UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 15, 2022
Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-40064 | 82-1510982 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1055 Westlakes Drive, Suite 300
Berwyn, PA 19312
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(610) 727-4597
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class: | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on which Registered | ||
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share | VRPX | The Nasdaq Capital Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR§230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On March 9, 2022, Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Amended and Restated Collaboration and License Agreement with Nanomerics Ltd. (“Nanomerics, and the “Amended Nanomerics License Agreement”) which amended and restated the August 7, 2020, collaboration and license agreement with Nanomerics and expanded the Company’s North American rights for its anti-viral therapy (“AnQlar”) to include exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize AnQlar as an anti-viral barrier to prevent or reduce the risk or the intensity of viral infections. In addition, the Amended Nanomerics License Agreement provides for profit share payments equal to between 30% to 40% of certain profits (as set forth in the Amended Nanomerics License Agreement), payable to Nanomerics in place of the Company’s obligation to pay royalties of between 5% to 15% and payments of up to $45 million upon the achievement of specified commercial milestones. The profit share payments are triggered upon determination by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that AnQlar may be marketed as an Over-the-Counter product in the United States. In the event the profit share payments are not triggered as defined above, the Company’s obligation to pay royalties and commercial milestones would remain in effect and be extended on a worldwide basis amounting to aggregate milestone payments of up to $112.5 million upon the achievement of these commercial milestones. The Amended Nanomerics License Agreement also provides for additional aggregate milestone payments totaling $999,999 upon first receipt of regulatory approval for a licensed product in the European Union, Asia/Pacific region and South America/Middle East region. In consideration for entering into this Amended Nanomerics License Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Nanomerics $1.5 million within five days of the effective date the agreement. All other material terms and conditions remained the same.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD.
On March 15, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing its entry into the Amended Nanomerics License Agreement. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
99.1 | Press release of Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issued March 15, 2022 | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
VIRPAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | ||
Dated: March 15, 2022 | By: | /s/ Christopher Chipman |
Christopher Chipman | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
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Exhibit 99.1
Virpax Pharmaceuticals Expands AnQlar™ Development and Commercialization Rights Through Worldwide Licensing Agreement
- AnQlar ™ Has Previously Demonstrated Antiviral Activity Against Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in Three Preclinical Studies -
-- The FDA has indicated that Virpax may pursue an NDA drug approval with the Office of Non-Prescription Drugs --
BERWYN, PA, March 15, 2022 — Virpax® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Virpax” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VRPX), a company specializing in developing non-addictive product candidates for pain management as well as PTSD, CNS disorders and anti-viral indications, expanded its exclusive license agreement for AnQlar™ with Nanomerics Ltd., providing Virpax with the worldwide rights for development and commercialization.
Virpax has completed in-vitro, ex-vivo (human mucosal cells), and in-vivo (rats) studies on AnQlar which demonstrated that AnQlar inhibited viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza in animals at ranges higher than those encountered in human nasal passages. No adverse effects were observed during the studies. Animal studies also demonstrated decreased levels of the virus in animal brain tissue. Virpax anticipates that Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies will be completed by the fourth fiscal quarter of 2022 and anticipates pursuing a nonprescription drug approval pathway.
“We would like to extend our appreciation to our partner, Nanomerics, in collaborating with the Company to restructure our original agreement, exchanging North American rights with an agreement that awards us global rights and replacing all commercial milestones and royalties with a profit-sharing arrangement. This assists us with the transition of AnQlar to a potential over-the-counter designation by the FDA,” stated Christopher M. Chipman, CFO and Secretary of Virpax.
“Obtaining the worldwide rights to AnQlar is consistent with our global business model and puts the company in a stronger position to pursue strategic alliances or enterprise opportunities for this product candidate,” commented Anthony P. Mack, Chairman & CEO of Virpax.
About AnQlar™
AnQlar (GCPQ) is a positively-charged chitosan derivative that binds electrostatically to negatively charged viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. AnQlar can prevent the binding of coronavirus to the cell surface ACE-2 receptor that mediates viral infection. This molecule may have dual mechanisms of action: viricidal properties and inhibition of virus entry into cells via the ACE-2 receptor.
AnQlar is a mucoadhesive polymer with a prolonged nasal residence time. Application of AnQlar to the nasal mucosa may provide a barrier to viral infection by inhibiting binding of viruses. Preliminary in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-vivo data demonstrate AnQlar inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 and may inhibit viral spread as well as viral brain load.
About Nanomerics
Nanomerics Ltd is a specialty pharmaceutical company based in London, United Kingdom. Nanomerics was spun out of University College London and was founded to commercialize its biocompatible polymer technologies for drug delivery and other applications. Nanomerics’ proprietary technology is based on world leading know-how and scientific leadership in polymer nanotechnology. Nanomerics creates uniquely differentiated, patented pharmaceutical assets, underpinned by high quality science. For example, the company’s Molecular Envelope Technology (MET) is a unique patented biocompatible polymer that delivers a step change in target tissue bioavailability. Nanomerics’ MET won first prize in the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Technologies competition. The founding scientists Professor Ijeoma F. Uchegbu and Professor Andreas G. Schätzlein developed the technology at the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow and, latterly at the UCL School of Pharmacy. For more information please visit www.nanomerics.com.
About Virpax Pharmaceuticals
Virpax is developing branded product candidates for non-addictive pain management and neurological disorders using its proprietary technologies to optimize and target drug delivery. Virpax is initially seeking FDA approval of its three patented drug delivery platforms. Epoladerm™ is a topical diclofenac spray film formulation being developed to manage osteoarthritis pain. Probudur™ is a single injection long-acting liposomal bupivacaine formulation being developed to manage post-operative pain. Envelta™ is an intranasal Molecular-Envelope Technology (MET) enkephalin formulation being developed for the management cancer and non-cancer pain, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) under the name PES200. MET technology is also used in AnQlar™, a candidate to inhibit viral replication caused by influenza or SARS-CoV-2. Virpax recently acquired global rights to VRP324, a product candidate for the nasal delivery of a pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol (CBD) for the management of epilepsy in children (a rare pediatric disease) and adults. For more information, please visit www.virpaxpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company’s planned clinical trials, product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management’s current beliefs and assumptions.
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These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of sustained social distancing efforts, on the Company’s operations, clinical development plans and timelines, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Christopher M. Chipman, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
cchipman@virpaxpharma.com
610-727-4597
Investor Relations:
Betsy Brod
Affinity Growth Advisors
betsy.brod@affinitygrowth.com
212-661-2231
Media:
Laura Radocaj
DGI
212-825-3210
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