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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2013

Registration No. 333-191323

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 2

to

Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

BIOCEPT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   8071   80-0943522

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 320-8200

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Michael W. Nall

Chief Executive Officer and President

Biocept, Inc.

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 320-8200

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Michael J. Brown, Esq.

Hayden J. Trubitt, Esq.

Michael L. Lawhead, Esq.

Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C.

4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1500

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 926-3000

 

William G. Kachioff

Senior Vice-President, Finance and

Chief Financial Officer

Biocept, Inc.

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 320-8200

 

Ivan K. Blumenthal, Esq.

Merav Gershtenman, Esq.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky

and Popeo, P.C.

666 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(212) 935-3000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.     ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     ¨


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If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.      ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.      ¨

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   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

 

 

The registrant is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act. This registration statement complies with the requirements that apply to an issuer that is an emerging growth company.

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

Per Share

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee (1)

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (2)

  2,090,908   $12.00  

$25,090,896

 

$3,406.51*

Representative’s Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (3)

       

Common Stock Underlying Representative’s Warrants (2)(4)

  90,909   $15.00  

$1,363,635

 

$185.13**

Total Registration Fee

         

$26,454,531

 

$3,591.64***

 

 

(1) The registration fee is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and includes 272,727 shares of common stock the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the shares of common stock registered hereby also include an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock as may from time to time become issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or other similar transactions.
(3) No registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act.
(4) Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act. The warrants are exercisable at a per share exercise price equal to 125% of the public offering price.
* $3,137.20 for $23,000,000 of shares (equating to 1,916,666 shares at the now-proposed maximum aggregate offering price per share of $12.00) at the previous rate of $136.40 per million dollars, and $269.31 for an additional $2,070,896 (equating to 174,242 shares) at the new rate of $128.80 per million dollars.
** $170.50 for $1,250,000 of shares (equating to 83,333 shares at the now-proposed maximum aggregate offering price per share of $15.00) at the previous rate of $136.40 per million dollars, and $14.63 for an additional $115,635 (equating to 7,576 shares) at the new rate of $128.80 per million dollars.
*** $3,307.70 was previously paid.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION   DATED NOVEMBER 5, 2013

 

 

1,818,181 Shares

Common Stock

 

LOGO

 

 

This is the initial public offering of shares of common stock of Biocept, Inc. No public market currently exists for our shares. We are offering all of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. We expect the public offering price of our shares of common stock to be between $10.00 and $12.00 per share.

All common share and per-common-share figures in this prospectus have been adjusted to reflect a 1-for-14 reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock effected on November 1, 2013.

We have applied to list our shares of common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BIOC.” No assurance can be given that our application will be approved.

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and, as such, we have elected to take advantage of certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our common stock.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

       Per Share          Total    

Public offering price

   $         $                    

Underwriting discounts and commissions (1)

   $         $                    

Offering proceeds to us, before expenses

   $                        $                    

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” beginning on page 127 of this prospectus for a description of compensation payable to the underwriters.

We have granted a 45-day option to the underwriters to purchase up to 272,727 additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to purchasers in this offering on or about                     , 2013.

Aegis Capital Corp

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2013.


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LOGO


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SUMMARY

     1   

SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

     11   

RISK FACTORS

     13   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     39   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     40   

DIVIDEND POLICY

     40   

CAPITALIZATION

     41   

DILUTION

     42   

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

     44   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     46   

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

     57   

MANAGEMENT

     91   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     96   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     110   

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     116   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     119   

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     124   

UNDERWRITING

     127   

LEGAL MATTERS

     136   

EXPERTS

     136   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     136   

GLOSSARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND HEALTHCARE-RELATED ACRONYMS

     137   

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1   

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. When you make a decision about whether to invest in our common stock, you should not rely upon any information other than the information in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor the sale of our common stock means that the information contained in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus is correct after the date of this prospectus or such free writing prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the shares of common stock in any circumstances under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate, including our general expectations and market position, market opportunity and market share, is based on information from our own management estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information, our knowledge of our industry and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which we believe to be reasonable. Our management estimates have not been verified by any independent source, and we have not independently verified any third-party information. In addition, assumptions and estimates of our and our industry’s future performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

 


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We use in this prospectus our BIOCEPT LABORATORIES logo, for which we hold a registered United States trademark, our mark CEE, which is a registered United States trademark, and our marks OncoCEE-BR, OncoCEE-LU, CEE-Selector, CEE-Cap, CEE-Enhanced, CEE-Sure, OncoCEE-GA, OncoCEE-PR, OncoCEE-ME, OncoCEE-CR and OncoCEE, which in the United States are unregistered trademarks. This prospectus also includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, trademarks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus appear (after the first usage) without the ® and ™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and tradenames.


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SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, especially the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the financial statements and related notes appearing at the end of this prospectus before making an investment decision.

Unless the context provides otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Biocept,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or similar terms, refer to Biocept, Inc. We reincorporated from California to Delaware in July 2013. Except where otherwise expressly stated, no distinction is made in this prospectus between historic activities and results of the California and Delaware corporations.

Our Company

We are a cancer diagnostics company that develops and commercializes proprietary circulating tumor cell, or CTC, and circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, tests utilizing a standard blood sample. Our first and currently only commercialized test is OncoCEE-BR TM for breast cancer CTC detection and analysis. OncoCEE-BR and our tests in development are designed to provide information to oncologists to enable them to select appropriate treatment for their patients due to better, timelier and more-detailed data on the characteristics of tumors. Our marketed test and our tests in development for the detection and analysis of CTCs utilize our Cell Enrichment and Extraction, or CEE ® , technology, and our tests in development for the detection and analysis of ctDNA utilize our CEE-Selector™ technology, each performed on a standard blood sample. CEE is an internally developed, microfluidics-based CTC capture and analysis platform, with enabling features that change how CTC testing can be used by clinicians by providing real-time biomarker monitoring with only a standard blood sample. The CEE-Selector technology enables mutation detection with enhanced sensitivity and specificity and is applicable to nucleic acid from CTCs or other sample types, such as blood plasma for ctDNA. From August 2011, when we launched OncoCEE-BR, to September 30, 2013, our revenues from OncoCEE-BR have totaled approximately $184,000. To achieve profitability, we would need to increase our revenue, from OncoCEE-BR and any tests we introduce in the future, many-fold from such historic level. We are an emerging company.

At our corporate headquarters facility located in San Diego, California, we operate a clinical laboratory that is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, and accredited by the College of American Pathologists, or CAP. We also manufacture our CEE microfluidic channels, related equipment and certain reagents to perform our tests at this facility.

OncoCEE-BR is a breast cancer CTC test that is performed on a standard blood sample. It detects CTCs, which are typically very rare, and determines the patient’s human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2, status by fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH.

We anticipate launching OncoCEE-LU TM , a test performed on a standard blood sample for non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, in the first half of 2014. The OncoCEE-LU test’s biomarker analysis would include FISH for echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4/ anaplastic lymphoma kinase, or EML4/ALK, and c-ros oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase, or ROS1, gene fusions, as well as mutation analysis for the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, gene, the K-ras gene and the B-raf gene. Life Technologies Corporation will be collaborating with us in the commercialization of the OncoCEE-LU test.

We could add biomarker analyses to OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests as their clinical relevance is demonstrated, for example, ret proto-oncogene gene fusions in NSCLC. In addition, we are developing a series of other CTC and ctDNA tests for different solid tumor types, including colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and melanoma, each incorporating treatment-associated biomarker analyses specific to that cancer. We also have a research and development program focused on technology enhancements and novel platform development, and a translational research group evaluating clinical applications for our cancer diagnostic tests in different cancer types and clinical settings. We plan to launch 5 new OncoCEE cancer tests over the next 3 years.

 

 

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We collaborate with physicians and researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and plan to expand our current collaborative relationships to include other key thought leaders for the types of cancer we are targeting with OncoCEE-BR and our planned CTC and ctDNA tests. Such relationships help us develop and validate the effectiveness and utility of our current test and our planned tests in specific clinical settings and provide us access to patient samples and data.

Market Overview

Despite many advances in the treatment of cancer, cancer remains one of the greatest areas of unmet medical need. In 2008, the World Health Organization attributed 7.6 million deaths worldwide to cancer-related causes. The World Health Organization projects that by 2030 this number will rise to 13.1 million deaths per year. The incidence of, and deaths caused by, the major cancers are staggering.

Cancer constitutes a heterogeneous class of diseases, characterized by uncontrollable cell growth, that result from a combination of both environmental and hereditary risk factors. Many different tissue types can become malignant, such as breast, lung, liver, and skin, and even within a particular tumor there is heterogeneity, with certain cancer cells in a patient bearing specific cellular or genetic biomarkers, while other cells in the tumor may not have these markers. It has only been in recent years that technology has progressed far enough to enable researchers to understand many cancers at a molecular level and attribute specific cancers to associated genetic changes.

Limitations of Traditional Cancer Diagnostic and Profiling Approaches

Cancer is difficult to diagnose and manage due to its heterogeneity at visual, genetic and clinical levels. Traditional methods of diagnosis for solid tumors, routinely used as the initial step in cancer detection, involve a tissue biopsy, followed by a pathologist examining a thin slice of potentially cancerous tissue under a microscope. The tissue sample must be used in combination with chemical staining techniques to enable analysis of the biopsy. Through visual inspection, the pathologist determines whether the biopsy contains normal or cancerous cells, with those cells that are deemed cancerous being graded on a level of aggressiveness. In recent years, molecular (or genetic) testing has become the standard of care and will also be performed in order to provide information about which drugs a patient is likely or unlikely to respond to. After the diagnosis, a clinical workup is performed according to established guidelines for the specific cancer type. From there, the physician determines the stage of progression of the cancer based on a series of clinical measures, such as size, grade, metastasis rates, symptoms and patient history, and decides on a treatment plan that may include surgery, watchful waiting, radiation, chemotherapy, or stem cell transplant.

Molecular analysis is dependent on the availability of a relevant tissue biopsy for the pathologist to analyze. Such a biopsy is often not available. A tumor may not be readily accessible for biopsy, a patient’s condition may be such that a biopsy is not advised, and for routine periodic patient monitoring to evaluate potential progression or recurrence, a biopsy is a fairly invasive procedure and not typically performed. As the length of time between when the original biopsy, diagnosis or surgery is conducted to the current evaluation of the patient increases, the likelihood that an original biopsy specimen is truly representative of the current disease condition declines, as does the usefulness of the original biopsy for making treatment decisions. This risk intensifies in situations where a drug therapy is being administered, because the drug can put selective pressure on the tumor cells to adapt and change. Similarly, the heterogeneity referred to above means that different parts or areas of the same tumor can have different molecular features or properties. In evaluating a biopsy specimen, the pathologist will take a few thin slices of the tumor for microscopic review rather than exhaustively analyzing the whole tumor mass. The pathologist can only report on the tumor sections analyzed, and if other parts of the tumor have different features, such as biomarkers corresponding to specific treatments, they can be missed. A more representative analysis of the entire tumor, as well as any metastases if they are present, is very helpful.

CTCs, ctDNA and Cancer

Circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, are cancer cells that have detached from the tumor and invaded the patient’s blood or other bodily fluids. These cells are representative of the tumor and its metastases, and can function as their surrogates. Testing CTCs can complement pathologic information drawn from a biopsy or resected tissue sample, helping to insure that the analysis is comprehensive and not biased by tumor heterogeneity and sampling issues. Testing CTCs can also provide

 

 

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critical data when a biopsy is not possible. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the presence and number of CTCs provides information on the likely course of certain types of cancer for the patient, or in other words they are considered “prognostic.” Since CTCs are understood to be representative of the tumor, they can also be used for biomarker analysis, for example, to help guide therapy selection. In this way they are “predictive” in that they offer insight into the likely responsiveness or resistance to particular therapies. After surgery and during any subsequent therapy or monitoring period, blood samples can periodically be drawn and analyzed to evaluate a therapy’s continuing effectiveness, as well as to detect other biomarkers, such as new genetic mutations that may arise as a result of selection pressure by a particular therapy or by chance. Physicians can use this information to determine which therapy is most likely to benefit their patients at particular times through the course of their disease. Treatment decisions based on patient-specific information are the foundation of personalized medicine, and tests, or assays, that guide a physician in the selection of individualized therapy for a patient are termed “predictive assays.”

Nucleic acid that is released into blood by dying tumor cells is called ctDNA. Cell death occurs in all tissues, especially those that are rapidly dividing, and in cancer, where cell growth is not only rapid but also uncontrolled, parts of tumors often outgrow their blood supply, resulting in cell death. As a consequence, ctDNA is common in cancer patients, and like CTCs, scientists believe that it may be more representative of a patient’s tumor than a few thin sections from a tissue biopsy, thus reducing the heterogeneity problem. ctDNA is found in the plasma component of blood, and is readily accessible in a standard blood sample. Analyzing ctDNA for mutations that are used as biomarkers for therapy selection shows great promise. One of its strengths, in addition to not requiring a tissue biopsy, is that it is not dependent on capturing rare tumor cells from blood to provide a sample for testing. The negative side of this approach is that the cellular context is lost, as the ctDNA is mixed with a much larger amount of circulating DNA from normal cells that are continuously dying and being replaced in the body, thus making analysis challenging. This requires a mutation detection methodology with enhanced sensitivity and specificity, to distinguish mutations in particular gene regions in cancer cells from the normal gene sequence which co-exist in blood as normal cells die and are replaced in the body. Our CEE-Selector technology provides the necessary sensitivity and specificity, creating an opportunity for ctDNA testing to complement CTC analysis or potentially to serve as stand-alone tests.

Use of CTC- and ctDNA-Derived Biomarker Data in Cancer Treatment

CTCs and ctDNA are derived from, and are understood to be representative of, a solid tumor and its metastases and can be analyzed as adjuncts to, or in place of, the tumor, especially when a recent tumor biopsy is not available. In theory, almost any analysis that can be performed on tumor tissue can also be performed on CTCs, while the number of currently available assays that can be performed on ctDNA is more limited. We have focused and will focus our analysis of CTCs and ctDNA on known biomarkers associated with specific therapies to support treatment decisions and therapy selection made by oncologists. To analyze proteins and genetic aberrations and mutations which are detected in CTCs or ctDNA, we can use molecular diagnostic tests, such as PCR and gene sequencing. Specific examples include (i) the detection of the estrogen receptor protein in breast cancer, indicative of the likely responsiveness to hormonal therapies like tamoxifen, often sold under the trade name Nolvadex ® , (ii) the presence of an amplified HER2 gene in breast cancer, indicative of the likely responsiveness to HER2-targeted agents like trastuzumab, often sold under the trade name Herceptin ® , and (iii) the presence of an EGFR activating mutation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) , indicative of the likely responsiveness to EGFR-targeted agents like Tarceva ® . All of these biomarkers are currently tested on tumor tissue and can be tested on CTCs, while ctDNA only provides information on mutations. The resulting information is then used to guide patient care, specifically treatment selection.

To date, these types of molecular and genetic detection methods have been successfully utilized to provide predictive information for several cancers, including breast, colon, NSCLC, melanoma and others in the form of companion diagnostics, typically performed on tumor tissue. CTC and ctDNA tests analyze the same biomarkers in a more convenient, standard blood test format that permits periodic testing.

Our Business Strategy

We plan to provide oncologists with a straightforward means to profile and characterize their patients’ tumors on a real-time basis by analyzing CTCs and ctDNA found in standard blood test draws. Biomarkers are currently detected and analyzed primarily in tissue biopsy specimens. We believe that our technology, which not only provides information on CTC enumeration (quantitation of CTCs) but also the assessment of treatment-associated biomarkers identified within the CTCs or in ctDNA, will provide information to oncologists that improve patient treatment and management and will become a key component in the standard of care for personalized cancer treatment.

 

 

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Our approach is to develop and commercialize CTC and ctDNA tests and services to enable us to offer to oncologists standard blood sample based, real-time, testing solutions for a range of solid tumor types, starting with breast cancer and progressing to future launches of tests for NSCLC, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and others, to improve patient treatment with better prognostic and predictive tools. To achieve this, we intend to:

 

   

Develop and commercialize a portfolio of proprietary CTC and ctDNA tests and services, to enable physicians to develop personalized treatment plans.

 

   

Establish our internal sales and marketing capabilities in a scalable manner.

 

   

Develop and expand our collaborations with leading university hospitals and research centers.

 

   

Enhance our efforts in reaching and educating community oncologists about CTC and ctDNA tests and services.

 

   

Increase our efforts to provide biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations with our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests and services.

 

   

Support our current test and our planned tests with clinical utility studies to drive adoption and facilitate reimbursement.

 

   

Continue to enhance our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests and reduce the costs associated with providing them through internal research and development and partnering with leading technology developers and reagent suppliers.

Our Competitive Advantages

We believe that our competitive advantages are as follows:

OncoCEE-BR enables, and we anticipate our planned CTC and ctDNA tests will enable, detailed analysis of a patient’s cancer utilizing a standard blood sample, facilitating testing at any time, including when a biopsy is not available or inconclusive, offering real-time monitoring of the cancer and the response of the cancer to therapy, and allowing oncologists to select timely modifications to treatment regimens. CTCs and ctDNA, because they are derived from the primary tumor or its metastases, function as surrogates for the tumor, with the advantage of being readily accessible in a standard blood sample, which is especially important in situations where a biopsy is not available or advised. The simplicity of obtaining a standard blood sample will permit repeat testing in a monitoring mode to detect recurrence or progression, and will offer information on treatment modifications based on a current assessment of the cancer’s properties.

OncoCEE-BR provides, and we anticipate our planned tests will provide, more information than competitors’ existing tests, including predictive information on biomarkers linked to specific therapies. We anticipate that such additional biomarker information will enable a physician to develop a personalized treatment plan. By including biomarker information in our analysis in addition to CTC enumeration, OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests are designed to provide a more complete profile of a patient’s disease than existing CTC tests can. The biomarker information assists physicians in selecting appropriate therapies for individual patients. Our ctDNA tests are expected to offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity based on the CEE-Selector technology, enabling earlier detection of therapy-associated mutation targets or resistance markers, again supporting treatment decisions.

OncoCEE-BR and our planned CTC tests are designed to capture and detect a broader range of CTCs than existing tests and to be applicable to, or quickly modifiable for, a wide range of cancer types. Our CEE-Cap TM antibody capture cocktail is comprised of antibodies targeting not only EpCAM, the traditional epithelial CTC capture antigen utilized in Janssen Diagnostics, LLC’s CellSearch ® system and in other platforms, but also other epithelial antigens and mesenchymal and cancer stem cell antigens, indicative of cells having undergone the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, or EMT. These cells may be more relevant for metastasis. Our detection modalities include cytokeratin staining, with a broader range of cytokeratin isotypes than existing CTC tests. We plan to introduce our CEE-Enhanced TM staining, which would enable detection of cells specifically captured with our antibody cocktail, including EMT cells lacking cytokeratin. We believe that through our planned CEE-Enhanced staining, more CTCs and different types of CTCs will be able to be identified and potentially at earlier stages of disease, resulting in fewer non-informative cases and more information for physicians.

 

 

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OncoCEE-BR is, and we anticipate our planned CTC and ctDNA tests will be, flexible and readily configurable to accommodate new biomarkers with clinical relevance as they are identified. In theory, our CEE platform permits almost any analysis that is currently performed on tumor tissue to be performed on CTCs. As new therapies are approved, we will be able to include them in our tests with minimal changes. This is attractive to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are developing such therapies, or seeking ways to make their clinical trials more efficient, as this flexibility would enable them to focus on patients more likely to respond to a particular therapy and demonstrate a benefit from that therapy.

Collaborative relationships with physicians at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We work closely with a number of physicians at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, with various collaborative projects in different cancer types, including breast, NSCLC, prostate, colorectal, ovarian, bladder, renal and endometrial cancers. These projects provide us access to leading researchers, leading clinicians and key thought leaders, access to valuable patient samples and insight into clinical applications for tests. Some of these projects have resulted in publications in leading journals, such as Cancer Discovery and Cancer Medicine , which enhances our standing in the oncology community and supports our marketing efforts.

Our planned CEE-Selector mutation tests would not be platform dependent. These tests are being designed to be able to be performed on almost any molecular instrument, which will provide flexibility in laboratory operations. To the extent we elect to develop these tests as in vitro diagnostic kits, or IVDs, including pursuing CE marks for them to be marketed outside the United States, the ability to rapidly deploy them on different approved instrument platforms already in many laboratories greatly simplifies their distribution and commercialization.

Our Tests and Services

We are in the process of commercializing our first test, OncoCEE-BR for breast cancer, and plan to continue to launch a series of tests for CTCs in different tumor types, including NSCLC, gastric, colorectal and prostate cancers and melanoma, incorporating analyses for different biomarkers, over the next 3 years. OncoCEE-BR and the planned future tests are based on the CEE technology platform. The CEE system isolates CTCs from blood samples of cancer patients for enumeration (or count) and genetic analysis. A sample is shipped to us in our specialized blood collection tube called the CEE-Sure TM tube for recovery and analysis of CTCs. When performing the CTC assay, the sample is processed in our laboratory. The specimen of blood is separated into its parts (red blood cells, buffy coat and plasma). The buffy coat is incubated with the antibody solution and passed through a proprietary microfluidic channel containing 9,000 microscopic posts coated with reagents to capture antibody-labeled tumor cells. The captured cells are suitable for further testing of whole cells directly in the microfluidic channel or by releasing the cells from the microfluidic channel and performing CEE-Selector or similar techniques.

Clinicians acknowledge limitations of currently available CTC test systems such as CellSearch ® that rely on capture solely by anti-EpCAM antibodies and detection by anti-cytokeratin antibodies. Capture and detection based only on these two antigens is unlikely to identify all CTCs, and clinically this may result in no CTCs being detected in cases in which they are present. For example, some tumor cells that have been released into the circulatory system have undergone an EMT. These mesenchymal cells are less differentiated than epithelial cells and more similar to stem cells. OncoCEE-BR enables, and we believe our planned assays will enable, the capture of significantly more CTCs than is accomplished through the use of traditional anti-EpCAM immuno-capture alone.

In addition to enhanced capture, we are also improving identification of CTCs. We have developed alternative methods of fluorescent cell staining that are uniquely possible within the CEE system to enhance detection of CTCs. This technology is called CEE-Enhanced. We believe that the combination of our assay with more sensitive fluorescent detection of CTCs through CEE-Enhanced staining will lead to major advances in the capture, enumeration and analysis of CTCs. CEE-Enhanced staining is expected to be included in our commercially available and planned tests by mid-2014.

 

 

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Analysis of CTCs performed by us incorporates both standard and proprietary methods. Immunocytochemistry which looks at proteins, analogous to the immunohistochemistry, or IHC, performed on tissues, can be readily applied and performed in the microfluidic channel, dependent only on suitable biomarkers. Similarly, FISH, used to evaluate genetic abnormalities in cells, may be performed in our microfluidic channel using validated assays available from a number of vendors. For genetic mutation analysis, standard technologies can be applied. We have also developed proprietary CEE-Selector technology for mutation analysis in CTCs and ctDNA, with enhanced sensitivity and specificity.

CTCs are generally very rare and outnumbered many-fold by white blood cells. This complexity has been a challenge for standard technologies. CEE-Selector offers enhanced specificity and sensitivity (greater than 1 in 10,000 of mutated sequence to normal sequence in a complex genetic background) compared to other approaches, and potentially has broader application than just CTC analysis, including analysis of ctDNA in plasma, both in a CLIA lab setting and as an IVD.

OncoCEE-BR is a Laboratory Developed Test, and our planned CTC and ctDNA tests would be Laboratory Developed Tests. FDA clearance or approval is not currently required to offer these types of tests in our laboratory once they have been clinically and analytically validated. We seek licenses and approvals for our laboratory facility and for our LDTs from the appropriate regulatory authorities, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which oversees CLIA, and various state regulatory bodies. Certain states, such as New York, require us to obtain state licensure in order for us to perform testing on specimens taken from patients or received from ordering physicians from those states. As part of this process, the State of New York requires validation of our tests. We are currently in the process of addressing the requirements for licensure in New York, and we expect to have re-obtained by the end of 2013 all required licenses and approvals from all other states requiring licensure for out-of-state laboratories. (We were required to re-license in these other states as a result of our July 2013 reincorporation to Delaware.)

We believe, based on research showing that approximately 54% of new cancers occur in persons age 65 and older and that almost all Americans age 65 and older are enrolled in Medicare, that as many as approximately 50% of the patients for whom we would expect to perform cancer diagnostic tests in the future will have Medicare coverage. We have not yet billed Medicare for any testing; until May 2013, our commercialization partner Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc., or Clarient, was responsible for all billing associated with our tests, and we do not have data for Clarient’s billing and collection experience with respect to our test. Medicare has coverage policies that can be national or regional in scope. Coverage means that the test or assay is approved as a benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. If there is no coverage, neither the supplier nor any other party, such as a reference laboratory, may bill Medicare or the beneficiary for the service. There is currently no national coverage policy regarding the CTC enumeration portion of our testing. The previous regional Medicare Administrative Contractor for California, Palmetto GBA, LLC, adopted a negative coverage policy for CTC enumeration (other than by Janssen Diagnostics, LLC’s CellSearch ® test). The current Medicare Administrative Contractor for California, Noridian Health Solutions, is adopting the coverage policies from Palmetto GBA. Therefore the enumeration/detection portion of our OncoCEE testing is not currently covered and we will receive no payment from Medicare for this service unless and until the coverage policy is changed. On November 4, 2013, we submitted a comprehensive dossier explaining to Palmetto GBA and Noridian the benefits of the enumeration/detection testing in order to seek to persuade the Medicare Administrative Contractors to allow coverage for this portion of our testing.

FISH analysis is a covered benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and we expect that the FISH portion of OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests are and will be covered and that when and as we bill Medicare we will receive payment from Medicare under the Physician Fee Schedule for FISH analysis. Molecular testing for the mutations we currently plan to test for with CEE-Selector is also a covered benefit, so we believe that CEE-Selector testing would thereby be covered and that when and as we bill Medicare we would receive payment from Medicare under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule for CEE-Selector testing.

We expect these analysis components to have a significantly greater billing value than the capture/enumeration components of our current and anticipated CTC tests, based on a comparison of what we believe CellSearch ® capture/reimbursement rates are, versus existing reimbursement rates for analysis components such as FISH and immunocytochemistry analysis and molecular testing.

The processing of Medicare claims is subject to change at CMS’ discretion at any time. Cost containment initiatives may be a threat to Medicare reimbursement levels for the foreseeable future.

 

 

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Clinical Trial Services

Industry research has shown many promising drugs have produced disappointing results in clinical trials. For example, a study by Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto estimated that over a five-year study period 85% of the new therapies for solid tumors which were tested in early clinical trials in the United States, Europe and Japan failed, and that of those that survive through to Phase III trials only half will actually be approved. Given such a high failure rate of oncology drugs in clinical development, combined with constrained budgets for biopharmaceutical companies, there is a significant need for drug developers to utilize molecular diagnostics to decrease these failure rates. For specific molecular-targeted therapeutics, the identification of appropriate biomarkers potentially may help to optimize clinical trial patient selection and success rates by helping clinicians identify patients that are most likely to benefit from a therapy based on their individual genetic profile.

Although through 2012 we had essentially no clinical trial testing services revenues, we believe clinical trial testing services can be an important part of our business in the future. We believe our testing and analysis can help increase the efficiency and economic viability of clinical trials for biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations. Our clinical trial services could include developing customizable tests and techniques utilizing our proprietary CTC and ctDNA technologies to provide sensitive, real-time characterization of individual patient’s tumors using a standard blood sample. These tests may also be useful as, and ultimately developed into, companion diagnostics associated with a specific therapeutic. Additionally, through our services we would hope to gain further insights into disease progression and the latest drug development that we can incorporate into our tests and services.

In 2013 we have been providing clinical trial testing services for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and this project has resulted in over 70% of our 2013 revenues to date.

Risks That We Face

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks summarized below. The risks are discussed more fully in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus immediately following this prospectus summary. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

we are an early-stage company with a history of substantial net losses. We have never been profitable and we have an accumulated deficit of approximately $120 million (at September 30, 2013). Before 2008, we were pursuing a business plan relating to fetal genetic disorders and other fields, all of which were unrelated to cancer diagnostics. The portion of our accumulated deficit that relates to the period from inception through December 31, 2007 is approximately $66.5 million.

 

   

we expect to incur net losses in the future, and we may never achieve sustained profitability;

 

   

our business depends upon our ability to introduce additional tests and increase sales of our cancer diagnostic test;

 

   

our current cash resources are insufficient to fund our operations beyond December 31, 2013 without this offering;

 

   

our business depends on executing on our sales and marketing strategy for our cancer diagnostic tests and gaining acceptance of our current test and future tests in the market;

 

   

our business depends on our ability to continually develop new cancer diagnostic tests and enhance our current test and future tests;

 

   

our business depends on being able to obtain adequate reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors for tests and services;

 

   

our business depends on satisfying any applicable United States (including FDA) and international regulatory requirements with respect to tests and services; and many of these requirements are new and still evolving;

 

   

our business depends on our ability to effectively compete with other diagnostic tests, methods and services that now exist or may hereafter be developed;

 

   

we depend on our senior management and in August 2013 we hired a new chief executive officer;

 

   

we depend on our ability to attract and retain scientists, clinicians and sales personnel with extensive experience in oncology, who are in short supply; and

 

   

we need to obtain or maintain patents or other appropriate protection for the intellectual property utilized in our current and planned tests and services, and we must avoid infringement of third-party intellectual property.

 

 

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Company Information

We maintain our principal executive offices at 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121. Our telephone number is (858) 320-8200 and our website address is www.biocept.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into and is not part of this prospectus. We were incorporated in California on May 12, 1997 and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation on July 30, 2013.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

As a company with less than $1.0 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act, enacted in April 2012. An “emerging growth company” may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

 

   

being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this prospectus;

 

   

not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and

 

   

exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, which such fifth anniversary will occur in 2018. However, if certain events occur before the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.0 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company before the end of such five-year period.

We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than the information you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.

The Offering

 

Common stock offered by us

1,818,181 shares of our common stock.

 

Over-allotment option

We have granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 272,727 additional shares of our common stock from us at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

Common stock outstanding after this offering

[            ] shares.

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from our sale of shares of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $17.7 million, or approximately $20.5 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering as follows:

 

   

approximately $5 million to hire sales and marketing personnel and support increased sales and marketing activities;

 

 

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approximately $5 million to fund further research and development, clinical utility studies and future enhancements of our current test and our planned tests and services;

 

   

approximately $3 million to acquire equipment, implement automation and scale our capabilities to prepare for significant test volume;

 

   

approximately $1 million to satisfy deferred salary obligations; and

 

   

the balance for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of our business.

 

  For additional information please refer to the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” on page 40 of this prospectus.

 

Risk Factors

See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

NASDAQ Capital Market symbol

BIOC.

 

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 1,834,467 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2013 (including 1,652,853 shares issued upon the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock in connection with this offering after September 30, 2013) and excludes as of such date:

 

   

344,565 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options as of September 30, 2013, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.13 per share;

 

   

167,129 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding restricted stock units as of September 30, 2013;

 

   

an estimated 630,110 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants as of September 30, 2013, at an estimated weighted average exercise price of $5.88 per share;

 

   

192,262 common stock equivalents issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants to purchase preferred stock (the warrants overlying all but 1,587 of which will terminate upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms);

 

   

any shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option;

 

   

any shares of common stock that will underlie the representative’s warrant; and

 

   

other shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 and 2007 Equity Incentive Plans.

Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus reflects and assumes the following:

 

   

the filing of our amended certificate of incorporation and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws, which will occur in connection with this offering;

 

   

a 1-for-14 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on November 1, 2013;

 

   

the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of our common stock in connection with this offering;

 

   

the automatic issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock immediately before or immediately after the closing of the offering, pursuant to the terms of certain outstanding restricted stock units currently expressed in shares of Series A preferred stock; but otherwise no settlement of the outstanding restricted stock units described above;

 

   

the automatic conversion of all outstanding convertible notes, at a conversion price equal to the public offering price per share of this offering, into shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering;

 

 

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no exercise of the outstanding options or warrants described above;

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock to cover over-allotments, if any;

 

   

the issuance of the warrants to be issued to the representative of the underwriters in connection with this offering as described in the “Underwriting—Representative’s Warrants” section of this prospectus; and

 

   

no exercise by the representative of the underwriters of such representative’s warrants.

 

 

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables set forth a summary of our historical financial data as of, and for the period ended on, the dates indicated. We have derived the statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012 from our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the statements of operations data for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 and balance sheet data as of September 30, 2013 from our unaudited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. All “Weighted average shares outstanding” data and all “Net loss per common share” data, whether derived from our audited financial statements or from our unaudited financial statements, have been adjusted to reflect a 1-for-14 reverse stock split which we effected on November 1, 2013. The unaudited financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with our audited financial statements included in this prospectus and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state our financial position as of September 30, 2013 and results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013. You should read this data together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the sections in this prospectus entitled “Capitalization,” “Selected Historical Financial Data,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our historical results for any prior period are not necessarily indicative of our future results.

     Year ended December 31,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Statement of Operations Data:

        

Revenues

   $ 1      $ 109      $ 88      $ 115   

Cost of revenues

     17        1,201        756        1,759   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     (16     (1,092     (668     (1,644

Research and development expenses

     8,853        6,562        5,304        2,376   

General and administrative expenses

     2,729        2,063        1,613        1,736   

Sales and marketing expenses

     673        786        604        130   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (12,271     (10,503     (8,189     (5,886

Total other income/(expense)

     (1,357     (1,756     (1,122     (874
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss Before Income Taxes

   $ (13,628   $ (12,259   $ (9,311   $ (6,760

Income tax expense

     1        1        1        1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss & comprehensive loss

   $ (13,629   $ (12,260   $ (9,312   $ (6,761
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net loss per common share:

        

Basic

     113,754        160,393        160,393        180,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     113,754        160,393        160,393        180,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per common share

        

Basic

   $ (119.81   $ (76.43   $ (58.06   $ (37.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ (119.81   $ (76.43   $ (58.06   $ (37.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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     As of December 31, 2012     As of September 30, 2013  
     Actual     Actual     Pro  Forma (1)  
           (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 185      $ 303      $     

Total assets

   $ 1,470      $ 1,083      $     

Notes payable, net of debt discount

   $ 22,376      $ 4,330      $     

Line of Credit

   $ —        $ 1,491      $     

Total liabilities

   $ 28,855      $ 11,356      $     

Convertible preferred stock

   $ 3      $ 7      $     

Total shareholders’ deficit

   $ (27,385   $ (10,273   $     

 

(1) Gives effect to (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of common stock, (ii) the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $[            ] million into an aggregate of [            ] shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of our initial public offering, (iii) the issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock upon such initial public offering pursuant to the settlement of certain restricted stock units (which are currently expressed in shares of preferred stock) in accordance with their terms, (iv) the termination of certain warrants upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms and (v) the reclassification to shareholders’ deficit of the fair value of certain warrants the exercise price and/or exercisability period length of which will be fixed upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms, assuming for all such items an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus. The pro forma information is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of our initial public offering determined at pricing.

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of September 30, 2013 assumes that the completion of our initial public offering had occurred as of September 30, 2013 and excludes 1,818,181 shares of common stock issued in the initial public offering and any related net proceeds.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the specific risk factors described below in addition to the other information contained in this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere in the prospectus, before making your investment decision. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations.

Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements

We are an early stage company with a history of net losses; we expect to incur net losses in the future, and we may never achieve sustained profitability.

We have historically incurred substantial net losses, including net losses of $13.6 million in 2011, $12.3 million in 2012 and $6.8 million in the first nine months of 2013, and we have never been profitable. At September 30, 2013, our accumulated deficit was approximately $120 million. Before 2008, we were pursuing a business plan relating to fetal genetic disorders and other fields, all of which were unrelated to cancer diagnostics. The portion of our accumulated deficit that relates to the period from inception through December 31, 2007 is approximately $66.5 million.

We expect our losses to continue as a result of costs relating to our lab operations as well as increased sales and marketing costs and ongoing research and development expenses. These losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our working capital, total assets and stockholders’ equity. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with our commercialization efforts, we are unable to predict when we will become profitable, and we may never become profitable. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our inability to achieve and then maintain profitability would negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Our chief executive officer Michael W. Nall, who joined us in August 2013, has not previously been the chief executive officer of a public or private company, and therefore his lack of experience may result in some of his time being spent acclimating to his new position and responsibilities. A lack of significant experience in being the chief executive officer of a public company could have an adverse effect on his ability to quickly respond to problems or effectively manage issues surrounding the operation of a public company.

Our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

As described in Note 2 of our accompanying audited financial statements, our auditors have included a “going concern” provision in their opinion on our financial statements, expressing substantial doubt that we can continue as an ongoing business for the next twelve months. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we cannot secure the financing needed to continue as a viable business, our stockholders may lose some or all of their investment in us.

We will need to raise additional capital.

We believe our current cash resources and committed borrowing capacity are sufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements at our current level of operations only through December 31, 2013. We need to raise additional financing by then, through this offering or otherwise, to fund our current level of operations. Such financing may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at all. Without proceeds from this offering or other sources of financing, we would need to scale back our general and administrative activities and certain of our research and development activities. Our forecast pertaining to the adequacy of our current financial resources supporting our current level of operations through December 31, 2013 is a forward-looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties.

We will also need to raise additional capital to expand our business to meet our long-term business objectives. Additional financing, which is not in place at this time, may be from the sale of equity or convertible or other debt securities in a public or private offering, from an additional credit facility or strategic partnership coupled with an investment in us or a combination of both. We may be unable to raise sufficient additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, if at all. Failure to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts would significantly impact our ability to expand our business. For further discussion of our liquidity requirements as they relate to our long-term plans, see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

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Risks Relating to Our Business and Strategy

If we are unable to increase sales of our OncoCEE-BR breast cancer diagnostic tests or successfully develop and commercialize other tests, our revenues will be insufficient for us to achieve profitability.

We currently derive substantially all of our revenues from sales of cancer diagnostic tests. We recently began offering our OncoCEE-BR breast cancer test through our CLIA-certified, accredited, and state-licensed laboratory. We are in varying stages of research and development for other cancer diagnostic tests that we may offer. If we are unable to increase sales of our OncoCEE-BR breast cancer diagnostic test or successfully develop and commercialize other cancer diagnostic tests, we will not produce sufficient revenues to become profitable.

If we are unable to execute our sales and marketing strategy for cancer diagnostic tests and are unable to gain acceptance in the market, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenue to sustain our business.

We are an early-stage company and have engaged in only limited sales and marketing activities for the OncoCEE-BR breast cancer diagnostic tests we offer through our CLIA-certified laboratory. To date, we have received very limited revenue.

Although we believe that our current test and our planned diagnostic tests represent a promising commercial opportunity, our tests may never gain significant acceptance in the marketplace and therefore may never generate substantial revenue or profits for us. We will need to establish a market for our cancer diagnostic tests and build that market through physician education, awareness programs and the publication of clinical trial results. Gaining acceptance in medical communities requires publication in leading peer-reviewed journals of results from studies using our current test and/or our planned cancer tests. The process of publication in leading medical journals is subject to a peer review process and peer reviewers may not consider the results of our studies sufficiently novel or worthy of publication. Failure to have our studies published in peer-reviewed journals would limit the adoption of our current test and our planned tests.

Our ability to successfully market the cancer diagnostic tests that we may develop will depend on numerous factors, including:

 

   

conducting clinical utility studies of such tests in collaboration with key thought leaders to demonstrate their use and value in important medical decisions such as treatment selection;

 

   

whether our non-exclusive partners, Life Technologies Corporation and Clarient, vigorously support our offerings;

 

   

the success of the sales force which we intend to hire with some of the proceeds of this offering;

 

   

whether healthcare providers believe such diagnostic tests provide clinical utility;

 

   

whether the medical community accepts that such diagnostic tests are sufficiently sensitive and specific to be meaningful in patient care and treatment decisions; and

 

   

whether health insurers, government health programs and other third-party payors will cover and pay for such cancer diagnostic tests and, if so, whether they will adequately reimburse us.

Failure to achieve widespread market acceptance of our current test and our planned cancer diagnostic tests would materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we cannot develop tests to keep pace with rapid advances in technology, medicine and science, our operating results and competitive position could be harmed.

In recent years, there have been numerous advances in technologies relating to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Several new cancer drugs have been approved, and a number of new drugs in clinical development may increase patient survival time. There have also been advances in methods used to identify patients likely to benefit from these drugs based on analysis of biomarkers. We must continuously develop new cancer diagnostic tests and enhance any existing tests to keep pace with evolving standards of care. Our current test and our planned tests could become obsolete unless we continually

 

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innovate and expand them to demonstrate benefit in the diagnosis, monitoring or prognosis of patients with cancer. New cancer therapies typically have only a few years of clinical data associated with them, which limits our ability to develop cancer diagnostic tests based on, for example, biomarker analysis related to the appearance or development of resistance to those therapies. If we cannot adequately demonstrate the applicability of our current test and our planned tests to new treatments, by incorporating important biomarker analysis, sales of our tests could decline, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If our current test and our planned tests do not continue to perform as expected, our operating results, reputation and business will suffer.

Our success depends on the market’s confidence that we can continue to provide reliable, high-quality diagnostic results. We believe that our customers are likely to be particularly sensitive to test defects and errors. As a result, the failure of our current or planned tests to perform as expected would significantly impair our reputation and the public image of our cancer tests, and we may be subject to legal claims arising from any defects or errors.

If our sole laboratory facility becomes damaged or inoperable, or we are required to vacate the facility, our ability to sell and provide cancer diagnostic tests and pursue our research and development efforts may be jeopardized.

We currently derive our revenues from our OncoCEE-BR breast cancer diagnostic tests conducted in our CLIA-certified laboratory. We do not have any clinical reference laboratory facilities outside of our facility in San Diego, California. Our facilities and equipment could be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including fire, earthquake, flooding and power outages, which may render it difficult or impossible for us to perform our diagnostic tests for some period of time. The inability to perform our current test and our planned tests or the backlog of tests that could develop if our facility is inoperable for even a short period of time may result in the loss of customers or harm to our reputation or relationships with scientific or clinical collaborators, and we may be unable to regain those customers or repair our reputation in the future. Furthermore, our facilities and the equipment we use to perform our research and development work could be costly and time-consuming to repair or replace.

The San Diego area has recently experienced serious fires and power outages, and is considered to lie in an area with earthquake risk.

Additionally, a key component of our research and development process involves using biological samples as the basis for our diagnostic test development. In some cases, these samples are difficult to obtain. If the parts of our laboratory facility where we store these biological samples were damaged or compromised, our ability to pursue our research and development projects, as well as our reputation, could be jeopardized. We carry insurance for damage to our property and the disruption of our business, but this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.

Further, if our CLIA-certified laboratory became inoperable we may not be able to license or transfer our technology to another facility with the necessary state licensure and CLIA certification under the scope of which our current test and our planned cancer diagnostic tests could be performed. Even if we find a facility with such qualifications to perform our tests, it may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms.

If we cannot compete successfully with our competitors, we may be unable to increase or sustain our revenues or achieve and sustain profitability.

Our principal competition comes from mainstream diagnostic methods, used by pathologists and oncologists for many years, which focus on tumor tissue analysis. It may be difficult to change the methods or behavior of oncologists to incorporate our CTC and ctDNA testing, including molecular diagnostic testing, in their practices in conjunction with or instead of tissue biopsies and analysis. In addition, companies offering capital equipment and kits or reagents to local pathology laboratories represent another source of potential competition. These kits are used directly by the pathologist, which can facilitate adoption. We plan to focus our marketing and sales efforts on medical oncologists rather than pathologists.

 

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We also face competition from companies that offer products or are conducting research to develop products for CTC or ctDNA testing in various cancers. In particular, Janssen Diagnostics, LLC markets its CellSearch ® test and Atossa Genetics markets its ArgusCYTE ® test, which are competitive to our OncoCEE-BR test for CTC enumeration, and HER2 analysis, respectively. CTC and ctDNA testing is a new area of science and we cannot predict what tests others will develop that may compete with or provide results similar or superior to the results we are able to achieve with the tests we develop. In addition to Janssen Diagnostics and Atossa Genetics, our competitors also include public companies such as Alere (Adnagen) and Illumina as well as many private companies, including Apocell, EPIC Sciences, Clearbridge Biomedics, Cynvenio Biosystems, Fluxion Biosciences, RareCells, ScreenCell and Silicon Biosystems. Many of these groups, in addition to operating research and development laboratories, are establishing CLIA-certified testing laboratories while others are focused on selling equipment and reagents. Our sales and distribution agreements are non-exclusive and our partners could enter into agreements with competitors.

We expect that pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies will increasingly focus attention and resources on the personalized cancer diagnostic sector as the potential and prevalence of molecularly targeted oncology therapies approved by the FDA along with companion diagnostics increases. For example, the FDA has recently approved two such agents—Xalkori ® from Pfizer Inc. along with its companion anaplastic lymphoma kinase FISH test from Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Zelboraf ® from Daiichi-Sankyo/Genentech/Roche along with its companion B-raf kinase V600 mutation test from Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and Tafinlar ® from GlaxoSmithKline along with its companion B-raf kinase V600 mutation test from bioMerieux. These recent FDA approvals are only the second, third and fourth instances of simultaneous approvals of a drug and companion diagnostic, the first being the 2010 approval of Genentech’s Herceptin ® for HER2 positive breast cancer along with the HercepTest from partner Dako A/S. Our competitors may invent and commercialize technology platforms or tests that compete with ours.

There are a number of companies which are focused on the oncology diagnostic market, such as Biodesix, Caris, Clarient, Foundation Medicine, Neogenomics, Response Genetics, Agendia, Genomic Health, and Genoptix, who while not currently offering CTC or ctDNA tests are selling to the medical oncologists and pathologists and could develop or offer CTC or ctDNA tests. Large laboratory services companies, such as Sonic USA, Quest and LabCorp, provide more generalized cancer diagnostic testing.

Additionally, projects related to cancer diagnostics and particularly genomics have received increased government funding, both in the United States and internationally. As more information regarding cancer genomics becomes available to the public, we anticipate that more products aimed at identifying targeted treatment options will be developed and that these products may compete with ours. In addition, competitors may develop their own versions of our current or planned tests in countries where we did not apply for patents or where our patents have not issued and compete with us in those countries, including encouraging the use of their test by physicians or patients in other countries.

Some of our present and potential competitors have widespread brand recognition and substantially greater financial and technical resources and development, production and marketing capabilities than we do. Others may develop lower-priced, less complex tests that payors, pathologists and oncologists could view as functionally equivalent to our current or planned tests, which could force us to lower the list price of our tests and impact our operating margins and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability. In addition, technological innovations that result in the creation of enhanced diagnostic tools that are more sensitive or specific than ours may enable other clinical laboratories, hospitals, physicians or medical providers to provide specialized diagnostic tests similar to ours in a more patient-friendly, efficient or cost-effective manner than is currently possible. If we cannot compete successfully against current or future competitors, we may be unable to increase or create market acceptance and sales of our current or planned tests, which could prevent us from increasing or sustaining our revenues or achieving or sustaining profitability.

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses to develop and market cancer diagnostic tests, which could make it difficult for us to achieve and sustain profitability.

In recent years, we have incurred significant costs in connection with the development of cancer diagnostic tests. For the year ended December 31, 2011, our research and development expenses were $8.9 million and our sales and marketing expenses were $0.7 million. For the year ended December 31, 2012, our research and development expenses were $6.6 million and our sales and marketing expenses were $0.8 million. We expect our expenses to continue to increase for the

 

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foreseeable future as we conduct studies of our current test and our planned cancer diagnostic tests, establish a sales and marketing organization, drive adoption of and reimbursement for our diagnostic tests and develop new tests. As a result, we need to generate significant revenues in order to achieve sustained profitability.

If oncologists decide not to order OncoCEE-BR breast cancer diagnostic tests or our future cancer diagnostic tests, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenue to sustain our business.

To generate demand for our current test and our planned cancer diagnostic tests, we will need to educate oncologists, pathologists, and other health care professionals on the clinical utility, benefits and value of the tests we provide through published papers, presentations at scientific conferences, educational programs and one-on-one education sessions by members of our sales force. In addition, we need to assure oncologists of our ability to obtain and maintain adequate reimbursement coverage from third-party payors. We need to hire additional commercial, scientific, technical and other personnel to support this process. If we cannot convince medical practitioners to order our current test and our planned tests, we will likely be unable to create demand in sufficient volume for us to achieve sustained profitability.

Clinical utility studies are important in demonstrating to both customers and payors a test’s clinical relevance and value. If we are unable to identify collaborators willing to work with us to conduct clinical utility studies, or the results of those studies do not demonstrate that a test provides clinically meaningful information and value, commercial adoption of such test may be slow, which would negatively impact our business.

Clinical utility studies show when and how to use a clinical test, and describe the particular clinical situations or settings in which it can be applied and the expected results. Clinical utility studies also show the impact of the test results on patient care and management. Clinical utility studies are typically performed with collaborating oncologists at medical centers and hospitals, analogous to a clinical trial, and generally result in peer-reviewed publications. Sales and marketing representatives use these publications to demonstrate to customers how to use a clinical test, as well as why they should use it. These publications are also used with payors to obtain coverage for a test, helping to assure there is appropriate reimbursement.

We are currently conducting a clinical utility study for our OncoCEE-BR test with investigators at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We will need to conduct additional studies for this test, as well as other CTC and ctDNA tests we plan to introduce, to drive test adoption in the marketplace and reimbursement. Should we not be able to perform these studies, or should their results not provide clinically meaningful data and value for oncologists, adoption of our tests could be impaired and we may not be able to obtain reimbursement for them.

We are undergoing a management transition.

Until August 26, 2013, David F. Hale, our Executive Chairman, served as our principal executive officer. On that date, Michael W. Nall began his employment with us as our Chief Executive Officer and President, with David F. Hale remaining employed as our Executive Chairman. We intend to recruit and hire other senior executives. Such a management transition subjects us to a number of risks, including risks pertaining to coordination of responsibilities and tasks, creation of new management systems and processes, differences in management style, effects on corporate culture, and the need for transfer of historical knowledge. In addition, Mr. Nall has not previously been the chief executive officer of a public or private company, and therefore his lack of experience may result in some of his time being spent acclimating to his new position and responsibilities. A lack of significant experience in being the chief executive officer of a public company could have an adverse effect on his ability to quickly respond to problems or effectively manage issues surrounding the operation of a public company.

The loss of key members of our executive management team could adversely affect our business.

Our success in implementing our business strategy depends largely on the skills, experience and performance of key members of our executive management team and others in key management positions, including Michael W. Nall, our Chief Executive Officer and President, David F. Hale, our Executive Chairman, Lyle J. Arnold, Ph.D., our Senior Vice-President of Research & Development/Chief Scientific Officer, and Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph.D., our Vice-President of Translational Research and Clinical Development. The collective efforts of each of these persons and others working with them as a team are critical to us as we continue to develop our technologies, tests and research and development and sales programs. As a result of the difficulty in locating qualified new management, the loss or incapacity of existing members of our executive

 

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management team could adversely affect our operations. If we were to lose one or more of these key employees, we could experience difficulties in finding qualified successors, competing effectively, developing our technologies and implementing our business strategy. Our Chief Executive Officer and President, Executive Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Scientific Officer have employment agreements, however, the existence of an employment agreement does not guarantee retention of members of our executive management team and we may not be able to retain those individuals for the duration of or beyond the end of their respective terms. We do not maintain “key person” life insurance on any of our employees.

In addition, we rely on collaborators, consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our collaborators, consultants and advisors are generally employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under agreements with other entities that may limit their availability to us.

The loss of a key employee, the failure of a key employee to perform in his or her current position or our inability to attract and retain skilled employees could result in our inability to continue to grow our business or to implement our business strategy.

There is a scarcity of experienced professionals in our industry. If we are not able to retain and recruit personnel with the requisite technical skills, we may be unable to successfully execute our business strategy.

The specialized nature of our industry results in an inherent scarcity of experienced personnel in the field. Our future success depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel, including scientific, technical, commercial, business, regulatory and administrative personnel, necessary to support our anticipated growth, develop our business and perform certain contractual obligations. Given the scarcity of professionals with the scientific knowledge that we require and the competition for qualified personnel among life science businesses, we may not succeed in attracting or retaining the personnel we require to continue and grow our operations.

Our inability to attract, hire and retain a sufficient number of qualified sales professionals would hamper our ability to increase demand for our cancer diagnostic test, to expand geographically and to successfully commercialize any other tests or products we may develop.

To succeed in selling our breast cancer diagnostic test and any other tests or products that we are able to develop, we must expand our sales force in the United States and/or internationally by recruiting additional sales representatives with extensive experience in oncology and close relationships with medical oncologists, surgeons, oncology nurses, pathologists and other hospital personnel. To achieve our marketing and sales goals, we will need to substantially build our sales and commercial infrastructure, with which to date we have had little experience. Sales professionals with the necessary technical and business qualifications are in high demand, and there is a risk that we may be unable to attract, hire and retain the number of sales professionals with the right qualifications, scientific backgrounds and relationships with decision-makers at potential customers needed to achieve our sales goals. We expect to face competition from other companies in our industry, some of whom are much larger than us and who can pay greater compensation and benefits than we can, in seeking to attract and retain qualified sales and marketing employees. If we are unable to hire and retain qualified sales and marketing personnel, our business will suffer.

Our dependence on commercialization partners for sales of tests could limit our success in realizing revenue growth.

We intend to grow our business through the use of commercialization partners for the sales, marketing and commercialization of our current test and our planned future tests, and to do so we must enter into agreements with these partners to sell, market or commercialize our tests. These agreements may contain exclusivity provisions and generally cannot be terminated without cause during the term of the agreement. We may need to attract additional partners to expand the markets in which we sell tests. These partners may not commit the necessary resources to market and sell our cancer diagnostics tests to the level of our expectations, and we may be unable to locate suitable alternatives should we terminate our agreement with such partners or if such partners terminate their agreement with us.

 

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Any relationships we form with commercialization partners are subject to change over time. For example, over 75% of our revenue in 2012 was generated through our arrangement with Clarient, but Clarient is no longer marketing the OncoCEE-BR test as actively as before. In May 2013, we amended our commercialization agreement with Clarient such that Clarient is no longer the exclusive marketer of the OncoCEE-BR test. We expect that in the future the percentage of our revenue which is generated through our arrangement with Clarient will diminish. If we cannot replace any diminution in revenues we receive through Clarient, our results will be weakened.

If current or future commercialization partners do not perform adequately, or we are unable to locate commercialization partners, we may not realize revenue growth.

We depend on third parties for the supply of blood samples and other biological materials that we use in our research and development efforts. If the costs of such samples and materials increase after we complete our initial public offering or our third party suppliers terminate their relationship with us, our business may be materially harmed.

We have relationships with suppliers and institutions that provide us with blood samples and other biological materials that we use in developing and validating our current test and our planned future tests. If one or more suppliers terminate their relationship with us or are unable to meet our requirements for samples, we will need to identify other third parties to provide us with blood samples and biological materials, which could result in a delay in our research and development activities and negatively affect our business. In addition, as we grow, our research and academic institution collaborators may seek additional financial contributions from us, which may negatively affect our results of operations.

We currently rely on third-party suppliers for critical materials needed to perform our current test and our planned future tests and any problems experienced by them could result in a delay or interruption of their supply to us.

We currently purchase raw materials for our microfluidic channels and testing reagents under purchase orders and do not have long-term contracts with most of the suppliers of these materials. If suppliers were to delay or stop producing our materials or reagents, or if the prices they charge us were to increase significantly, or if they elected not to sell to us, we would need to identify other suppliers. We could experience delays in manufacturing the microfluidic channels or performing tests while finding another acceptable supplier, which could impact our results of operations. The changes could also result in increased costs associated with qualifying the new materials or reagents and in increased operating costs. Further, any prolonged disruption in a supplier’s operations could have a significant negative impact on our ability to perform cancer diagnostic tests in a timely manner.

Some of the components used in our current or planned products are currently sole-source, and substitutes for these components might not be able to be obtained easily or may require substantial design or manufacturing modifications. Any significant problem experienced by one of our sole source suppliers may result in a delay or interruption in the supply of components to us until that supplier cures the problem or an alternative source of the component is located and qualified. Any delay or interruption would likely lead to a delay or interruption in our manufacturing operations. The inclusion of substitute components must meet our product specifications and could require us to qualify the new supplier with the appropriate government regulatory authorities.

If we were sued for product liability or professional liability, we could face substantial liabilities that exceed our resources.

The marketing, sale and use of our current test and our planned future diagnostic tests could lead to the filing of product liability claims against us if someone alleges that our tests failed to perform as designed. We may also be subject to liability for errors in the test results we provide to physicians or for a misunderstanding of, or inappropriate reliance upon, the information we provide. A product liability or professional liability claim could result in substantial damages and be costly and time-consuming for us to defend.

Although we believe that our existing product and professional liability insurance is adequate, our insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending against product liability or professional liability claims. Any product liability or professional liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our insurance rates or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future. Additionally, any product liability lawsuit could damage our reputation, result in the recall of tests, or cause current partners to terminate existing agreements and potential partners to seek other partners, any of which could impact our results of operations.

 

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If we use biological and hazardous materials in a manner that causes injury, we could be liable for damages.

Our activities currently require the controlled use of potentially harmful biological materials and chemicals. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury to employees or third parties from the use, storage, handling or disposal of these materials. In the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources or any applicable insurance coverage we may have. Additionally, we are subject to, on an ongoing basis, federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products. The cost of compliance with these laws and regulations may become significant and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In the event of an accident or if we otherwise fail to comply with applicable regulations, we could lose our permits or approvals or be held liable for damages or penalized with fines.

We may acquire other businesses or form joint ventures or make investments in other companies or technologies that could harm our operating results, dilute our stockholders’ ownership, increase our debt or cause us to incur significant expense.

As part of our business strategy, we may pursue acquisitions of businesses and assets. We also may pursue strategic alliances and joint ventures that leverage our core technology and industry experience to expand our offerings or distribution. We have no experience with acquiring other companies and limited experience with forming strategic alliances and joint ventures. We may not be able to find suitable partners or acquisition candidates, and we may not be able to complete such transactions on favorable terms, if at all. If we make any acquisitions, we may not be able to integrate these acquisitions successfully into our existing business, and we could assume unknown or contingent liabilities. Any future acquisitions also could result in significant write-offs or the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Integration of an acquired company also may disrupt ongoing operations and require management resources that would otherwise focus on developing our existing business. We may experience losses related to investments in other companies, which could have a material negative effect on our results of operations. We may not identify or complete these transactions in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis, or at all, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, technology license, strategic alliance or joint venture.

To finance any acquisitions or joint ventures, we may choose to issue shares of our common stock as consideration, which would dilute the ownership of our stockholders. If the price of our common stock is low or volatile, we may not be able to acquire other companies or fund a joint venture project using our stock as consideration. Alternatively, it may be necessary for us to raise additional funds for acquisitions through public or private financings. Additional funds may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.

If we cannot support demand for our current test and our planned future diagnostic tests, including successfully managing the evolution of our technology and manufacturing platforms, our business could suffer.

As our test volume grows, we will need to increase our testing capacity, implement automation, increase our scale and related processing, customer service, billing, collection and systems process improvements and expand our internal quality assurance program and technology to support testing on a larger scale. We will also need additional cytogenetic technicians, certified laboratory scientists and other scientific and technical personnel to process these additional tests. Any increases in scale, related improvements and quality assurance may not be successfully implemented and appropriate personnel may not be available. As additional tests are commercialized, we may need to bring new equipment on line, implement new systems, technology, controls and procedures and hire personnel with different qualifications. Failure to implement necessary procedures or to hire the necessary personnel could result in a higher cost of processing or an inability to meet market demand. We cannot assure you that we will be able to perform tests on a timely basis at a level consistent with demand, that our efforts to scale our commercial operations will not negatively affect the quality of our test results or that we will respond successfully to the growing complexity of our testing operations. If we encounter difficulty meeting market demand or quality standards for our current test and our planned future tests, our reputation could be harmed and our future prospects and business could suffer, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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We may encounter manufacturing problems or delays that could result in lost revenue.

We currently manufacture our proprietary microfluidic channels at our San Diego facility and intend to continue to do so. We believe we currently have adequate manufacturing capacity for our microfluidic channels. If demand for our current test and our planned future tests increases significantly, we will need to either expand our manufacturing capabilities or outsource to other manufacturers. If we or third party manufacturers engaged by us fail to manufacture and deliver our microfluidic channels or certain reagents in a timely manner, our relationships with our customers could be seriously harmed. We cannot assure you that manufacturing or quality control problems will not arise as we attempt to increase the production of our microfluidic channels or reagents or that we can increase our manufacturing capabilities and maintain quality control in a timely manner or at commercially reasonable costs. If we cannot manufacture our microfluidic channels consistently on a timely basis because of these or other factors, it could have a significant negative impact on our ability to perform tests and generate revenues.

International expansion of our business would expose us to business, regulatory, political, operational, financial and economic risks associated with doing business outside of the United States.

Our business strategy contemplates possible international expansion, including partnering with academic and commercial testing laboratories, and introducing OncoCEE technology outside the United States as part of CE-marked IVD test kits and/or testing systems utilizing our CEE and/or CEE-Selector technologies. Doing business internationally involves a number of risks, including:

 

   

multiple, conflicting and changing laws and regulations such as tax laws, export and import restrictions, employment laws, regulatory requirements and other governmental approvals, permits and licenses;

 

   

failure by us or our distributors to obtain regulatory approvals for the sale or use of our current test and our planned future tests in various countries;

 

   

difficulties in managing foreign operations;

 

   

complexities associated with managing government payor systems, multiple payor-reimbursement regimes or self-pay systems;

 

   

logistics and regulations associated with shipping blood samples, including infrastructure conditions and transportation delays;

 

   

limits on our ability to penetrate international markets if our current test and our planned future diagnostic tests cannot be processed by an appropriately qualified local laboratory;

 

   

financial risks, such as longer payment cycles, difficulty enforcing contracts and collecting accounts receivable and exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

   

reduced protection for intellectual property rights, or lack of them in certain jurisdictions, forcing more reliance on our trade secrets, if available;

 

   

natural disasters, political and economic instability, including wars, terrorism and political unrest, outbreak of disease, boycotts, curtailment of trade and other business restrictions; and

 

   

failure to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, including its books and records provisions and its anti-bribery provisions, by maintaining accurate information and control over sales activities and distributors’ activities.

Any of these risks, if encountered, could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Declining general economic or business conditions may have a negative impact on our business.

Continuing concerns over United States health care reform legislation and energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit and government stimulus programs in the United States and other countries have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, combined with low business and consumer confidence and high unemployment, precipitated an economic slowdown and recession. If the economic climate does not improve, or it deteriorates, our business, including our access to patient samples and the addressable market for diagnostic tests that we may successfully develop, as well as the financial condition of our suppliers and our third-party payors, could be adversely affected, resulting in a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Intrusions into our computer systems could result in compromise of confidential information.

Despite the implementation of security measures, our technology or systems that we interface with, including the Internet and related systems, may be vulnerable to physical break-ins, hackers, improper employee or contractor access, computer viruses, programming errors, or similar problems. Any of these might result in confidential medical, business or other information of other persons or of ourselves being revealed to unauthorized persons.

There are a number of state, federal and international laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data. As part of the American Recovery and Investment Act 2009, or ARRA, Congress amended the privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. HIPAA imposes limitations on the use and disclosure of an individual’s healthcare information by healthcare providers, healthcare clearinghouses, and health insurance plans, collectively referred to as covered entities. The HIPAA amendments also impose compliance obligations and corresponding penalties for non-compliance on individuals and entities that provide services to healthcare providers and other covered entities, collectively referred to as business associates. ARRA also made significant increases in the penalties for improper use or disclosure of an individual’s health information under HIPAA and extended enforcement authority to state attorneys general. The amendments also create notification requirements for individuals whose health information has been inappropriately accessed or disclosed: notification requirements to federal regulators and in some cases, notification to local and national media. Notification is not required under HIPAA if the health information that is improperly used or disclosed is deemed secured in accordance with encryption or other standards developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS. Most states have laws requiring notification of affected individuals and state regulators in the event of a breach of personal information, which is a broader class of information than the health information protected by HIPAA. Many state laws impose significant data security requirements, such as encryption or mandatory contractual terms to ensure ongoing protection of personal information. Activities outside of the United States implicate local and national data protection standards, impose additional compliance requirements and generate additional risks of enforcement for non-compliance. We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws, to protect against security breaches and hackers or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches.

We depend on our information technology and telecommunications systems, and any failure of these systems could harm our business.

We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems for significant aspects of our operations. In addition, our third-party billing and collections provider depends upon telecommunications and data systems provided by outside vendors and information we provide on a regular basis. These information technology and telecommunications systems support a variety of functions, including test processing, sample tracking, quality control, customer service and support, billing and reimbursement, research and development activities and our general and administrative activities. Information technology and telecommunications systems are vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. Despite the precautionary measures we have taken to prevent unanticipated problems that could affect our information technology and telecommunications systems, failures or significant downtime of our information technology or telecommunications systems or those used by our third-party service providers could prevent us from processing tests, providing test results to oncologists, pathologists, billing payors, processing reimbursement appeals, handling patient or physician inquiries, conducting research and development activities and managing the administrative aspects of our business. Any disruption or loss of information technology or telecommunications systems on which critical aspects of our operations depend could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

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Regulatory Risks Relating to Our Business

Healthcare policy changes, including recently enacted legislation reforming the U.S. health care system, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively the ACA, makes a number of substantial changes in the way health care is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among other things, the ACA:

 

   

Mandates a reduction in payments for clinical laboratory services paid under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule annual Consumer Price Index update of 1.75% for the years 2011 through 2015. In addition, a permanent productivity adjustment is made to the fee schedule payment amount, which could range from 1.1% to 1.4% each year over the next 10 years. These changes in payments may apply to some or all of the tests we furnish to Medicare beneficiaries.

 

   

Establishes an Independent Payment Advisory Board to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending if spending exceeds a target growth rate. The Independent Payment Advisory Board has broad discretion to propose policies, which may have a negative impact on payment rates for services, including clinical laboratory services, beginning in 2016, and for hospital services beginning in 2020.

 

   

Requires each medical device manufacturer to pay an excise tax equal to 2.3% of the price for which such manufacturer sells its medical devices, beginning in 2013. We believe that at this time this tax does not apply to our current cancer diagnostic test or to our products that are in development; nevertheless, this could change in the future if either the FDA or the Internal Revenue Service, which regulates the payment of this excise tax, changes its position.

Although some of these provisions may negatively impact payment rates for clinical laboratory tests, the ACA also extends coverage to over 30 million previously uninsured people, which may result in an increase in the demand for our current test and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests. The mandatory purchase of insurance has been strenuously opposed by a number of state governors, resulting in lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions of the ACA. In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the ACA, with the exception of certain provisions dealing with the expansion of Medicaid coverage under the law. Therefore, most of the law’s provisions will go into effect in 2013 and 2014. Congress has also proposed a number of legislative initiatives, including possible repeal of the ACA. At this time, it remains unclear whether there will be any changes made to the ACA, whether in part or in its entirety.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. The Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, created the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recommend proposals in spending reductions to Congress. The Joint Select Committee did not achieve a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers and suppliers of up to 2% per fiscal year, starting in 2013. The full impact on our business of the ACA and the sequester law is uncertain. In addition, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, or MCTRJCA, mandated an additional change in Medicare reimbursement for clinical laboratory tests. This legislation requires a rebasing of the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule to effect a 2% reduction in payment rates otherwise determined for 2013. This will serve as a base for 2014 and subsequent years. In January 2013, as a result of the changes mandated by the ACA and MCTRJCA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, reduced its reimbursement for laboratory tests for 2013 by approximately 3%.

Some of our laboratory test business is subject to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and, under the current statutory formula, the rates for these services are updated annually. For the past several years, the application of the statutory formula would have resulted in substantial payment reductions if Congress failed to intervene. In the past, Congress passed interim legislation to prevent the decreases. On November 1, 2012, CMS issued its 2013 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, or the 2013 Final Rule. In the 2013 Final Rule, CMS called for a reduction of approximately 26.5% in the 2013 conversion factor that is used to calculate physician reimbursement. However, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 prevented this proposed cut and keeps the current reimbursement rate in effect until December 31, 2013. If Congress fails to act in future years to offset similar proposed reductions, the resulting decrease in payment could adversely impact our revenues and results of operations.

In addition, many of the Current Procedure Terminology, or CPT, codes that we use to bill for cancer diagnostic tests were revised by the American Medical Association, effective January 1, 2013. In the 2013 Final Rule, CMS announced that it has decided to keep the new molecular codes on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule rather than move

 

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them to the Physician Fee Schedule as some stakeholders had urged. CMS has also announced that for 2013 it will price the new codes using a “gapfilling” process by which it will refer the codes to the Medicare Administrative Contractors to allow them to determine an appropriate price. Our reimbursement could be adversely affected by CMS’ actions. If it reduces reimbursement for the new test codes or does not pay for our codes, then our revenues would be adversely affected. There can be no guarantees that Medicare and other payors will establish positive or adequate coverage policies or reimbursement rates.

On July 9, 2013, CMS issued a proposed Physician Fee Schedule revision that would, in the aggregate, impose a 25% reduction for payments for pathology codes when services are provided by independent laboratories, to take effect beginning with calendar year 2014. The proposed cuts for certain services are drastic. For example, reimbursement for the technical component of FISH analysis would be cut by 68%. We cannot predict the outcome of this initiative.

We cannot predict whether future health care initiatives will be implemented at the federal or state level, or how any future legislation or regulation may affect us. The expansion of government’s role in the U.S. health care industry as a result of the ACA’s implementation, and changes to the reimbursement amounts paid by Medicare and other payors for our current test and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests, may reduce our profits, if any, and have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Moreover, Congress has proposed on several occasions to impose a 20% coinsurance payment requirement on patients for clinical laboratory tests reimbursed under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, which would require us to bill patients for these amounts. In the event that Congress were to ever enact such legislation, the cost of billing and collecting for our tests could often exceed the amount actually received from the patient.

Our commercial success could be compromised if hospitals or other clients do not pay our invoices or if third-party payors, including managed care organizations and Medicare, do not provide coverage and reimbursement, breach, rescind or modify their contracts or reimbursement policies or delay payments for our current test and our planned future tests.

Oncologists may not order our current breast cancer test and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests unless third-party payors, such as managed care organizations and government payors (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid), pay a substantial portion of the test price. Coverage and reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend on a number of factors, including a payor’s determination that tests using our technologies are:

 

   

not experimental or investigational;

 

   

medically necessary;

 

   

appropriate for the specific patient;

 

   

cost-effective;

 

   

supported by peer-reviewed publications; and

 

   

included in clinical practice guidelines.

Uncertainty surrounds third-party payor reimbursement of any test incorporating new technology, including tests developed using our technologies. Technology assessments of new medical tests conducted by research centers and other entities may be disseminated to interested parties for informational purposes. Third-party payors and health care providers may use such technology assessments as grounds to deny coverage for a test or procedure. Technology assessments can include evaluation of clinical utility studies, which define how a test is used in a particular clinical setting or situation.

Because each payor generally determines for its own enrollees or insured patients whether to cover or otherwise establish a policy to reimburse our cancer diagnostic tests, seeking payor approvals is a time-consuming and costly process. We cannot be certain that coverage for our current test and our planned future tests will be provided in the future by additional third-party payors or that existing agreements, policy decisions or reimbursement levels will remain in place or be fulfilled under existing terms and provisions. If we cannot obtain coverage and reimbursement from private and governmental payors such as Medicare and Medicaid for our current test, or new tests or test enhancements that we may develop in the future, our ability to generate revenues could be limited, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Further, we have experienced in the past, and will likely experience in the future, delays and interruptions in the receipt of payments from third-party payors due to missing documentation and/or other issues, which could cause delay in collecting our revenue.

In addition, to the extent that our testing is ordered for Medicare inpatients and outpatients, only the hospital may receive payment from the Medicare program for the technical component of pathology services and any clinical laboratory services that we perform, unless the testing is ordered at least 14 days after discharge and certain other requirements are met. We therefore must look to the hospital for payment for these services under these circumstances. If hospitals refuse to pay for the services or fail to pay in a timely manner, our ability to generate revenues could be limited, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

 

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We will depend on Medicare and a limited number of private payors for a significant portion of our revenues and if these or other payors stop providing reimbursement or decrease the amount of reimbursement for our current test and our planned future tests, our revenues could decline.

We believe, based on research showing that approximately 54% of new cancers occur in persons age 65 and older and that almost all Americans age 65 and older are enrolled in Medicare, that as many as approximately 50% of the patients for whom we would expect to perform cancer diagnostic tests will have Medicare coverage. We have not yet billed Medicare for any testing. Until May 2013, our commercialization partner Clarient was responsible for all billing associated with our tests, and we do not have data for Clarient’s billing and collection experience with respect to our test. Medicare and other third-party payors may change their coverage policies or cancel future contracts with us at any time, review and adjust the rate of reimbursement or stop paying for our tests altogether, which would reduce our total revenues.

Payors have increased their efforts to control the cost, utilization and delivery of health care services. In the past, measures have been undertaken to reduce payment rates for and decrease utilization of the clinical laboratory testing generally. Because of the cost-trimming trends, third-party payors that currently cover and provide reimbursement for our current breast cancer test and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests may suspend, revoke or discontinue coverage at any time, or may reduce the reimbursement rates payable to us. Any such action could have a negative impact on our revenues, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In addition, we are currently considered a “non-contracted provider” by private third-party payors because we have not entered into a specific contract to provide cancer diagnostic tests to their insured patients at specified rates of reimbursement. If we were to become a contracted provider with one more payors in the future, the amount of overall reimbursement we receive would likely decrease because we could be reimbursed less money per test performed at a contracted rate than at a non-contracted rate, which could have a negative impact on our revenues. Further, we typically are unable to collect payments from patients beyond that which is paid by their insurance and will continue to experience lost revenue as a result.

Because of certain Medicare billing policies, we may not receive complete reimbursement for tests provided to Medicare patients. Medicare reimbursement revenues are an important component of our business model, and private payors sometimes look to Medicare determinations when making their own payment determinations; therefore, incomplete or inadequate reimbursement from Medicare would negatively affect our business.

Medicare has coverage policies that can be national or regional in scope. Coverage means that the test or assay is approved as a benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. If there is no coverage, neither the supplier nor any other party, such as a reference laboratory, may bill Medicare or the beneficiary for the service. There is currently no national coverage policy regarding the CTC enumeration portion of our testing. Because our laboratory is in California, the regional Medicare Administrative Contractor , or MAC, for California is the relevant MAC for all our testing. The previous MAC for California, Palmetto GBA, LLC, adopted a negative coverage policy for CTC enumeration (other than by Janssen Diagnostics, LLC’s CellSearch ® test). The current MAC for California, Noridian Health Solutions, is adopting the coverage policies from Palmetto GBA. Therefore the enumeration or detection portion of our OncoCEE testing is not currently covered and we will receive no payment from Medicare for this service unless and until the coverage policy is changed.

We cannot assure you that, even if OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests are otherwise successful, reimbursement for the currently Medicare-covered portions of OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests would, without Medicare reimbursement for the enumeration/detection portion, produce sufficient revenues to enable us to reach profitability and achieve our other commercial objectives.

 

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The processing of Medicare claims is subject to change at CMS’ discretion at any time. Cost containment initiatives may be a threat to Medicare reimbursement levels (including for the covered components of OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests, including FISH analysis and molecular testing) for the foreseeable future.

Long payment cycles of Medicare, Medicaid and/or other third-party payors, or other payment delays, could hurt our cash flows and increase our need for working capital.

Medicare and Medicaid have complex billing and documentation requirements that we must satisfy in order to receive payment, and the programs can be expected to carefully audit and monitor our compliance with these requirements. We must also comply with numerous other laws applicable to billing and payment for healthcare services, including privacy laws. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in non-payment, refunds, exclusion from government healthcare programs, and civil or criminal liabilities, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and earnings. In addition, failure by third-party payors to properly process our payment claims in a timely manner could delay our receipt of payment for our products and services, which may have a material adverse effect on our cash flows.

Complying with numerous regulations pertaining to our business is an expensive and time-consuming process, and any failure to comply could result in substantial penalties.

We are subject to CLIA, a federal law regulating clinical laboratories that perform testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease. Our clinical laboratory must be certified under CLIA in order for us to perform testing on human specimens. CLIA is intended to ensure the quality and reliability of clinical laboratories in the United States by mandating specific standards in the areas of personnel qualifications, administration, and participation in proficiency testing, patient test management, quality control, quality assurance and inspections. We have a current certificate of accreditation under CLIA to perform high complexity testing, and our laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, or CAP, one of six CLIA-approved accreditation organizations. To renew this certificate, we are subject to survey and inspection every two years. Moreover, CLIA inspectors may make periodic inspections of our clinical laboratory outside of the renewal process.

In addition, our laboratory is located in California and is required by state law to have a California state license; as we expand our geographic focus, we may need to obtain laboratory licenses from additional states. California laws establish standards for operation of our clinical laboratory, including the training and skills required of personnel and quality control. In addition, Florida, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island require that we hold licenses to test specimens from patients in those states or received from ordering physicians in those states; Pennsylvania licensure or registration may be required as well, depending on the circumstances. As part of this process, the State of New York requires validation of our tests. We currently do not have the necessary New York license, but we are in the process of addressing the requirements for licensure in New York. We currently do not have the Florida, Maryland and Rhode Island licenses, but we believe they will be re-issued to us by the end of 2013. Other states may have similar requirements or may adopt similar requirements in the future. Finally, we may be subject to regulation in foreign jurisdictions if we seek to expand international distribution of our tests outside the United States.

If we were to lose our CLIA certification or California laboratory license, whether as a result of a revocation, suspension or limitation, we would no longer be able to offer our tests, which would limit our revenues and harm our business. If we were to lose our license in any other state where we are required to hold a license, we would not be able to test specimens from those states.

If the FDA were to begin requiring approval or clearance of our current test and our planned future tests, we could incur substantial costs and time delays associated with meeting requirements for pre-market clearance or approval or we could experience decreased demand for, or reimbursement of, our tests.

Although the FDA maintains that it has authority to regulate the development and use of laboratory developed tests, or LDTs, such as ours, as medical devices, it has not exercised its authority with respect to most LDTs as a matter of enforcement discretion. The FDA could, at any time, change its policy with regard to this matter.

 

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We believe that our cancer diagnostic tests, as utilized in our clinical laboratory, are and would be LDTs. As a result, we believe that pursuant to the FDA’s current policies and guidance, the FDA does not require that we obtain regulatory clearances or approvals for our LDTs. The container we provide for collection and transport of blood samples from a health care provider to our clinical laboratory may be a medical device subject to the FDA regulation but is currently exempt from pre-market review by the FDA. While we believe that we are currently in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that the FDA or other regulatory agencies would agree with our determination, and a determination that we have violated these laws, or a public announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these laws, could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition.

Moreover, FDA policy pertaining to diagnostic testing is continuing to evolve and is subject to ongoing review and revision. A significant change in any of the laws, regulations or policies may require us to achieve regulatory compliance. At various times since 2006, the FDA has issued guidance documents or announced draft guidance regarding initiatives that may require varying levels of FDA oversight of our current test and our planned future tests. For example, in June 2010, the FDA announced a public meeting to discuss the agency’s oversight of LDTs prompted by the increased complexity of LDTs and their increasingly important role in clinical decision-making and disease management, particularly in the context of personalized medicine. The FDA indicated that it was considering a risk-based application of oversight to LDTs and that, following public input and discussion, it might issue separate draft guidance on the regulation of LDTs, which ultimately could require that we seek and obtain either pre-market clearance or approval of LDTs, depending upon the risk-based approach the FDA adopts. The public meeting was held in July 2010 and further public comments were submitted to the FDA through September 2010. The FDA has stated it is continuing to develop draft guidance in this area. Section 1143 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 requires the FDA to notify U.S. Congress at least 60 days before issuing a draft or final guidance regulating LDTs and to provide details of the anticipated action.

We cannot provide any assurance that FDA regulation, including pre-market review, will not be required in the future for our current test and our planned future tests, whether through additional guidance issued by the FDA, new enforcement policies adopted by the FDA or new legislation enacted by Congress. We believe it is possible that legislation will be enacted into law or guidance could be issued by the FDA which may result in increased regulatory burdens for us to continue to offer our breast cancer test or to develop and introduce new tests. Given the attention Congress continues to give to these issues, legislation affecting this area may be enacted into law and may result in increased regulatory burdens on us as we continue to offer our test and to develop and introduce new tests.

In addition, HHS requested that its Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society make recommendations about the oversight of genetic testing. A final report was published in April 2008. If the report’s recommendations for increased oversight of genetic testing were to result in further regulatory burdens, they could negatively affect our business and delay the commercialization of tests in development.

The requirement of pre-market review could negatively affect our business until such review is completed and clearance to market or approval is obtained. The FDA could require that we stop selling our cancer diagnostic tests pending pre-market clearance or approval. If the FDA allows our tests to remain on the market but there is uncertainty about our tests, if they are labeled investigational by the FDA or if labeling claims the FDA allows us to make are very limited, orders from oncologists or reimbursement may decline. The regulatory approval process may involve, among other things, successfully completing additional clinical trials and making a 510(k) submission, or filing a pre-market approval application with the FDA. If the FDA requires pre-market review, our tests may not be cleared or approved on a timely basis, if at all. We may also decide voluntarily to pursue FDA pre-market review of our tests if we determine that doing so would be appropriate.

Additionally, should future regulatory actions affect any of the reagents we obtain from suppliers and use in conducting our tests, our business could be adversely affected in the form of increased costs of testing or delays, limits or prohibitions on the purchase of reagents necessary to perform our testing.

 

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If we were required to conduct additional clinical studies or trials before continuing to offer tests that we have developed or may develop as LDTs, those studies or trials could lead to delays or failure to obtain necessary regulatory approval, which could cause significant delays in commercializing any future products and harm our ability to achieve sustained profitability.

If the FDA decides to require that we obtain clearance or approvals to commercialize our current breast cancer test or our planned future cancer diagnostic tests, we may be required to conduct additional pre-market clinical testing before submitting a regulatory notification or application for commercial sales. In addition, as part of our long-term strategy we may plan to seek FDA clearance or approval so we can sell our tests outside our CLIA laboratory; however, we would need to conduct additional clinical validation activities on our tests before we can submit an application for FDA approval or clearance. Clinical trials must be conducted in compliance with FDA regulations or the FDA may take enforcement action or reject the data. The data collected from these clinical trials may ultimately be used to support market clearance or approval for our tests. We believe it would likely take two years or more to conduct the clinical studies and trials necessary to obtain approval from the FDA to commercially launch our current test and our planned future tests outside of our clinical laboratory. Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, we cannot be certain that their results will support our test claims or that the FDA or foreign authorities will agree with our conclusions regarding our test results. Success in early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and we cannot be sure that the later trials will replicate the results of prior clinical trials and studies. If we are required to conduct pre-market clinical trials, whether using prospectively acquired samples or archival samples, delays in the commencement or completion of clinical testing could significantly increase our test development costs and delay commercialization. Many of the factors that may cause or lead to a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to delay or denial of regulatory clearance or approval. The commencement of clinical trials may be delayed due to insufficient patient enrollment, which is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the protocol, the proximity of patients to clinical sites and the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial. Moreover, the clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our current test and our planned future tests are effective for the proposed indicated uses, which could cause us to abandon a test candidate and may delay development of other tests.

We may find it necessary to engage contract research organizations to perform data collection and analysis and other aspects of our clinical trials, which might increase the cost and complexity of our trials. We may also depend on clinical investigators, medical institutions and contract research organizations to perform the trials properly. If these parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, or if the quality, completeness or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or for other reasons, our clinical trials may have to be extended, delayed or terminated. Many of these factors would be beyond our control. We may not be able to enter into replacement arrangements without undue delays or considerable expenditures. If there are delays in testing or approvals as a result of the failure to perform by third parties, our research and development costs would increase, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory clearance or approval for our current test and our planned future tests. In addition, we may not be able to establish or maintain relationships with these parties on favorable terms, if at all. Each of these outcomes would harm our ability to market our tests or to achieve sustained profitability.

We are subject to federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations and could face substantial penalties if we are unable to fully comply with such laws.

We are subject to health care fraud and abuse regulation and enforcement by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. These health care laws and regulations include, for example:

 

   

the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons or entities from soliciting, receiving, offering or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in return for or to induce either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase order or recommendation of, any item or services for which payment may be made under a federal health care program such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;

 

   

the federal physician self-referral prohibition, commonly known as the Stark Law, which prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to providers of “designated health services” with whom the physician or a member of the physician’s immediate family has an ownership interest or compensation arrangement, unless a statutory or regulatory exception applies;

 

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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which established federal crimes for knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program or making false statements in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services;

 

   

federal false claims laws, which, prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false or fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government; and

 

   

state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers.

The risk of our being found in violation of these laws and regulations is increased by the fact that many of them have not been fully interpreted by the regulatory authorities or the courts, and their provisions are open to a variety of interpretations. Further, the ACA, among other things, amends the intent requirement of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and certain criminal health care fraud statutes. Where the intent requirement has been lowered, a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it. In addition, because of amendments enacted in 2009 as part of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, the government may now assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the false claims statutes. Any action brought against us for violation of these laws or regulations, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws and regulations, we may be subject to any applicable penalty associated with the violation, including civil and criminal penalties, damages and fines, and/or exclusion from participation in Medicare, the California Medical Assistance Program (Medi-Cal – the California Medicaid program) or other state or federal health care programs. Additionally, we could be required to refund payments received by us, and we could be required to curtail or cease our operations. Any of the foregoing consequences could seriously harm our business and our financial results.

We may be required to comply with laws governing the transmission, security and privacy of health information that require significant compliance costs, and any failure to comply with these laws could result in material criminal and civil penalties.

Under the administrative simplification provisions of HIPAA, HHS has issued regulations which establish uniform standards governing the conduct of certain electronic health care transactions and protecting the privacy and security of Protected Health Information used or disclosed by health care providers and other covered entities.

The privacy regulations regulate the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information by health care providers engaging in certain electronic transactions or “standard transactions.” They also set forth certain rights that an individual has with respect to his or her Protected Health Information maintained by a covered health care provider, including the right to access or amend certain records containing Protected Health Information or to request restrictions on the use or disclosure of Protected Health Information. The HIPAA security regulations establish administrative, physical and technical standards for maintaining the integrity and availability of Protected Health Information in electronic form. These standards apply to covered health care providers and also to “business associates” or third parties providing services involving the use or disclosure of Protected Health Information. The HIPAA privacy and security regulations establish a uniform federal “floor” and do not supersede state laws that are more stringent or provide individuals with greater rights with respect to the privacy or security of, and access to, their records containing Protected Health Information. As a result, we may be required to comply with both HIPAA privacy regulations and varying state privacy and security laws.

Moreover, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, among other things, established certain health information security breach notification requirements. In the event of a breach of unsecured Protected Health Information, a covered entity must notify each individual whose Protected Health Information is breached, federal regulators and in some cases, must publicize the breach in local or national media. Breaches affecting 500 individuals or more are publicized by federal regulators who publicly identify the breaching entity, the circumstances of the breach and the number of individuals affected.

 

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These laws contain significant fines and other penalties for wrongful use or disclosure of Protected Health Information. Given the complexity of HIPAA and HITECH and their overlap with state privacy and security laws, and the fact that these laws are rapidly evolving and are subject to changing and potentially conflicting interpretation, our ability to comply with the HIPAA, HITECH and state privacy requirements is uncertain and the costs of compliance are significant. Adding to the complexity is that our operations are evolving and the requirements of these laws will apply differently depending on such things as whether or not we bill electronically for our services, or provide services involving the use or disclosure of Protected Health Information and incur compliance obligations as a business associate. The costs of complying with any changes to the HIPAA, HITECH and state privacy restrictions may have a negative impact on our operations. Noncompliance could subject us to criminal penalties, civil sanctions and significant monetary penalties as well as reputational damage.

Clinical research is heavily regulated and failure to comply with human subject protection regulations may disrupt our research program leading to significant expense, regulatory enforcement, private lawsuits and reputational damage.

Clinical research is subject to federal, state and, for studies conducted outside of the United States, international regulation. At the federal level, the FDA imposes regulations for the protection of human subjects and requirements such as initial and ongoing institutional review board review; informed consent requirements, adverse event reporting and other protections to minimize the risk and maximize the benefit to research participants. Many states impose human subject protection laws that mirror or in some cases exceed federal requirements. HIPAA also regulates the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information in connection with research activities. Research conducted overseas is subject to a variety of national protections such as mandatory ethics committee review, as well as laws regulating the use, disclosure and cross-border transfer of personal data. The costs of compliance with these laws may be significant and compliance with regulatory requirements may result in delay. Noncompliance may disrupt our research and result in data that is unacceptable to regulatory authorities, data lock or other sanctions that may significantly disrupt our operations.

Violation of a state’s prohibition on the corporate practice of medicine could result in a material adverse effect on our business.

A number of states, including California, do not allow business corporations to employ physicians to provide professional services. This prohibition against the “corporate practice of medicine” is aimed at preventing corporations such as us from exercising control over the medical judgments or decisions of physicians. The state licensure statutes and regulations and agency and court decisions that enumerate the specific corporate practice rules vary considerably from state to state and are enforced by both the courts and regulatory authorities, each with broad discretion. If regulatory authorities or other parties in any jurisdiction successfully assert that we are engaged in the unauthorized corporate practice of medicine, we could be required to restructure our contractual and other arrangements. In addition, violation of these laws may result in sanctions imposed against us and/or the professional through licensure proceedings, and we could be subject to civil and criminal penalties that could result in exclusion from state and federal health care programs.

Intellectual Property Risks Related to Our Business

Our collaborators may assert ownership or commercial rights to inventions we develop from our use of the biological materials which they provide to us, or otherwise arising from the collaboration.

We collaborate with several institutions, physicians and researchers in scientific matters. We do not have written agreements with certain of such collaborators (including the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Columbia University and the University of California, San Diego), or the written agreements we have do not cover intellectual property rights. Also, we rely on numerous third parties to provide us with blood samples and biological materials that we use to develop tests. If we cannot successfully negotiate sufficient ownership and commercial rights to any inventions that result from our use of a third party collaborator’s materials, or if disputes arise with respect to the intellectual property developed with the use of a collaborator’s samples, or data developed in a collaborator’s study, we may be limited in our ability to capitalize on the market potential of these inventions or developments.

If we are unable to maintain intellectual property protection, our competitive position could be harmed.

Our ability to protect our discoveries and technologies affects our ability to compete and to achieve sustained profitability. Currently, we rely on a combination of U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademarks and trademark applications, confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, licenses, consulting agreements, work-for-hire agreements and invention assignment agreements to protect our intellectual property rights. We also maintain certain company know-how, trade secrets and technological innovations designed to provide us with a competitive advantage in the market place as trade secrets. Currently, we own 3 issued U.S. patents, 6 allowed foreign patents and more than 30 pending U.S. and foreign patent applications relevant to our cancer diagnostics business, including 3 pending U.S. and associated foreign patent applications we jointly own with Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. (but for which we have the exclusive rights for specified fields of use). While we intend to pursue additional patent applications, it is possible that our pending patent applications and any future applications may not result in issued patents. Even if patents are issued, third parties may

 

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independently develop similar or competing technology that avoids our patents. Further, we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent the misappropriation of our trade secrets and other confidential information as well as the misuse of our patents and other intellectual property, particularly in foreign countries where we have not filed for patent protection. In addition, if Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. were to challenge the scope of our rights under or attempt to terminate its Assignment and Exclusive Cross-License Agreement with us, our ability to use the technologies we in-license from Aegea, or to prevent others from using them in the fields of use for which we have an exclusive license, could be compromised.

From time to time the U.S. Supreme Court, other federal courts, the U.S. Congress or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, may change the standards of patentability and any such changes could have a negative impact on our business. For instance, in 2008, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision that methods or processes cannot be patented unless they are tied to a machine or involve a physical transformation. The U.S. Supreme Court later reversed that decision in Bilski v. Kappos , finding that the “machine-or-transformation” test is not the only test for determining patent eligibility. The Court, however, declined to specify how and when processes are patentable. In 2012, in the case Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. , the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Federal Circuit’s application of Bilski and invalidated a patent focused on a diagnostic process because the patent claim embodied a law of nature. It is unclear at this time whether the USPTO will amend its patent prosecution guidelines for determining patentability of diagnostic or other processes, and how lower courts will implement the decision. Some aspects of our technology involve processes that may be subject to this evolving standard and we cannot guarantee that any of our pending process claims will be patentable as a result of such evolving standards.

In 2013, in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics , the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that, “A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated,” invalidating Myriad Genetics’ patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. However, the Supreme Court also held that manipulation of a gene to create something not found in nature, such as a strand of synthetically-produced complementary DNA, could still be eligible for patent protection. The Supreme Court noted that method patents, which concern technical procedures for carrying out a certain process, are not affected by the ruling.

It should also be noted that in 2010, the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society voted to approve a report entitled “Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests.” That report defines “patent claims on genes” broadly to include claims to isolated nucleic acid molecules as well as methods of detecting particular sequences or mutations. The report also contains six recommendations, including the creation of an exemption from liability for infringement of patent claims on genes for anyone making, using, ordering, offering for sale or selling a test developed under the patent for patient care purposes, or for anyone using the patent-protected genes in the pursuit of research. The report also recommended that HHS should explore, identify and implement mechanisms that will encourage more voluntary adherence to current guidelines that promote nonexclusive in-licensing of diagnostic genetic and genomic technologies. It is unclear whether HHS will act upon these recommendations, or if the recommendations would result in a change in law or process that could negatively impact our patent portfolio or future research and development efforts.

We may face intellectual property infringement claims that could be time-consuming and costly to defend, and could result in our loss of significant rights and the assessment of treble damages.

From time to time we may face intellectual property infringement or misappropriation claims from third parties. Some of these claims may lead to litigation. The outcome of any such litigation can never be guaranteed, and an adverse outcome could affect us negatively. For example, were a third-party to succeed on an infringement claim against us, we may be required to pay substantial damages, including treble damages if such infringement were found to be willful. In addition, we could face an injunction, barring us from conducting the allegedly infringing activity. The outcome of the litigation could require us to enter into a license agreement which may not be pursuant to acceptable or commercially reasonable or practical terms or which may not be available at all.

It is also possible that an adverse finding of infringement against us may require us to dedicate substantial resources and time in developing non-infringing alternatives, which may or may not be possible. In the case of diagnostic tests, we would also need to include non-infringing technologies which would require us to re-validate the test. Any such re-validation, in addition to being costly and time consuming, may be unsuccessful.

 

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Finally, we may initiate claims to assert or defend our own intellectual property against third parties. Any intellectual property litigation, irrespective of whether we are the plaintiff or the defendant, and regardless of the outcome, is expensive and time-consuming, and could divert our management’s attention from our business and negatively affect our operating results or financial condition.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock and This Offering

The price of our common stock may be volatile, and the market price of our common stock after this offering may drop below the price you pay.

The initial public offering price per share may vary from the market price of our common stock after the offering. If an active market for our stock develops and continues, our stock price nevertheless may be volatile. Market prices for securities of early-stage life sciences companies have historically been particularly volatile. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your common stock at or above the initial public offering price per share. The factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate include, but are not limited to:

 

   

progress, or lack of progress, in developing and commercializing our current breast cancer test and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests;

 

   

favorable or unfavorable decisions about our tests from government regulators, insurance companies or other third-party payors;

 

   

our ability to recruit and retain qualified research and development personnel;

 

   

changes in investors’ and securities analysts’ perception of the business risks and conditions of our business;

 

   

changes in our relationship with key collaborators;

 

   

changes in the market valuation or earnings of our competitors or companies viewed as similar to us;

 

   

changes in key personnel;

 

   

depth of the trading market in our common stock;

 

   

termination of the lock-up agreements or other restrictions on the ability of our existing stockholders to sell shares after this offering;

 

   

changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt;

 

   

the granting or exercise of employee stock options or other equity awards;

 

   

realization of any of the risks described under this section entitled “Risk Factors”; and

 

   

general market and economic conditions.

In addition, the equity markets have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market prices for the securities of newly public companies for a number of reasons, including reasons that may be unrelated to our business or operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may result in a material decline in the market price of our common stock and you may not be able to sell your shares at prices you deem acceptable. In the past, following periods of volatility in the equity markets, securities class action lawsuits have been instituted against public companies. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial cost and the diversion of management attention.

The NASDAQ Capital Market may not list our securities, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

We anticipate that our securities will be listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, a national securities exchange, upon consummation of this offering. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, The NASDAQ Capital Market’s minimum initial listing standards, which generally mandate that we meet certain requirements relating to stockholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements. If The NASDAQ Capital Market does not list our securities for trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

 

   

a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

 

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reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;

 

   

a determination that our shares of common stock are “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our shares of common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our shares of common stock;

 

   

a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and

 

   

a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Assuming our common stock will be listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. Further, if we were no longer listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of The NASDAQ Capital Market could result in a de-listing of our common stock.

If after listing we fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of The NASDAQ Capital Market, such as the corporate governance requirements or the minimum closing bid price requirement, NASDAQ may take steps to de-list our common stock. Such a de-listing would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a de-listing, we would take actions to restore our compliance with NASDAQ’s listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock from dropping below the NASDAQ minimum bid price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with NASDAQ’s listing requirements.

If our shares become subject to the penny stock rules, it would become more difficult to trade our shares.

The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00, other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or authorized for quotation on certain automated quotation systems, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system. If we do not obtain or retain a listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market and if the price of our common stock is less than $5.00, our common stock will be deemed a penny stock. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, before a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document containing specified information. In addition, the penny stock rules require that before effecting any transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive (i) the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for our common stock, and therefore stockholders may have difficulty selling their shares.

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly.

We expect our operating results to be subject to quarterly fluctuations. Our net loss and other operating results will be affected by numerous factors, including:

 

   

the rate of adoption and/or continued use of our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests by healthcare practitioners;

 

   

variations in the level of expenses related to our development programs;

 

   

addition or reduction of resources for sales and marketing;

 

   

addition or termination of clinical utility studies;

 

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any intellectual property infringement lawsuit in which we may become involved;

 

   

third party payor determinations affecting our tests; and

 

   

regulatory developments affecting our tests.

If our quarterly operating results fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Furthermore, any quarterly fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our stock to fluctuate substantially.

The shares you purchase in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution and may also be diluted by exercises of outstanding options and warrants.

The initial public offering price per share of our common stock will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after the offering. At the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, purchasers of our common stock will effectively incur dilution of $[  .  ] per share in the net tangible book value of their purchased shares. Conversely, the shares of our common stock that our existing stockholders currently own will receive a material increase in net tangible book value per share. As of September 30, 2013, we had outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 344,565 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $5.13 per share and warrants to purchase an estimated aggregate of 630,110 shares of our common stock at an estimated weighted average exercise price of $5.88 per share. The exercise of such outstanding options and warrants will result in further dilution of your investment. In addition, you may experience additional dilution if we issue common stock in the future. As a result of this dilution, you may receive significantly less than the full purchase price you paid for the shares in the event of liquidation.

Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that future sales may occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline, even if our business is doing well.

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock after this offering, or the perception that these sales may occur, could materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. The shares of common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market, except for any shares sold to our affiliates.

In connection with this offering, we have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to issue, sell or transfer any shares of common stock for 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the consent of Aegis Capital Corp. Our officers, directors and certain stockholders have agreed before the commencement of this offering, subject to limited exceptions, not to sell or transfer any shares of common stock for 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the consent of Aegis Capital Corp. However, Aegis Capital Corp. may release these shares from any restrictions at any time. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of shares held by any stockholder or the availability of shares for future sale will have on the market price of our common stock.

Approximately 1,834,467 shares of common stock may be sold in the public market by existing stockholders on or about 181 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to volume and other limitations imposed under the federal securities laws. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the completion of this offering, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through offerings of our common stock. See the section entitled “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a more detailed description of the restrictions on selling shares of our common stock after this offering.

In addition, as of September 30, 2013, we had outstanding options to purchase 344,565 shares of our common stock and outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common and Series A preferred stock overlying an estimated aggregate of 822,372 common stock equivalents. We plan to register for offer and sale the shares of common stock that are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding options. Shares covered by such registration statements upon the exercise of stock options generally will be eligible for sale in the public market, except that affiliates will continue to be subject to volume limitations and other requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The issuance or sale of such shares could depress the market price of our common stock.

 

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In addition, we are registering the 90,909 shares of our common stock underlying the warrants to be issued to the representative of the underwriters in connection with this offering as described in the “Underwriting – Representative’s Warrants” section of this prospectus.

We also intend to register all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans. Once we register these shares, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates and the lock-up agreements described in the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus.

An active trading market may not develop for our common stock, and you may not be able to sell your stock at or above the initial public offering price per share.

There is no established trading market for our common stock, the market for our common stock will likely be highly volatile, and the market price of our common stock may decline regardless of our operating performance. Before this offering, you could not buy or sell our securities publicly. Although we anticipate that our common stock will be approved for listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market, an active public market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained after this offering. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will lead to the development of an active trading market in our common stock or how liquid that market might become. If a market does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of common stock at the time you wish to sell them, at a price that is attractive to you, or at all.

The initial public offering price per share has been determined through negotiation between us and representatives of the underwriters, and may not be indicative of the market price for our common stock after this offering. You may not be able to sell your shares at or above the initial public offering price per share.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports or publish unfavorable research or reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our company, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to regularly publish reports on us, interest in our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Our largest stockholder will continue to have substantial influence over us after this offering and could delay or prevent a change in corporate control.

Claire K. T. Reiss beneficially owns approximately 78% of our common stock and, upon the closing of this offering, assuming we sell 1,818,181 shares of common stock in this offering and there is no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, will beneficially own approximately 42% of our common stock. Mrs. Reiss has significant influence over the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. Accordingly, this concentration of ownership might harm the market price of our common stock by:

 

   

delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control;

 

   

impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us; or

 

   

discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

If we are unable to favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price could be materially adversely affected.

As a private company, we were not subject to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. After completion of this offering, we will be required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting. If

 

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we fail to remediate any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal controls that may be identified in the future, we may be unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, issuers that qualify as “emerging growth companies” under the JOBS Act will not be required to provide an auditor’s attestation report on internal controls for so long as the issuer qualifies as an emerging growth company. We currently qualify as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act and we may choose not to provide an auditor’s attestation report on internal controls. However, if we cannot favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, or if we require an attestation report from our independent registered public accounting firm in the future and that firm is unable to provide an unqualified attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investor confidence and, in turn, our stock price could be materially adversely affected.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding nonbinding advisory votes on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.0 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, in which cases we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31 or, if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during any three year period before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company immediately. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. As a result, changes in rules of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or their interpretation, the adoption of new guidance or the application of existing guidance to changes in our business could significantly affect our financial position and results of operations.

We will incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.

As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which will require, among other things, that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules subsequently adopted by the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market to implement provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, imposes significant requirements on public companies, including requiring establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and changes in corporate governance practices. Further, there are significant corporate governance and executive compensation related provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, enacted in 2010, that require the SEC to adopt additional rules and regulations

 

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in these areas such as “say on pay” and proxy access. Recent legislation permits smaller “emerging growth companies” to implement many of these requirements over a longer period and up to five years from the pricing of this offering. We intend to take advantage of this new legislation but cannot guarantee that we will not be required to implement these requirements sooner than budgeted or planned and thereby incur unexpected expenses. Stockholder activism, the current political environment and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact the manner in which we operate our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate.

We expect the rules and regulations applicable to public companies to substantially increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly. If these requirements divert the attention of our management and personnel from other business concerns, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The increased costs will decrease our net income or increase our consolidated net loss, and may require us to reduce costs in other areas of our business or increase the prices of our products or services. For example, we expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. We cannot predict or estimate the amount or timing of additional costs we may incur to respond to these requirements. The impact of these requirements could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees or as executive officers.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the proceeds we receive in this offering, and may not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.

We estimate that net proceeds of the sale of the common stock that we are offering will be approximately $17.7 million, or $20.5 million, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in this offering in full. We currently intend to use the net proceeds of the offering to hire sales and marketing personnel and support increased sales and marketing activities, to fund further research and development, clinical utility studies and future enhancements of our tests, to acquire equipment, implement automation and scale our capabilities to prepare for significant test volume, to satisfy deferred salary obligations, and for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of our business. We will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds in the category of “for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of our business,” and investors will be relying on our judgment regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. The actual amounts and timing of our actual expenditures depend on numerous factors, including the success of our efforts to market OncoCEE-BR, the timing and progress of our discovery, research and development activities for the tests in our pipeline, our ability to reduce operating costs through the implementation of automation and economies of scale, changes in regulatory requirements for LDTs, and other unforeseen regulatory or compliance costs. The costs and timing of development activities, particularly conducting clinical utility studies and validation studies are highly uncertain, subject to substantial risks and can often change. Depending on the outcome of these activities and other unforeseen events, our plans and priorities may change and we may apply the net proceeds of this offering in different proportions than we currently anticipate. Moreover, you will not have the opportunity to influence our decision on how to use the proceeds from this offering. We may use the proceeds for corporate purposes that do not immediately enhance our prospects for the future or increase the value of your investment. See the Section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

Existing stockholders may view our initial public offering process unfavorably.

The process of effecting an initial public offering has taken considerable time and is associated with several personnel and other changes, including a reverse common stock split. Some of our current stockholders have invested in our securities at prices which are at or above the initial public offering price per share. No assurances can be given as to whether any stockholders will seek to take actions against our company or the board with respect to our initial public offering process.

 

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Anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law could make an acquisition of us, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove the current members of our board and management.

Certain provisions of our amended certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect upon the completion of this offering could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change of control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares. Furthermore, these provisions could prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove members of our board of directors. (For example, Delaware law provides that if a corporation has a classified board of directors, stockholders cannot remove any director during his or her term without cause.) These provisions also could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. Stockholders who wish to participate in these transactions may not have the opportunity to do so. These provisions, among other things:

 

   

classify our board of directors into three classes of equal (or roughly equal) size, with all directors serving for a three-year term and the directors of only one class being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders, so that the terms of the classes of directors are “staggered”;

 

   

allow the authorized number of directors to be changed only by resolution of our board of directors;

 

   

authorize our board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of the board of directors and that, if issued, could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our board of directors does not approve;

 

   

establish advance notice requirements for stockholder nominations to our board of directors or for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings; and

 

   

limit who may call a stockholders meeting.

In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, which may, unless certain criteria are met, prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of the voting rights on our common stock, from merging or combining with us for a prescribed period of time.

Because we do not expect to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future, you must rely on appreciation of our common stock price for any return on your investment. Even if we change that policy, we may be restricted from paying dividends on our common stock.

We do not intend to pay cash dividends on shares of our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon results of operations, financial performance, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, you will have to rely on capital appreciation, if any, to earn a return on your investment in our common stock. Investors seeking cash dividends in the foreseeable future should not purchase our common stock.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

Our ability to utilize our federal net operating loss, carryforwards and federal tax credit may be limited under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The limitations apply if an “ownership change,” as defined by Section 382, occurs. Generally, an ownership change occurs if the percentage of the value of the stock that is owned by one or more direct or indirect “five percent shareholders” increases by more than 50 percentage points over their lowest ownership percentage at any time during the applicable testing period, typically three years. If we have experienced an “ownership change” at any time since our formation, we may already be subject to limitations on our ability to utilize our existing net operating losses and other tax attributes to offset taxable income. In addition, future changes in our stock ownership, which may be outside of our control, may trigger an “ownership change” and, consequently, Section 382 and 383 limitations. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes to offset United States federal taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us. As of December 31, 2012, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $104.4 million and $95.7 million, respectively, and federal and California research and development credits of $2.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively, which could be limited if we experience an “ownership change.”

 

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We could be subject to securities class action litigation.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because early-stage life sciences companies have experienced significant stock price volatility in recent years. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, prospective products, product approvals, timing and likelihood of success, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated products are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under the sections in this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act.

This prospectus also contains estimates and other statistical data made by independent parties and by us relating to market size and growth and other data about our industry. This data involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the markets in which we operate are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $17.7 million, or approximately $20.5 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $1.7 million, or approximately $1.9 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We currently intend to use the net proceeds of the offering as follows:

 

   

approximately $5 million to hire sales and marketing personnel and support increased sales and marketing activities;

 

   

approximately $5 million to fund further research and development, clinical utility studies and future enhancements of our current test and our planned tests and services;

 

   

approximately $3 million to acquire equipment, implement automation and scale our capabilities to prepare for significant test volume;

 

   

approximately $1 million to satisfy deferred salary obligations; and

 

   

the balance for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of our business.

The expected use of net proceeds of this offering represents our current intentions based upon our present plan and business conditions. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering. We will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds in the category of “for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of our business,” and investors will be relying on our judgment regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. For example, if we identify opportunities that we believe are in the best interests of our stockholders, we may use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire, invest in or license complementary products, technologies or businesses although we have no current commitments, understandings or agreements to do so. The actual amounts and timing of our actual expenditures depend on numerous factors, including the success of our efforts to market OncoCEE-BR, the timing and progress of our discovery, research and development activities for the tests in our pipeline, the success of our efforts to increase sales of our laboratory services, the success of our efforts to expand our international sales, changes in regulatory requirements for LDTs, and other unforeseen regulatory or compliance costs. The costs and timing of test discovery and development activities, particularly conducting clinical validation studies and obtaining regulatory clearance or approval, if required, are highly uncertain, subject to substantial risks and can often change. Depending on the outcome of these activities and other unforeseen events, our plans and priorities may change and we may apply the net proceeds of this offering in different proportions than we currently anticipate.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared dividends on our equity securities, and currently do not plan to declare dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. We expect to retain our future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business. Subject to the foregoing, the payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon such factors as earnings levels, capital requirements, our overall financial condition and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2013:

 

   

on an actual basis; and

 

   

on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2013, to reflect the sale of 1,818,181 shares of common stock in this offering less offering costs of $0.9 million and underwriting discounts, expenses, and commissions of $1.6 million, of which $[            ] million was previously paid, a 1-for-14 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on November 1, 2013, the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of common stock, the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $[            ] million into an aggregate of [            ] shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of our initial public offering, and the issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock upon such initial public offering pursuant to the settlement of certain restricted stock units (which are currently expressed in shares of preferred stock) in accordance with their terms, the termination of certain warrants upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms and the reclassification to shareholders’ deficit of the fair value of certain warrants the exercise price and/or exercisability period length of which will be fixed upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms, assuming for all such items an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus.

You should read this table together with the sections entitled “Use of Proceeds” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as well as our financial statements and the related notes, which appear elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of September 30, 2013  
(dollars in thousands)    (unaudited)
Actual
    (unaudited)
Pro Forma
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 302      $                
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long term debt (inclusive of current portion)

     5,821     

Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 69,421,047 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma

     7     

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 53,000,000 shares authorized, 181,614 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 40,000,000 shares authorized,                 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma

     —       

Additional paid-in capital

     109,669     

Accumulated deficit

     (119,949  

Total stockholders’ equity/(deficit)

     (10,273  

Total capitalization

     (4,452  

 

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The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after the offering is based on the pro forma number of shares outstanding as of September 30, 2013 after giving effect to (i) the sale of 1,818,181 shares of common stock in this offering, (ii) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of common stock, (iii) the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $[            ] million into an aggregate of [            ] shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of our initial public offering, (iv) the issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock upon such initial public offering pursuant to the settlement of certain restricted stock units (which are currently expressed in shares of preferred stock) in accordance with their terms, (v) the termination of certain warrants upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms and (vi) the reclassification to shareholders’ deficit of the fair value of certain warrants the exercise price and/or exercisability period length of which will be fixed upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms, assuming for all such items an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus. This number excludes:

 

   

344,565 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options as of September 30, 2013, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.13 per share;

 

   

167,129 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding restricted stock units as of September 30, 2013;

 

   

an estimated 630,110 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants as of September 30, 2013, at an estimated weighted average exercise price of $5.88 per share;

 

   

192,262 common stock equivalents issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants to purchase preferred stock (the warrants overlying all but 1,587 of which will terminate upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms);

 

   

any shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option;

 

   

any shares of common stock that will underlie the representative’s warrants; and

 

   

other shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 and 2007 Equity Incentive Plans.

DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering and our pro forma net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering. We calculate net tangible book value per share by dividing our net tangible book value, which is tangible assets less total liabilities less debt discounts and financing fees related to debt to be paid as a result of this offering, by the number of outstanding shares of our common stock. Before considering the effects of the proceeds of this offering, but giving effect to the completion of our initial public offering of 1,818,181 shares of our common stock at $11.00 per share, a 1-for-14 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on November 1, 2013, the automatic conversion of our outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of our common stock in connection with our initial public offering, and the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $             million at a conversion price of $11.00 per share, into an aggregate of             shares of our common stock, our pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) as of September 30, 2013 was approximately $ (            ) million, or approximately $(            ) per share. Upon completion of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2013 will be approximately $             million or approximately $             per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $             per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $             per share to new investors purchasing our common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates the per share dilution (unaudited):

 

Assumed public offering price per share

     $                

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2013

   $ (              

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering

    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering

    
    

 

 

 

Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors

     $                
    

 

 

 

 

 

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The information above assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the pro forma net tangible book value will increase to $             per share, representing an immediate increase to existing stockholders of $             per share and an immediate dilution of $             per share to new investors. If any shares are issued upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants, new investors will experience further dilution.

The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2013, the differences between the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders and by investors participating in this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, at an assumed public offering price of $11.00 per share (unaudited).

 

     Shares
Purchased
     Total
Consideration
     Average Price
Per Share
 
       Number    %      Amount    %     

Existing stockholders

            $                    $                

New investors

            $        
  

 

  

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        100          $ 100       $     
  

 

  

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The number of shares purchased from us by existing stockholders is based on 181,614 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2013 after giving effect to the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of common stock, the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $[            ] million into an aggregate of [            ] shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of our initial public offering, and the issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock upon such initial public offering pursuant to the settlement of certain restricted stock units (which are currently expressed in shares of preferred stock) in accordance with their terms, assuming for all such items an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus. This number excludes:

 

   

344,565 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options as of September 30, 2013, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.13 per share;

 

   

167,129 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding restricted stock units as of September 30, 2013;

 

   

an estimated 630,110 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants as of September 30, 2013, at an estimated weighted average exercise price of $5.88 per share;

 

   

192,262 common stock equivalents issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants to purchase preferred stock (the warrants overlying all but 1,587 of which will terminate upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms);

 

   

any shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option;

 

   

any shares of common stock that will underlie the representative’s warrants; and

 

   

other shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 and 2007 Equity Incentive Plans.

To the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised or any warrants or options are exercised, there will be further dilution to investors.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

The following table summarizes our selected financial data for the periods and as of the dates indicated. Our selected statements of operations data for each of the years in the periods ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, and our selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, have been derived from our audited financial statements and their related notes, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited selected statements of operations data for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013, and the unaudited balance sheet data as of September 30, 2013, are derived from our unaudited financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. All “Weighted average shares outstanding” data and all “Net loss per common share” data, whether derived from our audited financial statements or from our unaudited financial statements, have been adjusted to reflect a 1-for-14 reverse stock split which we effected on November 1, 2013. Our unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of our financial condition as of such dates and our results of operations for such periods. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future periods and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. Our selected financial data should be read together with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and with our financial statements and their related notes, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     Year ended December 31,     For the nine months  ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Revenues

   $ 1      $ 109      $ 88      $ 115   

Cost of revenues

     17        1,201        756        1,759   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     (16     (1,092     (668     (1,644

Research and development expenses

     8,853        6,562        5,304        2,376   

General and administrative expenses

     2,729        2,063        1,613        1,736   

Sales and marketing expenses

     673        786        604        130   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (12,271     (10,503     (8,189     (5,886

Total other income/(expense)

     (1,357     (1,756     (1,122     (874
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss Before Income Taxes

   $ (13,628   $ (12,259   $ (9,311   $ (6,760

Income tax expense

     1        1        1        1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss & comprehensive loss

   $ (13,629   $ (12,260   $ (9,312   $ (6,761
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

        

Basic

     113,754        160,393        160,393        180,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     113,754        160,393        160,393        180,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per common share

        

Basic

   $ (119.81   $ (76.43   $ (58.06   $ (37.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ (119.81   $ (76.43   $ (58.06   $ (37.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year ended December 31,      For the nine months  ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2012      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)      (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Pro forma net loss per common share

           

Basic

   $                    $                    $                    $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

   $         $         $         $     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     As of December 31,
2012
    As of September 30, 2013
     Actual     Actual     Pro
Forma (1)
           (unaudited)     (unaudited)

Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 185      $ 303     

Total assets

     1,470        1,083     

Notes payable, net of debt discount

     22,376        4,330     

Line of Credit

     —          1,491     

Warrant liability

     982        2,040     

Total liabilities

     28,855        11,356     

Convertible preferred stock

     3        7     

Total shareholders’ deficit

     (27,385     (10,273  

 

(1) Gives effect to (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of common stock, (ii) the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $[            ] million into an aggregate of [            ] shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of our initial public offering, (iii) the issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock upon such initial public offering pursuant to the settlement of certain restricted stock units (which are currently expressed in shares of preferred stock) in accordance with their terms, (iv) the termination of certain warrants upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms and (v) the reclassification to shareholders’ deficit of the fair value of certain warrants the exercise price and/or exercisability period length of which will be fixed upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms, assuming for all such items an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus. The pro forma information is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of our initial public offering determined at pricing.

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of September 30, 2013 assumes that the completion of our initial public offering had occurred as of September 30, 2013 and excludes 1,818,181 shares of common stock issued in the initial public offering and any related net proceeds.

 

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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 together with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in the prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon our current plans, estimates, beliefs and expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this prospectus. The share numbers in the following discussion reflect a 1-for-3 reverse common stock split that we effected on November 3, 2011 and a further 1-for-14 reverse common stock split that we effected on November 1, 2013.

Overview

We are an early-stage cancer diagnostics company that develops and commercializes proprietary circulating tumor cell, or CTC, and circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, tests utilizing a standard blood sample. Our current CTC breast cancer test provides, and our planned future tests would provide, information to oncologists that enable them to select appropriate personalized treatment for their patients based on better, timelier and more-detailed data on the characteristics of tumors.

Our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests utilize our Cell Enrichment and Extraction (CEE) technology for the detection and analysis of CTCs, and our CEE-Selector technology for the detection and analysis of ctDNA, each performed on a standard blood sample. The CEE technology is an internally developed, microfluidics-based CTC capture and analysis platform, with enabling features that change how CTC testing can be used by clinicians by providing real-time biomarker monitoring with only a standard blood sample. The CEE-Selector technology enables mutation detection with enhanced sensitivity and specificity and is applicable to nucleic acid from CTCs or other samples types, such as blood plasma for ctDNA. We believe the CEE-Selector technology is an important part of certain of our pipeline CTC tests and will be a stand-alone test for molecular analysis of biomarkers.

At our corporate headquarters facility located in San Diego, California, we operate a clinical laboratory that is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, and accredited by the College of American Pathologists, or CAP. We manufacture our CEE microfluidic channels, related equipment and certain reagents to perform our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests at this facility. CLIA certification and CAP accreditation are required before any clinical laboratory, including ours, may perform testing on human specimens for the purpose of obtaining information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease or the assessment of health. The tests we offer and intend to offer are classified as laboratory developed tests, or LDTs, under CLIA regulations.

We are in the process of commercializing our first test, OncoCEE-BR, for breast cancer, and anticipate launching an OncoCEE-LU test for non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, in the first half of 2014. These tests utilize our CEE technology platform and provide CTC enumeration as well as biomarker analysis from a standard blood sample. In the case of the OncoCEE-BR test, biomarker analysis involves fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH, for the detection and quantitation of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2, gene copy number. We plan to include immunocytochemical analysis of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor proteins in the OncoCEE-BR test within the next year. The OncoCEE-LU test’s biomarker analysis would include FISH for EML4/ALK and ROS1 gene fusions, as well as mutation analysis for the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, gene, the K-ras gene and the B-raf gene.

The L858R mutation of the EGFR gene and Exon 19 deletions as activators of EGFR kinase activity are linked to the drugs Tarceva ® and Iressa ® (AstraZeneca). The T790M mutation of the EGFR gene as a resistance marker for EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors is linked to drugs in clinical development that address this resistance such as Gilotrif ® (Boehringer-Ingelheim) and dacomitinib (Pfizer). The codon 12 and 13 mutations of the K-ras gene are linked to non-responsiveness to the EGFR kinase inhibitors, and the codon 600 mutations of the B-raf gene are linked to Zelboraf ® and Tafinlar ® , which are both approved for melanoma and are in clinical trials for lung cancer. Our OncoCEE-LU test would be performed on a standard blood sample.

 

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We plan to add other biomarker analyses to our current breast cancer test and our planned future OncoCEE tests as their relevance is demonstrated in clinical trials, for example, ret proto-oncogene gene fusions in NSCLC, which may indicate a particular course of therapy, and NRAS for melanoma, which may predict therapy resistance. In addition, we are developing a series of other CTC and ctDNA tests for different solid tumor types, including colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and melanoma, each incorporating treatment-associated biomarker analyses specific to that cancer, planned to be launched over the next two to three years.

Key Factors Affecting our Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Our overall long-term growth plan depends on our ability to develop and commercialize tests through our CLIA laboratory. We have the OncoCEE-BR test available as a commercial product and we plan to enhance revenue for this product through the efforts of a sales and marketing organization we plan to hire after the completion of this offering. We are developing additional OncoCEE tests for non-small cell lung, colorectal, gastric and prostate cancers and melanoma that we expect to make available to physicians over the next three years. To facilitate market adoption of our tests, we anticipate having to successfully complete additional clinical utility studies with clinical samples to generate clinical utility data and then publish our results in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Our ability to complete such clinical studies is dependent upon our ability to leverage our collaborative relationships with leading institutions to facilitate our research, to conduct the appropriate clinical studies and to obtain favorable clinical data.

We believe that the factors discussed in the following paragraphs have had and are expected to continue to have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Revenues

Almost all of our revenue in 2012 was generated through limited commercialization of our OncoCEE-BR test. Over 75% of this revenue was generated through our arrangement with Clarient. The clinical laboratory industry is highly competitive, and our relationships and our partners’ relationships with decision-makers at hospitals, cancer centers or physician offices is a critical component of securing their business. Consequently, our ability to establish and manage partnerships with groups that have sales and marketing capabilities in our target markets and attract and maintain productive sales personnel that have and can grow these relationships will largely determine our ability to grow our clinical services revenue.

In 2012, $67,000, which represented the majority of our commercial revenue for that year, was billed to Clarient, which until May 2013 had responsibility for billing the third-party payors. As a result, we do not have data about the payor mix, reimbursement history and collectability for the tests performed under such arrangement. Clarient has paid us for all tests that we conducted under our arrangement in 2012. In the May 2013 revision of our arrangements with Clarient, we undertook responsibility for billing the payors and for reporting the results of the tests to the ordering physicians, and the exclusivity of Clarient’s marketing rights for OncoCEE-BR ended. The May 2013 revision of our arrangements with Clarient will, in general, have the effect of delaying the timing of revenue recognition (see the “Revenue Recognition” paragraph of Note 3 of the notes to our audited financial statements) and adding uncertainty to the collectability of our accounts receivable.

We expect that in the future the percentage of our revenue which is generated through our arrangement with Clarient will diminish.

Cost of Revenues

Our cost of revenues consists principally of personnel costs, laboratory and manufacturing supplies and overhead. We are pursuing various strategies to reduce and control our cost of revenues, including automating aspects of our processes, developing more efficient technology and methods, attempting to negotiate improved terms with our suppliers and exploring relocating our operations to a lower-cost facility.

 

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Operating Expenses

We classify our operating expenses into three categories: research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative. Our operating expenses principally consist of personnel costs, outside services, laboratory consumables and overhead, development costs, and legal and accounting fees.

Research and Development Expenses . We incur research and development expenses principally in connection with our efforts to develop and improve our tests. Our primary research and development expenses consist of direct personnel costs, laboratory equipment and consumables and overhead expenses. We anticipate that research and development expenses will increase in the near-term, principally as a result of hiring additional personnel to develop and validate tests in our pipeline and to perform work associated with clinical utility studies and development collaborations. In addition, we expect that our costs related to collaborations with research and academic institutions will increase. All research and development expenses are charged to operations in the periods in which they are incurred.

Sales and Marketing Expenses . Our sales and marketing expenses consist principally of personnel and related overhead costs for our sales team and their support personnel, travel and entertainment expenses, and other selling costs including sales collaterals and trade shows. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to increase significantly after we complete our initial public offering as we hire additional sales and marketing personnel and launch new tests.

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses consist principally of personnel-related expenses, professional fees, such as legal, accounting and business consultants, occupancy costs, and other general expenses. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase as we expand our business operations. When we begin billing a significant number of tests, bad debt is expected to become a greater expense. We further expect that general and administrative expenses will increase significantly due to increased information technology, legal, insurance, accounting and financial reporting expenses associated with being a public company.

Seasonality

We expect our test volume to decrease during vacation and holiday seasons, when patients are less likely to visit their health care providers. We expect this trend in seasonality to continue for the foreseeable future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and make various assumptions, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, which form the basis for judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The notes to our audited and unaudited financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus, contain a summary of our significant accounting policies. We consider the following accounting policies critical to the understanding of the results of our operations:

 

   

Revenue recognition;

 

   

Accounts receivable and bad debts;

 

   

Stock-based compensation;

 

   

Common stock valuation; and

 

   

Warrant liability.

 

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Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition , and ASC 954-605, Health Care Entities, Revenue Recognition which requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred and title and the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the client or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. For contract partners, revenue is recorded based upon the contractually agreed upon fee schedule. When assessing collectability, we consider whether we have sufficient payment history to reliably estimate a payor’s individual payment patterns. For new tests where there is limited evidence of payment history at the time the tests are completed, we recognize revenue equal to the amount of cash received until such time as reimbursement experience can be established.

Our primary source of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012 was Clarient, a collaboration partner. This revenue was derived from clinical laboratory testing performed in our laboratories under our collaboration agreement. As there was a contractually agreed upon price under our collaboration agreement as in effect until May 2013, and collectability from our collaboration partner is reasonably assured, revenues for these tests under our collaboration agreement as in effect until May 2013 is earned at the time the test is completed and the results are delivered to the third party.

Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts

We carry accounts receivable at original invoice amounts, less an estimate for doubtful receivables, based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a periodic basis. The estimate for doubtful receivables is determined from an analysis of the accounts receivable on a quarterly basis, and is recorded as bad debt expense. Since we only recognize revenue to the extent we expect to collect such amounts, bad debt expense related to receivables from patient service revenue is recorded in general and administrative expense in the statements of operations. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

We account for stock-based compensation under the provisions of ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation , which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors based on estimated fair values on the grant date. We estimate the fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, or Black-Scholes valuation model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods using the straight-line method. We estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise our estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. At September 30, 2013, we had unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested employee stock options of approximately $834,000, which amount is expected to be recognized over the next 1.05 years.

We account for stock-based compensation awards to non-employees in accordance with ASC Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees . Under ASC 505-50, we determine the fair value of the warrants or stock-based compensation awards granted as either the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. All issuances of equity instruments issued to non-employees as consideration for goods or services received by us are accounted for based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued. These awards are recorded in expense and additional paid-in capital in stockholders’ equity over the applicable service periods based on the fair value of the options at the end of each period.

Calculating the fair value of stock-based awards requires the input of highly subjective assumptions into the Black-Scholes valuation model. Stock-based compensation expense is calculated using our best estimate, which involves inherent uncertainties, and the application of our management’s judgment. Significant estimates include the fair value of our common stock at the date of grant, the expected life of the stock option, stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate and forfeiture rates.

Common Stock Valuation

In the absence of a public trading market, our board of directors determined a reasonable estimate of the then-current fair value of our common stock for purposes of granting stock-based compensation based on input from management and valuation reports prepared by an independent third-party valuation specialist. We determined the fair value of our common

 

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stock utilizing methodologies, approaches and assumptions consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, “Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation,” which we refer to as the AICPA Practice Aid. In addition, we exercised judgment in evaluating and assessing the foregoing based on several factors including:

 

   

the nature and history of our business;

 

   

our historical operating and financial results;

 

   

the market value of companies that are engaged in a similar business to ours;

 

   

the lack of marketability of our common stock;

 

   

the price at which shares of our equity instruments have been sold;

 

   

our progress in developing our technology;

 

   

the overall inherent risks associated with our business at the time stock option grants or warrants were approved; and

 

   

the overall equity market conditions and general economic trends.

Warrant Liability

Warrants for shares that are contingently redeemable and for which the exercise price is not fixed are classified as liabilities on the accompanying balance sheets and carried at their estimated fair value, determined through use of a probability-weighted Black-Scholes valuation model. At the end of each reporting period, any changes in fair value are recorded as a component of total other income/(expense). We will continue to adjust the carrying value of the warrants until the earlier of the exercise of the warrants, the warrants no longer meeting the criteria to be classified as liabilities or the completion of a liquidation event, including the completion of an initial public offering under the Securities Act, at which time the exercise price will be fixed for the surviving warrants, and the fair value of those warrants will be reclassified to shareholders’ deficit.

 

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Results of Operations

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2013

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our results of operations for the periods shown:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,     Change  
     2012     2013     $     %  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)              
(dollars in thousands)                         

Revenue

   $ 88      $ 115      $ 27        31

Cost of revenues

     756        1,759        1,003        132

Research and development expenses

     5,304        2,376        (2,928     (55 %) 

General and administrative expenses

     1,613        1,736        123        8

Sales and marketing expenses

     604        130        (474     (79 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Operating Loss

     (8,189     (5,886     (2,303     (28 %) 

Interest income/(expense), net

     (1,529     (1,435     (94     (6 %) 

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     422        593        171        41

Other income/(expense)

     (15     (32     17        113
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income/(loss) before income taxes

     (9,311     (6,760     (2,551     (27 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income tax expense

     1        1        0        0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income/(loss)

   $ (9,312   $ (6,761   $ (2,551     (27 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue

Revenues were $115,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $88,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $27,000, or 31%. The increase was primarily related to clinical trial testing services for our development collaboration program with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, partially offset by a decrease in revenues from Clarient. Approximately 74% of our 2013 revenue has been from clinical trial testing services for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; we had no clinical trial testing services revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The average price per test decreased from $762 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to an average of $455 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease in price is due to the 2013 period including the testing under the Dana-Farber program, which by agreement carries significantly lower pricing than commercial tests.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues were $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $756,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $1.0 million, or 132%. The increase was related to the volume of tests performed, which increased from 116 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to 254 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of 119%. The volume increase was due to tests performed under our 2013 development collaboration program with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

 

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Operating Expenses

Research and Development Expenses.

Research and development expenses were $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $5.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 55%. The decrease was primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in personnel expenses relating to a reduction in research and development headcount from an average of 19 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to an average of 9 for the same period in 2013, and a $1.0 million decrease in research and development expenses due to the allocation of lab expenses to cost of revenues based on the number of samples processed.

General and Administrative Expenses.

General and administrative expenses were $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $123,000, or 8%. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $166,000 in legal fees, particularly fees pertaining to our patent portfolio, partially offset by an $83,000 decrease in personnel expenses relating to a reduction in general and administrative headcount from an average of 10 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to an average of 6 for the same period in 2013.

Sales and Marketing Expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses were $130,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $604,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $474,000, or 79%. The decrease was primarily due to a $357,000 decrease in personnel expenses relating to a reduction in sales and marketing headcount from an average of 3 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to an average of 1 for the same period in 2013.

Interest Income and Expense

Net interest expense was $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $94,000, or 6%. The decrease was due to lower amortization of debt discount due to the completion of the amortization in prior periods.

Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability

The change in the fair value of warrant liability was $593,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with $422,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $171,000, or 41%. The decrease is primarily due to the timing of the issuance of new warrants, as well as the 2012 period’s 55% decline in the price of the shares underlying preferred stock warrants, as compared to the 2013 period’s 44% decline in the price of the shares underlying preferred stock warrants and 2% decline in the price of the shares underlying common stock warrants.

 

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Years Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our results of operations for the periods shown:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Change  
     2011     2012     $     %  
(dollars in thousands)                         

Revenue

   $ 1      $ 109      $ 108        10800.0

Cost of revenues

     17        1,201        1,184        6964.7

Research and development expenses

     8,853        6,562        (2,291     (25.9 %) 

General and administrative expenses

     2,729        2,063        (666     (24.4 %) 

Sales and marketing expenses

     673        786        113        16.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Operating Loss

     (12,271     (10,503     (1,768     (14.4 %) 

Interest income/(expense), net

     (1,700     (2,187     487        28.6

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     361        454        93        25.8

Other income/(expense)

     (18     (23     5        27.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income/(loss) before income taxes

     (13,628     (12,259     (1,369     (10.0 %) 

Income tax expense

     1        1        —          0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net loss

   $ (13,629   $ (12,260   $ (1,369     (10.0 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue

Revenues were $109,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared with $1,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, an increase of $108,000. The increase was primarily due to commercial tests ordered through Clarient. The average price per test decreased from $866 for the year ended December 31, 2011 to an average of $694 for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared with $17,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, an increase of $1.2 million. The increase was related to the volume of commercial tests performed, which was only 1 in the year ended December 31, 2011 and which increased to 130 for the year ended December 31, 2012. The volume increase was primarily due to tests ordered through Clarient.

Operating Expenses

Research and Development Expenses . Research and development expenses were $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared with $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of $2.3 million, or 25.9%. Research and development expenses decreased by $1.2 million due to the allocation of lab expenses to cost of revenues based on the number of samples processed. $639,000 of the decrease was attributable to reduced expenditures on clinical samples and $342,000 of the reduction related to lower expenses for lab supplies as we approached commercialization.

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses were $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared with $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 24.4%. $534,000 of this decrease was attributable to a reduced level of legal fees, particularly fees pertaining to our patent portfolio. $72,000 of the decrease related to the use of employees for functions that previously had been performed by consultants.

 

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Sales and Marketing Expenses . Sales and marketing expenses were $786,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared with $673,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, an increase of $113,000, or 16.8%. This increase was primarily attributable to personnel costs relating to the two sales personnel we employed in 2012.

Interest Income and Expense

Interest expense was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared with $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, with the $500,000 increase primarily related to higher debt balances.

Income Taxes

Over the past several years we have generated operating losses in all jurisdictions in which we may be subject to income taxes. As a result, we have accumulated significant net operating losses and other deferred tax assets. Because of our history of losses and the uncertainty as to the realization of those deferred tax assets, a full valuation allowance has been recognized. We do not expect to report a provision for income taxes until we have a history of earnings, if ever, that would support the realization of our deferred tax assets.

We have not completed a study to assess whether an ownership change has occurred or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since our formation, due to the complexity and cost associated with such a study, and the fact that there may be additional ownership changes in the future. We estimate that if such a change did occur, the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credits that can be utilized in the future will be significantly limited.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We are actively working to improve our financial position and enable the growth of our business, by raising new capital and resolving our outstanding debt.

Pursuant to a note and warrant purchase agreement executed as of June 28, 2013 to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million, we have borrowed an aggregate of $4.3 million through September 30, 2013 (including $0.7 million borrowed under this arrangement during fiscal year 2012.) The maturity date of each note is May 31, 2014 and may be extended for two successive six month periods. Each note bears interest at 8.0% per annum, payable at maturity. The principal amount of and accrued interest on each note will automatically convert into shares of our common stock upon the closing of an underwritten initial public offering resulting in at least $8.0 million of gross proceeds to us, at a conversion price equal to the price per share of our common stock sold in the initial public offering. The number of shares underlying the associated common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the note principal, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of common stock sold in the initial public offering.

In June 2013, we arranged the conversion of all outstanding indebtedness under our May 2010 amended and restated loan agreement, our February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement and our January 2012 note and warrant purchase agreement. In this series of transactions, promissory notes with outstanding principal totaling $20,231,000 and accrued interest of approximately $2,581,000 were converted into 42,245,834 shares of Series A preferred stock. The conversion included the issuance of 41,694,122 shares of Series A preferred stock to directors and their affiliates and other related parties. All of the converted notes and interest were in default and classified as current as of December 31, 2012.

In connection with the conversion of the debt outstanding under the May 2010 amended and restated loan agreement, we issued 33,333 common stock warrants to Goodman Co. Ltd., a 5% shareholder.

In July 2013, we amended a secured promissory note with a principal balance of $1.4 million, held by a trust affiliated with Claire K. T. Reiss, a 5% shareholder and at the time a director, to provide that all principal of and accrued interest on the note would automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an initial public offering, at the price per share at which common stock is sold in such initial public offering. This amendment was not related to Mrs. Reiss’ later decision to resign from the board of directors.

 

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In July 2013, we entered into a revolving line of credit with UBS Bank USA in the initial amount of $1.5 million. The maximum amount of this line of credit has subsequently been increased to $1.8 million. Interest accrues daily on the outstanding balance and is paid monthly at a variable rate which is currently 2.75% over the 30 day LIBOR rate or a current effective annual interest rate of 2.942%. UBS Bank USA has the right to terminate the revolving line of credit at any time, and if it does, all amounts drawn under the revolving line of credit would be immediately payable. An affiliate of our director David F. Hale, and an affiliate of Claire K. T. Reiss, a 5% shareholder and at the time a director, and an affiliate of our director Edward Neff guaranteed the loan and pledged financial assets to UBS Bank USA to secure their guaranties. In return, we issued common stock warrants to the guarantors. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by the respective guarantors to secure their respective guaranty obligations to UBS Bank USA, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. We have entered into an agreement with the guarantors that provides for us to reimburse them for any amounts paid by them on such guaranties. This reimbursement obligation is secured by a security interest in our assets.

In September 2013, we entered into an amendment of the lease for our headquarters/laboratory building in San Diego, California, extending the term through July 31, 2020 and providing for five months of free base rent (August 2013 – December 2013). In return, we agreed, among other things, to forfeit our security deposit and to issue common stock warrants to the landlord. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount of $502,605, which is 100% of the five months of base rent forgone, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering.

Cash Flows

Our net cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities for the periods below were as follows:

 

     Year Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     December 31,     September 30,  
     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
(dollars in thousands)                         

Cash provided by (used in):

        

Operating activities

   $ (10,985   $ (8,607   $ (6,719   $ (4,877

Investing activities

     (295     (8     (8     (1

Financing activities

     10,205        8,365        6,365        4,995   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (1,075   $ (250   $ (362   $ 117   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Used in Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $11.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Net cash used in operating activities was $4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. In all periods the primary use of cash was to fund our net loss.

 

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Cash Used in Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities was $8,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $295,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The cash used in investing activities in 2011 was primarily used to acquire laboratory equipment and software.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Our primary source of financing in all periods consisted of loans received from our major shareholder and members of our board of directors and their affiliates, in exchange for convertible promissory notes and warrants. Our ability to continue as a going concern relies on the continued availability of financing from these and other sources.

Capital Resources and Expenditure Requirements

We expect to continue to incur substantial operating losses in the future. It may take several years to achieve positive operational cash flow or we may not ever achieve positive operational cash flow. We expect that we will use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and our revenues from operations to hire sales and marketing personnel, support increased sales and marketing activities, fund further research and development, clinical utility studies and future enhancements of our tests, acquire equipment, implement automation and scale our capabilities to prepare for significant test volume, for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and the expansion of our business, including the increased costs associated with being a public company. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds of this offering to acquire or invest in businesses, technologies, services or products, although we do not have any current plans to do so.

Without the net proceeds from this offering, we believe our current cash resources are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements at our current level of operations. If we do not consummate this offering by December 31, 2013, we expect that we will need to raise additional financing at that time, which might not be available on favorable terms, if at all. We can provide no assurances that any sources of a sufficient amount of financing will be available to us on favorable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise a sufficient amount of financing in a timely manner, we would likely need to scale back our general and administrative activities and certain of our research and development activities. Our forecast pertaining to our current financial resources and the costs to support our general and administrative and research and development activities are forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially and negatively as a result of a number of factors, including:

 

   

our ability to secure financing and the amount thereof;

 

   

the costs of operating and enhancing our laboratory facilities;

 

   

the costs of developing our anticipated internal sales and marketing capabilities;

 

   

the scope, progress and results of our research and development programs, including clinical utility studies;

 

   

the scope, progress, results, costs, timing and outcomes of the clinical utility studies for our cancer diagnostic tests;

 

   

our ability to manage the costs for manufacturing our microfluidic channels;

 

   

the costs of maintaining, expanding and protecting our intellectual property portfolio, including potential litigation costs and liabilities;

 

   

our ability to obtain adequate reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors for our tests and services;

 

   

the costs of additional general and administrative personnel, including accounting and finance, legal and human resources, as a result of becoming a public company;

 

   

our ability to collect revenues; and

 

   

other risks discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors”.

As of September 30, 2013, we had approximately $7.2 million of outstanding indebtedness, $5.7 million of which will convert to equity upon completion of this offering. Following completion of this offering, we believe we will have approximately $2 million in outstanding indebtedness, which will consist of borrowings under our revolving line of credit from UBS Bank USA which was initiated in July 2013.

 

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Our auditor’s report on our financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt that we can continue as a going concern for the next twelve months. With the net proceeds of this offering, we believe that we will have sufficient funds to continue our current level of operations for the next eighteen months. During 2012 and this year to date, we are experiencing net cash outflows at our current level of operations of approximately $2 million per quarter. Assuming that we continue at our current level of operations after consummation of our initial public offering and add our planned sales and marketing resources, we would expect our net cash outflow to increase by at least $1 million per quarter.

Furthermore, we may need to raise additional capital to expand our business to meet our long-term business objectives. We expect that our operating expenses and capital expenditures will increase in the future as we expand our business. We plan to increase our sales and marketing headcount to promote our current breast cancer test and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests and our research and development headcount to validate the tests currently in our pipeline. These headcount increases are aimed to expand our pipeline and to perform work associated with our research collaborations. Until we can generate a sufficient amount of revenues to finance our cash requirements, which we may never do, we may need to continue to raise additional capital to fund our operations.

We may raise additional capital to fund our current operations and to fund expansion of our business to meet our long-term business objectives through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, borrowings or strategic partnerships coupled with an investment in our company or a combination thereof. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of convertible debt securities, or other debt securities, these securities could be secured and could have rights senior to those of our common stock. In addition, any new debt incurred by us could impose covenants that restrict our operations. The issuance of any new equity securities will also dilute the interest of our current stockholders. Given the risks associated with our business, including our unprofitable operating history and our ability or inability to develop additional tests, additional capital may not be available when needed on acceptable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, we will need to curb our expansion plans or limit our research and development activities, which would have a material adverse impact on our business prospects and results of operations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

Company Overview

We are a cancer diagnostics company that develops and commercializes proprietary circulating tumor cell, or CTC, and circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, tests utilizing a standard blood sample. These tests provide information to oncologists that enable them to select the most appropriate treatment for their patients based on better, timelier and more-detailed data on the characteristics of tumors. Our current OncoCEE-BR breast cancer test and our planned tests utilize our Cell Enrichment and Extraction (CEE) technology for the detection and analysis of CTCs, and our CEE-Selector technology for the detection and analysis of ctDNA, each performed on a standard blood sample. The CEE technology is an internally developed, microfluidics-based CTC capture and analysis platform, with enabling features that change how CTC testing can be used by clinicians by providing real-time biomarker monitoring with a standard blood sample. The CEE-Selector technology enables mutation detection with enhanced sensitivity and specificity and is applicable to nucleic acid from CTCs or other sample types, such as blood plasma for ctDNA. We believe CEE-Selector technology is an important part of certain of our pipeline CTC tests, and believe it could also be a stand-alone test for molecular analysis of biomarkers.

 

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LOGO

At our corporate headquarters facility located in San Diego, California, we operate a clinical laboratory that is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, and accredited by the College of American Pathologists, or CAP, and manufacture our CEE microfluidic channels, related equipment and certain reagents to perform our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests at this facility. CLIA certification and CAP accreditation are required before any clinical laboratory, including ours, may perform testing on human specimens for the purpose of obtaining information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease, or the assessment of health. The OncoCEE-BR test and the tests we plan to offer are classified as laboratory developed tests, or LDTs, under CLIA regulations.

OncoCEE-BR is a breast cancer CTC test that is performed on a standard blood sample. It detects CTCs, which are typically very rare compared to normal blood cells, and determines the patient’s human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2, status by fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH. Pursuant to an agreement that we entered into with Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc., a GE Healthcare Company, as revised in May 2013, Clarient is making OncoCEE-BR available to physicians through its sales force. (Clarient does not have the exclusive marketing rights for the test.)

We believe that the OncoCEE-BR test offers advantages over other available CTC tests, with improved sensitivity and enumeration results as well as diagnostic biomarker analyses. Competitive CTC tests rely on the expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule, or EpCAM, and cytokeratins for CTC capture, detection and enumeration. This approach may exclude CTCs that have undergone intrinsic modifications of their phenotype, such as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, or EMT, thought to be critical for metastasis. EMT may represent a possible explanation for many patients who, despite an aggressive disease, are found to be negative for the presence of CTCs by current technologies. OncoCEE™ captures and detects EpCAM and cytokeratin negative CTCs, which are more mesenchymal-like. Additionally, the OncoCEE platform enables evaluation of treatment-associated biomarkers, like HER2 status, which qualifies patients as candidates for HER2-targeted therapeutics such as Herceptin ® , Perjeta ® , Kadcyla ® (all Genentech/Roche) and Tykerb ® (GlaxoSmithKline). We plan to include immunocytochemical analysis of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor proteins, as well as mutation analysis as appropriate, into the OncoCEE-BR test within the next year.

We anticipate launching OncoCEE-LU, a test performed on a standard blood sample for non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, in the first half of 2014. The biomarkers to be analyzed in the OncoCEE-LU test would include EML4/ALK and ROS1 gene fusions by FISH, and the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, gene, the K-ras gene and the B-raf gene by mutation analysis, in addition to CTC enumeration. Our OncoCEE-LU test would be run against a standard blood sample. We have entered into an agreement with Life Technologies Corporation, or Life Technologies, under which we are cooperating with Life Technologies to develop, promote and commercialize our OncoCEE-LU test. Under this agreement, we would perform OncoCEE-LU tests in our laboratory and transmit the results to Life Technologies for their interpretation and reporting to healthcare professionals.

We plan to add other biomarker analyses to our OncoCEE tests as their relevance is demonstrated in clinical trials, for example, ret proto-oncogene gene fusions in NSCLC, which may indicate a particular course of therapy. In addition, we are developing a series of other CTC and ctDNA tests for different solid tumor types, including colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and melanoma, each incorporating treatment-associated biomarker analyses specific to that cancer, planned to be launched over the next two to three years.

 

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LOGO

Biomarkers are molecular or cellular features of a cancer cell that indicate an abnormality. This abnormality, typically a genetic mutation or aberration, detected at either the gene, protein or metabolite level, may in fact be responsible for the transformation of the cell from a normal cell to a cancer cell. We have focused our efforts on biomarkers associated with specific targeted cancer therapeutics, or resistance to those therapeutics. Examples include an amplified HER2 gene, which is associated with HER2-targeted therapeutics like Herceptin ® , Perjeta ® , Kadcyla ® and Tykerb ® for the treatment of breast cancer, or a mutated B-ras gene, which is associated with the drugs Zelboraf ® (Daiichi-Sankyo/Genentech/Roche) and Tafinlar ® (GlaxoSmithKline) for the treatment of melanoma. This is important because the presence or level of these biomarkers indicates to a physician that the associated therapy is appropriate for the patient, or instead that the patient has, or has developed, resistance to that therapy.

Biomarkers have traditionally been detected in tumor tissue after biopsy or re-section, with the analysis performed by a pathologist. We are able to perform these same analyses on CTCs or ctDNA on a standard blood sample using our CEE and CEE-Selector technology in our CLIA laboratory, meaning that the biomarkers detected in a patient’s tumor can now be monitored on a real-time basis without the need for a tissue biopsy. Because of the difficulty or inability to obtain periodic tissue biopsies, especially at the time of recurrence, this offers the physician a new source and level of information than was previously available.

We also have a research and development program focused on technology enhancements and novel platform development and a translational research group evaluating clinical applications for cancer diagnostic tests in different cancer types and clinical settings. We have the capability to offer our current and planned unique cancer diagnostic tests through our CLIA laboratory to physicians for patient care applications as well as to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies and academic centers using CTC or ctDNA testing, with biomarker analysis including genetic analysis, in their clinical trials and research efforts. CTC tests, particularly those that offer analysis of CTCs for treatment-associated biomarkers, are becoming powerful tools in the practice of personalized medicine. They enable physicians to utilize a standard blood sample as a “liquid biopsy” to assess the status of their patient’s cancer at a cellular and molecular level on an ongoing basis, and to select therapies that have the highest likelihood of benefiting their patients.

Historically, our average price received per OncoCEE-BR test performed for commercial customers has been approximately $695. This was heavily influenced by the fact that historically a high percentage of our sales were through our marketing partner, Clarient. We amended our arrangement with Clarient as of May 2013, and we do not expect a significant percentage of our future sales to come through Clarient. Our future average price for commercial customers

 

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could increase from our historical figure, based on recognition of the medical value of our products, publication of clinical utility study results, possible improvement of the product, introduction of additional tests, increased demand generated by our future sales and marketing efforts, and similar commercial factors. Factors that could cause pricing for commercial customers to decrease include any perceived lack of clinical utility for CTC or ctDNA testing, or increased competition from other reference labs or IVD manufacturers. Third-party governmental and private payors have reimbursement policies and fee schedules which determine the amounts, if any, we would receive for performing tests for their covered patients. Such governmental and private third-party payors frequently make determinations about how much (if anything) they are willing to pay for tests such as ours, or for components of such tests; these determinations are important to our business and can have adverse or positive effects on the price we receive for our testing. For example, private payors often look to Medicare policies and rates when setting their reimbursement rates.

In addition, our reimbursement rates can vary based on whether we are considered by private third-party payors to be an “in-network” provider, a participating provider, a covered provider or an “out-of-network” provider. These definitions can vary from insurance company to insurance company, but we are generally considered an “out-of-network” or non-participating provider by the vast majority of private third-party payors. It is not unusual for a company that offers highly specialized or unique testing to be an “out-of-network” provider. An “in-network” provider usually has a contracted arrangement with the insurance company or benefits provider. This contract governs, among other things, service-level agreements and reimbursement rates. In certain instances an insurance company may negotiate an “in-network” rate for our testing rather than pay the typical “out-of-network” rate. An “in-network” provider usually has rates that are lower per test than those that are “out-of-network”, and that rate can vary from a single digit percentage deduction discount to upwards of 25% to 30% lower than an “out-of-network” provider. The discount rate varies based on the insurance company, the testing type and often times the specifics of the patient’s insurance plan. In some plans, there is no benefit paid for out-of-network claims and our ability to collect from the patient may be hindered by the financial resources of the patient or by state laws that prohibit billing of patients for denied out-of-network claims.

We cannot predict whether, or under what circumstances, payors will reimburse for all components of our tests. Payment amounts can also vary across individual policies. Full or partial denial of coverage by payors, or reimbursement at inadequate levels, would have a material adverse impact on our business and on market acceptance of our tests.

To date, we have engaged in only limited sales and marketing activities. Such activities have primarily related to our OncoCEE-BR test and have been conducted pursuant to an agreement with Clarient. This agreement was revised in May 2013 and Clarient no longer has exclusive marketing rights to this test. We expect that in the future the percentage of our revenue which is generated through our arrangement with Clarient will diminish. We also have established an agreement with Life Technologies for the commercialization of OncoCEE-LU tests when the development and validation of the OncoCEE-LU test are completed.

Using a portion of the proceeds from this offering, we plan to build an internal sales and marketing team to market and sell OncoCEE-BR and our planned future cancer diagnostic tests directly to oncologists. This team will also provide technical expertise and support for the sales representatives of our sales and marketing partners. Our plans call for starting with an initial group of 7 sales representatives, and, based on success and test volume, growing this number to 15-20 within two years.

We collaborate with physicians and researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center and plan to expand our collaborative relationships to include other key thought leaders at other institutions for the cancer types we target with OncoCEE-BR and our planned future CTC and ctDNA tests. Such relationships help us develop and validate the effectiveness and utility of OncoCEE-BR and our planned future tests in specific clinical settings and provide us access to patient samples and data. We completed a study, recently published in Cancer Medicine , utilizing our OncoCEE-BR test, and a version of this test adapted for use with bone marrow samples, with a group at MD Anderson Cancer Center comprised of breast cancer surgeons, pathologists and basic researchers. In this study, we demonstrated the ability to identify HER2 positive CTCs and disseminated tumor cells, or DTCs, seen in bone marrow in patients that had been previously classified as HER2 negative by analysis of their tumor tissue. A HER2 positive result in a patient with breast cancer provides an indication to the oncologist that there is likely to be a survival benefit from treatment with Herceptin ® , which has been demonstrated in a number of large clinical studies.

 

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We are currently involved in a new clinical study following up on this finding in CTCs, employing OncoCEE-BR tests for patient selection and monitoring. This study, led by investigators at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is currently enrolling patients, and is likely to produce initial results within a year. We believe that these results will provide clinical utility data to support the wide use of OncoCEE-BR tests as a routine diagnostic test for breast cancer patients. In the screening phase of this study, we are testing in our CLIA-certified laboratory blood samples from HER2 negative patients based on standard tumor tissue analysis, to identify those patients that have HER2 positive CTCs. These patients are then being randomized to chemotherapy plus/minus Herceptin ® , and followed for a period of time, with additional CTC tests, including biomarker analysis for HER2 using FISH, performed at subsequent time points.

We plan to grow our business by directly offering oncologists CTC and ctDNA tests. Based on our product development data, as well as discussions with our collaborators, we believe that our planned tests should provide important information and clinical value to oncologists. In particular, our planned CTC and ctDNA tests should deliver important, actionable information not provided by other tests. For example, the market leading clinical CTC test is the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved CellSearch ® test (Janssen Diagnostics), which provides CTC enumeration, but lacks the ability to perform biomarker analysis. We believe our ability to rapidly translate research insights about the utility of cytogenetic, immunocytochemical and molecular biomarkers to provide information to oncologists for treatment decisions in the clinical setting will improve patient treatment and management, and that these tests will become a key component in the standard of care for personalized cancer treatment.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be approximately 230,000 new cases of breast cancer and approximately 230,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2013, with over 3 million patients who have had a diagnosis of these cancers and either are living with these diseases and are undergoing treatment or are being monitored. For example, in breast cancer, many women have been deemed cancer-free, but continue to undergo periodic monitoring to assure there has been no disease recurrence. Our OncoCEE-BR test and our planned OncoCEE-LU test only require a readily accessible standard blood sample and thus may be used to help manage these patients, including supporting the selection of appropriate treatment, at multiple time points during the course of their disease. Because our tests require only a standard blood sample, they can be particularly useful when no, old or inadequate amounts of, biopsy or surgical material is available, as is often the case in lung cancer, even at the time of initial evaluation. For example, up to 25% of patients with lung cancer are not surgically treated for various reasons, including patient status (consensus statement from the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons; Chest , Dec. 2012). This is also the case with breast and lung cancers once surgical resection of the tumor has taken place and treatment has been initiated. Patients with breast and lung cancer must often undergo surgical resection of their primary tumor as part of their treatment. Therefore, at the time of progression or recurrence there may be no ability to obtain a tissue biopsy. Additionally, many studies have shown that most tumors mutate during treatment and as the disease progresses, so information from the initial tumor tissue may not be relevant. Again, a significant benefit of our technology is that it allows physicians to assess the current status of the tumors on a real-time basis utilizing a standard blood sample.

We currently offer and conduct our breast cancer diagnostic tests and offer our clinical trial services at our CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited, and state-law licensed, laboratory. Our current breast cancer test and our planned near-term cancer diagnostic tests and clinical trial services include:

 

   

CTC and ctDNA Testing . Our current breast cancer test and our other planned cancer diagnostic tests are based on our CEE and CEE-Selector technologies and are currently intended to be performed only in our clinical laboratory. After completing testing, we or our partner provide our customers with an easy to understand report that describes the results of the analyses performed, designed to help oncologists make better decisions about the treatment of their patients.

 

   

Clinical Trial Services. We plan to utilize our clinical laboratory and translational research capabilities to provide clinical trial and research services to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations to improve the efficiency and economic viability of their clinical trials. Our clinical trials and translational research services could leverage our knowledge of CTCs and ctDNA and our ability to develop and implement new cytogenetic, immunocytochemical and molecular diagnostic tests. Our current breast cancer test can, and our other planned cancer diagnostic tests and biomarker tests are anticipated to be able to, help optimize clinical trial patient selection, and as a result potentially improve the likelihood of success of the clinical trial. With positive results in a clinical trial, our tests would more easily then move into standard clinical practice, helping physicians select the most appropriate therapy for their patients.

 

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We intend to commercialize cancer diagnostic tests in the United States as LDTs performed in our CLIA-certified laboratory. We plan to evaluate potential opportunities for the commercialization of our products in other countries. We are currently exploring the possibility of introducing OncoCEE-LU technology outside the United States as part of CE-marked IVD test kits and/or testing systems utilizing our CEE and/or CEE-Selector technologies. We also plan to evaluate this format for our other planned tests.

Our sales strategy is focused on leveraging the sales forces of partners already selling to our target markets, as well as building an internal direct sales and marketing team that can also support our partners. In both cases we plan to engage oncologists in the United States at private and group practices, hospitals and cancer centers. In addition, our internal team will market our clinical trial and research services to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations.

Market Overview

Cancer Market Overview

Despite many advances in the treatment of cancer, it remains one of the greatest areas of unmet medical need. In 2008, the World Health Organization attributed 7.6 million deaths worldwide to cancer-related causes. The World Health Organization projects that by 2030 this number will rise to 13.1 million deaths per year. The incidence of, and deaths caused by, the major cancers are staggering. The following data published by the National Cancer Institute shows estimated new cases and deaths for 2013, and prevalence in 2010, in the United States for the major solid cancers types:

 

Cancer Type

   Est. Incidence
(New
Cases/Year-2013)
     Est. Mortality
(Deaths/Year-2013)
     Est. Prevalence
(Diagnosed
and Alive as of
2010)**
 

Bladder

     72,570         15,210         563,640   

Breast*

     232,340         39,620         2,829,041   

Cervical

     12,340         4,030         249,496   

Colorectal*

     142,820         50,830         1,154,481   

Endometrial

     49,560         8,190         600,346   

Gastric*

     21,600         10,990         72,269   

Kidney

     65,150         13,680         341,505   

Lung*

     228,190         159,480         399,431   

Melanoma*

     76,690         9,480         921,780   

Ovarian

     22,240         14,030         186,138   

Pancreatic

     42,220         38,460         41,609   

Prostate*

     238,590         29,720         2,617,682   

Thyroid

     60,220         1,850         534,973   

 

* Areas where we currently have tests or active development programs.
** Includes active disease and disease-free.

In addition to the human toll, the financial cost of cancer is overwhelming. An independent study published in 2010 and conducted jointly by the American Cancer Society and LIVESTRONG ranked cancer as the most economically devastating cause of death in the world - estimated to be as high as $895 billion globally. According to an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the direct cost of cancer deaths in the United States in 2000 was over $115 billion, and if lost wages and caregiver costs were added, the total costs increased to over $230 billion.

 

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Cancer is a Heterogeneous Disease

Cancer constitutes a heterogeneous class of diseases, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth that results from a combination of both environmental and hereditary risk factors. Many different tissue types can become malignant, such as breast, lung, liver, and skin, and even within a particular tumor there is heterogeneity, with certain cancer cells in a patient bearing specific cellular or genetic biomarkers which others lack. It has only been in recent years that technology has progressed far enough to enable researchers to understand many cancers at a cellular and molecular level, attribute specific cancers to associated genetic changes and determine the extent to which these changes are seen in a patient’s tumor.

Cancer cells contain genetic alterations compared to normal human cells. Common genetic abnormalities correlated to cancer include gains or losses of genetic material on specific chromosomal regions, or loci, or changes in specific genes, or mutations, which ultimately result in detrimental cellular changes followed by cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions. For example, multiple gains or losses of or on various chromosomes, and the rearrangement of genetic material among chromosomes, or chromosomal translocations, have been observed in different cancer types, such as HER2 in breast cancer and EML4/ALK in NSCLC. In addition, mutations within gene sequences, or single nucleotide variations, can give rise to aberrant proteins that do not perform their functions correctly, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. Such genetic alterations can be a result of multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental or lifestyle factors or viral infections. Importantly, these genetic changes can be used as biomarkers to help guide appropriate treatment. Detecting these biomarkers, particularly those representing drug targets, or those indicative of responsiveness or resistance of a tumor’s cells to specific therapies, helps clinicians to select drugs, design treatment regimens and optimize patient care and management. Tests that provide such predictive information have the potential to dramatically improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from cancer.

Limitations of Traditional Cancer Diagnostic and Profiling Approaches

Cancer is difficult to diagnose and manage due to its heterogeneity at morphologic, genetic and clinical levels. Traditional methods of diagnosis for solid tumors, routinely used as the initial step in cancer detection, involve a tissue biopsy followed by a pathologist examining a thin slice of potentially cancerous tissue under a microscope. A recently obtained tissue sample is used in combination with chemical staining techniques to enable analysis of the biopsy. After staining, the pathologist determines through visual inspection whether the biopsy contains normal or cancerous cells, with those that are deemed cancerous being graded on a level of aggressiveness. Often an analysis of biomarkers relevant to that tumor type is also performed on the tissue, ranging from immunohistochemistry to FISH, to mutation analysis by various means such as microarrays and sequencing. After the diagnosis, a clinical workup is performed according to established guidelines for the specific cancer type. From there, the physician determines the stage of progression of the cancer based on a series of clinical measures, such as size, grade, metastasis rates, symptoms and patient history, and decides on a treatment plan that may include surgery, watchful waiting, radiation, chemotherapy, or stem cell transplant.

This type of analysis is dependent on the availability of a recently obtained tissue biopsy for the pathologist to analyze. Such a biopsy is often not available. A tumor may not be readily accessible for biopsy, a patient’s condition may be such that a biopsy is not advised, and for routine periodic patient monitoring to evaluate potential progression or recurrence, a biopsy is a fairly invasive procedure and not typically performed. As the length of time between when the original biopsy, diagnosis or surgery is conducted to the current evaluation of the patient increases, the likelihood that an original biopsy specimen is truly representative of the current disease condition declines, as does the usefulness of the original biopsy for making treatment decisions. This risk intensifies in situations where a drug therapy is being administered, because the drug can put selective pressure on the tumor cells to adapt and change.

Similarly, the heterogeneity referred to above means that different parts or areas of the same tumor can have different molecular features or properties. In evaluating a biopsy specimen, the pathologist will take a few thin slices of the tumor for microscopic review rather than exhaustively analyzing the whole tumor mass. The pathologist can only report on the tumor sections analyzed and if other parts of the tumor have different features, such as biomarkers corresponding to specific treatments, they can be missed. A more representative analysis of the entire tumor, as well as any metastases if they are present, is very helpful.

 

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CTCs, ctDNA and Cancer

Circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, are cancer cells that have detached from the tumor matrix and invaded the patient’s blood or other bodily fluids. These cells are representative of the tumor and its metastases, and can function as their surrogates. Testing CTCs can complement pathologic information drawn from a biopsy or resected tissue sample, helping to insure that the analysis is comprehensive and not biased by tumor heterogeneity and sampling issues. They can also provide critical data when a biopsy is not possible. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the presence and number of CTCs provides information on the likely course of certain types of disease for the cancer patient, or in other words they are considered “prognostic.” Since CTCs are representative of the tumor, they can also be used for biomarker analysis, such as helping to guide therapy selection. Such analyses are “predictive” in that they offer insight into the likely responsiveness or resistance to particular therapies. After surgery and during any subsequent therapy or monitoring period, blood samples can periodically be drawn in a standard manner and analyzed to evaluate a therapy’s continuing effectiveness, as well as to detect other biomarkers such as new genetic mutations that may arise as a result of selection pressure by a particular therapy or by chance. Physicians can use this information to determine which therapy is most likely to benefit their patients at particular times through the course of their disease. Treatment decisions based on patient-specific information are the foundation of personalized medicine, and tests, or assays, that guide a physician in the selection of individualized therapy for a patient are termed “predictive assays.”

ctDNA is nucleic acid that is released into blood by dying tumor cells. Cell death occurs in all tissues, especially those that are rapidly dividing, and in cancer, where cell growth is not only rapid but also uncontrolled. Parts of tumors often outgrow their blood supply, resulting in cell death. Tumor cells dying as a result of therapy also release nucleic acid into blood. As a consequence, ctDNA is common in cancer patients and scientists believe that like CTCs, it may be more representative of a patient’s tumor than a few thin sections from a tissue biopsy, thus reducing the heterogeneity problem. ctDNA is found in the plasma component of blood and is readily accessible in a standard blood sample. Analyzing ctDNA for mutations that are used as biomarkers for therapy selection shows great promise. One of the strengths of this approach, in addition to not requiring a tissue biopsy, is that it is not dependent on capturing rare tumor cells from blood to provide a sample for testing. The difficulty with this approach is that the cellular context is lost since the ctDNA is mixed with a much larger amount of circulating DNA from normal cells that are continuously dying and being replaced in the body, thus making analysis challenging. This requires a mutation detection methodology with enhanced sensitivity and specificity, to distinguish mutations in particular gene regions in cancer cells from the normal gene sequence present in those same genes in normal cells which co-exist in blood as normal cells die and are replaced in the body. Our CEE-Selector technology provides this necessary sensitivity and specificity and creates an opportunity for ctDNA analysis to complement CTC analysis, or potentially to serve as the platform for stand-alone tests.

Given the incidence of cancer in the United States, with an estimated 800,000 new cases in 2013 for the major solid tumors targeted by our planned test products, the markets for our current and planned cancer diagnostic tests are very large. Furthermore, these market opportunities are even greater due to the benefits of CTC and ctDNA testing, including not only the ability to offer physicians a simple way to augment an initial tumor biopsy analysis but also to provide a means for relatively frequent monitoring of the tumor’s molecular status, utilizing a standard blood sample as a “liquid biopsy.” The latter application enables the oncologist to determine if or how a tumor is changing over time or is responding to therapy and what the next treatment should be. For example, in the United States, the incidence of new cases of breast cancer alone is estimated to be over 230,000 in 2013, and the prevalence of this disease is over 2.8 million (the number of women with a history of breast cancer in the United States, including women being treated and women who have finished treatment), with an estimated 330,000 lumpectomies performed annually in the United States. Of these lumpectomies, 20% need to be repeated because on pathological examination it is shown the procedure did not result in “clean margins,” thus suggesting not all the tumor was removed, according to a Johns Hopkins report. If a CTC test were performed at the time of initial diagnosis, at the time of surgery, or in lieu of, or as an adjunct to, a PET/CT scan (as a CTC test has the potential to identify a single tumor cell in a blood sample, while a scan requires a tumor mass of millions of cells to be detectable), to monitor disease progression or test for recurrence, thousands of tests, in breast cancer alone, could be performed per year with still relatively low market penetration.

 

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Use of CTC- and ctDNA-Derived Biomarker Data in Cancer Treatment

CTCs and ctDNA are derived from, and are understood to be representative of, a solid tumor and its metastases and can be analyzed as adjuncts to or in place of the tumor, especially when a recent tumor biopsy is not available. In theory, almost any analysis that can be performed on tumor tissue can also be performed on CTCs, while ctDNA, because it is only nucleic acid, is more limited. We have focused our analysis of CTCs and ctDNA on known biomarkers associated with specific therapies to support treatment decisions and therapy selection made by oncologists. The biomarkers we analyze and internal to analyze consist of proteins or protein modifications that can be identified by immunocytochemical means, cytogenetic or chromosomal aberrations, which are detected by FISH, and gene mutations which are detected in CTCs or ctDNA by molecular diagnostic tests, including CEE-Selector techniques and gene sequencing. Specific examples include (i) for immunocytochemistry, the detection of the estrogen receptor protein in breast cancer, indicative of the likely responsiveness to hormonal therapies like tamoxifen, often sold under the trade name Nolvadex ® , (ii) for FISH, the presence of an amplified HER2 gene in breast cancer, indicative of the likely responsiveness to HER2-targeted agents like trastuzumab, often sold under the trade name Herceptin ® , and (iii) for mutation detection, the presence of an EGFR activating mutation in NSCLC like L858R, indicative of the likely responsiveness to EGFR-targeted agents like Tarceva ® . All of these biomarkers are currently tested on tumor tissue and can be tested on CTCs, and in the latter case on ctDNA. The resulting information could then be used to guide patient care, and specifically treatment selection.

To date these types of molecular and genetic detection methods have been successfully utilized to provide predictive information for several cancers, including breast, colon, NSCLC, melanoma and others in the form of companion diagnostics, typically performed on tumor tissue. CTC and ctDNA tests, which analyze the same biomarkers but in a more convenient standard blood sample test that also permits periodic monitoring, may be used in the same way.

Our Business Strategy

We plan to provide oncologists with a straightforward means to profile and characterize their patients’ tumors on a real-time basis by analyzing CTCs and ctDNA found in standard blood draws. Biomarkers are currently detected and analyzed primarily in tissue biopsy specimens. We believe that our technology, which not only provides information on CTC enumeration but also the assessment of treatment-associated biomarkers identified within the CTCs or in ctDNA, will provide information to oncologists that improves patient treatment and management and will become a key component in the standard of care for personalized cancer treatment.

Our approach is to develop and commercialize CTC and ctDNA tests and services to enable us to offer to oncologists standard blood sample based, real-time, testing solutions for a range of solid tumor types, starting with breast cancer and progressing to future launches of tests for NSCLC, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and others, to improve patient treatment with better prognostic and predictive tools. To achieve this, we intend to:

 

   

Develop and commercialize a portfolio of proprietary CTC and ctDNA tests and services, to enable physicians to develop personalized treatment plans. We intend to continue the development of additional prognostic and predictive tests and services to provide information that is essential to personalized cancer treatment. By including predictive information on biomarkers linked to specific therapies in our analysis in addition to CTC enumeration, our tests are designed to provide a more complete profile of a patient’s disease than existing CTC tests. The biomarker information will assist physicians in selecting appropriate therapies for individual patients. Our ctDNA tests are expected to offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity based on the CEE-Selector technology, enabling earlier detection of therapy-associated mutation targets or resistance markers, again supporting treatment decisions. We have launched our first CTC test, OncoCEE-BR for breast cancer, performed in our CLIA-accredited testing facility. We are also developing a number of other CTC and ctDNA tests, including OncoCEE-LU for non-small cell lung cancer, OncoCEE-CR for colorectal cancer, OncoCEE-GA TM for gastric cancer, OncoCEE-PR TM for prostate cancer and OncoCEE-ME TM for melanoma. We plan to perform the necessary validation studies to allow us to commercialize these tests through our clinical laboratory.

 

   

Establish our internal sales and marketing capabilities in a scalable manner. We are actively seeking additional partners to increase our market reach. We intend to build our own specialized sales force with experience in cancer diagnostic testing, focusing on key identified territories in order to provide geographic coverage

 

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throughout the United States. We plan to start with 7 sales representatives, and depending on test volume, expect to increase this group to 15-20 within two years and potentially 40-50 within five years. This team will educate physicians directly on the benefits of our tests and the clinical data supporting them, as well as provide support to and serve as technical specialists for our partners such as Life Technologies.

 

   

Develop and expand our collaborations with leading university hospitals and research centers. We collaborate with key thought leaders, physicians and clinical researchers, including those at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Columbia University and the University of California, San Diego. Our collaborations enable us to test new technologies, validate the effectiveness and utility of our planned tests in a clinical setting and provide us access to clinically well-characterized and highly annotated patient data. These samples and data accelerate our validation process and facilitate the testing and refinement of our planned new tests.

 

   

Enhance our efforts in reaching and educating oncologists about CTC and ctDNA tests. According to the American Society for Clinical Oncology, in 2011 there were approximately 10,000 oncologists in the United States, or 12,500 if gynecologic and pediatric oncologists are included. With the support of our key thought leader collaborators, we intend to focus on oncologists by targeting our sales and marketing efforts on this important customer segment. We believe this will expand and optimize the oncology testing services and personalization of cancer treatment provided by oncologists so that they can better serve their cancer patients.

 

   

Increase our efforts to provide biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations with our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests and services. Oncology drugs have the potential to be among the most personalized of therapeutics, yet oncology drugs have one of the worst approval rates, at 11% for leading indications and 2% for secondary indications of cancer drug compounds from first administration in humans to approval (2004-2011, Biotechnology Industry Organization). In an effort to improve the outcome of clinical trials for oncology drugs, and more rapidly advance targeted therapeutics, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to companies that have cancer diagnostic tests that specifically address their needs, including the ability to characterize and monitor a patient’s tumor over time using CTC and ctDNA tests to analyze biomarkers of interest. There are over 5,000 active trials in the United States in breast, lung, colorectal, prostate and gastric cancers and melanoma according to clinicaltrials.gov. We expect to increase our sales and marketing focus in this business as well as seek additional collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies.

 

   

Support our current and planned tests with clinical utility studies to drive adoption and facilitate reimbursement. Through our agreement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we are currently conducting testing for a study that we expect to provide clinical utility data for our OncoCEE-BR test, demonstrating that patients who are treated with targeted therapies based on biomarkers identified on their CTCs, when those biomarkers are absent on their tumor tissue, have better outcomes. In this study, we are specifically identifying patients with metastatic breast cancer that are HER2 negative, by analysis of their tumor tissue, and who have HER2 positive CTCs utilizing our OncoCEE-BR test on a standard blood sample. These patients are being randomized for treatment with chemotherapy, the current standard of care, with or without Herceptin ® , and then evaluated for progression-free survival and overall survival. We intend to conduct additional studies in breast cancer, and similar studies for our NSCLC test and other CTC and ctDNA tests we plan to introduce. Clinical utility and validation studies for our planned ctDNA tests may rely on archived plasma or blood samples from clinical trials in which patient outcomes are already available, in a retrospective-prospective design that significantly shortens the length of such studies.

 

   

Continue to enhance our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests and reduce the costs associated with providing them through internal research and development and partnering with leading technology developers and reagent suppliers. We intend to work closely with select key technology developers and suppliers to further automate the optical interpretation of our current breast cancer test and our planned additional CTC tests, including enumeration, immunocytochemical biomarker staining and FISH. We also intend to reduce the costs associated with key material components of these tests, including FISH probes. We have identified a technology group that, based on

 

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initial studies, can provide an automation system that will significantly reduce the hands-on time of our cytotechnicians for microfluidic channel analysis while increasing the uniformity, and potentially the sensitivity and quality, of the data we generate. This system is also expected to provide the ability to evaluate multiple fluorescent signals of different wavelengths simultaneously for multiplexed analysis, again enhancing efficiency. Similarly, we have identified suppliers that can provide FISH probes at reduced cost and with a broader choice of available fluors, enabling more extensive multiplexing of tests.

Our Competitive Advantages

We believe that the competitive advantages of our tests, including our tests which are still under development, would include the following. In general, because OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests share our CEE platform, their competitive advantages would be the same.

OncoCEE-BR enables, and we anticipate our planned CTC and ctDNA tests will enable, detailed analysis of a patient’s cancer utilizing a standard blood sample, facilitating testing at any time, including when a biopsy is not available or inconclusive, offering real-time monitoring of the cancer and the response of the cancer to therapy, and allowing oncologists to select timely modifications to treatment regimens. Because CTCs and ctDNA are derived from the primary tumor or its metastases, they function as surrogates for the tumor, with the advantage of being readily accessible in a standard blood sample. This is especially important in situations where a biopsy is not available or advised. The simplicity of obtaining a standard blood sample permits repeat testing in a monitoring mode to detect recurrence or progression and to offer information on treatment modifications based on a current assessment of the cancer’s properties.

OncoCEE-BR provides, and we anticipate our planned tests will provide, more information than competitors’ existing tests, including predictive information on biomarkers linked to specific therapies. We anticipate that such additional biomarker information will enable a physician to develop a personalized treatment plan. By including biomarker information in our analysis, in addition to CTC enumeration, our current OncoCEE-BR test and our planned tests are designed to provide a more complete profile of a patient’s disease than existing CTC tests. We intend for our tests to contain actionable information to assist physicians in selecting appropriate therapies for individual patients. Our ctDNA tests are expected to offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity based on the CEE-Selector technology, enabling earlier detection of therapy-associated mutation targets or resistance markers, again supporting treatment decisions.

OncoCEE-BR and our planned CTC tests are designed to capture and detect a broader range of CTCs than existing tests and to be applicable to, or quickly modifiable for, a wide range of cancer types. Our CEE-Cap antibody capture cocktail includes antibodies targeting not only EpCAM, the traditional epithelial CTC capture antigen utilized in the CellSearch ® system and in other platforms, but also other epithelial antigens as well as mesenchymal and cancer stem cell antigens, indicative of cells having undergone the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These cells may be more relevant for metastasis. Our detection methods include cytokeratin staining with a broader range of cytokeratin isotypes than existing CTC tests, and we plan to introduce our CEE-Enhanced staining which would enable detection of cells specifically captured with our antibody cocktail, including EMT cells lacking cytokeratin. We believe that through our planned CEE-Enhanced staining, more CTCs and different types of CTCs will be able to be identified and potentially at earlier stages of disease, resulting in fewer non-informative cases and more information for physicians.

OncoCEE-BR is, and we anticipate our planned CTC and ctDNA tests will be, flexible and readily configurable to accommodate new biomarkers with clinical relevance as they are identified. In theory, our CEE platform permits essentially any analysis that is currently performed on tumor tissue to be performed on CTCs, including immunocytochemical staining, FISH and molecular analysis. As new therapies are approved, and to the extent that they are targeted therapies for which knowledge of a particular gene amplification event, mutation or presence, absence or modification, such as phosphorylation, of a protein are indicative of likely response or resistance to that therapy, we will be able to include them in our tests with minimal changes. This is attractive to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are developing such therapies, or seeking ways to make their clinical trials more efficient, as this flexibility would enable them to focus on patients more likely to respond to a particular therapy and demonstrate a benefit from that therapy.

 

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Collaborative relationships with physicians at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We have worked closely with a number of physicians at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, on various collaborative projects in different cancer types including breast, NSCLC, prostate, colorectal, ovarian, bladder, renal and endometrial. These projects provide us access to leading researchers, clinicians and key thought leaders, access to valuable patient samples and insight into clinical applications for our tests. Some of these projects have resulted in publications in leading journals, such as Cancer Discovery and Cancer Medicine , which enhances our standing in the oncology community and supports our marketing efforts.

Our planned CEE-Selector mutation tests would not be platform dependent. These tests are being designed to be able to be performed on almost any molecular instrument, which will provide flexibility in laboratory operations. To the extent we elect to develop these tests as IVDs, including pursuing CE marks for them to be marketed outside the United States, the ability to rapidly deploy them on different approved instrument platforms already in many laboratories should greatly simplify their distribution and commercialization.

Our Tests and Services

We have launched our first product, OncoCEE-BR for breast cancer, and plan to continue to launch a series of tests for CTCs in different tumor types, including NSCLC, gastric, colorectal and prostate cancers and melanoma, incorporating analyses for different biomarkers, over the next 3 years. OncoCEE-BR is and the planned tests will be based on the CEE technology platform. The CEE system isolates CTCs from blood samples of cancer patients for enumeration (or count) and genetic analysis. A sample is shipped to us in our specialized blood collection tube, called the CEE-Sure tube, for recovery and analysis of CTCs. When performing the CTC assay, the sample is processed in our laboratory. The specimen of blood is separated into its parts (red blood cells, buffy coat and plasma). The buffy coat is incubated with the antibody solution and passed through a proprietary microfluidic channel containing 9,000 microscopic posts coated with reagents to capture antibody-labeled tumor cells. The captured cells are suitable for further testing of whole cells directly in the microfluidic channel or by releasing the cells from the microfluidic channel and performing CEE-Selector or similar techniques.

Clinicians acknowledge limitations of currently available CTC test systems such as CellSearch ® that rely on capture solely by anti-EpCAM antibodies and detection by anti-cytokeratin antibodies. Capture and detection based only on these two antigens is unlikely to identify all CTCs, and clinically this may result in no CTCs being detected in cases in which they are present. For example, some tumor cells that have been released into the circulatory system have undergone an EMT. These mesenchymal cells are less differentiated than epithelial cells and more similar to stem cells. OncoCEE-BR enables, and we believe our planned assays will enable, the capture of significantly more CTCs than is accomplished through the use of traditional anti-EpCAM immuno-capture alone.

In addition to enhanced capture, our technology also improves the detection of CTCs. As with EpCAM, tumor cells that have undergone EMT can down-regulate the synthesis of cytokeratin, leading to an underestimate or even an apparent absence of CTCs since their positive identification has traditionally relied on anti-cytokeratin staining. We have developed alternative methods of fluorescent cell staining that are uniquely possible within the CEE system to enhance or enable detection of CTCs with low or no cytokeratin signal. This technology is called CEE-Enhanced. We believe that the combination of specific cocktails of tumor-associated capture antibodies and more sensitive fluorescent detection of CTCs through CEE-Enhanced methodology will lead to major advances in the capture, enumeration and analysis of CTCs. CEE-Enhanced methodology is expected to be included in our commercially available tests by mid-2014.

Analysis of CTCs performed by us incorporates both standard and proprietary methods. Immunocytochemistry which looks at proteins, analogous to the immunohistochemistry performed on tissues, can be readily applied and performed in the microfluidic channel, dependent only on suitable biomarkers. Similarly, FISH, used to evaluate cytogenetic abnormalities in cells, may be performed in our microfluidic channel using validated assays available from a number of vendors. For genetic mutation analysis, standard technologies can be applied. We have also developed proprietary CEE-Selector technology for mutation analysis in CTCs and ctDNA, with enhanced sensitivity and specificity.

 

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CTCs are generally very rare and outnumbered many-fold by white blood cells. This complexity has been a challenge for standard technologies. We believe our CEE-Selector technology will offer enhanced specificity and sensitivity (greater than 1-in-10,000 of mutated sequence to normal sequence in a complex genetic background) compared to other approaches, and that it will potentially have broader application than just CTC analysis, including analysis of ctDNA in plasma, both in a CLIA-certified laboratory setting and as an IVD.

OncoCEE-BR is, and our planned tests would be, Laboratory Developed Tests. FDA clearance or approval is not currently required to offer these types of tests in our laboratory once they have been clinically and analytically validated. We seek licenses and approvals for our laboratory facility and for LDTs from the appropriate regulatory authorities, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees CLIA, and various state regulatory bodies. Certain states, such as New York, require us to obtain state licensure in order for us to perform testing on specimens taken from patients or received from ordering physicians from those states. As part of this process, the State of New York requires validation of our tests. We are currently in the process of addressing the requirements for licensure in New York, and we expect to have re-obtained by the end of 2013 all required licenses and approvals from all other states requiring licensure of out-of-state laboratories. (We were required to re-license in these other states as a result of our July 2013 reincorporation to Delaware.)

The following outline indicates our current (OncoCEE-BR) and planned tests and indicates the stage the product is in and the targeted date of commercialization. As discussed in “Description of the Business—Test Development Process” below, prospective assays initially begin in research (stage 1) and progress through to development (stage 2), validation (stage 3) and finally commercialization (stage 4). The OncoCEE-BR test has completed all stages as to CTC and HER2 test capabilities. Our remaining identified proposed tests have completed the research stage and are at the stages shown in the table below with their respective estimated timetables for completing stage 4. As with all scientific endeavors, such timetables are only estimates; unanticipated problems might result in delays. We consider these timetables to be fairly aggressive, given the likelihood of our experiencing such unanticipated problems and associated delays.

In the development stage, there is still work to be done to finalize sensitivity and specificity of the assay. This work will vary as the assay is tested and fine-tuned in order to prepare it for validation and eventual commercial offering. In the validation stage, the assay has been fully developed and we are now able to run (or are in the process of running) a specific number of samples, both positive and negative, in order to validate that the assay results are reproducible. A validated assay is considered to have completed the commercialization stage when the necessary training has been given and any necessary governmental licenses and approvals have been obtained so that we can start selling the assay through our commercial sales channel and provide patient results.

Our proposed tests have certain commonalities. For example, in each proposed test, biomarkers will be examined by one or both of FISH or CEE-Selector. Given the development, validation and commercialization of our first CTC/FISH test (OncoCEE-BR), all subsequent FISH- and Immunofluorescence-based assays have effectively been developed for the planned biomarker. Progression of these planned assays through stage 3 is largely dependent on the timing of our obtaining suitable validation specimens, although various scientific and other factors can also affect the pace of a particular proposed test’s progress through the validation stage. Thus, the OncoCEE-LU (i.e., CTC/FISH-based OncoCEE-LU), OncoCEE-GA and OncoCEE-DTC tests are targeted to be commercial in 2014. CTC-based OncoCEE-CR and OncoCEE-PR tests are targeted to be commercial in 2015 given our estimate of the timing to acquire appropriate positive and negative validation samples.

For ctDNA based assays, CEE-Selector will be used to detect each relevant mutation, and our current estimate is that development will be completed in 2014. Biomarker mutations (such as B-raf and K-ras) are often commonly seen in different tumor types, thus, once a particular mutation assay is developed for CEE-Selector, it can be applied to any tumor type. The OncoCEE-LU ctDNA test is anticipated to be our first CEE-Selector test to undergo validation. Given the nature of a molecular based test such as CEE-Selector, specimens can be batched and tested simultaneously, thereby reducing the validation time. We are targeting the OncoCEE-LU ctDNA test to be commercial by the end of 2014. All remaining currently proposed ctDNA tests would then follow and are currently targeted to be commercial in 2015.

 

Test Name

  

Solid Tumor Type and

Biomarkers

  

Indication

  

Status of Test or

Project

  

Targeted Year

of Commercialization

OncoCEE-BR TM

   Breast Cancer- Enumeration; HER2 by FISH, ER, PR    Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring    CTC and HER2 already on the market; Validation – ER, PR    2012 for CTC and HER2; ER, PR 2014 Q1/Q2

OncoCEE-LU TM

  

Lung Cancer- Enumeration; ALK and ROS1 by FISH,

   Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring   

Validation – CTC and FISH portion of assay;

  

2014 Q2/Q3

  

K-ras, B-raf and EGFR mutations by CEE-Selector TM

     

Development – ctDNA portion of assay

  

2014 Q4

OncoCEE-GA TM

   Gastric Cancer- Enumeration; HER2 by FISH    Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring    Validation of CTC and FISH assay    2014 Q2

 

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Test Name

  

Solid Tumor Type and

Biomarkers

  

Indication

  

Status of Test or

Project

  

Targeted Year

of Commercialization

OncoCEE-CR TM

  

Colorectal Cancer- Enumeration; EGFR by FISH

   Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring   

Validation – CTC and FISH portion of assay

   2015 Q1
  

K-ras and B-raf by CEE-Selector TM

     

Development – ctDNA portion of assay

   2015 Q2

OncoCEE-PR TM

   Prostate Cancer- Enumeration; PTEN deletion and AR by FISH    Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring    Validation – CTC and FISH assay    2015 Q3

OncoCEE-ME TM

   Melanoma- Enumeration and B-raf and N-ras mutations by CEE-Selector TM    Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring    Development of ctDNA assays    2015 Q2

OncoCEE-DTC TM

   Breast and Prostate Cancer- DTC analysis in bone marrow; HER2 and AR/PTEN by FISH, respectively    Prognosis, therapy selector, monitoring    Validation of DTC and FISH assays   

2014 Q4 Breast

2015 Q3 Prostate

CEE-Selector TM

   Multiple cancer types- K-ras, B-raf, EGFR and other mutations detected in plasma    Therapy selector, monitoring    Development    2014 Q4

Our Marketed OncoCEE CTC Test: OncoCEE-BR

Our OncoCEE-BR breast cancer test is the first CTC test we developed and we are currently offering it to physicians through our CLIA laboratory. It is based on a standard blood sample and can be used at the time of diagnosis and for monitoring, including at the time of progression or recurrence. This allows the physician to characterize the tumor to help define treatment options, either augmenting tissue analysis or replacing it when a tumor biopsy is not available. The test currently includes CTC enumeration and determination of HER2 status by FISH on the captured CTCs, and then more broadly to any cell captured on our CEE microfluidic channels that is not a white blood cell. HER2 status is used by oncologists to determine suitability of a patient for treatment with HER2-targeted therapeutics, which include Herceptin ® , as well as Kadcyla ® and Perjeta ® , monoclonal antibodies directed to HER2, and Tykerb ® , a kinase inhibitor with activity against HER2. We plan to add immunocytochemistry analysis of CTCs for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor to our OncoCEE-BR test, which will provide information on suitability of breast cancer patients for endocrine or hormonal therapies such as selective estrogen receptor modulators, including tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors that block the synthesis of estrogen, including Femara ® (Novartis) and Arimidex ® (AstraZeneca) or other therapeutics that block estrogen production, including Zoladex ® (AstraZeneca) and Lupron ® (AbbVie).

Other OncoCEE CTC Tests in Development

We are now following a similar development path for additional OncoCEE CTC tests for cancer types other than breast cancer, with a focus on large population solid tumor types, or cancers for which there are approved therapies that rely on biomarker tests we have previously developed. Examples of these tests include OncoCEE-LU for lung cancer, OncoCEE-GA for gastric cancer, OncoCEE-CR TM for colorectal cancer, OncoCEE-PR for prostate cancer, and OncoCEE-ME for melanoma, each described below.

OncoCEE-LU

Up to 25% of lung cancer patients, especially those diagnosed at Stage IIIB or Stage IV, are not treated surgically for various reasons, including tumor accessibility and status of the patient. In these cases, CTC and ctDNA tests are alternatives for obtaining more detailed information about the molecular status of the tumor that helps the physician select appropriate therapy. This is even more important as the number of targeted therapies for lung cancer with associated biomarkers increases. Our OncoCEE-LU test would include several components: CTC enumeration, FISH analysis for EML4/ALK and ROS1, and potentially for ret proto-oncogene, all linked to the drug Xalkori ® (Pfizer), mutation analysis for the EGFR gene,

 

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the K-ras gene and the B-raf gene. The L858R mutation of the EGFR gene and Exon 19 deletions are activators of EGFR kinase activity and are linked to the drugs Tarceva ® (Astellas/Genentech/Roche) and Iressa ® (AstraZeneca). The T790M mutation of the EGFR gene is a resistance marker for EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and is linked to drugs in development that address this resistance, such as Gilotrif ® (Boehringer-Ingelheim) and dacomitinib (Pfizer). The codon 12 and 13 mutations of the K-ras gene are linked to non-responsiveness to the EGFR kinase inhibitors such as Tarceva ® and Iressa ® , and the codon 600 mutations of the B-raf gene are linked to Zelboraf ® and Tafinlar ® , which are both approved for melanoma and are in clinical trials for lung cancer. Our OncoCEE-LU test would be performed on a standard blood sample.

In parallel, we plan to offer ctDNA tests for mutation analysis of, for example, EGFR, K-ras and B-raf genes, to provide information in situations where CTCs are not identified. In our development of this technology platform we have generated data showing detection of the T790M mutation in ctDNA from the blood plasma of lung cancer patients progressing on tyrosine kinase inhibitors in which no CTCs were detected.

OncoCEE-GA

We are developing our OncoCEE-GA test for gastric cancer based on the identification of HER2 as a biomarker for this disease. We plan to employ our CTC HER2 FISH test, which we had previously developed for breast cancer, for the analysis of gastric cancer CTCs. The presence of HER2 positive cells is an indication for likely benefit from the use of Herceptin ® , which has been approved for the treatment of metastatic gastric cancer. Current clinical practice relies on a biopsy for tumor tissue analysis to detect elevated HER2, in the same manner as is done for breast cancer. Our test would circumvent this need for tissue, as well as providing straightforward monitoring of HER2 status from a standard blood sample, on a real-time basis during treatment. Our OncoCEE-GA test would include CTC enumeration and HER2 analysis of CTCs by FISH.

OncoCEE-CR

Our current plan for our OncoCEE-CR test for colorectal cancer is to offer mutation testing analogous to that performed on lung cancer CTCs, namely detection of key mutations in the EGFR, K-ras and B-raf genes, along with CTC enumeration. Testing of the EGFR gene would focus on the L858R mutation and Exon 19 deletions as activators of EGFR kinase activity, and the T790M mutation as a resistance marker for certain EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Testing on the K-ras gene would focus on codons 12 and 13 mutations. Testing on the B-raf gene would focus on V600 mutations. Our OncoCEE-CR test would be run against a standard blood sample.

This testing is important because certain targeted therapies for colorectal cancer, including the monoclonal antibodies targeting EGFR, Erbitux ® (Lilly/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Merck Serono) and Vectibix ® (Amgen), and the kinase inhibitor Stivarga ® (Onyx/Bayer) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor kinases, but also ret proto-oncogene, KIT, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, or PDGF-R, and fibroblast growth factor receptor kinases, have been shown to be ineffective in patients who have a K-ras mutation, which is found in up to 40% of cases according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. While for each of codons 12 and 13 in K-ras, up to 15-20 mutations have been reported, there are reports in the scientific literature that patients with one particular mutation, G13D, do respond well to Erbitux ® , and that there may be variability in response to different chemotherapies based on the specific K-ras mutation, suggesting that detailed information on mutation status is clinically relevant.

OncoCEE-PR

Our OncoCEE-PR test for prostate cancer would be based on the analysis of CTCs found in a standard blood sample by FISH for key biomarkers: the androgen receptor, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). The test would also include CTC enumeration, and our CEE-Cap antibody capture cocktail would be modified from that used for breast and lung cancer to include prostate specific membrane antigen.

The androgen receptor normally binds the hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, and is the target for several drug molecules, including those acting directly as antagonists for the receptor, such as Casodex ® (AstraZeneca), and those acting indirectly through inhibition of androgen synthesis, such as Zytiga ® (Janssen).

 

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Phosphatase and tensin homolog, an enzyme that functions as a tumor suppressor, if mutated, deleted or otherwise functionally disrupted, removes a brake from cell replication and allows uncontrolled growth, which is seen in many cancers. If phosphatase and tensin homolog is mutated, deleted or disrupted, chemotherapy or polytherapy is usually recommended.

OncoCEE-ME

Our OncoCEE-ME melanoma test, performed on a standard blood sample, would provide information on the presence or absence and specific nature of the V600 mutation in the B-raf gene, which indicates whether the B-raf inhibitors Xelboraf ® or Tafinlar ® are candidate therapies for the patient. CTC enumeration would also be a component of our test.

Disseminated Tumor Cell (DTC) Assays Performed on Bone Marrow

We have shown that our CEE-Sure blood collection tubes and CEE microfluidic channels work well with bone marrow samples, and we have further demonstrated the ability to perform FISH on disseminated tumor cells, or DTCs, from bone marrow that are isolated in this way. While bone marrow biopsies are not performed routinely in the United States, they are utilized in Europe, especially in prostate cancer. In addition, we were involved in a study at MD Anderson Cancer Center in which bone marrow was isolated from early stage operable breast cancer patients at the time of surgery. In this later study, published in Cancer Medicine (2013, 2(2) 226-233), we found a significant percentage of patients classified as HER2 negative by their primary tumor had HER2 positive DTCs, and hence could be considered for Herceptin ® therapy. DTCs provide an interesting adjunct to CTC analysis that is well suited for our technology platform, and we plan to work with collaborators and key thought leaders to determine how best to introduce a series of tests based on a bone marrow sample type.

ctDNA Tests

We plan to introduce ctDNA tests for mutation analysis performed on blood plasma isolated from a standard blood sample using the CEE-Selector technology, based on increasing interest in the research community in this type of analysis. We plan to launch the first tests, for K-ras, B-raf and EGFR mutations, in conjunction with, or as a complement to, our OncoCEE-LU test. Tests for other mutations will be added as they are developed. These tests would be similar to those performed on CTCs but would instead focus on ctDNA in plasma. These tests would lack the cellular context provided by CTCs but would not require CTC isolation and would be simpler to perform. In addition, one of the benefits of this technology is its ability to detect and identify mutations in blood plasma from cancer patients in whom we were not able to isolate CTCs. This indicates the importance of the enhanced sensitivity of the CEE-Selector technology and the ability of ctDNA tests to complement CTC tests.

Laboratory Testing

From our CLIA-certified laboratory in San Diego, California, we plan to provide test results from our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests to oncologists in community hospitals, cancer centers, group practices and offices. At the federal level, clinical laboratories, such as ours, must be certified under CLIA in order for us to perform testing on human specimens. Our laboratory is also accredited by CAP, which is one of six accreditation organizations approved by CMS under CLIA. Our clinical laboratory is located in California and we hold the requisite license from the California Department of Public Health to operate our laboratory. In addition, Florida, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island require that we hold licenses to test specimens from patients in those states or received from ordering physicians from those states. As part of this process, the State of New York requires validation of our tests. Pennsylvania licensure or registration may be required as well, depending on the circumstances. We are currently in the process of addressing the requirements for licensure in New York, and we expect to have re-obtained by the end of 2013 all required licenses and approvals in all other states requiring licensure of out-of-state laboratories. (We were required to re-license in these other states as a result of our July 2013 reincorporation to Delaware.)

Clinical Trials Services

Industry research has shown many promising drugs have produced disappointing results in clinical trials. For example, a study by Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto estimated that over a five-year study period 85% of the new therapies for solid tumors which were tested in early clinical trials in the United States, Europe and Japan failed, and that of those that survive through to Phase III trials only half will actually be approved. Given such a high failure rate of oncology drugs in clinical development, combined with constrained budgets for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, there is a significant need for drug developers to utilize molecular diagnostics to help decrease these failure rates. For

 

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specific molecular-targeted therapeutics, the identification of appropriate biomarkers may help to optimize clinical trial patient selection and success rates by helping clinicians identify patients that are most likely to benefit from a therapy based on their individual genetic profile.

In addition to testing for oncologists and their patients, we plan to offer clinical trials testing services to help increase the efficiency and economic viability of clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations. Our clinical trial services will be aimed at developing customizable tests and techniques utilizing CTC and ctDNA technologies to provide sensitive, real-time characterization of individual patient’s tumors using a standard blood sample. These tests may be useful as, and ultimately developed into, companion diagnostics associated with a specific therapeutic. Additionally, through our services we may gain further insights into biomarkers for disease progression and drug resistance, as well as those associated with current drug development efforts, which we can incorporate into tests.

Test Development Process

Our OncoCEE-BR test was, and our planned additional CTC and ctDNA tests are being, developed and validated in conjunction with leading academic and clinical research centers to ensure that the needs of the clinical community are being met with the latest research on key biomarkers that affect patient care. We utilize a research and validation process to help ensure that we are providing diagnostic, prognostic and predictive information that is clinically relevant and accurate. The time-frame for this process from design through development and market launch is dependent upon, among other things, the biomarkers in question having been discovered and validated before we incorporate them in a test, the specific clinical claims we plan to pursue, and the availability of high quality samples for validation. Our development protocol calls for us to monitor and review the process in four stages as detailed below:

 

   

Stage 1, Research . We review known, validated biomarkers, preferably linked to a specific therapeutic or other high value treatment decision, and discuss with clinical collaborators and key thought leaders to characterize the opportunity, the specific clinical setting and the product profile of the candidate test.

 

   

Stage 2, Test Development . We design the test, which typically has two parts: efficient capture of CTCs and/or ctDNA from the targeted cancer type and development of the biomarker assays that will be included. For example, the first part may involve modification of the antibody capture cocktail and the second could include development of specific CEE-Selector mutation tests or testing of FISH probes. The test will be used on normal control specimens and clinical samples to assure performance and the process includes defining the performance characteristics of the test as well as developing standard protocols for our CLIA-certified laboratory, where the test will ultimately be performed. This assessment includes such features as reproducibility, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.

 

   

Stage 3, Clinical Validation . When the assay is performing as desired in the research laboratory, it is then transferred to the CLIA laboratory and validated on clinical samples, typically in comparison to the existing gold standard for that biomarker, which is usually tumor tissue analysis. Depending on the tumor type and specimen requirement, samples are collected from patients through collaborators, or in the case of ctDNA tests, from sample banks, where clinical information on the patients, including outcomes, is already available.

 

   

Stage 4, Market Entry, Launch and Commercialization . As clinical validation is completed and before launch, we take several steps to prepare a test for marketing as a LDT. We create standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control measures to ensure repeatability and high standards of quality. We train both our commercial and laboratory staff on the interpretation and use of the data. Licenses and approvals for our laboratory to perform or use LDTs are obtained from the appropriate regulatory authorities, such as CMS, which oversees CLIA, and different state regulatory bodies.

Our CTC/FISH - based OncoCEE-BR test, which has already launched, is considered to have completed this test development process. All other planned tests which are mentioned in this prospectus are all considered to currently be in Stage 2 or Stage 3 of this test development process.

As part of our long-term strategy, we may seek FDA clearance or approval to expand the commercial use of tests to other laboratories and testing sites in the United States. We will also need to complete additional activities to submit each of these tests for regulatory clearance or approval before commercialization in each of the international markets where we would plan to introduce them.

Although the FDA maintains that it has authority to regulate the development and use of LDTs as medical devices, as a matter of enforcement discretion it has not exercised such authority with respect to most LDTs. If the FDA exercises this authority as to our current test or as to a planned test, our process would also need to allow for obtaining FDA review, clearance or approval, as applicable, which would add delay, expense and risk to our current test development process. Such an exercise of authority could arise as a result of changes in discretion on a general or particular basis, changes in applicable regulations, or changes in applicable statutes.

 

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Research and Development

We incurred research and development expenses of $8.9 million, which represents 8852% of our net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2011 and $6.6 million, which represents 6010% of our net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2012. Research and development expenses represented 72% of our total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 62% of our total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2012. Major components of the research and development expenses were direct personnel costs, laboratory equipment and consumables and overhead expenses.

Technology Development

In addition to developing new CTC and ctDNA tests for different cancers to be offered through our CLIA testing laboratory, and adapting additional predictive biomarkers to these tests as their importance is demonstrated by the scientific and clinical research communities, we continue to focus on improving the base technologies underlying our tests and processes. We are exploring various ways to improve CTC capture efficiency and detection, as well as approaches to sub-categorize CTCs into different populations that may have clinical relevance. For example, by determining which antigens individual CTCs expressed that enabled their capture, we could differentiate, and enumerate, various CTC phenotypes, for example, epithelial versus mesenchymal. We are also working to simplify the test process, and in general to provide a broader range of useful data on a patient’s cancer to assist the oncologist in determining an appropriate treatment. Some of these projects and initiatives include:

 

   

Improve Ability to Capture CTCs

 

   

Continued modification and optimization of our CEE microfluidic channel as a way to further enhance CTC capture efficiency. Capture efficiency directly impacts sensitivity, informative rate, and the ability to perform accurate and reliable biomarker analyses on the CTCs, all of which increase the value of our offering. We are utilizing some of our early research experience to improve CTC capture rates and reduce background contamination from normal white blood cells.

 

   

Automation of Our Test Process

 

   

Development of automation throughout the test process, but particularly at the visual evaluation steps, which include enumeration, any immunocytochemistry for biomarkers beyond those used to identify CTCs, for example protein biomarkers, and FISH analysis, is a way to drive efficiencies, reduce costs, speed up turnaround time, and generate more reliable, uniform, and in some cases more sensitive data. We have identified an automation solution for the visual analysis, which needs to be optimized and then transferred to and validated in our CLIA laboratory. We have also adapted a semi-automated system for the separation, processing and washing steps before running a sample on the microfluidic channel, which is now being used in the research laboratory and similarly needs to be transferred and validated in the CLIA laboratory. These measures will reduce costs and time as well as allow for higher-throughput as sample volumes increase.

 

   

Development of Second Generation Platform for CTC Testing

 

   

Evaluating and developing techniques for CTC capture that take advantage of our CEE-Cap antibody capture cocktail and CEE-Enhanced staining technology to modify our current CTC process to a simpler, essentially IVD, format. In addition to reducing internal costs, such an advance would offer the opportunity for us to offer a product format that enable us to access the worldwide CTC testing market. The distribution of such kits could create a new business opportunity for us.

 

   

Utilization of CEE-Selector Technology for Highly Multiplexed Mutation Testing

 

   

The CEE-Selector technology should enable us to multiplex mutation testing such that larger panels of genes can be analyzed in a single step. This should position us for the analysis at the molecular level of whole signaling pathways or enzyme cascades. We plan to take advantage of the sensitivity and

 

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specificity of the CEE-Selector technology and leverage interest in the clinical research community for detecting any actionable biomarker in a particular tumor, as opposed to only those that are known to occur at relatively higher frequencies in that type of tumor. Such multiplexed mutation tests, relying on our CEE-Selector technology, could provide a more global evaluation of a tumor through analysis of either CTCs or ctDNA. This would offer a broader range of potential treatment options as well as enable the monitoring of the effectiveness of those treatments over time.

 

   

Development of Single Cell CTC Isolation Techniques for Molecular Analysis

 

   

Tumor heterogeneity is a well-recognized problem for tissue analysis and is in part addressed by focusing on CTCs, which may provide a more universal sampling of a tumor. One result of this can be a diverse population of CTCs in a sample, with different phenotypes and genotypes represented. We are working with a collaborator on techniques for subsequent sorting of our highly enriched CTC samples released from our CEE microfluidic channels into pools of CTCs with similar phenotypes, and ultimately to single CTCs, for molecular analysis.

Translational/Clinical Research

In the course of our research and validation studies, we have processed several hundred cancer patient samples and normal control samples for CTC enumeration and analysis. Our initial focus has been on breast cancer, where validation studies for the OncoCEE-BR test, including enumeration of CTCs compared to the CellSearch ® system, and HER2 FISH performed on CTCs and compared with HER2 analysis performed on tumor tissue from the same patients, involved over 120 patient samples. The results of our validation studies, and the demonstration of a reliable and reproducible method for CTC capture and analysis using the OncoCEE platform were published in a paper entitled “Novel Platform for the Detection of Cytokeratin Positive (CK+) and Cytokeratin Negative (CK+) CTCs” appearing in the December 2011 issue of Cancer Discovery and a paper entitled “Efficient capture of circulating tumor cells with a novel immunocytochemical microfluidic device” appearing in the September 2011 issue of BioMicrofluidics .

Additional studies were conducted in breast and other tumor types, including lung, prostate and colorectal cancers, utilizing patient samples for comparison to the CellSearch ® system. In head-to-head studies, the CEE system detected cytokeratin positive CTCs in comparable numbers of breast cancer patients, and in considerably more patients in the other cancer types ( Cancer Discovery , December 2011). Moreover, the results clearly demonstrated that our use of the CEE-Cap capture antibody cocktail enabled recovery of more CTCs as compared to using only anti-EpCAM antibodies. This data served as a clinical validation study for CTC enumeration. When CEE-Enhanced staining is applied to detect cytokeratin-negative CTCs, we expect to see far more CTCs based on preliminary studies reported in a paper entitled “Detection of EpCAM-Negative and Cytokeratin-Negative CTCs in Peripheral Blood” appearing in the 2011 issue of the Journal of Oncology .

The CEE system has the added advantage of post-capture immunocytochemical, cytogenetic and molecular genomic analyses of the CTCs. The CEE system captured cells can be analyzed directly within the microfluidic channel, thereby removing the need to re-deposit cells on a slide, which could result in cell loss or damage. Furthermore, given the transparency of the microfluidic channel, it can be immediately analyzed on a microscope. Together these two important features allow for a very efficient process that is well suited for a LDT performed in a CLIA laboratory. The post-capture analyses, which focus on the evaluation of biomarkers, are particularly important and valuable to physicians and patients, as they focus on actionable information related to therapy selection. We have performed a number of clinical research studies in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center investigators involving various tumor types, including breast, ovarian, endometrial, lung, colorectal, bladder and prostate cancers.

In a collaboration with physicians and researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center, we evaluated matched samples of tumor tissue, blood for CTCs and bone marrow for DTCs in early stage breast cancer patients for evidence of HER2 amplification, which would indicate eligibility for HER2-targeted therapies like Herceptin ® , a potentially life-saving treatment. These results were also presented at both the 2011 and 2012 annual meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In a study published in Cancer Medicine (2013, 2(2) 226-233) and involving 96 patients, HER2 positive CTCs and/or DTCs were identified in 18.8% of cases in which the primary tumor was HER2 negative. In the same cohort of patients, only 12.5% were HER2 positive in their primary tumor. In other words, beyond to the 12 (of the 96) which traditional tumor tissue analysis had indicated could benefit from Herceptin-based therapy, the OncoCEE-BR test detected 18 (of the 96) patients who (despite the fact they were identified as being HER2 negative by primary-tumor testing) could benefit from Herceptin-based therapy, Patients classified as HER2 negative

 

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based on tumor tissue and found to have HER2 positive CTCs and/or DTCs will continue to be followed by our collaborators at MD Anderson Cancer Center to assess their overall and progression-free survival. Tumor heterogeneity is one likely cause of the discordance for HER2 status between tumor tissue and our test performed on blood and bone marrow samples. Tumor heterogeneity indicates an important clinical application for the OncoCEE-BR test, confirmation and crosschecking of the tissue analysis performed by the pathologist at the time of biopsy or surgery, especially if HER2 negative, with a CTC analysis derived from a standard blood sample.

Clinical utility studies, which demonstrate the specific clinical setting in which a particular CTC or ctDNA test is used, and how to use the information generated for medical, specifically treatment-related, decision making is a key part of our strategy and research and development plan. Data resulting from such studies is critical not only in the sales and marketing process, but also for reimbursement, as many payors now ask for peer-reviewed publications describing such studies and results before agreeing to coverage of a specific test. The study with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is the first example of a clinical utility study for one of our tests and we plan to conduct additional studies in breast cancer and similar studies in NSCLC and other cancers for which we develop tests, including sponsoring such studies ourselves with some of the proceeds from this offering.

Sales and Marketing

Our sales and marketing efforts consist of working with our partners such as Life Technologies and establishing our own direct sales force in the United States focused on selling directly to community oncologists in hospitals, cancer centers and offices, and supporting our partners as technical specialists and medical science liaisons.

To date, we have engaged in only limited sales and marketing activities, primarily through an agreement with Clarient for the OncoCEE-BR test. Under a May 2013 revision of our arrangement with Clarient, its marketing rights for OncoCEE-BR are no longer exclusive. We also have an agreement with Life Technologies Corporation for the commercialization of the OncoCEE-LU test. With the proceeds of this offering we plan to build an internal sales and marketing team that will sell directly to community oncologists and serve as technical experts and clinical specialists to support the sales representatives of our partners. Under the arrangement with Clarient, as recently renegotiated, Clarient’s sales force sells the test on a nonexclusive basis, and we are responsible for performing the test, reporting the results, billing, and obtaining reimbursement for the test. Under the agreement with Life Technologies, when our OncoCEE-LU test is commercially launched, Life Technologies’ Medical Science Division sales force would sell the tests and Life Technologies’ pathologists would perform the interpretation, otherwise called the professional component of the pathology service, in Life Technologies’ laboratory. We would perform the technical component of the pathology service in our laboratory. Life Technologies would bill payors for the entire test, pay us for the technical component at an agreed upon rate and keep any amounts received for the professional component. Reimbursement would be based on Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT, codes. Under the Life Technologies agreement, the parties would share the payment and reimbursement risk, as we would be paid an agreed upon fee for the technical component of tests performed, and there would be a quarterly adjustment based on amounts actually received from payors. We will look to identify and engage additional groups with appropriately targeted sales efforts as partners for these and future tests and have initiated discussions with other companies.

Our plan for our sales organization calls for an initial group of 7 sales representatives placed in strategic locations around the country that have high concentrations of cancer patients, and potentially growing this number to 15-20 sales representatives within two years, and to 40-50 within five years. We have defined the initial sales territories and are targeting sales professionals with an average of 5-10 years of successful experience in clinical oncology sales or oncology diagnostic testing sales from leading biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical or specialty reference laboratory companies. We plan on growing this specialized, oncology-focused sales force and supporting it with clinical specialists who bring significant technical knowledge in the use of CTC and ctDNA tests.

We will also be investing in sales headcount to focus on biopharma clinical trial opportunities. We plan to hire one additional representative for this initiative in the Northeast US and eventually add coverage in other areas with a large concentration of biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

 

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Finally, we plan to invest in managed care sales and marketing in order to ensure adequate payment and coverage for our testing. The key value proposition for these customers will be focused on cost savings by offering alternatives to expensive surgeries when tumor biopsy tissue is not available.

Our sales and marketing efforts are and will be based on a five-part marketing strategy:

 

   

Work with oncologists and group practices at community hospitals and cancer centers to educate them on the advantages and opportunities that CTC and ctDNA tests provide for better information, allowing them to select the most appropriate therapy for their patients, and how and when these tests are most effectively used;

 

   

Build relationships with key thought leaders in oncology, specifically in the cancers for which we are offering or plan to offer tests, to educate and support community oncologists;

 

   

Collaborate with leading research universities and institutions that enable the validation of our new tests, as well as the generation of clinical utility data;

 

   

Partner with pharmaceutical companies for clinical trial work focusing on CTC and ctDNA testing and analysis; and

 

   

Add value for the payor community by avoiding costly surgeries by providing the option of a simple blood test.

We also take advantage of customary marketing channels commonly used by the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries, such as medical meetings, broad-based publication of our scientific and clinical data, and the Internet. In addition, we provide easy-to-access information to our customers through our website and a data portal for physicians who wish to access test results electronically. Our customers value easily accessible information in order to quickly review their patients’ information and begin developing a treatment protocol.

Outside the United States

Outside the United States, where a central laboratory business model is less developed, we will evaluate opportunities with our existing and other partners for the conversion and/or development of our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests to test systems or IVDs, and related strategies to develop and serve such regional oncology markets. We also plan to sell our clinical trial services to biopharmaceutical companies and research organizations outside the United States.

While the initial focus of our agreement with Life Technologies for OncoCEE-LU tests is on customers in the United States, the parties plan to cooperate on accessing markets internationally. We plan for this to be accomplished either through partnerships with local groups and distributors or the development of IVDs and/or test systems, including instrumentation.

Competition

As a cancer diagnostics company focused on current and planned tests for CTCs and ctDNA from standard blood samples, we rely extensively on our ability to combine novel technology and biomarker information with high-quality, state-of-the art clinical laboratory testing. We believe that we compete principally on the basis of:

 

   

our ability to utilize standard blood samples, enabling testing of patients frequently through the course of their disease without a biopsy, thereby reducing cost and trauma, saving time, and providing real-time information on the current status of the tumor;

 

   

our ability to include biomarker information in our analysis, in addition to CTC enumeration, thereby providing a more complete profile of a patient’s disease than existing CTC tests can. This is actionable information that can assist physicians in selecting more personalized treatment plans for individual patients;

 

   

our current and planned CTC tests’ ability to capture and detect a broader range of CTC phenotypes than existing tests, and potentially at earlier stages of disease, resulting in fewer non-informative cases and more information for physicians. For example, our antibody capture cocktail targets not only EpCAM but also other epithelial antigens as well as mesenchymal and cancer stem cell antigens, indicative of cells having undergone the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These cells may be more relevant for metastasis;

 

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our ability to rapidly integrate new biomarkers, either validated in academic laboratories or of interest to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in the context of their new therapies, into our current and planned tests, facilitating the expansion of actionable information for oncologists;

 

   

our research and clinical collaborations with key academic and clinical study groups, which enhance our research and development resources and, by enhancing our standing in the oncology community, support our marketing efforts; and

 

   

our planned ctDNA tests based on the CEE-Selector technology are expected to offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity in detecting mutation targets or resistance markers, again supporting treatment decisions.

We believe that we compete favorably with respect to these factors, although we cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to do so in the future or that new products or tests that perform better than our current and planned tests and services will not be introduced. We believe that our continued success depends on our ability to:

 

   

expand and enhance our current and planned OncoCEE tests to provide clinically meaningful information in additional cancers;

 

   

work with clinicians to design and implement clinical studies that demonstrate the clinical utility of our products;

 

   

continue to innovate and maintain scientifically advanced technology;

 

   

successfully market and sell tests;

 

   

continue to comply with regulatory guidelines and obtain appropriate regulatory approvals in the United States and abroad as applicable;

 

   

continue to validate our pipeline of tests;

 

   

conduct or collaborate with clinical utility studies to demonstrate the application and medical value of our tests;

 

   

seek to obtain positive reimbursement decisions from Medicare and private third-party payors;

 

   

continue to enter into sales and marketing partnerships;

 

   

maintain existing and enter into new research and clinical collaborations with key academic and clinical study groups;

 

   

continue to attract and retain skilled scientific and clinical personnel;

 

   

continue to participate in and gain clinical trial work through biopharma partnerships;

 

   

receive payment for the testing we provide for patients;

 

   

obtain patents or other protection for our technologies, tests and services; and

 

   

obtain and maintain our clinical reference laboratory accreditations and licenses.

Our principal competition comes from mainstream diagnostic methods, used by pathologists and oncologists for many years, which focus on tumor tissue analysis. It may be difficult to change the methods or behavior of oncologists to incorporate our CTC and ctDNA testing, including molecular diagnostic testing, into their practices in conjunction with or instead of tissue biopsies and analysis. In addition, companies offering capital equipment and kits or reagents to local pathology laboratories represent another source of potential competition. These kits are used directly by the pathologist, which can facilitate adoption. We plan to focus our marketing and sales efforts on medical oncologists rather than on pathologists.

We also face competition from companies that offer products or are conducting research to develop products for CTC or ctDNA testing in various cancers. In particular, Janssen Diagnostics, LLC markets its CellSearch ® test and Atossa Genetics markets its ArgusCYTE ® test, which are competitive to our OncoCEE-BR test for CTC enumeration, and HER2 analysis, respectively. However, the ArgusCYTE ® test measures HER2 mRNA, which is not typically used for HER2 analysis, while we employ FISH for this analysis. FISH is generally considered to be the gold standard. CTC and ctDNA testing is a new area of science and we cannot predict what tests others will develop that may compete with or provide results similar or superior to the results we are able to achieve with the tests we develop. In addition to Janssen Diagnostics and Atossa Genetics, our competitors include public companies such as Alere (Adnagen) and Illumina as well as many

 

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private companies, including Apocell, EPIC Sciences, Clearbridge Biomedics, Cynvenio Biosystems, Fluxion Biosciences, RareCells, ScreenCell and Silicon Biosystems. Many of these groups, in addition to operating research and development laboratories, are establishing CLIA-certified testing laboratories while others are focused on selling equipment and reagents.

We expect that pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies will increasingly focus attention and resources on the personalized cancer diagnostic sector as the potential and prevalence increases of molecularly targeted oncology therapies approved by the FDA along with companion diagnostics. For example, the FDA has recently approved two such agents—Xalkori ® from Pfizer Inc. along with its companion anaplastic lymphoma kinase FISH test from Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Zelboraf ® from Daiichi-Sankyo/Genentech/Roche along with its companion B-raf kinase V600 mutation test from Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and Tafinlar ® from GlaxoSmithKline along with its companion B-raf kinase V600 mutation test from bioMerieux. These recent FDA approvals are only the second, third and fourth instances of simultaneous approvals of a drug and companion diagnostic. The first approval was the 2010 approval of Genentech’s Herceptin ® for HER2 positive breast cancer along with the HercepTest from partner Dako A/S. Our competitors may invent and commercialize technology platforms or tests that compete with ours.

There are a number of companies which are focused on the oncology diagnostic market, such as Biodesix, Caris, Clarient, Foundation Medicine, Response Genetics, Neogenomics, Agendia, Genomic Health, and Genoptix, and which, while not currently offering CTC or ctDNA tests which are truly competitive with ours, are selling to the medical oncologists and pathologists. Large laboratory services companies, such as Sonic USA, Quest and LabCorp, provide more generalized cancer diagnostic testing.

Additionally, projects related to cancer diagnostics and genomics have received increased government funding, both in the United States and internationally. As more information regarding cancer genomics becomes available to the public, we anticipate that more products aimed at identifying targeted treatment options will be developed and that these products may compete with ours. In addition, competitors may develop their own versions of our current and planned tests in countries where we did not apply for patents or where our patents have not issued and compete with us in those countries, including encouraging the use of their test by physicians or patients in other countries.

Third-Party Suppliers and Manufacturers

Some of the components used in our current or planned products are currently sole-source, and substitutes for these components might not be able to be obtained easily or may require substantial design or manufacturing modifications. Any significant problem experienced by one of our sole source suppliers (particularly K.R. Anderson, Inc., which supplies a custom-packaged silicone compound used in our manufacturing) may result in a delay or interruption in the supply of components to us until that supplier cures the problem or an alternative source of the component is located and qualified. Any delay or interruption would likely lead to a delay or interruption in our manufacturing operations. The inclusion of substitute components must meet our product specifications and could require us to qualify the new supplier with the appropriate government regulatory authorities.

Patents and Technology

Our business is dependent upon our ability to develop and perform CTC and ctDNA tests that enable oncologists at hospitals, cancer centers and physician offices to receive information on properly characterized samples from individual cancer patients to select the most appropriate therapy for those patients. We rely on a combination of patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade secrets and industry know-how, in order to protect the proprietary aspects of our technology and assure that we can perform our tests.

Our patent portfolio consists of 3 patents issued by the USPTO, 6 allowed foreign patents and more than 30 pending U.S. and foreign patent applications. These patents and patent applications are related to various aspects of our current and planned CTC and ctDNA tests, including our CEE microfluidic channels, our CEE-Sure blood collection tubes, CEE-Cap antibody capture cocktail, CEE-Enhanced staining methodology, and CEE-Selector technology for mutation detection.

 

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CEE Microfluidic Channels . We have three issued U.S. patents that are directly applicable to our current business (U.S. Patent Nos. 7,439,062, 7,695,956 and 8,158,410), and a number of additional U.S. and foreign patent applications, which cover our microfluidic channel technology. Our microfluidic channels are differentiated from other microfluidic channels used for CTC capture based on their unique geometry, particularly the arrangement of posts within the flow channel. The posts are chemically derivatized to enable capture of antibody-tagged CTCs, and are positioned to disrupt streamline or laminar flow of cells through the microfluidic channel to assure they come in contact with the posts for capture. Because the capture area of the microfluidic channel is sealed on one side with a glass cover slip, immunocytochemical and cytogenetic staining and analysis can occur within the microfluidic channel.

CEE-Sure Blood Collection Tubes . We have a U.S. patent application (13/243,432) in prosecution for our CEE-Sure blood collection tubes, which contain reagents designed to prevent clumping of blood cells and CTCs that could clog the microfluidic channels and disrupt our assays. These reagents also provide stability to the sample for shipping and transport, enabling blood samples to be shipped at ambient temperature from a collection site anywhere in the United States, and even outside the United States, to our laboratory in San Diego, California, and perform well in our assays for up to 96 hours after collection. DNA has been shown to be stable and accessible in cells under these conditions, and preliminary work suggests the same may be true for ctDNA, with more research required.

CEE-Cap Antibody Capture Cocktail . Our antibody capture cocktail, which includes antibodies to a number of tumor-associated antigens from cancer cells of both epithelial and mesenchymal phenotype, as well as cancer stem cells, is the subject of U.S. patent applications (12/730,738 and 13/269,532) and foreign equivalents. In addition to the sets of specific antigens targeted by the cocktail, the application covers the binding of the antibodies to the target CTCs in solution, which we have shown greatly improves the capture efficiency because of superior binding kinetics and the lack of spatial constraints imposed by attachment of the antibodies to a solid surface.

CEE-Enhanced Staining . This technology was developed to enable detection of CTCs that do not express sufficient amounts of cytokeratin, an epithelial marker that, in conjunction with DAPI and CD45 staining, is used to identify CTCs. It has made it possible to detect non-traditional CTCs, including mesenchymal types such as result from EMT, which, in conjunction with the antibody capture cocktail, has significantly increased the sensitivity of our CTC assays, and the informative rate for clinical samples. CEE-Enhanced staining, along with the use of certain types of chromosomal aneuploidy, such as “complex” aneuploidy, to identify CTCs, is being pursued in a U.S. patent application (13/241,083) and foreign equivalents.

CEE-Selector Mutation Detection Technology . This technology was developed to perform mutation analysis on CTCs, ctDNA or other sample types. It addresses the challenge of a sample in which copies of the normal gene locus vastly exceed the copies of the mutant gene locus. The technology has been demonstrated to have utility for more-sensitive mutation detection in ctDNA as well as CTC analysis. It is co-owned with Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc., with Biocept having exclusive commercial rights for clinical oncology applications, including LDTs and IVDs, where tissue, blood, bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid are the sample types. We are prosecuting three U.S. patent applications (61/482,576, 13/841,842 and 61/784,101) with Aegea, with Aegea responsible for application number 61/784,101 and Biocept responsible for the other two, and expect to file these cases in foreign jurisdictions as well. Lyle J. Arnold, Ph.D., our Senior Vice-President of Research & Development and Chief Scientific Officer, is the controlling person of Aegea.

In 2013, in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics , the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a “naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated,” invalidating Myriad Genetics’ patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This case removed some of the risk associated with testing laboratories like ours using isolated nucleic acid fragments for molecular analysis. Testing laboratories have been uncertain as to whether analysis of gene mutations covered by third party patents would violate such patents. We will continue to monitor developments in this area.

In addition to patents, we hold five U.S. registered trademarks, including a federal registration for the “CEE” mark, as well as several foreign registered trademarks and U.S. trademark applications for certain of our current and planned tests.

Through our clinical laboratory, we provide diagnostic testing and clinical services that utilize our proprietary trade secrets. In particular, we maintain trade secrets with respect to specimen accessioning, sample preparation and certain aspects of cytogenetic analysis. All of our trade secrets are kept in confidence and we take steps to ensure that our confidential information is not disseminated, including the use of non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality agreements.

 

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Operations and Production Facilities

Our research and development laboratories, our CLIA-certified diagnostic testing laboratory and our manufacturing facility are located in our San Diego, California headquarters. The laboratories employ commercial state-of-the-art equipment as well as custom-made components specific to our CTC process that are generated in a small in-house engineering shop. The manufacturing facility used for the production of our CEE microfluidic channels is a Class 10,000 suite in which polydimethylsiloxane is formed into the base of our proprietary microfluidic channels in a molding process. A glass cover slip suitable for optical analysis is added to seal the channels and make them watertight by making them reactive using plasma techniques. The inside of the microfluidic channels is subsequently chemically derivatized to enable the attachment of binding elements that strongly bind to antibody-tagged or coated CTCs. Because the microfluidic channels have micrometer dimensions, and we are seeking individual cells in a blood sample to interact with the surface of the microfluidic channel, dust particles and other microscopic debris that could clog the channel needs to be avoided.

The process of performing our test is straightforward. When a health care professional takes a standard blood sample from a patient for CTC or ctDNA testing, he or she will place the blood sample in our CEE-Sure blood collection tubes, complete a requisition form, and package the specimen in our shipping kit for direct shipment to us. Once we receive the specimen at our laboratory and we enter all pertinent information about the specimen into our clinical laboratory information system, our laboratory technologists prepare the specimen for processing and analysis. Laboratory technologists, including clinical laboratory technologists and clinical laboratory scientists then conduct the analysis, including enumeration of CTCs and biomarker analysis such as FISH. The data, including images and the processed cells, are sent to our in-house or contracted pathologists or a commercialization partner’s pathologists who are experienced in the analysis and evaluation requested by the referring oncologist or pathologist.

After analysis, our in-house or contracted pathologists or a commercialization partner’s pathologists use laboratory information systems to prepare a comprehensive report, which includes selected relevant images associated with the specimen. Our Internet reporting portal allows a referring oncologist or pathologist to access his or her patient’s test results in real time in a secure manner that we believe to be compliant with HIPAA and other applicable standards. The reports are generated in industry standard .pdf formats which allows for high definition color images to be reproduced clearly.

In all cases, we provide the technical analysis, and in the case of our OncoCEE-BR test under our 2013 agreement with Clarient, we also provide the professional analysis. For our OncoCEE-LU test, while we would perform all of the technical analysis, the pathologists at our partner Life Technologies’ CLIA laboratory would provide the professional evaluation of the laboratory data. For OncoCEE-BR tests, we will send the results to the ordering oncologist and bill the payor through an arrangement we have with Xifin, Inc. For OncoCEE-LU tests, Life Technologies would send out the report and bill the appropriate parties, then pay us a predetermined fee for the technical analysis with a subsequent quarterly adjustment of that fee based on payments actually received by Life Technologies from payors.

Quality Management Program

We are committed to providing reliable and accurate diagnostic testing to our customers. Accurate specimen identification, timely communication of test results, and prompt correction of errors, is critical. We monitor and improve our performance through a variety of methods, including performance improvement indicators, internal proficiency testing and external quality audits conducted by CAP. All quality concerns and incidents are subject to review and analysis, and our procedures are designed to ensure that we are providing the best services possible to our patients and customers. Protection of patient results from misuse and improper access is imperative and electronic and paper results are guarded via password-protection and identification cards.

We have established a Quality Management Program for our laboratory designed to help ensure accurate and timely test results, a consistent high quality of our testing services. The Quality Management Program documents the quality assurance and performance improvement plans and policies, the laboratory quality assurance and quality control procedures that are necessary to ensure that we offer the highest quality of diagnostic testing services. This program is designed to satisfy all the requirements necessary for local and state licensures and accreditation for clinical diagnostic laboratories by

 

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CAP. We follow the policies and procedures for patient and employee safety, hazardous waste disposal and fire codes stated in the general laboratory procedure manual. We believe that all pertinent regulations of CLIA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the FDA are satisfied by following the established guidelines and procedures of our Quality Management Program.

In addition to the compulsory proficiency programs and external inspections required by CMS and other regulatory agencies, we have developed a variety of internal systems and procedures to emphasize, monitor and continuously improve the quality of our operations. We maintain internal quality controls by routinely processing specimens with known diagnoses in parallel with patient specimens. We also have an internally administered proficiency program for specimen testing.

The CAP accreditation program involves unannounced on-site inspections of our laboratories. CAP is an independent, non-governmental organization of board-certified pathologists that accredits laboratories nationwide on a voluntary basis and that has been recognized by CMS as an accreditation organization to inspect laboratories to determine adherence to the CLIA standards.

Third-Party Payor Reimbursement

Revenues from our clinical laboratory testing are derived from several different sources. Depending on the billing arrangement, the instruction of the ordering physician and applicable law, parties that reimburse us for our services include:

 

   

third-party payors that provide coverage to the patient, such as an insurance company, a managed care organization or a governmental payor program;

 

   

physicians or other authorized parties, such as hospitals or independent laboratories, that order the testing service or otherwise refer the services to us;

 

   

patients in cases where the patient has no insurance, has insurance that partially covers the testing, or owes a co-payment, co-insurance or deductible amount;

 

   

collaboration partners (e.g., Life Technologies for our anticipated OncoCEE-LU test); or

 

   

biopharmaceutical companies, universities or researchers for clinical trial work.

We are reimbursed for two categories of testing, anatomic pathology, which includes cell staining and the enumeration component of CTC tests, FISH, immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence, and molecular pathology, which includes mutation analysis. Reimbursement under the Medicare program for the diagnostic services that we offer is based on either the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule or the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, each of which is subject to geographic adjustments and is updated annually. Medical services provided to Medicare beneficiaries that require a degree of physician supervision, judgment or other physician involvement, such as pathology services, are generally reimbursed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, whereas clinical diagnostic laboratory tests are generally reimbursed under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule. Some of the services that we provide are genetic and molecular testing, which are reimbursed as clinical diagnostic laboratory tests.

Regardless of the applicable fee schedule, Medicare payment amounts are established for each CPT code. In addition, under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, Medicare also sets a cap on the amount that it will pay for any individual test. This cap, usually referred to as the National Limitation Amount, is set at a percentage of the median of all the contractor fee schedule amounts for each billing code.

Medicare also has policies that may limit when we can bill directly for our services and when we must instead bill another provider, such as a hospital. When the testing that we perform is done on a specimen that was collected while the patient was in the hospital, as either an inpatient or outpatient, we may be required to bill the hospital for clinical laboratory services and for the technical component of pathology services. Which party is to be billed depends primarily on whether the service was ordered at least 14 days after the patient’s discharge from the hospital. Complying with these requirements is complex and time-consuming and may affect our ability to collect for our services. In addition, hospitals may refuse to pay our invoices or may demand pricing that negatively affects our profit margin.

 

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Medicare requires a beneficiary to pay a 20% co-insurance amount for services billed under the Physician Fee Schedule. Medicare covers the remaining 80%. There is currently no patient co-payment or co-insurance amount applicable to testing billed under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule. Patients often have supplemental insurance policies that cover the co-insurance amount for physician services.

Medicare has coverage policies that can be national or regional in scope. Coverage means that the test or assay is approved as a benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. If there is no coverage, a provider may not bill Medicare or the beneficiary for the service. There is currently no national coverage policy regarding the CTC enumeration portion of our testing. The previous regional Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for California, Palmetto GBA, LLC, adopted a negative coverage policy for CTC enumeration (other than by Janssen Diagnostics, LLC’s CellSearch ® test). The current MAC for California, Noridian Health Solutions, is adopting the coverage policies from Palmetto GBA. Therefore the enumeration or detection portion of our OncoCEE testing is not covered and we will receive no payment from Medicare for this service unless and until the coverage policy is changed. On November 4, 2013, we submitted a comprehensive dossier to Palmetto GBA and Noridian explaining the benefits of the enumeration/detection testing in order to seek to persuade the MACs to allow coverage for this portion of our testing. FISH analysis is a covered benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and we expect that the FISH portion of OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests are and will be covered and that when and as we bill Medicare we will receive payment from Medicare under the Physician Fee Schedule for FISH analysis. Molecular testing for the mutations we currently plan to test for with CEE-Selector is also a covered benefit, so we believe that CEE-Selector testing would thereby be covered and that when and as we bill Medicare we would receive payment from Medicare under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule for CEE-Selector testing.

Reimbursement rates paid by private third-party payors can vary based on whether we are considered to be an “in-network” provider, a participating provider, a covered provider or an “out-of-network” provider. These definitions can vary among payors, but we are generally considered an “out-of-network” or non-participating provider by the vast majority of private third-party payors. An in-network provider usually has a contract with the payor or benefits provider. This contract governs, among other things, service-level agreements and reimbursement rates. In certain instances an insurance company may negotiate an in-network rate for our testing. An in-network provider may have rates that are lower per test than those that are out-of-network, and that rate can vary widely. The rate varies based on the payor, the testing type and often the specifics of the patient’s insurance plan. If a laboratory agrees to contract as an in-network provider, it generally expects to receive quicker payment and access to additional covered patients.

Billing and Billing Codes for Third-Party Payor Reimbursement

CPT codes are the main data code set used by physicians, hospitals, laboratories and other health care professionals to report separately-payable clinical laboratory and pathology services for reimbursement purposes. The CPT coding system is maintained and updated on an annual basis by the American Medical Association. Although there is no specific code applicable to the specific CTC testing we perform, such as the enumeration/capture component of our OncoCEE-BR test, we believe there are existing codes that describe nearly all of the other steps in our testing process. We currently use a combination of different codes to bill for our testing and analysis. Many of the CPT codes used to bill for molecular pathology tests such as those planned in our OncoCEE-LU test were significantly revised by the CPT Code Editorial Panel effective January 1, 2013. These new codes replace the more general “stacking” codes that were previously used to bill for these services with more test-specific codes. In the Physician Fee Schedule Rule issued in November 2012, CMS stated that it had determined it would pay for the new codes as clinical laboratory tests under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule. CMS has also started a process to “gapfill” the new codes. In other words, it will ask each of the MACs to determine a reasonable price for each of the new codes.

 

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Changes in coding and reimbursement methods could have an adverse impact on our revenues going forward. However, we are currently working with our billing consultants to determine what will be required by the new coding changes. The elimination of the “stacking” codes will require us to either use the new more specific codes where applicable effective January 2013, or to use other “Not Otherwise Classified” codes when billing. The implementation of these new codes will vary from payor to payor, and it is too early to assess the impact, if any, that the migration to the new codes may have on our results of operations. The introduction of the new codes by CMS, in combination with the other actions it is considering with regard to pricing, could result in a reduction in the payments that we receive for our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests and make it more difficult to obtain coverage from Medicare or other payors. There can be no guarantees that Medicare and other payors will establish positive or adequate coverage policies or reimbursement rates.

We are moving forward with plans to obtain reimbursement coverage for the capture/enumeration components of OncoCEE-BR and our planned CTC tests. For other components and types of testing provided or anticipated to be provided by us, specific CPT codes were provided by the American Medical Association in January 2013 or we are able to utilize existing CPT codes from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. For these established CPT codes (for example, the codes for FISH and immunocytochemistry, or ICC), positive coverage determinations have been adopted as part of national Medicare policy or under applicable Local Coverage Determinations. Specific codes for our tests, however, do not assure an adequate coverage policy or reimbursement rate. Please see the section entitled “Legislative and Regulatory Changes Impacting Clinical Laboratory Tests” for further discussion of certain legislative and regulatory changes to these billing codes and the anticipated impact on our business.

Coverage and Reimbursement for our Current Breast Cancer Test and our Planned Future Tests

OncoCEE-BR is a new test, and because of our previous relationship with Clarient, under which Clarient had responsibility for billing and reimbursement until mid-2013, we do not have established coverage and reimbursement policies set with all third-party payors. Our Medicare Administrative Contractor has issued a negative coverage determination for the capture/enumeration component of all CTC tests except Janssen Diagnostics, LLC’s CellSearch ® test. We have received reimbursement for the capture/enumeration component of our tests from some payors, including major private third-party payors, based on submission of standard CPT codes. FISH, ICC and Molecular Testing CPT codes are the subject of positive coverage national or local Medicare determinations. We believe these codes can be used to bill for the analysis components of our current and anticipated CTC tests.

We expect these analysis components to have a significantly greater reimbursement value than the capture/enumeration components of our current and anticipated CTC tests, based on a comparison of what we believe CellSearch ® capture/reimbursement rates are, versus existing reimbursement rates for analysis components such as FISH and ICC analysis and molecular testing.

We believe, based on research showing that approximately 54% of new cancers occur in persons age 65 and older and that almost all Americans age 65 and older are enrolled in Medicare, that as many as approximately 50% of the patients for whom we would expect to perform cancer diagnostic tests will have Medicare coverage. We have not yet billed Medicare for any testing. Until May 2013, our commercialization partner Clarient was responsible for all billing associated with our tests, and we do not have data for Clarient’s billing and collection experience with respect to our test. We cannot assure you that, even if OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests are otherwise successful, reimbursement for the currently Medicare-covered portions of OncoCEE-BR and our planned tests would, without Medicare reimbursement for the enumeration/detection portion, produce sufficient revenues to enable us to reach profitability and achieve our other commercial objectives.

Where there is a private or governmental third-party payor coverage policy in place, we bill the payor and the patient in accordance with the established policy. Where there is no coverage policy in place, we pursue reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. Our efforts in obtaining reimbursement based on individual claims, including pursuing appeals or reconsiderations of claims denials, could take a substantial amount of time, and bills may not be paid for many months, if at all. Furthermore, if a third-party payor denies coverage after final appeal, payment may not be received at all. We are working to decrease risks of nonpayment by implementing a revenue cycle management system.

 

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We cannot predict whether, or under what circumstances, payors will reimburse for all components of our tests. Payment amounts can also vary across individual policies. Full or partial denial of coverage by payors, or reimbursement at inadequate levels, would have a material adverse impact on our business and on market acceptance of our tests.

Legislative and Regulatory Changes Impacting Clinical Laboratory Tests

From time to time, Congress has revised the Medicare statute and the formulas it establishes for both the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The payment amounts under the Medicare fee schedules are important because they not only determine our reimbursement under Medicare, but those payment amounts are also often used as a basis for payment amounts set by other governmental and private third -party payors. For example, state Medicaid programs are prohibited from paying more than the Medicare fee schedule limit for clinical laboratory services furnished to Medicaid recipients.

Under the statutory formula for Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule amounts, increases are made annually based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as of June 30 for the previous twelve-month period. From 2004-2008, Congress eliminated the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers update in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. In addition, for years 2009 through 2013, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 mandated an approximately 0.5% cut to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers update. Accordingly, the update for 2009 was reduced to 4.5% and negative 1.9% for 2010. The ACA has, among other things, imposed additional cuts to the Medicare reimbursement for clinical laboratories. The ACA replaced the 0.5% cut enacted by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act with a “productivity adjustment” that will reduce the Consumer Price Index update in payments for clinical laboratory tests. In 2011, the productivity adjustment was -1.2%. In addition, the ACA includes a separate 1.75% reduction in the CPI update for clinical laboratories for the years 2011 through 2015. The MCTRJCA, enacted in 2012, mandated an additional change in reimbursement for clinical laboratory service programs. This legislation requires CMS to reduce the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule by 2% in 2013, which in turn will serve as a base for 2014 and subsequent years. CMS has projected that because of the changes required by ACA and MCTRJCA, payment for clinical laboratory services will go down by approximately 3% by 2013.

With respect to our diagnostic services for which we expect to be reimbursed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, because of the statutory formula the rates would have decreased for the past several years if Congress failed to intervene. In the past, when the application of the statutory formula results in lower payment, Congress has passed interim legislation to prevent the reductions. In November 2012, CMS issued its 2013 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, or the 2013 Final Rule. In the 2013 Final Rule, CMS called for a reduction of approximately 26.5% in the 2013 conversion factor that is used to calculate physician reimbursement. However, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was signed into law on January 2, 2013, prevents this proposed reduction and keeps the current reimbursement rate in effect until December 31, 2013. If Congress fails to act in future years to offset similar deductions, the resulting decrease in payment could adversely impact our revenues and results of operations. In addition, for 2012, CMS requested that the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee reexamine the relative values of certain codes, including FISH codes. The Relative Value Scale Update Committee is an expert panel that provides relative value recommendations to CMS for use in annual updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. These relative values are used by CMS to determine payments, and CMS seeks to assess whether such codes are misvalued and an adjustment is necessary.

In addition, the 2013 Final Rule included a reduction of certain relative value units and geographic adjustment factors used to determine reimbursement for a number of codes used in our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests. These codes describe services that we must perform in connection with our tests and we bill for these codes in connection with the services that we provide.

Further, with respect to the Medicare program, Congress has proposed on several occasions to impose a 20% coinsurance charge on patients for clinical laboratory tests reimbursed under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, which would require us to bill patients for these amounts. Because of the relatively low reimbursement for many clinical laboratory tests, in the event that Congress were to ever enact such legislation, the cost of billing and collecting for these services would often exceed the amount actually received from the patient and effectively increase our costs of billing and collecting.

 

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In addition, in July 2013 CMS published the proposed Physician Fee Schedule for 2014. As part of that proposed rule, CMS sought to decrease payment for approximately 200 CPT codes, including those for certain anatomic and molecular pathology services, to make payments to independent laboratories and hospital outpatient departments consistent. The proposed rates are generally lower than the current rates paid to independent laboratories and physicians for the same services. For example, CMS proposes to decrease the reimbursement rate for the technical component of FISH analysis by 47%. If all of such cuts go into effect, the resulting decrease in payment could adversely impact our revenues and results of operations. As the comment period just closed September 6, 2013, we do not yet know whether or when this proposed fee schedule will take effect, in full or in part and with or without modifications.

Some of our Medicare claims may be subject to policies issued by Palmetto GBA and Noridian Healthcare Solutions, our former and current Medicare Administrative Contractor for California, respectively. Palmetto GBA, acting on behalf of many MACs, recently issued a Local Coverage Decision that affects coverage, coding and billing of many molecular diagnostic tests. Under this Local Coverage Determination, Palmetto GBA will not cover any molecular diagnostic tests, including our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests, unless the test is expressly included in a National Coverage Determination issued by CMS or a Local Coverage Determination or coverage article issued by Palmetto GBA. Currently, laboratories may submit coverage determination requests to Palmetto GBA for consideration and apply for a unique billing code for each test (which is a separate process from the coverage determination). In the event that a non-coverage determination is issued, the laboratory must wait six months following the determination to submit a new request. In addition, effective January 1, 2013, Palmetto GBA implemented its new Molecular Diagnostic Services Program, under which, among other things, laboratories must use the newly-assigned billing codes specific to the test (as implemented by the American Medical Association), in order to receive the indicated reimbursement amounts. CMS has not provided a fee schedule for these new codes and instead has ordered the MACs to “gapfill” in order to establish payment values. Reimbursement amounts under these new single molecular diagnostics billing codes were in some cases lower, and in some cases higher, than prior amounts, but most were significantly lower. Palmetto GBA currently has a negative coverage determination for the capture/enumeration component of CTC tests such as our current anticipated CTC tests, but there is no such negative coverage determination for the analysis component of such CTC tests. Denial (or continuation of denial) of coverage for the capture/enumeration component of our current and anticipated CTC tests by Palmetto GBA or its successor MAC, Noridian Healthcare Solutions, or reimbursement at inadequate levels, would have a material adverse impact on our business and on market acceptance of our current breast cancer test and our planned future tests. Noridian Healthcare Solutions intends to follow, for CTC tests, the positive or negative coverage determinations which from time to time Palmetto GBA makes.

Governmental Regulations

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and State Regulation

As a provider of laboratory testing on human specimens for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, or treatment, we are required to hold certain federal, state and local licenses, certifications and permits to conduct our business. In 1988, Congress enacted CLIA, which established quality standards for all laboratories providing testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test was performed. Our laboratory holds a CLIA certificate of accreditation. As to state laws, we are required to meet certain laboratory licensing and other requirements. Our laboratory holds the required licenses from the applicable state agencies in which we operate. For more information on state licensing requirements, see the sections entitled see the section entitled “Description of the Business—Governmental Regulations—California State Laboratory Licensing” and “Description of the Business—Governmental Regulations—Other States’ Laboratory Licensing.”

Under CLIA, a laboratory is defined as any facility which performs laboratory testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease, or the impairment of, or assessment of health of human beings. CLIA also requires that we hold a certificate applicable to the complexity of the categories of testing we perform and that we comply with certain standards. CLIA further regulates virtually all clinical laboratories by requiring they comply with various operational, personnel, facilities administration, quality and proficiency testing requirements intended to ensure that their clinical laboratory testing services are accurate, reliable and timely. CLIA certification is also a prerequisite to be eligible to bill for services provided to state and federal health care program beneficiaries. CLIA is user-fee funded. Therefore, all costs of administering the program must be covered by the regulated facilities, including certification and survey costs.

 

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We are subject to survey and inspection every two years to assess compliance with program standards, and may be subject to additional unannounced inspections. Laboratories performing high complexity testing are required to meet more stringent requirements than laboratories performing less complex tests. In addition, a laboratory like ours that is certified as “high complexity” under CLIA may obtain analyte specific reagents, which are used to develop LDTs.

In addition to CLIA requirements, we must comply with the standards set by CAP, which accredits our laboratory. Under CMS requirements, accreditation by CAP is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of CLIA. Therefore, because we are accredited by CAP, we are deemed to also comply with CLIA. CLIA also provides that a state may adopt laboratory regulations that are more stringent than those under federal law, and certain states have implemented their own more stringent laboratory regulatory schemes.

Federal, State and Foreign Fraud and Abuse Laws

A variety of federal and state laws prohibit fraud and abuse. These laws are interpreted broadly and enforced aggressively by various state and federal agencies, including CMS, the Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General for HHS, and various state agencies. In addition, the Medicare and Medicaid programs increasingly use a variety of contractors to review claims data and to identify improper payments as well as fraud and abuse. These contractors include Recovery Audit Contractors, Medicaid Integrity Contractors and Zone Program Integrity Contractors. In addition, CMS conducts Comprehensive Error Rate Testing audits, the purpose of which is to detect improper Medicare payments. Any overpayments identified must be repaid unless a favorable decision is obtained on appeal. In some cases, these overpayments can be used as the basis for an extrapolation, by which the error rate is applied to a larger universe of claims, and which can result in even higher repayments.

The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting, receiving, or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce or in return for either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing, recommending, or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any health care item or service reimbursable, in whole or in part, under a federal health care program. The definition of “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including gifts, discounts, credit arrangements, payments of cash, ownership interests and providing anything at less than its fair market value. Recognizing that the Anti-Kickback Statute is broad and may technically prohibit many innocuous or beneficial arrangements within the health care industry, the Office of Inspector General for HHS has issued a series of regulatory “safe harbors.” These safe harbor regulations set forth certain requirements that, if met, will assure immunity from prosecution under the federal Anti- Kickback Statute. Although full compliance with these provisions ensures against prosecution under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the failure of a transaction or arrangement to fit within a specific safe harbor does not necessarily mean that the transaction or arrangement is illegal or that prosecution under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute will be pursued. For further discussion of the impact of federal and state health care fraud and abuse laws and regulations on our business, see the section entitled “Risk Factors—Regulatory Risks Relating to Our Business.” We are subject to federal and state health care fraud and abuse laws and regulations and could face substantial penalties if we are unable to fully comply with such laws.

In addition to the administrative simplification regulations discussed above, HIPAA also created two new federal crimes; health care fraud and false statements relating to health care matters. The health care fraud statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program, including private third-party payors. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from federal health care programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from federal health care programs.

Finally, another development affecting the health care industry is the increased enforcement of the federal False Claims Act and, in particular, actions brought pursuant to the False Claims Act’s “whistleblower” or “qui tam” provisions. The False Claims Act imposes liability on any person or entity that, among other things, knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment to the federal government. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private individual to bring actions on behalf of the federal government and permit such individuals to share in any

 

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amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. In addition, various states have enacted false claim laws analogous to the federal False Claims Act, and some of these state laws apply where a claim is submitted to any third-party payor. When an entity is determined to have violated the False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim.

Additionally, in Europe various countries have adopted anti-bribery laws providing for severe consequences, in the form of criminal penalties and/or significant fines for individuals and/or companies committing a bribery offence. Violations of these anti-bribery laws, or allegations of such violations, could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and reputation. For instance, in the United Kingdom, under the Bribery Act 2010, a bribery occurs when a person offers, gives or promises to give a financial or other advantage to induce or reward another individual to improperly perform certain functions or activities, including any function of a public nature. Bribery of foreign public officials also falls within the scope of the Bribery Act 2010. Under the new regime, an individual found in violation of the Bribery Act 2010 faces imprisonment of up to 10 years. In addition, the individual can be subject to an unlimited fine, as can commercial organizations for failure to prevent bribery.

Physician Referral Prohibitions

Under a federal law directed at “self-referral,” commonly known as the Stark Law, there are prohibitions, with certain exceptions, on Medicare and Medicaid payments for laboratory tests referred by physicians who personally, or through a family member, have a “financial relationship” – including an investment or ownership interest or a compensation arrangement – with the clinical laboratory performing the tests. Several Stark Law exceptions are relevant to arrangements involving clinical laboratories, including: (1) fair market value compensation for the provision of items or services; (2) payments by physicians to a laboratory for clinical laboratory services; (3) certain space and equipment rental arrangements that satisfy certain requirements, and (4) personal services arrangements. The laboratory cannot submit claims to the Medicare Part B program for services furnished in violation of the Stark Law, and Medicaid reimbursements may be at risk as well. Penalties for violating the Stark Law include the return of funds received for all prohibited referrals, fines, civil monetary penalties and possible exclusion from the federal health care programs. Many states have comparable laws that are not limited to Medicare and Medicaid referrals.

Corporate Practice of Medicine

A number of states, including California, do not allow business corporations to employ physicians to provide professional services. This prohibition against the “corporate practice of medicine” is aimed at preventing corporations such as us from exercising control over the medical judgments or decisions of physicians. The state licensure statutes and regulations and agency and court decisions that enumerate the specific corporate practice rules vary considerably from state to state and are enforced by both the courts and regulatory authorities, each with broad discretion. If regulatory authorities or other parties in any jurisdiction successfully assert that we are engaged in the unauthorized corporate practice of medicine, we could be required to restructure our contractual and other arrangements. In addition, violation of these laws may result in sanctions imposed against us and/or the professional through licensure proceedings, and we could be subject to civil and criminal penalties that could result in exclusion from state and federal health care programs.

Direct Billing Laws and Other State Law Restrictions on Billing for Laboratory Services

Laws and regulations in certain states prohibit laboratories from billing physicians or other purchasers for testing that they order. Some of those laws and regulations apply only to anatomic pathology services while others extend to other types of testing. Some states may allow laboratories to bill physicians directly but may prohibit the physician (and, in some cases, other purchasers) from charging more than the purchase price for the services (or may allow only for the recovery of acquisition costs) or may require disclosure of certain information on the invoice. In some cases, and if not prohibited by law or regulation, we may bill physicians, hospitals and other laboratories directly for the services that they order. An increase in the number of states that impose similar restrictions could adversely affect us by encouraging physicians to perform laboratory services in-house or by causing physicians to refer services to other laboratories that are not subject to the same restrictions.

Physician Licensing

A number of the states where specimens originate require that the physician interpreting those specimens be licensed by that particular state. Physicians who fail to comply with these licensure requirements could face fines or other penalties for practicing medicine without a license and we could be required to pay those fines on behalf of our pathologists or subject to liability under the federal False Claims Act and similar state laws if we bill for services furnished by unlicensed pathologists. We do not believe that the services our pathologist performs constitute the practice of medicine in any state that requires out-of-state physician licensure. Our pathologist thus is not required to obtain licensure in any state where he does not reside.

In addition, many states also prohibit the splitting or sharing of fees between physicians and non-physician entities. We do not believe that our contractual arrangements with physicians, physicians group practices or hospitals will subject us to claims under such regulations. However, changes in the laws may necessitate modifications in our relationships with our clients.

California State Laboratory Licensing

Our laboratory is licensed and in good standing under the State of California Department of Public Health standards. Our current licenses permit us to receive specimens obtained in California.

California state laws and regulations also establish standards for the day-to-day operations of clinical laboratories, including physical facility requirements and equipment, quality control and proficiency testing requirements. If we are found to be out of compliance with California statutory or regulatory standards, we may be subject to suspension, restriction or revocation of our laboratory license or assessed civil money penalties. The operator of a noncompliant laboratory may also be found guilty of a misdemeanor under California law. A finding of noncompliance, therefore, may result in harm to our business.

 

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Other States’ Laboratory Licensing

Several states require the licensure of out-of-state laboratories that accept specimens from those states. We are currently in the process of addressing the requirements for licensure in New York, and we expect to have re-obtained by the end of 2013 all required licenses and approvals from all other states requiring licensure for out-of-state laboratories. (We were required to re-license in these other states as a result of our July 2013 reincorporation to Delaware.)

From time to time, other states may require out of state laboratories to obtain licensure in order to accept specimens from such states. If we identify any other state with such requirements or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we intend to follow instructions from the state regulators as to how we should comply with such requirements.

Other Regulatory Requirements

Our laboratory is subject to federal, state and local regulations relating to the handling and disposal of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and biohazardous waste, including chemical, biological agents and compounds, blood and bone marrow samples and other human tissue. Typically, we use outside vendors who are contractually obligated to comply with applicable laws and regulations to dispose of such waste. These vendors are licensed or otherwise qualified to handle and dispose of such waste.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established extensive requirements relating to workplace safety for health care employers, including requirements to develop and implement programs to protect workers from exposure to blood-borne pathogens by preventing or minimizing any exposure through needle stick or similar penetrating injuries.

Segment and Geographical Information

We operate in one reportable business segment and historically have derived revenues only from the United States.

Employees

As of September 30, 2013, we had a total of 27 full-time and one part time employee, five of whom hold doctorate degrees and seven of whom are engaged in full-time research and development activities. We plan to expand production, sales and marketing and our research and development programs, and we plan to hire additional staff as these initiatives are implemented. None of our employees is represented by a labor union.

Properties

We have a lease for approximately 48,000 square feet of space in San Diego, California for use as a clinical reference laboratory and corporate headquarters, including manufacturing and research laboratories. The average rent for the remaining lease period is approximately $106,500 per month. This lease expires in 2020.

In September 2013, we entered into an amendment of the lease, extending the term for 21 months so that it now ends on July 31, 2020 and providing for five months of free base rent (August 2013 – December 2013). In return, we agreed, among other things, to forfeit our security deposit and to issue common stock warrants to the landlord. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount of $502,605, which is 100% of the five months of base rent forgone, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of our initial public offering.

Immediately following the execution of such amendment, we paid all amounts due under our lease. As of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, we owed rent in arrears of approximately $185,000 and $0, respectively.

 

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In September 2012, in connection with an amendment of the lease, which included a rent deferral through November 30, 2012, we issued to our landlord warrants to purchase an aggregate of 66,666 shares of our Series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $0.60 per share. These warrants are exercisable through September 2019 and, in connection with the closing of this offering, will become exercisable for 1,587 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $25.20 per share.

Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we may be involved in legal proceedings or threatened legal proceedings. We are not party to any legal proceedings or aware of any threatened legal proceedings which are expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Thomas Burns, our former Vice President of Operations, filed an administrative proceeding against us with the California Labor Commissioner in June 2013, seeking damages for alleged unpaid wages and penalties. After a hearing held on August 19, 2013, the California Labor Commissioner ruled that Mr. Burns was entitled to an award of approximately $62,000 against us.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our directors and executive officers.

 

Name

   Age     

Position

   Served as an
Officer or Director
Since
 

David F. Hale

     64       Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors      2011   

Marsha A. Chandler (3)

     68       Director      2013   

Bruce E. Gerhardt, CPA (1)

     62       Director      2010   

Bruce A. Huebner

     63       Director      2013   

Michael W. Nall

     51       Director, Chief Executive Officer and President      2013   

Edward Neff (1)

     61       Director      2006   

Ivor Royston, M.D. (2)(3)

     68       Director      2010   

M. Faye Wilson (1)(2)(3)

     75       Director      2009   

Lyle J. Arnold, Ph. D.

     67       Senior Vice-President of Research & Development, Chief Scientific Officer      2011   

Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph. D.

     48       Vice-President Translational Research and Clinical Development      2007   

William G. Kachioff

     48       Senior Vice-President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer      2011   

 

(1) Audit Committee
(2) Compensation Committee
(3) Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our board of directors is classified into three classes of two or three directors each, with all directors serving for a three-year term and the directors of only one class being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders, so that the terms of the classes of directors are “staggered.” The directors in Class I are Mr. Gerhardt and Mr. Neff. The next election of Class I directors by stockholders will be at our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, with the elected candidates to then serve until our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. The directors in Class II are Dr. Chandler, Mr. Huebner and Dr. Royston. The next election of Class II directors by stockholders will be at our 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, with the elected candidates to then serve until our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. The directors in Class III are Mr. Hale, Mr. Nall and Ms. Wilson. The next election of Class III directors by stockholders will be at our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, with the elected candidates to then serve until our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.

Our executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors. There are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers, except that Edward Neff is an uncle of Michael W. Nall. The business experience for the past five years (and, in some instances, for prior years) of each of our executive officers and directors is as follows:

David F. Hale

Mr. Hale was appointed as our Executive Chairman in March 2011. He is the Chairman and CEO of Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC, a private company focused on the formation and development of biotechnology, specialty pharma, diagnostic and medical device companies. He has also been the Chairman of Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, since 2004 and a member of Santarus’ board since 2000. He also serves as Chairman of Conatus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He was previously President and CEO of CancerVax Corporation from October 1999 through its merger in May 2006 with Micromet, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel biological products for the treatment of cancer, when he became Chairman of the combined companies. He is a co-founder and served as Chairman of Somaxon

 

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Pharmaceuticals, Inc. before its acquisition by Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., and as Chairman of SkinMedica, Inc., before its acquisition by Allergan, Inc. He also serves as Chairman of Neurelis, Inc., Coloresciences, Inc., CRISI Medical Systems, Inc. and other private companies. Mr. Hale is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in the founding and/or development of a number of life sciences technology companies. In 1982, after joining Hybritech, Inc., the first monoclonal antibody company, he served as COO, President and then Chief Executive Officer, until Hybritech was acquired by Eli Lilly and Co. in 1986. From 1987 until 1997 he was Chairman, President and CEO of Gensia, Inc., which merged with SICOR to become Gensia Sicor, Inc., which was later acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals. He was a co-founder and Chairman of Viagene, Inc. from 1987 to 1995, when Viagene was acquired by Chiron, Inc. He was President and CEO of Women First HealthCare, Inc. from late 1997 to June 2000, before joining CancerVax in October 1999. Before joining Hybritech, Mr. Hale was Vice President and General Manager of BBL Microbiology Systems, a diagnostics division of Becton, Dickinson & Co. and from 1971 to 1980, held various marketing and sales management positions with Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc.

We selected Mr. Hale to serve on and lead our board of directors due to his public and private company board experience as well as his extensive experience with and knowledge of health care issues and the operational activities of life sciences companies.

Marsha A. Chandler

Dr. Chandler has been the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies since 2007. She manages approximately 1,000 scientific and administrative personnel and oversees all institutional fiscal, administrative and fund-raising activities. From 1997 to 2007 she served as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of California, San Diego, where she was the chief academic officer responsible for the policies and decisions relating to all academic programs and faculty appointments and performance. She served as Acting Chancellor from 2003-04 and holds an appointment as Professor of Political Science in the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at UCSD.

Dr. Chandler is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the highest academic honor bestowed in that country. She received her Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

We selected Dr. Chandler to serve on our board of directors due to her experience in organizational management and her stature in the life sciences community. Dr. Chandler also serves as chair of our nominating and corporate governance committee.

Bruce E. Gerhardt

Mr. Gerhardt has been self-employed, practicing as a Certified Public Accountant, since 1986. He is also a tax and business advisor providing tax compliance for small businesses and upper income individuals. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Southern California in 1973 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

We selected Mr. Gerhardt to serve on our board of directors due to his experience and expertise in financial accounting and auditing. Mr. Gerhardt also serves as a member of our audit committee.

Bruce A. Huebner

Mr. Huebner is currently and has been since 2004 a managing director of LynxCom Partners LLC, a healthcare consulting firm with a focus on cancer diagnostics and personalized medicine. Since March 2013 he has been Chairman of Vermillion, Inc., a publicly held molecular diagnostics company. He served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Vermillion from November 2012 to March 2013. From October 2009 to June 2010, Mr. Huebner served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TrovaGene, Inc., a developer of molecular diagnostics products. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Huebner served as President of Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics, obtaining FDA clearance for four molecular diagnostic microarray products and introducing them to the marketplace. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Huebner was President and Chief Operating Officer of Nanogen, Inc., a publicly held nanotechnology/microarray company. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Huebner was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gen-Probe Incorporated, a leader in the development of nucleic acid tests.

 

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Mr. Huebner received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and completed a graduate school senior executive program at Columbia University.

We selected Mr. Huebner to serve on our board of directors due to his strong background in cancer diagnostics sales, marketing, operations and reimbursement. Mr. Huebner also serves as a member of our compensation committee.

Michael W. Nall

Mr. Nall has over 25 years of healthcare sales and marketing experience, most recently serving at Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. in positions of increasing responsibility from 2002 through August 2013, with his last position being General Manager, North American Sales and Marketing. While at Clarient, Mr. Nall was also responsible for leading the team assimilating Clarient into GE Healthcare after Clarient was acquired in 2010.

From 1988 until joining Clarient, Mr. Nall served in the diagnostic and medical device industries in various commercial leadership roles for companies including Impath, American Cyanamid, Maquet Surgical, Strato Medical, Horizon Medical Products and Columbia Vital Systems.

Mr. Nall received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Central Missouri State University (now known as the University of Central Missouri).

We selected Mr. Nall to serve on our board of directors due to his experience in the cancer diagnostics business, his expertise in the commercialization of products and services such as ours, his background in reimbursement and operations and his status as our chief executive officer and president.

Mr. Nall is a nephew of our director Edward Neff.

Edward Neff

Since 1990, Mr. Neff has been the Chief Executive Officer of Systems, Machines, Automation Components Corporation (also known as SMAC), a manufacturer of moving coil electric actuators.

Mr. Neff has received over 25 United States patents relating to robotics and precise automation. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

We selected Mr. Neff to serve on our board of directors due to his experience and expertise in business management and in automated systems. Mr. Neff also serves as a member of our audit committee.

Mr. Neff is an uncle of our Chief Executive Officer, President and director Michael W. Nall.

Ivor Royston, M.D.

Dr. Royston co-founded Forward Ventures and has served as its Managing Partner since 2000. From 1990 to 2000, he served as founding President and CEO of The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and from 1978 to 1990, he was a member of the oncology faculty of the University of California, San Diego. In addition to being a co-founder of Hybritech, Inc., in 1986 he co-founded IDEC Corporation, which later merged with Biogen to form BiogenIdec. Dr. Royston has been instrumental in the formation, financing and development of numerous biotechnology companies, including Applied Molecular Evolution (acquired by Eli Lilly), Corixa (acquired by GlaxoSmithKline), Dynavax, LigoCyte (acquired by Takeda), Morphotek (acquired by Eisai), Sequana Therapeutics (acquired by Celera), TargeGen (acquired by Sanofi-Aventis), and Triangle Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Gilead). He is currently a director of MMRGlobal, Inc., a publicly-traded health records management company. Dr. Royston received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from Johns Hopkins University and completed post-doctoral training in internal medicine and medical oncology at Stanford University. In 1997, President Clinton appointed Dr. Royston to a six-year term on the National Cancer Advisory Board.

We selected Dr. Royston to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience with emerging life sciences companies. Dr. Royston also serves as chair of our compensation committee and as a member of our nominating and governance committee.

 

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M. Faye Wilson

Ms. Wilson has been a principal of Wilson Boyles & Co., LLC, a business management and strategic planning consulting firm, since 2003. Ms. Wilson is also a member of the board of directors of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust. She served on the board of directors of Farmers Insurance Group of Companies from 1992 through 1998 and the board of directors of The Home Depot, Inc. from 1991 through 2001. Ms. Wilson was also a senior officer of Home Depot from 1998 through 2002. From 1992 until 1998, Ms. Wilson served in several senior management roles at Bank of America Corporation including Chairman of Security Pacific Financial Services and Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for Bank of America’s National Consumer Banking Group. She earned her Master’s Degrees in International Relations and Business Administration from the University of Southern California and an undergraduate degree from Duke University.

We selected Ms. Wilson to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive experience as a director of public companies, her financial acumen and experience, and her expertise in business strategy. Ms. Wilson also serves as chair of our audit committee, as a member of our compensation committee and as a member of our nominating and governance committee.

Lyle J. Arnold, Ph. D.

Dr. Arnold joined us as Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer in 2011. Before then, he consulted for us from May 2010 to April 2011. He is a biotechnology executive, entrepreneur, and developer of innovative technologies covering therapeutics, molecular diagnostics, and genomics. Dr. Arnold also serves as President of Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc., which he founded in 2010 to acquire, develop, and commercialize next generation nucleic acid technologies. Previously he was Vice President, Research at Gen-Probe Incorporated from September 2003 to October 2009. During the time between departing from Gen-Probe and joining us, Dr. Arnold worked as a consultant for various entities through Lyle Arnold Consulting LLC, and started Aegea Biotechnologies in February 2010. He has also held senior scientific and management positions at Molecular Biosystems (co-founder), Genta, Synteni, Incyte Genomics, and Oasis Biosciences (co-founder), where he was President and Chief Scientific Officer from October 2001 to September 2003. In addition, Dr. Arnold was a faculty member of the UCSD School of Medicine and a member of the UCSD Cancer Center. Dr. Arnold is an inventor or co-inventor on 39 issued U.S. patents and more than 140 issued and pending patents worldwide. He is the principal inventor of the chemiluminescent Hybridization Protection Assay (HPA) and associated technologies, core to Gen-Probe assays that have generated more than $5 billion in product revenue. In addition, he has authored more than 50 scientific publications. Dr. Arnold serves on the board of directors of Asuragen, a rapidly emerging biotechnology company in Austin, Texas, as well as on the board of Aegea.

He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California at Los Angeles and a Ph.D. in Chemistry/Biochemistry from the University of California at San Diego.

Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph. D.

Dr. Bischoff joined us in 2007 as Director of Translational Research and Development and has been Vice President, Translational Research and Clinical Development since 2011. From 1994 to 2007, she was a full-time faculty member in the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine. An expert in clinical cytogenetics and molecular human genetics, she has conducted research and focused on clinical assays relevant to non-invasive (prenatal) genetic testing and more recently cancer screening and surveillance. Dr. Bischoff has been a key investigator in a multi-center NIH/NICHD funded study focused on establishment of protocols and investigations into the clinical utility of circulating rare fetal cells as well as cell-free DNA/RNA for noninvasive prenatal genetic diagnosis. She was also charged with establishment and supervision of the molecular cytogenetic pre-implantation genetic diagnostic (PGD) program at Baylor College of Medicine.

She holds a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from University of Texas Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, with postdoctoral training at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine. Her graduate thesis project directly contributed to the discovery of germline p53 mutations in Li-Fraumeni cancer patients. Dr. Bischoff has published numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.

 

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William G. Kachioff

Mr. Kachioff, who joined us as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2011, is experienced in corporate finance, investor relations, corporate governance and manufacturing accounting and systems. He has over twenty years of experience in the life science industry, having most recently served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Althea Technologies, Inc., a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer, from 2009 to 2011. From 2007 to 2009 he was a CFO Partner with Tatum LLC, a national Executive Services firm, where he served a variety of life science industry clients in senior financial management roles. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Kachioff was Chief Financial Officer at MicroIslet, a publicly traded biotechnology company developing cell transplant therapies for insulin dependent diabetes. From 1999 to 2001, he was Director of Finance at Cutera where he helped prepare the company for the commercial launch of its first product and its initial public offering. Mr. Kachioff has also served in a variety of financial management roles at Coulter Pharmaceutical, Vivus and Abbott Laboratories. He began his professional career as an auditor with Deloitte LLP.

Mr. Kachioff has a B.S. in Management from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York with concentrations in Accounting and Information Systems. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Association of Bioscience Financial Officers.

Director Independence

Upon the completion of this offering, we expect our common stock will be listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market. Under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within 12 months after the completion of an initial public offering. In addition, the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market require that, (i) on the date of the completion of this offering, at least one member of our audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be independent, (ii) within 90 days after the date of the completion of our initial public offering, a majority of the members of such committees be independent and (iii) within one year after the date of the completion of our initial public offering, all the members of such committees be independent. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

In order to be considered to be independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee: (1) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or (2) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.

Our board of directors undertook a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that Dr. Chandler, Mr. Gerhardt, Mr. Huebner, Mr. Neff, Dr. Royston and Ms. Wilson, or six of our eight directors, do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

Our board of directors also determined that (i) Messrs. Gerhardt and Neff and Ms. Wilson, who compose our audit committee, (ii) Mr. Huebner, Dr. Royston and Ms. Wilson, who compose our compensation committee, and (iii) Dr. Chandler, Dr. Royston and Ms. Wilson, who compose our nominating and corporate governance committee, each satisfy the independence standards for those committees established by the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market. In making this determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. We intend to comply with all size and independence requirements for committees within the applicable time periods.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table shows the compensation awarded to or earned in our last two fiscal years by our principal executive officer and our four most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2012. The persons listed in the following table are referred to herein as the “named executive officers.”

 

Name and Principal Position

   Year      Salary
($) (1)
    Stock
Awards
($)
    Option
Awards
($) ( 8 )
     Other
Compensation
($) ( 9 )
     Total  

David F. Hale

     2012         323,406 (2)       —          —           —         $ 323,406   

Executive Chairman

     2011         261,094 (2)       0 (7)       27,530         —         $ 288,624   

Michael J. Dunn

     2012         263,844 (3)       —          —           —         $ 263,844   

SVP, Corporate Development

     2011         216,360 (3)       —          19,350         —         $ 235,710   

William G. Kachioff

     2012         222,843 (4)       —          —           —         $ 222,843   

SVP Finance, Chief Financial Officer

     2011         89,343 (4)       —          15,600         —         $ 104,943   

Lyle J. Arnold, Ph. D.

     2012         210,063 (5)       —          —           —         $ 210,063   

SVP R&D, Chief Scientific Officer

     2011         142,298 (5)       —          16,125         —         $ 158,423   

Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph. D.

     2012         168,091 (6)       —          —           76,337       $ 244,428   

VP of Translational Research and Clinical Development

     2011         150,032 (6)       —          3,225         7,080       $ 160,337   

 

(1) The “Salary” column includes both salary paid and salary amounts deferred under each named executive officer’s amended and restated Salary Reduction and Contingent Payment Agreement, 8% annual interest (compounded monthly) on such deferred salary amounts, and vacation earned but not taken (“accrued vacation”), in each year ended December 31. For information regarding the amended and restated Salary Reduction and Contingent Payment Agreement arrangements, see “Executive Compensation - Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table - Salary Deferrals.”
(2) Mr. Hale commenced employment on March 10, 2011. 2012 salary amounts include deferred salary of $266,720, interest on deferred salary of $15,049, and accrued vacation of $8,369. 2011 salary amounts include deferred salary of $61,551 and accrued vacation of $17,325.
(3) Mr. Dunn commenced employment on February 15, 2011 and resigned effective on July 31, 2013. 2012 salary amounts include deferred salary of $83,534, interest on accrued salary of $1,628, and accrued vacation of $12,216. 2011 salary amounts include accrued vacation of $14,437.
(4) Mr. Kachioff commenced employment on August 1, 2011. 2012 salary amounts include deferred salary of $94,700, interest on accrued salary of $3,331, and accrued vacation of $4,512. 2011 salary amounts include deferred salary of $6,615 and accrued vacation of $6,605.
(5) Dr. Arnold commenced employment on April 30, 2011. 2012 salary amounts include deferred salary of $64,123, interest on accrued salary of $1,252, and accrued vacation of $8,810. 2011 salary amounts include accrued vacation of $15,375.
(6) 2012 salary amounts include deferred salary of $68,606, interest on accrued salary of $2,420, and accrued vacation of $2,656. 2011 salary amounts include deferred salary of $4,615 and interest on accrued salary of $32.

 

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(7) Mr. Hale received restricted stock units in 2011, as described in the “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” below. The aggregate compensation expense recorded for these restricted stock unit grants, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, was zero. The assumptions we used in valuing the restricted stock unit grants are described in note 9 to our audited financial statements included in this prospectus. However, the aggregate value of the awards at the grant date, assuming that the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved, was $540,477.
(8) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value for grants made in 2012 and 2011 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions we used in valuing the options are described in note 9 to our audited financial statements included in this prospectus.
(9) Includes car and telephone allowances to Dr. Bischoff in each of 2012 and 2011, and a $46,832 commuting expenses reimbursement benefit we provided to Dr. Bischoff in 2012 plus $22,425 of income taxes we paid for Dr. Bischoff in respect of such 2012 benefit.

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

David F. Hale

As of March 10, 2011, we entered into an employment agreement, effective retroactive to January 1, 2011 (“Executive Chairman Agreement”), with David F. Hale in connection with his appointment as our Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Executive Chairman Agreement is effective through December 31, 2013. The Executive Chairman Agreement provides Mr. Hale the following: (i) a monthly fee of $25,000 per month for each month before our board of directors appoints a chief executive officer and for each of the three months following the appointment of the new chief executive officer, with a reduction to $12,500 per month commencing with the fourth month following the appointment of the new chief executive officer (i.e., commencing with December 2013), subject to normal employee payroll deductions and withholdings; and (ii) stock options under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 10,204 shares of common stock, vesting in equal monthly installments over a 4 year period, with full vesting upon a change of control or initial public offering. In addition, vesting would accelerate upon his termination by us or our shareholders without cause, as defined in the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims. Also, upon an equity financing such as this offering, Mr. Hale will be entitled to receive an additional stock option, on the same terms and conditions except for exercise price, to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to the excess of (i) 1% of our fully-diluted equity capitalization as of immediately after the financing over (ii) the number of shares subject to the first stock option.

The Executive Chairman Agreement also entitled Mr. Hale to restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Mr. Hale received a time-based RSU award for 428,597 shares of our preferred stock, to fully vest and settle upon a change in control or initial public offering during the period of his continuous service. Mr. Hale would receive a prorated portion of such shares if the change in control or initial public offering occurs within 10 years after January 1, 2011 but after the involuntary termination of his continuous service. The proration would be based upon the number of months he provided continuous service to us divided by 48; but the RSUs would be deemed vested in full upon his involuntary termination without cause, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims. Upon the closing of this offering, Mr. Hale would receive 10,204 shares of common stock in settlement of the time-based RSUs.

The Executive Chairman Agreement also entitled Mr. Hale to a performance-based RSU award, which is divided into three equal tranches, each representing shares of our preferred stock equal to 0.5% of our fully-diluted equity capitalization, and each to fully vest (subject to satisfaction of milestones) and settle upon a change in control or initial public offering occurring within 10 years after January 1, 2011. The tranches were associated with achievement of a specified commercial milestone, a specified funding milestone, and specified leadership milestones. The Executive Chairman Agreement provides that if a change in control or initial public offering occurs during the time of his continuous service but before the performance requirements are achieved, he will be entitled to receive 0.5% of our fully-diluted equity capitalization as of immediately before such event for each of the three tranches. Upon the closing of this offering, Mr. Hale would receive in settlement of the three tranches of the performance-based RSUs a number of shares of common stock equal to 1.5% of our fully-diluted equity capitalization as of immediately before the closing of this offering.

 

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Michael J. Dunn

We entered into an employment agreement as of February 15, 2011 (“SVP Corporate Development Employment Agreement”) with Michael J. Dunn in connection with his appointment as our Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development. The SVP Corporate Development Employment Agreement provided Mr. Dunn the following: (i) a base salary of $250,000 per year, provided that the salary will increase by $25,000 per year upon the finalization of one or more corporate collaborations or other investments that provide at least $15,000,000 in financing to us; (ii) stock options under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 5,952 shares of common stock, with 25% of all shares vesting on the one year anniversary of his employment start date and the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments over the following 3 year period; and (iii) an additional option to purchase 1,190 shares of common stock, vesting in equal monthly installments over a one year period, to be issued upon the completion of a corporate collaboration providing at least $5,000,000 in financing to us.

Mr. Dunn resigned effective on July 31, 2013.

William G. Kachioff

We entered into an employment agreement as of August 1, 2011 (“CFO Employment Agreement”) with William G. Kachioff in connection with his appointment as our Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. The CFO Employment Agreement provides Mr. Kachioff the following: (i) a base salary of $215,000 per year, provided that the salary will increase to $240,000 per year upon our receipt of aggregate proceeds of $15,000,000 or more from the sales of equity securities, excluding the conversion of outstanding indebtedness; (ii) a one-time bonus of $30,000 upon our receipt of aggregate proceeds of $15,000,000 or more from the sales of equity securities, excluding the conversion of outstanding indebtedness; (iii) stock options under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 5,952 shares of common stock, with 25% of all shares vesting on the one year anniversary of the grant and the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments over the following 3 year period; and (iv) an additional option to purchase 1,190 shares of common stock to be issued upon our receipt of aggregate proceeds of $15,000,000 or more from the sales of equity securities, excluding the conversion of outstanding indebtedness.

Lyle J. Arnold

We entered into an employment agreement as of April 30, 2011 (“CSO Employment Agreement”) with Lyle J. Arnold in connection with his appointment as our Senior Vice-President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer. The CSO Employment Agreement provides Dr. Arnold the following: (i) a base salary of $200,000 per year, provided that the salary will increase to $250,000 per year upon our receipt of aggregate proceeds of $15,000,000 or more from the sales of equity securities, excluding the conversion of outstanding indebtedness; (ii) stock options under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 5,952 shares of common stock, with 25% of all shares vesting on the one year anniversary of the grant and the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments over the following 3 year period; and (iii) an additional option to purchase 1,190 shares of common stock when, based upon a good faith determination by our board of directors, a second generation platform for the capture, detection and enumeration of CTCs has been finalized, with the shares vesting in equal monthly installments over the following 1 year period.

Salary Deferrals

Pursuant to written agreements with 10 officers and senior employees, we deferred payment of portions of such individuals’ salaries in 2012. In exchange we agreed to pay 8% per annum interest (compounded monthly) on the deferred amounts and to award them each, based on their election, either 357 common stock options or 357 restricted stock unit awards. Additional deferrals have been made in 2013 only from the salary of David F. Hale and the salary of one other employee. As of September 30, 2013, the deferred salary amount owing to Mr. Hale was $584,270 (inclusive of interest), the deferred salary amount owing to Dr. Arnold was $74,118 (inclusive of interest), the deferred salary amount owing to Dr. Bischoff was $85,798 (inclusive of interest), the deferred salary amount owing to Mr. Dunn was $96,346 (inclusive of interest), the deferred salary amount owing to Mr. Kachioff was $118,607 (inclusive of interest), and the aggregate deferred salary amount owing to the five other persons was $357,641 (inclusive of interest). One of the uses of the proceeds of this offering is to satisfy these deferred salary amounts of approximately $1 million.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards

The following table sets forth certain information, on an award-by-award basis, concerning unexercised options to purchase common stock and common stock that has not yet vested for each named executive officer and outstanding as of December 31, 2012. These figures have been adjusted to reflect both our November 2011 1-for-3 reverse common stock split and the 1-for-14 reverse common stock split effected on November 1, 2013.

 

            Option Awards      Restricted Stock Units  

Name

   Grant
Date
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable (1)
     Option
Exercise
Price
($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
     Number of
Unvested
Securities
Underlying
(#)
    Market
Value of
Units
that
are
Unvested
($)
 

David F. Hale

     1/3/2011         —           —           —           —           10,204        112,244   
     1/3/2011         —           —           —           —           13,669 ( 2 )       150,359   

Michael J. Dunn

     3/25/11         2,728         3,224         4.62         3/25/2021         —          —     
     3/25/11         1,190         —           4.62         3/25/2021         —          —     

William G. Kachioff

     8/1/2011         992         1,984         4.62         8/1/2021         —          —     
     8/1/2011         992         1,984         4.62         8/1/2021         —          —     

Lyle J. Arnold, Ph. D.

     4/30/2011         2,356         3,596         4.62         4/30/2021         —          —     

Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph. D.

     7/1/2009         2,211         315         5.04         7/1/2019         —          —     
     8/11/2009         198         —           5.04         8/11/2019         —          —     
     8/11/2009         198         —           5.04         8/11/2019         —          —     
     8/11/2009         198         —           5.04         8/11/2019         —          —     
     3/25/2011         520         669         4.62         3/25/2021         —          —     

 

(1) The scheduled vesting dates, after December 31, 2012, of these options were as follows:

Mr. Dunn: 124 of the unvested option shares shall vest each month from January 2013, subject to continuing service, until 100% of the option shares are vested. (On July 31, 2013, our Board of Directors accelerated the vesting of the option.)

Mr. Kachioff: For each of the two option grants, 62 of the unvested option shares shall vest each month from January 2013, subject to continuing service, until 100% of the option shares are vested.

Dr. Arnold: 124 of the unvested option shares shall vest each month from January 2013, subject to continuing service, until 100% of the option shares are vested.

Dr. Bischoff: 77 of the unvested option shares shall vest each month from January 2013, subject to continuing service, until 100% of the option shares are vested.

(2) Estimated.

 

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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-In-Control

Our employment agreement with Mr. Hale provided that his stock option for 10,204 shares of common stock will fully vest in the event of a change in control (or upon the completion of our initial public offering). Because Mr. Hale early-exercised the stock option in November 2011, the same vesting and acceleration provisions now apply to the lapsing of our right to repurchase the exercised shares. The Executive Chairman Agreement also provided that Mr. Hale’s time-based RSU award for 428,597 shares of our preferred stock (equivalent to 10,204 shares of common stock) will fully vest and settle upon a change in control (or upon the completion of our initial public offering) during the period of his continuous service; he would receive a prorated portion of such shares if the change in control or initial public offering occurs within 10 years after January 1, 2011 but after the involuntary termination of his continuous service. The proration would be based upon the number of months he provided continuous service to us divided by 48; but the RSUs would be deemed vested in full upon his termination without cause, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims. The Executive Chairman Agreement also entitled Mr. Hale to a performance-based RSU award, which is divided into three equal tranches, each representing shares of our preferred stock equal to 0.5% of our fully-diluted equity capitalization, and each to settle upon a change in control (or upon the completion of our initial public offering) occurring within 10 years after January 1, 2011. The tranches were associated with achievement of a specified commercial milestone, a specified funding milestone, and specified leadership milestones. The Executive Chairman Agreement provides that if a change in control (or initial public offering) occurs during the time of his continuous service but before the performance requirements are achieved, he will be entitled to receive 0.5% of our fully-diluted equity capitalization as of immediately before such event for each of the three tranches. Because Mr. Hale’s time-based and performance-based RSUs under the Executive Chairman Agreement will both vest and settle upon the closing of this offering, Mr. Hale would receive no additional payments thereunder if a change in control occurs after the closing of this offering.

Our employment agreement with Mr. Dunn provided that if his continuous service was terminated without cause or he resigned with good reason then, provided that he gave us an effective waiver and release of claims, he would be entitled to 6 months’ salary plus up to 6 months of COBRA premiums. However, if he was terminated without cause or he resigned with good reason within 3 months before or 12 months after a change in control, then, provided that he gave us an effective waiver and release of claims, he would be entitled to 12 months’ salary plus up to 12 months of COBRA premiums, plus all his then-outstanding stock options would fully vest. Effective on July 31, 2013, Mr. Dunn resigned, and there was no right to any such severance payments.

Our employment agreement with Mr. Kachioff provides that if his continuous service is terminated without cause or he resigns with good reason then, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims, he will be entitled to 6 months’ salary plus up to 6 months of COBRA premiums. However, if he is terminated without cause or he resigns with good reason within 3 months before or 12 months after a change in control, then, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims, he will be entitled to 12 months’ salary plus up to 12 months of COBRA premiums. Additionally, all of his then-outstanding stock options will fully vest.

Our employment agreement with Dr. Arnold provides that if his continuous service is terminated without cause or he resigns with good reason then, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims, he will be entitled to 6 months’ salary plus up to 6 months of COBRA premiums. However, if he is terminated without cause or he resigns with good reason within 3 months before or 12 months after a change in control, then, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims, he will be entitled to 12 months’ salary plus up to 12 months of COBRA premiums. Additionally, all of his then-outstanding stock options will fully vest.

The common stock RSUs granted to five of our non-employee directors under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan provide for acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control or the director’s involuntary removal from the board of directors by our shareholders without cause.

 

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A total of 13,095 stock options granted to five of our non-employee directors under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan were amended in February 2012 to provide for acceleration of vesting in the event of the director’s involuntary removal from the board of directors by our shareholders without cause, provided that the director gives us an effective waiver and release of claims.

The 390,000 preferred stock RSUs (equivalent to 9,285 shares of common stock) granted to Dr. Royston vest only upon a change in control or the effectiveness of an underwriting agreement for an initial public offering within 10 years. If Dr. Royston is still serving on the board at that time, all of the preferred stock RSUs would vest. If Dr. Royston was not serving on the board at that time, his entitlement would be equal to the full award multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed 1), the numerator of which is the number of months he served on the board and the denominator of which is 48. This RSU award was amended in February 2012 to provide that in the event of his involuntary removal from the board of directors by our shareholders without cause before the change in control or the effectiveness of an underwriting agreement for an initial public offering, then (provided that the director gives us an effective waiver and release of claims) all the preferred stock RSUs would vest upon the change in control or the effectiveness of an underwriting agreement for an initial public offering.

The vesting of all stock options and RSUs awarded under our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan will accelerate fully in the event that the optionee’s continuous service is terminated without cause, or the optionee resigns for good reason, within 10 days before or 12 months after a change in control. In addition, the vesting of all stock options and RSUs awarded in July 2013 to Mr. Hale, Mr. Kachioff, Dr. Arnold and Dr. Bischoff under our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan will, if the optionee’s continuous service persists through the first anniversary of a change in control, accelerate fully upon such first anniversary.

Director Compensation

In December 2010, our board of directors approved a resolution that each year on January 1, each non-employee director (with the exception of Mrs. Reiss and Mr. Neff) shall be automatically granted an annual RSU award under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan covering a number of shares of common stock equal to 0.25% of our fully diluted outstanding capital stock as of the December 31 immediately preceding the applicable grant date of the RSUs. Such RSU awards were granted on January 1, 2011 and 2012, and vested in equal monthly installments over 12 months from the date of the grant. Additionally, in January 2012, each person who was serving as a non-employee director was granted a “true up grant” in addition to the annual RSU award covering a number of shares of common stock equal to 0.25% of our fully diluted outstanding capital stock as of December 31, 2011. These “true up grants” vested 100% on the date of the grant. In January 2012, five RSU awards, for a total of 20,930 shares of common stock, were granted in accordance with this resolution.

The RSU awards due to be granted on January 1, 2013 were not in fact granted. Instead, on July 31, 2013, RSU awards for 8,735 shares of common stock were granted to each of Mr. Gerhardt, Mr. Neff and Dr. Royston and a RSU award for 14,285 shares of common stock was granted to Ms. Wilson. These awards vest in equal monthly installments over five months beginning August 1, 2013. The shares underlying the 2013 awards, if vested, would be distributed no later than August 24, 2014.

 

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During 2012, the non-employee directors received compensation for their service as follows (we have listed the value of the RSU awards in the “Restricted Stock Awards ($)” column):

 

Name

   Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash ($) (1)
     Option
Awards
($) (2)
     Restricted
Stock
Awards
($) (3)
     Total
($)
 

Edward A. Dennis, Ph. D. (4)

     —           —         $ 38,680       $ 38,680   

Bruce E. Gerhardt

     —           —         $ 38,680       $ 38,680   

Ivor Royston, M.D.

     —           —         $ 38,680       $ 38,680   

Daniel H. Petree (4)

     —           —         $ 38,680       $ 38,680   

M. Faye Wilson

     —           —         $ 38,680       $ 38,680   

 

(1) During 2012, we did not pay any cash compensation to our non-employee directors.
(2) During 2012, we did not issue stock option awards to our non-employee directors.
(3) The amounts in the “Restricted Stock Awards” column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted during the year computed in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718. For a description of these restricted stock units, see the first paragraph of this “Director Compensation” section.
(4) Dr. Dennis and Mr. Petree resigned from our board of directors in January 2013.

In 2013 our board of directors adopted a resolution that, beginning at the closing of this offering, the previous non-employee directors automatic grant program shall be terminated and, instead, non-employee members of our board of directors shall be eligible to automatically receive annual cash and equity compensation, as follows:

 

   

Annual Retainer . For service as a director: an annual cash retainer of $15,000.

 

   

Board Chair . For service as Board Chair: an annual cash retainer of $85,000 (in addition to an annual cash retainer of $15,000 as a director), plus an annual grant of an option to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

Lead Independent Director . For service as Lead Independent Director: an annual cash retainer of $20,000 (inclusive of the annual cash retainer of $15,000 as a director), plus an annual grant of an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

Audit Committee .

 

   

For service as Chair of the audit committee: an annual grant of an option to purchase 7,500 shares of common stock.

 

   

For service as member of the audit committee other than as its Chair: an annual grant of an option to purchase 3,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

Compensation Committee .

 

   

For service as Chair of the compensation committee: an annual grant of an option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

For service as member of the compensation committee other than as its Chair: an annual grant of an option to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee .

 

   

For service as Chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee: an annual grant of an option to purchase 3,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

For service as member of the nominating and corporate governance committee other than as its Chair: an annual grant of an option to purchase 1,500 shares of common stock.

 

   

Initial Post-IPO Equity Award . For each non-employee director serving at the time of the closing of this offering: an annual grant of an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

Initial Awards . For each non-employee director who is initially elected or appointed to the board after the closing of this offering: an annual grant of an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock.

 

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Subsequent Awards .

 

   

For each non-employee director who (i) has been serving on the board for at least six months as of the date of any annual meeting of our stockholders and (ii) will continue to serve as a non-employee director immediately following such meeting: an option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock.

 

   

For each non-employee director who (i) has been serving as Chair of the board for at least six months as of the date of any annual meeting of our stockholders and (ii) will continue to serve as Chair of the board immediately following such meeting: an additional option to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock.

The annual cash retainers shall be earned and paid on a calendar quarterly basis, subject to proration in the case of service during only a portion of a calendar quarter.

The per share exercise price of each option granted under this program shall equal the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the option is granted. Each such stock option shall vest and become exercisable in substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to continuing in service on the board through each such vesting date; provided, that each Subsequent Award shall vest and/or become exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to continuing in service on the board through such vesting date; and provided further, that all stock options under the program shall vest in full upon the occurrence of a change in control.

The term of each such stock option shall be 10 years from the date the option is granted. Upon a non-employee director’s cessation of service on the board for any reason, his or her stock options granted under this program would, to the extent vested on the date of cessation of service, remain exercisable for 12 months following the cessation of his or her service on the board (or such longer period as the board may determine in its discretion on or after the date of such stock options).

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The table below sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2012 regarding the shares of our common stock available for grant or granted under stock option plans and other compensation arrangements that (i) were adopted by our stockholders and (ii) were not adopted by our stockholders.

 

Plan Category

   Number of
securities to
be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and
rights
     Weighted-
average
exercise price
of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and
rights ($)
     Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities
reflected in 1 st
column)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)

     118,229         2.66         28,287   

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2)

     33,158         —           —     

Total

     155,387         2.02         28,287   

 

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(1) Represents shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to options (and 54,615 restricted stock units) granted, or available for future grant, under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. See “Executive Compensation—Employee Stock Plans—2007 Equity Incentive Plan” for a description of this plan.
(2) Under individual compensation arrangements, restricted stock units for an estimated aggregate of 33,158 common stock equivalents were outstanding in favor of David F. Hale and Ivor Royston as of December 31, 2012. See “Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—David F. Hale” and “Executive Compensation—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-In-Control” for a description of these individual compensation arrangements.

Employee Stock Plans

We have two equity incentive plans: the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, and the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Each plan is described separately below, followed by a description of certain federal income tax consequences with respect to plans of these types.

2007 Equity Incentive Plan

The following is a summary of the material terms of our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended to date. This description is not complete. For more information, we refer you to the full text of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The purposes of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan are: (i) to secure and retain the services of eligible employees, board members, consultants and other advisors to serve our company and its affiliates, (ii) to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of our company and its affiliates and (iii) to provide a means by which they can benefit from increases in the value of our common stock.

The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of the following types of awards: (i) nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs, (ii) incentive stock options, or ISOs, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, or RSUs, (v) stock appreciation rights, or SARs, (vi) performance stock awards, and (vii) other stock awards. Awards may be granted to employees, directors, consultants and other service providers of our company and its affiliates. However, ISOs may not be granted to non-employees.

We have authorized a total of 178,571 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to all awards granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of shares issued or reserved pursuant to the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (or pursuant to outstanding awards) is subject to adjustment as a result of mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends and other changes in our common stock. Shares subject to awards that have been terminated, expired unexercised, forfeited, settled in cash or cancelled in accordance with the cancellation and regrant procedures under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan shall again become available for issuance under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. Shares of common stock used to pay the exercise price of awards shall also again become available for issuance under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

However, shares in the following categories may not again be made available for issuance as awards under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan: (i) shares of common stock not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of outstanding awards, (ii) shares of common stock used to pay the exercise price of NSOs or ISOs, and (iii) shares of common stock used to pay withholding taxes related to awards.

As of September 30, 2013, 32,144 shares had been issued under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, 76,896 shares underlay outstanding awards, and 69,531 other shares remained available to be subjected to further awards.

Administration . Our board of directors administers the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to the board’s authority to delegate some or all of such administration to the Compensation Committee.

 

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Performance Criteria . Vesting of any awards granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan may be made subject to the satisfaction of one or more performance goals established by the board of directors, in addition to or instead of time-vesting. The performance goals may vary from participant to participant, group to group, and period to period. Performance goals may be weighted for different factors and measures.

Transferability . Unless otherwise determined by the board of directors, awards granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan are generally not transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

Corporate Transaction . In the event we are acquired in a corporate transaction, as defined in the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, unless otherwise provided in a written agreement between us and the holder of an outstanding 2007 Equity Incentive Plan award, the award will be assumed by the successor company or a similar award will be substituted by the successor company. If the successor company does not agree to assume or substitute the award, the vesting of the award will accelerate and the award will become exercisable in full.

Effectiveness of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan; Amendment and Termination . The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan became effective on March 6, 2007. The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan will remain available for the grant of awards until the day before the tenth anniversary of the effective date. The board may amend, alter or discontinue the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan in any respect at any time, subject to certain exceptions, but no amendment may adversely affect the rights of a participant under any awards previously granted, without his or her consent, except that stockholder approval will be needed if required by applicable law.

The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan permits us to reprice any stock option granted under the plan without the approval of our stockholders.

2013 Equity Incentive Plan

The following is a summary of the material terms of our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. This description is not complete. For more information, we refer you to the full text of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The purposes of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan are: (i) to enable us to attract and retain the types of qualified employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers who will contribute to our long range success, (ii) to align the interests of employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers with those of our stockholders, and (iii) to promote the success of our business.

The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of the following types of awards: NSOs, ISOs, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, and performance compensation awards. Awards may be granted to employees, officers, non-employee board members, consultants and other service providers of our Company and its affiliates. However, ISOs may be granted only to employees, including officers.

We have authorized a total of 403,571 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to all awards granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to an increase of 57,142 shares upon the completion of this offering and subject to additional increases every January 1 equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of our outstanding common stock on such January 1, or (ii) a number of shares determined by our board in its discretion for use on such particular January 1. The number of shares issued or reserved pursuant to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, or pursuant to outstanding awards, is subject to adjustment as a result of mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends and other changes in our common stock. Shares subject to awards that have been cancelled, expired unexercised, or forfeited do not count as shares issued under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, and therefore shall again to that extent become available for issuance under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. However, shares in the following categories may not again be made available for issuance as awards under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan: (i) shares of common stock not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of outstanding NSOs or ISOs, (ii) shares of common stock used to pay the exercise price of NSOs or ISOs, (iii) shares of common stock used to pay withholding taxes related to awards, or (iv) shares of common stock corresponding to the value of stock-designated SARs which are settled in cash.

 

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In no event shall any participant be granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan in any one calendar year (i) NSOs, ISOs or SARs pursuant to which, in the case of NSOs or ISOs, the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be acquired thereunder, or, in the case of SARs, the aggregate number of shares of common stock covered thereby, exceeds 357,142 shares, or (ii) any other types of awards covering in the aggregate over 35,714 shares of common stock. Also, the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to performance stock awards, other than NSOs, ISOs and SARs, payable to any one participant under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan in any one performance period is 71,428 shares of common stock or, in the event such performance stock award is paid in cash, the equivalent cash value thereof on the first or last day of the performance period to which such award relates, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The maximum amount that can be paid in any calendar year to any participant pursuant to a performance cash bonus award under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan shall be $1,000,000. In addition, the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued during the life of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan under ISOs is 392,857 shares. If an award is settled in cash, the number of shares of common stock on which the award is based shall count toward the applicable individual share limit.

As of September 30, 2013, no shares had been issued under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, no shares had otherwise become unavailable for issuance, 401,640 shares underlay outstanding awards, and 1,931 other shares remained available to be subjected to further awards.

Administration . The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine the individuals to whom awards may be granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, the number of shares of our common stock subject to each award, the type of award, the manner in which such awards will vest and the other conditions applicable to awards. The Compensation Committee is authorized to interpret the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. All decisions, determinations and interpretations by the Compensation Committee, and any rules and regulations under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions of or operation of any award, are final and binding on all participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of directors also has authority to take action expressly or implicitly in the capacity of the administrator of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, and the board also may delegate, to the extent allowed under Delaware law, its authority to one or more of our officers with respect to awards that do not involve covered employees within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) or “insiders” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

Stock Options . The Compensation Committee will determine the exercise price and other terms for each option and whether the options will be NSOs or ISOs. The exercise price per share of each option will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant (or 110% of fair market value in the case of an ISO granted to a 10% stockholder), which, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, will be deemed to be the closing price of a share of our common stock on its principal exchange on the grant date. ISOs may be granted only to employees and are subject to certain other restrictions. To the extent an option intended to be an ISO does not qualify as an ISO, it will be treated as an NSO. A participant may exercise an option by written notice and payment of the exercise price in cash, or in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, in the form of an irrevocable commitment by a broker to pay over the net proceeds from a sale of the shares issuable under an option, the delivery of previously owned shares and/or withholding of shares deliverable upon exercise, net-exercise, or any combination of these methods, or in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Compensation Committee. The maximum term of any option granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan is 10 years from the grant date (or five years in the case of an ISO granted to a 10% stockholder). The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan does not permit us to reprice any stock option granted under the plan without the approval of our stockholders. The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes us to, but does not require us to, withhold from participants shares of common stock having a fair market value equal to our withholding obligation with respect to exercised NSOs.

 

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Stock Appreciation Rights . The Compensation Committee may grant SARs independent of or in connection with an option. The Compensation Committee will determine the other terms applicable to SARs. The exercise price per share of each SAR will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date, which, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, will be deemed to be the closing price of a share of our common stock on its principal exchange on the grant date. The price will be subject to adjustment for recapitalization or other changes in our common stock. The maximum term of any SAR granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan will be 10 years from the grant date. Generally, each SAR will entitle a participant upon exercise to an amount equal to:

 

   

the excess of the fair market value on the exercise date of one share of our common stock over the exercise price, multiplied by

 

   

the number of shares of common stock covered by the SAR.

Payment may be made in shares of our common stock, in cash or partly in common stock and partly in cash, all as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units . The Compensation Committee will have the authority to award restricted common stock and/or RSUs under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Restricted stock awards consist of shares of stock that are transferred to a participant subject to service and/or other restrictions that may result in forfeiture if specified conditions are not satisfied. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise at the time the restricted stock award is granted, holders of restricted stock will have the right to vote the shares. RSUs confer the right to receive shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of shares and cash, at a future date upon or following the attainment of service and/or other conditions specified by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each award of restricted stock or RSUs, which may include performance-based conditions. The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes us to, but does not require us to, withhold from participants shares of common stock having a fair market value equal to our withholding obligation with respect to restricted stock and/or settled RSUs.

Performance Compensation Awards . The Compensation Committee may award performance stock awards under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Performance stock awards are awards, denominated in shares of our common stock, cash or a combination thereof, which are earned during a specified performance period subject to the attainment of performance criteria, as established by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each stock award.

Performance Criteria . Vesting of awards granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan may be subject to a requirement of continuous service and/or the satisfaction of one or more performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. The performance goals may vary from participant to participant, group to group, and period to period. Performance goals may be weighted for different factors and measures.

Transferability . Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, awards granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan will generally not be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

Change in Control . Unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, in the event of a participant’s termination of continuous service without cause or for good reason, but excluding termination as a result of resignation in the absence of good reason, during the 10-day period before a change in control or during the 12 month period following a change in control, all options and SARs shall become immediately exercisable with respect to 100% of the shares subject to such options or SARs, and/or the restricted period shall expire immediately with respect to 100% of the shares of restricted stock or RSUs as of the date of the participant’s termination of continuous service.

With respect to performance compensation awards, in the event of a change in control, all incomplete performance periods in respect of such award in effect on the date the change in control occurs shall end on the date of such change and the Compensation Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which performance goals with respect to each such performance period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause to be paid to the applicable participant partial or full awards with respect to performance goals for each such performance period based upon the Compensation Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of performance goals or, if not determinable, assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained, or on such other basis determined by the Compensation Committee.

 

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In addition, in the event of an anticipated change in control, the Compensation Committee may in its discretion and upon at least 10 days’ advance notice to the affected persons, cancel upon or immediately before the change in control any outstanding awards and pay to the holders thereof, in cash or stock, or any combination thereof, the value of such awards based upon the value per share of common stock received or to be received or deemed received by our other stockholders in the event. In the case of any option or SAR with an exercise price that equals or exceeds the price paid for a share of common stock in connection with the change in control, the Compensation Committee may cancel the option or SAR without the payment of consideration therefor.

Effectiveness of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan; Amendment and Termination . The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan was adopted and approved by our board of directors on July 31, 2013 and approved by our stockholders on August 6, 2013. The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan will remain available for the grant of awards until the tenth anniversary of the effective date. The board may amend, alter or discontinue the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan in any respect at any time, but no amendment may impair the rights of a participant under any awards previously granted, without his or her consent, except that stockholder approval will be needed for any amendment that would increase the maximum number of shares available for awards, other than the increase that occurs every January 1, reduce the exercise price of outstanding options or SARs, or if otherwise required by applicable law or stock market requirements.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

Following is a summary of the federal income tax consequences of option and other awards under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Optionees and recipients of other rights and awards granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan or the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan are advised to consult their personal tax advisors before exercising an option, stock appreciation right or award or disposing of any stock received pursuant to the exercise of an option, stock appreciation right or award. In addition, the following summary is based upon an analysis of the Code (the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and as currently in effect), existing laws, judicial decisions, administrative rulings, regulations and proposed regulations, all of which are subject to change and does not address state, local or other tax laws.

Treatment of Options . The Code treats ISOs and NSOs differently. However, as to both types of options, no income will be recognized to the optionee at the time of the grant of the options under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan or the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.

Generally, upon exercise of an NSO, including an option intended to be an ISO but which has not continued to so qualify at the time of exercise, an optionee will recognize ordinary income tax on the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date over the option price. In general, if an optionee, in exercising an NSO, tenders shares of our common stock in partial or full payment of the option price, no gain or loss will be recognized on the tender. However, if the tendered shares were previously acquired upon the exercise of an ISO and the tender is within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the date of exercise of the ISO, the tender will be a disqualifying disposition of the shares acquired upon exercise of the ISO.

For ISOs, there is no taxable income to an optionee at the time of exercise. However, the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be taken into account in determining whether the alternative minimum tax will apply for the year of exercise. If the shares acquired upon exercise are held until at least two years from the date of grant and more than one year from the date of exercise, any gain or loss upon the sale of such shares, if held as capital assets, will be long-term capital gain or loss, measured by the difference between the sales price of the stock and the exercise price. Under current federal income tax law, a long-term capital gain will be taxed at a rate which is less than the maximum rate of tax on ordinary income. If the two-year and one-year holding period requirements are not met, an optionee will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise minus the exercise price or (ii) the amount realized on disposition minus the exercise price. The remainder of the gain will be treated as long-term capital gain, depending upon whether the stock has been held for more than a year. If an optionee makes such a disposition, he or she will be obligated to notify us.

 

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In general, if an optionee, in exercising an ISO, tenders shares of our common stock in partial or full payment of the option price, no gain or loss will be recognized on the tender. However, if the tendered shares were previously acquired upon the exercise of another ISO and the tender is within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the date of exercise of the other option, the tender will be a disqualifying disposition of the shares acquired upon exercise of the other option.

As noted above, the exercise of an ISO could subject an optionee to the alternative minimum tax. The application of the alternative minimum tax to any particular optionee depends upon the particular facts and circumstances which exist with respect to the optionee in the year of exercise. However, as a general rule, the amount by which the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise of an option exceeds the exercise price of the option will constitute an item of “adjustment” for purposes of determining the alternative minimum taxable income on which the alternative tax may be imposed. As such, this item will enter into the tax base on which the alternative minimum tax is computed and may therefore cause the alternative minimum tax to become applicable in any given year.

Treatment of Stock Appreciation Rights . Generally, the recipient of a stock appreciation right will not recognize any income upon grant of the stock appreciation right. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the holder will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of our common stock at that time.

Treatment of Restricted Stock Awards . Generally, absent an election to be taxed currently under Section 83(b) of the Code, or a Section 83(b) Election, there will be no federal income tax consequences to the recipient upon the grant of a restricted stock award. At the expiration of the restriction period and the satisfaction of any other restrictions applicable to the restricted shares, the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of our common stock at that time. If a Section 83(b) Election is made within 30 days after the date the restricted stock award is granted, the recipient will recognize an amount of ordinary income at the time of the receipt of the restricted shares equal to the fair market value, determined without regard to applicable restrictions, of the shares of our common stock at such time. If a Section 83(b) Election is made, no additional income will be recognized by the recipient upon the lapse of restrictions on the shares, and before the sale of such shares, but, if the shares are subsequently forfeited, the recipient may not deduct the income that was recognized pursuant to the Section 83(b) Election at the time of the receipt of the shares.

The recipient of an unrestricted stock award will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of our common stock that is the subject of the award when the award is made.

The recipient of an RSU will recognize ordinary income as and when the units vest. The amount of the income will be equal to the fair market value of the shares of our common stock issued at that time. The recipient of an RSU will not be permitted to make a Section 83(b) Election with respect to such award.

Treatment of Performance Share Awards . The federal income tax consequences of performance share awards, performance unit awards, other cash-based awards and other stock-based awards will depend on the terms and conditions of those awards.

Tax Withholding . We have the right to deduct or withhold, or require a participant to remit to us, the amount required to satisfy minimum statutory withholding requirements of federal, state and local tax laws and regulations, domestic or foreign, with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan or the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.

Inapplicability of Code Sections and ERISA . Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code and the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 are not applicable to the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan or the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Other than compensation arrangements for named executive officers and directors, we describe below each transaction and series of similar transactions, since January 1, 2011, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which the amount exceeds $120,000 (or, if less, 1% of the average of our total assets amount at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012) and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Compensation arrangements for our named executive officers and directors are described in the section entitled “Executive Compensation.”

Michael W. Nall

We entered into an employment agreement effective as of August 26, 2013 (“CEO Employment Agreement”) with Michael W. Nall in connection with his appointment as our Chief Executive Officer and President. The CEO Employment Agreement provides Mr. Nall the following: (i) a base salary of $200,000 per year, provided that the salary will increase retroactively to $350,000 per year upon completion of an initial public offering or an equity or debt financing of at least $5,000,000; (ii) a target bonus of $100,000 per year; (iii) a special one-time bonus of $100,000 in January 2014 if an initial public offering or an equity or debt financing of at least $5,000,000 has been completed by then; (iv) upon completion of an initial public offering or an equity or debt financing of at least $5,000,000, a housing allowance of $2,000 per month; (v) stock options under our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to at least 4% of our fully diluted stock outstanding as of August 26, 2013, vesting in equal monthly installments over 4 years beginning August 15, 2013; and (vi) performance-based restricted stock units under our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan for a number of shares of common stock equal to 1% of our common stock following completion of an initial public offering or an equity or debt financing of at least $5,000,000, subject to the establishment of goals and objectives to be agreed with and approved by our board of directors. The CEO Employment Agreement calls for the vesting of such stock options to fully accelerate upon a change in control, and in the event Mr. Nall’s continuous service is terminated by us or our stockholders without cause or Mr. Nall resigns with good reason, for him to receive one year of additional vesting of such stock options.

The CEO Employment Agreement provides that in the event of termination of Mr. Nall’s employment by us without cause or his resignation for good reason, the vesting of any of his outstanding unvested stock options and RSUs which would have vested over the following 12 months will accelerate (unless the applicable stock option or RSU agreement provides for more favorable acceleration terms). Also, in the event of a change of control, the vesting of 50% of any of Mr. Nall’s outstanding unvested stock options and RSUs will accelerate on the date of the change of control and the remaining unvested stock options and RSUs will vest on the earliest of (i) the date of the termination of his employment by us without cause, (ii) the date of his resignation for good reason, or (iii) the first anniversary of the change of control (unless the applicable stock option or RSU agreement provides for more favorable acceleration terms). (For example, the foregoing would not apply to the initial stock options grant, which would fully accelerate upon a change in control.)

The CEO Employment Agreement provides that if Mr. Nall has a separation from service as a result of his discharge by us without cause or his resignation with good reason then, provided that he gives us an effective waiver and release of claims, he will be entitled to 12 months’ salary and up to 12 months of COBRA premiums (or substantially equivalent health insurance coverage). However, the CEO Employment Agreement further provides that Mr. Nall will have no entitlement to any severance benefits before our completion of an initial public offering or an equity or debt financing of at least $5,000,000.

Claire K. T. Reiss

From time to time, Claire K. T. Reiss, who is our controlling stockholder and at all times described in this section was also a director of Biocept, individually and through entities affiliated with her has loaned us operating funds through various convertible and non-convertible debt instruments. These entities consist of Reisung Enterprises, Inc., of which Mrs. Reiss is the owner and president, and family trusts of which Mrs. Reiss is the trustee. Mrs. Reiss resigned from the board of directors on August 14, 2013.

 

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In February 2011, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with Mrs. Reiss’s trusts. In exchange for a series of loans, we issued secured convertible promissory notes and warrants to purchase shares of our preferred stock to the trusts. The aggregate borrowing amount allowable under the February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement was initially $5.0 million and was subsequently raised to $6.0 million, then $12.0 million and then $15.0 million, and the funding period was extended first to February 2012 and then to December 2012. The notes bore interest at 8%, payable at maturity. Under this note and warrant purchase agreement, we issued notes payable of $1.25 million and $10.0 million to Mrs. Reiss’ family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. during 2012 and 2011, respectively. The notes matured during 2012, and all principal of these notes was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In June 2013, Mrs. Reiss’ family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. converted the entire principal amount of $11.25 million and accrued interest of $1.7 million due on these notes into 24,002,689 shares of Series A preferred stock. The family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. retained the 4,166,667 preferred stock warrants they received under the 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement. Such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering. The exercise price of the warrants is $0.54, subject to adjustment when any portion of the associated note has been converted.

In January 2012, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including Mrs. Reiss’ family trusts. The aggregate borrowing amount allowable under the January 2012 note and warrant purchase agreement was initially $3.35 million and was subsequently raised to $8.35 million, and the funding period was extended to December 2012. The notes bore interest at 10%, payable at maturity. Under this note and warrant purchase agreement, we issued notes payable to Mrs. Reiss’ family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. for an aggregate principal amount of $5.8 million during 2012. The notes matured during 2012, and all principal and accrued interest on these notes was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In June 2013, Mrs. Reiss’ family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. converted the entire principal amount of $5.8 million and accrued interest of $627,000 due on these notes into 11,921,156 shares of Series A preferred stock. The family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. retained the 2,151,852 preferred stock warrants they received under the 2012 note and warrant purchase agreement; such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering. The number of warrants exercisable under this series of warrant agreements is determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount of 20% by the exercise price. The exercise price of the warrants is $0.54.

As of June 2013, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including a family trust affiliated with Mrs. Reiss and Reisung Enterprises, Inc., to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million. We had borrowed $0.72 million under this arrangement from Mrs. Reiss’ family trust before December 31, 2012 and we have borrowed another $2.5 million under it from her family trust and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. in 2013 to date. The maturity date of each note is May 31, 2014 and may be extended for two successive six month periods. Each note bears interest at 8.0% per annum, payable at maturity. The principal amount of and accrued interest on each note automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an underwritten initial public offering resulting in at least $8.0 million of gross proceeds to us, at a conversion price equal to the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. The number of shares underlying the associated common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the loan principal, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding for amounts we borrowed from Mrs. Reiss and entities affiliated with her under this arrangement was approximately $2.6 million. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), the family trust and Reisung Enterprises, Inc. will together have 113,684 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with these loans. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

In July 2013, we and one of Mrs. Reiss’ family trusts amended a $1.4 million promissory note which we had issued to the trust in 2008 to provide that the entire principal amount of and accrued interest on such note would automatically convert, upon the closing of an initial public offering, into shares of our common stock at a price per share equal to the offering price per share to the public in such offering. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding on such note was approximately $1.6 million.

As compensation for guaranteeing, along with two other guarantors, our July 2013 revolving line of credit from UBS Bank USA, which had an initial credit availability of $1.5 million, and which now has credit availability of $1.8 million, a family trust affiliated with Mrs. Reiss received common stock warrants from us. The number of shares underlying the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by the family trust to secure the trust’s guaranty obligations to UBS Bank USA, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price

 

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range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), the family trust will have 33,000 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with this guaranty. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

Edward Neff

Edward Neff, a member of our board of directors, is the chief executive officer and owner of Systems, Machines, Automation Components Corporation (SMAC), a company which has loaned us operating funds under convertible debt arrangements and provided financing for certain fixed asset purchases.

Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in February 2011, we borrowed $125,000 and $425,000 from SMAC in 2011 and 2012, respectively. See details of the February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. The principal and accrued interest on these notes was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In June 2013, SMAC converted the principal of $550,000 and accrued interest of $53,000 due on these notes into 1,116,498 shares of Series A preferred stock. SMAC retained 212,963 preferred stock warrants it received under the 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement. Such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering.

During 2011, we entered into two financing arrangements with SMAC, for the purchase of lab equipment from SMAC totaling $256,000, of which $138,000 and $60,000 was outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The stated interest rate on each financing agreement was 0.0%. Under the first financing arrangement, the maximum amount which could be borrowed was $147,000, the largest amount of principal outstanding during the period from January 1, 2012 to date was $72,000, the principal amount outstanding on September 30, 2013 was $22,000, the amount of principal paid during the period from January 1, 2012 to date was $50,000, and the amount of imputed interest (calculated using a 8.00% per annum imputed interest rate) during the period from January 1, 2012 to date was $7,000. Under the second financing arrangement, the maximum amount which could be borrowed was $109,000, the largest amount of principal outstanding during the period from January 1, 2012 to date was $66,000, the principal amount outstanding on September 30, 2013 was $39,000, the amount of principal paid during the period from January 1, 2012 to date was $27,000, and the amount of imputed interest (calculated using a 8.00% per annum imputed interest rate) during the period from January 1, 2012 to date was $5,000.

As of June 2013, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including SMAC, to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million. See details of the June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. We borrowed $25,000 from SMAC under this arrangement in 2012 and an additional $875,000 in 2013 to date. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding for amounts we borrowed from SMAC under this arrangement was $829,349. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), SMAC will have 40,909 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with these loans. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

As compensation for guaranteeing, along with two other guarantors, our July 2013 revolving line of credit from UBS Bank USA, which had an initial credit availability of $1.5 million, and which now has credit availability of $1.8 million, Mr. Neff received common stock warrants from us. The number of shares underlying the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by Mr. Neff to secure his guaranty obligations to UBS Bank USA, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), Mr. Neff will have 26,181 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with this guaranty. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

David F. Hale

Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in February 2011, we issued a note payable of $50,000 during 2011 to Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC, which is controlled by our Executive Chairman David F. Hale. Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in January 2012, we issued notes payable of $100,000 to Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC. See details of the February 2011 and January 2012 note and warrant purchase agreements in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. The principal and interest on these notes was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In

 

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June 2013, Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC converted the entire $150,000 principal balance of and accrued interest of $18,000 due on these notes into 310,392 shares of our Series A preferred stock. Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC retained 18,517 preferred stock warrants it received under the 2011 and 2012 note and warrant purchase agreements. Such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering

As of June 2013, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC, to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million. See details of the June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. We have borrowed $443,500 under it from Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC in 2013 to date. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding for amounts we borrowed from Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC under this arrangement was $458,870. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC will have 20,159 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with these loans. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

As compensation for guaranteeing, along with two other guarantors, our July 2013 revolving line of credit from UBS Bank USA, which had an initial credit availability of $1.5 million, and which now has credit availability of $1.8 million, Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC received common stock warrants from us. The number of shares underlying the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC to secure its guaranty obligations to UBS Bank USA, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC will have 26,181 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with this guaranty. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

M. Faye Wilson

Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in February 2011, we issued notes payable of $75,200 during 2011 to our director M. Faye Wilson and Wilson Boyles & Co., LLC, which is controlled by Ms. Wilson. Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in January 2012, we issued a note payable of $20,000 to Ms. Wilson. See details of the February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. The principal and interest on these notes was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In June 2013, Ms. Wilson and Wilson Boyles & Co., LLC converted the entire $95,200 principal balance of and accrued interest of $10,000 due on these notes into 194,859 shares of our Series A preferred stock. Ms. Wilson retained 10,179 preferred stock warrants she received under the 2011 and 2012 note and warrant purchase agreements and Wilson Boyles & Co., LLC retained 1,574 preferred stock warrants it received under the 2011 and 2012 note and warrant purchase agreements. Such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering.

As of June 2013, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including Ms. Wilson, to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million. See details of the June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. We have borrowed $25,000 under it from Ms. Wilson in 2013 to date. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding for amounts we borrowed from Ms. Wilson under this arrangement was $25,767. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), Ms. Wilson will have 1,136 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with these loans. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

Ivor Royston, M.D.

Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in February 2011, we issued a note payable of $100,000 during 2011 to the individual retirement account of our director Ivor Royston, M.D. See details of the February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. The principal and interest on this note was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In June 2013, Dr. Royston’s IRA converted the entire $100,000 principal balance of and accrued interest of $10,000 due on this note into 204,059 shares of our Series A preferred stock. Dr. Royston’s IRA retained 12,345 preferred stock warrants it received under the 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement. Such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering.

 

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Bruce E. Gerhardt

Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in February 2011, we issued a note payable of $25,000 during 2011 to our director Bruce E. Gerhardt. Under the note and warrant purchase agreement executed in January 2012, we issued notes payable of $30,000 to Mr. Gerhardt. See details of the February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. The principal and interest on these notes was unpaid at December 31, 2012. In June 2013, Mr. Gerhardt converted the entire $55,000 principal balance of and accrued interest of $7,000 due on these notes into 115,084 shares of our Series A preferred stock. Mr. Gerhardt retained 6,790 preferred stock warrants he received under the 2011 and 2012 note and warrant purchase agreements. Such warrants will terminate unexercised upon the closing of this offering.

As of June 2013, we executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including Mr. Gerhardt, to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million. See details of the June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement in the description of transactions with Claire K. T. Reiss, above. We have borrowed $10,000 under it from Mr. Gerhardt in 2013 to date. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding for amounts we borrowed from Mr. Gerhardt under this arrangement was $10,256. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), Mr. Gerhardt will have 455 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with these loans. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

Lyle J. Arnold

Lyle J. Arnold, Ph.D., our Senior Vice-President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, is the controlling person of Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. On June 2, 2012, we entered into an Assignment and Exclusive Cross-License Agreement with Aegea in regard to the CEE-Selector technology. Under the Agreement, each party has an undivided joint ownership interest in all of the patents and other intellectual property rights for such technology. We obtained an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid, irrevocable, sublicensable license for all applications in the fields of oncology clinical testing and oncology diagnostics (including both laboratory developed tests and IVD tests as applied to the oncology field) and oncology basic and clinical research that is performed internally by us, as a service offered by us, or in a bona fide collaboration between us and one or more third parties (where the sample types tested are tissue, whole blood, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid or derivatives of any of such sample types); provided that any such collaboration must not be solely or primarily directed to providing research reagents or research technologies to such collaborator, and must not involve the sale or resale of patented research reagents or the licensing of technologies for patented research applications by such collaborator to third parties. Under the Agreement’s license, we are free of any obligation to obtain further consent from Aegea or to account to Aegea. Aegea obtained an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid, irrevocable sublicensable license for all applications in all other fields, without any obligation to obtain further consent from us or to account to us. We were given responsibility for prosecuting some of the relevant patent applications, and Aegea was given responsibility for prosecuting others, but the two parties will share all patent prosecution and maintenance costs equally.

Goodman Co. Ltd.

In June 2013, Goodman Co. Ltd., a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock, converted the entire principal amount of $1,935,000 and accrued interest of approximately $105,000 due on a secured promissory note held by it into 3,777,324 shares of Series A preferred stock. In connection with this conversion, we issued to Goodman Co. Ltd. a warrant to purchase 33,333 shares of common stock at an exercise price equal which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

 

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Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our future directors and executive officers. In addition, our predecessor company Biocept, Inc., a California corporation, entered into indemnification agreements with certain of our current directors and executive officers and certain prior directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under California law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

In anticipation of becoming a public company upon completion of this offering, we adopted a policy that our executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our common stock, any members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons and any firms, corporations or other entities in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest, collectively, related parties, are not permitted to enter into a transaction with us without the prior consent of our board of directors acting through the audit committee. Any request for us to enter into a transaction with a related party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which such related party would have a direct or indirect interest, must first be presented to our audit committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our audit committee is to consider the material facts of the transaction, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances, the extent of the benefits to us, the availability of other sources of comparable products or services and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of November 1, 2013 by:

 

   

each person, or group of affiliated persons, whom we know to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock;

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

each of our executive officers;

 

   

each of our directors; and

 

   

all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

The percentage ownership information shown in the column labeled “Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned—Before Offering” is based upon 181,614 shares of common stock and 69,421,047 shares of Series A preferred stock outstanding as of November 1, 2013, and treats the 69,421,047 outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock as if they had been converted into 1,652,853 shares of common stock as of November 1, 2013 (i.e., the percentage ownership information shown in the column is based on an assumption that there were 1,834,467 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 1, 2013). The percentage ownership information shown in the column labeled “Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned—After Offering” is further based upon the sale of 1,818,181 shares of common stock in this offering, and upon an assumption that there is no exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option.

All percentages shown treat each share of Series A preferred stock as being one-forty-second of one share of common stock, because all of our shares of Series A preferred stock will in fact be converted into common stock at a 1-for-42 rate given our November 2011 1-for-3 reverse common stock split and our November 2013 1-for-14 reverse common stock split. We are not presenting a separate table showing individual or percentage beneficial ownership of Series A preferred stock. Claire K. T. Reiss’ and her affiliates’ beneficial ownership percentage of our Series A preferred stock at November 1, 2013 was 81.5%.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules include shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants that are either immediately exercisable or exercisable on or before December 31, 2013, which is 60 days after November 1, 2013. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. We have, however, excluded warrants to purchase shares of Series A preferred stock which, although exercisable at November 1, 2013, will nonetheless not be exercised and will terminate unexercised upon the completion of this offering. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.

 

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Except as otherwise noted below, the address for persons listed in the table is c/o Biocept, Inc., 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
     Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned
 
      Before
Offering
    After
Offering
 

5% Stockholders

       

Claire K. T. Reiss (1)

     1,478,870         80.6     42.0

Goodman Co. Ltd. (2)

     102,653         5.5     3.0

Named Executive Officers, Executive Officers and Directors:

       

David F. Hale (3)

     32,697         1.8     5.0

Marsha A. Chandler (4)

     1,860                      

Bruce E. Gerhardt (5)

     6,432                      

Bruce A. Huebner (6)

     1,116                      

Michael W. Nall (7)

     100,000         5.2     2.3

Edward Neff (8)

     43,424         2.4     4.3

Ivor Royston, M.D. (9)

     6,931                      

M. Faye Wilson (10)

     8,834                      

Lyle J. Arnold, Ph. D. (11)

     18,804                      

Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph. D. (12)

     16,436                      

Michael J. Dunn (13)

     5,952                      

William G. Kachioff (14)

     14,979                      

All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (11 persons)

     251,513         12.5     14.0

 

* denotes less than 1%.
(1) The number of shares currently beneficially owned includes 55,555 shares issuable upon conversion of a convertible note held by a family trust controlled by Mrs. Reiss. Also includes outstanding shares held by various family trusts and a private corporation controlled by Mrs. Reiss. The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes approximately 237,000 shares into which notes held by various family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc., a corporation controlled by Mrs. Reiss will be converted upon the completion of this offering and 146,864 shares for which common stock warrants held by various family trusts and Reisung Enterprises, Inc., a corporation controlled by Mrs. Reiss, will become exercisable upon the completion of this offering (each assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus). The address of Mrs. Reiss is 9675 La Jolla Farms Road, La Jolla, California 92037.
(2) The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes 23,809 shares of common stock underlying warrants which will become exercisable upon the completion of this offering. The address of Goodman Co. Ltd. is 108 Fujigaoka, Meito-ku, Nagoya 465-0032 Japan.
(3)

Includes 15,104 shares of common stock underlying stock options. Includes shares held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC, which is controlled by Mr. Hale, and shares held by the Hale Family Trust, which is controlled by Mr. Hale as co-trustee. The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes approximately 42,000 shares of common stock into which notes held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC will be converted upon the completion of this offering and 46,340 shares for which common stock warrants held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC will become exercisable upon the completion of this offering (each assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), approximately 32,621 shares of common stock to underlie the “1% true-up” stock option to be issued to Mr. Hale immediately after the completion of the offering (assuming the sale of 1,818,181 shares in this offering), and approximately 59,136 shares of common stock to be issued upon the settlement of

 

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  restricted stock units, at or immediately after the time of the completion of the offering.
(4) Includes 1,860 shares of common stock underlying stock options.
(5) Includes 2,237 shares of common stock underlying stock options. The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes approximately 950 shares into which a note held by Mr. Gerhardt will be converted upon the completion of this offering and 455 shares for which common stock warrants held by Mr. Gerhardt will become exercisable upon the completion of this offering (each assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus).
(6) Includes 1,116 shares of common stock underlying stock options.
(7) Includes 100,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options.
(8) Includes shares held by Systems, Machines, Automation Components Corporation, which is controlled by Mr. Neff. The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes approximately 76,000 shares into which notes held by Systems, Machines, Automation Components Corporation will be converted upon the completion of this offering and 64,818 shares for which common stock warrants held by Systems, Machines, Automation Components Corporation will become exercisable upon the completion of this offering (each assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus).
(9) Includes 2,073 shares of common stock underlying stock options. Includes shares owned by Dr. Royston’s individual retirement account. The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes 9,285 shares of common stock to be issued upon the settlement of restricted stock units, at or immediately after the time of the completion of the offering.
(10) Includes 2,619 shares of common stock underlying stock options. Includes shares held by Wilson Boyles & Co., LLC, which is controlled by Ms. Wilson. The calculation of the percentage of shares beneficially owned after this offering also includes approximately 2,400 shares into which a note held by Ms. Wilson will be converted upon the completion of this offering and 1,136 shares for which common stock warrants held by Ms. Wilson will become exercisable upon the completion of this offering (each assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus).
(11) Includes 18,804 shares of common stock underlying stock options.
(12) Includes 16,436 shares of common stock underlying stock options.
(13) Includes 5,952 shares of common stock underlying stock options. Mr. Dunn resigned from his positions as a Company officer and employee on July 31, 2013. The address of Mr. Dunn is 1829 El Camino del Teatro, La Jolla, California 92037.
(14) Includes 14,979 shares of common stock underlying stock options.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

Our amended certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, authorizes us to issue up to 40,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. We effected a 1-for-3 reverse common stock split on November 3, 2011 and we effected a 1-for-14 reverse common stock split on November 1, 2013. All common stock share numbers in this prospectus give effect to these reverse common stock splits.

As of September 30, 2013, there were 181,614 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by 172 stockholders. The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2013 does not include (i) an estimated 630,110 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants to purchase common stock as of September 30, 2013, (ii) 192,262 common stock equivalents issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants to purchase preferred stock (the warrants overlying all but 1,587 of which will terminate upon the closing of our initial public offering in accordance with their terms), (iii) 344,565 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase common stock, (iv) 133,971 shares of common stock issuable upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units expressed in common stock, (v) approximately              shares of common stock which would underlie a “1% true-up” stock option to be granted to David F. Hale upon the completion of this offering, (vi) an estimated 33,158 common stock equivalents issuable upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units expressed in preferred stock, (vii) the shares of common stock that will be issued in this offering, (viii) the shares of common stock underlying the underwriters’ over-allotment option, (ix) the shares of common stock that will underlie the representative’s warrant, and (x) other shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 and 2007 Equity Incentive Plans. The above figures assume that we will sell in this offering 1,818,181 shares of common stock (as stated on the cover page of this prospectus) at a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus).

As of September 30, 2013, there were 69,421,047 shares of our Series A preferred stock outstanding. Before the consummation of this offering, all of our outstanding Series A preferred stock will be converted into an aggregate of 1,652,853 shares of our common stock.

The following descriptions of our capital stock and provisions of our amended certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the amended certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect upon completion of this offering, and applicable law. Copies of these documents will be filed with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. The descriptions of the common stock and preferred stock reflect (i) changes to our capital structure that will occur in connection with this offering and (ii) Delaware law.

Common Stock

The holders of our common stock are entitled to the following rights:

Voting Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share in the election of directors and on all other matters on which stockholders are entitled or permitted to vote. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.

Dividend Rights

Subject to the terms of any outstanding series of preferred stock, the holders of our common stock are entitled to dividends in the amounts and at times as may be declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

 

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Liquidation Rights

Upon liquidation or dissolution, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all net assets available for distribution to stockholders after we have paid, or provided for payment of, all of our debts and liabilities, and after payment of any liquidation preferences to holders of our preferred stock.

Other Matters

Holders of our common stock have no redemption, conversion or preemptive rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion right, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. Although we have no present plans to issue any other shares of preferred stock, the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock, could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the common stock, and could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control of us or an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The preferred stock provides for an adjustment of the conversion price in the event of an issuance or deemed issuance at a price less than the applicable conversion price, subject to certain exceptions.

Our currently outstanding Series A preferred stock will all be converted before the effective date of this offering, and all references to the Series A preferred stock will be removed from the amended certificate of incorporation which will be in effect the completion of this offering.

Stock Options

As of September 30, 2013, we had outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 344,565 shares of our common stock with exercise prices ranging from $4.62 to $5.18 per share, with an approximate weighted average exercise price of 5.13 per share. The shares of our common stock underlying all such options will be registered for sale with the SEC as promptly as practicable following the completion of this offering.

Warrants

We have outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common stock as follows:

 

   

Warrants to purchase 23,809 shares of our common stock at an exercise price to be determined in accordance with the warrant agreement, issued to Goodman Co. Ltd. in connection with the June 28, 2013 conversion of its secured promissory note into shares of our Series A preferred stock. The exercise price will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

 

   

Warrants exercisable for an indeterminate number of shares of our common stock issued to investors pursuant to our June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the investor’s respective note principal amount, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. At September 30, 2013, the aggregate note principal amount under the June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement was approximately $4.3 million. Assuming the aggregate principal amount of the notes does not increase and assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), the investors will have an aggregate of 196,136 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with our June 2013 note and warrant purchase agreement. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

 

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Warrants exercisable for an indeterminate number of shares of our common stock issued to guarantors of our July 2013 revolving line of credit from UBS Bank USA. The number of shares underlying the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by the respective guarantors to secure their respective guaranty obligations to UBS Bank USA, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. Assuming the aggregate fair market value of such collateral was approximately $1.8 million and assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), the guarantors will have approximately 85,364 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with this guaranty. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

 

   

Warrants exercisable for an indeterminate number of shares of our common stock issued to our landlord in connection with our September 2013 lease amendment which was effective as of August 1, 2013. The number of shares underlying the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount of $502,605, which is 100% of the five months of base rent forgone by the landlord pursuant to the lease amendment, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering. Assuming a public offering price of $11.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus), the landlord will have 45,691 common stock warrants, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, in connection with this lease amendment. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning on the closing of this offering.

In addition, as of September 30, 2013, we have outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 8,076,430 shares of our Series A preferred stock as follows (all but 66,666 of these warrants will terminate upon the closing of this offering):

 

   

Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 233,333 shares of our Series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $0.60 per share, issued to an investor in connection with our December 2008 note and warrant purchase agreement. These warrants will terminate upon the closing of this offering.

 

   

Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of our Series A preferred stock at an exercise price per share to be determined in accordance with the warrant agreement, issued to Goodman Co. Ltd. in connection with a January 2009 amended and restated loan agreement. These warrants will terminate upon the closing of this offering.

 

   

Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,569,030 shares of our Series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $0.54 per share, issued to investors in connection with our February 2011 note and warrant purchase agreement. These warrants will terminate upon the closing of this offering.

 

   

Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,207,401 shares of our Series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $0.54 per share, issued to investors in connection with our January 2012 note and warrant purchase agreement. These warrants will terminate upon the closing of this offering.

 

   

Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 66,666 shares of our Series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $0.60 per share, issued to our landlord in connection with our September 2012 lease amendment. These warrants are exercisable through September 2019 and, in connection with the closing of this offering, will become exercisable for 1,587 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $25.20 per share.

Convertible Promissory Notes

We executed a note and warrant purchase agreement as of June 2013 with several affiliates to reflect certain prior and possible future borrowings under a series of notes, totaling up to $7.0 million. We had borrowed $0.75 million under this arrangement before December 31, 2012 and we have borrowed another $3.6 million under it in 2013 through September 30, 2013. The principal amount of and accrued interest on each note automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an underwritten initial public offering resulting in at least $8.0 million of gross proceeds to us, at a conversion price equal to the price per share of our common stock sold in our initial public offering.

In December 2008, we issued a $1.4 million secured convertible promissory note to an affiliated trust of Claire K. T. Reiss, our major shareholder and at the time a director. In July 2013 the note was amended to provide that the principal amount of and accrued interest on the note automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an initial public offering, at a conversion price equal to the price per share of our common stock sold in the initial public offering.

 

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Representative’s Warrants

We have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters in this offering warrants to purchase up to 90,909 shares of our common stock at a per share price of 125% of the public offering price. A complete description of the representative’s warrants is included in the “Underwriting – Representative’s Warrants” section of this prospectus.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

The provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws described below may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:

 

   

before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

   

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

   

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loss, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as an entity or person who, together with the person’s affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, or within three years before the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation and/or bylaws provide that:

 

   

our board of directors is classified into three classes of equal (or roughly equal) size, with all directors serving for a three-year term and the directors of only one class being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders, so that the terms of the classes of directors are “staggered”;

 

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the authorized number of directors can be changed only by resolution of our board of directors;

 

   

our bylaws may be amended or repealed by our board of directors or our stockholders;

 

   

no action can be taken by stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with our bylaws, and stockholders may not act by written consent, unless the stockholders amend the certificate of incorporation to provide otherwise;

 

   

stockholders may not call special meetings of the stockholders or fill vacancies on the board;

 

   

our board of directors will be authorized to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of the board of directors and that, if issued, could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our board of directors does not approve;

 

   

our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, and therefore our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors; and

 

   

our stockholders must comply with advance notice provisions to bring business before or nominate directors for election at a stockholder meeting.

Potential Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock

We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may utilize these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate corporate acquisitions or payment as a dividend on the capital stock.

The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could render more difficult or discourage a third-party attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management. In addition, the board of directors has the discretion to determine designations, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences of each series of preferred stock, all to the fullest extent permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law and subject to any limitations set forth in our certificate of incorporation. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to issue preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences applicable to such preferred stock is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible financings, acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or could discourage a third-party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.

Limitations of Director Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees

Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:

 

   

breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

   

transaction from which the directors derived an improper personal benefit.

These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under the federal or state securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

 

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Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, and may indemnify employees and other agents. Our bylaws also provide that we are obligated to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding.

We have obtained a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

We enter into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and officers for any and all expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such directors or officers or on his or her behalf in connection with any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or officers, or any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request provided that such person follows the procedures for determining entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in the indemnification agreement. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might provide a benefit to us and our stockholders. Our results of operations and financial condition may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Its address is 17 Battery Place, 8 th Floor, New York, New York 10004 and its telephone number is (212) 509-4000.

Listing

We have applied to list our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BIOC.”

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Immediately before this offering, there was no public market for our common stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Although we have applied to have our common stock listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, we cannot assure you that there will be an active public market for our common stock.

Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and assuming (1) the issuance of 1,818,181 shares in this offering, (2) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of our common stock, which will occur in connection with this offering, (3) no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock, and (4) no exercise of outstanding options or warrants, we will have outstanding an aggregate of approximately              shares of common stock.

Of these shares, all shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Shares purchased by our affiliates would be subject to the Rule 144 resale restrictions described below, other than the holding period requirement.

 

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The remaining shares of common stock will be “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or 701 under the Securities Act, each of which is summarized below. We expect that substantially all of these shares will be subject to the 180-day lock-up period under the lock-up agreements described below.

In addition, of the 344,565 shares of our common stock that were subject to outstanding stock options as of September 30, 2013, options to purchase 129,171 of such shares of common stock were vested and, upon exercise, these shares will be eligible for sale subject to the lock–up agreements described below and Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. Also, the              shares of our common stock that will underlie outstanding warrants as of immediately after the closing of this offering would, upon exercise, be eligible for sale subject to the lock–up agreements described below and Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Lock-Up Agreements

We and each of our directors and executive officers and significant securityholders have agreed that we and they will not, subject to limited exceptions that are described in more detail in the section in this prospectus entitled “Underwriting,” during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus:

 

   

sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including any short sale), pledge or transfer any shares of our common stock;

 

   

otherwise dispose of any shares of our common stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of our common stock, currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially; or

 

   

publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing.

Aegis Capital Corp. may, in its sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the 180-day period, without public notice, release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements. There are no existing agreements between the underwriters and any of our stockholders who will execute a lock-up agreement providing consent to the sale of shares before the expiration of the restricted period.

Upon the expiration of the lock-up period, substantially all of the shares subject to such lock-up restrictions will become eligible for sale, subject to the limitations discussed above.

Rule 144

Affiliate Resales of Restricted Securities

In general, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, a person who is an affiliate of ours, or who was an affiliate at any time during the 90 days before a sale, who has beneficially owned shares of our common stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell in “broker’s transactions” or certain “riskless principal transactions” or to market makers, a number of shares within any three-month period that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately              shares immediately after this offering; or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume in our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale.

Affiliate resales under Rule 144 are also subject to the availability of current public information about us. In addition, if the number of shares being sold under Rule 144 by an affiliate during any three-month period exceeds 5,000 shares or has an aggregate sale price in excess of $50,000, the seller must file a notice on Form 144 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and The NASDAQ Capital Market concurrently with either the placing of a sale order with the broker or the execution of a sale directly with a market maker.

 

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Non-Affiliate Resales of Restricted Securities

In general, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, a person who is not an affiliate of ours at the time of sale, and has not been an affiliate at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned shares of our common stock for at least six months but less than a year, is entitled to sell such shares subject only to the availability of current public information about us. If such person has held our shares for at least one year, such person can resell under Rule 144(b)(1) without regard to any Rule 144 restrictions, including the 90-day public company requirement and the current public information requirement.

Non-affiliate resales are not subject to the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice filing provisions of Rule 144.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701, any of an issuer’s employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who purchases shares from the issuer in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of a registration statement under the Securities Act is entitled to sell such shares 90 days after such effective date in reliance on Rule 144. An affiliate of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the holding period requirement, and non-affiliates of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the current public information and holding period requirements.

Equity Plans

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options and common stock issued or issuable under our equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plan. We expect to file the registration statement covering shares offered pursuant to our stock plans shortly after the date of this prospectus, permitting the resale of such shares by non-affiliates in the public market without restriction under the Securities Act and the sale by affiliates in the public market subject to compliance with the resale provisions of Rule 144.

Registration Rights

We and two trusts affiliated with our major stockholder Claire K. T. Reiss are parties to an amended and restated investor rights agreement dated October 31, 2011. Under the agreement, the trusts are entitled to piggyback registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock issued or issuable upon conversion of their Series A preferred stock, which currently amounts to 1,346,838 shares of common stock. The piggyback registration rights expire on the third anniversary of the closing of an initial public offering. In addition, our landlord has the right to partake in such piggyback registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series A preferred stock for which its warrant is exercisable, which currently amounts to 1,587 shares of common stock. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming (subject to the expiration of or release from the terms of any applicable lock-up agreement) fully tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the resale registration statement.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Aegis Capital Corp. is acting as the sole manager of the offering and as representative of the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus among us and the representative of the underwriters named below, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase from us, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table.

 

Underwriters

   Number of
Shares

Aegis Capital Corp.

  

Total

  

The underwriters are committed to purchase all the shares of common stock offered by us if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated. The underwriters are not obligated to purchase the shares of common stock covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below. The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Discounts and Commissions

The underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $ per share. After the initial offering of the shares, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the representative.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise of the over-allotment option we granted to the representative of the underwriters.

 

     Per
Share
     Total Without Over-
Allotment Option
     Total With Over-
Allotment Option
 

Public offering price

   $                $                $            

Underwriting discounts and commissions

        

Non-accountable expense allowance

        

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

        

We have agreed to pay a non-accountable expense allowance to the representative of the underwriters equal to 1% of the gross proceeds received in the offering; provided, however, that an allowance shall not be paid in connection with the over-allotment option if the over-allotment option is exercised. We have paid an expense deposit of $50,000 to the representative of the underwriters, which will be applied against accountable expenses that will be paid by us to the representative in connection with this offering, which advance will be refunded to us to the extent not actually incurred by the representative in the event this offering is terminated.

We have also agreed to pay the representative’s expenses relating to the offering, including (a) all actual filing fees incurred in connection with the review of this offering by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, and all fees and expenses relating to the listing of our shares of common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market; (b) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of our officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $2,000 per individual, and not to exceed $15,000 in the aggregate; (c) all actual fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the

 

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registration or qualification of securities offered under state securities laws, or “blue sky” laws, or under the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions designated by the representative; (d) all actual fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of our shares of common stock under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the representative may reasonably designate; (e) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents as the representative may reasonably deem necessary; (f) the costs associated with bound volumes of the public offering materials as well as commemorative mementos and Lucite tombstones, in an amount not to exceed $1,000; (g) the fees and expenses of the representative’s legal counsel not to exceed $50,000, (h) $21,775 for the underwriters’ use of Ipreo’s book-building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for this offering; and (i) up to $20,000 of the representative’s actual accountable road show expenses for the offering.

The total estimated expenses of the offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, are approximately $ million and are payable by us.

Over-Allotment Option

We have granted to the underwriters an option to purchase up to 272,727 additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option for 45 days from the date of this prospectus solely to cover sales of shares of common stock by underwriters in excess of the total number of shares set forth in the table above. If any of these additional shares are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered. We will pay the expenses associated with the exercise of the over-allotment option.

Representative’s Warrants

We have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters warrants to purchase up to 90,909 shares of common stock, which is 5% of the shares sold in this offering, excluding the over-allotment option, as additional compensation. The shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants are identical to those offered by this prospectus. We are registering hereby the warrants and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The warrants are exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis at per share exercise price equal to 125% of the public offering price per share in this offering commencing on a date which is one year from the date of effectiveness and expiring on a date which is no more than five years from the date of effectiveness in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(H)(i). The warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are, therefore, subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. The representative (or permitted assignees under the Rule) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will it engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of these warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days after the effective date. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. The demand registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the date of effectiveness in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(H)(iv). The piggyback registration right provided will not be greater than seven years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(H)(v). We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities issuable on exercise of the warrants, other than underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the holders. The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrant exercise price or underlying shares will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below the warrant exercise price.

Determination of Offering Price

Before this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be negotiated between us and the representative. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations are:

 

   

the prospects for our Company and the industry in which we operate;

 

   

our past and present financial and operating performance;

 

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financial and operating information and market valuations of publicly traded companies engaged in activities similar to ours;

 

   

the prevailing conditions of U.S. securities markets at the time of this offering; and

 

   

other factors deemed relevant.

Lock-Up Agreements

We, our officers and directors and our significant securityholders have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters. Under these agreements, we and these other individuals have agreed, subject to specified exceptions, not to sell or transfer any common stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, common stock, during a period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without first obtaining the written consent of representative of the underwriters.

Specifically, we and these other individuals have agreed not to:

 

   

offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock;

 

   

enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock, whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise;

 

   

make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock; or

 

   

publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing.

The restrictions described above do not apply to:

 

   

the sale of shares of common stock to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement;

 

   

the issuance by us of shares of common stock upon the exercise of an option or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of this prospectus of which the underwriters have been advised in writing or that is described in this prospectus;

 

   

the grant by us of stock options or other stock-based awards, or the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise thereof, to eligible participants pursuant to employee benefit or equity incentive plans described in this prospectus, provided that, before the grant of any such stock options or other stock-based awards that vest within the restricted period, each recipient of such grant shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement agreeing to be subject to the restrictions on transfer described above;

 

   

the establishment of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan under the Exchange Act by a security holder for the sale of shares of common stock, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of common stock during the restricted period;

 

   

transfers by security holders of shares of common stock or other securities as a bona fide gift or by will or intestacy;

 

   

transfers by distribution by security holders of shares of common stock or other securities to partners, members, or shareholders of the security holder; or

 

   

transfers by security holders of shares of common stock or other securities to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the security holder or the immediate family of the security holder;

provided that in the case of each of the preceding three types of transactions, the transfer does not involve a disposition for value and each transferee or distributee signs and delivers a lock-up agreement agreeing to be subject to the restrictions on transfer described above.

 

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The 180-day restricted period is subject to extension if (1) during the last 17 days of the restricted period we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us occurs or (2) before the expiration of the restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, in which case the restrictions imposed in the lock-up agreements will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

Right of First Refusal

Subject to certain conditions, we granted the representative of the underwriters in this offering, for a period of 12 months after the date of effectiveness, a right of first refusal to act as sole book-running manager for each and every future public and private equity and public debt offering.

Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.

NASDAQ Listing

We have applied to list our shares of common stock for trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BIOC.” No assurance can be given that such listing will be approved.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

In order to facilitate the offering of our common stock, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock. In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock in the offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising the over-allotment option or purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. In determining the source of shares of common stock to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market before the completion of the offering.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market.

The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representative of the underwriters purchases common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representative can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.

The underwriters make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

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Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares of common stock to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representative to underwriters and selling group members that may make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ websites and any information contained in any other website maintained by the underwriters is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Notice to Non-U.S. Investors

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive, each of which we refer to as a relevant member state, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state, or the relevant implementation date, an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

 

   

to legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

   

to any legal entity that has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

   

to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of representative for any such offer; or

 

   

in any other circumstances that do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of shares to the public” in relation to any shares of common stock in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the shares, as the same may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state.

Other Relationships

From time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided, and may provide in the future, various advisory, investment and commercial banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. However, except as disclosed in this prospectus, we have no present arrangements with any of the underwriters for any further services.

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

 

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Australia

This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act. Accordingly, (i) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (ii) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (i) above, and (iii) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (i) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer for the offeree under this prospectus.

China

The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to “qualified domestic institutional investors.”

European Economic Area—Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands

The information in this document has been prepared on the basis that all offers of securities will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Directive 2003/71/EC (“Prospectus Directive”), as implemented in Member States of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant Member State”), from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

An offer to the public of securities has not been made, and may not be made, in a Relevant Member State except pursuant to one of the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive as implemented in that Relevant Member State:

(a) to legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

(b) to any legal entity that has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during its last fiscal year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €€ 43,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements) and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €€ 50,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements);

(c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the Company or any underwriter for any such offer; or

(d) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of securities shall result in a requirement for the publication by the Company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

France

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offering of financial securities (offre au public de titres financiers) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) and Articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

 

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Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii) a restricted number of non-qualified investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.

Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the securities cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

Ireland

The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offering of securities in Ireland within the meaning of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the “Prospectus Regulations”). The securities have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i) qualified investors as defined in Regulation 2(l) of the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 natural or legal persons who are not qualified investors.

Israel

The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Israeli Securities Authority, or the ISA, nor have such securities been registered for sale in Israel. The shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with the offering or publishing the prospectus; nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the quality of the securities being offered. Any resale in Israel, directly or indirectly, to the public of the securities offered by this prospectus is subject to restrictions on transferability and must be effected only in compliance with the Israeli securities laws and regulations.

Italy

The offering of the securities in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa, “CONSOB” pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to the securities may be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (“Decree No. 58”), other than:

 

   

qualified investors, as defined in Article 100 of Decree no. 58 by reference to Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (“Regulation no. 1197l”) as amended (“Qualified Investors”); and

 

   

in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offer pursuant to Article 100 of Decree No. 58 and Article 34-ter of Regulation No. 11971 as amended.

Any offer, sale or delivery of the securities or distribution of any offer document relating to the securities in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:

 

   

made by investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993 (as amended), Decree No. 58, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007 and any other applicable laws; and

 

   

in compliance with all relevant Italian securities, tax and exchange controls and any other applicable laws.

Any subsequent distribution of the securities in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such securities being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the securities for any damages suffered by the investors.

 

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Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), as amended (the “FIEL”) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements applicable to a private placement of securities to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3 of the FIEL and the regulations promulgated thereunder). Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires securities may not resell them to any person in Japan that is not a Qualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person of securities is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.

Portugal

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities (oferta pública de valores mobiliários) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code (Código dos Valores Mobiliários). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of securities in Portugal are limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

Sweden

This document has not been, and will not be, registered with or approved by Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the securities be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument). Any offering of securities in Sweden is limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

Switzerland

The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.

This document is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.

United Arab Emirates

Neither this document nor the securities have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor has the Company received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the securities within the United Arab Emirates. This document does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of an offer or invitation. No services relating to the securities, including the receipt of applications and/or the allotment or redemption of such shares, may be rendered within the United Arab Emirates by the Company.

 

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No offer or invitation to subscribe for securities is valid or permitted in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

United Kingdom

Neither the information in this document nor any other document relating to the offer has been delivered for approval to the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom and no prospectus (within the meaning of section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) has been published or is intended to be published in respect of the securities. This document is issued on a confidential basis to “qualified investors” (within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA) in the United Kingdom, and the securities may not be offered or sold in the United Kingdom by means of this document, any accompanying letter or any other document, except in circumstances which do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to section 86(1) FSMA.

This document should not be distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part, nor may its contents be disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom.

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) received in connection with the issue or sale of the securities has only been communicated or caused to be communicated and will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in the United Kingdom in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to us.

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed at, persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (“FPO”), (ii) who fall within the categories of persons referred to in Article 49 (2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the FPO or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (together “relevant persons”). The investments to which this document relates are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C., San Diego, California. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., our independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our balance sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ deficit and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2012, as set forth in their report, which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern. We have included our financial statements in this prospectus and in this registration statement in reliance on the report of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1, including exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act that registers the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering. This prospectus does not contain all the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copies of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.

We will be subject to reporting requirements pursuant to the Exchange Act and we will file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

You may read and copy this information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at prescribed rates. You may obtain information regarding the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

Our website address is www.biocept.com. The information contained in, and that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into and is not part of this prospectus.

 

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GLOSSARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND HEALTHCARE-RELATED ACRONYMS

 

ACA    Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act
ALK    Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
CAP    College of American Pathologists; the leading organization of board-certified pathologists, serving patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide
CE    Conformité Européenne; a conformity mark which is placed on all products including medical devices marketed in the European Economic Area
CLIA    Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988; federal regulatory standards that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on human samples in the United States
CMS    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; a U.S. federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program
CPT    Current Procedure Terminology
CTC    Circulating tumor cell
ctDNA    Circulating tumor DNA
DTC    Disseminated tumor cell
EGFR    Epidermal growth factor receptor
EML4    Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4
EMT    Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
EpCAM    Epithelial cell adhesion molecule
FDA    United States Food and Drug Administration
FISH    Fluorescence in situ Hybridization; a molecular cytogenetic technique that is used to detect chromosomal aberrations that include deletions, amplifications and translocations; DNA FISH probes are fluorescently labeled segments of DNA that are complementary to specific sequences on a chromosome
HER2    Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
HHS    United States Department of Health and Human Services
HIPAA    Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HITECH    Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
IHC    Immunohistochemistry

 

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Table of Contents
IVD    In vitro diagnostic
LDTs    Laboratory Developed Tests; assays developed in the laboratory for diagnostic or prognostic purposes
MAC    Medicare Administrative Contractor
MCTRJCA    Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
NSCLC    Non-small cell lung cancer
PCR    Polymerase chain reaction
ROS1    c-ros oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase

 

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Table of Contents

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BIOCEPT, INC.

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, September  30, 2013 (unaudited) and September 30, 2013 Pro Forma (unaudited)

     F-3   

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December  31, 2011 and 2012 and the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited)

     F-4   

Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December  31, 2011 and 2012 and the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     F-5   

Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December  31, 2011 and 2012 and the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited)

     F-6   

Notes to Financial Statements

     F-8   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Biocept, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Biocept, Inc. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders’ deficit and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Biocept, Inc. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred recurring losses from operations and, as of December 31, 2012, has liabilities significantly in excess of assets. These conditions, among others as discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plan regarding these matters is also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

/s/ Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

San Diego, California

August 16, 2013, except as to Note 17, as to

which the date is November 5, 2013

 

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Table of Contents

Biocept, Inc.

Balance Sheets

 

     December 31,     December 31,     September 30,     Pro Forma
September 30,
     2011     2012     2013     2013
                 (unaudited)     (unaudited)

Current assets:

        

Cash & cash equivalents

   $ 435,292      $ 185,256      $ 302,908     

Accounts receivable

     5,251        18,885        60,484     

Inventories

     —          61,283        90,129     

Prepaid expenses

     367,610        310,442        206,767     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current assets

     808,153        575,866        660,288     

Fixed assets, net

     982,253        624,730        422,801     

Other non-current assets

     269,083        269,083        —       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total assets

   $ 2,059,489      $ 1,469,679      $ 1,083,089     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

   $ 1,033,124      $ 1,387,677      $ 1,266,896     

Line of credit

     —          —          1,490,996     

Notes payable

     12,039,694        21,631,427        4,329,618     

Warrant liability

     923,325        981,747        2,039,577     

Supplier financings - current

     314,445        251,146        60,343     

Accrued liabilities

     1,201,279        3,346,806        2,001,208     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current liabilities

     15,511,867        27,598,803        11,188,638     

Notes payable, net of current portion

     1,575,000        745,000        —       

Supplier financings, net of current portion

     81,191        —          —       

Deferred rent

     268,934        510,771        167,291     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total liabilities

     17,436,992        28,854,574        11,355,929     

Commitments and contingencies (see note 16)

        

Shareholders’ deficit:

        

Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 36,460,000 authorized; 27,175,213 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2012; 100,000,000 authorized and 69,421,047 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013; liquidation preference of $16,305,127 at December 31, 2011 and 2012 and $41,652,628 at September 30, 2013. (see note 9)

     2,718        2,718        6,943     

Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 14,600,000 authorized; 160,393 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2012. 53,000,000 authorized; 181,614 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013. (see note 9)

     160        160        181     

Additional paid-in capital

     85,547,886        85,800,020        109,669,003     

Accumulated deficit

     (100,928,267     (113,187,793     (119,948,967  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total shareholders’ deficit

     (15,377,503     (27,384,895     (10,272,840  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit

   $ 2,059,489      $ 1,469,679      $ 1,083,089     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Biocept, Inc.

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

 

     For the year ended December 31,     For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

Revenues

   $ 1,052      $ 109,289      $ 88,342      $ 115,445   

Cost of revenues

     17,322        1,201,694        756,524        1,759,568   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit/(loss)

     (16,270     (1,092,405     (668,182     (1,644,123

Operating expenses

        

Research and development expenses

     8,853,350        6,562,152        5,304,444        2,375,892   

General and administrative expenses

     2,728,442        2,063,199        1,612,720        1,736,192   

Sales and marketing expenses

     672,934        785,319        603,546        129,678   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (12,270,996     (10,503,075     (8,188,892     (5,885,885

Other income/(expense)

        

Interest expense, net

     (1,699,607     (2,187,499     (1,528,707     (1,435,087

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     361,186        454,389        421,808        593,365   

Other income/(expense)

     (19,069     (22,541     (15,810     (32,767
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income/(expense)

     (1,357,490     (1,755,651     (1,122,709     (874,489
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (13,628,486     (12,258,726     (9,311,601     (6,760,374

Income tax expense

     800        800        800        800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss & comprehensive loss

   $ (13,629,286   $ (12,259,526   $ (9,312,401   $ (6,761,174
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:

        

Basic

     113,754        160,393        160,393        180,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     113,754        160,393        160,393        180,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per common share:

        

Basic

   $ (119.81   $ (76.43   $ (58.06   $ (37.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ (119.81   $ (76.43   $ (58.06   $ (37.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders (unaudited):

        

Basic

        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:

        

Basic

        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Biocept, Inc.

Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit

 

    Preferred Stock           Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total  
    Series A     Series AA     Series BB     Common Stock        
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount        

Balance at December 31, 2010

    —        $ —          20,442,883      $ 2,044        8,939,990      $ 894        104,903      $ 105      $ 85,365,465      $ (87,298,981   $ (1,930,473

Shares surrendered as part of investor settlement

    —          —          (143,140     (14     —          —          (1,193     (1     15        —          —     

Conversion from Series AA preferred stock to common stock

    —          —          (2,064,520     (206     —          —          49,155        49        157        —          —     

Conversion from Series AA and Series BB preferred stock to Series A preferred stock

    27,175,213        2,718        (18,235,223     (1,824     (8,939,990     (894     —          —          —          —          —     

Exercise of stock options

    —          —          —          —          —          —          10,212        10        47,173        —          47,183   

Retirement of common stock

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (2,684     (3     3        —          —     

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          135,073        —          135,073   

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (13,629,286     (13,629,286
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

    27,175,213        2,718        —          —          —          —          160,393        160        85,547,886        (100,928,267     (15,377,503

Stock-based compensation expense

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          252,134        —          252,134   

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (12,259,526     (12,259,526
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

    27,175,213        2,718        —          —          —          —          160,393        160        85,800,020        (113,187,793     (27,384,895
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          683,396        —          683,396   

Stock issuance for RSU (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          21,846        22        (22     —          —     

Exercise of stock options (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          85        —          395        —          395   

Repurchase of common shares (unaudited)

                (710     (1     (4,110     —          (4,111

Shares issued for conversion of notes payable and accrued interest of $20.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively (unaudited)

    42,245,834        4,225        —          —          —          —          —          —          22,808,179        —          22,812,404   

Reclassification of warrant liability derivative due to triggering event (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          381,145        —          381,145   

Net loss (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (6,761,174     (6,761,174
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

    69,421,047      $ 6,943        —        $ —          —        $ —          181,614      $ 181      $ 109,669,003      $ (119,948,967   $ (10,272,840
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Biocept, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

 

     For the year ended December 31,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

        

Net loss

   $ (13,629,286   $ (12,259,526   $ (9,312,401   $ (6,761,174

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

     369,312        365,568        293,159        202,641   

Inventory reserve

     44,854        56,004        20,133        68,496   

Stock-based compensation

     135,073        252,134        212,667        683,396   

Non-cash interest expense related to convertible debt and other financing activities

     1,617,074        2,159,234        1,490,921        1,302,136   

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

     (361,186     (454,389     (421,808     (593,365

Loss on sale of fixed assets

     1,899        —          —          —     

Increase/(decrease) in cash resulting from changes in:

        

Accounts receivable

     (5,251     (13,634     (8,960     (41,599

Inventory

     (44,854     (117,287     (129,147     (97,342

Prepaid expenses

     (146,584     77,654        175,929        (25,255

Other assets

     5,000        —          —          269,083  

Accounts payable

     854,748        354,553        262,503        (120,781

Accrued liabilities

     195,408        730,836        365,388        271,470   

Deferred rent

     (20,580     241,837        332,306        (34,749
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (10,984,373     (8,607,016     (6,719,310     (4,877,043

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

        

Purchases of fixed assets

     (295,373     (8,046     (8,046     (711
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (295,373     (8,046     (8,046     (711

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

        

Principal payments on capital lease obligations

     (37,813     —          —          —     

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     47,182        —          —          395  

Payments for repurchase of shares

     —          —          —          (4,111

Payments on supplier and other third party financings

     (135,704     (164,974     (184,454     (61,874

Proceeds from borrowings on line of credit

           1,490,996   

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable

     —          5,960,000        4,775,000        —     

Principal payments on note payable

     (180,000     —          —          —     

Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes and warrants

     10,511,427        2,570,000        1,775,000        3,570,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     10,205,092        8,365,026        6,364,546        4,995,406   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (1,074,654     (250,036     (362,810     117,652   

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     1,509,946        435,292        435,292        185,256   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 435,292      $ 185,256      $ 72,482      $ 302,908   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

        

Cash paid during the period for:

        

Interest

   $ 84,866      $ 28,276      $ 28,276     $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Taxes

   $ 800      $ 800      $ 800      $ 800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Biocept, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:

During 2011, the Company financed additions to fixed assets of $399,812 through supplier financings.

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company financed insurance premiums of $131,528 and $128,929, respectively, through third party financings. Such financings occur on an annual basis during the three months ended December 31 of each year.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 21,846 shares of common stock, with a par value of $.0001, were issued for restricted stock units. (unaudited)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, convertible notes with a principal balance of $20,231,000 and accrued interest of $2,581,000 were converted into 42,245,834 shares of preferred stock. In conjunction with this conversion, $236,799 of derivative warrant liabilities were reclassified to additional paid-in capital, as the underlying exercise prices on the warrants were determined by the debt conversion. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2013, an additional $144,346 of derivative warrant liabilities were reclassified to additional paid-in capital when their underlying exercise price was fixed. (unaudited)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company issued to its landlord a warrant to purchase common shares with a warrant coverage amount of $502,605 and an exercise price equal to the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in the Company’s IPO. The fair value of the warrant as calculated under the Company’s probability weighted Black-Scholes valuation model (See Note 7) was approximately $309,000 at September 30, 2013 which is recorded on the balance sheet as a component of deferred rent and warrant liability.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-7


Table of Contents

BIOCEPT, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. The Company and Business Activities

Biocept, Inc. (“the Company”) was founded in California in May 1997 and is a commercial-stage cancer diagnostics company developing and commercializing proprietary circulating tumor cell (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) tests utilizing a standard blood sample to improve the treatment that oncologists provide to their patients by providing better, more detailed information on the characteristics of their tumor.

The Company operates a clinical laboratory that is CLIA-certified (under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1988) and CAP-accredited (by the College of American Pathologists), and manufactures CEE microfluidic channels, related equipment and certain reagents to perform the Company’s diagnostic tests in a facility located in San Diego, California. CLIA certification and accreditation are required before any clinical laboratory may perform testing on human specimens for the purpose of obtaining information for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment of disease, or assessment of health. The tests the Company offers are classified as laboratory developed tests (LDTs), under the CLIA regulations.

In July 2013, the Company effected a reincorporation to Delaware by merging itself with and into Biocept, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which had been formed to be and was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company since July 23, 2013.

2. Going Concern

At December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $100,928,000, $113,188,000, and $119,949,000, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company incurred net losses of approximately $13,629,000, $12,260,000, and $6,761,174, respectively. In addition, as of September 30, 2013, the Company had notes payable and amounts outstanding under a line of credit due within one year totaling approximately $5,820,614. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In order to continue operations, the Company will need additional operating funds. The Company borrowed a total of $10,511,000, $8,530,000, and $5,061,000 during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, under note agreements with certain shareholders and a line of credit. However, additional funding will be required to sustain operations into 2014.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the Company to continue as a going concern.

Management’s Plan to Continue as a Going Concern

In order to continue as a going concern, the Company will need, among other things, additional capital resources. Management’s plans to obtain such resources for the Company include (1) obtaining capital from the sale of its equity securities, (2) laboratory service revenue, and (3) short-term borrowings from banks, shareholders or other related party(ies) when needed. Management cannot provide any assurance that the Company will be successful in accomplishing any of its plans.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

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Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates and judgments, including those related to inventories, long-lived assets, convertible debt, derivative liabilities, income taxes, and stock-based compensation. The Company bases its estimates on various assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying balance sheet as of September 30, 2013, statements of operations and comprehensive loss and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013, and the statement of shareholders’ deficit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are unaudited. The unaudited financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to fairly state the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2013 and results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013. The financial data and other information disclosed in the notes to the financial statements related to September 30, 2013 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013 are unaudited.

Unaudited Pro Forma Information

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of September 30, 2013 gives effect to (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of the Company’s Series A preferred stock into 1,652,853 shares of common stock, (ii) the conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest in the amount of $[            ] million into an aggregate of [            ] shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, (iii) the issuance of an estimated 33,158 shares of common stock upon such initial public offering pursuant to the settlement of certain restricted stock units (which are currently expressed in shares of preferred stock) in accordance with their terms, (iv) the termination of certain warrants upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering in accordance with their terms and (v) the reclassification to shareholders’ deficit of the fair value of certain warrants the exercise price and/or exercisability period length of which will be fixed upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering in accordance with their terms, assuming for all such items an initial public offering price of $[        ] per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of the Company’s prospectus.

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of September 30, 2013 assumes that the completion of the Company’s initial public offering had occurred as of September 30, 2013 and excludes shares of common stock issued in the initial public offering and any related net proceeds.

The pro forma information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of the Company’s initial public offering determined at pricing.

Reverse Stock Split and Change in Par Value of Common Stock and Preferred Stock

In November 2011, the Company effected a one-for-three reverse stock split of the Company’s common shares. In addition, in July 2013, in conjunction with its reincorporation in the state of Delaware, the Company initiated par values for preferred and common shares equal to $0.0001. As such, all references to share and per share amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes to the financial statements have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1:3 reverse stock split and the change in par value. See Note 17.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition , and ASC 954-605 Health Care Entities, Revenue Recognition which requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred and title and the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the client or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. For contract partners, revenue is recorded based upon the contractually

 

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agreed upon fee schedule. When assessing collectability, the Company considers whether there is sufficient payment history to reliably estimate a payor’s individual payment patterns. For new tests where there is limited evidence of payment history at the time the tests are completed, the Company recognizes revenue equal to the amount of cash received until such time as reimbursement experience can be established.

The Company’s main source of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is through contracted partners. This revenue is derived from clinical laboratory testing performed in our laboratories under our agreements with such partners. As there is a contractually agreed upon price, and collectability from our partners is reasonably assured, revenues for these tests are earned at the time the test is completed and the results are delivered to our partners or a third party.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with reputable financial institutions that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). At times, deposits held may exceed the amount of insurance provided by the FDIC. The Company has not experienced any losses in its cash and cash equivalents and believes they are not exposed to any significant credit risk.

Fair Value Measurement

The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the Company’s fair value measurements. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. The Company believes the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their estimated fair values due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, the Company classified the fair value measurements of the Company’s warrant liability derivative as Level 3. See Note 7 for further details about the inputs and assumptions used to determine the fair value of the warrant liability at each balance sheet date.

The values attributed to such warrants as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and September 30, 2013 were as follows:

 

     Fair Value Measurements Using  
     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Liabilities

        

Warrant Liability at December 31, 2011

     —           —         $ 923,325   

Warrant Liability at December 31, 2012

     —           —         $ 981,747   

Warrant Liability at September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     —           —         $ 2,039,577   

 

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The following table includes a summary of changes in the fair value of the warrants for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013:

 

     Fair Value Measurements
at Reporting Date Using
Significant Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 

Balance at December 31, 2010

   $ —     

Warrant liability incurred in 2011

     1,284,511   

Change in fair value in 2011

     (361,186
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     923,325   

Warrant liability incurred in 2012

     512,811   

Change in fair value in 2012

     (454,389
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     981,747   

Warrant liability incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     2,032,340   

Warrant liability reclassified to additional paid-in capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     (381,145

Change in fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     (593,365
  

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

   $ 2,039,577   
  

 

 

 

Concentration of Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments. The Company has not experienced losses in such accounts. Management believes that the Company is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect to its cash and cash equivalents.

In 2012, the Company launched commercial operations in partnership with a commercial partner, Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. (“Clarient”), a GE Healthcare Company. For the year ended December 31, 2012, 79% of the revenue earned was billed through this relationship. In addition, at December 31, 2012, 100% of the receivables were due from Clarient. As of September 30, 2013, three customers made up 81%, 12% and 7% of accounts receivable. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, three customers made up 74%, 13% and 12% of total revenues.

All of the Company’s sales for all periods presented were generated in the United States of America.

Certain components used in the Company’s current or planned products are available from only one supplier, and substitutes for these components cannot be obtained easily or would require substantial design or manufacturing modifications or identification and qualification of alternative sources.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amounts, less an estimate for doubtful receivables, based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a periodic basis. The estimate for doubtful receivables is determined from an analysis of the accounts receivable on a quarterly basis, and is recorded as bad debt expense. As the Company only recognizes revenue to the extent collection is expected and reasonably assured, bad debt expense related to receivables from patient service revenue is recorded in general and administrative expense in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, management determined that all of the amounts recorded as accounts receivable were collectible, and no allowance for doubtful accounts was needed.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined by the average cost method. The Company records adjustments to its inventory for estimated obsolescence or diminution in market value equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and the estimated market value. At the point of a loss recognition, a new cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.

 

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Fixed Assets

Fixed assets consist of machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, computer equipment and software, leasehold improvements, capital leased equipment and construction in process. Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Additions, improvements, and major renewals are capitalized. Maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease or the asset, whichever is shorter. Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited) was approximately $369,000, $366,000, $293,159 and $202,641, respectively.

Upon sale, retirement or disposal of fixed assets, the accounts are relieved of the cost and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization with any gain or loss recorded to the statement of operations.

Fixed assets are reviewed for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. These computations utilize judgments and assumptions inherent in the estimates of future cash flows to determine recoverability of these assets. If the assumptions about these assets were to change as a result of events or circumstances, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss.

Warrant Liability

Warrants for shares that are contingently redeemable and for which the exercise price is not fixed are classified as liabilities on the accompanying balance sheets and carried at their estimated fair value, determined through use of a Black-Scholes valuation model. As of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, and as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2013, the Company evaluated and concluded that the fair value obtained from the Black-Scholes method of valuing the warrant liability does not materially differ from the valuation of such warrants using the Monte Carlo or binomial lattice simulation models, and therefore the use of the Black-Scholes valuation model was considered a reasonable method to value the warrants. At the end of each reporting period, any changes in fair value are recorded as a component of other income (expense). The Company will continue to adjust the carrying value of the warrants until the earlier of the exercise of the warrants or the completion of a liquidation event, including the completion of an initial public offering under the Securities Act (“IPO”), at which time the exercise price will be fixed for the surviving warrants, and the fair value of those warrants will be reclassified to shareholders’ deficit.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation , which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors based on estimated fair values on the grant date. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“Black-Scholes valuation model”). The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods using the straight-line method. The Company estimates forfeitures at the time of grant and revises these estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. See additional information in Note 10.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards to non-employees in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees (“ASC 505-50”). Under ASC 505-50, the Company determines the fair value of the warrants or stock-based compensation awards granted as either the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. All issuances of equity instruments issued to non-employees as consideration for goods or services received by the Company are accounted for based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued. These awards are recorded in expense and additional paid-in capital in shareholders’ equity over the applicable service periods based on the fair value of the options at the end of each period.

 

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Calculating the fair value of stock-based awards requires the input of highly subjective assumptions into the Black-Scholes valuation model. Stock-based compensation expense is calculated using the Company’s best estimates, which involves inherent uncertainties, and the application of management’s judgment. Significant estimates include the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant, the expected life of the stock option, stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate and forfeiture rates.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amounts expensed in the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited) were approximately $8,853,000, $6,562,000, $5,304,444, and $2,375,892, respectively, which includes salaries of research and development personnel.

Income Taxes

The Company provides for income taxes utilizing the liability method. Under the liability method, current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is computed for the expected future impact of differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax credits. Tax rate changes are reflected in the computation of the income tax provision during the period such changes are enacted.

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in management’s opinion, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The Company’s valuation allowance is based on available evidence, including its current year operating loss, evaluation of positive and negative evidence with respect to certain specific deferred tax assets including evaluation sources of future taxable income to support the realization of the deferred tax assets. The Company has established a full valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, and therefore has not recognized any income tax benefit or expense in the periods presented.

ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements. ASC 740 provides that a tax benefit from uncertain tax positions may be recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized. ASC 740 also provides guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. There is no accrual for interest or penalties for income taxes on the balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013 (unaudited), and the Company has not recognized interest and/or penalties in the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited).

 

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB amended its authoritative guidance on the measurement and disclosure for fair value measurements. The amendment clarifies the application of certain existing fair value measurement guidance and expands the disclosures for fair value measurements that are estimated using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2012. The Company adopted this amendment on January 1, 2012. The adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB amended its authoritative guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. Under the amendment, companies have the option to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in separate but consecutive statements. This amendment eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. The amendment does not change the items that companies must report in other comprehensive income or when companies must reclassify an item of other comprehensive income to net income. In December 2011, the FASB issued an update that defers the presentation requirement for other comprehensive income reclassifications on the face of the financial statements. The guidance is effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011, and was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2012. The Company adopted this amendment on January 1, 2012. As this guidance relates to presentation only, the adoption of this guidance did not have any other effect on the Company’s financial statements.

4. Balance Sheet Details

The following provides certain balance sheet details:

 

     December 31,      September 30,  
     2011      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)  

Fixed Assets

        

Machinery and equipment

   $ 2,753,379       $ 2,761,560       $ 2,761,560   

Furniture and office equipment

     209,844         209,844         209,844   

Computer equipment and software

     681,508         681,508         681,508   

Leasehold improvements

     373,653         373,653         373,653   

Capital lease equipment

     677,000         677,000         677,000   

Construction in process

     11,724         11,588         12,300   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,707,108         4,715,153         4,715,865   

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     3,724,855         4,090,423         4,293,064   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed assets, net

   $ 982,253       $ 624,730       $ 422,801   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accrued Liabilities

        

Accrued interest

   $ 577,233       $ 1,963,007       $ 389,926   

Accrued payroll

     252,363         185,150         66,676   

Deferred wages

     67,656         972,405         1,316,780   

Accrued vacation

     292,834         224,187         218,558   

Other

     11,193         2,057         9,268   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued liabilities

   $ 1,201,279       $ 3,346,806       $ 2,001,208   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, other non-current assets of $269,000 consisted solely of deposits for the San Diego building, which is leased under a non-cancelable operating lease. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company amended its lease agreement and forfeited the balance. See Note 17.

 

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5. Line of Credit

In July 2013, the Company entered into a revolving line of credit with UBS Bank USA in the initial amount of $1.5 million. Interest accrues daily on the outstanding balance and is paid monthly at a variable rate which, as of September 30, 2013, was 2.75% over the 30 day LIBOR rate or an effective annual interest rate of 2.93%. As of September 30, 2013, the amount outstanding under this revolving line of credit is $1.5 million. Three of the Company’s related parties guaranteed the loan and pledged financial assets to the bank to secure their guaranties, as approved by the Company’s board of directors. In return, the Company issued common stock warrants to the guarantors. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by the respective guarantors to secure their respective guaranty obligations to the bank, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in its IPO. See Note 7 for further discussion of the warrant liabilities. The Company has entered into an agreement with the guarantors that provides for reimbursement of any amounts paid by them on their guaranties. This reimbursement obligation is secured by a security interest in the Company’s assets.

6. Notes Payable

Below is a summary of the Company’s short-term and long-term debt obligations as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013:

 

     December 31,      September 30,  
     2011      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)  

Note payable to shareholder; principal and interest payable in quarterly installments until maturity on April 2015, bearing interest at a per annum fixed rate of 3.25%. As of June 28, 2013, the note payable was converted into preferred shares. (“Goodman Note”) (See Note 7)

   $ 1,935,000       $ 1,935,000       $ —     

Secured convertible note to a major shareholder, net of discount related to a beneficial conversion of $45,398 and $0 and $0 at December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively. (“2008 Convertible Note”) (See Note 7)

     1,354,602         1,400,000         1,400,000   

Secured convertible notes, net of discounts related to warrants aggregating to $186,335 and $0 and $0 at December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively. Total includes convertible notes due to a major shareholder of $10,000,000 and $11,250,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. As of June 28, 2013, the notes payable were converted into preferred shares. (“2011 Convertible Bridge Notes”) (See Note 7)

     10,325,092         12,336,427         —     

Notes payable to shareholders issued in 2012, net of discounts related to warrants aggregating to $0 and $0 at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively. Includes notes of $5,810,000 to a major shareholder at December 31, 2012. As of June 28, 2013, the notes payable were converted into preferred shares. (“2012 Revolver Notes”) (See Note 7)

     —           5,960,000         —     

 

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     December 31,      September 30,  
     2011      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)  

Unsecured convertible notes, issued under a note and warrant purchase agreement dated as of June 28, 2013, net of discounts related to warrants aggregating $0 and $1,013,863 at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively. Includes notes of $720,000 and $2,505,000 to a major shareholder at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively. (“2013 Convertible Bridge Notes”) (See Note 7)

     —           745,000         3,301,137   

Other debt discount (See Notes 5 and 7)

     —           —           (371,519
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total notes payable

     13,614,694         22,376,427         4,329,618   

Less current portion

     12,039,694         21,631,427         4,329,618   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term portion

   $ 1,575,000       $ 745,000       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Except for the non-current balance of the 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes, all outstanding notes payable and convertible notes payable were classified as current as of December 31, 2012, as the Company was unable to make principal and interest payments on these notes during the year ended December 31, 2012, or prior to the conversion of certain of the notes as of June 28, 2013. None of the lenders had sought any remedy for this default as of December 31, 2012 or prior to the conversion of the notes as of June 28, 2013.

On June 28, 2013, approximately $20,231,000 of outstanding notes payable and $2,581,000 of accrued interest were converted into 42,245,834 preferred shares, in accordance with the provisions of the debt conversion agreements of that date. As of September 30, 2013, all remaining principal payments for outstanding notes payable and convertible notes are due within one year.

Total interest expense incurred for all notes, convertible notes, and the line of credit, including amortization of debt discounts, for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited) was approximately $1,683,000, $2,125,000 and $1,435,087, respectively, of which approximately $577,000, $1,957,000 and $390,000 was recorded as accrued interest as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively.

7. Convertible Notes and Warrants

Outstanding Warrants – Preferred Shares

Goodman Note

During April 2005, the Company entered into an unsecured loan agreement for $15,000,000. The note required interest payments and principal settlement upon maturity at the earliest of (a) April 20, 2010, (b) the Company being acquired, or (c) the Company having a change in control, other than through the sale of preferred shares.

During January 2009, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement of the unsecured amended loan, whereby the parties agreed that the principal amount would be reduced to $3,000,000. The amended and restated unsecured note bears interest at a variable rate per annum based on prime plus 25 basis points. 25% of the accrued interest was due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last business day of each three-month quarter beginning February 1, 2009. The remaining 75% of the accrued interest was not to be compounded by becoming part of the principal, and was due and payable in a lump-sum payment on the maturity date. The principal and any interest amounts that remain outstanding was set to mature at the earlier of (a) April 20, 2010, or (b) the date immediately prior to the Company’s closing of an acquisition or asset transfer as defined by the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation.

 

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In conjunction with the 2009 amendment, the Company issued a warrant to purchase preferred shares issued in the first equity financing to occur subsequent to the execution of the note, and in which the Company receives at least $2,000,000 in gross aggregate proceeds. The exercise price of the warrant is equal to the per share price of preferred shares sold in that equity financing, and the number of shares that may be exercised is equal to 10% of the principal amount of the convertible loan divided by the exercise price. Early termination of the warrant can occur upon an IPO, or if the Company is acquired. The holder of the warrant is to be given 20 days advance notice of such an event, and the warrant will terminate if not exercised before the date of the event.

A qualifying equity financing occurred during February 2009, which set the warrant exercise price at $0.60 per share.

During May 2010, the Company entered into a second amendment and restatement of the Goodman Note in order to extend the maturity date and amend the timing of payments to be made to the lender and to secure the Company’s obligations under the note. The secured amended and restated note bears interest at a per annum fixed rate of 3.25% and is due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last business day of each three-month quarter beginning May 1, 2010. On the effective date of the second amendment, the Company paid the lender $750,000 which was applied to the principal balance of $3,000,000. Beginning May 1, 2010, principal payments are due and payable quarterly in advance. For principal payments due and payable during the period of May 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011, the quarterly principal payment was equal to $45,000; for principal payments due and payable during the period of February 1, 2012 through January 31, 2014, the quarterly principal payment is equal to $90,000; and for principal payments due and payable during the period of February 1, 2014 through the maturity date, the quarterly principal payment is equal to $150,000. In addition to the $750,000 principal paid on the effective date of the amendment, the Company paid principal payments of $135,000 and $180,000 during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. No principal payments were made during the year ended December 31, 2012 or the nine months ended September 30, 2013. As of June 28, 2013 the holder of the Goodman Note agreed to convert the total principal balance owed under the Goodman Note of $1,935,000 and accrued interest of approximately $105,000 into 3,777,324 preferred shares at a conversion price of $0.54 per share. Although the conversion price of the debt was greater than the value of the preferred shares at the time of conversion, the Company did not record a gain on the conversion under the troubled debt restructuring accounting guidance since the transaction occurred between related parties, and thus, was treated as a capital transaction.

2008 Convertible Note

In December 2008, the Company issued a convertible note in the principal amount of $1,400,000 which is secured by all assets of the Company to an affiliate of a major shareholder. The 2008 Convertible Note bears interest at a variable rate based on prime per annum payable at maturity, and matures at the earliest occurrence of, (a) the passing of 48 months from inception of the note, (b) the closing date of an acquisition or asset transfer as defined by the note, or (c) the closing date of the issuance and sale of shares of common stock of the Company in the Company’s IPO.

Upon the closing of a sale by the Company of its preferred shares in which the Company receives an aggregate of at least $20,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, including conversion of the convertible loan amount before the maturity date, the unpaid principal and accrued interest shall automatically be converted into the number of preferred shares, of the series sold by the Company in such sale, equal to the unpaid principal and accrued interest divided by the per share purchase price of the preferred shares in such sale. The 2008 Convertible Note may also be converted before the maturity date at the option of the holder at the closing of an equity financing involving the sale of the Company’s preferred shares in which the Company receives an aggregate of at least $2,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, with a conversion price equal to the per share price included in that equity financing. In July 2013, the Company amended the 2008 Convertible Note to provide that all principal and accrued interest on the note would automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an IPO at the price per share at which common stock is sold in such IPO.

Issued with the 2008 Convertible Note was a warrant to purchase preferred shares issued in the first equity financing to occur subsequent to the execution of the 2008 Convertible Note, and in which the Company receives at least $2,000,000 in gross aggregate proceeds. The exercise price of the warrant is equal to the per share price of preferred shares sold in that equity financing, and the number of shares that may be exercised is equal to 10% of the principal amount of the convertible loan divided by the exercise price. Early termination of the warrant can occur upon an IPO or if the Company is acquired. The holder of the warrant is to be given 20 days advance notice of such an event, and the warrant will terminate if not exercised before the date of the event.

A qualifying equity financing occurred during February 2009, which set the 2008 Convertible Note conversion price and the warrant exercise price at $0.60 per share. The 2008 Convertible Note remains outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2012, and September 30, 2013.

 

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2011 Convertible Bridge Notes

In February 2011, the Company executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with a major shareholder’s affiliates. In exchange for a series of loans in an aggregate amount equal to $5,000,000 over a period through September 1, 2011, the Company issued secured convertible promissory notes and warrants to purchase preferred shares. The aggregate amount was subsequently raised to $6,000,000 and then $15,000,000 during the year and the funding period was first extended to February 2012 and then to December 2012. Other investors, including related parties, also became party to this arrangement and purchased 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes and warrants.

All unpaid principal and interest outstanding was initially payable on December 31, 2011. During 2012, the maturity date was extended to December 31, 2012. The 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes are secured by virtually all of the assets of the Company. The 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes bear interest at 8%, payable at maturity. The number of preferred shares for which the warrants are exercisable is determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 20% of the principal amount of the notes issued under the agreement, by the exercise price.

Upon the closing of the sale by the Company of its preferred stock in which the Company receives an aggregate of at least $20,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, including conversion of the 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes, before the maturity date, the unpaid principal and accrued interest shall automatically be converted into the number of preferred shares, of the series sold by the Company in such sale, equal to the unpaid principal and accrued interest divided by the per share purchase price of the preferred shares in such sale. At any time before the maturity date the investor may elect to convert all or any amount of the unpaid principal and accrued interest into the Company’s Series A preferred shares at $0.54 per share. Early termination of the warrants can occur upon an IPO or if the Company is acquired. The holders of the warrants are to be given 20 days advance notice of such an event, and the warrants will terminate if not exercised before the date of the event.

In accordance with guidance applicable to accounting for derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the warrants are initially recorded at their fair value and are then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. For stock-based derivative financial instruments issued under the note and warrant purchase agreement dated February 2011, the Company used the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company recorded approximately $1,400,000 related to the fair value of the warrants at the date of issuance, as a discount to the carrying value of the 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes, accreted as interest expense over the life of the debt. The Company valued the warrants at the date of each issuance using the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following underlying assumptions: contractual term of 5 years, an underlying preferred share price between $0.25 and $0.54, an exercise price of $0.54, an average risk-free interest rate between 0.70% and 2.26%, a dividend yield of 0%, and volatilities between 100.0% and 105.0%. Approximately $1,098,000 and $302,000 related to accretion of the discount was recognized as interest expense during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The discount was fully accreted as of December 31, 2012.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company had issued the 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $10,511,000 and $12,336,000, respectively. No further note or warrant issuances were made under this agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was in default for payment on the 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes, and no principal payments were made in 2013 prior to their conversion. As of June 28, 2013 the investors under these notes elected to convert the total principal balance owed under the 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes of approximately $12,336,000 and accrued interest of approximately $1,832,000 into 26,237,611 preferred shares at a conversion price of $0.54 per share. Upon the conversion, the exercise price of the related warrants was set at $0.54 per share, and the $236,799 fair value of the warrants was reclassified into additional paid-in capital as of June 28, 2013. Although the conversion price of the debt was greater than the value of the preferred shares at the time of conversion, the Company did not record a gain on the conversion under the troubled debt restructuring accounting guidance since the transaction occurred between related parties, and thus, was treated as a capital transaction.

 

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2012 Revolver Notes

On January 13, 2012, the Company executed a note and warrant purchase agreement with several shareholders, including a major shareholder, calling for (in addition to the issuance of certain related warrants) the issuance of a series of notes to be issued between January 13, 2012 and April 5, 2012 totaling up to $1,750,000, with an original maturity date in April 2012. The 2012 Revolver Notes were amended on April 5, 2012 to extend the maturity date to May 31, 2012 or July 31, 2012, depending on certain milestones, and to allow the Company to issue up to $5,000,000 in notes payable under this agreement, as needed. The 2012 Revolver Notes were amended again on November 8, 2012 to increase the amount of notes payable the Company can issue to $8,000,000, and to provide that all notes issued under this agreement shall have the same maturity date of either November 30, 2012 or December 31, 2012, depending on certain milestones. The 2012 Revolver Notes bear interest at 10%, payable at maturity.

Beginning on the closing of the sale by the Company of its preferred shares in which the Company receives an aggregate of at least $20,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, the warrants are exercisable for preferred shares of the series sold by the Company in such sale, at an exercise price equal to the purchase price per share of the preferred shares sold by the Company in such sale. The number of preferred shares for which the warrants are exercisable is determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 20% of the principal amount of the notes issued under the agreement on the issuance date of such 2012 Revolver Notes, by the exercise price. At any time prior to the maturity date, the investor may elect to convert all or any amount of the unpaid principal and accrued interest into the Company’s Series A preferred stock at $0.54 per share, or if a qualified financing has occurred, at the purchase price per share of the preferred shares sold by the Company in such qualified financing. Early termination of the warrant can occur upon an IPO, or if the Company is acquired. The holders of the warrants are to be given 20 days advance notice of such an event, and the warrants will terminate if not exercised before the date of the event.

In accordance with guidance applicable to accounting for derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the warrants are initially recorded at their fair value and are then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. For the 2012 Revolver Notes and warrants issued under the note and warrant purchase agreement dated January 13, 2012, the Company used the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company recorded approximately $396,000 related to the fair value of the warrants issued, as a discount to the carrying value of the debt, accreted as interest expense over the life of the debt. The Company valued the warrants at the date of each issuance using the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following underlying assumptions: contractual term of 5 years, an underlying preferred share price between $0.24 and $0.30, an exercise price of $0.54, an average risk-free interest rate between 0.62% and 1.02%, a dividend yield of 0%, and volatility of 105.0%. Approximately $0 and $396,000 related to accretion of the discount was recognized as interest expense during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had issued $5,960,000 in notes payable under the 2012 Revolver Notes agreement. The Company was in default for payment of these notes as of December 31, 2012, and no principal payments were made in 2013 prior to conversion. As of June 28, 2013 the investors under the 2012 Revolver Notes elected to convert the total principal balance of approximately $5,960,000 owed under the 2012 Revolver Notes and accrued interest of approximately $645,000 into 12,230,899 preferred shares at a conversion price of $0.54 per share, pursuant to note conversion agreements of that date. Although the conversion price of the debt was greater than the value of the preferred shares at the time of conversion, the Company did not record a gain on the conversion under the troubled debt restructuring accounting guidance since the transaction occurred between related parties, and thus, was treated as a capital transaction. On September 13, 2013 (unaudited), the exercise price of the warrants was fixed at $0.54 per share, and the fair value of the warrant liability of approximately $144,000 on that date was reclassified to additional paid-in capital.

 

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Other

On September 10, 2012, the Company issued a warrant to its landlord in exchange for a rent deferral through November 30, 2012. The number of Series A preferred shares exercisable under the warrant agreement is determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount of $40,000 by the exercise price. The exercise price of the warrants is $0.60, or, upon the closing of the sale by the Company of its preferred stock in which the Company receives an aggregate of at least $15,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, the warrant’s exercise price will be the price per share for which the Company sells its preferred shares in such sale. The term of the warrant is seven years. Early termination of the warrant can occur if the Company is acquired. The holder of the warrant is to be given 20 days advance notice of such an event, and the warrant will terminate if not exercised before the date of the event. The value of the warrant liability is not material to the financial statements.

 

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As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the warrants to purchase preferred stock are reflected as a liability on the balance sheet, which is adjusted to estimated fair value at the end of each reporting period over the term of the warrants. These warrants were reclassified to additional paid-in capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The fair value of the warrant liability for warrants to purchase preferred stock as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, of approximately $923,000 and $982,000, respectively, was estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following assumptions:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2011      2012  

Stock price

   $ 0.35       $ 0.25   

Exercise price

   $ 0.54       $ 0.54   

Expected dividend yield

     0.00%         0.00%   

Discount rate-bond equivalent yield

     0.64% - 0.89%         0.35% - 0.70%   

Expected life (in years)

     4.08 - 4.92         3.08 - 4.92   

Expected volatility

     105.0%         105.0%   

Outstanding Warrants – Common Shares

2013 Convertible Bridge Notes

The Company executed a convertible note and warrant purchase agreement as of June 28, 2013 with several shareholders, including a major shareholder, relating to the Company’s borrowing as needed of, and issuance of a series of unsecured convertible notes for, up to $7,000,000. The Company had borrowed $745,000 and $4,315,000 as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively, against the 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes, including $720,000 and $2,505,000, respectively, from a major shareholder. The maturity date of the 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes is May 31, 2014 and may be extended at the option of the respective note holders for two successive six month periods. The 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes bear interest at 8.0% per annum, payable at maturity.

The 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes automatically convert into the Company’s common stock upon the closing of an IPO of at least $8,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, at a price equal to the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in the IPO. The number of common shares for which the warrants are exercisable is determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the principal amount of the notes issued under the agreement, by the exercise price, which is the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in the IPO. The warrants will be exercisable for a five-year period beginning with the closing of the Company’s IPO. Early termination of the warrants can occur upon any capital reorganization, any reclassification of the capital stock, or an asset transfer or acquisition of the Company. The holders of the warrants are to be given 20 days advance notice of such an event, and the warrants will terminate if not exercised prior to the date of the event.

In accordance with guidance applicable to accounting for derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the warrants are initially recorded at their fair value and are then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. For the warrants for common shares issued under the 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes agreement, the Company used a probability weighted Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company recorded approximately $1,352,000 related to the fair value of the warrants issued, as a discount to the carrying value of the debt, accreted as interest expense from the date of issuance over the life of the debt. These warrants to purchase common stock were valued as of their date of issuance, using the following assumptions: exercise price of between $3.08 and $14.28 per share, contractual term of 5 years, a risk-free interest rate of between 1.38% and 1.40%, a dividend yield of 0%, and volatility of 105.0%. The value of the warrants using the probability weighted Black-Scholes valuation model accounted for a probability of 80%, while a fair value of $0 was weighted 20%. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as a liability of approximately $1,355,000 at September 30, 2013 (unaudited).

 

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Line of Credit

Three of the Company’s related parties guaranteed the Company’s Line of Credit (see Note 5) and pledged financial assets to the bank to secure their guaranties, as approved by the Company’s board of directors. In return, the Company issued common stock warrants to the guarantors. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by the respective guarantors to secure their respective guaranty obligations to the bank, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in its IPO.

These warrants to purchase common stock were valued as of their date of issuance, using the following assumptions: exercise price of between $3.08 and $14.28 per share, contractual term of 2 years, a risk-free interest rate of 1.38%, a dividend yield of 0%, and volatility of 105.0%. The value of the warrants using the probability weighted Black-Scholes valuation model accounted for a probability of 75%, while a fair value of $0 was weighted 25%. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as a liability of approximately $372,000 at September 30, 2013 (unaudited).

Other

On September 10, 2013, the Company, as part of a lease amendment for its non-cancellable operating lease for its office, laboratory, and warehouse space at its San Diego, California facility, issued a warrant to its landlord. The warrant coverage amount was $502,605. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in its IPO.

These warrants to purchase common stock were valued as of their date of issuance, using the following assumptions: exercise price of between $3.08 and $14.28 per share, contractual term of 5 years, a risk-free interest rate of 1.38%, a dividend yield of 0%, and volatility of 105.0%. The value of the warrants using the probability weighted Black-Scholes valuation model accounted for a probability of 75%, while a fair value of $0 was weighted 25%. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as a liability of approximately $309,000 at September 30, 2013 (unaudited).

Change in estimated fair value of warrant liability

The change in the estimated fair value of the total liability outstanding for all outstanding warrants was approximately $361,000, $454,000, $421,808 and $593,000 was recognized as a noncash gain and included in total other income/(expense) in the Company’s statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited), respectively.

 

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8. Supplier Financing

In 2011, the Company purchased certain laboratory equipment under financing agreements with a supplier, a business owned by a member of the Company’s board of directors, totaling approximately $256,000. Financing was granted for the purchase of the equipment at a stated interest rate of 0.0%. The Company has utilized its average interest rate for 2011 and 2012 of 8.0% to amortize the payments and record interest expense of approximately $10,000, $17,000, $10,000 and $3,000, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and 2013 (unaudited), respectively. The remaining balance owed under these financing agreements was approximately $138,000, $60,000 and $60,000 as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively. The remaining balance owed under these financing agreements is due in 2013.

In 2011, the Company purchased laboratory software under a financing agreement with a supplier for approximately $177,000. This software financing agreement bears an interest rate of 7.4% per annum. The remaining balance owed under these financing agreements was approximately $149,000, $62,000 and $0 as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively.

In 2011 and 2012, the Company obtained third-party financing for certain business insurance premiums. The financing bears an interest rate of 5.95% per annum, and all financing is due within one year. The remaining balances under these annual financing arrangements were approximately $108,000, $129,000, and $0 as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively.

9. Shareholders’ Deficit

(a) Common Stock

In November of 2011, the Company amended and restated its articles of incorporation to decrease the number of authorized shares of common stock from 44,260,000 to 14,600,000. The authorized number shares of common stock at December 31, 2011 and 2012 was 14,600,000. In conjunction with the amendment, the Company declared a 1:3 reverse stock split for all common shares. All references to share and per share amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes to the financial statements have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1:3 reverse stock split and the change in par value. See Note 17.

On July 22, 2013, the Company amended its articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 14,600,000 to 53,000,000. The authorized number of shares of common stock at September 30, 2013 was 53,000,000. In addition, on July 30, 2013, the Company assigned a par value to its common shares of $0.0001 in conjunction with its reincorporation in Delaware. The new par value per common share has been retroactively reflected in the financial statements for all periods presented.

(b) Preferred Stock

In November of 2011, the Company amended and restated its articles of incorporation so that each share of the issued and outstanding Series AA preferred stock and each share of the issued and outstanding Series BB preferred stock of the Company was converted into one share of Series A preferred stock. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, all 36,460,000 authorized shares of preferred stock are designated as Series A preferred stock. On July 22, 2013, the Company amended its articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized preferred shares from 14,600,000 to 100,000,000. In addition, on July 30, 2013, the Company assigned a par value to its preferred shares of $0.0001 in conjunction with its reincorporation in Delaware. The new par value per preferred share has been retroactively reflected in the financial statements for all periods presented.

Holders of the Company’s preferred shares are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the board of directors and in preference to common shareholders, non-cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 8% per annum of the applicable original issue price on each outstanding preferred share. The original issue price of each share of Series A preferred stock was $0.60. No dividends were declared during 2011 or 2012 or in the first nine months of 2013. Dividends cannot be granted for common shareholders while shares of preferred stock remain outstanding.

 

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The holders of preferred shares have the right to one vote for each common share into which the preferred shares are convertible. Upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, the preferred shareholders will be paid out an amount equal to the original issue price plus all declared and unpaid dividends. If, upon any liquidation, distribution, or winding up of the Company, and the assets of the Company are insufficient to make payment in full to all holders of preferred shares of the liquidation preference, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of preferred shares ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would be entitled.

The convertible preferred shares may be converted into common shares at any time at the option of the holder utilizing the then effective Series A preferred conversion price. All preferred shares shall be automatically converted into common shares utilizing the then effective Series A preferred conversion price upon a) the election of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock, or b) the closing of a firmly underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 covering the sale of the Company’s common stock if gross proceeds are at least $20,000,000 and the per share price is at least $25.20.

The effective conversion price is equal to the original issue price divided by $25.20 as may be adjusted for dilutive issuances of common shares, common share rights or options, common share splits and combinations, dividends, and distributions. The effective conversion rate is not adjusted for issuances of common share options, warrants or rights to employees, directors, or non-employee service providers.

In October 2011, a major shareholder elected to convert 2,064,520 shares of the Company’s preferred stock into 49,155 shares of the Company’s common shares. No such conversions occurred in the year ended December 31, 2012 or in the first nine months of 2013.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 42,245,834 shares of Series A preferred stock were issued for the conversion of approximately $20,231,000 of debt and $2,581,000 of accrued interest, primarily to related parties. See Notes 6 and 7.

10. Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Expense

2007 Equity Incentive Plan

The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (“2007 Plan”) authorizes the grant of the following types of awards: (i) nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs, (ii) incentive stock options, or ISOs, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, or RSUs, (v) stock appreciation rights, or SARs, (vi) performance awards, and (vii) other stock awards. Awards may be granted to employees, officers, non-employee board members, consultants, and other service providers of the Company. However, ISOs may not be granted to non-employees. Prior to November 2011, the Company was authorized to issue 7,500,000 options under the 2007 Plan. In conjunction with the 1:3 reverse common stock split in November 2011, the number of shares authorized under the 2007 Plan decreased to 2,500,000 shares and further reduced to 178,571 shares as a result of the 1:14 reverse split in November 2013. As of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, shares available for grant under the 2007 Plan were 50,127 and 69,531.

2013 Equity Incentive Plan

In July 2013, the Company adopted a new stock-based compensation plan entitled the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (“2013 Plan”). The 2013 Plan authorizes the grant of the following types of awards: (i) nonstatutory stock options, (ii) ISOs, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, (v) stock appreciation rights, and (vi) performance compensation awards. Awards may be granted to employees, officers, non-employee board members, consultants, and other service providers of the Company. However, ISOs may not be granted to non-employees. The Company has authorized a total of 403,571 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to all awards granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to an increase of 57,142 shares upon the completion of an IPO, and subject to additional increases every January 1 equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the Company’s

 

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outstanding common stock on such January 1, or (ii) a number of shares determined by the Company’s board of directors in its discretion for use on such particular January 1. As of September 30, 2013 (unaudited), 401,640 stock options and RSUs have been granted under the 2013 Plan, and 1,931 shares are available for grant under the 2013 Plan.

Options granted under either plan vest over a maximum period of four years and expire ten years from the date of grant. Options generally vest either (i) over four years, 25% on the one year anniversary of the date of grant and monthly thereafter for the remaining three years; or (ii) over four years, monthly vesting beginning month-one after the grant and monthly thereafter. Certain options have been granted which vest 50% on the grant date and monthly thereafter for the remaining two years.

The fair value of stock options is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Such value is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures, using the straight-line method. The determination of the fair value of stock options is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. The volatility assumption is based on a combination of the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock and the volatilities of similar companies over a period of time equal to the expected term of the stock options. The volatilities of similar companies are used in conjunction with the Company’s historical volatility because of the lack of sufficient relevant history for the Company’s common stock equal to the expected term. The expected term of employee stock options represents the weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. The expected term assumption is estimated based primarily on the options’ vesting terms and remaining contractual life and employees’ expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates on the grant date appropriate for the term of the employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on the expectation of no future dividend payouts by the Company.

The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes pricing model for options granted during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows:

 

                   For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     For the years ended December 31,      2013  
     2011      2012      (unaudited)  

Volatility

     106.9% - 107.7%         96.8%         105.0%   

Risk-free interest rate

     1.03% - 2.62%         0.79% - 1.15%         1.19%   

Dividend yield

     0.00%         0.00%         0.00%   

Expected term (years)

     6.02 - 6.08         6.08         4.33 - 4.39   

Expected forfeiture rate

     0.00%         0.00%         0.00%   

Using the assumptions described above, the weighted average estimated fair value of options granted in 2011, 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were approximately $3.36, $1.82, and $4.06, respectively.

A summary of stock option activity for 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is as follows:

 

       Number of Shares     Weighted
Average Exercise
Price Per Share
     Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in Years
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2010

     65,048      $ 18.48      

Granted

     36,261        4.62      

Exercised

     (10,212     4.62      

Cancelled/forfeited/expired

     (12,110     77.14      
  

 

 

      

Outstanding at December 31, 2011

     78,987        4.90         8.3   
  

 

 

      

Granted

     330        4.62      

Exercised

               

Cancelled/forfeited/expired

     (15,799     4.92      
  

 

 

      

Outstanding at December 31, 2012

     63,518        4.97         6.2   
  

 

 

      

Granted

     300,440       5.18      

Exercised

     (94     4.68      

Cancelled/forfeited/expired

     (19,299     5.35      
  

 

 

      

Outstanding at September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     344,565        5.13         9.2   
  

 

 

      

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was zero due to the difference between the exercise price and the Company’s share value at each exercise date.

Further information about the options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 is as follows:

 

Options Outstanding and Exercisable at December 31, 2012

 

Exercise Price

   Total Shares
Outstanding
     Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (in years)
     Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
     Total Shares
Exercisable
 
$4.62      33,031         7.2       $ 4.62         16,173   
$5.04      30,408         5.1       $ 5.04         28,244   
$125.58      79         1.1       $ 125.58         79   
  

 

 

          

 

 

 
     63,518               44,496   
  

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

Options Outstanding and Exercisable at September 30, 2013 (unaudited)

 

Exercise Price

   Total Shares
Outstanding
     Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (in years)
     Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
     Total Shares
Exercisable
 
$4.62      24,358         6.2       $ 4.62         16,615   
$5.04      19,769         3.7       $ 5.04         19,763   
$5.18      300,438         9.8       $ 5.18         92,793   
  

 

 

          

 

 

 
     344,565               129,171   
  

 

 

          

 

 

 

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)

In November 2010, the Company issued to a member of the board of directors a restricted stock unit award for 390,000 shares of Series BB preferred stock. In November 2011, these RSUs were modified to be redeemable for Series A preferred stock under the same terms and conditions of the original grant. The shares will not vest unless a change in control, as defined, or IPO occurs within 10 years of the vesting commencement date of October 2010. There will be no expense to record for these awards unless and until it becomes probable that the award will vest. As of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, it is not probable that these awards will vest and therefore, no expense was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2012 or the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

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In March 2011, the Company awarded a restricted stock unit award to a member of the board of directors for 428,597 shares of Series BB preferred stock. Also in March 2011, the Company awarded an additional performance-based restricted stock unit award for an estimated 574,108 shares of Series BB preferred stock to the same member. In November 2011, these RSUs were modified to be redeemable for Series A preferred stock under the same terms and conditions of the original grant. The number of shares in the restricted stock units is based on certain milestones to be achieved. None of the shares under either award vest unless a change in control or IPO occurs within 10 years after January 1, 2011. There will be no expense to record for these awards until it becomes probable that an award will vest. As of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, it is not probable that these awards will vest and therefore, no expense was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2012 or the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

The board of directors approved a resolution in December 2010, that each January 1 each person (other than two identified individuals) who is serving as a non-employee director on such January 1 shall be automatically granted an annual restricted stock unit award covering a number of common shares equal to 0.25% of the fully diluted outstanding common stock of the Company as of the December 31 immediately preceding such January 1. These restricted stock unit awards will be granted automatically on each January 1 and will vest in equal monthly installments over 12 months from the date of the grant. Additionally, in January 2012, each person (other than two identified individuals) who is serving as a non-employee director is to be granted a “true up grant” in addition to the annual grant covering a number of common shares equal to 0.25% of the fully diluted outstanding common shares of the Company as of the immediately preceding December 31. These grants will vest 100% on the date of the grant. In January 2012 and 2011, five restricted stock unit awards for a total of 20,930 and 12,755 common shares, respectively, were granted in accordance with this resolution. In addition, on January 1, 2012, an additional five restricted stock unit awards were granted to non-employee directors for a total of 20,930 common shares, vesting immediately upon grant. Although vested, shares are only delivered on the earlier of (i) the date that is 10 years from the grant date, (ii) the date of a change in control, (iii) the date of termination of the holder from the Company, (iv) the date of death or disability, or (v) the date of an unforeseeable emergency as described in Internal Revenue Code section 409A.

The RSU awards due to be granted on January 1, 2013 were not granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. In lieu of this issuance, RSU awards for 8,735 shares of common stock each were granted to three directors and an RSU award for 14,285 shares of common stock was granted to another director, on July 31, 2013. All RSUs issued in July 2013 vest in equal monthly installments over five months beginning August 1, 2013. The shares underlying the 2013 awards, if vested, would be distributed no later than August 20, 2014.

In August 2013, 60,712 RSU awards were granted to certain executive employees. These awards vest 50% on the date of grant, with the remaining 50% vesting in equal monthly installments over twenty-four months beginning August 31, 2013.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

The following table presents the effects of stock-based compensation related to equity awards to employees and nonemployees on the statement of operations during the periods presented:

 

     For the years ended December 31,      For the nine months ended September 30,  
     2011      2012      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)      (unaudited)  

Stock Options

           

Research and development expenses

   $ 27,392       $ 32,210       $ 16,288       $ 253,828   

General and administrative expenses

     44,615         22,530         24,158         155,197   

Sales and marketing expenses

     4,134         3,994         2,996        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses related to stock options

     76,141         58,734         43,442         409,025   

RSUs

           

General and administrative expenses

     58,932         193,400         169,225         274,871  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation

   $ 135,073       $ 252,134       $ 212,667       $ 683,896   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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11. Net Loss per Common Share

Basic and diluted net loss per common share is determined by dividing net loss applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Because there is a net loss attributable to common shareholders for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the nine months ending September 30, 2012 and 2013, the outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock, RSUs, convertible debt, warrants, and common stock options have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, the weighted average shares used to calculate both basic and diluted loss per share are the same.

In November 2011, the Company effected a 1:3 reverse stock split of all common shares outstanding. The calculation of weighted average shares outstanding has been adjusted for this reverse split as if it had occurred on January 1, 2011.

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computations of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the periods presented, as they would be anti-dilutive:

 

     For the years ended December 31,      For the nine months  ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2012      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)      (unaudited)  

Series A preferred (number of common stock equivalents)

     647,007         647,007         647,007         1,652,853   

Preferred warrants outstanding (number of common stock equivalents)

     122,048         192,262         174,939         192,262   

Notes payable convertible into preferred shares (number of common stock equivalents)

     366,169         599,466         603,435         232,558   

Preferred share RSUs (number of common stock equivalents)

     33,158         33,158         33,158         33,158   

Common warrants outstanding

     —          —          —          630,110   

Notes payable convertible into common shares

     —          665,178         —          741,857   

Common share RSUs

     12,755         54,615         54,615         133,971   

Common options outstanding

     78,987         63,518         70,009         344,565   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total anti-dilutive common share equivalents

     1,260,124         2,255,204         1,583,163         3,961,334   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

12. 401(k) Plan

The Company sponsors a 401(k) savings plan for all eligible employees. The Company may make discretionary matching contributions to the plan to be allocated to employee accounts based upon employee deferrals and compensation. To date, the Company has not made any matching contributions into the savings plan.

13. Income Taxes

For the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, the provision for income taxes was calculated as follows:

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2011      2012  

Current:

     

Federal

   $ —         $ —     

State

     800         800   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     800         800   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred

     

Federal

     —           —     

State

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income tax

   $ 800       $ 800   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation between income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and the Company’s provision for income taxes:

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2011     2012  

Income tax at statutory rate

   $ (4,633,685   $ (4,167,967

State liability

     (710,970     (602,296

Permanent items

     436,228        543,993   

Expiration of net operating losses

     116,651        146,175   

Book to provision and other

     339,880        80   

Research and development credit

     (229,897     (215,502

Valuation allowance

     4,682,593        4,296,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income tax

   $ 800      $ 800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences in recognizing certain income and expense items for financial and tax reporting purposes. The deferred tax assets consisted primarily of the income tax benefits from net operating loss carryforwards, deferred rent, and research and development credits. Valuation allowances have been recorded to fully offset deferred tax assets at December 31, 2011 and 2012, as it is more likely than not that the assets will not be utilized.

At December 31, 2012, the Company has federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $104,456,000 expiring beginning in 2020 and California net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $95,735,000 expiring beginning in 2013. Additionally, at December 31, 2012, the Company has research and development credits of approximately $2,887,000 and $3,047,000 for federal and California purposes, respectively. The federal research and development tax credits will begin to expire in 2018. The California research and development tax credits do not expire.

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company has evaluated the various tax positions reflected in their income tax returns for both federal and state jurisdictions, and all open tax years in these jurisdictions, to determine if the Company has any uncertain tax positions on the historical tax returns. The Company recognizes the impact of an uncertain tax position on an income tax return at the largest amount that the relevant taxing authority is more-likely-than not to sustain upon audit. The Company does not recognize uncertain income tax positions if they have less than 50 percent likelihood of being sustained. Based on this assessment, the Company believes there are no tax positions for which a liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded as of December 31, 2011 or 2012. The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and California. The Company’s federal filings prior to 2009 and the Company’s California filings prior to 2008 are no longer subject to examination.

The tax effects of carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets consist of the following:

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2011     2012  

Net operating loss carryforward

   $ 37,255,099      $ 41,100,511   

Research and development credits

     4,682,553        4,898,055   

Accruals and other

     549,022        688,089   

Deferred rent

     107,129        203,463   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     42,593,803        46,890,118   

Less valuation allowance

     (42,593,803     (46,890,118
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ —        $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company has not completed a study to assess whether an ownership change has occurred or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since its formation, due to the complexity and cost associated with such a study, and the fact that there may be additional ownership changes in the future. Based on a preliminary assessment, the Company believes that an ownership change occurred in 2010. The Company estimates that if such a change did occur, the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credits that can be utilized in the future will be significantly limited.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted on January 2, 2013. Included with this legislation was an extension of the research and development credit which had previously expired on December 31, 2011. This legislation retroactively reinstates and extends the credit from the previous expiration date through December 31, 2013. As the legislation was not enacted until after the close of the year ended December 31, 2012, the income tax impact of the retroactive reinstatement and extension will not be recognized until 2013. If the tax impact of the research and development credit was recognized, the Company does not anticipate any federal income tax benefit due to the existence of the valuation allowance offsetting any deferred tax asset which may have arose.

 

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14. Collaborative Agreement

On August 17, 2011, the Company entered into a three year exclusive collaboration agreement with Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. to collaborate to promote and maximize the commercialization of the Company’s or jointly developed diagnostic tests (together, the “Diagnostic Tests”) in the United States. Clarient is responsible for marketing, providing customer service, and for third party billing on all Diagnostic Tests performed under the agreement, and for performing the professional component of the Diagnostic Tests. The Company is responsible for promoting sales of the Diagnostic Tests in the United States, as well as performing all technical components of all Diagnostic Tests sold by either party.

Under this agreement, the Company invoices Clarient for the performance of each of the Diagnostic Tests at a contractually agreed-upon rate. Clarient is responsible for billing the patient, provider and/or payer for each completed test, and bears all collection risk related to such billings. Sales of Diagnostic Tests under this agreement did not commence until 2012, and thus no revenue related to this collaboration was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2011. The total amount of revenue the Company earned under this agreement was approximately $86,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $13,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited).

The agreement was replaced as of May 2013 to remove exclusivity provisions and to modify the performance obligations of the parties. As a result of the replacement agreement, the Company will be responsible for billing third party payors for tests performed under the Clarient agreement. Revenue derived from the Clarient arrangement after the replacement date is recognized as collected, provided all other revenue recognition criteria are met.

15. Related Party Transactions

During 2005, the Company executed the Goodman Note in favor of an investor which became a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company had $1,935,000 outstanding on this note. In June 2013, the investor converted the entire principal amount of $1,935,000 and accrued interest of approximately $105,000 due on the Goodman Note into 3,777,324 shares of Series A preferred stock.

During 2008, the Company executed the 2008 Convertible Note with an affiliate of a major shareholder who is a member of the board of directors in the amount of $1,400,000. A warrant to purchase preferred shares was issued along with the convertible promissory note (see Notes 6 and 7). In July 2013, the Company amended the 2008 Convertible Note with a principal balance of $1,400,000, held by a related party, to provide that all principal of and accrued interest on the note would automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an IPO at the price per share at which common stock is sold in such IPO.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, the Company had $10,000,000, $17,780,000, and $3,905,000, respectively, of notes payable outstanding to affiliates of a major shareholder who is a member of the board of directors under several note and warrant purchase agreements (see Notes 6 and 7). As of June 28, 2013, $17,060,000 of principal and $2,339,000 of interest due on a portion of these notes was converted into shares of 35,923,845 Series A preferred stock.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, the Company had approximately $250,000, $1,000,000, and $1,358,000, respectively, of notes payable outstanding with other board members under several different note and warrant purchase agreements (see Notes 6 and 7). As of June 28, 2013, approximately $975,000 of principal and $101,000 of interest due on a portion of these notes were converted into 1,993,591 preferred shares.

In September 2013, the Company issued warrants to three shareholders in conjunction with their guarantees on the Company’s borrowings under the Company’s line of credit. (See Notes 5 and 7).

 

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During 2011, the Company entered into two supplier financing arrangements with a business owned by a member of the board of directors totaling $256,000, of which $138,000, $60,000, and $60,000 is outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and September 30, 2013, respectively.

A member of the Company’s management is the controlling person of Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. On September 2, 2012, the Company entered into an Assignment and Exclusive Cross-License Agreement with Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc.

The Company believes that these transactions were on terms at least as favorable to the Company as could have been obtained from unrelated third parties.

16. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

The Company leases office, laboratory, and warehouse space at its San Diego, California facility under a non-cancelable operating lease. The initial lease was for an eight-year term expiring in 2012. In November 2011, the Company extended the lease term through October 31, 2018 and expanded the original premises by 9,849 square feet. Under the amended lease, the landlord delivered the expanded premises in May 2013. The Company records rent expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease and records the excess of expense over the amounts paid as deferred rent.

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2013, rent expense was approximately $901,000, $937,000, $703,000, and $848,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2012 the Company owed rent in arrears of approximately $185,000. As of September 30, 2013, the Company owed no rent in arrears. This amount is included in accounts payable on the balance sheet.

In September 2013, the Company amended its non-cancellable operating lease for its office, laboratory, and warehouse space at its San Diego, California facility. The amendment extends the maturity date of the lease through July 31, 2020. As part of this amendment, the landlord waived the lease payments due from August 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 of approximately $503,000. In conjunction with this amendment, the Company granted to the landlord a warrant to purchase common shares with a warrant coverage amount of $502,605 and an exercise price equal to the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in the Company’s IPO (See Note 7).

The future minimum lease payments under the amended lease agreement as of September 30, 2013 (unaudited) are as follows:

 

2013

   $ 0   

2014

     1,233,846   

2015

     1,270,861   

2016

     1,308,987   

2017

     1,348,257   

Thereafter

     3,674,206   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 8,836,157   
  

 

 

 

Employment Agreements

Under the terms of certain employment agreements with executive officers, the Company would incur additional cash compensation expense of $150,000 immediately, and $225,000 annually, upon the closing of an initial public offering or the Company’s receipt of aggregate proceeds of $15,000,000 or more from the sales of equity securities.

 

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Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings or threatened legal proceedings. The Company is not party to any legal proceedings or aware of any threatened legal proceedings which are expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

The Company’s former Vice President of Operations filed an administrative proceeding against the Company with the California Labor Commissioner in September 2013, seeking approximately $62,000 in damages for alleged unpaid wages and penalties. A hearing was held on August 19, 2013 which resulted in a finding against the Company in the amount noted above. This amount was accrued as of September 30, 2013. (unaudited)

17. Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated all events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet dates of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, through November 5, 2013.

In July 2013, the Company satisfied its commitment to issue 42,245,834 shares of Series A preferred stock upon conversion of the Goodman Note, the 2011 Convertible Bridge Notes and the 2012 Revolver Notes, when its articles of incorporation were amended to increase the authorized number of shares of Series A preferred stock from 36,460,000 to 100,000,000.

In July 2013, the Company amended the 2008 Convertible Note with a principal balance of $1,400,000, held by a related party, to provide that all principal of and accrued interest on the note would automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of an IPO at the price per share at which common stock is sold in such IPO.

In July 2013, the Company entered into a revolving line of credit with UBS Bank USA in the initial amount of $1,500,000. Interest accrues daily on the outstanding balance and is paid monthly at a variable rate which, as of July 31, 2013, is 2.75% over the 30 day LIBOR rate or a current effective annual interest rate of 2.942%. As of October 31, 2013, the amount outstanding under this revolving line of credit is $1.7 million. Three of the Company’s related parties guaranteed the loan and pledged financial assets to the bank to secure their guaranties, as approved by the Company’s board of directors. In return, the Company issued common stock warrants to the guarantors. The number of shares subject to the common stock warrants will be determined by dividing the warrant coverage amount, which is 50% of the fair market value of the collateral provided by the respective guarantors to secure their respective guaranty obligations to the bank, by the exercise price, which will be set at the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in its IPO. The Company has entered into an agreement with the guarantors that provides for reimbursement of any amounts paid by them on their guaranties. This reimbursement obligation is secured by a security interest in the Company’s assets.

In July 2013, the Company effected a reincorporation to Delaware by merging itself with and into Biocept, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which had been formed to be and was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company since July 23, 2013.

In June 2013, a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock converted the entire principal amount of $1,935,000 and accrued interest of approximately $105,000 due on a secured promissory note held by it (the Goodman Note) into 3,777,324 shares of Series A preferred stock. (These shares of Series A preferred stock are included in the number of shares of Series A preferred stock issued in July 2013, as described in the second paragraph of this Note 17.) In July 2013, in connection with this conversion, the Company issued to such beneficial owner a warrant to purchase 23,809 shares of common stock at an exercise price which will be set at the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in the Company’s IPO. The warrants will be exercisable for a two-year period beginning with the closing of the Company’s IPO.

 

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In July 2013, the Company adopted a new stock-based compensation plan entitled the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (“2013 Plan”). The 2013 Plan authorizes the grant of the following types of awards: (i) nonstatutory stock options, (ii) ISOs, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, (v) stock appreciation rights, and (vi) performance compensation awards. Awards may be granted to employees, officers, non-employee board members, consultants, and other service providers of the Company. However, ISOs may not be granted to non-employees. The Company has authorized a total of 403,571 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to all awards granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to an increase of 57,142 shares upon the completion of an IPO, and subject to additional increases every January 1 equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock on such January 1, or (ii) a number of shares determined by the Company’s board of directors in its discretion for use on such particular January 1. As of October 31, 2013, no shares have been issued under the 2013 Plan, 401,640 stock options and RSUs have been granted under the 2013 Plan, and 1,931 shares are available for grant under the 2013 Plan.

In September 2013, the Company amended its non-cancellable operating lease for its office, laboratory, and warehouse space at its San Diego, California facility. The amendment extends the maturity date of the lease through July 31, 2020. As part of this amendment, the landlord waived the lease payments due from August 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 of approximately $503,000, and the Company forfeited its security deposit of approximately $269,000. In conjunction with this amendment, the Company granted to the landlord a warrant to purchase common shares with a warrant coverage amount of $502,605 and an exercise price equal to the price per share of the Company’s common stock sold in the Company’s IPO. The future minimum lease payments under the amended lease agreement as of September 30, 2013 are as follows:

 

2013

   $ 0   

2014

     1,233,846   

2015

     1,270,861   

2016

     1,308,987   

2017

     1,348,257   

Thereafter

     3,674,206   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 8,836,157   
  

 

 

 

In September 2013, the board of directors approved an amendment for all outstanding warrants issued in connection with the 2012 Revolver Notes to fix the exercise price at $0.54 per share. All warrant amendments were signed by the warrant holders in September 2013.

Subsequent to June 30, 2013, the Company has borrowed approximately $959,000 under the 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes.

In October, 2013, the maximum amount of the Company’s line of credit discussed in Note 5 above was increased to $1.8 million. As of November 5, 2013, the amount outstanding under the revolving line of credit referenced above is $1.7 million.

On November 1, 2013, the Company effected a 1:14 reverse stock split for all common shares. All references to share and per share amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes to the financial statements have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1:14 reverse stock split.

 

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In conjunction with the 1:14 reverse common stock split in November 2013, the number of shares authorized under the 2007 Plan decreased to 178,571 shares and the number of shares authorized under the 2013 Plan decreased to 403,571 shares.

Subsequent to September 30, 2013, the Company has borrowed approximately $300,000 under the 2013 Convertible Bridge Notes.

 

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1,818,181 Shares

Common Stock

 

LOGO

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Aegis Capital Corp

 

 

Through and including                     , 2013 (the 25th day after the date of this offering), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the NASDAQ listing fee.

 

Item    Amount  

SEC registration fee

     3,308   

FINRA filing fee

     5,000   

NASDAQ listing fee

     55,000   

Legal fees and expenses

     385,000   

Accounting fees and expenses

     200,000   

Printing and engraving expenses

     40,000   

Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses

     4,000   

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

     7,692   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 700,000   
  

 

 

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement for expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.

The Company’s amended certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification of its directors and executive officers to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, and the Company’s amended and restated bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors and executive officers to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and executive officers. These agreements will require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. The Company also intends to enter into indemnification agreements with its future directors and executive officers.

In any underwriting agreement the Company enters into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, the Company’s directors, the Company’s officers and persons who control us, within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Since July 1, 2010, the Registrant made sales of the unregistered securities discussed below. All common stock share, option, warrant and RSU amounts (and the exercise price of all common stock options and warrants) reflect (i) the 1-for-3 reverse common stock split effected on November 3, 2011, and (ii) the 1-for-14 reverse common stock split effected on November 1, 2013. The offers, sales and issuances of the securities described below were exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or, in the case of compensatory issuances, Securities Act Rule 701, and/or, in the case of conversions, Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act. No commissions were paid.

 

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Preferred Stock Financing

From August 2010 to September 2010, the Company sold 8,939,990 shares of its Series BB preferred stock (convertible, post-recapitalization and post-reverse-splits, into 213,571 shares of the Company’s common stock), to 15 accredited investors, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5.364 million.

Note/ Warrant Financings

In 30 closings from February 2011 to November 2012, the Company sold secured convertible promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of $12,336,247, together with warrants to purchase 4,569,030 shares of its preferred stock (convertible, post-reverse-splits, into 108,786 shares of the Company’s common stock), to 11 accredited investors, for aggregate gross proceeds of $12,336,247.

In 21 closings from January 2012 to December 2012, the Company sold promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of $5,960,000, together with warrants to purchase 2,207,401 shares of its preferred stock (convertible, post-reverse-splits, into 52,557 shares of the Company’s common stock) to five accredited investors, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,960,000.

In 48 closings from December 2012 to September 2013, the Company sold promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of $4,615,000, together with warrants to purchase an indeterminate number of shares of the Company’s common stock, to 10 accredited investors, for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,615,000.

Compensatory Issuances

In the last six months of 2010 the Company issued 50,600 common stock options (at a $4.62 exercise price per share) and 390,000 preferred stock restricted stock units to service providers.

In 2011 the Company issued 36,260 common stock options (at a $4.62 exercise price per share), 12,753 common stock restricted stock units and 1,002,705 preferred stock restricted stock units to service providers.

In 2012 the Company issued 332 common stock options (at a $4.62 exercise price per share) and 41,857 common stock restricted stock units to service providers.

In 2013 to date, the Company has issued 300,438 common stock options (at a $5.18 exercise price per share) and 101,559 common stock restricted stock units to approximately 35 service providers.

Inducement Warrants

In September 2012, the Company issued 66,666 Series A preferred stock warrants, at an exercise price of $0.60 per share, to its landlord in exchange for certain real estate lease accommodations.

In June 2013, the Company issued 23,810 common stock warrants, at an exercise price to be determined in accordance with contract, to a lender (a 5% beneficial shareholder) in connection with a note conversion.

In July through September 2013, the Company issued an indeterminate number of common stock warrants, at an exercise price to be determined in accordance with contract, to three guarantors in connection with their guaranties of its UBS Bank USA revolving line of credit.

In September 2013, the Company issued an indeterminate number of common stock warrants, at an exercise price to be determined in accordance with contract, to its landlord in connection with a lease amendment.

Recapitalization

In November 2011, the Company effected a recapitalization in which all outstanding shares of, and warrants to purchase and restricted stock units to obtain, the Company’s outstanding Series AA preferred stock and Series BB preferred stock were converted into the same number of shares of, warrants to purchase and restricted stock units to obtain, Series A preferred stock. At the same time, the Company effected the 1-for-3 reverse split of its common stock.

 

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Conversions and Exercises

In November 2011, the Company’s Executive Chairman exercised 10,204 common stock options, paying an aggregate exercise price of $47,183.

In October 2011, a major shareholder converted 2,064,520 shares of Series AA preferred stock into 49,155 shares of common stock.

In March and April 2013, two employees exercised 85 common stock options, paying an aggregate exercise price of $395.

In June 2013, the holders of promissory notes with an aggregate principal balance of approximately $20,231,000 and accrued but unpaid interest of approximately $2,591,000 voluntarily converted such principal and interest into 42,245,834 shares of the Company’s Series A preferred stock.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a) Exhibits

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement between us and Aegis Capital Corp., as representative of the several underwriters.
  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation.
  3.1.1    Certificate of Ownership and Merger, filed July 30, 2013.
  3.1.2    Certificate of Ownership, filed July 30, 2013.
  3.1.3#    Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, filed November 1, 2013.
  3.1.4#    Form of Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, comprising amended Certificate of Incorporation, to be in effect upon closing of this offering.
  3.2    Bylaws.
  3.2.1    Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be in effect upon closing of this offering.
  4.1#    Specimen Common Stock certificate of Biocept, Inc.
  4.2*    Form of Representative’s Warrant.
  5.1*    Opinion of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C.
10.1+    2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.1.1+    Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Option Agreement under 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.1.2+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2+    2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.1+    Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.2+    Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.3+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.4+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (for senior officers: as used August 8, 2013).
10.2.5+#    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (for non-employee directors: as used August 8, 2013).
10.3+    Form of Indemnification Agreement between us and our officers and directors.
10.4+    Form of Indemnity Agreement between Biocept, Inc., a California corporation, and its officers and directors.
10.5+    Employment Agreement, between us and David F. Hale, dated March 10, 2011.
10.6+    Employment Agreement, between us and Michael W. Nall, effective as of August 26, 2013.
10.7+    Employment Agreement, between us and Lyle J. Arnold, dated April 30, 2011.
10.8+    Employment Agreement, between us and William G. Kachioff, dated August 1, 2011.
10.9+#    Employment Agreement, between us and Michael J. Dunn, dated February 15, 2011.
10.10+    Form of Amended and Restated Salary Reduction and Contingent Payment Agreement.
10.11#    Lease, between us and Nexus Equity VIII LLC, dated March 31, 2004.
10.11.1    First Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated November 1, 2011.
10.11.2    Second Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated September 10, 2012.
10.11.3    Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated September 10, 2012, issued by us in favor of ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.11.4    Third Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated as of January 31, 2013, and effective as of January 1, 2013.
10.11.5    Fourth Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated as of September 10, 2013, and effective as of August 1, 2013.
10.11.6    Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated September 10, 2013, issued by us in favor of ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC.
10.12    Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2011, among us and certain investors named therein.
10.13†#    Collaboration Agreement dated as of November 2, 2012 between us and Life Technologies Corporation.
10.14†#    Collaboration Agreement dated as of August 17, 2011 between us and Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc.
10.14.1    Laboratory Services Agreement dated July 29, 2013, effective as of May 1, 2013, between us and Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc.
10.15†#    Master Laboratory Research Support and Services Agreement dated as of July 9, 2012 between us and Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.
10.16    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of December 22, 2008 between us and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.16.1    Secured Convertible Promissory Note (original principal amount of $1,400,000), dated December 22, 2008, issued by us in favor of The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.16.1.1    Amendment of Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated July 15, 2013.
10.16.2    Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock dated December 22, 2008, issued by us in favor of The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.16.3    Security Agreement dated as of December 22, 2008 between us and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.17#    Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of May 18, 2010 between us and Goodman Co. Ltd.
10.17.1    Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock dated as of January 21, 2009, issued by us in favor of Goodman Co. Ltd.
10.17.2    Loan Conversion Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 between us and Goodman Co. Ltd. [Pursuant to this Agreement, indebtedness was converted into 3,777,324 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.17.3    Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated as of July 31, 2013, issued by us in favor of Goodman Co. Ltd.
10.18#    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011 between us and various investors.
10.18.1    First Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2011.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.18.2    Second Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2011.
10.18.3#    Omnibus Amendment Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2011.
10.18.4    Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2012.
10.18.5    Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2012.
10.18.6    Form of Secured Convertible Promissory Note, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011.
10.18.6.1#    The several Note Conversion Agreements, each dated as of June 28, 2013. [Pursuant to such Agreements, indebtedness was converted into 2,234,922 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.18.6.2    Note Conversion Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013, among us, The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988 and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust. [Pursuant to this Agreement, indebtedness was converted into 35,923,845 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.18.7    Form of Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.19    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2012 between us and various investors.
10.19.1    Omnibus Amendment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 between us and various investors.
10.19.2    Form of Promissory Note, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2012.
10.19.2.1#    The several Note Conversion Agreements, each dated as of June 28, 2013. [Pursuant to such Agreements, indebtedness was converted into 309,743 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.19.2.2    Note Conversion Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013, among us, The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988 and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust. (Included as Exhibit 10.18.6.2.)
10.19.3    Form of Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2012.
10.19.4    Form of Amendment of Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated as of September 13, 2013.
10.20    Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 between us and various investors.
10.20.1    Form of Convertible Promissory Note, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013.
10.20.2    Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013.
10.21    Reimbursement Agreement dated as of July 11, 2013 among us, The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, Edward Neff and Hale Biopharma Ventures, LLC.
10.21.1    Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued by us in favor of various guarantors under the Reimbursement Agreement dated as of July 11, 2013.
10.21.2    Subordination Agreement dated as of July 11, 2013 between us and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988.
10.22†#    Assignment and Exclusive Cross-License Agreement between us and Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. dated June 2, 2012.
10.23+    Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice / Agreement between us and Ivor Royston, dated as of November 8, 2010, as amended on February 15, 2012.
21.1    List of Subsidiaries.
23.1#    Consent of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.
23.2*    Consent of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the original Form S-1 filing)

 

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* To be filed by amendment.
# Filed herewith.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933.

All exhibits not marked with either of an asterisk (*) or a pound sign (#) were filed with the issuer’s September 23, 2013 Registration Statement on Form S-1.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules

No financial statement schedules are provided because the information is not required or is shown either in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by one of our directors, officers or controlling persons in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters, at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective;

 

  (ii) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

 

  (iii) For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in San Diego, California, on the 5th day of November, 2013.

 

BIOCEPT, INC.

By:

  /s/ Michael W. Nall
 

Michael W. Nall

Chief Executive Officer and President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Michael W. Nall

  

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

  November 5, 2013

Michael W. Nall

    

/s/ William G. Kachioff

  

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 5, 2013

William G. Kachioff

    

/s/ David F. Hale*

  

Executive Chairman and Director

  November 5, 2013

David F. Hale

    

/s/ Marsha A. Chandler*

  

Director

  November 5, 2013

Marsha A. Chandler

    

/s/ Bruce E. Gerhardt*

  

Director

  November 5, 2013

Bruce E. Gerhardt

    

/s/ Bruce A. Huebner*

  

Director

  November 5, 2013

Bruce A. Huebner

    

/s/ Edward Neff*

  

Director

  November 5, 2013

Edward Neff

    

/s/ Ivor Royston*

   Director   November 5, 2013

Ivor Royston

    

/s/ M. Faye Wilson*

   Director   November 5, 2013

M. Faye Wilson

    

 

* By Michael W. Nall, as the indicated Director’s attorney-in-fact

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement between us and Aegis Capital Corp., as representative of the several underwriters.
  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation.
  3.1.1    Certificate of Ownership and Merger, filed July 30, 2013.
  3.1.2    Certificate of Ownership, filed July 30, 2013.
  3.1.3#    Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, filed November 1, 2013.
  3.1.4#    Form of Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, comprising amended Certificate of Incorporation, to be in effect upon closing of this offering.
  3.2    Bylaws.
  3.2.1    Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be in effect upon closing of this offering.
  4.1#    Specimen Common Stock certificate of Biocept, Inc.
  4.2*    Form of Representative’s Warrant.
  5.1*    Opinion of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C.
10.1+    2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.1.1+    Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Option Agreement under 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.1.2+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2+    2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.1+    Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.2+    Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.3+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.2.4+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (for senior officers: as used August 8, 2013).
10.2.5+#    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (for non-employee directors: as used August 8, 2013).


Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.3+    Form of Indemnification Agreement between us and our officers and directors.
10.4+    Form of Indemnity Agreement between Biocept, Inc., a California corporation, and its officers and directors.
10.5+    Employment Agreement, between us and David F. Hale, dated March 10, 2011.
10.6+    Employment Agreement, between us and Michael W. Nall, effective as of August 26, 2013.
10.7+    Employment Agreement, between us and Lyle J. Arnold, dated April 30, 2011.
10.8+    Employment Agreement, between us and William G. Kachioff, dated August 1, 2011.
10.9+#    Employment Agreement, between us and Michael J. Dunn, dated February 15, 2011.
10.10+    Form of Amended and Restated Salary Reduction and Contingent Payment Agreement.
10.11#    Lease, between us and Nexus Equity VIII LLC, dated March 31, 2004.
10.11.1    First Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated November 1, 2011.
10.11.2    Second Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated September 10, 2012.
10.11.3    Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated September 10, 2012, issued by us in favor of ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC.


Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.11.4    Third Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated as of January 31, 2013, and effective as of January 1, 2013.
10.11.5    Fourth Amendment to Lease, between us and ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC, dated as of September 10, 2013, and effective as of August 1, 2013.
10.11.6    Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated September 10, 2013, issued by us in favor of ARE-SD Region No. 18, LLC.
10.12    Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2011, among us and certain investors named therein.
10.13†#    Collaboration Agreement dated as of November 2, 2012 between us and Life Technologies Corporation.
10.14†#    Collaboration Agreement dated as of August 17, 2011 between us and Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc.
10.14.1    Laboratory Services Agreement dated July 29, 2013, effective as of May 1, 2013, between us and Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc.
10.15†#    Master Laboratory Research Support and Services Agreement dated as of July 9, 2012 between us and Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.
10.16    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of December 22, 2008 between us and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.16.1    Secured Convertible Promissory Note (original principal amount of $1,400,000), dated December 22, 2008, issued by us in favor of The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.16.1.1    Amendment of Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated July 15, 2013.
10.16.2    Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock dated December 22, 2008, issued by us in favor of The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.16.3    Security Agreement dated as of December 22, 2008 between us and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.
10.17#    Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of May 18, 2010 between us and Goodman Co. Ltd.
10.17.1    Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock dated as of January 21, 2009, issued by us in favor of Goodman Co. Ltd.
10.17.2    Loan Conversion Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 between us and Goodman Co. Ltd. [Pursuant to this Agreement, indebtedness was converted into 3,777,324 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.17.3    Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated as of July 31, 2013, issued by us in favor of Goodman Co. Ltd.
10.18#    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011 between us and various investors.


Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.18.1    First Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2011.
10.18.2    Second Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2011.
10.18.3#    Omnibus Amendment Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2011.
10.18.4    Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2012.
10.18.5    Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2012.
10.18.6    Form of Secured Convertible Promissory Note, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011.
10.18.6.1#    The several Note Conversion Agreements, each dated as of June 28, 2013. [Pursuant to such Agreements, indebtedness was converted into 2,234,922 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.18.6.2    Note Conversion Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013, among us, The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988 and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust. [Pursuant to this Agreement, indebtedness was converted into 35,923,845 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.18.7    Form of Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011.


Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.19    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2012 between us and various investors.
10.19.1    Omnibus Amendment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 between us and various investors.
10.19.2    Form of Promissory Note, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2012.
10.19.2.1#    The several Note Conversion Agreements, each dated as of June 28, 2013. [Pursuant to such Agreements, indebtedness was converted into 309,743 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock.]
10.19.2.2    Note Conversion Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013, among us, The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988 and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust. (Included as Exhibit 10.18.6.2.)
10.19.3    Form of Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2012.
10.19.4    Form of Amendment of Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated as of September 13, 2013.
10.20    Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 between us and various investors.
10.20.1    Form of Convertible Promissory Note, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013.
10.20.2    Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued by us in favor of various investors under the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013.
10.21    Reimbursement Agreement dated as of July 11, 2013 among us, The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, Edward Neff and Hale Biopharma Ventures, LLC.
10.21.1    Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued by us in favor of various guarantors under the Reimbursement Agreement dated as of July 11, 2013.
10.21.2    Subordination Agreement dated as of July 11, 2013 between us and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988.
10.22†#    Assignment and Exclusive Cross-License Agreement between us and Aegea Biotechnologies, Inc. dated June 2, 2012.
10.23+    Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice / Agreement between us and Ivor Royston, dated as of November 8, 2010, as amended on February 15, 2012.
21.1    List of Subsidiaries.
23.1#    Consent of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.


Table of Contents

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

23.2*    Consent of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the original Form S-1 filing)

 

* To be filed by amendment.
# Filed herewith.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933.

All exhibits not marked with either of an asterisk (*) or a pound sign (#) were filed with the issuer’s September 23, 2013 Registration Statement on Form S-1.

Exhibit 3.1.3

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

BIOCEPT, INC.

The undersigned hereby certifies on behalf of Biocept, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”) as follows:

1. He is the Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Corporation.

2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was originally filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 28, 2013.

3. The Board of Directors of Corporation duly adopted resolutions setting forth the following proposed amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and directing said amendment to be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for consideration, as follows:

RESOLVED, that Part A of Article III of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation be amended to read in full as follows:

This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 153,000,000 shares, 53,000,000 shares of which shall be Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) and 100,000,000 shares of which shall be Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”). The par value per share of the Common Stock shall be $0.0001 and the par value per share of the Preferred Stock shall be $0.0001.

Upon the filing and effectiveness pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law of this Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, and without regard to any other provision contained herein, every one share of Common Stock either issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance by the Corporation immediately before such filing and effectiveness shall automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof or the Corporation, be combined, reclassified and changed into one-fourteenth of a share of Common Stock of the Corporation, issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance, as the case may be. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon such combination of the Common Stock. If the combination would otherwise result in the issuance of any fractional share, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any fractional share, pay cash equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of one share of Common Stock (as determined by the Board of Directors) on the date that the combination is effective, rounded up to the nearest whole cent.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that such amendment is declared to be advisable.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that such amendment shall be submitted forthwith for stockholder consideration at a special meeting of stockholders or by a written consent action in lieu thereof.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the capital of the Corporation shall not be reduced by virtue of such amendment.

4. Thereafter the holders of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation gave written consent in favor of the entire foregoing amendment in accordance with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law in lieu of a special meeting of stockholders.

5. Said entire amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Biocept, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the undersigned, and the undersigned has executed this certificate, on November 1, 2013.

 

  

/s/ William G. Kachioff

   William G. Kachioff, Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
  

Exhibit 3.1.4

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

BIOCEPT, INC.

The undersigned does hereby certify on behalf of Biocept, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”) as follows:

1. He is the Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Corporation.

2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was originally filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 28, 2013.

3. The Board of Directors of Corporation duly adopted resolutions setting forth the following proposed amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and directing said amendment to be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for consideration, as follows:

RESOLVED, that the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation be amended to read in full as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the amendments of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation inhering in such proposed amendment (the “ Amendments ”) are declared to be advisable.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Amendments shall be submitted forthwith for stockholder consideration at a special meeting of stockholders or by a written consent action in lieu thereof.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the capital of the Corporation shall not be reduced by virtue of the Amendments.

4. The “Exhibit A” referred to in the resolutions repeated above consists of a proposed form of Certificate of Incorporation and a copy of such “Exhibit A” is attached hereto as Exhibit A and is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

5. Thereafter the holders of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation gave written consent in favor of the entire foregoing amendment in accordance with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law in lieu of a special meeting of stockholders.

6. Said entire amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Biocept, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the undersigned, and the undersigned has executed this certificate, on November         , 2013.

 

  

 

  
   William G. Kachioff   
  

Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

  


EXHIBIT A

PROPOSED FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

ARTICLE 1 - NAME

The name of this Corporation is Biocept, Inc.

ARTICLE 2 - REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE 3 - PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time. The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

ARTICLE 4 - CAPITAL STOCK

A. Classes of Stock . This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be denominated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of capital stock which this Corporation has authority to issue is 45,000,000 shares. 40,000,000 shares shall be designated Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares shall be designated Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

B. Preferred Stock . The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is authorized to from time to time provide by resolution for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in series, and to designate and establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon by law or pursuant to the certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock).

ARTICLE 5 - DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Board of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors and elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws. No stockholders will be permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of directors constituting each Class shall be fixed from time to time by a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors. The initial Class I directors shall be Bruce E. Gerhardt and Edward Neff. The initial Class II directors shall be Marsha A. Chandler, Bruce A. Huebner and Ivor Royston. The initial Class III directors shall be David F. Hale, Michael W. Nall and M. Faye Wilson. Class I directors shall hold office for an initial term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2014. Class II directors shall hold office for an initial term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2015, and Class III directors shall hold office for a term

 

2


expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2016. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a three-year term to succeed the directors of the Class whose terms then expire.

Section 2. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the Board of Directors, and any power of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied. Only such business shall be considered at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been stated in the notice for such meeting.

Section 3. Advance Notice Requirements. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation. At any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before such meeting in the manner provided by the Bylaws of the Corporation.

Section 4. No Stockholder Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called and held annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by a consent in writing by stockholders.

ARTICLE 6 - LIMITATION OF DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. A director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of his duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors, then the liability of the directors of the Corporation shall be limited or eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended from time to time.

Section 2. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) its directors, officers, employees and agents (and any other persons to which Delaware law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject only to limits created by applicable Delaware law (statutory or non-statutory), with respect to actions for breach of duty to a corporation, its stockholders, and others.

Section 3. Any repeal or modification of this Article shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director, officer, agent or other person existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any director of the Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director, officer or agent occurring before, such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE 7 - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Corporation reserves the right to repeal, alter, amend or rescind any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation and/or any provision contained in any amendment to or restatement of this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred on stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of 67% of the then outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, voting together as a single class,

 

3


shall be required for the amendment, repeal or modification of the provisions of Article 5, Section 3 of Article 6, or Article 7 of this Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 2. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Board of Directors then in office shall be required in order for the Board of Directors to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s Bylaws. The Corporation’s Bylaws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the above or any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation may not be amended, altered or repealed except in accordance with the Section of the Bylaws entitled “Amendments.” No bylaw hereafter legally adopted, amended, altered or repealed shall invalidate any prior act of the directors or officers of the Corporation that would have been valid if such bylaw had not been adopted, amended, altered or repealed.

 

4

Exhibit 4.1

LOGO

 

COMMON STOCK

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

CUSIP 09072V 105

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

is the owner of

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES, $0.0001 PAR VALUE, OF

BIOCEPT, INC. transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by Attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

Dated:

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

BY

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

SECRETARY PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


LOGO

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: UTMA – Custodian TEN COM – as tenants in common (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT – as tenants by entireties under Uniform Transfers to Minors

JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship Act and not as tenants in common (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in above list.

For value received hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)

Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated X

X

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED

ALL GUARANTEES MUST BE MADE BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SUCH AS A BANK OR BROKER) WHICH IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SECURITIES TRANSFER AGENTS MEDALLION PROGRAM (“STAMP”), THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. MEDALLION SIGNATURE PROGRAM (“MSP”), OR THE STOCK EXCHANGES MEDALLION PROGRAM (“SEMP”) AND MUST NOT BE DATED. GUARANTEES BY A NOTARY PUBLIC ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Exhibit 10.2.5

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of August 8, 2013 (the “ Grant Date ”) by and between Biocept, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and [DIRECTOR NAME] (the “ Grantee ”).

WHEREAS , the Company has adopted the Biocept, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) pursuant to which awards of Restricted Stock Units may be granted; and

WHEREAS , the Committee (or the Board) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to grant the award of Restricted Stock Units provided for herein, and accordingly has so granted.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Grant of Restricted Stock Units .

1.1 Pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Plan, the Company hereby issues to the Grantee on the Grant Date an Award consisting of, in the aggregate, [NUMBER] Restricted Stock Units (the “ Restricted Stock Units ”). Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

1.2 The Restricted Stock Units shall be credited to the Grantee on the books and records of the Company. All amounts credited to the Grantee shall continue for all purposes to be part of the general assets of the Company.

2. Consideration . The grant of the Restricted Stock Units is made in consideration of the services to be rendered by the Grantee to the Company.

3. Vesting .

3.1 Except as otherwise provided herein, provided that the Grantee remains in Continuous Service through the applicable vesting date, the Restricted Stock Units will vest in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Vesting Date    Number of Restricted
Stock Units That Vest
 

The last day of each calendar month beginning August 2013

     20


Once vested, the Restricted Stock Units become “ Vested Units.

3.2 Except as provided in the next sentence, if the Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason at any time before all of his or her Restricted Stock Units have vested, the Grantee’s unvested Restricted Stock Units (except for unvested Restricted Stock Units which vest simultaneously with such termination) shall be automatically forfeited upon such termination of Continuous Service and neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall have any further obligations to the Grantee with respect to such unvested Restricted Stock Units.

The foregoing vesting schedule notwithstanding, (a) if the Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Grantee’s death, Disability, a termination by the Company or an Affiliate without Cause or a termination by the Grantee for Good Reason, then (subject to Section 10.2 ) 100% of the unvested Restricted Stock Units shall vest as of the date of such termination, and (b) if a Change in Control occurs during the Grantee’s Continuous Service, then (subject to Section 10.2 ) 100% of the unvested Restricted Stock Units shall vest as of the date of such Change in Control.

4. Restrictions . Subject to any exceptions set forth in this Agreement or the Plan, from the Grant Date until such time as the Restricted Stock Units are settled in accordance with Section 6 , the Restricted Stock Units or the rights relating thereto may not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Grantee. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell or otherwise transfer or encumber the Restricted Stock Units or the rights relating thereto shall be wholly ineffective and, if any such attempt is made, the Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited by the Grantee and all of the Grantee’s rights to such units shall immediately terminate without any payment or consideration by the Company.

5. Rights as Stockholder .

5.1 The Grantee shall not have any rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units unless and until and except to the extent that (a) such Restricted Stock Units have become Vested Units and (b) such Vested Units are settled by the issuance of shares of Common Stock.

5.2 Upon and following the settlement of the Vested Units, the Grantee shall be the record owner of the shares of Common Stock which had underlain the Vested Units unless and until such shares are sold or otherwise disposed of, and as record owner shall be entitled to all rights of a stockholder of the Company (including voting rights).

6. Settlement of Restricted Stock Units .

6.1 Subject to Section 9 hereof, promptly following the Trigger Date, the Company shall (a) issue and deliver to the Grantee the number of shares of Common Stock equal to

 

2


the number of Vested Units; and (b) enter the Grantee’s name on the books of the Company as the stockholder of record with respect to the shares of Common Stock delivered to the Grantee. The “ Trigger Date ” means the earliest of (a) May 24, 2015, (b) the date of a Change in Control (but only in the event that the Change in Control is an event described in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder), (c) the date the Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Grantee’s Disability (but only, in such case, in the event that such termination of Continuous Service is due to the Grantee becoming “disabled” as described in Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder) or death, or (d) upon verification by the Committee as such and a determination by the Committee, as a matter of grace, to allow such to be a Trigger Date, the date of an unforeseeable emergency as described in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(vi) of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder, but only to the extent necessary to satisfy such emergency and to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result thereof after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Grantee’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) (determined in accordance with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii)(II) of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder).

6.2 If the Grantee is deemed a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, as determined by the Committee, at a time when the Grantee becomes eligible for settlement of the RSUs upon his or her “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then to the extent necessary to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such settlement will be delayed until the earlier of: (a) the date that is six months following the Grantee’s separation from service and (b) the Grantee’s death.

7. No Right to Continued Service . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall confer upon the Grantee any right to be retained as a Director of the Company or in any other capacity. Further, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company or the Company’s stockholders to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without Cause.

8. Adjustments . If any change is made to the outstanding Common Stock or the capital structure of the Company, if required, the Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted or terminated in any manner as contemplated by Section 11 of the Plan.

9. Tax Liability . Notwithstanding any action the Company takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“ Tax-Related Items ”), the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains the Grantee’s responsibility and the Company (a) makes no representation or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with the grant, vesting or

 

3


settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any shares; and (b) does not commit to structure the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate the Grantee’s liability for Tax-Related Items or overall tax liability.

10. Confidentiality Obligations; Non-solicitation .

10.1 In consideration of the Restricted Stock Units, the Grantee agrees and covenants not to, directly or indirectly, solicit, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of employment of any employee of the Company or its Affiliates for 12 months following the Grantee’s termination (due to whatever reason or cause) of Continuous Service.

10.2 If the Grantee breaches the covenant set forth in Section 10.1 or commits an intentional and non-trivial breach of any written confidential information and/or intellectual property assignment agreement with the Company (or any intentional and non-trivial breach of fiduciary duty with regard to a matter which, but for the fact that non-employee directors have ambient fiduciary duties to the Company and therefore are not generally asked to sign written confidential information and/or intellectual property assignment agreements with the Company, would typically have been the subject of a contractual obligation of the Grantee under the Company’s standard form of written confidential information and/or intellectual property assignment agreements with the Company):

(a) all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be immediately forfeited; and

(b) the Grantee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary, preliminary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief.

11. Compliance with Law . The issuance and transfer of shares of Common Stock shall be subject to compliance by the Company and the Grantee with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any securities exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock may be listed. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued or transferred unless and until any then applicable requirements of state and federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel.

12. Notices . Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s

 

4


principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to the Grantee under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee’s address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

13. Governing Law . This Agreement will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of law principles.

14. Interpretation . Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by the Grantee or the Company to the Committee for review (provided, that if the Grantee is a member of the Committee, the Grantee shall not participate in the deliberations regarding or the vote as to such dispute). The resolution of such dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Grantee and the Company.

15. Restricted Stock Units Subject to Plan . This Agreement is subject to the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time. The terms and provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.

16. Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon the Grantee and any assigns and will inure to the benefit of the Grantee and the Grantee’s executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Stock Units may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

17. Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan or this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, and each provision of the Plan and this Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

18. Discretionary Nature of Plan . The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, cancelled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion. The grant of the Restricted Stock Units in this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any other Restricted Stock Units or other Awards in the future. Future Awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of the Grantee’s membership on the Board or of any other relationship which the Grantee may at the time have with the Company.

19. Amendment . The Committee has the right to amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or cancel the Restricted Stock Units, prospectively or retroactively; provided, that no such

 

5


amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or cancellation shall adversely affect the Grantee’s material rights under this Agreement without the Grantee’s consent.

20. Section 409A . This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements for avoiding additional taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Code and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Grantee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Counterpart signature pages to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing an original signature.

22. Acceptance . The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Restricted Stock Units subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon the vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or disposition of the underlying shares and that the Grantee has been advised to consult a tax advisor before such vesting, settlement or disposition.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement as of the Grant Date.

 

BIOCEPT, INC.
By:    

Name: 

 

Title:

 
 
[DIRECTOR NAME]
     

 

6

Exhibit 10.9

February 15, 2011

Michael J. Dunn

1829 El Camino Del Teatro

La Jolla, California 92037

Dear Mike:

Biocept, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to offer you the position of Senior Vice President of Corporate Development on the following terms.

In this position you will have responsibility for identification, development, negotiations and closing new business opportunities that support the goals and objectives of Biocept. You will work closely with marketing and finance as well as the technical and scientific management in the Company to achieve these objectives. You will support the Executive Chairman and/or the Chief Executive Officer in pursuing the corporate development objectives of the Company, financing of the Company and representing the Company to external customers. You will represent the Company at investor, scientific, and clinical conferences. You will work with the Executive Chairman and or CEO in developing a long term strategic plan for the Company that is Board approved. You will also have overall responsibility for the Company’s intellectual property portfolio.

Your compensation will be $9,615.39 bi-weekly (annualized $250,000) less payroll deductions and all required withholdings. In addition, your compensation will be increased by $25,000 upon finalization of one or more corporate collaborations or other investments which provide at least $15 million in financing to the Company. You will be eligible to participate in a Company management incentive program if and when approved by the Board of Directors. As an exempt salaried employee, you will be expected to work those hours required to assure success in accomplishing the responsibilities of your position.

We understand that you have existing consulting obligations and commitments to other organizations which can continue to the extent they are not directly competitive with the Company’s activities, do not interfere with your obligations to Biocept and are undertaken with the approval of the Executive Chairman and or CEO.

Should Biocept have a Change in Control (COC), the Executive Chair and/or the Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for negotiating the terms of the COC with respect to your position and those of other employees.

You will be paid bi-weekly and you will be eligible for the following standard Company benefits: medical insurance, vacation/personal time off, and holidays. Details about these benefits are provided in the Employee Handbook and Summary Plan Description, available for your review at www.biocept.benergy.com , user ID: Biocept and Password: Benefits. The Company may change compensation and benefits from time to time in its discretion.


Michael J. Dunn

February 15, 2011

Offer Letter

Page Two

Subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) , and pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 1997 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company shall grant you an option to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at the fair market value as determined by the Board as of the date of grant (the “Option”). The Option will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and your grant agreement. Your grant agreement will include a four year vesting schedule, under which 25 percent of your shares will vest after twelve months of employment, with the remaining shares vesting monthly thereafter, until either the Option is fully vested or your employment ends, whichever occurs first. In addition, you will have the opportunity to earn options for another 50,000 shares with a one year vesting schedule, with 1/12 of the shares vesting monthly, upon finalization of one or more corporate collaborations which provides at least $5 million in financing to the Company.

As a Company employee, you will be expected to abide by Company policies and procedures and acknowledge in writing that you have read and will comply with the Company’s Employee Handbook. As a further condition of employment, you must read, sign and comply with the attached Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement which prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of Company proprietary information.

In your work for the Company, you will be expected not to use or disclose any confidential information, including trade secrets, of any former employee or other person to whom you have an obligation of confidentiality. Rather you will be expected to use only that information which is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to your own, which is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or developed by the Company. You agree that you will not bring onto Company premises or use in your work for the Company any unpublished documents or property belonging to any former employer or third party that you are not authorized to use and disclose. You represent further that you have disclosed to the Company any contract you have signed that may restrict your activities on behalf of the Company. By accepting employment with the Company, you are representing that you will be able to perform you job duties within these guidelines.

While we are hopeful that your employment relationship with the Company will be beneficial to you and to the Company, we recognize that you may decide to pursue other employment opportunities or the Company may decide to terminate the relationship. As such, your employment relationship with the Company is “at-will”. This means that either you or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without notice or cause. The Company also has the right to change at-will compensation, benefits, duties, assignments or responsibilities of your job. While certain paragraphs of the is offer letter describe events that could occur at any particular time in the future, nothing in this offer letter may be construed as guaranteeing employment of any specified duration. If any representations have been made contrary to this at-will relationship, such representations are superseded by this offer. This at-will relationship only may be altered by a written document signed by the Executive Chair or Chief Executive Officer.


Michael J. Dunn

February 15, 2011

Offer Letter

Page Three

If you accept this offer, you will begin to work contingent upon (a) your executing the enclosed Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and (b) your providing us with proof of your identity and authorization to work in the United States within three days of hire, pursuant to the Immigration and Naturalization Act.

We are pleased to make this offer and look forward to your joining the Company. If you accept this offer, please sign and return this letter along with the executed Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement no later than February 18. I have enclosed a copy of the letter for your records. If you accept our offer, we would like you to start Monday, February 28, 2011.

We look forward to your favorable reply and I look forward to working with you and the rest of the management team to make Biocept a very successful Company.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ David F. Hale

David F. Hale, Executive Chair

I accept employment with Biocept, Inc. as outlined in this letter. My signature below certifies that I understand and agree that my employment relationship with the Company is at-will. I understand that my agreement with the Company on my at-will status is the final and the entire agreement between the Company and me concerning the matter in which my employment with the Company may be terminated and other conditions of my employment changed.

 

/s/ Michael J. Dunn

     

2/15/11

Michael J. Dunn     Date

Attachment: Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement


BIOCEPT, INC.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

In consideration of my employment or continued employment by B IOCEPT , I NC . (the “ Company ”), and the compensation now and hereafter paid to me, I, Michael J. Dunn, hereby agree as follows:

 

1. N ONDISCLOSURE .

1.1 Recognition of Company’s Rights; Nondisclosure. At all times during my employment and thereafter, I will hold in the strictest confidence and will not disclose, use, lecture upon or publish any of the Company’s and/or its Affiliates’ Proprietary Information (defined below), except as such disclosure, use or publication may be required in connection with my work for the Company, or unless an officer of the Company expressly authorizes such in writing. I will also obtain Company’s written approval before publishing or submitting for publication any material (written, verbal, or otherwise) that relates to my work at Company. I hereby assign to the Company any rights I may have or acquire in such Proprietary Information and recognize that all Proprietary Information shall be the sole property of the Company and its assigns. For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specific entity, any other entity that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified entity.

1.2 Proprietary Information. The term “ Proprietary Information ” shall mean any and all confidential and/or proprietary knowledge, data or information of the Company and/or its Affiliates. By way of illustration but not limitation, “ Proprietary Information ” includes (a) trade secrets, inventions, mask works, ideas, processes, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs and techniques, scientific or technical information (hereinafter collectively referred to as “ Inventions ”); (b) information regarding plans for research, development, new products, marketing and selling, business plans, budgets, unpublished financial statements, licenses, prices and costs, suppliers and customers; (c) information regarding the skills and compensation of other employees of the Company and/or its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that, at all such times, I am free to use information that is generally known in the trade or industry, which is not gained as result of a breach of this Agreement, and

my own, skill, knowledge, know-how and experience to whatever extent and in whichever way I wish.

1.3 Third Party Information. I understand, in addition, that the Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information ( “Third Party Information” ) subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the term of my employment and thereafter, I will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than Company personnel who need to know such information in connection with their work for the Company) or use, except in connection with my work for the Company, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by an officer of the Company in writing.

1.4 No Improper Use of Information of Prior Employers and Others. During my employment by the Company I will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employer or any other person to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality, and I will not bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other person to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by that former employer or person. I will use in the performance of my duties only information which is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to my own, which is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or developed by the Company.

2. A SSIGNMENT OF I NVENTIONS .

2.1 Proprietary Rights. The term “Proprietary Rights” shall mean all trade secret, patent, copyright, mask work and other intellectual property rights throughout the world.

 

 

1.


2.2 Prior Inventions. Inventions, if any, patented or unpatented, which I made prior to the commencement of my employment with the Company are excluded from the scope of this Agreement. To preclude any possible uncertainty, I have set forth on Exhibit B (Previous Inventions) attached hereto a complete list of all Inventions that I have, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice or caused to be conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of my employment with the Company, that I consider to be my property or the property of third parties and that I wish to have excluded from the scope of this Agreement (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions” ). If disclosure of any such Prior Invention would cause me to violate any prior confidentiality agreement, I understand that I am not to list such Prior Inventions in Exhibit B but am only to disclose a cursory name for each such invention, a listing of the party(ies) to whom it belongs and the fact that full disclosure as to such inventions has not been made for that reason. A space is provided on Exhibit B for such purpose. If no such disclosure is attached, I represent that there are no Prior Inventions. If, in the course of my employment with the Company, I incorporate a Prior Invention into a Company product, process or machine, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I agree that I will not incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, Prior Inventions in any Company Inventions without the Company’s prior written consent.

2.3 Assignment of Inventions. Subject to Sections 2.4 and 2.6, I hereby assign and agree to assign in the future (when any such Inventions or Proprietary Rights are first reduced to practice or first fixed in a tangible medium, as applicable) to the Company all my right, title and interest in and to any and all Inventions (and all Proprietary Rights with respect thereto) whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned by me, either alone or jointly with others, during the period of my employment with the Company. Inventions assigned to the Company, or to a third party as directed by the Company pursuant to this Section 2, are hereinafter referred to as “Company Inventions” .

2.4 Nonassignable Inventions. This Agreement does not apply to an Invention which qualifies fully as a nonassignable Invention under Section 2870 of the California Labor Code (hereinafter “Section 2870” ). I have reviewed the notification on Exhibit A (Limited Exclusion Notification) and agree that my signature acknowledges receipt of the notification.

2.5 Obligation to Keep Company Informed. During the period of my employment and for six (6) months after termination of my employment with the Company, I will promptly disclose to the Company fully and in writing all Inventions authored, conceived or reduced to practice by me, either alone or jointly with others. In addition, I will promptly disclose to the Company all patent applications filed by me or on my behalf within a year after termination of employment. At the time of each such disclosure, I will advise the Company in writing of any Inventions that I believe fully qualify for protection under Section 2870; and I will at that time provide to the Company in writing all evidence necessary to substantiate that belief. The Company will keep in confidence and will not use for any purpose or disclose to third parties without my consent any confidential information disclosed in writing to the Company pursuant to this Agreement relating to Inventions that qualify fully for protection under the provisions of Section 2870. I will preserve the confidentiality of any Invention that does not fully qualify for protection under Section 2870.

2.6 Government or Third Party. I also agree to assign all my right, title and interest in and to any particular Company Invention to a third party, including without limitation the United States, as directed by the Company.

2.7 Works for Hire. I acknowledge that all original works of authorship which are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of my employment and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire” , pursuant to United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C., Section 101).

2.8 Enforcement of Proprietary Rights. I will assist the Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Inventions in any and all countries. To that end I will execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting,

 

 

2.


evidencing, sustaining and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, I will execute, verify and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designee. My obligation to assist the Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of my employment, but the Company shall compensate me at a reasonable rate after my termination for the time actually spent by me at the Company’s request on such assistance.

In the event the Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure my signature on any document needed in connection with the actions specified in the preceding paragraph, I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and in my behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of the preceding paragraph with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me. I hereby waive and quitclaim to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which I now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.

3. R ECORDS . I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and in any other form that may be required by the Company) of all Proprietary Information developed by me and all Inventions made by me during the period of my employment at the Company, which records shall be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.

4. A DDITIONAL A CTIVITIES . I agree that during the period of my employment by the Company I will not, except as provided in my employment offer letter, engage in any employment or business activity which is competitive with, or would otherwise conflict with, my employment by the Company. I agree further that for the period of my employment by the Company and for one (l) year after the date of termination of my employment by the Company, I will not induce or solicit any employee to leave the employ of the Company.

5. N O C ONFLICTING O BLIGATION . I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence information acquired by me in confidence

or in trust prior to my employment by the Company. I have not entered into, and I agree I will not enter into, any agreement either written or oral in conflict herewith.

6. R ETURN OF C OMPANY D OCUMENTS . When I leave the employ of the Company, I will deliver to the Company any and all drawings, notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, and documents, together with all copies thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any Company Inventions, Third Party Information or Proprietary Information of the Company. I further agree that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets or other work areas, is subject to inspection by Company personnel at any time with or without notice. Prior to leaving, I will cooperate with the Company in completing and signing the Company’s termination statement.

7. L EGAL AND E QUITABLE R EMEDIES . Because my services are personal and unique and because I may have access to and become acquainted with the Proprietary Information of the Company, the Company shall have the right to enforce this Agreement and any of its provisions by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without bond and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies that the Company may have for a breach of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the Parties’ agreement, to the extent a Court or other tribunal requires an undertaking or bond I agree that an undertaking in the amount of $1,000 is sufficient to protect my rights and interests.

8. N OTICES . Any notices required or permitted hereunder shall be given to the appropriate party at the address specified below or at such other address as the Party shall specify in writing. Such notice shall be deemed given upon personal delivery to the appropriate address or if sent by certified or registered mail, three (3) days after the date of mailing.

9. N OTIFICATION OF N EW E MPLOYER . In the event that I leave the employ of the Company, I hereby consent to the notification of my new employer of my rights and obligations under this Agreement.

10. G ENERAL P ROVISIONS .

 

 

3.


10.1 Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This Agreement will be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of California; as such laws are applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within California between California residents. I hereby expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in San Diego County, California for any lawsuit filed there against me by Company arising from or related to this Agreement.

10.2 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. If moreover, any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, it shall be construed by limiting and reducing it, so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear.

10.3 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.

10.4 Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of my employment and the assignment of this Agreement by the Company to any successor in interest or other assignee.

10.5 At-Will Employment. I agree and understand that nothing in this Agreement shall confer any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with my right or the Company’s right to terminate my employment at any time, with or without Cause.

10.6 Waiver. No waiver by the Company of any breach of this Agreement shall be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach. No waiver by the Company of any right under this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any other right. The Company shall not be required to give notice to enforce strict adherence to all terms of this Agreement.

10.7 Entire Agreement. The obligations pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement shall apply to any time during which I was previously employed, or am in the future employed, by the Company as a consultant if no other agreement governs nondisclosure and assignment of inventions during such period. This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and merges all prior discussions between us. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in writing and signed by the Party to be charged. Any subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

This Agreement shall be effective as of the first day of my employment with the Company, namely: February     , 2011

I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS. I HAVE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT EXHIBIT B TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

Dated:    

 

(Signature)

Michael J. Dunn

A CCEPTED AND A GREED T O :

B IOCEPT , I NC .

5810 N ANCY R IDGE D R .

S AN D IEGO , CA 92121

 

By:    
Title:    
Dated:    
 

 

4.


E XHIBIT  A

LIMITED EXCLUSION NOTIFICATION

T HIS IS TO NOTIFY you in accordance with Section 2872 of the California Labor Code that the foregoing Agreement between you and the Company does not require you to assign or offer to assign to the Company any invention that you developed entirely on your own time without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:

 

  1. Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company;

 

  2. Result from any work performed by you for the Company.

To the extent a provision in the foregoing Agreement purports to require you to assign an invention otherwise excluded from the preceding paragraph, the provision is against the public policy of this state and is unenforceable.

This limited exclusion does not apply to any patent or invention covered by a contract between the Company and the United States or any of its agencies requiring full title to such patent or invention to be in the United States.

I ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT of a copy of this notification.

 

 

Date:                             

 

W ITNESSED BY :
   


E XHIBIT B

 

TO: B IOCEPT , I NC .

 

FROM: Michael J. Dunn

 

DATE: February , 2011

 

SUBJECT: Previous Inventions

1. Except as listed in Section 2 below, the following is a complete list of all inventions or improvements relevant to the subject matter of my employment by B IOCEPT , I NC . (the “Company” ) that have been made or conceived or first reduced to practice by me alone or jointly with others prior to my engagement by the Company:

 

¨    No inventions or improvements.
¨    See below:
  

 

  

 

  

 

¨   

Additional sheets attached.

2. Due to a prior confidentiality agreement, I cannot complete the disclosure under Section 1 above with respect to inventions or improvements generally listed below, the proprietary rights and duty of confidentiality with respect to which I owe to the following party(ies):

 

       Invention or Improvement      Party(ies)                      Relationship

1.      

  

 

    

 

    

 

2.

  

 

    

 

    

 

3.

  

 

    

 

    

 

 

  ¨ Additional sheets attached.

Exhibit 10.11

LEASE

(Nexus/Biocept)

 

THIS LEASE (“ Lease ”), dated for reference purposes only March 31, 2004, is made by and between NEXUS EQUITY VIII LLC, a California limited liability company (“ Landlord ”), and BIOCEPT, INC., a California corporation (“ Tenant ”).

 

  1.

Lease Premises .

1.1            Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases from Landlord those certain premises (“ Premises ”) consisting of approximately 38,369 square feet of Rentable Area in the building (the “ Building ”) located at 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California, on real property legally described as Lot 101 of Lusk Industrial Park Unit No. 4, in the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, State of California, according to Map thereof No. 10819, filed in the office of the County Recorder of San Diego County, January 13, 1984. The Building consists of approximately 48,218 square feet of Rentable Area, and the building at 5820 Nancy Ridge Drive consists of approximately 39,080 square feet of Rentable Area. The two buildings, the real property upon which the buildings are located, and all landscaping, parking facilities, and other improvements and appurtenances related thereto are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Project .” The site plan for the Project is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” , and the Premises are outlined on Exhibit “B” . All exterior portions of the Project which are for the non-exclusive use of tenants of the Project, including without limitation roadways, driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, and landscaped areas, are hereinafter referred to as “ Common Areas ”.

 

  2.

Basic Lease Provisions .

2.1            For convenience of the parties, certain basic provisions of this Lease are set forth herein, which provisions are subject to the remaining terms and conditions of this Lease and are to be interpreted in light of such remaining terms and conditions.

 

     2.1.1

    Address of the Project:

    5810 and 5820 Nancy Ridge Drive

    San Diego, California

 

     2.1.2

    Address of Tenant’s Building:

    5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 200

 

     2.1.3

    Rentable Area:

    Approximately 38,369 square feet

    (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 8.3)

 

1


     2.1.4

    Basic Annual Rent:

    (subject to Rentable Area adjustment pursuant to Section 8.3)

 

5/24/04

  

through 1/23/05

  

No Basic Annual Rent

1/24/05

  

through 5/23/06

  

$805,749

  

($ 1.75 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

5/24/06

  

      through 5/23/07

  

      $897,834

  

($1.95 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

5/24/07

  

      through 5/23/08

  

      $943,877

  

($2.05 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

5/24/08

  

      through 5/23/09

  

      $989,920

  

($2.15 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

5/24/09

  

      through 5/23/10

  

      $1,035,963

  

($2.25 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

5/24/10

  

      through 5/23/11

  

      $1,082,005

  

($2.35 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

5/24/11

  

      through 5/23/12

  

      $1,128,048

  

($2.45 per square foot of Rentable Area per month)

 

     2.1.5

    Monthly Installment of Basic Annual Rent:

    (subject to Rentable Area adjustment pursuant to Section 8.3)

 

5/24/04

  

      through 1/23/05

  

      No Basic Annual Rent

1/24/05

  

      through 5/23/06

  

      $67,145

  

       ($1.75 per square foot of Rentable Area)

5/24/06

  

      through 5/23/07

  

      $74,819

  

       ($1.95 per square foot of Rentable Area)

5/24/07

  

      through 5/23/08

  

      $78,656

  

       ($2.05 per square foot of Rentable Area)

5/24/08

  

      through 5/23/09

  

      $82,493

  

       ($2.15 per square foot of Rentable Area)

5/24/09

  

      through 5/23/10

  

      $86,330

  

       ($2.25 per square foot of Rentable Area)

5/24/10

  

      through 5/23/11

  

      $90,167

  

       ($2.35 per square foot of Rentable Area)

5/24/11

  

      through 5/23/12

  

      $94,004

  

       ($2.45 per square foot of Rentable Area)

 

     2.1.6

Tenant’s Pro Rata Share: 44% of the Project (subject to Rentable Area adjustment pursuant to Section 8.3, and subject to abatement for first eight (8) months of Operating Expenses pursuant to Section 7.6)

 

     2.1.7

    (a)        Term Commencement Date: May 24, 2004

    (b)        Term Expiration Date: May 23, 2012

 

     2.1.8

    Permitted Use: Any lawful use permitted in the MIB Zone

 

     2.1.9

    Address for Rent Payment and Notices to Landlord:

Nexus Equity VIII LLC

c/o Nexus Properties, Inc.

9381 Judicial Drive, Suite 100

San Diego, CA 92121

 

2


Address for Notices to Tenant Prior to Occupancy:

Biocept, Inc.

2151 Las Palmas Drive, Suite C

Carlsbad, CA 92009

Address for Notices to Tenant After Occupancy:

Biocept, Inc.

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 200

San Diego, California 92122

2.2.          The following exhibits are attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference:

 

Exhibit “A”

   

Site Plan of the Project

Exhibit “B”

   

Outline of the Premises

Exhibit “C”

   

Rules and Regulations

Exhibit “D”

 

                

 

Landlord’s Improvements

 

  3.

Term .

3.1       This Lease shall take effect upon the date of execution hereof by each of the parties hereto, and each of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Landlord and Tenant from the date of execution hereof by each of the parties hereto.

3.2       The term of this Lease will be that period from May 24, 2004 (“ Term Commencement Date ”) through May 23, 2012 (eight [8] years from the Term Commencement Date), subject to earlier termination of this Lease or extension of the term as provided herein.

 

  4.

Possession .

4.1       Landlord shall tender possession of the Premises to Tenant upon full execution of the Lease. Prior to entry by Tenant onto the Premises before the Term Commencement Date, Tenant shall furnish to Landlord evidence satisfactory to Landlord that insurance coverages required of Tenant under the provisions of Article 21 are in effect. Occupancy of the Premises prior to the Term Commencement Date shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Lease other than the payment of Basic Annual Rent and Operating Expenses.

 

  4.2

Landlord shall contribute for the cost of Tenant Improvements $473,000 plus $27,678 for architectural fees for a total of $500,678. In addition, Landlord will pay an additional $4,000 if the elevator has to be permitted separately. Further, at Landlord’s cost, Landlord shall engage Comfort Systems to perform testing of the HVAC system to insure its ability to support 55% relative humidity and a 68 degree temperature for the Clean Room, and make any necessary modifications. Landlord shall also initialize the RO/DI water system (on-going maintenance to be paid by Tenant). If the cost of Tenant Improvements exceed the Landlord Allowance, Tenant shall pay such excess costs.

 

3


  4.3

Tenant shall contract with David Begent & Co. and Krenek Design Group to construct and design the Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall prepare a Tenant Improvement Budget, including design fees, costs of processing and obtaining permits from the City of San Diego and any other governmental agency with jurisdiction over the Premises, architect fees and other direct costs incurred in the design and construction of the Tenant Improvements. The Tenant Improvement Budget, and all revisions thereto, shall be subject to Landlord’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. As work progresses on the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall submit an application for payment (“Application for Payment”) to Landlord no more often than monthly, and by the twentieth (20 th ) day of the month, for disbursement of the Tenant Improvement Allowance. Applications for Payment may be made only for work actually completed or services actually provided. Applications for Payment shall include copies of the invoices to Tenant by Tenant’s contractor(s) or other vendors for the work completed and be certified by both Tenant and Tenant’s architect that the described Tenant Improvement work or services have been completed. If the Tenant Improvement Budget, as it may be revised from time to time, exceeds that amount of the Tenant Improvement Allowance, as initially adopted or as revised from time to time because of changes in work, cost overruns, or otherwise, Tenant shall pay the overage on a monthly basis proportionately as the work progresses. Tenant shall, at its expense, install any improvements in addition to those listed on the Tenant Improvement Budget which are necessary to ensure (i) the Premises are completed in accordance with the Tenant Improvement Plans, (ii) the Premises are fully operational, and (iii) a certificate of occupancy is issued for the Premises.

 

  5.

Rent .

5.1            Tenant agrees to pay Landlord as Basic Annual Rent for the Premises the sums set forth in Section 2.1.4, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 8.3. Basic Annual Rent shall be paid in the equal monthly installments set forth in Section 2.1.5, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 8.3, each in advance on the first day of each and every calendar month during the term of this Lease. Basic Annual Rent shall not be payable, and shall be forgiven, for the period May 24, 2004 through January 23, 2005.

5.2       In addition to Basic Annual Rent, Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord as additional rent (“ Additional Rent ”), at the times hereinafter specified in this Lease (i) Tenant’s Pro Rata Share (as defined in Section 7.3(a) and as set forth in Section 2.1.6, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 8.1) of Operating Expenses as provided in Article 7, and (ii) all other amounts that Tenant assumes or agrees to pay under the provisions of this Lease, including but not limited to any and all other sums that may become due by reason of any default of Tenant or failure on Tenant’s part to comply with the agreements, terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease to be performed by Tenant, and Landlord’s performance of any obligations of Tenant under this Lease.

 

4


5.3              Basic Annual Rent and Additional Rent shall together be denominated “ Rent .” Except as expressly set forth in this Lease, Rent shall be paid to Landlord, without notice, demand, abatement, suspension, deduction, setoff, counterclaim, or defense, in lawful money of the United States of America, at the office of Landlord as set forth in Section 2.1.9 or to such other person or at such other place as Landlord may from time to time designate in writing.

5.4              In the event the term of this Lease commences or ends on a day other than the first day of a calendar month, then the Rent for such fraction of a month shall be prorated for such period on the basis of a thirty (30) day month and shall be paid at the then current rate for such fractional month prior to the commencement of the partial month.

5.5              The installment of Basic Annual Rent for the period May 1, 2005 through May 31, 2005 in the amount of $67,145 shall be deposited with Landlord by Tenant upon execution of the Lease, and shall be held by Landlord as an additional security deposit under Article 9 hereof unless and until applied to Basic Annual Rent for such period.

 

 

  6.

[Intentionally Left Blank] .

 

  7.

Operating Expenses .

7.1              As used herein, the term “ Operating Expenses ” is defined, for purposes of this Lease, as those reasonable operation and maintenance costs incurred in the management of similarly classed buildings which are commonly included as operating expenses in accordance with sound accounting practice used by the commercial real estate industry consistently applied for the applicable time periods, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a)   Government impositions including, without limitation, real and personal property taxes and assessments (but excluding personal property taxes and assessments of other tenants of the Project) levied upon the Project or any part thereof; amounts due under any improvement bond upon the Project and assessments levied in lieu thereof (except to the extent they represent costs related to the construction of the Project); any tax on or measured by gross rentals received from the rental of space in the Project or tax based on the square footage of the buildings in the Project to the extent such tax is in lieu of or in the nature of a property tax; and any utilities surcharges or any other costs levied, assessed or imposed by, or at the direction of, or resulting from statutes or regulations, or interpretations thereof promulgated by, any federal, state, regional, municipal or local government authority in connection with the use or occupancy of the Building or Project, and any expenses, including the cost of attorneys or experts, reasonably incurred by Landlord in seeking reduction by the taxing authority of the applicable taxes not to exceed the amount of any such reduction, less tax refunds obtained as a result of an application for review thereof.

(b)   Except as set forth in Section 7.2 below, and by way of example and not as a limitation upon the generality of the foregoing, costs of (i) maintenance, repairs and

 

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replacements to improvements within the Project; (ii) utilities furnished to the Project (except those utilities which are separately metered and paid by individual tenants); (iii) sewer fees; (iv) trash collection; (v) cleaning (including windows); (vi) maintenance of landscape and grounds; (vii) maintenance of drives and parking areas, including periodic resurfacing; (viii) reasonable and customary security services; (ix) maintenance, repair, and replacement of reasonable and customary security devices; (x) building supplies; (xi) maintenance, repair, and replacement of equipment utilized for operation and maintenance of the Project; (xii) costs of maintenance, repairs and replacements of heating, ventilation, air condition, plumbing, electrical, elevator and other systems; (xiii) insurance premiums; service contracts for work of a nature before referenced; (xvi) costs of services of independent contractors retained to do work of nature before referenced at reasonable and customary rates; (xvii) costs of compensation (including employment taxes and fringe benefits) of all persons who perform regular and recurring duties connected with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Project at reasonable and customary rates; and (xviii) reasonable costs of management services equal to three percent (3.0%) of the Basic Annual Rent.

7.2              Notwithstanding the foregoing, Operating Expenses shall not include, and Tenant shall not be responsible for the payment of, the following costs and expenses:

(a)   costs incurred for the repair and maintenance of the structural components of the footings, foundation, ground floor slab, and load bearing walls of the buildings in the Project (but excluding painting and ordinary maintenance and repair of exterior surfaces, which are Operating Expenses under Section 7.1(b));

(b)   costs of a capital nature, as defined by generally accepted accounting principles, incurred for the replacement of footings, foundation, ground floor slab, load bearing walls, and roof structure (but excluding membranes), except to the extent caused by Tenant’s negligence;

(c)   costs incurred to correct any defects in design, materials or construction of the Project;

(d)   costs, expenses and penalties (including without limitation attorneys fees) incurred as a result of the use, storage, removal or remediation of any toxic or hazardous substances or other environmental contamination not caused by Tenant or its employees, contractors, agents, representatives, or invitees;

(e)   rentals and other payments by Landlord under any ground lease or other lease underlying the Lease, and interest, principal, points and other fees on debt or amortization of any debt secured in whole or part by all or any portion of the Project (provided that interest upon a government assessment or improvement bond payable in installments is an Operating Expense under Section 7.1(a));

(f)   costs incurred in connection with the financing, sale or acquisition of the Project or any portion thereof;

 

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(g)   costs, expenses, and penalties (including without limitation attorneys’ fees) incurred due to the violation by Landlord of any underlying deed of trust, mortgage or ground lease affecting the Project or any portion thereof;

(h)   depreciation and amortization of any type (provided this exclusion is not intended to delete from Operating Expenses actual costs of maintenance, repairs and replacements which are otherwise the responsibility of Tenant);

(i)   any costs incurred as a result of Landlord’s violation of any statute, ordinance or other source of applicable law, or breach of contract or tort liability to any other party, including without limitation, any unrelated third party, or Landlord’s employees, contractors, agents or representatives;

(j)   costs incurred in leasing or procuring tenants (including, without limitation, lease commissions, advertising expenses, attorneys’ fees and expenses of renovating space for tenants);

(k)   advertising, marketing, media and promotional expenditures regarding the Project and costs of signs identifying the owner, lender or any contractor thereof;

(l)   any fees or salaries of the principals of Landlord or any employee above the level of property manager;

(m) any rentals and related expenses incurred in leasing equipment which may be classified as capital expenditures under generally accepted accounting principles;

(n)   any net income, franchise, capital stock, estate or inheritance taxes or taxes which are the personal obligation of Landlord or of another tenant of the Project;

(o)   expenses which relate to preparation of rental space for a tenant;

(p)   legal expenses arising out of the initial construction of the Project or any tenant improvements or for the enforcement of the provisions of any tenant leases other than this Lease;

(q)   the cost of any work or service performed for or facilities famished to a tenant at such tenant’s cost;

(r)   any interest or penalties imposed upon Landlord by any taxing authority for late payment or otherwise;

(s)   costs for which Landlord is reimbursed; and

(t)     any other expense otherwise chargeable as part of the cost of operation and maintenance but which is not of general benefit to the Project but is primarily for the benefit of one or more specific tenants.

 

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7.3               Except as provided in Section 7.6 below, Tenant shall pay to Landlord on the first day of each calendar month of the term of this lease, as Additional Rent, Landlord’s good faith estimate of Tenant’s Pro Rata Share (as set forth in 2.1.6) of Operating Expenses with respect to the Project for such month.

(a) “ Tenant’s Pro Rata Share ” under this Lease shall mean 44%, determined by dividing the Rentable Area of the Premises by the total Rentable Area of the Project.

(b) Within sixty (60) days after the conclusion of each calendar year, Landlord shall furnish to Tenant a statement (the “ Annual Operating Expense Statement ”) showing in reasonable detail the actual Operating Expenses and Tenant’s Pro Rata Share of Operating Expenses for the previous calendar year. Any additional sum due from Tenant to Landlord shall be due and payable within thirty (30) days of Tenant’s receipt of such statement. If the amounts paid by Tenant pursuant to this Section 7.3 exceed Tenant’s Pro Rata Share of Operating Expenses for the previous calendar year, the difference shall be credited by Landlord against the Rent next due and owing from Tenant; provided that, if the Lease term has expired, Landlord shall accompany said statement with payment for the amount of such difference.

(c) Any amount due under this Section 7.3 for any period which is less than a full month shall be prorated for such fractional month.

(d) Notwithstanding this Section 7.3, Operating Expenses which can fairly and reasonably be allocated to one building or one or more tenants of the Project shall be so allocated, and shall be separately scheduled on the Annual Operating Expense Statement.

7.4           Tenant shall have the right, at Tenant’s expense, upon reasonable notice during reasonable business hours, to inspect that portion of Landlord’s books which are relevant to preparation of the Annual Operating Expense Statement provided any request for such review shall be furnished within one hundred eighty (180) days after Tenant’s receipt of such statement as to a prior year’s Operating Expenses. The costs of any such audit shall be borne by Tenant, provided however, that in the event such audit reveals that the amounts charged to Tenant were more than five percent (5%) greater than the amounts permitted by this Lease to be charged to Tenant, then Landlord shall pay the reasonable costs of that audit. In addition, Landlord shall pay to Tenant, within ten (10) days of notice thereof, any amounts determined to be owed to Tenant as a result of such audit.

7.5               Operating Expenses for the calendar year in which Tenant’s obligation to pay them commences and in the calendar year in which such obligation ceases shall be prorated. Expenses such as taxes, assessments and insurance premiums which are incurred for an extended time period shall be prorated based upon time periods to which applicable so that the amounts attributed to the Premises relate in a reasonable manner to the time period wherein Tenant has an obligation to pay Operating Expenses.

7.6               Notwithstanding anything in this Lease to the contrary, Tenant shall not be responsible for payment of Operating Expenses for the period May 24, 2004 through August 23, 2004, and shall not be responsible for payment of 50% of its Pro Rata Share of Operating Expenses for the period August 23, 2004 through January 23, 2005.

 

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  8.

Rentable Area .

8.1            The Rentable Area of the Project is determined by making separate calculations of the Rentable Area of each floor of both buildings and totalling the Rentable Area of all floors within the buildings. The Rentable Area of a floor is calculated by measuring to the outside finished surface of each permanent outer building wall where it intersects the floor, or where it would have intersected the floor except for recessed entryways, windows and the like (also known as the “drip line”, measured from where the outside finished surface of the second floor wall intersects the roof). The full area calculated as set forth above is included as Rentable Area of the Project without deduction for (i) columns or projections, (ii) vertical penetrations such as stairs, elevator shafts, flues, pipe shafts, vertical ducts, and the like, and their enclosing walls, (iii) corridors, equipment rooms, rest rooms, entrance ways, elevator lobbies, and the like, and their enclosing walls, (iv) recessed entryways or windows, or (v) any other unusable area of any nature.

8.2            The term “ Rentable Area ” when applied to Tenant is the approximate area to be occupied by Tenant plus an equitable allocation of Rentable Area within the Project which is not then utilized or expected to be utilized by Tenant or other tenants of the Project, including but not limited to the portions of the buildings devoted to corridors, equipment rooms, rest rooms, elevator lobbies and mailrooms. In making such allocations, consideration will be given to tenants benefited by space allocated such that areas which primarily serve tenants of only one floor, such as corridors and rest rooms upon such floor, shall be allocated to that tenant’s Rentable Area. If the Premises are separated from space occupied by another tenant, the Rentable Area shall be measured to the center of any interior demising walls.

8.3            The Rentable Area as set forth in Section 2.1.3 is an estimate of the area which constitutes the Rentable Area of the Premises, which, at the request of either Landlord or Tenant made within ninety (90) days after the Term Commencement Date, shall be adjusted in accordance with measurement and certification of the Project architect. If the Rentable Area as determined hereunder is more or less than the Rentable Area set forth in Section 2.1.3, Basic Annual Rent, the monthly installments of Basic Annual Rent, and Tenant’s Pro Rata Share shall be adjusted upward or downward, as the case may be, based on the actual Rentable Area of the Premises.

 

  9.

Security Deposit .

9.1        Upon execution of this Lease, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord cash in the amount of $268,583 as security for the faithful performance by Tenant of all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of this Lease to be kept and performed by Tenant during the term and any extension term hereof If Tenant defaults with respect to any provision of this Lease, including but not limited to any provision relating to the payment of Rent, and subject to any notice requirements and cure periods for Tenant’s benefit set forth in Article 24, Landlord may (but shall not be required) to use, apply or retain the security deposit for the payment of any Rent or any other sum in default, or to compensate Landlord for any other loss or damage which Landlord may suffer by reason of Tenant’s default. Landlord may use the security deposit without giving notice of default to Tenant as

 

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otherwise required by Article 24 if Landlord is precluded from giving such notice by any provision of the Bankruptcy Code. Tenant hereby grants to Landlord a security interest in the security deposit in accordance with the applicable provisions of the California Commercial Code to secure the obligations of this Lease.

9.2      In the event any or all of the security deposit is used to cure a Tenant default, Tenant shall within fifteen (15) days after request therefore replenish the security deposit to the full amount set forth above.

9.3      In the event of bankruptcy or other debtor/creditor proceedings against Tenant, the security deposit shall be deemed to be applied first to the payment of Rent and other charges due Landlord for all periods prior to the filing of such proceedings.

9.4      Landlord shall deliver the security deposit to any purchaser of Landlord’s interest in the Premises, and thereupon Landlord shall be discharged from any further liability with respect thereto provided that such purchaser has agreed to assume in writing the obligations of Landlord hereunder. This provision shall also apply to any subsequent transfers.

9.5      The security deposit shall be returned to Tenant within thirty (30) days following the expiration of this Lease, except for amounts which are actually used to pay or reimburse Landlord for costs incurred by Landlord to cure any default by Tenant.

 

  10.

Use .

10.1          Tenant may use the Premises for any use permitted by (i) the MIB Zone, (ii) any other applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, requirements, permits and approvals applicable to the Premises, and (iii) all covenants, conditions and restrictions recorded against the property, and shall not use the Premises, or permit or suffer the Premises to be used for any other purpose without the prior written consent of Landlord.

10.2          Tenant shall conduct its business operations and use the Premises in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, requirements, permits and approvals applicable to the Premises. Tenant shall not use or occupy the Premises in violation of any law or regulation or the certificate of occupancy issued for the Building, and shall, upon five (5) days’ written notice from Landlord, discontinue any use of the Premises which is declared by any governmental authority having jurisdiction to be a violation of law or the certificate of occupancy. Tenant shall comply with any direction of any governmental authority having jurisdiction which shall, by reason of the nature of Tenant’s use or occupancy of the Premises, impose any duty upon Tenant or Landlord with respect to the Premises or with respect to the use or occupation thereof, excluding, however, any duty to make structural or capital improvements, alterations, repairs and replacements to the Premises.

10.3          Tenant shall not do or permit to be done anything which will invalidate or increase the cost (unless Tenant agrees to pay such increased cost) of any fire, extended coverage or any other insurance policy covering the Premises, or which will make such insurance coverage unavailable on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, and shall comply with all rules, orders, regulations and requirements of the insurers of the Premises.

 

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10.4          Subject to the warranties of Landlord in Section 14.2, Tenant shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ ADA ”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time. All responsibility for compliance with the ADA relating to the Premises, including any alterations to the Premises made by Tenant and the activities conducted by Tenant within the Premises, shall be exclusively that of Tenant and not of Landlord, including any duty to make structural or capital improvements, alterations, repairs and replacements to the Premises but only to the extent triggered by construction of alterations by or for Tenant. Any alterations to the Premises made by Tenant for the purpose of complying with the ADA or which otherwise require compliance with the ADA shall be done in accordance with Article 17; provided, that Landlord’s consent to such alterations shall not constitute either Landlord’s assumption, in whole or in part, of Tenant’s responsibility for compliance with the ADA, or representation or confirmation by Landlord that such alterations comply with the provisions of the ADA. However, nothing in this Lease shall be construed to require Tenant to make structural or capital improvements, alterations, repairs or replacements to comply with ADA unless and until required to do so by order of any government entity or court of law exercising proper jurisdiction with regard thereto, subject to any right to appeal or otherwise contest any such order. Furthermore, Landlord shall be responsible for compliance with ADA to the extent of a violation of Landlord’s warranties in Section 14.2.

10.5          Tenant may install signage on and about the Building and Project monument to the extent permitted by, and in conformity with, applicable provisions of the City of San Diego Sign Ordinance, and to the extent reasonably approved by Landlord. Tenant acknowledges that it understands that other tenants will occupy space in the Project, and that the maximum allowable signage is to be shared among all of the tenants on a pro rata basis. Tenant further acknowledges it is familiar with the restrictions of the City of San Diego Sign Ordinance, and is not relying on any representations or warranty of Landlord regarding the number, size or location of any signage. The expense of design, permits, purchase and installation of any signs shall be the responsibility of Tenant and the cost thereof shall be borne by Tenant. At the termination of the Lease, all signs shall be the property of Tenant and may be removed from the Premises by Tenant, subject to the provisions of Article 36. Any relocation of Tenant’s signage required by Landlord’s division of the Project into more than one lot shall be with the consent of Tenant and at Landlord’s cost.

10.6          No equipment shall be placed at a location within the Building other than a location designed to carry the load of the equipment. Equipment weighing in excess of floor loading capacity shall not be placed in the Building.

10.7          Tenant shall not use or allow the Premises to be used for any unlawful purpose, nor shall Tenant cause, maintain or permit any nuisance or waste in, on, or about the Premises.

 

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  11.

Brokers .

11.1          Landlord and Tenant represent and warrant one to the other that there have been no dealings with any real estate broker or agent in connection with the negotiation of this Lease other than Phase 3 Properties, Inc., which represented Landlord, and Colliers International, which represented Tenant, each of whose commissions shall be paid by Landlord fifty percent (50%) upon execution of the Lease and fifty percent (50%) on December 1,2004, provided Tenant can provide evidence it has at least $4 million in cash or cash equivalents. Should Tenant not have a cash position of at least $4 million as of December 1, 2004, Landlord will not be responsible to pay the second half of the commission until rent commencement and Tenant’s financials demonstrate their ability to continue its lease obligations for a period of 6 months. Each shall indemnify, defend, protect, and hold harmless the other from any claim of any other broker as a result of any act or agreement of the indemnitor.

11.2          Tenant represents and warrants that no broker or agent has made any representation or warranty relied upon by Tenant in Tenant’s decision to enter into this Lease other than as contained in this Lease.

 

  12.

Holding Over .

12.1          If, with Landlord’s consent, Tenant holds possession of all or any part of the Premises after the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant shall become a tenant from month to month upon the date of such expiration or earlier termination, and in such case Tenant shall continue to pay in accordance with Article 5 the Basic Annual Rent as adjusted from the Term Commencement Date in accordance with Article 6, together with Operating Expenses in accordance with Article 7 and other Additional Rent as may be payable by Tenant, and such month-to-month tenancy shall be subject to every other term, covenant and condition contained herein.

12.2          If Tenant remains in possession of all or any portion of the Premises after the expiration or earlier termination of the term hereof without the express written consent of Landlord, Tenant shall become a tenant at sufferance upon the terms of this Lease except that monthly rental shall be equal to one hundred twenty five percent (125%) of the Basic Annual Rent in effect during the last twelve (12) months of the Lease term as charged on a per diem basis for the term of the holdover.

12.3          Acceptance by Landlord of Rent after such expiration or earlier termination shall not result in a renewal or reinstatement of this Lease.

12.4          The foregoing provisions of this Article 12 are in addition to and do not affect Landlord’s right to re-entry or any other rights of Landlord under Article 24 or elsewhere in this Lease or as otherwise provided by law.

 

  13.

Taxes on Tenant’s Property

13.1          Tenant shall pay not less than ten (10) days before delinquency taxes levied against any personal property or trade fixtures placed by Tenant in or about the Premises. Tenant shall not be responsible for taxes levied against any personal property or trade fixtures of other tenants.

 

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13.2          If any such taxes on Tenant’s personal property or trade fixtures are levied against Landlord or Landlord’s property or, if the assessed valuation of the Project is increased by the inclusion therein of a value directly attributable to Tenant’s personal property or trade fixtures, and if Landlord after written notice to Tenant pays the taxes based upon such increase in the assessed value, then Tenant shall upon demand repay to Landlord the taxes so levied against Landlord.

13.3          If any improvements in or alterations to the Premises, whether owned by Landlord or Tenant and whether or not affixed to the real property so as to become a part thereof, are assessed for real property tax purposes at a valuation higher than the valuation at which improvements in other spaces in the Project are assessed, then the real property taxes and assessments levied against Landlord or the Project by reason of such excess assessed valuation shall be deemed to be taxes levied against personal property to Tenant and shall be governed by the provisions of Section 13.2 above. Any such excess assessed valuation due to improvements in or alterations to space in the Project leased by other tenants of Landlord shall not be included in the Operating Expenses defined in Section 7, but shall be treated, as to such other tenants, as provided in this Section 13.3, and shall be allocated to such other tenants. If the records of the County assessor are available and sufficiently detailed to serve as a basis for determining whether said Tenant improvements or alterations are assessed at a higher valuation than improvements in other spaces in the Project, such records shall be binding on both Landlord and Tenant.

 

  14.

Condition of Premises .

14.1     Tenant acknowledges that the Premises have been previously occupied, and accepts the Premises in their “AS-IS” condition, except that Landlord, at its cost and expense, shall complete the Landlord’s Improvements as provided in Exhibit “D ” which is hereby incorporated into this Lease by reference. Tenant acknowledges that neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to the condition of the Premises, except as set forth in this Lease, or with respect to their suitability for the conduct of Tenant’s business.

14.2     Landlord represents and warrants to Tenant that as of the date of this Lease the Premises, the Project and Common Areas are in compliance with all applicable building code requirements, laws, rules, orders, ordinances, directions, regulations, permits, approvals, and requirements of all governmental agencies, offices, departments, bureaus and boards having jurisdiction, and with the rules, orders, directions, regulations, and requirements of any applicable fire rating bureau; provided, however, with regard to ADA, Landlord only warrants that the Project (excluding improvements installed by or for a previous tenant but including Landlord’s Improvements) were in compliance with the ADA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, at the time of the initial construction of the Project. Landlord further represents and warrants to Tenant that as of the date of this Lease, the Building and Common Area HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roof and structural systems are in good working condition and repair.

 

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  15.

Common Areas and Parking Facilities .

15.1          Tenant shall have the nonexclusive right, in common with others, to use the Common Areas, subject to the rules and regulations adopted by Landlord and attached hereto as Exhibit “C” together with such other reasonable and nondiscriminatory rules and regulations as are hereafter promulgated by Landlord (the “ Rules and Regulations ”).

15.2     Tenant shall not place any equipment, storage containers or any other property on the surface parking area or otherwise outside of the Premises without the consent of Landlord, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. In the event Tenant elects to locate Hazardous Material storage facilities, water systems, mechanical equipment, emergency generators, or other improvements in the parking area, the space used for such facilities may be deducted from Tenant’s Pro Rata Share of parking described below.

15.3          As an appurtenance to the Premises, Tenant, and its employees and invitees, shall be entitled to use a Pro Rata Share of the available parking without charge during the term of the Lease, including all renewals, which is approximately three and one half (3.5) spaces per 1,000 square feet of Rentable Area, which includes Tenant’s pro rata share of visitor and handicapped parking.

 

  16.

Utilities and Services .

16.1          Tenant shall pay for all water, gas, electricity, telephone, cable, and other utilities which may be furnished to the Premises during the term of this Lease, together with any taxes thereon. If any such utility is not separately metered to Tenant, Tenant shall pay a reasonable proportion to be determined by Landlord of all charges jointly metered with tenants of other premises as part of its share of Operating Expenses. Utilities and services provided to the Premises which are separately metered shall be paid by Tenant directly to the supplier of such utility or service, and Tenant shall pay for such utilities and services prior to delinquency during the term of this Lease.

16.2     Landlord shall not be liable for, nor shall any eviction of Tenant result from, any failure of any such utility or service, and in the event of such failure Tenant shall not be entitled to any abatement or reduction of Rent, nor be relieved from the operation of any covenant or agreement of this Lease, and Tenant waives any right to terminate this Lease on account thereof However, notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any such failure caused by Landlord persists for more than thirty (30) days, Tenant at its election may terminate this Lease.

16.3          Tenant shall provide and pay for janitors, maintenance personnel, and other persons who perform duties connected with the operation and maintenance of the interior of the Premises.

 

  17.

Alterations .

17.1          Tenant shall make no alterations, additions or improvements (hereinafter in this section, “improvements”) in or to the Premises, except for non-structural improvements costing less than $25,000, without Landlord’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord final plans and specifications and working drawings for the improvements to Landlord, and Landlord shall have ten (10) days thereafter to grant or withhold its consent. If Landlord does not notify Tenant of its decision within the ten (10) days, Landlord shall be deemed to have given its approval.

 

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17.2          If a permit is required to construct the improvements, Tenant shall deliver a completed, signed-off inspection card to Landlord within ten (10) days of completion of the improvements, and shall promptly thereafter obtain and record a notice of completion and deliver a copy thereof to Landlord.

17.3          The improvements shall be constructed only by licensed contractors. All contractors, except those constructing non-structural improvements costing less than $25,000, shall be approved by Landlord, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Any such contractor must have in force a general liability insurance policy of not less than $2,000,000 or such higher limits as Landlord may reasonably require, which policy of insurance shall name Landlord as an additional insured. Tenant shall provide Landlord with a copy of the contract with the contractor prior to the commencement of construction.

17.4          Tenant agrees that any work by Tenant shall be accomplished in such a manner as to permit any fire sprinkler system and fire water supply lines to remain fully operable at all times except when minimally necessary for building reconfiguration work and following prior written notice to Landlord.

17.5          Tenant covenants and agrees that all work done by Tenant shall be performed in full compliance with all laws, rules, orders, ordinances, directions, regulations, permits, approvals, and requirements of all governmental agencies, offices, departments, bureaus and boards having jurisdiction, and in full compliance with the rules, orders, directions, regulations, and requirements of any applicable fire rating bureau. For work exceeding $25,000.00 in cost, Tenant shall provide Landlord with “as-built” plans showing any change in the Premises within thirty (30) days after completion.

17.6          Before commencing any work exceeding $25,000.00 in cost, other than interior non-structural alterations, additions or improvements, Tenant shall give Landlord at least five (5) days’ prior written notice of the proposed commencement.

 

  18.

Repairs and Maintenance .

18.1          Landlord shall repair and maintain the structural and exterior portions and Common Areas of the Building and Project, including foundations, exterior walls, load bearing walls, windows, plate glass, roofing, and roofing covering materials, and plumbing, fire sprinkler system, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, elevator, and electrical systems, subject to reimbursement by Tenant as its Pro Rata Share of Operating Expenses to the extent provided by Article 7. However, if such maintenance or repairs are required solely because of any act, neglect, fault of or omissions of any duty by Tenant, its agents, servants, employees or invitees, Tenant shall pay to Landlord the reasonable costs of such maintenance and repairs attributable to Tenant’s act, neglect, fault or omission.

 

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18.2          Except as otherwise set forth in Section 18.1, Tenant shall, throughout the term of this Lease, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, keep the Premises and every part thereof in good condition and repair, including plumbing, fire sprinkler, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, elevator, and electrical systems existing in the Premises as of the Term Commencement Date, or installed thereafter by Landlord as part of Landlord’s Improvements, or installed by Tenant with the permission of Landlord, except for damage thereto from causes beyond the reasonable control of Tenant and ordinary wear and tear. Tenant shall upon the expiration or earlier termination of the term hereof surrender the Premises to Landlord in the same condition as when received, ordinary wear and tear and damage from causes beyond the reasonable control of Tenant excepted. Landlord shall have no obligation to alter, remodel, improve, repair, decorate or paint the Premises or any part thereof except as provided in Section 18.1 and Exhibit D.

18.3          Tenant hereby waives Civil Code Sections 1941 and 1942 relating to a landlord’s duty to maintain the Premises in a tenantable condition, and the under said sections or under any law, statute or ordinance now or hereafter in effect to make repairs at Landlord’s expense.

18.4     Subject to Section 20.3 below, there shall be no abatement of Rent and no liability of Landlord by reason of any injury to or interference with Tenant’s business arising from the making of any repairs, alterations or improvements in or to any portion of the Premises, or in or to improvements, fixtures, equipment and personal property therein. If repairs or replacements become necessary which by the terms of this Lease are the responsibility of Tenant and Tenant fails to make the repairs or replacements, and Landlord delivers written demand upon Tenant to perform and Tenant fails to do so within the next ten (10) days, Landlord may make the repairs or replacements and Tenant shall upon demand pay to Landlord the reasonable costs thereof.

 

  19.

Liens .

19.1          Tenant shall keep the Premises, the Building and the property upon which the Building is situated free from any liens arising out of work performed, materials furnished or obligations incurred by Tenant. Tenant further covenants and agrees that any mechanic’s lien filed against the Premises for work claimed to have been done for, or materials claimed to have been furnished to, Tenant, will be promptly discharged by Tenant within thirty (30) days after Landlord makes written demand thereof, or as soon as possible, provided that Tenant takes all actions as expeditiously as possible to remove such lien. However, nothing herein provided shall prevent Tenant from contesting, in good faith and at its own expense, any such lien.

19.2          Should Landlord, acting in good faith, include in Landlord’s written notice to Tenant the information that an existing lien must be immediately removed in order to facilitate a pending sale or refinancing, Tenant shall, at its expense, immediately post a bond or otherwise provide security to eliminate the lien as a claim against title.

 

  20.

Indemnification and Exculpation .

20.1          As used in this Article 20, the term “Landlord” means Landlord and the term “Landlord’s Indemnitees” means its partners and affiliates, and their respective members, shareholders, directors, officers, agents, contractors and employees. As used in this Article 20, the term “Tenant” means Tenant and the term “Tenant’s Indemnitees” means its partners and affiliates, and their respective members, shareholders, directors, officers, agents, contractors and employees.

 

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20.2          Tenant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Landlord and Landlord’s Indemnitees from and against any and all demands, claims, causes of actions, fines, penalties, damages, liabilities, judgments and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) which are caused by any negligent or intentional act by Tenant arising from or out of any occurrence in, upon or about the Premises, the Building, the Project or the Common Areas and which results in or causes harm or damage to any person or property. Tenant’s obligations under this Section 20.2 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the term of this Lease.

20.3          Landlord agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Tenant and Tenant’s Indemnitees from and against any and all demands, claims, causes of actions, fines, penalties, damages, liabilities, judgments and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) which are caused by any negligent or intentional act by Landlord arising from or out of any occurrence in, upon or about the Premises, the Building, the Project or the Common Areas and which results in or causes harm or damage to any person or property. Landlord’s obligations under this Section 20.3 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the term of this Lease.

20.4     Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 20.3, Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant and Tenant assumes all risk of damage to any records, research, experiments, living organisms, computer software and other intangible property, and Landlord shall not be liable for injury to Tenant’s business or any loss of income therefrom relative to such damage, regardless of whether caused by Landlord’s or Landlord’s Agents’ acts or omissions.

20.5          The indemnity obligations of both Landlord and Tenant under this Section 20 shall be satisfied to the extent of proceeds of applicable insurance maintained by the indemnifying party to the extent thereof, and thereafter to proceeds of any applicable insurance maintained by the other party; Landlord and Tenant shall be required to satisfy any such obligation only to the extent it is not satisfied by proceeds of applicable insurance as set forth above.

20.6          Security devices and services, if any, while intended to deter crime may not in given instances prevent theft or other criminal acts and it is agreed that Landlord shall not be liable for injuries or losses caused by criminal acts of third parties and the risk that any security device or service may malfunction or otherwise be circumvented by a criminal is assumed by Tenant. Tenant shall at Tenant’s cost obtain insurance coverages to the extent Tenant desires protection against such criminal acts.

20.7          Landlord shall not be liable for any damages arising from any act or neglect of any other tenant in the Building or Project, except to the extent caused by any negligent or intentional act by Landlord.

 

  21.

Insurance - Waiver of Subrogation .

21.1          Commencing prior to Tenant’s first entry onto the Premises for purposes of installing any improvements, fixtures or personal property, but no later than the Term

 

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Commencement Date, and continuing at all times during the term of this Lease, Tenant shall maintain, at Tenant’s expense, commercial general liability insurance, on an occurrence basis, insuring Tenant and Tenant’s agents, employees and independent contractors against all bodily injury, property damage, personal injury and other covered loss arising out of the use, occupancy, improvement and maintenance of the Premises and the business operated by Tenant, or any other occupant, on the Premises. Such insurance shall have a minimum combined single limit of liability per occurrence of not less than $ 1,000,000.00 and a general aggregate limit of $2,000,000.00. Such insurance shall: (i) name Landlord, and Landlord’s lenders if required by such lenders, and any management company retained to manage the Premises if requested by Landlord, as additional insureds; (ii) include broad form contractual liability coverage insuring Tenant’s indemnity obligations under Section 20.1; (iii) include products liability coverage (with limits of $2,000,000.00 on a “claims made” basis), boiler and machinery liability coverage, and products completed operations coverage; (iv) provide that it is primary coverage and noncontributing with any insurance maintained by Landlord or Landlord’s lenders, which shall be excess insurance with respect only to losses arising out of Tenant’s negligence; and (v) provide for severability of interests or include a cross-liability endorsement, such that an act or omission of an insured shall not reduce or avoid coverage of other insureds.

21.2          At all times during the term of this Lease, Landlord shall maintain, subject to reimbursement by Tenant as an Operating Expense under Section 7.1(b), “all risk” insurance, including, but not limited to, coverage against loss or damage by fire, vandalism, and malicious mischief covering the Project (exclusive of excavations, foundations and footings), and all other improvements and fixtures that may be constructed or installed on the Premises, in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the full replacement value thereof. If any boilers or other pressure vessels or systems are installed on the Premises, Landlord shall maintain, subject to reimbursement by Tenant as an Operating Expense under Section 7.1(b), boiler and machinery insurance in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the full replacement value thereof. The insurance described in this Section 21.2 shall: (i) insure Landlord, and Landlord’s lenders if required by such lenders, as their interests may appear; (ii) contain a Lender’s Loss Payable Form (Form 438 BFU or equivalent) in favor of Landlord’s lenders and name Landlord, or Landlord’s lender if required by such lender, as the loss payee; (iii) provide for severability of interests or include a cross-liability endorsement, such that an act or omission of an insured shall not reduce or avoid coverage of other insureds; (iv) include a building ordinance endorsement, an agreed amount endorsement and an inflation endorsement; and (v) provide that it is primary coverage and noncontributing with any insurance maintained by Landlord or Landlord’s lenders, which shall be excess insurance. The full replacement value of the Project, and other improvements and fixtures insured thereunder shall, for the purpose of establishing insurance limits and premiums only, be determined by the company issuing the insurance policy and shall be redetermined by said company within six (6) months after completion of any material alterations or improvements to the Premises and otherwise at intervals of not more than three (3) years. Landlord shall promptly increase the amount of the insurance carried pursuant to this Section 21.2 to the amount so redetermined. The proceeds of the insurance described in this Section shall be used for the repair, replacement and restoration of the Premises and other improvements and fixtures insured thereunder, as further provided in Article 22; provided, however, if this Lease is terminated after damage or destruction, the insurance policy or policies, all rights thereunder and all insurance proceeds shall be assigned to Landlord.

 

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21.3     At all times during the term of this Lease, Tenant shall maintain, at Tenant’s expense, business interruption insurance in order to insure that the Basic Annual Rent and Operating Expenses provided for hereunder will be paid for a period of up to one (1) year after any casualty insured against by all risk policy of insurance described in Section 21.2 above or any restriction of access to the Premises as a result of such casualty.

21.4     At all times during the term of this Lease, Tenant shall maintain, at Tenant’s expense, “all risk” insurance against trade fixtures, equipment and merchandise of Tenant or any portion thereof, from time to time, in an amount equal to the full replacement value thereof.

21.5          At all times during the term of this Lease, Tenant shall maintain workers’ compensation insurance in accordance with California law, and employers’ liability insurance with limits typical for companies similar to Tenant.

21.6          All of the policies of insurance referred to in this Article 21 shall be written by companies authorized to do business in California and rated A+VII or better in Best’s Insurance Guide or written by Lloyd’s of London. Each insurer of liability coverage referred to in this Article 21 shall agree, by endorsement on the applicable policy or by independent instrument furnished to Landlord, that it will give Landlord, and Landlord’s lenders if required by such lenders, at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice by registered mail before the applicable policy shall be cancelled for non-payment of premium, and thirty (30) days’ prior written notice by registered mail before the applicable policy shall be cancelled or altered in coverage, scope, amount or other material term for any other reason (although any failure of an insurer to give notice as provided herein shall not be a breach of this Lease by Tenant). No policy shall provide for a deductible amount in excess of $100,000, unless approved in advance in writing by Landlord, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord, and to Landlord’s lenders if required by such lenders, certificates evidencing such insurance policies, issued by the insurer, prior to the required date for commencement of such coverage. At least ten (10) days prior to expiration of any such policy, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord, and Landlord’s lenders if required by such lenders, a certificate evidencing renewal, or a certified copy of a new policy or certificate evidencing the same. If Tenant fails to provide to Landlord any such certificate by the required date for commencement of coverage, or within ten (10) days prior to expiration of any policy, or to pay the premiums therefor when required, Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to procure said insurance and pay the premiums therefor. Any premiums so paid by Landlord shall be repaid by Tenant to Landlord with the next due installment of rent, and failure to repay the same shall have the same consequences as failure to pay any installment of Rent.

21.7          Landlord may provide the property insurance required under this Article 21 pursuant to a so-called blanket policy or policies of property insurance maintained by Landlord.

21.8          Landlord and Tenant each hereby waive any and all rights of recovery against the other or against the officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, and representatives of the other, on account of loss or damage to such waiving party’s property or the property of others under its control, to the extent that such loss or damage is caused by or results from risks insured against under any insurance policy which insures such waiving party’s property at the time of such loss or damage, which waiver shall continue in effect as long as the parties’ respective insurers permit such waiver under the terms of their respective insurance policies or otherwise in writing.

 

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  22.

Damage or Destruction .

22.1      In the event of damage to or destruction of all or any portion of the Premises or the Building (collectively, “improvements”) arising from a risk substantially covered by the insurance described in Section 21.2, Landlord shall within a reasonable time commence and proceed diligently to repair, reconstruct and restore (collectively, “restore”) the Premises and/or the Building to substantially the same condition as they were in immediately prior to the casualty, whether or not the insurance proceeds are sufficient to cover the actual cost of restoration. Landlord shall be responsible for all costs of restoration of the Premises and/or Building in excess of insurance proceeds. Except as expressly set forth below, this Lease shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding such damage or destruction.

22.2          In the event of any damage to or destruction of all or any portion of the Premises or the Building arising from a risk which is not substantially covered by the insurance described in Section 21.2, Landlord shall within a reasonable time, at its expense, commence and proceed diligently to restore the Premises and/or the Building to substantially the same condition as they were in immediately prior to the casualty. This Lease shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding such damage or destruction; provided, however, that if the damage or destruction occurs during the last year of the term and the expense of restoration exceeds $ 100,000, then either Landlord or Tenant may, at its election, by written notice to the other, terminate the Lease; provided further, that if the damage or destruction occurs at any other time and the expense of restoration exceeds $500,000, then Landlord may, at its election, by written notice to Tenant, terminate the Lease.

22.3          In satisfying its obligations under this Article 22, Landlord shall not be required to fulfill its restoration responsibilities with improvements identical to those which were damaged or destroyed; rather, with the consent of Tenant, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, Landlord may restore the damage or destruction with improvements reasonably equivalent to those damaged or destroyed.

22.4      In the event of damage, destruction and/or restoration as herein provided, there shall be no abatement of Rent, and Tenant shall not be entitled to any compensation or damages occasioned by any such damage, destruction or restoration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event restoration of the Premises and/or the Building cannot reasonably be completed within six (6) months following the damage or destruction, Landlord will give notice thereof to Tenant within sixty (60) days following such damage or destruction, and Tenant at its election may by written notice to Landlord terminate this Lease.

22.5          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article, should Landlord be delayed or prevented from completing the restoration of the improvements after the occurrence of such damage or destruction by reason of acts of God, war, government restrictions, inability to procure the necessary labor or materials, strikes, or other causes beyond the control of Landlord (but excluding economic conditions or financial inability to perform), the time for Landlord to commence or complete restoration shall be extended for the time reasonably required as a result of such causes.

 

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22.6          Tenant waives the provisions of Civil Code Section 1932(2) and 1933(4) or any similar statute now existing or hereafter adopted governing destruction of the Premises, so that the parties’ rights and obligations in the event of damage or destruction shall be governed by the provisions of this Lease.

 

  23.

Eminent Domain .

23.1          In the event the Premises or the Building or any portion thereof shall be taken for any public or quasi-public purpose by any lawful power or authority by exercise of the right of appropriation, condemnation or eminent domain, or sold to prevent such taking, Tenant or Landlord may terminate this Lease upon the earlier of sixty (60) days after notice of such taking or the date possession is required to be surrendered to said authority.

23.2          In the event of a partial taking of the Premises or the Building for any public or quasi-public purpose by any lawful power or authority by exercise of right of appropriation, condemnation, or eminent domain, or sold to prevent such taking, then Landlord may elect to terminate this Lease if such taking is of a material nature such as to make it uneconomical to continue use of the unappropriated portions for the purposes for which they were intended, and Tenant may elect to terminate this Lease if such taking is of material detriment to, and substantially interferes with, Tenant’s use and occupancy of the Premises. In no event shall this Lease be terminated when such a partial taking does not have a material adverse effect upon Landlord or Tenant or both. Termination by either party pursuant to this section shall be effective upon the earlier of sixty (60) days after notice of such partial taking or as of the date possession is required to be surrendered to said authority.

23.3          If upon any taking of the nature described in this Article 23 this Lease continues in effect, then Landlord shall promptly proceed to restore the remaining portion of the Premises and the Building to substantially their same condition prior to such partial taking. Basic Annual Rent shall be abated proportionately on the basis of the rental value of the Premises as restored after such taking compared to the rental value of the Premises prior to such taking.

 

  24.

Defaults and Remedies .

24.1          Late payment by Tenant to Landlord of Rent and other sums due will cause Landlord to incur costs not contemplated by this Lease, the exact amount of which will be extremely difficult and impracticable to ascertain. Such costs include, but are not limited to, processing and accounting charges and late charges which may be imposed on Landlord by the terms of any mortgage or trust deed covering the Premises. Therefore, if any installment of Rent due from Tenant is not received by Landlord within ten (10) days of the date such payment is due, Tenant shall pay to Landlord an additional sum of five percent (5%) of the overdue rent as a late charge. The parties agree that this late charge represents a fair and reasonable estimate of the costs that Landlord will incur by reason of late payment by Tenant. In addition to the late charge, Rent not paid within thirty (30) days of the date such payment is due shall bear interest from thirty (30) days after the date due until paid at the lesser of (i) ten percent (10%) per annum or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by law.

 

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24.2             No payment by Tenant or receipt by Landlord of a lesser amount than the rent payment herein stipulated shall be deemed to be other than on account of the rent, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or any letter accompanying any check or payment as rent be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept such check or payment without prejudice to Landlord’s right to recover the balance of such rent or pursue any other remedy provided. If at any time a dispute shall arise as to any amount or sum of money to be paid by Tenant to Landlord, Tenant shall have the right to make payment “under protest” and such payment shall not be regarded as a voluntary payment, and there shall survive the right on the part of Tenant to institute suit for recovery of the payment paid under protest.

24.3             If Tenant fails to pay any sum of money (other than Basic Annual Rent) required to be paid by it hereunder, or shall fail to perform any other act on its part to be performed hereunder, Landlord may, without waiving or releasing Tenant from any obligations of Tenant, but shall not be obligated to, make such payment or perform such act; provided, that such failure by Tenant continued for thirty (30) days after written notice from Landlord demanding performance by Tenant was delivered to Tenant. All sums so paid or incurred by Landlord, together with interest thereon, from the date such sums were paid or incurred, at the annual rate equal to ten percent (10%) per annum or highest rate permitted by law, whichever is less, shall be payable to Landlord on demand as Additional Rent.

24.4             The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a default hereunder by Tenant:

(a)  The failure by Tenant to make any payment of Rent, as and when due, where such failure shall continue for a period of ten (10) days after written notice thereof from Landlord to Tenant. Such notice shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any notice required under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161;

(b)  The failure by Tenant to observe or perform any obligation other than described in Section 24.4(a) to be performed by Tenant, where such failure shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from Landlord to Tenant; provided, however, that if the nature of Tenant’s default is such that more than thirty (30) days are reasonably required to cure the default, then Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default if Tenant shall commence such cure within said thirty (30) day period and thereafter diligently prosecute the same to completion. Such notice shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any notice required under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161;

(c)  Tenant makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(d)  A receiver, trustee or custodian is appointed to, or does, take title, possession or control of all, or substantially all, of Tenant’s assets; or

(e)  Tenant’s interest in this Lease is attached, executed upon, or otherwise judicially seized and such action is not released within ninety (90) days of the action.

 

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Notices given under this Section shall specify the alleged default and shall demand that Tenant perform the provisions of this Lease or pay the Rent that is in arrears, as the case may be, within the applicable period of time, or quit the Premises. No such notice shall be deemed a forfeiture or a termination of this Lease unless Landlord elects otherwise in such notice, and in no event shall a forfeiture or termination occur without such written notice.

24.5             In the event of a default by Tenant, and at any time thereafter, and without limiting Landlord in the exercise of any right or remedy which Landlord may have, Landlord shall be entitled to terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Premises by any lawful means, in which case this Lease shall terminate and Tenant shall immediately surrender possession of the Premises to Landlord. In such event Landlord shall have the immediate right to re-enter and remove all persons and property, and such property may be removed and stored in a public warehouse or elsewhere at the cost of, and for the account of Tenant, all without service of notice and without being deemed guilty of trespass, or becoming liable for any loss or damage which may be occasioned thereby. In the event that Landlord shall elect to so terminate this Lease, then Landlord shall be entitled to recover from Tenant all damages incurred by Landlord by reason of Tenant’s default, including:

(a)  The worth at the time of award of any unpaid Rent which had been earned at the time of such termination; plus

(b)  The worth at the time of award of the amount by which the unpaid Rent which would have been earned after termination until the time of award exceeds the amount of such rental loss which Tenant proves could have been reasonably avoided; plus

(c)  The worth at the time of award of the amount by which the unpaid Rent for the balance of the term after the time of award exceeds the amount of such rental loss which Tenant proves could have been reasonably avoided; plus

(d)  Any other amount necessary to compensate Landlord for all the detriment proximately caused by Tenant’s failure to perform its obligation under this Lease or which in the ordinary course of things would be likely to result therefrom, including, but not limited to, the cost of restoring the Premises to the condition required under the terms of this Lease; plus

(e)  At Landlord’s election, such other amounts in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as may be permitted from time to time by applicable law.

As used in Subsections (a), (b) and (c), the “time of award” shall mean the date upon which the judgment in any action brought by Landlord against Tenant by reason of such default is entered or such earlier date as the court may determined. As used in Subsections (a) and (b), the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by allowing interest at the rate specified in Section 24.1. As used in Subsection (c) above, the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by taking the present value of such amount using the discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at the time of award plus one percentage point.

 

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24.6          In the event of a default by Tenant, and if Landlord does not elect to terminate this Lease as provided in Section 24.5 or otherwise terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Premises, Landlord shall have the remedy described in Section 1951.4 of the Civil Code. Landlord may continue this Lease in effect for so long as Landlord does not terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Premises, and may enforce all of its rights and remedies under the Lease, including the right from time to time to recover Rent as it becomes due under the Lease. At any time thereafter, Landlord may elect to terminate this Lease and to recover damages to which Landlord is entitled.

24.7          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Landlord’s reentry to perform acts of maintenance or preservation of, or in connection with efforts to relet, the Premises, or any portion thereof, or the appointment of a receiver upon Landlord’s initiative to protect Landlord’s interest under this Lease, shall not terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Premises or any portion thereof and, until Landlord does elect to terminate this Lease, this Lease shall continue in full force and Landlord may pursue all its remedies hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to recover from Tenant as they become due hereunder all Rent and other charges required to be paid by Tenant under the terms of this Lease.

24.8          All rights, options, and remedies of Landlord contained in this Lease shall be construed and held to be nonexclusive and cumulative. Landlord shall have the right to pursue any one or all of such remedies or any other remedy or relief which may be provided by law, whether or not stated in this Lease. No waiver of any default of Tenant hereunder shall be implied from any acceptance by Landlord of any rent or other payments due hereunder or by any omission by Landlord to take any action on account of such default if such default persists or is repeated, and no express waiver shall affect defaults other than as specified in said waiver.

24.9          Termination of this Lease or Tenant’s right to possession by Landlord shall not relieve Tenant from any liability to Landlord which has theretofore accrued or shall arise based upon events which occurred prior to the last to occur of (i) the date of Lease termination or (ii) the date possession of Premises is surrendered.

24.10        Landlord shall not be in default unless Landlord fails to perform obligations required of Landlord within a reasonable time, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after written notice by Tenant specifying wherein Landlord has failed to perform such obligation; provided, however, that if the nature of Landlord’s obligation is such that more than thirty (30) days are required for performance, then Landlord shall not be in default if Landlord commences performance within such thirty (30) day period and thereafter diligently prosecutes the same to completion.

24.11        In the event of any default on the part of Landlord, Tenant will give notice by registered or certified mail to any beneficiary of a deed of trust or mortgagee of a mortgage covering the Premises whose address shall have been furnished to Tenant, and such beneficiary and/or mortgagee shall have a reasonable opportunity to cure the default, including time to obtain possession of the Premises by a judicial action if such should prove necessary to effect a cure, so long as such beneficiary and/or mortgagee acts within the same time limits afforded Landlord in Section 24.10.

 

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  25.

Assignment or Subletting .

25.1    Except as hereinafter provided, Tenant shall not, either voluntarily or by operation of law, sell, hypothecate or transfer this Lease, or sublet the Premises or any part thereof, or permit or suffer the Premises or any part thereof to be used or occupied as work space, storage space, concession or otherwise by anyone other than Tenant or Tenant’s employees and contractors, without the prior written consent of Landlord in each instance, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

25.2    If Tenant desires to assign this Lease or sublet all or any portion of the Premises to any entity into which Tenant is merged, with which Tenant is consolidated, which acquires all or substantially all of the assets of Tenant, or which is an affiliate of Tenant (each a “ Permitted Transferee ”), Landlord’s consent shall not be required, provided that the Permitted Transferee executes, acknowledges and delivers to Landlord an agreement whereby the Permitted Transferee agrees to be bound by all of the covenants and agreements in this Lease arising after the effective date of the transfer.

25.3    In the event Tenant desires to assign, sublease, hypothecate or otherwise transfer this Lease or sublet the Premises to someone other than a Permitted Transferee, then at least ten (10) days, but not more than one hundred eighty (180) days, prior to the date when Tenant desires the assignment or sublease to be effective (the “ Assignment Date ”). Tenant shall give Landlord a notice (the “ Assignment Notice ”) which shall set forth the name, address and business of the proposed assignee or sublessee, information (including references and financial statements) concerning the financial ability of the proposed assignee or sublessee, the Assignment Date, any ownership or commercial relationship between Tenant and the proposed assignee or sublessee, and the consideration and all other material terms and conditions of the proposed assignment or sublease, all in such detail as Landlord shall reasonably require.

25.4    Landlord in making its determination as to whether consent should be given to a proposed assignment or sublease, may give consideration to whether or not the proposed assignee or subtenant has the financial strength to satisfy the obligations contemplated by this Lease (with consideration of assignor remaining liable for Tenant’s performance), and any use which such successor proposes to make of the Premises. If Landlord fails to deliver written notice of its determination to Tenant within ten (10) days following receipt of the Assignment Notice and the information required under Section 25.3, Landlord shall be deemed to have approved the request. As a condition to any assignment or sublease of the entire Premises to which Landlord has given consent, any such assignee or sublessee must execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord an agreement whereby the assignee or sublessee agrees to be bound by all of the covenants and agreements in this Lease (except, in the case of a sublease, the payment of Basic Annual Rent).

25.5    Any sale, assignment, hypothecation or transfer of this Lease or subletting of Premises that is not in compliance with the provisions of this Article 25 shall be void and shall, at the option of Landlord, be a breach of this Lease.

 

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25.6    The consent by Landlord to an assignment or subletting shall not relieve Tenant or any assignee of this Lease or sublessee of the Premises from obtaining the consent of Landlord to any further assignment or subletting or as releasing Tenant or any assignee or sublessee of Tenant from full and primary liability.

25.7    If Tenant sublets the Premises or any part thereof Tenant hereby immediately and irrevocably assigns to Landlord, as security for Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, all rent from any subletting of all or a part of the Premises, and Landlord as assignee of Tenant, or a receiver for Tenant appointed on Landlord’s application, may collect such rent and apply it toward Tenant’s obligations under this Lease; except that, until the occurrence of an act of default by Tenant by failing to pay Basic Annual Rent and Operating Expenses for two (2) consecutive months, Tenant shall have the right to collect, enjoy and dispose of such rent.

25.8    Notwithstanding any subletting or assignment, Tenant shall remain fully and primarily liable for the payment of all Rent and other sums due, or to become due hereunder, and for the full performance of all other terms, conditions, and covenants to be kept and performed by Tenant. The acceptance of rent or any other sum due hereunder, or the acceptance of performance of any other term, covenant, or condition hereof, from any other person or entity shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any of the provisions of this Lease or a consent to any subletting or assignment of the Premises. Landlord shall not withhold consent to an assignment back to the original Tenant hereunder from a subsequent assignee.

25.9    Any sublease of the Premises shall be subject and subordinate to the provisions of this Lease, shall not extend beyond the term of this Lease, and shall provide that the sublessee shall attorn to Landlord, at Landlord’s sole option, in the event of the termination of this Lease. Landlord and any lender shall upon Tenant’s request provide any subtenant of the entirety of the Premises with a recognition and non-disturbance agreement in the form set forth in Article 35 hereof on the condition that the sublessee agrees to attorn to Landlord on terms and conditions materially the same as the ones contained in this Lease.

25.10  In the event Tenant assigns or otherwise transfers this Lease or sublets the Premises to a transferee other than one set forth in Section 25.2, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as Additional Rent, fifty percent (50%) of the rent and other consideration received from the transferee during the initial and any extended term of this Lease in excess of Rent payable to Landlord under this Lease, after Tenant has recouped any reasonable commission, legal, improvement and other out-of-pocket expenses occasioned by such transfer and payable to third parties, and after Tenant has recouped any capital costs incurred by Tenant for any improvements to the transferred space after the Term Commencement Date.

 

  26.

Attorney’s Fees .

26.1          If either party becomes a party to any action or proceeding concerning this Lease, the Premises, or the Building or Project in which the Premises are located, by reason of any act or omission of the other party or its authorized representatives, and not by any act or omission of the party that becomes a party to that litigation or any act or omission of its authorized

 

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representatives, the party that causes the other party to become involved in the litigation shall be liable to that party for reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and court costs incurred by it in the litigation.

26.2          If either party commences an action or proceeding against the other party arising out of or in connection with this Lease, the prevailing party shall be entitled to have and recover from the other party reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees and costs of suit.

 

  27.

Bankruptcy .

27.1          In the event a debtor or trustee under the Bankruptcy Code, or other person with similar rights, duties and powers under any other law, proposes to cure any default under this Lease or to assume or assign this Lease, and is obliged to provide adequate assurance to Landlord that (i) a default will be cured, (ii) Landlord will be compensated for its damages arising from any breach of this Lease, or (iii) future performance under this Lease will occur, then adequate assurance shall include any or all of the following, as determined by the Bankruptcy Court: (a) those acts specified in the Bankruptcy Code or other law as included within the meaning of adequate assurance; (b) a cash payment to compensate Landlord for any monetary defaults or damages arising from a breach of this Lease; (c) the credit worthiness and desirability, as a tenant, of the person assuming this Lease or receiving an assignment of this Lease, at least equal to Landlord’s customary and usual credit worthiness requirements and desirability standards in effect at the time of the assumption or assignment, as determined by the Bankruptcy Court; and (d) the assumption or assignment of all of Tenant’s interest and obligations under this Lease.

 

  28.

Definition of Landlord .

28.1          The term “ Landlord ” as used in this Lease, so far as covenants or obligations on the part of Landlord are concerned, shall be limited to mean and include only Landlord or the successor-in-interest of Landlord under this Lease at the time in question. In the event of any transfer, assignment or conveyance of Landlord’s title or leasehold, the Landlord herein named (and in case of any subsequent transfers or conveyances, the then grantor and any prior grantors) shall be automatically freed and relieved from and after the date of such transfer, assignment or conveyance of all liability for the performance of any covenants or obligations contained in this Lease thereafter to be performed by Landlord and, without further agreement, the transferee of such title or leasehold shall be deemed to have assumed and agreed to observe and perform any and all obligations of Landlord hereunder, during its ownership of the Premises. Landlord may transfer its interest in the Premises or this Lease without the consent of Tenant and such transfer or subsequent transfer shall not be deemed a violation on the part of Landlord or the then grantor of any of the terms or conditions of this Lease.

 

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  29.

Estoppel Certificate .

29.1          Each party shall, within fifteen (15) days of written notice from the other party, execute, acknowledge and deliver to the other party a statement in writing on a form reasonably requested by a proposed lender, purchaser, assignee or subtenant (i) certifying that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or, if modified, stating the nature of such modification and certifying that this Lease as so modified is in full force and effect) and the dates to which the rental and other charges are paid in advance, if any, (ii) acknowledging that there are not, to each party’s knowledge, any uncured defaults on the part of Landlord or Tenant hereunder (or specifying such defaults if any are claimed) and (iii) setting forth such further information with respect to this Lease or the Premises as may be reasonably requested thereon. Any such statement may be relied upon by any prospective lender, purchaser, assignee or subtenant of all or any portion of the Premises.

 

  30.

Removal of Property .

30.1          Except as provided below, all trade fixtures and other personal property placed within the Premises at Tenant’s cost and expense (and not at the cost and expense of Landlord) shall be and remain the property of Tenant and may be removed by Tenant at the expiration or earlier termination of the term of this Lease.

30.2      All improvements, fixtures and personal property presently existing in the Premises or later installed at Landlord’s expense, and any other improvements made to the Premises at Landlord’s expense and cost, shall be and remain the property of Landlord, and upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, remain upon and be surrendered with the Premises as a part thereof.

30.3      Notwithstanding Section 30.1, Tenant may not remove any property if such removal would cause material damage to the Premises, unless such damage can be and is repaired by Tenant. Furthermore, Tenant shall repair any damage to the Premises caused by Tenant’s removal of any such property, and shall, prior to the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, restore and return the Premises to the condition they were in when first occupied by Tenant (modified by any other work approved by Landlord), reasonable wear and tear excepted. At a minimum, even if they are determined to be fixtures or personal property owned by Tenant, Tenant shall leave in place and repair any damage to the interior floors, walls, doors and ceilings of the Building, and the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems; all such property shall become the property of Landlord upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, and shall remain upon and be surrendered with the Premises as a part thereof. The provisions of Article 17 shall apply to any restoration work under this Article as if the restoration was an alteration, addition or improvement thereunder. Should Tenant require any period beyond the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease to complete such restoration, Tenant shall be a tenant at sufferance subject to the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof.

30.4          If Tenant shall fail to remove any fixtures or personal property which it is entitled to remove under this Article 30 from the Premises prior to termination of this Lease, then Landlord may dispose of the property under the provisions of Section 1980 et seq. of the California Civil Code, as such provisions may be modified from time to time, or under any other applicable provisions of California law.

 

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  31.

Limitation of Landlord’s Liability .

31.1          Tenant agrees that, in the event of any breach or default hereunder by Landlord, Tenant’s recourse against Landlord for monetary damages will be limited to Landlord’s interest in the Project, Landlord’s interest in the rents or other income of the Project, consideration received from the sale or other disposition of all or any part of Landlord’s right, title and interest in the Project, and any insurance proceeds payable to Landlord (but not those payable to a mortgagee).

31.2          Landlord shall not be personally liable for any deficiency except to the extent liability is based upon willful and intentional misconduct. If Landlord is a partnership or joint venture, the partners of such partnership shall not be personally liable and no partner of Landlord shall be sued or named as a party in any suit or action, or service of process be made against any partner of Landlord, except as may be necessary to secure jurisdiction of the partnership or joint venture or to the extent liability is caused by willful and intentional misconduct. If Landlord is a corporation, the shareholders, directors, officers, employees, and/or agents of such corporation shall not be personally liable and no shareholder, director, officer, employee, or agent of Landlord shall be sued or named as a party in any suit or action, or service of process be made against any shareholder, director, officer, employee, or agent of Landlord, except as may be necessary to secure jurisdiction of the corporation. If Landlord is a limited liability company, the members, managers, officers, employees, and/or agents of such limited liability company shall not be personally liable and no member, manager, officer, employee, or agent of Landlord shall be sued or named as a party in any suit or action, or service of process be made against any member, manager, officer, employee, or agent of Landlord, except as maybe necessary to secure jurisdiction of the corporation. No partner, shareholder, director, member, manager, employee, or agent of Landlord shall be required to answer or otherwise plead to any service of process and no judgment will be taken or writ of execution levied against any partner, shareholder, director, member, manager, employee, or agent of Landlord.

31.3          Each of the covenants and agreements of this Article 31 shall be applicable to any covenant or agreement either expressly contained in this Lease or imposed by statute or by common law.

 

  32.

Control by Landlord .

32.1          Landlord reserves full control over the Building and Project to the extent not inconsistent with Tenant’s quiet enjoyment and use of Premises and non-exclusive use of the Common Areas. This reservation includes the right to establish ownership of the buildings separate from fee title to the real property underlying the Buildings, and to divide the Project into more than one lot.

32.2          Tenant shall, should Landlord so request, promptly join with Landlord in execution of such documents as may be appropriate to assist Landlord to implement any such action provided Tenant need not execute any document which is of a nature wherein liability is created in Tenant or if by reason of the terms of such document Tenant will be deprived of the quiet enjoyment and use of the Premises and non-exclusive use of the Common Areas as granted by this Lease.

 

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  33.

Quiet Enjoyment .

33.1          So long as Tenant is not in default, Landlord covenants that Landlord or anyone acting through or under Landlord will not disturb Tenant’s occupancy of the Premises except as permitted by the provisions of this Lease and that Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to enforce the lease obligations of tenants of the balance of the Building and Project to the extent they might otherwise disturb Tenant’s occupancy and non-exclusive use of the Common Areas.

 

  34.

[Intentionally Left Blank]

 

  35.

Subordination and Attornment .

35.1          Unless the mortgagee or beneficiary elects otherwise at any time prior to or following a default by Tenant, this Lease shall be subject to and subordinate to the lien of any mortgage or deed of trust now or hereafter in force against the Project and Building of which the Premises are a part, and to all advances made or hereafter to be made upon the security thereof without the necessity of the execution and delivery of any further instruments on the part of Tenant to effectuate such subordination, provided that the lienholder, beneficiary, or mortgagee has previously executed and delivered to Tenant a non-disturbance, attornment, and subordination agreement in such form as the lienholder, beneficiary, or mortgagee may request and as Tenant may approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, setting forth that so long as Tenant is not in default hereunder, Tenant’s rights and obligations hereunder shall remain in force and Tenant’s right to possession shall be upheld. Furthermore, Landlord shall provide to Tenant, within forty-five (45) days after execution of this Lease by both parties, such a nondisturbance agreement from the beneficiary of any mortgage presently encumbering the Project.

35.2          Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall execute and deliver upon demand such further instrument or instruments evidencing such subordination of this Lease to the lien of any such mortgage or deed of trust as may be required by Landlord and in a form reasonably satisfactory to Tenant, provided that the lienholder, beneficiary, or mortgagee has previously executed and delivered to Tenant a non-disturbance agreement in recordable form. However, if any such mortgagee or beneficiary so elects at any time prior to or following a default by Tenant, this Lease shall be deemed prior in lien to any such mortgage or deed of trust regardless of date and Tenant will execute a statement in writing to such effect at Landlord’s request in a form reasonably satisfactory to Tenant.

35.3          In the event any proceedings are brought for foreclosure, or in the event of the exercise of the power of sale under any mortgage or deed of trust made by Landlord covering the Premises, Tenant shall at the election of the purchaser at such foreclosure or sale attorn to the purchaser upon any such foreclosure or sale and recognize such purchaser as the Landlord under this Lease in accordance with the terms of the non-disturbance agreement.

 

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  36.

Surrender .

36.1          No surrender of possession of any part of the Premises shall release Tenant from any of its obligations hereunder unless accepted by Landlord.

36.2          The voluntary or other surrender of this Lease by Tenant shall not work a merger, unless Landlord consents, and shall, at the option of Landlord, operate as an assignment to it of any or all subleases or subtenancies.

 

  37.

Waiver and Modification .

37.1          No provision of this Lease may be modified, amended or added to except by an agreement in writing. The waiver by Landlord of any breach of any term, covenant or condition herein contained shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other term, covenant or condition herein contained.

 

  38.

Waiver of Jury Trial .

38.1          The parties hereto shall and they hereby do waive trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by either of the parties hereto against the other on any matters whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this Lease, the relationship of Landlord and Tenant, Tenant’s use or occupancy of the Premises, and/or any claim of injury or damage.

 

  39.

Hazardous Material .

39.1    During the term, Tenant, at its sole cost, shall comply with all federal, state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, regulations and orders relating to the receiving, handling, use, storage, accumulation, transportation, generation, spillage, migration, discharge, release and disposal of Hazardous Material (as defined below) in or about the Premises. Tenant shall not cause or permit any Hazardous Material to be brought upon, kept or used in or about the Premises by Tenant, its agents, employees, contractors, invitees or subtenants, in a manner or for a purpose prohibited by any federal, state or local agency or authority. The accumulation of Hazardous Material shall be in approved containers and removed from the Premises by duly licensed carriers.

39.2    Tenant shall immediately provide Landlord with telephonic notice, which shall promptly be confirmed by written notice, of any and all spillage, discharge, release and disposal of Hazardous Material onto or within the Premises of which Tenant becomes aware, including the soils and subsurface waters thereof, which by law must be reported to any federal, state or local agency, and any injuries or damages resulting directly or indirectly therefrom. Further, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord each and every notice or order, when said order or notice identifies a violation which may have the potential to adversely impact the Premises, received from any federal, state or local agency concerning Hazardous Material and the possession, use and/or accumulation thereof promptly upon receipt of each such notice or order by Tenant. Landlord shall have the right, upon reasonable notice, to inspect and copy each and every notice or order received from any federal, state or local agency concerning Hazardous Material and the possession, use and/or accumulation thereof.

 

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39.3    Tenant shall be responsible for and shall indemnify, protect, defend and hold harmless Landlord and Landlord’s Indemnitees from any and all liability, damages, injuries, causes of action, claims, judgments, costs, penalties, fines, losses, and expenses which arise during or after the term of this Lease and which result from Tenant’s (or from Tenant’s Indemnitees, assignees, subtenants, employees, agents, contractors, licensees, or invitees) receiving, handling, use, storage, accumulation, transportation, generation, spillage, migration, discharge, release or disposal of Hazardous Material in, upon or about the Premises, including without limitation (i) diminution in value of the Premises or any portion of the Project, (ii) damages for the loss or restriction on use of any portion or amenity of the Premises or Project, (iii) damages arising from any adverse impact on marketing of space in the Premises or the Project, (iv) damages and the costs of remedial work to other property in the vicinity of the Project owned by Landlord or an affiliate of Landlord, and (v) consultant fees, expert fees, and attorneys’ fees. Landlord shall be responsible for and shall indemnify, protect, defend and hold harmless Tenant on the same basis as above for any claims which result from Landlord’s or from Landlord’s Indemnitees receiving, handling, use, storage, accumulation, transportation, generation, spillage, migration, discharge, release or disposal of Hazardous Material in, upon or about the Project.

39.4    The indemnification obligations pursuant to the preceding Section 39.3 includes, without limiting the generality of Section 39.3, reasonable costs incurred in connection with any investigation of site conditions or any cleanup, remedial, removal or restoration work required by any federal, state or local governmental agency or political subdivision because of Hazardous Material present in the soil, subsoil, ground water, or elsewhere on, under or about the Premises, or on, under or about any other property in the vicinity of the Project owned by Landlord or an affiliate of Landlord. Without limiting the foregoing, if the presence of any Hazardous Material on the Premises caused or permitted by Tenant results in any contamination of the Premises, or underlying soil or groundwater, Tenant shall promptly take all actions at its sole expense as are necessary to return the Premises to that condition required by applicable law, provided that Landlord’s approval of such action shall first be obtained, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, except that Tenant shall not be required to obtain Landlord’s prior approval of any action of an emergency nature reasonably required or any action mandated by a governmental authority, but Tenant shall give Landlord prompt notice thereof.

39.5    Landlord acknowledges that it is not the intent of this Article 39 to prohibit Tenant from operating its business as described in Article 10 or to unreasonably interfere with the operation of Tenant’s business. Tenant may operate its business according to the custom of the industry so long as the use or presence of Hazardous Material is strictly and properly monitored according to all applicable governmental requirements. Any approval or consent required by this Section 39.5 shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

39.6    As a material inducement to Landlord to allow Tenant to use Hazardous Material in connection with its business, Tenant agrees to provide to Landlord a list identifying each type of Hazardous Material to be present in or about the Premises and setting forth all governmental approvals or permits required in connection with the presence of Hazardous Material in or about the Premises (“ Hazardous Material Inventory ”). Tenant shall deliver a Hazardous Material Inventory to Landlord (i) no later than thirty (30) days prior to the occupancy of any portion of the Premises or the placement of equipment anywhere on the Project, (ii) annually thereafter no later than December 31 of each year, and (iii) thirty (30) days prior to the initiation by Tenant of any changes in the Premises

 

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or elsewhere on the Project which involve any increase in the types or amounts of Hazardous Material. For each type of Hazardous Material listed, the Hazardous Material Inventory shall include the (i) chemical name; (ii) material state (solid, liquid, gas, cryogen); (iii) concentration; (iv) storage amount and storage condition (cabinets or no cabinets); (v) use amount and use condition (open use or closed use); (vi) location (room number/identification); and (vii) chemical abstract service (CAS) number, if known. Landlord may at Tenant’s expense cause each Hazardous Material Inventory to be reviewed by a person or firm qualified to analyze Hazardous Material and acceptable to both Landlord and Tenant to confirm compliance with the provisions of this Lease and with applicable building and fire code requirements. In the event that a review of Tenant’s Hazardous Material Inventory indicates non-compliance with this Lease or applicable building and fire code requirements, Tenant shall at its expense diligently take steps to bring its storage and use of Hazardous Material into compliance.

39.7    Tenant further agrees to make available to Landlord, upon Landlord’s reasonable request, true and correct copies of the following documents (“ Hazardous Material Documents ”): governmental approvals or permits required in connection with the presence of Hazardous Material on the Premises; a copy of the Hazardous Material business plan prepared pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 25500 et seq.; documents relating to the handling, storage, disposal and emission of Hazardous Material, including: permits; approvals; reports and correspondence; notice of violations of any laws; plans relating to the installation of any storage tanks to be installed in or under the Premises (provided said installation of tanks shall be permitted only after Landlord has given Tenant its written consent to do so, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld); and all closure plans or any other documents required by any and all federal, state and local governmental agencies and authorities for any storage tanks installed in, on or about the Premises for the closure of any such tanks. Tenant shall not be required, however, to provide Landlord with that portion of any document which contains information of a proprietary nature and which, in and of itself, does not contain a reference to any Hazardous Material which is not otherwise identified to Landlord in such documentation, unless any such Hazardous Material Document names Landlord as an “owner” or “operator” of the facility in which Tenant is conducting its business. It is not the intent of this subsection to provide Landlord with information which could be detrimental to Tenant’s business should such information become possessed by Tenant’s competitors. Landlord shall treat all information furnished by Tenant to Landlord pursuant to this Article 39 as confidential and shall not disclose such information to any person or entity, except as provided in this Article 39, without Tenant’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except as required by law.

39.8    Notwithstanding other provisions of this Article 39, it shall be a default under this Lease, and Landlord shall have the right to terminate the Lease and/or pursue its other remedies under Article 24, in the event that (i) Tenant’s use of the Premises for the generation, storage, use, treatment or disposal of Hazardous Material is in a manner or for a purpose prohibited by applicable law unless Tenant is diligently pursuing compliance with such law, (ii) Tenant has been required by any governmental authority to take remedial action in connection with Hazardous Material contaminating the Premises if the contamination resulted from Tenant’s action or use of the Premises, unless Tenant is diligently pursuing compliance with such requirement, or (iii) Tenant is subject to an enforcement order issued by any governmental authority in connection with Tenant’s use, disposal or storage of a Hazardous Material on the Premises, unless Tenant is diligently seeking compliance with such enforcement order.

 

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39.9    Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 25, if (i) any anticipated use of the Premises by a proposed assignee or subtenant involves the generation or storage, use, treatment or disposal of Hazardous Material in any manner or for a purpose prohibited by any applicable law, (ii) the proposed assignee or sublessee has been required by any governmental authority to take remedial action in connection with Hazardous Material contaminating a property if the contamination resulted from such party’s action or use of the property in question and has failed to take such action, or (iii) the proposed assignee or sublessee is subject to a final, unappealable enforcement order issued by any governmental authority in connection with such party’s use, disposal or storage of Hazardous Material of a type such proposed assignee or sublessee intends to use in the Premises and shall have failed to comply with such order, it shall not be unreasonable for Landlord to withhold its consent to an assignment or subletting to such proposed assignee or sublessee.

39.10  Landlord represents that, to the best of its knowledge, as of the date of this Lease, there is no Hazardous Material on the Premises. Landlord shall provide Tenant with the environmental site assessment for the Premises dated February 25, 2004, and prepared by Occupational Services, Inc. Should the environmental site assessment disclose the presence of Hazardous Material beyond legally permissible levels, Landlord shall correct the deficiencies to Tenant’s reasonable satisfaction and shall cause updates to the environmental site assessment(s) to be issued reflecting the remedy. The environmental site assessment and all updates thereto are hereinafter referred to as the “ Base Line Report ,” and shall be deemed conclusive as to the condition of the Premises, unless, within ninety (90) days of receipt, Tenant causes an inspection of its own to be conducted, which inspection discloses the presence of Hazardous Material materially different from that disclosed in the Base Line Report.

39.11  Landlord shall not have the right to enter upon the Premises without the prior consent of Tenant, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Tenant agrees that it is reasonable for Landlord to enter the Premises at reasonable intervals in order to conduct appropriate tests regarding the presence, use and storage of Hazardous Material, and to inspect Tenant’s records with regard thereto. All entries shall be subject to Tenant’s security and safety procedures. Tenant will pay the reasonable costs of any such test which demonstrates that contamination in excess of permissible levels has occurred and such contamination was caused by Tenant’s use of the Premises during the term of the Lease. Tenant shall correct any deficiencies identified in any such tests in accordance with its obligations under this Article 39 to the extent the result of Tenant’s use of the Premises during the term of this Lease.

39.12  Tenant shall at its own expense cause an environmental site assessment of the Premises to be conducted and a report thereof delivered to Landlord upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease, such report to be as complete and broad in scope as is necessary to identify any impact on the Premises Tenant’s operations might have had (hereinafter referred to as the “ Exit Report ”). In order to facilitate the Exit Report, Tenant shall install a sampling port on the sewer drain from the Premises. Tenant shall correct any deficiencies identified in the Exit Report in accordance with its obligations under this Article 39 prior to the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease. This Article 39 is the exclusive provision in this Lease regarding clean-up, repairs or maintenance arising from receiving, handling, use, storage, accumulation, transportation, generation, spillage, migration, discharge, release or disposal of Hazardous Material in, upon or about the Premises, and the provisions of Articles 7, 10, 18, and 20 shall not apply thereto.

 

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39.13  Tenant’s obligations under this Article 39 shall survive the termination of the Lease.

39.14  As used herein, the term “ Hazardous Material ” means any hazardous or toxic substance, material or waste which is or becomes regulated by any local governmental authority, the State of California or the United States Government. The term “Hazardous Material” includes, without limitation, any material or substance which is (i) defined as a “hazardous waste,” “extremely hazardous waste” or “restricted hazardous waste” under Sections 25515,25117 or 25122.7, or listed pursuant to Section 25140, of the California Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.5 (Hazardous Waste Control Law), (ii) defined as a “hazardous substance” under Section 25316 of the California Health and Safety Code, Division 2, Chapter 6.8 (Carpenter-Presly-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act), (iii) defined as a “hazardous material,” hazardous substance” or “hazardous waste” under Section 25501 of the California Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.95 (Hazardous Substances), (v) petroleum, (vi) asbestos, (vii) listed under Article 9 and defined as hazardous or extremely hazardous pursuant to Article 11 of Title 22 of the California Administrative Code, Division 4, Chapter 20, (viii) designated as a “hazardous substance” pursuant to Section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1317), (ix) defined as a “hazardous waste” pursuant to Section 1004 of the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901, et. seq. (42 U.S.C. Section 6903), or (x) defined as a “hazardous substance” pursuant to Section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et. seq. (42 U.S.C. Section 9601).

 

  40.

Extension of Term of Lease .

40.1          Landlord hereby grants to Tenant two (2) options (each referred to herein as the “ Option ” or “Options” as appropriate) to extend the term of this Lease for an additional term of five (5) years each (each referred to as an “ Extension ”, and collectively “ Extensions ”) on the same terms and conditions as set forth in this Lease, except that Basic Annual Rent shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 40.4 below.

40.2          Each Option shall be exercised only by written notice delivered to Landlord at least nine (9) months but not more than fifteen (15) months prior to the expiration of the initial term or first Extension. If Tenant fails to deliver to Landlord written notice of the exercise of the Option within the prescribed time period, the Option shall lapse, and there shall be no further right to extend the term of this Lease.

40.3          Tenant shall not have the right to exercise either Option, notwithstanding anything set forth above to the contrary, (a) During the time commencing from the date Landlord gives to Tenant a written notice that Tenant is in default under any provision of this Lease and continuing until the default alleged in said notice is cured; (b) During the period of time commencing on the day after a monetary obligation to Landlord is due from Tenant and unpaid without any necessity for notice thereof to Tenant and continuing until the obligation is paid; or (c) After the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease or any extended term. The period of time within which

 

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either Option maybe exercised shall not be extended or enlarged by reason of Tenant’s inability to exercise the Option because of the foregoing provisions. At the election of Landlord, all rights of Tenant under the provisions of this Article 40 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect even after Tenant’s due and timely exercise of the Option, if, after such exercise, but prior to the commencement of the Extension, (1) Tenant fails to pay to Landlord a monetary obligation of Tenant for a period of thirty (30) days after such obligation becomes due (without necessity of Landlord to give notice to Tenant), or (2) Tenant fails to commence to cure a default within thirty (30) days after the date Landlord gives notice to Tenant of such default.

40.4          The Basic Annual Rent payable at the commencement of each Extension shall be 103% of the Basic Annual Rent payable during the last year of the initial term or the first extended term, as the case may be. The Basic Annual Rent as adjusted at the commencement of each Extension shall be increased each year thereafter by three percent (3%) on each anniversary of the date of the commencement of each Extension for so long as this Lease continues in effect.

 

  41.

Right of First Refusal to Lease Additional Space.

41.1     If at any time during the term of this Lease Landlord determines to lease all or any part of the other space in the Project, Landlord shall give written notice to Tenant (“ Right of First Refusal Notice ”) of the economic terms and conditions on which Landlord would be willing to lease all or any part of such space. If Tenant, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of Landlord’s Right of First Refusal Notice, agrees in writing to lease all or any part of such space on the terms and conditions stated in the notice, Landlord shall lease the space to Tenant on the economic terms and conditions stated in the notice.

41.2     If Tenant does not agree in writing to lease all or any part of the space within fifteen (15) days after receipt of Landlord’s Right of First Refusal Notice, or if Landlord and Tenant have not entered into a lease agreement within thirty (30) days thereafter, Landlord shall have the right to lease the space to a third party on economic terms and conditions no more favorable than the economic terms and conditions stated in the Right of First Refusal Notice. If Landlord does not lease such space to the prospective tenant within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Right of First Refusal Notice, any lease transaction thereafter shall be deemed a new determination by Landlord to lease the space and the provisions of this Section shall again be applicable.

41.3     The Right of First Refusal herein granted to Tenant is not assignable separate and apart from this Lease.

41.4     Tenant shall not have the right to exercise the Right of First Refusal, notwithstanding anything set forth above to the contrary: (a) During the time commencing from the date Landlord gives to Tenant a written notice that Tenant is in default under any provision of this Lease and continuing until the default alleged in said notice is cured; (b) During the period of time commencing on the day after a monetary obligation to Landlord is due from Tenant and unpaid without any necessity for notice thereof to Tenant and continuing until the obligation is paid; or (c) After the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease. The period of time within which the Right of First Refusal may be exercised shall not be extended or enlarged by reason of Tenant’s inability to exercise the Right of First Refusal because of the foregoing provisions. At the election of Landlord,

 

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all rights of Tenant under the provisions of this Article 41 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect even after Tenant’s due and timely exercise of the Right of First Refusal, if, after such exercise, but prior to the execution of said lease, (1) Tenant fails to pay to Landlord a monetary obligation of Tenant for a period of thirty (30) days after such obligation becomes due (without necessity of Landlord to give notice to Tenant), or (2) Tenant fails to commence to cure a default within thirty (30) days after the date Landlord gives notice to Tenant of such default.

41.5    The Right of First Refusal is continuing, in that if Tenant fails to exercise the Right of First Refusal with regard to any particular space, the Right of First Refusal shall nevertheless apply to that particular space if Landlord determines to lease all or any part of such space at any later time, and to any other space which Landlord determines to lease in the Building.

41.6    The Right of First Refusal shall not apply to space leased by a Tenant of the Project pursuant to an option or right of first refusal granted in a lease executed prior to this Lease.

 

  42.

Miscellaneous .

42.1           Terms and Headings .     Where applicable in this Lease, the singular includes the plural and the masculine or neuter includes the masculine, feminine and neuter. The section headings of this Lease are not a part of this Lease and shall have no effect upon the construction or interpretation of any part hereof.

42.2           Examination of Lease .  Submission of this instrument for examination or signature by Tenant does not constitute a reservation of or option for lease, and it is not effective as a lease or otherwise until execution by and delivery to both Landlord and Tenant.

42.3           Time .   Time is of the essence with respect to the performance of every provision of this Lease in which time of performance is a factor.

42.4           Covenants and Conditions .  Each provision of this Lease performable by Tenant shall be deemed both a covenant and a condition.

42.5           Consents .  Whenever consent or approval of either party is required, that party shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent or approval, except as may be expressly set forth to the contrary.

42.6           Entire Agreement .  The terms of this Lease are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement with respect to the terms as are included herein, and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous agreement.

42.7           Severability .  Any provision of this Lease which shall prove to be invalid, void, or illegal in no way affects, impairs or invalidates any other provision hereof, and such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

42.8           Recording .   Landlord and Tenant both agree that neither this Lease, nor any memorandum, affidavit or other writing with respect thereto, shall be recorded.

 

37


42.9             Impartial Construction .   The language in all parts of this Lease shall be in all cases construed as a whole according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against either Landlord or Tenant.

42.10           Inurement .   Each of the covenants, conditions, and agreements herein contained shall inure to the benefit of and shall apply to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legatees, devisees, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, sublessees, or any person who may come into possession of said Premises or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Nothing in this Section 42.10 contained shall in any way alter the provisions against assignment or subletting in this Lease provided.

42.11           Force Majeure .   If either party cannot perform any of its obligations (other than Tenant’s obligation to pay Rent), or is delayed in such performance (other than Tenant’s obligation to pay Rent), due to events beyond such party’s control, the time provided for performing such obligations shall be extended by a period of time equal to the delay attributable to such events. Events beyond a party’s control include, but are not limited to, acts of God (including earthquake), war, civil commotion, labor disputes, strikes, fire, flood or other casualty, shortage of labor or material, government regulation or restriction and weather conditions, but do not include financial inability to perform.

42.12           Notices .     Any notice, consent, demand, bill, statement, or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder must be in writing and may be given by personal delivery, by facsimile transmission, or by mail, and if given by personal delivery or facsimile transmission shall be deemed given on the date of delivery or transmission, and if given by mail shall be deemed sufficiently given three (3) days after time when deposited in United States Mail if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to Tenant at the Premises, or to Tenant or Landlord at the addresses shown in Section 2.1.9 hereof. Either party may, by notice to the other given pursuant to this Section, specify additional or different addresses for notice purposes.

42.13           Authority to Execute Lease .  Landlord and Tenant each acknowledge that it has all necessary right, title and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Lease, that this Lease is a binding obligation of such party and has been authorized by all requisite action under the party’s governing instruments, that the individuals executing this Lease on behalf of such party are duly authorized and designated to do so, and that no other signatories are required to bind such party.

 

38


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Lease on the dates set forth below.

LANDLORD:

Dated:       April 21             , 2004

NEXUS EQUITY VIII LLC

A California limited liability company

By Nexus Properties, Inc.

a California corporation

Its Manager

 

By:     

 

/s/ Michael J. Reidy

 

 

 

Michael J. Reidy

 

Chief Executive Officer

TENANT:

Dated:       April 20             , 2004

BIOCEPT, INC.

a California corporation

 

By:     

 

        /s/ GF Janko

 

 

 

Name:

 

GF Janko

 

Title:

 

Pres/Ceo

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

39


EXHIBIT A

SITE PLAN OF THE PROJECT

 

LOGO


EXHIBIT “B”

OUTLINE OF THE PREMISES

 

LOGO


EXHIBIT “C”

RULES AND REGULATIONS

NOTHING IN THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL SUPPLANT ANY PROVISION OF THE LEASE. IN THE EVENT OF A CONFLICT OR INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE LEASE, THE LEASE SHALL PREYAIL.

 

1. Except as specifically provided in the Lease to which these Rules and Regulations are attached, no sign, placard, picture, advertisement, name or notice shall be installed or displayed on any part of the outside of the Premises or the Building without the prior written consent of Landlord. Landlord shall have the right to remove, at Tenant’s expense and without notice, any sign installed or displayed in violation of this rule.

 

2. If Landlord objects in writing to any curtains, blinds, shades, screens or hanging plants or other similar objects attached to or used in connection with any window or door of the Premises, or placed on any windowsill, which is visible from the exterior of the Premises, Tenant shall remove said object.

 

3. Tenant shall not obstruct any sidewalks or entrances to the Building, or any halls, passages, exits, entrances, or stairways within the Premises which are required to be kept clear for health and safety reasons.

 

4. No deliveries shall be made which impede or interfere with other tenants or the operation of the Project.

 

5. Tenant shall not place a load upon any floor of the Premises which exceeds the load per square foot which such floor was designed to carry and which is allowed by law. Fixtures and equipment which cause noise or vibration that may be transmitted to the structure of the Building to such a degree as to be objectionable to other tenants shall be placed and maintained by Tenant, at Tenant’s expense, on vibration eliminators or other devices sufficient to eliminate such noise or vibration or reduce such noise and vibration to acceptable levels.

 

6. Tenant shall not use any method of heating or air-conditioning other than that provided by Landlord.

 

7. Tenant shall not install any antenna, transmitter or other devices on the roof or exterior walls of the Premises. Tenant shall not interfere with radio, television or wireless reception in the Building or Project.

 

8. Canvassing, peddling, soliciting and distribution of handbills or any other written material in the Project outside of the Premises are prohibited, and Tenant shall cooperate to prevent such activities.

 

9. Tenant shall store all its trash, garbage and Hazardous Material within its Premises or in designated receptacles outside of the Premises. Tenant shall not place in any such receptacle any material which cannot be disposed of in the ordinary and customary manner of trash, garbage and Hazardous Material disposal.


10. The Premises shall not be used for any improper, immoral or objectional purpose. No cooking shall be done or permitted on the Premises, except that use by Tenant of Underwriter’s Laboratory approved equipment for brewing coffee, tea, hot chocolate and similar beverages or use of microwave ovens for employees use shall be permitted, provided that such equipment and use is in accordance with all applicable federal, state, county and city laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations.

 

11. Without the written consent of Landlord, Tenant shall not use the name of the Project, if any, in connection with or in promoting or advertising the business of Tenant except as Tenant’s address.

 

12. Tenant shall comply with all safety, fire protection and evacuation procedures and regulations established by Landlord or any governmental agency.

 

13. Tenant assumes any and all responsibility for protecting its Premises from theft, robbery and pilferage, which includes keeping doors locked and other means of entry to the Premises closed.

 

14. Landlord may waive any one or more of these Rules and Regulations for the benefit of Tenant or any other tenant, but no such waiver by Landlord shall be construed as a waiver of such Rules and Regulations in favor of Tenant or any other tenant, nor prevent Landlord from thereafter enforcing any such Rules and Regulations against any or all of the tenants of the Project.

 

15. These Rules and Regulations are in addition to, and shall not be construed to in any way modify or amend, in whole or in part, the terms, covenants, agreements and conditions of the Lease.

 

16. Landlord reserves the right to make such other and reasonable rules and regulations as, in its judgment, may from time to time be needed for safety and security, for care and cleanliness of the Project, and for the preservation of good order therein, subject to prior notice to Tenant and Tenant’s consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Tenant agrees to abide by all such Rules and Regulations hereinabove stated and any additional rules and regulations which are adopted.

 

17. Tenant shall be responsible for the observance of all of the foregoing rules by Tenant’s employees, agents, clients, customers, invitees and guests.


[EXHIBIT

“D”

LANDLORD’S

IMPROVEMENTS]

[Although the agreement calls for an Exhibit “D”, in fact no such exhibit was attached to the agreement]

Exhibit 10.13

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

T HIS C OLLABORATION A GREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) is entered into as of November 2, 2012 (the “Effective Date” ) by and between B IOCEPT , I NC ., a California corporation having an address of 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121 ( “Biocept” ), and L IFE T ECHNOLOGIES C ORPORATION , a Delaware corporation having an address of 5791 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, California 92008 ( “Life Technologies” ).

W HEREAS , Life Technologies, through its Medical Sciences Division, is engaged in the development and commercialization of diagnostic systems, tests and laboratory services, including in oncology;

W HEREAS , Biocept has developed expertise and proprietary technology in enrichment, extraction and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for use in laboratory developed tests used for the non-invasive and early stage detection and characterization of primary, metastatic or recurrent cancers; and

W HEREAS , Life Technologies and Biocept desire to collaborate so that Biocept will develop and commercialize one or more Tests, as defined herein, for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), using their respective technologies and expertise, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Life Technologies and Biocept will both promote the test and perform different components of the test, and Life Technologies will provide test results in the form of reports to physicians.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

D EFINITIONS

1.1 “Affiliate” shall mean any company or entity controlled by, controlling, or under common control with a party hereto and shall include any company more than 50% of whose voting stock or participating profit interest is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a party, and any company which owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting stock of a party.

1.2 Assay ” shall mean Biocept’s OncoCEE-LU™ (and OncoCEE-LU™ with Mutation Analysis) laboratory developed assay for characterization and profiling of CTCs from NSCLC patients, which shall incorporate, as Phase 1, CTC enumeration by cytokeratin and CD45 (and CEE-Enhanced™ when available), EML4/Alk1 fusions and EGFR amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (determined by Biocept); and as Phase 2, the additional detection of mutations for relevant genes, e.g., K-RAS, EGFR and B-RAF, as agreed by the parties, on captured CTCs and/or cell-free circulating DNA, as agreed by the parties, and employing technologies that potentially may include Biocept’s Selector technology, and any improvements or enhancements thereto, exclusive of new analytes (which are discussed in Section 3.5(f) under Collaboration Assays) or applications to primary screening.


1.3 “Biocept Trademarks” shall mean Biocept, Inc., “OncoCEE-LU TM ”, “OncoCEE™”, “CEE-Sure TM ”, CEE-Enhanced™”, and/or such other trademarks and trade names owned or licensed, and used, by Biocept and/or its Affiliates in the Territory to identify the Tests, in each case, whether or not registered.

1.4 “Life Technologies Trademarks,” shall mean Life Technologies TM , Life Technologies Medical Sciences and/or such other trademarks and trade names owned or licensed and used by Life Technologies to identify the Tests, in each case, whether or not registered.

1.5 CLIA ” shall mean the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, as it may be amended from time to time.

1.6 Collaboration ” shall have the meaning provided Section 3.1.

1.7 Collaboration Assay(s) ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.5(e).

1.8 CPT Code ” shall mean the American Medical Association’s (“AMA”) “Current Procedural Terminology” as published in the AMA’s CPT Process Manual, Fourth Edition and any such future editions, for procedures used in performance of the Assay, and amounts reimbursed by Medicare for such procedures for location 99, as modified annually.

1.9 Designated Executive Officer ” shall mean the executive officers of each party designated in writing be each party as being responsible for resolving disputes related to the Collaboration, which shall initially be David Hale on behalf of Biocept and Ronnie Andrews on behalf of Life Technologies.

1.10 FDA ” shall mean the United States Food and Drug Administration, or any successor federal agency thereto.

1.11 HIPAA ” shall mean, collectively, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and all regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 C.F.R. parts 160 through 164, and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 and related regulations and guidelines.

1.12 Intellectual Property Rights ” means all now or hereafter existing patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks (including service marks), trade secrets, know-how, mask work rights and design rights, whether registered or unregistered, and all rights or forms of protection of a similar nature having equivalent or similar effect to any of the foregoing, which may subsist anywhere in the world.

1.13 Launch ” shall mean formal commercial availability and offering to physicians of a Test, as mutually agreed upon by the parties.

1.14 Laws ” shall mean all federal, state and local laws and regulations that apply to this Agreement including, without limitation, (i) the Bayh-Dole Act (ii) the

 

2


Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C § 321 et seq.) (iii) the federal Anti-kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)) (iv) the Stark Law (42 U.S.C. § 1395nn) (v) the Anti-Inducement Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a(a)(5)) (vi) the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq.) (vii) the administrative False Claims Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(a)) (viii) the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.), (ix) the exclusion laws (x) SSA § 1128 (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7) (xi) Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act), (xii) Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act); (xiii) the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act of 1988 (CLIA); and (xiv) data security, protection and privacy laws in the applicable jurisdictions.

1.15 Professional Component ” shall mean the performance of the professional component of the steps of the Assay, which is the interpretation of results (generated in the Technical Component) of an Assay by a pathologist, and is covered by CPT codes from the Professional Fee Schedule with the modifier “26”.

1.16 Technical Component ” shall mean the performance of the technical component of the steps of the Assay, which is the physical performance of the Assay procedure up to the interpretation of results, and is covered by CPT codes from the Professional Fee Schedule without the modifier “26”, and typically with a modifier “TC”.

1.17 “Term” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.1.

1.18 Test(s) ” shall mean the Assay, which is a laboratory developed test, and/or any Collaboration Assay which is added to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.5(e), performed as a clinical reference laboratory test.

1.19 Territory ” shall mean the United States of America, and other countries of the world, contingent in the latter case on the parties agreeing in writing on an appropriate strategy to access them in accordance with Section 3.2.

1.20 “Third Party(ies)” shall mean any entity other than Biocept or Life Technologies or an Affiliate of Biocept or Life Technologies.

 

2.

A PPOINTMENT ; L ICENSES

2.1 Appointment. Upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Biocept hereby grants Life Technologies during the Term the non-exclusive right, as further defined in Section 2.3, to promote the Tests in the Territory and to perform the Professional Component of the Tests sold by the parties in the Territory, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

2.2 Trademark Licenses . The parties hereby grant to each other non-exclusive, fully-paid, royalty-free licenses to utilize the other party’s trademarks, as follows:

(a) Biocept Trademarks. To facilitate the promotion and performance of Tests, during the Term Biocept hereby grants Life Technologies a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable license to use the Biocept Trademarks solely for

 

3


use in connection with the promotion and performance of the Tests in the Territory. All materials associated with the Tests and used by Life Technologies in connection with the promotion of the Tests, including web-based, shall be co-branded with such Biocept Trademarks as approved by Biocept prior to distribution. All use of Biocept Trademarks by Life Technologies hereunder (including all goodwill arising as a result of such use) shall inure to the benefit of Biocept, and these rights, whether registered or not registered, at all times shall remain the sole property of Biocept. Biocept shall provide Life Technologies with copies of the Biocept Trademarks in an appropriate form for the uses contemplated in this Agreement. Life Technologies shall provide Biocept with samples of all proposed use of the Biocept Trademarks in advance of such proposed use and Biocept shall have the right to approve the appearance and placement of Biocept Trademarks by Life Technologies for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the standards of quality maintained by Biocept for products sold under the Biocept Trademarks and for use of the Biocept Trademarks. If Biocept at any time finds that Life Technologies is not in compliance with this Section, then Biocept may notify Life Technologies in writing of such deficiencies, and if Life Technologies fails to correct such deficiencies within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, Biocept may, at its election and in addition to any other remedies, terminate the license granted to Life Technologies with respect to the Biocept Trademarks. Life Technologies shall display the ™ or ® symbol, as directed by Biocept, in connection with Life Technologies’ use of the Biocept Trademarks.

(b) Life Technologies Trademarks. To facilitate the promotion and performance of Tests, during the Term Life Technologies hereby grants Biocept a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable license to use the Life Technologies Trademarks solely for use in connection with the promotion and performance of the Tests in the Territory. Materials associated with the Tests and used by Biocept in connection with the promotion of Tests, including web-based materials, may be co-branded with such Life Technologies Trademarks as approved by the parties prior to distribution. All use of Life Technologies Trademarks by Biocept hereunder including all goodwill arising as a result of such use) shall inure to the benefit of Life Technologies, and these rights, whether registered or not registered, at all times shall remain the sole property of Life Technologies. Life Technologies shall provide Biocept with copies of the Life Technologies Trademarks in an appropriate form for the uses contemplated in this Agreement. Biocept shall provide Life Technologies with samples of all proposed use of the Life Technologies Trademarks in advance of such proposed use and Life Technologies shall have the right to approve the appearance and placement of Life Technologies Trademarks by Biocept for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the standards of quality maintained by Life Technologies for products sold under the Life Technologies Trademarks and for use of the Life Technologies Trademarks. If Life Technologies at any time finds that Biocept is not in compliance with this Section, then Life Technologies may notify Biocept in writing of such deficiencies, and if Biocept fails to correct such deficiencies within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, Life Technologies may, at its election and in addition to any other remedies, terminate the license granted to Biocept with respect to the Life Technologies Trademarks. Biocept shall display the ™ or ® symbol, as directed by Life Technologies, in connection with Biocept’s use of the Life Technologies Trademarks.

 

4


2.3 Exclusivity . During the Term, the parties will promote and perform Tests for the clinical testing market on a non-exclusive basis in the Territory, except as otherwise provided for below. Biocept will have sole responsibility for performing the Technical Component of all Tests sold by the parties, until and unless Life Technologies obtains the right from Biocept to independently develop its own Tests in accordance with all applicable FDA regulatory requirements, as provided for in Section 7.1. Life Technologies will be authorized to perform the Professional Component of all Tests sold by the parties, although Biocept may engage other groups in promotion, marketing and performance arrangements for the Tests, at the discretion of Biocept. Biocept shall provide thirty (30) days written notice to Life Technologies before entering into any such promotion, marketing and performance arrangement.

 

3.

C OLLABORATION

3.1 Purpose . During the Term, the parties agree to cooperate and collaborate to develop, promote and commercialize the Tests for the clinical testing market in the Territory and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the “Collaboration” ). The principal objective of the parties hereunder is to maximize the commercialization of the Tests in the Territory. The parties shall deploy each of their respective sales forces in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in an effort to promote the Tests in the Territory in the manner as agreed to by the parties, under the direction of the Joint Steering Committee.

3.2 Commercialization of Tests Outside the USA. At any time for up to two (2) years after the Effective Date, should Life Technologies desire to offer for sale any Test outside the USA, it shall first discuss with Biocept an appropriate strategy and plan for such effort. Such strategy and plan may involve the development of, and obtaining all applicable regulatory authorizations for, an in vitro diagnostic kit, instruments or similar systems, in collaboration with Biocept (with funding support, and more fully described in Section 7.2), such strategy and plan to be reduced to writing and approved by the parties. If such written plan is not approved by the parties within two (2) years of the Effective Date, the Territory shall revert to only the USA, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

3.3 Life Technologies Responsibilities . Life Technologies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests in the Territory, in accordance with Section 3.2, using sales channels and methods, and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its laboratory developed tests. Without limiting the foregoing, Life Technologies’ responsibilities with respect to marketing and promotion of the Tests in the Territory during the Term shall include the following:

(a) Life Technologies Customers . Life Technologies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests to the appropriate healthcare professionals.

 

5


(b) Test Performance . Life Technologies shall have the responsibility, subject to its capacity to support in its reasonable discretion (of which capacity Life Technologies shall notify Biocept in writing at least sixty (60) days before launch of the Assay, and use diligent efforts to notify Biocept at least thirty (30) days before discovery of any decreases or increases in such capacity), for performing the Professional Component of the Assays sold by either party in the Territory. In particular, the laboratory director of the Life Technologies CLIA laboratory will be responsible for issuing and signing off on the report.

(c) Sales, Marketing and Customer Service .

(i) Life Technologies shall, at its sole expense and in accordance with Section 2.2, develop and deliver to customers marketing materials for the Tests. Life Technologies shall use, as appropriate, Biocept’s “OncoCEE-LU TM ”, OncoCEE™”, “CEE-Enhanced™” and “CEE-Sure TM ” brand and the Biocept corporate name and logo, together with any Life Technologies branding, as part of the marketing materials for the marketing of the Tests and, where appropriate, in its other public presentations and disclosures concerning the Assay or Tests. Biocept shall have the right to review all such materials prior to their initial use.

(ii) Life Technologies shall cause its sales force to use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests.

(iii) Life Technologies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the sale of the Tests by including the Tests in its menu of services and by incorporating marketing materials regarding the Tests into its own marketing materials.

(iv) Life Technologies shall keep Biocept reasonably informed of its planned marketing activities with respect to the Tests to allow Biocept to forecast its needs for reagents, equipment, laboratory space, personnel, computing, and testing reporting capabilities, including at each Joint Steering Committee meeting as indicated in Section 4, and will discuss and consider in good faith Biocept’s suggestions for marketing the Tests.

(v) Life Technologies will provide customer service and support for the Professional Component of the Tests using substantially similar methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other products and tests.

(d) Samples and Logistics .

(i) Life Technologies will be responsible for the logistics associated with its marketing efforts and performance of the Professional Components of the Tests; provided, however, that Biocept will send the sample collection systems directly to customers identified by Life Technologies who order the Test, at Life Technologies’ expense. Biocept will further work with Life Technologies to facilitate transport of collected samples from the customer to Biocept’s CLIA laboratory. Life

 

6


Technologies will work collaboratively with Biocept on patient referral, billing and collections in accordance with Section 3.5(c)(iii), reporting of results and reporting quality control, and insurance or patient reimbursement.

(e) Demand Forecast . Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, Life Technologies will prepare a draft one-year rolling forecast of Life Technologies’ expectation for physician requests for the Assay (the Demand Forecast ), broken down into quarterly demand for the Assay (with respect to each quarter, the “ Quarterly Forecast ”) which will be attached hereto as Exhibit A , and will be finalized three (3) months before Launch. Beginning on the first day of the second (2 nd ) full calendar quarter following the date of Launch, the Demand Forecast shall be updated on a quarterly basis. The Demand Forecast and Quarterly Forecasts shall be a good faith but non-binding forecast. In the event the parties develop a Collaboration Assay under the terms of this Agreement, demand for such Collaboration Assay shall be included in the Demand Forecast at all times following the Launch of such Collaboration Assay. A Performance Standard, mutually agreed to in accordance with Section 3.5(i), shall take effect beginning with the second (2 nd ) full calendar quarter after the launch of any Test.

(f) Technical Developments . Life Technologies shall keep Biocept fully informed as to all discoveries and technical developments (including, without limitations, any inventions) made by Life Technologies during the Term related to the Assay or Tests.

(g) Billing, Reporting, Auditing.

(i) In all cases where Life Technologies performs the Professional Component of the Assay, Life Technologies shall be responsible for billing the patient, the provider and/or the payer for the Test, including both the Technical Component and the Professional Component of the Assay, and the collection of such amounts with respect to each Test performed. Biocept shall bill Life Technologies directly once a month for the Technical Component of each Assay (including the cost for sample collection in accordance with Section 3.5(b)), based on pricing and reimbursement as agreed by the parties through the Joint Steering Committee within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, generally based on each applicable CPT Code actually used in the performance of such Technical Component, employing the Medicare rates for the applicable year as described on Exhibit B for the initial one (1) year period, and Life Technologies shall pay Biocept [**] following the invoice date. The parties shall disclose actual reimbursement for each Test, and shall reconcile or “true-up” any differences between the amounts actually received by Life Technologies for each billing item or code and amounts paid to Biocept on a quarterly basis. If the allocation of reimbursement is ambiguous with respect to billing codes or a Technical Component/Professional Component split, amounts received by Life Technologies that differ from the amounts agreed by the parties, or Medicare rates, shall be shared by the parties on the same ratio as the Technical Component/Professional Component ratio for Medicare. The Medicare rates used by the parties as the basis for determining the amount Life Technologies will pay Biocept for the Technical Component of the Assay before the quarterly true-up will be adjusted annually at the beginning of the calendar year to reflect

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

7


changes to such Medicare rates. Should Medicare change the basis for reimbursement of the Assay, the parties shall agree to negotiate a structure for revenue sharing that generally accomplishes the result achieved above. Both parties agree to strictly adhere to all applicable Laws with respect to billing practices.

(ii) This Section 3.3(g) shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement for at least twelve (12) months following the effective date of such termination or expiration.

3.4 Biocept Responsibilities . Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the sale of the Tests in the Territory, using at least the same sales channels and methods and adhering to at least the same standards that it generally employs with respect to its other clinical tests. Without limiting the foregoing, Biocept’s responsibilities during the Term shall include the following:

(a) Biocept Customers . Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests to appropriate healthcare professionals.

(b) Assay Performance . Biocept shall be responsible for performing all Technical Components of all Assays sold by either party unless and until the parties agree to enable Life Technologies to independently develop, validate and perform the Test at Life Technologies’ CLIA laboratory, in accordance with all applicable FDA regulatory requirements and Section 7.1. Until such point of transfer, Biocept shall comply with all CLIA requirements, including validation of the Assay.

(c) Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

(i) Biocept shall cause its sales force to promote the Assay.

(ii) Biocept shall keep Life Technologies reasonably informed of its planned marketing activities with respect to the Assay to allow Life Technologies to forecast its needs for equipment, space, personnel, computing, and test reporting capabilities, including at each Joint Steering Committee meeting as indicated in Section 4, and will discuss and consider in good faith Life Technologies’ suggestions for marketing the Assay.

(iii) Biocept will provide customer service and support for the Assay using substantially similar methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other tests.

(d) Samples and Logistics . Biocept will be responsible for the logistics associated with its own marketing efforts and performance of the Technical Component of the Assay, including distribution of shipping materials and sample collection systems by its sales representatives, patient referral and customer service.

 

8


(e) Training and Education .

(i) Biocept shall provide sales and technical training and technical support, including assistance with customer education and customer consultations, to Life Technologies’ personnel, with the frequency and content of the training to be determined by agreement between Biocept and Life Technologies.

(ii) Biocept will share its service educational materials and scientific publications to utilize in patient education with Life Technologies, and hereby grants Life Technologies rights to use such materials as are reasonably necessary for Life Technologies to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Life Technologies may not alter or revise these materials without the prior written consent of Biocept.

(f) Regulatory Approval . Biocept has licenses enabling it to perform and obtain reimbursement for the Assay in all states in the Territory except New York, where it is currently seeking such license. Biocept will maintain all such licenses which are reasonably required to perform the Assay during the Term. For any Collaboration Assay, Biocept will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or maintain licenses enabling it to perform such Collaboration Assay and obtain reimbursement therefore, in accordance with each amendment to this Agreement entered in accordance with Section 3.5(f). Life Technologies will cooperate with Biocept so that Life Technologies’ marketing and sales efforts are conducted only in those states or regions of the Territory in which Biocept has obtained any necessary regulatory licenses to provide Tests.

(g) Technical Developments . Biocept shall keep Life Technologies fully informed as to all discoveries and technical developments (including, without limitations, any inventions) made by Biocept during the Term related to the Tests.

3.5 Joint Responsibilities. The parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and collaborate to develop the market for the Tests in the Territory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties shall collaborate to provide the following:

(a) Test Development. The parties shall mutually agree on the content and composition of Phase II of the Assay, and any Collaboration Assays as defined in Section 3.5(f), including specific analytes to be included in the Assay. Consideration for selection of analytes shall include medical need, clinical utility, technical feasibility, costs, reimbursement, and intellectual property status, e.g., the need for Third Party licenses to specific analytes. The parties shall agree on the Phase II Assay content at least six (6) months before anticipated Launch.

(b) Test Materials and Shipping . Subject to Section 3.3(c)(i), Life Technologies shall design and order all test materials, including test requisition forms, test reports and collateral sales and marketing (advertising and promotional) materials to be used by Life Technologies, which shall be approved by Biocept prior to use. Biocept shall design, order and provide to Life Technologies the collection systems to be used by Life Technologies, and Life Technologies shall pay for such collection systems used by

 

9


its sales representatives under this Agreement at cost (direct materials and direct labor) plus ten percent (10%), as well as shipping costs of collection systems from ordering physicians to Biocept.

(c) Performance of Tests .

(i) The parties will work together to develop a plan to implement detailed operation protocols for the Test within [**] of the Effective Date for each aspect of sample logistics, including ordering, shipping, accessioning, sample handling, testing, data generation, data evaluation and reporting. These sample logistics shall be agreed upon by the parties through the Joint Steering Committee and, once agreed upon by the parties in writing, deemed to be attached hereto as Exhibit C without any additional action required on the part of either party. Information, data and images shall be transferred between the parties as indicated for this purpose, and the parties will seek to make their respective laboratory information management systems and data transfer capabilities compatible. Life Technologies’ lab director at the CLIA lab will sign off on the reports for Tests.

(ii) If Life Technologies desires to utilize the Tests in support of any clinical trial or research program for a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company(ies) in the Territory, Life Technologies shall notify Biocept in writing of such desired use. The terms and conditions (including pricing and revenue sharing) of each such use shall be covered by a separate written agreement which the parties agree to negotiate in good faith.

(iii) Each party will use commercially reasonable efforts to support the other in the account to best meet the needs and expectations of each customer.

(d) Communication Plan . Life Technologies and Biocept shall develop a communications plan through the Joint Steering Committee for the announcement and ongoing promotion of the Tests to customers, with all communication plan materials, including test requisition forms, being co-branded with Biocept and Life Technologies corporate names and logos in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 3.3(c)(i).

(e) Data Sharing . Life Technologies and Biocept have entered into this Agreement to, among other things, establish individual databases of results from the Tests performed, which databases will include patient information such as demographic, disease characterization, treatment and outcome information. To that end, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as mutually agreed by the parties, where available each party will share all patient data, Test data and results, and corresponding tissue data with the other party, as well as any follow up or outcome data that may become available or provided by the physician or patient for Tests performed and will cooperate in good faith with the other party to agree upon procedures for sharing such information. Such information may be used only for longitudinal reporting, outcomes correlation and related research, shall be handled in accordance with all applicable Laws, including, without limitation, HIPAA, and applicable institutional review board guidelines, and shall not be used for the purpose of obtaining information about the other party’s clients or customers. To the extent feasible, all such information will be properly de-identified.

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

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(f) Collaboration Assays . During the Term, Biocept shall keep Life Technologies reasonably apprised of its plans to add analytes to the Assay. In addition, Life Technologies may desire for Biocept to develop a specific new analytes for the Assay (for example, the inclusion of additional mutations to the mutation analysis component of the Assay), to be offered by the parties as an additional Test under this Agreement. In either case, the parties shall negotiate in good faith an amendment to this Agreement that will govern the development (as needed) and commercialization of such Tests with new analytes (each a “Collaboration Assay”), which amendment may include financial support, contributions of and access to each party’s technology and/or clinical samples, milestones, timing of the development effort, exclusivity and ownership rights. Any such agreed upon Collaboration Assay development shall be performed by Biocept or jointly as the parties may agree. Once the parties have agreed upon a plan relating to the development of a particular Collaboration Assay, if development is needed (each, a “ Project ”), the parties shall reduce such agreement to writing, which shall include a project plan which will set forth each party’s obligations with respect to the Project (each, a “ Project Plan ”) and thereafter, such Collaboration Assay shall be deemed a Test for all purposes under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement as amended. Each such Project Plan shall be attached as a part of Exhibit D to this Agreement following written acceptance thereof by both parties without any additional action required on the part of either party. Any amendments or revisions to a Project Plan shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing.

(g) Costs and Expenses . Unless otherwise specified herein or in a Project Plan attached hereto, each party shall perform its activities under this Agreement at its sole cost and expense.

(h) Training and Education .

(i) The parties shall work together to develop and implement a training program for client services and the sales and marketing representatives of each party to ensure that a clear and consistent message is delivered to all prospective customers. Following such implementation, each party agrees to train its client services and sales and marketing representatives in accordance with such training program.

(ii) Representatives of each party, where deployed, shall each educate physicians, clinical and support personnel on the Tests, their applications and benefits, and the procedures for providing samples for the Tests. The Joint Steering Committee will approve all presentation and meeting materials. In addition, the parties will each be responsible for providing customer support related to test logistics, billing and reimbursement, and for establishing a call center to handle inquiries related to the Tests. For purposes of clarity, the parties acknowledge and agree that Life Technologies will not be required to establish a dedicated web portal, but all results of Tests will be made available through an existing Life Technologies portal solution, once commercially available for use, as determined by Life Technologies at its sole discretion. Technical or

 

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process questions regarding the Tests received by Life Technologies can be referred to Biocept. Each party will cover its own costs related to physician education, customer support, and any travel related thereto and comply with all federal and state regulations regarding the same.

(i) Performance Standards . Each party shall conduct its activities under this Agreement and any Project Plan in a professional and workmanlike manner, and in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws and regulations, to attempt to achieve the objectives of this Agreement efficiently and expeditiously. Each party shall contribute such personnel and resources, and shall maintain such laboratories and other facilities, as are reasonably necessary to carry out the activities to be performed under this Agreement, including any Project Plans. In conformity with standard industry practices and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party shall prepare and maintain, or shall cause to be prepared and maintained, complete and accurate written records, accounts, notes, reports and data with respect to activities conducted by such party under this Agreement, including any Project Plans. In addition, the parties shall work together to establish minimum agreed upon performance standards with respect to the promotion, sales and performance of the Tests, including the Demand Forecast, and the timely supply, accuracy, reliability and reporting of the Tests, as well as responsiveness to customer inquiries related to the Tests throughout the Territory (collectively, “ Performance Standards ”). In the event that one or more Performance Standards are not met by a party, the parties will work quickly and efficiently to (i) identify the cause of the failure, (ii) develop a plan to remediate the issue, and (iii) implement the remediation plan. If the parties are unable to successfully resolve a Performance Standards issue by this procedure, such failure to maintain Performance Standards shall constitute a material breach by the party failing to maintain such Performance Standards, and the other party may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 11.2.

(j) Bundling . Neither party shall bundle its assays (including the Tests) with any assays of the other party, without the prior written approval of that party.

 

4.

J OINT S TEERING C OMMITTEE

4.1 Purpose and Membership . Promptly following the Effective Date, Biocept and Life Technologies will create a Joint Steering Committee for the purpose of facilitating communications between the parties regarding, and providing direction and leadership to, the Collaboration. The Joint Steering Committee shall be composed of six (6) representatives, three (3) each from Biocept and Life Technologies, each of whom shall have appropriate experience, knowledge and authority within such party’s organization to carry out the duties and obligations of the Joint Steering Committee. Each party will designate one of its representatives as the primary contact for that party with respect to Joint Steering Committee-related matters, and such representatives shall serve as co-chairpersons of the Joint Steering Committee. Each party may change its representatives to the Joint Steering Committee or its primary contact from time to time in its sole discretion, effective upon notice to the other party of such change. These representatives shall have appropriate technical credentials, experience and knowledge. A reasonable number of additional representatives of a party may attend meetings of the Joint Steering Committee in a non-voting capacity.

 

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4.2 Duties . The Joint Steering Committee shall meet in person or by teleconference or videoconference no less than monthly during the Term or as otherwise mutually agreed by the parties from time to time, with attendees other than Joint Steering Committee members permitted to participate in or observe the meetings. The Joint Steering Committee shall be responsible for (a) monitoring the progress of the Collaboration, including discussions relating to Collaboration Assays, (b) physician education with respect to the Tests, (c) marketing, sales and account coordination, (d) any regulatory inquiries or requirements and other issues that affect the availability of the Tests, and (e) reimbursement issues (including annual review of relevant CPT Codes and changes thereto), logistical considerations, and other topics as necessary. The Joint Steering Committee shall serve as the principal forum for each party to (i) keep the other party informed of the results of its Collaboration activities; (ii) to discuss Test commercialization strategies, and (iii) generally to encourage and facilitate ongoing cooperation between the parties with respect to the Collaboration, including the business relationship and/or any other matter relating to the Collaboration and resolving disputes between the parties with respect to Intellectual Property Rights; provided, however, that (A) nothing in this Agreement shall limit either party’s right to seek immediate equitable or injunctive relief where appropriate without any obligation to first submit the dispute to the Joint Steering Committee; and (B) any decision concerning medical necessity and patient care with respect to Test sold by or performed on behalf of the parties shall be the responsibility of each party’s Medical Director, with the two Medical Directors working together to coordinate efforts and address concerns.

4.3 Decisions; Disputes . Decisions of the Joint Steering Committee shall be made by unanimous vote, with each party’s representatives on the Joint Steering Committee collectively having one vote. In the event that the Joint Steering Committee cannot or does not, after good faith efforts, reach agreement on an issue, such issue shall first be referred to the Designated Executive Officers, who shall meet promptly thereafter and shall attempt in good faith to resolve such issue. In the event that the Designated Executive Officers cannot or do not, after good faith efforts, reach agreement on an issue, the issue shall be submitted to voluntary mediation. The Designated Executive Officers of each party shall select a mediator who is an expert with no less than seven years of experience in the subject matter to which the dispute relates. In the event that the Designated Executive Officers of the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator within twenty (20) days, then the Designated Executive Officers shall contact the San Diego County office of JAMS to select a mediator from the JAMS panel. If they are unable to agree, JAMS shall provide a list of three available mediators and each party may strike one. The remaining one will serve as the mediator. The mediation shall be conducted under JAMS rules. The parties agree that they shall share equally the cost of the mediation filing and hearing fees, and the cost of the mediators that constitute the panel. Each party shall bear its own attorneys’ and expert fees and all associated costs and expenses .

 

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5.

R EGULATORY C OMPLIANCE

5.1 Compliance with Laws . Biocept and Life Technologies and their respective Affiliates each agree to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement in compliance with all applicable Laws, in the Territory, including but not limited to applicable regulations, rules, and policies of third party payers that pay for the Assay.

5.2 Privacy . Biocept and Life Technologies and their respective Affiliates agree to protect the privacy and provide for the security of any information that relates to a patient’s past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition in accordance with HIPAA, and any other applicable federal and state privacy laws and regulations in the Territory. Each party agrees to execute one or more Business Associate Agreements (as defined under HIPAA) as the other party, or its providers or payers, may from time to time request.

5.3 Licenses and Certifications. Biocept and, to the extent applicable, Life Technologies shall have at all times during the Term, all necessary federal, state and local licenses, qualifications and certifications to operate a laboratory and perform their respective components of the Test(s), including, but not limited to, state laboratory licenses, CLIA certification, CAP (College of American Pathologists) certification, FDA registration, and any other licenses or certification required by state and/or federal law. All Assays performed by Biocept, and, to the extent applicable, Life Technologies, shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal testing requirements for clinical reference laboratories.

 

6.

M ATERIALS T RANSFER

In order to facilitate the Collaboration, either party may provide to the other party certain biological materials or chemical compounds including, but not limited to, samples (collectively, “Materials” ) for use by the other party in furtherance of the Collaboration. Except as expressly provided under this Agreement, all such Materials delivered to the other party will remain the sole property of the supplying party, will be used only in furtherance of the Collaboration and solely under the control of the other party, will not be used or delivered to or for the benefit of any Third Party without the prior written consent of the supplying party, and will not be used in research or testing involving human subjects except as permitted by applicable law. The Materials supplied hereunder must be used with prudence and appropriate caution in any experimental work and in accordance with all applicable laws.

 

7.

O PTIONS AND F UTURE D ISCUSSIONS

7.1 Option to License Assay. If Biocept does not obtain at least ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in equity financing by December 31, 2012, then Life Technologies shall have the non-exclusive option, exercisable by written notice to Biocept given no later than January 15, 2013, to negotiate with Biocept for a license (unless the parties mutually agree to a different transaction structure) to all necessary Intellectual Property

 

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Rights and know-how to independently commercialize the Assay in accordance with applicable Laws. Biocept will provide notice to Life Technologies on December 31, 2012 if the conditions for the option apply, and if Life Technologies delivers written notice of exercise of such right of negotiation to Biocept on or before January 15, 2013, the parties will negotiate in good faith to conclude a license agreement no later than February 28, 2013. If such license has not been entered into by the parties by February 28, 2013, there are no further obligations for either party under this Section 7.1.

7.2 Option for System Development. The parties have discussed potential adaptation of the Assay to an in vitro diagnostic format, based on a “system” concept that could include specially manufactured equipment, consumables and reagents that would be sold to physicians and laboratories, and linked to the “informatics engine” that Life Technologies is developing. Such systems may be used to commercialize the Assay outside the USA. Biocept grants to Life Technologies a non-exclusive option, exercisable during the two (2) year period beginning on the Effective Date, to develop plans, and negotiate with Biocept, for the co-development with Biocept of such systems for the Assay, employing or based on Biocept technologies. Such agreement is expected to include some or all of the following components: an upfront license fee, R&D funding, development and commercial milestone payments, royalties and/or revenue sharing, and supply/sale to Life Technologies by Biocept of proprietary components and consumables.

 

8.

I NTELLECTUAL P ROPERTY

8.1 Existing Technology . Each party acknowledges that the other party owns certain technology and Intellectual Property Rights which have been independently developed by, or at the request of, such other party, whether prior to, during or subsequent to the Term. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor the activities performed hereunder, shall give either party any rights or interest in or to the technology or Intellectual Property Rights of the other party (or of any Materials provided by such party). Each party owns, and shall continue to own, all right, title and interest in and to its respective technology, including, without limitation, all Intellectual Property Rights relating thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at all times during and after the Term, Biocept shall own all rights to its CEE™ technology, Selector technology (if utilized) and any improvements related thereto, generated during the performance of this Agreement. Biocept and Life Technologies shall promptly notify the other in writing upon becoming aware of any alleged or threatened third party infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights related to the Tests. Biocept shall have the right to bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to any such infringement at its own expense and by counsel of its own choice. If Biocept elects not to bring any such action or proceeding with respect to such infringement, it shall promptly notify Life Technologies of the same and agrees to consider, in good faith a request by Life Technologies to bring any such action or proceeding. Any agreement allowing Life Technologies to bring such action or proceeding on behalf of Biocept shall be set forth in a separate written agreement between the parties. Except as expressly provided above, the parties shall be under no obligation to enforce any of their Intellectual Property Rights against any actual or threatened Third Party infringements.

 

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8.2 Biocept Technology . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Biocept owns, and Life Technologies acknowledges Biocept’s ownership of, (i) the Assay and the Selector technology, and (ii) all Intellectual Property Rights in the Assay and the Selector technology, and Life Technologies agrees that it shall not do or suffer to be done any act or thing or undertake any action anywhere that in any manner might infringe, or impair the validity, scope, or title of Biocept in the Assay, the Selector technology or Intellectual Property Rights owned by Biocept. Nothing herein shall limit Life Technologies’ ability to prosecute fully any and all Intellectual Property Rights owned by Life Technologies with any patent office or related government agency or to respond fully to any government agency inquiry with respect to its Intellectual Property Rights, products, and services.

8.3 New Technology. In the course of the activities conducted by the parties, Biocept and/or Life Technologies may conceive of inventions or discoveries or create works that constitute intellectual property and may be patentable or registerable as a copyright or other intellectual property right (all of the foregoing, including such intellectual property rights therein, collectively, “Developments” ). Inventorship of all inventions and discoveries, whether or not patentable, will be determined in accordance with United States patent laws. Authorship of all copyrightable works will be determined in accordance with United States copyright laws. Subject to Section 8.2, as between the parties, Developments will be owned consistent with such determination of inventorship or authorship. To the extent any Development owned by Life Technologies relates directly to the practice of, or constitutes an improvement to, the Assay, Life Technologies hereby grants to Biocept, during the Term of this Agreement, and, except in the case of termination of this Agreement by Life Technologies for Biocept’s uncured material breach, after expiration or termination of this Agreement, a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid license, including the right to sublicense, under Life Technologies’ Intellectual Property Rights in such Developments, solely to develop, make, have made, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, import, perform and provide the Assay. To the extent any Development owned by Biocept relates directly to the practice of, or constitutes an improvement to, the Assay, Biocept hereby grants to Life Technologies, during the Term of this Agreement, a non-exclusive license under Biocept’s Intellectual Property Rights in such Development, solely to promote the Assay in the Territory and to perform the Professional Component of the Assay sold by the parties in the Territory, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

8.4 Technology Licenses. To the extent that any Third Party Intellectual Property Rights related to the capture and detection of CTCs must be licensed to perform the Assay, such royalty shall be paid by Biocept. To the extent that either party owns Intellectual Property Rights to specific biomarkers, targets, kits, dyes or technology utilized in the Assay other than for the capture and detection of CTCs, it will, to the extent it is able, grant during the Term of the Agreement, a non-exclusive license to the other party to practice these Intellectual Property Rights for the Assay. To the extent that either party has licensed or will license Intellectual Property Rights from Third Parties related to specific biomarkers, targets, kits, dyes or technology utilized in the Assay other than for the capture and detection of CTCs, it will, to the extent it is able, grant, during the Term of the Agreement, a non-exclusive license to the other party, or ensure that the

 

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other party is covered under its license, to practice these Intellectual Property Rights for the Assay. In the event of the foregoing, then, subject to Section 8.5, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith an allocation of expenses for such Third Party licenses directly associated with the Assay.

8.5 Infringement . If any Third Party claims or brings an action alleging that performance of the Assay or Test by Biocept or Life Technologies or their Affiliates under this Agreement infringe (directly or indirectly) any of such Third Party’s patent rights, Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to address such claims. If Biocept determines to seek a license or otherwise obtain the right to use such Third Party intellectual property rights on behalf of Biocept and Life Technologies, then (i) if the Third Party intellectual property rights relate to the capture and detection of CTCs or the Phase I Assay analytes, then Biocept shall bear the costs of such licenses, including the payment of licensing fees, royalties or other payments, or (ii) if the Third Party intellectual property rights relate to specific biomarkers, targets, kits, dyes or technologies for the Phase II Assay, then the parties agree to negotiate in good faith an allocation of costs for such licenses, including payment of licensing fees, royalties or other payments that may be due to such Third Party, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. If Biocept and Life Technologies determine to seek a license or otherwise obtain rights to use Third Party intellectual property rights for any Collaboration Assay(s), the parties similarly agree to negotiate in good faith an allocation of costs for such licenses, including payment of licensing fees, royalties or other payments that may be due to such Third Party, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

8.6 Data and Results . All data and results from performance of a Test on samples provided by Life Technologies shall be used by the parties solely to the extent necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement and in accordance with Section 3.5(d).

8.7 Trademarks.

(a) Biocept shall be responsible for and bear the expense of any filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of the Biocept Trademarks as it may determine in its sole discretion, without obligation. Life Technologies shall not, during the Term or thereafter, use or seek to register the trademarks or any trademark or trade name similar to or confusing with the Biocept Trademarks, or any translation thereof, in any jurisdiction. Life Technologies agrees that, if Life Technologies at any time obtains, in any jurisdiction, any right, title or interest in any mark, symbol or phrase which shall be identical to, similar to or likely to be confused with any Biocept Trademark or any translation thereof, then Life Technologies shall have acted or shall act as an agent and for the benefit of Biocept for the limited purpose of obtaining such registrations and assigning such registration (and all right, title and interest in such mark, symbol or phrase) to Biocept.

(b) Life Technologies shall be responsible for and bear the expense of any filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of the Life Technologies Trademarks as it may determine in its sole discretion, without obligation. Biocept shall

 

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not, during the Term or thereafter, use or seek to register the trademarks or any trademark or trade name similar to or confusing with the Life Technologies Trademarks, or any translation thereof, in any jurisdiction. Biocept agrees that, if Biocept at any time obtains, in any jurisdiction, any right, title or interest in any mark, symbol or phrase which shall be identical to, similar to or likely to be confused with any Life Technologies Trademark or any translation thereof, then Biocept shall have acted or shall act as an agent and for the benefit of Life Technologies for the limited purpose of obtaining such registrations and assigning such registration (and all right, title and interest in such mark, symbol or phrase) to Life Technologies.

 

9.

R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES

9.1 Mutual Representations and Warranties. Each party represents and warrants to the other that: (a) it is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions hereof; (b) it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and the person or persons executing this Agreement on its behalf has been duly authorized to do so by all requisite corporate action; (c) this Agreement is legally binding upon it, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it does not conflict with any agreement, instrument or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, nor violate any material law or regulation of any court, governmental body or administrative or other agency having jurisdiction over it.

9.2 Biocept Warranties on Assay .

(a) As of the Effective Date, the Assay employs Biocept’s most current CTC-based technology, and will be validated for performing CTC enumeration and the detection of the indicated analytes in the Assay on a timeline as agreed by the parties within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date.

(b) Biocept represents and warrants to Life Technologies that: (1) the Assay constitutes an original work of Biocept; and (2) except as previously disclosed to Life Technologies, Biocept is the lawful owner or licensee of all materials used in connection with the development of the Assay, and Biocept has the rights to make, use and sell the Assay, and to allow Life Technologies to use the results of the Technical Component of the Assay to perform the Professional Component of the Assay, and to sell the Assay.

(c) Biocept has full power and authority and has obtained all Third Party consents, approvals, assignments and/or other authorizations required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder.

(d) There are no existing contracts, agreements, commitments, proposals, offers, or rights with, to, or in any person to acquire any of the rights under the Assay which would prevent or materially and adversely alter the performance of the obligations hereunder.

 

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9.3 Third Party Infringement. In the event that the Tests, or any part thereof becomes the subject of any claim, suit or proceeding for infringement of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party, or if the Test, or any part thereof, is held or otherwise determined to infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party such that Biocept can no longer perform its obligations under this Agreement, Biocept shall in its sole discretion either: (1) secure for itself and Life Technologies the right to continue using the Test in accordance with Section 8.4; (2) replace or modify the Test to make it non-infringing without degrading its performance or utility; or (3) notify Life Technologies that it will perform neither (1) nor (2), in which case either party shall thereafter have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 8.5, the indemnification rights of Life Technologies with respect to the Tests as set forth in Section 12.2 shall survive such termination.

9.4 Disclaimer. Except as expressly set forth herein, THE TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROVIDED BY EACH PARTY HEREUNDER ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICES.

9.5 Limitation of Liability. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER; provided, however, that this Section shall neither (a) apply to any liability for damages arising from breach of any obligations of confidentiality under Article 10, nor (b) limit the indemnification obligations of the parties arising under Article 12 of this Agreement.

 

10.

C ONFIDENTIALITY

10.1 Confidential Information. Except to the extent expressly authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, each party agrees that, during the Term and for five (5) years thereafter, such party (the “Receiving Party” ) shall keep confidential and shall not publish or otherwise disclose and shall not use for any purpose, other than as expressly provided for in this Agreement, any information furnished to it by or on behalf of the other party (the “Disclosing Party” ) pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, “Confidential Information” ). The Receiving Party may use such Confidential Information only to the extent required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. The Receiving Party will use at least the same standard of care as it uses to protect proprietary or confidential information of its own to ensure that its, and its Affiliates’, employees, agents, consultants and other representatives do not disclose or make any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. The Receiving Party will promptly notify the Disclosing Party upon discovery of any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information.

 

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10.2 Exceptions. Confidential Information shall not include any information which the Receiving Party can prove by competent evidence: (a) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of the Receiving Party, generally known or available; (b) is known by the Receiving Party at the time of receiving such information, as evidenced by its written records; (c) is hereafter furnished to the Receiving Party by a Third Party, as a matter of right and without restriction on disclosure; or (d) is independently discovered or developed by the Receiving Party, without the use of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party, as evidenced by the Receiving Party’s written records maintained in the ordinary course of business.

10.3 Authorized Disclosure. Each party may disclose Confidential Information of the other party as expressly permitted by this Agreement, or if and to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary in the following instances:

(a) enforcing such party’s rights under this Agreement;

(b) prosecuting or defending litigation as permitted by this Agreement;

(c) complying with applicable court orders or governmental regulations;

(d) disclosure to Affiliates, contractors, employees and consultants who need to know such information for the development and commercialization of the Test in accordance with this Agreement, on the condition that any such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that are no less stringent than the terms of this Agreement; and

(e) disclosure to Third Parties in connection with due diligence or similar investigations by such Third Parties, and disclosure to potential Third Party investors in confidential financing documents, provided, in each case, that any such Third Party agrees to be bound by reasonable obligations of confidentiality and non-use.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a party is required to make a disclosure of the other party’s Confidential Information pursuant to Section 10.3(b) or Section 10.3(c), it will, except where impracticable, give reasonable advance notice to the other party of such disclosure and use efforts to secure confidential treatment of such information at least as diligent as such party would use to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable efforts. In any event, the parties agree to take all reasonable action to avoid disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder.

10.4 Confidentiality of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10, each party agrees not to disclose to any Third Party the terms of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, except that each party may disclose the terms of this Agreement that are otherwise made public prior to the date of such disclosure or to the extent such disclosure is permitted under Section 10.3.

 

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10.5 Press Releases; Public Announcements. Neither party shall make a press release or public announcement that includes information relating to the Collaboration without the approval of the other party. At least five (5) days prior to any such press release or public announcement the party proposing to make such press release or public announcement (the “Releasing Party” ) shall provide to the other party a draft copy thereof for its review and approval. The Releasing Party may not distribute such press release or public announcement without obtaining the other party’s prior written approval. In addition, the Releasing Party shall, at the other party’s request, remove therefrom any Confidential Information of such other party. The contribution of each party shall be noted in all scientific publications or presentations by acknowledgment or co-authorship, whichever is appropriate.

 

11.

T ERM A ND T ERMINATION

11.1 Term . The term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and continue for a period of three (3) years after the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). Thereafter, this Agreement can be renewed by mutual written agreement of the parties for successive one (1) year periods (each, a “ Renewal Term ” and together with the Initial Term, the “ Term ”).

11.2 Termination .

(a) Material Breach . Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement before the end of the Term upon written notice to the other party if such other party is in material breach of this Agreement and has not cured such breach within sixty (60) days (the “ Cure Period ”) after notice from the terminating party requesting cure of the breach. Any such termination shall become effective at the end of such Cure Period unless the breaching party has cured such breach prior to the end of such Cure Period. Any right to terminate under this Section 11.2(a) shall be stayed and the Cure Period tolled in the event that, during any Cure Period, the party alleged to have been in material breach shall have initiated dispute resolution in accordance with Article 13 with respect to the alleged breach, which stay and tolling shall continue until such dispute resolution procedures have been completed in accordance with Article 13. Nothing herein is intended to prevent either party from seeking immediate equitable or injunctive relief.

(b) Termination for Convenience. Both parties shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time, for any or for no reason, upon one hundred twenty (120) days written notice to the other party. In the event a party undergoes a Change of Control Event as defined in Section 14.5, the other party may terminate the Agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice to the party undergoing the Change of Control.

 

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11.3 Effect of Termination; Surviving Obligations.

(a) Upon any termination or expiration of this Agreement, all licenses granted hereunder shall automatically terminate and revert to the granting party and all other rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall terminate, except as provided in Sections 11.3(b) and 11.4.

(b) Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, each party will use their best efforts to return to the other party or destroy all tangible copies of the other party’s Confidential Information in such party’s possession or control and will erase from its computer systems all electronic copies thereof; provided, however, that each party may retain one archival copy of the other party’s Confidential Information solely for purposes of monitoring compliance with its obligations under Article 10 hereof.

11.4 Survival . Expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either party of any obligation accruing prior to such expiration or termination. In addition, Sections 3.3(g), 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 (to the extent required by law) 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.5, 11.3 and 11.4, and Articles 1, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

12.

I NDEMNIFICATION

12.1 Indemnification by Life Technologies. Life Technologies hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Biocept, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the “Biocept Indemnitees” ), from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, expenses and costs, including reasonable legal expense and attorneys’ fees resulting from any threat, claim, demand, action or other proceeding by any Third Party (“ Losses ”) to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of: (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Life Technologies Indemnitee (defined below); (b) the material breach by Life Technologies of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement; or (c) the performance by Life Technologies of the Professional Component; except, in each case, to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee or the material breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement.

12.2 Indemnification by Biocept. Biocept hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Life Technologies, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the “Life Technologies Indemnitees” ), from and against any and all Losses to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of: (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee; (b) the material breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement; or (c) the performance by Biocept of the Technical Component of the Assay or Test; except, in each case, to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Life Technologies Indemnitee or the material breach by Life Technologies of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement.

 

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12.3 Procedure. In the event a party seeks indemnification under Section 12.1 or 12.2, it shall inform the other party (the “Indemnifying Party” ) of a claim as soon as reasonably practicable after such party (the “Indemnified Party” ) receives notice of the claim (it being understood and agreed, however, that the failure by an Indemnified Party to give notice of a claim as provided in this Section 12.3 shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligation under this Agreement except and only to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually damaged as a result of such failure to give notice), shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume direction and control of the defense of the claim (including the right to settle the claim solely for monetary consideration), and shall cooperate as requested (at the expense of the Indemnifying Party) in the defense of the claim. The Indemnified Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim or consent to any judgment in respect thereof that does not include a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability with respect thereto, that imposes any liability or obligation on the Indemnified Party or that acknowledges fault by the Indemnified Party; in each case, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party.

12.4 Insurance. Each party, at its own expense, shall maintain product liability and other appropriate insurance (or self-insure) in an amount consistent with industry standards during the Term and shall name the other party as an additional insured with respect to such insurance. Each party shall provide a certificate of insurance (or evidence of self-insurance) evidencing such coverage to the other party upon request.

 

13.

D ISPUTE R ESOLUTION

13.1 Dispute Resolution. The parties recognize that disputes as to certain matters may arise from time to time during the Term. The parties shall first submit the dispute to the Joint Steering Committee for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof. In the event that the Joint Steering Committee is unable to resolve the dispute, the parties shall be entitled to seek relief in a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the full extent allowed by law, either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) to protect the parties’ rights or enforce the parties’ obligations under this Agreement pending resolution of any claims related thereto by the Joint Steering Committee.

 

14.

G ENERAL P ROVISIONS

14.1 Governing Law. This Agreement and any disputes, claims, or actions related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

14.2 Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement, including the Exhibits hereto, is both a final expression of the parties’ agreement and a complete and exclusive statement with respect to all of its terms. This Agreement supersedes all prior

 

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and contemporaneous agreements and communications, whether oral, written or otherwise, concerning any and all matters contained herein. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented in a writing expressly stated for such purpose and signed by the parties to this Agreement.

14.3 Relationship Between the Parties. The parties’ relationship, as established by this Agreement, is solely that of independent contractors. This Agreement does not create any partnership, joint venture or similar business relationship between the parties. Neither party is a legal representative of the other party, and neither party can assume or create any obligation, representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, on behalf of the other party for any purpose whatsoever.

14.4 Non-Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right arising out of this Agreement shall neither impair that provision or right nor constitute a waiver of that provision or right, in whole or in part, in that instance or in any other instance. Any waiver by a party of a particular provision or right shall be in writing, shall be as to a particular matter and, if applicable, for a particular period of time and shall be signed by such party.

14.5 Assignment. Except as expressly provided hereunder, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that either party may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the other party’s consent in connection with the transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the business of such party to which this Agreement relates to a Third Party, whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise (a “Change of Control Event” ). The rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties. Any assignment not in accordance with this Agreement shall be void.

14.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is neither expressly nor impliedly made for the benefit of any party other than those executing it.

14.7 Severability. If, for any reason, any part of this Agreement is adjudicated invalid, unenforceable or illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, such adjudication shall not affect or impair, in whole or in part, the validity, enforceability or legality of any remaining portions of this Agreement. All remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect as if the original Agreement had been executed without the invalidated, unenforceable or illegal part.

14.8 Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered either in person, by any method of mail (postage prepaid) requiring return receipt, or by overnight courier or facsimile confirmed thereafter by any of the foregoing, to the party to be notified at its address(es) given below, or at any address such party has previously designated by prior written notice to the other. Notice shall be deemed sufficiently given for all purposes upon the earlier of: (a) the date of actual receipt; or (b) if mailed, five calendar days after the date of postmark.

 

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If to Biocept, notices must be addressed to:

Biocept, Inc.

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: David Hale

Executive Chairman

Telephone: (858) 320-8200

Facsimile: (858) 320-8225

If to Life Technologies, notices must be addressed to:

Life Technologies Corp.

5791 Van Allen Way

Carlsbad, CA 92008

Attention: David Daly

Head of Oncology

Telephone: (760) 268-5556

14.9 Force Majeure. Each party shall be excused from liability for the failure or delay in performance of any obligation under this Agreement by reason of any event beyond such party’s reasonable control, including but not limited to, Acts of God, fire, flood, explosion, earthquake, or other natural forces, war, civil unrest, any strike or labor disturbance. Such excuse from liability shall be effective only to the extent and duration of the event(s) causing the failure or delay in performance and provided that the party has not caused such event(s) to occur. Notice of a party’s failure or delay in performance due to force majeure must be given to the other party within five (5) calendar days after its occurrence. All delivery dates under this Agreement that have been affected by force majeure shall be tolled for the duration of such force majeure. In no event shall any party be required to prevent or settle any labor disturbance or dispute. In the event of a force majeure that persists for thirty (30) days or more, then either party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the other party.

14.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original document, and all of which, together with this writing, shall be deemed one and the same instrument.

 

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I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.

 

B IOCEPT , I NC .

  

L IFE T ECHNOLOGIES C ORPORATION

By: /s/ Michael J. Dunn

  

By: /s/ David J. Daly

Name: Michael Dunn

  

Name: David J. Daly

Title: Senior Vice President, Corp. Dev.

  

Title: Head of Oncology

 

26


EXHIBIT A - CTC Volume Projections

[**]

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

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Exhibit B

 

Test ID   CPT   

Description

   2012 Medicare
Allowable (per
Unit)*
   Unit
Enumeration      [**]      
Capture/Stain           
          
          
          
DAPI           
          
          
          
FISH           
ALK1, EGFR           
          
          
          
          
Mutations[** ]           
EGFR           
K-ras           
B-raf           

 

   

[**] rates for [**] region [**]; may differ for [**]

 

   

No PC (26) code; on MolDx Laboratory Fee Schedule, with rates calculated as [**] clinical testing labs performing these tests

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

28


Exhibit C

[The parties will work together to develop a plan to implement detailed operation protocols for the Test within [**] of the Effective Date for each aspect of sample logistics, including ordering, shipping, accessioning, sample handling, testing, data generation, data evaluation and reporting. These sample logistics shall be agreed upon by the parties through the Joint Steering Committee and, once agreed upon by the parties in writing, deemed to be attached hereto as Exhibit C without any additional action required on the part of either party.]

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

29


Exhibit D

[Once the parties have agreed upon a plan relating to the development of a particular Collaboration Assay, if development is needed (each, a “Project”), the parties shall reduce such agreement to writing, which shall include a project plan which will set forth each party’s obligations with respect to the Project (each, a “Project Plan”) and thereafter, such Collaboration Assay shall be deemed a Test for all purposes under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement as amended. Each such Project Plan shall be attached as a part of Exhibit D to this Agreement following written acceptance thereof by both parties without any additional action required on the part of either party.]

 

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Exhibit 10.14

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

T HIS C OLLABORATION A GREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) is entered into as of August 17, 2011 (the “Effective Date” ) by and between B IOCEPT , I NC ., a California corporation having an address of 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121 ( “Biocept” ), and C LARIENT D IAGNOSTIC S ERVICES , I NC ., a Delaware corporation having an address of 31 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656 ( “Clarient” ).

W HEREAS , Clarient is engaged in the business of providing oncology laboratory testing services for community hospitals and pathologists and oncologists;

W HEREAS , Biocept has developed expertise and proprietary technology in enrichment, extraction and analysis of circulating tumor cells for use in diagnostic tests used for the non-invasive and early stage detection of metastatic or recurrent cancers; and

W HEREAS , Clarient and Biocept desire to collaborate to develop and commercialize one or more Diagnostic Tests, as defined herein, using their respective technologies and expertise, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

D EFINITIONS

1.1 “Affiliate” shall mean any company or entity controlled by, controlling, or under common control with a party hereto and shall include any company more than 50% of whose voting stock or participating profit interest is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a party, and any company which owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting stock of a party. Affiliates of Clarient shall be deemed to include entities forming part of the GE Healthcare business only and shall not include any other entities whose ultimate parent is General Electric Company.

1.2 Assay ” shall mean Biocept’s OncoCEE-BR™ assay which incorporates circulating tumor cell enumeration by cytokeratin (and CEE-Enhanced™ when available and validated by Biocept), HER2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and estrogen receptor / progesterone receptor by immunocytochemistry, and any improvements or enhancements thereto, appropriately validated, exclusive of new analytes.

1.3 “Biocept Trademarks” shall mean Biocept, Inc., “OncoCEE-BR TM ”, “OncoCEE ™”, “CEE-Sure TM ”, CEE-Enhanced™”, and/or such other trademarks and trade names owned or licensed, and used, by Biocept and/or its Affiliates in the Territory to identify the Diagnostic Tests, in each case, whether or not registered.

1.4 “Clarient Trademarks,” shall mean Clarient TM , Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc., and/or such other trademarks and trade names owned or licensed and used by Clarient to identify the Diagnostic Tests, in each case, whether or not registered.


1.5 CLIA ” shall mean the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, as it may be amended from time to time.

1.6 Collaboration ” shall have the meaning provided Section 3.1.

1.7 Collaboration Assay(s) ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.5(e).

1.8 CPT Code ” shall mean the American Medical Association’s (“AMA”) “Current Procedural Terminology” as published in the AMA’s CPT Process Manual, Fourth Edition and any such future editions, for procedures used in performance of the Assay, and amounts reimbursed by Medicare for such procedures for location 26, as modified annually.

1.9 Designated Executive Officer ” shall mean the executive officers of each party designated in writing be each party as being responsible for resolving disputes related to the Collaboration, which shall initially be David Hale on behalf of Biocept and Dave Daly on behalf of Clarient.

1.10 Diagnostic Test(s) ” shall mean the Assay, and/or any Collaboration Assay which is added to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.5(e), performed as a clinical reference laboratory test.

1.11 FDA ” shall mean the United States Food and Drug Administration, or any successor federal agency thereto.

1.12 HIPAA ” shall mean, collectively, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and all regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 C.F.R. parts 160 through 164, and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 and related regulations and guidelines.

1.13 Intellectual Property Rights ” means all now or hereafter existing patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks (including service marks), trade secrets, know-how, mask work rights and design rights, whether registered or unregistered, and all rights or forms of protection of a similar nature having equivalent or similar effect to any of the foregoing, which may subsist anywhere in the world.

1.14 Launch ” shall mean formal commercial availability and offering to physicians of a Diagnostic Test, as mutually agreed upon by the parties.

1.15 New Assay(s) ” shall mean any CEE™-based circulating tumor cell assay products developed in accordance with Section 3.5(e).

1.16 Professional Component ” shall mean the performance of the professional component of the assay steps of the Assay, and Collaboration Assays as agreed, which are covered by CPT codes from the Professional Fee Schedule with the modifier “26”.

 

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1.17 Technical Component ” shall mean the performance of the technical component of the assay steps of the Assay, and Collaboration Assays as agreed, which are covered by CPT codes from the Professional Fee Schedule without the modifier “26”.

1.18 “Term” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.1.

1.19 Territory ” shall mean the United States of America.

1.20 “Third Party(ies)” shall mean any entity other than Biocept or Clarient or an Affiliate of Biocept or Clarient.

 

2.

A PPOINTMENT ; L ICENSES

2.1 Appointment. Upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Biocept hereby grants Clarient during the Term the exclusive right, except as limited by Sec. 2.3 (a), to promote Diagnostic Tests in the Territory, together with Biocept, for the clinical testing market, and to perform the Professional Component of the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of clarity, the clinical testing market means performance of the Assay for patient care excluding testing for pharmaceutical companies.

2.2 Trademark Licenses . The parties hereby grant to each other non-exclusive, fully-paid, royalty-free licenses to utilize the other party’s trademarks, as follows:

(a) Biocept Trademarks. To facilitate the promotion and performance of Diagnostic Tests, during the Term Biocept hereby grants Clarient a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable license to use the Biocept Trademarks solely for use in connection with the promotion and performance of the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory. All materials associated with the Diagnostic Tests and used by Clarient in connection with the promotion and performance of the Diagnostic Tests, including web-based, shall be co-branded with such Biocept Trademarks as approved by Biocept prior to distribution. All use of Biocept Trademarks by Clarient hereunder shall inure to the benefit of Biocept, and these rights, whether registered or not registered, at all times shall remain the sole property of Biocept. Biocept shall provide Clarient with copies of the Biocept Trademarks in an appropriate form for the uses contemplated in this Agreement. Clarient shall provide Biocept with specimens of all proposed use of the Biocept Trademarks in advance of such proposed use and Biocept shall have the right to approve the appearance and placement of Biocept Trademarks by Clarient for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the standards of quality maintained by Biocept for products sold under the Biocept Trademarks and for use of the Biocept Trademarks. If Biocept at any time finds that Clarient is not in compliance with this Section, then Biocept may notify Clarient in writing of such deficiencies, and if Clarient fails to correct such deficiencies within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, Biocept may, at its election and in addition to any other remedies, terminate the license granted to Clarient with respect to the Biocept Trademarks. Clarient shall display the ™ or ® symbol, as directed by Biocept, in connection with Clarient’s use of the Biocept Trademarks.

 

3


(b) Clarient Trademarks. To facilitate the promotion and performance of Diagnostic Tests, during the Term Clarient hereby grants Biocept a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable license to use the Clarient Trademarks solely for use in connection with the promotion and performance of the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory. All materials associated with the Diagnostic Tests and used by Biocept in connection with the promotion and performance of the Diagnostic Tests, including web-based, shall be co-branded with such Clarient Trademarks as approved by Clarient prior to distribution. All use of Clarient Trademarks by Biocept hereunder shall inure to the benefit of Clarient, and these rights, whether registered or not registered, at all times shall remain the sole property of Clarient. Clarient shall provide Biocept with copies of the Clarient Trademarks in an appropriate form for the uses contemplated in this Agreement. Biocept shall provide Clarient with specimens of all proposed use of the Clarient Trademarks in advance of such proposed use and Clarient shall have the right to approve the appearance and placement of Clarient Trademarks by Biocept for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the standards of quality maintained by Clarient for products sold under the Clarient Trademarks and for use of the Clarient Trademarks. If Clarient at any time finds that Biocept is not in compliance with this Section, then Clarient may notify Biocept in writing of such deficiencies, and if Biocept fails to correct such deficiencies within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, Clarient may, at its election and in addition to any other remedies, terminate the license granted to Biocept with respect to the Clarient Trademarks. Biocept shall display the ™ or ® symbol, as directed by Clarient, in connection with Biocept’s use of the Clarient Trademarks.

 

  2.3

Exclusivity .

(a) During the Term, the parties will promote and perform the Diagnostic Tests for the clinical testing market on an exclusive basis in the Territory, except as otherwise provided for below. Biocept will have sole responsibility for performing the Technical Component of all Diagnostic Tests sold by the parties. Clarient will have sole responsibility for performing the Professional Component of Diagnostic Tests sold by the parties. Biocept may engage other groups in promotion and marketing arrangements for the Diagnostic Tests for customers or clients not traditionally called on by Clarient, but such groups shall not perform any aspect of the Diagnostic Tests, including, without limitation, Technical Components or Professional Components. Biocept shall provide thirty (30) days written notice to Clarient before entering into any such promotion and marketing arrangement.

(b) During the Term, neither party nor any Affiliate of a party shall commercialize (including either by license or sale), distribute, promote, market or offer for sale a CTC diagnostic test that is competitive with the Diagnostic Tests in the clinical testing market. The foregoing restriction shall not apply to Clarient’s or its Affiliates’ use or sale of the CellSearch test that is either requested by name from a customer or client of Clarient or its Affiliates, or in the context of development and commercialization of Clarient’s Assist Digital Pathology system.

 

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3.

C OLLABORATION

3.1 Purpose . During the Term, the parties agree to cooperate and collaborate to promote and commercialize the Diagnostic Tests for the clinical testing market in the Territory and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the “Collaboration” ). The principal objective of the parties hereunder is to maximize the commercialization of the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory. The parties shall deploy each of their respective sales forces in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in an effort to promote and perform the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory in the manner as agreed to by the parties, under the direction of the Joint Steering Committee.

3.2 Expansion of Territory. At any time during the Term, should Biocept desire to sell, transfer, assign or license the Assay or any Collaboration Assay to one or more Third Parties on an exclusive basis for any country or other area outside of the Territory, it shall first provide written notice thereof to Clarient.

3.3 Clarient Responsibilities . Clarient shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory, generally using substantially similar sales channels and methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other products and tests. Without limiting the foregoing, Clarient’s responsibilities with respect to marketing and promotion of the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory during the Term shall include the following:

(a) Clarient Customers . Clarient shall use commercially reasonable efforts and be responsible to promote the Diagnostic Tests to its existing customer base, which shall be focused primarily on community hospital pathologists and community oncologists.

(b) Test Performance . Clarient shall have responsibility for performing, or having performed on its behalf, all Professional Components of the Diagnostic Tests sold by either party, or by any Third Party in accordance with Section 2.3(a).

(c) Sales, Marketing and Customer Service .

(i) Clarient shall, at its sole expense and in accordance with Section 2.2, develop and deliver to customers marketing materials for the Diagnostic Tests. Clarient shall use, as appropriate, Biocept’s “OncoCEE-BR TM ”, OncoCEE™”, “CEE-Enhanced™” and “CEE-Sure TM ” brand and the Biocept corporate name and logo, together with any Clarient branding, as part of the marketing materials for the marketing of the Diagnostic Tests and, where appropriate, in its other public presentations and disclosures concerning the Diagnostic Tests. Biocept shall have the right to review all such materials prior to their initial use.

(ii) Clarient shall cause its sales force to promote the Diagnostic Tests.

(iii) Clarient shall promote the sale of the Diagnostic Tests by including the Diagnostic Tests in its menu of services and by incorporating marketing materials regarding the Diagnostic Tests into its own marketing materials.

 

5


(iv) Clarient shall keep Biocept reasonably informed of its planned marketing activities with respect to the Diagnostic Tests to allow Biocept to forecast its needs for reagents, equipment, laboratory space, personnel, computing, and testing reporting capabilities, including at each Joint Steering Committee meeting as indicated in Section 4, and will discuss and consider in good faith Biocept’s suggestions for marketing the Diagnostic Tests.

(v) Clarient will provide customer service and support for the Diagnostic Tests using substantially similar methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other products and tests.

(d) Samples and Logistics .

(i) Clarient will be responsible for the logistics associated with its own marketing efforts and performance of Professional Components of the Diagnostic Tests, including distribution of sample shipping kits, sample transport to Biocept, patient referral, billing and collections in accordance with Section 3.5(b)(iii), reporting of results and reporting quality control, and insurance or patient reimbursement.

(ii) Clarient will, at its discretion and to the extent it is able, provide clinical samples to Biocept for the development and validation of the Diagnostic Tests at no cost, and will, at its discretion, test, for comparative purposes in research and validation studies only and not for provision of the results to patients, reasonable numbers of such clinical samples, and samples sourced by Biocept, using the CellSearch technology, at cost plus ten percent (10%).

(e) Demand Forecast . Within thirty (30) days of the Launch of the Assay, Clarient shall deliver to Biocept a two-year rolling forecast of Clarient’s expectation for physician requests for the Diagnostic Tests (the Demand Forecast ), which Demand Forecast shall be broken down into quarterly demand for the Assay (with respect to each quarter, the “ Quarterly Forecast ”) and shall be attached hereto as Exhibit A . Beginning on the first day of the second (2 nd ) full calendar quarter following the date of Launch, the Demand Forecast shall be updated on a quarterly basis. During the first two (2) full calendar quarters following the launch of the Assay, the Demand Forecast shall be a good faith but non-binding forecast for Assay demand, and beginning with the third (3 rd ) full calendar quarter following launch, the Quarterly Forecast for such calendar quarter shall become binding, and the parties shall mutually agree upon a Performance Standard in accordance with Section 3.5(h). In the event the parties develop a Collaboration Assay under the terms of this Agreement, demand for such Collaboration Assay shall be included in the Demand Forecast at all times following the Launch of such Collaboration Assay, and the Quarterly Forecast for such Collaboration Assay shall similarly become binding, and a Performance Standard mutually agreed to in accordance with Section 3.5(h), beginning with the third (3 rd ) full calendar quarter after the launch of such Collaboration Assay.

 

6


(f) Technical Developments . Clarient shall keep Biocept fully informed as to all discoveries and technical developments (including, without limitations, any inventions) made by Clarient during the Term related to the Diagnostic Tests.

(g) Billing, Reporting, Auditing.

(i) Clarient shall be solely responsible for billing the patient, the provider and/or the payer for the Assay, including both the Technical Component and the Professional Component of the Assay, and the collection of such amounts with respect to each Assay performed. Biocept shall bill Clarient directly up to no more than twice a month for the Technical Component of each Assay, based on each applicable CPT Code actually used in the performance of such Technical Component, employing the Medicare rates for 2008 as described on Exhibit B for the initial one (1) year period, and Clarient shall pay Biocept within sixty (60) days following the invoice date. Clarient shall bear all collection risk for reimbursement for the Assay, and shall pay Biocept for the Technical Component of invoiced Assays regardless of whether Clarient receives payment for them. The Medicare rates used for determining the amount Clarient will pay Biocept for the Technical Component of the Assay will be adjusted annually on each anniversary of the date of Launch, i.e. the Medicare rates for each Assay invoiced in each subsequent year of the Agreement will employ the applicable CPT Code rates for the year that is three (3) years prior (e.g., in 2012, the Medicare rates for 2009 will be used).

(ii) This Section 3.3(g) shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement for at least twelve (12) months following the effective date of such termination or expiration.

3.4 Biocept Responsibilities . Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the sale of the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory, generally using at least the same sales channels and methods and adhering to at least the same standards that it generally employs with respect to its other products and tests. Without limiting the foregoing, Biocept’s responsibilities during the Term shall include the following:

(a) Biocept Customers . Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts and be responsible to promote the Diagnostic Tests primarily to cancer centers and their associated key opinion leaders, medical oncologists and surgical oncologists.

(b) Test Performance . Biocept shall be responsible for performing all Technical Components of all Diagnostic Tests sold by either party, or by any Third Party in accordance with Section 2.3(a).

(c) Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

(i) Biocept shall cause its sales force to promote the Diagnostic Tests.

(ii) Biocept shall keep Clarient reasonably informed of its planned marketing activities with respect to the Diagnostic Tests to allow Clarient to forecast its needs for equipment, space, personnel, computing, and testing reporting

 

7


capabilities, including at each Joint Steering Committee meeting as indicated in Section 4, and will discuss and consider in good faith Clarient’s suggestions for marketing the Diagnostic Tests.

(iii) Biocept will provide customer service and support for the Diagnostic Tests using substantially similar methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other products.

(d) Samples and Logistics . Biocept will be responsible for the logistics associated with its own marketing efforts and performance of the Technical Components of the Diagnostic Tests, including shipping materials and kits, patient referral and customer service.

(e) Training and Education .

(i) Biocept shall provide sales and technical training and technical support, including assistance with customer education and customer consultations, to Clarient’s personnel, with the frequency and content of the training to be determined by agreement between Biocept and Clarient.

(ii) Biocept will share its product and service educational materials and scientific publications to utilize in patient education through Clarient, and hereby grants Clarient rights to use such materials as are reasonably necessary for Clarient to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Clarient may not alter or revise these materials without the prior written consent of Biocept.

(f) Regulatory Approval . Biocept has licenses enabling it to perform and obtain reimbursement for the Assay in all states in the Territory except New York and Rhode Island, where it is currently seeking such licenses. Biocept will maintain all such licenses which are reasonably required to perform the Assay during the Term. For any Collaboration Assay, Biocept will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or maintain licenses enabling it to perform such Collaboration Assay and obtain reimbursement therefor, in accordance with each amendment to this Agreement entered in accordance with Section 3.5(e). Clarient will cooperate with Biocept so that Clarient’s marketing and sales efforts are conducted only in those states or regions of the Territory in which Biocept has obtained any necessary regulatory licenses to provide the Diagnostic Tests.

(g) Technical Developments . Biocept shall keep Clarient fully informed as to all discoveries and technical developments (including, without limitations, any inventions) made by Biocept during the Term related to the Diagnostic Tests.

 

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3.5 Joint Responsibilities . The parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and collaborate to develop the market for the Diagnostic Tests in the Territory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties shall collaborate to provide the following:

(a) Test Materials and Shipping . Subject to Section 3.3(c)(i), Clarient shall design and order all test materials, including test requisition forms, test reports and collateral sales and marketing (advertising and promotional) materials to be used by Clarient, which shall be approved by Biocept prior to use. Biocept shall design and order sample shipping kits, to be used by the parties and Clarient shall pay fifty percent (50%) of Biocept’s actual cost for such sample kits used by the parties under this Agreement.

(b) Performance of Tests .

(i) The parties will work together to develop a plan to implement detailed operation protocols within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date for each aspect of sample logistics, including CLIA validation testing, ordering, shipping, accessioning, sample handling, testing, data generation, data evaluation and reporting. These sample logistics shall be agreed upon by the parties through the Joint Steering Committee and, once agreed upon by the parties in writing, deemed to be attached hereto as Exhibit C without any additional action required on the part of either party. Information, data and images shall be transferred between the parties as indicated for this purpose, and the parties will seek to make their respective laboratory information management systems and data transfer capabilities compatible.

(ii) If Clarient desires to utilize any Diagnostic Tests in support of any clinical trial or research program for a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company(ies) in the Territory, Clarient shall notify Biocept in writing of such desired use. The terms and conditions (including pricing) of each such use shall be covered by a separate written agreement which the parties agree to negotiate in good faith.

(iii) Each party will use commercially reasonable efforts to support the other in the account to best meet the needs and expectations of each customer.

(c) Communication Plan . Clarient and Biocept shall develop a communications plan through the Joint Steering Committee for the announcement and ongoing promotion of the Diagnostic Tests to customers, with all communications plan materials, including test requisition forms, being co-branded with Biocept and Clarient corporate names and logos in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 3.3(c)(i).

(d) Data Sharing . Clarient acknowledges that Biocept has entered into this Agreement to, among other things, establish a database of results from the Diagnostic Tests it performs, which database will include patient information such as disease characterization, treatment and outcome information. To that end, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as mutually agreed by the parties, where available each party will share patient data, Diagnostic Test data and results, and corresponding tissue data with the other party, as well as any follow up or outcome data that may become available or provided by the physician or patient for Diagnostic Tests performed and will cooperate in good faith with the other party to agree upon procedures for sharing such information. Such information may be used only for longitudinal reporting, outcomes correlation and related research, shall be handled in accordance with all applicable laws,

 

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including, without limitation, HIPAA, and applicable institutional review board guidelines, and shall not be used for the purpose of obtaining information about the other party’s clients or customers. To the extent feasible, all such information will be properly de-identified.

(e) New Assays.

(i) During the Term, Biocept shall keep Clarient reasonably apprised of its plans for New Assays for the clinical testing market. Clarient shall hold any such disclosure regarding such New Assay on a confidential basis and will not disclose such information to any Third Party without the consent of Biocept. If at any time Biocept desires to commercialize a New Assay with one or more Third Parties, either by license, sale, transfer or assignment of any such New Assay, Biocept shall first offer to Clarient the right to negotiate an agreement with respect to the commercialization of such New Assay by delivering written notice thereof to Clarient (each an “ Option Notice ”). Clarient shall have thirty (30) days from the date of such Option Notice to notify Biocept in writing of whether it desires to negotiate an agreement with Biocept to commercialize such New Assay. If Clarient indicates it has no interest in such New Assay, or does not respond within thirty (30) days of the date of such Option Notice, or such longer period as the parties may otherwise mutually agree, Biocept shall be free to pursue the commercialization of such New Assay with one or more Third Parties. Should Clarient indicate it does have interest in the New Assay within the thirty (30) day or other mutually agreed to period, the parties shall negotiate in good faith for up to sixty (60) days, or such longer period as the parties may otherwise mutually agree, an amendment to this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions that would govern the marketing and commercialization of such New Assay, including regulatory or licensing requirements. If the parties successfully conclude such amendment to this Agreement covering a New Assay, such New Assay shall be deemed a “ Collaboration Assay ” for all purposes under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement as amended, and if the parties are unsuccessful in concluding such amendment to this Agreement, Biocept shall be free to pursue the commercialization of such New Assay with one or more Third Parties.

(ii) In addition, should Clarient desire for Biocept to develop a specific New Assay to be offered by the parties as a Diagnostic Test under this Agreement, the parties shall negotiate in good faith an amendment to this Agreement that will govern the development and commercialization of such New Assay, which amendment may include financial support, contributions of and access to each party’s technology and/or clinical samples, milestones, timing of the development effort, exclusivity and ownership rights. Any such agreed upon New Assay development shall be performed by Biocept or jointly as the parties may agree. Once the parties have agreed upon a plan relating to the improvement or development of a particular New Assay (each, a “ Project ”), the parties shall reduce such agreement to writing, which shall include a project plan which will set forth each party’s obligations, with respect to the Project (each, a “ Project Plan ”) and thereafter, such New Assay shall be deemed a “ Collaboration Assay ” for all purposes under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement as amended. Each such Project Plan shall be attached as a part

 

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of Exhibit C to this Agreement following written acceptance thereof by both parties without any additional action required on the part of either party. Any amendments or revisions to a Project Plan shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing.

(f) Costs and Expenses. Unless otherwise specified herein or in a Project Plan attached hereto, each party shall perform its activities under this Agreement at its sole cost and expense.

(g) Training and Education .

(i) The parties shall work together to develop and implement a training program for client services and the sales and marketing representatives of each party to ensure that a clear and consistent message is delivered to all prospective customers. Following such implementation, each party agrees to train its client services and sales and marketing representatives in accordance with such training program.

(ii) Representatives of each party, where deployed, shall each educate physicians on the Diagnostic Tests, their applications and benefits, and the procedures for providing samples for the Diagnostic Tests. The parties will jointly approve all presentation and meeting materials. In addition, the parties will each be responsible for providing customer support related to test logistics, billing and reimbursement, and for establishing a call center / web portal to handle inquiries related to the Assay. For purposes of clarity, the parties acknowledge and agree that Clarient will not be required to establish a dedicated web portal, but all results of Diagnostic Tests will be made available in its Pathsite portal. Technical or process questions regarding the Assay received by Clarient can be referred to Biocept. Each party will cover its own costs related to physician education, customer support, and any travel related thereto and comply with all federal and state regulations regarding the same.

(h) Performance Standards . Each party shall conduct its activities under this Agreement and any Project Plan in a professional and workmanlike manner, and in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, to attempt to achieve the objectives of this Agreement efficiently and expeditiously. Each party shall contribute such personnel and resources, and shall maintain such laboratories and other facilities, as are reasonably necessary to carry out the activities to be performed under this Agreement, including any Project Plans. In conformity with standard industry practices and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party shall prepare and maintain, or shall cause to be prepared and maintained, complete and accurate written records, accounts, notes, reports and data with respect to activities conducted by such party under this Agreement, including any Project Plans. In addition, the parties shall work together to establish minimum agreed upon performance standards with respect to the promotion and performance of the Diagnostic Tests, and the timely supply, accuracy, reliability and reporting of the Diagnostic Tests, as well as responsiveness to customer inquiries related to the Diagnostic Tests throughout the Territory (collectively, “ Performance Standards ”). In the event that one or more Performance Standards are not met, the parties will work quickly and efficiently to (i) identify the cause of the failure, (ii) develop a plan to remediate the issue, and (iii)

 

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implement the remediation plan. If the parties are unable to successfully resolve a Performance Standards issue by this procedure, such failure to maintain Performance Standards shall constitute a material breach, and either party may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.2.

 

4.

J OINT S TEERING C OMMITTEE

4.1 Purpose and Membership . Promptly following the Effective Date, Biocept and Clarient will create a Joint Steering Committee for the purpose of facilitating communications between the parties in the course of the Collaboration. The Joint Steering Committee shall be composed of an equal number of representatives of each of Biocept and Clarient, each of whom shall have appropriate experience, knowledge and authority within such party’s organization to carry out the duties and obligations of the Joint Steering Committee. Each party will designate one of its representatives as the primary contact for that party with respect to Joint Steering Committee-related matters, which such representatives shall serve as co-chairpersons of the Joint Steering Committee. Each party may change its representatives to the Joint Steering Committee or its primary contact from time to time in its sole discretion, effective upon notice to the other party of such change. These representatives shall have appropriate technical credentials, experience and knowledge. A reasonable number of additional representatives of a party may attend meetings of the Joint Steering Committee in a non-voting capacity.

4.2 Duties . The Joint Steering Committee shall meet in person or by teleconference or videoconference no less than quarterly during the Term or as otherwise mutually agreed by the parties from time to time. The responsibilities of the Joint Steering Committee shall be responsible for (i) monitoring the progress of the collaboration, including discussions relating to New Assays and Collaboration Assays, (b) physician education with respect to the Diagnostic Tests, (c) marketing, sales and account coordination, (d) any regulatory inquiries or requirements and other issues that affect the availability of the Diagnostic Tests, and (e) reimbursement issues (including annual review of actual amounts received by Clarient for relevant CPT Codes), logistical considerations, and other topics as necessary. The Joint Steering Committee shall serve as the principal forum for each party to (i) keep the other party informed of the results of its Collaboration activities; (ii) to discuss Diagnostic Test commercialization strategies, and (iii) generally to encourage and facilitate ongoing cooperation between the parties with respect to the Collaboration, including the business relationship and/or any other matter relating to the Collaboration and resolving disputes between the parties with respect to Intellectual Property Rights; provided, however, that (A) nothing in this Agreement shall limit either party’s right to seek immediate equitable or injunctive relief where appropriate without any obligation to first submit the dispute to the Joint Steering Committee; and (B) any decision concerning medical necessity and patient care with respect to Diagnostic Tests sold by or performed on behalf of Clarient shall be the sole responsibility of Clarient’s Medical Director.

4.3 Decisions; Disputes . Decisions of the Joint Steering Committee shall be made by unanimous vote, with each party’s representatives on the Joint Steering

 

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Committee collectively having one vote. In the event that the Joint Steering Committee cannot or does not, after good faith efforts, reach agreement on an issue, such issue shall first be referred to the Designated Executive Officers, who shall meet promptly thereafter and shall attempt in good faith to resolve such issue. In the event that the Designated Executive Officers cannot or do not, after good faith efforts, reach agreement on an issue, the issue shall be submitted to voluntary mediation. The Designated Executive Officers of each party shall select a mediator who is an expert with no less than seven years of experience in the subject matter to which the dispute relates. In the event that the Designated Executive Officers of the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator within twenty (20) days, then the Designated Executive Officers shall contact the San Diego County office of JAMS to select a mediator from the JAMS panel. If they are unable to agree, JAMS shall provide a list of three available mediators and each party may strike one. The remaining one will serve as the mediator. The mediation shall be conducted under JAMS rules. The parties agree that they shall share equally the cost of the mediation filing and hearing fees, and the cost of the mediators that constitute the panel. Each party shall bear its own attorneys’ and expert fees and all associated costs and expenses .

 

5.

R EGULATORY C OMPLIANCE

5.1 Compliance with Laws . Biocept and Clarient and their respective Affiliates each agree to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement in material compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, and regulations in the Territory, including but not limited to applicable regulations, rules, and policies of third party payers that pay for the Diagnostic Tests.

5.2 Privacy . Biocept and Clarient and their respective Affiliates agree to protect the privacy and provide for the security of any information that relates to a patient’s past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition in accordance with HIPAA, and any other applicable federal and state privacy laws and regulations in the Territory. Each party agrees to execute one or more Business Associate Agreements (as defined under HIPAA) as the other party, or its providers or payers, may from time to time request.

5.3 Licenses and Certifications. Biocept and, to the extent applicable, Clarient shall have at all times during the Term, all necessary federal, state and local licenses, qualifications and certifications to operate a laboratory and perform their respective components of the Diagnostic Tests, including, but not limited to, state laboratory licenses, CLIA certification, CAP (College of American Pathologists) certification, FDA registration, and any other licenses or certification required by state and/or federal law. All Diagnostic Tests performed by Biocept, and, to the extent applicable, Clarient, shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal testing requirements for clinical reference laboratories.

 

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6.

M ATERIALS T RANSFER

In order to facilitate the Collaboration, either party may provide to the other party certain biological materials or chemical compounds including, but not limited to, samples (collectively, “Materials” ) for use by the other party in furtherance of the Collaboration. Except as expressly provided under this Agreement, all such Materials delivered to the other party will remain the sole property of the supplying party, will be used only in furtherance of the Collaboration and solely under the control of the other party, will not be used or delivered to or for the benefit of any Third Party without the prior written consent of the supplying party, and will not be used in research or testing involving human subjects except as permitted by applicable law. The Materials supplied hereunder must be used with prudence and appropriate caution in any experimental work and in accordance with all applicable laws.

 

7.

I NTELLECTUAL P ROPERTY

7.1 Existing Technology . Each party acknowledges that the other party owns certain technology and Intellectual Property Rights which have been independently developed by, or at the request of, such other party, whether prior to, during or subsequent to the Term. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor the activities performed hereunder, shall give either party any rights or interest in or to the technology or Intellectual Property Rights of the other party (or of any Materials provided by such party). Each party owns, and shall continue to own, all right, title and interest in and to its respective technology, including, without limitation, all Intellectual Property Rights relating thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at all times during and after the Term, Biocept shall own all rights to its CEE™ technology and any improvements related thereto, generated during the performance of this Agreement. Biocept and Clarient shall promptly notify the other in writing upon becoming aware of any alleged or threatened infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights related to a Diagnostic Test. Biocept shall have the right to bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to any such infringement at its own expense and by counsel of its own choice. If Biocept elects not to bring any such action or proceeding with respect to such infringement, it shall promptly notify Clarient of the same and agrees to consider, in good faith a request by Clarient to bring any such action or proceeding. Any agreement allowing Clarient to bring such action or proceeding on behalf of Biocept shall be set forth in a separate written agreement between the parties. Except as expressly provided above, the parties shall be under no obligation to enforce any of their Intellectual Property Rights against any actual or threatened Third Party infringements.

7.2 Biocept Technology . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Biocept owns, and Clarient acknowledges Biocept’s ownership of, (i) the Assay, and (ii) all Intellectual Property Rights in the Assay, and Clarient agrees that it shall not do or suffer to be done any act or thing or undertake any action anywhere that in any manner might infringe, or impair the validity, scope, or title of Biocept in the Assay or Intellectual Property Rights owned by Biocept. Nothing herein shall limit Clarient’s ability to prosecute fully any and all Intellectual Property Rights owned by Clarient with any patent office or related government agency or to respond fully to any government agency inquiry with respect to its Intellectual Property Rights, products, and services.

 

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7.3 Infringement . If any Third Party claims or brings an action alleging that any activities of Biocept or Clarient or their Affiliates under this Agreement infringe any of such Third Party’s patent rights, Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to address such claims. If Biocept determines to seek a license or otherwise obtain the right to use such Third Party patent rights on behalf of Biocept and Clarient, then Biocept shall be solely responsible for the payment of any reasonable royalties or other payments that may be due to such Third Party, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

7.4 Data and Results . All data and results from performance of Diagnostic Tests on samples provided by Clarient shall be owned by the patient for whom the Diagnostic Test was performed, and each party shall be entitled to use such data and results to the extent necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement and in accordance with Section 3.5(d).

7.5 Trademarks .

(a) Biocept shall be responsible and bear the expense of any filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of the Biocept Trademarks as it may determine in its sole discretion, without obligation. Clarient shall not, during the Term or thereafter, use or seek to register the trademarks or any trademark or trade name similar to or confusing with the Biocept Trademarks, or any translation thereof, in any jurisdiction. Clarient agrees that, if Clarient at any time obtains, in any jurisdiction, any right, title or interest in any mark, symbol or phrase which shall be identical to, similar to or likely to be confused with any Biocept Trademark or any translation thereof, then Clarient shall have acted or shall act as an agent and for the benefit of Biocept for the limited purpose of obtaining such registrations and assigning such registration (and all right, title and interest in such mark, symbol or phrase) to Biocept.

(b) Clarient shall be responsible and bear the expense of any filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of the Clarient Trademarks as it may determine in its sole discretion, without obligation. Biocept shall not, during the Term or thereafter, use or seek to register the trademarks or any trademark or trade name similar to or confusing with the Clarient Trademarks, or any translation thereof, in any jurisdiction. Biocept agrees that, if Biocept at any time obtains, in any jurisdiction, any right, title or interest in any mark, symbol or phrase which shall be identical to, similar to or likely to be confused with any Clarient Trademark or any translation thereof, then Biocept shall have acted or shall act as an agent and for the benefit of Clarient for the limited purpose of obtaining such registrations and assigning such registration (and all right, title and interest in such mark, symbol or phrase) to Clarient.

 

8.

R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES

8.1 Mutual Representations and Warranties. Each party represents and warrants to the other that: (a) it is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of

 

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its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions hereof; (b) it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and the person or persons executing this Agreement on its behalf has been duly authorized to do so by all requisite corporate action; (c) this Agreement is legally binding upon it, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it does not conflict with any agreement, instrument or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, nor violate any material law or regulation of any court, governmental body or administrative or other agency having jurisdiction over it.

8.2 Biocept Warranties.

(a) As of the Effective Date, the Assay is Biocept’s most current CTC based technology that has been validated for performing tests for CTC enumeration and the detection of the indicated analytes in breast cancer.

(b) Biocept represents and warrants to Clarient that: (1) the Assay constitutes an original work of Biocept (or is duly licensed by Biocept for the purposes for which it is offered); (2) Biocept is the lawful owner or licensee of all materials used in connection with the development of the Assay and has the rights to use the Assay, and to allow Clarient to use the results of the Technical Component of the Diagnostic Tests and otherwise perform Clarient’s responsibilities under this Agreement; (3) to Biocept’s knowledge, after a commercially reasonable investigation comprised of a freedom to operate analysis commensurate with its resources, the Assay does not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party.

(c) Biocept has full power and authority and has obtained all Third Party consents, approvals, assignments and/or other authorizations required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder.

(d) Biocept owns all right, title and interest in and to the Assay.

(e) There are no existing contracts, agreements, commitments, proposals, offers, or rights with, to, or in any person to acquire any of the rights under the Assay which would prevent or materially and adversely alter the performance of the obligations hereunder.

8.3 Third Party Infringement. In the event that the Assay, or any part thereof becomes the subject of any claim, suit or proceeding for infringement of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party, or if the Assay, or any part thereof, is held or otherwise determined to infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party such that Biocept can no longer perform its obligations under this Agreement, Biocept shall in its sole discretion either: (1) secure for Clarient the right to continue using the Assay; (2) replace or modify the Assay to make it non-infringing without degrading its performance or utility; or (3) notify Clarient that it will perform neither (1) nor (2), in which case either party shall thereafter have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other party.

 

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8.4 Disclaimer. Except as expressly set forth herein, THE TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROVIDED BY EACH PARTY HEREUNDER ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICES.

8.5 Limitation of Liability. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER; provided, however, that this Section shall neither (a) apply to any liability for damages arising from breach of any obligations of confidentiality under Article 9, nor (b) limit the indemnification obligations of the parties arising under Article 11 of this Agreement.

 

9.

C ONFIDENTIALITY

9.1 Confidential Information. Except to the extent expressly authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, each party agrees that, during the Term and for 10 years thereafter, such party (the “Receiving Party” ) shall keep confidential and shall not publish or otherwise disclose and shall not use for any purpose, other than as expressly provided for in this Agreement, any information furnished to it by or on behalf of the other party (the “Disclosing Party” ) pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, “Confidential Information” ). The Receiving Party may use such Confidential Information only to the extent required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. The Receiving Party will use at least the same standard of care as it uses to protect proprietary or confidential information of its own to ensure that its, and its Affiliates’, employees, agents, consultants and other representatives do not disclose or make any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. The Receiving Party will promptly notify the Disclosing Party upon discovery of any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information.

9.2 Exceptions. Confidential Information shall not include any information which the Receiving Party can prove by competent evidence: (a) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of the Receiving Party, generally known or available; (b) is known by the Receiving Party at the time of receiving such information, as evidenced by its records; (c) is hereafter furnished to the Receiving Party by a Third Party, as a matter of right and without restriction on disclosure; or (d) is independently discovered or developed by the Receiving Party, without the use of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party, as evidenced by the Receiving Party’s written records maintained in the ordinary course of business.

 

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9.3 Authorized Disclosure. Each party may disclose Confidential Information of the other party as expressly permitted by this Agreement, or if and to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary in the following instances:

(a) enforcing such party’s rights under this Agreement;

(b) prosecuting or defending litigation as permitted by this Agreement;

(c) complying with applicable court orders or governmental regulations;

(d) disclosure to Affiliates, contractors, employees and consultants who need to know such information for the development and commercialization of the Diagnostic Tests in accordance with this Agreement, on the condition that any such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that are no less stringent than the terms of this Agreement; and

(e) disclosure to Third Parties in connection with due diligence or similar investigations by such Third Parties, and disclosure to potential Third Party investors in confidential financing documents, provided, in each case, that any such Third Party agrees to be bound by reasonable obligations of confidentiality and non-use.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a party is required to make a disclosure of the other party’s Confidential Information pursuant to Section 9.3(b) or Section 9.3(c), it will, except where impracticable, give reasonable advance notice to the other party of such disclosure and use efforts to secure confidential treatment of such information at least as diligent as such party would use to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable efforts. In any event, the parties agree to take all reasonable action to avoid disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder.

9.4 Confidentiality of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9, each party agrees not to disclose to any Third Party the terms of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, except that each party may disclose the terms of this Agreement that are otherwise made public prior to the date of such disclosure or to the extent such disclosure is permitted under Section 9.3.

9.5 Press Releases; Public Announcements. Neither party shall make a press release or public announcement that includes information relating to the Collaboration that has not been previously published without the approval of the other party. At least five days prior to any such press release or public announcement the party proposing to make such press release or public announcement (the “Publishing Party” ) shall provide to the other party a draft copy thereof for its review and approval. The Publishing Party may not publish such press release or public announcement without obtaining the other party’s prior written approval. In addition, the Publishing Party shall, at the other party’s request, remove therefrom any Confidential Information of such other party. The contribution of each party shall be noted in all publications or presentations by acknowledgment or co-authorship, whichever is appropriate.

 

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10.

T ERM AND T ERMINATION

10.1 Term . The term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and continue for a period of three (3) years after the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). Thereafter, this Agreement shall be renewable by mutual written agreement of the parties for successive one (1) year periods thereafter (each, a “ Renewal Term ” and together with the Initial Term, the “ Term ”).

10.2 Termination .

(a) Material Breach . Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement before the end of the Term upon written notice to the other party if such other party is in material breach of this Agreement and has not cured such breach within sixty (60) days (the “ Cure Period ”) after notice from the terminating party requesting cure of the breach. Any such termination shall become effective at the end of such Cure Period unless the breaching party has cured such breach prior to the end of such Cure Period. Any right to terminate under this Section 10.2(a) shall be stayed and the Cure Period tolled in the event that, during any Cure Period, the party alleged to have been in material breach shall have initiated dispute resolution in accordance with Article 12 with respect to the alleged breach, which stay and tolling shall continue until such dispute resolution procedures have been completed in accordance with Article 12. Nothing herein is intended to prevent either party from seeking immediate equitable or injunctive relief.

(b) Termination for Convenience. Clarient shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time, for any or for no reason, upon one hundred twenty (120) days written notice to Biocept.

10.3 Effect of Termination; Surviving Obligations.

(a) Upon any termination or expiration of this Agreement, all licenses granted hereunder shall automatically terminate and revert to the granting party and all other rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall terminate, except as provided elsewhere in Section 10.4.

(b) Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, each party will use their best efforts to return to the other party or destroy all tangible copies of the other party’s Confidential Information in such party’s possession or control and will erase from its computer systems all electronic copies thereof; provided, however, that each party may retain one archival copy of the other party’s Confidential Information solely for purposes of monitoring compliance with its obligations under Article 9 hereof.

10.4 Survival . Expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either party of any obligation accruing prior to such expiration or termination. In addition, Sections 3.3(g), 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 (to the extent required by law) 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 10.3 and 10.4, and Articles 1, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13 will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

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11.

I NDEMNIFICATION

11.1 Indemnification by Clarient. Clarient hereby agrees to save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Biocept, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the “Biocept Indemnitees” ), from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, expenses and costs, including reasonable legal expense and attorneys’ fees resulting from any claim, demand, action or other proceeding by any Third Party (“ Losses ”) to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of: (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Clarient Indemnitee (defined below); (b) the material breach by Clarient of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement; or (c) the performance by Clarient of the material aspects of the Professional Component of a Diagnostic Test; except, in each case, to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee or the material breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement.

11.2 Indemnification by Biocept. Biocept hereby agrees to save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Clarient, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the “Clarient Indemnitees” ), from and against any and all Losses to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of: (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee; (b) the material breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement; or (c) the performance by Biocept of the material aspects of the Technical Component of a Diagnostic Test; except, in each case, to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Clarient Indemnitee or the material breach by Clarient of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement.

11.3 Procedure. In the event a party seeks indemnification under Section 11.1 or 11.2, it shall inform the other party (the “Indemnifying Party” ) of a claim as soon as reasonably practicable after such party (the “Indemnified Party” ) receives notice of the claim (it being understood and agreed, however, that the failure by an Indemnified Party to give notice of a claim as provided in this Section 11.3 shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligation under this Agreement except and only to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually damaged as a result of such failure to give notice), shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume direction and control of the defense of the claim (including the right to settle the claim solely for monetary consideration), and shall cooperate as requested (at the expense of the Indemnifying Party) in the defense of the claim. The Indemnified Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim or consent to any judgment in respect thereof that does not include a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability with respect thereto, that imposes any liability or obligation on the Indemnified Party or that acknowledges fault by the Indemnified Party; in each case, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party.

 

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11.4 Insurance. Each party, at its own expense, shall maintain product liability and other appropriate insurance (or self-insure) in an amount consistent with industry standards during the Term and shall name the other party as an additional insured with respect to such insurance. Each party shall provide a certificate of insurance (or evidence of self-insurance) evidencing such coverage to the other party upon request.

 

12.

Dispute Resolution

The parties recognize that disputes as to certain matters may arise from time to time during the Term. The parties shall first submit the dispute to the Joint Steering Committee for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof. In the event that the Joint Steering Committee is unable to resolve the dispute, the parties shall be entitled to seek relief in a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the full extent allowed by law, either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) to protect the parties’ rights or enforce the parties’ obligations under this Agreement pending resolution of any claims related thereto by the Joint Steering Committee.

 

13.

G ENERAL P ROVISIONS

13.1 Governing Law. This Agreement and any disputes, claims, or actions related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

13.2 Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement, including the Exhibits hereto, is both a final expression of the parties’ agreement and a complete and exclusive statement with respect to all of its terms. This Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and communications, whether oral, written or otherwise, concerning any and all matters contained herein. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented in a writing expressly stated for such purpose and signed by the parties to this Agreement.

13.3 Relationship Between the Parties. The parties’ relationship, as established by this Agreement, is solely that of independent contractors. This Agreement does not create any partnership, joint venture or similar business relationship between the parties. Neither party is a legal representative of the other party, and neither party can assume or create any obligation, representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, on behalf of the other party for any purpose whatsoever.

13.4 Non-Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right arising out of this Agreement shall neither impair that provision or right nor constitute a waiver of that provision or right, in whole or in part, in that instance or in any other instance. Any waiver by a party of a particular provision or right shall be in writing, shall be as to a particular matter and, if applicable, for a particular period of time and shall be signed by such party.

13.5 Assignment. Except as expressly provided hereunder, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or otherwise

 

21


transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however , that either party may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the other party’s consent in connection with the transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the business of such party to which this Agreement relates to a Third Party, whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise. The rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties. Any assignment not in accordance with this Agreement shall be void.

13.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is neither expressly nor impliedly made for the benefit of any party other than those executing it.

13.7 Severability. If, for any reason, any part of this Agreement is adjudicated invalid, unenforceable or illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, such adjudication shall not affect or impair, in whole or in part, the validity, enforceability or legality of any remaining portions of this Agreement. All remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect as if the original Agreement had been executed without the invalidated, unenforceable or illegal part.

13.8 Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered either in person, by any method of mail (postage prepaid) requiring return receipt, or by overnight courier or facsimile confirmed thereafter by any of the foregoing, to the party to be notified at its address(es) given below, or at any address such party has previously designated by prior written notice to the other. Notice shall be deemed sufficiently given for all purposes upon the earlier of: (a) the date of actual receipt; or (b) if mailed, five calendar days after the date of postmark.

If to Biocept, notices must be addressed to:

 

      

Biocept, Inc.

  

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150

  

San Diego, CA 92121

  

Attention: David Hale

  

Executive Chairman

  

Telephone: (858) 320-8200

  

Facsimile: (858) 320-8225

If to Clarient, notices must be addressed to:

 

     

Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc.

 

31 Columbia

 

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

Telephone: 949 643-7452

 

Facsimile: 949 425-5863

 

22


13.9 Force Majeure. Each party shall be excused from liability for the failure or delay in performance of any obligation under this Agreement by reason of any event beyond such party’s reasonable control, including but not limited to, Acts of God, fire, flood, explosion, earthquake, or other natural forces, war, civil unrest, any strike or labor disturbance. Such excuse from liability shall be effective only to the extent and duration of the event(s) causing the failure or delay in performance and provided that the party has not caused such event(s) to occur. Notice of a party’s failure or delay in performance due to force majeure must be given to the other party within five (5) calendar days after its occurrence. All delivery dates under this Agreement that have been affected by force majeure shall be tolled for the duration of such force majeure. In no event shall any party be required to prevent or settle any labor disturbance or dispute. In the event of a force majeure that persists for thirty (30) days or more, then either party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the other party.

13.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original document, and all of which, together with this writing, shall be deemed one and the same instrument.

 

23


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.

 

B IOCEPT , I NC .

  

C LARIENT D IAGNOSTIC S ERVICES , I NC .

By: /s/ David F. Hale

  

By: /s/ Ron Andrews

Name: David Hale

  

Name: Ron Andrews

Title: Executive Chairman

  

Title: CEO

 

24


Exhibit A

[Although the agreement calls for an Exhibit A, the issuer’s records indicate that no such exhibit was attached to the agreement.]

 

25


Exhibit B

[Although the agreement calls for an Exhibit B, the issuer’s records indicate that no such exhibit was attached to the agreement.]

 

26


Exhibit C

 

Test ID

   CPT   

Description

   2011
Medicare
Allowable
(Per Unit)
   2008
Medicare
Allowable
(Per Unit)
   Unit

Enumeration

      [**]         

Capture

              
              

DAPI

              
              
              
              

CK, CD45

              
              
              
              
              

HER2

              
              
              
              
              
              
              

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

27

Exhibit 10.15

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

MASTER LABORATORY RESEARCH SUPPORT AND SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Master Laboratory Research Support and Services Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into by and between Biocept, Inc., a California corporation (“ Biocept ”) and Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc., a not-for-profit tax-exempt corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“ Institution ”) for the purpose of establishing the terms and conditions under which Biocept will perform certain laboratory research support services and/or studies or tests (“ Research Support ”) on samples to be provided by Institution. Biocept and Institution are referred to here individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

WHEREAS, Biocept possesses certain scientific and medical expertise and proprietary technology to be used in providing Research Support services to Institution for one or more clinical research studies (each a “ Study ”);

WHEREAS, Institution from time to time may seek to obtain the Research Support and services of Biocept for a Study on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, Institution and Biocept desire to provide a full statement of their respective rights, obligations and duties in connection with the performance of any such laboratory Research Support and services by Biocept;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

 

  1.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW); RESEARCH SUPPORT PERFORMANCE

1.1 This Agreement sets forth the terms for all Research Support and/or services (“ Services ”) Biocept shall provide to Institution, except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties. Details regarding such Research Support shall be outlined in a written study plan or protocol (as amended or supplemented, the “ Statement of Work ” or “ SOW ”) applicable to such Research Support and Services to be provided, which shall be drafted and approved by the Parties. Each SOW shall be individually numbered, titled and signed by the Parties, and is incorporated herein by this reference. Each SOW shall set forth the specific number and type of samples to be tested, and the specific analyses to be performed. SOW BIOCEPT#01 , a copy of which has been agreed upon by the Parties, shall apply for purposes of the initial Study.

1.2 This Agreement, together with each individual SOW (including any amendments or supplements), but separate and apart from any other SOW, shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties for the performance of any Research Support defined in the applicable SOW. Any changes to a SOW shall be in writing, executed by the Parties, attached to the original SOW and incorporated therein.


1.3 The performance of any Research Support and Services shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including any applicable SOW). Any terms and conditions in any purchase order, invoice, acknowledgment, confirmation or other document provided by either Party to the other Party that are different from or in addition to those set forth in this Agreement are expressly rejected and shall be of no effect, even if signed and returned. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any SOW, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

1.4 Biocept shall perform all Research Support and Services in compliance with the applicable SOW and with Biocept’s standard practices including standards of good laboratory practices. Further, the Research Support and Services shall be performed by qualified personnel in a professional and competent manner, in compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules regulations and guidelines of the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and other applicable regulatory authorities and Biocept shall provide data to Institution in a format suitable for use by the FDA if so required. Biocept shall at all times during the term of this Agreement and any SOW maintain all licenses as are necessary for the performance of the Research Support and Services.

1.5 Biocept shall prepare and deliver to Institution, in a timely fashion, all reports and other documentation required under a SOW. In addition, upon completion of any Research Support and Services, Biocept shall prepare and provide to Institution a final written report describing, in a scientific and detailed manner, its activities in the course of performing the Research Support and Services and the results obtained therefrom. Institution shall own and have unrestricted right to use the results generated in connection with the performance by Biocept of the Research Support under this Agreement other than Biocept Technology (defined in Section 10.2). Institution shall have the right to use any information contained in the summary of results and final written report other than Biocept Technology (defined in Section 10.2) for its research, education, and clinical purposes, for inclusion in grant applications, and as necessary to comply with any federal, state or local government laws or regulations.

 

  2.

STUDY SAMPLES

2.1 Institution shall provide Biocept with sufficient amounts of samples (“ Samples ”), typically human blood samples, to be tested. Biocept agrees to use the Samples only for the purposes set out in the SOW. Biocept shall not sell or otherwise distribute Samples to a third party for any purpose. This Agreement and the resulting transfer of Samples constitute a non-exclusive license to use the Samples solely for the research purposes described in the specific SOW under which the Samples are transferred. Biocept shall not use Samples for any products or processes for profit-making or commercial purposes. Upon termination or expiration of the Research Support and Services under a specific SOW, Biocept shall either arrange to return to Institution or destroy all unused Samples.

2.2 For each Sample provided to Biocept in connection with Biocept’s performance under the SOW, Institution shall provide to Biocept in writing the associated patient staging data for the patient from whom such Sample was obtained, including, but not limited to, such

 

2


patient’s diagnosis, TNM analysis, the status of such patient’s cancer, biomarker analysis performed on the tumor with results, etc. (collectively, the “ Sample Information ”). Institution shall ensure that the informed consent of each patient that is the source of Samples or Sample Information is obtained in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Biocept will use, store, and disclose any Samples including (i) any blood, serum, urine, saliva, bone marrow or tissue sample/specimen and (ii) any tangible material isolated therefrom, including but not limited to any DNA, RNA and other biological substances it receives only in accordance with the uses set forth in the protocol or SOW and informed consent form signed by study subjects and in compliance with applicable law, and in any event will not use, store, or disclose any individually identifiable health information attached to or contained within the Sample in any manner that would violate the terms of Section 6.4 of this Agreement.

2.3 The Parties agree that Institution owns the Samples and the transfer of such materials to Biocept under the terms of this Agreement shall not affect Institution’s ownership interest therein. Institution shall clearly mark and identify all Samples transferred to Biocept. All Samples will be maintained by Biocept so that such materials are readily identifiable. Further, the transfer of Samples to Biocept gives Biocept no rights in such material other than those specifically set forth in this Agreement. Biocept agrees to use the Samples solely for the Research Support and Services as specified in the SOW for which such materials are provided hereunder and shall not transfer, deliver or otherwise release such materials to a third party without the express prior written consent of Institution.

 

  3.

STUDY DIRECTOR

3.1 Biocept shall appoint a “ Study Director ” to be responsible for each SOW. The Study Director shall coordinate performance of the Research Support and Services related to a SOW with a representative designated by Institution, which representative shall have responsibility for coordinating performance of the SOW for Institution. The Study Director and Institution’s representative shall be named in each SOW.

 

  4.

COMPLIANCE; RECORDS

4.1 Biocept shall perform Research Support and Services in accordance with the current state of the laboratory research art and the applicable SOW. Biocept shall comply with those government regulatory requirements, if and as specified within the applicable SOW, and as appropriate to the Research Support and Services. If Institution requires any special procedures to be undertaken by Biocept, such procedures shall be reviewed prior to the start of work and, if accepted, appended to the SOW.

4.2 Biocept shall maintain complete and accurate records, in appropriate detail for regulatory purposes, fully and properly reflecting all tests performed by it and the results thereof, including without limitation, such data and materials as are required to be maintained pursuit to any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation, and any applicable SOW (“ Records ”).

 

3


4.3 Biocept shall maintain the Records for two (2) years or such other longer amount of time as is required by any law, ordinance, rule or regulation, or the applicable SOW. Upon Institution’s request, and at Institution’s expense, Biocept shall deliver to Institution all original Records, or if requested by Institution, certified or authenticated complete legible copies of such Records.

4.4 Access to all Records, for inspection and copying, shall be made available by Biocept to Institution upon reasonable prior written notice to Biocept during normal business hours; provided, however, that Biocept shall not be obligated to provide Institution with access to information not directly related to the Research Support or, except as expressly set forth in a SOW, access to any Biocept Technology (defined in Section 10.2) or any Confidential Information (defined below) of Biocept, and that Biocept may require that Institution’s representatives conducting any such examination or inspection first execute a non-disclosure agreement.

 

  5.

LABORATORY VISITS

5.1 Institution’s representative(s) shall have the right to conduct inspections, audits and investigations of Biocept’s facilities, equipment, record-keeping procedures and records, and to discuss the same with appropriate representatives of Biocept from time to time to determine that any Research Support is being conducted in accordance with this Agreement. Institution shall provide reasonable prior written notice to Biocept, and may at reasonable times and with reasonable frequency, during normal business hours, observe the progress of a SOW and its associated Research Support and Services but in a manner not to unreasonably disturb or impede progress on such SOW. Biocept shall assist Institution in scheduling such visits, but reserves the right to schedule such visits as may be necessary so as not to compromise confidential or proprietary information of other Biocept customers who may have studies ongoing at Biocept at the time of any requested visit. Biocept shall promptly rectify any material noncompliance with the terms of the Agreement, including applicable protocol specifications and standards of good laboratory practices discovered during such inspections, audits and investigations of which Biocept is notified. Biocept shall submit to all inquiries, audits and inspections by the FDA and other applicable regulatory authorities relating specifically to the Research Support and Services. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Biocept shall promptly notify Institution upon receipt of notice of any inspection by the FDA or any applicable regulatory authorities relating specifically to the Research Support and Services provided hereunder, and Biocept shall promptly notify Institution of any findings of such regulatory authorities.

 

  6.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

6.1 “ Confidential Information ” of a Party shall mean all information disclosed or made available by such Party (the “ Disclosing Party ”) to the other Party (the “ Receiving Party ”) in connection with this Agreement. Confidential Information of Biocept shall include, without limitation, all Biocept Technology (defined in Section 10.2) disclosed or made available by Biocept to Institution. Confidential Information of Institution shall include, without limitation, the Samples, Sample Information, and, notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 6.1, all results. Confidential Information shall not include information that the Receiving Party can

 

4


demonstrate by competent evidence: (a) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no breach of this Agreement by the Receiving Party, generally known or available; (b) is known by the Receiving Party at the time of receiving such information, as evidenced by its pre-existing written records; (c) is hereafter furnished to the Receiving Party by a third party, as a matter of right and without restriction on disclosure; or (d) is hereafter independently developed by the Receiving Party without reference to or reliance upon Confidential Information and without any breach of this Agreement as evidenced by written records.

6.2 Except to the extent expressly authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, the obligations of confidentiality survive for seven (7) years beyond the later of (i) expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement or (ii) the expiration or earlier termination of the SOW under which the Confidential Information was disclosed. The Receiving Party shall: (i) maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information; (ii) use Confidential Information only for the purposes expressly contemplated by this Agreement, or a SOW; (iii) treat Confidential Information as it would its own proprietary information, which in no event shall be less than a reasonable standard of care; (iv) take all reasonable precautions to prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information to a third party, and (v) disclose Confidential Information only to those employees who have a need to know such Confidential Information for the purposes expressly contemplated by this Agreement or a SOW, and who are subject to obligations to confidentiality substantially similar to those set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Receiving Party may disclose Confidential Information to the extent required by law, rule, regulation, government requirement or court order, provided that the Receiving Party shall provide reasonable prior written notice to the Disclosing Party of such required disclosure and, at the Disclosing Party’s request and expense, shall cooperate with the Disclosing Party’s efforts to contest such requirement, or to obtain a protective order covering, or other confidential treatment of, the Confidential Information required to be disclosed.

6.3 Institution shall comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the privacy of individually identifiable health information (including its collection, use, storage, and disclosure), including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as may be amended from time to time. Biocept agrees to use, store, and disclose individually identifiable health information contained or provided with the Samples only for the purpose of the Research Support and Services, and for the purpose of complying with applicable law. Biocept will use all reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of any individually identifiable health information contained or provided with the Samples and will require its business partners to do so also. Biocept will not contact any patients whose Samples they have been are provided, unless permitted by the informed consent form. No other provision in this Agreement shall be construed to override the provisions of this Section 6.4

 

  7.

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND DISCLAIMERS

7.1 Each Party represents and warrants to the other the other Party that (i) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective state of

 

5


incorporation, organization or formation, (ii) it has full corporate or entity power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (iii) this Agreement is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, and (iv) this Agreement does not conflict with, violate or constitute a breach or default under any other agreement of a material nature or amount to which it is a party or to which it or its assets are subject.

7.2 Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, SAMPLES, MATERIALS, WORK PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY MADE AVAILABLE BY EACH PARTY TO THE OTHER PARTY HEREUNDER ARE BEING SUPPLIED “AS IS’, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SAFETY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE SAMPLES HAVE NOT BEEN ANALYZED OR TESTED BY INSTITUTION AND MAY, THEREFORE, CONTAIN VIRUSES, BACTERIA OR OTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMPONENTS. BIOCEPT ACKNOWLEDGES AND ACCEPTS THE RISKS OF SUCH VIRUSES, BACTERIA OR OTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMPONENTS.

 

  8.

INDEMNIFICATION

8.1 Each Party shall be solely responsible for such Party’s (including its employees, agents and representatives) acts of negligence and/or reckless acts or omissions in the performance of their duties hereunder, and shall be financially and legally responsible for all liabilities, costs, damages, expenses and attorney fees resulting from, or attributable to any and all such acts or omissions. Neither Party shall have any obligation to indemnify the other Party and/or their agents, employees and representatives.

8.2 Each Party shall maintain general liability and malpractice insurance (either on an indemnity or self-insured basis) in an amount not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate, and $2,000,000.00 per occurrence, $2,000,000.00 aggregate, respectively.

8.3 Limitation of Liability . IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS AND THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS, TECHNOLOGY OR SERVICES, IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

 

  9.

USE OF NAMES

9.1 Except as is required by law or for disclosure by Institution of Biocept’s support for a Study in publications, neither Party to this Agreement shall use the name of the other Party or of any staff member, employee, student, or agent of the other Party or any adaptation, acronym or name by which the other Party is commonly known, in any advertising, promotional or sales literature or in any publicity without the prior written approval of the Party or individual whose name is to be used.

 

6


10.

INVENTIONS AND PATENTS

10.1 Institution will own and have unrestricted free right to use for all purposes the data and information generated or created for Institution in connection with the performance by Biocept of Research Support and Services under this Agreement or a SOW, other than Biocept Technology (defined in Section 10.2). Biocept shall provide notice to Institution of all inventions, technology and discoveries conceived, identified, developed and/or reduced to practice during the course of, and as a direct result of performing, any Research Support and Services or a SOW performed under this Agreement (each, a “ Institution Invention ”), within sixty (60) days of becoming aware of such Institution Invention; provided, however, that Institution Inventions shall exclude Biocept Technology, and Biocept shall have no obligation to disclose any Biocept Technology to Institution except as expressly contemplated by a SOW. All Institution Inventions shall be assigned to Institution by Biocept at Institution’s request, provided Institution requests such assignment within six (6) months of notification of such invention or discovery. Biocept shall provide Institution with reasonable technical assistance as Institution may request and at Institution’s cost to obtain patents on Institution Inventions. Biocept shall ensure that each of its employees, agents, consultants and subcontractors performing any part of the Research Support and Services is contractually obligated to assign all Institution Inventions to Biocept so that Biocept can comply with its obligations under this Section 10.1. Institution hereby grants to Biocept a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid license to use Institution Inventions for its internal research purposes, and otherwise in compliance with Section 6. Neither anything contained herein nor the delivery of any of the Samples or Confidential Information to Biocept shall be deemed to grant to Biocept any right or licenses under any patents or patent applications or under any know-how, technology or inventions of Institution.

10.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all discoveries and inventions that are conceived or made by Biocept in the course of performing any Research Support and Services or a SOW that relate to microfluidic devices, rare cell capture and analysis technology, and related inventions, processes, know-how, trade secrets, computer software including image analysis and other methodological innovations, whether developed before or after the Effective Date of a SOW (collectively, “ Biocept Technology ”), shall be the sole and exclusive confidential property of Biocept.

10.3 It is expressly agreed that neither Party transfers by operation of this Agreement to the other Party any patent right, copyright, or other proprietary right either Party owns as of the Effective Date, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

11.

PUBLICATION OF DATA

11.1 By Institution . Institution shall list Biocept’s name, and individual Biocept personnel as authors as appropriate, on any scientific manuscript or abstract that is submitted for publication or presentation that includes information that has been either directly or indirectly

 

7


derived from the Research Support and Services on the Samples and related to the specific SOW under which the Samples were provided and the Research Support and Services were performed under this Agreement and SOW. Biocept shall be notified of such planned inclusion of its, and its personnel’s, name on scientific manuscripts or abstracts, provide permission for such inclusion, and be permitted to review and comment upon any publication or abstract on which its name or personnel are listed prior to submission.

11.2 By Biocept . In compliance with Section 6, Biocept shall not undertake publication of the results of any Research Support and Service without first receiving written permission from Institution. Publication of material relating to Biocept Technology, products or services shall not identify Institution or contain data encompassing Confidential Information belonging to Institution or derived from Samples provided by Institution without first receiving written permission from Institution.

 

12.

TERM AND TERMINATION

12.1 Term . The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the Effective Date and, unless sooner terminated by mutual agreement or pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement, shall terminate five (5) years from the Effective Date.

12.2 Termination of Agreement by Either Party . Either Party may terminate this Agreement for any material breach by the other Party, providing that the terminating Party gives the breaching Party written notice of such breach, and the breach remains uncured after the expiration of thirty (30) days after such written notice was given. In addition, either Party, in its sole discretion, may elect to terminate this Agreement by giving at least thirty (30) days advance written notice thereof to the other Party; provided, however, that any SOW ongoing at such time shall be completed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as if otherwise in effect. A termination of a particular SOW by either Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.3 or Section 12.4 below shall not, by itself, have the effect of or be deemed a termination of this Agreement in its entirety.

12.3 Termination of a SOW by Institution . Institution may, in its sole discretion, elect to terminate a SOW being performed under this Agreement by providing written notice thereof to Biocept, whereupon the following shall occur:

a) Biocept shall terminate the work as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice; and

b) Biocept shall invoice Institution for, and Institution shall promptly pay, all charges up to the effective date of termination, and any Research Support and Services performed within ten (10) days of receipt of notice, such work intended to efficiently terminate the SOW.

12.4 Termination of a SOW by Biocept . In the event of non-payment by Institution of any amount due and owing to Biocept pursuant to the Cost Schedule for a SOW as appropriately invoiced, and upon written notice thereof to Institution, Biocept may (in its sole discretion and in addition to any other remedies that Biocept may have at law or in equity) terminate such SOW in

 

8


any reasonable manner (and stop work on other Research Support and Services being performed for Institution, if any, without any adverse effect on Biocept’s rights in connection with such Research Support and Services or SOW).

12.5 Effect of Termination or Expiration . Termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason shall not relieve the Parties of any obligation accruing prior thereto and shall be without prejudice to the rights and remedies of either Party with respect to any antecedent breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement. In the event of termination of this Agreement prior to the completion of Research Support specified in any SOW, Biocept shall be paid for all work completed through the effective date of termination in accordance with this Agreement, and such SOW(s), including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, and unless this Agreement is terminated by Biocept for convenience or Institution for default, any non-cancellable commitments incurred by Biocept in accordance with this Agreement and such SOW. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, Biocept shall promptly refund to Institution any prepaid amounts not earned by Biocept prior to the effective date of such termination. Sections 2, 4, 5, 8, 6.4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 15.2 of this Agreement shall survive expiration or any termination hereof.

 

  13.

NOTICES

13.1 All notices given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, sent by facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed), overnight express courier (such as FedEx) or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Parties at the addresses set forth on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other addresses as the Parties may designate in writing. A notice shall be deemed delivered and effective (i) if sent by facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed), on the business day following the date such facsimile transmission was sent and confirmed, (ii) if sent by overnight express courier, on the business day delivery is confirmed by signature of the receiving party, and (iii) if sent by certified mail, on the second business day following mailing.

 

  14.

PAYMENTS TO BIOCEPT PURSUANT TO COST SCHEDULE

14.1 Institution and Biocept shall agree upon a budget for all Research Support and Services to be provided under a SOW by Biocept, which shall specify the fees for individual Samples or a Study. The schedule will be attached to the individual SOW (the “Cost Schedule”), which is hereby incorporated in this Agreement by this reference. Costs specified in the SOW are estimated prior to commencement of a Study, and Institution shall pay Biocept the amounts indicated there, as Research Support and Services are provided. The aggregate fees payable by Institution to Biocept for Research Support and Services shall not exceed the budget for such Research Support as in the SOW, regardless of the number of Samples or transactions processed, unless Institution shall expressly consent in writing to an increase in such budget, although Biocept shall only be responsible for testing the number of Samples indicated in the SOW without such written modification.

 

9


14.2 Once each calendar month, Biocept shall submit to Institution a single written invoice detailing amounts due to Biocept for performance of Research Support and Services as detailed in each SOW.

14.3 Institution shall pay Biocept invoiced amounts within forty-five (45) days of receipt of each invoice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Biocept shall not be entitled to payment for invoiced amounts in excess of the costs for Research Support and Services specified in a SOW unless Biocept has obtained prior written authorization from Institution for such excess cost. Material amendments, deletions or additions to the SOW requested by Institution or by Biocept shall be the subject of separate additional cost estimates and require Institution’s and Biocept’s written acceptance thereto.

14.4 If any Research Support and Services are improperly performed, or Samples are unusable due to a delay caused by Biocept or as the result of an error, omission, or other wrongdoing or negligence by Biocept in performance of the Research Support and Services, Biocept will re-run the affected Service or portion of the work as promptly as possible at no cost to Institution, provided that Institution sends replacement Samples for testing.

14.5 Test results will be forwarded to Institution or its designee no later than fourteen (14) days after delivery of a Sample to Biocept, unless otherwise agreed by Biocept.

14.6 Biocept will not employ subcontractors to perform the laboratory services contemplated hereby without Institution’s prior written consent.

 

  15.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

15.1 Assignment . Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that either Party may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the other Party’s consent in connection with the transfer or sale to a third party of all or substantially all of the business of such Party to which this Agreement relates, whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties, and the name of a Party appearing herein will be deemed to include the name of such Party’s successors and permitted assigns to the extent necessary to carry out the intent of this section. Any assignment not in accordance with this Agreement shall be void.

15.2 Applicable Law . The Parties agree to remain silent on applicable law.

15.3 Independent Contractor . Nothing herein shall create any association, partnership, joint venture, fiduciary duty or the relation of principal and agent between the Parties hereto, it being understood that each Party is acting as an independent contractor, and neither Party shall have the authority to bind the other or the other’s representatives in any way.

 

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15.5 Remedies . The Parties acknowledge that breach of this Agreement or use of information provided by a Party contrary to the provisions of this Agreement may cause irreparable harm for which damages at law may not be an adequate remedy. Either Party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction as may be necessary to protect the rights or property of that Party

15.6 Force Majeure . Except for the obligation to pay money, a Party shall be excused from performing its obligations under this Agreement if its performance is delayed or prevented by any cause beyond such Party’s reasonable control, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, storm, tornado, earthquake, civil commotion, legal prohibition, strike, disease, Act of God, explosion, war, hostilities, vandalism or any catastrophe (a “ Force Majeure Event ”). Performance shall be excused only to the extent of and during the continuance of the Force Majeure Event. Any deadline or time for performance specified in the SOW which falls due during or subsequent to the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event shall be automatically extended for a period of time equal to the period of such Force Majeure Event. Any Party claiming disability of performance due to a Force Majeure Event shall promptly notify the other Party in writing of such Force Majeure Event. If Biocept is rendered practicably incapable of completing a Study or SOW within the time schedule required by Institution as a result of a Force Majeure Event, Biocept shall endeavor to conclude such Study or SOW in such a manner as to secure all possible data and information relevant to the objective of such Study or SOW without engaging in substantial further work. Under such circumstances, neither Party shall have any claims against the other except with respect to Institution’s liability to pay all charges accrued or earned up to the date of such termination (on a prorated basis, if appropriate).

15.7 Entire Agreement; Amendments; Severability; Headings . This Agreement represents the entire understanding and agreement between Biocept and Institution with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall control over any previous or contemporaneous agreements, oral or written, between Institution and Biocept. Changes and additional provisions to this Agreement shall be binding on the Parties only if mutually agreed to, laid down in writing and signed effectively by the Parties. If any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable to any extent in any context, this Agreement shall nevertheless be enforced to the fullest extent allowed by law, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The headings of the paragraphs herein are for convenience only, and they shall not be of any effect in construing the contents of the respective paragraphs.

15.8 Neutral Construction . Each Party acknowledges that in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement they have been represented by and have relied upon the advice of counsel of their choice. The Parties affirm that they and their counsel have had a substantial role in such negotiation and drafting and, therefore, the Parties agree that this Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted by all the Parties hereto and the rule of construction to the effect that any contract ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement or any exhibit hereto.

15.9 Waiver . No delay on the part of either Party hereto in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any

 

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power or right hereunder preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. No waiver of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be enforceable against any Party hereto unless in writing, signed by the Party against whom such waiver is claimed, and shall be limited solely to the one event. Each Party’s rights and remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive.

15.10 Third-Party Beneficiaries . The Parties agree that there are no third-party beneficiaries of any kind to this Agreement.

15.11 Signatures; Counterparts . Each Party agrees that a facsimile of its signature printed by a receiving fax machine or an electronic copy of its signature stored in a PDF software application format shall be regarded as an original signature. Each Party further agrees that this Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be effective upon delivery and thereafter shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall be taken to be one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND , the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement by their duly authorized representatives, to be effective as of July 9, 2012.

Signatures on the following page

 

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Biocept, Inc.

5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150

San Diego, California 92121

Phone: (858) 320-8200

Fax: (858) 320-

  

Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.

450 Brookline Avenue, BP319

Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Phone: 617-582-7717

Fax: 617-632-4452

By:

 

/s/ Michael J. Dunn

  

By:

  

/s/ Moira Hayes Waligory

Name:

 

Michael J. Dunn

  

Name:

  

Moira Hayes Waligory, RN, JD

Title:

 

SVP of Corporate Development

  

Title:

  

Clin. Res. Contracts Assoc.

 

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Statement of Work – Sample

This Statement of Work (“SOW”), dated and effective [Month, Date, Year], submitted in connection with the Master Laboratory Services Agreement by and between Biocept and Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc. dated July 9, (“Agreement”), is hereby agreed to by the Parties.

Pursuant to Section 2 of the Agreement, this SOW (including any attachments hereto) shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Agreement and, if applicable, any modifications to the Agreement agreed to by the Parties and set forth in this SOW under the section below, entitled “Modifications to Agreement.” Any modifications shall apply only to this SOW, and not to any previous or subsequent SOWs, unless expressly stated otherwise in such other SOW.

Modifications to Agreement

INSERT MODIFICATIONS:

Study

Biocept shall conduct the following testing for Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.:

 

Study Title and Scope    Total Cost

XXX

   XXX

Cost Schedule/Budget

Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc. shall pay Biocept for the SOW as follows:            

Study Directors

Biocept:

Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.:

Any invoices provided pursuant to this SOW shall be submitted to Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc., 450 Brookline Avenue, BP317, Boston, MA 02215 in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement and directed to the attention of: James Huse.

 

 

Biocept, Inc.

  

Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.

By:                                                                       

   By:                                                                       

 

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Name:                                                                  

  

Name:                                                                  

Title:                                                                     

  

Title:                                                                     

Date:                                                                     

  

Date:                                                                     

 

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Statement of Work – Biocept #01

This Statement of Work (“SOW”), dated and effective June 20, 2012, submitted in connection with the Master Laboratory Services Agreement by and between Biocept and Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc. dated July 9, 2012 (“Agreement”), is hereby agreed to by the Parties.

Pursuant to Section 1 of the Agreement, this SOW (including any attachments hereto) shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Agreement and, if applicable, any modifications to the Agreement agreed to by the Parties and set forth in this SOW under the section below, entitled “Modifications to Agreement.” Any modifications shall apply only to this SOW, and not to any previous or subsequent SOWs, unless expressly stated otherwise in such other SOW.

Modifications to Agreement

Study

Biocept shall conduct the following testing for Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc:

 

Study Title and Scope    Total Cost

Phase 1 study of metastatic breast cancer patients who are HER2- by tumor, HER2+ by CTC, testing treatment with Herceptin (see attached Appendix)

   Est. up to
[**]

Cost Schedule/Budget

Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc. shall pay Biocept for the SOW as follows:

[**] per Sample tested, with up to 250 patients screened to identify 35 study patients, who will each be tested 3 times during the course of the study.

Study Directors

Biocept: Farideh Bischoff, Ph.D. Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.: Ian Krop, MD

Any invoices provided pursuant to this SOW shall be submitted to Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc., 450 Brookline Avenue, BP317, Boston, MA 02215 in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement and directed to the attention of: James Huse

 

Biocept, Inc.

  

Dana Farber Partners Cancer Care, Inc.

By:                                                                       

   By:                                                                       

Name:                                                                  

  

Name:                                                                  

Title:                                                                     

  

Title:                                                                     

Date:                                                                     

  

Date:                                                                     

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

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Appendix

Sample Collection

Blood samples (“Samples”) are to be collected during the screening evaluation. Samples may be drawn [**] (unless prior arrangements to receive the Sample have been made). Samples are to be collected in preservative tubes provided by Biocept Inc (7.5 mL). One tube is needed; however, the goal is [**]. Gently invert each tube 8 times to prevent clotting immediately after filling the tube. Label tube with sample identifier / number, protocol number, submitting investigator and date of collection. Ensure the peripheral blood collection occurs prior to the administration of IV therapy. If the patient is being treated with radiation or had a recent CT scan, it is recommended to wait at least 3 days after administration before drawing a blood sample.

Sample storage and transport

 

The blood sample can be transported and stored at room temperature (15-30° C) until processing. Do not refrigerate or freeze the Sample. Samples must be processed at Biocept Laboratories within [**] hours of collection, but best results are obtained if the Sample is processed as soon as possible. Do not submit clotted Samples. Samples should be shipped by same day courier or overnight parcel.

Testing and notification

CTCs will be measured at Biocept Laboratories Inc in a CLIA-approved laboratory. As outlined in Mayer et al, Cancer Genetics, 2011, CTCs will be captured using an antibody cocktail directed to ten different tumor-associated cell surface antigens, further labeled with a biotin-conjugated secondary antibody, and captured in a proprietary streptavidin-derivatized microchannel. FISH assays for HER2 and EGFR will be performed in the microchannel using Abbott probes, and will be evaluated and scored by cytotechnicians at high power under the microscope. CTCs will be analyzed per Sample and Samples will be considered amplified if the ratio of HER2 copy number to CEP17 copy number is ³ 2.0. If a Sample is FISH positive by this definition, the patient’s treating physician will be notified that the patient is eligible for this study.

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

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Exhibit 10.17

A MENDED AND R ESTATED L OAN A GREEMENT

B ETWEEN

G OODMAN C O . L TD .

AND

B IOCEPT , I NC .

WHEREAS , Biocept, Inc., a California corporation (“Borrower”) and Goodman Co. Ltd. (“Lender”) are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated January 29, 2009 (the “Prior Loan Agreement”), which amended and restated that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated June 26, 2007 (the “First Amended Loan Agreement”), which amended and restated that certain Loan Agreement dated April 20, 2005;

WHEREAS , the Lender has agreed to amend the terms of the Prior Loan Agreement effective on the Effective Date (as defined below) in order to extend the Maturity Date (as defined below), amend the timing of payments made by Borrower to Lender, and to provide for such other amendments as provided for herein; and

WHEREAS , in order to document these amendments, Borrower and Lender desire to amend and restate in its entirety the Prior Loan Agreement and to accept the rights and obligations created pursuant hereto in lieu of the rights and obligations granted them under the Prior Loan Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties to the Prior Loan Agreement hereby agree that the Prior Loan Agreement shall be superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, and the parties hereto further agree as follows:

1. Promise to Pay . Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of Lender in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) (the “Loan”), together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, due and payable as set forth below. Once repaid, amounts under the Loan may not be reborrowed.

2. Funding . On April 20, 2005 (the “Closing Date”), Lender credited by wire transfer the full principal amount of the Loan at such time to Borrower’s account with such bank as Borrower specified in writing to Lender.

3. Interest .

(a) From the date of execution of the First Amended Loan Agreement through January 31, 2009, interest accrued in the amount of and was paid in accordance with the First Amended Loan Agreement.

(b) From February 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010, interest began accruing on all amounts outstanding under the Loan at the rate of the variable rate of interest, per annum, published as the “prime lending rate” in the Wall Street Journal (the “Prior Interest Obligation”).

 

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The accrued Prior Interest Obligation was due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last business day of each three-month quarter beginning February 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010 and was calculated on the basis of a 365 day year for the actual number of days elapsed.

(c) On the Effective Date, Borrower shall pay Lender all unpaid interest which has accrued under the Loan pursuant to Section 3(a) and 3(b) above.

(d) Following April 30, 2010, interest began accruing on all amounts outstanding under the Loan at the fixed rate of 3.25% per annum (the “Revised Interest Obligation”). The accrued Revised Interest Obligation shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last business day of each three-month quarter beginning May 1, 2010 and shall be calculated on the basis of a 365 day year for the actual number of days elapsed.

4. Effective Date Balloon Payment . On the Effective Date, Borrower shall pay Lender $750,000, which such amount shall be credited towards the principal balance outstanding under the Loan, such that immediately following the Effective Date, the principal sum of $2,250,000 shall be outstanding under the Loan.

5. Quarterly Principal Payments . Beginning May 1, 2010, Borrower shall pay Lender the applicable Quarterly Principal Payment, which such amount shall be due and payable quarterly in advance on the first business day of each three-month quarter beginning on May 1, 2010, which such amount shall be credited towards the principal balance outstanding under the Loan; provided, however , that the parties hereby agree that the Quarterly Principal Payment otherwise due and payable on May 3, 2010 shall be paid to Lender on the Effective Date. The “Quarterly Principal Payment” shall be an amount equal to:

(a) for payments due and payable during the period between May 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011, the Quarterly Principal Payment shall be an amount equal to $45,000;

(b) for payments due and payable during the period between January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013, the Quarterly Principal Payment shall be an amount equal to $90,000; and

(c) for payments due and payable during the period between January 1, 2014 through the Maturity Date, the Quarterly Principal Payment shall be an amount equal to $150,000.

6. Maturity . On the earliest to occur of (a) the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date, (b) the date immediately prior to Borrower’s closing of an Acquisition or Asset Transfer (each as defined in Borrower’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation), or (c) the first business day following the closing of an equity financing transaction involving the sale by the Borrower of its equity securities, or securities that are otherwise convertible into equity securities of the Borrower, in which the Borrower receives an aggregate of at least $25,000,000 in cumulative gross proceeds, any principal and interest amounts that remain outstanding under the Loan shall be fully due and payable (the “Maturity Date”).

7. Prepayment . Borrower at any time may prepay any principal amounts in whole or in part, together with the interest on the amount being prepaid up to the date of such payment, without penalty or premium.

8. Place of Payment . Unless another place of payment shall be specified in writing by Lender, all amounts payable hereunder shall be paid by wire transfer to Lender’s account with RESONA BANK, LIMITED IMAIKE BRANCH as provided below:

 

2


RESONA BANK, LIMITED IMAIKE BRANCH

5-1-5 IMAIKE, CHIKUSA-KU, NAGOYA, JAPAN

Telegraphic Address: N/A

ABA Routing Number (SWIFT Address): DIWAJPT

Beneficiary Name: GOODMAN CO., LTD.

                                 108 Fujigaoka, Meito-ku, Nagoya 465-0032 Japan

Account Number: 103571

Telephone: +81(52)774-4350

9. Application of Payments . Except as otherwise provided for in Section 4 and Section 5, payments under this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement shall be applied first to accrued interest, and thereafter to the outstanding principal balance hereof.

10. Preferred Stock Warrant . In exchange for entering into the Prior Loan Agreement, Borrower issued Lender a Warrant to Purchase Preferred Stock, exercisable for 1,000,000 shares of the Borrower’s Series AA Preferred Stock.

11. Security Agreement . In exchange for entering into this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, Borrower and Lender shall enter into a Subordinated Security Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Security Agreement”), pursuant to which any principal and interest amounts that remain outstanding under the Loan shall be secured by a security interest in the assets of the Borrower as provided for in the Security Agreement.

12. Binding Arbitration . Any dispute regarding this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration. Any such arbitration shall be conducted under the auspices of the International Arbitration Association and such proceedings shall be conducted under the Rules of Conciliation and Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.

13. Choice of Law . This Amended and Restated Loan Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, excluding conflict of laws principles that would cause the application of laws of any other jurisdiction.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement to be executed on May 18, 2010 (the “Effective Date”).

 

BORROWER

     

LENDER

B IOCEPT , I NC .

     

G OODMAN C O . L TD .

By: /s/ S. M. Coutts

     

By: /s/ Takehito Yogo

Name: Stephen M. Coutts

     

Name: Takehito Yogo

Title: President & CEO

     

Title: President & CEO

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO A MENDED AND R ESTATED L OAN A GREEMENT ]

 


E XHIBIT A

S ECURITY A GREEMENT


SUBORDINATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

T HIS S UBORDINATED S ECURITY A GREEMENT dated as of May 18, 2010 (the “ Security Agreement ”), is made by B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (“ Grantor ”), in favor of G OODMAN C O . L TD (“ Secured Party ”).

R ECITALS

A. Secured Party has entered into that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated May 18, 2010 (the “Loan Agreement” ), pursuant to which Secured Party has loaned Grantor an aggregate of $3,000,000 (the “Loan ).

B. Secured Party is willing to enter into the Loan Agreement, but only upon the condition, among others, that Grantor shall have executed and delivered to Secured Party this Security Agreement.

A GREEMENT

N OW , T HEREFORE , in order to induce Secured Party to enter into the Loan Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, Grantor hereby represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

1. D EFINED T ERMS . When used in this Security Agreement the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Bankruptcy Code means Title XI of the United States Code.

Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2 of this Security Agreement.

“Contracts” means all contracts (including any customer, vendor, supplier, service or maintenance contract), leases, licenses, undertakings, purchase orders, permits, franchise agreements or other agreements (other than any right evidenced by Chattel Paper, Documents or Instruments), whether in written or electronic form, in or under which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any right, title or interest, including, without limitation, with respect to an Account, any agreement relating to the terms of payment or the terms of performance thereof.

“Copyright License means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, granting any right in or to any Copyright or Copyright registration (whether Grantor is the licensee or the licensor thereunder) including, without limitation, licenses pursuant to which Grantor has obtained the exclusive right to use a copyright owned by a third party.

“Copyrights means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired or created (as a work for hire for the benefit of Grantor) by Grantor or in which Grantor now holds or hereafter

 

1.


acquires or receives any right or interest, in whole or in part: (a) all copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, held pursuant to the laws of the United States, any State thereof or any other country; (b) registrations, applications, recordings and proceedings in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country; (c) any continuations, renewals or extensions thereof; (d) any registrations to be issued in any pending applications, and shall include any right or interest in and to work protectable by any of the foregoing which are presently or in the future owned, created or authorized (as a work for hire for the benefit of Grantor) or acquired by Grantor, in whole or in part; (e) prior versions of works covered by copyright and all works based upon, derived from or incorporating such works; (f) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to copyrights, including, without limitation, damages, claims and recoveries for past, present or future infringement; (g) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of any copyright; and (h) any other rights corresponding to any of the foregoing rights throughout the world.

“Event of Default means any material breach of the Loan Agreement by Grantor, which such breach is not cured by Grantor within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written notice of such breach by Secured Party.

Intellectual Property ” means any intellectual property, in any medium, of any kind or nature whatsoever, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by Grantor or in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, and shall include, in any event, any Copyright, Copyright License, Trademark, Trademark License, Patent, Patent License, trade secret, customer list, marketing plan, internet domain name (including any right related to the registration thereof), proprietary or confidential information, mask work, source, object or other programming code, invention (whether or not patented or patentable), technical information, procedure, design, knowledge, know-how, software, data base, data, skill, expertise, recipe, experience, process, model, drawing, material or record.

License ” means any Copyright License, Patent License, Trademark License or other license of rights or interests, whether in-bound or out-bound, whether in written or electronic form, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by Grantor or in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, and shall include any renewals or extensions of any of the foregoing thereof.

“Lien means any mortgage, lien, deed of trust, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance.

“Money means a medium of exchange authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government and includes a monetary unit of account established by an intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or more nations.

“Patent License” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, granting any right with respect to any invention on which a Patent is in existence (whether Grantor is the licensee or the licensor thereunder).

 

2.


“Patents” means all of the following in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest: (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof and all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country; (b) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, continuations-in-part or extensions thereof; (c) all petty patents, divisionals and patents of addition; (d) all patents to issue in any such applications; (e) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to patents, including, without limitation, damages, claims and recoveries for past, present or future infringement; and (f) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of any patent.

Permitted Lien ” means: (a) any Liens existing on the date of this Security Agreement and set forth on Schedule B attached hereto; (b) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges or levies, either not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (c) Liens (i) upon or in any Equipment acquired or held by Grantor to secure the purchase price of such Equipment or indebtedness (including capital leases) incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such Equipment or (ii) existing on such Equipment at the time of its acquisition, provided that the Lien is confined solely to the Equipment so acquired, improvements thereon and the Proceeds of such Equipment; (d) leases or subleases and licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of Grantor’s business if such are not otherwise prohibited under this Security Agreement and do not interfere in any material respect with the business of Grantor; (e) any right, title or interest of a licensor under a license; (f) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments to the extent and only so long as such judgment, decree or attachment has not caused or resulted in an Event of Default; (g) easements, reservations, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar Liens affecting real property not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Grantor; (h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods; (i) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; (j) Liens in favor of a depository bank or a securities intermediary pursuant to such depository bank’s or securities intermediary’s customary customer account agreement; provided that any such Liens shall at no time secure any indebtedness or obligations other than customary fees and charges payable to such depository bank or securities intermediary; (k) statutory or common law Liens of landlords and carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other similar Liens, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (l) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, statutory or regulatory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds, and other obligations of like nature, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; (m) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (n) pledges and deposits securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of landlords; and (o) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under the preceding clauses, provided

 

3.


that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase.

“Secured Obligations means (a) the obligation of Grantor to repay Secured Party all of the unpaid principal amount of, and accrued interest on (including any interest that accrues after the commencement of bankruptcy), the Loan, and (b) the obligation of Grantor to pay any fees, costs and expenses of Secured Party under the Loan Agreement or this Security Agreement.

Security Agreement ” means this Security Agreement and all Schedules hereto, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.

“Senior Indebtedness” shall mean the principal of, unpaid interest on and amounts reimbursable, fees, expenses, costs of enforcement and other amounts due in connection with (a) those certain Secured Convertible Promissory Notes executed by Grantor in favor of The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust on December 22, 2008 and (b) that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 22, 2008, by and between Grantor and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust.

“Trademark License means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, granting any right in and to any Trademark or Trademark registration (whether Grantor is the licensee or the licensor thereunder).

“Trademarks means any of the following in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest: (a) any trademarks, tradenames, corporate names, company names, business names, trade styles, service marks, logos, other source or business identifiers, prints and labels on which any of the foregoing have appeared or appear, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof and any applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country (collectively, the Marks ); (b) any reissues, extensions or renewals thereof; (c) the goodwill of the business symbolized by or associated with the Marks; (d) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to the Marks, including, without limitation, damages, claims and recoveries for past, present or future infringement; and (e) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of the Marks.

UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of California (and each reference in this Security Agreement to an Article thereof (denoted as a Division of the UCC as adopted and in effect in the State of California) shall refer to that Article (or Division, as applicable) as from time to time in effect,); provided, however, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of Secured Party’s security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of California, the term “ UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code (including the Articles thereof) as in effect at such time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof

 

4.


relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.

In addition, the following terms shall be defined terms having the meaning set forth for such terms in the UCC: “Account”, “Account Debtor”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commodity Account”, “Deposit Account”, “Documents”, “Equipment”, “Fixtures”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instrument”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Money”, “Payment Intangibles”, “Proceeds”, “Promissory Notes”, “Securities Account”, and “Supporting Obligations”. Each of the foregoing defined terms shall include all of such items now owned, or hereafter acquired, by Grantor.

2. G RANT OF S ECURITY I NTEREST . Subject to Section 7, as collateral security for the full, prompt, complete and final payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all the Secured Obligations and in order to induce Secured Party to enter into the Loan Agreement, Grantor hereby assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to Secured Party, and hereby grants to Secured Party, a security interest in all of Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (all of which being collectively referred to herein as the “Collateral ):

(a) All Accounts of Grantor;

(b) All Chattel Paper of Grantor;

(c) All Commodity Accounts of Grantor;

(d) All Contracts of Grantor;

(e) All Deposit Accounts of Grantor;

(f) All Documents of Grantor;

(g) All General Intangibles of Grantor, including, without limitation, Intellectual Property;

(h) All Goods of Grantor, including, without limitation, Equipment, Inventory and Fixtures;

(i) All Instruments of Grantor, including, without limitation, Promissory Notes;

(j) All Investment Property of Grantor;

(k) All Letter-of Credit Rights of Grantor;

(l) All Money of Grantor;

(m) All Securities Accounts of Grantor;

 

5.


(n) All Supporting Obligations of Grantor;

(o) All property of Grantor held by Secured Party, or any other party for whom Secured Party is acting as agent, including, without limitation, all property of every-description now or hereafter in the possession or custody of or in transit to Secured Party or such other party for any purpose, including, without limitation, safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of Grantor, or as to which Grantor may have any right or power;

(p) All other goods and personal property of Grantor, wherever located, whether tangible or intangible, and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing, leased or consigned by or to Grantor; and

(q) To the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds of each of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for and rents, profits and products of each of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, the grant, assignment and transfer of a security interest as provided herein shall not extend to, and the term “ Collateral ” shall not include: (a) the collateral which is subject to the Liens set forth on Schedule B attached hereto, excluding the collateral subject to the terms of that certain Security Agreement dated December 22, 2008 granted to The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust, (b) the Intellectual Property listed on Schedule A attached hereto, (c) “intent-to-use” trademarks at all times prior to the first use thereof, whether by the actual use thereof in commerce, the recording of a statement of use with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or otherwise or (d) any Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note in which Grantor has any right, title or interest if and to the extent such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note includes a provision containing a restriction on assignment such that the creation of a security interest in the right, title or interest of Grantor therein would be prohibited and would, in and of itself, cause or result in a default thereunder enabling another person party to such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note to enforce any remedy with respect thereto; provided that the foregoing exclusion shall not apply if (i) such prohibition has been waived or such other person has otherwise consented to the creation hereunder of a security interest in such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note or (ii) such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406(d), 9-407(a) or 9-408(a) of the UCC, as applicable and as then in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity); provided further that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the Collateral shall include, and Grantor shall be deemed to have granted on the date hereof a security interest in, all its rights, title and interests in and to such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note as if such provision had never been in effect; and provided further that the foregoing exclusion shall in no way be construed so as to limit, impair or otherwise affect Secured Party’s unconditional continuing security interest in and to all rights, title and interests of Grantor in or to any payment obligations or other rights to receive monies due or to become due under any such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note and in any such monies and other proceeds of such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note.

 

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3. R IGHTS O F S ECURED P ARTY ; C OLLECTION O F A CCOUNTS .

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Security Agreement to the contrary, Grantor expressly agrees that it shall remain liable under each of its Contracts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Instruments and Licenses to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder and that it shall perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder, all in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and provisions of each such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument or License. Secured Party shall not have any obligation or liability under any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the granting to Secured Party of a lien therein or the receipt by Secured Party of any payment relating to any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License pursuant hereto, nor shall Secured Party be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of Grantor under or pursuant to any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License, or to make any payment, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License, or to present or file any claim, or to take any action to collect or enforce any performance or the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

(b) Secured Party authorizes Grantor to collect its Accounts. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7, at the request of Secured Party, Grantor shall deliver all original and other documents evidencing and relating to the performance of labor or service which created such Accounts, including, without limitation, all original orders, invoices and shipping receipts.

(c) Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7, Secured Party may at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, notify Account Debtors of Grantor, parties to the Contracts of Grantor, and obligors in respect of Instruments of Grantor and obligors in respect of Chattel Paper of Grantor that the Accounts and the right, title and interest of Grantor in and under such Contracts, Instruments and Chattel Paper have been assigned to Secured Party and that payments shall be made directly to Secured Party. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the request of Secured Party, Grantor shall so notify such Account Debtors, parties to such Contracts, obligors in respect of such Instruments and obligors in respect of such Chattel Paper. Secured Party may, in its name or in the name of others, communicate with such Account Debtors, parties to such Contracts, obligors in respect of such Instruments and obligors in respect of such Chattel Paper to verify with such parties, to Secured Party’s satisfaction, the existence, amount and terms of any such Accounts, Contracts, Instruments or Chattel Paper.

4. R EPRESENTATIONS A ND W ARRANTIES . Grantor hereby represents and warrants to Secured Party that:

(a) Except for the security interest granted to Secured Party under this Security Agreement and Permitted Liens, Grantor is the sole legal and equitable owner of each item of the Collateral in which it purports to grant a security interest hereunder.

 

7.


(b) No effective security agreement, financing statement, equivalent security or lien instrument or continuation statement covering all or any part of the Collateral exists, except such as may have been filed by Grantor in favor of Secured Party pursuant to this Security Agreement and except for Permitted Liens.

(c) This Security Agreement creates a legal and valid security interest on and in all of the Collateral in which Grantor now has rights.

(d) Grantor’s taxpayer identification number is set forth in the signature page hereof. Grantor’s chief executive office, principal place of business, and the place where Grantor maintains its records concerning the Collateral are presently located at the address set forth on the signature page hereof. The Collateral consisting of goods, other than motor vehicles and such other mobile goods, is presently located at such address and at such additional addresses set forth on Schedule C attached hereto.

(e) All Collateral of Grantor consisting of Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property is set forth on Schedule D attached hereto.

(f) The name and address of each depository institution at which Grantor maintains any Deposit Account and the account number and account name of each such Deposit Account is listed on Schedule E attached hereto. The name and address of each securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which Grantor maintains any Securities Account or Commodity Account and the account number and account name is listed on Schedule E attached hereto. Grantor agrees to amend Schedule E upon Secured Party’s request to reflect the opening of any additional Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account, or closing or changing the account name or number on any existing Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.

(g) All Intellectual Property that is registered or recorded with any governmental agency now owned or held by the Grantor is listed on Schedule F attached hereto.

5. C OVENANTS . Unless Secured Party otherwise consents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), Grantor covenants and agrees with Secured Party that from and after the date of this Security Agreement and until the Secured Obligations have been performed and paid in full (other than inchoate indemnity obligations):

5.1 Disposition of Collateral. Subject to Section 7, Grantor shall not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral (each, a Transfer ), or attempt or contract to do so, other than (a) the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) the granting of Licenses in the ordinary course of business and (c) the disposal of worn-out or obsolete Equipment.

5.2 Change of Jurisdiction of Organization, Relocation of Business . Grantor shall not change its jurisdiction of organization or relocate its chief executive office, principal place of business or its records from such address(es) provided to Secured Party pursuant to Section 4(d) above without at least seven (7) days prior notice to Secured Party.

 

8.


5.3 Limitation on Liens on Collateral. Grantor shall not, directly or indirectly, create, permit or suffer to exist, and shall defend the Collateral against and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any Lien on the Collateral, except (a) Permitted Liens and (b) the Lien granted to Secured Party under this Security Agreement.

5.4 Insurance. Grantor shall maintain insurance policies insuring the Collateral against loss or damage from such risks and in such amounts and forms and with such companies as are customarily maintained by businesses similar to Grantor.

5.5 Taxes, Assessments, Etc. Grantor shall pay promptly when due all property and other taxes, assessments and government charges or levies imposed upon, and all claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) against, the Goods, except to the extent the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith and adequate reserves are being maintained in connection therewith.

5.6 Defense of Intellectual Property . Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) protect, defend and maintain the validity and enforceability of all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks material to Grantor’s business and (ii) detect infringements of all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks material to Grantor’s business.

5.7 Further Assurances. At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of Secured Party, and at the sole expense of Grantor, Grantor shall promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents and take such further action as Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to obtain the full benefits of this Security Agreement, including, without limitation, (a) executing, delivering and causing to be filed any financing or continuation statements under the UCC with respect to the security interests granted hereby, (b) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, filing or cooperating with Secured Party in filing any forms or other documents required to be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, (c) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, placing the interest of Secured Party as lienholder on the certificate of title (or similar evidence of ownership) of any vehicle, watercraft or other Equipment constituting Collateral owned by Grantor which is covered by a certificate of title (or similar evidence of ownership), (d) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, executing and delivering and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable depository institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or issuer or nominated party under a letter of credit to execute and deliver a collateral control agreement with respect to any Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account or Letter-of-Credit Right in or to which Grantor has any right or interest and (e) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain acknowledgments from bailees having possession of any Collateral and waivers of liens from landlords and mortgagees of any location where any of the Collateral may from time to time be stored or located. Grantor also hereby authorizes Secured Party to file any such financing or continuation statement without the signature of Grantor.

6. S ECURED P ARTY S A PPOINTMENT AS A TTORNEY - IN -F ACT ; P ERFORMANCE BY S ECURED P ARTY .

 

9.


(a) Subject to Section 6(b) and Section 7, Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Secured Party, and any officer or agent of Secured Party, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full, irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of Grantor and in the name of Grantor or in its own name, from time to time at Secured Party’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Security Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Security Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives Secured Party the power and right, on behalf of Grantor, without notice to or assent by Grantor to do the following:

(i) to ask, demand, collect, receive and give acquittances and receipts for any and all monies due or to become due under any Collateral and, in the name of Grantor, in its own name or otherwise to take possession of, endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other Instruments for the payment of monies due under any Collateral and to file any claim or take or commence any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by Secured Party for the purpose of collecting any and all such monies due under any Collateral whenever payable;

(ii) to pay or discharge any Liens, including, without limitation, any tax lien, levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, to effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Security Agreement and to pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof, which actions shall be for the benefit of Secured Party and not Grantor;

(iii) to (1) direct any person liable for any payment under or in respect of any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due or to become due thereunder directly to Secured Party or as Secured Party shall direct, (2) receive payment of any and all monies, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time arising out of or in respect of any Collateral, (3) sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications and notices in connection with Accounts and other Instruments and Documents constituting or relating to the Collateral, (4) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any part thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral, (5) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against Grantor with respect to any Collateral, (6) settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action or proceeding described above, and in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as Secured Party may deem appropriate, (7) license, or, to the extent permitted by an applicable License, sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis, any Copyright, Patent or Trademark throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions and in such manner as Secured Party shall in its discretion determine and (8) sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though Secured Party were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes; and

(iv) to do, at Secured Party’s option and Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which Secured Party may reasonably deem

 

10.


necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Secured Party’s security interest therein in order to effect the intent of this Security Agreement, all as fully and effectively as Grantor might do.

(b) Secured Party agrees that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7 and except upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, it shall not exercise the power of attorney or any rights granted to Secured Party pursuant to this Section 6. Grantor hereby ratifies, to the extent permitted by law, all that said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The power of attorney granted pursuant to this Section 6 is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the Secured Obligations are completely and indefeasibly paid and performed in full.

(c) If Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein and Secured Party, as provided for by the terms of this Security Agreement, shall perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement, the reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, of Secured Party together with interest thereon at a rate of interest equal to the highest per annum rate of interest charged on the Loan, incurred in connection with such performance or compliance, shall be payable by Grantor to Secured Party within five (5) business days of demand and shall constitute Secured Obligations secured hereby.

7. S UBORDINATION . The indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Agreement is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness.

7.1 Insolvency Proceedings. If there shall occur any receivership, insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, bankruptcy, reorganization, or arrangements with creditors (whether or not pursuant to bankruptcy or other insolvency laws), sale of all or substantially all of the assets, dissolution, liquidation, or any other marshaling of the assets and liabilities of Grantor, (a) no amount shall be paid by Grantor in respect of the principal of, interest on or other amounts due with respect to the Loan or the Loan Agreement at the time outstanding, unless and until the principal of and interest on the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding shall be paid in full, and (b) no claim or proof of claim shall be filed by or on behalf of Secured Party which shall assert any right to receive any payments in respect of the principal of and interest due under the Loan or the Loan Agreement except subject to the payment in full of the principal of and interest on all of the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding.

7.2 Default on Senior Indebtedness. If there shall occur an event of default which has been declared in writing with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, as defined therein, or in the instrument under which it is outstanding, permitting the holder to accelerate the maturity thereof and Secured Party shall have received written notice thereof from the holder of such Senior Indebtedness, then, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, or all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, no payment shall be made in respect of the principal of or interest on the Loan Agreement.

7.3 Further Assurances. By acceptance of this Security Agreement, Secured Party agrees to execute and deliver customary forms of subordination agreement requested from

 

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time to time by the holder of the Senior Indebtedness and, as a condition to Secured Party’s rights hereunder, Grantor may require that Secured Party execute such forms of subordination agreement, provided that such forms shall not impose on Secured Party terms less favorable than those provided herein.

7.4 Subrogation. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, Secured Party shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of such Senior Indebtedness (to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7) to receive payments and distributions of assets of Grantor applicable to the Senior Indebtedness. No such payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Indebtedness shall, as between Grantor and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and Secured Party, be deemed to be a payment by Grantor to or on account of the Loan or the Loan Agreement; and for purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness to which Secured Party would be entitled except for the provisions of this Section 7 shall, as between Grantor and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and Secured Party, be deemed to be a payment by Grantor to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

7.5 No Impairment. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holder of Senior Indebtedness under this Section 7 to receive cash, securities or other properties otherwise payable or deliverable to Secured Party, nothing contained in this Section 7 shall impair, as between Grantor and Secured Party, the obligation of Grantor, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to pay to Secured Party the principal and interest under the Loan Agreement as and when the same become due and payable, or shall prevent Secured Party, upon default hereunder, from exercising all rights, powers and remedies otherwise provided herein or by applicable law.

7.6 Lien Subordination. Any Lien or security interest of Secured Party, whether now or hereafter existing in connection with the amounts due under the Loan Agreement, on any assets or property of Grantor or any proceeds or revenues therefrom which Secured Party may have at any time as security for any amounts due and obligations under the Loan Agreement, including the Lien and security interest created by this Security Agreement, shall be subordinate to all Liens or security interests now or hereafter granted to the holder of Senior Indebtedness by Grantor or by law notwithstanding the date, order or method of attachment or perfection of any such Lien or security interest or the provisions of any applicable law.

7.7 Applicability of Priorities. The priority of the holder of the Senior Indebtedness provided for herein with respect to security interests and Liens are applicable only to the extent that such security interests and Liens are enforceable and perfected and have not been avoided; if a security interest or Lien is judicially determined to be unenforceable or unperfected or is judicially avoided with respect to any claim of the holder of the Senior Indebtedness or any part thereof, the priority provided for herein shall not be available to such security interest or Lien to the extent that it is avoided or determined to be unenforceable or unperfected. The foregoing notwithstanding, Secured Party covenants and agrees that it shall not challenge, attack or seek to avoid any security interest or Lien to the extent that it secures the holder of the Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Section 7.7 affects the operation of any

 

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subordination of indebtedness or turnover of payment provisions hereof, or of any other agreements among any of the parties hereto.

7.8 Reliance of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. Secured Party, by its acceptance hereof, shall be deemed to acknowledge and agree that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement to and a consideration of the holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the creation of the indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Agreement, and the holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and holding, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

8. R IGHTS A ND R EMEDIES U PON D EFAULT . Subject to the provisions of Section 7, beginning on the date which is ten (10) business days after any Event of Default shall have occurred and while such Event of Default is continuing:

(a) Secured Party may exercise in addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it under this Security Agreement or the Loan Agreement, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Grantor expressly agrees that in any such event Secured Party, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except the notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale) to or upon Grantor or any other person, may (i) reclaim, take possession, recover, store, maintain, finish, repair, prepare for sale or lease, shop, advertise for sale or lease and sell or lease (in the manner provided herein) the Collateral, and in connection with the liquidation of the Collateral and collection of the accounts receivable pledged as Collateral, use any Trademark, Copyright, or process used or owned by Grantor and (ii) forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give an option or options to purchase or sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver said Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange or broker’s board or at any of Secured Party’s offices or elsewhere at such prices as it may deem commercially reasonable, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. Grantor further agrees, at Secured Party’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Secured Party at places which Secured Party shall reasonably select, whether at Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. Secured Party shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale as provided in Section 8(e), below, with Grantor remaining liable for any deficiency remaining unpaid after such application. Grantor agrees that Secured Party need not give more than twenty (20) days’ notice of the time and place of any public sale or of the time after which a private sale may take place and that such notice is reasonable notification of such matters.

(b) As to any Collateral constituting certificated securities or uncertificated securities, if, at any time when Secured Party shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of such Collateral hereunder, such Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under Securities Act of 1933, as amended (as so amended the “ Act ”), Secured Party may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), sell such Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as Secured Party may deem necessary or advisable, but

 

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subject to the other requirements of this Section 8(b), and shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such event Secured Party may, in its sole discretion, (i) in accordance with applicable securities laws, proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under the Act; (ii) approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale; and (iii) restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Collateral or part thereof. In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 8(b), if any of such Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under the Act at the time of any proposed sale hereunder, then Secured Party shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but may, in its sole discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to such restrictions as Secured Party may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the Act and all applicable state securities laws.

(c) Grantor also agrees to pay all fees, costs and expenses of Secured Party, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the enforcement of any of its rights and remedies hereunder.

(d) Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

(e) Subject to the provisions of Section 7, the Proceeds of any sale, disposition or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be distributed by Secured Party in the following order of priorities:

F IRST , to Secured Party in an amount sufficient to pay in full the costs of Secured Party in connection with such sale, disposition or other realization, including all fees, costs, expenses, liabilities and advances incurred or made by Secured Party in connection therewith, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees;

S ECOND , to Secured Party in an amount equal to the then unpaid Secured Obligations; and

F INALLY , upon payment in full of the Secured Obligations, to Grantor or its representatives, in accordance with the UCC or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

9. I NDEMNITY . Grantor agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Secured Party and its officers, employees, and agents against (a) all obligations, demands, claims, and liabilities claimed or asserted by any other party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Security Agreement and (b) all losses or expenses in any way suffered, incurred, or paid by Secured Party as a result of or in any way arising out of, following or consequential to transactions between Secured Party and Grantor, whether under this Security

 

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Agreement or otherwise (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses), except for losses arising from or out of Secured Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

10. R EINSTATEMENT . This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of Grantor’s property and assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

11. M ISCELLANEOUS .

11.1 Waivers; Amendments. Any amendment of this Security Agreement shall require the written consent of the Grantor and the Secured Party.

11.2 Termination of this Security Agreement. Subject to Section 10 hereof, this Security Agreement shall terminate upon the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations).

11.3 Successor and Assigns. This Security Agreement and all obligations of Grantor hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of Grantor, and shall, together with the rights and remedies of Secured Party hereunder, inure to the benefit of Secured Party, any future holder of any of the Secured Obligations and their respective successors and assigns. No sales of participations, other sales, assignments, transfers or other dispositions of any agreement governing or instrument evidencing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner affect the lien granted to Secured Party hereunder.

11.4 Governing Law. In all respects, including all matters of construction, validity and performance, this Security Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and performed in such state, without regard to the principles thereof regarding conflict of laws, except to the extent that the UCC provides for the application of the law of a different jurisdiction.

 

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I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , each of the parties hereto has caused this Security Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on the date first set forth above.

 

A DDRESS O F G RANTOR

   

B IOCEPT , I NC ., as Grantor

5810 Nancy Ridge Dr.

    By:  

/s/ Stephen M. Coutts

San Diego, CA 92121

    Printed Name: Stephen M. Coutts
    Title: CEO, President

T AXPAYER I DENTIFICATION N UMBER OF

G RANTOR

     

J URISDICTION OF O RGANIZATION OF

G RANTOR

33-0757995

     

California

 

A CCEPTED A ND A CKNOWLEDGED B Y :

 

G OODMAN C O , L TD . , as Secured Party

   
By:  

/s/ Takehito Yogo

     

Printed Name: Takehito Yogo

     

Title:President & CEO

     


S CHEDULE A

E XCLUDED IP

Cell-Free Fetal Nucleic Acids Patents

 

D OCKET N O .

  

F ILING

D ATA

   P RIORITY
D ATE
  

R ELATED S TATUS I NFORMATION

BIOE-006/01/US

  

US 20070243549

11/734,224 filed 04/11/2007

Enrichment of Circulating Fetal DNA

   04/12/2006   

Abandoned—Notice of

Abandonment mailed on

03/30/2009

 

Assigned to BAYLOR

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

BIOE-006/01/WO

  

WO 2007/121276

PCT/US2007/066475 filed 04/11/2007

Enrichment of Circulating Fetal DNA

National Phase Applications filed in

CN, EP, IN, JP, KR

   04/12/2006   

All National Phase Applications,

except IN, Abandoned

BIOE-007/01US

  

12/235,540 filed 09/22/2008

Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucleic Acids

   09/21/07   

Abandoned – Notice of

Abandonment mailed 06/25/2009

BIOE-007/02US

  

12/725,331 filed 03/06/2010

Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucleic Acids

   09/21/07    Pending

BIOE-007/01WO

  

WO 2009/039507

PCT/US2008/077251 filed 09/22/2008

Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucleic Acids

National Phase Applications filed in

AU, BR, CA, CN, EG, IL, JP

   09/21/07   

30-Month National Phase

Deadline has passed

BIOE-009/01US

  

US 20080176237

11/952,459 filed 12/07/2007

Noninvasive Prenatal Genetic Screen

   12/07/06    Pending

BIOE-009/01WO

  

WO 2008/070862

PCT/US2007/086862

Noninvasive Prenatal Genetic Screen

National Phase Application filed in EP

   12/07/06   

30-Month National Phase

Deadline has passed

BIOE-009/01EP

  

EP 2140027

EP 07869055.9, filed 10/23/2009

Noninvasive Prenatal Genetic Screen

   12/07/06    Pending


D OCKET N O .

  

F ILING

D ATA

   P RIORITY
D ATE
  

R ELATED S TATUS I NFORMATION

BIOE-015/00US

  

61/028,064 filed 02/12/2008

Method for Isolating Cell Free Apoptotic or Fetal Nucleic Acids

   02/12/08    Expired (PCT filed)

BIOE-015/01WO

  

WO 2009/102632

PCT/US2009/33375 filed 02/06/2009

Isolation of Circulating Fetal DNA from Maternal Blood for Fetal Genetic Testing

   02/12/08    Pending

BIOE-016/00US

  

61/043,028 filed 04/07/2008

Device Utilizing Electric Field and Size Cut-Off for the Separation of Charged Species

   04/07/08    Expired

BIOE-017/00US

  

61/082,169 filed 07/18/2008

Non-Invasive Fetal RhD Genotyping from Maternal Whole Blood

   07/18/08    Expired (PCT filed)

BIOE-017/01WO

  

WO 2010/009440

PCT/US2009/51061, filed 07/17/2009

Non-Invasive Fetal RhD Genotyping from Maternal Whole Blood

   07/18/08    Pending

BIOE-018/00US

  

61/024,872 filed 01/30/2008

Two-Stage Enrichment of Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma

   01/30/08    Expired (PCT filed)

BIOE-018/01WO

  

WO 2009/097511

PCT/US2009/32614 filed 01/30/2009

Two-Stage Enrichment of Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma

   01/30/08    Pending
  

US Patent No. 7,468,249 (Issued 12/23/2008)

Detection of Chromosomal Disorders

   05/05/2004   

In Force

Assigned to BIOCEPT, INC.

  

WO 2005/111237

PCT/US2005/013070 filed 04/18/2005

Detection of Chromosomal Disorders

National Phase applications filed in EP, CN, JP, KR

   05/05/2004   

30-Month National Phase

Deadline has passed

  

EP 1759011 A

EP 05740284.4 filed 12/04/2006

Detection of Chromosomal Disorders

   05/05/2004    Pending


Whole Fetal Cell Patents

 

D OCKET N O .

  

F ILING

D ATA

   P RIORITY
D ATE
  

R ELATED S TATUS I NFORMATION

BIOE-003/00US

  

US 20070224588

11/277,218 filed 03/22/2006

Trophoblast

Preservation/Pretreatment

Medium and Method

   03/22/06   

Abandoned – Notice of

Abandonment mailed 04/10/2009

 

Assigned to BIOCEPT, INC.

BIOE-004/00US

  

US 20070224597

11/277,288 filed 3/23/2006

Isolating Fetal Trophoblasts

   03/23/06   

Abandoned– Notice of

Abandonment mailed 03/05/2009

 

Assigned to BIOCEPT, INC.

BIOE-004/01WO

  

WO 2007/112281

PCT/US07/64705 filed

03/22/2007

Isolating Fetal Trophoblasts

National Phase applications filed in EP, CN, JP, IN, KR

   03/23/06   

30-Month National Phase

Deadline has passed

All National Phase Applications

Abandoned

BIOE-004/01EP

  

EP 07759181.6

Isolating Fetal Trophoblasts

   03/23/06    Abandoned

BIOE-013/00US

  

60/953,812 filed 8/3/2007

In-Situ Hybridization to

Detect RNA and DNA Markers

   08/03/07    Expired (PCT filed)

BIOE-013/01US

  

12/671,902, filed 02/02/2010

In-Situ Hybridization to

Detect RNA and DNA Markers

   08/03/07    Pending

BIOE-013/01WO

  

WO 2009/020932

PCT/US2008/072143 filed

08/04/2008

In-Situ Hybridization to

Detect RNA and DNA Markers

National Phase Applications filed in

AU, BR, CA, CN, EG, EP, IL, JP,

KR, MX, NZ, UA, US, ZA

   08/03/07   

30-Month National Phase

Deadline has passed

BIOE-014/00US

  

60/984,698 filed 11/01/2007

Non-Invasive Isolation Of

Fetal Nucleic Acid

   11/01/07    Expired (PCT filed)


D OCKET N O .

  

F ILING

D ATA

   P RIORITY
D ATE
  

R ELATED S TATUS I NFORMATION

BIOE-014/01WO

  

WO 2009/058997

PCT/US2008/81780 filed 10/30/2008

Non-Invasive Isolation Of

Fetal Nucleic Acid

   11/01/07    Pending

BIOE-021/00US

  

U.S. Patent No. 5,731,156

(Issued 3/24/98)

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to

Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96   

Issued – In Force

Assigned to BIOCEPT, INC.

BIOE-021/01US

  

U.S. Patent No. 5,962,234

(Issued 10/5/99)

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96   

Issued – In Force

Assigned to BIOCEPT, INC.

BIOE-021/01EP

  

EP 1007965 B1

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96   

Granted – All National

Validations now Abandoned

BIOE-021/01DE

  

EP 1007965 B1

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96    Abandoned

BIOE-021/01FR

  

EP 1007965 B1

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96    Abandoned

BIOE-021/01GB

  

EP 1007965 B1

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96    Abandoned

BIOE-021/01CH

  

EP 1007965 B1

Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells

   10/21/96    Abandoned


S CHEDULE B

LIENS EXISTING ON THE DATE OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT

1. The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust was granted a security interest on the assets of the Grantor pursuant to the terms of that certain Security Agreement dated December 22, 2008.

2. Olympus America, Inc. has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor.

3. Ervin Leasing Company has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor.

4. VGM Financial Services has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor.

5. Key Equipment Finance Inc. has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor.


S CHEDULE C

LOCATION OF GOODS

 

E NTITY

  

A DDRESS

Biocept, Inc.

   5810 Nancy Ridge Dr., San Diego, CA 92121


S CHEDULE D

LIST OF CHATTEL PAPER, INSTRUMENTS, AND

INVESTMENT PROPERTY

( CERTIFICATED SECURITIES )

None


S CHEDULE E

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS, SECURITIES ACCOUNTS AND

COMMODITY ACCOUNTS

(Including Type of Account, Account Name, Account Number and Name and Address of Institution/Intermediary)

 

Description

   Type of Account    Account Name    Account Number

California Coast Credit Union

   Savings    Biocept Inc.    7100001171

Address:

   California Coast Credit Union, PO Box 502080, San Diego, CA 92150-2080

SVB General Account

   Analysis Checking    Biocept Inc.    3300575742

Address:

   Silicon Valley Bank, 3003 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Merrill Lynch Checking

   WCMA    Biocept Inc.    778-07010

Address:

   Merrill Lynch, 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2000, Raleigh, NC 27601-2919

Merrill Lynch Investment

   WCMA/MLPA    Biocept Inc.    778-07007

Address:

   Merrill Lynch, 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2000, Raleigh, NC 27601-2919

Ulster Bank Account

   Corporate Checking    Biocept Europe    35180007

Address:

   Ulster Bank, Donegal County Business Centre, 2nd Floor, 12-14 Main Street Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Ireland


S CHEDULE F

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Issued/Granted Patents:

 

Attorney
Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign.
Date/

Reel/Frame

 

Date Filed/

Serial #

 

Pub. Date/

Pub. #

 

Date Issued/

Patent #

62685   Fitch, Even, Tabin &   Method of Using an Improved Peptide Nucleic  

S. Hahn

A. Patron

  PNA   Europe (PCT)   N/A  

01/07/1999

99933646.4

 

5/2/2001

EP1095054

 

10/25/2006

EP 1,095,054 B1

  Flannery   Acid Universal Library to Optimize DNA Sequence Hybridization   R. Fagnani    

Korea

(PCT)

  N/A  

01/07/1999

7000159

   

3/7/2007

694914

62829   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Method of Making Biochips and the Biochips Resulting Therefrom   S. Hahn   Hydroarray   US  

7/19/1999

010110/0277

 

04/26/1999

09/299,831

  N/A  

01/16/2001

6,174,683

66152   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Peptide Nucleic Acid Precursors and Methods of Preparing Same (CIP-abandoned)  

A. Patron

A. Pervin

  PNA   US  

1/5/2000

010523/0685

 

01/05/2000

09/479,320

  N/A  

08/13/2002

6,433,134

66233   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Method of Making Biochips and The Biochips Resulting Therefrom  

R. Fagnani

S. Hahn

P. Tsinberg

  Hydroarray   Europe (PCT)   N/A  

04/26/2000

00928450.6

 

1/23/2002

EP1173620

 

11/8/2006

EP 1,173,620 B1

          Germany   N/A  

11/8/2006

600 31 772.2-08

  N/A  

9/6/2007

DE 600 31 772 T2

          Korea (PCT)   N/A  

04/26/2001

7013634/2001

   

4/13/2007

709795

69905   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Three Dimensional Format Biochips  

R. Fagnani

S. Hahn

X. Dong

  Hydroarray   Australia (PCT)   N/A  

10/26/2001

2002246918

  N/A  

1/11/2007

AU 2002246918 B2

     

T. Pircher

S. Matsumoto

P. Tsinberg

    Europe (PCT)   N/A  

10/26/2001

01994529.4

 

7/23/2003

EP1328810

 

Published

No further submissions

 

1


Attorney
Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign.
Date/

Reel/Frame

 

Date Filed/

Serial #

 

Pub. Date/

Pub. #

 

Date Issued/

Patent #

71716   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Microwell Biochip  

P. Tsinberg

P. Roycroft

Y. Gerassi

S. Hahn

  Microwell   Europe (PCT)   N/A  

10/15/2002

2772545.0-2204

 

8/11/2004

EP 1,444,500

 

6/11/08

1,444,500

          Japan (PCT)   N/A  

10/15/2002

2003-536,713

 

3/3/2005

2005-506,530

 

Published

No further submissions

72711   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Methods and Gel Compositions for Encapsulating Living Cells and Organic Molecules  

S. Hahn

R. Fagnani

X. Dong

C. Edman

P. Tsinberg

  Hydrogel   US  

8/7/2003

013857/0723

 

04/02/2003

10/398,725

 

2/12/2004

2004/0029241

 

02/6/2007

7,172,866

         

Europe

(PCT)

  N/A  

04/02/2002

02763911.1-2405

 

1/2/2004

EP1373472

 

6/27/2007

1,373,472 – Filed in GE, FR, GB

          Germany   N/A  

6/27/2007

602 20 893.9-08

  N/A  

3/6/2008

DE60220893T2

81633   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Microarray Hybridization Device Having Bubble-Fracturing Elements  

S. Hahn

J. Steadman

P. Tsinberg

T. Watanaskul

Y. Gerassi

  Hybridization Device   US  

11/24/2003

014756/0001

 

11/24/2003

10/722,290

 

05/26/2005

2005/0112589

 

07/3/2007

7,238,521

          Europe (PCT)   N/A  

11/03/2004

04800599.5

 

8/9/2006

EP1687080

 

6/24/08

1,687,080

81634   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Reflective Substrate and Algorithms for 3D Biochip   D. Rachlin   Substrate   US  

11/4/2004

015338/0315

 

09/16/2003

10/664,248

  Filed w/Non-Publication Notice  

04/3/2007

7,198,901

81674   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Alleviation of Non-Specific Binding in Microarray Assays  

Y. Gerassi

P. Tsinberg

  Protein   US  

11/3/2004

015332/0733

 

8/19/2004

10/922,387

 

2/23/2006

2006/0040407

 

08/21/07

7,258,990

          Europe (PCT)   N/A  

2/21/2007

05,808,506.9

 

5/23/2007

1,787,120

  Abandoned
81721   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery  

Microwell Biochip

(Cont. 71716)

 

Y. Gerassi

S. Hahn

P. Roycroft

P. Tsinberg

  Microwell   US  

10/14/2004

015248/0196

 

04/12/2004

10/823,021

 

9/30/2004

2004/0191891

 

05/15/2007

7,217,520

81736   Fitch, Even Tabin & Flannery   mRNA Expression Analysis   T. Pircher   Expression Analysis   Europe (PCT)   N/A  

6/18/2004

04776771.0-2405

 

4/26/06

EP1649060

  Abandoned

 

2


Pending Applications:

 

Attorney
Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign. Date/

Reel/Frame

  Date Filed/
Serial #
  Pub. Date/
Pub. #
 

Date Issued/

Patent #

62685   Fitch, Even, Tabin &   Method of Using an Improved Peptide Nucleic  

S. Hahn

A. Patron

  PNA   WO (PCT)   N/A   01/07/1999

PCT/
US99/14969

  01/20/2000

WO0002899

  N/A
  Flannery   Acid Universal Library to Optimize DNA Sequence Hybridization   R. Fagnani    

Japan

(PCT)

  N/A   01/07/1999

2000-559,128

  7/9/2002

2002-520,008

  Published
66233   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Method of Making Biochips and The Biochips Resulting Therefrom  

R. Fagnani

S. Hahn

P. Tsinberg

  Hydroarray  

WO

(PCT)

  N/A   04/26/2000

PCT/
US001/11282

  11/02/2000

WO/0065097

  N/A
         

Japan

(PCT)

  N/A   4/26/2000

2000-614,431

  /2002

2002-543,398

  Published
69905   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Three Dimensional Format Biochips  

R. Fagnani

S. Hahn

X. Dong

T. Pircher

S. Matsumoto

P. Tsinberg

  Hydroarray   WO (PCT)   N/A   10/26/2001

PCT/
US01/51265

  8/1/2002

WO02059372

  N/A
         

China

(PCT)

  N/A   10/26/2001   01 994 529.4   Published
         

Japan

(PCT)

  N/A   10/26/2001

2002-559,854

  6/17/2004

2004-518,138

 
         

Korea

(PCT)

  N/A   10/26/2001

7008285/2002

  Pending  
71716   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Microwell Biochip  

P. Tsinberg

P. Roycroft

Y. Gerassi

S. Hahn

  Microwell   WO (PCT)   N/A   10/15/2001

PCT/
US02/32751

  04/24/2003

WO2003034026

  N/A
71726   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Three-Dimensional Format Biochips (CIP)  

R. Fagnani

S. Hahn

X. Dong

T. Pircher

S. Matsumoto

P. Tsinberg

  Hydroarray   US  

5/28/2002

012736/0060

  10/25/2001

10/054,728

  2/17/2005

2005/0037343

 

Published

No Further Submissions

 

3


Attorney
Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign. Date/

Reel/Frame

  Date Filed/
Serial #
  Pub. Date/
Pub. #
 

Date Issued/

Patent #

72711   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Methods and Gel Compositions for Encapsulating Living Cells and Organic Molecules  

S. Hahn

R. Fagnani

X. Dong

C. Edman

  Hydrogel   WO (PCT)   N/A   04/02/2002

PCT/
US02/10411

  10/17/2002

WO2002/081662

  N/A
      P. Tsinberg    

Canada

(PCT)

  N/A   04/02/2002

2,443,060

  Published   Maintain – no further submissions
         

Israel

(PCT)

  N/A   04/02/2002

158128

    N/A
         

Japan

(PCT)

  N/A   04/02/2002

2002-580,026

  11/4/2004

2004-533,500

  N/A
81633   Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery   Microarray Hybridization Device  

S. Hahn

J. Steadman

P. Tsinberg

T. Watanaskul

Y. Gerassi

  Hybridization Device   WO   N/A   11/03/2004

PCT/
US04/036475

  6/16/2005

WO2005/053827

  N/A
          China (PCT)   N/A   5/22/2006

200480034517.7

  12/20/2006

CN1882382A

  Abandoned
          Hong Kong   N/A   6/5/2007

07105921.6

  9/28/2007

1100820

  Abandoned
          India (PCT)   N/A   09/21/2006

2316/CHENP/
2006

    Abandoned
          Japan (PCT)   N/A   11/7/2006

2006-541216

  6/14/2007

2007-515627

  Abandoned
          Korea (PCT)   N/A   6/22/2006

7012472/2006

  Pending   Abandoned

 

4


Attorney
Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
   Title    Inventor(s)    Product    Country   Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
  

Date Filed/

Serial #

   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
  

Date Issued/

Patent #

81665

   Fitch, Even,
Tabin &
Flannery
   Detection of
Chromosomal Disorders
   S. Hahn

Z. Xie

T. Watanaskul

   Chromosomal
Disorder
Detection
   US   10/4/2004

015217/0311

  

05/05/2004

10/840,208

   11/10/2005

2005/0250111

  

12/23/2008

US Patent #

7,468,249

               WO   N/A   

04/18/2005

PCT/US2005/013070

   11/24/2005

WO2005/111237

   N/A
               China

(PCT)

  N/A   

12/21/06

200580020530.1

   6/13/2007

CN1981052A

  
               Hong
Kong
  N/A   

11/6/07

07112041.7

   3/14/08

1,106,553

  
               Europe

(PCT)

  N/A   

12/4/2006

05740274.4

   3/7/2007

EP1759011

  
               India

(PCT)

  N/A    4473/CHENP/2006    Pending   
               Japan

(PCT)

  N/A   

11/6/2006

2007-511389

   12/13/2007

2007-535928

  
               Korea

(PCT)

  N/A   

12/1/2006

7025434/2006

   Pending   
81671    Fitch, Even,
Tabin &
Flannery
   Detection of STRP
Such as Fragile X
Syndrome
   S. Hahn    Chromosomal
Disorder
Detection
   US   4/21/2004

014538/0289

  

03/01/2004

10/791,209

   9/1/2005

2005/0191636

   Abandoned
               WO   N/A   

02/28/2005

PCT/US05/007049

   09/15/2005

WO2005/085476

   N/A
               China

(PCT)

  N/A   

08/31/2006

200580006466.1

   03/23/2007

CN1926247A

  
               Hong
Kong
  N/A   

6/26/2007

07106812.6

   11/2/2007

1,102,059

  
               Europe

(PCT)

  N/A   

09/21/2006

05,724,566.4

   11/22/2006

EP1723261

  
               India

(PCT)

  N/A   

2/28/2005

3600/CHENP/2006

   Pending   
               Japan

(PCT)

  N/A   

01/16/2007

501418993

   9/13/2007

2007-525998

  
               Korea

(PCT)

  N/A   

10/2/2006

7020635/2006

   Pending   

 

5


Attorney
Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country   Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
   Date Filed/
Serial #
   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
   Date Issued/
Patent #
81672    Fitch, Even,
Tabin &
Flannery
   Protein Microarrays    P. Tsinberg    Protein    US   11/18/2004

015391/0794

   8/17/2004

10/921,073

   2/23/06

2003/0040377

   N/A
               WO   N/A    8/9/2005

PCT/
US2005/028225

   3/2/2006

WO2006/023324

   N/A
               China
(PCT)
  N/A    2/12/2007

200580027771.9

   Pending    No further
submissions
               Hong
Kong
  N/A    3/26/2008

08103346.7

   Pending    No further
submissions
               Europe

(PCT)

  N/A    2/21/2007

05,784,703.0

   5/2/2007

1,779,114

   No further
submissions
               India

(PCT)

  N/A    8/9/2005

1108/CHENP/
2007

   Pending    No further
submissions
               Japan

(PCT)

  N/A    4/19/2007

2007-527867

   4/3/08

2008-510165

   No further
submissions
               Korea

(PCT)

  N/A    3/15/2007

7006000/2007

      No further
submissions
81673    Fitch, Even,

Tabin &

Flannery

  

Microarrays Utilizing Hydrogels

   P. Tsinberg    Hydrogel    US   10/18/2004

0152561/0623

   8/19/2004

10/922,391

   2/23/06

2006/0040274

   No further
submissions
               WO   N/A    8/9/2005

PCT/
US2005/028224

   3/2/06

WO2006/023323

   N/A
               China
(PCT)
  N/A    2/25/2007

200580028415.9

   9/26/07

CN101044401

A

   No further
submissions
               Hong
Kong
  N/A    3/26/2008

08103349.4

   Pending    No further
submissions
               Europe
(PCT)
  N/A    2/21/2007

05,784,526.5

   5/2/2007

1,779,113

   No further
submissions
               India
(PCT)
  N/A    10/2007

1144/CHENP/
2007

   Pending    No further
submissions
               Japan
(PCT)
  N/A    2/19/2007

2007-527866

   4/3/08

2008-510164

   No further
submissions
               Korea
(PCT)
  N/A    3/15/2007

7006001/2007

   Pending    No further
submissions

 

6


Attorney
Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country   Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
   Date Filed/
Serial #
   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
   Date Issued/
Patent #
81674    Fitch, Even,

Tabin &

Flannery

  

Alleviation of Non-Specific Binding in Microarray Assays

   Y. Gerassi

P. Tsinberg

   Protein    WO   N/A    8/11/2005

PCT/
US2005/028690

   3/2/2006

WO2006/023383

   N/A
               China
(PCT)
  N/A    2/25/2007

200580028345.7

   8/29/2007

CN101027559

A

   Abandoned
               Hong
Kong
  N/A    11/23/2007

07112786.6

   4/3/2008

1,107,400

   Abandoned
               India
(PCT)
  N/A    10/2007

1142/CHENP/
2007

   Pending    Abandoned
               Japan
(PCT)
  N/A    2/19/2007

2007-527889

   4/3/08

2008-510167

   Abandoned
               Korea
(PCT)
  N/A    3/16/2007

7006187/2007

   Pending    Abandoned
81736    Fitch, Even,

Tabin &

Flannery

  

mRNA Expression Analysis

   T. Pircher    Expression
Analysis
   WO   N/A    06/21/2004

PCT/
US04/019559

   01/06/2005

WO2005/001139

   N/A
               Japan
(PCT)
  N/A    12/27/2005

2006-517413

   11/29/2007

2007-534298

   Abandoned
81835    Fitch, Even,

Tabin &

Flannery

  

3D Format Biochips and Method of Use (CIP 71726)

   T. Pircher    Cell
Separation
   US   2/4/2005

015660/0316

   12/16/2004

11/015,459

   05/12/2005

2005/0100951

   N/A
86357    Fitch, Even,

Tabin &

Flannery

  

Methods and Gel Compositions for Encapsulating Living Cells and Organic Molecules (DIV of 72711)

   S. Hahn

R. Fagnani

X. Dong

C. Edman

P. Tsinberg

   Hydrogel    US   N/A    02/01/2007

11/670,061

   6/21/2007

2007/0141164

   Response
to
Office
Action
Filed

 

7


Attorney

Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country   Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
   Date Filed/
Serial #
   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
   Date Issued/
Patent #

BIOE-001/ 00US

   Cooley LLP    Recovery of Rare Cells Using a Microchannel Apparatus with Patterned Posts (Foreign see 86213)    Z. Tang

R. Bhatt

P. Tsinberg

   MEMs
Channel
   US   3/11/2005

015884/0336

   1/18/2005

11/038,920

   7/20/2006

2006/0160243

   Response to
Office Action
filed

BIOE-001/ 01US

   Cooley LLP    Detection or Isolation of Target Molecules Using a Microchannel Apparatus (CONT. 81816)    Z. Tang

R. Bhatt

P. Tsinberg

   MEMs
Channel
   US   N/A    7/19/2006

11/458,668

   11/9/2006

2006/0252087

   Response to
Office Action
filed

BIOE-001/

01WO

               WO   N/A    7/18/2007

PCT/
US07/073817

   01/24/2008

WO2008/011486

   N/A

BIOE-001/

03US

   Cooley LLP    Cell Separation Using Microchannel Having Patterned Posts (Incorps. 81816 & BIOE-001/02US)    P. Tsinberg

Z. Tang

R. Bhatt

   MEMs
Channel
   US

(PCT)

  Pending    7/18/2007

11/814,276

   Pending    Pending Exam
Requested

BIOE-001/

03WO

               WO   N/A    1/5/2006

PCT/
US2006/000383

   07/27/2006

WO2006/078470

   N/A

BIOE-001/ 03CN

               China

(PCT)

  N/A    1/5/2006

200680002401.4

   1/9/2008

CN101102847

A

  

BIOE-001/ 003EP

               Europe

(PCT)

  N/A    5/31/2007

06717562.0

   Pending   

BIOE-001/ 03IN

               India

(PCT)

  N/A    8/14/2007

2991/KOLNP/
2007

   Pending   

BIOE-001/

03IL

               Israel

(PCT)

  N/A    Preparing to File      

BIOE-001/ 03JP

               Japan

(PCT)

  N/A    Preparing to File      

BIOE-001/ 03KR

               Korea

(PCT)

  N/A    Preparing to File      

BIOE-001/ 03TW

               Taiwan   N/A    5/2/2006

95115566

   11/16/2007

200742612

   Request for
Exam. Due
5/2/09

 

8


Attorney

Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign. Date/

Reel/Frame

 

Date Filed/

Serial #

 

Pub. Date/

Pub. #

 

Date Issued/

Patent #

BIOE-002/ 00WO

  Cooley LLP   Isolation of Cells or the Like from Bodily Fluids (Beads)  

R. Bhatt

P. Tsinberg

  Cell Separation   WO   N/A  

12/21/2005

PCT/US2005/046961

 

7/6/2006

WO2006/071824

  N/A –No National Filing

BIOE-002/ 00US

  Cooley LLP   Isolation of Cells or the Like from Bodily Fluids (Beads)  

R. Bhatt

P. Tsinberg

  Cell Separation   US  

3/4/2005

015838/0143

 

12/23/2004

11/021,304

 

6/29/2006

2006/0141045

 

Issue Fee Paid

Awaiting Published

BIOE-003/ 00US

  Cooley LLP   Trophoblast Preservation/ Pretreatment Medium and Method   T. Pircher   Transport Medium   US  

4/24/2006

017518/0416

 

3/22/2006

11/277,218

 

9/27/2007

2007/0224588

  Abandoned

BIOE-004/ 00US

  Cooley LLP   Isolating Fetal Trophoblasts (Mucus Dissolution)  

T. Pircher

R. Fagnani

  Cell Separation   US  

5/1/2006

017556/0667

 

3/23/2006

11/277,288

 

9/27/2007

2007/0224597

  Abandoned

BIOE-004/ 01WO

          WO   N/A  

3/22/2007

PCT/US2007/64705

 

10/4/2007

WO2007/112281

  N/A

BIOE-005/ 00US

  Cooley LLP   Device for Cell Separation and Analysis and Method of Using (covered)  

P. Tsinberg

Z. Tang

  MEMs Channel   US  

2/6/2006

017238/0401

 

01/12/2006

11/331,988

 

7/12/2007

2007/0161051

  Pending Published

BIOE-005/ 01WO

          WO   N/A  

1/12/2007

PCT/US2007/060518

 

1/19/2007

WO2007/082302

  N/A

BIOE-005/ 01CN

          China (PCT)     Preparing to File    

BIOE-005/ 01EP

          Europe (PCT)     Preparing to File    

BIOE-005/ 01JP

          Japan (PCT)     Preparing to File    

BIOE-005/ 01IN

          India (PCT)     Preparing to File    

BIOE-005/ 01KR

          Korea (PCT)     Preparing to File    

BIOE-006/ 01US

  Cooley LLP   Enrichment of Circulating Fetal DNA (BAYLOR)   F. Bischoff   Cell Separation   US  

8/23/2007

019739/0966

 

4/11/2007

11/734,224

 

10/18/2007

2007/0243549

  Abandoned

BIOE-006/ 01WO

          WO   N/A  

4/11/2007

PCT/US2007/66475

 

10/25/2007

WO2007/121276

  N/A

 

9


Attorney

Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign. Date/

Reel/Frame

 

Date Filed/

Serial #

 

Pub. Date/

Pub. #

 

Date Issued/

Patent #

BIOE-006/

01CN

          China (PCT)        

BIOE-006/

01EP

          Europe (PCT)        

BIOE-006/

01JP

          Japan (PCT)        

BIOE-006/

01IN

          India (PCT)        

BIOE-006/

01KR

          Korea (PCT)        

BIOE-

007/ 00US

  Cooley LLP   Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucleic Acid (PROVISIONAL)   F. Bischoff   Cell Separation   US    

9/21/2007

60/974,392

  N/A   Application Filed; 30-Month National Phase Deadline has passed

BIOE-

007/01 US

    Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucleic Acids       US   09/22/2008  

09/21/2007

12/235,540

  9/22/2008  

BIOE-

007/01 WO

    Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucliec Acid       WO    

9/21/2007

PCT US2008/077251

 

9/22/2008

WO 2009/039507

 

BIOE-

007/01 AU

          AU        

BIOE-

007/01 BR

          BR        

BIOE-

007/01 CA

          CA        

BIOE-

007/01 CN

          CN        

BIOE-

007/01 EG

          EG     PCT445/2010    

 

10


Attorney

Docket #

 

Outside
Counsel

 

Title

 

Inventor(s)

 

Product

 

Country

 

Assign. Date/

Reel/Frame

 

Date Filed/

Serial #

 

Pub. Date/

Pub. #

 

Date Issued/

Patent #

BIOE-

007/01 EP

          EP        

BIOE-

007/01 IL

          IL        

BIOE-

007/01 JP

          JP        

BIOE-

007/01 KR

          KR        

BIOE-

007/01 MX

          MX        

BIOE-

007/01 NZ

          NZ        

BIOE-

007/01 UA

          UA        

BIOE-

007/01 ZA

          ZA        

BIOE-

007/02US

    Identification and Isolation of Fetal Cells and Nucleic Acids       US   —    

Priority Date 9/21/07

12/725,331

  03/06/2010   —  

 

11


Attorney
Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country    Assign.
Date/

Reel/Frame
   Date Filed/
Serial #
   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
   Date Issued/
Patent #

BIOE-

009/ 00US

   Cooley LLP    Non-Invasive Prenatal Genetic Screen    R. Bhatt

W. Fan

R. Tim

F. Bischoff

   Cell
Separation
   US    020377/0504    12/7/2007

11/952,459

   Converted
to PCT
and US
   Application Filed

National Phase
Due 6/7/2009

BIOE-

009/ 01US

      Non-Invasive Prenatal Genetic Screen          US       12/07/2006

US 20080176237

     

BIOE-

009/01WO

               WO       Priority Date:

12/07/2006

PCT/US2007/86862

      N/A

BIOE-

009/01EP

               EP       Priority Date:

12/07/2006

EP2140027

EP 07869055.9

   10/23/2009   

BIOE-

010/ 01US

   Cooley LLP    Non-Invasive Detection of Endometrial Cancer (Priority date of 5/2/07)    H. Radisch

Q. Le

   Cell
Separation
   US    Pending    05/02/2008

12/114,584

      Application Filed

Abandoned

               WO       5/1/2008

PCT/US2008/062286

      N/A

BIOE-

013/ 00US

   Cooley LLP   

In-Situ

Hybridization to Detect RNA and DNA Markers

(PROVISIONAL)

   R. Bhatt

W. Fan

R. Tim

   Cell
Separation
   US    01/04/2008

020319/0009

   8/3/2007

60/953,812

   N/A    National Phase
Due 2/3/2010

BIOE-

013/ 01US

      In-Situ Hybridization to Detect RNA and DNA Markers          US    2/02/10    8/03/2007

12/671,902

   8/03/2007   

BIOE-

013/01 WO

               WO       Priority Date

8/03/2007

PCT/US2008/072143

   8/04/2008   
               AU       2008284024    8/04/2008   
               BR       Priority Date

8/03/2007

   8/04/2008   

 

12


Attorney

Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country    Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
   Date Filed/
Serial #
   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
   Date Issued/
Patent #
               CA       Priority Date

8/03/2007

   8/04/2008   
               CN       Priority Date

8/03/2007

   8/04/2008   
               EG       Priority Date

8/03/2007

PCT173/2010

   8/04/2008   
               EP       Priority Date

8/03/2007

08797146.1

   8/04/2008   
               IL       Priority Date

8/03/2007

203673

   8/04/2008   
               JP       Priority Date

8/03/2007

   8/04/2008   
               KR       Priority Date

8/03/2007

10-2010-7004769

   8/04/2008   
               MX       Priority Date

8/03/2007

   8/04/2008   
               NZ       Priority Date

8/03/2007

583365

   8/04/2008   
               UA       Priority Date

8/03/2007

   8/04/2008   
               ZA       Priority Date

8/03/2007

2010/00836

   8/04/2008   

 

13


Attorney

Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country    Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
   Date Filed/
Serial #
   Pub. Date/
Pub. #
   Date Issued/
Patent #

BIOE-014/

00US

   Cooley LLP   

Non-Invasive Isolation of Fetal

Nucleic Acid (Partial Lysis) (PROVISIONAL)

   R. Bhatt

K. Kosco

I. Postor

W. Fan

   Cell
Separation
   US       11/1/2007

60/984,698

   N/A    Application
Filed

BIOE-

014/01WO

      Non-Invasive Isolation of Fetal Nucleic Acid (Partial Lysis) (PROVISIONAL)          WO       11/01/2007

PCT/
US2008/81780

   10/30/2008

WO
2009/058997

  

BIOE-0015/

00US

   Cooley LLP   

Method for Isolating Cell Free Apoptotic or Fetal Nucleic Acids

(PROVISIONAL)

   R. Bhatt

W. Fan

   Cell
Separation
   US    6/9/2008

021068/0429

   2/12/2008

61/028,064

   N/A    Application
Filed

BIOE-

015/01 WO

                        02/06/2009

WO
2009/102632

  

BIOE-0016/

00US

   Cooley LLP   

Device Utilizing Electric Field and Size Cut-Off for the Separation of Changed Species (Electrophoresis)

(PROVISIONAL)

   Z. Tang    Cell
Separation
   US    5/19/2008

020968/0447

   4/7/2008

61/043,028

   N/A    Application

Filed

Abandoned

BIOE-0017/

00US

      Non-Invasive Fetal RhD Genotyping from Maternal Whole Blood          US       7/18/08

61/082,169

     

BIOE-0017/

01WO

      Non-Invasive Fetal RhD Genotyping from Maternal Whole Blood                Priority date

7/18/2008

PCT/
US2009/51061

   7/17/2009

WO
2010/009440

  

BIOE-018/ 00US

   Cooley LLP    Two-Stage Enrichment of Cell Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma (PROVISIONAL)    F.
Bischoff
   Cell
Separation
   US       1/30/2008

61/024,872

   N/A    Application
Filed

 

14


Attorney
Docket #

  Outside
Counsel
 

Title

  Inventor(s)   Product   Country   Assign. Date/
Reel/Frame
  Date Filed/
Serial #
  Pub. Date/
Pub. #
 

Date
Issued/

Patent #

BIOE-018/
01WO
    Two-Stage Enrichment of Cell Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma ( PROVISIONAL )       WO     Priority Date
1/30/2008

PCT/
US2009/32614

  1/30/2009

WO
2009/097511

 
BIOE-
021/00US
    Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells       US     10/21/96    

3/24/98

US Patent # 5,731,156

BIOE-
021/01US
    Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells       US     10/21/96    

10/01/99

US Patent # 5,962,234

BIOE-
021/01EP
    Use of Anti-Embryonic Hemoglobin Antibodies to Identify Fetal Cells       EP     10/21/96   EP 1007965 B1  
BIOE-
021/01DE
          DE     10/21/96   EP 1007965 B1  
BIOE-
021/01FR
          FR     10/21/96   EP 1007965 B1  
BIOE-
021/01GB
          GB     10/21/96   EP 1007965 B1  
BIOE-
021/01CH
          CH     10/21/96   EP 1007965 B1  

 

15


Pending Drafts:

 

Attorney
Docket #

   Outside
Counsel
  

Title

   Inventor(s)    Product    Country    Status
BIOE-012/
00US
   Cooley LLP    Collection, Separation, Purification and Testing of Trophoblasts    T. Pircher    Cell Separation    US    Abandoned
BIOE-011/

00US

   Cooley LLP    Method and Kit for Cell Separation (Double-Sided Slide)    R. Bhatt    Cell Separation    US    Abandon

 

16


Registered Trademarks:

 

Outside Counsel

  

Mark

   Int’l Class(es)    Registry    Date Filed/
Serial #
   Date Registered/
Registration #
US
Cooley LLP    Biocept ®    9    Principal    03/22/2002

78/116,876

   08/31/2004

2,880,222

Cooley LLP    Biocept Laboratories ®    9/42    Principal    05/04/2004

78/412,723

   10/17/2006

3,159,956

Cooley LLP    CEE ®    44    Principal    06/10/2005

78/648,645

   10/30/2007

3,326,287

Cooley LLP    ChipCalc ®    9    Principal    12/15/2003

78/341,146

   09/20/2005

2,999,101

Cooley LLP    HydroArray ®    1/9    Principal    08/01/2003

78/282,032

   03/22/2005

2,934,749

Cooley LLP    3D HydroArray ®    1/9    Principal    09/12/2003

78/299,957

   09/27/2005

3,000,775

Cooley LLP    Engineering new directions in diagnostics™    42/44    Principal    5/27/2008    07/01/08

3,458,860

European Community (CTM)
Cooley LLP    preCEEd ®    9/42    N/A    11/16/2005

4724101

   11/16/2006

4724101

Japan
Cooley LLP    preCEEd ®    9/44    N/A    11/11/2005

2005-106514

   05/11/2007

5046520

 

17

Exhibit 10.18

BIOCEPT, INC.

NOTE AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE AND W ARRANT P URCHASE A GREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of February 1, 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among B IOCEPT , I NC ., a California corporation (the “ Company ”) and the Investors listed on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (each an “ Investor and collectively, the “ Investors ”).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , in exchange for a series of loans in an aggregate amount equal to $5,000,000 from the Investors, the Company will issue secured convertible promissory notes and a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”) to the Investors.

A GREEMENT

N OW T HEREFORE , the parties to this Agreement, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged and agreed, hereby agree as follows:

1.        L OAN A MOUNT ; I SSUANCE OF N OTES AND W ARRANT .

1.1        Loan Amount; Issuance of Notes.     Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Investors agree, jointly and severally, to lend to the Company at each Closing (as defined below) the amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (each, a “ Loan Amount ” and collectively the “ Total Loan Amount ” or “ Loan ”) against the issuance and delivery by the Company of convertible promissory notes for such amounts, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, a “ Note ” and collectively, the “ Notes ”).

1.2        Issuance of Warrants.     Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Investors participating in each Closing agree to purchase from the Company, and the Company agrees to issue to such Investors, a Warrant in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Warrant ”) to purchase the number of shares of Preferred Stock set forth in the Warrant (the “ Warrant Shares ”).

1.3        Security Interest .    The payment obligations evidenced by the Notes shall be secured by a security interest as described in the Notes and pursuant to a Subordinated Security Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Security Agreement”) .

2.        C LOSINGS ; D ELIVERY .

2.1        Initial Closing.     The initial closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes (the “ Initial Closing ”) shall be held on the date hereof at the offices of Cooley LLP, 4401 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, California 92121, or at such other time and place as the Company and the Investors mutually agree.

 

1.


    (a)        Deliveries by the Company .    At the Initial Closing, the Company shall deliver (a) a duly executed Note (in the principal amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Initial Closing Principal Amount of Note”) (b) a duly executed Warrant to purchase the Warrant Shares, and (c) the duly executed Security Agreement.

    (b)        Deliveries by Investors .    At the Initial Closing, the Investor participating in the Initial Closing shall deliver to the Company funds, by check or wire transfer, in the amount set forth opposite such Investor’s name on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Initial Closing Principal Amount of Note.”

2.2        Second Closing .    On March 1, 2011, the second closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes in the principal amounts set forth opposite each Investor’s name under the heading “Second Closing Principal Amount of Note” on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (the “ Second Closing ”) shall take place.

    (a)        Deliveries by the Company .    At the Second Closing, the Company shall deliver to each Investor participating in the Second Closing (a) a duly executed Note (in the principal amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Second Closing Principal Amount of Note”) and (b) a duly executed Warrant to purchase the Warrant Shares.

    (b)        Deliveries by Investors .    At the Second Closing, the Investors shall, in the aggregate, deliver to the Company funds, by check or wire transfer, in the amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Second Closing Principal Amount of Note.”

2.3        Third Closing .    On April 1, 2011, the third closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes in the principal amounts set forth opposite each Investor’s name under the heading “Third Closing Principal Amount of Note” on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (the “ Third Closing ”) shall take place.

    (a)        Deliveries by the Company .    At the Third Closing, the Company shall deliver to each Investor participating in the Third Closing (a) a duly executed Note (in the principal amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Third Closing Principal Amount of Note”) and (b) a duly executed Warrant to purchase the Warrant Shares.

    (b)        Deliveries by Investors .    At the Third Closing, the Investors shall, in the aggregate, deliver to the Company funds, by check or wire transfer, in the amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Third Closing Principal Amount of Note.”

2.4        Fourth Closing .    On May 2, 2011, the fourth closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes in the principal amounts set forth opposite each Investor’s name under the heading “Fourth Closing Principal Amount of Note” on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (the “ Fourth Closing ”) shall take place.

 

2.


    (a)        Deliveries by the Company .    At the Fourth Closing, the Company shall deliver to each Investor participating in the Fourth Closing (a) a duly executed Note (in the principal amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Fourth Closing Principal Amount of Note”) and (b) a duly executed Warrant to purchase the Warrant Shares.

    (b)        Deliveries by Investors .    At the Fourth Closing, the Investors shall, in the aggregate, deliver to the Company funds, by check or wire transfer, in the amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Fourth Closing Principal Amount of Note.”

2.5        Fifth Closing .    On June 1, 2011, the fifth closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes in the principal amounts set forth opposite each Investor’s name under the heading “Fifth Closing Principal Amount of Note” on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (the “ Fifth Closing ” and each of the Fifth Closing, Fourth Closing, Third Closing, Second Closing and Initial Closing, a “ Closing ”) shall take place.

     (a)        Deliveries by the Company .    At the Fifth Closing, the Company shall deliver to each Investor participating in the Fifth Closing (a) a duly executed Note (in the principal amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Fifth Closing Principal Amount of Note”) and (b) a duly executed Warrant to purchase the Warrant Shares.

    (b)        Deliveries by Investors .    At the Fifth Closing, the Investors shall, in the aggregate, deliver to the Company funds, by check or wire transfer, in the amount set forth on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto under the heading “Fifth Closing Principal Amount of Note.”

The issuance of the Notes and the Warrants to the Investors at each Closing, as applicable, shall be made on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, provided that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 hereof shall speak as of the date of such Closing and (ii) the representations and warranties of each Investor participating in such Closing set forth in Section 4 hereof shall speak as of the date of such Closing.

 

3.

R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES OF THE C OMPANY .

The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Investor, as of each Closing, as applicable, as follows:

3.1        Organization and Standing; Articles and Bylaws.     The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the State of California and is in good standing under such laws. The Company has the requisite corporate power to own and operate its properties and assets, and to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. The Company is duly qualified and is authorized to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which

 

3.


the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on its business, properties, or financial condition.

3.2        Corporate Power .    The Company will have at each Closing all requisite legal and corporate power to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement.

3.3        Authorization.     All corporate action on the part of the Company, its directors and its shareholders necessary for the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrant and the Security Agreement (collectively, the “ Loan Documents ”) by the Company and the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder, including the issuance and delivery of the Notes and Warrant and the reservation of the equity securities issuable upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrant (collectively, the “ Conversion Shares ” and, together with the Notes and the Warrants, the “ Securities ”) has been taken or will be taken prior to the issuance of such Securities, as applicable. The Loan Documents, when executed and delivered by the Company, shall constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, (b) as limited by general principles of equity that restrict the availability of equitable remedies and (c) with respect to rights to indemnity, subject to federal and state securities laws. The Securities, when issued in compliance with the provisions of the Loan Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The issuance of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will not violate any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal granted by the Company that will not be validly complied with or waived. The Securities, when issued in compliance with the provisions of the Loan Documents, will be free of any liens or encumbrances, other than any liens or encumbrances created by or imposed upon the Investor through no action of the Company; provided, however , that the Securities may be subject to restrictions on transfer under (i) that certain Investor Rights Agreement, by and among the Company and the other signatories thereto, dated August 4, 2010 (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), (ii) the Company’s Bylaws and (iii) state and/or federal securities laws.

3.4        Governmental Consents .    All consents, approvals, orders, or authorizations of, or registrations, qualifications, designations, declarations, or filings with, any governmental authority, required on the part of the Company in connection with the valid execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the offer, sale or issuance of the Securities, or the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and will be effective at the Initial Closing and at each subsequent Closing, except for notices required or permitted to be filed with certain state and federal securities commissions, which notices will be filed on a timely basis.

3.5        Offering.     Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investor contained in Section 4 hereof, the offer, issue, and sale of the Notes and the Warrant are and will be exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and have been registered or qualified (or are exempt from registration and qualification) under the registration, permit, or qualification requirements of all applicable state securities laws.

 

4.


4.

R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES OF THE I NVESTOR .

Each Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as of each Closing in which such Investor participates, as applicable, as follows:

4.1        Requisite Power and Authority .    The Investor has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Loan Documents and to carry out their provisions. All action on the Investor’s part required for the lawful execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Loan Documents has been taken. Upon their execution and delivery, this Agreement and the Loan Documents will be valid and binding obligations of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with their terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, and (b) as limited by general principles of equity that restrict the availability of equitable remedies.

4.2        Purchase for Own Account .    The Investor represents that it is acquiring the Securities solely for its own account and beneficial interest for investment only, and not for sale or with a view to distribution of the Securities or any part thereof, has no present intention of selling (in connection with a distribution or otherwise), granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same, and does not presently have reason to anticipate a change in such intention.

4.3        Information and Sophistication .    The Investor (i) acknowledges that it has received all the information that it or its qualified purchaser representative has requested from the Company and that it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to acquire the Securities, (ii) represents that it or its qualified purchaser representative has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and to obtain any additional information necessary to verify the accuracy of the information given the Investor and (iii) further represents that it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risk of this investment. Without limiting the foregoing, the Investor is relying on its own independent investigation of the Company and on its own respective professional advisors in entering into this Agreement and consummating the transactions described herein.

4.4        Ability to Bear Economic Risk .    The Investor acknowledges that investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk, and represents that it is able, without materially impairing its financial condition, to hold the Securities for an indefinite period of time and to suffer a complete loss of its investment.

4.5        Further Limitations on Disposition .    Without in any way limiting the representations set forth above, the Investor further agrees not to make any disposition of all or any portion of the Securities unless and until:

    (a)         There is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; or

 

5.


(b)         (i) The transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (ii) the Investor shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and (iii) if reasonably requested by the Company, the Investor shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such disposition will not require registration of such shares under the Securities Act. It is agreed that the Company will not require opinions of counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144, except in unusual circumstances. The Company will not require the transferee to be bound by the terms of this Agreement after the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (the “ Initial Offering ”).

(c)         Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) above, no such restriction shall apply to a transfer by the Investor to an entity affiliated by common control (or other related entity) with the Investor (each such transferee, an “ Affiliate ” of the Investor); provided that in each case the transferee will agree in writing to be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if the transferee were an original Investor hereunder.

(d)         Each certificate evidencing the Securities to be issued to the Investor shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with legends substantially similar to the following (in addition to any legend required under (i) the Investor Rights Agreement, (ii) the Company’s Bylaws and (iii) applicable state securities laws):

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “ACT” ) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN NOTE AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE INVESTOR AND THE COMPANY. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

(e)         The Company shall be obligated to reissue promptly unlegended certificates representing any Securities held by the Investor at the request of the Investor if the Company has completed its Initial Offering and the Investor has obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Company) reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that the securities proposed to be disposed of may lawfully be disposed of without registration, qualification and legend.

 

6.


    (f)         Any legend endorsed on an instrument pursuant to applicable state securities laws and the stop-transfer instructions with respect to such securities shall be removed upon receipt by the Company of an order of the appropriate state securities authority authorizing such removal.

4.6        Accredited Investor Status.     The Investor is an accredited investor or is represented by a purchaser representative within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

5.        F URTHER A SSURANCES .     The Company and each Investor agree and covenant that at any time and from time to time it will promptly execute and deliver to each other such further instruments and documents and take such further action as each of the parties hereto may reasonably require in order to carry out the full intent and purpose of this Agreement.

 

6.

M ISCELLANEOUS .

6.1        Binding Agreement.     The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any third party any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

6.2        Governing Law.     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements among California residents, made and to be performed entirely within the State of California without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles.

6.3        Counterparts; Facsimile.     This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

6.4        Expenses.     Each party shall pay all costs and expenses that it incurs with respect to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

6.5        Titles and Subtitles.     The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

6.6        Notices.     All notices required or permitted hereunder or under the Notes or the Warrant shall be in writing (including facsimile, electronic mail or similar electronic transmissions), and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) when received by the addressee, if delivered by hand, facsimile, electronic mail or similar form of electronic transmission, (b) five days after mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (c) one day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent (i) to the Company at 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121, Attn: Meg McGilley, Facsimile No: (858) 320-8261 or (ii) to the Investors at the address shown on the Schedule of

 

7.


Investors, or at such other address as such party may designate by written notice to the other party.

6.7        Amendment; Waiver .    Except as otherwise set forth herein, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and approved by the Company and the holders of at least a majority in interest of the outstanding Securities.

6.8        Expenses .    Each party shall pay all costs and expenses that it incurs with respect to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

6.9        Delays or Omissions .    It is agreed that no delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by another party under this Agreement, the Notes or the Warrant, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on any party’s part of any breach, default or noncompliance under this Agreement, the Notes or the Warrant, or any waiver on such party’s part of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, the Notes or the Warrant must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies under this Agreement, the Notes or the Warrant, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

6.10        Entire Agreement .    This Agreement and the exhibits hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

6.11        California Corporate Securities Law .    THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN QUALIFIED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SECURITIES OR THE PAYMENT OR RECEIPT OF ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THEREFOR PRIOR TO SUCH QUALIFICATION OR IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH QUALIFICATION IS UNLAWFUL. PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH CONSIDERATION BY THE COMPANY, THE RIGHTS OF ALL PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING OBTAINED OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING AVAILABLE.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

8.


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE AND W ARRANT P URCHASE A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:

 

B IOCEPT , I NC . ,

a California corporation

By:

 

/s/ Faye Wilson

 

Faye Wilson

Lead Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO N OTE AND W ARRANT P URCHASE A GREEMENT ]


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE AND W ARRANT P URCHASE A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

T HE R EISS F AMILY GST E X M ARITAL

D EDUCTION T RUST UDT 12/19/1988:

By: 

 

/s/ Claire K.T. Reiss

Name: 

 

Claire K.T. Reiss

Title: 

 

Trustee

 

T HE R EISS F AMILY S URVIVOR S T RUST

UDT DATED D ECEMBER  19, 1988:

By: 

 

/s/ Claire K.T. Reiss

Name: 

 

Claire K.T. Reiss

Title: 

 

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO N OTE AND W ARRANT P URCHASE A GREEMENT ]


SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

 

I NVESTOR  N AME

  I NITIAL  C LOSING
P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   OF  N OTE
  S ECOND  C LOSING
P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   OF  N OTE
  T HIRD  C LOSING
P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   OF

N OTE
  F OURTH   C LOSING
P RINCIPAL

A MOUNT   OF  N OTE
  F IFTH  C LOSING
P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   OF  N OTE

The Reiss Family GST

Exempt Marital Deduction

Trust

  $1,000,000   To be determined   To be determined   To be determined   To be determined

Address:

9675 La Jolla Farms Road

La Jolla, CA 92037

         

The Reiss Family

Survivor’s Trust UDT

dated December 19, 1988

  $0   To be determined   To be determined   To be determined   To be determined

Address:

9675 La Jolla Farms Road

La Jolla, CA 92037

  $0   To be determined   To be determined   To be determined   To be determined
 

 

TOTAL:

  $1,000,000   $1,000,000 1   $1,000,000 1   $1,000,000 1   $1,000,000 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 $1,000,000 in the aggregate to be lent by The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust and/or The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988.


E XHIBIT A

FORM OF SECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE


E XHIBIT B

FORM OF WARRANT


E XHIBIT C

FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT


SUBORDINATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

T HIS S UBORDINATED S ECURITY A GREEMENT dated as of February 1, 2011 (“ Security Agreement ”), is made by B IOCEPT , I NC ., a California corporation (“ Grantor ”), in favor of T HE R EISS F AMILY GST E XEMPT M ARITAL D EDUCTION T RUST and T HE R EISS F AMILY S URVIVOR S T RUST UDT DATED D ECEMBER  19, 1988 (each, a “ Secured Party ”).

R ECITALS

A.         Each Secured Party has made and has agreed to make certain advances of money and to extend certain financial accommodations to Grantor as evidenced by that certain Secured Convertible Promissory Note dated February 1, 2011 executed by Grantor in favor of Secured Party and such other Secured Convertible Promissory Notes which may be executed by Grantor in favor of Secured Party after the date hereof (individually, the “ Note ” and, collectively, the “ Notes ”) and that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated February 1, 2011, by and between Grantor and each Secured Party (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), such advances, future advances, and financial accommodations being referred to herein as the “ Loans ”.

B.         Each Secured Party is willing to make the Loans to Grantor, but only upon the condition, among others, that Grantor shall have executed and delivered to Secured Party this Security Agreement.

A GREEMENT

N OW , T HEREFORE , in order to induce Secured Party to make the Loans and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, Grantor hereby represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

1.        D EFINED T ERMS . When used in this Security Agreement the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

“Bankruptcy Code means Title XI of the United States Code.

“Collateral shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2 of this Security Agreement.

Contracts ” means all contracts (including any customer, vendor, supplier, service or maintenance contract), leases, licenses, undertakings, purchase orders, permits, franchise agreements or other agreements (other than any right evidenced by Chattel Paper, Documents or Instruments), whether in written or electronic form, in or under which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any right, title or interest, including, without limitation, with respect to an Account, any agreement relating to the terms of payment or the terms of performance thereof.

Copyright License ” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, granting any right in or to any

 

1.


Copyright or Copyright registration (whether Grantor is the licensee or the licensor thereunder) including, without limitation, licenses pursuant to which Grantor has obtained the exclusive right to use a copyright owned by a third party.

Copyrights ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired or created (as a work for hire for the benefit of Grantor) by Grantor or in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, in whole or in part: (a) all copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, held pursuant to the laws of the United States, any State thereof or any other country; (b) registrations, applications, recordings and proceedings in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country; (c) any continuations, renewals or extensions thereof; (d) any registrations to be issued in any pending applications, and shall include any right or interest in and to work protectable by any of the foregoing which are presently or in the future owned, created or authorized (as a work for hire for the benefit of Grantor) or acquired by Grantor, in whole or in part; (e) prior versions of works covered by copyright and all works based upon, derived from or incorporating such works; (f) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to copyrights, including, without limitation, damages, claims and recoveries for past, present or future infringement; (g) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of any copyright; and (h) any other rights corresponding to any of the foregoing rights throughout the world.

Event of Default ” any “Event of Default” as defined in the Notes.

Intellectual Property ” means any intellectual property, in any medium, of any kind or nature whatsoever, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by Grantor or in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, and shall include, in any event, any Copyright, Copyright License, Trademark, Trademark License, Patent, Patent License, trade secret, customer list, marketing plan, internet domain name (including any right related to the registration thereof), proprietary or confidential information, mask work, source, object or other programming code, invention (whether or not patented or patentable), technical information, procedure, design, knowledge, know-how, software, data base, data, skill, expertise, recipe, experience, process, model, drawing, material or record.

License ” means any Copyright License, Patent License, Trademark License or other license of rights or interests, whether in-bound or out-bound, whether in written or electronic form, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by Grantor or in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, and shall include any renewals or extensions of any of the foregoing thereof.

Lien ” means any mortgage, lien, deed of trust, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance.

Money ” means a medium of exchange authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government and includes a monetary unit of account established by an intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or more nations.

 

2.


Patent License ” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, granting any right with respect to any invention on which a Patent is in existence (whether Grantor is the licensee or the licensor thereunder).

Patents ” means all of the following in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest: (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof and all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country; (b) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, continuations-in-part or extensions thereof; (c) all petty patents, divisionals and patents of addition; (d) all patents to issue in any such applications; (e) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to patents, including, without limitation, damages, claims and recoveries for past, present or future infringement; and (f) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of any patent.

Permitted Lien ” means: (a) any Liens existing on the date of this Security Agreement and set forth on Schedule A attached hereto; (b) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges or levies, either not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (c) Liens (i) upon or in any Equipment acquired or held by Grantor to secure the purchase price of such Equipment or indebtedness (including capital leases) incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such Equipment or (ii) existing on such Equipment at the time of its acquisition, provided that the Lien is confined solely to the Equipment so acquired, improvements thereon and the Proceeds of such Equipment; (d) leases or subleases and licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of Grantor’s business if such are not otherwise prohibited under this Security Agreement and do not interfere in any material respect with the business of Grantor; (e) any right, title or interest of a licensor under a license; (f) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments to the extent and only so long as such judgment, decree or attachment has not caused or resulted in an Event of Default; (g) easements, reservations, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar Liens affecting real property not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Grantor; (h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods; (i) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; (j) Liens in favor of a depository bank or a securities intermediary pursuant to such depository bank’s or securities intermediary’s customary customer account agreement; provided that any such Liens shall at no time secure any indebtedness or obligations other than customary fees and charges payable to such depository bank or securities intermediary; (k) statutory or common law Liens of landlords and carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other similar Liens, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (l) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, statutory or regulatory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds, and other obligations of like nature, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; (m) Liens incurred or deposits made

 

3.


in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (n) pledges and deposits securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of landlords; and (o) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under the preceding clauses, provided that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase.

Secured Obligations ” means (a) the obligation of Grantor to repay Secured Party all of the unpaid principal amount of, and accrued interest on (including any interest that accrues after the commencement of bankruptcy), the Loans, and (b) the obligation of Grantor to pay any fees, costs and expenses of Secured Party under the Notes, the Purchase Agreement, or this Security Agreement.

Security Agreement ” means this Security Agreement and all Schedules hereto, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.

Senior Indebtedness ” shall mean the principal of, unpaid interest on and amounts reimbursable, fees, expenses, costs of enforcement and other amounts due in connection with (a) those certain Secured Convertible Promissory Notes executed by Grantor in favor of The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust on December 22, 2008, (b) that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 22, 2008, by and between Grantor and The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust, and (c) that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, pursuant to which Goodman Co. Ltd. has loaned Grantor an aggregate of $3,000,000.

Trademark License ” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, granting any right in and to any Trademark or Trademark registration (whether Grantor is the licensee or the licensor thereunder).

Trademarks ” means any of the following in which Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest: (a) any trademarks, tradenames, corporate names, company names, business names, trade styles, service marks, logos, other source or business identifiers, prints and labels on which any of the foregoing have appeared or appear, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof and any applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country (collectively, the “Marks”); (b) any reissues, extensions or renewals thereof; (c) the goodwill of the business symbolized by or associated with the Marks; (d) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to the Marks, including, without limitation, damages, claims and recoveries for past, present or future infringement; and (e) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements of the Marks.

 

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UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of California (and each reference in this Security Agreement to an Article thereof (denoted as a Division of the UCC as adopted and in effect in the State of California) shall refer to that Article (or Division, as applicable) as from time to time in effect); provided, however, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of Secured Party’s security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of California, the term “ UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code (including the Articles thereof) as in effect at such time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.

In addition, the following terms shall be defined terms having the meaning set forth for such terms in the UCC: “Account”, “Account Debtor”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commodity Account”, “Deposit Account”, “Documents”, “Equipment”, “Fixtures”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instrument”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Money”, “Payment Intangibles”, “Proceeds”, “Promissory Notes”, “Securities Account”, and “Supporting Obligations”. Each of the foregoing defined terms shall include all of such items now owned, or hereafter acquired, by Grantor.

2.         G RANT OF S ECURITY I NTEREST . Subject to Section 7 , as collateral security for the full, prompt, complete and final payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all the Secured Obligations and in order to induce Secured Party to cause the Loans to be made, Grantor hereby assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to Secured Party, and hereby grants to Secured Party, a security interest in all of Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (all of which being collectively referred to herein as the “ Collateral ”):

(a)         All Accounts of Grantor;

(b)         All Chattel Paper of Grantor;

(c)         All Commodity Accounts of Grantor;

(d)         All Contracts of Grantor;

(e)         All Deposit Accounts of Grantor;

(f)         All Documents of Grantor;

(g)         All General Intangibles of Grantor, including, without limitation, Intellectual Property;

(h)         All Goods of Grantor, including, without limitation, Equipment, Inventory and Fixtures;

 

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(i)         All Instruments of Grantor, including, without limitation, Promissory Notes;

(j)          All Investment Property of Grantor;

(k)         All Letter-of Credit Rights of Grantor;

(l)         All Money of Grantor;

(m)        All Securities Accounts of Grantor;

(n)         All Supporting Obligations of Grantor;

(o)         All property of Grantor held by Secured Party, or any other party for whom Secured Party is acting as agent, including, without limitation, all property of every-description now or hereafter in the possession or custody of or in transit to Secured Party or such other party for any purpose, including, without limitation, safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of Grantor, or as to which Grantor may have any right or power;

(p)         All other goods and personal property of Grantor, wherever located, whether tangible or intangible, and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing, leased or consigned by or to Grantor; and

(q)         To the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds of each of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for and rents, profits and products of each of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2 , the grant, assignment and transfer of a security interest as provided herein shall not extend to, and the term “ Collateral ” shall not include: (a) the collateral which is subject to the Liens set forth on Schedule A attached hereto, excluding (i) the collateral subject to the terms of that certain Security Agreement dated December 22, 2008 granted to The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust and (ii) the collateral subject to the terms of that certain Subordinated Security Agreement granted to Goodman Co. Ltd., (b) “intent-to-use” trademarks at all times prior to the first use thereof, whether by the actual use thereof in commerce, the recording of a statement of use with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or otherwise or (c) any Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note in which Grantor has any right, title or interest if and to the extent such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note includes a provision containing a restriction on assignment such that the creation of a security interest in the right, title or interest of Grantor therein would be prohibited and would, in and of itself, cause or result in a default thereunder enabling another person party to such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note to enforce any remedy with respect thereto; provided that the foregoing exclusion shall not apply if (i) such prohibition has been waived or such other person has otherwise consented to the creation hereunder of a security interest in such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note or (ii) such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406(d), 9-407(a) or 9-408(a) of the UCC, as applicable and as then in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity); provided further that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse

 

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or termination of any such provision, the Collateral shall include, and Grantor shall be deemed to have granted on the date hereof a security interest in, all its rights, title and interests in and to such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note as if such provision had never been in effect; and provided further that the foregoing exclusion shall in no way be construed so as to limit, impair or otherwise affect Secured Party’s unconditional continuing security interest in and to all rights, title and interests of Grantor in or to any payment obligations or other rights to receive monies due or to become due under any such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note and in any such monies and other proceeds of such Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangible or Promissory Note.

3.        R IGHTS O F S ECURED P ARTY ; C OLLECTION O F A CCOUNTS .

(a)         Notwithstanding anything contained in this Security Agreement to the contrary, Grantor expressly agrees that it shall remain liable under each of its Contracts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Instruments and Licenses to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder and that it shall perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder, all in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and provisions of each such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument or License. Secured Party shall not have any obligation or liability under any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the granting to Secured Party of a lien therein or the receipt by Secured Party of any payment relating to any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License pursuant hereto, nor shall Secured Party be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of Grantor under or pursuant to any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License, or to make any payment, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any such Contract, Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, or License, or to present or file any claim, or to take any action to collect or enforce any performance or the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

(b)         Secured Party authorizes Grantor to collect its Accounts. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7 , at the request of Secured Party, Grantor shall deliver all original and other documents evidencing and relating to the performance of labor or service which created such Accounts, including, without limitation, all original orders, invoices and shipping receipts.

(c)         Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7 , Secured Party may at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, notify Account Debtors of Grantor, parties to the Contracts of Grantor, and obligors in respect of Instruments of Grantor and obligors in respect of Chattel Paper of Grantor that the Accounts and the right, title and interest of Grantor in and under such Contracts, Instruments and Chattel Paper have been assigned to Secured Party and that payments shall be made directly to Secured Party. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7 , upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the request of Secured Party, Grantor shall so notify such Account Debtors, parties to such Contracts, obligors in respect of such Instruments and obligors in respect of such Chattel Paper. Secured Party may, in its name or in the name of others, communicate with such Account Debtors, parties to such Contracts, obligors in respect of such Instruments and

 

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obligors in respect of such Chattel Paper to verify with such parties, to Secured Party’s satisfaction, the existence, amount and terms of any such Accounts, Contracts, Instruments or Chattel Paper.

4.        R EPRESENTATIONS A ND W ARRANTIES . Grantor hereby represents and warrants to Secured Party that:

(a)         Except for the security interest granted to Secured Party under this Security Agreement and Permitted Liens, Grantor is the sole legal and equitable owner of each item of the Collateral in which it purports to grant a security interest hereunder.

(b)         No effective security agreement, financing statement, equivalent security or lien instrument or continuation statement covering all or any part of the Collateral exists, except such as may have been filed by Grantor in favor of Secured Party pursuant to this Security Agreement and except for Permitted Liens.

(c)         This Security Agreement creates a legal and valid security interest on and in all of the Collateral in which Grantor now has rights.

(d)         Grantor’s taxpayer identification number is set forth in the signature page hereof. Grantor’s chief executive office, principal place of business, and the place where Grantor maintains its records concerning the Collateral are presently located at the address set forth on the signature page hereof. The Collateral consisting of goods, other than motor vehicles and such other mobile goods, is presently located at such address and at such additional addresses set forth on Schedule B attached hereto.

(e)         All Collateral of Grantor consisting of Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property is set forth on Schedule C attached hereto.

(f)         The name and address of each depository institution at which Grantor maintains any Deposit Account and the account number and account name of each such Deposit Account is listed on Schedule D attached hereto. The name and address of each securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which Grantor maintains any Securities Account or Commodity Account and the account number and account name is listed on Schedule D attached hereto. Grantor agrees to amend Schedule D upon Secured Party’s request to reflect the opening of any additional Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account, or closing or changing the account name or number on any existing Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.

(g)         All Intellectual Property now owned or held by the Grantor are listed on Schedule E attached hereto.

5.        C OVENANTS . Unless Secured Party otherwise consents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), Grantor covenants and agrees with Secured Party that from and after the date of this Security Agreement and until the Secured Obligations have been performed and paid in full (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) and any commitment of Secured Party to make Loans to Grantor has expired or terminated:

 

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5.1        Disposition of Collateral . Subject to Section 7 , Grantor shall not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral (each, a “ Transfer ”), or attempt or contract to do so, other than (a) the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) the granting of Licenses in the ordinary course of business and (c) the disposal of worn-out or obsolete Equipment.

5.2        Change of Jurisdiction of Organization, Relocation of Business . Grantor shall not change its jurisdiction of organization or relocate its chief executive office, principal place of business or its records from such address(es) provided to Secured Party pursuant to Section 4(d) above without at least seven (7) days prior notice to Secured Party.

5.3        Limitation on Liens on Collateral . Grantor shall not, directly or indirectly, create, permit or suffer to exist, and shall defend the Collateral against and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any Lien on the Collateral, except (a) Permitted Liens and (b) the Lien granted to Secured Party under this Security Agreement.

5.4        Insurance . Grantor shall maintain insurance policies insuring the Collateral against loss or damage from such risks and in such amounts and forms and with such companies as are customarily maintained by businesses similar to Grantor.

5.5        Taxes, Assessments, Etc . Grantor shall pay promptly when due all property and other taxes, assessments and government charges or levies imposed upon, and all claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) against, the Goods, except to the extent the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith and adequate reserves are being maintained in connection therewith.

5.6        Defense of Intellectual Property . Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) protect, defend and maintain the validity and enforceability of all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks material to Grantor’s business and (ii) detect infringements of all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks material to Grantor’s business.

5.7        Further Assurances . At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of Secured Party, and at the sole expense of Grantor, Grantor shall promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents and take such further action as Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to obtain the full benefits of this Security Agreement, including, without limitation, (a) executing, delivering and causing to be filed any financing or continuation statements (including “in lieu” continuation statements) under the UCC with respect to the security interests granted hereby, (b) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, filing or cooperating with Secured Party in filing any forms or other documents required to be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office, (c) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, placing the interest of Secured Party as lienholder on the certificate of title (or similar evidence of ownership) of any vehicle, watercraft or other Equipment constituting Collateral owned by Grantor which is covered by a certificate of title (or similar evidence of ownership), (d) executing and delivering and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable depository institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or issuer or nominated party under a letter of credit to execute and deliver a collateral control agreement with respect to any Deposit Account,

 

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Securities Account or Commodity Account or Letter-of-Credit Right in or to which Grantor has any right or interest and (e) at Secured Party’s reasonable request, using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain acknowledgments from bailees having possession of any Collateral and waivers of liens from landlords and mortgagees of any location where any of the Collateral may from time to time be stored or located. Grantor also hereby authorizes Secured Party to file any such financing or continuation statement (including “in lieu” continuation statements) without the signature of Grantor.

6.        S ECURED P ARTY S A PPOINTMENT AS A TTORNEY - IN -F ACT ; P ERFORMANCE BY S ECURED P ARTY .

(a)         Subject to Section 6(b) and Section 7 , Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Secured Party, and any officer or agent of Secured Party, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full, irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of Grantor and in the name of Grantor or in its own name, from time to time at Secured Party’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Security Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Security Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives Secured Party the power and right, on behalf of Grantor, without notice to or assent by Grantor to do the following:

(i)         to ask, demand, collect, receive and give acquittances and receipts for any and all monies due or to become due under any Collateral and, in the name of Grantor, in its own name or otherwise to take possession of, endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other Instruments for the payment of monies due under any Collateral and to file any claim or take or commence any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by Secured Party for the purpose of collecting any and all such monies due under any Collateral whenever payable;

(ii)         to pay or discharge any Liens, including, without limitation, any tax lien, levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, to effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Security Agreement and to pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof, which actions shall be for the benefit of Secured Party and not Grantor;

(iii)         to (1) direct any person liable for any payment under or in respect of any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due or to become due thereunder directly to Secured Party or as Secured Party shall direct, (2) receive payment of any and all monies, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time arising out of or in respect of any Collateral, (3) sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications and notices in connection with Accounts and other Instruments and Documents constituting or relating to the Collateral, (4) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any part thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral, (5) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against Grantor with respect to any Collateral, (6) settle, compromise or adjust any suit,

 

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action or proceeding described above, and in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as Secured Party may deem appropriate, (7) license, or, to the extent permitted by an applicable License, sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis, any Copyright, Patent or Trademark throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions and in such manner as Secured Party shall in its discretion determine and (8) sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though Secured Party were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes; and

(iv)         to do, at Secured Party’s option and Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Secured Party’s security interest therein in order to effect the intent of this Security Agreement, all as fully and effectively as Grantor might do.

(b)         Secured Party agrees that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7 and except upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, it shall not exercise the power of attorney or any rights granted to Secured Party pursuant to this Section 6 . Grantor hereby ratifies, to the extent permitted by law, all that said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The power of attorney granted pursuant to this Section 6 is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the Secured Obligations are completely and indefeasibly paid and performed in full and Secured Party no longer has any commitment to make any Loans to Grantor.

(c)         If Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein and Secured Party, as provided for by the terms of this Security Agreement, shall perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement, the reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, of Secured Party together with interest thereon at a rate of interest equal to the highest per annum rate of interest charged on the Loans, incurred in connection with such performance or compliance, shall be payable by Grantor to Secured Party within five (5) business days of demand and shall constitute Secured Obligations secured hereby.

7.        S UBORDINATION . The indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness.

7.1        Insolvency Proceedings. If there shall occur any receivership, insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, bankruptcy, reorganization, or arrangements with creditors (whether or not pursuant to bankruptcy or other insolvency laws), sale of all or substantially all of the assets, dissolution, liquidation, or any other marshaling of the assets and liabilities of Grantor, (a) no amount shall be paid by Grantor in respect of the principal of, interest on or other amounts due with respect to the Notes or the Loans at the time outstanding, unless and until the principal of and interest on the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding shall be paid in full, and (b) no claim or proof of claim shall be filed by or on behalf of Secured Party which shall assert any right to receive any payments in respect of the principal of and interest

 

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due under the Notes or the Loans except subject to the payment in full of the principal of and interest on all of the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding.

7.2        Default on Senior Indebtedness. If there shall occur an event of default which has been declared in writing with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, as defined therein, or in the instrument under which it is outstanding, permitting the holder to accelerate the maturity thereof and Secured Party shall have received written notice thereof from the holder of such Senior Indebtedness, then, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, or all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, no payment shall be made in respect of the principal of or interest on the Notes or the Loans.

7.3        Further Assurances. By acceptance of this Security Agreement, Secured Party agrees to execute and deliver customary forms of subordination agreement requested from time to time by the holder of the Senior Indebtedness and, as a condition to Secured Party’s rights hereunder, Grantor may require that Secured Party execute such forms of subordination agreement, provided that such forms shall not impose on Secured Party terms less favorable than those provided herein.

7.4        Subrogation. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, Secured Party shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of such Senior Indebtedness (to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7 ) to receive payments and distributions of assets of Grantor applicable to the Senior Indebtedness. No such payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Indebtedness shall, as between Grantor and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and Secured Party, be deemed to be a payment by Grantor to or on account of the Notes or the Loans; and for purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness to which Secured Party would be entitled except for the provisions of this Section 7 shall, as between Grantor and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and Secured Party, be deemed to be a payment by Grantor to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

7.5        No Impairment. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holder of Senior Indebtedness under this Section 7 to receive cash, securities or other properties otherwise payable or deliverable to Secured Party, nothing contained in this Section 7 shall impair, as between Grantor and Secured Party, the obligation of Grantor, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to pay to Secured Party the principal and interest under the Notes as and when the same become due and payable, or shall prevent Secured Party, upon default hereunder, from exercising all rights, powers and remedies otherwise provided herein or by applicable law.

7.6        Lien Subordination. Any Lien or security interest of Secured Party, whether now or hereafter existing in connection with the amounts due under the Notes or the Loans, on any assets or property of Grantor or any proceeds or revenues therefrom which Secured Party may have at any time as security for any amounts due and obligations under the Loans, including the Lien and security interest created by this Security Agreement, shall be subordinate to all Liens or security interests now or hereafter granted to the holder of Senior Indebtedness by Grantor or by law notwithstanding the date, order or method of attachment or perfection of any such Lien or security interest or the provisions of any applicable law.

 

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7.7        Applicability of Priorities. The priority of the holder of the Senior Indebtedness provided for herein with respect to security interests and Liens are applicable only to the extent that such security interests and Liens are enforceable and perfected and have not been avoided; if a security interest or Lien is judicially determined to be unenforceable or unperfected or is judicially avoided with respect to any claim of the holder of the Senior Indebtedness or any part thereof, the priority provided for herein shall not be available to such security interest or Lien to the extent that it is avoided or determined to be unenforceable or unperfected. The foregoing notwithstanding, Secured Party covenants and agrees that it shall not challenge, attack or seek to avoid any security interest or Lien to the extent that it secures the holder of the Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Section 7.7 affects the operation of any subordination of indebtedness or turnover of payment provisions hereof, or of any other agreements among any of the parties hereto.

7.8        Reliance of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. Secured Party, by its acceptance hereof, shall be deemed to acknowledge and agree that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement to and a consideration of the holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the creation of the indebtedness evidenced by the Notes, and the holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and holding, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

8.        R IGHTS A ND R EMEDIES U PON D EFAULT . Subject to the provisions of Section 7 , beginning on the date which is ten (10) business days after any Event of Default shall have occurred and while such Event of Default is continuing:

(a)         Secured Party may exercise in addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it under this Security Agreement, the Notes, or the Purchase Agreement, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Grantor expressly agrees that in any such event Secured Party, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except the notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale) to or upon Grantor or any other person, may (i) reclaim, take possession, recover, store, maintain, finish, repair, prepare for sale or lease, shop, advertise for sale or lease and sell or lease (in the manner provided herein) the Collateral, and in connection with the liquidation of the Collateral and collection of the accounts receivable pledged as Collateral, use any Trademark, Copyright, or process used or owned by Grantor and (ii) forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give an option or options to purchase or sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver said Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange or broker’s board or at any of Secured Party’s offices or elsewhere at such prices as it may deem commercially reasonable, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. Grantor further agrees, at Secured Party’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Secured Party at places which Secured Party shall reasonably select, whether at Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. Secured Party shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale as provided in Section 8(e) , below, with Grantor remaining liable for any deficiency remaining unpaid after such application. Grantor agrees that Secured Party need not give more than twenty (20) days’ notice of the time and place of any public sale

 

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or of the time after which a private sale may take place and that such notice is reasonable notification of such matters.

(b)         As to any Collateral constituting certificated securities or uncertificated securities, if, at any time when Secured Party shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of such Collateral hereunder, such Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under Securities Act of 1933, as amended (as so amended the “ Act ”), Secured Party may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), sell such Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as Secured Party may deem necessary or advisable, but subject to the other requirements of this Section 8(b) , and shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such event Secured Party may, in its sole discretion, (i) in accordance with applicable securities laws, proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under the Act; (ii) approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale; and (iii) restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Collateral or part thereof. In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 8(b) , if any of such Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under the Act at the time of any proposed sale hereunder, then Secured Party shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but may, in its sole discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to such restrictions as Secured Party may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the Act and all applicable state securities laws.

(c)         Grantor also agrees to pay all fees, costs and expenses of Secured Party, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the enforcement of any of its rights and remedies hereunder.

(d)         Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

(e)         Subject to the provisions of Section 7 , the Proceeds of any sale, disposition or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be distributed by Secured Party in the following order of priorities:

F IRST , to Secured Party in an amount sufficient to pay in full the costs of Secured Party in connection with such sale, disposition or other realization, including all fees, costs, expenses, liabilities and advances incurred or made by Secured Party in connection therewith, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees;

S ECOND , to Secured Party in an amount equal to the then unpaid Secured Obligations; and

 

14.


    F INALLY , upon payment in full of the Secured Obligations, to Grantor or its representatives, in accordance with the UCC or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

9.        I NDEMNITY . Grantor agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Secured Party and its officers, employees, and agents against (a) all obligations, demands, claims, and liabilities claimed or asserted by any other party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Security Agreement and (b) all losses or expenses in any way suffered, incurred, or paid by Secured Party as a result of or in any way arising out of, following or consequential to transactions between Secured Party and Grantor, whether under this Security Agreement or otherwise (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses), except for losses arising from or out of Secured Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

10.        R EINSTATEMENT . This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of Grantor’s property and assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

11.        M ISCELLANEOUS .

    11.1          Waivers; Amendments. Any amendment of the Notes, the Purchase Agreement or this Security Agreement shall require the written consent of the Grantor and each Secured Party.

    11.2        Termination of this Security Agreement . Subject to Section 10 hereof, this Security Agreement shall terminate upon the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations.

    11.3        Successor and Assigns . This Security Agreement and all obligations of Grantor hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of Grantor, and shall, together with the rights and remedies of Secured Party hereunder, inure to the benefit of Secured Party, any future holder of any of the Secured Obligations and their respective successors and assigns. No sales of participations, other sales, assignments, transfers or other dispositions of any agreement governing or instrument evidencing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner affect the lien granted to Secured Party hereunder.

    11.4        Governing Law . In all respects, including all matters of construction, validity and performance, this Security Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and performed in such state, without regard to the principles thereof regarding conflict of laws,

 

15.


except to the extent that the UCC provides for the application of the law of a different jurisdiction.

 

16.


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , each of the parties hereto has caused this Security Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on the date first set forth above.

 

A DDRESS O F G RANTOR

     

B IOCEPT , I NC ., as Grantor

5810 Nancy Ridge Dr.

     

By:                                                                                  

San Diego, CA 92121

     

Printed Name:                                                               

        

Title:                                                                               

T AXPAYER I DENTIFICATION N UMBER OF
G RANTOR

     

J URISDICTION OF O RGANIZATION OF
G RANTOR

 

     

California

A CCEPTED A ND A CKNOWLEDGED B Y :

        

T HE R EISS F AMILY GST E XEMPT M ARITAL
D EDUCTION T RUST ,
as Secured Party

        

By:                                                                                  

        

Printed Name:                                                               

        

Title:                                                                               

        

T HE R EISS F AMILY S URVIVOR S T RUST UDT
DATED
D ECEMBER  19, 1988 , as Secured Party

        

By:                                                                                  

        

Printed Name:                                                               

        

Title:                                                                               

        

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO S ECURITY A GREEMENT ]


S CHEDULE A

LIENS EXISTING ON THE DATE OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT

1. The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust was granted a security interest on the assets of the Grantor pursuant to the terms of that certain Security Agreement dated December 22, 2008.

2. Goodman Co. Ltd. was granted a security interest on the assets of the Grantor pursuant to the terms of that certain Subordinated Security Agreement.

3. Ervin Leasing Company has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor. This security interest relates to a capital lease which terminates in February of 2011, following which the Company will own the underlying equipment and the security interest will be released.

4. TCF Equipment Finance, Inc. has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor. This security interest relates to a capital lease which terminates in March of 2011, following which the Company will own the underlying equipment and the security interest will be released.

5. Key Equipment Finance Inc. has been granted a security interest on certain assets of the Grantor.


S CHEDULE B

LOCATION OF GOODS

 

E NTITY

  

A DDRESS

Biocept, Inc.   

5810 Nancy Ridge Dr., San Diego, CA 92121

Custom Engineering Plastics (tooling)   

8558 Miramar Place, San Diego, CA 92121


S CHEDULE C

LIST OF CHATTEL PAPER, INSTRUMENTS, AND

INVESTMENT PROPERTY

(CERTIFICATED SECURITIES )

None


S CHEDULE D

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS, SECURITIES ACCOUNTS AND

COMMODITY ACCOUNTS

(Including Type of Account, Account Name, Account Number and Name and Address of Institution/Intermediary)

 

DESCRIPTION

  

TYPE OF ACCOUNT

  

ACCOUNT NAME

  

ACCOUNT NUMBER

CALIFORNIA COAST CREDIT UNION SAVINGS

  

SAVINGS

  

BIOCEPT, INC.

  

7100001171

PO BOX 502080

        

SAN DIEGO, CA 92150

        

SILICON VALLEY BANK

  

ANALYSIS CHECKING

  

BIOCEPT, INC.

  

3300575742

3003 TASMAN DRIVE

        

SANTA CLARA, CA 95054

        

SILICON VALLEY BANK

  

MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT

  

BIOCEPT, INC.

  

3300668920

3003 TASMAN DRIVE

        

SANTA CLARA, CA 95054

        

SILICON VALLEY BANK

  

FLEX ANALYSIS CHECKING

  

BIOCEPT, INC.

  

3300698833

3003 TASMAN DRIVE

        

SANTA CLARA, CA 95054

        


S CHEDULE E

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments
BIO-001 FAMILY

BIOE-001/00US

  

RECOVERY OF
RARE CELLS USING A
MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS WITH
PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   11/038,920    Jan-18-2005          Notice of Withdrawal from Issue (Oct-12-2010); Office Action issued Dec-09-2010    Pending

BIOE-001/01US

  

RECOVERY OF
RARE CELLS
USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS WITH
PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   11/458,668    Jul-19-2006         

On Appeal—

Reply Brief filed Feb-01-2010

  

Pending

BIOE-001/01WO

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET MOLECULES
USING A
MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   PCT/US2007/073817    Jul-18-2007         

EXPIRED/PCT OVER

National Phase

   Expired/PCT
Period
Over

BIOE-001/01CA

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING A
MICROCHANNEL APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   2,658,336    Jul-18-2007          Application Filed    Pending

 

1


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-001/01JP

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   2009-520982    Jul-18-2007         

Exam

Requested

   Pending

BIOE-001/01CN

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   200780032530.2    Jul-18-2007          Published (Application Extended to HK)    Pending

BIOE-001/01KR

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   10-2009-7003339    Jul-18-2007         

Application

Filed

   Pending

BIOE-001/01IN

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   269/KOLNP/2009    Jul-18-2007         

Exam

Requested

   Pending

BIOE-001/01IL

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   196553    Jul-18-2007          Application Filed    Pending

 

2


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-001/01EP

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES
USING A
MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   07813079.6    Jul-18-2007          Published (Claims amended in response to EP Search Report Apr-16-2009)    Pending

BIOE-001/01HK

  

DETECTION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES
USING A
MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   09105117.8    Jul-18-2007         

Application

Filed

   Pending

BIOE-001/02US

  

RECOVERY OF
RARE CELLS
USING A
MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS
WITH
PATTTERNED
POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Pavel

TSINBERG

   60/678,004    May-04-2005         

Expired

Provisional

Application

(May-04-2006)

   Expired
Provisional

BIOE-001/03WO

  

CELL
SEPARATION
USING
MICROCHANNEL
HAVING
PATTERNED
POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   PCT/US2006/000383    Jan-05-2006          EXPIRED/PCT OVER National Phase    Expired/PCT
Period
Over

BIOE-001/03TW

  

CELL
SEPARATION
USING
MICROCHANNEL
HAVING
PATTERNED
POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   95115566    Jan-05-2006         

Exam

Requested

   Pending

 

3


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-001/03CN

  

CELL SEPARATION
USING
MICROCHANNEL
HAVING
PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   200680002401.4    Jan-05-2006          Response Filed    Pending

BIOE-001/03EP

  

CELL SEPARATION
USING
MICROCHANNEL
HAVING
PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   06717562.0    Jan-05-2006          Published (Claims amended in response to EP Search Report Aug-07-2007); Office Action issued regarding formality issues (Nov-26-2010)    Pending

BIOE-001/03IL

  

CELL SEPARATION
USING MICROCHANNEL
HAVING
PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   184345    Jan-05-2006          Office Action Issued Regarding disclose of references—duty to disclose references in progress    Pending

BIOE-001/03IN

  

CELL SEPARATION
USING
MICROCHANNEL
HAVING
PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   2991/KOLNP/2007    Jan-05-2006          Exam Requested    Pending

 

4


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-001/03JP

  

CELL

SEPARATION

USING

MICROCHANNEL    

HAVING

PATTERNED

POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   2007-551296    Jan-05-2006         

Exam

Requested

   Pending

BIOE-001/03KR

  

CELL

SEPARATION

USING

MICROCHANNEL

HAVING

PATTERNED POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   10-2007-7018895    Jan-05-2006         

Exam

Requested

   Pending

BIOE-001/03US

  

CELL

SEPARATION

USING

MICROCHANNEL

HAVING

PATTERNED

POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   11/814,276    Jan-05-2006         

Office Action

received Sept-

09-2010

   Pending

BIOE-001/03HK

  

CELL

SEPARATION

USING

MICROCHANNEL

HAVING

PATTERNED

POSTS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   08107280.6    Jan-05-2006          Published    Pending

BIOE-001/04HK

  

DETECTION OR

ISOLATION OF

TARGET

MOLECULES

USING A

MICROCHANNEL

APPARATUS

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Ram

BHATT; Pavel

TSINBERG

   10102459.8    Jul-18-2007          Published    Pending

 

5


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments
BIOE-002 FAMILY

BIOE-002/00US

  

BEADS FOR

CAPTURING

TARGET CELLS

FROM BODILY

FLUID

  

David NAFF;

Zhongliang

TANG; Pavel

TSINBERG

   11/021,304    Dec-23-2004    7,439,062    Oct-21-2008    Issued    Issued

BIOE-002/00WO

  

ISOLATION OF

CELLS OR THE LIKE
FROM

BODILY

FLUIDS

  

Ram BHATT;

Pavel

TSINBERG

   PCT/US2005/046961    Dec-21-2005         

EXPIRED/PCT OVER

National Phase

   Expired/PCT
Period
Over

BIOE-005 FAMILY

BIOE-005/00US

  

DEVICE FOR CELL
SEPARATION AND
ANALYSIS AND
METHOD OF
USING

  

Zhongliang

TANG; Pavel

TSINBERG

   11/331,988    Jan-12-2006    7,695,9456    Apr-3-2010    Issued    Issued

BIOE-005/01CN

  

DETECTION, SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION
OF TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   20078003143.6    Jan-12-2007         

Exam

Requested

(Extended to

HK Aug-04-

2009)

   Pending

BIOE-005/01EP

  

DETECTION,
SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   07717726.9    Jan-12-2007         

Published

(Claims

amended in

response to

EP Search

Report Sep-

29-2008)

   Pending

 

6


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-005/01HK

  

DETECTION,
SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   09102561.6    Jan-12-2007          Pending    Pending

BIOE-005/01IN

  

DETECTION,
SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   2899/KOLNP/2008    Jan-12-2007          Exam Requested    Pending

BIOE-005/01JP

  

DETECTION,
SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET MOLECULES
USING A
MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   2008-550541    Jan-12-2007         

Exam

Requested

(Divisional

Filed Mar-07-

2010)

   Pending

BIOE-005/01KR

  

DETECTION, SEPARATION
OR ISOLATION
OF TARGET
MOLECULES USING
A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   10-2008-7019406    Jan-12-2007          Pending    Pending

BIOE-005/01US

  

DEVICE
FOR CELL
SEPARATION AND
ANALYSIS
AND METHOD
OF USING

  

Pavel

TSINBERG ;

Zhongliang

TANG

   12/721,510    Mar-10-2010          Published    Pending

 

7


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-005/01WO

  

DETECTION,
SEPARATION
OR ISOLATION
OF TARGET
MOLECULES USING A MICROCHANNEL APPARATUS

   Pavel TSINBERG ; Zhongliang TANG    PCT/US2007/060518    Jan-12-2007         

EXPIRED/PCT OVER

National Phase

   Expired/PCT
Period
Over

BIOE-005/02HK

  

DETECTION,
SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION
OF TARGET
MOLECULES USING A MICROCHANNEL
APPARATUS

   Pavel TSINBERG ; Zhongliang TANG    09107243.1    Jan-12-2007          Published    Pending

BIOE-005/02JP

  

DETECTION, SEPARATION OR
ISOLATION OF
TARGET MOLECULES USING A MICROCHANNEL APPARATUS

  

Pavel TSINBERG ; Zhongliang TANG

   2010-058590    Jan-12-2007          Published    Pending
BIOE-008 FAMILY

BIOE-008/00US

  

ENRICHMENT OF
FETAL DNA FROM CERVICAL
MUCUS

      N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    Never Filed    Never
Filed
BIOE-010 FAMILY

BIOE-010/00US

  

NON-INVASIVE DETECTION OF
ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

      60/915,554    May-02-2007          Expired    Expired
Provisional

BIOE-010/01US

  

NON-INVASIVE
DETECTION OF
ENDOMETRIAL
CANCER

   Quynh H. LE; Herbert RADISCH    12/114,584    May-02-2008          Abandoned    Abandoned

 

8


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-010/01WO

  

NON-INVASIVE DETECTION OF
ENDOMETRIAL
CANCER

   Quynh H. LE; Herbert RADISCH    PCT/US2008/062286    May-01-2008          Abandoned    Abandoned
BIOE-011 FAMILY

BIOE-011/00US

  

CELL SEPARATION USING
DOUBLE-SLIDE
ARRANGEMENT

      N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    Never Filed    Never
Filed
BIOE-012 FAMILY

BIOE-012/00US

  

COLLECTION, SEPARATION, PURIFICATION AND TESTING OF
TROPHOBLASTS

      N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    Never Filed    Never
Filed
BIOE-019 FAMILY

BIOE-019/00US

  

ISOLATION OF
FETAL
DNA FROM
MATERNAL BLOOD

   Fan WEN-HUA; Irene POSTOR; Tim ROGER; Ram BHATT    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    Never Filed    Never
Filed
BIOE-020 FAMILY

BIOE-020/00US

  

ALTERNATE METHODS OF
CELL CAPTURE
ON THE
MEMS CHANNEL

   Steve MIKOLAJCZYK; Tony PIRCHER; Pavel TSINBERG    61/163,009    Mar-24-2009          Expired    Expired
Provisional

BIOE-020/01US

  

ALTERNATE METHODS
OF CELL
CAPTURE ON
THE
MEMS CHANNEL

   Steve MIKOLAJCZYK; Tony PIRCHER; Pavel T
SINBERG
   61/235,615    Aug-20-2009          Expired    Expired
Provisional

 

9


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments

BIOE-020/02US

  

DEVICES
AND METHODS OF CELL
CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS

   Steve MIKOLAJCZYK; Tony PIRCHER; Pavel TSINBERG; Farideh Z. BISCHOFF    12/730,738    Mar-24-2010          Published    Claims
priority
to US
61/298,871;
US
61/235,615
and US
61/163,009

BIOE-020/02WO

  

DEVICES
AND METHODS OF CELL
CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS

   Steve MIKOLAJCZYK; Tony PIRCHER; Pavel TSINBERG; Farideh Z. BISCHOFF    PCT/US2010/028499    Mar-24-2010         

Published

(National Phase Due: Sep-24-2011)

   Claims
priority
to US
61/298,871;
US
61/235,615
and US
61/163,009
BIOE-022 FAMILY

BIOE-022/00US

  

CIRCULATING
TUMOR CELL CAPTURE
IN A MICROFLOW APPARATUS

   Farideh Z. BISCHOFF    61/298,871    Jan-27-2010          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Jan-27-
2011
(to be
incorporated
with
BIOE-
020 as
CIP)
BIOE-023 FAMILY

BIOE-023/00US

  

CELL COLLECTION
TRAP FOR
MICROFLUIDIC
DEVICES

   Pavel TSINBERG; Timothy WILSON; Tony PIRCHER; Karena KOSCO    61/329,307    Apr-29-2010          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Apr-29-
2011
BIOE-024 FAMILY

BIOE-024/00US

  

ANEUPLOIDY COMPLEXITY

      61/385,936    Sep-23-2010          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Sep-23-
2011

BIOE-024/01US

  

ANEUPLOIDY COMPLEXITY

      61/386,426    Sep-24-2010          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Sep-24-
2011

 

10


Docket No.

  

Title

  

Inventors

  

Appln. No.

  

Filing Date

  

Patent No.

  

Issue Date

  

Status

   Comments
BIOE-025 FAMILY

BIOE-025/00US

  

USE OF
DIAZOLIDINYL
UREA FOR
ANTI-CLUMPING OF
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

      61/385,935    Sep-23-2010          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Sep-23-
2011
BIOE-026 FAMILY

BIOE-026/00US

  

SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION

   Steve MIKOLAJCZYK    61/385,937    Sep-23-2010          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Sep-23-
2011
BIOE-027 FAMILY

BIOE-027/00US

  

DIAGNOSTIC AND
PROGNOSTIC USES OF
SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION

   Farideh Z. BISCHOFF    61/431,385    Jan-10-2011          Provisional    Due to
expire:
Jan-10-
2012

 

Docket No.        

  

            Country             

  

Title

  

Application No./

Filing Date

  

Patent No./

Issue Date

  

Status

6776-62685

  

S. Korea

  

METHOD OF USING AN IMPROVED PEPTIDE
NUCLEIC ACID UNIVERSAL LIBRARY TO
OPTIMIZE DNA SEQUENCE HYBRIDIZATION

  

7000159/2001

July 1, 1999

  

694914

March 7, 2007

  

Issued

6776-62829

  

United States of
America

  

METHOD OF MAKING BIOCHIPS AND THE
BIOCHIPS RESULTING THEREFROM

  

09/299,831

April 26, 1999

  

6,174,683

January 16, 2001

  

Issued

6776-66152

  

United States of
America

  

PEPTIDE NUCLEIC ACID PRECURSORS AND
METHODS OF PREPARING SAME

  

09/479,320

January 5, 2000

  

6,433,134

August 13, 2002

  

Issued

6776-66233

  

S. Korea

  

METHOD OF MAKING BIOCHIPS AND THE
BIOCHIPS RESULTING THEREFROM

  

7013634/2001

April 26, 2000

  

109795

April 13, 2007

  

Issued

6776-71716

  

France

  

MICROWELL BIOCHIP

  

02778545.0

October 15,
2002

  

1444500

June 11, 2008

  

Issued

6776-71716

  

Germany

  

MICROWELL BIOCHIP

  

02778545.0

October 15,
2002

  

60227094.4-08

June 11, 2008

  

Issued

6776-71716

  

United Kingdom

  

MICROWELL BIOCHIP

  

02778545.0

October 15,
2002

  

1444500

June 11, 2008

  

Issued

 

11


Docket No.        

  

            Country             

  

Title

  

Application No./

Filing Date

  

Patent No./

Issue Date

  

Status

6776-71716

  

Japan

  

MICROWELL BIOCHIP

  

2003-536713

October 15, 2002

  

4,117,249

April 25, 2008

  

Issued

6776-71726

  

United States of
America

  

THREE DIMENSIONAL FORMAL BIOCHIPS

  

10/054,728

October 25, 2001

  

7,638,464

December 29, 2009

  

Issued

6776-72711

  

Israel

  

METHODS AND GEL COMPOSITIONS FOR
ENCAPSULATING LIVING CELLS AND
ORGANIC MOLECULES

  

158128

April 2, 2002

  

158128

December 24, 2009

  

Issued

6776-72711

  

Japan

  

METHODS AND GEL COMPOSITIONS FOR
ENCAPSULATING LIVING CELLS AND
ORGANIC MOLECULES

  

2002-580026

April 2, 2002

  

4,198,468

October 10, 2008

  

Issued

6776-72711

  

United States of
America

  

METHODS AND GEL COMPOSITIONS FOR
ENCAPSULATING LIVING CELLS AND
ORGANIC MOLECULES

  

10/398,725

April 2, 2003

  

7,172,866

February 6, 2007

  

Issued

6776-81634

  

United States of
America

  

REFLECTIVE SUBSTRATE AND ALGORITHMS
FOR 3D BIOCHIP

  

10/664,248

September 16, 2003

  

7,198,901

April 3, 2007

  

Issued

6776-81673

  

United States of
America

  

MICROARRAYS UTILIZING HYDROGELS

  

10/922,391

August 19, 2004

  

7,595,157

September 29, 2009

  

Issued

6776-81721

  

United States of
America

  

MICROWELL BIOCHIP

  

10/823,021

April 12, 2004

  

7,217,520

May 15, 2007

  

Issued

 

12


TRADEMARKS

 

Mark

  

Country

   Application
No.
   Application
Date
   Registration
No.
   Registration
Date
   Status    International Classes

3D

HYDROARRAY

  

United States of America

  

78/299,957

  

Sep-12-2003

  

3,000,775

  

Sep-27-2005

  

Registered

  

01,  09

BIOCEPT

  

United States of America

  

78/116,876

  

Mar-22-2002

  

2,880,222

  

Aug-31-2004

  

Registered

  

09

BIOCEPT

LABORATORIES

  

United States of America

  

78/412,723

  

May-04-2004

  

3,159,956

  

Oct-17-2006

  

Registered

  

09,  42

CEE

  

United States of America

  

78/648,645

  

Jun-10-2005

  

3,326,287

  

Oct-30-2007

  

Registered

  

44

CEE-ENHANCED

  

United States of America

  

85/121,217

  

Sep-01-2010

        

Pending

  

05

CEE-SURE

  

United States of America

  

85/121,215

  

Sep-01-2010

        

Pending

  

05

CHIPCALC

  

United States of America

  

78/341,146

  

Dec-15-2003

  

2,999,101

  

Sep-20-2005

  

Registered

  

09

ENGINEERING NEW DIRECTIONS IN DIAGNOSTICS

  

United States of America

  

77/102,753

  

Feb-08-2007

  

3,458,860

  

Jul-01-2008

  

Registered

  

44

HYDROARRAY

  

United States of America

  

78/282,032

  

Aug-01-2003

  

2,934,749

  

Mar-22-2005

  

Registered

  

01,  09

ONCOCEE

  

United States of America

  

77/768,632

  

Jun-25-2009

        

Allowed

  

05,  09,  10,  42,  44

ONCOCEE-BL

  

United States of America

  

85/115,130

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-BN

  

United States of America

  

85/132,281

  

Sep-17-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-BR

  

United States of America

  

85/115,123

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-CE

  

United States of America

  

85/115,995

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-CR

  

United States of America

  

85/115,126

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-GI

  

United States of America

  

85/116,005

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-LI

  

United States of America

  

85/116,002

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-LU

  

United States of America

  

85/115,124

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-ME

  

United States of America

  

85/116,000

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-OV

  

United States of America

  

85/115,998

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-PA

  

United States of America

  

85/115,127

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-PR

  

United States of America

  

85/115,125

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-RE

  

United States of America

  

85/116,001

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-TE

  

United States of America

  

85/116,004

  

Aug-25-2010

        

Pending

  

05

ONCOCEE-UT

  

United States of America

  

85/115,131

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

05

 

13


Mark

  

Country

   Application
No.
   Application
Date
   Registration
No.
   Registration
Date
   Status    International Classes

PERSONALIZED CANCER DIAGNOSTICS, ONE CELL AT A TIME

  

United States of America

  

85/115,120

  

Aug-24-2010

        

Pending

  

44

FIRSTCEE

  

European Community

  

6282719

  

Sep-17-2007

  

6282719

  

Sep-25-2008

  

Registered

  

01,  05,  09,  42,  44

PRECEED

  

European Community

  

4724101

  

Nov-16-2005

     

Nov-16-2006

  

Registered

  

09,  42

CEE

  

Japan

  

2007-2921

  

Jan-17-2007

  

5229880

  

May-15-2009

  

Registered

  

01,  05,  09,  10

CEE

  

Japan

  

2005-106515

  

Nov-11-2005

  

5229879

  

May-15-2009

  

Registered

  

09,  44

 

14

Exhibit 10.18.3

OMNIBUS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT

This O MNIBUS A MENDMENT A GREEMENT (this “Amendment” ) is entered into as of September 30, 2011, by and among Biocept, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company” ), and each of the entities identified on the signature pages hereto (each an “Investor” and collectively the “Investors” ).

R ECITALS

A. The Company and the Investors are parties to that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended on July 1, 2011 and August 1, 2011 (as amended, the “Purchase Agreement” ).

B. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement the Company issued the following Secured Convertible Promissory Notes (collectively, the “Outstanding Notes” ):

 

  (i) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated February 1, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust, in the principal amount of $1,000,000;

 

  (ii) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated March 1, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, in the principal amount of $1,000,000;

 

  (iii) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated April 1, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust, in the principal amount of $1,000,000;

 

  (iv) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated May 2, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, in the principal amount of $1,000,000;

 

  (v) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated June 1, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family GST Exempt Marital Deduction Trust, in the principal amount of $1,000,000;

 

  (vi) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated July 1, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, in the principal amount of $1,000,000;

 

  (vii) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated August 1, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, in the principal amount of $1,000,000; and

 

  (viii) Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated September 12, 2011, issued to The Reiss Family Survivor’s Trust UDT dated December 19, 1988, in the principal amount of $1,000,000.

 

1.


C. The Company and the Investors are parties to that certain Subordinated Security Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011 (the “Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Investors a subordinated security interest in certain assets of the Company as described therein.

D. The Company and the Investors desire to amend the Outstanding Notes to provide that the Maturity Date (as defined in the Outstanding Notes) of each Outstanding Note shall be December 31, 2012.

E. Section 14 of the Outstanding Notes provides that each Outstanding Note may be amended with the written consent of the Company and each Investor.

F. The Company is currently contemplating offering additional Secured Convertible Promissory Notes (collectively, the “Additional Notes” ) to investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and the Company and the Investors desire to amend the Purchase Agreement to provide that the Additional Notes shall mature on December 31, 2012.

G. Section 6.7 of the Purchase Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Company and the holders of at least a majority in interest of the outstanding Securities (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

H. To induce additional investors to purchase the Additional Notes, the Company and the Investors desire to amend the Security Agreement to provide that purchasers of the Additional Notes shall be made a party to the Security Agreement, to grant such persons or entities a subordinated security interest in certain assets of the Company as described therein.

I. Section 11.1 of the Security Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Company and each Secured Party (as defined in the Security Agreement).

A GREEMENT

In exchange for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Amendment to Outstanding Notes. Section 4.1 of each of the Outstanding Notes is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth below:

4.1 Maturity Date. This Note and all unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under this Note (the “Conversion Amount” ) shall be due and payable on December 31, 2012 (the Maturity Date ); provided, however , that the Maturity Date (i) may be extended for two successive three month periods upon the written consent of the Investor and (ii) shall be accelerated upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (defined below).”

2. Amendment to Purchase Agreement. Exhibit A of the Purchase Agreement shall be amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

 

2.


3. Amendment to Security Agreement. A new Section 11.5 is hereby added to the Security Agreement as set forth below:

11.5 Additional Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company shall issue additional Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, any purchaser of such Notes shall become a party to this Security Agreement by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page to this Security Agreement and shall be deemed a “ Secured Party ” and a party hereunder.”

4. Miscellaneous.

(a) This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile or electronic signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

(b) Except as expressly modified by this Amendment, the Purchase Agreement, the Outstanding Notes and the Security Agreement shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.

(c) This Amendment shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements among California residents, made and to be performed entirely within the State of California without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles.

[R EMAINDER OF P AGE I NTENTIONALLY L EFT B LANK ]

 

3.


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this O MNIBUS A MENDMENT A GREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph above.

 

COMPANY:

 

B IOCEPT , I NC .

a California corporation

By:   /s/ William Kachioff

Name:

  William Kachioff

Title:

  CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this O MNIBUS A MENDMENT A GREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph above.

 

INVESTORS:

T HE R EISS F AMILY GST E X M ARITAL

D EDUCTION T RUST UDT 12/19/1988:

By:

  /s/ Claire K. T. Reiss

Name:

  CLAIRE K. T. REISS

Title:

  Trustee

 

T HE R EISS F AMILY S URVIVOR S T RUST

UDT DATED D ECEMBER  19, 1988:

By:   /s/ Claire K. T. Reiss
Name:   CLAIRE K. T. REISS
Title:   Trustee


E XHIBIT A

F ORM OF S ECURED C ONVERTIBLE P ROMISSORY N OTE

[Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18.6 of the issuer’s Form S-1 registration statement filed September 23, 2013.]

Exhibit 10.18.6.1

NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Campbell Family Trust (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 13,137 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Ian Campbell Ann Campbell
Name:   Campbell Family Trust
Title:   Co-Trustees


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT
O UTSTANDING
 

Campbell Family Trust

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note      10/2/11       $ 7,093.87   


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Bruce E. Gerhardt (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 52,699 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Bruce Gerhardt
Name:   Bruce E. Gerhardt


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE
I SSUED
   P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING

Bruce E. Gerhardt

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    10/7/11    $ 28,457.47


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 105,013 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ David F. Hale
Name:   Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC
Title:    


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED    P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING

Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    10/26/11    $ 56,706.91


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and M ILLENNIUM T RUST C O ., LLC C USTODIAN FBO IVOR ROYSTON IRA (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 204,059 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Ivor Royston
Name:   M ILLENNIUM T RUST C O ., LLC C USTODIAN FBO IVOR ROYSTON IRA


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE
I SSUED
   P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING

Millennium Trust Co., LLC Custodian FBO

IVOR ROYSTON IRA

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    3/21/12    $ 110,191.75


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Edward Neff (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 52,699 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Edward Neff
Name:   Edward Neff


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE
I SSUED
   P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING

Edward Neff

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    10/7/11    $ 28,457.47


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Systems, Machine Automation Components (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 1,116,498 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Edward Neff
Name:   Systems, Machine Automation Components
Title:   President


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE
I SSUED
   P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    10/7/11    $ 85,372.60

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    12/14/11    $56,169.92

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    1/3/12    $55,950.74

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    2/14/12    $55,490.46

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    3/5/12    $55,271.28

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    6/21/12    $54,087.71

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    7/2/12    $53,967.16

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    7/13/12    $53,846.61

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    7/30/12    $53,660.31

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    9/11/12    $26,594.49

Systems, Machine Automation Components

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note    11/13/12    $52,498.65


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and J.T.A. van de Ven (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 10,540 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ J.T.A. van de Ven
Name:   J.T.A. van de Ven


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING
 

J.T.A. van de Ven

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note      10/7/11       $  5,691.49   


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Wilson Boyles & Co. (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 26,897 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ M. Faye Wilson
Name:   Wilson Boyles & Co.
Title:    


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING
 

Wilson Boyles & Co.

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note      10/3/11       $  14,524.55   


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and M. Faye Wilson (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 125,983 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ M. Faye Wilson
Name:   M. Faye Wilson


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING
 

M. Faye Wilson

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note      10/3/11       $ 14,183.92   

M. Faye Wilson IRA

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note      7/13/12       $ 53,846.61   


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Joseph O. Wong and Vivian Lim (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, as amended (the “Bridge Financing Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the secured convertible promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” );

W HEREAS , in connection with the execution of the Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company and the Noteholder entered into that certain Subordinated Security Agreement (the “Subordinated Security Agreement” ), pursuant to which the Company granted the Noteholder a security interest in certain assets of the Company as described in the Subordinated Security Agreement; and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes and the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 527,397 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.


2. Subordinated Security Agreement. Effective immediately, the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be terminated, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto, and the security interests granted in and all liens created by the Subordinated Security Agreement shall be discharged and released in full.

3. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.

(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

 

2


4. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

5.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

5.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

 

3


5.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[ S IGNATURE PAGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS ]

 

4


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Joseph O. Wong
Name:   Joseph O. Wong

 

By:   /s/ Vivian Lim
Name:   Vivian Lim


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL
A MOUNT   AND
I NTEREST
O UTSTANDING
 

Joseph O. Wong and Vivian Lim

   Secured Convertible Promissory Note      10/3/11       $  284,794.13   

Exhibit 10.19.2.1

NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Bruce E. Gerhardt (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2012, as amended, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” ); and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 62,385 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.

2. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.


(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

3. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and

 

2


have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 3 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

4. Miscellaneous.

4.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

4.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

4.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

4.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

4.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

 

3


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ Bruce E. Gerhardt
Name:   Bruce E. Gerhardt


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL   AND
I NTEREST
A MOUNT
O UTSTANDING
 

Bruce E. Gerhardt

   Promissory Note      2/21/12       $ 22,706.80   

Bruce E. Gerhardt

   Promissory Note      7/6/12       $ 10,980.80   


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2012, as amended, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” ); and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 205,379 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.

2. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.


(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

3. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and

 

2


have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 3 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

4. Miscellaneous.

4.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

4.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

4.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

4.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

4.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

 

3


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ David F. Hale
Name:   Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC
Title:    


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL   AND
I NTEREST
A MOUNT
O UTSTANDING
 

Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC

   Promissory Note      3/16/12       $ 56,438.38   

Hale Biopharma Ventures LLC

   Promissory Note      8/7/12       $ 54,465.77   


NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT

T HIS N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of June 28, 2013, by and between B IOCEPT , I NC . , a California corporation (the “Company” ), and M. Faye Wilson (the “Noteholder” ).

R ECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder previously entered into that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2012, as amended, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholder the promissory notes set forth on S CHEDULE A hereto (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” ); and

W HEREAS , the Company and the Noteholder now desire to convert the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company ( “Series A Preferred” ) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and after such conversion, the Notes shall be cancelled.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in contemplation of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

A GREEMENT

1. Conversion of Notes. Effective immediately, the entire unpaid principal and accrued interest outstanding under the Notes (the “Outstanding Balance” ) shall be automatically converted into an aggregate of 41,979 shares of Series A Preferred (the “Conversion Shares” ). The parties hereto agree that upon such conversion of the Outstanding Balance, all amounts owed under the Notes shall be deemed paid in full, the Notes shall be terminated and cancelled in full, and no party shall have any further obligations or commitments with respect thereto except as expressly provided for under this Agreement. Promptly following the date hereof (i) the Noteholder agrees to return to the Company for cancellation the original Notes held by the Noteholder and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Noteholder the Conversion Shares. Other than the Noteholder’s right to receive the Conversion Shares, the Noteholder hereby waives any and all demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, assessments and rights in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, any rights arising from any default or event of default under the Notes.

2. Noteholder Representations. The Noteholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) The Noteholder is the sole beneficial owner of the Notes held by it as indicated on S CHEDULE A hereto and the Noteholder has not sold, assigned, transferred, endorsed, deposited under any agreement, hypothecated, pledged for any bank or brokerage loan or otherwise, or disposed of in any manner any such Note or any interest therein, other than in connection with the cancellation of the Notes as contemplated herein.


(b) The Noteholder is acquiring the Conversion Shares solely for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ). The Noteholder has no pre-existing agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, with any person to sell, distribute or transfer all or any part of such Conversion Shares.

(c) The Noteholder understands that (i) the Conversion Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law by reason of their issuance in a transaction which is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that such securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such laws or a subsequent disposition thereof is exempt from registration under the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and such laws and (ii) the certificates evidencing such securities will contain a legend to the foregoing effect.

(d) The Noteholder has sufficient knowledge and expertise in business and financial matters so as to enable it to analyze and evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Noteholder is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(f) The Noteholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Noteholder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

(g) The Noteholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to agree to the conversion of the Notes held by it under this Agreement.

3. Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Noteholder hereby agrees that the Noteholder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by the Noteholder (other than those included in the registration) during (i) the 180-day period following the effective date of the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation), and (ii) the 90-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation); provided, that, with respect to (i) and (ii) above, all officers and directors of the Company are bound by and

 

2


have entered into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 3 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.

4. Miscellaneous.

4.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof. The parties agree that any action brought by either party under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to interpret or enforce any provision of this Agreement, shall be brought in, and each party agrees to and does hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of, any state or federal court located in the County of San Diego, California.

4.2 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be as effective as original signatures.

4.3 Further Assurances. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.4 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of the Conversion Shares from time to time; provided, however , that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Conversion Shares specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such Conversion Shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such Conversion Shares for all purposes.

4.5 Severability . In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

4.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

 

3


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

C OMPANY :
B IOCEPT , I NC .
By:   /s/ W G Kachioff
Name:   William Kachioff
Title:   CFO


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this N OTE C ONVERSION A GREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

N OTEHOLDER :
By:   /s/ M. Faye Wilson
Name:   M. Faye Wilson


S CHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF NOTES

 

N OTEHOLDER

  

T ITLE

   D ATE  I SSUED      P RINCIPAL   AND
I NTEREST
A MOUNT
O UTSTANDING
 

M. Faye Wilson

   Promissory Note      3/1/12       $ 22,668.44   

Exhibit 10.22

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ASSIGNMENT AND EXCLUSIVE CROSS-LICENSE AGREEMENT

T HIS A SSIGNMENT AND E XCLUSIVE C ROSS -L ICENSE A GREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) is entered into as of June 2, 2012 (the “Effective Date” ) by and between A EGEA B IOTECHNOLOGIES , a California corporation, with an address of 15638 Boulder Mountain Road, Poway, California 92064 ( “Aegea” ), and B IOCEPT , I NC . , a Delaware corporation, with an address of 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121 ( “Biocept” ).

W HEREAS , Aegea, Biocept and Dr. Lyle Arnold (the “Inventor” ) are parties to that certain binding letter of intent dated May 2, 2012 (the “LOI” ), pursuant to which, among other things:

(a) each of Aegea and Biocept assigned to the other party an undivided joint ownership interest in and to specified inventions and related patent rights;

(b) the parties agreed to file specified patent applications claiming such inventions; and

(c) the parties granted exclusive cross-licenses to each other with respect to the foregoing; and

W HEREAS , as contemplated by the LOI, the parties now wish to enter into a definitive agreement memorializing the terms of the LOI and setting forth other reasonable and customary terms and conditions.

N OW T HEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and premises contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.

D EFINITIONS

1.1 “Aegea Field” shall mean all applications, including all research use applications, and sample types outside of the Biocept Field.

1.2 “Aegea Inventions” shall mean the inventions described in the Inventor’s invention disclosures identified in Exhibit A hereto.

1.3 “Affiliate” shall mean, as to any person or entity, any other person or entity which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person or entity. For purposes of the preceding definition, “control” shall mean beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding shares or securities or the ability otherwise to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managing authority.

1.4 “Biocept Field” shall mean (a) oncology clinical testing and oncology diagnostics (including both laboratory developed tests and in vitro diagnostic tests as applied to the oncology field), and (b) oncology basic and clinical research that is performed (i) internally by Biocept, (ii) as a service offered by Biocept, or (iii) in a bona fide collaboration between Biocept and one or more third parties (each, a “Collaborator” ) , provided that such collaboration is not solely or primarily directed to providing research reagents or research technologies to such Collaborator(s), and does not involve the sale or re-sale of research reagents covered by the Joint Patents, or the licensing of technologies for research applications covered by the Joint Patents, by any Collaborator to third parties; in each case, where the sample types tested are tissue, whole blood, bone marrow, CSF or derivatives of any of the foregoing.

 

1.


1.5 “Biocept Inventions” shall mean the inventions claimed or disclosed in the Biocept Provisional Application.

1.6 “Biocept Provisional Application” shall mean U.S. provisional patent application no. 61/482,576.

1.7 “Group A Application” shall mean PCT patent application no. PCT/US2012/036678, titled “Methods for Detecting Nucleic Acid Sequence Variants,” filed May 4, 2012.

1.8 “Group A Inventions” shall mean, collectively: (a) the Biocept Inventions; and (b) those Aegea Inventions described in the Inventor’s invention disclosures identified in items 4, 6 and 7 of Exhibit A hereto.

1.9 “Group A Patents” shall mean: (a) the Biocept Provisional Application; (b) the Group A Application; and (c) all Patents that claim priority to the Biocept Provisional Application or the Group A Application or that claim or disclose any Group A Invention(s), whether now existing or hereafter filed.

1.10 “Group B Application” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b).

1.11 “Group B Inventions” shall mean, collectively, those Aegea Inventions described in the Inventor’s invention disclosures identified in items 1, 2, 3 and 5 of Exhibit A hereto.

1.12 “Group B Patents” shall mean: (a) the Group B Application; and (b) all Patents that claim priority to the Group B Application or that claim or disclose any Group B Invention(s), whether now existing or hereafter filed.

1.13 “Inventions” shall mean, collectively, the Group A Inventions and the Group B Inventions.

1.14 “Joint Patents” shall mean the Group A Patents and the Group B Patents.

1.15 “Patents” shall mean patents and patent applications, including provisional applications, continuations, continuations-in-part, continued prosecution applications, divisionals, substitutions, reissues, additions, renewals, reexaminations, extensions, term restorations, confirmations, registrations, revalidations, revisions, priority rights, requests for continued examination and supplementary protection certificates granted in relation thereto, as well as utility models, innovation patents, petty patents, patents of addition, inventor’s certificates, and equivalents in any country or jurisdiction.

1.16 “Third Party” shall mean any entity other than Biocept or Aegea or an Affiliate of Biocept or Aegea.

1.17 “Valid Claim” shall mean (a) a claim of an issued and unexpired patent within the Joint Patents, or a supplementary protection certificate thereof, which has not been held permanently revoked, unenforceable or invalid by a decision of a court, patent office or other

 

2.


forum of competent jurisdiction, unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal and that is not admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue, disclaimer or otherwise, or (b) a claim of a pending patent application within the Joint Patents that has not been abandoned, finally rejected or expired without the possibility of appeal or re-filing.

 

2.

A SSIGNMENTS

2.1 Confirmation of Assignments. The parties confirm their agreement under the LOI that Aegea and Biocept shall jointly own, in undivided shares, the Joint Patents and the Inventions, and reaffirm the following assignments made pursuant to the LOI and effective as of May 2, 2012:

(a) the Inventor assigned to Aegea all of the Inventor’s right, title and interest in and to the Aegea Inventions, including, without limitation, all Patents and other intellectual property rights therein;

(b) Aegea assigned to Biocept an undivided joint ownership interest in and to the Aegea Inventions, including, without limitation, all Patents and other intellectual property rights therein; and

(c) Biocept assigned to Aegea an undivided joint ownership interest in and to the Biocept Provisional Application and the Biocept Inventions, including, without limitation, all Patent and other intellectual property rights therein.

2.2 Further Actions. Each of the parties agrees to execute, verify and deliver such assignments or other instruments, and to take such actions, as are necessary to effect, perfect or record the foregoing assignments or Aegea’s and Biocept’s joint ownership, in equal undivided shares, of the Inventions and the Joint Patents.

 

3.

C ROSS -L ICENSES

3.1 License Grant by Biocept to Aegea. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Biocept hereby grants to Aegea an exclusive (even as to Biocept), worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid, irrevocable and perpetual license, including the right to sublicense through multiple tiers, under Biocept’s interest in the Joint Patents and the Inventions for all applications in the Aegea Field, including to make, have made, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, and import products in the Aegea Field and to develop, sell, have sold, offer for sale, perform and provide services in the Aegea Field. Aegea shall be free to grant sublicenses under the foregoing license, and to grant licenses under Aegea’s interest in the Joint Patents, throughout the world, in each case without Biocept’s consent and without accounting to Biocept.

3.2 License Grant by Aegea to Biocept. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Aegea hereby grants to Biocept an exclusive (even as to Aegea), worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid, irrevocable and perpetual license, including the right to sublicense through multiple tiers, under Aegea’s interest in the Joint Patents and the Inventions for all applications in the Biocept Field, including to make, have made, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, and import products in the Biocept Field and to develop, sell, have sold, offer for sale, perform and provide services in the Biocept Field. Biocept shall be free to grant sublicenses under the foregoing license, and to grant licenses under Biocept’s interest in the Joint Patents, throughout the world, in each case without Aegea’s consent and without accounting to Aegea.

 

3.


3.3 Section 365(n) of Bankruptcy Code. The licenses granted by the parties pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 are, and will be deemed to be, for purposes of Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, licenses of rights to “intellectual property” as defined under Section 101 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The parties further agree that, in the event of the commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding by or against a party under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the other party, as a licensee of such rights under this Agreement, will retain and may fully exercise all of its rights and elections under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

3.4 No Implied Licenses. No rights or licenses with respect to any intellectual property of either party are granted or deemed granted hereunder or in connection herewith, other than those rights and licenses expressly granted in this Agreement.

 

4.

I NTELLECTUAL P ROPERTY

4.1 Patent Prosecution and Maintenance.

(a) Group A Patents. Biocept shall have primary responsibility for preparation, filing, prosecution (including any interferences, reissue proceedings and reexaminations) and maintenance of the Group A Patents, using outside patent counsel mutually acceptable to the parties.

(b) Group B Patents. Prior to March 15, 2013, as appropriate, the parties shall file or cause to be filed one or more U.S. non-provisional patent applications, PCT patent applications, U.S. provisional patent applications and/or utility patent applications (as agreed by the parties) claiming the Group B Inventions (the “Group B Application” ). Aegea shall have primary responsibility for preparation, filing, prosecution (including any interferences, reissue proceedings and reexaminations) and maintenance of the Group B Patents, using outside patent counsel mutually acceptable to the parties.

(c) Generally. Aegea and Biocept shall share equally (50%/50%) the reasonable and documented fees and costs of preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of the Joint Patents, including any interferences, reissue proceedings and re-examinations. The calculation of the fees and costs incurred by each party and the determination of the amount one party may owe the other shall occur annually by January 15 th of each year for the preceding year, starting on January 15, 2014. Each party shall keep the other party reasonably informed of progress with regard to the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of Joint Patents for which such party (the “First Party” ) has primary responsibility, and shall consult with, and consider in good faith the requests and suggestions of, the other party (the “Second Party” ) with respect to strategies for filing and prosecuting Joint Patents worldwide. Neither party shall abandon or cease prosecution or maintenance of any Joint Patent in the United States, the European Patent Organization, Canada, Australia, Japan and China, except by specific written notice of such intent to the other party. Further, if the First Party desires to abandon or cease prosecution or maintenance of any Joint Patent in any country, the First Party shall provide reasonable prior written notice to the Second Party of such intention to abandon (which notice shall, to the extent possible, be given no later than 30 days prior to the next deadline for any action that must be taken with respect to any such Joint Patent in the relevant patent office). In such case, the Second Party may, in its sole discretion, elect to continue prosecution or maintenance of such Joint Patent, at its sole expense, and the First Party shall assign its rights to that Joint Patent to the Second Party. Similarly, if the Second Party desires to cease paying its 50% share of prosecution and maintenance costs for any Joint Patent in any country, the Second Party shall provide 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the First Party. In such case,

 

4.


the Second Party shall remain responsible for its 50% share of prosecution and maintenance incurred during such 30-day notice period and shall assign its rights to that Joint Patent to the First Party.

4.2 Cooperation. Each party agrees to cooperate fully in the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of Joint Patents under Section 4.1 and in the obtaining and maintenance of any patent extensions, supplementary protection certificates and the like with respect thereto. Such cooperation includes, but is not limited to: (a) executing all papers and instruments, or requiring its employees or contractors to execute such papers and instruments, so as to effectuate the ownership of Inventions and Joint Patents set forth in Section 2.1, and to enable the other party to apply for and to prosecute patent applications within the Joint Patents in any country as provided in Section 4.1; and (b) promptly informing the other party of any matters coming to such party’s attention that may affect the preparation, filing, prosecution or maintenance of any such patent applications.

4.3 Patent Enforcement.

(a) Notice. In the event that either Biocept or Aegea becomes aware of any infringement or threatened infringement by a Third Party of any Joint Patent, it shall promptly notify the other party in writing to that effect.

(b) Biocept Field. Subject to Section 4.3(d), Biocept shall have the sole right to bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to infringement of any Joint Patent in the Biocept Field, at its own expense and by counsel of its own choice.

(c) Aegea Field. Subject to Section 4.3(d), Aegea shall have the sole right to bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to infringement of any Joint Patent in the Aegea Field, at its own expense and by counsel of its own choice.

(d) Both Fields. With respect to infringing activity(ies) by a Third Party in both the Biocept Field and the Aegea Field, each party shall have the sole right to bring and control any action or proceeding to enforce the applicable Joint Patent(s) against such Third Party in its respective Field as set forth in Sections 4.3(b) and 4.3(c). Alternatively, the parties may agree to work together, determining who shall bring and control any action or proceeding on behalf of the parties, how expenses and recoveries shall be shared, and which counsel shall be used to represent the parties, taking into account the magnitude of harm suffered by each party.

(e) Cooperation; Award. In the event a party brings an infringement action in accordance with this Section 4.3, the other party shall cooperate fully, including, if required to bring such action, the furnishing of a power of attorney or being named as a party. Neither party shall enter into any settlement or compromise of any action under this Section 4.3 which would in any manner alter, diminish, or be in derogation of the other party’s rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of such other party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Except as otherwise agreed by the parties as part of any cost-sharing arrangement, any recovery realized by a party as a result of any action or proceeding pursuant to this Section 4.3, whether by way of settlement or otherwise, after reimbursement of any litigation expenses of the parties, shall be retained by the party that brought and controlled such action for purposes of this Agreement.

 

5.


4.4 Third Party Infringement Claims. Each party shall promptly notify the other in writing of any allegation by a Third Party that the practice of the Inventions infringes or may infringe the intellectual property rights of such Third Party. A party shall have the sole right to control any defense of any such claim involving alleged infringement of Third Party rights by such party’s activities at its own expense and by counsel of its own choice. Neither party shall have the right to settle any patent infringement litigation under this Section 4.4 relating to the Joint Patents in a manner that diminishes the rights or interests of the other party without the consent of such other party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

5.

C ONFIDENTIALITY

5.1 Confidentiality. Except to the extent expressly authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, each party agrees that, during the Term and for five years thereafter, such party shall keep confidential and shall not publish or otherwise disclose and shall not use for any purpose, other than as expressly provided for in this Agreement, any information relating to the Inventions or the Joint Patents (collectively, “Confidential Information” ). Each party may use Confidential Information only to the extent required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. Each party shall use at least the same standard of care as it uses to protect proprietary or confidential information of its own to ensure that its, and its Affiliates’, employees, agents, consultants and other representatives do not disclose or make any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. Each party shall promptly notify the other party upon discovery of any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information.

5.2 Exceptions. Confidential Information shall not include any information which is now, or hereafter becomes, through no breach of this Agreement by either party, generally known or available.

5.3 Authorized Disclosure. Each party may disclose Confidential Information of the other party as expressly permitted by this Agreement, or if and to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary in the following instances:

(a) filing or prosecuting Joint Patents as permitted by this Agreement;

(b) exercising the license granted to such party hereunder;

(c) enforcing such party’s rights under this Agreement;

(d) prosecuting or defending litigation as permitted by this Agreement;

(e) complying with applicable court orders or governmental regulations;

(f) disclosure to Affiliates, licensees and sublicensees, potential licensees and sublicensees, contractors, employees and consultants, in each case, only as necessary for such party to exercise its rights or perform its obligations under this Agreement and on the condition that any such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that are no less stringent than the terms of this Agreement; and

(g) disclosure to Third Parties in connection with due diligence or similar investigations by such Third Parties, and disclosure to potential Third Party investors in confidential financing documents, provided, in each case, that any such Third Party agrees to be bound by reasonable confidentiality and non-use obligations.

 

6.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a party is required to make a disclosure of the other party’s Confidential Information pursuant to Section 5.3(d) or Section 5.3(e), it shall give reasonable advance notice to the other party of such disclosure and use efforts to secure confidential treatment of such information at least as diligent as such party would use to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable efforts. In any event, the parties agree to take all reasonable action to avoid disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder.

 

6.

R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES

6.1 Mutual Representations and Warranties. Each party hereby represents and warrants to the other party that: (a) it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement is a legal and valid obligation binding upon it and enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not conflict with any agreement, instrument or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, nor violate any law or regulation of any court, governmental body or administrative or other agency having jurisdiction over it.

6.2 Disclaimer. Except as expressly set forth herein, THE TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROVIDED BY EACH PARTY HEREUNDER ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICES.

6.3 Limitation of Liability. Except in the case of breach of Article 5, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER; provided, however, that this Section 6.3 shall not be construed to limit either party’s indemnification obligations under Article 7.

 

7.

I NDEMNIFICATION

7.1 Indemnification by Aegea. Aegea hereby agrees to save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Biocept, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the “Biocept Indemnitees” ) from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, expenses and costs, including reasonable legal expense and attorneys’ fees ( “Losses” ), to which any Biocept Indemnitee may become subject as a result of any claim, demand, action or other proceeding by any Third Party to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Aegea Indemnitee (defined below); (b) the breach by Aegea of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by Aegea in this Agreement; or (c) the practice by Aegea, its Affiliates, licensees or sublicensees of the license granted to Aegea hereunder; in each case, except to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee or the breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by Biocept in this Agreement.

 

7.


7.2 Indemnification by Biocept. Biocept hereby agrees to save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Aegea, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the “Aegea Indemnitees” ) from and against any and all Losses to which any Aegea Indemnitee may become subject as a result of any claim, demand, action or other proceeding by any Third Party to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee; (b) the breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by Biocept in this Agreement; or (c) the practice by Biocept, its Affiliates, licensees or sublicensees of the license granted to Biocept hereunder; in each case except to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Aegea Indemnitee or the breach by Aegea of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by Aegea in this Agreement.

7.3 Control of Defense. In the event a party seeks indemnification under Section 7.1 or 7.2, it shall inform the other party (the “Indemnifying Party” ) of a claim as soon as reasonably practicable after such party (the “Indemnified Party” ) receives notice of the claim (it being understood and agreed, however, that the failure by an Indemnified Party to give notice of a claim as provided in this Section 7.3 shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligation under this Agreement except and only to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually damaged as a result of such failure to give notice), shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume direction and control of the defense of the claim (including the right to settle the claim solely for monetary consideration), and shall cooperate as requested (at the expense of the Indemnifying Party) in the defense of the claim. The Indemnified Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim or consent to any judgment in respect thereof that does not include a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability with respect thereto, that imposes any liability or obligation on the Indemnified Party or that acknowledges fault by the Indemnified Party; in each case, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party.

7.4 Insurance. Each party, at its own expense, shall maintain: (a) comprehensive general liability insurance, including broad form and contractual liability; (b) and product liability and completed operations/clinical trial and other appropriate insurance, in commercially reasonable amounts in light of such party’s activities at a particular time under this Agreement during the Term. Each party shall provide a certificate of insurance evidencing such coverage to the other party upon request.

 

8.

T ERM

This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the expiration of the last-to-expire Valid Claim of the Joint Patents.

 

9.

D ISPUTE R ESOLUTION

9.1 Dispute Resolution. Any dispute arising under or relating to the parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be referred to the Chief Executive Officers of Aegea and Biocept for resolution. In the event such individuals are unable to resolve such dispute within 30 days of such dispute being referred to them, then, upon the written request of either party to the other party, the dispute shall be subject to arbitration in accordance with Section 9.2, except as set forth in Section 9.3 below.

 

8.


9.2 Arbitration. Subject to Section 9.3 below, any claim, dispute, or controversy of whatever nature arising out of or relating to this Agreement that is not resolved under Section 9.1 within the specified 30-day period shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS (the “Administrator” ) in accordance with its then-effective Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures (the “Rules” ), except to the extent any such Rule conflicts with the express provisions of this Section 9.2. The arbitration shall be conducted by one neutral arbitrator selected in accordance with the Rules. The arbitration shall be held in San Diego, California. The arbitrator’s award shall include a written statement describing the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based, including the calculation of any damages awarded. The arbitrator shall, in rendering his or her decision, apply the substantive laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles, and without giving effect to any rules or laws relating to arbitration. The arbitrator’s authority to award special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 6.3. The award rendered by the arbitrator shall be final, binding and non-appealable, and judgment may be entered upon it in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each party shall bear its own attorney’s fees, costs, and disbursements arising out of the arbitration, and shall pay an equal share of the fees and costs of the Administrator and the arbitrator; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall be authorized to determine whether a party is the prevailing party, and if so, to award to that prevailing party reimbursement for any or all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements (including, for example, expert witness fees and expenses, photocopy charges, travel expenses, etc.), and/or the fees and costs of the Administrator and the arbitrator.

9.3 Court Actions. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall deny either party the right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in the context of a bona fide emergency or prospective irreparable harm, and such an action may be filed and maintained notwithstanding any ongoing discussions between the parties or any ongoing arbitration proceeding. In addition, either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to resolve disputes pertaining to the validity, construction, scope, enforceability, infringement or other violations of Patents or other intellectual property rights, and no such claim shall be subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 9.2.

 

10.

M ISCELLANEOUS P ROVISIONS

10.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

10.2 Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement, including the Exhibit hereto, is both a final expression of the parties’ agreement and a complete and exclusive statement with respect to all of its terms. This Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and communications, whether oral, written or otherwise, concerning any and all matters contained herein, including the LOI. This Agreement may only be modified or supplemented in a writing expressly stated for such purpose and signed by the parties to this Agreement.

10.3 Relationship Between the Parties. The parties’ relationship, as established by this Agreement, is solely that of independent contractors. This Agreement does not create any partnership, joint venture or similar business relationship between the parties. Neither party is a legal representative of the other party, and neither party can assume or create any obligation, representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, on behalf of the other party for any purpose whatsoever.

 

9.


10.4 Non-Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right arising out of this Agreement shall neither impair that provision or right nor constitute a waiver of that provision or right, in whole or in part, in that instance or in any other instance. Any waiver by a party of a particular provision or right shall be in writing, shall be as to a particular matter and, if applicable, for a particular period of time and shall be signed by such party.

10.5 Assignment. Except as expressly provided hereunder, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that either party may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the other party’s consent: (a) in connection with the transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the business of such party to which this Agreement relates to a Third Party, whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise; or (b) to an Affiliate, provided that the assigning party shall remain liable and responsible to the non-assigning party hereto for the performance and observance of all such duties and obligations by such Affiliate. The rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties, and the name of a party appearing herein shall be deemed to include the name of such party’s successors and permitted assigns to the extent necessary to carry out the intent of this section. Any assignment not in accordance with this Agreement shall be void.

10.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is neither expressly nor impliedly made for the benefit of any party other than those executing it.

10.7 Severability. If, for any reason, any part of this Agreement is adjudicated invalid, unenforceable or illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, such adjudication shall not affect or impair, in whole or in part, the validity, enforceability or legality of any remaining portions of this Agreement. All remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect as if the original Agreement had been executed without the invalidated, unenforceable or illegal part.

10.8 Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered either in person, by any method of mail (postage prepaid) requiring return receipt, or by overnight courier, to the party to be notified at its address given below, or at any address such party has previously designated by prior written notice to the other. Notice shall be deemed sufficiently given for all purposes upon the earliest of: (a) the date of actual receipt; (b) if mailed, five days after the date of postmark; or (c) if delivered by express courier, the next business day the courier regularly makes deliveries in the country of the recipient.

 

If to Aegea:

  

Aegea Biotechnologies

15638 Boulder Mountain Road

Poway, CA 92064

Attention: Lyle Arnold, Ph.D.

If to Biocept:

  

Biocept, Inc.

5810 Nancy Ridge Road

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Corporate Development

 

10.


10.9 Interpretation. The headings of clauses contained in this Agreement preceding the text of the sections, subsections and paragraphs hereof are inserted solely for convenience and ease of reference only and shall not constitute any part of this Agreement, or have any effect on its interpretation or construction. All references in this Agreement to the singular shall include the plural where applicable. Unless otherwise specified, references in this Agreement to any Article shall include all Sections, subsections and paragraphs in such Article, references to any Section shall include all subsections and paragraphs in such Section, and references in this Agreement to any subsection shall include all paragraphs in such subsection. All references to days in this Agreement shall mean calendar days, unless otherwise specified. Ambiguities and uncertainties in this Agreement, if any, shall not be interpreted against either party, irrespective of which party may be deemed to have caused the ambiguity or uncertainty to exist.

10.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, including by transmission of facsimile or PDF copies of signature pages to the parties or their representative legal counsel, each of which shall be deemed an original document, and all of which, together with this writing, shall be deemed one instrument.

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement in duplicate originals by their duly authorized officers as of the Effective Date.

 

A EGEA B IOTECHNOLOGIES

  

B IOCEPT , I NC .

By: /s/ Lyle Arnold

  

By: /s/ David F. Hale

Name: LYLE ARNOLD

  

Name: David F. Hale

Title: Founder & CEO

  

Title: Executive Chairman

 

11.


Exhibit A

A EGEA I NVENTIONS

 

Item

  

Title of Invention Disclosure

   Date of
Disclosure
  

Description of Invention

1    Whole Genome Amplification    11/09

12/09

  

Arnold IP. [**]

2    Whole Transcriptome Amplification    11/09

12/09

  

Arnold IP. [**]

3    Whole Genome Using Random Priming and T7 Amplification    12/09   

Arnold IP. [**]

4    Primer Switch Amplification    10/10   

Arnold IP. [**]

5    Improved Whole Genome/Whole Transcriptome Amplification    11/10   

Arnold IP. [**]

6    Loop Blocker and Primer Combination for Amplification Reactions    11/10   

Arnold IP. [**]

7    Switch Blockers for Selective Amplification and Detection    12/10   

Arnold IP. [**]

[**] Confidential portions omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

 

12.

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1/A and related Prospectus of our report dated August 16, 2013 (except as to Note 17, as to which the date is November 5, 2013), relating to the financial statements of Biocept, Inc., (which report includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the uncertainty of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern) and to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” which is contained in this Prospectus.

/s/ Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

San Diego, California

November 5, 2013