Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]  
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
NOTE 1 - NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Nature of Operations
 
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “Access”) is an emerging pharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and supportive care of cancer patients. This development work is based primarily on the adaptation of existing therapeutic agents using the Company's proprietary drug delivery technology. Our efforts have been principally devoted to research and development, resulting in significant losses since inception on February 24, 1988.
 
A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows.
 
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Our significant estimates include primarily those required in the evaluation of impairment analysis of intangible assets, fair value of financial instruments, revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation and valuation of derivative liabilities and equity instruments, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and tax accruals. Although we believe that adequate accruals have been made for unsettled issues, additional gains or losses could occur in future years from resolutions of outstanding matters. Actual results could differ materially from original estimates.
 
Segments
The Company operates in a single segment.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had no such investments. We maintain deposits primarily in two financial institutions, which may at times exceed amounts covered by insurance provided by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  We have not experienced any losses related to amounts in excess of FDIC limits. 
 
Receivables
Receivables are reported in the balance sheets at the outstanding amount net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. We continually evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers and their financial condition and generally do not require collateral. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon reviews of specific customer balances, historic losses, and general economic conditions. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, no allowance was recorded as all accounts are considered collectible.
 
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from three to seven years. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives are capitalized. Expenditures for normal maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The cost of assets sold or abandoned and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any gains or losses are recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations of the respective period.
 
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, payroll and personnel expense, lab supplies, preclinical, development cost, clinical trial expense, outside manufacturing and consulting. The cost of materials and equipment or facilities that are acquired for research and development activities and that have alternative future uses are capitalized when acquired.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of cash, cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accruals approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these items. The carrying value of the convertible short and long-term debt is at book value, which approximates the fair value as the interest rate is at market value.
 
We consider the conversion options and warrants related to our Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock to be derivatives, and we record the fair value of the derivative liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of the derivative liabilities are included in gain or loss on change in fair value of derivative in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets to the extent their realization is in doubt.
 
We account for uncertain income tax positions in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. Interest costs and penalties related to income taxes are classified as interest expense and general and administrative costs, respectively, in our consolidated financial statements. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we did not recognize any interest or penalty expense related to income taxes. It is determined not to be reasonably likely for the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. We are currently subject to a three year statute of limitations by major tax jurisdictions. We and our subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction.
 
Loss Per Share
We have presented basic loss per share, computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, and diluted loss per share, computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares and all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the year. Potential common shares result from stock options, vesting of restricted stock grants, convertible notes, preferred stock and warrants. However, for all years presented, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock grants, convertible notes and warrants are anti-dilutive due to the losses for the years. Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents of 38,854,446 and 25,784,976 were excluded from the loss per share computation for 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Patents
We expense internal patent and application costs as incurred because, even though we believe the patents and underlying processes have continuing value, the amount of future benefits to be derived therefrom are uncertain. Purchased patents are capitalized and amortized over the life of the patent.
 
Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
 
 
December 31, 2011
December 31, 2010
 
Gross carrying
value
Accumulated
amortization
Gross carrying
value
Accumulated
amortization
Amortizable intangible assets - Patents
 
 
$      2,624
 
 
$        2,262
 
 
$      2,624
 
 
$             2,050
 
Amortization expense related to intangible assets totaled $212,000 and $213,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The aggregate estimated amortization expense for intangible assets remaining as of December 31, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 2012   $ 82  
 2013     44  
 2014     44  
 2015     44  
 2016     44  
 Thereafter     104  
 Total   $ 362   
 
Revenues
Our revenues are generated from licensing, research and development agreements, royalties and product sales. We recognize revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104 (SAB 104), Revenue Recognition. License revenue is recognized over the remaining life of the underlying patent. Research and development revenues are recognized as services are performed. Royalties are recognized in the period of sales. We recognize revenue for MuGard product sales at the time title transfers to our customers, which occurs at the time product is delivered to our customers.
 
Other Income
In 2010 we were awarded $1,479,000 in grants from the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Grants from the United States government. As these are non-recurring in nature, we recorded them in Other Income. We received payment of $541,000 in 2010 and recorded the remaining $938,000 in receivables at December 31, 2010. We received payment of $938,000 in 2011. In 2011 and 2010, we recognized miscellaneous income of $1,324,000 and $520,000, respectively, due to negotiated payables and write-offs of other accounts payable.
 
Product costs
      We recognize all product costs, costs of goods sold, logistics, sales and marketing and samples at the time incurred.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock based compensation expense in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Stock Based Compensation. We have several stock-based compensation plans under which incentive and non-incentive qualified stock options and restricted shares may be granted to employees, directors and consultants. We measure the cost of the employee/director/consultant services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of the award. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value our options.
 
During 2011 and 2010, 580,000 stock options and 640,000 stock options, respectively, were granted under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. Assumptions for 2011 and 2010 are:
 
 
2011
2010
Expected volatility assumption was based upon a combination of historical stock price volatility measured on a weekly basis and is considered a reasonable indicator of expected volatility.
 
 
117%
 
123%
Risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon U.S. Treasury bond interest rates appropriate for the term of the our employee stock options.
 
 
1.42%
 
2.32%
Dividend yield assumption is based on our history and expectation of dividend payments.
 
 
None
 
None
Estimated expected term (average of number years) is based on the simplified method as prescribed by SAB 107/110 as we do not have sufficient information to calculate an expected term.
 
5.6 years
 
5.7 years
 
At December 31, 2011, the balance of unearned stock-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to unvested share-based awards, as adjusted for expected forfeitures, is approximately $846,000. The weighted-average period over which the unearned stock-based compensation is expected to be recognized is approximately three years. We anticipate that we will grant additional share-based awards to employees in the future, which will increase our stock-based compensation expense by the additional unearned compensation resulting from these grants.
 
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 which was allocated as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Year ended
December 31, 2011
   
Year ended
December 31, 2010
 
Research and development
  $ 483     $ 678  
General and administrative
    583       337  
    Stock-based compensation expense included in operating expense
    1,066       1,015  
                 
Total stock-based compensation expense
    1,066       1,015  
Tax benefit
    -       -  
    Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax
  $ 1,066     $ 1,015  
                 
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance amending the presentation requirements for comprehensive income. For public entities, this guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, we will have the option to report total comprehensive income, including components of net income and components of other comprehensive income, as a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. We do not anticipate the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements.