and upon two weeks advance written notice to Encap with respect to an ordinary course audit and [***] notice if such inspection is part of an investigation that in the reasonable determination of Customer is required to assure Product is being processed in accordance with the Specifications, or, if such investigation arises out of the recent manufacture of Non-Complying Product, a Product Recall or customer complaint, or to ensure Product is being manufactured in accordance with applicable Law to verify that the documentation, equipment and material relating to the Product is maintained in accordance with applicable Laws, that Encap is manufacturing Product in accordance with the Specifications and applicable Laws, and that Encap is performing its obligations hereunder. Customer shall bear all costs related to any such audit, visit or inspection. In the event that Customer identifies a material deviation from the Specifications, applicable Laws, or the provisions of this Agreement or the Quality Agreement, then Customer shall provide Encap with a written report detailing the results of its inspection and audit. Encap shall provide a response to the written report within five (5) business days of receipt of the written report from Customer. If the Parties are unable to agree on the findings of Customer’s written report or on Encap’s procedures to address such findings, then the matter shall be submitted to the senior management of each Party who shall seek to resolve such issues within [***] days of the matter arising to them for review. If the Parties are unable to so resolve the issues, then the matter shall be submitted for resolution to the respective CEOs of Encap and Customer. In the event the CEOs cannot agree to the findings within [***] days of the matter being submitted to them, the Parties shall appoint a third party, a mutually acceptable independent reputable expert within [***] days to determine whether the findings are reasonable and the Party at fault, the findings of which shall be binding on the Parties, absent manifest error. Expenses of such expert shall be borne by the Party against whom the expert finds.

 

  9  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

Upon Customer’s written request, Encap will make available to Customer for inspection copies of batch manufacturing records and lab notebooks associated with the manufacture and/or testing of Product by Encap under this Agreement.

 

6.5             Government Inquiries and Inspections.    Encap will allow full access to any governmental regulatory inspection. Encap will advise Customer within twenty-four (24) hours of when it becomes aware that any Regulatory Authority intends to inspect the Facility with respect to the manufacture of the Product. Customer will have the right to have its representatives present at the Facility (but not as part of the inspection) for such inspection relating to the Product. Encap will also promptly provide a report of the result of any such inspection to Customer and will promptly notify Customer of any notice of any deficiencies regarding the manufacturing of the Product by any Regulatory Authority, including, in each case, a copy of redacted copies of any inspection reports regarding the manufacturing of the Product (excluding any third party confidential information or Encap Confidential Information) issued as a result of such inspections and any follow-up written communications between Encap and the relevant Regulatory Authority or other governmental agency regarding the manufacturing of the Product. Encap will use commercially reasonable efforts to correct all deficiencies identified in such written communications in a timely manner and advise Customer periodically of progress being made, as well as when all deficiencies are corrected.

 

6.6             Observance of Product Manufacturing Activities.    Customer shall be entitled to have its designated representative on-site at the Facility, upon two weeks advance notice, to observe manufacturing runs of the Product at Encap’s facility and/or to seek any other relevant information, if any. Customer may, at its sole option, be present for all process transfer, scale-up and validation batches of Product.

 

6.7             Sub-Contractors.    Encap shall not sub-contract out to third parties any of its obligations hereunder without the express written consent of Customer. Furthermore, Encap shall not use any supplier of raw materials that has not been previously qualified by Customer.

 

6.8             Operation and Maintenance of Facility .   Encap shall, at its cost and expense, operate and maintain the Facility and all equipment and machinery used, directly or indirectly, to manufacture the Product in accordance with all applicable Laws (including cGMPs) and requirements of governmental authorities, and maintain the Facility, and such equipment and machinery, in an acceptable state of repair and operating efficiency so as to meet the Specifications. Any costs or expenses related to operating, obtaining required regulatory or other approvals for, or bringing into compliance, the Facility or such equipment or machinery, including that portion of any FDA establishment fees that are allocated by the FDA to other products manufactured by Encap at the Facility, shall be borne exclusively by Encap.

 

7. REGULATORY AND RECALL.

 

7.1             Customer Regulatory Obligations.    Customer is responsible for compiling the registration dossiers (with reasonable and necessary assistance from Encap), filing the marketing applications with the regulatory authorities in the Territory, and maintaining marketing authorizations for the Product and the costs associated with the same. Encap shall reasonably assist Customer in obtaining and maintaining marketing authorizations for the Product. Customer is responsible for (a) the formulation, use, packaging, labeling, distribution and disposal of Product, including compliance with all laws and regulations related to the same; (b) communicating with any governmental authority concerning the Product (for the avoidance of doubt, Encap may interact with governmental authorities for the purpose of fulfilling legal obligations); and (c) storing and handling Product in appropriate conditions following its delivery; and (d) determining that the Product is permitted for human use. Customer is responsible for developing all Product labeling, printing the labels, and for labeling content.

 

  10  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

7.2             Ownership of Application.    Customer will own and control all regulatory approvals in the Territory (including all associated contents and correspondences) and Applications therefore related to the Product, including the Application and any other marketing authorizations within the Territory, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties. Encap shall permit Customer to include reference to Encap in the Application, and Encap agrees to such reference in the Application and to reasonably assist Customer as needed and required for the approval of the Application, such as pre approval inspection, DMF update or any other regulatory matter that needs Encap assistance.

 

7.3             Recall.     In the event Encap believes a recall, field alert, Product withdrawal or field correction ("Recall") may be necessary with respect to any Product provided under this Agreement, Encap shall immediately notify Customer in writing. In the event Customer believes a Recall may be necessary with respect to any Product provided under this Agreement, Customer shall immediately notify Encap in writing and Encap shall provide all necessary cooperation and assistance to Customer. The cost of any Recall shall be borne by Customer unless such Recall is caused in whole or in part by Encap's breach of its obligations under this Agreement or Law or its negligence or willful misconduct, then such cost, if wholly attributable to Encap shall be borne by Encap, or if partially attributable to Encap, such pro rata cost, shall be borne by Encap. In the event the Parties cannot agree as to the cause of the Recall, the Parties shall appoint a third party mutually acceptable independent reputable expert within 30 days to determine the cause of the Recall and the Party at fault, the findings of which shall be binding on the Parties, absent manifest error. Expenses of such expert shall be borne by the Party at fault for the Recall.

 

7.4             Adverse Events.    Customer shall be responsible for Pharmacovigilance of the Product and adverse events reporting. Encap shall, within twenty-four (24) hours of when it becomes aware, notify and forward to Customer any information concerning any potentially serious or unexpected side effect, injury, toxicity or sensitivity reaction or any unexpected incidence or other adverse experience related to the Product (an “Adverse Experience”) reported to it. Customer agrees that it shall be solely responsible to review, analyze and respond to any Adverse Experience. Encap shall have no obligation with respect to an Adverse Experience other than the obligation to notify Customer and to provide such support and information and assistance as commercially reasonable to confirm that Product was supplied and manufactured in accordance with the Specifications.

 

8. EXCLUSIVITY AND MINUMUM PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS.

 

8.1             Minimum Purchase Requirement.    Provided that, by July 1, 2016, Encap is able to demonstrate its capacity to manufacture and supply on an annual basis [***] units in a twelve (12) month period (i.e., [***] units per month) of Product in accordance with the Specifications and continues to be able to do so, Customer shall purchase the Minimum Purchase Requirement. Customer’s obligation to purchase the Minimum Purchase Requirement shall be suspended for as long as the Product is subject to a regulatory hold by the FDA or other applicable Regulatory Authority.

 

8.2             Exclusivity Obligations.    During the Term of this Agreement and subject to Customer meeting its Minimum Purchase Requirement, Encap and its Affiliates shall not (i) develop, manufacture or commercialize for itself or for any third party any oral testosterone undecanoate product in a [***] or (ii) develop, manufacture or commercialize for itself or any third party a [***] testosterone undecanoate product to the Product. The foregoing exclusivity obligations shall continue for a period of [***] after (i) notice of termination of this Agreement without cause by Encap post commercial launch of the Product as set forth Section 14.3 or (ii) termination of this Agreement by Customer due to Encap’s breach. The exclusivity obligation in this Section 8.2 will be null and void if Customer’s Application has not been approved by the FDA within [***] from the Effective Date.

 

  11  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

9.1             Regarding the Product.    Encap represents and warrants to Customer that:

 

(a)  as of the date of delivery to Customer, the Product furnished by Encap to Customer has been manufactured (a) in conformity with the Specifications and (b) in all material respects in accordance with cGMP, applicable local standards and compliance with local laws;

 

(b)  to Encap’s knowledge, Encap’s processes, methodologies and activities to be performed under this Agreement do not as of the Effective Date and will not during the Term violate or infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

 

(c)  to Encap’s knowledge, none of its employees, affiliates, contractors, and agents as of the Effective Date are or have ever been or will be during the Term (i) debarred or (ii) convicted of a crime for which a person can be debarred, under Section 335(a) or 335(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

 

9.2             Rejection of Product; Disposal of Rejected Shipments .   (a) Customer may reject any Product that does not meet the Specifications or that was processed in breach of the warranties set forth in 9.1 at the time of delivery (“Non-Complying Product”) by providing written notice of rejection to Encap within thirty (30) days following Customer’s receipt of Product at the shipping address designated by Customer in the applicable Purchase Order for such Product shipment; provided that such period for rejection shall in the case of Hidden Defects in the Product be one year following Encap’s release of such Non-Complying Product. Failure by Customer to provide notice of rejections within the applicable timeframe shall constitute irrevocable acceptance of the Product by Customer.

 

(b)   Encap shall examine and test any Product that Customer claims to be a Non-Complying Product and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Customer via a written report of the results of such examination within fifteen (15) days of return of such Non-Complying Product to Encap by Customer. Such written report shall include (i) an analysis of the sample received from Customer (and any other samples tested), (ii) copies of all records pertaining to the test methods employed in such analysis (along with the results thereof) and (iii) data generated with respect to the status of such sample(s) at all times while in the possession or control of Encap.

 

(c)   In the event the Parties cannot agree as to whether or not any shipment of Product is a Non- Complying Product, the Parties shall appoint a third party, a mutually acceptable independent reputable laboratory to complete and report the relevant testing within [***], the findings of which shall be binding on the Parties, absent manifest error. The Parties shall ensure that such independent laboratory is bound to the Parties by obligations of confidentiality no less exacting than those applying between the Parties. Expenses of such laboratory testing shall be borne by the Party whose position is determined to have been in error or, if the laboratory cannot place the fault noticed and complained about, then the Parties shall share equally the expenses of the laboratory.

 

  12  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

(d)   Customer agrees that Encap shall have no liability to the extent the Non-Complying Product is due to any action or inaction on the part of Customer, any Affiliate of Customer or any third party under contract with or subject to the control or direction of Customer or any Affiliate of Customer.

 

9.3             Remedy for Non-Complying Product. Customer shall return any shipments of Non-Complying Product (or portions thereof) rejected pursuant to Section 9.2 to Encap at Encap’s expense. As Encap’s sole liability and Customer’ sole remedy with respect to such Non-Complying Product, upon Customer’s request, Encap shall re-perform the services hereunder and replace such rejected Non-Complying Product as soon as practicable of Customer’s request to re-perform the services with additional API supplied by Customer at Encap’s cost and at no additional charge (including any freight charge) to Customer. If Customer requests Encap to re-perform the services and replace the rejected Non-Complying Product, then the replacement Product shall count towards satisfying Customer’s Minimum Purchase Requirement and the Non-Complying Product shall not count towards Customer’s Minimum Purchase Requirement. The provisions of this Section 9.3 shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement, provided that, subsequent to the termination or expiration of this Agreement, Customer may, in lieu of requiring Encap to replace any rejected or missing quantities of Product, elect in its sole discretion to be reimbursed by Encap for the amounts paid by Customer to Encap for such rejected quantities of Non-Complying Product (including any applicable freight charges) and API costs incurred by Customer in the manufacture of Non-Complying Product.

 

9.4             Disclaimer of Other Warranties.    EXCEPT AS STATED IN THIS ARTICLE 9, ENCAP MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW ENCAP SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

 

9.5            Encap advises, and Customer acknowledges, that the products resulting from the services performed under this Agreement may not be used in the production, encapsulation, packaging, marketing or selling of any product which is in violation of any applicable Laws or with any person or entity on any applicable government sanction, restricted party or denial list, without a license or otherwise in violation of applicable Laws.

 

10. MANUFACTURING STANDARDS

 

10.1             Manufacturing Standards.    The Parties agree to negotiate in good faith and execute a mutually acceptable Quality Agreement relating to the manufacture of the Product simultaneously with this Agreement. Specifications and Product conformance shall be set forth in the Quality Agreement. Encap shall manufacture and supply the Product in accordance with the Quality Agreement as reasonably updated by Customer from time to time, notably to take into consideration any marketing authorization(s) for Product. In the event of a discrepancy between this Agreement and the Quality Agreement (and/or any other agreement), (a) with respect to quality issues the Quality Agreement shall take precedence and (b) with respect to issues other than quality this Agreement shall take precedence.

 

10.2             Modifications in Specifications.    Encap shall not amend the Specifications without the prior consent of Customer. All Specifications and any changes thereto agreed to by the Parties from time to time shall be in writing, dated and signed by the Parties. No change in the Specifications shall be implemented by Encap, whether requested by Customer or requested or required by any Regulatory Authority, until the Parties have agreed in writing to such change, the implementation date of such change, and any increase or decrease in costs, expenses or fees associated with such change. Encap shall respond promptly, and in any event within [***] business days, to any request made by Customer for a change in the Specifications, and both Parties shall use commercially reasonable, good faith efforts to agree to the terms of such change in a timely manner. As soon as possible after a request is made for any change in Specifications, Encap shall notify Customer of the costs, if any, associated with implementing such change and shall provide such supporting documentation as Customer may reasonably require. Customer shall pay any such costs associated with implementing such agreed upon changes unless such changes are due to processes or procedures of Encap.

 

  13  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

10.3             Modifications in API.    Customer shall notify Encap of any change related to the API that would affect the validated process including but not limited to supplier changes, process change, regulatory change, and environment health safety characteristics. To the extent practicable, Customer should provide to Encap a written notification of such change at least [***] days before implementation of the change. In the case that the change warrants validation batches, the costs associated will be borne by the Customer.

 

10.4             Process Improvements.    During the Term of this Agreement, the Parties shall work together to improve the manufacturing process for the Product including the following areas, among other items, communication, batch yield, design improvements, stability, quality controls, cycle time, on-time delivery and reducing costs for the manufacture of Product. To that effect, representatives of the Parties shall meet at least every [***] during the first [***] months of the Term of this Agreement and thereafter not less than once every year to discuss improvements and how to implement such improvements.

 

11 . INDEMNIFICATION

 

11.1             Indemnification of Customer .   Encap shall indemnify, defend and hold Customer, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (each, a “Customer Indemnified Party”) harmless from and against any and all Losses suffered, incurred or sustained by any Customer Indemnified Party, by reason of any Claim or Proceeding to the extent arising out of or resulting from Encap’s: (i) breach of the representations and warranties and obligations made by Encap in this Agreement; or (ii) actual or alleged infringement of any third-party patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property by Encap in connection with the performance of the services by Encap under this Agreement; or (iii) negligence or willful misconduct by Encap in connection with this Agreement; except to the extent that any of the foregoing arises out of or results from the breach of this Agreement by Customer or the negligence or willful misconduct of Customer or its Affiliates.

 

11.2             Indemnification of Encap .   Customer shall indemnify, defend and hold Encap, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (each, a “Encap Indemnified Party”) harmless from and against any and all liabilities, lawsuits, threats of lawsuits or other governmental action, or Losses suffered, incurred or sustained by any Encap Indemnified Party, by reason of any Claim or Proceeding to the extent arising out of or resulting from Customer’s (i) breach of the representations and warranties and obligations made by Customer in this Agreement; (ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with this Agreement; (iii) use, packaging, labeling, distribution, marketing, promotion, sale and disposal of Product or API; or (iv) resulting from the inherent risk of the Product or API; except to the extent that any of the foregoing arises out of or results from the breach of this Agreement by Encap or the negligence or willful misconduct of Encap or its Affiliates.

 

Customer shall also defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Encap, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any and all claims, suits, and/or proceedings (including any assertion of an intellectual property right, regardless of whether the assertion has been or will be adjudicated), as well as all damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs), of whatever nature resulting from, arising out of, or relating to a claim or allegation that the Product, or any part thereof, infringes, misappropriates, or otherwise violates a patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark or other intellectual property right of any third party. The foregoing indemnification obligation shall not apply to any claim or allegation that are based on claims that the Product, or any part thereof, infringes on any process or formulation technology utilized by Encap in the manufacture of Product.

 

  14  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

11.3             Indemnification Procedures .   In the event that any Claim or Proceeding is asserted or imposed against any Party, and such Claim or Proceeding involves a matter which is subject to a claim for indemnification under this Article 11, then such Party (an “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly give written notice to the other Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) of such Claim or Proceeding. The Indemnifying Party shall assume, at its cost and expense, the defense of such Claim or Proceeding through its legal counsel selected and reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, except that the Indemnified Party may, at its option and expense, select and be represented by separate counsel. The Indemnifying Party shall have control over the Claim or Proceeding, including the right to settle; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, absent the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that (1) provides for any relief other than the payment of monetary damages for which the Indemnifying Party shall be solely liable and (2) where the claimant or plaintiff does not release the Indemnified Party, its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, as the case may be, from all liability in respect thereof. In no event shall the Indemnified Party be liable for any claims that are compromised or settled in violation of this Article.

 

11.4             Limitation on Liability . NEITHER CUSTOMER, ENCAP, Nor Their AFFILIATES, Agents and APPROVED subcontractors (including, without limitation, THEIR RESPECTIVE project leaderS, EMPLOYEES, directors, officers, representatives and advisors, affiliates, predecessors, successors, and assigns) SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY Special, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL or indirect DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT (OR THE termination hereof) OR ANY PURCHASE ORDER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS OR ANTICIPATED SALES; and (2) To the fullest extent permitted by law, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any PURCHASE ORDER, the total liability, in the aggregate, of ENCAP, its AFFILIATES, Agents, and subcontractors, and any of them, to CUSTOMER and anyone claiming by or through CUSTOMER, for any and all claims, losses, costs or damages, including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs and expert-witness fees and costs of any nature whatsoever or claims expenses resulting from or in any way related to this Agreement or any PURCHASE ORDER from any cause or causes shall not exceed the purchase price of the Products with respect to which damages are claimed.

 

11.5             Insurance .   During the Term and for a period of two (2) years after the termination of this Agreement or the expiry date of the last batch manufactured whichever is later, thereafter, each Party shall obtain and maintain, at its sole expense adequate product liability insurance as it deems necessary and appropriate, but in an amount of not less than [***] in coverage. Evidence of coverage, in the form of certificates of insurance, shall be provided promptly upon registration of the Product in given countries and as reasonably requested thereafter.

 

12. CONFIDENTIALITY .

 

12.1             Non-disclosure and Non-use.    The Parties acknowledge that the Confidentiality Agreement between the Parties dated December 9, 2015 (the "Confidentiality Agreement") shall continue to govern the Parties' respective obligations to one another with regard to the "Confidential Information" (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) each has disclosed to the other and shall continue to disclose to the other in connection with this Agreement provided that the Parties' respective obligations with regard to any such Confidential Information disclosed prior to or after the date of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of seven (7) years from the date of such termination, in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

  15  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

12.2             Publicity.    Customer and Encap agree to coordinate external communications (e.g. joint press release) regarding this Agreement. Neither Party will make any press release or other public disclosures regarding this Agreement without the other Party’s express written consent except as required by any applicable Law. Each Party agrees to provide comments and/or approval of external communication within fifteen (15) days of notice by the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Encap acknowledges that this Agreement may constitute a material agreement for Customer and that, accordingly, Customer may be required to file a publicly available Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or applicable stock exchange describing this Agreement and containing a copy of this Agreement with material terms such as pricing redacted to the extent permitted by the SEC or applicable stock exchange.

 

12.3             Document Retention.    In case of termination of this Agreement, all technical documents of Customer shall be returned in original without retaining any copies except for such copies required for regulatory purposes. All executed documents of exhibit and commercial batches shall be kept by Encap as per regulatory requirements and shall be destroyed after such time period without retaining any copies.

 

12.4             Reservation of Rights .   Except as specifically set forth herein, this Agreement does not (i) give any of Party any license, right, title, interest in or ownership to any Confidential Information of the other Party; or (ii) grant any license or right under any intellectual property rights.

 

13. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY .

 

13.1             All IP owned by or licensed to Encap as of the date of signing this Agreement or developed by Encap other than in connection with the manufacturing of the Product for Customer will be owned by Encap. Encap hereby grants to Customer, a non-exclusive, paid-up, royalty-free license of this IP to manufacture, market, distribute, and sell or offer for sale of the Product in the Territory.

 

13.2            All IP owned by or licensed to Customer as of the date of signing of this Agreement or developed by Customer will be owned by Customer. Customer hereby grants to Encap, a non-exclusive, paid-up, royalty-free license of this IP to perform services under this Agreement exclusively related to the Product for Customer for the duration of the Term.

 

13.3            All Arising IP (whether invented by Customer personnel, or Encap personnel, or jointly by Customer personnel and Encap personnel) covering the Product shall be owned solely by Customer and, to the extent that Encap personnel are(is) an inventor of any such Arising IP covering the Product, ownership to such IP is hereby assigned to Customer.

 

13.4            All Arising IP invented by Encap personnel not covering the Product shall be owned by Encap, and Encap hereby grants to Customer a non-exclusive, perpetual, paid up, royalty free license to such Arising IP. All Arising IP invented by Customer personnel not covering the Product shall be owned by Customer. All Arising IP invented jointly by Customer personnel and Encap personnel not covering the Product shall be jointly owned by Customer and Encap.

 

13.5            Customer shall bear the cost of any necessary freedom-to-operate patent opinion for the formulation/composition for the Products for submission of the Application, and for any patent analyses required to secure the relevant opinions. The decision to obtain a freedom-to-operate patent opinion shall be in Customer’s sole discretion. In addition, all claims, expenses or damages (including attorneys' fees) in connection with any litigation instituted by a third party relating to a claim or claims of infringement of patents against either of the Parties, relating to or arising from the filing of the Application for any of the Product and/or the marketing, labeling, use or offer to sell of the Product in the Territory shall be the responsibility of Customer unless such losses are the result of Encap infringement of patents based on Encap’s processes and methodologies.

 

  16  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

13.6            The marketing of Products shall be carried out by Customer under its own trademark. A Party shall acquire no rights or license on the other Party’s trademarks, unless such other Party provides prior written consent.

 

14. TERMINATION .

 

14.1             Termination for Breach; Insolvency.    Either Party shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement upon [***] days prior written notice to the other Party in the event of a material breach of any provision of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within [***] days after the breaching Party’s receipt of notice of such breach. Subject to any limitations under applicable law, either Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the other Party in the event that the other Party becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy, liquidation or receivership, or is admitted to the benefits of any procedure for the settlement of debts or becomes a party to dissolution proceedings.

 

14.2             Termination by Customer.    Customer may terminate this Agreement for any reason prior to production of the Minimum Launch Stock. If Customer terminates this Agreement for any reason, except due to Encap’s breach, prior to production of the Minimum Launch Stock, Customer will pay Encap a termination fee of [***] plus the following costs: (i) all documented costs related to purchases of raw materials that have been purchased (a) pursuant to a confirmed purchase order or (b) upon consent of Customer; (ii) testing costs; (iii) empty capsules; and (iv) work in progress. All such costs must be documented.

 

Customer may terminate this Agreement for any reason after production of the Minimum Launch Stock without incurring any additional fees or costs upon ninety (90) days written notice or immediately if Encap is not able to meet Customer’s reasonable requirements of Product.

 

14.3             Termination by Encap.    Encap has no right to terminate for convenience before the commercial launch of the Product. Encap shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement without any penalty if Customer (i) has not submitted a firm order for the Minimum Launch Stock within [***] days from the date Customer receives FDA approval to begin commercialization of the Product or (ii) breaches its payment obligations [***] during the Term, provided that with respect to any breach of a payment obligation, Customer shall have [***] days to cure such breach from the date of written notification from Encap that a breach has occurred. In addition, post commercial launch of the Product, Encap may terminate this Agreement without cause with at least [***] months advance written notice to Customer.

 

14.4             Effect of Termination.    In the event of any termination, Encap shall promptly return (1) any remaining inventory of Customer supplied materials, and (2) all remaining inventories of API and Product to Customer at Customer’s expense and direction. Encap shall have no obligation to return the foregoing until all outstanding invoices sent by Encap to Customer have been paid in full. Customer shall also be required to pay Encap for all inventory and work in process and non-cancelable commitments made consistent with Customer’s forecasts. In the event Customer breaches or terminates this Agreement (other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Encap) or if Encap terminates this Agreement under Section 13.1 hereof, Customer will also be required to pay Encap for its direct cost of all materials purchased by Encap for manufacturing Product and which cannot be used in other products manufactured by Encap. Customer shall specify the location in the continental United States to which delivery, at Customer’s expense, of the foregoing is to be made.

 

  17  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

14.5             Survival.    In the event of any termination or expiration of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 14.5, and Sections 8.2, 11 (with respect to any Claim or Proceeding then existing), 12, and 14.4 shall survive such termination or expiration, together with any other provision hereof that by its terms survives termination or expiration hereof and any other obligations that have accrued prior to the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

15. NOTICES.

 

15.1            Notices hereunder shall be deemed given as of the date sent. All notices shall be in writing mailed via certified mail, return receipt requested, or a reputable overnight courier, addressed as follows, or to such other address as may be designated from time to time:

 

if to Encap: M.W. Encap Limited
  Units 4, 5 & 6, Oakbank Park, Livingston, West Lothian, EH53 0TH
  Attention: Managing Director
   
With a copy to Capsugel, Inc.
  412 Mount Kemble Ave., Suite 200C
  Morristown, NJ 07960 U.S.A.
  Attention: General Counsel
   
If to Customer: Lipocine Inc.
  675 Arapeen Drive, Suite 202
  Salt Lake City, UT 84108
  Attention: Chief Financial Officer
   
With a copy to: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
  502 Carnegie Center
  Princeton, NJ 08540-6241
  Attention: Randall Sunberg

 

16. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

16.1             Entire Agreements; Amendments; Waivers.    The terms and provisions contained in this Agreement and all Exhibits hereto constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the commercial terms and conditions related to the commercial supply of Product, superseding all prior and contemporaneous agreements or understandings between the Parties with respect to the commercial terms and conditions related to the Product. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement, any Exhibit and the Quality Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control. A waiver of any breach or failure to enforce any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall in no way affect, limit or waive a Party’s rights at any time to enforce strict compliance therafter with every term or condition of this Agreement.

 

16.2             Successors and Assigns.    Customer may not assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of Encap; provided, however that Customer may assign in connection with a merger or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of it’s stock or assets, provided the assignee agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

16.3             Independent Contractor.    The relationship of the Parties under this Agreement is that of independent contractors and nothing contained herein shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship between Customer and Encap, nor shall either Party be authorized to bind the other in any way.

 

  18  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

16.4             Governing Law; Dispute Resolution, Binding Arbitration.    State of New York (without application of its conflict of law principles) and the city of New York will be the exclusive venue to resolve disputes between the Parties. The prevailing Party in any arbitration proceeding relating to this Agreement shall be entitled to recover from the other Party its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall not apply to this Agreement.

 

In the event of any dispute, prior to initiating arbitration, except in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement by either Party that the other Party believes will cause irreparable harm and damage to it, the Parties shall follow the following procedure, in good faith, in an effort to avoid litigation.

 

Executives of the Parties will meet or speak informally within fifteen (15) days of the request of either Party to discuss the areas of disagreement and to negotiate in good faith regarding possible solutions. As part of this dispute resolution process, either Party will, at the request of the other Party, promptly provide to the other Party a short and plain written statement setting forth that Party’s position regarding the dispute and that Party’s suggested resolution.

 

Within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the statement referenced in the preceding paragraph, the receiving Party will provide to the sending Party a short and plain written response setting forth the receiving Party’s position regarding the claim and the receiving Party’s suggested resolution.

 

For a period of fifteen (15) days following the sending of the response referenced in the preceding paragraph, the Parties will negotiate in an effort to resolve the controversy. If the Parties are not able to resolve the dispute then the Parties agree to submit the matter to binding arbitration as provided below.

 

16.4.1            Binding Arbitration.    If the Parties cannot reach a resolution of the dispute, then such dispute shall be resolved by binding alternative dispute resolution in accordance with the then existing commercial arbitration rules of The CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, 366 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Arbitration shall be conducted in the English language, in New York, New York.

 

16.4             Severability.    If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be conformed to the prevailing law rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the Parties and, in any event, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the Parties hereto.

 

16.5             Force Majeure.    Neither Party shall be liable for delays in performance or nonperformance in whole or in part, and neither shall be deemed in breach of its obligations, if such failure or delay is due to any causes that are beyond its reasonable control and not due to its acts or omissions, such as acts of God; flood; volcanic eruption; epidemic; fire; war; terrorism; strike; industrial dispute; embargo; acts of government or other similar causes. In such event, the Party delayed shall promptly give notice to the other Party. The Party affected by the other’s delay may elect to suspend performance and extend the time for performance for the duration of the event or to cancel all or any part of the unperformed part of this Agreement.

 

16.6             Counterparts;   Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed by Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, to the extent signed and delivered by electronic means, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.

 

  19  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

16.7             No Third Party Beneficiaries.    No third party including any employee of any Party to this Agreement shall have or acquire any rights by reason of this Agreement.

 

16.8             Miscellaneous .   The division of this Agreement into articles, sections, subsections and exhibits, and the insertion of headings, are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. Unless expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. Any reference herein to a “day” or “days” shall be references to a calendar day or days. Any period of days specified in this Agreement ending a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday shall automatically be extended to the first business day in the country of manufacture ending after such Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

 

16.9             Construction.    Each of the Parties agrees that it has read and had the opportunity to review this Agreement with its legal counsel and, accordingly, the rule of construction that any ambiguity contained in this Agreement shall be construed against the drafting Party shall not apply.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

LIPOCINE INC.   M.W. ENCAP LTD.
     
By:     By:  
  Name:     Name:
  Title:     Title:
  Date:     Date:

 

  20  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

EXHIBIT A

COMMERCIAL TERMS

 

Milestone Payments:

 

Customer will compensate Encap for commercial manufacturing of the Product and associated expenses as follows:

 

Fee: [***]

 

Pricing: [[***]

 

Shipping Terms:

 

Delivery terms shall be Ex-Works (Incoterms 2000) from the Facility. Title and risk of loss of Product shall pass to Customer when Product is tendered for delivery.

 

Payment Terms:

 

Net 30 days from the date of invoice and dispatch documents as provided for in Section 4.3 Payment Terms. Encap may assess an interest charge of the lesser of one-half percent (1/2%) per month or the maximum rate permitted by Law on all undisputed amounts.

 

Currency: USD

 

  21  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

EXHIBIT B

RELEASE Specifications

 

Commercial Bulk Product Release Specifications

 

Testosterone Undecanoate Capsules Drug Product Specifications, 75 mg

 

[***]

 

  22  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

Commercial Bulk Product Release Specifications

 

Testosterone Undecanoate Capsules Drug Product Specifications, 112.5 mg

 

[***]

 

  23  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

EXHIBIT C

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION

 

1. Safety Data Sheets (or the equivalent) for any drug substance, intermediate, pharmaceutical blend, or final drug product (“Material(s)”) provided to Encap by Customer;

 

2. Any occupational exposure limit (OEL) or occupational exposure control technique applicable to the formulation of the Material(s) (e.g. occupational exposure band, hazard classification, etc.), including any OEL or occupational exposure control technique applicable to the manufacture of dietary supplement, drug substance or drug product, whether established by Customer or its contract manufacturer, regardless of whether it is required by any governmental authority;

 

3. Any monograph or compilation of data upon which the OEL or occupational exposure control technique for the Material(s), its precursors, or intermediates, is based;

 

4. Any medical tests used to evaluate any biological condition or function of workers who may have been exposed to the Material(s), its precursors, or intermediates (to the extent such information is or becomes available);

 

5. Any biological exposure indices associated with the Material(s) or its precursors or intermediates (to the extent such information is or becomes available);

 

6. Any modeling related to any releases to the environment of the Material(s), its precursors, or intermediates (to the extent such information is or becomes available);

 

7. Any test results related to the identification of health or physical hazards, or understanding of the ecotoxicity of the Material(s), its precursors, or intermediates (to the extent such information is or becomes available);

 

8. Any quantitative or qualitative assessment of the environmental impact of the Material’s use, manufacture, storage, transportation, or disposal (to the extent such information is or becomes available);

 

9. Any summary of the known physical and chemical properties, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical and nonclinical toxicology data submitted to a government agency to obtain pre-marketing approval of the Material(s) (to the extent such information is or becomes available);

 

10. Any reports of adverse reactions by employees or others exposed to the Material(s), its precursors, or intermediates, during its manufacture, storage or transportation (to the extent such information is or becomes available); and

 

11. Any process safety information, including but not limited to process hazard analyses and off-site consequences analyses related to a licensed process (to the extent such information is or becomes available).

 

  24  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

EXHIBIT D

MATERIAL Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

 

 

  25  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

 

  

  26  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

  

  27  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

  

  28  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

  

  29  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

 

 

 

 

  30  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

 

  

  31  

PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT WERE OMITTED AND HAVE BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT; [***] DENOTES OMISSIONS.

  

 

 

  32  

 

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Mahesh V. Patel, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lipocine Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: May 9, 2016   /s/ Mahesh V. Patel
    Mahesh V. Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

   

 

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Morgan R. Brown, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lipocine Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: May 9, 2016   /s/ Morgan R. Brown
   

Morgan R. Brown, Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Lipocine Inc. (the “Corporation”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Mahesh V. Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, hereby certifies, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to his knowledge:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.

 

Dated: May 9, 2016     /s/ Mahesh V. Patel 
   

Mahesh V. Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Lipocine Inc. (the “Corporation”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Morgan R. Brown, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, hereby certifies, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to his knowledge:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.

 

Dated: May 9, 2016   /s/ Morgan R. Brown 
   

Morgan R. Brown, Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)