Document/ExhibitDescriptionPagesSize 1: 10-Q Quarterly Report HTML 890K
2: EX-3.1 Articles of Incorporation/Organization or Bylaws HTML 40K
3: EX-10.1 Material Contract HTML 56K
4: EX-31.1 Certification -- §302 - SOA'02 HTML 26K
5: EX-31.2 Certification -- §302 - SOA'02 HTML 26K
6: EX-32.1 Certification -- §906 - SOA'02 HTML 25K
13: R1 Cover HTML 72K
14: R2 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets HTML 125K
15: R3 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets HTML 39K
(Parenthetical)
16: R4 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations HTML 131K
and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited)
17: R5 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in HTML 122K
Stockholder's Equity (Unaudited)
18: R6 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows HTML 139K
(Unaudited)
19: R7 Business HTML 31K
20: R8 Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting HTML 26K
Policies
21: R9 Revenue HTML 29K
22: R10 Aytu Divestiture HTML 64K
23: R11 Net Loss Per Share HTML 79K
24: R12 Asset Acquisition HTML 24K
25: R13 Fair Value Measurements HTML 46K
26: R14 Leases HTML 52K
27: R15 Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities HTML 35K
28: R16 Notes Payable HTML 50K
29: R17 Capital Structure HTML 47K
30: R18 Stock Based Compensation HTML 88K
31: R19 Income Taxes HTML 26K
32: R20 Commitments and Contingencies HTML 52K
33: R21 Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting HTML 25K
Policies (Policies)
34: R22 Aytu Divestiture (Tables) HTML 56K
35: R23 Net Loss Per Share (Tables) HTML 77K
36: R24 Fair Value Measurements (Tables) HTML 41K
37: R25 Leases (Tables) HTML 52K
38: R26 Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities HTML 35K
(Tables)
39: R27 Notes Payable (Tables) HTML 42K
40: R28 Capital Structure (Tables) HTML 31K
41: R29 Stock Based Compensation (Tables) HTML 82K
42: R30 Business (Details) HTML 76K
43: R31 Revenue (Details) HTML 53K
44: R32 Aytu Divestiture - Narrative (Details) HTML 72K
45: R33 Aytu Divestiture - Summary of Liabilities of the HTML 32K
Discontinued Operations (Details)
46: R34 Aytu Divestiture - Summary of Income Statement HTML 43K
(Details)
47: R35 Aytu Divestiture - Summary of Cash Flows (Details) HTML 27K
48: R36 Net Loss Per Share - Narrative (Details) HTML 39K
49: R37 Net Loss Per Share - Schedule of Net Loss Per HTML 66K
Share (Details)
50: R38 Net Loss Per Share - Anti-dilutive Securities HTML 36K
(Details)
51: R39 Asset Acquisition (Details) HTML 45K
52: R40 Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Assets and HTML 31K
Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a
Recurring Basis (Details)
53: R41 Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) HTML 27K
54: R42 Leases - Narrative (Details) HTML 45K
55: R43 Leases - Assets and Liabilities (Details) HTML 35K
56: R44 Leases - Lease Cost (Details) HTML 23K
57: R45 Leases - Lease Maturity (Details) HTML 46K
58: R46 Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities - HTML 40K
Schedule of Accrued Expenses and Other Current
Liabilities (Details)
59: R47 Notes Payable - Narrative (Details) HTML 72K
60: R48 Notes Payable - Balance Sheet Information HTML 44K
(Details)
61: R49 Notes Payable - Estimated Future Principal HTML 44K
Payments (Details)
62: R50 Capital Structure - Narrative (Details) HTML 146K
63: R51 Capital Structure - Warrants (Details) HTML 37K
64: R52 Stock Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) HTML 150K
65: R53 Stock Based Compensation - Stock-based HTML 31K
Compensation Expense (Details)
66: R54 Stock Based Compensation - Stock Options With HTML 74K
Service-based Vesting Conditions (Details)
67: R55 Stock Based Compensation - Stock-based HTML 36K
Compensation Assumptions (Details)
68: R56 Stock Based Compensation - Stock Options With HTML 48K
Company's Market-based Option Activity (Details)
69: R57 Stock Based Compensation - Restricted Stock Units HTML 34K
(Details)
70: R58 Income Taxes (Details) HTML 25K
71: R59 Commitments and Contingencies (Details) HTML 178K
73: XML IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary XML 131K
12: XML XBRL Instance -- avtx-20210930_htm XML 1.90M
72: EXCEL IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports XLSX 93K
8: EX-101.CAL XBRL Calculations -- avtx-20210930_cal XML 186K
9: EX-101.DEF XBRL Definitions -- avtx-20210930_def XML 859K
10: EX-101.LAB XBRL Labels -- avtx-20210930_lab XML 1.82M
11: EX-101.PRE XBRL Presentations -- avtx-20210930_pre XML 1.13M
7: EX-101.SCH XBRL Schema -- avtx-20210930 XSD 190K
74: JSON XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks 400± 593K
75: ZIP XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0001628280-21-022546-xbrl Zip 447K
(Exact name of registrant
as specified in its charter)
iDelaware
(State of incorporation)
i45-0705648
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
i540 Gaither Road, Suite 400
iRockville, iMarylandi20850
(Address of principal executive offices)
(i410) i522-8707
(Registrant’s
telephone number,
including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
iCommon
Stock, $0.001 par value
iAVTX
Nasdaq Capital Market
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. iYes☑ 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). iYes☑
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 ☐
iNon-accelerated filer ☑
Smaller reporting company i☑
Emerging
growth company i☐
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 i☑
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
iBusiness
Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Avalo”) is a leading clinical-stage precision medicine company that discovers, develops, and commercializes targeted therapeutics for patients with significant unmet clinical need in immunology, immuno-oncology, and rare genetic diseases. The Company has built a diverse portfolio of innovative therapies to deliver meaningful medical impact for patients in urgent need. Avalo’s
clinical candidates commonly have a proven mechanistic rationale, biomarkers and/or an established proof-of-concept to expedite and increase the probability of success.
In August 2021, the Company changed its corporate name change from Cerecor Inc. to Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. by filing a Certificate of Amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and merged certain wholly-owned subsidiaries into the Company to consolidate its corporate structure. The name change
underscores the Company’s transition to developing innovative targeted therapies in immunology, immuno-oncology, and rare genetic diseases.
Avalo was incorporated and commenced operation in 2011 and completed its initial public offering in October 2015.
Liquidity
As of September 30, 2021, Avalo had $i71.5 million
in cash and cash equivalents. In September 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of i14,308,878 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $i29.0 million.
Additionally, in August 2021, the Company sold i2.0 million shares of common stock under its “at-the-market” sales agreement (the “ATM Program”) for net proceeds of approximately $i5.3 million.
In June 2021, the Company entered into a $i35.0 million venture debt financing agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation and Powerscourt Investments XXV, LP (collectively, the “Lenders”). As of September 30, 2021, the Company
has received the full $i35.0 million, $i20.0 million of which was funded on the closing date in the second quarter of 2021 and the remaining $i15.0 million
was funded during the third quarter of 2021 in itwo separate tranches. The Loan Agreement contains certain covenants and certain other specified events that could result in an event of default, which if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all or a substantial portion of the notes. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company was not aware of any breach of covenants nor received any notice of event of default from the Lenders.
In
the first quarter of 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of i13,971,889 shares of its common stock and i1,676,923
pre-funded warrants for net proceeds of approximately $i37.7 million.
In order to meet its cash flow needs, the Company applies a disciplined decision-making methodology as it evaluates the optimal allocation of the Company’s resources between investing in the
Company’s existing pipeline assets and acquisitions or in-licensing of new assets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Avalo generated a net loss of $i65.2 million and negative cash flows from operations of $i53.8 million.
As of September 30, 2021, Avalo had an accumulated deficit of $i243.0 million.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern; however, losses are expected to continue as the
Company continues to invest in its research and development pipeline assets. The Company will require additional financing to fund its operations and to continue to execute its business strategy at least one year after the date the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein were issued. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
To mitigate these conditions and to meet the Company’s capital requirements, management plans to use its current cash on hand along with some combination of the following: (i) dilutive and/or non-dilutive financings, (ii) federal
and/or private grants, (iii) other out-licensing or strategic alliances/collaborations of its current pipeline assets, and (iv) out-licensing or sale of its non-core assets. If the Company raises additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, the Company might have to relinquish valuable rights to its technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates. Subject to limited exceptions, our venture debt financing agreement prohibits us from incurring certain additional indebtedness, making certain asset dispositions, and entering into certain mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions without prior consent of the Lenders. If the
Company requires but is unable to obtain additional funding, the Company may be forced to make reductions in spending, delay, suspend, reduce or eliminate some or all of its planned research and development programs, or liquidate assets where possible. Due to the uncertainty regarding future financing and other potential options to raise additional funds, management has
concluded that substantial doubt exists with respect to the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q were issued.
Over the long term, the Company’s ultimate ability to achieve and maintain profitability will depend on, among other things, the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of its pipeline assets, and the potential receipt and sale of any PRVs it receives.
2. iBasis
of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
i
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2020 has been derived from audited financial statements at that date. The interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may occur for the full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in the financial statements
prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to instructions, rules, and regulations prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The Company believes that the disclosures provided herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading when these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are read in conjunction with the December 31, 2020 audited consolidated financial statements.
Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts in the following tables are in thousands except share and per share amounts.
The
Company generates substantially all of its revenue from sales of Millipred®, an oral prednisolone indicated across a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, which is considered a prescription drug. The Company sells its prescription drug in the United States primarily through wholesale distributors. Wholesale distributors account for substantially all of the Company’s net product revenues and trade receivables. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for approximately i52%,
i24%, and i24% of the Company’s total net product revenues. For the nine months ended September
30, 2021, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for approximately i62%, i20%, and i17%
of the Company’s total net product revenues. Revenue from sales of prescription drugs was $i1.4 million and $i1.1 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $i4.6 million and $i5.2 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The Company has a license and supply agreement for the Millipred® product with a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (“Teva”), which expires on September 30, 2023. Beginning July 1, 2021, Avalo is required to pay Teva ififty
percent of the net profit of the Millipred® product following each calendar quarter, subject to a $i0.5 million quarterly minimum payment. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized $ii0.7/ million
in cost of product sales related to the royalty. Dr. Sol Barer served as the Chairman of the Company’s board of directors until June 2021 and currently serves as the Chairman of Teva’s board of directors.
License revenue was $i0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which was
related to upfront fees received in the second quarter of 2021 as a result of the out-licenses of the Company’s rights to its non-core neurology pipeline assets: AVTX-301 to Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (“Alto”) and AVTX-406 to ES Therapeutics, LLC (“ES”). ES is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (an affiliate of Armistice Capital, LLC and collectively “Armistice”), which is a significant stockholder of
the
Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, serve on the Company’s Board of Directors. The transaction with ES was approved in accordance with the Company’s related party transaction policy. Avalo is eligible to receive additional payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones for both AVTX-301 and AVTX-406 and is also eligible to royalty payments based on net sales of AVTX-301; refer to Note 14 for more information.
4. iAytu
Divestiture
Overview of Sale of Pediatric Portfolio and Related Commercial Infrastructure to Aytu BioScience
On November 1, 2019, the Company closed on an asset purchase agreement to sell the Company’s rights, title and interest in assets relating to certain commercialized products (the “Pediatric Portfolio”) and the corresponding commercial infrastructure to Aytu BioScience, Inc. (“Aytu”). Aytu paid consideration of $i4.5 million
in cash and approximately i9.8 million shares of Aytu convertible preferred stock, and assumed certain of the Company’s liabilities, including the Company’s payment obligations to Deerfield CSF, LLC (“Deerfield”) and certain other liabilities primarily related to contingent consideration and sales returns. Steve Boyd, chief investment officer of Armistice Capital, LLC, a significant stockholder
of the Company and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, served on Aytu’s Board from March 2019 until August 30, 2021. The transactions and agreements between the Company and Aytu were approved in accordance with the Company’s related party transaction policy.
Upon the sale of the Pediatric Portfolio to Aytu, the Pediatric Portfolio met all conditions to be classified as discontinued operations. Therefore, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and as of December 31, 2020 reflect the operations, net of taxes, and related assets and liabilities of the Pediatric Portfolio as discontinued operations. Refer to the “Discontinued Operations” section below for more information, including Avalo’s continuing involvement, which the Company expects to end in the second quarter of 2022.
Avalo retained all rights to Millipred®, which the Company considers a non-core asset. Aytu managed Millipred®
commercial operations until June 30, 2021 pursuant to transition service agreements entered into between Aytu and Avalo, which included Aytu collecting cash on behalf of Avalo for sales of Millipred® until the second quarter of 2020. In the third quarter of 2021, Avalo finalized its trade and distribution channel to allow it to control third party distribution and began managing Millipred® commercial operations at that time. The Company agreed to postpone receipt of $i2.0 million
from Aytu in order to better facilitate the transition of commercial operations from Aytu. $ii1.0/ million
of the postponement will become due in December 2022 and the remainder in December 2024. The Company recognized the $i2.0 million as an other long-term asset on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021.
Deerfield
Guarantee
As of the closing date of the Aytu Divestiture on November 1, 2019, Aytu assumed the Company’s debt obligation to Deerfield which included monthly payments of $i0.1 million through January 2021, with a balloon payment of $i15.0 million
that was to be due in January 2021. Aytu also assumed the contingent consideration liability related to future royalties on Avadel Pharmaceuticals PLC’s (“Avadel”) pediatric products, which included minimum monthly payments of $i0.1 million through February 2026. In conjunction with the closing of this transaction, the Company entered into a guarantee in favor of Deerfield, which guarantees the payment of the assumed liabilities to Deerfield, which included the debt obligation
and includes the contingent consideration related to future royalties on Avadel’s pediatric products (collectively referred to as the “Guarantee”).
Aytu publicly reported that it had paid the $i15.0 million balloon payment to Deerfield before it came due in June 2020 and the fixed monthly payments to Deerfield ended in January 2021, thus satisfying the debt obligation. Aytu publicly reported that it had entered into a Waiver, Release and Consent in June 2021, pursuant to which it paid $i2.8 million
to Deerfield in early satisfaction of the remaining contingent consideration related to future royalties on Avadel’s pediatric products. Aytu agreed to pay the remaining fixed obligation of $i3.0 million in isix
equal quarterly payments of $i0.5 million over the next isix quarters commencing September
1, 2021.
Avalo is required to make a payment under the Guarantee upon demand by Deerfield if all or any part of the fixed payments are not paid by Aytu when due or upon breach of a covenant. The remaining minimum commitments payable (as most recently publicly reported by Aytu) was $i3.0 million as of June 30, 2021, which represents Avalo’s estimated maximum potential future payments
under the Guarantee.
The fair value of the Guarantee, which relates to the Company’s obligation to make future payments if Aytu defaults, was determined at the time of the Aytu Divestiture as the difference between (i) the estimated fair value of the assumed payments using Avalo’s estimated cost of debt and (ii) the estimated fair value of the assumed payments using Aytu’s estimated cost of debt. At each
subsequent
reporting period, the value of the Guarantee is determined based on the expected credit loss of the Guarantee with changes recorded in (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company concluded that the expected credit loss of the Guarantee was de minimis as of September 30, 2021 based on considerations such as recent financings, cash position, operating cash flows and trends and Aytu’s ability to meet its financial commitments.
Discontinued Operations
i
The
following tables summarizes the liabilities of the discontinued operations as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
Total
current liabilities of discontinued operations
$
i10
$
i1,341
/
Aytu
assumed sales returns of the Pediatric Portfolio made after the transaction close date related to sales prior to November 1, 2019 only to the extent such post-Closing sales returns exceed $i2.0 million and are less than $i2.8
million (in other words, Aytu will only assume $i0.8 million of such returns). Therefore, Avalo is liable for future sales returns of the Pediatric Portfolio sold prior to the transaction close date in excess of the $i0.8
million assumed by Aytu. The Company estimated future returns on sales made prior to the transaction close date as of September 30, 2021, which was recognized within accrued expenses and other current liabilities from discontinued operations (and shown in the table above).
Changes to the Company’s estimate of sales returns related to the Pediatric Portfolio is included within discontinued operations on the statement of operations and comprehensive loss and is shown within product revenue, net in the table summarizing the results of discontinued operations below. In future periods, as additional information becomes available, the
Company expects to recognize expense (or a benefit) related to actual sales returns of the Pediatric Portfolio in excess (or less than) the returns reserve recorded, which will be recognized within discontinued operations. The Company expects this involvement to continue until sales returns are no longer accepted on sales of the Pediatric Portfolio made prior to November 1, 2019. Returns of these products may be accepted through the second quarter of 2022 (in line with the products’ return policies).
The following table summarizes the results of discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Income
(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
i76
$
(i198)
$
i38
$
i385
There
were no non-cash operating items from discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and no non-cash investing items from the discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 31, 2021 and 2020. The significant non-cash operating item from the discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is contained below (in thousands).
The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) using the two-class method. The two-class method of computing EPS is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for common stock and any participating securities according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings.
The
Company had itwo classes of stock outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2021; common stock and preferred stock. The preferred stock outstanding during the period had the same rights and preferences as the Company’s common stock, other than being non-voting, and is convertible into share of common stock on a 1-for-5 ratio. In April 2021, Armistice, which is a
significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, serve on the Board of the Company, converted the remaining i1,257,143 shares of convertible preferred stock into i6,285,715
shares of Avalo’s common stock (refer to Note 11 for more information). Therefore, the Company had only common stock outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2021. Under the two-class method, the convertible preferred stock was considered a separate class of stock until the time it was converted to common shares for EPS purposes and therefore basic and diluted EPS is provided below for both common stock and preferred stock for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2021.
EPS for common stock and EPS for preferred stock is computed by dividing
the sum of distributed earnings and undistributed earnings for each class of stock by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each class of stock for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to common stock and preferred stock based on the weighted average shares outstanding during the period, which assumes the convertible preferred stock has been converted to common stock. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2021 includes the weighted average effect of the pre-funded warrants issued in connection with the underwritten public offering that closed in January 2021, the exercise of which requires nominal consideration for the delivery of the shares of common stock (refer to Note 11 for more information).
Diluted net (loss) income per share includes
the potential dilutive effect of common stock equivalents as if such securities were converted or exercised during the period, when the effect is dilutive. Common stock equivalents include: (i) outstanding stock options and restricted stock units, which are included under the “treasury stock method” when dilutive; and (ii) common stock to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, which are included under the “treasury stock method” when dilutive. Because the impact of these items is generally anti-dilutive during periods of net loss, there is no difference between basic and diluted loss per common share for periods with net losses. In periods of net loss, losses are allocated to the participating security only if the security has not only the right to participate in earnings, but also a contractual obligation to share in the Company’s losses.
i
The
following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per share of common stock and preferred stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
The
following outstanding securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, as they could have been anti-dilutive:
1
The above table excludes i1,676,923 pre-funded warrants for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. See “Q1 2021 Financing” in Note 11 for more information.
In the first quarter of 2020, the Company consummated its merger with Aevi Genomic Medicine Inc. (“Aevi”), in which Avalo acquired the rights to AVTX-002, AVTX-006 and AVTX-007 (the “Merger” or the “Aevi Merger”).
The
Merger consideration included (i) stock valued at approximately $i15.5 million, resulting in the issuance of approximately i3.9 million
shares of Avalo common stock to Aevi stockholders, (ii) forgiveness of $i4.1 million the Company had loaned Aevi prior to the Merger closing, (iii) contingent value rights for up to an additional $i6.5 million
in subsequent payments based on certain development milestones (discussed further in Note 14), and (iv) transaction costs of $i1.5 million.
The Company recorded this transaction as an asset purchase as opposed to a business combination because management concluded that substantially all the value received was related to one group of similar
identifiable assets, which was the in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) for two early phase therapies. The Company considered these pipeline assets similar due to similarities in the risks of development, stage of development, regulatory pathway, patient populations and economics of commercialization. The fair value of $i25.5 million (consisting
primarily of $i24.0 million IPR&D, $i0.3 million of cash and $i0.9 million
of assembled workforce) was immediately recognized as acquired in-process research and development expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss because the IPR&D asset has no alternate use due to the stage of development. The assembled workforce asset was recorded to intangible assets and will be amortized over an estimated useful life of itwo years.
7.
iFair Value Measurements
ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value standard also establishes a three‑level hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable
inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability on the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:
•Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for an identical asset or liability in an active market.
•Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in an active market or model‑derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
•Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability.
i
The
following table presents, for each of the fair value hierarchy levels required under ASC 820, the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the
Company’s financial instruments included cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and long-term debt. The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their respective fair values because of the short-term nature of these accounts. The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt approximates its carrying value as of September 30, 2021 and is in Level Two of the fair value hierarchy (refer to Note 10 for more information).
iiNo/
changes in valuation techniques or inputs occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. iiiiNo///
transfers of assets between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value measurement hierarchy occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
8. iLeases
The
Company currently occupies itwo leased properties, both of which serve as administrative office space. The Company determined that both of these leases are operating leases based on the lease classification test performed at lease commencement.
The annual base rent for the Company’s
office located in Rockville, Maryland is $i0.2 million, subject to annual i2.5% increases over the term of the lease. The applicable
lease provided for a rent abatement for a period of i12 months following the Company’s date of occupancy. The lease has an initial term of i10 years from the date the
Company makes its first annual fixed rent payment, which occurred in January 2020. The Company has the option to extend the lease itwo times, each for a period of ifive
years, and may terminate the lease as of the sixth anniversary of the first annual fixed rent payment, upon the payment of a termination fee. As of the lease commencement date, it was not reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the renewal periods or early terminate the lease and therefore the end date of the lease for accounting purposes is January 31, 2030.
The Company entered into a sublease for additional administrative office space in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania in May 2020 (the “Chesterbrook Lease”). The annual base rent under the Chesterbrook Lease is $i0.3
million. The lease expires on November 30, 2021.
In anticipation of the expiry of the Chesterbrook Lease on November 30, 2021, in September 2021, the Company entered into a lease for administrative office space in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania that commences on December 1, 2021 (the “New Chesterbrook Lease”). The New Chesterbrook Lease has an initial term of i5.25
years from the lease commencement date. The initial annual base rent under the New Chesterbrook Lease is approximately $i0.2 million. The Company will evaluate the accounting impact in the fourth quarter of 2021, including the lease classification test and the recognition of the lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and corresponding lease liability as of the lease commencement date on December 1, 2021. Therefore, the information
contained below excludes the New Chesterbrook Lease.
i
Supplemental balance sheet information related to the leased properties (excluding the New Chesterbrook Lease) is as follows (in thousands):
The
operating lease ROU assets are included in property and equipment and the lease liabilities are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company utilized a weighted average discount rate of i7.6% to determine the present value of the lease payments. The weighted average remaining term of the operating leases at September 30, 2021 was i8.0
years.
iThe components of lease expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
1The
New Chesterbrook Lease is not included in the table above given its lease commencement date for accounting purposes is December 1, 2021. The New Chesterbrook lease has an initial lease term of i5.25 years from the lease commencement date and annual base rent is approximately $i0.2 million.
9. iAccrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Total
accrued expenses and other current liabilities
$
i15,460
$
i11,310
/
10.
iNotes Payable
Overview
On June 4, 2021, the Company entered into a $i35.0 million
Loan Agreement with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (“Horizon”) and Powerscourt Investments XXV, LP (“Powerscourt”, together with Horizon, the “Lenders”). In accordance with the Loan Agreement, $i20.0 million of the $i35.0 million
was funded on the closing date (the “Initial Note”), with the remaining $i15.0 million fundable upon the Company achieving certain predetermined milestones, which the Company met in the third quarter of 2021. On July 30, 2021, after achieving the predetermined milestones, the
Company borrowed $i10.0 million, which was evidenced by a second note payable (the “Second Note”). On September 29, 2021, after achieving the predetermined milestones, the Company borrowed the remaining $i5.0 million,
which was evidenced by a third note payable (the “Third Note”, and collectively with the Initial and Second Notes, the “Notes”).
Each advance under the Loan Agreement will mature i42
months from the first day of the month following the funding of the advance. Each advance accrues interest at a per annum rate of interest equal to i6.25% plus the prime rate, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (subject to a floor of i3.25%).
The Loan Agreement provides for interest-only payments for each advance for the first i18 months, however the interest-only period was extended to i24 months as a result of the
Company satisfying the Interest Only Extension Milestone (as defined in the Loan Agreement) in the third quarter of 2021. Thereafter, amortization payments will be payable in monthly installments of principal and interest through each advance’s maturity date. Upon iten business days’ prior written notice, the Company may prepay all of the outstanding advances by paying the entire principal balance and all accrued
and unpaid interest, subject to prepayment charges of up to i3% of the then outstanding principal balance. Upon the earlier of (i) payment in full of the principal balance, (ii) an event of default, or (iii) the maturity date, the Company will pay an additional final payment of i3%
of the principal loan amount to the Lenders.
Each advance of the loan is secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than Intellectual Property and Excluded Collateral (in each case as defined in the Loan Agreement), and contains customary covenants and representations, including a financial reporting covenant and limitations on dividends, indebtedness, collateral, investments, distributions, transfers, mergers or acquisitions taxes, corporate changes, deposit accounts, and subsidiaries.
The events of default under the Loan Agreement include but are not limited to, failing to make a payment,
breach of covenant, or occurrence of a material adverse change. If an event of default occurs, the Lenders are entitled to accelerate the loan amounts due, or take other enforcement actions. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company was not aware of any breach of covenants nor received any notice of event of default from the Lenders.
On June 4, 2021, pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Company issued warrants to the Lenders to purchase i403,844
shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $i2.60 (the “Warrants”). The Warrants are exercisable for iten
years from the date of issuance. The Lenders may exercise the Warrants either by (a) cash or check or (b) through a net issuance conversion. The Warrants, which met equity classification, were recognized as a component of permanent stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in-capital and were recorded at the issuance date using a relative fair value allocation method. The Company valued the Warrants at issuance, which resulted in a discount on the debt, and allocated the proceeds from the loan proportionately to the Notes and to the Warrants, of which $i0.9 million
was allocated to the Warrants.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company incurred $i2.1 million in debt issuance costs, including legal fees in connection with the Loan Agreement, fees paid directly to the lender, and other direct costs, of which $i1.7 million
were paid in the third quarter of 2021. All fees, warrants, and costs paid to the Lenders and all direct costs incurred by the Company are recognized as a debt discount and are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the loan. The Company did inot incur any debt issuance costs for the three months ended September
30, 2021.
The effective interest rate of the Notes, including the accretion of the final payment, was i13.5% as of September 30, 2021.
i
Balance
sheet information related to the note payable for the Notes is as follows (in thousands):
1 Balance includes $i1.1 million
final payment fee, which represents i3% of the principal loan amount.
11. iCapital
Structure
Pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Company is authorized to issue itwo classes of stock, common stock and preferred stock. At September
30, 2021, the total number of shares of capital stock the Company was authorized to issue was i205,000,000 of which i200,000,000
was common stock and i5,000,000 waspreferred stock. All shares of common andpreferred stock have a par value of $ii0.001/
per share.
Common Stock
Q3 2021 Financing
On September 17, 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of i14,308,878 shares
of its common stock for net proceeds of $i29.0 million. Armistice, which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, currently serve on the Board of the Company, participated in the offering by purchasing i5,454,545
shares of common stock, on the same terms as all other investors. Certain affiliates of Nantahala Capital Management LLC (collectively, “Nantahala”), which beneficially owned greater than i5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock at the time of the offering, participated in the offering on the same terms as all other investors.
At-the-Market Offering Program
In
July 2021, the Company entered into an “at-the-market” sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (together, the “Agents”), pursuant to which the Company may sell from time to time, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $i50.0 million through the Agents. In August 2021, the
Company sold i2.0 million shares of common stock under the ATM Program for net proceeds of approximately $i5.3 million.
Q2 2021 Debt Financing Agreement
As part of the Loan Agreement entered into in the second quarter of 2021, on June 4, 2021, the Company issued warrants to Horizon and Powerscourt to purchase i403,844 shares of the
Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $i2.60. The warrants are exercisable for iten years from the date of issuance. Refer to Note
10 for additional information.
Q1 2021 Financing
In January 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of i13,971,889 shares of its common stock and i1,676,923
pre-funded warrants for net proceeds of $i37.7 million. Armistice participated in the offering by purchasing i2,500,000
shares of common stock, on the same terms as all other investors. Nantahala participated in the offering by purchasing i1,400,000 shares of common stock, on the same terms as all other investors.
Nantahala also purchased the pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of i1,676,923
shares of common stock at a purchase price of $i2.599, which represents the per share public offering price for the common stock less the $i0.001 per share exercise price for
each pre-funded warrant.
The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance at the option of each holder, in such holder’s discretion, by (i) payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of common stock purchased upon such exercise or (ii) a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common
stock determined
according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. A holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant if the holder’s ownership of the Company’s common stock would exceed i9.99% following such exercise.
In the event of certain fundamental transactions, the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants
the kind of amounts of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the pre-funded warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction without regard to any limitations on exercise contained in the pre-funded warrants.
The pre-funded warrants were classified as a component of permanent stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in capital and were recorded at the issuance date using a relative fair value allocation method. The pre-funded warrants are equity classified because they (i) are freestanding financial instruments that are legally detachable and separately exercisable from the equity instruments, (ii) are immediately exercisable, (iii) do not embody an obligation for the Company to repurchase its shares, (iv) permit the holders to receive
a fixed number of shares of common stock upon exercise, (v) are indexed to the Company’s common stock and (vi) meet the equity classification criteria. In addition, such pre-funded warrants do not provide any guarantee of value or return. The Company valued the pre-funded warrants at issuance, concluding that their sales price approximated their fair value, and allocated net proceeds from the sale proportionately to the common stock and pre-funded warrants, of which $i4.4 million
was allocated to the pre-funded warrants and recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital.
2020 Financings
On June 11, 2020, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of i15,180,000 shares of its
common stock for net proceeds of approximately $i35.4 million. Armistice participated in the offering by purchasing i2,000,000
shares of common stock, on the same terms as all other investors. Additionally, certain of the Company’s officers participated in the offering by purchasing an aggregate of i110,000 shares of common stock, on the same terms as all other investors.
On March 17, 2020, the
Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Armistice pursuant to which the Company sold i1,951,219 shares of the Company’s common stock for net proceeds of approximately $i3.9
million.
On February 6, 2020, the Company closed a registered direct offering with certain institutional investors for the sale by the Company of i1,306,282 shares of the
Company’s common stock for net proceeds of approximately $i5.1 million. Armistice participated in the offering by purchasing i1,256,282
shares of common stock from the Company, on the same terms as all other investors.
Aevi Merger
On February 3, 2020, under the terms of the Aevi Merger noted above in Note 6, the Company issued approximately i3.9
million shares of common stock.
Common Stock Warrants
i
At September 30, 2021, the following common stock warrants were outstanding:
Number of common
shares
Exercise price
Expiration
underlying warrants
per share
date
i2,380
$
i8.68
May
2022
i4,000,000
$
i12.50
June
2024
i1,676,923
$
i0.001
—
i403,844
$
i2.60
June
2031
i6,083,147
/
Convertible
Preferred Stock
On December 26, 2018, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of Preferences of Series B Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Convertible Preferred Stock” or “convertible preferred stock”) of Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Certificate of Designation of the Series B Preferred Stock”) classifying and designating the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Designation of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock authorized i2,857,143
shares of convertible preferred stock. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock converted to shares of common stock on a 1-for-5 ratio and has the same rights, preferences, and privileges as common stock other than it held no voting rights. During the first quarter of 2020,
the holder of the Series B Preferred Stock, Armistice, converted i1,600,000
shares of the convertible preferred stock into i8,000,000 shares of Avalo’s common stock. In April 2021, Armistice converted the remaining i1,257,143
shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock into i6,285,715 shares of Avalo’s common stock. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had ino
preferred stock outstanding.
12. iStock-Based Compensation
2016 Equity Incentive Plan
On April 5, 2016, the
Company’s board of directors adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) as the successor to the 2015 Omnibus Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2016 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective on May 18, 2016 (the “2016 Plan Effective Date”). Upon the 2016 Plan Effective Date, the 2016 Plan reserved and authorized up to i600,000
additional shares of common stock for issuance, as well as i464,476 unallocated shares remaining available for grant of new awards under the 2015 Plan. An Amended and Restated 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Amended Plan”) was approved by the Company’s stockholders in May 2018, which increased the share reserve by an additional i1.4
million shares. A Second Amended and Restated 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Second Amended Plan”) was approved by the Company’s stockholders in August 2019, which increased the share reserve by an additional i850,000 shares. A Third Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Third Amended Plan”) was approved
by the Company’s stockholders in June 2020 which increased the share reserve by an additional i2,014,400 shares. During the term of the 2016 Third Amended Plan, the share reserve will automatically increase on the first trading day in January of each calendar year ending on (and including) January
1, 2026, by an amount equal to i4% of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on the last trading day in December of the prior calendar year. As of September 30, 2021, there were i1,748,433
shares available for future issuance under the 2016 Third Amended Plan.
Option grants expire after iten years. Employee options typically vest over three or ifour
years. Employees typically receive a new hire option grant, as well as an annual grant in the first or second quarter of each year. Options granted to directors typically vest either immediately or over a period of one or ithree years. Directors may elect to receive stock options in lieu of board compensation, which vest immediately. For stock options granted to employees and non-employee directors, the estimated grant date fair market value of the
Company’s stock-based awards is amortized ratably over the individuals’ service periods, which is the period in which the awards vest. Stock-based compensation expense includes expense related to stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchase plan shares. iThe amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
was as follows (in thousands):
In
June 2021, the Company’s former Chairman of the Board resigned from the Board. The Company and the former Chairman subsequently entered into an agreement for him to serve as a strategic advisor to the Board and the Company, including serving on the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board, for a period of at least ione
year. As consideration for these services, the Company modified his outstanding stock option awards to allow them to continue to vest during the term during which he serves as a strategic advisor. Additionally, any option award previously granted was amended to extend the exercisability period. As a result of the modification, the Company recognized $i1.4 million
of compensation cost, $i1.0 million of which related to options with market-based vesting conditions (which were fully vested prior to the modification) and $i0.4 million
of which related to options with service-based vesting conditions in the second quarter of 2021. This expense was recognized in general and administrative expenses. At September 30, 2021, there was $i0.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the modification of service-based options that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of i0.7
years.
Stock options with service-based vesting conditions
The Company has granted awards that contain service-based vesting conditions. The compensation cost for these options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods. iA summary of option activity for the nine months
ended September 30, 2021 is as follows:
In
March 2021, the Company granted its newly appointed Chief Financial Officer options with service-based vesting conditions to purchase i0.5 million shares of common stock as an inducement option grant, pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). In January 2021, the
Company granted i2.7 million options with service-based vesting conditions to its employees as part of its annual stock option award.
In March 2020, our Chief Executive Officer entered into an amended employment agreement in which his salary in cash was reduced to $i35,568
(the “Reduction”), which represents the minimum exempt annual salary. In consideration for the Reduction, on a quarterly basis, the Company grants stock options, which vest immediately, for the purchase of a number of shares of the Company’s common stock with a total value (based on the Black-Scholes valuation methodology) based on a pro rata total annual value of the foregone salary.
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the fair
value of the Company’s common stock. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was $i0.2 million. The aggregate intrinsic value of options currently exercisable as of September 30, 2021 was $i0.2
million. There were i2,466,684 options that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 with a weighted average exercise price of $i3.64
per share. The total grant date fair value of shares which vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $i5.6 million.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $i1.7
million and $i5.0 million related to stock options with service-based vesting conditions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. At September 30, 2021, there was $i14.8
million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested service-based vesting condition awards. The unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of i2.8 years.
Stock-based compensation assumptions
i
The
following table shows the assumptions used to compute stock-based compensation expense for stock options with service-based vesting conditions granted under the Black-Scholes valuation model for the nine months ended September 30, 2021:
Service-based options
Expected annual dividend yield
i—%
Expected
stock price volatility
i73.0% - i86.5%
Expected
term of option (in years)
i0.76 - i6.25
Risk-free interest rate
i0.07%
- i1.23%
/
Stock options with market-based vesting conditions
The
following table summarizes the Company’s market-based option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (in thousands except, for share amounts):
(1)
The aggregate intrinsic value in the above table represents the total pre-tax amount that a participant would receive if the option had been exercised on the last day of the respective fiscal period. Options with a market value less than its exercise value are not included in the intrinsic value amount.
Restricted Stock Units
The Company measures the fair value of the restricted stock units using the stock price on the date of the grant. The restricted shares typically vest annually over a ifour-year
period beginning on the first anniversary of the award. iThe following table summarizes the Company’s restricted stock unit (“RSU”) activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2021:
On April 5, 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved the 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP was approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective on May 18, 2016 (the “ESPP Effective Date”).
Under the ESPP, eligible employees can purchase common stock through accumulated payroll deductions at such times as are established by the administrator. The ESPP is administered by the compensation committee of the
Company’s board of directors. Under the ESPP, eligible employees may purchase stock at i85% of the lower of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock (i) on the first day of an offering period or (ii) on the purchase date. Eligible employees may contribute up to i15%
of their earnings during the offering period. The Company’s board of directors may establish a maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be purchased by any participant, or all participants in the aggregate, during each offering or offering period. Under the ESPP, a participant may not accrue rights to purchase more than $i25,000
of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding.
Upon the ESPP Effective Date, the Company reserved and authorized up to i500,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the ESPP. On January 1 of each
calendar year, the aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP shall automatically increases by a number equal to the lesser of (i) i1% of the total number of shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar
year, and (ii) i500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, or (iii) a number of shares of the Company’s common stock as determined by the Company’s board of directors or compensation committee. The number of shares were increased by i500,000
on January 1, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, i1,836,622 shares remained available for issuance.
In accordance with the guidance in ASC 718-50, Employee Share Purchase Plans, the ability to purchase shares
of the Company’s common stock at the lower of the offering date price or the purchase date price represents an option and, therefore, the ESPP is a compensatory plan under this guidance. Accordingly, stock-based compensation expense is determined based on the option’s grant-date fair value and is recognized over the requisite service period of the option. The Company used the Black-Scholes valuation model and recognized stock-based compensation expense of $i81 thousand
and $i170 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $i0.2 million
and $i2.6 million, respectively. The tax benefit recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was a result of a tax law change signed into law as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), which allowed the Company to carry back certain losses for taxes paid in fiscal year 2017 and thus resulted in a refund claim. The 2021 income tax benefit was a result of the updated
estimate of interest receivable and abatement of penalties on the refund claim, as the final federal refund payment was received from the Internal Revenue Service in 2021. The Company recognized a minimal income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
14. iCommitments
and Contingencies
Litigation
Litigation - General
The Company may become party to various contractual disputes, litigation, and potential claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company currently does not believe that the resolution of such matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations except as otherwise disclosed in this report.
Karbinal Royalty Make-Whole Provision
In
2018, in connection with the acquisition of Avadel’s pediatric products, the Company entered into a supply and distribution agreement (the “Karbinal Agreement”) with TRIS Pharma Inc. (“TRIS”). As part of the Karbinal Agreement, the Company had an annual minimum sales commitment, which is based on a commercial year that spans from August 1 through July 31, of i70,000 units
through 2025. The Company was required to pay TRIS a royalty make whole payment (“Make-Whole Payments”) of $i30 for each unit under the i70,000 units
annual minimum sales commitment through 2025.
As a part of the Aytu Divestiture, which closed on November 1, 2019, the Company assigned all payment obligations, including the Make-Whole Payments, under the Karbinal Agreement (collectively, the “TRIS Obligations”) to Aytu. However, under the original license agreement, the Company could ultimately be liable for the TRIS Obligations to the extent Aytu fails to make the required payments. The future Make-Whole Payments to be made by Aytu are unknown as the amount owed to TRIS is dependent on the number of units sold.
Possible
Future Milestone Payments for In-Licensed Compounds
General
The Company is a party to license and development agreements with various third parties, which contain future payment obligations such as royalties and milestone payments (discussed further below). The Company recognizes a liability (and related expense) for each milestone if and when such milestone is probable and can be reasonably estimated. As typical in the biotechnology industry, each milestone has its own unique risks that the Company evaluates when determining the probability of
achieving each milestone and the probability of success evolves over time as the programs progress and additional information is obtained. The Company considers numerous factors when evaluating whether a given milestone is probable including (but not limited to) the regulatory pathway, development plan, ability to dedicate sufficient funding to reach a given milestone and the probability of success.
AVTX-002 KKC License Agreement
On March 25, 2021, the Company entered into a license agreement with Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (“KKC”) for exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture
and commercialize AVTX-002, KKC’s first-in-class fully human anti-LIGHT (TNFSF14) monoclonal antibody for all indications (the “KKC License Agreement”). The KKC License Agreement replaced the Amended and Restated Clinical Development and Option Agreement between the Company and KKC dated May 28, 2020.
Under the KKC License Agreement, the Company paid KKC an upfront license fee equal to $i10.0 million.
The Company is also required to pay KKC up to $i112.5 million based on the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones.Upon commercialization, the Company is required to pay KKC sales-based milestones aggregating up to $i75 million
tied to the achievement of annual net sales targets.
Additionally, the Company is required to pay KKC royalties during a country-by-country royalty term equal to a mid-teen percentage of annual net sales. The Company is required to pay KKC a double digit percentage (less than i30%)
of the payments that the Company receives from sublicensing of its rights under the KKC License Agreement, subject to certain exclusions. Avalo is responsible for the development and commercialization of AVTX-002 in all indications worldwide (other than the option in the KKC License Agreement that, upon exercise by KKC, allows KKC to develop, manufacture and commercialize AVTX-002 in Japan).
The Company recognized the upfront license fee of $i10.0 million
within research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and made the payment in April 2021. There has been ino cumulative expense recognized as of September 30, 2021 related to the milestones under this license agreement. The Company
will continue to monitor the milestones at each reporting period.
AVTX-006 Astellas License Agreement
The Company has an exclusive license agreement with OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Astellas Pharma, Inc. (“Astellas”), for the worldwide development and commercialization of the novel, second generation mTORC1/2 inhibitor (which we refer to as AVTX-006). Under the terms of the license agreement, there was an upfront license fee of $i0.5 million.
The Company is required to pay Astellas up to $i5.5 million based on the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones. The Company is also required to pay Astellas a tiered mid-to-high single digit percentage of the payments that Avalo receives from sublicensing of its rights under the
Astellas license agreement, subject to certain exclusions. Upon commercialization, the Company is required to pay Astellas royalties during a country-by-country royalty term equal to a tiered mid-to-high single digit percentage of annual net sales. Avalo is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized a $i0.5 million
development milestone payment within research and development expenses.There has been $i0.5 million of cumulative expense recognized as of September 30, 2021 related to the milestones under this license agreement. The Company will continue to monitor the remaining
milestones at each reporting period.
AVTX-007 AstraZeneca License Agreement
The Company has an exclusive global license with Medimmune Limited, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca plc (“AstraZeneca”), to develop and commercialize a fully human, anti-IL-18 monoclonal antibody (which we refer to as AVTX-007). Under the terms of the license agreement, there was an upfront license fee of $i6.0 million
in cash and equity. The Company is required to payAstraZeneca up to $i71.5 million based on the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones. Upon commercialization, the Company is required to pay AstraZeneca sales-based milestone payments aggregating
up to $i90.0 million tied to the achievement of annual net sales targets.Additionally, the Company is also required to pay AstraZeneca royalties during a country-by-country royalty term equal to a tiered low double digit percentage of annual net sales. Avalo is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
iNo
expense related to this license agreement was recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. There has been $i1.5 million of cumulative expense recognized as of September 30, 2021 related to the milestones under this license agreement.The
Company will continue to monitor the remaining milestones at each reporting period.
AVTX-008 Sanford Burnham Prebys License Agreement
On June 22, 2021, the Company entered into an Exclusive Patent License Agreement with Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (the “Sanford Burnham Prebys License Agreement”) under which the Company obtained an exclusive license to a portfolio of issued patents and patent applications covering an immune checkpoint program (which we refer to as AVTX-008).
Under
the terms of the agreement, the Company incurred an upfront license fee of $i0.4 million, as well as patent costs of $i0.5 million.
The Company is required to pay Sanford Burnham Prebys up to $i24.2 million based on achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones. Upon commercialization, the Company is required to pay Sanford Burnham Prebys sales-based milestone payments aggregating up to $i50.0 million
tied to annual net sales targets.Additionally, the Company is required to pay Sanford Burnham Prebys royalties during a country-by-country royalty term equal to a low-to-mid single digit percentage of annual net sales. The Company is also required to pay Sanford Burnham Prebys a tiered low-double digit percentageof the payments that Avalo receives from sublicensing of its rights under the Sanford Burnham Prebys license agreement, subject to certain exclusions. Avalo is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
The Company recognized the upfront license fee of $i0.4 million within research and development expenses and the upfront patent expense of $i0.5 million
within general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. There has been ino cumulative expense recognized as of September 30, 2021 related to the milestones under this license agreement. The Company will continue to monitor the
milestones at each reporting period.
Possible Future Milestone Proceeds for Out-Licensed Compounds
AVTX-301 Out-License
On May 28, 2021, the Company out-licensed its rights in respect of its non-core asset, AVTX-301, to Alto. The Company initially in-licensed the compound from an affiliate of Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) in 2013.
Under the out-license agreement, the
Company received a mid-six digit upfront payment from Alto. The Company is also eligible to receive up to $i18.6 million based on the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial sale milestones. Additionally, the Company is entitled to a less than single digit percentage royalty based on annual net sales.
Alto is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
On June 9, 2021, the Company assigned its rights, title, interest, and obligations under an in-license covering its non-core asset, AVTX-406, to ES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armistice, which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, currently serve on the Board of the Company. The transaction with ES was approved in accordance with Avalo’s related party transaction
policy.
Under the assignment agreement, the Company received a low-six digit upfront payment from ES. The Company is also eligible to receive up to $i6.0 million based on the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones. Upon commercialization,
the Company is eligible to receive sales-based milestone payments aggregating up to $i20.0 million tied to annual net sales targets. ES is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
In August 2017, the
Company sold its worldwide rights to AVTX-501 to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Janssen”) in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $i25.0 million. The Company is also eligible to receive up to $i20.0
million based on the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones. Janssen is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
In August 2019, the Company assigned its rights, title, interest, and obligations under an in-license covering its non-core asset, AVTX-611, to ES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armistice, which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, currently serve on the Board of the Company.
Upon commercialization, the Company is eligible to receive sales-based milestone payments
aggregating up to $i20.0 million tied to annual net sales targets. ES is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
Prior to Avalo entering into the Aevi Merger, in July 2019, Aevi entered into a royalty
agreement with Mike Cola, Avalo’s current Chief Executive Officer, Joseph J. Grano, Jr., Kathleen Jane Grano, Joseph C. Grano, The Grano Children’s Trust, Joseph C. Grano, trustee and LeoGroup Private Investment Access, LLC on behalf of Garry A. Neil, Avalo’s current Chief Scientific Officer (collectively, the “Investors”) in exchange for a one-time aggregate payment of $i2.0 million (the “Royalty Agreement”). Collectively, the Investors will be entitled to an aggregate amount equal to a low-single digit percentage of the aggregate net sales of Astellas’
second generation mTORC1/2 inhibitor, AVTX-006. At any time beginning ithree years after the date of the first public launch of AVTX-006, Avalo may exercise, at its sole discretion, a buyout option that terminates any further obligations under the Royalty Agreement in exchange for a payment to Investors of an aggregate of i75%
of the net present value of the royalty payments. A majority of the independent members of the board of directors and the audit committee of Aevi approved the Royalty Agreement.
Avalo assumed this Royalty Agreement upon closing of the Aevi Merger and it is recorded as a royalty obligation within the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021. Because there is a significant related party relationship between the Company and the Investors, the Company has treated its obligation to make royalty payments under the Royalty Agreement as an implicit
obligation to repay the funds advanced by the Investors. As the Company makes royalty payments in accordance with the Royalty Agreement, it will reduce the liability balance. At the time that such royalty payments become probable and estimable, and if such amounts exceed the liability balance, the Company will impute interest accordingly on a prospective basis based on such estimates, which will result in a corresponding increase in the liability balance.
Aevi Merger Possible Future Milestone Payments
A portion of the consideration for the Aevi Merger includes itwo
future contingent development milestones worth up to an additional $i6.5 million. The first milestone is the enrollment of a patient in a Phase 2 study related to AVTX-002 for use in pediatric onset Crohn’s disease, AVTX-006 (any indication) or AVTX-007 (any indication) prior to February 3, 2022. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a
milestone payment of $i2.0 million. The second milestone is the receipt of a NDA approval for either AVTX-006 or AVTX-007 from the FDA on or prior to February 3, 2025. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $i4.5
million. All milestones are payable in either shares of the Company’s common stock or cash, at the election of the Company.
The contingent consideration related to the development milestones will be recognized if and when such milestones are probable and can be reasonably estimated. As of the consummation of the Merger on February 3, 2020 and as of September 30, 2021, ino
contingent consideration related to the development milestone has been recognized. The Company will continue to monitor the development milestones at each reporting period.
Ichorion Asset Acquisition Possible Future Milestone Payments
In September 2018, the Company acquired Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc. including acquiring ithree
compounds for inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (AVTX-801, AVTX-802 and AVTX-803) and ione other preclinical compound. Consideration for the transaction included shares of Avalo common stock and ithree
future contingent development milestones for the acquired compounds worth up to an additional $i15.0 million. The first milestone is the first product being approved for marketing by the FDA on or prior to December 31, 2021. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $i6.0 million.
The second milestone is the second product being approved for marketing by the FDA on or prior to December 31, 2021. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $i5.0 million. The third milestone is a protide molecule being approved by the FDA on or prior to December
31, 2023. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $i4.0 million. All milestones are payable in either shares of the Company’s common stock or cash, at the election of the
Company.
The contingent consideration related to the development milestones will be recognized if and when such milestones are probable and can be reasonably estimated. As of September 30, 2021, ino contingent consideration related to the development milestone has been recognized. The
Company will continue to monitor the development milestones at each reporting period.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the information incorporated herein by reference
contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,”“expects,”“may,”“might,”“will,”“plans,”“intends,”“estimates,”“could,”“should,”“would,”“continue,”“seeks,”“aims,”“projects,”“predicts,”“pro forma,”“anticipates,”“potential” or other similar words (including their use in the negative), or by discussions of future matters such as the development of product candidates or products, technology enhancements, possible changes in legislation, and other statements that are not historical. Although our forward-looking
statements reflect the good faith judgment of our management, these statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly in Part II – Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” as well as in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 8, 2021, and in our other filings with the SEC. Statements made herein are as of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake,
and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and related notes that appear in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2020 appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021.
Overview
Avalo
Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Avalo”) is a leading clinical-stage precision medicine company that discovers, develops, and commercializes targeted therapeutics for patients with significant unmet clinical need in immunology, immuno-oncology, and rare genetic diseases. We have built a diverse portfolio of innovative therapies to deliver meaningful medical impact for patients in urgent need. Our clinical candidates commonly have a proven mechanistic rationale, biomarkers and/or an established proof-of-concept to expedite and increase the probability of success.
Management’s primary evaluation of the success of the Company is the ability to progress its pipeline assets forward towards commercialization or opportunistically out-licensing rights to indications or geographies. This
success depends not only on the operational execution of the programs, but also the ability to secure sufficient funding to support the programs. We believe the ability to achieve the anticipated milestones (as presented in the Research and Development milestone chart below), represents our most immediate evaluation points.
We have made significant progress in 2021 toward our key goal of advancing the pipeline as highlighted by the data release of the first cohort of the AVTX-002 Phase 1b trial in Crohn’s Disease, data release of the first cohort of the AVTX-002 Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in COVID-19 ARDS and subsequent receipt of fast-track designation (“FTD”), completion of the first cohort of the AVTX-007 Phase 1b trial in Multiple Myeloma, receipt of FTD for AVTX-803 and enrollment of the first patient in the AVTX-007 Phase 1b open-label proof-of-concept trial in AOSD.
We also believe our licensing activity during the first half of 2021, including in-licenses of immunology and immuno-oncology assets (including the expanded license agreement for AVTX-002 and the license agreement for AVTX-008) and out-licenses of non-core assets, enhances our focus on the development of innovative therapies in areas of high unmet need within the fields of immunology, immuno-oncology, and rare genetic disorders. Additionally, we have executed a combination of debt and equity financings in 2021 for total net proceeds of approximately $105 million, to strengthen and extend our financial resources to advance our clinical pipeline towards key development milestones.
Recent Developments
In August 2021, the Company
changed its corporate name change from Cerecor Inc. to Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. by filing a Certificate of Amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and merged certain wholly-owned subsidiaries into the Company to consolidate its corporate structure. The name change underscores the Company’s transition to developing innovative targeted therapies in immunology, immuno-oncology, and rare genetic diseases.
In September 2021, the
Company closed an underwritten public offering of 14,308,878 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $29.0 million (the “September Offering”).
During the third quarter of 2021, the Company received $15.0 million as a result of completing its second and third drawdowns under its previously announced $35.0 million venture debt financing agreement (the
“Loan Agreement”) with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation and Powerscourt Investments XXV, LP. With the closing of the second and third tranches, the Company has received the full $35.0 million under its debt financing agreement.
In October 2021, the board of directors of the Company appointed Keith Maher, MD, to the Board pursuant to the right of Armistice to appoint two directors to the board of directors. Dr. Maher is employed by Armistice, which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, currently serves on the board of directors of the
Company.
Research and Development
The following chart summarizes key information about our clinical-stage pipeline and anticipated research & development milestones:
Our Strategy
Our strategy for increasing stockholder value includes:
•Advancing our pipeline of compounds through development and to regulatory approval;
•Acquiring
or licensing rights to targeted, complementary differentiated preclinical and clinical stage compounds;
•Developing the go-to-market strategy to quickly and effectively market, launch, and distribute each of our compounds that receive regulatory approval; and
•Opportunistically out-licensing rights to indications or geographies.
Net
product revenue was $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, which was largely consistent with the net product revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 of $1.1 million.
Aytu BioScience, Inc. (“Aytu”), to which the Company sold its rights, title and interest in assets relating to certain commercialized products in 2019, managed Millipred® commercial operations through June 30, 2021 pursuant to transition service agreements. In
the third quarter of 2021, the Company finalized its trade and distribution channel to allow it to control third party distribution and began managing Millipred® commercial operations at that time.
Cost of Product Sales
Cost of product sales were $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase was
driven by the Company’s requirement to pay its supplier fifty percent of the net profit of the Millipred® product following each calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2021, subject to a $0.5 million quarterly minimum payment. We expect cost of product sales to continue to increase as compared to historic periods due to the net profit share.
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Research
and development expenses increased $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The overall increase was driven by an increase in research and development activities as the Company continues to develop its maturing pipeline assets.
Salaries, benefits and related costs increased by $1.1 million mainly due to an increase in headcount to grow our research and development activities as we continue to invest in our maturing pipeline.
Research and development expense is likely to continue to outpace historic periods as the Company advances
its maturing pipeline.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
General
and administrative expenses increased $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was driven by a $0.3 million increase in salaries, benefits and related costs coupled with a $0.2 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, both of which are related to increased headcount to support the Company’s expanded research and development efforts. Overall, legal, consulting, and other professional expenses were largely consistent period over period. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, professional expenses increased mainly as a result of increased information technology services and consulting costs, however such increases were mostly offset by the recognition of a prior period legal settlement that did not
repeat in the current period.
General and administrative expense is likely to continue to outpace historic periods as a result of the increased infrastructure to support the Company’s maturing research and development efforts.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
The
following table summarizes our sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Sales
and marketing expenses primarily consist of expenses related to initiatives to support the go-to-market strategy of our pipeline assets. Sales and marketing expenses increased $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, which was largely driven by advertising and marketing expense incurred in the current period related to the corporate name change to Avalo Therapeutics, Inc.
Amortization Expense
The following table summarizes our amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Amortization expense, which relates
to the amortization of an intangible asset acquired as part of a previous acquisition and an assembled workforce acquired as part of a previous merger, was largely consistent for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
We expect amortization expense to decrease in future periods as the intangible asset and assembled workforce acquired will be fully amortized in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, respectively.
Other (Expense) Income, Net
The following table summarizes our other (expense) income, net for the three months ended September 30, 2021
and 2020 (in thousands):
Other expense, net was $1.0 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to minimal other income, net in the prior period. The change was mainly driven by the recognition of interest expense of $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 related to the Loan Agreement entered into in June 2021. Pursuant to the agreement, $20.0 million was funded on the close date in June 2021. The second $10.0 million and the third $5.0 million tranches of the loan were funded in July 2021 and September 2021, respectively. Given the second and third tranches were funded in the third quarter of 2021, we recognized a partial period of interest expense in the current period. We expect interest expense to increase in future periods as a result of recognizing a full period of interest.
Net product revenue was $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which was largely consistent with the net product revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 of $5.2 million.
Aytu
managed Millipred® commercial operations through June 30, 2021 pursuant to transition service agreements. In the third quarter of 2021, the Company finalized its trade and distribution channel to allow it to control third party distribution and began managing Millipred® commercial operations at that time.
License Revenue, net
License revenue was $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which relates to upfront fees received as a result of the out-license and assignment, respectively, of the
Company’s rights to its non-core neurology pipeline assets, AVTX-301 and AVTX-406 to Alto Neuroscience, Inc. and ES Therapeutics, LLC (“ES”), respectively. ES is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armistice, which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, currently serve on the Board of the Company. The transaction with ES was approved in accordance with Avalo’s related party transaction policy.
Avalo is eligible to receive additional payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones for both AVTX-301 and AVTX-406 and is also entitled to royalty payments based on net sales of AVTX-301.
Cost
of Product Sales
Cost of product sales was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase was primarily driven by the Company’s requirement to pay its supplier fifty percent of the net profit of the Millipred® product following each calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2021, subject to a $0.5 million quarterly minimum payment. We expect cost of product sales to continue to increase as compared to historic periods due to the net profit share.
Research
and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Research and development expenses increased $28.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The Company’s merger with Aevi Genomic Medicine Inc. (“Aevi”) (the “Aevi Merger” or the “Merger”) in February 2020 was a transformative event as it significantly broadened our pipeline by adding the rights to three new assets, as well as bringing in critical leadership to guide the
Company and development of the expanded pipeline. Given the timing of the Merger, the first half of 2020 was spent integrating and initiating the additional programs. Therefore, the main driver of the increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was attributable to the maturing pipeline.
Additionally, we recognized a $10.0 million upfront license fee related to the expanded indication license agreement for AVTX-002 entered into with Kyowa Kirin Co. (“KKC”) in March 2021. CMC expenses increased $7.3 million due to additional spending on manufacturing to support the development of the progressing pipeline and in anticipation of drug supply to support future trials. Clinical expenses increased $5.9 million primarily due to costs incurred to advance the pipeline as we approach multiple clinical data read outs across our
pipeline. Preclinical expenses increased by $1.8 million related to increased non-clinical toxicity studies and biomarker studies to support clinical development. Finally, salaries, benefits and related costs increased by $2.7 million mainly due to an increase in headcount to grow our research and development activities as we continue to invest in our maturing pipeline.
Research and development expense is likely to continue to outpace historic periods (excluding the one-time KKC in-license charge) as the Company advances its maturing pipeline.
Acquired In-Process Research and Development Expenses
In the first quarter of 2020, the
Company consummated its merger with Aevi, resulting in us acquiring $25.5 million of in-process research and development (“IPR&D”). The fair value of the IPR&D was immediately recognized as acquired in-process research and development expense given such asset has no other alternate use due to the stage of development. There was no acquired IPR&D for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
General
and administrative expenses increased $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was largely driven by a $2.7 million increase in legal, consulting and other professional expenses. The largest driver was higher legal expenses in the current period, including costs to execute the KKC expanded indication license agreement and the other licensing agreements executed in the current year. Additionally, there were increases to information technology services and director and officer insurance. Such increases were partially offset by a legal settlement in the prior period that did not repeat in the current period.
Stock-based compensation expense increased $0.8 million for the nine months ended September
30, 2021. The increase was largely driven by $1.4 million of expense related to the modifications of a former board members stock options during the second quarter of 2021, partially offset by increased expense in the prior year due to equity award grants and modifications to certain former executives and board members due to leadership changes in the first half of 2020.
These increases were offset by a $0.4 million decrease in salaries, benefits and related costs for the quarter due to a $0.8 million severance accrual in the prior year related to the resignation of an executive during the second quarter of 2020, which did not repeat for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The overall decrease was partially offset by increased salaries cost driven by increased headcount in the current period.
General
and administrative expense is likely to continue to outpace historic periods as a result of the increased infrastructure to support the Company’s maturing research and development efforts.
Sales
and marketing expenses primarily consist of expenses related to initiatives to support the go-to-market strategy of our pipeline assets. Sales and marketing expenses increased $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, which was largely driven by advertising and marketing expense related to the corporate name change to Avalo Therapeutics, Inc.
Amortization Expense
The following table summarizes our amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Amortization expense, which
relates to the amortization of an intangible asset acquired as part of a previous acquisition and an assembled workforce acquired as part of a previous merger, was consistent for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
We expect amortization expense to decrease in future periods as the intangible asset and assembled workforce will be fully amortized in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, respectively.
Other (Expense) Income, Net
The following table summarizes our other (expense) income, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and
2020 (in thousands):
Change
in fair value of Investment in Aytu (as defined below)
$
—
$
5,208
Other (expense) income, net
(20)
447
Interest expense, net
(1,207)
—
$
(1,227)
$
5,655
Other
expense, net was $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to other income, net of $5.7 million for the same period in 2020. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized interest expense of $1.2 million related to the Loan Agreement entered into in the second quarter of 2021. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, $20.0 million was funded on the close date in June 2021. The second $10.0 million and the third $5.0 million tranches of the loan were funded in July 2021 and September 2021, respectively. Given that we entered into the Notes midway through 2021, we recognized a portion of interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. We expect interest expense to increase in future
periods as a result of recognizing full periods of interest for the Notes.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, other income, net was mainly comprised of a $5.2 million gain on the change in fair value of the Company’s previous Investment in Aytu. Each reporting period, the Company’s Investment in Aytu was
remeasured
at its fair value. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company sold the common stock underlying its Investment in Aytu for net proceeds of $12.8 million, which represented a gain of $5.2 million from its fair value on December 31, 2019.
Income Tax Benefit
The following table summarizes our income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
The
Company recognized an income tax benefit of $0.2 million and $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The tax benefit recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was a result of a tax law change signed into law as part of the CARES Act, which allowed the Company to carry back certain losses for taxes paid in fiscal year 2017 and thus resulted in a refund claim. The income tax benefit in the current period was a result of the updated estimate of interest receivable and abatement of penalties on the refund claim, as the final refund payment was received from the Internal Revenue Service in the second quarter of 2021.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2021, Avalo had $71.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. In September 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 14,308,878 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $29.0 million. Additionally, in August 2021, the Company sold 2.0 million shares under its “at the market” Sales agreement (the “ATM Program”) for net proceeds of approximately $5.3 million.
In June 2021, the Company entered into a $35.0 million venture
debt financing agreement with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation and Powerscourt Investments XXV, LP. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has received the full $35.0 million, $20.0 million of which was funded on the closing date in the second quarter of 2021 and the remaining $15.0 million was funded during the third quarter of 2021 in two separate tranches. The Loan Agreement contains certain covenants and certain other specified events that could result in an event of default, which if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all or a substantial portion of the notes. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company was not aware of any breach of covenants nor received any notice of event of default
from the Lenders.
In the first quarter of 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 13,971,889 shares of its common stock and 1,676,923 pre-funded warrants for net proceeds of approximately $37.7 million.
In order to meet its cash flow needs, the Company applies a disciplined decision-making methodology as it evaluates the optimal allocation of the Company’s resources between investing in the Company’s existing pipeline assets and acquisitions
or in-licensing of new assets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Avalo generated a net loss of $65.2 million and negative cash flows from operations of $53.8 million. As of September 30, 2021, Avalo had an accumulated deficit of $243.0 million.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern; however, losses are expected to continue as the Company continues to invest in its research and development pipeline assets. The Company will require
additional financing to fund its operations and to continue to execute its business strategy at least one year after the date the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein were issued. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
To mitigate these conditions and to meet the Company’s capital requirements, management plans to use its current cash on hand along with some combination of the following: (i) dilutive and/or non-dilutive financings, (ii) federal and/or private grants, (iii) other out-licensing or strategic alliances/collaborations of its current pipeline assets, and (iv) out-licensing or sale of its non-core assets. If the
Company raises additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, the Company might have to relinquish valuable rights to its technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates. Subject to limited exceptions, our venture debt financing agreement prohibits us from incurring certain additional indebtedness, making certain asset dispositions, and entering into certain mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions without prior consent of the Lender. If the Company requires but is unable to obtain additional funding, the Company may be forced to make reductions in spending, delay, suspend, reduce or eliminate some
or all of its planned research and development programs, or liquidate assets where possible. Due to the uncertainty regarding future financing and other potential options to raise additional funds, management has concluded that substantial doubt exists with respect to the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
were issued.
Over the long term, the Company’s ultimate ability to achieve and maintain profitability will depend on, among other things, the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of its pipeline assets, and the potential receipt and sale of any PRVs it receives.
Uses of Liquidity
The Company uses cash to primarily fund the ongoing development of our research and development pipeline assets and costs associated with its organizational infrastructure.
Cash Flows
The
following table summarizes our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Net cash used in operating
activities was $53.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, consisting of a net loss of $65.2 million, which was primarily driven by research and development activities as the Company continued to fund its pipeline assets. The decrease was partially offset by non-cash stock-based compensation of $6.3 million. Additionally, changes in net liabilities increased by $3.5 million, mainly driven by a $2.6 million increase in accrued expenses primarily related to increased accrued research and development expense. We expect cash used in operating activities to continue to outpace historic periods due to anticipated increases in research and development spend on the maturing pipeline.
Net
cash used in operating activities was $26.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This consisted primarily of a net loss of $47.9 million, which was driven by (i) increased research and development activities as the Company continued to fund its pipeline of development assets and (ii) non-cash adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities, including a $5.2 million realized gain related to the change in fair value of the Investment in Aytu and a $1.8 million gain related to the change in value of the Guarantee associated with the Aytu Divestiture. This decrease was offset by adjustments for non-cash acquired IPR&D expense
of $25.5 million and non-cash stock-based compensation of $5.4 million. Additionally, changes in net liabilities increased by $3.9 million, mainly driven by a $4.3 million decrease in other receivables, a $0.7 million decrease in prepaid expenses and a $1.8 million increase in accrued expenses, partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in accounts payable.
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was minimal for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and consisted primarily of the purchase of property and equipment.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $11.5 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2020 and consisted primarily of net proceeds of $12.8 million from the sale of the Aytu common stock during the second quarter of 2020 underlying the Company’s previous Investment in Aytu, slightly offset by transaction costs incurred as part of the Aevi Merger.
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $106.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and consisted primarily of net proceeds of $104.9 million from equity and debt financings. Specifically, the Company received net proceeds of $37.7 million from an underwritten
public offering closed in January 2021 (the “January Offering”), net proceeds of $32.9 million as part of the Loan Agreement entered into in the second quarter of 2021, and net proceeds of $29.0 million from an underwritten
public offering that closed in September 2021. Additionally, in August 2021, the Company sold 2.0 million shares of common stock under the ATM Program for net proceeds of $5.3 million.
Armistice,
which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, and managing director, Keith Maher, currently serve on the Board of the Company, participated in the January Offering by purchasing 2,500,000 shares of common stock and in the September Offering by purchasing 5,454,545 shares of common stock, both which were on the same terms as all other investors. Certain affiliates of Nantahala Capital Management LLC (collectively, “Nantahala”), which beneficially owned greater than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock at the time of both 2021 public offerings, participated in both offerings on the same terms as all other investors. As part of the January Offering,
Nantahala also purchased pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,676,923 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $2.599, which represents the per share public offering price for the common stock less the $0.001 per share exercise price for each pre-funded warrant.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $44.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and consisted primarily of net proceeds of $35.4 million from an underwritten public offering of common stock for 15,180,000 shares of common stock. The Company also received $5.1 million from a registered direct offering with certain institutional investors, which included Armistice, that closed in February 2020 for the sale of 1,306,282 shares of common stock and
net proceeds of $3.9 million from a private placement of equity securities with Armistice in March 2020.
Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates, and Assumptions
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. In preparing the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Company makes estimates and assumptions that have an impact on assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported. These estimates can also affect supplemental information disclosed by us, including information about contingencies, risk, and financial condition.
In our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, estimates are used for, but not limited to, revenue recognition, cost of product sales, stock-based compensation, fair value measurements, cash flows used in management’s going concern assessment, income taxes, goodwill, and other intangible assets and clinical trial accruals. The Company believes, given current facts and circumstances, that our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, adhere to GAAP and are consistently applied. Inherent in the nature of an estimate or assumption is the fact that actual results may differ from estimates, and estimates may vary as new facts and circumstances arise. Our most critical accounting estimates and assumptions are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 8,
2021. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined by applicable SEC rules and regulations.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) and Rule 15d-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, our management, including
our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in management’s evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021, and our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 2, 2021 which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results. Our risk factors as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not changed materially from those described in the Form 10-K and 8-K referenced above. The risks described in the Form 10-K and 8-K referenced above are not the only risks facing our
company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results of operations and the trading price of our common stock.
Item 5. Other Information.
On November 4, 2021, the Company entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Armistice Capital, LLC, (“Armistice”) which, together with its affiliates, is a significant stockholder of the
Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd and managing director, Keith Maher, currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company agreed to take all necessary action to appoint Dr. June Almenoff to the Board no later than four (4) business days of the Effective Date of the Cooperation Agreement and a second director who will qualify as “independent” of the Company pursuant to Nasdaq listing standards, who is otherwise qualified to serve on the Audit Committee and who is not associated with Armistice, to be identified pursuant to an ongoing director search process. Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, Dr. Almenoff
was appointed to the Board, effective November 10, 2021. In connection with the Cooperation Agreement, the Company has accepted the resignations of Dr. Suzanne Bruhn, effective upon the appointment of Dr. Almenoff, and Mr. Phil Gutry, effective on the date that is the earlier of forty-five (45) days following the effective date of the Cooperation Agreement and the appointment of the second director.
Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company agreed that the Board would appoint Dr. Almenoff to each of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Audit Committee of the Board, that Mr. Gutry would step down from the Nominating and Governance Committee and that
Dr. Magnus Persson would be appointed as the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and as the Board’s Lead Independent Director. In addition, the Company agreed to hold a frequency of say-on-pay and a say-on-pay vote at its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. In connection with their resignations, the Company has agreed to accelerate the vesting of the outstanding stock options as if Dr. Bruhn and Mr. Gutry had served out their full term, pay them compensation as if they had served out their full term and to extend the exercise period of their options until the second anniversary of their resignations.
In exchange for the foregoing agreements, Armistice agreed pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement
to certain customary standstill provisions prohibiting it from, among other things, soliciting proxies and exercising certain stockholder rights through the date that is immediately following the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. The parties also agreed to certain customary non-disparagement provisions pursuant to which neither the Company nor Armistice will make a statement or announcement that constitutes an ad hominem attack on, or otherwise disparages, the other party for a period of two years from the Effective Date of the Cooperation Agreement.
The Cooperation Agreement was negotiated by a Special Committee of the Board that was comprised of all non-Armistice Independent Directors. The Cooperation
Agreement was then approved by the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation Committee, Audit Committee and the full Board.
The foregoing description of the Cooperation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Cooperation Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September
30, 2021 and 2020; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020; and (v) Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in XBRL (included in Exhibit 101).
† This
certification is being furnished solely to accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the registrant, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.