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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022

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For the transition period from   ____________ to  ____________

Commission File Number: 001-12584

(301) 417-4364

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes   ☒     No  ☐

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

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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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐       No ☒

As of August 10, 2022, the registrant had 15,844,061 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

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SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In particular, statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to, statements regarding the timing of our clinical trials, the development and commercialization of our pipeline products, the sufficiency of our cash, our ability to finance our operations and business initiatives and obtain funding for such activities and the timing of any such financing, our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans prospects, or costs and objectives of management for future research, development or operations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to our future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “goals,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” and “continue” or similar words. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified below, under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and those identified under Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Form 10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed, projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

NOTE REGARDING COMPANY REFERENCES

Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Synthetic Biologics,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Synthetic Biologics, Inc. and our subsidiary VCN Biosciences S.L. ("VCN").

NOTE REGARDING TRADEMARKS

All trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners.

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SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

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See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Synthetic Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

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1. Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Synthetic Biologics”) is a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics in areas of high unmet need. Prior to the acquisition of VCN (the “Acquisition”), the Company’s focus was on developing therapeutics designed to treat gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in areas which included our lead clinical development candidates: (1) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to degrade certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics within the GI tract to prevent microbiome damage, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), overgrowth of pathogenic organisms, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, and (2) SYN-020, a recombinant oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) produced under cGMP conditions and intended to treat both local GI and systemic diseases. Upon consummation of the Acquisition of VCN, described in more detail below, the Company began transitioning its strategic focus to oncology through the development of VCN’s new oncolytic adenovirus platform designed for intravenous and intravitreal delivery to trigger tumor cell death, improve access of co-administered cancer therapies to the tumor, and promote a robust and sustained anti-tumor response by the patient’s immune system.

Basis of Presentation

On July 11, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse stock split of the Company's authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a ratio of one (1) share of common stock for every ten (10) shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split was effective on July 25, 2022 (the “Effective Time).

As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, each ten (10) pre-split shares of common stock outstanding automatically combined into one (1) new share of common stock without any action on the part of the holders, and the number of outstanding shares of common stock was reduced from 158,437,840 shares to 15,844,061 shares (subject to rounding of fractional shares) and the number of authorized shares of common stock was reduced from 200,000,000 share to 20,000,000 shares. Stockholders who otherwise were entitled to receive fractional shares because they held a number of pre-reverse stock split shares of the Company's common stock not evenly divisible by 10, received, in lieu of a fractional share, that number of shares rounded up to the nearest whole share. The Reverse Stock Split did not alter the par value of the Company's common stock or modify any voting rights or other terms of the common stock. In addition, pursuant to their terms, a proportionate adjustment was made to the per share conversion exercise price and number of shares issuable under all of the Company's outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock and stock options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock, and the number of shares authorized and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's equity incentive plans was reduced proportionately.

All share amounts and exercise/conversion prices in the condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes below have been adjusted retrospectively for the Reverse Stock Split.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, comprised of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary by management to fairly state the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K. The interim results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

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Synthetic Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation – (continued)

The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities at the reporting date and the amounts of revenue and expenses in the periods presented. The Company believes that the accounting estimates employed are appropriate and the resulting balances are reasonable; however, due to the inherent uncertainties in making estimates, actual results may differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to these balances in future periods. As of June 30, 2022 the Company has one operating segment (which includes the legacy Company business and the VCN business) and therefore one reporting segment.

Business Combination

The Company accounts for acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that all identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed be recorded at their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management makes significant estimates and assumptions. Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include but are not limited to future expected cash flows from acquired patented technology. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates.

As a result of the acquisition of VCN (see Note 2), the Company has two intangible assets, in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) and goodwill. The IPR&D and goodwill are deemed to have indefinite lives and therefore not amortized.

IPR&D

IPR&D assets represent the fair value assigned to technologies that the Company acquired, which at the time of acquisition have not reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use. IPR&D assets are considered to have indefinite-lives until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development projects. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs upon regulatory approval and the ability to commercialize products associated with the IPR&D assets, these assets are then deemed to have definite lives and are amortized based on their estimated useful lives at that point in time. If development is terminated or abandoned, the Company may have a full or partial impairment charge related to the IPR&D assets, calculated as the excess of carrying value of the IPR&D assets over fair value.

During the period that the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they are tested for impairment on an annual basis on October 1, or more frequently if the Company becomes aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that could indicate an impairment. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the estimated fair value of the IPR&D with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. No impairment of the IPR&D asset was identified during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

Goodwill

The Company tests the carrying amounts of goodwill for recoverability on an annual basis on October 1 or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  The Company performs a one-step test in its evaluation of the carrying value of goodwill if qualitative factors determine it is necessary to complete a goodwill impairment test. In the evaluation, the fair value of the relevant reporting unit is determined and compared to its carrying value. If the fair value is greater than the carrying value, then the carrying value is deemed to be recoverable, and no further action is required. If the fair value estimate is less than the carrying value, goodwill is considered impaired for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, and a charge is reported in impairment of goodwill in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. As of June 30, 2022, the Company has determined that it has one reporting unit. The Company has not identified any events or changes in circumstances that indicate the existence of potential impairment of goodwill during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation – (continued)

Contingent Consideration

Consideration paid in a business combination may include potential future payments that are contingent upon the acquired business achieving certain milestones in the future (“contingent consideration”). Contingent consideration liabilities are measured at their estimated fair value as of the date of acquisition, with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company estimates the fair value of the contingent consideration as of the acquisition date using the estimated future cash outflows based on the probability of meeting future milestones. The milestone payments will be made upon the achievement of clinical and commercialization milestones as well as single low digit royalty payments and payments upon receipt of sublicensing income. Subsequent to the date of acquisition, the Company reassesses the actual consideration earned and the probability-weighted future earn-out payments at each balance sheet date. Any adjustment to the contingent consideration liability will be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Contingent consideration liabilities expected to be settled within 12 months after the balance sheet date are presented in current liabilities, with the non-current portion recorded under long term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include property, equipment and right-of-use assets. Management reviews the Company’s long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be fully recoverable. The Company determines the extent to which an asset may be impaired based upon its expectation of the asset’s future usability as well as whether there is reasonable assurance that the future cash flows associated with the asset will be in excess of its carrying amount. If the total of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset. As a result, no impairment charges were recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Developments

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06 Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and improves and amends the related earnings per share guidance for both Subtopics. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within those annual periods and early adoption is permitted in annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2020. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2020-06 on its consolidated financial statements.

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Synthetic Biologics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Business Combination

Summary

On March 10, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of VCN (the “VCN Shares”) from the shareholders of VCN. VCN is a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new oncolytic adenoviruses for the treatment of cancer. VCN’s lead product candidate, VCN-01, is being studied in clinical trials for pancreatic cancer and retinoblastoma. VCN-01 is designed to be administered systemically, intratumorally or intravitreally, either as a monotherapy or in combination with standard of care, to treat a wide variety of cancer indications. VCN-01 is designed to replicate selectively and aggressively within tumor cells, and to degrade the tumor stroma barrier that serves as a significant physical and immunosuppressive barrier to cancer treatment. Degrading the tumor stroma has been shown to improve access to the tumor by the virus and additional therapies such as chemo- and immuno-therapies. Importantly, degrading the stroma exposes tumor antigens, turning “cold” tumors “hot” and enabling a sustained anti-tumor immune response. VCN has the rights to four exclusive patents for proprietary technologies, as well as technologies developed in collaboration with the Virotherapy Group of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-IDIBELL) and with Hospital Sant Joan de Deu (HSJD), with a number of additional patents pending. As consideration for the purchase of the VCN Shares, the Company paid $4,700,000 to Grifols Innovation and New Technologies Limited, the owner of approximately 86% of the equity of VCN, and issued to the remaining sellers and certain key VCN employees and consultants of VCN an aggregate of 2,639,530 shares of its common stock In addition to the consideration described above, under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company assumed up to $2,390,000 of existing liabilities of VCN and has agreed to make cash payments of up to $70.2 million to Grifols upon the achievement of certain clinical and commercialization milestones.

In anticipation of the Acquisition, prior to the Closing, the Company loaned VCN $417,000 to help finance the costs of certain of VCN’s research and development activities. At the Closing, VCN and Grifols entered into a sublease agreement for the sublease by VCN of laboratory and office space as well as a transitional services agreement. As a post-Closing covenant, the Company has agreed to commit to fund VCN’s research and development programs, including but not limited to VCN-01 in a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma PDAC phase 2 trial, VCN-01 in a retinoblastoma (RB) phase 2/3 trial and necessary G&A within a budgetary plan of approximately $27.8 million.

Total purchase consideration including cash, restricted shares and contingent consideration was valued at approximately $23.9 million, as follows (in thousands):

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As of March 31, 2022, the fair value of the contingent consideration was approximately $12.2 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2022 the Company recognized a non-cash gain of $483,000 related to the decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration. This gain was recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

The Company acquired VCN due to its track record of being a research and development growth engine capable of fueling sustainable growth, to expand the Company’s research and development pipeline, and to diversify the Company’s potential future revenue opportunities.

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2. Business Combination - (continued)

The preliminary allocation of the fair value of the VCN acquisition is shown in the table below.

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The above allocation of the purchase price is based upon certain preliminary valuations and other analyses that have not been finalized as of the date of this filing. Any changes in the estimated fair values of the purchase consideration and of the net assets recorded for this business combination upon the finalization of more detailed analyses of the facts and circumstances that existed at the date of the transaction may change the amount and allocation of the purchase price. As such, the purchase price amount and allocations for this transaction are preliminary estimates including in-process research and development, goodwill and contingent consideration, which may be subject to change within the measurement period. During the three months ended June 30, 2022 the Company recognized a measurement period adjustment related to the estimate of acquired liabilities resulting in a $277,000 reduction in accrued liabilities and Goodwill.

The net assets were recorded at their estimated fair value. In valuing acquired assets and liabilities, fair value estimates were based primarily on future expected cash flows, market rate assumptions for contractual obligations, and appropriate discount rates. In connection with the acquisition, we recognized $21.7 million of indefinite-lived in-process research and development intangible assets.

Goodwill is considered an indefinite-lived asset and relates primarily to intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, such as the assembled workforce and synergies between the entities. Goodwill of $5.8 million was established as a result of the Acquisition and is not tax deductible.

VCN operations recorded a net loss of $2.1 million from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2022.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Business Combination - (continued)

Transaction Costs

In conjunction with the Acquisition, the Company incurred approximately $1.2 million and $0.2 million in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in transaction costs, which were expensed as general, and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

3. Goodwill and Intangibles

Goodwill of $5.8 million and in-process R&D of $21.7 million were recorded in connection with the Acquisition of VCN, as described in Note 2. The Company performs an impairment test for IPR&D and for goodwill on an annual basis on October 1 or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. This analysis requires significant judgments, including primarily the estimation of future development costs, the probability of success in various phases of its development programs, potential post-launch cash flows and a risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital. The Company did not identify any impairments to IPR&D and goodwill during the quarter ended June 30, 2022

The following table provides the Company’s goodwill as of June 30, 2022. During the three months ended June 30, 2022 the Company recognized a measurement period adjustment related to the estimate of acquired liabilities resulting in a $277,000 reduction in accrued liabilities and Goodwill.

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The following table provides the Company’s in-process R&D as of June 30, 2022. There was no change in in-process R&D during the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

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4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is  determined based upon assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Fair value measurements are rated on a three-tier hierarchy as follows:

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments – (continued)

In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy described above. The lowest level of significant input determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s short-term financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity for these instruments.

In connection with the Acquisition of VCN, the Company will be required pay up to $70.2 million in additional consideration upon the achievement of certain milestones, including regulatory filings completed noted in Note 3. The discounted cash flow method used to value this contingent consideration includes inputs of not readily observable market data, which are Level 3 inputs. As of the March 10, 2022 acquisition date, the contingent consideration had a fair value of $12.2 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration was $11.7 million as of June 30, 2022 and is reflected as current accrued contingent consideration of $9.3 million and non-current contingent consideration liability of $2.4 million in the consolidated balance sheet. During the three months ended June 30, 2022 the Company recognized in operating expense a $483,000 fair value adjustment decrease to contingent consideration.

The fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis is as follows (in thousands):

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