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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)

 

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022
  or
   
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from to

 

Commission file number 001-15771

 

ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   83-0221517
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer I.D. No.)
incorporation or organization)    

 

1330 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10019

(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

 

(646) 813-4701

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value   ABEO   Nasdaq Capital Markets

 

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.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐   Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒   Smaller reporting company ☒
    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 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 ☒

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of May 3, 2022 was 146,949,529 shares.

 

 

 

 
 

 

ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC.

Form 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2022

 

INDEX

 

    Page No.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1.   Financial Statements:  3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2021 3
     
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 4
     
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity  for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 5
     
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the  three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 6
     
  Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 7
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and  Results of Operations 15
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 22
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 22
     
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 23
   
Item 1A. Risk Factors 23
     
Item 6. Exhibits 23
     
SIGNATURES 24

 

1
 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements that express management’s opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “could,” “would,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such “forward-looking statements” speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions by management that are difficult to predict. Various factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, except as may otherwise be required by the federal securities laws.

 

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, and our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. These statements include statements about: our Phase 3 clinical trial (VIITAL™) for patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (“RDEB”) and our beliefs relating thereto; our ability to follow patients in the Phase 3 clinical trial; our plans to continue development of AAV-based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic and other diseases and next-generation AAV-based gene therapies; the discontinuation of development activities for our ABO-101 and ABO-102 programs; the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operations, and financial condition; the achievement of or expected timing, progress and results of clinical development, clinical trials and potential regulatory approvals; our pipeline of product candidates; our belief that we have sufficient resources on hand, access to additional financial resources and/or financial flexibility to fund operations for at least the next 12 months from the date of filing of this report; our belief that EB-101 could potentially benefit patients with RDEB; our ability to develop our novel AAV-based gene therapy platform technology; our belief in the adequacy of the clinical trial data from our VIITAL™, together with the data generated in the program to date, to support regulatory approvals; our dependence upon our third-party and related-party customers and vendors and their compliance with regulatory bodies; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, and needs for additional financing; our intellectual property position and our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection and exclusivity for our proprietary assets; our estimates regarding the size of the potential markets for our product candidates, the strength of our commercialization strategies and our ability to serve and supply those markets; and future economic conditions or performance.

 

Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management’s expectations are described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as updated from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These factors include: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operations (including our clinical trials), and financial condition, and on our ability to access the capital markets; our ability to regain and maintain compliance with the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market; the successful discontinuation of development activities for our ABO-101 and ABO-102 programs; our ability to successfully execute the Phase 3 clinical trial for patients with RDEB; our ability to find a potential commercialization partner for EB-101; our ability to increase our authorized capital; our ability to access our existing at-the-market sale agreement and any dilution that may result from accessing such sales agreement; our ability to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months given our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments; our ability to access additional financial resources and/or our financial flexibility to reduce operating expenses if required; our ability to obtain additional equity funding from current or new stockholders, out-licensing technology and/or other assets, deferring and/or eliminating planned expenditures, restructuring operations and/or reducing headcount, and sales of assets; the dilutive effect that raising additional funds by selling additional equity securities would have on the relative equity ownership of our existing investors, including under our existing at-the-market sale agreement; development of our novel AAV-based gene therapy platform technology; the outcome of any interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory agencies relating to any of our products or product candidates; our ability to complete enrollment of patients into clinical trials to secure sufficient data to assess efficacy and safety; our ability to continue to secure and maintain regulatory designations for our product candidates; our ability to develop manufacturing capabilities compliant with current good manufacturing practices for our product candidates; our ability to manufacture cell and gene therapy products and produce an adequate product supply to support clinical trials and potentially future commercialization; the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates for any indication once approved; and our ability to meet our obligations contained in license agreements to which we are party.

 

2
 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

   March 31,
2022		   December 31,
2021		 
   (Unaudited)      
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $20,326   $32,938 
Short-term investments   10,989    12,086 
Restricted cash   5,891    5,891 
Accounts receivable   -    3,000 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   1,998    2,377 
Total current assets   39,204    56,292 
           
Property and equipment, net   8,408    12,339 
Right-of-use lease assets   7,540    9,403 
Licensed technology, net   -    1,384 
Other assets   20    168 
Total assets  $55,172   $79,586 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $1,601   $4,325 
Accrued expenses   4,206    5,585 
Current portion of lease liability   1,822    1,818 
Current portion of payable to licensor   4,708    4,599 
Deferred revenue   -    296 
Total current liabilities   12,337    16,623 
           
Payable to licensor   3,919    3,828 
Other long-term liabilities   200    200 
Long-term lease liabilities   7,273    7,560 
Total liabilities   23,729    28,211 
           
Commitments and contingencies   -      
Stockholders’ equity:          
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares;          
No shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively   -    - 
Common stock - $0.01 par value; authorized 200,000,000 shares;          
147,079,899 and 147,205,422 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively   1,471    1,472 
Additional paid-in capital   706,433    705,570 
Accumulated deficit   (676,431)   (655,640)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (30)   (27)
Total stockholders’ equity   31,443    51,375 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $55,172   $79,586 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.

 

3
 

 

Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   2022   2021 
   For the three months ended March 31, 
   2022   2021 
Revenues:          
License and other revenues  $346   $- 
           
Expenses:          
Research and development   10,545    8,317 
General and administrative   4,224    6,280 
Licensed technology impairment charge   1,355    - 
Lease impairment charge   1,561    - 
Construction-in-progress impairment charge   3,252    - 
Total expenses   20,937    14,597 
           
Loss from operations   (20,591)   (14,597)
           
Interest and miscellaneous income   1    15 
Interest expense   (201)   (1,420)
Net loss  $(20,791)  $(16,002)
           
Basic and diluted loss per common share  $(0.14)  $(0.17)
           
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted   144,877,693    94,234,653 
           
Other comprehensive income:          
Change in unrealized gains related to available-for-sale debt securities   3    13 
Comprehensive loss  $(20,788)  $(15,989)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.

 

4
 

 

Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

($ in thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Income/(Loss)   Equity 
                   Accumulated     
           Additional       Other   Total 
   Common Stock   Paid-in   Accumulated   Comprehensive   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Income/(Loss)   Equity 
Balance at December 31, 2021   147,205,422   $1,472   $705,570   $(655,640)  $(27)  $51,375 
Stock-based compensation expense   -    -    862    -    -    862 
Issuance of common stock in connection with restricted share awards, net of cancellations   (125,523)   (1)   1    -    -    - 
Net loss   -    -    -    (20,791)   -    (20,791)
Other comprehensive income   -    -    -    -    (3)   (3)
Balance at March 31, 2022   147,079,899   $1,471   $706,433   $(676,431)  $(30)  $31,443 
                                             
                               
Balance at December 31, 2020   96,131,678   $961   $672,304   $(570,704)  $(10)  $102,551 
Stock-based compensation expense   -    -    1,950    -    -    1,950 
Issuance of common stock under open market sale agreement   1,578,324    16    5,195    -    -    5,211 
Issuance of common stock in connection with the  exercise of stock options   488,204    5    662    -    -    667 
Issuance of common stock in connection with restricted share awards, net of cancellations   840,727    8    (8)   -    -    - 
Net loss   -    -    -    (16,002)   -    (16,002)
Other comprehensive income   -    -    -    -    13    13 
Balance at March 31, 2021   99,038,933   $990   $680,103   $(586,706)  $3   $94,390 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.

 

5
 

 

Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

($ in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   2022   2021 
   For the three months ended March 31, 
   2022   2021 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss  $(20,791)  $(16,002)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   811    817 
Stock-based compensation expense   862    1,950 
Non-cash licensed technology impairment charge   1,355    - 
Non-cash lease impairment charge   1,561    - 
Non-cash construction-in-progress impairment charge   3,252    - 
Accretion and interest on short-term investments   (84)   125 
Amortization of right-of-use lease assets   302    268 
Non cash interest   200    - 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   3,000    - 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   379    882 
Other assets   148    (20)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and lease liabilities   (4,386)   (3,024)
Change in payable to licensor   (296)   1,419 
Net cash used in operating activities   (13,687)   (13,585)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Capital expenditures   (103)   (444)
Purchases of short-term investments   (7,487)   (15,164)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments   8,665    24,984 
Net cash provided by investing activities   1,075    9,376 
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from open market sales of common stock   -    5,211 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   -    667 
Net cash provided by financing activities   -    5,878 
           
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (12,612)   1,669 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   32,938    13,571 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $20,326   $15,240 
           
Supplemental cash flow information:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $20,326   $14,265 
Restricted cash   5,891    975 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  $26,217   $15,240 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.

 

6
 

 

ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Background

 

Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (together with our subsidiaries, “we,” “our,” “Abeona” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene and cell therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases. Our lead clinical program is EB-101, an autologous, gene-corrected cell therapy for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (“RDEB”), which is currently in the pivotal Phase 3 VIITAL™ clinical trial. Following a comprehensive portfolio review in early 2022, we have decided to focus our research and development resources on the VIITAL™ readout while actively pursuing a potential commercialization partner for EB-101 with the objective of reducing operating expenses and extending our cash runway. As part of this portfolio prioritization, we have intensified our pursuit of a strategic partnership to take over development activities for our adeno-associated virus (“AAV”)-based gene therapy ABO-102 for Sanfilippo syndrome type A (“MPS IIIA”) and we have discontinued development of our AAV-based gene therapy ABO-101 for Sanfilippo syndrome type B (“MPS IIIB”). We plan to continue development of AAV-based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic and other diseases and next-generation AAV-based gene therapies using the novel AIM™ capsid platform that we have exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“UNC”), and internal AAV vector research programs.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, except as otherwise disclosed, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and changes in financial position for such periods, have been made. These unaudited interim condensed financial statement results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period. Certain information that is normally required by U.S. GAAP has been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Therefore, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022.

 

Uses and Sources of Liquidity

 

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which assumes the Company will have sufficient cash to pay its operating expenses, as and when they become payable, for a period of at least 12 months from the date the financial report is issued.

 

As of March 31, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of $37.2 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had cash outflows from operations of $13.7 million. We have not generated significant product revenues and have not achieved profitable operations. There is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, and, if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, development activities, clinical and nonclinical testing, and commercialization of our products will require significant additional financing.

 

We are subject to a number of risks similar to other life science companies, including, but not limited to, risks related to the successful discovery and development of product candidates, obtaining the necessary regulatory approval to market our product candidates, raising additional capital to continue to fund our operations, development of competing drugs and therapies, protection of proprietary technology and market acceptance of our products. As a result of these and other risks and the related uncertainties, there can be no assurance of our future success.

 

7
 

 

Following a comprehensive portfolio review in early 2022, we have decided to focus our research and development resources on the EB-101 program with the objective of reducing operating expenses and extending our cash runway. As part of this portfolio prioritization, we have intensified our pursuit of a strategic partnership to take over development activities for our AAV-based gene therapy ABO-102 for MPS IIIA and we have discontinued development of our AAV-based gene therapy ABO-101 for MPS IIIB. Based upon these current operating plans, our ability to access additional financial resources and/or our financial flexibility to further reduce operating expenses if required, we believe that we have sufficient resources to fund operations through at least the next 12 months from the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We will need to secure additional funding beyond the next 12 months to carry out all of our planned research and development activities. If we are unable to obtain additional financing or generate license or product revenue, the lack of liquidity and sufficient capital resources could have a material adverse effect on our future prospects.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

There have been no new or material changes to the significant accounting policies discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The Company reclassified depreciation and amortization costs of $0.8 million and $35,000 to research and development and general and administrative expenses, respectively, on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Company also reclassified certain rent expenses of $0.3 million from general and administrative to research and development expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss during the three months ended March 31, 2021. Additionally, the Company also reclassified $5.0 million of restricted cash from prepaid expenses, other current assets and restricted cash and $0.9 million of restricted cash from other assets and restricted cash to restricted cash on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021.

 

Net Loss Per Share

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock. We do not include the potential impact of dilutive securities in diluted net loss per share, as the impact of these items is anti-dilutive. Potential dilutive securities result from outstanding restricted stock, stock options, and stock purchase warrants.

 

The following table sets forth the potential securities that could potentially dilute basic income/(loss) per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented:

 

   2022   2021 
   For the three months ended March 31, 
   2022   2021 
Stock options   7,101,803    7,091,879 
Restricted stock   1,948,334    2,636,216 
Warrants   44,700,000    - 
Total   53,750,137    9,798,095 

 

8
 

 

NOTE 2 – SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

 

Short-term investments consisted of the following marketable securities as of:

 

(in thousands)  March 31, 2022 
   Amortized Cost   Gross Unrealized Gain   Gross Unrealized Loss   Fair Value 
Available-for-sale, short-term investments                                       
U.S. treasury securities  $10,986   $3   $-   $10,989 
Total  $10,986   $3   $-   $10,989 

 

   December 31, 2021 
   Amortized Cost   Gross Unrealized Gain   Gross Unrealized Loss   Fair Value 
Available-for-sale, short-term investments                                        
U.S. treasury securities  $12,077   $9   $-   $12,086 
Total  $12,077   $9   $-   $12,086 

 

As of March 31, 2022, the available-for-sale securities classified as short-term investments mature in one year or less. Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2022 were not significant and were primarily due to changes in interest rates, including market credit spreads, and not due to increased credit risks associated with specific securities. None of the short-term investments have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. Accordingly, no other-than-temporary impairment was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

There were no significant realized gains or losses recognized on the sale or maturity of available-for-sale investments for the three months ended March 31, 2022 or 2021.

 

NOTE 3 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method based on useful lives as follow:

 

(in thousands)  Useful lives (years)  March 31,
2022		   December 31,
2021		 
Laboratory equipment  5  $9,138   $9,081 
Furniture, software and office equipment  3 to 5   1,908    1,896 
Leasehold improvements  Shorter of remaining lease term or useful life   8,603    8,603 
Construction-in-progress      3,252    3,219 
Subtotal      22,901    22,799 
Less: accumulated depreciation      (11,241)   (10,460)
Less: construction-in-progress impairment      (3,252)   - 
Property and equipment, net     $8,408   $12,339 

 

Depreciation expense was $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

On March 31, 2022, the Company announced that we were pursuing a strategic partner to take over development activities of ABO-102 and that we were discontinuing development of ABO-101. As a result of this shift in priorities, the Company determined the construction-in-progress which was dedicated to the ABO-101 and ABO-102 programs, had no future value and thus, we recorded an impairment charge of $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

9
 

 

NOTE 4 – LICENSED TECHNOLOGY

 

On May 15, 2015, we acquired Abeona Therapeutics LLC, which had an exclusive license through Nationwide Children’s Hospital to the AB-101 and AB-102 patent portfolios for developing treatments for patients with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type A and Type B. The license is amortized over the life of the license of 20 years. On March 31, 2022, the Company announced that it was pursuing a strategic partner to take over development activities of ABO-102 and that it was discontinuing development of ABO-101. As a result of this shift in priorities, the Company determined the remaining value of the licensed technology had no future value and thus, recorded an impairment charge of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

Licensed technology consists of the following:

 

(in thousands)  March 31,
2022		   December 31,
2021		 
Licensed technology  $2,156   $2,156 
Less accumulated amortization   (801)   (772)
Less impairment charge   (1,355)   - 
Licensed technology, net  $-   $1,384 

 

Amortization expense on licensed technology was $29,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

NOTE 5 – SETTLEMENT LIABILITY

 

On November 12, 2021, we entered into a settlement agreement (“Settlement Agreement”) with our prior licensor, REGENXBIO Inc. (“REGENXBIO”) to resolve all existing disputes between the parties. In accordance with the Settlement Agreement, we agreed to pay REGENXBIO a total of $30.0 million, payable as follows: (1) $20.0 million paid in November 2021 after execution of the Settlement Agreement, (2) $5.0 million on the first anniversary of the effective date of the Settlement Agreement, and (3) $5.0 million upon the earlier of: (i) the third anniversary of the effective date of the Settlement Agreement or (ii) the closing of a Strategic Transaction, as defined in the Settlement Agreement.

 

As of March 31, 2022, we recorded the payables due to REGENXBIO in the condensed consolidated balance sheets based on the present value of the remaining payments due to REGENXBIO under the Settlement Agreement using an interest rate of 9.6%. The current portion of the payable due in November 2022 is $4.7 million and the long-term portion due in November 2024 is $3.9 million as of March 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2022, we have recorded $5.0 million of restricted cash in the balance sheet that serves as collateral for the payment owed to REGENXBIO in November 2022.

 

NOTE 6 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

We calculate the fair value of our assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments and include additional information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of these financial instruments. The estimated fair value of accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, loan payable, payable to licensor and deferred revenue approximate their carrying amounts due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.

 

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This guidance establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

  ●  Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
  ●  Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
  ●  Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar valuation techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

 

10
 

 

We have segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date in the table below.

 

Financial assets  measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are summarized below:

 

(in thousands)                
Description  Fair Value at
March 31,
2022		   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Recurring Assets:                    
Cash equivalents                    
Money market fund  $16,694   $16,694   $-   $- 
Short-term investments                    
U.S. treasury securities   10,989    -    10,989    - 
Total assets measured at fair value  $27,683   $16,694   $10,989   $- 

 

Description  Fair Value at
December 31,
2021		   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
                     
Recurring Assets:                    
Cash equivalents                              
Money market fund  $28,590   $28,590   $-   $- 
Short-term investments                    
U.S. treasury securities   12,086    -    12,086    - 
Total recurring assets   40,676    28,590    12,086    - 
                     
Non-recurring Assets                    
Licensed technology, net  $1,384   $-   $-   $1,384 
                     
Total assets measured at fair value  $42,060   $28,590   $12,086   $1,384 

 

NOTE 7 – ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of:

 

(in thousands)  March 31,
2022		   December 31,
2021		 
Accrued employee compensation  $745   $1,794 
Accrued contracted services and other   3,461    3,091 
Accrued sublicense fee owed to licensor   -    700 
Accrued expenses  $4,206   $5,585 

 

11
 

 

NOTE 8 – LEASES

 

We lease space under operating leases for manufacturing and laboratory facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as administrative offices in New York, New York. We also lease office space in Madrid, Spain as well as certain office equipment under operating leases, which have a non-cancelable lease term of less than one year and, therefore, we have elected the practical expedient to exclude these short-term leases from our right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.

 

On March 31, 2022, the Company announced that we were pursuing a strategic partner to take over development activities of ABO-102 and that we were discontinuing development of ABO-101. As a result of this shift in priorities, the Company determined the portion of the lease which was dedicated to the future facility for the ABO-101 and ABO-102 programs, had no future value and thus, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

Components of lease cost are as follows:

 

(in thousands)  2022   2021 
   For the three months ended March 31, 
(in thousands)  2022   2021 
Operating lease cost  $

472

   $434 
Variable lease cost  $96   $135 
Short-term lease cost  $21   $5 

 

Maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities, which do not include short-term leases, as of March 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

Maturity of lease liabilities:  (in thousands) 
2022, remainder  $1,364 
2023   1,834 
2024   1,879 
2025   1,896 
2026   871 
Thereafter   3,662 
Total undiscounted operating lease payments   11,506 
Less: imputed interest   2,411 
Present value of operating lease liabilities  $9,095 

 

The weighted-average remaining term of the Company’s operating leases was 84 months and the weighted-average discount rate used to measure the present value of the Company’s operating lease liabilities was 7.3% as of March 31, 2022.

 

NOTE 9 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

We have two stock-based compensation plans: (1) Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Incentive Plan”), which was approved by stockholders on May 7, 2015 and last amended on May 20, 2020 and (2) Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Inventive Plan”), under which no further grants can be made.

 

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:

 

(in thousands)  2022   2021 
   For the three months ended March 31, 
(in thousands)  2022   2021 
Research and development  $372   $1,155 
General and administrative   490    795 
Stock based compensation expense  $862   $1,950 

 

12
 

 

Stock Options: We estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. We then recognize the grant date fair value of each option as compensation expense ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the service period (generally the vesting period). The Black-Scholes model incorporates the following assumptions:

 

  ●  Expected volatility - we estimate the volatility of our share price at the date of grant using a “look-back” period which coincides with the expected term, defined below. We believe using a “look-back” period which coincides with the expected term is the most appropriate measure for determining expected volatility.
  ●  Expected term - we estimate the expected term using the “simplified” method, as outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, “Share-Based Payment.”
  ●  Risk-free interest rate - we estimate the risk-free interest rate using the U.S. Treasury yield curve for periods equal to the expected term of the options in effect at the time of grant.
  ●  Dividends - we use an expected dividend yield of zero because we have not declared or paid a cash dividend, nor do we have any plans to declare a dividend.

 

The Company estimated the fair value of stock options granted in the periods presented utilizing a Black-Scholes option-valuation model utilizing the following assumptions:

 

   2022   2021 
   For the three months ended March 31, 
   2022   2021 
Expected volatility   95%   99%
Expected term   6.08 years    6.08 years 
Risk-free interest rate   1.73%   1.00%
Expected dividend yield   0%   0%

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the 2015 Incentive Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2022 :

 

   Number of Options   Weighted Average Exercise Price  

Weighted Average Remaining

Contractual

Term (years)

   Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) 
Outstanding at December 31, 2021   7,854,851   $1.54    7.63   $- 
Granted   104,000   $0.26    -   $- 
Cancelled/forfeited   (937,048)  $1.40    -   $- 
Exercised   -   $-    -   $- 
Outstanding at March 31, 2022   7,021,803   $1.54    7.24   $6 
Exercisable   3,516,716   $1.51    5.49   $- 
Unvested   3,505,087   $1.57    8.98   $6 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock. As of March 31, 2022, the total compensation cost related to non-vested option awards not yet recognized is approximately $5.0 million with a weighted average remaining vesting period of 2.6 years.

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the 2005 Incentive Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2022 :

   Number of Options   Weighted Average Exercise Price  

Weighted Average Remaining

Contractual Term (years)

   Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) 
Outstanding at December 31, 2021   80,000   $1.28    1.80   $         - 
Cancelled/forfeited   -   $-    -   $- 
Exercised   -   $-    -   $- 
Outstanding at March 31, 2022   80,000   $1.28    1.54   $- 
Exercisable   80,000   $1.28    1.54   $- 
Unvested   -   $-    -   $- 

 

13
 

 

Restricted Stock:

 

The following table summarizes restricted stock award activity during the three months ended March 31, 2022:

 

   Number of Awards   Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value 
Outstanding at December 31, 2021   2,431,515   $1.86 
Granted   252,000   $0.28 
Cancelled/forfeited   (377,523)  $1.58 
Vested   (357,658)  $2.31 
Outstanding at March 31, 2022   1,948,334   $1.63 

 

As of March 31, 2022, there is approximately $2.8 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of 2.7 years.

 

NOTE 10 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On April 29, 2022, the Company, entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement (the “Offering”), 1,000,006 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and 250,005 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock,” and together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”), at an offering price of $19.00 per share, representing a 5% original issue discount (“OID”) to the stated value of $20.00 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million in the aggregate for the Offering, before the deduction of discounts, fees and offering expenses. The shares of Preferred Stock will be convertible, at a conversion price of $0.45 per share (subject in certain circumstances to adjustments), into shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), at the option of the holders and, in certain circumstances, by the Company. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company and customary conditions to closing. The Offering closed on May 2, 2022.

 

The Company intends to call a special meeting of stockholders to consider an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”), to effect a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of Common Stock by a ratio to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company within a range to be specified in the proposal put to the stockholders for approval of the Amendment (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Investors have agreed in the Purchase Agreement to not transfer, offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of the Preferred Stock until the Reverse Stock Split, to vote the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock purchased in the Offering in favor of such Amendment and to vote the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock purchased in the Offering in a manner that “mirrors” the proportions on which the shares of Common Stock (excluding any shares of Common Stock that are not voted) and Series A Preferred Stock are voted on the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split requires the approval of the majority of the votes associated with our outstanding stock entitled to vote on the proposal. Because the Series B Preferred Stock will automatically and without further action of the purchaser be voted in a manner that “mirrors” the proportions on which the shares of Common Stock (excluding any shares of Common Stock that are not voted) and Series A Preferred Stock are voted on the Reverse Stock Split, abstentions by common stockholders will not have any effect on the votes cast by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

14
 

 

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

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Annual Report”). This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those described under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Abeona is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases. Our lead clinical program is EB-101, an autologous, gene-corrected cell therapy for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (“RDEB”), which is currently in the pivotal Phase 3 VIITAL™ clinical trial. Following a comprehensive portfolio review in early 2022, we have decided to focus our research and development resources on the VIITAL™ readout while actively pursuing a potential commercialization partner for EB-101 with the objective of reducing operating expenses and extending our cash runway. As part of this portfolio prioritization, we have intensified our pursuit of a strategic partnership to take over development activities for our adeno-associated virus (“AAV”)-based gene therapy ABO-102 for Sanfilippo syndrome type A (“MPS IIIA”) and we have discontinued development of our AAV-based gene therapy ABO-101 for Sanfilippo syndrome type B (“MPS IIIB”).

 

We plan to continue to develop AAV-based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic and other diseases and next-generation AAV-based gene therapies using the novel AIM™ capsid platform that we have exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and internal AAV vector research programs.

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

EB-101 (Autologous, Gene-Corrected Cell Therapy) for RDEB

 

We achieved target enrollment in the first quarter of 2022 for our pivotal Phase 3 VIITAL™ study for our investigational product for RDEB, EB-101. We anticipate topline data readout in the third quarter of 2022. We are focusing our research and development resources on the VIITAL™ readout while actively pursuing a potential commercialization partner. We are optimistic about EB-101’s potential based on updated Phase 1/2a results presented at various medical congresses.

 

We have continued to prepare our current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) commercial facility in Cleveland, Ohio for manufacturing EB-101 drug product to support our planned Biologics License Application (“BLA”) filing. EB-101 study drug product for all our VIITAL™ study participants has been manufactured at our Cleveland facility and we have now completed submission of Module 3 for Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (“CMC”) describing the in-house production of both retroviral vector and the final drug product to the Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”). Based on feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), we believe that we have alignment with the FDA on the CMC requirements for EB-101, including characterization and validation plans.

 

Preclinical Pipeline

 

While our clinical programs are currently focused on rare diseases, we intend to address larger areas of unmet medical need in the future, and our preclinical programs are investigating novel AAV capsids in five undisclosed ophthalmic conditions each with estimated U.S. prevalence ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 patients. In 2021, we shared data from studies in non-human primates that will help to determine optimal routes of administration and believe we have made significant progress toward measuring efficacy in the preclinical setting. We have also generated appropriate mouse models, produced recombinant capsids, and started dosing mice in proof-of-concept studies that we hope will yield data beginning in mid-2022 to support pre-IND meetings with the FDA.

 

15
 

 

Preferred Stock Offering

 

On April 29, 2022, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement (the “Offering”), 1,000,006 shares of our Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and 250,005 shares of our Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock,” and together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”), at an offering price of $19.00 per share, representing a 5% original issue discount (“OID”) to the stated value of $20.00 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million in the aggregate for the Offering, before the deduction of discounts, fees and offering expenses. The shares of Preferred Stock will be convertible, at a conversion price of $0.45 per share (subject in certain circumstances to adjustments), into shares of our common stock, $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), at the option of the holders and, in certain circumstances, by us. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by us and customary conditions to closing. The Offering closed on May 2, 2022.

 

We intend to call a special meeting of stockholders to consider an amendment (the “Amendment”) to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”), to effect a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of Common Stock by a ratio to be determined by our Board of Directors within a range to be specified in the proposal put to the stockholders for approval of the Amendment (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Investors have agreed in the Purchase Agreement to not transfer, offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of the Preferred Stock until the Reverse Stock Split, to vote the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock purchased in the Offering in favor of such Amendment and to vote the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock purchased in the Offering in a manner that “mirrors” the proportions on which the shares of Common Stock (excluding any shares of Common Stock that are not voted) and Series A Preferred Stock are voted on the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split requires the approval of the majority of the votes associated with our outstanding stock entitled to vote on the proposal. Because the Series B Preferred Stock will automatically and without further action of the purchaser be voted in a manner that “mirrors” the proportions on which the shares of Common Stock (excluding any shares of Common Stock that are not voted) and Series A Preferred Stock are voted on the Reverse Stock Split, abstentions by common stockholders will not have any effect on the votes cast by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021

 

 

   For the three months ended         
   March 31,   March 31,   Change 
($ in thousands)  2022   2021   $   % 
Revenues:                    
License and other revenues  $346   $-   $346    N/A 
                     
Expenses:                    
Research and development   10,545    8,317    2,228    27%
General and administrative   4,224    6,280    (2,056)   -33%
Licensed technology impairment charge   1,355    -    1,355    N/A 
Lease impairment charge   1,561    -    1,561    N/A 
Construction-in-progress impairment charge   3,252    -    3,252    N/A 
Total expenses   20,937    14,597    6,340    43%
                     
Loss from operations   (20,591)   (14,597)   (5,994)   41%
                     
Interest and miscellaneous income   1    15    (14)   -93%
Interest expense   (201)   (1,420)   1,219    -86%
Net loss  $(20,791)  $(16,002)  $(4,789)   30%
N/A - not applicable or not meaningful                    

 

License and other revenues

 

License and other revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $0.3 million, as compared to nil for the same period of 2021. The revenue in 2022 consisted mainly of the recognition of deferred revenue related to grants for the MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB development programs.

 

Research and development

 

Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, payroll and personnel expense, lab supplies, preclinical and development costs, clinical trial costs, manufacturing and manufacturing facility costs, costs associated with regulatory approvals, depreciation on lab supplies and manufacturing facilities, and consultant-related expenses.

 

Total research and development spending for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $10.5 million, as compared to $8.3 million for the same period of 2021, an increase of $2.2 million. The increase in expenses was primarily due to:

 

  ● increased clinical and development work for our cell and gene therapy product candidates and other related costs of $2.3 million;
  ● increased salary and related costs of $0.5 million; and
  ● increased other costs of $0.2 million; partially offset by
  ● decreased stock compensation expenses of $0.8 million.

 

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We expect our research and development activities to continue as we attempt to advance our product candidates towards potential regulatory approval, reflecting costs associated with the following:

 

  ● employee and consultant-related expenses;
  ● preclinical and developmental costs;
  ● clinical trial costs;
  ● the cost of acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; and
  ● costs associated with regulatory approvals.

 

General and administrative

 

General and administrative expenses primarily consist of payroll and personnel costs, office facility costs, public reporting company related costs, professional expenses (i.e., legal expenses) and other general operating expenses not otherwise included in research and development expenses. We expect to continue to incur our general and administrative costs as we seek potential regulatory approval and potential commercialization of our product candidates.

 

Total general and administrative expenses were $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $6.3 million for the same period of 2021, a decrease of $2.1 million. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to:

 

  ● decreased professional fees of $1.9 million; and
  ● decreased non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.3 million; partially offset by
  ● increased other costs of $0.1 million.

 

Licensed technology impairment charge

 

Licensed technology impairment charge was $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to nil in the same period of 2021. The licensed technology was for the MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB development programs and as a result of our shift in priorities, we determined the remaining value of the licensed technology had no future value and thus, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

Lease impairment charge

 

Lease impairment charge was $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to nil in the same period of 2021. The impairment was related to a lease for a future manufacturing facility for the MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB development programs and as a result of our shift in priorities, we determined the remaining value of the portion of this lease had no future value and thus, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

Construction-in-progress impairment charge

 

Construction-in-progress impairment charge was $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to nil in the same period of 2021. The construction-in-progress was for a facility for the MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB development programs. As a result of our shift in priorities, we determined the remaining value of the construction-in-progress facility had no future value and thus, we recorded an impairment charge of $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

Interest and miscellaneous income

 

Interest and miscellaneous income was $1,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $15,000 in the same period of 2021. The decrease resulted from lower earnings on short-term investments driven by lower interest rates and a lower average balance of short-term investments.

 

Interest expense

 

Interest expense was $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $1.4 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease results primarily from the resolution of a disputed liability owed to our prior licensor, REGENXBIO, Inc.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

 

   For the three months ended March 31, 
($ in thousands)  2022   2021 
Total cash and cash equivalents (used in) /provided by:          
Operating activities  $(13,687)  $(13,585)
Investing activities   1,075    9,376 
Financing activities   -    5,878 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents  $(12,612)  $1,669 

 

Operating activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily comprised of our net loss of $20.8 million and decrease in operating assets and liabilities of $1.2 million, partially offset by net non-cash charges of $8.3 million.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $13.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily comprised of our net loss of $16.0 million and decrease in operating assets and liabilities of $0.7 million, partially offset by net non-cash charges of $3.1 million

 

Investing activities

 

Net cash provided by investing activities was $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily comprised of proceeds from maturities of short-term investments of $8.7 million, partially offset by purchases of short-term investments of $7.5 million and capital expenditures of $0.1 million.

 

Net cash provided by investing activities was $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily comprised of proceeds from maturities of short-term investments of $25.0 million, partially offset by purchases of short-term investments of $15.2 million and capital expenditures of $0.4 million.

 

Financing activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily comprised of proceeds of $5.2 million from open market sales of common stock pursuant to the ATM Agreement (as defined below) and proceeds of $0.7 million from the exercise of stock options.

 

We have historically funded our operations primarily through sales of common stock. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the global economy and created significant volatility and disruption of financial markets. An extended period of economic disruption could negatively affect our business, financial condition, and access to sources of liquidity.

 

Our principal source of liquidity is cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments, collectively referred to as our cash resources. As of March 31, 2022, our cash resources were $37.2 million. Following a comprehensive portfolio review in early 2022, we have decided to focus our research and development resources on the EB-101 program with the objective of reducing operating expenses and extending our cash runway. As part of this portfolio prioritization, we have intensified our pursuit of a strategic partnership to take over development activities for our AAV-based gene therapy ABO-102 for MPS IIIA and we have discontinued development of our AAV-based gene therapy ABO-101 for MPS IIIB. Based upon these current operating plans, our ability to access additional financial resources and/or our financial flexibility to further reduce operating expenses if required, we believe that we have sufficient resources to fund operations through at least the next 12 months from the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We will need to secure additional funding beyond the next 12 months to carry out all of our planned research and development activities. If we are unable to obtain additional financing or generate license or product revenue, the lack of liquidity and sufficient capital resources could have a material adverse effect on our future prospects.

 

On August 17, 2018, we entered into an open market sale agreement with Jefferies LLC. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, we may sell from time to time, through Jefferies LLC, shares of our common stock for an aggregate sales price of up to $150 million. Any sales of shares pursuant to this agreement are made under our effective “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that is on file with and has been declared effective by the SEC. On November 19, 2021, we entered into an amendment to the agreement (the “Amendment,” and as amended, the “ATM Agreement”) in connection with the filing of a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-256850) (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the SEC on June 7, 2021 and declared effective by the SEC on October 22, 2021. The Amendment amends the ATM Agreement to reflect the filing of the new Registration Statement (due to the prior Form S-3 (File No. 333-224867) expiring in June 2021). We did not sell any shares of our common stock under the ATM Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2022. Cumulatively, as of March 31, 2022, we have sold an aggregate of 6,758,744 shares of our common stock under the ATM Agreement and received $25.0 million of net proceeds.

 

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Since our inception, we have incurred negative cash flows from operations and have expended, and expect to continue to expend, substantial funds to complete our planned product development efforts. We have not been profitable since inception and to date have received limited revenues from the sale of products. We expect to incur losses for the next several years as we continue to invest in product research and development, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and regulatory compliance and cannot provide assurance that we will ever be able to generate sufficient product sales or royalty revenue to achieve profitability on a sustained basis, or at all.

 

If we raise additional funds by selling additional equity securities, the relative equity ownership of our existing investors will be diluted, and the new investors could obtain terms more favorable than previous investors. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs, or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financing when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, or terminate our product development programs or any future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates to third parties that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

 

We are carefully and continually reassessing key business activities and all associated spending decisions. Nonetheless, we are spending necessary funds on manufacturing activities and preclinical studies and clinical trials of potential products, including research and development with respect to our acquired and developed technology. Our future capital requirements and adequacy of available funds depend on many factors, including:

 

  ● the impact to our business, operations, and clinical programs from the COVID-19 pandemic and related effects on the U.S. and global economy;
  ● the successful development and commercialization of our cell and gene therapy and other product candidates;
  ● the ability to establish and maintain collaborative arrangements with corporate partners for the research, development, and commercialization of products;
  ● continued scientific progress in our research and development programs;
  ● the magnitude, scope and results of preclinical testing and clinical trials;
  ● the costs involved in filing, prosecuting, and enforcing patent claims;
  ● the costs involved in conducting clinical trials;
  ● competing technological developments;
  ● the cost of manufacturing and scale-up;
  ● the ability to establish and maintain effective commercialization arrangements and activities; and
  ● the successful outcome of our regulatory filings.

 

Due to uncertainties and certain of the risks described above, our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates, our ability to obtain applicable regulatory approval to market our product candidates, our ability to obtain necessary additional capital to fund operations in the future, our ability to successfully manufacture our products and our product candidates in clinical quantities or for commercial purposes, government regulation to which we are subject, the uncertainty associated with preclinical and clinical testing, intense competition that we face, market acceptance of our products, the potential necessity of licensing technology from third parties and protection of our intellectual property, it is not possible to reliably predict future spending or time to completion by project or product category or the period in which material net cash inflows from significant projects are expected to commence. If we are unable to timely complete a particular project, our research and development efforts could be delayed or reduced, our business could suffer depending on the significance of the project and we might need to raise additional capital to fund operations, as discussed in the risks above.

 

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We plan to continue our policy of investing any available funds in suitable certificates of deposit, money market funds, government securities and investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. We do not invest in derivative financial instruments.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures in the financial statements. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

 

  ● it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made, and
  ● changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have material impact in our results of operations or financial condition.

 

While we base our estimates and judgments on our experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could differ from those estimates and the differences could be material. For a discussion of the critical accounting estimates that affect the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, see “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report.

 

See Note 1 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our significant accounting policies.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Effective or Adopted

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material impact on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management and consultants, including the Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial officer), we have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (“Disclosure Controls and Procedures”), as of March 31, 2022, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

Conclusion of Evaluation — Based on this Disclosure Controls and Procedures evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of March 31, 2022 were effective.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Our business and financial results are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. As a result, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 should be carefully considered. There have been no material changes in the assessment of our risk factors from those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

See Exhibit Index below, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibits:

 

3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Abeona Therapeutics Inc.
     
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Abeona Therapeutics Inc.
     
10.1   Letter Agreement, dated February 28, 2022, between the Company and Joseph Vazzano.
     
31.1   Principal Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
     
31.2   Principal Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
     
32*   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101   The following materials from Abeona’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

* Pursuant to Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K, this exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filing.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC.
       
Date: May 13, 2022 By: /s/ Vishwas Seshadri
      Vishwas Seshadri
      President and Chief Executive Officer
      (Principal Executive Officer)
       
Date: May 13, 2022 By: /s/ Joseph Vazzano
      Joseph Vazzano
      Chief Financial Officer
      (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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